text:
Triumph Add Championship Experience with Politz, Mohamed
By USLLeagueOne.com Staff, 02/08/19, 4:40PM EST
Duo brings three years of professional experience to Greenville
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Greenville Triumph SC added another pair of players to its inaugural roster on Friday as the club announced the signings of defender Kevin Politz and midfielder Omar Mohamed for the 2019 USL League One season, pending league and federation approval.
Politz joins Triumph SC after signing as a homegrown player with the New York Red Bulls in January 2018. He did not make a senior appearance for the side but appeared in 21 matches on loan with the New York Red Bulls II in the USL Championship.
"I am really excited to be a part of the inaugural team in Greenville," said Politz. "We have a unique opportunity to build something from the ground up. I am looking forward to creating something special in this city."
The 22-year-old is a product of the Red Bulls Academy, where he won the U.S. Soccer Academy National Championship in 2012 and 2013. Collegiately, Politz spent four seasons at Wake Forest University, where he made 71 appearances and earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors in his senior season.
"Kevin is a player that I have monitored for the last few years," said Head Coach John Harkes. "I have seen his development as a quality center back and a leader out of the back. He possesses great technique, reads the game well, has strength to tackle and has great timing in the air. I'm happy to have him join the Triumph in our inaugural year."
Mohamed played in the Columbus Crew Academy prior to spending one collegiate season at Jackson College, where he scored six goals in 11 games for the Jets.
The 22-year-old also brings USL Championship experience with him to Greenville, having spent the 2016 season with FC Cincinnati and the following campaign with Portland Timbers 2.
"Omar possesses special 1-on-1 skillsets to take on players and open up the game," said Harkes. "I love his creativity and imagination and I was able to work with him as a very young player in Cincinnati. He has developed very well, and we will be getting him at a great time for our first season."
Cleat Week: It's All in the Shoes
League One players explain how they choose their game day footwear
What to Watch For – League One Week 17
By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com 07/19/2019, 11:00am EDT
Long-awaited top of the table clash arrives; Toronto faces key game with Lansing
Cleat Week: Top Scoring Cleats in USL League One
Which boots are your favorite League One goal-scorer rocking?
Cleat Week - Rank 'Em: Custom League One Cleats For Every Club
By USLLeagueOne.com Staff 07/16/2019, 10:01pm EDT
Forward Madison Downs Leones Negros Before Packed House
Almost 5,000 fans on hand for club's final international exhibition of its inaugural campaign
USL League One Discipline Report – Week 17
Tag(s): News Greenville Triumph SC Spotlight


text:
Q: How to customise workbox build with path to assets for precashing I'm setting a custom config for generating a service Worker.
I 'm using the injectManifest. The problem is that my assets are deployed to s3 bucket with different domain than app runs.
I have read all the dos, but havenn't found any config option for that.
const buildSW = () => {
    // This will return a Promise
    return workboxBuild
        .injectManifest({
            swSrc: 'src/sw-template.js',
            swDest: 'build/sw.js', // this will be created in the build step
            globDirectory: 'build',
            globPatterns: ['**\/*.{js, html}'],
        })
        .then(({ count, size, warnings }) => {
            // Optionally, log any warnings and details.
            warnings.forEach(console.warn);
            console.log(`${count} files will be precached, totaling ${size} bytes.`);
        });
};
buildSW();

I receive config like :
    "url": "static/js/runtime~main.ccae3505.js",
    "revision": "51731239672d142923190a6cfb73ce8b"
  },

but would like something like
    "url": "https://myCustomDomain.com/static/js/runtime~main.ccae3505.js",
    "revision": "51731239672d142923190a6cfb73ce8b"
  },```

A: I found it - hope it will be useful for someone:
manifestTransforms can do the trick

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
VGXI to Provide Plasmid Manufacturing under Client's $56M CEPI Award
VGXI, a Texas-based cGMP plasmid CMO, will provide manufacturing support under client's $56M CEPI award for the development of Lassa and MERS vaccines.
Having supported the rapid development of DNA vaccines in response to Zika, MERS, and Ebola outbreaks in recent years, VGXI is highly experienced in this field. I am confident our team will be successful in supporting our client's objectives as part of this collaboration.
THE WOODLANDS, Texas (PRWEB) April 30, 2018
VGXI announced today they will collaborate with one of their clients on a recent $56,000,000 award from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, or CEPI to support the development of DNA vaccines for Lassa and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The funding will advance pre-clinical and clinical development of the two DNA vaccines, with the goal of readying them for possible use in the event of an emergency.
As part of the partnership, VGXI will provide manufacturing of cGMP grade plasmid DNA for use in human clinical studies. Additionally, the award may be expanded to support manufacturing of investigational stockpiles for both vaccines in the future.
"Having supported the rapid development of DNA vaccines in response to Zika, MERS, and Ebola outbreaks in recent years, VGXI is highly experienced in this field," said VGXI's Chief Operating Officer Dorothy Peterson. "I am confident our team will be successful in supporting our client's objectives as part of this collaboration."
ABOUT VGXI, INC.
With over 15 years of experience, VGXI, Inc. is a leading provider of plasmid DNA manufacturing and development services for DNA vaccine and gene therapy research. The company has an outstanding track record of success in manufacturing plasmid products under cGMP conditions for clinical trials in the US, EU, Asia and Australia, and its cGMP and non-GMP products have passed rigorous reviews by several international regulatory agencies. VGXI's ability to work with unique requirements and create custom manufacturing solutions is based on its patented manufacturing process, flexible cGMP production facility, and experienced development team. VGXI, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary CMO of GeneOne Life Science, Inc. To learn more about VGXI's services, visit http://www.vgxii.com.
ABOUT GENEONE LIFE SCIENCE
GeneOne Life Science Inc. ("GeneOne" KOSPI: 011000) is an international DNA vaccine developer and leading contract manufacturer of DNA plasmid-based agents for pre-clinical and clinical trials for global companies and institutions. It researches and develops DNA vaccines to prevent and treat incurable diseases in South Korea and internationally. The company is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. VGXI, Inc., GeneOne's wholly-owned manufacturing subsidiary located in Texas, is the largest pure-play cGMP DNA plasmid manufacturing facility in the world. For more information, visit http://www.genels.com/en.
ABOUT CEPI
CEPI is an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic and civil organizations founded in Davos in 2017. To date, CEPI has received multi-year funding from Norway, Germany, Japan, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome. CEPI has also received single-year investments from the governments of Australia, Belgium, and Canada. It has reached $630 million of its target $1 billion funding target. The European Commission has announced a contribution in kind of €250 million that will support relevant projects through EC mechanisms. Since its launch in January 2017, CEPI has announced two Calls for Proposals. The first was for candidate vaccines against MERS-COV, Nipah and Lassa viruses. The second was for the development of platforms that can be used for rapid vaccine development against unknown pathogens.
CAUTIONARY FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS
Materials in this press release contain information that includes or is based upon forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations or forecasts of future events. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They include words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of potential future events, circumstances or future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, prospective products or product approvals, future performance or results of current and anticipated products, sales efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings, and financial results. Any or all of our forward-looking statements here or in other publications may turn out to be incorrect. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining our actual future results. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and forward-looking statements may be adversely affected by factors, including general market conditions, competitive product development, product availability, current and future branded and generic competition, federal and state regulations and legislation, manufacturing issues, timing of the elimination of trade buying, patent positions, litigations and investigations. Our actual results may vary materially, and there are no guarantees about the performance or valuation of GeneOne stock. It is also important to read the disclosure notice contained in many of the individual GeneOne documents available on the website, as many contain important information on such cautionary factors as of the date of the individual document. We undertake no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our reports.
Christy Franco, PhD
VGXI, Inc.
@BiotechBD
VGXI INC
since: 05/2010
VGXI, Inc. - cGMP Plasmid DNA Manufacturing

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Posts Tagged 'MMP'
Radio NZ: Politics with Matthew Hooton and Mike Williams – 10 February 2014
10 February 2014 Frank Macskasy	Leave a comment
– Politics on Nine To Noon –
– Monday 10 February 2014 –
– Kathryn Ryan, with Matthew Hooton & Mike Williams –
Today on Politics on Nine To Noon,
Click to Listen: Politics with Matthew Hooton and Mike Williams (22′ 58″ )
John Key's meeting with Tony Abbott
CER, Aussie supermarkets boycotting NZ-made goods
low wages, minimum wage
National Party, Keith Holyoake
paid parental leave, Working for Families, Colin Espiner
Waitangi Day, Foreshore & Seabed, deep sea oil drilling, Nga Puhi
MMP, "coat tailing", Epsom, Conservative Party, ACT
Len Brown, Auckland rail link
Categories: Broadcast, The Body Politic Tags: 5% threshold, ACT, Auckland rail loop, CER, Closer Economic Relations, Colin Espiner, Conservative Party, deep sea oil drilling, Epsom, Foreshore & Seabed, Keith Holyoake, Len Brown, low wages, migration to australia, minimum wage, MMP, Nga Puhi, paid parental leave, tony abbott, Waitangi Day, Working for Families
National Party spin on Aaron Gilmore and MMP
12 June 2013 Frank Macskasy	1 comment
Something I've noticed in the last few days, as the Aaron Gilmore saga drags on, is the number of snide references being made to our electoral system, MMP (Mixed Member Proportional).
"…what he's reflecting actually is the reality of MMP. Which whether we like it or not, every party leader is powerless." – John Key, 9 May 2013
"As with the sacking from NZ First's caucus of list MP Brendan Horan, who continues to sit in the House and draw his generous salary and perks, that has underlined a key flaw in the rules for MMP.
List MPs are in Parliament solely because of the positions allocated to them by their parties. If they are no longer acceptable to their parties at large, they should likewise be kicked out of Parliament." – Un-named author, 11 May 2013
"It is absolutely the curse of MMP that you can't get rid of an MP that doesn't deserve to be there." – Michelle Boag, May 2013
The new meme is that the MMP system is somehow permitting Aaron Gilmore to remain in Parliament, and is vexing his Leader's desire to remove him. The subtext is that MMP is severely 'flawed', allowing errant members of Parliament to flout the 'system' and disregard the wishes of the public – and their Party leaders.
The corollary is that the previous system, First Past the Post (FPP) was somehow 'superior'; tougher on wayward politicians, and allowed Party leaders to ditch them.
Both views are patently false.
As usual, watch out for politicians and their hangers-on – they speak with a forked tongue.
The reality is that pre-MMP, during our First Past the Post era, there were several members of Parliament who split away from their Parties (either National or Labour).
The Roll Call of Honour/Dis-Honour – depending on your point of view:
Matiu Rata – resigned from Labour, 1979
Jim Anderton – resigned from Labour, April 1989
Gilbert Myles – resigned from National, late 1991
Hamish MacIntyre – resigned from National, late 1991
Cam Campion – resigned from National, March 1993
Winston Peters – resigned from National, early 1993*
Of the six MPs listed above, only Peters resigned from Parliament (as well as his Party), prompting a by-election on 17 April 1993. Rata prompted a by-election the following year, in June 1980.
Peters' resignation was made of his own volition, as he sought a mandate from his Electorate after a public and very acrimonious split from the Bolger-led National Government of the day. (Indeed, Peters' by-election was dismissed as a "stunt" by his opponants. I guess you can't win either way.)
The remaining for MPs, Anderton; Myles; MacIntyre; and Campion all remained as sitting Independent MPs until the following general election. Only Anderton and Peters were re-elected in subsequent elections.
All five MPs were electorate-based, and elected under FPP. In this respect, both MMP and FPP share a common feature; at no time could either Labour or National force their five 'rogue' MPs from Parliament.
This is a fact that Key, Boag, and the un-named author of the Dominion Post editorial should be fully aquainted with.
It appears to me is that by 'dissing' MMP, the conservative elements in politics (Key, Boag, and an obviously right-leaning anonymous editorialist) are attempting to shift blame from their own short-comings onto our electoral system. "Scape goating" is the appropriate term, I believe.
But worse than that – by smearing our electoral system, the Conservative Establishment is further undermining the public perception of democracy in New Zealand. The apalling low voter turn-out in 2011 – 74.2% , the lowest turnout since 1887 – can only be exacerbated when those with a loud public voice ridicule and deride our electoral system.
The subtext here is; "our electoral system is crap; don't bother using it; don't vote; disengage".
This, of course, suits the purposes of the Conservative Establishment. The less people who vote, the better for them. Their hope is that their own voter base will ignore the subliminal messaging and continue to cast their ballots on Election Day.
It is a sad day in our country when those with a strong public voice (political leaders, public figures, anonymous editorial writers, etc) use their positions to undermine democracy and further erode public participation, when instead they have a duty to promote a sense of civic duty in our nation.
What's the bet that come the next election, John Key, Michelle Boag, and the anonymous Dominion Post editorialist will all be voting?
Of course they will. They understand the power of the ballot.
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 12 May 2013.
TVNZ: Gilmore refuses to resign amid fresh allegations (9 May 2013)
Dominion Post: Editorial: Gilmore should accept it's time to go (11 May 2013)
National Business Review: Boag: how best to deal with Gilmore
Categories: The Body Politic Tags: Aaaron Gilmore, Cam Campion, Conservative Establishment, Dominion Post, FPP, Gilbert Myles, Hamish MacIntyre, Jim Anderton, Michelle Boag, Mixed Member Proportional, MMP, National Business Review, NBR, Voting, winston peters
Citizen A – 14 February 2013
– Citizen A –
– 14 February 2013 –
– Matthew Hooton & Keith Locke –
Issue 1: Richard Prosser – is he racist? What are the ramifications for NZ First and does this reflect poorly on MMP?
Issue 2: Salvation Army gives the Government a D for child poverty, housing and employment – what is the Government doing?
and Issue 3 tonight: John Key's decision to take Australia's refugees – what do we get?
Citizen A broadcasts on Auckland UHF and will start transmitting on Sky TV on their new public service broadcasting channel 'FACE Television' February 7th February 2013.
Acknowledgement (republished with kind permission)
Tumeke
Categories: Broadcast, The Body Politic Tags: boat people, child poverty, housing, MMP, NZ First, refugees, Richard Prosser, unemployment
John "I can't recall" Banks, on MMP…
5 November 2012 Frank Macskasy	10 comments
The Electoral Commission's final report on reviewing the MMP electoral system was tabled today in Parliament.
The four main changes to the system are,
Lowering the party threshold from 5% to 4%
Abolishing the one electorate seat threshold, which allows other MPs to enter Parliament on the "coat-tails" of a candidate who have won an Electorate Seat
Abolishing the provision for overhang seats
That Parliament consider fixing the percentage ratio of electorate to seats at 60:40
This blogger supported the first two options (neutral on the last two). Not because ACT could have gained extra MPs if Banks had won just a few thousand more Party List votes – but because the electorate seat threshold was being openly rorted by John Key and John Banks.
It is that rule which benefits small Parties – which while not crossing the 5% (or 4%) threshold – can still gain extra MPs in Parliament. Because an Electorate win gives that Party a "dispensation" from the 5%/4% Threshold.
The entire country witnessed the farce of the infamous "cuppa tea" meeting, last year, between Banks and Key at the Urban Cafe, in Epsom,
It was an unedifying spectacle and public disquiet over the workings of MMP threatened the very existence of proportional representation in New Zealand.
However, National-cum-ACT MP, John Banks, appears to have taken exception to the Electoral Commission's second option; abolishing the one electorate seat threshold. Indeed, he was a very, very unhappy chappy.
Banks was reported today saying,
"Voting systems benefit from infrequent change. Voters will not have any confidence in the electoral system if it can be continually tinkered with."
See: MMP review recommends lower party threshold
That's interesting.
Banks is worried that making changes to an electoral system, despite over-whelming support through public submissions, somehow threatens public "confidence in the electoral system "?!
That is a very noble sentiment.
In which case, one wonders how ACT could support the repeal of "31 redundant acts of parliament and 206 unnecessary regulations"?!
See: ACT Policies – Economy
One would think that changing the law 31 times and removing 206 pieces of regulation might threaten public "confidence in the Parliamentary law-making system "?!
Or, implement the following radical policies, from ACT's on-line manifesto,
• Push the next government to reduce wasteful spending. In 2005, Labour was spending 29 per cent of the national income. Today, the same figure is 35 per cent. ACT would push the next government to return spending to the level it was at in 2005 by repealing the "election bribe" spending of the past two elections with a view toward getting the top personal tax rate down to 25% and the company tax rate to 12.5%;
• Push the next government to lock in lower taxes by passing ACT's Spending Cap Bill into law. The Bill would require government spending to increase only by the level of inflation and population growth. By reducing government spending and taxes, it would increase the rewards for wealth creation;
• Push the next government to pass ACT's Regulatory Standards Bill. The Bill would test all new regulations for unnecessary red tape, making it easier to do business;
• Sell state assets such as power generation companies; the overwhelming evidence is that such valuable assets produce more wealth when managed privately;
• Allow more mining when the economic benefits outweigh the environmental costs.
It's paradoxical that ACT supports a complete radical make-over of our social, legal, and economic systems – and thinks nothing of it.
But when the Electoral Commission wants to implement a few changes to MMP, old Banksie is suddenly worried that "voters will not have any confidence in the electoral system if it can be continually tinkered with"??'
But even stranger is this report, from AUT University's publication, "Te Waha Nui", last year,
" But Banks himself would rather the MMP meal ticket be scrapped completely.
"I favour the STV system (Single Transferable Vote)," Banks says.
He declined to explain what elements of the MMP system he disliked, or why he felt STV was a more attractive option. "
See: John Banks backs STV over MMP
So John Banks thinks making four amendments to MMP will damage voter "confidence in the electoral system" . But changing from MMP to STV – two radically different electoral systems – is perfectly ok?
Cutting to the chase.
This has nothing to do with damaging voter "confidence in the electoral system".
We all know this.
John Banks' only concerns in this matter is John Banks. Or more to the point, getting John Banks back into Parliament in 2012, preferably with a couple of extra ACT cronies.
Banks knows that the "coat tailing" effect of the Electoral Threshold is the reason for Epsom voters to support him. Vote for Banks and as long as ACT's Party Vote is over 1.2%, you get two ACT MPs for the price of one.
But take away the Electorate threshold and the "coat tail" effect, and voting for Banks gets you – one ACT MP; John Banks. Unless ACT reaches the new 4% Party threashold (about as likely as me spontaneously combusting), ACT get's no extra MPs.
In which case there is no point in any more cosy "arrangements" between ACT and National, and Epsom voters will simply drop back to their default-setting to voting for their own National Party candidate.
Banks would have to win Epsom on his own 'merits'. *cough, cough*
Epsomites have had a gutsful of this mendacious, memory-challenged, clown, and want to see the back of him as much as the rest of the country.
We all know that Banks is utterly self-serving when it comes to politics.
Does he have to keep proving it to us with bare-faced lies about "voters will not have any confidence in the electoral system if it can be continually tinkered with "?"
We know he's lying.
Stop reminding us.
Previous related blogposts
Some thoughts on MMP (13 December 2011)
John Banks: condition deteriorating (14 August 2012)
Categories: The Body Politic Tags: Electoral Commission, John Banks, MMP, STV
John Banks: condition deteriorating
14 August 2012 Frank Macskasy	12 comments
1. Electoral Commission review completed
Checklist for the week…
Electoral Commission recommendation: Reducing the Party threshold from 5% to 4% √
Electoral Commission recommendation: Eliminating the one electorate seat party threshold √
Consequence of Electoral Commission recommendations: Annoying the hell out of John Banks √
Yes, it's been a good week.
In short, the Electoral Commission has recommended the following
The one-electorate-seat threshold for allocating list seats should be abolished.
The party vote threshold for allocating list seats should be lowered from 5% to 4%
The provision for overhang seats should be abolished for parties that do not cross the party vote threshold.
Candidates should continue to be able to stand both in an electorate and on a party list at general elections.
List MPs should continue to be able to contest by-elections.
Political parties should continue to have responsibility for the composition and ranking of candidates on their party lists.
Parliament should review the gradual erosion of list seats relative to electorate seats as it risks undermining the diversity and proportionality of Parliament.
This blogger endorses every recommendation made by the Electoral Commission.
The recommendations eliminate contradictions; remove areas vulnerable to rorting by politicians; and increase the democratic nature of MMP.
The only comment I would make is that the law should be tightened in the area of political Parties ranking their Party Lists. At present, the law states only that such Lists should be democratically ranked – but gives no formal expectations of how the process of ranking is carried out.
In fact, I would endorse Electoral Commission over-sight of all Party List rankings to ensure that there is no 'giggery-pokery' by Party apparatchiks. As they say, justice must not only be done – it must be seen to be done.
The same could be said of the political process. And after all, as politicians are fond of telling us when they increase police surveillance powers; if Parties are honest in their list-ranking process – they have nothing to be afraid off. Right?
However, all up, I believe the Electoral Commission has done an outstanding job on the review.
2. Party Responses
ACT supported retaining both the 5% Party and one electorate seat party threshold.
The Electoral Commission rejected both propositions.
ACT's sole MP, John Banks, called the review recommendations "woeful", and then went on to state,
"Those who want to gerrymander with the electoral system do so because they lost the last election."
See: Pressure's on to tweak MMP
Really, Mr Banks?
When it comes to "gerrymandering", none is guiltier than ACT and John Key, and their now infamous "cup of tea" incident during last year's general election campaign. That event was an outrageous attempt to throw the election by suggesting to Epsom voters that they should cast their electorate votes for John Banks.
For Banks to now try to climb the moral highground, and accuse those who want to reform MMP as "gerrymandering", is breath-taking and nauseating hypocrisy on a grand scale.
Banks also issued this statement on the ACT website,
" ACT will not support any changes to the MMP voting system. No electoral system is perfect, and the proposed changes do not offer any additional benefits to New Zealand. We do not support the abolishment of the one seat threshold."
See: No Change Necessary to MMP
Aside from the inference that ACT is fast becoming a quasi-fascist party by ignoring the mass of public submissions that support reforms to MMP, it is clear that John Banks' Number One Priority is – John Banks. Ie; getting himself re-elected to Parliament.
This man's lack of personal insights into his behaviour, and how the public view his self-serving and clownish actions, is deeply troubling.
Of all the major Parties, only the Greens seem to have acted on principle on this issue.
As Green MP, Holly Walker said,
"Abolishing the one electorate seat threshold and lowering the party vote threshold will help to reduce the number of 'wasted' votes, and ensure that everyone's votes count.
Removing the one electorate seat threshold will make a big difference for fairness by making sure that the votes of people in some electorates are not given more weight than others."
See: Electoral Commission recommendations strengthen MMP
It should be pointed out that whether the Party threshold is kept at 5% or 4%, or whether or not the one electorate seat party thresholdis retained or not, makes no difference to the Green Party.
With their electoral support now consistently over 10% (11.06% last year), and not being reliant on winning an electorate seat to gain Parliamentary representation, their submission to the Electoral Commission gives better representation to supporters of other small Parties, such as the Conservative Party.
Now that's principled.
Labour's submission to the Electoral Commission supported reducing the 5% threshold to 4% and doing away with the one electorate seat party threshold.
It's fairly obvious why; National has been able to rort the one seat electorate seat threshold to allow potential coalition partners to win seats in Parliament.
By doing away with the one electorate seat party threshold, the demise of ACT is all but assured, and Peter Dunne's party, United Future, becomes irrelevant.
Interestingly, Labour's support for reducing the Party List threshold to 4%, gives the Conservative Party a greater chance to win seats in Parliament.
It also allows NZ First a better chance to win seats. (In 2008, NZ First missed out on seats by only .93 percentage-points of reaching the magic 5%.)
This blogger suspects that Labour strategists are thinking long-term on this issue. The Conservative Party may well win seats if the threshold is reduced to 4% – but this may be only a short-term victory for Colin Craig. One term in Parliament may alienate further electoral support, as happened to Peter Dunne's United Future Party from 2002 to 2005 to 2008.)
See: Labour Welcomes MMP Proposals
Predictably, the Mana Party is the Party that most loses out if the Electoral Commission's recommendations are adopted.
Mana's leader, Hone Harawira, won the Maori seat of Te Tai Tokerau comfortably and also gained 1.08% of the Party Vote. Had Mana received an additional .12% votes, his Party would have gained an extra MP (the "coat tail" effect).
There is a good chance that if the one electorate seat threshold is retained that Mana could reasonably count on an extra one or two MPs. This is especially likely as the Maori Party bleeds electoral support because of it's close association with the National Party, and increasingly divisive feelings over the sale of SOEs and water rights.
So it is little surprise that the Mana Party stated it's opposition to abolition of the one electorate seat threshold.
It appears to be silent on the Party vote threshold.
See: Electoral Commission Report on MMP
This blogger believes that removing the one electorate seat threshold should only be a minor nuisance to the Mana Party. As the Maori Party disintergrates, Mana has a decent chance to pick up many of the Maori seats.
Like ACT, National supported retaining both the 5% Party andone electorate seat party threshold.
Deputy PM, Bill English has stated that National would consider the recommendations of the Electoral Commission.
Interestingly, right wing commentator and National Party cadre, Matthew Hooton, stated on Radio New Zealand on 13 August,
"The other good thing for National in this report is by getting rid of the tomfoolery around the one seat rule, National won't be tempted to have cups of tea with the likes of John Banks and Peter Dunne and they will become less relevant to the political system…
…So now National, assuming it will accept these recommendations, even though they are against what National itself recommended to the review, but if the government does accept these, then National now knows very clearly it's path to it's third term is through that Winston Peters/Colin Craig deal.
… Well strangely enough National recommended that 5% threshold remain and Labour recommended to the review that a 4% threshold be introduced and the review team has gone with what is the Labour party and the public's preference. And the irony there is I think is that the 5% threshold, maintaining it , would have served the Labour Party's interest and the 4% threshhold favours National. So the two Parties both, two main parties both, made recommendations that were against their own interests."
See: Radio NZ, Nine to Noon Show: Politics with Matthew Hooton and Josie Pagani
In this matter, I concur fully with Hooton. Whilst reducing the 5% threshold to 4% may disadvantage the Left in the short-term – in the long-term it will remove anomalies in the electoral system that provides fertile ground for a pervading sense of political cynicism, thereby alienating people from voting.
The worst thing to put people off voting is a perception that the system is "rigged" to produce pre-determined results.
That's why we got rid of First Past the Post.
Winston Peters has curiously split his Party's response to the Electoral Commission's recommendations;
5% vs 4% Threshold
Peters states that NZ First wants the 5% threshold retained, even though it might disadvantage his Party.
Right-wing blogger, David Farrar, stated on Radio NZ's 4pm Panel on 14 August, that he considered Peters' preference for 5% as "principled".
Peters wants the 5% threshold retained because it suits his strategy. NZ First has a better than 50/50 chance of crossing the 5% threshold in upcoming elections – especially now that his Party has access to millions of dollars in Parliamentary funding and free TV advertising.
Conversely, by insisting that the 5% threshold be retained denies the Conservative Party the chance to win seats in Parliament, as reaching 5% is considerably harder than 4%. The Christian Coalition Party achieved 4.33% in the first MMP election in 1996.
See: New Zealand general election, 1996
This assessment of Peters' rationale is confirmed when, in the next breath, he supports abandoning the one electorate seat party threshold,
One electorate seat party threshold
"There have been numerous attempts to corrupt the integrity of MMP by the National, ACT and United Future parties by misusing the intent of the one electorate seat threshold for the allocation of list seats."
It's interesting that Peters wants the 5% threshold retained, and insists,
" Rt Hon Winston Peters says the 1993 referendum confirmed that the public wanted the threshold for a party to win list seats in a general election to be five per cent.
"It shouldn't be tampered with now by Parliament"."
See: MMP Recommendations Are Anti-Democratic – Peters
– but at the same time is comfortable with removing the one electorate seat party threshold despite it also being part and parcel of the 1993 Referendum?!
Contradictory, much?
The reason Peters wants the one electorate seat party threshold removed is that it prevents the Consertive Party from doing an Epsom or Ohariu-type deal with National, and thereby gaining Parliamentary seats by winning an electorate.
This is precisely how ACT gained five seats in the 2008 electorate;
ACT failed to reach 5%, and gained only 3.65% of the Party Vote
National did a deal with ACT, letting Rodney Hide win the Epsom electorate
The one electorate seat threshold allowed four other MPs enter Parliament on Hide's "coat tails".
In simple words, Peters wants the Conservative Party from winning seats in Parliament in a similar manner.
In doing so, he retains his role as sole "king maker" between National and Labour/Greens.
3. The Thresholds – Why Change was necessary
5% Party Threshold
The Party vote threshold was probably originally set at 5% to allay fears that Parliament would be over-run by a plethora of small parties, as has happened in Israel. The resulting instability would have destroyed MMPs reputation within a few years, and would not have survived the subsequent referendum.
A relatively 'median' 5% threshold could allow a measure of proportionality, whilst at the same time not resulting in the "Israeli Disease". (Israeli politics has been dominated by numerous small, extremist, political parties, elected under proportional representation with almost no Party threshold. In 2009 this resulted in a dozen parties being represented in The Knesset. See: Politics of Israel)
With MMP firmly bedded-in after 15 years, and the public comfortable with Parliamentary proportional representation, it seems appropriate to reduce the Party threshold to 4%. This provides space and opportunity for a new political party to form; win representation in Parliament; and provide fresh ideas to be debated.
One electorate seat threshold
The one electorate seat threshold has always been an anomaly – but with justification. It was assumed that despite MMP being favourable to small political Parties, it might still be difficult to win representation in Parliament. It was considered that if a small Party had the electoral support of voters to win one electorate (which was still fought under First Past the Post), then they deserved their full compliment of MPs, according to their Party vote, regardless of whether or not they reached 5%.
The one electorate seat threshold was a kind of "dispensation" from the 5% threshold, to ensure that a small Party could have an effective voice in Parliament.
Not only is it no longer needed – but the one electorate seat threshold dispensation has lately been exploited by larger parties such as National, gerrymandering the system to gain potential coalition partners in Parliament.
It has also been demonstrated to be highly unfair.
In the 2008 General Election neither ACT nor NZ First reached the 5% Party threshold. But because National assisted Rodney Hide to win the electorate seat of Epsom, ACT was given the one electorate seat threshold dispensation, and won five seats in Parliament.
The irony was that ACT won fewer Party Votes (85,496 or, 3.65%) than NZ First (95,356 or, 4.07%) – but ACT still got into Parliament.
That result was not the fair system of proportional representation that was 'sold' to the public in 1993.
That situation was untenable, and the public stated as such in their submissions to the Electoral Commission. It was an affront to the Kiwi sense of fairness.
Accordingly, the public demand an end to it.
4. National's dilemma
National now has a clear choice – and it is in a bind.
If it decides to accept the recommendations of the Electoral Commission to lower the Party threshold to 4% and abandon the one electorate seat threshold – then it risks alienating support from it's two, one-man band, coalition partners, Peter Dunne and John "I-can't-remember" Banks.
Dunne and Banks may push their coalition deal with National to the brink – and over the edge – if National accepts the Commission's reforms.
If the reforms are implemented, it will make Dunne irrelevant, and John Banks and his Party, dog-tucker.
Dunne may win Ohariu – but he would never again have the chance to bring one or two extra MPs into Parliament on his "coat tails".
And Epsom voters would dump Banks in favour of their own true-blue National candidate.
This would make life unpleasant for both Dunne and Banks. They might decide to issue an ultimatum (see below, "John Banks – mental confusion worsening?") to abandon the reforms – or else they would walk from the Coalition. What would they have to lose?
But if National decides not to enact the Commission's reforms, it risks losing a potential coalition partner – the Conservative Party – in 2014. A Party threshold of 4% would mean 5 Conservative Party MPs.
That is simply too good an offer to pass up. Especially if National drops to 43% or 45% in the polls, as this blogger predicts will happen in the next twelve to 18 months.
Tough times ahead for the Nats…
5. John Banks – mental confusion worsening?
John Banks' mental condition is deteriorating.
Today, the Member for Epsom forgot which political Party he is a member of, when he said on Radio NZ's "Morning Report",
"The National Party are not going to support this proposal."
Hear: Listen to John Banks on Morning Report
And again, on MSN News, Banks made it clear that he believed himself to be a National Party spokesperson when he said,
"This is not going to happen. The National Party is not going to support this proposal."
John Banks is an ACT member of parliament – not National. He can no more speak for National than Hone Harawira could speak on behalf of Labour.
It is becoming more apparent each day that the fellow is losing his tenuous grip on reality. This blogger hopes that he will receive the treatment he requires and makes a speedy recovery from his delusions and shocking memory loss.
Tomorrow, Banks may attempt to walk on water. Or invade Poland.
Previous blogposts
Supplementary Member system – it's a bloody rort!
Some thoughts on MMP
John Banks – escaping justice
Radio NZ: Drop threshold from 5% to 4% – MMP review
Radio NZ: National won't back MMP change, says Banks
Categories: The Body Politic Tags: ACT Party, alzheimer's, Electoral Commission, John Banks, MMP, MMP review
Ministers, Mad Moralists, and Minor Parties
29 July 2012 Frank Macskasy	4 comments
A previous moral hysteria surrounding welfare beneficiaries and especially solo mums (but never solo dads) took place back in August 2009, when Paula Bennett released the files of two solo-mothers who had dared to criticise the Minister for closing down the Training Incentive Allowance.
Despite having no authorisation or right to do so, Bennett released details of the women's WINZ files to the media and three years later there is still an outstanding complaint against her. It was a nasty, vindictive abuse of Ministerial power not seen since the autocratic rule of Robert Muldoon.
Attacks on solo mums reached a hysterical crescendo that could only be described as naked misogyny – especially from a sector of the male population that has never had much success in relating to women. There were vile comments on many internet fora that cannot be repeated in polite company.
Fast forward to April 2012, and National is facing so much bad news that the media and bloggers are finding it difficult to choose what to hone in on. Just to remind us about some of the problems confronting National,
Youth unemployment up from 58,000 last year to 87,000 this year
Total unemployment up to 160,000 – 6.7% of the workforce
The government tax-take is down by $1.57 billion in the first nine months of the fiscal year
Government deficit increases to $6.13 billion, or $800 million more than forecast
Migration to Australia is increasing, with a net loss of 39,100 to the year ending February 2012
Wages continue to lag behind Australia
New Zealand's sovereign debt is at a massive $13.5 billion dollars
Student debt is at a record $13 billion – and rising
Widening wealth/income gap
Increasing child poverty and poverty-related disease on a massive scale
Increased repayments demanded from tertiary students – effectively a tax increase
Ongoing public resistance to state asset sales
Ongoing public resistance to selling productive farmland to overseas investors
Ongoing public resistance to mining in conservation lands
A growing public disquiet over a hydrocarbon-extraction process known as "fracking"
Selling legislation for a convention centre and 500 extra pokies
Ministers involved in scandal after scandal
Key's 'teflon coating' now practically non-existent, and developing a reputation for not being upfront with the public
A coalition partner whose brand is now so toxic that even right wingers are singing it's funeral dirges
and numerous other negative indicators
Time for the government Spin Doctors to swing into action, and deflect attention from National's apalling track record thus far.
Time to dust of the Manual for Deflection, and flick through to the chapter on blaming solo mums (but never solo dads) for the ills of the country; the Black Plague in the Middle Ages; both World Wars; and most likely the sinking of the Titanic.
Time for John Key to point at some young woman pushing a pram, and shout – "Hey! Look over there!"
It worked in 2009.
See: Benefits of 50 to be scrutinised
Why not try it again, wonder National's faceless, taxpayer-funded spin-doctors and strategists, to deflect public attention from scandals and poor management of the economy?
See: Bennett increases pursuit of welfare 'rorts'
See: Drug tests for more beneficiaries mooted
See: New welfare law a 'war on poor'
See: Big families mean big welfare dollars
New Zealanders (in general) are suckers for this kind of Deflect & Demonise Strategy.
It's what National does, when their economic policies fail; they blame it on the poor; the unemployed; widows; solo-mums (but never solo-dads), etc. It's what the right wing do, blaming their failed policies on others. Because as we all know, right wingers are Big on Personal Responsibility… (Except for themselves.)
It happened in the 1990s. It's repeating again.
It's pretty much a given that the ACT is now living on borrowed time, and will end up in the political rubbish bin of history. It was never popular with mainstream New Zealand in the first place – New Zealanders having had a bitter taste of it's ideology in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s.
Events over the last couple of years; last twelve months; and last few weeks, a cascade of scandals and dirty dealings have left the public wondering if lunatics had, indeed, taken over the asylum called ACT. For a Party that advocated the purity of market-driven efficiency, it was prone to one bizarre gaffe after another. They couldn't even update their own website several months after last year's elections.
So ACT will be gone after the next election.
The result has been media, pundit, and public speculation of a new potential Coalition partner for National. There has been recent speculation in the last week or so that Colin Craig's Conservative Party might make a suitable candidate to shore up National's numbers in the House.
For one thing, does National really want a new coalition partner that appears to be every bit as flaky as ACT?
"We are the country with the most promiscuous young women in the world. This does nothing to help us at all."
Riiiiight.
Obviously Mr Craig has, um, "researched" this issue in some depth?! Did he go "undercover", I wonder? And did he go "one-on-one" with his "subjects"?
On this rare occassion, I find myself in sympathy with the Smiling One,
"… Colin Craig, had suggested New Zealand women were the most promiscuous in the world and therefore should not get taxpayer funded contraception.
Key resisted taking the Lord's name in van and rolling his eyes.
But he did say "it's going to be a long two and a half years."
See: John Key's problem with partners
Indeed. If the government lasts full term. Which I doubt.
National has a problem in this area. It has no viable coalition partner, and is unlikely to find one in the foreseeable future.
Part of that reality is based on MMP and how it has affected Labour and National.
After MMP was introduced in 1996, Labour splintered into it's constituent factions; the centrist 'rump' Labour Party; the environmentalist/social justice Green Party; the overtly left-wing, worker's, Newlabour Party ; and the nationalist Maori party, Mana Motuhake. (The Greens, Mana Motuhake, and NLP briefly coalesced into the Alliance Party, along with the Social Credit/Democrat Party and short-lived Liberal Party.)
The Greens, Mana Motuhake, and NLP, had been part of the factional make-up of Labour. MMP simply separated out it's componants like a laboratory centrifuge. So when coalition talks took place, to form a Labour-led Coalition Government, those same factions simply re-morphed.
Before anyone complains that MMP has created a "mess" – not true. These factions had always existed in Labour, and had constantly 'jockeyed' for influence within the greater 'umbrella' Labour banner.
Under MMP, these factions and negotiations were simply forced out into the open, for everyone to see. The same had been happening under First Past the Post, but behind closed doors. This was internal party politics exposed to the glare of sunlight and public scrutiny.
National, on the other hand, did not fractionate in such a similar, dramatic, manner. It lost two MPs to the New Zealand Liberal Party (in 1992), Conservative Party (formerly Right-Of-Centre Party), and one to the Christian Democrats. None of those fledgling parties survived the grueling electoral process and quickly vanished into political history.
A third party, New Zealand First, had splintered from National earlier, and like Mana Motuhake became a nationalist party, but mainly from a pakeha perspective.
ACT was another party on the right, and appeared to draw support from both National and, to a lesser degree, Labour. It remained a small grouping, peaking in 1999 with nine MPs – largely at the expense of it's larger right wing cousin, National.
It's not that National doesn't have potential coalition partners. On the whole, National remains intact; a solid bloc of the centre-right. It's potential coalition partners are already a part of National.
National's only hope of picking up an extra seat or two is to rort the MMP one-seat threshold system, as it did by supporting John Banks in Epsom (with success now mixed with regret, no doubt). It could give a 'nod and wink' to Colin Craig in the Rodney seat, and if he won that electorate, and if Craig's Conservative Party polled the same as it did last year (2.65%), then it would gain four seats in total.
That might give National a chance at winning the next election.
But at what cost?
It would be seen to be once again manipulating the electoral system. The Epsom deal did not end well for National – do they really want to go down that road again?
The Conservatives are opposed to asset sales – so that policy would be off the agenda.
How would urban liberal voters view a coalition with a party such as the Conservatives? New Zealanders have always been averse to electing overtly religious parties to Parliament (eg; Christian Heritage, Christian Coalition, Destiny New Zealand) and when some of United Future's MPs were revealed as having a strong religious bent, they were pretty smartly voted out.
And would National want a flaky coalition partner with quasi-'Christian' overtones, and who seemed to view New Zealand women in a casual Talibanesque-sort of way? How would National's women MPs feel sitting alongside Colin Craig, knowing that he viewed them as the " most promiscuous… women in the world "?
Craig's Conservative Party may have a better chance to win seats in Parliament if the Electoral Commission's review on MMP decides to recommend to Parliament that the Party Vote threshold be reduced from %5 to 4%. Of course, the Commission can only recommend to Parliament, and any decision to reduce the Party Vote threshold will ultimately be up to the National-ACT-Dunne Coalition.
I suspect the Nats will adopt the 4% recommendation. Not because it's fair (get a grip!), but because anything that assists ACT or the Conservative Party gain seats in Parliament will be welcomed with open arms by the Nats. Self interest rules.
The Greens' submission to the Electoral Commission supported abolishing the Electoral Seat threshold as inherently unfair, and promote reducing the Party Vote threshold from 5% to 4% to compensate for smaller Parties such as NZ First, ACT, etc.
See: Green Party submission on the MMP Review
Likewise, this blogger suspects that National will probably reject any recommendation to abandon the Electoral-Seat threshold. (The Electoral Seat threshold is where Party X does not cross the current 5% Party Vote threshold, but if one of their candidates wins an electoral seat, they get an exemption from the 5% threshold, and gain as many MPs as their Party Vote allows.)
This may be National's one and only "electoral lifeline", as ACT heads for the political guillotine – especially after John Banks' incredible performance over his fraudulent 2010 Electoral Donations fiasco.
See: John Banks – escaping justice
However, since Craig's comment nearly three months ago, he has moved on from denigrating women, to gays and lesbians. His latest comment is indicative of a man who has little tolerance for matters outside his narrow worldview, when on 27 July he 'tweeted',
"It's just not intelligent to pretend that homosexual relationships are normal."
See: Conservative leader says gay marriage 'not right'
It take a spectacular degree of arrogance to decide that another consenting adult's relationship is "not normal".
This blogger feels it only appropriate that Mr Craig's marriage to his wife should be put under the microscope.
It has been said often enough that those who vociferously oppose homosexuality (especially in males) often have a measure of sexual insecurity themselves. For many men, condemning and reviling homosexuality has been an attempt to reaffirm their own heterosexuality by "proving their straightness" to themselves.
Perhaps, in this instance, Mr Craig may have something he wishes to get of his manly chest,
" He was so sure that homosexuality was a choice, he bet his own sexuality on it.
"Do you think you could choose to be gay if that is the case?," he was asked.
"Sure. Sure I could," he responded.
"You could choose to be gay?," he was asked again.
"Yea, if I wanted to,' he replied. "
See: Colin Craig: 'Gay parents not good role models'
Anything you want to share with us, Mr Craig? Don't worry, we're all consenting adults here…
Why are all small right wing parties loony-tunes?
Is this the sort of political party that National wants to cosy up to?
And more important – would a possible coalition with a bunch of religious homophobes and misogynists really endear National's voting-base to keep supporting the Nats?
Happy times for Dear Leader, John Key.
National does have another potential coalition partner – the New Zealand First Party. Though their first attempt at coalition (in 1996) ended very badly for Winston Peters, that could be explained as "growing pains" after our very first MMP election. I doubt if any small Party would ever repeat such horrendous mistakes again.
But in coalescing with NZ First, National would have to abandon much of it's right wing, neo-liberal agenda. State asset sales would be gone by lunchtime. The sale of farmland to overseas investors would be restricted (if Peters is to be taken at his word). And the edge might be taken of other policies favoured by National.
On the other hand, NZ First had been punished previously for coalescing with National. As well, NZ First has an active youth-wing that might not appreciate 'sleeping with the enemy'.
Working with Winston Peters would be one very big rat for John Key to swallow. Considering how adamant he was back in 2008,
"Mr Peters will be unacceptable as a Minister in a government led by me unless he can provide a credible explanation."
See: Peters unacceptable in a National-led Government
And just last year,
"I don't see a place for a Winston Peters-led New Zealand First in a government that I lead."
See: PM rules out any NZ First deal
"If Winston Peters holds the balance of power, it will be a Phil Goff-led government."
See: Key names election date, rules out Winston Peters
Sealing a coalition deal with someone he has categorically ruled out in the past would damage Key's credibility even further. Our Dear Leader is already developing something of a reputation for being "untrustworthy, dishonest, arrogant, smarmy and out of touch".
See: 'Polarising' PM losing gloss
Does he want to compound that perception by backtracking on his declaration that he cannot/will not work with the NZ First leader?
So Colin Craig it is.
And yes,
"It's going to be a long two and a half years."
Categories: The Body Politic Tags: ACT, Alliance Party, Christian Coalition, Christian Heritage, colin craig, Conservative Party, Democrat Party, Destiny New Zealand, Electoral Commission, homophobia, John Banks, Labour Party, Mana Motuhake, marriage equality, MMP, New Zealand Liberal Party, Newlabour Party, NZ First, Social Credit, winston peters
Some thoughts on the anti-MMP campaign
15 December 2011 Frank Macskasy	1 comment
With the referendum come and gone, it's worthwhile looking back at the anti-MMP clique, the so-called "Vote for Change".
As far as campaigns go, "Vote for Change" had to be one of the most amateurish in living memory.
First, it was uncovered that "Vote for Change" was to be organised by National and ACT apparatchiks. People like Simon Lusk, David Farrar, Cameron Slater, and Jordan Williams – all deeply connected or associated, in one way or another, with right wing politics,
If those revelations were deliberately "leaked" to the media for free publicity – it was not a "good look" to let the public know that "Vote for Change" was a front-organisation for National and ACT.
If that leak was not authorised, then someone in the "Vote for Change" camp was not happy. An unhappy camper was not a very auspicious start.
Then, it was discovered by another blogger, Martyn "Bomber" Bradbury, of "Tumeke", that one of "Vote for Change's" supporters was a white-supremacist who advocated nazi-style racial separation,
"Vote for Change" was quickly developing an image as an elitist club for assorted right wingers.
The only exception to "Vote for Change's" roll call of conservative businesspeople; right wing politicians; and National/ACT activists was former Labour Party president and Waitakere mayor, Bob Harvey.
But he quickly realised the political bed-fellows he was associating with, and made his own call to quit,
These were fatal blows to the anti-MMP lobby group. They never really recovered from these gaffes and the public perception was of a conservative organisation that was wanting to take New Zealand backward, to the days of single-party Parliamentary rule.
Even "Vote for Change's" announcement on 29 October that their group had chosen SM (Supplementary Member) to promote as an alternative to MMP was seen by many as a return to FPP-by-the-back-door. It was another blow to their credibility; "Vote for Change" was not advocating change at all.
It was a strategic mistake for "Vote for Change" to promote SM. SM was the least known of all electoral systems, and in the 1992 referendum had polled the lowest at just over 5%.
If "Vote for Change" had really wanted change – they should have chosen STV. But they did not – STV is also a proportional system and that is the last thing Williams, Lusk, Farrar, et al wanted for New Zealand.
It was blindingly obvious that their agenda was to destroy any semblance of multi-party government and replace proportional representation with a system that would allow for single-party rule.
They were seeking absolute power for National.
Most people, I believe got this. Older, Baby Boomers, of a liberal persuasion, had unpleasant memories of the outrageous abuses of power by Muldoon, Douglas, Bolger, Richardson, et al.
Younger people who had no experience of FPP regimes most likely had no interest in a system that favoured only two parties and reduced their choices. (Neo-liberals, in this respect, had successfully socially re-engineered NZ society to prefer choice over a two-party, take-it-or-leave-it, offering.)
Aside from National Party supporters, New Zealanders did not want to take A Giant Leap Backwards. "Vote for Change" offered nothing except an old, discredited electoral system, and fear-mongering,
Using Winston Peters as a scare-mongering tactic was not just clumsy – but evidence that "Vote for Change" had no real intellectual rigour in promoting their cause. Demonising one man – as disliked as he might be by some voters – is not really a sensible reason to throw out MMP and turn our entire electoral system upside down, on it's head.
This was the tactics of spoilt children who could give no other reason to cater to their whims except, "do it – or else!".
Not exactly a convincing argument.
But perhaps the best example of a *facepalm* situation was having National Party candidate, Simon Bridges (now MP), on their website,
Bridges was positively fuming when he complained,
"It gets under my goat that list MPs are not subject to direct democracy. They're chosen by a small power elite in each party, so MMP has taken power off the voter."
FYI: Simon Bridges was #30 on National's Party List. Had he not won the electorate of Tauranga, he would have returned to Parliament as a Party List MP.
That would've been interesting.
Pundit: I've just been internalising a really complicated situation in my head
Categories: The Body Politic Tags: ACT, Alex Fogerty', Bob Harvey, Cameron Slater, David Farrar, FPP, Jordan Williams, Martyn Bomber Bradbury, MMP, National, Simon Bridges, Simon Lusk, SM, Tumeke, Vote for Change
Newer Entries Older Entries


The main TV debate of Britain's national election campaign yielded no clear victor with four opinion polls producing four different winners, but David Cameron's attempt to appear the most statesman-like appeared to have paid off.
The event, on Thursday night, was staged less than six weeks before a close national election on May 7 as polls suggest Cameron's Conservatives and Ed Miliband's opposition Labour Party are neck-and-neck with neither on track to win a majority.
The results of four snap opinion polls underscored why the election - that will decide who governs Britain and its $2.8 trillion economy - is being widely described as the closest and most unpredictable since the 1970s with voters naming no fewer than four winners.
One poll said Scottish nationalist leader Nicola Sturgeon had won, another said Labour's Miliband had narrowly triumphed, a third said Cameron, Miliband and UK Independence Party leader (UKIP) Nigel Farage had come joint first, while a fourth said Cameron and Miliband had both won.
Jonny Tudor, 17, who asked one of the questions on the night, told Reuters afterwards: "Some performed well in answer to certain questions, other performed well on different subjects, but there was no definitive winner."
In a result that will calm Conservative nerves, a Comres/ITV poll showed 40 percent of voters judged Cameron was the most capable of leading Britain, compared to 28 percent for Miliband.
However, the debate has had little effect on voting intentions according to the first national poll since.
A Survation survey for the Daily Mirror had Labour on 33 percent and the Conservatives on 31 percent, unchanged since its last poll a week ago, although Miliband's personal approval rating had received a boost.
In an unusual format for Britain, Cameron faced off against six political rivals in what was the first and only full TV debate of a campaign that has yet to stir voters, many of whom say they feel jaded despite a rising economy.
In one of Cameron's more animated moments in an otherwise reserved performance, he pointed to his rivals, one-by-one, and said: "What I'm hearing is more debt and more taxes, more debt and more taxes, a lot more debt and more taxes, some more debt and more taxes, and definitely more debt and more taxes."
A rare moment of drama came when a female audience member briefly interrupted Cameron to complain about the number of homeless people sleeping in the streets.
The ITV debate, held in a former pie factory near the northern city of Manchester, ranged across the economy, the health service and immigration in front of an otherwise quiet studio audience.
It put leaders of traditionally fringe parties like UKIP's Farage and Natalie Bennett of the left-wing Green Party, on an equal footing with the Conservatives and Labour, who have dominated British politics for decades.
Sturgeon, the leader of Scotland's nationalists, joined Welsh nationalist leader Leanne Wood and Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, the junior party in the outgoing coalition, to complete the lineup.
Sturgeon, whose party is on course to almost wipe out Labour in Scotland, making it much harder for Miliband to win a UK-wide majority, said: "I won't pretend I don't want Scotland to be independent, I do."
Farage, whose party threatens to split the right-wing vote in particular, making it harder for Cameron to get re-elected, stirred controversy by complaining about the number of foreigners seeking treatment for HIV in Britain.
"Immigration ... is now net 300,000 people a year. It's 10 times anything this country has had to live with since 1945," he said.
Cameron, whose personal ratings are higher than those of his rivals, came off badly from Britain's first televised election debates in 2010. Over the course of three such debates, strong performances by Clegg were credited with helping deprive the Conservatives of an outright victory.
This time, Cameron resisted pressure to take part in a head-to-head debate with Labour leader Miliband, not wanting to hand his main rival a chance to improve his low personal ratings.
Miliband appeared confident in Thursday's debate but appeared momentarily flummoxed when Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg asked him to apologise for "crashing the economy" when Labour was in power from 1997-2010.
Regaining his poise, Miliband later fluently restated his belief that only Labour could offer a fairer way of governing the world's sixth biggest economy.
"There's one fundamental choice at this election," he said. "If I'm prime minister I'll make sure we reward the hard work of everybody in our country. Not just those who get the six-figure bonuses."


5X 80W LED Stage Light Par 54 DMX RGBW Stage Show lighting DJ Club Party US Plug. Chip:PAR54 3 in 1 0.5W. PCB:Chip size G:2020B1428R14141941.6MM.
Body Material:Housing 2pcsHandle 2pcsEar 2pcsBow holderBottom cover size194MM. Power Supply:Voltage 24V 80W. Mainboard:7 channel24V, Current requirementRed80-100mABulb/Green120-150mA.
Fan:24V 882.5cm 3200 turn. We care about our valued customers and understand the concerns and frustrations you might have, and we.
Will try our best to resolve the issues. For our items without any problems. We will shortly return the courtesy automatically. The item "5X 80W LED Stage Light Par 54 DMX RGB Stage Show lighting DJ Club Party US Plug" is in sale since Tuesday, February 27, 2018. This item is in the category "Musical Instruments & Gear\Stage Lighting & Effects\Stage Lighting\ Single Units".


text:
The Monroe Sun (https://themonroesun.com/thieves-target-restaurant-parking-lots-on-main-street/)
Thieves target restaurant parking lots on Main Street
More on Police
Subscribe to Police
MONROE, CT — Police responded to complaints of a rash of thefts from vehicles in the parking lots of several restaurants along Main Street Thursday night.
"We're in the holiday season, so thieves are aware people often leave more valuables in their car, including gifts and money, and they appear to be targeting these areas in hopes of stealing these items," Lt. Stephen Corrone said Friday.
"We ask residents not to leave valuables in their car and to make sure they lock their vehicles," he continued, "and if they see suspicious activity, don't approach people, call us and we'll come out there."
Police will also do more to prevent future thefts.
"We'll be patrolling these lots to deter any would-be thieves," Corrone said.
At 8:28 p.m. Thursday, police officers were called to Roberto's Restaurant, 505 Main St., where three unlocked vehicles were entered and tools were taken, according to the report.
At 9 p.m., officers responded to a call at Vazzy's Osteria, 415 Main St., for a report of multiple vehicles entered and items taken. Police did not release further details at this time.
The driver's side window of a vehicle was smashed outside Sal's Family Pizza, 630 Main St., and a purse containing $500 cash was stolen from the seat, police said. This was reported around 9:50 p.m.
A case of white wine was stolen from the trunk of an unlocked vehicle outside Carl Anthony's, 477 Main St., according to police.
Thieves targeted the northeast part of town early in the week
MONROE, CT — Thieves targeted the northeast part of town from the night of Nov. 8 into the the early morning of Nov.
2 thoughts on "Thieves target restaurant parking lots on Main Street"
Michael Dibiagio on December 12, 2021 at 9:41 am said:
I think the thieves should be beaten at the town square tied to a post for all to see 🥴 Then bring back the chain gang and dressed in bright strips with Thieves printed across there chest ! Maybe if the punishment fits the crime they'll think twice 🤔
David A. Convertito on December 16, 2021 at 9:30 am said:
In many cases throughout the country these are the results of the "no bail" or catch and release policies. Not necessarily in our local but I won't be surprised if became policy since we're living in a "blue state".


text:
Why BioGenerator Works
Mary Mack
Any entrepreneur can attest that the obstacles positioned between a brilliant idea and a successful, growing business are many. To startup founders working in the BioTech or life sciences field specifically, those roadblocks can be downright discouraging.
But since 2003, St. Louis has had a team of people working to make that process easier: BioGenerator.
What BioGenerator Is
Part of BioSTL, BioGenerator is a non-profit that invests in early-stage and seed-stage life science startups in the St. Louis region, creates infrastructure vital for the success of these companies—think lab space and all of that expensive equipment—and maintains a stable of professionals to advise and offer assistance both in scientific matters as well as general business acumen.
"Overall, we're trying to jumpstart the life science landscape here in St. Louis," says BioGenerator president Eric Gulve. "Specifically, over the past six years or so, we've developed a suite of programs and activities intended to provide support for life science startups."
BioGenerator President Eric Gulve
Those programs and activities encompass a wide range of stages, from early meetings with a scientist or professional who has an idea to supporting life science startups with the syndication of a major venture round. One thing all BioGenerator portfolio companies have in common is that they deal with health and plant sciences, including agriculture, diagnostics, IT, medical devices, research tools and therapeutics.
Creating Spaces for Collaboration
Brad Postier is co-founder of Spectrum Perception, one of the most recent startups to join the portfolio. Spectrum Perception has developed a line of hand-held spectrophotometers—an instrument that is used to measure intensity of light in a part of the spectrum, especially when it is transmitted or emitted by particular substances—that are wireless, inexpensive and integrated into a micropipette.
The idea is that the tool they created would be able to be used in the field, in the lab or integrated into production processes at a lower cost with higher efficiency than traditional spectrophotometers.
Postier and his team first learned of the non-profit after he and his company made it to the finals of a Balsa pitch event. He got in touch with BioGenerator after the event, but admits they weren't quite ready for that step.
Fortunately, the robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in St. Louis had the perfect stepping stone in the form of Square One. Spectrum Perception was accepted into CET's signature program, and once they finished there, they were then ready to move forward, receiving a Proof of Concept Grant from BioGenerator in 2016.
"It was a roundabout way, but we proved we belonged through consistent hard work and advancement," says Postier. "Not just in the science, but on the business side as well."
Since joining the portfolio, Postier and his team have seen the benefits.
"Having access to the laboratory equipment and bench space has enabled us to work at a more efficient pace and at a lower cost, as we don't have to buy expensive equipment," he says. "[The] labs also offer us opportunities to openly collaborate with others, use of common equipment, bench space, dark room, office space. We are developing a laboratory research instrument. Many of the individuals working here are familiar with the headaches that this instrument solves and are eager to try it out. Since we have been here, we have moved past proof of concept into final design testing/optimization."
Helping Navigate Startup Growth
APSE, an AgTech startup based in St. Louis, is an older BioGenerator portfolio company that developed technology allowing the cost efficient production of RNA for broad acre topical RNAi uses in agriculture. They achieved their laboratory goals in that area and are now proceeding to validate their production model by scaling up their processes.
Dr. Juan Arhancet, Apse's CSO, with Governor Jay Nixon | Photo: BioSTL
"Many investors prompted us to look at products for ourselves and we are initially focused on urban and structural insects, says Kilmer. "We have gotten excellent control of red imported fire ants and will be doing a field test in the spring. We are expanding our portfolio to include household ants as well as other urban and structural insects."
Though current CEO John Kilmer wasn't incredibly familiar with what BioGenerator was and what they did prior to joining his team (he was previously with Monsanto), he's since seen the impact the non-profit can make.
"APSE would not have been able to progress as far as we have without their support, he says. "Investments as well as a remarkably well-equipped shared lab space. But at least as important is the tremendous support that we get from the BioGenerator staff. They have held our hand through a number of refinancings, helped us get a grip on our intellectual property and provided guidance on finding investors."
There is no one way that BioGenerator staff and mentors work to help make the path from concept to viable product/company easier for entrepreneurs. Whether it's serving on boards of the portfolio companies, recruiting talent, (employees advisors consultants, service providers) serving as deal leads, providing mentorship and advice or even assisting in networking and making beneficial introductions, BioGenerator mission innately allows them to pitch in however they can.
"Every day we face a new set of challenges and opportunities, and the reward in working for an organization like BioGenerator comes from building partnerships and addressing complex situations where the end goal is to help members of the St. Louis startup community build strong companies that can provide solutions to important societal issues."
Previous article6 Startup Events Not to Miss This Week
Next articleDiversity in Tech Panel drives home the message of gender gap film
Mary writes for EQ and previously contributed to ALIVE Magazine and worked in the digital marketing field as an account manager. A central Illinois native, she got her news-editorial journalism degree from the University of Illinois and then moved to St. Louis so she wouldn't have to be around as many Cubs fans. Then she married one.
National Competition Awards Young Entrepreneur Fellowship to 3 MO Startup Founders


Cheez balls are dead and redacted from Planters history.
You can petition for their return.
Oddly enough, when I searched "cheese balls" a few weeks back Google referred me to the Wikipedia entry on skee ball.
"Redacted"? What, are the words "Cheese" and "Balls" now blacked out of every Planters company document?
I had completely forgotten about these. Now I have a killer craving for cheez balls.


Rupee, oil crisis: RBI set to make big change in stance?
The CPI inflation for Q2 FY2019 set to lag the monetary policy committee's (MPC's) estimate of 4.6%, the likelihood of a rate hike in the October 2018 policy review was low, in spite of the rupee having weakened to Rs 70.23/$ (RBI reference rate as on August 16, 2018).
A month back, we had concluded that with the CPI inflation for Q2 FY2019 set to lag the monetary policy committee's (MPC's) estimate of 4.6%, the likelihood of a rate hike in the October 2018 policy review was low, in spite of the rupee having weakened to Rs 70.23/$ (RBI reference rate as on August 16, 2018).
Since then, as expected, the year-on-year (YoY) CPI inflation corrected to a 10-month low of 3.7% in August 2018 from 4.2% in July 2018, receding below the MPC's medium-term target of 4% after 10 months. GDP growth printed at a higher than expected 8.2% for Q1 FY2019, followed by a healthy 6.6% expansion of industrial output in July 2018.
However, rising concerns about the impact of the impending US sanctions on Iran, have led to a surge in global crude oil and domestic fuel prices. This has contributed to an upward revision in the estimates of India's current account deficit for FY2019, given the country's dependence on imported fuels. The latter, in conjunction with weak global sentiment related to emerging market currencies, has resulted in the rupee recording fresh all-time lows. To curtail the weakness in the currency, the government announced several measures over September 14-16, 2018, which are intended to reduce the current account deficit (CAD), and boost financial inflows, particularly debt flows, to offset the CAD.
Contrary to expectations that the announcement of these measures would boost sentiment, the rupee has weakened further on September 17, 2018, with the operational details related to these measures being awaited from various ministries and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and in a reaction to global cues.
A weaker rupee has exacerbated the landed cost of various imports, including domestic retail fuel prices, raising concerns regarding the trajectory of inflation. The headline CPI inflation appears likely to range between 4.6-5% in Q4 FY2019.
Accordingly, we now expect a third consecutive rate hike in the October 2018 policy review, along with a change in stance to the withdrawal of accommodation, unless crude oil prices and the rupee record an appreciable reversal in the intervening period. Whether another rate hike succeeds in encouraging portfolio inflows and thereby reducing exchange rate volatility, remains to be seen. Reflecting various concerns, the 10-year G-sec yield spiked from 7.70% on August 1 to 8.23% intra-day on September 12, before easing to 8.10% on September 17. The latter partly benefitted from the announcement of an open market operation of a purchase of G-sec of Rs 10,000 crore by the RBI on September 14, and the market's expectation of a pipeline of such OMOs in the remainder of this fiscal.
The market borrowing calendar for the central and state governments for H2, in addition to inflationary concerns and global cues, will keenly influence bond yields in the coming weeks.


text:
Loyalty to family, instead of CNN, puts Chris Cuomo at risk
NEW YORK (AP) — There's family, and your job as a journalist. Chris Cuomo's willingness to put the latter at risk in service to his brother has led to his suspension by CNN.
The network took him off the air Tuesday, saying that material released by New York's attorney general shows that he played a greater role than previously acknowledged in defense of his brother, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as he fought sexual harassment charges.
Transcripts of emails and Chris Cuomo's testimony before state investigators revealed that he strategized regularly with the governor's aides and tried to help them learn what other journalists were reporting about harassment allegations.
CNN said that he was more involved than its executives — not just the general public — had been aware of.
"As a result, we have suspended Chris indefinitely, pending further evaluation," a CNN spokesperson said.
Cuomo, on his SiriusXM show Wednesday, said it "hurts to even say" he's been suspended.
"It's embarrassing," he said, "but I understand it. And I understand why some people feel the way they do about what I did. I've apologized in the past. I mean it. It's the last thing I ever wanted to do was compromise any of my colleagues. And do anything but help."
The Cuomos are part of a New York political dynasty that began with their father, Mario, serving three terms as governor from 1982 to 1996. Andrew was in his third term before resigning this year, and he burned to beat his dad's record.
Andrew was his father's most trusted aide and protector during Mario's first campaign and early years as governor, an example of loyalty that Chris grew up watching even though, at 51, he is more than 13 years younger than his brother.
They frequently describe themselves as best friends.
"He's my brother, and I love him to death no matter what," Chris Cuomo said in his testimony this past July. "I only got one."
Still, they were fiercely competitive, said Michael Shnayerson, author of "The Contender," an unauthorized biography of Andrew that was published in 2015.
"Always, under the mockery and machismo, was a powerful bond — the Cuomos against the world," Shnayerson said. "I can imagine it all too easy for Chris to let that bond cloud his judgment when it came to reporting the news, and following up on leads about Andrew's political enemies."
Throughout his testimony, Chris Cuomo frequently returns to family when asked to explain his frequent contact — often combative — with Andrew's aides as they tried to figure out a way to save the governor's job.
"This is my brother, and I'm trying to help my brother through a situation where he has told me he did nothing wrong," Chris testified. "And that's it for me. How do I help protect my family? How do I protect him? Probably should have been thinking more about how I protect myself, which just never occurred to me."
James' investigation found that Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women. He resigned as governor in August to avoid a likely impeachment trial.
The last time he talked to his brother about the charges, Chris Cuomo said during his testimony, was to figure out what was going to happen and what he would tell their 90-year-old mother.
Cuomo has insisted he has done nothing to try to influence CNN's coverage of his brother's political problems, and that it would be quickly found out if he did.
While people can relate to wanting to help a family member, his primary obligation as a journalist is to CNN's viewers, said Kathleen Culver, director of the Center for Journalism Ethics at the University of Wisconsin. These revelations can damage CNN's reputation, and all journalists, at a time people are already suspicious of the profession, she said.
Journalists need to establish independence from newsmakers. Cuomo "was not independent of his brother in any sense of the term, and that's a very, very big problem," Culver said.
When it was first reported by The Washington Post last May that Cuomo had strategized with his brother's aides, CNN said that it was inappropriate but did not discipline him.
"When Chris admitted to us that he had offered advice to his brother's staff, he broke our rules and we acknowledged that publicly," the CNN spokesperson said Tuesday. "But we also appreciated the unique position he was in and understood his need to put family first and job second."
At the request of his brother's aides, Cuomo also used his contacts to find out what other journalists were going to report, most notably the New Yorker's Ronan Farrow. Cuomo said "the idea of one reporter calling another to find out what's coming down the pipe is completely business as usual."
For competitive reasons, journalists are frequently curious about what rivals are working on, although a phone call for that reason would likely result in an angry hang-up.
In this case, Cuomo was seeking "inside information that would be valuable to his family member," Culver said. "It is not inside information that serves the public. That's what makes this extraordinary."
CNN's ultimate decision on Cuomo's future is complicated, in part because it draws attention to how it has treated the issue in the past and its own efforts to investigate his activities. Cuomo testified that he didn't tell anyone at CNN that he was contacting other journalists to find out about the Farrow piece.
"His suspension from CNN is the correct move, and something that should have happened sooner," said Ben Bogardus, a journalism professor at Connecticut's Quinnipiac University. "The longer it dragged on, the more credibility CNN lost."
"Cuomo Prime Time" has averaged 1.3 million viewers a night so far this year, the Nielsen company said. While its audience is down sharply from the 2020 election year, like it is for many cable news programs, it's still CNN's most-watched show, and Cuomo's exit would leave a big hole.
His suspension makes some of the advice that Cuomo told investigators that he gave to his brother during the harassment scandal sound eerily like it could apply to his own situation.
"You have to tell the truth," Cuomo said he advised his brother. "You have to not be coaxed to tell the truth. You have to own what was wrong. You have to apologize. And you have to tell people you've learned from this."
Whether or not he gets that chance is an open question.
David Bauder, The Associated Press
The first commercial airline flights in one month took off Saturday from Xi'an in western China as the government eased travel curbs imposed after a coronavirus outbreak ahead of next month's Winter Olympics in Beijing. Seven planes took off, according to the website of Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. Access to Xi'an, a city of 13 million people about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) southwest of Beijing, was suspended Dec. 22 following an outbreak attributed to the coronavirus's delta variant.
Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has been admitted to hospital, a spokesperson for him said on Saturday. The spokesperson said Mahathir was admitted to the cardiac care unit at the National Heart Institute but gave no details. The National Heart Institute did not say at the time what procedure Mahathir, who has a history of heart problems, had undergone.
IKEA launches spring/summer 2022 collection — and you'll want it all
Curated Cluttercore, Collective Celebration, and Outside In — as part of its wider 'Transitions' theme. IKEA has launched three new collections for spring/summer 2022 — Curated Cluttercore, Collective Celebration, and Outside In — as part of its wider 'Transitions' theme. Focusing on embracing what we already have in our homes, the themes tap into IKEA's initiative to move away from 'seasonal' trends.
"If he was on my team I'd have to put hands on him," the NBA legend said of the Brooklyn Nets star's refusal to received the coronavirus shot.
Brian Laundrie admitted killing ex-girlfriend Gabby Petito in a "suicide note" found near his remains, the FBI announced. Petito, 22, was pronounced dead at a campground near Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming on September 19. Following a four-month investigation, the FBI say Brian Laundrie was "directly involved in the tragic death of Gabby Petito".
'We are weakening democracy': fears over lack of lessons in how government works
'We are weakening democracy': fears over lack of lessons in how government works. An MPs' report found a fifth of secondary schools in England provide no education about politics. Why?
Among the 3.7 million clinically extremely vulnerable people in England, the removal of Covid restrictions has raised concerns
Coronavirus pandemic's finishing line has not yet come clearly into focus for millions of people
Manchester City will remain without Riyad Mahrez for this afternoon's Premier League clash with Southampton, despite Algeria's early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations. Algeria suffered a shock group-stage exit at the AFCON but Mahrez has been afforded a rest period by Pep Guardiola and will not feature at the Etihad on Saturday.
Takeaway pizzas were ordered in during the seven-hour drinking session, according to new claims that heap further pressure on PM
West Ham XI vs Man United: Predicted lineup, team news, injuries and Covid latest for Premier League today
West Ham are checking on the fitness of Tomas Soucek and Kurt Zouma ahead of this afternoon's Premier League clash with Manchester United. Zouma has also suffered a bout of Covid and has not played since picking up a hamstring tendon injury against former club Chelsea in December.
Ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime ran out a comfortable 6-4 6-1 6-1 winner on John Cain Arena.
UFC 2022 schedule: Every major fight happening this year
Here's a look at every 2022 event announced by the MMA promotion so far
Man United XI vs West Ham: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, Covid and injury latest for Premier League
Ralf Rangnick must decide whether to shake up his Manchester United lineup after a midweek victory over Brentford in which they were hardly convincing as his side take on West Ham this afternoon. Clearly, there's still a long way to go but United can at least take heart that their attacking players can interlink to devastating effect while live safe in the knowledge David De Gea is in the best form he's been in for years. United have confirmed Aaron Wan-Bissaka will likely miss the game through illness (though refused to confirm he was suffering from Covid-19) and that Scott McTominay should be fit for the game despite coming off injured on Wednesday.
Everything you need to know about the first UFC pay-per-view of the year


These pellet-burners are effective, also. The conservative fireplace flows like a heating sieve. They pull so much from these pellets which are almost incredible. There are many pellet heaters for sale in Australia you can browse https://elkobioenergy.com.au/products/ to get affordable pellet heaters.
They are a flexible alternative, also. Some individuals eliminate the other kinds of heating system, relying solely on a whole house furnace. You are not stuck with a single choice when you have added a pellet stove to your property.
These stoves–that have only been easily available for the past couple of decades–have become popular, well-recognized choices. That is not a crash. Pellet stoves provide outstanding warmth with good efficacy whilst wearing a price tag which places other choices to shame.
First, as mentioned, is the price. The cost of these tiny wood pellets is not going up, either. In reality, the rising popularity of the grills is bringing more people to the issuer industry, which can be fostering supply and decreasing costs!
Now the gas feed system was considered, the upcoming important element is that the gas zone or more especially the burn pot. This is where the action actually happens, and also the legitimate indication of an excellent pellet stove. You will find several burn pot layouts, and also the most frequent layout is that the fall down burn pot.
These pellets fall to the burn pot, and also the sole way of ash removal would be by the pressured air used to assist combustion. The issue with this system would be, what's the air flow is inadequate to move each the ash? This will make an ash build up, which will eventually make the pellet cooker to discover a fault. Thus the fall down pellet burn kettle isn't the layout, since the ash content of fuel pellets may easily change.


Hi this is Jon Kruse, I run How to start a clothing company. When I started out it was hard to find a quality screen printer that was professional, with over-sized prints, super soft ink, and a product that I was 100% happy with. After using a couple screen printers, and having problems with all of them, I finally found Threadbird.
I used Threadbird when I started my clothing company Shred. Some of the shirts were 9 colors and I really needed a screen printer that could deliver on intricate oversized prints. When I got the prints I was amazed at how soft they were and I have used them ever since and recommended them to others. Also every color was exactly what I had intended and they sent me a mock approval to make sure everything was right.
I would highly recommend ordering one of their sample shirts for their shop, to see the quality of their prints.
When it comes to T-Shirt screen printing, not all companies are created equal. Screen printers come in all shapes and sizes and finding a solid one can be harder than you think! From inexperienced "garage shops" with one manual press to experienced "industry shops" with 500 shirt minimums, quality and price run the gamut. This is where Threadbird steps in. Whether you need 36 or 10,000 shirts we work to get you the highest quality at a price you can afford. This is "The Real Deal".
If you know anything about screen printing, you know a lot can go wrong. It's extremely important to feel good about your order. Once your order is submitted and paid for, the art department prepares digital proofs, showing what the artwork looks like on an average sized shirt, ink colors, print size and any concerns we may have. After your review, they correct any changes before printing begins.
Threadbird specializes in large format jumbo prints (up to 17.25″ wide x 23.5″ tall). They can print up to 10 colors per design. Also they specialize in full color simulated and process printing. They can tackle any amount of detail, while maintaining beautiful, soft prints.


text:
Дынгово () — село в Болгарии. Находится в Кырджалийской области, входит в общину Кырджали. Население составляет 19 человек.

Политическая ситуация
В местном кметстве Воловарци, в состав которого входит Дынгово, должность кмета (старосты) исполняет Мюнюр Бейсим Мюмюн (Движение за права и свободы (ДПС)) по результатам выборов.

Кмет (мэр) общины Кырджали — Хасан Азис (Движение за права и свободы (ДПС)) по результатам выборов.

Ссылки
 Статистика населения

Сёла Кырджалийской области

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


We are so busy with sports already that I have barely had time to breathe let alone fix a meal. My kids always want to run out and find something to eat. But I have decided to try and make dinner happen at least 6 days a week without running to a restaurant or fast food place. I try to keep things fairly simple, but sometimes you want something fun and out of the ordinary.
This month I wanted to try a few meals that seemed like they were from a restaurant but were indeed home made and much better for my busy family. I found some amazing ideas, including this fun twist on chicken and waffles. Now if you have not tried chicken and waffles you absolutely have to! You do not know what you are missing. It sounds odd, but it is delicious!
This fun and simple recipe from Six Sisters Stuff is perfect for busy nights. You can even make it a little healthier by substituting the waffles for whole wheat Eggo's, by making them from scratch, or you can purchase Kodiak Protein Waffle mix (they even have a gluten-free version!) and simply make the waffles with a waffle iron (just add water!). You could also make your own fried chicken, but as I said — WE HAVE BEEN BUSY!!
It is definitely better than going to a restaurant, waiting for our order, paying for meals for 5-6 people, and having no control over the portions or if it is is gluten-free (since I now have to eat gluten-free for health issues). As I said, life is busy and complicated. I love that no matter what I can find small ways to make it a little bit easier. Be sure to check out the Six Sisters Stuff for the full tutorial and recipe. It will NOT disappoint!
This entry was posted in Food & Recipes and tagged chicken and waffle sliders, chicken and waffles, dinners, easy dinners, fall dinners, food, recipes, simple dinners, six sisters stuff, the boys store, winter dinners on September 4, 2018 by Lacy.


This cover extends to all financial members of the union, the members spouse and their children up to the age of 18, further to that, the policy will indemnify any students and or children under the age of 25 years who are not in receipt of any taxable income, and totally dependant relatives residing with the member.
The union is pleased to be able to offer this benefit to its members as a part of their union membership.
So – if you (or any of your family living with you) require emergency ambulance transport, then ring the union office for a claim form as soon as possible. Once your account has been received, then send both the complete claim form with your account to the Union office.