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Top South Pekin Criminal Defense Lawyers - Illinois
Nearby Cities: Pekin, East Peoria, Morton, Canton, Peoria
Hall, Rustom & Fritz
Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving South Pekin, IL (Peoria)
Peoria, Illinois, has a law firm that puts its clients' satisfaction first. At Hall, Rustom & Fritz, we offer exceptional legal representation and counsel in a variety of practice areas in order to help you with virtually any legal issues affecting your life, your family, your business and your future. Serving a diverse range of clients across the state, our law firm's attorneys possess the...
Schierer & Ritchie, LLC
Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving South Pekin, IL (East Peoria)
The personal injury and criminal defense attorneys at Schierer & Ritchie, LLC, are proud to provide quality legal services to the residents of Peoria, Illinois, and surrounding communities. Our law firm is dedicated to providing close personal service to our clients while seeking favorable solutions to the legal issues they face. Our lawyers have more than two decades of experience helping...
Gullberg, Box, Worby & Rogers, LLC
Gullberg & Box is a full service law firm serving the following Illinois counties: County Location of Court House ...
Essig Law Office
Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving South Pekin, IL (Washington)
Your freedom and future are at stake when you are facing serious legal problems. Depending on the outcome, the consequences for you and your family can be catastrophic. You need to know your options. You also need to know that as our client, you are important to us. We take a personal interest in your legal matters. On your behalf, the lawyers at Essig Law Office will provide sound...
Kirby Law Office
Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving South Pekin, IL (Mason City)
Chris Gramm, Attorney at Law
Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving South Pekin, IL (Bloomington)
From his law office in Bloomington, Illinois, Chris Gramm, Attorney at Law, provides exceptional legal advocacy and support to those who stand accused of virtually any type of felony or misdemeanor criminal offense. Serving clients throughout McLean County and central Illinois, Mr. Gramm has more than 16 years of experience defending the rights and liberties of the accused in both state and...
The Prior Law Firm, P.C.
Attorney John Prior founded our Bloomington law office, The Prior Law Firm, P.C., to put his years of legal experience to work for accused individuals in McLean County and the surrounding areas in Central Illinois. Thanks to his long record of success, our law firm now has a reputation as one of the state's leading criminal defense firms, which brings countless clients to us each year for help...
Barber, Segatto, Hoffee, Wilke & Cate
Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving South Pekin, IL (Springfield)
Established in 1897, Barber, Segatto, Hoffee, Wilke & Cate has served the Springfield for more than a century in a broad range of legal matters, including estate planning, real estate, business formation, transactions and litigation, family law and bankruptcy law. We are proud of our firm's involvement in the development of Springfield's community, as well as our dedication to generations of...
Harvatin Law Offices
Theodore J. (Ted) Harvatin grew up in Rochester, Illinois, a farming and bedroom community near Springfield. His mother was from Benton, Illinois, where her parents, who emigrated from Macedonia (the former Yugoslavia), started and ran a bakery for 40 years. Ted's father, who was an electrical engineer at Illinois Bell Telephone, grew up in Sesser, Illinois. Ted's dad's parents...
W. Scott Hanken, Attorney at Law
The office of W. Scott Hanken practices law in Springfield, Illinois and Sangamon County. Our entire staff is dedicated to helping clients with their legal matters regarding: Civil Litigation Criminal Law Personal Injury Law Workers Compensation Driving While Intoxicated...
Barash & Everett, LLC
Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving South Pekin, IL (Galesburg)
Serious Legal Problems Require Serious Representation At Barash & Everett LLC, our legal team combines experience and resources that have made us the go-to law firm in West Central Illinois. They possess the experience and knowledge that you need during life-changing times. We are committed to sophisticated legal services on behalf of Galesburg residents and entrepreneurs that include: Divorce...
Feldman, Wasser, Draper & Cox
Attorney Howard W. Feldman originally established our Springfield law firm, Feldman Wasser, as a sole proprietorship, and it grew into a partnership when attorney Stanley N. Wasser joined the practice. Today, we are home to a total of nine lawyers with decades of combined legal experience who proudly provide a wide range of legal services to both individuals and business clients in Sangamon County...
Holley, Rosen & Beard, LLC
With the addition of Peter Beard, our firm name is now Holley, Rosen & Beard, LLC. Holley, Rosen & Beard, LLC is recognized as an 'A' rated law firm by the legal authority Martindale-Hubbell. A thorough understanding of the law and its practical affect on individuals is necessary for successful legal representation. The 'A' rating from Martindale-Hubbell demonstrates the quality of our...
Johnson Law Group
Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving South Pekin, IL (Decatur)
At Johnson Law Group, we handle every aspect of criminal defense representation for clients in the Bloomington-Normal area of Central Illinois. It is critical to work with an experienced criminal defense lawyer to ensure your case is handled properly and your rights are protected. We start working on your criminal case immediately. We understand how serious your situation is and we aggressively...
Paul G. Chiligiris, Attorney at Law
Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving South Pekin, IL (Monmouth)
Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving South Pekin, IL (Waverly)
At Barber, Segatto, Hoffee, Wilke & Cate, we are committed to helping our clients find the most effective solutions for their legal issues . Our Illinois law firm was established by founding lawyer John A. Barber in 1897. Over the past century, we have been involved in the growth of Springfield, gaining respect from community members and businesses alike. While initially known for our probate...
Leynaud and Leynaud Attorneys At Law
Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving South Pekin, IL (Peru)
The firm is dedicated to meeting individual and business clients' needs and rights in a society wherein litigation is a fact of life. Since its inception, the firm provides aggressive and thorough legal representation on behalf of its clients. Serving La Salle, Bureau, Putnam, Marshall, Lee, DeKalb, McLean, Peoria, Grundy counties, Illinois. Established in 1983, Leynaud & Leynaud has earned a...
Fort & Neff
Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving South Pekin, IL (Stronghurst)
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The yoga style which I worked at, and made the most time for to improve myself is Yin Yoga.
As a hatha yoga style, Yin Yoga is practiced to balance all other "yang" yoga types, in other words all kinds of activities performed by the muscles. In order to improve their flexibility and thus strength, the muscles are kept rather passive compared to other yoga styles. Sitting or lying positions are held for 3-5 minutes with passive muscles. While yang style yoga applies more to the surface, yin yoga offers to reach deeper in the body (to the deep connective tissues).
The time passing in yin poses is similar to that in meditations. During poses I usually give talks to lead my students to a meditative state.
Yin yoga is a yoga style that everybody can practice whatever your age, physical strength or the flexibility of your body. It is highly beneficial for very active life styles as it gives the body the chance to open and soften, and release the strain without consuming too much energy. If you'd like to gain further insight about the experiences you will have in Yin Yoga classes, I recommend you to read this article.


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Federal Reserve raises interest rates for second time in a decade
Jim Tankersley
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Economic Policy Correspondent
December 14, 2016 at 5:21 PM EST
The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday for the first time in a year and signaled that rates could continue to rise next year more quickly than officials had expected.
The increase was unanimous and modest, raising the Fed's key interest rate by a quarter point, from a range of 0.25 to 0.5 percent to a range of 0.5 to 0.75 percent. It reflects Fed officials' confidence in the strengthening of the U.S. economy and what officials see as budding signs of higher inflation.
But unlike corporate executives and stock traders, Fed officials do not appear to be anticipating a massive growth boost next year from economic policies implemented by President-elect Donald Trump, but they appear set to raise rates faster if those policies were to cause an overheating in the economy.
How a Fed rate hike could affect your wallet
Markets were slightly up immediately after the announcement, but they started to dive about an hour later, after Fed Chair Janet L. Yellen concluded a news conference about the rate hike. The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 0.6 percent, the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index slid 0.8 percent, and the Nasdaq tech index was down 0.5 percent.
Yellen told reporters that she and the Federal Open Market Committee were "recognizing the considerable progress the economy has made" toward full employment and an inflation target of 2 percent. She indicated that she did not see much need for a large, deficit-financed boost from federal fiscal policy, either tax cuts or spending increases.
"I would say at this point that fiscal policy is not obviously needed to provide stimulus to help us get back to full employment," Yellen said. She then added that she was not trying to advise Trump and Congress on fiscal issues.
The eternal mystique of Goldman Sachs
Economic projections also released by the central bank indicate that the Fed now expects the economy to grow 1.9 percent in 2016 and 2.1 percent in 2017. The projections show that the group expects the Fed to increase rates three times in 2017, to a rate of 1.4 percent by year's end. Its September projections signaled only two expected hikes next year.
Analysts have warned that if Trump and Congress agree to slash tax rates and increase spending in areas such as infrastructure the Fed could be forced to raise rates faster than expected to counter rising prices.
Yellen highlighted uncertainty over those policies at her news conference but said some Fed officials had tried to incorporate expected fiscal changes in their forecasts. Since Trump's election, markets have jumped — with the Dow closing in on a record-breaking 20,000 — and long-term rates and the dollar have increased.
Trump Treasury pick vows to curtail Wall Street regulations
Several analysts said the Fed was right to take that approach to the new administration's policies. "The Fed will likely be in wait-and-see mode, given this substantial policy uncertainty," said Doug Duncan, the chief economist at Fannie Mae, "and we view this prudency a virtue."
Much of the Fed statement released Wednesday was unchanged from November, when the Fed declined to raise rates, choosing "to wait for some further evidence of continued progress" toward maximum employment in the economy and a target inflation rate of 2 percent. Officials said Wednesday, as they said a month ago, that "near-term risks to the economic outlook appear roughly balanced" — meaning growth is as likely to speed up as it is to slow down.
Fed officials now judge the overall inflation rate to be 1.5 percent, up from 1.3 percent in September, but still well below target. They judge core inflation, which excludes volatile commodities such as gasoline prices, to be 1.7 percent.
Donald Trump still does not understand the unemployment rate
In the statement, officials said that "inflation has increased since earlier this year," a change from November, when the statement said that "inflation has increased somewhat since earlier this year." Officials also said that measures of inflation compensation "have moved up considerably but remain low." Last month, the word "considerably" did not appear in that line.
The Fed's decision drew criticism from some liberal economists who want rates to stay as low as possible to further boost employment while inflation remains below target.
"The Fed's action today was unwelcome but not unexpected. Still huge economic risks and little evidence of an inflation problem" economist and former treasury secretary Larry Summers wrote in a tweet.
Yellen, in her news conference, said she does not favor running a "high-pressure economy" where inflation might overshoot its target. "I do want to make clear," she said, "that I have not recommended running a hot economy as some sort of experiment."
The central bank last raised rates at its December meeting a year ago, its first step toward moving the Fed from what economists call the zero-lower bound — meaning interest rates hovering around zero percent.
Trump has promised to cut taxes for individuals and corporations and to boost infrastructure spending by as much as $1 trillion through tax credits that his team says will pay for themselves.
Although Trump praised the Fed chair during his campaign, saying he has "great respect" for Yellen, he was mostly critical. Accusing Yellen and the Fed of keeping rates low to help President Obama, Trump said in September: "I think she is very political, and to a certain extent, I think she should be ashamed of herself."
Yellen's term ends in early 2018. Asked about whether she would leave her post when the president-elect takes office, the Fed chair said: "I do intend to serve out my four-year term. I haven't made any decision about the future."
Analysts did not expect Fed officials to change their forecasts of future increases this month based on an expectation of what Trump and Congress might do.
"We very much doubt that FOMC members want to be accused of seeking to influence Congress and the new administration," analysts at Pantheon Macroeconomics wrote this week, "given how unpopular the Fed is already with Republican politicians."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Myocardial infarct size after reperfusion therapy: Assessment with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging
Albert De Roos*, Niels A.A. Matheijssen, Joost Doornbos, Paul R.M. Van Dijkman, Ad E. Van Voorthuisen, Ernst E. Van Der Wall
Radiology and nuclear medicine
In 21 patients with proved acute myocardial infarction, the size of the infarct was estimated with serial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging after intravenous injection of gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaaceticacid (DTPA) (0.2 mmol per kilogram of body weight). Early reperfusion after thrombolytic therapy or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty performed during the acute phase of infarction was documented with coronary angiography in nine patients (group 1). In 12 patients (group 2), no reperfusion was achieved (n = 5) or no thrombolytic therapy was given (n = 7). All group 2 patients were considered to have no reperfusion. Infarct sizes measured with MR imaging were significantly smaller in group 1 than in group 2 at 8 days ± 4 after infarct onset (8% ± 5% vs 15% ± 4%, respectively; P < .001). Serial MR images showed individual variations in infarct size, findings that may be clinically significant. Estimation of infarct size with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging is accurate in demonstrating the effect of successful reperfusion therapy on infarct size.
https://doi.org/10.1148/radiology.176.2.2367668
10.1148/radiology.176.2.2367668
De Roos, A., Matheijssen, N. A. A., Doornbos, J., Van Dijkman, P. R. M., Van Voorthuisen, A. E., & Van Der Wall, E. E. (1990). Myocardial infarct size after reperfusion therapy: Assessment with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging. Radiology, 176(2), 517-521. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiology.176.2.2367668
De Roos, Albert ; Matheijssen, Niels A.A. ; Doornbos, Joost et al. / Myocardial infarct size after reperfusion therapy : Assessment with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging. In: Radiology. 1990 ; Vol. 176, No. 2. pp. 517-521.
@article{b7a8df5e8581488788943de57847426e,
title = "Myocardial infarct size after reperfusion therapy: Assessment with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging",
abstract = "In 21 patients with proved acute myocardial infarction, the size of the infarct was estimated with serial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging after intravenous injection of gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaaceticacid (DTPA) (0.2 mmol per kilogram of body weight). Early reperfusion after thrombolytic therapy or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty performed during the acute phase of infarction was documented with coronary angiography in nine patients (group 1). In 12 patients (group 2), no reperfusion was achieved (n = 5) or no thrombolytic therapy was given (n = 7). All group 2 patients were considered to have no reperfusion. Infarct sizes measured with MR imaging were significantly smaller in group 1 than in group 2 at 8 days ± 4 after infarct onset (8% ± 5% vs 15% ± 4%, respectively; P < .001). Serial MR images showed individual variations in infarct size, findings that may be clinically significant. Estimation of infarct size with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging is accurate in demonstrating the effect of successful reperfusion therapy on infarct size.",
keywords = "Gadolinium, Heart, infarction, 51.771, Heart, MR studies, 51.1214, Magnetic resonance (MR), contrast enhancement, Myocardium, infarction, 511.771, Myocardium, MR studies, 511.1214",
author = "{De Roos}, Albert and Matheijssen, {Niels A.A.} and Joost Doornbos and {Van Dijkman}, {Paul R.M.} and {Van Voorthuisen}, {Ad E.} and {Van Der Wall}, {Ernst E.}",
doi = "10.1148/radiology.176.2.2367668",
journal = "Radiology Now",
publisher = "Radiological Society of North America Inc.",
De Roos, A, Matheijssen, NAA, Doornbos, J, Van Dijkman, PRM, Van Voorthuisen, AE & Van Der Wall, EE 1990, 'Myocardial infarct size after reperfusion therapy: Assessment with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging', Radiology, vol. 176, no. 2, pp. 517-521. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiology.176.2.2367668
Myocardial infarct size after reperfusion therapy : Assessment with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging. / De Roos, Albert; Matheijssen, Niels A.A.; Doornbos, Joost et al.
In: Radiology, Vol. 176, No. 2, 01.01.1990, p. 517-521.
T1 - Myocardial infarct size after reperfusion therapy
T2 - Assessment with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging
AU - De Roos, Albert
AU - Matheijssen, Niels A.A.
AU - Doornbos, Joost
AU - Van Dijkman, Paul R.M.
AU - Van Voorthuisen, Ad E.
AU - Van Der Wall, Ernst E.
N2 - In 21 patients with proved acute myocardial infarction, the size of the infarct was estimated with serial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging after intravenous injection of gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaaceticacid (DTPA) (0.2 mmol per kilogram of body weight). Early reperfusion after thrombolytic therapy or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty performed during the acute phase of infarction was documented with coronary angiography in nine patients (group 1). In 12 patients (group 2), no reperfusion was achieved (n = 5) or no thrombolytic therapy was given (n = 7). All group 2 patients were considered to have no reperfusion. Infarct sizes measured with MR imaging were significantly smaller in group 1 than in group 2 at 8 days ± 4 after infarct onset (8% ± 5% vs 15% ± 4%, respectively; P < .001). Serial MR images showed individual variations in infarct size, findings that may be clinically significant. Estimation of infarct size with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging is accurate in demonstrating the effect of successful reperfusion therapy on infarct size.
AB - In 21 patients with proved acute myocardial infarction, the size of the infarct was estimated with serial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging after intravenous injection of gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaaceticacid (DTPA) (0.2 mmol per kilogram of body weight). Early reperfusion after thrombolytic therapy or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty performed during the acute phase of infarction was documented with coronary angiography in nine patients (group 1). In 12 patients (group 2), no reperfusion was achieved (n = 5) or no thrombolytic therapy was given (n = 7). All group 2 patients were considered to have no reperfusion. Infarct sizes measured with MR imaging were significantly smaller in group 1 than in group 2 at 8 days ± 4 after infarct onset (8% ± 5% vs 15% ± 4%, respectively; P < .001). Serial MR images showed individual variations in infarct size, findings that may be clinically significant. Estimation of infarct size with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging is accurate in demonstrating the effect of successful reperfusion therapy on infarct size.
KW - Gadolinium
KW - Heart, infarction, 51.771
KW - Heart, MR studies, 51.1214
KW - Magnetic resonance (MR), contrast enhancement
KW - Myocardium, infarction, 511.771
KW - Myocardium, MR studies, 511.1214
U2 - 10.1148/radiology.176.2.2367668
DO - 10.1148/radiology.176.2.2367668
JO - Radiology Now
JF - Radiology Now
De Roos A, Matheijssen NAA, Doornbos J, Van Dijkman PRM, Van Voorthuisen AE, Van Der Wall EE. Myocardial infarct size after reperfusion therapy: Assessment with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging. Radiology. 1990 Jan 1;176(2):517-521. doi: 10.1148/radiology.176.2.2367668


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Philosophy and Culture
Philosophers Find They Have a New Fan on Social Media: MC Hammer
. August 24, 2020 at 9:53 am 1
"Why Science Needs Philosophy," a multi-authored opinion piece published last year in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), got a boost last Friday when rapper MC Hammer shared it with his 3.2 million followers on Twitter.
Why science needs philosophy | PNAS https://t.co/EcqHQbr7ga
— MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) August 21, 2020
Philosophers responded by retweeting Hammer's tweet and following him on the site, and Hammer often returned the favor. For example:
MC Hammer, known for hits such as "U Can't Touch This" and "2 Legit 2 Quit" in the early 1990s, has had an extensive music career, and has been a actor, producer, preacher, web mogul, and promoter of mixed martial arts, among other things.
His recent activities on Twitter show an interest not just in philosophy, but science and engineering as well, and included a weekend shout out to science and philosophy:
Late night cruise .. #Hamm400aos #ScienceTwitter #scicomm pic.twitter.com/OYtv5Ntu4w
You can follow him on Twitter here.
Related: Shakira, Philosophy, and the Power of Celebrity
Categories Philosophy and Culture
Tags celebritycultureMC Hammermusicphilosophypublic philosophy
Rollo Burgess
On a somewhat depressing day (first grey British day after Greek sunshine…) this made me smile.
Good for MC Hammer!Report


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Inside Central Houston
Real estate industry begins attack on city's development reforms
By Jennifer Friedberg on January 8, 2008 at 2:18 PM
The backlash to the backlash has begun.
In recent years Houston has started to put in place some building standards and regulations that attempt to exert some control over the way the city develops.
These new rules including changing the formula and making it easier for blocks to apply for minimum lot size and building line protection, implementing historic districts and the recent traffic ordinance being considered in response to the 1717 Bissonnet at Ashby project, can be seen as a backlash to Houston's lack of zoning.
Certain groups within the city looked around and decided they didn't like what they saw and began pushing for reforms. Those groups are mostly grassroots, neighborhood interests such as the Old Sixth Ward Neighborhood Association, which fought and won its battle to implement the city's only protected historic district.
The Houston Heights Association has also worked to implement historic districts within its boundaries and fought to keep builders from demolishing historic homes such as the Doyle Mansion on Heights Boulevard.
Per city laws, it is winning the fight on historic districts with Heights West already receiving city council approval, and it is losing the fight against individual builders who wish to demolish the old and build fresh on their land.
The Boulevard Oaks Civic Association and Southampton Civic Club have led the fight against the Bissonnet at Ashby high-rise.
Historically builders and developers have been a powerful political entity in the city and have been able to limit government regulation for better or worse depending on your viewpoint.
Now that other interests in favor of some regulation have been able to gain momentum with a mayor and city council that seem to be seeking change, the real estate industry is fighting back.
According to Mike Snyder's story today, the industry has organized with some big names behind it.
From the story, "A new organization, Houstonians for Responsible Growth, which has begun the process of registering as a political action committee, is coordinating the campaign, said Ken Hoagland, a political consultant working with the group.
Former Mayor Bob Lanier's involvement came in a letter delivered Dec. 27 to all 14 City Council members and Mayor Bill White. It also was signed by Leo Linbeck Jr., owner of a major local construction company, and Richard Weekley, a prominent developer and home builder.
"We are writing you because of our growing concern that the city is embarking, with the best of intentions, down a path of more extensive planning and regulations, many of which have ill-served cities across our nation," the letter states."
Which side would you like to see win this battle that seems to just be heating up? Does Houston need more regulation or has the lack of zoning served it well?


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Home Science & Tech Drought Increases Air Pollution in California
Drought Increases Air Pollution in California
Judy Lau
Heat and extreme drought have worsened smog and air pollution in California over the last year, slowing down progress toward cleaner air and increasing health risks.
Pollution regulators have downplayed the recent uptick in smog as merely a blip in a decade-long trend of improved air quality. However, dry spells have brought more temperature inversions, which result in a layer of warmer air trapping cooler air below.
This leads to concentrating pollution near the ground. Rain or wind could clear the air, but high-pressure systems have caused less circulation and fewer storms. Conditions grew worse in part because higher temperatures accelerate the chemical reactions that form ozone, the lung-damaging ingredient in warm-weather smog. In a vicious circle, heat boosts demand for electricity, increasing smog-formation emissions from power plants.
Hot and dry conditions have also led to an increase in California wildfires, releasing more smoke. Dry farmland has also been adding more dust into the air.
The drought caused air pollution to increase across California last quarter as well. Fine particles jumped to their highest concentrations since 2001, over three times the federal standard. This fall, the valley and Southern California reported more bad air days from ozone.
Another unusual spell of high temperatures and a strong inversion layer hit the San Joaquin Valley last week, leading to fine-particle pollution to build up to dangerous levels. The region's air quality officials have told residents to reduce driving and stop burning wood in hopes of counteracting the particle build up.
Though air pollution is a year-round problem, it becomes increasingly worse in two distinct seasons: winter and summer. In winter, fine particulate matter, or soot, becomes the main air problem. Tiny particles emitted by diesel engines, fires, and other combustion sources measure less than 1/30th of the width of human hair. Once inhaled deep into the lungs, they can damage the heart, blood vessels, and impair breathing. Chronic exposure to the fine particles is linked to heart attacks and cardiovascular disease.
The main problem in the summer comes from the ozone. It is not emitted directly but formed after cars, power plants, factories, and trucks release gases and unburned hydrocarbons. The pollutants cook in the heat and form ozone, a corrosive gas. Breathing ozone can harm lungs and trigger respiratory problems such as bronchitis and worsen heart and lung disease. On days with high ozone pollution, hospital visits for asthma increase.
Air pollution could go down as soon as this winter if enough storms blow in to stir up the air and sweep out the pollution. Forecasters say a weak El Niño, an abnormal warming of surface ocean waters in the eastern tropical Pacific, has a 58% chance of developing in the Pacific Ocean this winter and could bring more rain to California, cleaning the air.
Despite this, California is still far from meeting air quality standards. To meet a 2032 deadline and comply with current air standards, the South Coast Air Quality Management District will have to slash smog-forming gases, called nitrogen oxides, by over 75%. Reaching that level will require near-zero emissions across the economy.
Rising temperatures and drought are making it difficult for smog to be controlled. The resulting effects pose new challenges in the district which will impact residents from Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties.
"There's a steady trend of air quality getting better, but layered on top of that is the meteorology, which is a crazy, up-and-down thing that is very hard to predict," said Anthony Wexler, director of the Air Quality Research Center at UC Davis.
Judy Lau is a third year majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology. She joined The Bottom Line in hopes of improving her writing and broadening her perspectives and soon became the Science and Technology editor, where she covers new research and inventions happening on and off campus. When she is not studying and crying in the library, she eats, sleeps, watches Suits and Pretty Little Liars, and plays with corgis.


Trim: Cotton trim - white with a pink scalloped trim and fawns. 5cm high.
Condition: Unused, unwashed. A little dusty in places - this will come out.
Purchase size: 1m long. If you purchase multiple meters you'll receive your trim uncut up to the length of 7m. We have two uncut lengths of 7m on the skein.


by Marie-Josée Boucher Oct. 20, 2001 07:35 p.m.
After three years on the scene, Ingle Life and Health Insurance will close its doors this January. The word on the street is that the company was undercapitalized and pressured by the regulator to correct the situation.
To solve the problem, the company went to the market to sell its four lines of business. The Toronto-based company had been focussing its efforts on the provision of travel, group benefit, disability and accidental insurance. It was, however, only able to sell its travel insurance portfolio.
The travel portfolio was picked up by Trent Health Insurance Services, a new entity formed by a partnership between Canadian Insurance Marketing (CIM), an insurance intermediary, and Co-operators Life Insurance Company.
Ingle decided to axe the remaining segments when no other buyers were found. Current clientele will be serviced through a number of agreements with alternative insurers until January 1, 2002. Upon renewal of the contracts, the clients will have to find new suppliers.
Ingle Life and Health was created in 1998 after 40 years of service as Ingle Insurance, an insurance distributor to individuals. The company obtained its life insurance charter through the acquisition of AFLAC Canada.
It was speculated that regulators did not want Ingle Life and Health going into the fall season when they sell a lot of snowbird insurance being undercapitalized. Robin Ingle former president of Ingle Insurance, said he thinks that regulators would have preferred a different capital structure.
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), which is the federal regulator of financial institutions, would not comment on the undercapitalization of the company because of its policy not to comment on any one particular case.
Mr. Ingle approached BMO Nesbitt Burns last December knowing they were having difficulties. "BMO Nesbitt Burns paid very little attention, they pushed me away saying they didn't have problems," says Mr. Ingle.
However, Ian Blair a spokesperson for BMO Nesbitt Burns believes that Mr. Ingle was given a fair chance to put in an offer. "I know one of the offers was from Robin and the other was from Trent, and from the perspective of the board, Trent's was the better offer," says Mr. Blair.
After three years of operation, Ingle's shareholders have chosen to pull out of the market and to sell its current accounts. Given the importance of size in the insurance industry and their own company's relatively small stature, they have decided to pursue greater returns elsewhere. "We find it difficult, for a small insurer to measure up against competitors who were pursuing multiple expansion projects," says Ingle Life and Health President, Ronald Meredith-Jones.
In acquiring Ingle, buyers also took possession of three affiliated companies, ICMS Canada, HSB Direct and the American counterpart to ICMS, which will eventually be integrated to ICMS Canada.
Douglas McIntyre, former President of Pembridge Insurance Company, whose new appointment is as Chairman and CEO, will lead Trent Health. President and COO, Mark Sylvia (and the former President of Hartford Life Canada), will also lead Trent Health's senior management team. The intermediary for the partnership was CIM, which formerly acted as the reinsurance broker for Ingle.
The travel portfolio purchased by Trent is valued at approximately $38 million. Mr. Sylvia said he plans to retain $33 million in view of contracts to be renewed with the current brokerage network. These figures represent a sales force that produces 80% of all sales, and the remainder are sold through travel agencies and travel wholesalers. The intention at Trent is to focus on longer-term trip insurance for snowbirds, people who cross the border to spend the winter months in sunnier locales.
None of the parties were willing to disclose the transaction value. However, according to Mr. Sylvia, the arrangement was financed through a mix of cash and the provision of supplementary reinsurance coverage for existing clients.
The close of the transaction took place at the end of September, which officially made Trent the managing general underwriter. As of next January 1, the company will take care of underwriting, but Co-operators will be the ones to assume the insurance risk.
Co-operators already has a subsidiary involved in travel insurance, Travel Insurance Coordinators. However, according to Edward Sawicki, Vice-President of Development there is no question of a merger with Ingle's travel insurance portfolio.


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December 21 Peace Love Art Activism
December 21, 2016 Woodstock Whisperer	2 Comments
Technological Milestone
December 21, 1790: Samuel Slater opened the first cotton mill in the US (Pawtucket, R.I). The Industrial Age in America begins.(see January 9, 1793)
Discussion of Abolition Prohibited
December 21, 1837: following an anti-slavery speech by Vermont representative William Slade, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a rule that prohibited any future discussion about the abolition of slavery in the House. The rule remained in effect until 1844, preventing the topic of abolition from even being discussed for almost a decade. [EJI article] (next BH, see February 6, 1838)
December 21, 1956: buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially-integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. (BH, see Dec 24; see MBB for expanded chronology)
Michael Griffith murder
December 21, 1987: Jon Lester, Scott Kern and Jason Ladone were convicted of the second-degree manslaughter of Michael Griffith (December 20, 1986). Ultimately nine people would be convicted on a variety of charges related to the death of Griffith.
Autherine Lucy Foster
In 1988: two professors invited Autherine Lucy Foster to speak at the University about the events that had occurred in 1956. After her speech, faculty members persuaded the Board of Trustees to overturn her expulsion.
In 1989: Autherine Lucy Foster again enrolled at the University of Alabama. Her daughter Grazia also was a student at the time. (BH, see Jan 8; U of A, see May 9, 1992)
December 21, 1911: a police officer arrested Fremont Weeks at the Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri where he was employed by an express company. Other officers entered the Weeks' house without a search warrant and took possession of papers and articles which were afterwards turned over to the US Marshal. The officers returned later in the same day with the marshal, still without a warrant, and seized letters and envelopes they found in the drawer of a chiffonier. These papers were used to convict Weeks of transporting lottery tickets through the mail. On February 24, 1914 in Weeks v. United States, the United States Supreme Court unanimously held that the warrantless seizure of items from a private residence constituted a violation of the Fourth Amendment. It also prevented local officers from securing evidence by means prohibited under the federal exclusionary rule and giving it to their federal colleagues. (see February 24, 1914)
December 21, 1919, : the ship USAT Buford, labeled the "Red Ark," embarked from New York City on this day, carrying 249 aliens who were deported because of their alleged anarchist or Communist beliefs.
The most famous passenger was the anarchist, birth control advocate and anti-war activist Emma Goldman, who had been arrested June 15, 1917, for opposing the draft. Anarchist Alexander Berkman accompanied her. An estimated 184 of the 249 aliens on the Buford were members of the Union of Russian Workers, which had been one of the principal targets of the first Palmer Raids on November 7, 1919. All of the passengers were shipped to the Soviet Union. (see Emma Goldmanj for expanded chronology)
December 22, 1951: ten days after an Illinois State mine inspector approved coal dust removal techniques at New Orient mine in West Frankfort, the mine exploded, largely because of coal dust accumulations, killing 119 workers. (see April 8, 1952)
Vietnam & DRAFT CARD BURNING
December 21, 1965: a federal grand jury in NY indicted Thomas Cornell (teacher) Marc Edelman (cabinetmaker), Roy Lisker (novelist and teacher), and James Watson (on staff of Catholic Worker Pacifist Movenet) of burning their draft cards. (Vietnam, see Dec 24; DCB, see February 10, 1966)
December 21 Music et al
December 21 – 27, 1968, Glen Campbell's Wichita Lineman is the Billboard #1 album. (see March 8, 1969)
December 21 – 27, 1968: Apollo 8 completed the first manned orbit of the moon. Frank Borman commands the mission, Jim Lovell acted as navigator and William Anders photographer and geological observer. (see January 16, 1969)
December 21, 1970: in Oregon v Mitchell, the US Supreme Court held that the Congress could set voter age requirements for federal elections but not for state elections. The case also upheld Congress's nationwide prohibition on literacy tests and similar "tests or devices" used as voting qualifications as defined in the Voting Rights Act of 1965. (see March 23, 1971)
Elvis meets Nixon
December 21, 1971: Elvis Presley met President Nixon. According to notes take at the meeting by Nixon aide Egil "Bud" Krogh "Presley indicated that he thought the Beatles had been a real force for anti-American spirit. The President then indicated that those who use drugs are also those in the vanguard of anti-American protest."
"I'm on your side," Elvis told Nixon, adding that he'd been studying the drug culture and Communist brainwashing. Then he asked the president for a badge from the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. "Can we get him a badge?" Nixon asked Krogh.
Krogh said he could and Nixon ordered it done. (Elvis, see August 16, 1977)
In 1973: The Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNND) and the Office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement (ODALE) are merged to form the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). (see Cannabis for expanded chronology)
Iran–Contra Affair
December 21, 1982: Congress, passed the first Boland Amendment, which prohibited the CIA or the Defense Department from spending any money to assist the anti-Communist Contras in Nicaragua. (Congress passed further Boland Amendments in 1983 and 1984.) The Boland Amendments set the stage for the Iran-Contra scandal that eventually engulfed the administration of President Ronald Reagan. Reagan and his CIA Director William Casey were deeply committed to fighting communism at every opportunity around the world, even if it involved breaking the law — as the Iran-Contra scandal revealed. (see December 7, 1985)
Lockerbie, Scotland
December 21, 1988: N.Y.-bound Pan-Am Boeing 747 exploded in flight from a terrorist bomb and crashed into Scottish village, killing all 259 aboard and 11 on the ground. Passengers included 35 Syracuse University students and many U.S. military personnel. Libya formally admitted responsibility in August 2003 and offered $2.7 billion compensation to victims' families. (see December 16, 1989)
December 21, 2004: a suicide bomber attacked the forward operating base next to the US military airfield at Mosul, Iraq, killing 22 people; it was the deadliest suicide attack on US soldiers during the Iraq War. (photos from NYT)(IWII, see January 12, 2005; Terrorism, see June 14, 2005)
Dissolution of the USSR
December 21, 1989: Romanian leader, Nicolae Ceaușescu, spoke to crowd of the Socialist revolution's chievements and Romanian "multi-laterally developed Socialist society." Roughly eight minutes into his speech, several people began jeering, booing and whistling at him and shouting "Timișoara," a reaction that would have been unthinkable for most of the previous quarter-century of his rule. As the speech wore on, more and more people did the same. He tried to silence them by raising his right hand and calling for the crowd's attention before order was temporarily restored, then proceeded to announce social benefit reforms.
The crowd continued to boo and heckle him. (see Dec 22)
December 21, 1993: the Department of Defense issued a directive prohibiting the U.S. Military from barring applicants from service based on their sexual orientation. "Applicants… shall not be asked or required to reveal whether they are homosexual, " states the new policy, which still forbids applicants from engaging in homosexual acts or making a statement that he or she is homosexual. This policy is known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." (see Dec 31)
In the year 2000, Texas led the US in executions with 40 inmates being put to death. Oklahoma followed with 11, Virginia with 8, and Florida with 6 executions. Between 1976 and Mar. 30, 2010, Texas executed 452 inmates. Virginia came in second most with 106 executions and Oklahoma in third with 92 executions.
Between January 17, 1995 and December 21, 2000, Texas Governor George W. Bush presided over the execution of 150 men and two women, more than any other governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Governor Bush received a summary from his legal counsel before each execution to determine whether or not to allow the execution to proceed. The first fifty-seven summaries were prepared by Alberto R. Gonzales, who served as US Attorney General under President Bush between Feb. 3, 2005 and Sep. 17, 2007. Governor Bush granted one clemency during his term in office.(see June 11, 2001)
Japanese Internment Camps
December 21, 2006: President George W. Bush signed into law a bill that authorized up to $38 million for the preservation and interpretation of confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II. The law directed the National Park Service to administer this grant program, once funds were available.(see JIC for expanded chronology)
Sexual Abuse of Children
Pope Benedict
December 21, 2012: Pope Benedict XVI named the Rev. Robert W. Oliver as the Vatican's new sex crimes prosecutor. Oliver, a canon law specialist at the Archdiocese of Boston, would be the "promoter of justice" at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican's doctrinal office that reviews all abuse cases. (NYT article) (see Feb 11)
December 21, 2017: Pope Francis and others eulogized Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, the disgraced former archbishop of Boston who resigned after it was revealed he had protected pedophile priests, with a full cardinal's funeral at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
At the last minute, the Vatican cancelled plans to broadcast the funeral.
The Vatican website had posted a link to a live television feed that showed it would broadcast the "Funeral Mass for Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, of the Title of Santa Susanna Altar of the Chair of Saint Peter," but shortly before the funeral started, the video link disappeared from the site, and the Vatican's YouTube channel on showed just the exterior of the plaza surrounding the basilica.
The page posted no explanation for the change, although Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) had criticized the Vatican's plans for an elaborate celebration of Cardinal Law's life. (see January 18, 2018)
December 21, 2017: the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California ruled that an Imperial County, California high school football player must be allowed to kneel during the singing of the national anthem and can't be ordered by his school to stand for the performances.
The decision temporarily struck down rules set by the San Pasqual Valley Unified School District that prohibited "kneeling, sitting or similar forms of political protest" at athletic events and required students and coaches to "stand and remove hats/helmets … during the playing or singing of the National Anthem," according to the ruling by district court.
The school district set the rules after students from a rival high school in neighboring Arizona yelled racial slurs at San Pasqual Valley High School students and threatened to force the football player at the center of the controversy to stand, the ruling said. (FS, see May 23, 2018; SR, see July 19, 2018)
December 21, 2017: despite President Trump's assertion that "Obamacare is imploding" the administration announced that 8.8 million people had signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act's federal marketplace. The number surprised many because it was only slightly lower than the total in the last open enrollment period, which was twice as long and heavily advertised suggesting that consumers want and need the coverage and subsidies available under the Affordable Care Act, despite political battles over the law. (next ACA, see (see December 14, 2018)
Asylum permitted
December 21, 2018: the Supreme Court refused to allow the Trump administration to immediately enforce its new policy of denying asylum to migrants who illegally cross the Mexican border.
The court's ruling thwarted, at least for now, President Trump's proclamation in November that only migrants who arrived in the United States legally or applied at a port of entry would be eligible for asylum. [NYT story]
Trump's Wall
December 21, 2018: President Trump shared a design of a tall fence on Twitter, which he referred to as a "Steel Slat Barrier."
"Totally effective while at the same time beautiful!" he said. (IH & TW, see Dec 22)
December 21, 2018: President Trump signed into law the Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person Act [simply aka, the First Step Act], a prison and sentencing reform bill that had strong bi-partisan support.
The act expanded rehabilitative opportunities, increased "good time"-served credits for most federal prisoners, reduced mandatory minimum sentences for a number of drug-related crimes, and formally banned some correctional practices including the shackling of pregnant women. [Guardian article]
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2 thoughts on "December 21 Peace Love Art Activism"
Josh Trost says:
Emma Goldman and Berkman lived in Woodstock, IL for a while, you know. http://woodstockwhisperer.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/goldman.jpg
Woodstock Whisperer says:
No I didn't, so thank you for that information. Love such additional information.


text:
Language Community
http://forum.unilang.org/
Requesting new flag for Yiddish!
http://forum.unilang.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=45626
Posted: 2015-08-27, 19:14
by Papageno
It bears the Israel flag, but Yiddish language theaters were banned there in the 1950's! The change of flag isn't totally necessary at the moment, but it should be something you bear in mind.
Re: Requesting new flag for Yiddish!
by linguoboy
What would you suggest as an alternative? Any choice of a flag would be inherently problematic.
Posted: 2015-08-28, 4:21
by vijayjohn
Omg, I'm not sure I even realized until now that the Jewish Daily Forward still exists! That's cool though.
So apparently the most appropriate symbol, if one really has to be used, would be something like this?
vijayjohn wrote: So apparently the most appropriate symbol, if one really has to be used, would be something like this?
That's probably it, but I think he who wrote this sums up much of my conclusion: "Phillip Cohen 2 months ago
Any Yiddish flag will need representation of all of the labor bundts that organized and fought for rights finally squelched by nazis."
by md0
It's an exercise in futility
http://flagsarenotlanguages.com/blog/wh ... -language/
https://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/flags.html
http://flagsarenotlanguages.com/blog/20 ... languages/ (this affected me when I used duolingo, so it's not theoretical)
by PfifltriggPi
TBH, that would look pretty awesome.
by mōdgethanc
Okay, I thought I knew a fair amount about Jewish culture, but what is the symbolism of the golden peacock? What does it have to do with Jews, Judaism or Yiddish in particular? I don't get it.
I see why it's problematic to use the flag of a country which tried to suppress the language but also, it's the only Jewish state and there are a lot of Yiddish speakers there. I don't see a good alternative. The flag with the menorah was just made up by some guy. At least the Israeli flag is a real national symbol (plus it contains the Star of David, which is an even more widely used symbol of Jews than the menorah is).
mōdgethanc wrote: Okay, I thought I knew a fair amount about Jewish culture, but what is the symbolism of the golden peacock? What does it have to do with Jews, Judaism or Yiddish in particular? I don't get it.
http://www.jewishfolksongs.com/en/golden-peacock
vijayjohn wrote: http://www.jewishfolksongs.com/en/golden-peacock
There's still the problem that a) that's not a flag and b) I think its meaning would be opaque even to many Yiddish speakers.


text:
Jeremy Guscott's autumn internationals Q&A
By Jeremy GuscottFormer England and Lions centre
Last updated on 27 November 201227 November 2012 .From the section Rugby Unioncomments66
Among the topics Jerry discusses this week are:
- The decision making of England captain Chris Robshaw
- How England should re-jig their midfield
- Why he thinks Andy Robinson quit as Scots boss
- Whether Ireland should pension off their veteran stars
- What he makes of Welsh selection
Jerry answers questions posted on the website at the start of every week - entries are now closed for this Q&A. This week's answers appear below.
Hi Jerry, on two consecutive weeks, Chris Robshaw has made calls which have probably lost us the Test match. Not only that but it was clear that his team-mates disagreed with those calls whilst on the pitch. If pundits, supporters and team-mates alike are questioning his decision making, how realistic is it that he'll make it to the Six Nations as captain? Willis
Hi Willis, the decision not to attempt the three points against Australia was a brave one; personally I liked it because it showed he had belief in the team to score the try. In truth Thomas Waldrom should have scored, while we will never know if the penalty kick would have gone over.
England 15-16 South Africa - match highlights
Robshaw has already said he believes he made the wrong call in the Boks match and I agree - the team had nothing to lose by going for the line-out and that should have been the call.
Whatever the captain's call is you generally go with it. I don't think there's any harm in questioning it so long as it doesn't turn out to be a full blown argument. The merits of right and wrong can be discussed behind closed doors.
Jeremy - how much more time do you think Stuart Lancaster will give the current midfield pairing? Whilst Brad Barritt and Manu Tuilagi are very capable defenders they are both a bit one dimensional when going forward. Would it be worth trying a completely new combo or try to move Tuilagi to 12 and bring in someone else on the outside? Also what do you think Danny Cipriani's chances of a recall are? Mightychewster
Hi, I would play Tuilagi at 12 and Jonathan Joseph at 13 because I see that as a better-balanced pairing. Barritt is a good player but he doesn't have that flair and speed of Joseph or the X-factor of Tuilagi. Barritt is a very good defender but that isn't the reason he should be picked, every player picked at international level should be good at tackling.
Whichever combination plays against NZ on Saturday will struggle because Owen Farrell will not create any time or space for them. He will not interest or commit the All Black loose forwards to him because he is no threat as a runner.
Cipriani has very little chance of a recall until his peers accept him, or Lancaster decides he needs more of an attacking fly-half.
Hi Jerry, with Toby Flood being a doubt for the All Blacks Test, who would you put at 10? Owen Farrell doesn't seem to have any creativity on the ball and I believe that NZ will tear England apart. How about Freddie Burns or even Cipriani? So we can actually play with some freedom unlike how we did against SA. Jhlee1989
Hi, I don't mean for this to sound condescending, I believe it's just where England are at the moment, but if England had a better team I would start with Burns without any hesitation. But they don't, so I wouldn't.
Burns, like any new cap, would be best introduced to international level surrounded by good, experienced players in a winning team. They would look after him, relieving him of any pressure.
When Burns plays for this England team the burden of expectation will be huge and if he doesn't make England click in his first game, the media will be writing him off immediately. There is no doubt that Burns has talent, he's running the show at Gloucester and doing it well.
When England pick him they should listen to him and ask him how he wants to play it, rather than the other way round. If I didn't think the media would rip into Burns I would start him but I think they would, so I would start with Farrell and then introduce Burns at some stage during the game. Cipriani is a way off yet from getting himself back into international contention.
Hi Jeremy, with Andy Robinson resigning is this a good thing for Scottish rugby or not? I can't see how it's his fault Scotland are so inconsistent. Who do you think will replace him? rugbymad77
Archive: Tonga shock Scotland in 2012
Hi, it feels like Andy Robinson took responsibility for Scotland's performances and decided he can't deal with the team's incompetence anymore. There must come a time in every coach's career when they believe they can't help the players anymore because the players aren't good enough, or they just don't respect the coach enough to listen, believe and deliver.
I think AR's win/loss ratio was 50% with Scotland. While the Six Nations results didn't go his way, some of those matches were very close. The loss to Tonga, especially the manner in which they lost, must have made Robbo feel so sick he felt there was nothing more he personally could do for this current crop of Scottish players.
Another reason might be that the Scottish squad thought he was a bad coach and didn't believe in him, but that didn't seem to be the case. As for the next coach I would go for Sean Lineen, he has coached a number of the current squad and would have seen the rest very close up.
AR hasn't moved Scotland any further ahead in terms of the world rankings, in fact they've gone backwards, but he might have left structures and ideas behind the scenes that might be useful and will continue to be used in the future.
Jerry, following the assault by Andrew Hore on Bradley Davies in the Wales v All Blacks match, when will the fourth official be able to notify the officials on the pitch? This was a far more serious incident than a knock-on or forward pass. Nathan
Hi Nathan, I'm not sure but the sooner the better. You can already picture the defence when Hore goes in front of the disciplinary team with his QC… 'I thought Mr Davies was getting the ball and I mistimed my tackle'. I don't think that will wash!!
Hi Jerry, Ireland have been showing real promise from their youngsters whilst the more experienced vets have been out of action. Would you suggest it is time for the likes of Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell, etc to step aside and let the new guys build up to the World Cup in 2015? Samuel
Hi Samuel, I don't think the experienced guys you mention are quite ready to give up their places just yet. It was good to see Craig Gilroy come into the team and play without any feeling of pressure - he looked like a kid fresh out of school with nothing to lose.
I think it helped the rest to remember how they like to play. With the likes of Simon Zebo alongside the willingness to attack appeared much stronger than usual.
Hi Jeremy, can you back up the Welsh management's decision to pick players who aren't performing on the international stage, for example Rhys Priestland? Also, if the regions are underperforming, then why pick players from those regions instead of players who are performing over in France like James Hook and Lee Byrne? Carl Mogs
Highlights - Wales 10-33 New Zealand
Hi Carl, the Welsh management see their players up close every day during the international period and can analyse their performances, they know what shape they are in physically and mentally. We don't get to see these players close up, we judge them on 80 minutes of the game.
Personally I would go with Hook at 10, he's been playing 10 all season and should be given an opportunity to start. The overseas issue is an area I don't agree with because it shouldn't matter where in the northern hemisphere your players play - as long as they are good enough and in form they should be in with an equal chance.
Jerry, why do you think Ireland are so erratic under Declan Kidney? Do you think, considering their dominance of the Heineken Cup over the past seven years, they ought to be more consistently successful in the international arena? And that given the players at their disposal, and some of the rugby they can play, that the coaching staff are not achieving enough consistency in performance? Barry Ireland
Ireland 46-24 Argentina - highlights
Hi Barry, I can never really get my head around how well the likes of Munster, Leinster and Ulster do in Europe and how as a national team those same players can't get it together in the same way.
There must be some serious disagreements within the minds of those players about how they should play for Ireland. I don't blame it all on Kidney, he's coached a team to Heineken Cup and Grand Slam success, so he knows what it takes to win.
I don't think he's brought the youngsters into the squad soon enough but now after Gilroy's impact he might change.
You can also follow Jerry on Twitter.external-link
View Comments66
Comment posted by Will123bay, at 13:20 28 Nov 2012Will123bay
Way to much emphasis on the 1 decision made by Robshaw. In hindsight he would have a different call. He put his hands up, admitted he was wrong- End of. We move on
He is still a very good leader who leads with action rather than word. His workrate is phenomenal, pretty good on the floor & has good hands for a big guy
Even though he is a 6 he is still our best option at 7 with Armitage not around
Comment posted by U15423424, at 12:21 28 Nov 2012U15423424
Every year rugby follows the same pattern: June tours to SH, NH teams lose, say it's the 'end of a long season', injury depleted etc. Nov tours to NH, SH teams are tired at end of long season and injury depleted, NH teams lose, say 'we're still learning', 'it's early in the season', 'building for the World Cup'. Nothing changes.
Comment posted by ChairboyPaul, at 22:54 27 Nov 2012ChairboyPaul
@3 Mr Ichallen
I agree there's more to Rugby that Fuzzy Duck says, but at least he's gone to a game. A few more visits and he will understand what a great game it is and what it's about. He might not go again, if he's called stupid by a fan. My experience of Rugby fans are that they are a little more tolerant than the followers of the round ball. Hope I'm right!
Comment posted by RespectMyRugbyAuthoritah, at 15:12 29 Nov 2012RespectMyRugbyAuthoritah
@56 os99 - thats right, Farrell is starting AGAINST the champs, not 4 them. That just highlights the joke. He'll be playing againt 15 guys that deserve to be nominated ahead of him. Honestly, is he a better player than Jane, Dagg, Savea, Conrad, [insert rest of ABs here]? Farrells nomination has simply been drawn from a hat labelled "someone from the NH to make it look like we have parity"
#34 - Yes, mission accomplished for secret agent Botha.
Comment posted by thebluetick, at 12:48 28 Nov 2012thebluetick
I'm on the fence about the kick descisson. I think the real issues were that once made, they needed to take the kick quickly and Farrell argued for a minute.
99% of the time you'd expect the opposition to kick off long. Once Aus kick short the real mistake was not letting the ball go out and getting the scrum 1/2 way. Even if the Aus player caught it, there were 2 plays to put him in touch.
Comment posted by Target, at 12:31 28 Nov 2012Target
@24 Didn't you bore enough people on the other thread? Please go away & allow those with a modicum of knowledge of the game & proper rugby decency to other rugby playing nations to enjoy a reasonable discussion.
Comment posted by Utten, at 12:20 28 Nov 2012Utten
England forwards are improving. The backs aren't because they rarely pass quickly to runners with momentum that are moving into space. The selection of backs should be attacking minded with Care, Burns, Tuilagi, Joseph, Wade, Sharples & Brown starting. We need to change the way we play to win 6N & World Cups. To do this we need a team with a natural instinct to attack with speed.
Comment posted by bagman, at 11:11 28 Nov 2012bagman
The 2 England matches were very different for decision making. England didn't respect Oz enough and should have kicked the pens. 2 mins on clock against SA and you simply have to go for the big score At least you had the chance to win, We (Wales) haven't had a sniff this autumn. Looking forward to the weekend - big games to finish. Sadly, no home wins expected for the red or the white.
Comment posted by welshsteve, at 10:00 28 Nov 2012welshsteve
Time to look at Hook again at 10. Hook really seems to be out of favour at the moment. I remember a lot of people saying before the world cup how Hook was one of only a handful of world class players Wales had. I fear for Wales though, this autumn has proved that we may have a great first XV, but a few injuries and we're struggling. Good to see Jonathan Davies back against NZ though.
Comment posted by Northy, at 07:31 28 Nov 2012Northy
I am essentially an armchair supporter of Rugby, and don't suggest I know everything about the game. However I do watch as much as I can and cannot see why England aren't picking more attacking players? Look at NZ with 10,12 & 13 of Carter, Nonu and Smith; more rapier than cudgel? In the squad for the weekend surely Burns, Manu and Joseph are the nearest equivalent? Am I missing something?
Good point Zippy, I hope he did at least buy his ticket. But I have a feeling he may not have even gone to a game.
I have given league a go, but can't get into it. As a forward I love that battle at the break down, and seeing good rucking and turnovers that you jsut don't get in league.
Comment posted by Zinzanh, at 23:01 27 Nov 2012Zinzanh
Quite agree, took my mate for his first game a few weeks ago Coventry v Blackheath and he won the raffle prize, hence the trip to HQ on Saturday he was totally overwhelmed by the whole experience and swears to go again.
Comment posted by os99, at 18:58 29 Nov 2012os99
Lydiate played well during the 6 nations but he's nowhere near the likes of Alberts, Messam and Ferris in terms of world class 6's
Comment posted by OnlyJoeQuin, at 15:43 29 Nov 2012OnlyJoeQuin
I can't see how Farrell justifys his place on the list. At the moment he's not the starting 10 for his country and sometimes even his club.
Ya Farrell up for player of the year in world wide rugby is definatly a joke. If he wins it ill pee my pants. He cant even make the starting XV for England.
Comment posted by TheLastKingOfEngland, at 10:25 29 Nov 2012TheLastKingOfEngland
Farrell IRB player of the year? Farce.
Comment posted by sportsfan, at 10:00 29 Nov 2012sportsfan
I need to add that I am not bashing any player with my comments but rather my anger at the IRB selectors for a poor selection process. As for Farrell I think he IS a bright prospect, but that is just it, a bright prospect. How he plays second fiddle to Flood I will never understand. I think England rugby will forever be stuck with always trying to win penalties and drop goals over scoring tries.
Comment posted by beshocked, at 09:40 29 Nov 2012beshocked
Instead of bashing players their should be more effort made to help get the best out of players. Any constructive suggestions on how we can do this?
Farrell Jr and Tuilagi get a lot of criticism but let's remember they are both only 21! Both have their strengths but also their flaws. How can they be molded into all rounders?
Guscott as an ex centre why dont you give some pointers to Tuilagi?
Farrell selection for World Player of the year is the biggest JOKE I have ever heard, those selectors (Will Greenwood one of them) must be BLIND! Where is Parisse, Lobbe, Etsebeth, Halfpenny, Irael Dagg??? etc. He had 1 or 2 good games for England in 6N's - ha so what! Well done selectors you have once again showed why the IRB is a joke
Sargent brace helps Norwich beat Watford
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text:
Puffing Billy Preservation Society
Home > Partner with us > Community Partners > Puffing Billy Preservation Society
Puffing Billy Preservation Society's
Puffing Billy Preservation Society Members' Area
Puffing Billy Preservation Society (PBPS) was established on 8 June 1955 and its members have played a key role over the past 65 years in preservation of Puffing Billy Railway from the early days of rebuilding track and restoring rolling stock to the current times of supporting regular excursion services, historic assets in museums, archives and preservation projects.
Funds are raised for a wide range of projects that provide enhancements to the railway, either at a restoration level, preservation level or visual improvements.
Many members are people with a wide range of past and present involvement at Puffing Billy Railway, a heritage tourist railway operated by Emerald Tourist Railway Board since 1977. The Railway provides regular tourist services from Belgrave to Lakeside and Gembrook through the Dandenong Ranges. Many Society members have been active as Emerald Tourist Railway Board volunteers and continue to support railway operations by volunteering for a number of roles.
The Society is a Company Limited by Guarantee (ABN 79 004 621 505) and is registered as a 'not-for-profit' charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
The Executive Committee of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society is elected each year at the November AGM. The PBPS Executive Committee for 2021-2022 comprises:
Office-bearers: – Anne MacLeish (President), Graeme Kidgell (Vice President), Jeremy Paton (Treasurer), Richard Main (Secretary)
Committee members: – Richard Elphick, Alf Grigg, Gareth Hunter, and Phil Matthews. Four committee member positions are currently vacant.
The Society Executive can be contacted via email to secretary@pbps.org.au.
Becoming a member of the Society involves completion of an application form (see below for more details), payment of a membership fee and review of your application by the PBPS Executive Committee. After approval, a New Member information package with your personalised membership card (valid for the current financial year) and full details of benefits available to members is then posted to you.
Your membership benefits (full details provided with membership) include:
PBPS quality journal Narrow Gauge posted to you quarterly.
Discounts on PBPS publications and merchandise.
Discounts at other heritage organisations.
If you require more details on these benefits, please email membership@pbps.org.au.
2021/2022 Membership fees
Full Membership - Adult: $82.00
Full Membership - Concession: $52.00
Junior (under 18 years): $27.00
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Foreign car makers hope China will speed up the auto reform parts that they desire. Puma hopping to consider other production venues if United States (US) imposes tariffs on shoes and apparel made in China. India does not offer support for China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) at recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting. Toyota to sell Chinese partner's electric vehicle in China to pave way for introducing own models next year. Itochu pulling out of Turkish nuclear power plant project due to surge in safety-related costs. General Motors reaches last minute deal with labor union and South Korean government to save Korean operations. State-owned Korea National Oil Corporation looking to sell Canadian Harvest oil field to repay debts incurred by its Canadian subsidiary. Opponent of incumbent Malaysian Prime Minister vows to reconsider Chinese contracts if elected. KWAP may consider stake in IAG if Prudential cannot met Malaysian central bank mandate that foreign insurers reduce ownership stakes to 70 percent.
China to roll out new negative lists for free-trade zones (FTZs) and other parts of the country during the first half of 2018. Foreign and publicly-listed on foreign exchanges Chinese firms move to accommodate Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s desire for greater say. China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) touts that Chinese outward foreign direct investment (FDI) grew while Chinese outward FDI in irrational areas has collapsed. Chinese investors pour money into American bio-tech firms for a variety of financial, political, and social policy reasons. Indonesia to rely on loans from Japanese government and public-private partnership schemes to fund USD $4.5 billion railway project. Honda experiencing complications with its CR-V recall plan in China as sales continue to drop. Seoul offers to give American carmaker General Motors USD $470 million to continue its Korean operations as bankruptcy looms. Multinational companies operating in South Korea increasingly under government scrutiny for malpractice. AIIB very interested in financing Malaysian infrastructure projects following a meeting between the AIIB President and Malaysia's Prime Minister. Japan's Nichirei Corp acquires 40 percent stake in Malaysia's state-owned Cold Chain Network which facilitates the latter's effort to address government development objectives.
Observers believe China's financial sector liberalization will draw in foreign investors and help internationalize the renminbi. China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) expects outward foreign direct investment (FDI) to show good growth for the first quarter of 2018. China "insures" insurance sector will have new openings for foreign investors. Chinese outward FDI in the United States (US) showed massive drop from 2016 to 2017 for various political and economic reasons. Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in 2017 jumps with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) a favored place for Chinese M&A. Troubled Takata says its acquisition by Key Safety Systems has been completed and the deal has received antitrust and bankruptcy court approvals in several countries. Ghana's Finance Minister says African countries looking to Japan, among other Asian countries, to tap into abundant investment resources to fund Africa's development needs. The Chinese government's latest list of subsidy eligible electric vehicles continues to exclude South Korean battery firms. GM Korea has deadline of April 20th to submit restructuring plans for South Korean operations to government bodies. Malaysia's Digital Free Trade Zone forecasted to attract over USD $200 million through investments on infrastructure, systems, and equipment over next three years. IHH Healthcare Bhd suggests it would spend up to USD $1.3 billion to acquire India's Fortis Healthcare Ltd even though India's fraud commission is investigating the company.
Beijing's market competition regime exerts increasing effect on global merger and acquisition (M&A) activity and foreign firm operations in China. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) put severe constraints on Japan's SoftBank as a condition of its acquisition of US investment group Fortress last year. Toshiba Corp. to miss March deadline to sell USD $19 billion flash memory division due to complications with China's anti-trust regulators. Kumho Tire to finalize sale agreements with Qingdao Doublestar following its union's vote on the sale. Lotte Group reaffirms its decision to exit its Chinese operations after China's State Councillor pledged China would support smooth sales of Lotte Mart's Chinese stores. Turkey's Hitay Holdings repeats pledge to develop USD $1 billion geothermal power plant in Indonesia's Aceh province. Indonesia's investment board announces removal of foreign capital restrictions on investment in university and other educational ventures. Thai investors criticized for their impact on locals and the environment in Cambodia and Myanmar. Malaysia to evaluate market impact of Uber's move to sell its Southeast Asian operations to Singapore's Grab. Malaysia's state-owned energy utility company Tenaga Nasional secures USD $168.77 million to refinance its 80 percent stake in two UK wind energy companies. Foreign investment in Vietnam increases due to country's increasingly open investment environment.
China responds to United States (US) World Trade Organization (WTO) complaint that its technology licensing practices are not WTO compliant. Washington considers new mechanisms for reviewing and limiting Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) into the US technology sector. The Head of Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board welcomes Chinese FDI as the country moves to improve its ability to minimize any related security threats. Takeda considering takeover of Irish drugmaker Shire as Japanese government seeks to tackle rising healthcare costs for its aging population. Softbank Vision Fund and Saudi Arabia to boost solar production in the Arab country. Tirebank intends to acquire Korean company Kumho Tire from Korea Development Bank because of frictions between Kumho's workers union and Chinese buyer Doublestar. Renegotiation of South Korea-US Free Trade Agreement causes Hyundai to move production of its new pick-up truck model from Korea to the US. Pertamina reports it secured a contract with the Iranian government to take an 80 percent stake in Mansouri oil field. Jakarta put forth simplified tax holiday scheme in bid to boost investment in the country. Thailand approves USD $7.22 billion high-speed rail project to link three airports. Japanese electric vehicle producers flocking to Thailand in the wake of government promotion packages. Joint venture between Malaysia's Yinson Holdings and PetroVietnam ordered to stop operations in Vietnamese offshore oil field due to Chinese pressure. InvestKL on track to bring in 100 multinational corporations by 2020. Hanoi announces list of sectors that would be prioritized to receive Japanese high-technology and investment. New Franco-Vietnamese investment deals signed as Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary visits France.
US companies dilute proposed legislation that might have dampened their exports to/sales in China of technology. 2018 China Enterprise Cross-Border M&A Special Report shows decline in both the number and volume of Chinese merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in 2017. China's crackdown on CEFC Energy throws into uncertainty a proposed mega investment in Russia's Rosneft. Japanese may loosen regulations on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Japanese broadcasters. Toshiba chip sale deal awaits regulatory approval from China. South Korea company wins multi-billion bridge building contract in Turkey. South Korea and Russian companies lay foundation for cooperation in building transportation and other infrastructure for Korean peninsula and elsewhere. Indonesia's Environment and Forestry Ministry to sue American mining company Freeport McMoRan for massive environmental damages. Indonesian official embark on road show to bring more private FDI into the country's underfunded infrastructure projects. Thai government alarms by announcing intention to change the country's Foreign Business Act. Malaysia finalizes deal bringing USD $7 billion of Saudi FDI into the Pengerang Integrated Complex. UAE company will pour more than USD $1 billion to develop offshore Malaysian gas site. Vietnam's State Audit Office slaps back taxes bill on just privatized former state-owned enterprises (SOE) Sabeco. Vietnam aims to divest major portion of PetroVietnam Gas to garner strategic investment and massive amounts of funds.
China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) reports small growth in inward foreign direct investment (FDI), albeit with significant growth in high-tech inward FDI (IFDI). United States (US) President Donald Trump likely to impose USD $60 billion of tariffs on Chinese goods to punish Beijing for forcing American companies to transfer technology. China's financing for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) energy projects slows significantly in 2017. Chinese report that BRI projects are delivering living standard and work improvements to locals. Panasonic starts mass production of hybrid car batteries in China as Beijing's push for electric vehicles is expected to boost demand. JFTC raids Amazon's Japanese headquarters over suspicions that online retailing giant violated anti-trust regulations. Two Korean builders win order for a USD $740 million smart hospital project in Singapore. Kumho workers stage strike in protest of foreign ownership as Qingdao Doublestar acquires struggling South Korean tire company. Jokowi states that survey reveals that Indonesia ranks second when it comes to the world's attractive countries for investors. China has stated its intent to help fund and build what could become Indonesia's longest bridge. Honeywell repeats commitment to bring investment to and cooperate with Thailand given its plans fit the government's Thailand 4.0 vision. Mercedes-Benz and Thai JV partner to invest $123 million to build EV batteries in Thailand. Vietnamese authorities to review large foreign investment projects in the wake of withdrawal of USD $3.2 billion refinery and petrochemical project. Binh Duong province (Vietnam) grants 15 investment certificates for foreign firms investing in the region.
China National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) states China will improve noticeably market access and operating conditions for foreign direct investment (FDI) this year. American Chamber of Commerce in South China reports that number one concern of American businesses in China because of the is China's cybersecurity law. European Union (EU) may adopt legislation relating to inward FDI this year as a result of rising security concerns especially where Chinese FDI involved. Beijing's controls on outward Chinese FDI do not dent Fosun acquisition spree in clothing and luxury goods areas. Nissan in talks with Renault to acquire bulk of French state's 15 percent Renault stake. Japanese companies still waiting to see what happens with Great Britain's EU Brexit negotiations before deciding how to react to Brexit. GM Korea to ask Korean government to make its Korean factory sites foreign investment zones so it can get tax concessions. Doublestar reaches agreement with Korea Development Bank on purchase of 45 percent stake in Kumho Tire as union protests continue. Jakarta makes it easier to invest in energy and mineral sector by reducing regulations and licensing burdens. Prudential in talks with Malaysia's second largest pension fund to sell 30 percent stake in Malaysian unit following Malaysian central bank move to reduce foreign investment stakes. Telekom Malaysia signs memorandum of understanding with Huawei to work together on expanding fiber broadband network reach in Malaysia. Vietnam revokes investment license for foreign-owned oil refinery project. Legal expert says that foreign investors are interested in developing infrastructure projects in Vietnam including the North-South highway but hesitate because of legal problems.
Apple stores key for accessing Chinese users iCloud data in China raising human rights and privacy concerns. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) opposition causes Xcerra to terminate sale to Chinese investment fund. Chinese automakers not braking on their overseas expansion despite legal and regulatory issues facing outward foreign direct investment (FDI). Shanghai government takes over CEFC China Energy. Toyota to build next generation of Auris model cars in England despite worries about effect of Brexit. Kubota Corp. to spend over USD $3.1 billion on three new US production plants in a bid to mitigate foreign exchange risks and jump market barriers. Mounting pressure in the US to impose trade restrictions on various Korean-made products cause Samsung Electronics to consider more US based production facilities. Kumho Tire under pressure to find new majority shareholder given opposition to Chinese investment in a firm that operates defense businesses. Foreign investors charged up about investment opportunities in Indonesian electric vehicle battery sector because of the country's backward energy infrastructure and battery technology. Indonesia's BIBU plans to work with foreign partners/investors to build a new airport in Bali subject to Ministry of Transportation approval. Russia proposes joint innovation fund with Thailand to increase investment in technology. Najib Razak announces Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil and gas conglomerate Aramco will invest USD $7 billion into Malaysia before March 31. Vietnam approves Vietcombank's sale of a 10 percent stake to foreign investors as Hanoi rolls back restrictions on foreign investment in the sector.
China to use mechanism of internationalization including inward foreign direct investment (FDI) in mixed ownership reform to enhance ability of state-owned enterprises. For 2018, Guizhou aims for $150 billion in investment money from outside the province including small and medium-sized enterprises from foreign countries. Chinese outward FDI in January 2018 jumps over same period a year earlier. Chinese government constraints on outward FDI become even tighter. Japanese airbag manufacturer Takata receives US court approval for its bankruptcy exit plan. Japanese steelmaker JFE Holdings concerned Trump's protectionist rhetoric could impede own investment plans to build US based plant. Korea Expressway Corporation signs MoU for Indian highway construction following agreement between Korean and Indian government to support USD $10 billion in Indian infrastructure. GM proposes investing USD $2.8 billion in its Korean operations, but calls for government assistance to maintain its remaining plants. Russian diversified energy holding company Inter Rao seeking to develop Indonesia's Bandar Kayangan Global Hub. Finance Minister says Indonesia to revise tax incentives to attract more investment. Thailand's government approaches Japanese robotics maker and other engineering manufacturers to build facilities along its EEC. Manila Water Company acquires 18.72 percent stake in Thailand's Eastern Water to enter Thailand's EEC. Thailand's Superblock Pcl plans to invest USD $1.76 billion to build wind farms in Vietnam in sync with Hanoi's renewables policy.


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Robin the robot helps take care of 94 year old Italian Grandma Lea
At 94, Grandma Lea could not live alone anymore but wanted to stay at home. In our ageing society, many elderly people are in the same situation. Robotics offers a safe and affordable solution. An EU-funded team,@giraffplus has developed the GiraffPlus system; a robot assists older people in their homes, connects them to family, friends and healthcare professionals, while wearable devices and sensors throughout the home keep an eye on the person's health and activities. The system should be in commercial production by the end of 2015. The EU market for robots and devices assisting our older people is estimated to reach €13 billion by 2016.
"People ask why I don't just live with my daughter, but she has grandchildren of her own and many new responsibilities. With this valuable assistant that I call 'Mr Robin' I'm more relaxed about the years ahead, and so are my children and grandchildren", explains 94-year-old Lea Mina Ralli, also known as Grandma – 'nonna' in Italian – Lea. She has been using the GiraffPlus system for 5 months and often writes about 'Mr Robin' on her blog (in Italian).
€3 million of EU funding was invested in GiraffPlus to test how robots and other devices could help older people live safer, more independent lives. The system includes sensors and a robot. The sensors are designed to detect activities like cooking, sleeping or watching television and monitor health – blood pressure or sugar levels for example. They allow the person's carers to monitor their wellbeing remotely and to check for falls. A robot moves around the home and allows family, friends and carers to virtually visit the person.
Silver generation and economy
Vice-President of the European Commission @NeelieKroesEU, responsible for the Digital Agenda, says: "None of us is getting any younger. But we all want to know that we will not lose our dignity, respect and independence as we age. The EU is investing in new technology that can support the silver generation – adding not just years to our life, but also life to our years!"
Europe's over-65s have a disposable income of over €3,000 billion and much of this will be ploughed back into the caring economy. According to Stephen Von Rump, CEO of Giraff Technologies AB, the EU market for robots and other devices assisting of our elderly will reach €13 billion by 2016.
"GiraffPlus will be in 15 homes by the end of 2014", says Amy Loutfi, the project coordinator based at Örebro University, Sweden. "So far we have had six homes in Europe – two homes each in Spain, Sweden and Italy – that have lived with the GiraffPlus system. We currently are in the middle of the evaluations, but we see that various aspects of the system are appreciated differently by the different users. This goes to show that a one-size fits all approach to technology at home is not necessarily the best, and technology should be both adaptable and tailored to user's needs".
Current plans are to put the system into commercial production next year, based on an upfront fee and monthly subscriptions which would make it competitive when set alongside increasingly expensive full-time care.
The GiraffPlus consortium includes public and private partners from Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and UK.
Video on EBS (including international version)
The European Commission strongly supports independent living through the use of new technologies – including robotics – as part of the Digital Agenda strategy @DigitalAgendaEU. On top of the new research and innovation programme Horizon 2020 #H2020, two important initiatives are dedicated to taking new technologies to the market and homes and to embedding them in our systems for health and social care.
The Active Assisted Living Joint Programme (@AAL_JP) is an initiative driven by the EU's member states for applied research on ICT products and services for ageing well. Over a hundred projects have been funded since 2008 and it should be continued under H2020: €25 million of EU funding is foreseen in 2014 and the same amount again in 2015.
The European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (@EIP_AHA) is a multi-stakeholder partnership to implement innovative ICT-driven technologies for active and healthy ageing at European scale and to remove barriers that prevent their deployment. One of its six Action Groups focuses on independent living, while others deal with related topics like the prevention and early detection of falls and age-friendly communities and environments.
Read more about Standards for caring robots and The ethics of robotics.
Funding available under Horizon 2020
Through Horizon 2020 #H2020, many more projects on independent living, including robotics, will be funded. One of the focus areas of Societal Challenge 1 – Health, demographic change and wellbeing is "personalising health and care" (PHC). It notably supports citizen empowerment through self-management of health and disease, health promotion and disease prevention.
The PHC calls have a total budget of €549.3 million for 2014 and €537 million for 2015. Two specific challenges are specifically devoted to robotics (PHC 10-2014 and PHC 19-2014) and two other are dedicated to ICT solutions for independent living (PHC 20-2014 – PHC 21-2015).
Read more about EU support to ageing well with ICT.
Read more about EU support to robotics - @RoboticsEU and find information on the public-private partnership in robotics between the European Commission and the robotics academia and industry to boost research and innovation in this strategic field and on the funding opportunities for 2014-2015 (ICT-23-2014 and ICT-24-2015 to be published on 15 October 2014 TBC).
Email: comm-kroes@ec.europa.eu Tel: +32.229.57361 Twitter: @RyanHeathEU
Channel website: https://www.icaew.com
NextGenerationEU: European Commission disburses €271 million in pre-financing to Finland
The European Commission has today disbursed €271 million to Finland in pre-financing, equivalent to 13% of the country's financial allocation under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
EU challenges Russian export restrictions on wood at WTO
Today, the EU is requesting consultations with Russia at the World Trade Organization (WTO) concerning export restrictions placed by Russia on wood products.
'State of the World' Special Address given yesterday by President von der Leyen at the World Economic Forum, via videoconference.
Protecting consumers from misleading reviews: 55% of screened websites violate EU law
The European Commission and national consumer protection authorities yesterday released the results of an EU-wide website screening ("sweep") on online consumer reviews.
Speech by President von der Leyen at the European Women on Boards' Gender Diversity Award
Speech given yesterday by President von der Leyen at the European Women on Boards' Gender Diversity Award.
Speech by Executive Vice-President Vestager on the Digital Services Act
Speech given yesterday by Executive Vice-President Vestager on the Digital Services Act.
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: €2.8 million to support dismissed workers in the Spanish car industry
Today, the European Commission proposes to support 450 workers who lost their jobs in the car industry in the Spanish region of Catalonia with €2.8 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF).
Intellectual property: Statement given yesterday by EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton welcoming the provisional application of the Unitary Patent.
Speech by Commissioner Breton on the Digital Services Act
Speech given yesterday by Commissioner Breton on the Digital Services Act.
EU Cohesion policy: Almost €385.5 million from the EU Solidarity Fund to 19 countries to tackle the coronavirus health emergency
The Commission completed the payments of the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) assistance to tackle the coronavirus health emergency to 19 countries for a total amount of almost €385.5 million.


Who can be appointed as a trustee?
the Commission itself, but only where there are exceptional circumstances such as the inability to appoint a third party to be trustee.
Note: For aged care residents, it is prudent to appoint a neutral party such as the Public Trustee, rather than an employee of an aged care facility as trustee, to avoid the potential for conflict of interests in the management of the pensioner's money.
evidence to support the need for the appointment of a trustee.
In order to identify a proposed trustee and/or their relationship to the pensioner, a proof of identity check must be made on all applications.
An application for appointment of a trustee must be supported by two professional certificates establishing that a person is infirm or otherwise incapable of managing their own affairs, and requires a trustee. At least one of the reports must be from a medical practitioner. The other may be from some other professional person e.g. a social worker.
Once approved, notification of the appointment is to be made in writing to the trustee, and include a copy of the terms and conditions of the trust.


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Homicide detectives investigating man's death in south Houston, police say
Clare Fonstein, Staff Writer
Homicide detectives are investigating a death in south Houston on Wednesday, Houston Police Department officials said.
Officers were called around noon to the scene at 3577 Yellowstone Blvd, Houston Police Department spokesperson Shay Awosiyan said. Police assistance had been requested by the Houston Fire Department.
CRIME: Data shows which crimes were most common in Houston in 2022, and which are on the rise
A man was reported dead at the scene just before 2 p.m., on the Houston police Twitter account.
The investigation is ongoing and further information was not immediately available Wednesday afternoon.
Southeast Officers and Homicide Detectives are at 3500 Yellowstone. Adult male deceased at the scene. 202 pic.twitter.com/MKCdfRoDYz
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) December 21, 2022
Clare Fonstein
Reach Clare on
Clare Fonstein is a Hearst Fellow working for the Houston Chronicle.
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Clare majored in journalism and international relations at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She worked for her school paper and became editor-in-chief her senior year.