Kingston based businesses are popping up faster now than ever before. Last year, over 600,000 new companies opened their doors in the UK. That means, 600,000 new competitors, trying to steal clients' attention from your establishment or website. But it also means increased attention and focus on your market. With new businesses coming in, it brings more opportunities and drives more people.
In fact, since 2011 the number of startups being launched every year has been increasing. From coffee shops to apps, fintech to education, entrepreneurs, and founders are flocking to Kingston upon Thames to get their businesses off the ground.
And, it makes sense. Kingston may be an old city with immense history, but it's a city on the rise. It's a city begging for new companies to come in and set up shop and it's got everything going for it.
It has some of the best talents within walking distance. Oxford, Cambridge, Kings College, University College of London, all right on the doorstep. These colleges attract some of the world's best students. They come to Kingston and fall in love with the culture and the city. Every year hundreds if not thousands of new grads enter the marketplace looking for a job. Looking for a company where they can make a difference.
It's becoming easy to open your doors in Kingston. The city is making it easy to start a business. They offer financial support to new companies and new entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship visas for non-citizens to come start their company in Kingston, and small business grants for those that qualify.
Access. Kingston upon Thames is a connected city; it has hundreds of flights in and out every day. Almost half of its 8 million residents were born outside the city. It's surrounded by busting towns and cities, each with more potential than the last.
Capital. In the first six months of 2016, British companies saw $1.3 billion dollars in investments. Investors are attracted to the city because that's where the talent is. It's becoming the Silicon Valley of the UK. New companies come here for the environment, investors come for the companies, then companies begin chasing the investors, and the cycle continues.
Exposure. There's no denying the amount of opportunities for exposure in a bustling city. There are newspapers, reporters, tv, radio, 8 million people, and all their friends and family. Those people are all potential customers; they're all people who might know someone interested in what you offer.
Finally, Kingston is a fun city! The startup culture has taken over; there's nightlife, daytime activities, good food, good drinks, everything a city needs to make a great home.
With all that going for it, it may be hard to stand out from the crowd. That's where local SEO comes in. Local SEO is vital for your business in Kingston. Those same people living in Kingston are searching online for products like yours. They are reviewing products online, they're talking about products, and they're buying products. Ranking for local SEO means you begin to bring those customers over to your business.
96% of PC owners do online searches for local products and services … along with 81% of tablet owners … and 79% of smartphone users.
Local search SEO in Kingston can help you show up in Google's "map pack," "local pack," or "3-pack," as the first 3 spots below the map are usually called. Getting featured among these three companies is key to driving customers to your website.
The reason Local search SEO is so valuable is that people who are using local search are people that are ready to act. 82% of people doing a local search will take action: call, visit a retailer or buy something offline (TMP/comScore). And 61% of local searches lead to a purchase (Search Engine Watch) — especially if they find you while searching on a smartphone. If you can get your local SEO ranking in Kingston upon Thames higher than your competitors you can begin to drive those people to your business.
That's why you want to rank high in a local search in Kingston. You want to be found on that map you see above, you need to be on that map … and you need to outrank your competitors when people in Kingston are searching for your type of business. 61% of clicks come in the first three results on a Google Search Engine Results Page or SERP, and 91.5% come from results on the first page (Chitika). If you're not ranking, people aren't finding you, and your business is losing money.
CAN SEARCHES IN KINGSTON LEAD TO MORE TRAFFIC TO YOUR SITE?
But, to drive that traffic to your site it needs to rank in local search rankings. Your local search rankings depend greatly on prominence; how well known and trusted your business is in Kingston. Because Google only wants to send people to websites worth trusting. That's why Google is so popular.
There are three key factors that contribute to your local search ranking in Google: citations, reviews, and links. These could make or break the success of your business in UK SEO results.
1) Citations are mentions of your business somewhere on the web. They often include your company information like name, phone number, and address. Local citations are often found in directories like Google+, Yellowpages.com, Manta.com, etc. But Google also counts citations found on newspapers sites (like London Evening Standard), blogs, event listing sites, etc. By getting your website more citations you are giving people, and search engines more places to get exposed to your product or service.
2) Reviews are critical. What are people saying about your business on review sites like Yelp or TripAdvisor? Google counts the number and quality of reviews and takes that in account when determining your local search ranking.
As mentioned above, Google only wants to send people to prominent websites worth trusting. Reviews help build that trust and authority and help build your online presence.
3) Backlinks or links to your site from other well-established local websites are the final key part of search algorithms in Google. Because it's hard to fake a link to your website from another local business. These are vital.
Not all backlinks are created equal. Links from quality, Kingston based businesses that are respected, are valued much higher than links from low-quality spam websites. In fact, links from low-quality websites may hurt your page's performance.
First, let's define SEO. Search engine optimization brings more customers to your Kingston based business by ranking your website higher in Google, Bing, Yahoo and other search engines.
But SEO isn't just about building a website for search engines. It's about building a website for people – that's what search engines want. And by building a website for people, you will begin to rank higher. And this is how we deliver results for you in Kingston upon Thames. We focus on bringing your top qualities to the people of Kingston so they can see what makes your business special.
Fact: The majority of web traffic comes from just 3 search engines: Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
The reason Search engine traffic is valuable is that it is targeted and user-generated. With local search traffic you are getting in front of people who are actively looking for products you offer. It's like opening a store in Westfield and getting the walk-in traffic. Except with search, you don't need to open an expensive storefront.
But if search engines can't find your website, that means customers can't find your website. And if customers can't find your website, you miss out on opportunities … which go to your competitors. That not only leads to a loss of revenue on this customer, but you lose the referrals they may send, the repeat business they may bring, and all other future revenues from that person.
More search engine traffic can bring you customers and revenue unlike anything else. That's why investing in London SEO can deliver a significant rate of return when compared to other marketing. SEO is an up-front investment with a long-term benefit. A good local SEO strategy will stay effective for a long time. It doesn't cost any extra as effectiveness goes up.
Fact: The rules of search are changing. Constantly.
Google changes its search algorithms about 10 times every week – nearly 600 times a year. And every one of those changes can push your site up or down in the local Kingston search results. It's a full-time job keeping up with the changes.
As a business owner, you don't have time to keep up with all that; you have a business to run. That's where we come in. Because SEO in Kingston is our business. It's what we do.
We've delivered increased website traffic to over 1,000 clients in Kingston and beyond since 2006.
And our clients range from attorneys to software developers … consultants to high-end retailers … locksmiths to photographers — we've seen it all.
That's why, when you join us, you join more than 1,000 clients in Kingston and beyond who enjoy our 96% satisfaction rating.
Because less than 4% of our clients ever leave. The other 96% stay on indefinitely. That's the highest retention rate of any digital marketing agency or SEO service we know in Kingston upon Thames or anywhere.
During your 30-minute meeting by phone or Skype, an Over The Top Kingston SEO Advisor will perform an analysis of your website to uncover lost opportunities in your search rankings. You'll see what your website does well, what it doesn't, and what to do next.


This would be a month of effort for you. Your great efforts would be essential in tasks. You should understand the situation with practicality for better solution. You should give proper attention to the assignments given by superiors at work. You should be confident in finishing work.


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Guest Blog by Visit Scotland
SCOTLAND TEES UP A SUMMER OF GOLF
Scotland is gearing up for an incredible summer of golf during which more than 300,000 spectators are expected to attend the multitude of world-class golf events taking place up and down the country.
Following on from 2014 when Scotland hosted what is regarded as the "best-ever" Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, the country which gave golf to the world boasts no fewer than nine top-class professional events throughout 2015 across both the men's and ladies' game.
The spectacular summer kicks off this week in Aviemore when the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge gets underway at Spey Valley GC, marking the 10th year of Visit Scotland support for one of the premier events on the European Challenge Tour. And the action doesn't stop until the end of September when the biggest names in sport and celebrity tee it up in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship to bring an end to another thrilling summer of golf in Scotland.
VisitScotland is investing a total of just over £2 million into eight of these events but, with golf tourism worth an estimated £220m to the economy and supporting around 4,400 jobs, these events ensure Scotland remains at the forefront of world golf.
Following the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge, which is being supported by VisitScotland for the tenth successive year, we turn our attention to the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open Qualifier at North Berwick.
The exciting new event, which will be part of the PGA in Scotland's Tartan Tour schedule, offers five spots in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane on July 9-12.
The Scottish Open itself will attract tens of thousands of spectators to the East Lothian course to watch Justin Rose defend his title against one of the strongest fields of any European Tour event . Not only that, but it will be beamed globally by a network of broadcasters including Sky Sports in the UK and throughout the United States by NBC, all of which helps to promote Scotland, the Home of Golf as a fantastic golf tourism destination.
The jewel in the summer crown will be the 144th staging of The Open Championship at St Andrews, which returns to the Old Course for the first time since 2010. More than 200,000 are expected to attend from 16-19 July to see the likes of Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson battle it out for the sport's oldest and grandest prize.
The last time it was staged at St Andrews, the Open generated £100 million for Scotland, which included a country-wide economic impact of £47.4m and a marketing benefit of £52.6m calculated from global television coverage which presents Scotland as the Home of Golf.
The Open is broadcast on more than 100 channels with a household reach of 505 million. It really is an incredible showcase, not only for St Andrews, but for Scotland as a whole.
We'll barely have time to draw breath following the presentation of the famous Claret Jug before the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open tees off at Dundonald Links, Ayrshire, on 24 July, while the Ricoh Women's Open will be played out in the magnificent surrounds of Trump Turnberry Resort from 30 July to 2 August.
Over the same four days, the European Tour and Paul Lawrie – Scotland's most recent male Major champion – launch the inaugural Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play at Murcar Links, on the outskirts of Lawrie's native Aberdeen.
It will pit 64 of the leading players on The Race to Dubai against each other in a straight knock out, match play contest and will attract thousands of spectators to the North-East.
The action returns to East Lothian from 27-29 August when the Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open comes to Archerfield Links for the first time, while our amazing summer of golf comes to a close with the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns – an event that has previously attracted celebrities such as Samuel L Jackson, Damien Lewis and Shane Warne.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Kid's bedroom - Small bedroom decorating ideas fit for a princess!
Decorating a kid's bedroom doesn't mean you have to skimp on style. In fact, it opens up a whole new world of exciting design possibilities, even for small spaces. It's the perfect excuse to be as bold, brave or as magical as you want. Whether designing for a little girl or teenager, Designbx interior designer, Elise Finnerty, shares top tips on retaining the right interior design style while spoiling your favourite girl… Let the fun begin!
Decorating an amazing room that grows with your child calls for creativity and clever planning. When you begin designing your child's bedroom, it's important to balance function, safety and style.
Consider all the activities that are likely to happen in the room. Will it also serve as a playroom or study? Is there a chance it may eventually become a room for two? Let the activities, items and colours your child loves the most be your guide when you choose furnishings and accessories. After all, it is a room for your little princess and you want them to really enjoy and utilise the space.
Will they need a chair for reading? Plenty of open floor space for blocks and games? Factor in how their interests may change and grow as they get older. Toddlers often need a play table for arts and crafts while a school-age kid may require a desk.
Make sure your plan allows for plenty of room to grow, change and evolve. For example, using a full-sized desk can work for a young child while supervised but they will also be able to use it at an older age; or you could use a shelf and adjust the height as they grow up.
I like to use timeless pieces for the functional parts of the room, and then add personality with decorative elements so you can easily switch the old for new and change the overall theme of the room to suit your child.
Plan and divide the room into activity based zones for easy flow and function.
Planning adequate storage for the room is so important, not just for aesthetics but for functionality as well. You want the room to be used as efficiently as possible so let's make it easy for your child to put things away and ensure the room is inviting, for them and you. Using appropriate storage for each zone also makes it easy for your child to find things and put them all away. Shelves, bins and baskets should be easy to access. Choose storage boxes with a lid to hide any clutter or mess. This will also eliminate distractions when your child is using the room for homework.
Wall hooks are also a great addition for storage as they won't take up much space. And they also offer a massive bonus by assisting your child if they like to play dress-ups.
A storage box or ottoman is great for cushions and blankets as well as toys, and it doubles as a seat too!
3… Texture, pattern and personalisation.
Whether it be a bedhead, cushion, wallpaper or bedspread, using different textures and patterns will make your little girl's room ultra-personal and fun. Also, by keeping other décor items simple, the patterns will not only shine, they'll also last your daughter from childhood through to her teens.
Self-expression is a part of your little one's life, so why hide important personal items that you really like? Display a few items for further personalisation on shelving, bedsides or desks.
Try adding some fluffy and flowy elements like curtains, throws, faux hides, rugs and even canopies, to soften the room and create a luxurious ambience for your princess.
Be sure to refer to the SIDS guidelines when planning your child's rooms, and remember: safety first.
If you are looking for help with small bedroom decorating ideas our design team are ready and waiting to create the perfect hideaway!


'GOODS' means the goods (including any installment of the goods or any parts for them) which the Seller is to supply in accordance with these Conditions.
'SELLER' means Business Image Limited (trading as Masters London) (registered in England under number 04449855).
2.1 The Seller shall sell and the Buyer shall purchase the Goods in accordance with any written quotation of the Seller which is accepted by the Buyer, or any written order of the Buyer which is accepted by the Seller, subject in either case to these Conditions.
2.2 No variation to these Conditions shall be binding unless agreed in writing between the authorized representatives of the Buyer and the Seller.
2.3 The Seller's employees or agents are not authorized to make any representations concerning the Goods unless confirmed by the Seller in writing. In entering into the Contract the Buyer acknowledges that it does not rely on any such representations which are not so confirmed.
3.2 The quantity and description of and any specification for the Goods shall be those set out in the Buyer's order (if accepted by the Seller).
3.3 The Seller reserves the right to make any changes in the specification of the Goods which are required to conform with any applicable statutory or EU requirements or, where the Goods are to be supplied to the Seller's specification, which do not materially affect their quality or performance.
3.4 No order which has been accepted by the Seller may be cancelled by the Buyer except with the agreement in writing of the Seller and on terms that the Buyer shall indemnify the Seller in full against all loss (including loss of profit), costs (including the cost of all labour and materials used), damages, charges and expenses incurred by the Seller as a result of cancellation.
3.5 Samples submitted and illustrations in catalogues or trade literature must be accepted as showing type class and general character only without warranty or guarantee as to substance, performance, colour, size, thickness or shape.
4.1 The price of the Goods shall be the price quoted by the Seller to the Buyer or, where no price has been quoted (or a quoted price is no longer valid), the price listed in the Seller's published price list current at the date of acceptance of the order. Where the Goods are supplied for export from the United Kingdom, the Seller's published export price list shall apply. All prices quoted are valid for 30 days only or until earlier acceptance by the Buyer, after which time they may be altered by the Seller without giving notice to the Buyer.
4.3 Except as otherwise stated under the terms of any quotation or in any price list of the Seller, and unless otherwise agreed in writing between the Buyer and the Seller, all prices are given by the Seller on an ex works basis, and where the Seller agrees to deliver the Goods otherwise than at the Seller's premises, the Buyer shall if the price is less than £350 be liable to pay the Seller's charges for transport, packaging and insurance.
5.1 Subject to any special terms agreed in writing between the Buyer and the Seller, the Seller shall be entitled to invoice the Buyer for the price of the Goods on or at anytime after delivery of the Goods, unless the Goods are to be collected by the Buyer or the Buyer wrongfully fails to take delivery of the Goods, in which event the Seller shall be entitled to invoice the Buyer for the price at any time after the Seller has notified the Buyer that the Goods are ready for collection or (as the case may be) the Seller has tendered delivery of the Goods.
5.3.3 charge the Buyer interest (both before and after any judgment) on the amount unpaid, at the rate of three per cent (3%) per annum above Libor base rate from time to time, until payment in full is made (a part of a month being treated as a full month for the purpose of calculating interest).
6.2 Specific delivery times shall not be contractually binding and the Seller shall not be liable for any delay in the delivery of the Goods however caused. Time for delivery shall not be of the essence of the Contract unless previously agreed by the Seller in writing. The Goods may be delivered by the Seller in advance of the quoted delivery date upon giving reasonable notice to the Buyer.
6.3 If the Seller fails to deliver the Goods (or any installment) for any reason other than any cause beyond the Seller's reasonable control or the Buyer's fault, and the Seller is accordingly liable to the Buyer, the Seller's liability shall be limited to the excess (if any) of the cost to the Buyer (in the cheapest available market) of similar goods to replace those not delivered over the price of the Goods.
7.5 The Buyer shall not be entitled to pledge or in any way charge by way of security for any indebtedness any of the Goods which remain the property of the Seller, but if the Buyer does so, all monies owing by the Buyer to the Seller shall (without prejudice to any other right or remedy of the Seller) forthwith become due and payable.
8.1 Subject to the conditions set out below, the Seller warrants that the Goods will correspond with their specification at the time of delivery and will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of 12 months from the date of delivery.
8.2.3 the above warranty does not extend to parts, materials or equipment not manufactured by the Seller, in respect of which the Buyer shall not be entitled to the benefit of any such warranty or guarantee as is given by the manufacturer to the Seller.
8.3 Subject as expressly provided in these Conditions, and except where the Goods are sold to a person dealing as a consumer (within the meaning of the Unfair ContractTerms Act 1977), all warranties, conditions or other terms implied by statute or common law are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.
8.5 Any claim by the Buyer which is based on any defect in the quality or condition of the Goods or their failure to correspond with specification or a discrepancy in the quantity supplied, shall (whether or not delivery is refused by the Buyer) be notified to the Seller within 10 days from the date of delivery or (where the defect or failure was not apparent on reasonable inspection) within a reasonable time after discovery of the defect or failure. If delivery is not refused, and the Buyer does not notify the Seller accordingly, the Buyer shall not be entitled to reject the Goods and the Seller shall have no liability for such defect or failure, and the Buyer shall be bound to pay the price as if the Goods had been delivered in accordance with the Contract.
8.6 Where any valid claim in respect of any of the Goods which is based on any defect in the quantity or condition of the Goods or their failure to meet specification is notified tothe Seller in accordance with these Conditions, the Seller shall be entitled to replace the Goods (or the part in question) free of charge or, at the Seller's sole discretion, refund to the Buyer the price of the Goods (or a proportionate part of the price), but the Seller shall have no further liability to the Buyer.
8.7 Except in respect of death or personal injury caused by the Seller's negligence, the Seller shall not be liable to the Buyer by reason of any representation (unless fraudulent), or any implied warranty, condition or other term, or any duty at common law, or under the express terms of the Contract, for any indirect, special or consequential loss or damage (whether caused by the negligence of the Seller, its employees or agents or otherwise) which arise out of or in connection with the supply of the Goods or their use or resale by the Buyer, and the entire liability of the Seller under or in connection with the Contract shall not exceed the price of the Goods, except as expressly provided in these Conditions.
9.2 If this clause applies then, without prejudice to any other right or remedy available to the Seller, the Seller shall be entitled to cancel the Contract or suspend any further deliveries under the Contract without any liability to the Buyer, and if the Goods have been delivered but not paid for, the price shall become immediately due and payable notwithstanding any previous agreement or arrangement to the contrary.
10.1 In these Conditions 'Inco terms' means the international rules for the interpretation of trade terms of the International Chamber of Commerce as in force at the date when the Contract is made. Unless the context otherwise requires, any term or expression which is defined in or given a particular meaning by the provisions of Inco terms shall have the same meaning in these Conditions, but if there is any conflict between the provisions of Inco terms and these Conditions, the latter shall prevail.
10.3 The Buyer shall be responsible for complying with any legislation or regulations, including, without limitation, governing the importation and sale of the Goods into the country of destination and for the payment of any duties on them.
10.4 Unless otherwise agreed in writing between the Buyer and the Seller, the Goods shall be delivered on an ex works basis to the Buyer and where the Seller agrees to deliver the Goods otherwise than at the Seller's premises, the Buyer shall in addition pay the Seller's charges for transport, packaging and insurance.
10.6 Payment of all amounts due to the Seller shall be made by irrevocable letter of credit opened by the Buyer in favour of the Seller and confirmed by a bank acceptable to the Seller to be notified by the Seller to the Buyer.
10.7 The Buyer undertakes not to offer the Goods for resale outside the country to which the goods are to be delivered pursuant to clause 10.4 or if there is no place for delivery other than the Seller's works outside the country notified by the Buyer to the Seller as the country in which the Goods are to be sold or any other country notified by the Seller to the Buyer at or before the time the Buyer's order is placed, or to sell the Goods to any person if the Buyer knows or has reason to believe that that person intends to resell the Goods in breach of this clause.
11.1 Any notice required or permitted to be given by either party to the other under these Conditions shall be in writing, addressed to that other party at its registered office or principal place of business or such other address as may at the relevant time have been notified pursuant to this provision to the party giving the notice.


Pope Francis: "Destroying the earth is a sin", and does he say the same about capitalism?
In an earlier video (May 13) below, the Pope's comments on capitalism were the subject of comedian Stephen Colbert poking fun at Bill O'Reilly's claims that there are people trying to appropriate Pope Francis for nefarious socialist aims. Indeed, one might ask how long "progressives" or liberals can talk about the disastrous and increasingly terrifying effects of capitalism on humans and nature, without explicitly demanding the obvious alternative – ecosocialist revolution!


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The 63rd Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida was an endurance sports car racing event held at Sebring International Raceway from March 18-21st. The race was the second round of the 2015 United SportsCar Championship as well as the second of four events in the North American Endurance Cup.

The race was won by Action Express Racing's No. 5 Corvette Daytona Prototype, piloted by Sébastien Bourdais, João Barbosa, and Christian Fittipaldi, finishing a full lap ahead of any else in the field. The Prototype Challenge class was won by the No. 52 entry from PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports piloted by Mike Guasch, Tom Kimber-Smith, and Andrew Palmer, securing their second consecutive victory in the season. In the GT Le Mans class, victory went to Corvette Racing's No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R driven by Antonio García, Ryan Briscoe, and Jan Magnussen. Finally, in GT Daytona, victory went to the No. 23 Porsche 911 GT America from Alex Job Racing and Team Seattle driven by Mario Farnbacher, Ian James, and Alex Riberas, though it only took the lead with roughly four minutes to go when the No. 33 Riley Motorsports Dodge Viper GT3-R suffered overheating issues.

Race result

References

12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
2015 United SportsCar Championship season
2015 in American motorsport

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The luck of the Irish has befallen us this year because St. Patrick's Day is on a Saturday! What exactly does that mean? It means a full day of holiday revelry – and you know how San Diegans like a good holiday!
Probably the largest St. Patty's Day bash will be the Gaslamp Quarter's block party Shamrock! In its 17th year of production the Shamrock crew has gone above and beyond this year to make it a day (and a party) to remember! 80,000 square feet of green astroturf, 3 stages of DJs and River Dancers, and plenty of beer and Jameson Irish Whisky are just some of the features to look forward to at this year's event.
Predominantly located on 5th & 6th streets between E and G Streets, Shamrock will take place from 2:00 – 12:00 pm. General Admission pre-sale tickets are currently at $40 and on-site tickets will be $45 (with a $25 Club VIP upgrade available for those who really take their St. Patty's Day partying seriously!).
Hooley Fest, in San Diego's East County, became so popular they had to split it into two locations. Both the Rancho San Diego (original location) and La Mesa locations will feature live music from 5:00 pm to midnight and plenty of Guinness. A safe ride home will be offered to locations within a five mile radius of each party. Tickets are $15 in advance and $25 day-of. Treat yourself like a Conrí with a $30 VIP ticket that includes seating, special restroom access and a private bar.
Who put an English pub in here? Well, even the English like a good party and the Shakespeare will start things early with a traditional breakfast starting at 7:00 am and live England versus Ireland 6 Nations Rugby coverage at 10:00 am. For later in the day, bain sult as corned beef specials, commemorative t-shirts, live bagpipers and drummers, and the best part, No Cover!
For those wanting to celebrate on a smaller scale, you can always visit your friends at Dublin Square, The Field or Stout Public House. Or, if you just can't stay in one bar for long, check out the San Diego St. Paddy's Day Pub Crawl which starts at Taste & Thirst but gives you $2 drafts, 2-for-1 mixed drinks and $4 shots at over a dozen participating bars in Downtown. Tickets cost $25 and are available online.
Tell us in the comments, how do you usually celebrate Saint Patrick's Day?
I took my wife last week to catch the Cirque du Soliel traveling show Kooza, and our socks were totally blown clean off. The good news is that they are still in town and just launched a new promotion.
For a limited time, you can enjoy 40% off Level 1 and 2 tickets and 30% off Level 3 tickets. To get the offer just CLICK HERE.
The show is really cool because they bring in so many elements so seamlessly. As a music fan I caught myself being distracted from the main show a few times because I was watching the band.
Most Thrilling Moment– Hands down it is the wheel of death. These guys are out of their minds and there were points when my wife buried her head and screeched "I can't watch this!" It is that intense and dangerous, but these amazing performers pull it off night after night.
Head Tilting Moment of the Night – When the contortionists emerge onto the stage you literally cannot tell where one person's body ends and the other begins, or how many bodies there are for that matter.
Most Unique Act- This is a tough call with Cirque, but the unicycle duo was something I had never seen. The setup is simple enough, one guy on a unicycle and a female partner whom he performs lots of lifts with. Think figure skating, but on a unicycle.
There is no shortage of holiday fun to be had here in town, but me — I love a parade. Standing along a street crowded with thousands of my fellow townsfolk, a small child on my shoulders, one strapped to my chest (a new take on "strapping, young man"), watching a big, colorful, musical party go by — that's the reason for the season, you ask me.
Here are three San Diego holiday parades I don't miss.
First up is the North Park Toyland Parade on Saturday, December 5, beginning at 11:00 A.M. The Toyland Parade has been a holiday tradition here in my neighborhood of North Park (cutting down my street, even!) for decades. It features some of San Diego's best local marching bands, dance ensembles, beauty queens, as well as classic cars and lots of fun characters, including the Jolly Man himself: Santa Claus (not pictured below). All in all, a bona fide neighborhood parade showing off the diversity and spirit of the community.
San Diego character, Loch David Crane (not Santa), rides down my street on his famous "Star Trike"
The Toyland Parade will proceed on University Avenue between Idaho and Iowa Streets. Following this parade, children will be invited to visit with Santa between 1:00 and 3:00 P.M. in the Mississippi Room at the Lafayette Hotel on El Cajon Boulevard.
This one you must see up close.
Then there's the holiday parade that takes place in the San Diego Bay. If you like to wander through neighborhoods during the holiday season to check out their festive lights and decorations, how about heading downtown to the waterfront or to the Coronado bayside where you can stay put as the lights and decorations pass you by?
The 38th Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights brings the lights and decorations to you as you sit back and watch a procession of more than 80 decorated boats sail past. The boats are judged on creativity, popularity and spirit, so it's always an entertaining spectacle.
You will have not one but two chances to see the Parade of Lights — once on Sunday, December 13, and again a week later, on December 20. Both parades begin with a BANG, with fireworks displays at 5:30 P.M.
Last but not least, the Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade is just that — a spectacular parade that makes its way downtown along the bayside and features more giant balloons than any other parade in America. Beginning at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, December 30, the Big Bay Balloon Parade will attract thousands of spectators to the waterfront and treat them to a procession of colorful floats, local celebrities, world-class marching bands and drill teams, and other entertainment.
The Big Bay Balloon Parade heralds the Holiday Bowl game which kicks off that evening at 5:00 P.M.
Did I miss your favorite holiday parade? Let me know about it; maybe I'll check it out, too!
30th Annual Ocean Beach Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Saturday, December 5, at 5:05 P.M. — Kids Fun Zone is open from 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. OB Craft Fair starts at 9:00 A.M. Surfers join the dazzling procession down Newport Avenue.
47th Annual Starlight Parade Saturday, December 5, at 6:00 P.M. — The largest nighttime parade in South County lights up Third Avenue between H and E Streets, and features carolers, floats, marching bands and — as if you had any doubt — the hardest-working man in show business: Santa Claus! The Children's Holiday Festival takes place in Memorial Park from 1:00 to 4:40 P.M. followed by the mayor's tree-lighting ceremony at 5:00 P.M.
52nd Annual La Jolla Christmas Parade Sunday, December 6, at 2:00 P.M. — All-day festivities begin as the Kids Zone opens at 11:00 A.M. and culminate with a Christmas tree lighting at 4:30 P.M. and, of course, a traditional flauta-eating contest at Jose's on Prospect Street. Witness the historic Christmas summit meeting as both Santa and the Grinch make appearances!
Gaslamp Quarter Holiday Pet Parade Sunday, December 13, at 3:00 P.M. — Dress up in costume with your pet and head downtown to Hilton Park (next to the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter on 4th Avenue & K Street) for the most festive parade on four legs. Pets and owners, show us your stuff at the Gaslamp Pet Expo taking place in Hilton Park from 1:00 to 5:00 P.M.
Thanks for the heads up, guys. Enjoy the parades!
Every two years San Diego gets a little more exciting as the creative wizards from Cirque du Soleil set up the Gran Chapiteau (French for Big Top) at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. In 2010 they are bringing the traveling show Kooza from February 25 to March 14.
Click Here to get your tickets before they are available to the general public and you receive $10 off.
Act fast, as the presale ends on November 7.
Kooza gives you a great reason to make it a long weekend and come on down to San Diego to enjoy the show and the city.
and stealth fighter jets, as well as simulated combat demonstrations, amazing areal performances and a nighttime show with the Great Wall of Fire and a firework grand finale. I've heard that the wall of fire is AMAZING so I'll be there to check it out this weekend.
Head to Julian this Saturday and Sunday for the 100th Apple Day celebration at the Menghini Winery from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. The event includes apple displays, music and dancing, children's games and activities, gold panning demonstrations, a beer and wine garden, food and merchandise vendors and of course, Julian's famous apple pie. The event costs $5 for adults and children ages 12 and under are free.
SeaWorld gets a little spooky this Saturday with the unveiling of the park's Halloween Spooktacular featuring new shows and festive entertainment. Come see Clyde and Seamore's Trick or Treat, Sesame Street's Countdown to Halloween musical and enjoy special Halloween activities and photo opportunities with characters in costume.
Get your grub on this Saturday during Taste of North Park from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy yummy food samples and refreshing microbrew tastings at restaurants, galleries and boutiques throughout the neighborhood. Tickets for the event are $30 with advanced purchase or $35 day of.


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Das Observatorium San Vittore (Osservatorio San Vittore) ist ein astronomisches Observatorium in Bologna, Italien mit dem Sternwarten-Code 552.

An der Sternwarte wurden bisher (Stand Jan. 2010) 98 Asteroiden entdeckt, sie liegt 280 Meter über dem Meeresspiegel und hat ein 0,45-m-Newton-Spiegelteleskop.

Der am 5. April 1924 in der Landessternwarte Heidelberg-Königstuhl entdeckte Asteroid des äußeren Hauptgürtels (2235) Vittore wurde aufgrund seiner Wiederentdeckung im Jahr 1979 nach dem Observatorium benannt.

Weblinks
 Beschreibung und Bilder (englisch) (abgerufen am 27. März 2013)

Einzelnachweise

San Vittore
Bauwerk in Bologna
Bildung und Forschung in Bologna
Sternwarte in Europa als Namensgeber für einen Asteroiden


text:
Loughborough University Institutional Repository > Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences > Closed Access (Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences) >
Title: Eating disorder examination questionnaire: factor structure for adolescent girls and boys
Authors: White, Hannah J.
Goodwin, Huw
Keywords: EDE-Q
Factor structure
Shape and weight concerns
Preoccupation and eating concern
Citation: WHITE, H.J. ... et al, 2014. Eating disorder examination questionnaire: factor structure for adolescent girls and boys. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 47 (1), pp. 99 -104
Abstract: Objective To examine the factor structure of the EDE-Q among a sample of adolescents. Method A community-based sample of 917 adolescents (522 girls and 395 boys) aged 14-18 years completed the EDE-Q version 6.0 as part of a larger study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two subsamples to enable separate analyses. Results A confirmatory factor analysis on the original four factor model of the EDE-Q produced an inadmissible model with a poor fit. Exploratory factor analysis using principal axis factoring produced an alternative three factor model of the EDE-Q among adolescents. The Shape and Weight Concerns, Restriction and Preoccupation and Eating Concern subscales accounted for 65% of the total variance. Subscale and global scores were significantly higher for girls than for boys. A high proportion of both girls (53.6%) and boys (30.5%) reported participating in at least one key eating disordered behaviour during the previous 28 days. Discussion The results of this study present three new subscales (Shape and Weight Concerns, Restriction and Preoccupation and Eating Concern) which are suggested for use in future research which uses the EDE-Q with community samples of adolescents. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Description: This article is closed access, it was published in the serial International Journal of Eating Disorders [© Wiley]. The definitive version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eat.22199
DOI: 10.1002/eat.22199
Publisher Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eat.22199
Appears in Collections: Closed Access (Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences)
EDEQ Asolescent Factor Structure.pdf Accepted version 196.53 kB Adobe PDF View/Open


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Beata Lewis,
Chicago NCS
AVP, Escrow Officer |
CONTACT BEATA
• 312-223-2747
• beata.lewis@ctt.com
Beata Lewis serves as Assistant Vice President and Escrow Officer for Chicago Title's Chicago National Commercial Services (NCS) operation. Since joining the company in 2010, Beata has experienced closing a variety of commercial transactions spanning from single site transactions to REIT mergers, financing and acquisition of multi-state portfolio of office, retail and multifamily properties. One such transaction resulted in one of the largest 1031 exchanges in the US history. Beata works with a wide range of customers, including domestic and foreign real estate investors, REITs, and pension funds.
The collective expertise offered by our department is unmatched in the industry. We take pride in surpassing our customers' expectations at every step of the closing process by tailoring our approach to every transaction.
Beata received a Master's Degree in English Literature from Loyola University Chicago in 2009, a Master of Letters Degree in Renaissance Studies from University of Strathclyde Glasgow, Scotland in 2003, and a Bachelor's of Arts Degree from Pedagogical University Krakow, Poland in 2002. While she was born and raised in Poland, Beata now considers Chicago her home.
News / Contact / Site Map / Holiday e-card / Privacy Policy (PDF) / California Privacy / Terms of Use / Accessibility


text:
Q: Mouse Cursor Blob in Acemovi Editor Screen Recording In playing back a movie made with the Acemovi Editor Screen Recorder, the existing mouse cursor is surrounded by a semi-opaque large yellow round mouse cursor which may partially hide or conceal objects or text behind it. The mouse is using a Windows Black extra large system scheme, tried with other pointers, no change. Tested the effect with a licensed copy of AceMovi by recording screen activity on two separate machines. A short video of the effect at Youtube.

There doesn't appear to be anything in the program preferences to change it, and the support team apparently have no knowledge of it. Do others experience this, and if so, can we conclude it's an inbuilt feature in the software?

A: Found the Recording Preferences. The blob is the default setting in the Mouse tab.

It is documented, but under Import-Media, and down the page. In the gui, there's no menu item for the recording preferences, but a gear on the recording box- have submitted a request to make it more visible somehow.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Inspire, the Foundation for Inclusion which helps over 1000 individuals with various disabilities including Down Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy and others by providing services and programmes, has recently launched their newly revamped website. The new online space delivers an improved user experience through a simple, clean design with enhanced features, functionality and navigation, enabling visitors to experience Inspire's services.
Designed and developed by the Concept Stadium, the challenge was to create a website that was contemporary in design yet providing easier navigation. In this respect, UX and simplicity were the key focus areas, and as such the revamped website includes mobile-friendly and browser compatibility for convenient multi-device access, a new membership and booking system, and a donations module which enables visitors to easily make donations online and an easier and more intuitive event management pages, while integrating tickets and online payments.
Inspire believes that everyone has a right to equality and inclusion. Their mission is to try to help everyone with a disability achieve this and they do this by providing individuals and their families with educational, therapeutic and leisure services. They also advocate for inclusion, educate the general public, raise awareness among peers, and hold the best knowledge base on disability on the island.
The newly designed website can be accessed through https://inspire.com.mt.


Alma College, founded in 1886, offers a liberal arts education with multiple paths and experiences leading to success. Strong academic programs and a deep regard for students as individuals are fundamental to its residential program. The college's student/faculty ratio of 12-1 ensures an educational experience that's challenging and personal.
80 student organizations and clubs, including Greek life, academic honor societies, special-interest groups, club sports, religious-interest groups, volunteering, student media and more.


Join 23andMe at ICHG/ASHG 2011 for Drinks and a Chance to Win an Exome!
The world's top scientists and researchers in human genetics will gather in Montreal next week for ICHG/ASHG 2011 to discuss the latest breakthroughs in this rapidly changing field. To ensure that everyone stays hydrated, 23andMe invites attendees to a mixer at a microbrewery in Montreal. We'll also be giving away a free exome sequence to one lucky participant!


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Hornbach's DIY retail sales up 4.9 per cent in the first half of the year
Online share 14.8 per cent
(Source: Hornbach Baumarkt AG)
For the first six months of 2022, the DIY store operator reports an increase in sales.
German company Hornbach, with its 169 DIY and garden centres (as of 31 August 2022) and online shops in nine European countries, increased net sales by 4.9 per cent in the first half of 2022 (March to August) compared with the same period last year. Sales amounted to EUR 3.2368 bn. Like-for-like and currency-adjusted growth amounted to 1.9 per cent.
Net sales at Hornbach DIY stores in Germany rose by 1.4 per cent to EUR 1.6017 bn. Like-for-like sales rose by 0.9 per cent. Sales outside Germany grew by 8.6 per cent to EUR 1.6351 bn. The foreign share of sales thus increased from 48.8 per cent to 50.5 per cent. On a like-for-like basis and adjusted for exchange rate effects, sales in the other European countries grew by 2.9 per cent.
Online sales (including click & collect) accounted for 14.8 per cent of Hornbach's total DIY store sales in the first half of the financial year. This compares with 9.6 per cent in the same period of the 2019/20 financial year. Compared with the same period in the previous year, in which stationary sales were still limited in some regions, demand for click & collect in particular was significantly lower, as was expected, according to the company, and has returned to normal. Sales from direct mail were only slightly below the previous year. Overall, online sales in the first half of the year fell by 19.1 per cent year-on-year to EUR 479.8 mio.
"The focus of customers on optimising their homes continued during the summer months. In particular, projects to improve energy efficiency were increasingly addressed in some regions. In view of the ongoing challenges relating to inflation and supply chains, we continued to deliver on our promise of being a reliable partner for our private and professional customers in all refurbishment and renovation projects," Erich Harsch, Chairman of the Board of Management of Hornbach Baumarkt AG, commented on the figures.
The overall Group, which also includes a builders' merchant division, generated sales of EUR 3.4633 bn in the first half of the year. This was 5.2 per cent more than in the same period last year. The like-for-like and currency-adjusted growth of 28.7 per cent in a 3-year comparison underlines the significant acceleration in growth during the Covid pandemic, the company said.
Strong growth abroad
Hornbach stores post 6.4 per cent growth after three quarters
The DIY stores of the German retailer Hornbach increased their net sales by 6.4 per cent to EUR 4…
Distribution22. December 2022
Regional report: Southeast Asia (Part 2)
Falling in love with sustainability
Conscious consumerism and ethical trade are a strong trend in Southeast Asia's home improvement …
DIY stores post double-digit growth
German garden market down 8.4 per cent year-on-year in the first half of the year
The garden market in Germany shrank in the first half of the year. Compared to the same period last…
Garden11. November 2022


Discover the wonders of Wiltshire and the beauty of Bath on our World Heritage site trail around this beautiful County! We'll explore a wonderfully English Country House, draw our own conclusions at the mystical site of Stonehenge and spend a day in beautiful, Roman Bath.
Bath - Enjoy a day in the World Heritage Site of Bath, famous the world over for its naturally hot spa water and original Roman style baths. We have included a guided tour before some free time at leisure in the city. There's also lots of shopping, restaurants, pubs and historical sites ensuring there is something here to entertain everyone!
Avebury Manor & Stonehenge - This morning we head to the 500 year old Avebury Manor, as seen in the recent TV series, "The Manor Reborn". Avebury reflects a different era in each room, recreating the different periods of an English country house. Our afternoon offers included entrance and free time to explore the mystic Stonehenge, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.


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High 5: Pop & Chip With A Neighborhood Icon
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — Every Wednesday for the past 16 years, kids have flocked to Buck Conder's house in South Jordan for a tradition known as Pop & Chip.
"We picked a day, Wednesday, and then I was going to quit and they got mean and ugly about it."
It's a simple offering, bringing together a neighborhood. While some come for the snacks, other come for the stories.
"He was in the Vietnam War, and he tells me about that and his childhood," neighbor Cade Swensen says.
"He told us once that he didn't have his first soda pop until he was like in high school and he wanted other people to have that opportunity," says neighbor Zach Kirkham.
An Army vet, Buck has seen many hard things in his life.
"I got shot up pretty bad," he says. " Yeah, I've got three Purple Hearts over there."
The flags in his yard are a reminder of friends lost in Vietnam.
"My second month over there in December of 1966, we ran into an ambush and there were 35, and 27 were killed."
And before that: "I was in Germany in 1961 when the Berlin Wall went up and my unit was there."
While Buck is known for his stories, he's also known for being a good neighbor.
"Buck makes this neighborhood feel like there is unconditional love no matter what, no matter where you come from you're loved," says Apryll Carter.
Which is why when word got out that he was getting the KSL High 5, everyone wanted to be a part of it.
"You are the perfect example of the High 5 and what it's about," KSL's Shara Park says. "Its about celebrating those in our community making a difference, and we can't thank you enough for doing that and making such a difference to them as well."
We also had a little surprise for Buck from our friends at America First Credit Union.
"You've obviously had a great influence on those who are here present today, and as a thank you we would like to present you with a $500 gift card from America First, thank you for all you do and the positive influence you are."
So why does Buck do this? Why buy the pop and chips each week, and wait for the little ones to come?
The answer is simple: It's friendship.
"Every time I leave he always says thanks for being my friend, and it's really happy for me," Julia Thompson says.
"He teaches them how to be a friend, he teaches them what to listen for, he teaches them how to care about other people, how to have a friendship, how to be a true person who cares about other people," says Lynette Williams.
If there's a lesson in life you want them to know, what is that?
Buck answers, "Just be nice."
High 5: Gigi's Playhouse
A playhouse in Layton that's providing more than a place to play!
27 Nov 2017 5 Dec 2017
High 5: "For the Kids" delivers food to families in need
Too many Utah kids go to bed hungry. The statistics are startling. But one organization is doing its best to change that.
12 Oct 2017 7 Feb 2018
High 5: His work gives old bicycles and troubled youth a second chance
He's very skilled at restoring old bicycles but it's how he uses that talent to serve others that captured our attention.
27 Jul 2017 3 Nov 2017
High 5: Utah teen on a mission to save lives of animals
An aspiring veteran, a 13-year-old Utah girl is getting her career started early by looking out for troubled pets in her neighborhood.
High 5: A life-changing homework assignment, not from a teacher
He's not a teacher but the homework assignment he gives students at Highland Junior High School in Ogden is making a difference.
6 Jun 2017 27 Jul 2017
High 5: A neighborhood treasure delivering weekly acts of service
His is a small act of kindness but his consistency and effort is making a big difference in one Utah neighborhood. That's why many refer to Daren Bradshaw as a treasure.
30 May 2017 27 Jul 2017
High 5: Kearns band teacher giving much more than music lessons
His students say he's an inspiration to all. A band teacher at Kearns High School is giving kids much more than music lessons. He's shaping their lives in a way that's deserving of a KSL Today High 5.
High 5: Military Child of the Year has long list of accolades
Operation Homefront just honored a Utah teen with the Military Child of the Year award. We found out there's plenty of reasons why Jamal Braxton is a very deserving recipient.
High 5: seeing a need, half a world away
Meet Mckenzie Clark who is leading the charge to help people half a world away see.
22 Apr 2017 3 May 2017


Q: Are there any on-campus apartments for students?
A: The Circle and Garden Apartments are fully furnished, independent living options for students who have completed at least one year at Ithaca.
The Circles are air conditioned, carpeted, private-entrance units, while the Garden Apartments have a small kitchen, bathroom, and living/sleeping area, and either a patio or balcony.
Incoming students may live in a single, double, or triple room in any of the other residence halls on campus.
You may also apply to participate in the First-Year Residence Hall Program.


text:
Ruby's Luck
Winner of Canvey Writers first in-house Short Story Competition, 2016.
Editor's Note: This story was chosen as the winner by a group of writers on Canvey Island who voted on a selection of short stories inspired by the theme: The Gift. We had all kinds of stories using the theme in many different ways, but this was chosen because of its unusual theme and one that whetted a few appetites. Part of the prize was publication on this site. So do enjoy…
Ruby's Luck
Vicky Jacobson
Ruby picked herself up from the gutter where she'd landed and scowled as the battered old doors of the pub swung shut behind her. She'd been caught trying to dip a customer and the landlord had thrown her out. Not that he had anything against a spot of pickpocketing, he was happy enough to take a cut of what she lifted when she worked his premises, but she'd committed the sin of getting caught.
"I can't be seen to condone robbing the customers, girl – it's bad for business," he'd said as he'd manhandled her towards the door.
Cold rain was falling from the sky now, lashing the cobblestones and running through the filthy gutter as Ruby straightened and wiped her muddy hands on her dress. She had to get out of the rain. She turned towards The Ten Bells further down the street where, hopefully, trade might be a bit better. Barely into November and already the temperature was falling fast; at this rate, there'd be snow on the ground before Christmas. Ruby shivered in the night air and pulled her shawl tighter round her shoulders.
Pushing open the door to The Bells, Ruby entered the smoky room, grateful for the warmth from the hearth. She looked around to see whether there were any likely punters about and, seeing a face she recognised, made her way across the room towards him.
"Hi, handsome," she said, "wanna buy a girl a drink."
"Sorry, sweetheart, I'm flat broke – no chink at all," he replied, shaking his pockets.
"Not even enough for a tuppenny upright, darling."
Ruby leaned in close to whisper these words, she had to be careful, the landlord had warned her before about soliciting and she knew he'd throw her out into the cold, rainy night if he caught her.
"Sorry," shrugged the man and turned back to his beer.
Ruby moved away, scanning the crowded room for fresh meat. She spotted a man in a long, dark astrakhan coat on the other side of the room and, even from this distance, she could see he was dressed well. She turned and started to head in his direction but was pulled up short as the landlord caught her by the arm.
"'Ere, if you're touting for trade, out you go."
"I've just come in to get warm and get out of the rain, John," she replied, pulling her arm free but when she looked back towards the toff in the corner, she saw he'd disappeared and swore softly.
Later that night, Ruby was still walking the streets. In the past, she'd always seemed to have a gift for attracting good luck – which she thought, maybe, was to make up for her beginnings. A foundling, she'd been brought up in an orphanage and put to work at the age of seven. There was never enough to eat and the regular beatings had left her with a scar to one side of her face and a slight limp. Hardly surprising then that she'd taken off as soon as she was old enough. She knew she wasn't unique; there must have been thousands of kids like her – but, as she'd grown older, she'd begun to notice that, somehow, things always seemed to go in her favour. Life had never been easy but whenever it started to get really desperate, something always turned up. She thought back to the time when, unwell and unable to work, she'd found half-a-crown lying on the pavement – just as her money had run out. The gin hadn't stopped flowing that night and Ruby chuckled at the memory and thanked her guardian angel for working so hard. Of course, the unexpected windfall didn't last long, but there'd always – so far at least – been a next time.
The rain was falling steadily now but Ruby's luck had yet to put in an appearance. She'd been in one pub after another and had walked the streets in between for hours but had found no takers.
Finally though, weaving along Commercial Street, she saw, up ahead, the well-dressed man who had been in The Bells earlier and thought perhaps her luck was kicking in at last. He was standing on the corner outside The Brit and now wore a soft felt hat pulled down over his eyes. She felt a quick flash of hope that, maybe, standing there was her night's rent and she picked up her pace. Before she could reach him, though, Mary from Miller's Court rounded the corner of Dorset Street and they'd started chatting.
Mary was young and good-looking with blonde hair; always well-turned out she invariably wore a spotless, white apron. Tonight, on this dreary night, she added a bright splash of colour in a red shawl. Ruby had to admit that, given a choice between the two of them, she knew which she'd choose if she were the cove.
She saw him put a hand on Mary's shoulder; they laughed and then turned to walk down the street together. Watching her night's lodging disappear with another judy, Ruby pressed her lips together as a stab of anger shot through her. She knew that Mary, at least, had a room of her own and wouldn't need to come out again tonight whereas without doss money Ruby, herself, had nowhere to go.
The rain was falling heavily now and Ruby needed to find shelter. It was past two in the morning and she knew there wasn't much chance of picking up any business now, especially with this weather. The few farthings she'd had in her pocket had been enough for a couple of drinks and the cheap booze would help to keep her warm as she resigned herself to sleeping in a covered passageway she'd used before. She sighed, and wrapping herself up as best she could, settled down for the night in the entrance to one of the many courtyards in the rookery, where at least it was dry.
Tonight, her luck seemed to have deserted her entirely and Ruby was afraid that she might have lost her gift for good.
She slipped into an uneasy, dreamless sleep. Somewhere around four o'clock, she was roused from her slumber by shouting from someplace close by. That wasn't unusual for Dorset Street though and as it quickly fell silent again, she soon drifted back to sleep. She slept on, fitfully, for another couple of hours; then the night cops found her and turfed her out.
Ten days later, Ruby joined the vast throng outside St Leonard's Church in Shoreditch for the funeral of Mary Jane Kelly – latest victim of The Ripper. People – even those who couldn't possibly have known her – were openly weeping and men held hats clutched in their hands as the coffin appeared. The whole city had been shocked by the reports of Mary's death and thousands had turned out to pay their respects to this poor young woman who had met such a tragic end.
Ruby was there, not only because she'd known, and liked, Mary but also because she knew that if Mary hadn't rounded the corner when she did, the body now lying in that coffin would have been hers.
Clutching a posy of wild flowers picked from the churchyard, she followed the funeral cortege, along with what appeared to be the rest of the East End. They were headed for St Patrick's Catholic cemetery on the outskirts of the city, in Leytonstone, where Mary Kelly would be laid to rest.
She stood back from the graveside in the chill afternoon air for a very long time until all the other mourners had left and the grave had been filled in. Finally, when she was completely alone, she stepped forward and placed her small bundle of flowers on the fresh mound of earth marking the grave.
"God bless Mary, rest in peace and thank you," she whispered.
Ruby was happy that she still had her gift and that it had been protecting her all along. She would always be sorry that, this time, the price of her good fortune had been someone else's life but she was grateful for the second chance and determined not to waste it, if only for Mary's sake.
The man in the astrakhan coat had been in the paper after the killing and Ruby thought she probably knew who the Ripper was. Speaking out definitely wasn't a risk she could afford to take, though – not only was it very doubtful she would be believed, it was also extremely likely to get her killed.
Ruby needed to leave Whitechapel that much was clear. Following the hearse through London, she'd seen the slums, with its dirty hovels and dingy alleys, fall away behind as the streets ahead improved mile by mile.
She knew nothing about Leytonstone but Ruby was an enterprising girl and, eyeing up her surroundings, quickly decided that it would do. Besides, she thought, with a shrewd smile, something was bound to turn up – it usually did.
Vicky is a retired legal secretary with two grown-up children. She has always had a desire to write but only really got started when she joined Canvey Writers earlier this year. This story was chosen by the group as the WINNER of their first in-house writing competition in 2016. Vicky's previous story published on this site, Dialling 999 has been selected for The Best of CafeLit 5 and will be her first publication.
Labels: Bloody Mary, Canvey Writers, Ruby's Luck, Vicky Jacobson, Winning Story
Elvis's son
100 Worder: Glint
100 Worder In Deep


DES MOINES, Iowa — One day after his attorneys traded barbs with the Michigan Attorney General Office, former Michigan State University Interim President John Engler was in Des Moines, watching his alma mater play basketball.
But, he wasn't answering questions.
Engler was seated near the front of Section 103 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Thursday afternoon prior to Michigan State's first-round men's NCAA tournament game against Bradley.
He sidestepped questions from a USA TODAY Network reporter on whether he was willing to be interviewed by Michigan Attorney General investigators and his planned return date to Michigan (or whether he planned on returning to the state at all).
He referred all comments to his legal team.
On Tuesday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel went on the offensive against Engler, writing MSU board chairwoman Dianne Byrum a letter, demanding the school force Engler to sit for an interview.
On Wednesday, Engler's attorney wrote back to an Assistant Attorney General, Christina Grossi, saying he's been willing to talk all along and it was the attorney general's office that volunteered to come to Washington, D.C., to interview him and ultimately canceled the interview.
The spat arose after Nessel took over for former Attorney General Bill Schuette, who was using a special investigator to look at MSU and its handling of the Larry Nassar scandal. Several MSU employees, including former President Lou Anna Simon have been criminally charged in the probe.
Nessel wants to interview Engler. She claimed in her Tuesday letter Engler told her he wouldn't be interviewed anywhere other than Washington, and claimed he wouldn't be back in Michigan in the near future. Nessel was upset then when she saw Engler sitting courtside at MSU's game against the University of Michigan.
"In addition to our concern that Mr. Engler might be attempting to manipulate the forum of his interview to insulate himself from the repercussions of it, I am equally concerned about the message this sends to both the (Larry) Nassar survivors and the community-at-large," says the letter, sent Tuesday to Byrum and obtained by the Detroit Free Press via a Freedom of Information Act request.
"We must lead from the top," it says. "The reluctance of the former interim president of the University to cooperatively participate in a law enforcement investigation into the largest sexual assault scandal in the history of higher education — yet happily sit court-side to watch the men's basketball team on multiple occasions — speaks volumes about allegations of a culture of indifference on campus."
Engler's lawyer, Seth B. Waxman, fired back on Wednesday, calling for the assistant prosecutor handling the case to step aside and accused the AG's office of bias.
Waxman says that on March 4, the two sides finalized a meeting for March 28 in Washington, where Engler has worked in business leadership roles after serving as Michigan governor.
'brazen disregard' for the investigation and was not acting in 'good faith,' among other libelous statements," the letter from Waxman says. "Mr. Engler agreed to the interview, that interview date is nine days away, and there is nothing more a witness can do before meeting voluntarily and answering questions."
The letter claims the two sides had also agreed that Engler was not a target of the investigation.
"Your outrage about Mr. Engler's travels is similarly surprising and misplaced. Since early February 2019, I have been communicating with you about making Mr. Engler available for a voluntary interview," Waxman's letter said. "At no time did I represent that Mr. Engler would not travel to Michigan as we discussed scheduling. Mr. Engler owns a home in Michigan. He has family in Michigan. It stands to reason that he would and does travel to Michigan when his schedule permits doing so.
"There has been no effort to hide that on two occasions Mr. Engler traveled to Michigan on weekends to see Michigan State University basketball games. Yet, you scurrilously allege that Mr. Engler somehow acted improperly by attending those events, as if he attended in disguise. He is not a criminal defendant. He is not under the supervision of a court. You penalize and criticize Mr. Engler for exercising his unrestricted right to travel and, as do hundreds of millions of Americans, enjoy college basketball games."


Selena Gomez on the cover of Harper's Bazaar wearing a striped Dolce and Gabbana jumpsuit.
Selena is sitting poolside in a gorgeous Oscar de la Renta bathing suit and light pink umbrella.
Selena poses in front of a white background in the same Dolce and Gabbana jumpsuit as her cover.
Selena is playful wearing a coral Dior mini with light pink heels.
A little over a year ago, singer Selena Gomez was appearing in almost every teen magazine imaginable, now, the 20-year-old has landed on the cover of high-fashion magazine, Harper's Bazaar.
In an interview for their April issue, Selena opens up about getting older, her friends, and yes, even Justin Bieber. When asked about the attention her on again, off again relationship has garnered, Selena responded, "So to make it as normal as possible-in such an abnormal lifestyle-was super important to both of us. Which was great ... " she trails off. "That's how it should be."
Selena's new movie, Spring Breakers is a huge departure from her Disney Channel days. The film is about four college girls who land in jail after robbing a restaurant in order to fund their spring break. When asked how she felt about turning 20, Selena replied, "I'm getting older, though I don't look it at all-I hate it now, but I'll love it later."
Click through the gallery above to see photos from Selena's cover shoot!


1. First year flowering with absolutely no bulking benefit or vernalization requirements.
2. Profuse blooming spring through fall.
3. Little to no-photoperiodic requirement which means first leucanthemum in color to market.


text:
October 2, 2020|In Indie Rock, Videos, Video|2 Minutes
Music Video: "All about now" by Two Weeks in Nashville
"All about now" by Two Weeks in Nashville
UK based indie rockers Two Weeks in Nashville come to us with the electrifying and refreshingly inspiring musical gem that is "All about now". With this exquisitely crafted soundscape, the guys give us a much-needed reminder that while the past and the future matter, sometimes we need to focus on the now and enjoy at best possible with those that matter most to us. It's a passionate push for humanity to go beyond the excuses and the reasons why not to do something and simply realize that life just requires us to push forward and make the present the most magical moment possible. Life is not a script and nothing is set in stone but at least you can live each moment wholeheartedly and really be part of it. Enjoy!
"'All About Now' is about when people come together and live in the moment. This was the first song and starting point for the album. It was only after recording it on our first trip to Nashville that we thought we had found a sound and direction. Nashville is such a happening place; it's a music city and is very positive and the people are very loving. We wanted to write something that channels and spreads that message and the feeling we had! It's all about us; it's all about love, it's all about now." – Billy LeRiff of Two Weeks in Nashville
More of Two Weeks in Nashville


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Carl Safina On The B.P. Oil Spill In his new book A Sea in Flames ocean conservationist and writer Carl Safina looks back at the events surrounding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Carl Safina On The B.P. Oil Spill
Heard on Talk of the Nation
In his new book A Sea in Flames ocean conservationist and writer Carl Safina looks back at the events surrounding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Related NPR Stories
Gulf Oil Spill: Complete Coverage Oct. 17, 2011
Blowout Preventer Theory Debated In Oil Spill Inquiry April 5, 2011
Calling 2010 'Best Year' On Safety Was Mistake, Gulf Oil Rig Owner Admits April 4, 2011
IRA FLATOW, host:
You're listening to SCIENCE FRIDAY. I'm Ira Flatow.
Up next, the BP oil spill one year later. It seems like yesterday. It was April 20, 2010, when we first got the news of a blowout on an oil well in the Gulf of Mexico. At that time, I don't think many of us knew just what that meant or could have predicted how long it would take.
It took months and a lot of jerry-rigged equipment to stop the oil flowing from that damaged well. And we learned a lot of new terms in the days after the blowout: junk shots, relief wells, things like that. And we learned about dispersants and booms and tar balls, and we watched this drama unfold in what felt like slow motion last spring and summer.
And watching along with us was my next guest, and he's written a book about his observations and about his changed - and how he's changed his mind about what he thought was happening in those first days of the crisis.
Carl Safina is president and co-founder of the Blue Ocean Institute. He also is the host of the PBS series "Saving the Oceans with Carl Safina." His new book is "A Sea in Flames: The Deepwater Horizon Oil Blowout." He's with us here in our New York studios. Welcome back to SCIENCE FRIDAY.
Dr. CARL SAFINA (Author: "A Sea in Flames"): Thanks, Ira, great to be here again.
FLATOW: Very interesting book. It's almost like you're just telling us a story and how your mind is changing and what you're thinking along the time.
Dr. SAFINA: Well, that's the whole point of the book was to try to really bring everybody there with me. And it was a very changeable situation, and it really still is.
FLATOW: And there were - as I'm reading through the book, and you're describing it, there are certain passages near the end of the book that you talk about you changed your mind about certain personalities in the book and certain situations.
Dr. SAFINA: Yeah, I was really angry all summer long at the Coast Guard. And, well, I was really angry all summer long about a lot of things. But my mind changed particularly about the Coast Guard because I came to appreciate later how much their hands were tied by the law.
They're - you know, they're required to enforce the law, and the law says that the spiller is in charge of the cleanup. All summer long, I thought there were many opportunities for the Coast Guard to kind of shove BP out of the way now that the oil was all over everything.
I mean, BP had a license to drill a hole in the ground, not to pollute the whole Gulf of Mexico, and at that point, I thought that really the federal government should step in and federalize it.
But what I didn't quite realize until later was how much the Coast Guard's options were limited by the law.
FLATOW: And did you get an idea of who actually helped write the law? I mean, could it have been the oil companies that helped write the law in this?
Dr. SAFINA: Well, the law was written after the Exxon Valdez, and it was really based on the model of a big boat hits something, it rips open, it spills the oil that's in it. You know how much oil there is, you know who spilled it, they have to go clean it up.
And that made a lot of sense, and it's worked, you know, pretty well in a lot of spills. Nobody envisioned that, 20 years after that law, we would be drilling in water a mile deep, and there could be a leak, and the oil companies would have absolutely no idea what to do about a leak in their own pipe in their own oil well.
FLATOW: And you talk about meeting Thad Allen, who was in charge of the cleanup.
Dr. SAFINA: Yeah.
FLATOW: And how your views changed about him when you met him.
Dr. SAFINA: Yes, when I got to meet him and really, you know, put directly to him, right across the table, some of the things that I was most furious about -you know, the Coast Guard at one point made it a felony to go near some of these booms. And the booms for the most part were so silly. They really weren't doing anything.
And it seemed to me part of the orchestrated attempt to keep a lot of people away from seeing what was going on, and there was certainly a lot of that.
BP and the guards that BP hired, they were harassing people. They were harassing anybody who had a camera, anybody who looked a little too interested. And it seemed like the Coast Guard was in cahoots.
But Allen explained that the idea behind that was that people had actually been - I couldn't believe that, and it's still hard to imagine - people had actually been tampering a lot with the booms and breaking these lines of booms to get boats in and out.
FLATOW: You also said that when - there were so many choppers in the air that they might be hitting each other, news choppers and things.
Dr. SAFINA: Right. That was another thing. They had eight really near-collisions in midair. So they closed the area around there to most flight.
And so this looked and felt when I was there, including to the aviation company, like a giant conspiracy to keep everybody away. And I think it was probably a contained conspiracy to keep people away. And I think the Coast Guard was trying to manage a situation it was finding, in many ways, unmanageable. And there were some unintended consequences.
Thad Allen did say in a written edict that, despite this idea of a felony to get near the booms, that nobody should be prevented from going and seeing what was going on. No reporters should be harassed or detained, and it should be completely open unless there is a possibility for some sort of safety hazard.
Well, of course, in the enforcement of that, anybody can decide in the spur of the moment that there's a safety hazard. So as he explained to me at the end of our conversations, often what looks like a giant conspiracy is just a lot of incompetence colliding with each other. And I found his seeming honesty and his humility rather convincing.
FLATOW: 1-800-989-8255 is our number. We're chatting with Carl Safina, author of the new book, "A Sea in Flames: The Deepwater Horizon Oil Blowout." You can also tweet us @scifri, @-S-C-I-F-R-I.
Another major player, Jane Lubchenco.
Dr. SAFINA: Yes.
FLATOW: You also said you had a change of heart a bit about her role in this.
Dr. SAFINA: Well, less a change of heart. I mean, I have a lot of respect for Dr. Lubchenco, and I've known her for a long time, since the mid-'90s. So usually when we see each other, we're on a first-name basis.
And I could see the incredible strain she was under to try to find out what was really going and to try to say and do the right things.
But there were times when I thought she was threading the needle a little too closely and parsing words a little too finely and getting a little confusing.
But what was more confusing than what she was putting out was what other people in the government and in the media were saying about what her agency was putting out. There was a tremendous amount of misinterpretation.
FLATOW: Such as? Give us an example.
Dr. SAFINA: Well, for instance, they put out a somewhat confusing pie chart showing where the oil was at that period of time last summer. A certain percent was in the water. A certain percent had evaporated. A certain percent had washed ashore.
And her agency is NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, but the head of the EPA comes out and says, in a news conference, well, NOAA says that all the oil is gone.
FLATOW: I remember when she said that.
Dr. SAFINA: And, you know, people were very, very angry at Jane Lubchenco, but her agency had in fact said no such thing at all, not even close. And then some of the writers who were actually looking at the pie chart seemed to really just misread it.
And, I mean, I have the verbiage right in the book word for word, and it's incredible how much misinterpretation there could be. There were some things about it that were not that clear, but it got - you know, it just got sort of out of control. The confusion was amazing.
FLATOW: And you also talk about the White House, and White House spokesman Robert Gibbs sort of being tone-deaf about what Americans needed to hear from the White House. The wrong message was coming out.
Dr. SAFINA: Yeah, I mean, the people in the Gulf needed - they needed time to grieve. They didn't need to be told that everything was OK. And even though, in fact, a lot of things have played out better than our worst fears, there are still people there who are sick. And I think we're starting to appreciate this more now, that what may have looked like we completely dodged a bullet is looking like - there are quite a few wounded people still, and there's still -despite the fact that many of the fish and shrimp survived and are still there, the prices are really depressed.
You know, there's some concern on the part of consumers about whether the food is tainted and those kinds of things. So people are still - you know, it's not just that the place bounced back. There are still people who are really feeling it.
FLATOW: 1-800-989-8255. Mary(ph) in Arnold. Where's Arnold, Mary?
MARY (Caller): It's in Maryland, near Annapolis.
FLATOW: Aha. Go ahead.
MARY: I wanted to comment on the authority to order BP to take action. And earlier in the discussion were talking it'll be probably about OPA(ph) and that BP had (unintelligible) to clean up the spill.
I think that they're - and I'd like to think about this - another source of authority for the federal government to have used, had it chosen to, that would have allowed it to direct BP in the cleanup and the control of the leaking gas, and that is the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
Section 7,003 gives the federal government, via the Environmental Protection Agency, the power to address any release of hazardous or solid waste that might cause imminent and substantial endangerment, which is actually legally not a particularly high standard to meet and certainly would have been met in the situation.
It did allow the EPA to direct the entity responsible, to direct cleanup in the control of the release. It's rarely used, in part because (technical difficulties)...
FLATOW: Let me get a reaction, because...
MARY: Mm-hmm.
FLATOW: Good question.
Dr. SAFINA: I didn't mean to imply that the federal government could not have done more or responded quite differently. I think it's pretty clear. My strong impression is that the Obama administration was terrified to use the powers that it might have called upon to get everybody else out of the way and federalized the cleanup because after what happened with Hurricane Katrina and with, you know, the lack of expertise in dealing with something like this, I think they were terrified that all the failure would be heaped directly upon them if they took it over, and I think that that's why they decided not to. I think they probably could have.
FLATOW: Mistake, do you think? (Unintelligible)
Dr. SAFINA: I don't know, because I don't know how they might have done it. You know, BP really just doesn't do much, except hire contractors. And in a real way the federal government, if they knew which contractors they simply wanted to hire to do that kind of work, they could have done it. But I think the risk of doing a lot that really didn't work and that wasted a lot of time and money was very high.
In fact, I think that the way that BP conducted its activities all summer wasted an absolutely staggering amount of time and money doing things that made absolutely no difference.
FLATOW: Such as?
Dr. SAFINA: Dragging booms around, putting booms on shrimp boats and having them drive through oil slicks, where the water just went right over them. I mean, I have aerial pictures that I took myself of all of the oily water going directly over the boom, and it looks like the boats are just stirring it. And they spent millions, I would say, sending thousands of people out day after day going around in circles. And I think it was just giving them something to do so they wouldn't riot, really, quite frankly.
FLATOW: Do we know what happened to the oil?
Dr. SAFINA: Not exactly. But we do know that some of it is in the water, a lot of it dissipated in various ways. Microbes ate a lot of it. It got diluted in the vast volume of the Gulf of Mexico. Some of it evaporated. Some of it came onshore. Some of it is in the sediment. It did a lot of things in different directions, and some of it is still coming up in the places especially that were heavily oiled, where it's - some of it is sitting on the seafloor, and you know, when the water stirs it, it comes back.
FLATOW: If we have a hurricane season again and there are big hurricanes in the Gulf, could that bring some of that oil?
Dr. SAFINA: Yeah. You - I would say you would certainly see some of it. I don't - I wouldn't expect you would see thick mats of it that - you know, I mean I don't think the future of that could be worse than it was at the height of it.
FLATOW: Talking with Carl Safina, author of "A Sea in Flames: The Deepwater Horizon Oil Blowout" on SCIENCE FRIDAY from NPR. I'm Ira Flatow.
So what are the take-home lessons from now we've had a year to think about it?
Dr. SAFINA: Oh, there are so many. For one thing, we had 30 years of incredibly advancing sophistication with deep drilling and absolutely no attention on what to do if there's a leaking pipe.
It is an oil well, after all. You would think that they would know how to catch the oil if some of it started leaking. A lot of that was actually mandated in Congress after the Exxon Valdez, that we were supposed to put money into developing ways of picking up oil out of seawater and almost all of that was slashed from budget after budget and totally defunded.
FLATOW: The NOAA budget?
Dr. SAFINA: The - yeah. Well, yes, the NOAA budget, right. And I think that the reason that that happened was part of this same very board sweep of deregulation that has - I would say - afflicted us now for the last 30 years, and so I see the banking collapse and the bailout and this blowout as part of one enormous gesture to make it very hard, if not impossible, for the government to protect the long-term public interests while in fact aiding the shorter-term narrow interests.
FLATOW: Killer bees.
(Soundbite of laughter)
Dr. SAFINA: Well, so I think that's one. The other thing is that the main problem with oil and other fossil fuels is not the oil that we spill, because that does eventually dissipate. It's the oil that we burn which is actually causing the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to concentrate, and that is creating an imbalance in the heat budget of the entire planet. It's acidifying the oceans, and it's creating enormous and unprecedented long-term problems globally that everybody will have to deal with in a variety ways.
The other thing is that the more concentrated you make energy, the more concentrated you make the risks, and accidents always happen. They will happen again.
FLATOW: Are we making any - are the new oil leases that are coming out again, are they - do they have better blowout preventers on them now? Or do they have better drilling, you know, techniques than they had before?
Dr. SAFINA: They have better oversight of their plans. I don't think that they would get away with just having walruses in the plans for the Gulf of Mexico because people in the past just didn't even bother to read those plans. They have better oversight. They broke up the oversight service so that the enforcement and the oversight is different from the part of it that is supposed to encourage more resource extraction.
So that is better, but the blowout preventers, we only learned a few weeks ago that fundamentally in the design of this blowout preventer, the force of the blowout caused the pipe to bend slightly. It was off center by about an inch, and that seems to have prevented the blowout from being able to - I mean, the preventer from being able to actually shear the pipes. So fundamentally, that's the same. There's no more hardware than there was to deal what I think within be an inevitable reoccurrence at some point.
The damage cap is still $75 million. BP has spent billions of dollars that they didn't - they weren't required by law to spend. And another oil company just decides not to do it or does it in a place where they're not so many people, they're just not required to pay much, and Congress decided not to up that cap, which to me is astonishing. It's the first easy thing that could be done.
We're still giving giant, giant subsidies to the oil companies. Why are we doing that? It's - we need to develop all kinds of alternative fuel, harness the eternal energy that actually runs the planet that is not subject to these kinds of spills and explosions and hazards, and we're still putting out the banquet for the sumo wrestlers and leaving the entrepreneurs starving.
FLATOW: All right. Thank you very much, Carl, for taking time to be with us today.
Dr. SAFINA: You're very welcome.
FLATOW: Carl Safina is president and co-founder of the Blue Ocean Institute, also the host of the PBS series "Saving the Oceans with Carl Safina." His new book, "A Sea in Flames: The Deepwater Horizon Oil Blowout," very informative if you want a blow-by-blow account of what happened last year. He was here in our New York studio.
Thanks for taking time to be with us today.
Dr. SAFINA: Thanks so much, Ira. I really appreciate it.


It is time to acknowledge that the military intervention in Afghanistan has failed and even led to a deterioration of security there, say MEPs in a controversial report blaming the coalition forces for "miscalculating their options". A new EU exit strategy needs to be shaped in full co-operation with the Afghans, and including the Taliban at the negotiating table, adds the report, approved in the Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
The EU strategy for Afghanistan needs a radical rethink: first, the EU and its allies need to acknowledge continuous deterioration in security and the socio-economic situation in the country, despite almost a decade of international involvement, and understand the need to get the Afghans fully involved in the exit strategy, says the report. The coalition is increasingly being increasingly perceived by the Afghan population as an occupying force, warn MEPs. A more balanced civilian and military approach is needed, including more concrete measures to eradicate poverty and discrimination against women.
MEPs propose to articulate the new EU strategy for Afghanistan around four key factors: improving the co-ordination of international aid, fine-tuning the EU role and involvement of Afghan players in the peace process, improving the quality of police training and fighting for the elimination of opium cultivation.
In the controversial report adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee, with many amendments being passed by a narrow majority, MEPs blame the current situation in the country on early miscalculations made by coalition forces. "The presence of the Taliban was underestimated, the ability of the Karzai government to provide governance overestimated, and as a result, little was attention paid to the task of rebuilding and developing the country", they say.
They recognise that the only possible solution for Afghanistan now is a political one, and that this should include negotiations - to eventually take place against the backdrop of a ceasefire - with the Taliban and other combatant groups and political players in the country who show their will to put an end to the civil war, and ensure respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights.
The EU's three red lines for engaging in a peace process must be a commitment by all parties involved to banish Al Qaeda, as well as any other terrorist group, to eliminate poppy cultivation and establish respect for fundamental human rights, states the report.
The text deplores the ineffectiveness of police training and recruitment standards, often done by a few US private security companies, the high illiteracy rate and number of drug abusers among the police forces. Knowing that the establishment of an operative national police is a prerequisite for the coalition forces to conclude their action in Afghanistan, MEPs call for improved international co-operation in this field, proposing a large-scale training programme to be launched jointly by the EU police mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL) and NATO/International Security Assistance Force, and incorporating the national police units.
MEPs condemn the abuse of aid channelled through international organisations (e.g. banks, NGOs, international contractors, consultants), which too often results in the lost of "a significant proportion" of European and other international aid money, due to waste of resources, excessive intermediary and security costs, overbilling and corruption. In this context, they welcome the international decision to channel 50% of the international aid through the Afghan national budget in 2012.
To remedy the lack of co-ordination and transparency among international donors, MEPs call on the EU to set up a centralised database of all EU aid and to allocate more funds directly to concrete projects run in partnership with Afghan institutions.
The Committee also draws attention to the huge cost of the war (USD 300 billion in 2001-09, more than 20 times Afghanistan's GDP) and notes that the decision to place the US military supply chain in private hands "is fuelling extortion and corruption, as warlords, local mafia bosses and ultimately Taliban commanders end up taking a significant share of the USD 2.2-3 billion business of military logistics in Afghanistan". They also criticise the US for its "contradictory attempt to 'decapitate' the insurgency leadership using drones, US special forces and local militias, which are of questionable legal status, result in frequent civilian casualties and discredit the international intervention".
The fourth key priority for MEPs in the new EU strategy for Afghanistan should be to step up efforts to phase out opium cultivation by the four million Afghans who live from poppy crops, by promoting the use of alternative crops, such as saffron. MEPs call for a five-year national plan for the switch to alternative crops, to be implemented by a new agency to be created with its own budget and staff. Finally, the use of chemicals and herbicides to destroy the poppy fields should be banned by national law, says the report.
The text, drafted by Pino Arlacchi (ALDE, IT), was approved in committee with 60 votes in favour, 1 against and 5 abstentions. It is scheduled for a plenary vote in December.