Disgraced former Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Fred Goodwin is set to appear as a defendant in a £700m High Court lawsuit brought by 27,000 retail investors and institutions, it was reported today.
The Financial Times say three other former directors are expected to be cross examined.
The case will take in the events of 2008 that led to Royal Bank of Scotland taking a £45.5bn bailout from the UK government.
Investors claim that they lost money in a rights issue launched in June 2008 that raised £12bn.
They claim the prospectus contained untrue or misleading statements about the financial position of RBS under Goodwin.
Just months later the bank was bailed out.
The FT reports that RBS tried to reach a settlement last Thursday with a large chunk of investors including Aberdeen Asset Management.
The bank has reportedly said it will continue to pursue a settlement with the remaining claimants.
But it added that if it has to it will defend the claims at trial.
RBS is still 72 per cent owned by the UK government.
The FT says former RBS chairman Tom McKillop is expected to be called as the first witness early next month.
He will be followed by Goodwin, whose cross examination is due to start on the day the UK goes to the polls in the general election.
Other former directors the FT named include Johnny Cameron, former head of RBS's investment bank and ex-finance director, Guy Whittaker, are also down to be cross examined in the trial, along with Matthew Greenburgh, who retired from Bank of America Merrill Lynch in 2010 after advising on RBS's purchase of ABN Amro.
Politicians have questioned RBS and chief executive Ross McEwan fighting the case.
The Lib Dems' Sir Vince Cable told the FT: "The cost of defending Fred Goodwin and his associates is shocking.
The RBS litigation is the first of three civil lawsuits filed against UK banks that will pore over their actions during the 2008 financial crisis, the FT says.
Another is a lawsuit against Lloyds Banking Group brought by thousands of investors who complain about the bank's rescue of HBOS in 2008.


While attending last year's American Elasmobranch Society conference, I was asked to fill out a survey concerning my views on lethal shark research. My response, along with those of many other participants, has now been analyzed and written up into a new essay in the Journal of Conservation Biology. Michelle Heupel and Colin Simpendorfer argue that lethal sampling of some individual sharks is sometimes necessary in order to get the data needed to protect those animals' entire species. However, attitudes about conservation in general and sharks specifically are changing, and many (including these authors) feel that this is starting to affect marine biology as a science.
It is undeniably true that certain important information can only be gained through lethal sampling. One of the main examples of this is "age and growth" data. Managers need to know how big certain species get, how quickly they grow, and how big they are when they are reproductively active. This kind of data is absolutely critical for any species management plan, and the best way we can get it is by looking at the vertebrae of sharks (like tree rings, shark vertebrae develop annual markings which can be clearly viewed under a microscope). You can't look at shark vertebrae while they are still attached to the shark, and you can't remove vertebrae without killing the shark.
Vertebrae from a gummy shark, image from Officer et al. 1996.
Sometimes sharks need to be killed to generate data that will help manage entire species or entire ecosystems. Other times, lethal research techniques are used to answer less vital questions, or they are used when non-lethal techniques would do. I once witnessed a parasitologist kill a healthy shark that we had caught in order to harvest gut parasites from it when sharks that had died less than twenty minutes ago as a result of being caught were available. The shark he killed was an Atlantic sharpnose, which are incredibly abundant in this region, but killing it was completely unnecessary.
This is an issue that tugs right at my heartstrings. I got into this line of work because I care about sharks and I'm concerned about what's happening to them. The thought of killing sharks troubles me because I am aware of their ecological importance and the reality that many species face extinction.
Although I have participated in lethal "age and growth" studies for other scientists, my own research involves non-lethal sampling. I have no objection to lethal sampling if it addresses vital concerns and there are no alternative acceptable methods, but I'm more interested in performing research that does not involve the further destruction of sharks. Killing a shark for research elicits strong emotions for me and I'd prefer to leave those methods to other scientists.
Do you think that killing a few individual sharks in order to create good management plans to protect entire species is ethically justified?
Does my desire to avoid killing sharks limit me as a scientist? Does this growing trend among graduate students negatively affect shark science as a field?
Does it make any sense for me to not want to kill Atlantic sharpnose sharks, which are not endangered, because they physically resemble (and are related to) endangered species of sharks?
I'm a curator at a natural history museum studying vertebrates, birds in particular, so I constantly have to defend any collecting practice. This is a very broad problem in biology, not just limited to sharks for sure. I think it is important to note two things. First, all individuals die. We therefore strive to preserve populations, not individuals. Second, there are darn few species, none that I can think of, where their extinction was due entirely to scientific collecting. It is the commercialization of wildlife collecting, together with habitat loss, that are the primary problems, not regulated scientific collecting. If there is no collecting of sharks, or any other species for that matter, then there will simply be questions about their biology that will remain forever unknowable. I can't imagine this being a good thing.
Oh and by the way, the Southern Fried Scientist site is great. You guys keep up the good work.
You make a good point when you say that all individuals will die at some point anyway. Since most fish are identical physically and mentally, and do not have the intellect that humans have, they may as well die to help their species.
This is not just a broad problem in biology but in the sciences in general. I always try to put it in perspective. The number of rats that are being used for the testing of cosmetics is still greater than the number being used for aversive psychological testing. Just the same, the number of sharks killed by fishermen and boaters is most likely far greater than those that are killed for scientific reasons. I like how you say, "we strive to preserve populations, not individuals". I think it's such a vital argument, because what we might learn from the killing of one shark has the capability of preventing the death of far more. However, I definitely agree that these methods are extreme and, as in psychological research, should be used only when the research is necessary and when there is absolutely no other method that can be used. In fact, it's a painful process to go through as a scientist, but there really should be an ethics board for this kind of thing.
Even though I used a nonlethal method (gastric lavage) to get the stomach contents out of my spiny dogfish, I still had to kill some of them to verify that the method was working. I looked at it as a case of making the nonlethal method more viable in the long term. And for the sharks I had to sacrifice I tried to get as much extra data as possible: some reproductive data, take out the spines for aging, etc. I felt better about the sharks I was able to release alive, but knew that it would be necessary to sacrifice a few of them. As I see it, the best method is to try to get as much data as you can using nonlethal methods, and kill as few as possible if killing is necessary.
I think you make your case well, WSM. My personal views, being a vegetarian and wildlife conservationist (or, as some of my colleagues like to put it – a 'foo foo' person), are that lethal research should only be performed if there are no alternatives AND if the research will help to assist conservation and management of the species concerned. I think that second point is important. I'm glad that the ethical viewpoint has been considered in this study. Just think how much better shape the natural world would be in if, at every step, we thought about how necessary our actions really were, and what the consequences for the species we exploit might be.
Surely there must be ways to study any species besides killing them for scientific purposes! Please explain to me why they have to be killed to be studied!!!!
Unfortunately you have to be prepared for the possibility of mortality whenever you're out conducting field work. Even if your method of data collection is nonlethal, the method of capturing the animals in the first place still could be. I was sampling mine out of a trawl net. Just because I didn't kill most of my sharks to get a stomach sample doesn't mean some of them didn't succumb to injuries or stress from being tangled in the net and squished together with everything else that was caught (though I will say that elasmobranchs generally seem to fare much better than bony fish in a trawl situation). I'm sure David encounters the same issues with his long lines. Whenever you have to capture and remove the animals from the water you run the risk of inadvertently killing them. I'm not saying you should be callous or cavalier about it, but it's totally unrealistic to assume you'll ever have 100% survivorship, and you might as well get used to the idea.
No need to kill sharks for science, plenty are killed for mere fins. Use their body parts for your studies. Should be plenty of fresh pickin's daily and I'm sure you could work out a beneficial arrangement with fishermen/poachers.
The sharks die, the oceans die, we die. Which way do you really want to go?
I agree in principle with the previous comment but in practice think that it is a difficult situation to manage. I have worked in various Asian countries where we had trade with local fishers and sea-gypsies (for live fish for both aquarium display and research). It is a hard situation to manage, and we found that once they knew certain species were of interest to us, and they may be able to make some money out of them, they would target those species specifically for us (and we certiainly hadn't asked them to). We actually only wanted to take things from them that they had caught by accident, as a way to prevent them being killed and sold in local fish markets; but we ended up encouraging them to catch the species that we were trying to protect. I think that there is potential for the same problem to arise if scienists enter into arrangements where they get dead sharks for research from sources such as fishers. It is just another ethical scientific dilema; do we want to align ourselves in any way with poachers or people who are finning sharks; even if the species would benefit out of it through advances in scientific knowledge? And could this relationship ultimately be construed as encouraging those activities?
I do not know of scientists that argue marine mammals must be killed for scientific purposes (besides the Japanese of course), so why do scientists maintain that we must kill sharks for scientific research? The double standard does not make sense. Sharks mature sexually late in life and killing them is not the same as killing a fish that reproduces quickly. I would imagine you can estimate the age of a shark from the length, rather than killing the shark to look at vertebrae. If scientists were more collaborative and fisheries data was more transparent, then it would eliminate the need for killing many sharks in the name of research.
50-odd million Sharks are being lethally sampled each year by the fishermen, plus I'm sure that quite a few Sharks die by accident during non-lethal sampling: I just refuse to believe that one cannot find suitable specimen among that lot – or am I missing something here?
As a PhD student working on shark ecology/biology I have had this conversation with my major professor frequently (he being a classically trained ichthyologist and I being more of a marine ecologist). If possible I believe it is important to protect sharks from any unnecessary deaths resulting from research. As DaShark mentioned, fisherman kill millions of sharks each year why not simply use their catch for research (many don't care if you take a vertebrae, as long as they aren't fishing illegally) or even use the grant money that would be spent fishing and actually buy the animal from the fisherman.
Growth rate/age is the usual reason people give for sacrificing sharks now that stomach lavage has become an accepted way of studying diet. While I understand the want for an immediate answer to a question about a sharks growth/age isn't it more beneficiary to science to track movements and other patterns of the animal? This is why I use PIT tags for my animals and then you can measure growth between recaptures (this gives actual growth rate during a certain known time period) while still studying other aspects of the same shark. I understand that is much more difficult in larger species but could be done.
I believe that the need for good science outweighs the want for quick science.
I am both frightened and fascinated with sharks, so in my mind, killing a few sharks seems like a positive thing to me. It leaves me feeling just a little bit safer while swimming in the ocean at the beach. However, I know that sharks are imperative toward keeping the ocean's food chain stable. I think that killing a few sharks for some very valuable data is okay to do if there are really no other options for collecting that same data. Scientists should try to find sharks that are older or sharks that are sick that may die soon anyway. Is there anyway to find sharks that have recently died, and collect data from them? For example, scientists could tag certain sharks and find them once they have stopped moving and passed away. I don't know if that would be possible, but it seems like something modern science would allow researchers to do today.
The desire to avoid lethal studies amongst sharks would not limit scientists if they were able to get all the information they need without having to kill them. The problem comes when you are missing information because of the opposition to lethal studies. Obviously if you are studying sharks is because you care about them, my question would then be, isn't it worth it to kill a low amount of sharks in order to get vital information that in the future may play a very important role in saving other species in the futures? I think that lethal studies are sometimes a risk scientists have to take in order to protect the same or other species. The trouble is when people carry out lethal studies without even considering other options.
If conducting lethal research on a shark is the only method of gaining extremely important information, then it is justified and understandable. However, lethal research should only be used as a last resort. Also, the maximum amount of studies/samples should be taken for each shark that must die. It is wasteful and unnecessary for a shark's life to be ended for a single sample when many more types of samples could be taken. Personal convictions and ethics make this topic difficult for many people. Since science is not limited to lethal sampling, any researcher opposed to it is not limited as a scientist.
The more and more I am reading these blogs the more I am overwhelmed and put off by the outrageous, unfair, inconsiderate and cuel things that are done due to "science." As stated before, different species die everyday. What I am not understanding is that the most scientific research is being done with the species that are nearly extincted. So how can there be a growth or beneficial substainance that can be done if scientists are killing them which is more so helping the declining of their population. As I stated once before in a blog, anything that has to be killed is not fair and is illegal regardless. Nothing needs that much monitoring in examining growth that scientists have to kill them in order to do so.
I agree with the general consensus in these comments that some lethal sampling is necessary for the greater good of the species. In those cases where it is not neccessary then I think it is horrible to do it- I don't see why people who have dedicated their lives to study sharks would so carelessly kill them when not neccessary.
As for your questions- I don't see why it would limit the feild science or graduate students if there is no more unneccessary lethal sampling. If you can get the data while saving the animal wouldn't this be the best for all?
The last question I don't really understand- why would you want feel more compelled to save a shark that looks like or is related to an endangered shark?
I am very certain that smart scientists can easily perform their lethal sampling of sharks conduct solely on sharks mistakenly caught in commercial fishermen's nets. at least decent scientists will do the extra effort of dealing with fishermen in order to find a practical mechanism in order to perform such basic info gathering without having to assassinate yet another shark who's worldwide population is now EXTINCT.
While lethal sampling is beneficial for studying certain species, I'm wondering how different this is from dissecting rabbits or bullfrogs in a high school science course. I'm not trying to promote unnecessary killing of sharks or any other species for that matter, but aren't they relatively high up on the food chain? If so, how greatly, if at all, would these killings affect other marine species lower on the food chain? Given that sharks do not reproduce as quickly as other marine species, and that certain things can only be observed with dead sharks, lethal sampling is something which should be highly monitored/regulated. It seems there are plenty of sharks who die naturally or accidentally killed; why not just study them instead?
It is unfortunate that there is no other way possible for biologists to attain these data samples, however in the name of Shark ecology, I believe lethal sampling should be used when absolutely necessary. Killing sharks should be used as a last resort in order to obtain the needed data (which I assume in all cases, would be used to help the Shark populations). It's sad to say, but your desire to avoid killing sharks probably does limit your ability to be a scientific researcher. I am sure we can find that there are other ways around it though. For instance, agreeing with the comment above from 'Talbtron' who asked why not study the sharks who die naturally or are accidentally killed. I think this is a good way for the necessary research be conducted.
I agree that lethal sampling should only be used when absolutely necessary. Sharks deserve to be protected and given respect but if they only way to obtain specific information to help them is to kill them, then it seems that lethal sampling is a must. Although I wholeheartedly believe that sharks that have already died or been killed for some other purpose should be used for research, this way no other sharks have to die in the name of science.
It also seems that negative effects will arise in the field of shark science if more and more students who enter the field, refuse to use lethal sampling methods. I do understand the moral and ethical standpoints about not wanting to kill sharks for science, but if it is for the sharks benefit, lethal sampling should be done in order to help them.
I have never been a true advocate of killing in the name of science. There are plenty of other ways to study or learn meaningful facts and statistics about sharks. I do support the submitting of already deceased individuals to science. It is possible that as increasing amounts students who are opposed to lethal sampling enter the field, changes will occur in the way testing is conducted. I highly doubt lethal sampling would come to halt, yet possibly a public data registry can be made for testing purposes so there will be no redundancy or excess unneeded killing of individuals.
I think the lethal sampling of sharks is ethical when it is the only way to discover something that can help save the entire species. It is not ethical for scientists to kill a shark when their research does not require them to and they are just doing it to make it easier or because they are just not concerned about its species. They should always use killing as a last resort and for finding vital information. I think that your desire to avoid killing sharks may limit you in your field of research; however, it could also allow you to explore other ways of finding data. I do not think that the growing trend of graduate students not wanting to kill sharks is a negative trend. I believe when it is necessary for sharks to be killed for research that there will always be people who are willing. The growing number of scientists refusing to kill sharks could be beneficial to shark studies because it shows that these scientists really care about what they are studying, which means that they will be dedicated to finding ways to save these sharks. It makes since that you would not want to kill Atlantic sharpnose sharks even though they are not endangered. It is important for people to respect all animals and not just the endangered species.
My first response to your post is to your question about whether or not your desire to not kill sharks, if even for science, limits you as a scientist. My response in short is no. Who decides which sharks live and which sharks die? On the other hand, if there are sharks that are extremely injured or dying, i do believe it would be acceptable, depending on the circumstances, to put the shark out of its misery, and then perhaps use if for science. This question of what is torture and where do we draw the line in the name of science, has come up before with various species including humans. While, I'm assuming the scientists killing these sharks must be passionate about their work and what they are studying, there must be alternatives to killing seemingly healthy sharks.I agree with the post above mine in saying that your desire to not kill the sharks is commendable. Just because the shark species is not endangered now, it does not predict what could happen to the species if we continue to be careless with their lives.


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Preface - The Changing Earth Science Network Projects 2009-2011. To better understand the various processes and interactions that govern the Earth system and to determine whether recent human-induced changes could ultimately de-stabilise its dynamics, both natural system variability and the consequences of human activities have to be observed and quantified. Salinity data are key for assessing the marine carbonate system, and new space-based salinity measurements will enable the development of novel space-based ocean acidification assessment. It provides, moreover, a sensitivity analysis to the uncertainty of the auxiliary salinity field. The residual variability ranges from 0. This study is focused on the estimation of the systematic antenna-based pattern in the measured brightness temperatures.
A baseline T-S diagram is arranged from climatology data, differentiating 7 ocean zones and mapping them into the T-S domain. Then, the accuracy of the brightness temperature computation with the number of terms of the n-power spectrum is determined. The first salinity retrievals using 2D aperture synthesis radiometry are also presented. In-situ auxiliary data was collected simultaneously with the radiometer measurements. The initiative is implemented through a number of research projects proposed and led by early-stage scientists at post-doctoral level for a period of two years which are summarized in this SpringerBrief.
Furthermore, its variation with wind speed is also analyzed. This paper presents a study which analyses the errors induced in the soil moisture retrieval due to the variability associated to soil type. The soil dielectric permittivity relates the soil water content to the brightness temperature. A preliminary attempt of deriving a purely satellite-based Temperature-Salinity T-S diagram is presented, with the overall aim of assessing to what extent is possible, and in which geographical areas, to identify and trace water masses by satellite. They cover the measurement of the dielectric permittivity of the sea water at L- band, the impact on the sea emissivity of the surface roughness waves, swell, currents, rain. Dissertation, Barcelona, Spain, October 2008.
The relative weight for each of the terms included in the cost function observational and background terms is assessed in different cost function configurations. This tradeoff between geophysical effects in cold seawater and the concomitant temporal oversampling has been addressed by analyzing the latitudinal trend of the retrieved salinity performances, in various retrieval configurations and settings, once a conservative and optimal data filtering strategy is applied. As the canopy affects the microwave emission of land, it is necessary to characterize different vegetation layers. The identified issues and objectives to consolidate and improve the processing chain are also described. Data acquired over the Ocean rather than over Land are prefered to characterize such errors because the variability of the emissivity sensed over the oceanic domain is an order of magnitude smaller than over land. Results are presented and discussed. First results will be presented at the conference.
It has been shown that using physically-consistent salinity field uncertainties of the order of less than 0. Results show that not even the proposed weight properly drives the minimization, and that the current cost function has to be modified in order to avoid the introduction of artifacts in the retrieval procedure. The new method is forward model independent and generic. The robustness of this methodology is assessed through the estimated anomaly pattern stability when computed for different geophysical conditions, periods of time, and latitudinal bands. The performances of both algorithms are compared, and simulation resu- lts are presented and discussed.
As a matter of fact, the overall processing chain will be verified downstream Level 1 to Level 4 , thus gathering important insights and feedback which will be used to improve the procedures upstream. A study of the latitudinal trend of the retrieved salinity performances along a Southwards transect has been performed, analyzing the trade-off between geophysical effects in cold seawater and the concomitant temporal oversampling under various processing configurations. Concurrently with the radiometric measurements, the gravimetric soil moisture, temperature, and roughness were measured, and the vines were fully characterized. In this paper the work related to the ocean salinity is summarized. The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity mission will provide sea surface salinity maps over the oceans, beginning in late 2009. The results of these tests will provide the basis for the consolidation of the existing brightness-temperature bias-mitigation techniques and for the development of new techniques.
The communication will present results on a systematic error characterization methodology allowing stable error pattern estimates. It will be shown how the methodology is also an interesting tool to diagnose specific error sources. For the most intense storms, cooling is systematically reduced by ~50% over the plume area compared to surroundings open ocean waters. Within this framework, this study represents a contribution to the assessment of one of the pending issues in the definition of the cost function: the optimal weight to be given to the radiometric measurements with respect to the weight given to the background geophysical terms. Impact of some image reconstruction options will be evaluated. Since the end of the commissioning phase in May 2010 the instrument acquisition mode is set to full polarization. Errors associated to the modelling of the roughness effect and those due to interference signals are believed to be responsible of some scattering in the retrieved data.
Soil moisture and temperature were registered at various depths, and surface roughness was measured with a laser profiler. Several factors may potentially produce systematic errors in the antenna reference frame: the unavoidable fact that all antenna are not perfectly identical, the imperfect characterization of the instrument response e. Namely, the data will be sorted according to the incidence angle, the wind speed, the across-track distance, the radiometric accuracy and the spatial resolution. The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity mission will provide from 2009 onwards sea surface salinity maps over the oceans. In this paper an ocean salinity error budget is described, an analysis needed to identify the magnitude of the error sources associated with the retrieval.
To perform the latter analysis, the satellite-Argo mismatches have been overlapped with geophysical parameters of precipitation rates, surface heat and freshwater fluxes and wind speed data. Coastal proximity has been found to affect the retrieva- - l of up to 150 and 300 km from the coast, at Levels 2 and 3, respectively. Remote Sens, 46 3 , pp. The minimization procedure is a great challenge and crucial step, but its success depends on the quality of the forward model. The possibility of using model solutions for validation will also be considered. We expressed Formation estimates in density σ , thermohaline θ-S and geographic co-ordinates for an increased degree of comparison between satellites and literature.


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Surplus Land and Buildings
6. Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine): What steps he is taking to involve local communities in the sale of his Department's former sites. [1188]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Dr. Lewis Moonie): The disposal of surplus Ministry of Defence land and buildings is conducted in accordance with Government accounting regulations—normally on the open market, in the interests of taxpayers generally. Sites are usually sold with the benefit of outline planning permission or a planning brief. Thus, in the case of a major closure or draw-down, it is normal practice for officials in Defence Estates to work closely with the relevant local authorities, and to liaise with recognised local community bodies as part of the disposal process. We seek to take local aspirations into account wherever possible. The Ministry of Defence recognises that that can be particularly important when surplus sites are in rural or isolated locations.
Sir Robert Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. As he knows, constituents of mine at RAF Edzell have been occupying housing that was formerly on the MOD base there. Will he take into account their experience when he considers future sales? Will he consider the qualities of future purchasers or developers, and the way in which they handle the sale of property to private individuals?
Dr. Moonie: It is generally assumed that people who can find the financial backing to take over such a scheme are competent to deal with the issues involved—but if the hon. Gentleman wants to make specific points, I shall be happy to meet him to discuss them.
Mr. John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan): I welcome my hon. Friend's reply to the question. Does he also think that it would be good policy for companies owned by the Ministry of Defence to consult local communities before those companies acquire new sites? The Defence Aviation Repair Agency, in St. Athan in my constituency, has managed to alienate almost the entire community of Rhoose in the Vale of Glamorgan, although the decision to move has not yet even been taken. Local people should be consulted.
Dr. Moonie: That is a good point, but one on which I must confess that I know little, because it is not part of my brief. I shall look into the matter for my hon. Friend and send him a note about it.
Mr. Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): Will the Minister make my constituents and me an offer similar to the one he made to the hon. Member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (Sir R. Smith)? From exchanges that he witnessed between myself and his hon. Friend the Minister for Transport—when his hon. Friend was part of the Defence team—he will know that when officers from my local authority were asked to keep the plans to convert the staff college building into a luxury hotel secret, they showed great sensitivity. Those plans were stopped only when it was revealed that the staff college in my constituency contained a war memorial. As concern has
9 Jul 2001 : Column 532
been expressed that some civil servants who work for the Minister have not been as sensitive and as sensible as my local authority officers in dealing with such issues, will he agree to meet a delegation, including the leader of Surrey Heath council, to ensure that there is no repetition of those problems?
Dr. Moonie: Yes, I shall be happy to do so.
Dr. Brian Iddon (Bolton, South-East): Will my hon. Friend take a personal interest in the proposed sale of Derby barracks on Fletcher street in my constituency, which is the home of Bolton sea cadets and several community groups? Those organisations are trying to raise money by various means—including lottery funding—but will my hon. Friend consider renting the premises to them rather than selling the buildings from under their feet in the near future?
Dr. Moonie: I am certainly prepared to consider that. However, where we decide to sell barracks, it is our normal practice to try to ensure that re-provision is made.
RAF Saxa Vord
7. Mr. Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland): What plans he has for the disposal of housing stock owned and maintained by his Department in support of RAF Saxa Vord. [1189]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Dr. Lewis Moonie): As a result of the draw-down of RAF Saxa Vord, it is expected that 38 houses in the Setters Hill estate will be surplus to requirements and will therefore be passed to Defence Estates for disposal in the next few months.
Mr. Carmichael: Does the Minister recognise the very fragile state of the economy on Unst—Britain's most northerly community—since the draw-down of RAF Saxa Vord? Does he appreciate the central role that local management of the housing stock will have in providing a sustainable future for Unst? Will he give an assurance to the people of Unst that when the time comes for disposal, preference will be given to a local bid, and that they will not be left to the mercy of the property developers?
Dr. Moonie: I suspect that the hon. Gentleman will be well aware that that is a difficult undertaking to give, but we are conducting a survey of public opinion among the islanders to find out what the general view of the sales is. We are discussing the issue closely with the local authority and the Highlands and Islands development board, and all their views will be carefully taken into account before we proceed with the sale. We are well aware of the sensitivities involved.
Porton Down
8. Mr. David Atkinson (Bournemouth, East): How many claims for compensation by service volunteers at Porton Down have been received by the War Pensions Agency. [1190]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Dr. Lewis Moonie): Between 19 February and 31 May 2001, the War Pensions Agency received 31 claims from Porton Down service volunteers. Information prior to 19 February is not available as separate records of war pension claims from Porton Down volunteers were not identified before then.
Mr. Atkinson: Is that not a rather surprising and disappointing reply, in view of the recent investigation by Wiltshire police into hundreds of volunteers whose health was impaired at Porton Down and whose claims for compensation were turned down by the agency, including that of my constituent, Mr. Michael Painter? Now that the agency has been transferred from what was the Department of Social Security to his Department, will he ensure that an independent medical reassessment of all those claimants takes place, to ensure just compensation for them before they are all dead?
Dr. Moonie: We have found no evidence at present to support the contention that deaths and ill health are linked to the experiments that were carried out at Porton Down. That is why we are conducting a very careful epidemiological study of those who were involved to try to establish whether there really are any effects. It is important that we proceed on the basis of solid fact, rather than needless speculation.
Mr. Jonathan Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford): As in the case of the Porton Down volunteers, investigation and clear information are always vital, so does the Minister agree that workers at the nuclear refit facility at Chatham deserve accurate information from the MOD? In January this year the Minister advised me that two former workers and their families were due to receive an offer of compensation, but it is now July, and no offer has been forthcoming. I acknowledge the answer about interim payments that he gave me earlier last week, but does he understand the concern? Will he therefore order a review of the no-fault compensation scheme, so that former Chatham dockyard workers and their families can have some confidence in it?
Dr. Moonie: I am disappointed that it is taking so long to reach a conclusion in those cases. We have offered interim payments, and I am happy to consider the procedure to find out whether anything can be done to speed it up. However, it is very difficult, on occasion, to move the legal profession forward at the speed that we might like.
European Security and Defence Policy
9. Dr. Robert Spink (Castle Point): What representations he has received concerning the European security and defence policy. [1191]
11. Mr. David Amess (Southend, West): When he last met the NATO Secretary-General to discuss European security. [1193]
The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon): I have received a number of representations from hon. Members and others on European security and defence policy. I have also discussed the policy with Lord
Robertson—most recently on 25 June. NATO members, including the United States, have recognised the importance of improving the defence capabilities of European partners, to allow Europe to act when NATO as a whole is not engaged and to contribute to the improvements identified in the European Union's headline goal and NATO's defence capabilities initiative.
Dr. Spink: How does the Secretary of State explain the crystal-clear contradiction that exists, given that the Prime Minister told the US President in February that planning for any EU military operation would take place in NATO, yet the EU military staffs have made it clear that high-level and operational planning will be undertaken by their organisation? Will the Secretary of State tell us which of those statements is true?
Mr. Hoon: I welcome the hon. Gentleman back to the House—although he could possibly have spent the interim period reading about the arrangements for the European Union and NATO more carefully. Had he done so, he would have identified the fact that operational planning will be a matter for NATO. [Interruption.] Operational planning will be a matter for NATO; I have said it twice so that the hon. Gentleman can get that point quite clearly into his mind.
Mr. Amess: Does the Secretary of State recall telling the House last year that defence spending among European nations was growing? In the light of that, will he explain whether he agrees with his former colleague Lord Robertson, the Secretary-General of NATO, who said that Europe's response to the defence capability initiative was totally inadequate?
Mr. Hoon: The two observations are not necessarily inconsistent, in the sense that what is important about the defence capabilities initiative is that European nations develop particular kinds of capabilities that are consistent with the aims of the Helsinki headline goal, and relate to the need to deal with modern issues. Instead of having large numbers of forces deployed on the west German plain to confront the threat from the Soviet Union, we now need rapidly deployable forces along the lines envisaged by the strategic defence review. Although we certainly urge our European partners to increase their defence spending, we also urge them to spend their defence money in a different way—on satisfying the Helsinki headline goal as well as on the defence capabilities initiative.
Roger Casale (Wimbledon): As well as ensuring that European funds are spent more effectively in, for example, combat and peacekeeping areas such as the Balkans, is not one of the benefits to Britain of participating in the European defence initiative the fact that, over time, other European countries will spend more on their own and on European defence in general? Will my right hon. Friend use his contacts with our European partners to urge them to spend more, and to make sure that the money is spent more effectively?
Mr. Hoon: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his observations. He is right. It is important that European nations spend their defence money more effectively than they have in the past, and this country recognised that point before we conducted the strategic defence review.
The review was broadly supported by Members on both sides of the House, and it is important that the lesson is also learned elsewhere.
Mr. Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green): Does the Secretary of State not agree that the Prime Minister is in danger of becoming habitually inexact about what he has arranged for the euro-army—or the European defence force, as he calls it? Did the Prime Minister not come to the House at one stage and say that any significant operation that the force carried out
"will require NATO assets and . . . will be planned at NATO"?—[Official Report, 11 December 2000; Vol. 359, c. 349.]
However, General Schuwirth, who is now a member of the military staff, has said:
"If necessary, we engage in high-level-planning."
Is not the reality that what the Prime Minister signed up to at Nice and what he tells the House and the country are two completely different things? Are the Prime Minister and his Government not becoming rather like the pushme-pullyou? When they go to Washington, they are against, when they go to Brussels, they are in favour, and when they come to Parliament, they are in denial.
Mr. Hoon: I should have thought that it was rather dangerous for the hon. Gentleman to refer to Dr. Dolittle—but as he hopes to be busy in due course, perhaps we can depend on him for further literary references in future.
I have made the position absolutely clear: operational planning will be conducted in NATO. That was agreed at Nice.
Mr. Duncan Smith indicated dissent.
Mr. Hoon: It is no good the hon. Gentleman shaking his head to suggest that he knows best. If he examines the Nice agreement carefully, he will see that there was an acceptance right across the European Union that operational planning will be conducted through NATO.


text:
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Royalty Profile for Entertainment/Character-based Licensed Merchandise
Sector value, U.S. & Canada, 2017: $13.22 billion
Proportion of retail sales of licensed merchandise, U.S. & Canada, 2017: 12.1%
Average royalty, U.S. & Canada, 2018: 10.24%
Royalty range, U.S. & Canada, 2018: 5%–21%
Average royalty, U.S. & Canada, (10 years) 2009–2018: 9.71%
The average royalty for the entertainment/character sector has historically been at the high end of the spectrum for all properties and began climbing back up in 2014 after four years in the 9.3% to 9.4% range.
Entertainment/character royalties are generally at the higher end of the spectrum because hot properties and proven franchises such as Disney/Marvel and Warner Bros. can generate royalties of as much as 20%.
However, short of a handful of properties, the "reality" is closer to the overall licensing-business average, falling in the 8%–12% range.
Longer-term "evergreen" properties beyond the powerhouses cited above tend toward slightly lower royalty rates. That said, Disney and its Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm divisions account for over half of all entertainment/character-based licensing in the U.S. and Canada, thereby single-handedly raising the sector average.
In some cases, royalty rates depend on the retail tier at which the goods are to be sold, with lower percentages for mass merchandisers, higher for specialty and/or department store distribution where margin requirements are less onerous.
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My wife and I were sealed in the temple almost 11 years ago, but since that time she has fallen away from the church and says she doesn't believe in the gospel anymore. I love my wife very much and she is a good mother and person (that is why I married her). If I remain faithful will I be with her after this life?
We live in successive moments of time, but the tendency is to regard each moment as eternal. However, there are unlimited virtual realities stretching out before us. The physical reality is determined by which choice we make, moment after moment.
In the case of your question, the implied condition is only a virtual reality. That condition is that no changes will be made in the future to alter the conditions of the present. That, of course, is almost never the case. In particular, the time may well come when your wife will come to her senses, realize her erroneous path, repent of all her wrong doings, and therefore, be forgiven by the Lord of all her sins and be welcomed back into His presence. This hopeful change could occur yet in mortality, or in the post-mortal spirit world. If and when that would occur, there would be restored to her all of the blessings promised to her in the holy temple.
Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another (D&C 90:24).
Therefore, let your hearts be comforted; for all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly, and to the sanctification of the church (D&C 100:15).
Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea (Jacob 4:6).
And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith.
What is the significance of parents being sealed to children? What would happen to our families in eternity if our children did not belong to the Mormon Church? How is it fair? Why must we be sealed to our families?
Why must we be sealed to our families?


(a) In these conditions 'the seller' means Shearwater Shutters Ltd and 'the buyer' means the person, firm or company placing an order for goods or services, which are subject to these terms and conditions.
(b) These conditions of sale together with the particulars contained in the buyer's order annexed to these conditions together with any special conditions agreed at any time in writing by the seller constitute the entire contract between the buyer and the seller.
(c) A legally binding contract will arise upon the seller's representative's signature being applied to the order to which these terms are annexed.
(d) Save where otherwise stated in these conditions or in any special conditions agreed in writing by the seller time shall be of the essence of any periods of time referred to.
All prices quoted on the seller's web site or by any other person or source prior to the date of the order are superseded by the prices quoted in the order.
a) The purchase price for any goods ordered by the buyer will be subject to VAT at the prevailing rate. The price will include a single delivery to one address within Mainland UK.
b) By placing an order the buyer consents to payment being charged to their debit or credit card account as provided on the order form. On signing the order the buyer is liable to the full purchase price for blinds and half the purchase price of shutters with the balance due to prior to installation.
d) In the unlikely event of an unsuccessful fitting we will credit the amount not fitted to the buyer and re order outstanding goods with the balance due prior to installation.
e) All orders paid for using a credit card will be subject to an additional 2.5% charge to the overall price of the transaction.
a) If the goods ordered are unavailable the seller will notify the buyer as soon as possible and suggest a suitable replacement.
b) The seller reserves the right to substitute products of a similar description and standard if the requested goods are not available but will use reasonable endeavours to match the order exactly. In the unlikely event of the buyer receiving a substituted product the buyer shall be entitled to return the goods for a full refund within 10 working days from the date of delivery should the substituted product not be acceptable and in such a case the seller shall pay the delivery costs.
(a) Delivery times stated are approximate only and time is not of the essence for delivery. Whilst every effort is made to ensure due performance the seller cannot accept responsibility for financial loss arising out of delay or failure to deliver by the specified date.
(b) If a buyer fails to take delivery of the goods or any part of them for any reason whatsoever the seller will be entitled to charge for redelivery and the buyer will pay to the seller all costs and expenses associated with the non-delivery including storage and insurance charges. The balance of the contract price will also become due. Any delay or failure to deliver by the seller will not entitle the buyer to refuse delivery or to repudiate the contract and the full price will be payable to the seller without deduction.
(c) Title to the goods and responsibility for them shall transfer to the buyer on delivery save that where goods are collected from the seller by the buyer or a third party nominated by the buyer the risk in the goods passes to the buyer upon collection.
(d) The address for delivery shall be the buyer's address as stated on the order unless otherwise agreed between the parties in writing.
(a) The seller cannot accept responsibility for any damage to the goods or any other deviation from the contracted specification unless reported to the seller in writing within 7 calendar days following delivery, or following installation if to be carried out by the seller. The right to bring a claim against the seller shall lapse upon expiry of this period.
(b) The seller shall not be liable to the buyer for short delivery of the goods however caused but will provide the seller with the outstanding goods as soon as is reasonably practical following notification sent by the buyer.
(c) Subject to clause 7(a) any defective goods must be returned by the buyer within 7 days of delivery or installation if to be carried out by the seller. The seller will pay the cost of transport of the goods.
(d) The buyer cannot change or cancel the order once accepted by the seller if the goods ordered are manufactured, measured or custom made to the buyer's requirements or specifications, as these goods will not be resalable by the seller.
(e) The seller may cancel the contract if the price quoted becomes uneconomic, or if the goods or the finish contracted for becomes unavailable.
(f) If the fitting day is cancelled with less than one working days notice the buyer will be liable for 50% of the fitting cost on top of what is owed.
(a) All goods should be fully inspected prior to installation. The buyer must check that the shutters and blinds are in accordance with the purchase order both for colour and design prior to installation. The seller cannot accept responsibility in circumstances where the buyer relies upon a representative present at the time of delivery and/or installation and is not present personally. If the client is not on site when a property is surveyed or when the goods are installed the shutters will be fitted in accordance with the seller's standard practices unless previously agreed to the contrary.
(b) The seller cannot guarantee precise colour matching against samples. The products are made from a natural material. Minor imperfections not readily apparent at a distance of four feet under ordinary light will not be accepted as defects. Colour matching of finishing products (eg paints and stains) cannot be guaranteed although every reasonable effort will be made to ensure the accuracy of the finished product.
(c) The seller cannot guarantee the goods against fading especially as a result of exposure to sunlight where some fading will occur. The goods are not guaranteed against extreme damp or variable conditions.
(d) The seller reserves the right to withdraw any products and colours at any time including after accepting an order without prior notice and cannot be held responsible for any consequences caused by the withdrawal of such products.
(e) Save as is inconsistent with statute, under no circumstances, except in respect of death or personal injury caused by the seller's negligence, does the seller accept liability for consequential loss, damage, costs or expenses, howsoever arising and any liability for any such consequential loss or damage is hereby specifically excluded. Should a claim be made under this agreement the seller's liability is limited to value of the order placed by the buyer.
(f) The seller gives no warranty as to the fitness of the product supplied for any purpose other than that of an internal window dressing as surveyed by the seller. Other installation positions and uses are undertaken at the risk of the buyer.
(g) Tolerance levels of overall panel specifications are plus or minus 2mm, and the product will not be considered defective if falling within the size range. Warp on any component part, vertical or horizontal, shall not exceed 1mm per 300mm and shall not be considered defective if within this tolerance.
(h) It is recommended that panels be ordered within the seller's normal specification range. For example, panels above 1800mm in height are ordered with a divider rail, and that single panel widths do not exceed 890mm for wood panels and 750mm for MDF, double hung panels shall not exceed 550mm. The maximum panel length shall not exceed 3000mm. The seller may exceed the limitation at the buyer's request, but in doing so the seller cannot accept responsibility for problems that result.
(i) If the buyer chooses to install against the seller's recommendation the seller accepts no liability for the installation or the goods and any guarantee or warranty is thereby invalidated.
(j) Where the order is based on measurements supplied by the buyer the seller cannot accept the return of the goods or any claim for compensation by reason only of the measurements given being incorrect.
(k) Where tracking is used the buyer accepts that there is a gap of not more than 20mm at the bottom of the shutter and the floor or sill due to the Jam Bracket that is used. There is also a small light gap between the top of the panel and the facia plate.
(l) The buyer accepts that the buyers openings are not perfectly square and level, that shutters are made as "square and true" and the shutters will be fitted to the best endeavour. Sills that are not level may have that appearance enhanced by the installation of shutters and that it is not the sellers responsibility to level the shutters to opening's level where that level is not level as measured with a spirit level.
(m) The buyer accepts that the sellers products are custom made from wood or compounds of wood materials and may have slight imperfections as made from natural materials. The buyer accepts that these products are fitted to the best of the sellers abilities and that there maybe slight imperfections around fixing points and areas of natural wood may have grain or indentations and that these maybe be filled. This is normal practice with wood products.
(a) By placing an order the buyer authorises the seller at its discretion to carry out a credit reference or other enquiry upon the buyer's financial status as the seller thinks fit and the buyer agrees to provide such written authorisation as may be required for purposes of such enquiry and in the absence of such authorisation the seller will be unable to process the buyer's order.
(b) The buyer warrants that all details provided on the order form for the purpose of purchasing the goods are correct, that the credit and/or debit card they are using is their own and that there are sufficient funds and/or sufficient unused limit available to cover the cost of the goods.
No statement, description, or recommendation contained in any catalogue, price list, advertisement, communication, Web site pages or by any agent or employee of the seller shall be interpreted so as to enlarge, vary or override in any way any of these terms or conditions.
If any part of these terms and conditions is unenforceable including any provision in which the seller excludes liability to the buyer the enforceability of any other of these conditions of sale will not be affected.
Except for the seller's affiliates, directors, employees or representatives, a person who is not a party to this agreement has no right under the UK Contacts (Right of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this agreement but this does not affect any right or remedy of a third party that exists or is available apart form that Act.
This contract is subject to the law of England & Wales and the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England & Wales.


Last week I spent 3 days painting in the streets downtown Chicago. The Harrison Center rented a space this summer at the Zhou B Art Center so a select group of us could participate in their Third Friday events. This trip was in preparation for the June 15 opening.


Cleaning is normally not the funniest thing we know. But after a great ride out in the woods or a long day on a rainy asphalt road, cleaning is a wise thing to do. So instead of moaning about it, let´s make it an enjoyable time with our Bike care. As lovely to use as to look at, simply a piece of art on your working shelf. Give your bike the love and service it deserves and it could be your best friend for a long time.
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The argument in this paper is that teachers' interpretations and theories about what works in classrooms, can and should constitute the basis of change. Teachers have the capacity to engage in practical reflection through collaboration that enriches their sense of what is feasible and possible as well as transforming their understanding of those realities. Critical reflection, however, requires various forms of assistance, and in this case it occurred through the provision of a paradigm, the Cogan (1973)/Goldhammer (1969) notion of clinical supervision.
Smyth, J., & Henry, C. (1985). Case Study Experience of a Collaborative and Responsible Form of Professional Development for Teachers. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 10(1).


Five Turkish warships threatened to engage an Italian drillship Friday and forced it to turn back after it tried to break a two-week blockade off Cyprus, Cypriot officials said.
The drillship from Italy's energy giant Eni has been halted in the island's politically sensitive waters since February 9 when Turkish warships stopped it from heading to explore in a contentious area, claiming they were conducting maneuvers.
Government spokesman Victoras Papadopoulos told the Cyprus News Agency that as the rig tried to make progress again Friday "it was blocked by five Turkish warships, and after threats to use force and engage with the drillship…it was forced to turn back".
Eni chief Claudio Descalzi played down the two-week standoff, telling journalists in Italy that his company would not abandon its exploration off Cyprus but await a diplomatic solution to start operations.
"We are used to the possibility of disputes. We didn't leave Libya or other countries where there had been complex situations," he said.
"This is the last of my worries. We are completely calm," said the Eni chief executive.
"It is very probable that in the next few days we will have to move" the ship to another country as initially planned, Descalzi said.
However, Cypriot Energy Minister George Lakkotrypis said that diplomatic efforts, notably by the European Union, had so far failed to break the standoff.
"We left room for diplomacy, hoping that a solution could be found… Today we made one last effort… but that was not possible because of Turkey's stance," he told the private television station Sigma.
The drillship has now headed to the Cypriot port of Limassol and will likely spend several days there before sailing to fulfill contractual obligations in Morocco, Lakkotrypis told the Cyprus News Agency.
On Wednesday, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, the Greek Cypriot leader, said Nicosia would continue its energy exploration regardless of Turkish threats.
But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned foreign energy companies not to "overstep the mark" in disputed waters off the coast of the divided island.
Ankara has been stringent in defending the claims of Turkish Cypriots for a share of energy resources, despite Greek Cypriot assurances that they would benefit both communities.
The standoff over energy resources risks further complicating stalled efforts to reunify Cyprus following the collapse of UN-brokered talks last year.
While the Greek-majority Republic of Cyprus is an EU member and internationally recognized, the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Ankara.


text:
FLAT EARTH got started after Niclas Etelavuori (bass) fell out with the manager of Amorphis and had his exit of the band. Suddenly, Niclas was left stranded. He decided to show the world that he still had a lot to give, so he started looking for possible band mates. Niclas explains: "After over 2 decades playing with bands I was at a point thinking that maybe I start doing something else. But then I knew I had these songs on my hard drive still, and nothing was done with them. And I just wanted to get rid of them and see what happens. But then it kind of took over and I started to focus more on that."
Linde (Mikko Lindstrom, ex-HIM, guitar) first sprang to mind, even though he still had his hands full with HIM at that time. Nevertheless, the two of them kept meeting regularly, and started working on ideas for new songs. Getting Anthony on board provided additional inspiration. And when their old band mate Mika Karppinen (aka Gas Lipstick, ex-HIM) finally joined on drums, the band's line-up was completed.
While Linde was busy playing the States and Europe on HIM's farewell tour, the remaining trio spent their time to lay the groundwork for the debutalbum NONE FOR ONE in Niclas' basement studio, in Helsinki. Although most of the music comes from Niclas, everyone has been able to contribute compositions as well as ideas and feedback for all the songs on NONE FOR ONE. Except for the lyrics and vocal harmonies, which were solely contributed by Anthony. After the basic structure for the album was ready, the band reached out to Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, Amorphis, Apocalyptica, Sentenced), for whom it was a no-brainer to take over production duties!
Linde remembers: "Our common friend, who's been helping us get this band off the ground, recommended a guy named Anttoni "Anthony" Pikkarainen, who had been singing in a band named Polanski. The band had made a record, and after we'd listened to it, we had to set up a meeting immediately." I have a great feeling about our new band. Anthony had recorded with Hiili Hiilesmaa before, and the rest of us have known each other for years. It feels as if all the stars have finally aligned." Already at the beginning of February 2018, the band entered the well-known Finnvox Studios in Helsinki to record the basics for NONE FOR ONE and and afterwards work on details in Hiili's own studio in Hämeenlinna.
All songs on NONE FOR ONE point to the heydays of alternative rock, take a nonchalant bow to the forefathers of all things heavy with a pinch of wistful psychedelia. Gas and Niclas robust, yet subtle rhythmic dynamic work, pave the perfect runway for Linde's guitar solos to freewheel and Anthony's maudlin yet contemplative singing, that gives the band's sound a tint of mawkish desperation that sets them apart from any other band you've heard.
Magnetically melodic, playful, exhilaratingly unconstrained and thoroughly permeated by vocalist Anthony's passionately melancholic overtones, FLAT EARTH delivers in the same parcel both – the beauty and the beast.
Flat Earth - None For One
01. Subhuman
02. Blame
03. Given Time
04. Cyanide
05. None For One
06. The Glow
07. Noble Swine
09. Freedoom
10. Blunt
11. Kill My God


This classic is anything but. Absolutely packed with beefy flavor and leanly ribboned with buttery marbled fat, braise this cut to bring out its amazing flavor. A perfect choice for pot roasts, stews, and other slow-cooked dishes.


The research project aims to reveal slight changes along specific user defined temporal frequencies in live videos. Video images are captured by a commercial video camera and rendered into RGB image arrays. Laplacian image pyramids are constructed from user defined subsections of the arrays. These multi-scale signal representations are processed by a Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter to select relevant frequencies and amplify those motions with array multiplication. A novel aspect of the implementation is the use of fiducial markers in conjunction with the Eulerian video magnification algorithm. This allows the significant amplification of periodic temporal motions without representations suffering from camera jitter or sway. Results demonstrate successful visual amplification of almost unobservable motions for live video images.


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text:
CEOWORLD magazine > Latest > CEO Insider > Company Profile The Łódź Economic Zone
Company Profile The Łódź Economic Zone
Alexandra DimitropoulouCEO Insider September 26, 2019
Business has fallen in love with economic zones. The new provisions governing the activities of economic zones have, even more, opened them up for investment. The simplified regulations have rendered that more and more companies from the SME sector are knocking on the zones' door. Polish companies are more likely to benefit from the zones' offer, as can be seen in the statistics. The Łódź Special Economic Zone has attracted nineteen investors within the last six months – of which as many as thirteen from Poland, and nine are either minor or medium entrepreneurs.
"Nowadays, economic zone shall be construed as not only tax exemptions. It represents a business back office, equipped with all necessary tools for an investor", says Marek Michalik, president of the Łódź Special Economic Zone. One of the fourteen operating across Poland. Their main task is deemed as the procurement of companies that whether invest in, create jobs, develop, and in return, shall neither be held obliged to pay PIT nor CIT income tax. At some point in the past, the zones were more interested in major investors. The thing that mainly mattered was the size of the investment and the number of jobs created. These days, the provisions governing the activities of economic zones and the granting of public aid are to promote modern investments.
"We are seeking out for companies which are oriented into long-term development. Wish to introduce modern technologies and facilities for employees. Create R&D centres from which they can transfer new business solutions onto the market – as it is explained by Dorota Lombardi, director of the Department of Acquisition and Supporting Investors in the Łódź Special Economic Zone.
Tax relief might reach up to 55% of the amount of invested expenses. Its value varies depending on the region. Before granting, nonetheless, an investor must submit an application for support which, subsequently, undergoes assessment. Points may be obtained, for instance, on account of an environmentally friendly investment, creating an R&D centre, affiliation to a national cluster, supporting employees in developing their competences, or creating high-paid jobs. These are the requirements imposed by the legislator. However, investors set their own. For example, the Łódź Zone offers the possibility of cooperation with startups, business solutions based on 5G technology, co-financing for training courses for employees or the possibility of renting production and warehouse space in a modern hall.
"We create a platform for investors to develop a modern business, based on solutions dedicated to the profile of their activity. We are the first ones in Poland who implement 5G technology in factories of our investors, and as the only ones, we allow them to cooperate with startups in designing innovations for them. Not only do we exploit the dynamic process of digitization, but we indeed create it."
explains Agnieszka Sygitowicz, vice-president of the Łódź Zone.
The process of implementing a project based on 5G technology undergoes within the Łódź Zone. It is there where startups shall have created 5G solutions for a specific investor. And what possibilities does the cutting-edge fifth-generation network give? Autonomous trucks, robots operating in factories, tracking the wear process of machine parts or controlling and monitoring production in real-time at a distance – these represent just some of them.
The age-old myth – the zone is not for SMEs
There is still a belief among entrepreneurs that investing in the zone is only for large-sized companies. One could not be more wrong. The new provisions, introduced last year, have made Poland one vast investment zone. What has changed? Once, an investor had to invest in the economic zone to receive the income tax exemption. Fourteen zones are spread across an area of about 25,000 ha, or 0.08 per cent of the country's territory. It has made investors moving merely within strictly designated areas. Today they may do it on virtually any plot of their choice.
"It is particularly good news for companies in the SME sector. We do have dozen-or-so entrepreneurs who have not made investments in the zone beforehand, to be specific, due to the limited area. Presently, they can build a plant across the street, on a plot next thereto or expand it in a place where it already exists and not pay income tax up to the amount granted in the decision" – explains Marek Michalik, president of ŁSSE S.A.
Schools of the future – employees of the future
Entrepreneurs are already struggling with the problem of a lack of specialists on the market. They self-establish cooperation with universities and technical colleges so that graduates would be better prepared to perform the professions they offer. Special economic zones, which enter into a partnership by creating patronage classes or support the creation of new faculties at universities, also have a lot to coil in this field. The Łódź Zone took a step further, which together with its investors created the Technical School of Automation and Robotics – the first such technical school in Poland. Major brands, such as Miele, Delia Cosmetics, and Ceramika Tubądzin got involved in the project. The first students started education this year. They will have gone through the dual-learning mode, i.e., a combination of theory taught by teachers and lecturers from the Łódź University of Technology with technical classes – practices and training in factories where investors have made their contribution.
Modern technologies as the showcase of the zones
It has been 22 years since special economic zones were put into life in Poland. They were to fuel a heavily battered economy and reduce double-digit unemployment. The idea was simple. Poland was divided into 17 zones, of which 14 still operate. Either of them consisted of areas designated for investments with tax relief. This was an incentive mainly for major investors. Neither minor nor medium entrepreneurs could afford to buy-out lands and invest several-dozen million zlotys, which would have entitled them to income tax exemption.
"The beginnings were not simple times – says Dorota Lombardi, director of the Department of Acquisition and Supporting Investors in the ŁSEZ. The Łódź Zone was one of the smaller, as far as an area is concerned. The region suffered greatly from the collapse of the leading industry – textiles. The task we were given with was challenging – to re-build the local economy and find investors who could fill this gap after the demise of this very industry", she adds.
The number of investments increased from year to year, not only in the Łódź Zone. The ones that created a lot of jobs rejoiced the public opinion the most. At the beginning of the 20th century, the unemployment rate in Poland was at a very high level, reaching even 20 percent, which means that every fifth Pole did not have a job. The issue of whether the business entering into the zone is innovative and would establish new technologies – was second-rate. Today it is different. The labour market is also the employee's market. Unemployment reaches around 5% and is the lowest ever since the systemic transformation. Poland is becoming a place which wants to attract modern business — focused on investing in research and development of new products and new technologies. In training highly-qualified staff. There are more and more such in Poland. A month ago, information that Nippon Seiki would build its plant near Łódź came out. A global manufacturer of HUDs (Head-Up Display), which present relevant information before the driver's eyes, intends to invest over PLN 80 million in the plant near Łódź. The manufacturing is, however, not everything. The plant will work on innovations. Who knows, maybe in a few years the world will be home to the innovations created in this plant.
# Best Music Schools In The World For 2019.
# Best Fashion Schools In The World For 2019.
# Best Business Schools In The World For 2019.
# Best Performing Arts Schools In The World, 2019.
Alexandra Dimitropoulou September 26, 2019
Alexandra Dimitropoulou
Deputy executive editor at the CEOWORLD magazine. Writer, internet person, professional restaurant recommender, and native New Yorker. Passions: health & wellness, coffee, running & dogs.
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4 reasons you should start juicing yesterday.
Juicing your fruits and veggies has become the new health trend in recent years. I personally love juicing and I have been incorporating freshly pressed juices in my diet for over a year now, and I have to say that it really works for me. I love the taste of the juices, I love the fact that I am getting more nutrients and consuming more fruits and veggies, and I feel better than ever.
The opinion about juicing is quite divisive. Some people claim they have experienced great results in their health and appearance after they started juicing, while others are rather skeptical and declare that a juice can never be as healthy as the whole food. As you will read in this post, balance is the key to achieving optimum health.
So before you try it for yourself, let's see what juicing is all about.
Juicing is the extraction of juice from whole (raw) fruits and veggies. There are a number of different methods in juicing, the two most common are through the old-school "cold-pressed" and the more mechanized "centrifugal" method. I will dedicate an entire post to the comparison of these two methods, and explain why I prefer the cold-pressed method, but first let's get down to the basics.
Store-bought juices are incomparable in quantity and quality with freshly pressed raw juices made from whole organic fruits and veggies only. The juices you find in your store have been pasteurized. Pasteurization kills the vast majority of the healthy nutrients from the fruit and veggies inside the juice. (Cold-pressed) juicing allows for the preservation of the natural vitamins, minerals and enzymes of the raw produce.
Every health authority recommends getting 6-8 servings of vegetable and fruits per day. Unfortunately very few people actually get that serving daily. Juicing is a fun and easy way to guarantee you are reaching your daily target of fruit and vegetables.
Here are four reasons you should consider incorporating juicing in your diet.
Juicing can aid the digestive process and give it a little break. A lot of people suffer from indigestion as a result of making less-than-optimal food choices over many years. Poor digestion limits your body's ability to absorb all the nutrients from foods. Although you lose the benefits of consuming fiber when drinking your produce, it takes less energy to digest food in liquid form. This is why I recommend incorporating (breakfast) smoothies, when considering going on a juice detox. Heating and cooking vegetables also reduces or destroys some of their enzyme content, which some say can impede digestion. With juicing it's believed that not only are these food enzymes preserved, but your digestive system has less work to do and therefore expends less of your body's energy levels.
Juicing allows you to consume an optimal amount of fruits and vegetables in an efficient manner. If you are not a big fan of raw fruits and veggies, and you know you are not consuming enough vegetables and fruits on a regular basis, juicing is a great solution to get your healthy serving.
Juicing allows you to add a variety of vegetables and fruits in your diet. Do you often end up choosing the same salad, same veggies in the same shop? Changing up your food intake is actually very important to make sure you get a variety of nutrients from different foods. When juicing you can easily add a vegetable you normally don't eat to get its nutritional benefits. If you don't like a particular veggie (beetroot for example), you can combine it in a juice with other veggies you do like. This would give you a juice containing all of beet's healthy nutrients (potassium, iron, vitamin C) while making the experience enjoyable and above all tasty.
Incorporating fresh juices in your daily routine can also help you improve your alkaline-acidic balance, which can help protect you from various diseases. See my article about the alkaline-acidic balance here.
Juicing is a great way to help break unhealthy eating habits, and free you from cravings. It will give you a sense of accomplishment.
However, jumping on a juice fast too quickly and unprepared might have undesirable effects. If you have been consuming too much meat, cookies and other processed food on a regular basis, you should first prepare your body for the juice fast.
A juice fast, in which one consumes only juice and no solid food for a day or more, can have healthy benefits, and it will certainly be a major will-power training as well. Not everyone is suited for extended juice fasts (especially if you haven't been eating healthy lately). I find half a day or a day of a juice fast once a week works great for me, and I have personally seen only the positives. I do a three to five day juice Detox two to three times a year.
Incorporating green juice with a regular, healthy diet will create good results as well. Make sure you drink your juice on an empty stomach and make sure it's as fresh as possible. Always listen to your body! Do not go for extreme measures unprepared as this can create more imbalances than benefits. If you decide on trying a juice fast, then make it short and do it for a maximum of 5 days. It is not healthy to restrict your body for weeks from the other nutritious food it needs.
If you make your own juice, than you know what you are getting. Use preferably organic produce for your juice. If you decide to buy your juice from a shop, than read the labels carefully and pay attention to the juicing method!
I have some exciting news in store for you so make sure you stay tune for my next few posts!
First thank you so much for this super informative blog. juicing is a great solution to get your healthy serving. A juice is the best way to get your nutrients when your in a rush!
2) juicing allows you to consume enough produce- this hold true especially when you are in a rush! I even carry a compact juicer around with me when im travelling, a juice is the best way to get your nutrients when your in a rush!
Thank you Alex! I feel the same. They do make a difference!
the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to talk about this topic here on your internet site.
Hi Vesela – thanks so much for this super informative blog! Quick question for you regarding juicers. I want to buy one but I'm having a hard time finding credible brand reviews/recommendations for France. What models/brands do you recommend? Thanks in advance!
Regarding juicers – I am a fan of cold-pressed juicers, as they retain more nutrients, have a higher juice yield and the juice can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days (which is not possible with a centrifugal juicer). I use Hurom 700 at home, which juices a lot of veggies and fruits well (a bit difficult for spinach though). I heard they have a new model, which is better for juicing leafy greens. You can get it online from juiceland.co.uk or vitality4life.co.uk.
Thanks for the info Vesela – I'll take a look at the links!


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Walking Tours in Italy
Best Italy Walking Tours
Guided Small Group Tour to the Vatican City and the Squares of Rome with pick-up included
Skip the Line! Immediate confirmation Pick up included
Rome is full of history and art and you will visit the most important attractions of the city in just one day! Discover Roman's squares and fountains and historical attractions at Vatican City during your small group guided tour! Pick up service, lunch and skip the line tickets are included.
Guided Tour of the centre of Milan and The Last Supper
Skip the Line! Immediate confirmation
Thanks to this sensational guided tour you will thoroughly visit Milan, the undisputed world's capital of fashion and design, and its main attractions such as the imposing Cathedral, the Sforza Castle, the Last Supper and many other treasures of great historical and artistic value.
3h min 30
Small Group Tour of the Vatican with skip the line tickets and pick-up included
See the incredible heritage of Vatican City on this tour of the Vatican Museum and significant church buildings departing from your accommodation thanks to the pick-up service from your hotel in Rome! On this small group tour, you will get to see the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and more!
Small Group Tour in St. Mark's Basilica after hours
Immediate confirmation
Explore Venice's most famous sight of St. Mark's Basilica in the ultimate VIP treatment. The exclusivity tour of St. Mark's Basilica after closing hours will help you skip the lines and crowds, allowing you into places where other normal visitors cannot gain entrance in.
Guided Tour of the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and The Last Supper in Milan
Relive the life of Leonardo da Vinci, the great Italian artist, through his most famous works preserved in the city of Milan: do not miss his most famous masterpieces such as the Last Supper, the Atlantic Codex, and other works shown at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana.
Guided Tour of Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica, with Skip the Line Tickets
Vatican Tour: Access Vatican City, Christianity's most sacred site ensconced in the heart of Rome. View the Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and more. Get skip the line tickets (included in the price), and enjoy this truly unforgettable guided tour in the Vatican.
Small Group Tour of Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica
Vatican Small Group Tour: visit Vatican one of the unique awe-inspiring beautiful locations on Earth. Book this skip the Line Vatican Small Group Tour, this tour will get you in to more special areas of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and Basilica at St. Peter's.
Private and Guided Walking Tour of Colosseum and Roman Forum
The Ancient Romans constructed works of public architecture that are still awe-inspiring even today, nearly 2,000 years later. A private tour to visit the Roman Forums, once center of one of the world's first proto-democracies, as well as the Colosseum – famous site of hundreds of gladiator battles.
Florence in One Day: Group Tour of the city centre, the Accademia and the Uffizi Gallery with skip-the-line tickets and lunch included
Enjoy a full, comprehensive tour of all of the Florence's most famous sites. You will visit two of the best art galleries anywhere: the Accademia and the Uffizi Gallery, home to a treasure trove of Renaissance art.
Create your tailor-made itinerary in Italy!
Walking Tours in Genoa & Liguria
Walking Tours in Apulia
Walking Tours in Sicily
Walking Tours in Verona & Garda Lake
Walking Tours in Bologna
Walking Tours in Sardinia
Walking Tours in Milan
Walking Tours in Naples
Walking Tours in Venice
Walking Tours in Tuscany
Walking Tours in Florence
Walking Tours in Rome
Join our walking tours in Italy to discover all the wonderful places our country has to offer!
Discover the renowned magic of the eternal city attending exciting walking tours of Rome and visit the famous Coliseum, the Roman Forum and the wonders of the Vatican City or dive deep into the streets of Florence to discover the cradle of the Italian Renaissance, with our Florence walking tours, or explore the centre of Italy, its nature and characteristic flavours by joining our special walking tours in Tuscany.
Walk through the streets of Naples and the Amalfi Coast, discover the amazing views and the waterfront and observe the marvels of the historical site of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Visit the incredible Venice and discover its unique magic, walk through the canals and admire its typical squares and corners with our special walking tours of Venice.
Discover also the extraordinary Milan and let yourself be seduced from its cultural and stylish spots while building your own unforgettable memories. Do not miss the chance to join one of our walking tours of Italy that will allow you to discover our beautiful country in a personalized and unforgettable way!
Walking tours of Italy and hiking in Italy
Guided Tour of Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica, with Skip the Line Tickets Vatican Tour: Access Vatican City, Christianity's most sacred site ensconced in the heart of Rome. View the Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and more. Get skip the line tickets (included in the price), and enjoy this truly unforgettable guided tour in the Vatican.
Full day Small Group Tour of the Vatican and the Colosseum with Skip the Line Tickets While this small group tour is not for the faint of heart – it takes six hours to complete – it will enable you to visit essentially every major landmark of both Rome and the Vatican City, skipping each and every line along the way. If you only have time for one when you visit Rome, take this one.
Private and Guided Walking Tour of Colosseum and Roman Forum The Ancient Romans constructed works of public architecture that are still awe-inspiring even today, nearly 2,000 years later. A private tour to visit the Roman Forums, once center of one of the world's first proto-democracies, as well as the Colosseum – famous site of hundreds of gladiator battles.
Group Tour of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, with skip the line tickets A guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most important museums in the world. With your professional guide, you will have the chance to admire some of the greatest masterpieces of world art, to make your visit truly unique to the cradle of the Renaissance.
Florence in One Day: Group Tour of the city centre, the Accademia and the Uffizi Gallery with skip-the-line tickets and lunch included Enjoy a full, comprehensive tour of all of the Florence's most famous sites. You will visit two of the best art galleries anywhere: the Accademia and the Uffizi Gallery, home to a treasure trove of Renaissance art.
Group Tour of the amazing Doge's Palace in the heart of Venice Explore one of the most famous landmarks of Venice. This amazing tour of the Doge's Palace in Venice is the perfect way to discover this significant place, its history and legends. Follow your informative guide as you admire the beautiful masterpieces of the Doge's Palace.
Guided Tour of the Milan's Cathedral with Access to the Terraces Everyone is awestruck when looking at the Milan Duomo and its imposing classical beauty and elegance. Don't be stuck in the city square, gaping and waiting to get inside. Go inside and explore right away! This guided tour will get you inside and on top of the Milan Cathedral!
Guided Tour of the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and The Last Supper in Milan Relive the life of Leonardo da Vinci, the great Italian artist, through his most famous works preserved in the city of Milan: do not miss his most famous masterpieces such as the Last Supper, the Atlantic Codex, and other works shown at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana.
Guided Walking city tour of the Centre of Venice and main attractions This amazing walking tour will take you to discover the heart of the Venice centre, between the Saint Mark's district and the Castello district: exploring the charming squares and alleys of Venice, you will admire the most beautiful corners of the city, accompanied by a professional tour guide.
Colosseum and Roman Forum Guided Tour, with Skip the Line Tickets Included The Colosseum and Roman Forum Tour, with Skip the Line Tickets Included, will allow you to enjoy a 3-hour walking tour of Ancient Rome. Explore these and more of Rome's iconic monuments spanning three millennia, together with a professional guide.
Reviews for Walking Tours
Reviewed by Neil D.
Very informative guide covered all the highlights in central Verona.
Our guides very informative and had a detailed knowledge of the history of Verona. The walking tour was just over 2.5hours and we covered all the main sights in the old part of Verona, and some not so well known areas. Would thoroughly recommend this tour to anyone wanting a concise history of Verona.
Verona & Lake Garda | Walking tour in Verona centre to discover the best treasures of the city
Reviewed by Andrew M.
Francesca the young lady who guided us around
Only 4 people on out tour. This was a a real bonus. Anyone can walk you around and deliver facts. However our guide was funny, interesting and knowledgeable. we had a great time and would definitely recommend using ItalyXP. The following day we went on a tour of the Vatican with another company which in comparison was terrible. I am not sure if ItalyXP do this tour as well, but if they do, chose them for both. If you can only chose one go to the colosseum. Thanks Francesca. My wife and I had a great experience Andy & Kim M from London
Rome | Small Group guided Tour of Colosseum and Roman Forum
Reviewed by Margaret B.
Every bit of the tour was wonderful!
We started out going to Palazzo Michelangelo than to a Medieval town where we had the world famous gelato then onto a one hour horse back riding through the vineyards and olive groves. Our last adventure ended with a tasty gracious lunch at a wine tasting school. Every part of this tour was exciting and adventurist. Thank you for making our trip to Florence memorable.
Florence | Group Tour of the Centre of Florence and Accademia with guide and tickets
Reviewed by Christopher S.
Great Tour and individual attention!!
We booked the private tour just from searching online and could not have been happier with the overall experience. Fabiana was great - very informative and took pictures of us when we wanted. She took the pace which was good for us for the tour instead of rushing us through or giving us so much information which could have been overwhelming. Highly recommend this tour!!
Rome | Private Tour of Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica
Reviewed by Charlene R.
Back to the past
A great visit with the guide. Stories and anecdotes about the past uses of the people living at the Scala. The stage is very impressive... The rooms are so high and still so pure. We had the chance also to do the traditional Scala museum but also a temporary exhibition about Mutti. Top! I would recommand the experience to my friends!
Milan | Guided group Tour of the Scala Museum and Theatre in Milan
Reviewed by Tammela S.
Our tour guide's passion for history and art were boundless.
We stayed in a apartment off Via Veneto and the owner recommended ItalyXP for any tours. It was an excellent choice for us. Rachele was knowledgable, kind and organized throughout the Vatican tour. She kept everything moving and interesting at every point. Her ability to add context to all that you are seeing makes it a much more meaningful experience. Imagine our delight when we showed up at the Colosseum/Forum tour a few days later and Rachele was our guide again! Fantastico!
Rome | Small Group Tour of Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's
Best tours and activities in Italy
Nature & Outdoor Activities
Rome Florence Tuscany Venice Milan Naples & Amalfi Coast Sardinia Bologna & Emilia Verona & Lake Garda Sicily Apulia Turin & Piedmont Genoa & Liguria Umbria Assisi Spoleto Perugia Orvieto