Of all the heartbreaking facts contained in David Cole's solemn new survey of the state of America's criminal-justice system, perhaps the worst is the revelation that "a new prison opens somewhere in America every week." Substitute "school" for "prison" and our children would be smarter. Substitute "hospital" for "prison" and our poor would be healthier. Hell, substitute "job-training center" for "prison" and we probably wouldn't lead the civilized world in incarceration.
Imprisoning a human being in this country costs a minimum of $20,000 a year, far more than tuition at any of our state universities. National spending on prisons and jails was $7 billion in 1980; it is $60 billion today. Several states now spend more on state prisons than state colleges. We literally cannot afford our political addiction to incarceration.
The three substantial books Cole reviewed for his essay in The New York Review of Books have the benefit of coming onto the scene when many state and local politicians are somewhat open to thinking anew about crime and punishment in America. It's not because these earnest souls suddenly have seen the light about the futility of cycling doomed men and women (mostly doomed black men and women) into and out of prison. It's because they have finally come to realize during this economic crisis that we simply can't afford to be as "tough on crime" as we might want to be. There's nothing like a budget shortfall to turn a zealot into a pragmatist.
Both reform advocates and retributive hard-liners would agree with the old saw: "crime doesn't pay." No one, however, seems to know now how to pay for crime. De-criminalizing non-violent offenses would be a good start. Re-authorizing judges to reject senseless sentencing structures (like the Three Strikes Law, which has helped ruin California's penal system) would be a good second measure. Restoring fair and effective parole systems would make sense, too. But nothing will truly change until we accept as a nation that the goal of an enlightened criminal-justice system ought to be to put fewer, not more, people in prison. We aren't quite there yet. But we are closer than we were a few years ago, don't you think?


"Really good catch Russell, I'm sure there's more to come from the hoverflies! Gina."
"Wow, hoverflies are obviously the things to look at in Abney. I was just checking back through photos taken last month and discovered this amazing bumble bee…"
"Thanks Russell. but I think the amount of time I anticipate spending with my nose glued to the pages this summer, I think I'll get one. Cheers, Gina."
"Stuart Ball and Roger Morris have just published an excellent, accessible photogrpahic guide with simple keys: Britain's Hoverflies http://www.nhbs.com/britains_hoverflies_tefno_185594.html I have a copy you can borrow. Russell"


The Chhattisgarh police's controversial move to file FIR charging Nandini Sundar, Professor of Sociology, Delhi University and Prof Archana Prasad of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, of murder of a tribal in Bastar is all set to become a major human rights concern across India.
Two top organizations, Campaign for Peace and Justice in Chhattisgarh (CPJC) and Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS), have taken the lead in alleging that the FIR has been filed in order to take revenge against Sundar and others after the recent CBI revelation that there is no truth in the cops' story that Naxalites had burnt three villages in 2011, though this atrocity was found to be the handiwork of security forces and their supporters.
Alongside Sundar and Prasad, the FIR has also been filed gainst Vineet Tiwari of the Joshi Adhikar Institute of the CPI, Sanjay Parate of the CPI (M), apart from villagers and CPI activists Mangla of Nama and Manju Kawasi, sarpanch of Gadiras, and the sections quoted are 302, 147,148, 149, 450,120B of IPC, 25 and 27 of Arms Act.
The statement points to how Sundar and others have, for several years, "relentlessly exposed" atrocities in Bastar, more particularly the March 2011 incidents, in which hundreds of homes and granaries were burnt down, women were raped and three men were killed in three villages namely, Tadmetla, Morpalli and Timapuram of Dantewada district.
Currently, Kalluri is Inspector General (Bastar Range), a post he has been holding since 2014, after which there has been a "sudden rise" in atrocities in the Bastar region. In the last one year the security forces under him "formed ... a number of vigilante groups like the now disbanded Samajik Ekta Manch, Naxal Peedith Sangharash Samiti and the newly-formed group Agni, all "to harass and intimidate everyone", alleges the statement.
Meanwhile, the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), condemning the action of the Chhattisgarh police in registering FIR against Sundar and others, has sought impartial investigation into the death of Baghel, even as denouncing "the reported threats issued by Kalluri to send special teams to Delhi arrest these academics", even as demanding withdrawal of the "false" FIR.


This series of posts comes from a workshop / seminar I gave to a collection of youth leaders in Superior, WI called: Discipline w/ the Gospel in Mind.
// What is the goal of discipline?
Is it the goal of discipline just to make it through an hour or two of youth group?
Is the goal to make it through a football game or your favorite show on TV without the kids interrupting you?
Is the goal just to stop bad behavior and shape good behavior?
I was a children's pastor for 4 years before I became a parent. I got a lot of practice disciplining kids @ church for various things. I knew, though, that my years of practical experience disciplining students at church was only going to help me a little when it came to discipline with my own children. There was (and still is) a stark difference between @ home discipline and @ church discipline. At church I only have to make it through 1 or 2 hours. At home, my wife and I have to make it through life… 24/7. That's the difference. I was experienced in curbing behavior temporarily, enough to make it home at the end of the day. What I was not experienced in was living with and curbing declining obedience each and every day… all day and all night long.
Which really speaks to what the goal of discipline is. What is the goal of discipline?
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Discipline is good, according to Scripture.
Maybe we humans have twisted it for our own gain and end?
Maybe we humans have been on the receiving end of poor, mean, and bad discipline?
Maybe we perpetuate that same kind of discipline?
Maybe we don't believe the Gospel, that God desires for discipline to be done His way, and not our own way?
Maybe we haven't looked at discipline in light of the Gospel?
How does one discipline w/ the Gospel in mind?


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Walking News and Research
Counseling and support can boost physical activity among adults
Professional counseling and support can boost physical activity among adults, a new review finds, but researchers aren't sure what kind of professional advice work best to encourage exercise or whether counseling increases physical activity over the long run.
10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and another 18 million have low bone mass
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and another 18 million have low bone mass, making them at risk for osteoporosis. Often referred to as the silent disease because it develops slowly over a number of years without symptoms, osteoporosis is characterized by a gradual weakening of the bones due to bone loss, which can lead to fractures.
World-first advertising campaign warns women about the health impacts, and ineffectiveness, of fad diets
A world-first advertising campaign that warns women about the health impacts, and ineffectiveness, of fad diets has been launched by the Australian Health Minister, Bronwyn Pike.
Lifting weights can help people with multiple sclerosis
Lifting weights can improve muscle strength and quality of life for people afflicted with the degenerative disease multiple sclerosis, a new University of Florida study finds.
Alarming ignorance about cancer in Britain
There is an alarming ignorance about cancer and how to reduce the risk of the disease which is Britain's biggest killer – a special survey reveals today.
More research needed to explore links between physical activity and built environment
Research increasingly shows a link between physical activity and the "built" environment -- buildings, roads, parks, and other structures that physically define a community -- but more research is needed to assess whether the built environment affects people's actual levels of physical activity, says a new report from the National Academies' Transportation Research Board and Institute of Medicine.
Vital research into the effects of premature birth throughout childhood
Results of a follow-up study into babies born extremely prematurely was published last week (Thursday 6 January) in the New England Journal of Medicine.
High rate of disability in extremely premature babies, new research results reveal
The follow-up results of a major study into babies born extremely prematurely have revealed that a high number of these children have a disability, although the levels of severity vary widely.
Ascorbic acid doesn't seem to help physical exercise performance
Orange juice or other sources of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), may (or may not) benefit you in terms of health and exercise, but contrary to what many people thought previously, ascorbic acid doesn't seem to help physical exercise performance.
Moderate physical exercise can stave off metabolic syndrome in people age 55 to 75
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have determined that in people age 55 to 75, a moderate program of physical exercise can significantly offset the potentially deadly mix of risk factors for heart disease and diabetes known as the metabolic syndrome.
Restless legs syndrome is underdiagnosed in kids
A new Mayo Clinic study has for the first time established rates of restless legs syndrome in children, finding that almost 6 percent of children seen in Mayo's sleep clinic have the disease.
Vitamin E supplements may reduce the risk for death from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and the American Cancer Society have found that regular use of vitamin E supplements may reduce the risk for death from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
The regulation of physical activity in young children
The evidence at present suggests that neither better facilities, nor an increase in the amount of time allocated to PE to four hours a week, will improve physical activity levels in children as a whole and thereby impact on the rising tide of obesity.
Dane County patient dumping case unloads costs on consumers
The Wisconsin Hospital Association expressed disappointment with the Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision yesterday that allows Dane County and other counties to impose yet another hidden tax on health care consumers.
One-fifth of people in Southwestern Pennsylvania—nearly half a million people—report having a disability
"The size of the population with disabilities is rather surprising," said Ralph Bangs, codirector of the Urban and Regional Research Program in Pitt's Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR), who coauthored the study with José René Argueta, a Pitt Ph.D. candidate in political science.
Pfizer submits regulatory filings for Revatio (sildenafil citrate) as a treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension
Sildenafil is the active ingredient in Viagra, Pfizer's erectile dysfunction medication used by more than 23 million men worldwide.
Method for healing spinal injuries in dogs offers hope for preventing human paralysis
Lab tests have shown that an injection of a liquid polymer known as polyethylene glycol (PEG), if administered within 72 hours of serious spinal injury, can prevent most dogs from suffering permanent spinal damage.
Replicating an eel's nerve circuitry may one day allow paralyzed people to walk again
In a collaboration that blends biology and robotics, researchers at Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland are unraveling the circuitry in an eel's spinal cord to help develop a microchip implant that may someday help paralyzed people walk again.
FDA approval of Tysabri, for the treatment of multiple sclerosis
Biogen and Elan Corporation have announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tysabri (natalizumab), as treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) to reduce the frequency of clinical relapses.
Low-glycemic load diets may make dieting easier
Low-glycemic load diets, those low in sugars with moderate levels of carbohydrates and not as low in fat and protein, may lower metabolism less when compared with low-fat diets, making the dieters feel less tired, cold and hungry, as well as improve cardiovascular risk factors

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Watch Lizzo's dazzling performance of 'About Damn Time' at the BET Awards
"It's about damn time we stand in our power. Black people, my people," she said during the performance
By Greta Brereton
Lizzo performs 'About Damn Time' at BET Awards. Credit: Leon Bennett/Getty Images
Lizzo has dazzled at the 2022 BET Awards, performing 'About Damn Time' from her forthcoming album 'Special'.
Her appearance at the event opened with her face projected onto a clock visual and a troupe of gold-clad dancers introducing the song. From there, Lizzo herself appeared, dressed in a gold, disco-ball-like outfit.
MORE: The Big Read – Lizzo: "If I feel worthy, then everyone gonna want to eat my pussy"
"You know what time it is," she said, before launching into a flute solo, and a captivating, uplifting rendition of the viral hit, including moves from its accompanying TikTok dance.
"It's about damn time we have fun," she added towards the latter end of the song. "It's about damn time we stand in our power. Black people, my people."
Watch the performance below.
Lizzo was one of 27 performers to take the stage for the event, alongside Jack Harlow, Chance The Rapper, Lil Wayne, Givēon, Roddy Ricch, Latto, Joey Bada$$, Babyface and more. 10 of those performers banded together for a tribute to Sean "Diddy" Combs, who received this year's BET Lifetime Achievement Award. That lineup included Combs himself, as well as Mary J. Blige, Nas, Lil' Kim, Busta Rhymes and Jodeci, among others.
The full list of winners from the event are yet to be revealed, but so far Jazmine Sullivan has taken out Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, while The Weeknd has taken out Best Male R&B/Pop Artist.
Doja Cat was nominated in six categories, while Drake and Ari Lennox were both nominated in four.
Lizzo's appearance at the BET Awards comes after she faced backlash for the use of ableist language in her latest single 'Grrrls'. She later released a new version of the song with amended lyrics, alongside a statement in which she said: "Let me make one thing clear: I never want to promote derogatory language."
"As a fat black woman in America, I've had many hurtful words used against me so I overstand [sic] the power words can have (whether intentionally or in my case, unintentionally)," she wrote, adding, "As an influential artist, I'm dedicated to being part of the change I've been waiting to see in the world."
Over the weekend, Lizzo partnered with Live Nation – who are presenting her upcoming 'Special' tour – to donate $1million (£815,000) in funds to organisations offering safe access to abortions.


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Day: Apr 4, 2020
Book reviews, Mental Health, Non fiction
Everything Is Going To Be K.O by Kaiya Stone – Book Review
4th Apr 2020 lel2403
In Everything is Going to be K.O. Kaiya Stone writes about her own experiences of living with specific learning difficulties: from struggling at school to being diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia while at university, to performing her own one-woman stand up show inspired by her journey.
Always funny and unfailingly honest, Kaiya outlines the frustrations of having SPLDS but also the ways in which they have fuelled her creativity. She calls for neurodiversity to be celebrated and stresses that instead of questioning how we are 'supposed' to think we should take pride in our cognitive differences.
Everything is Going to be K.O. is an uplifting book for anyone who has ever wondered what it is like to live with learning difficulties today.
This is Kaiya Stone's memoir, telling of her slightly unconventional upbringing with her marvellously 'hippy' parents, to her life with Specific Learning Difficulties.
She writes with such humour and honesty it makes this a delight to read, but at the same time it deals with the seriousness of living with SLDs. I learned a lot and now have a greater understanding of the difficulties many people have to deal with on a daily basis.
It's honest, open and illustrated with charming drawings, all of which make this a thoughtful and uplifting read. Brilliant.
Thank you to Martina at Midas PR for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Tagged Everything Is Going To Be K.O, Kaiya StoneLeave a comment
Book reviews, Legal drama, Thriller
No Truth Left To Tell by Michael McAuliffe – Book Review
4th Apr 2020 3rd Apr 2020 lel2403
February 1994—Lynwood, Louisiana: Flaming crosses light up the night and terrorize the southern town. The resurgent Klan wants a new race war, and the Klansmen will start it here. As federal civil rights prosecutor Adrien Rush is about to discover, the ugly roots of the past run deep in Lynwood.
For Nettie Wynn, a victim of the cross burnings and lifelong resident of the town's segregated neighborhood, the hate crimes summon frightful memories of her youth, when she witnessed white townspeople lynch a black man. Her granddaughter Nicole DuBose, a successful journalist in New York City, returns to Lynwood to care for her grandmother. Rush arrives from DC and investigates the crimes with Lee Mercer, a seasoned local FBI special agent. Their partnership is tested as they clash over how far to go to catch the racists before the violence escalates. Rush's role in the case becomes even more complicated after he falls for DuBose. When crucial evidence becomes compromisethreatening to upend what should be a celebrated conviction—the lines between right and wrong, black and white, collide with deadly consequences.
No Truth Left to Tell is a smart legal thriller that pulls readers into a compelling courtroom drama and an illusive search for justice in a troubled community.
This is a mix of legal thriller and courtroom drama which deals with the subjects of racism and civil rights.
It revolves around the horrific acts perpetrated by the kkk, the cross burnings, the hatred they encourage and the consequences of these acts.
It is an emotive read in many ways and will induce feelings of anger at those responsible and of empathy for the victims.
A clever plot and well developed characters make this a compelling thriller from start to finish.
Thank you to Anna at FSB Associates for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Michael McAuliffe has been a practicing lawyer for thirty years. He was a federal prosecutor serving both as a supervisory assistant US attorney in the Southern District of Florida and a trial attorney in the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC.
In 2008, Michael was elected and served as the state attorney for Palm Beach County, leading an office of approximately 125 prosecutors. He was known for leading the ethics reform movement in county that resulted in the creation of a permanent inspector general, an ethics commission, and new ethics code.
He also has been a partner at a major law firm, a global company general counsel, a senior lecturing fellow at Duke University's School of Law, and an adjunct professor at William & Mary's School of Law. Early in his career, Mr. McAuliffe was a Civic Education Project fellow and visiting professor of law in the Czech Republic.
Aside from the law, Mr. McAuliffe is an alpine mountaineer, having climbed and reached the summits of Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro (with his daughter), Island Peak in the Himalayas, and many other mountains.
He received his JD from the College of William & Mary's Law School and his BBA from the Business Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin. Michael and his wife Robin Rosenberg, a US district judge, have three children, and live in Florida and Massachusetts.
Tagged Michael McAuliffe, No Truth Left To TellLeave a comment


'Best Outdoor Venue' finalist in the Scottish Hospitality Awards 2016, '17 & '18, & with 94% TripAdvisor rating, Craggan Outdoors offers accommodation for groups of up to 23 on a quiet road in Grantown-on-Spey, 15 minutes from Aviemoreand well situated for all that Britain's largest national park has to offer. Accommodation is in private rooms of four, five, six & eight beds, all with private bathrooms. Two well equipped kitchen / common rooms offer everything required for self-catering. Ardenbeg is well located for both the Dava Way & Speyside Way.
Ballater Hostel (formerly Habitat @Ballater) is a 25 bed five star self-catering hostel situated in the centre of Ballater, near Balmoral, on the east side of the Cairngorms National Park. The Hostel is owned and run by Dominique & Daniel, who took over the hostel in August 2016.
We have both traditional dorm rooms and private rooms, along with a large open plan kitchen / dining / communal area with wood burning stove. A drying room and cycle storage is also available. Either book the whole hostel, a room or just a bed, with no minimum stay.
Nethy Station, converted to a hostel for groups of 12-26, is centrally situated within the Cairngorms National Park between Aviemore and the Speyside Whisky Trail and halfway between two ski areas! Perfect for exploring the many activities available on mountain, river, land & sea. You'll always have Exclusive Use but only pay for beds used. Dogs are welcome and so are Stags and Hens!
'Best Outdoor Venue' finalist in the Scottish Hospitality Awards 2016, '17 & '18, & a 94% TripAdvisor rating, Craggan Outdoors offers great value, light, bright & well equipped accommodation in a 27-bed Glenbeg Bunkhouse & adjacent 6-bed Bothy, along with a 4-bed summerhouse giving total capacity of 37. Situated in a secluded spot on the beautiful Glenbeg Estate, peace & quiet is guaranteed, with fantastic views. 2-3 miles from the Dava Way & Speyside Way. Craggan Outdoors also offers a wide range of outdoor activities, full details on the website.
Situated in picturesque Tomintoul, The Smugglers Hostel, the highest in the Scottish Highlands, is surrounded by stunning scenery. We offer friendly, comfortable and affordable accommodation for 20 'Smugglers' in our four cosy dorms, including one en-suite room that sleeps 4. The hostel has fantastic facilities including refreshments on arrival, bed linen, towel hire, large kitchen and communal area, bike shed, outside tap and hose, drying room, laundry room, free Wi-Fi, 24/7 secure access and lockers. Tomintoul is perfect for walking with Ben Avon nearby and over 100 Glenlivet Estate routes.
Surrounded by woodland, Aviemore Youth Hostel sits at the edge of Cairngorm National Park, yet is just a short walk from Aviemore town centre. It's an ideal base for all sorts of year-round activities.
Hillwalking, climbing, snowsports, mountain biking, pony trekking, watersports and fishing are all available. Most activities take place on the Rothiemurchus Estate, a fabulous area with many easy paths through the Caledonian Pine Forest. The Scottish Whisky Trail is also nearby.
Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel is an atmospheric former shooting lodge in the heart of Cairngorms National Park with stunning views of the Northern Corries.
Seven miles from Aviemore and just two from the Cairngorm mountain funicular and snowsports area, the lodge is a great base for year-round activities, including hillwalking, climbing, snowsports, mountain biking, pony trekking, watersports and fishing.
For couples, singles or families Fraoch Lodge is an ideal base to explore the Cairngorms National Park on our doorstep; or make a day trip to Loch Ness; or tour a distillery and visit Speyside. We're graded as a 4 star hostel but offer so much more.
Open fire: dedicated drying room: fully equipped self-catering kitchen or home made meals: play area in the garden: football pitch behind the garden. Do it yourself or relax and let us take care of the mundane. All rooms have hand basins. Private car park.
The Lazy Duck in Nethy Bridge offers a rustic mountain hut style eight bed hut hostel for groups and families, three hand built and bespoke eco huts for couples and a four pitch lightweight summer camping ground. The six acres of woodland, ponds and grassland hosts Soay sheep, waterfowl and hens as well as a cheerful and efficient staff team from home and abroad. Wood fired hot tub, sauna and well being studio for yoga and massage are all on offer. "Small is Beautiful" Come home to slow living.
An impressive former shooting lodge, standing in extensive grounds in the heart of Cairngorms National Park, Braemar Youth Hostel is an ideal base for exploring Royal Deeside, with its castles and distilleries.
The youth hostel is also a great location for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy skiing and boarding at Glenshee and The Lecht or walking in the Cairngorms. Other activities include mountain biking, wildlife watching and golf. Balmoral Castle, the Queen's Scottish home, is nearby (open between April-July).


Our safaris that focus on the indulgence of luxury accommodation in spectacular wilderness areas.
The 7 Day Royal Zambian Safari combines two of Zambia's top destinations on an ultra-luxurious expedition. Lower Zambezi National Park is first on the agenda, with accommodation enjoyed at Royal Zambezi Lodge. Thereafter guests will unwind at the Royal Livingstone a stone's throw from the Victoria Falls.
The 8 Day Zambezi Elephant Safari combines highlights around the prolific Zambezi River. Guests will visit the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls from both sides - Zambia and Zimbabwe - for a comprehensive experience. The middle of the trip is dedicated to safari game drives in Hwange National Park.
The Sossusvlei Safari is a four day fly-in African safari package which visits the Sossusvlei section of the Namib Desert. The safari departs from and returns to Johannesburg. At Kulala Desert Lodge, two nature activities are included daily; one during the early morning and one during the late afternoon.
The Savute Safari is a four day fly-in safari experience that visits the Savute wilderness area in Botswana. The safari departs from and returns to Johannesburg. Savute is one of the most unique wilderness areas in Botswana.
The Namibian Explorer Safari is a five day fly-in African safari in Namibia which explores two of the country's finest attractions. The safari departs from and returns to Johannesburg. A visit is first made to the coastal town of Swakopmund, with its German colonial architecture and arid surroundings, before traveling to the Sossusvlei safari area.
The South African Rock Art Tour introduces visitors to some of the finest, most well-preserved rock art sites in South Africa. Starting in the breathtaking Drakensberg region with Kamberg and Giant's Castle, the tour then enjoys a brief sojourn in Cape Town before traveling to the heart of the Cederberg - a truly awe-inspiring wilderness full of ancient wonder.
Travel to South Africa for a wide range of exciting adventures.
Namibia is an immense desert country that supports a startling amount of wildlife.
Zambia's safari areas are remote and barely touched by development.
Mozambique is a tropical paradise of myriad private islands and fine beaches.
The Kruger National Park is South Africa's most sought-after safari destination, offering remarkable diversity that includes 147 different mammal species.
The luxury safaris offered by African Sky typically include everything from local flights and transfers to gourmet meals and game viewing.
The Big Five - the leopard, elephant, lion, Cape buffalo and black rhino - provide some of the most memorable sightings on safari.
The African lodges in our safari packages have been carefully selected for their exceptional service levels and topnotch game viewing.


Chevron B8s are widely regarded as not only among the most beautiful sports racing cars ever produced, but also one of the best-handling of their kind. Produced by Chevron Cars between 1968 and 1970, only 44 examples were built. They were fitted with a number of different engines, the most popular being a 2-litre BMW unit.
The car offered here, chassis DBE52, was originally delivered to John Bridges, who campaigned it extensively throughout 1968 and 1969 alongside co-driver John Lepp. They raced DBE52 at numerous events including the Spa 1000 Kilometres, Cadwell Park, the Brands Hatch 6 Hours and Paris 1000 Kilometres. What's more, they also secured a famous overall victory at Oulton Park.
Later in 1969 the car was sold to Peter Smith, who continued to add to its already-illustrious race history. Smith campaigned DBE52 during 1970, taking a podium finish in the Martini Trophy at Silverstone.
Today the car is fully race-prepared, having been looked after by Martin Stretton while forming part of the famous Lord Drayson collection for the past nine years. Under his ownership it has proved one of the most competitive Chevron B8s, racing around the world in the hands of Lord Drayson and Stretton. Fitted with a Lester Owen-supplied engine which has only seen approximately three hours of use since its last rebuild, DBE52 is ready to race and complete with current FIA HTP papers.


It is the greatest fear anyone can face. The fear of losing a loved one. A child. A sibling.
Everyone here. Everyone who works in this great hospital. Everyone who works in the NHS, from the cleaner, to the consultants, to the chief exec.
You save people from their greatest fears. You do it every day. And you've done it for me. And I just want, from the bottom of my heart, to say thank you. To the Great Western Air Ambulance and everyone at Southmead.
Thank you for saving Emily's life and putting her on the road to recovery.
I will never forget my time here. Not just today – it was wonderful to be able to thank Jas and the whole ICU team who we never got the chance to thank properly. But I'll never forget the week we spent here, on the edge of the abyss. When Emily was falling into the jaws of death, you caught her and held her and brought her back to life and cared for her. And it's not the first time or the only time the NHS has done this for me. You do it for everyone.
And I don't care if you're a porter or a receptionist or the finest surgeon in the land. A manager or midwife or pharmacist or physician. Every single person contributes to saving lives and improving lives every single day.
And the reason the NHS is so loved by so many is because you do this according to need, for everyone.
And for me, it's deeply, deeply personal. And now it's my great honour to be the guardian of health and care within government as Secretary of State.
Today I want to talk about you. The workforce of the NHS, and the social care workforce across the country.
A few weeks ago, in my first speech in this job, I set out my early priorities, and what I want to do to engage with the 3 million people who dedicate their working lives to caring for others.
It's another reason it's so great to be here at Bristol Southmead, in a hospital that I know takes staff engagement so seriously. As a man known for my fondness for apps, I was particularly pleased you've a staff engagement app, which I had a demonstration of earlier.
I've been lucky enough in the past few weeks to spend some of my time shadowing people working on the frontline across the country.
And I've just come from one of the St Monica Trust care villages, and seen just what a difference the care workers there make to the lives of their residents. They're dedicated. They're skilled. And they bring light to the lives of the people they care for. It hasn't taken long for me to see for myself the pressure that the health and care workforce are under, and how hard you work every day. And I've also seen that you feel undervalued, and that your voices haven't been heard. I'm determined to turn that around.
Everyone knows the work you do is a vocation. But let's be completely frank. Most people in the NHS love their work despite the system. They love their work not their jobs. Mission-driven jobs – yes. But sometimes very frustrating jobs too. I want to make health and care jobs the best jobs there can be.
And I need your help. I need to know direct from you the changes you want to see. Today I want to start a new form of engagement. Like the best organisations, I want to start an open-ended, 2-way, frank conversation.
Today marks the start of that dialogue. A real conversation. And, like a true conversation, it will evolve based on what you say, what you think, and on the changing world of health and care. I want us to be realistic yet ambitious in what we can change for the better. And I want this exercise to reflect the real-time concerns and ambitions of the workforce, rather than take a snapshot of how you feel at one point in time.
As you may know I'm passionate about technology and, for me, technology isn't just important in delivering better health and care, but can be a powerful tool for engagement. So we're launching our new platform, TalkHealthandCare.
Government has never engaged with health and care staff in this way before.
This is about giving you a voice in the day-to-day creation of policy in government, and giving you somewhere to go with your ideas and questions, somewhere for you to challenge us and, equally, for us to ask something of you. Because, if the culture in health and care is really going to change, it will take all of us, working together, to make it happen.
That's why this new engagement platform – or website, to you and me – will start by launching 5 challenges.
We'll be exploring each of these in depth – inviting you to share your stories and ideas, and sharing our own ideas in the meantime, in the form of blogs, videos and more.
Then we'll read what you've said and feed back to you. We'll set out what we've learned from you and what we're going to do about it. And – in case you're interested – we'll let you know what I've been up to, and I'll share some of my personal reflections on the process.
And this isn't the only new form of engagement I'm interested in. We're also launching a brand new Workforce Panel, which I'll meet with, physically and virtually, to hear, first hand, what's happening in care homes, hospitals, board rooms, surgeries, ambulances, hospices and labs across the country. This is a personal sounding-board, intended to compliment and build on the excellent work of the Social Partnership Forum.
Now before I touch on the first 5 challenges that I want your help with, I want to say this.
You can't spend even 2 months in this job without realising one of the biggest things, if not the biggest thing, impacting on the morale are rota gaps and unfilled vacancies.
We have proposed, from next year, to increase the NHS budget by £20 billion a year, alongside a long-term plan for how we guarantee the NHS for the long term. And we will publish our green paper on the future of adult social care, with a strategy for its workforce, later this year.
I want the response to these challenges to feed into those plans.
The challenges are about empowerment, safety, development, respect and getting the basics right.
I hope you will allow me a minute to go through each one.
Challenge 1 is about making sure staff in health and care feel empowered at work. It's about spotting a better way of doing things, of innovating, in a way that improves the experience for both those we care for and those who care.
This is about organisations in health and care working with staff to develop a shared vision about what they're trying to achieve, it's about staff feeling empowered to innovate, and learn from the innovation of others, and it's about all of us developing a culture of continuous learning and testing, and strengthening the pride you have in your job.
And while we are talking about pride, I also wanted to thank you for all those who care unpaid. Those who volunteer in our hospitals and to the millions who selflessly give up their time to care for their friends and family. I'm delighted we are formally working with HealthForce and urge everyone to harness its potential.
Challenge 2 will ask about working in an environment in which you feel safe and secure. An environment without fear of bullying and discrimination, and where victims of violence are taken seriously and supported. Health and social care jobs are fundamentally about caring for people and it's unacceptable that there are still a worryingly high number of reports of bullying and harassment.
The Social Partnership Forum – made up of NHS employers and staff representatives – is developing proposals on how we can prevent and reduce violence against NHS staff and how we can support staff who experience violence. I'm clear that this partnership will bring real sustainable changes to issues like violence, bullying and harassment, which are too often put in the 'too difficult' pile and accepted as the way things have to be. Not so. It's not acceptable and we will stop it.
I want to know about your experiences of bullying, discrimination and violence, and about good examples of what's being done to tackle them.
Challenge 3 is about development – making sure staff have access to the training, development and support they need.
Staff at all levels should feel they are supported to access training that supports them to provide high-quality care and to progress in their career. Learning is a lifelong pursuit for everyone, but we know that staff don't always feel able to access the development they need.
I want there to be a ladder of opportunity up which everybody can climb. So that someone who starts as a porter or a cleaner, and works hard, can climb that ladder and end up 30 years later as a consultant or chief executive.
This can be done. Peter Homa, for example, Chair of the Leadership Academy, started his service in the NHS in 1979 as a porter. We have added rungs to that ladder with nurse associates. Now I want every rung in place, and I want that ladder in social care too. I know that, just like in health, it can feel like there is never enough time, and not enough money, to prioritise training, but we know that the best social care providers with the most engaged staff recognise that this investment is worth it.
We need more people to feel they have had the support that allows them to get to the point where they can take on the critical registered manager roles.
I am so proud that in my first ministerial job, as Skills Minister, we introduced nursing apprenticeships. I think it is fantastic that we now have a complete pathway from entry-level healthcare support worker to nursing associate, registered nurse and onto postgraduate advanced clinical practice in nursing – all through the apprenticeship route.
That ladder must keep being built and I am so pleased that my fantastic colleague and the Minister of State for Care – Caroline Dinenage – is working to expand the number of nursing associates in social care. I believe there are more opportunities like this, and I want to hear what you think about them.
Challenge 4 is about belonging to an organisation that respects and values everyone's contribution. All staff in health and care must feel included, valued and respected.
This challenge is all about people feeling trusted – belonging to a team, a group, an organisation who they identify with, feeling engaged by their employer, no matter where they come from.
It is about equal pay for equal work across all roles. It is about ending the gender pay gap and tackling bullying wherever it is found.
But it is also about doing what we can to ensure that the roles that you are asked to do are realistic and reflect 21st century working lives.
There must be more opportunities for flexible working and flexibility in training throughout your career. Medical training for doctors must be designed in a way that recognises that junior doctors have lives and commitments outside work. Why do you have to move trust every 6 months even if you could get the breadth of training in the trust you are in? Why don't we have training that fits the need of the trainee?
We shouldn't duck the issue of how to provide more stability and certainty when it comes to training placements. I am encouraged by the changes already made to accommodate the preferences of trainees with special circumstances and to minimise unnecessary movement for others, but there is much more to do.
And finally, challenge 5 is about getting the basics right – what should we do to make sure staff are equipped to do their job? We know that staff need their basic physical and emotional needs to be looked after before anything else can happen.
This challenge is all about staff having access to healthy food, places to rest and to emotional support. It's ensuring you feel able to remain fit and healthy, or able to recover from illness or injury. And it's about having access to equipment that helps you do your job and helps managers run their organisations as effectively as possible. And of course pay matters too. I'm glad we have agreed a long-term settlement for AFC staff, and I want to work with the doctors to do the same for them for the future.
The key to getting all of this right, of course, is great leadership and ensuring that leaders of different functions or organisations work together in a united way, around a clear vision.
I want to do more to get great leaders and future leaders into health and care. The NHS graduate management scheme is already one of the most competitive grad programmes in the country. It is expanding, with a bigger intake of 200 graduates this year, rising to 500 next year.
In the past year, we've also taken the important step of bringing that together with the corresponding scheme in social care. There are now elements of shared training so that future leaders across health and social care have a better understanding of the challenges faced by each other.
And we want to nurture leadership talent too. In social care, Skills for Care continues to grow its registered manager network to offer support and guidance to those in this role that is so critical to the quality of care provided.
I'm going to put rocket boosters under the NHS Leadership Academy, which is going to do far, far more now than develop and deploy talent – both clinical and non-clinical. And the NHS Digital Academy is going to grow.
I want a more porous border between clinicians and management, and a more porous border between the NHS and elsewhere. It is really striking when you look at the pool of potential NHS leaders just how few have a clinical background or come from outside. Only a third of chief executives are clinicians. Nor do we tap into the skills of women and those from BME backgrounds: only 47% of chief executives or directors are female compared to 75% of the workforce as a whole, while a mere 2% of chief executives are from BME backgrounds compared to 17% of the workforce as a whole. And far, far too few managers in the NHS bring skills and experience from outside.
Change management is hard. Let's get the best wherever they come from.
So there we are – 5 challenges to kick off with. And these are challenges to all of us – everyone who makes a life of working in health and care. We want to know what's working and where it's working – what's important to you? What has the most impact on your lives, and what are we missing?
And it won't stop there. I want to keep talking, and keep listening. I want you to innovate, and I want the department to innovate too. Part of that means trying new things, learning as we go, and improving where possible. That's no different for this platform.
Working in the NHS is not just a job – it's a mission. I want to harness that passion.
I know that, if not for the people at this hospital, my sister might not be here today. I also know that our story isn't unique, and that everyone in this country has been touched, at one point or another, by the incredible skill and compassion of our health and care workforce. And that's why I'm launching TalkHealthandCare today. Because it's time to hear what you have to say about the jobs that are at the very heart of this country.


Holiday home suitable for 6 persons . The holiday home is 65 m² and is build in 1988. You can bring along 1 pet. The holiday home has washing machine. Freezer with a capacity of 30 litres. Further more there is 1 wood-burning stove.


What has motivated you to apply for citizenship?
Other than the nationality application, are you interested in knowing more about your family history?
Other than the nationality application, are you interested in knowing more about the S&P Sephardi Community?


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« Republican Path to Victory in 2012: Take Down the Economy
Warning: Rick Scott Ahead »
CA State Controller Threatens to Dock Legislators' Pay If They Miss Budget Deadline
John Chang
It's true. And this is not partisan. The controller is a Democrat and Dems control the Legislature:
California lawmakers will start losing their pay in two weeks if they don't make further progress in balancing the budget, says state Controller John Chiang.
Chiang, the state's chief accountant, is citing a ballot measure voters approved in November in justifying his plan to dock legislators of their pay absent a balanced budget. His interpretation of the measure differs from that of legislative lawyers, who had previously opined that a budget bill lawmakers passed in March — which still left the state with a multibillion-dollar shortfall — met the conditions set by voters needed to keep salaries flowing once the Legislature's June 15 deadline for passing the budget arrives…
"In passing Proposition 25 last November, voters clearly stated they expect their representatives to make the difficult decisions needed to resolve any budget shortfalls by the mandatory deadline, or be penalized," Chiang said in a statement. "I will enforce the voters' demand."
Chang has the support of Gov. Jerry Brown, who is also a Democrat:
"I definitely think the budget should be on time," Brown said, speaking to a reporter as he was leaving an event, "and if they don't, of course, they shouldn't get paid. Maybe we'll get our budget. That's the purpose."
June 3, 2011 | Tags California, Democratic Party |


When your child is placed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), it's an extremely stressful situation for everybody involved. For parents, the stress of having their newborn in ICU is unimaginable. But for the babies, maternal separation, noise, bright lights, procedures, and plenty of other operations make the experience overwhelming and extremely stressful in its own way, which can lead to various long-term consequences. I recently read a very interesting blog post discussing why, and more importantly how, to deal with pain and stress in the NICU.
It's hard to imagine, but it was once believed that infants couldn't feel pain. Of course, we know now that that is hardly the case. Although preterm infants have less localized and mature pain responses than their older counterparts, they still experience pain. They often experience exaggerated pain responses, allodynia (pain from things that aren't normally painful), and a longer latency in their responses. The types of pain they experience include acute, postoperative, inflammatory, chronic, and visceral. Pain experienced in these first stages of an infant's life has potentially disastrous long-term consequences. It may affect long-term memory, pain perception and responses, and possible alter social and cognitive development. This is why understanding and addressing pain and stress in the NICU is so important.
Stress and chronic pain is particularly difficult to assess, and is frequently superimposed by other types of pains. When addressing acute pain due to procedures, it's important to look at the procedure itself to see if it's necessary, and also if you have access to local anesthetics. Various sedatives, such as morphine, can be used for serious procedures, but each of these comes with its own set of long-term risks.
Because of the stress and pain that comes with procedures, there's been a movement to try and limit the number of painful and stressful procedures. There's also been an effort to involve parents more to make the NICU environment less stressful. This can involve swaddling, pacifiers, music, and family-centered care, all of which can reduce both stress and pain. Because of this, parental participation, when combined with other methods, may be one of the safest options for the infant.


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Dan Stipano quoted in MoneyLaundering.com on FinCEN's new whistleblower program
Davis Polk partner Dan Stipano was quoted in MoneyLaundering.com on the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's new whistleblower program, which makes awards for whistleblowers who provide novel information that leads to a considerable enforcement action mandatory and potentially larger. Dan notes that while the new higher cap on rewards all but promises to generate more anonymous tips for FinCEN to develop cases, it will take time to see whether the revamped program is on the same trajectory as the SEC's. "I don't know how big of a culture of whistleblowing the [Anti-Money Laundering] industry has," Dan says. "Compliance professionals typically work through the management structure to try and fix things rather than blow the whistle."
"FinCEN's New Whistleblower Program Open for Business," MoneyLaundering.com (December 21, 2021) (subscription required)
Daniel P. Stipano


Homicide is a complicated charge, and it involves one person causing the death of another person. There are a number of ways homicide can be classified, but convictions result in harsh penalties. Many people facing murder charges in Wisconsin turn to a skilled attorney for help creating a solid defense strategy.
What Type of Crime is First-Degree Intentional Homicide?
Under Wisconsin law, first-degree intentional homicide is a Class A felony. If the state convicts you of a Class A felony, including homicide, you are facing consequences that include life imprisonment.
What Are Mitigating Circumstances for Homicide?
The law allows for mitigating circumstances in homicide cases. Mitigating circumstances are events that may change the charge from first-degree intentional homicide to second-degree intentional homicide.
Adequate provocation. Adequate provocation means that the other person's death was caused under circumstances that caused the defendant to believe the victim did something that caused him or her to lose self-control completely. Crimes that you hear referred to as being committed "in the heat of passion" may be adequate provocation cases.
Unnecessary defensive force. If a person's death was caused because the defendant believed that he or she was in danger of death or great bodily harm – or if someone else was in the same type of danger – and if the defendant believed that such force was necessary to stop the danger, even if it wasn't, this affirmative defense may be used.
Prevention of felony. If the defendant believed that he or she was using the necessary force to prevent the commission of a felony, but the force was truly unnecessary, this affirmative defense may be used.
Coercion or necessity. If the defendant committed the homicide while being coerced by someone else, or when he or she believed it was necessary, this affirmative defense may be used.
Are You Fighting Homicide Charges in Wisconsin?
If you've been accused of first-degree intentional homicide in the state of Wisconsin, our Milwaukee murder defense lawyers may be able to help you.
Call us at 414-383-6700 or 262-650-6700 as soon as possible. The sooner you tell us about your case, the sooner our homicide attorneys will be able to begin building a strategic defense.
In the state of Wisconsin, the laws centered on homicide are very clear – and they outline harsh punishments for people convicted of the crime.