text:
When You Oughta Go, You Gotta Go
Economic reforms have become quite the buzzword, with many describing them as a panacea for all ills. Several commentators are right in noting how past reforms were undertaken by compulsion, rather than as outcomes of conviction – whether it was the rupee's devaluation in the early 1990s or the 1991 reforms triggered by a balance of payment crisis.
Post-1991, reforms were an outcome of the need to improve GoI's revenue mobilization while putting in place policies that could swiftly accelerate growth rates. But political pundits have often decoupled economic reforms from electoral successes, some even positing that reformist governments in India are usually voted out of power. This belief could be one of the reasons for India's reform momentum to have been inconsistent and patchy till 2014.
The difference in approach of a compulsive reformer and that of one with conviction is central to understanding the developments that have taken place over the last few weeks. While the 1991 reforms were indeed big bang, a lot of the — industrial licensing, trade policy, the value of exchange rates, etc. — were 'simpler' in the sense that they required the Centre to take decisions. Of course, there was a need for political consensus even for these reforms. However, this came by virtue of them becoming critical for securing the economic future of the country, rather than an active intention on the government's part to build a consensus. In 2014, GoI undertook reforms by conviction, even if it meant undertaking structural and, at times, painful economic reforms. While these may or may not yield political dividends, that they will inevitably yield economic dividends. Many of the reforms that were pending since the mid-1990s were those pertaining to issues that required political consensus at both the central and state levels. The goods and services tax (GST), for instance, has been difficult to undertake for this reason.
Also, take rationalization of subsidies, which was viewed to be politically impossible in India. However, one of the early interventions by GoI in 2014 was its 'Give It Up' campaign. The voluntary campaign was an attempt to sensitize the affluent section on the need to give up their subsidies, such as that on LPG cylinders so that they could be given to those who genuinely need them.
Another difficult reform was the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), which reimagined the way banks look at managing stressed assets. For the first time, promoters started to lose their companies in the event of defaults. These were deep structural reforms that were undertaken despite the theory of 2 people voting out governments that push for bold economic reforms.
With a fresh and bigger mandate, the central administration had a greater political capital to push for some of the more difficult reforms. For instance, reforming agriculture has been a key item on the reform agenda for decades. Still, governments have continued to subject farmers to a monopolized system. A strong commitment towards strengthening the economic freedom of farmers, with the conviction that this would benefit them, is central to the three laws that have recently been pushed for agricultural reforms.
Another tricky area was labour reforms, which involve both central and state governments. The provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act led to Indian firms being small, inefficient, and uncompetitive in the global playing field. The new labour codes are an attempt to fix this and provide adequate flexibility to employers while also retaining safeguards for employees.
Criticism of reforms has, significantly, shifted from the merit of the measures taken to the timings of their announcements or the legislation. The preference for the status quo has given way to a proactive approach, where GoI seizes every opportunity to bring about reforms.
Note: Shri Vivek Singh & Shri Karan Bhasin wrote this for Economics Times, Delhi on Monday, 5th October 2020
Shri Vivek Singh is an additional Private Secretary to Union Finance Minister and Shri Karan Bhasin is a Delhi-based Policy Researcher.
Last Updated:December 3, 2020 at 6:34 pm -blog-166


Brigitte Bardot, eat your heart out. Designed with off-shoulder straps that showcase your décolletage, this floral embroidered dress is detailed with bead embellishments. The full skirt offers a nod to 50s style, while the waist insert is so flattering you'll want to wear it to every event in your summer calendar.


text: return require "luarocks.fetch.git_http"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Mikaszówka – wieś w Polsce położona w województwie podlaskim, w powiecie augustowskim, w gminie Płaska na obszarze Puszczy Augustowskiej. Leży nad Kanałem Augustowskim.

W centrum znajduje się drewniany kościół pw. św. Marii Magdaleny.

Wieś jest siedzibą sołectwa Mikaszówka, w którego skład wchodzą również miejscowości Jałowy Róg, Jazy, Hanus i Mały Borek.

Wieś królewska ekonomii grodzieńskiej położona była w końcu XVIII wieku w powiecie grodzieńskim województwa trockiego. W latach 1975–1998 miejscowość należała administracyjnie do województwa suwalskiego.

Przez wieś przepływa Kanał Augustowski. Znajduje się tu kamienna śluza na Kanale Augustowskim.

Przed kościołem znajduje się rzeźba "Wołanie z wnętrza Ziemi" ku czci ofiar obławy augustowskiej w lipcu 1945.

Zabytki
Wykaz zabytków nieruchomych wpisanych do rejestru zabytków Narodowego Instytutu Dziedzictwa:
 kościół pw. św. Marii Magdaleny, drewniany, pocz. XX w. (nr rej.: 427 z 30.08.1985)
 dzwonnica drewniana (nr rej.: 427 z 30.08.1985)

Przypisy

Linki zewnętrzne

Mikaszówka
Wsie ekonomii grodzieńskiej

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


is magical at Sunrise sometimes sprouting a rainbow or 2.
Let me tell you that we are seriously the luckiest photographers in Orange Beach.
My clients are always so amazing to work with. That's so true of my session with the Phillips family! I met up with Daniel & Nomie in Orange Beach at Sunrise, yes 5:52 am. This incredible summer sunrise blessed us with great weather, a rainbow and a breeze, a perfect day for vacation beach photography. I think the rainbow was mother natures way of showing us a little southern charm. Now, although the weather was great, it was the Phillips family that made this shoot such a blast.
With a 4 year old and 10 month old in tow, Jason was ready for a great Beach session. And a lot of "whooo hooing" ! Who says adults can't have fun as well. We sure do hope to see this cute family make visiting our beaches a tradition.


text:
Brand SpotlightYour Healthy Family
Your Healthy Family: How to do CPR and save a life
Doctors say Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin's remarkable recovery was made possible by the quick response he got on the field. It highlights the importance of knowing CPR, so you can save someone in cardiac arrest.
By: Lisa Greenberg
Doctors say Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin's remarkable recovery from his cardiac arrest was made possible by the quick response he got on the field. It highlights the importance of knowing CPR, so you can save someone's life if they go into a sudden cardiac arrest.
"There are about 350,000 out of hospital sudden cardiac arrests a year," Dr. Tara Narula, a Cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital, said.
Dr. Narula said 70-90 percent of people who suffer from a sudden cardiac arrest die before they get to the hospital because the people around them don't always know how to help. She said CPR can double or even triple a person's odds of survival, but only about 40 percent of Americans know how to do it.
If you think someone is in cardiac arrest, Dr. Narula said to first make sure the scene is safe, then call 911. Then, she said to start hands-only CPR. You start that by putting your palms on the person's chest.
"Elbows locked. Shoulders over, and you're going to push down hard and fast," Dr. Narula said.
She said you should be pushing the chest down about two inches, at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute. Dr. Narula said songs, like 'Stayin' Alive' by the Bee Gees, can help you keep the rhythm. If you have access to an automated external defibrillator, or AED, she said the box has simple steps on how to use it.
"It's going to analyze the heart rhythm. If it detects a rhythm that's shockable, it tells you don't touch the patient, it's going to deliver a shock," Dr. Narula said.
As soon as the shock is delivered, she said you go back to CPR for two minutes, then the AED will analyze the heart rhythm again.
"Don't be afraid to give hands-only CPR. Don't be afraid to use a defibrillater. You can save a life," she said.
Your Healthy Family Partners
Cardiology, Women's Health, and Orthopedics - Naples Community Hospital
In-Home Care - BrightStar Care of Ft. Myers-Naples
Mental Health - David Lawrence Centers
Vein & Vascular Disease - Lumiere Cosmetic Vein Center

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Paul Smith Boys TAM Striped T-Shirt.
This short-sleeved piece features a colourful all-over striped design, the label's signature zebra logo to the chest, and popper button fastenings to the classic crew neck for easy dressing.
Paul Smith Boys TAM Striped T-Shirt. This short-sleeved piece features a colourful all-over striped design, the label's signature zebra logo to the chest, and popper button fastenings to the classic crew neck for easy dressing. 100% Cotton. Machine washable at 30°C.


text:
Brazil asks Adidas to stop selling 'sexualised' World Cup T-shirts
World Cup sponsor and official ball provider Adidas has agreed to stop selling two T-shirts after complaints from Brazil's tourism board about their sexual innuendos.
According to Reuters, the country's tourism board objected to the shirts because "they encourage sexual tourism" — a problem Brazil fears will worsen exponentially with hundreds of thousands of visitors in the country during the World Cup this summer.
One shirt shows a bikini-clad woman with open arms on a sunny Rio de Janeiro beach under the words "Looking to Score". The other has an "I love Brazil" heart resembling the upside-down buttocks of a woman wearing a thong. The designs touched a nerve in Brazil, where people often complain about foreign stereotypes of Brazilian sensuality. The government is campaigning aggressively to shed the country's reputation as a destination for sex tourism.
Dilma Rousseff – Brazil's first female president – said her government would crack down on sex tourism and the exploitation of children during the ccompetition, which is expected to draw 600,000 foreign fans. "Brazil is happy to receive tourists for the World Cup, but it is also ready to combat sex tourism," she said in a burst of Twitter messages that included a hotline number to report cases of sexual exploitation.m" of sexual predators.
I think Brazil World Cup this year will be one of the biggest world event to witness in a century... In controversies, branding, culture and tourism


One of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures, Liposuction is a surgical technique to remove unwanted deposits of fat from specific areas of the body, including the face and neck, upper arms, trunk, abdomen, buttocks, hips and thighs, and the knees, calves and ankles. This is not a substitute for weight reduction, but a method for removing localized deposits of fatty tissue that do not respond to diet or exercise. Liposuction may be performed as a primary procedure for body contouring or combined with other surgical techniques such as facelift, abdominoplasty, or thigh lift procedures to tighten loose skin and supporting structures.
Suction-assisted lipectomy surgery is performed by using a hollow metal surgical instrument known as a "cannula" that is inserted through small skin incision(s) and is passed back and forth through the area of fatty deposit. The cannula is attached to a vacuum source, which provides the suction needed to remove the fatty tissue.
Risks are uncommon when the procedure is performed by a qualified surgeon but still may include infection, delays in healing, fat clots or blood clots, shock, fluid accumulation that must be drained, burns, perforation injury, lidocaine toxicity, and unfavorable drug or anesthesia reactions.


Dear Alan, just a quick check with you does an aged domain helps in the ranking of the SEO? e.g. a domain that had been up for e.g. 2 years without any updates.
Does ranking a page in subdomain help or effect the ranking of the main domain page ranking?


The Exmouth Little Athletics Centre, run by the local Police, Youth and Citizens Club, will be looking good as new this year thanks to new equipment provided by a grant from Coles.
The centre has received $4200 from Coles, with the money used to buy a starting gun, long jump mats, hurdles, and discus and shot put equipment, as well as Turbojav gear so children can learn javelin techniques.
Exmouth PCYC centre manager Lauren Rampling said Little Athletics only started last year and the centre had had to spend a lot to make sure its equipment was up to scratch.
"It's really important that we offer our community a quality experience, and having this new equipment will allow us to provide that," she said.
Little Athletics may be new to Exmouth but it already has more than 50 children involved who are being given the chance to try a new sport, learn new skills and compete as individuals.
"It has increased the number of girls involved in our sports, plus it is fun and a great way to support children's physical development," Ms Rampling said.
The club will be hosting the Little Athletics North West Championships later this year and says it is thrilled to be able to bring such an opportunity to the community.
"Due to our isolation, our children don't often get opportunities locally to compete with children from across the State," Ms Rampling said.


text:
A Review of the Universe
Related: Astronomy & Physics • The Universe: Cosmology, Astronomy & Astrobiology
Universe is Not Expanding After All, Scientists Say New evidence, based on detailed measurements of the size and brightness of hundreds of galaxies, indicates that the Universe is not expanding after all, says a team of astrophysicists led by Eric Lerner from Lawrenceville Plasma Physics. This image shows a star forming region in a nearby galaxy known as the Large Magellanic Cloud. Image credit: ESA / Hubble. In their study, the scientists tested one of the striking predictions of the Big Bang theory – that ordinary geometry does not work at great distances. In the space around us, on Earth, in the Solar System and our Milky Way Galaxy, as similar objects get farther away, they look fainter and smaller. In contrast, the Big Bang theory tells us that in an expanding Universe objects actually should appear fainter but bigger. So in an expanding Universe the most distant galaxies should have hundreds of times dimmer surface brightness than similar nearby galaxies, making them actually undetectable with present-day telescopes. Eric J.
untitled Physique quantique String Theory and the Scientific Method | Not Even Wrong There's a new philosophy of science book out, Richard Dawid's String Theory and the Scientific Method (available online here if your institution is paying Cambridge University Press appropriately or if you have a credit card). It comes with endorsements from string theorists David Gross and John Schwarz, with Schwarz writing: Richard Dawid argues that string theory plays a novel role in the scientific process that has been neglected by philosophers of science. I believe that this book is a valuable contribution to the philosophy of science, which should interest practicing scientists as well as those who are more interested in the methodology of science. Dawid is a particle theorist turned philosopher, and as you might guess from the endorsement, he approaches string theory from an enthusiast's point of view. This book has been on my mind ever since I left physics and turned to philosophy in the year 2000. In Dawid's description, string theorists are still partying like it's 1999:
untitled L'ordinateur quantique ThierryLombry Informaticien Depuis l'invention du premier circuit intégré monolithique par Jack Kilby de Texas Instruments en 1958, l'intégration des composants électroniques n'a cessé d'être améliorée au point que nous parvenons aujourd'hui à faire fonctionner des centaines de milliers de composants sur une puce (chip) mesurant à peine 1 cm2, c'est la technologie ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) qui détrône aujourd'hui le VLSI. Le coeur de l'ordinateur : le microprocesseur Mais à cette échelle la difficulté de fabrication devient digne d'une mission impossible. Représentation artistique des fameux bits quantiques ou qubits. © U.Melbourne/Marc Coe.
LIGO - Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory Everything We Just Found Out About Pluto, Courtesy of New Horizons - Futurism | Futurism Page 1 of 24612345...102030...»Last » Einstein for Everyone Einstein for Everyone Nullarbor Press 2007revisions 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Copyright 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 John D. Norton Published by Nullarbor Press, 500 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260 with offices in Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222 All Rights Reserved John D. An advanced sequel is planned in this series:Einstein for Almost Everyone 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1 ePrinted in the United States of America no trees were harmed web*bookTM This book is a continuing work in progress. January 1, 2015. Preface For over a decade I have taught an introductory, undergraduate class, "Einstein for Everyone," at the University of Pittsburgh to anyone interested enough to walk through door. With each new offering of the course, I had the chance to find out what content worked and which of my ever so clever pedagogical inventions were failures. At the same time, my lecture notes have evolved. This text owes a lot to many. i i i
Dodwell Manuscript Ancient, mediaeval, and modern observations of the obliquity of the Ecliptic, measuring the inclination of the earth's axis, in ancient times and up to the present by George F. Dodwell B.A., FRAS* *B.A. is Bachelor of Arts -- his degree was in mathematics (which was an art then). FRAS is Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. © the Dodwell Family - J D Dodwell, PGE Dodwell, David Dodwell and their descendants -- sections may be quoted or printed with full reference made to the original document on this website, with the request they not be taken out of context. Note from the Setterfields George Dodwell was the government astronomer for South Australia. A friend of his offered to take the material and have it published under the auspices of a university in the United States. Since we have the original manuscripts ourselves, every word has been checked and every punctuation mark, for accuracy. All emphases are in the original. So here, finally, is Dodwell's work. February 23, 2010 George F.
Russian billionaire, Hawking announce $100 million search for ET Green Bank Telescope (credit: Geremia/Wikimedia Commons) Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, Stephen Hawking, Martin Rees, Frank Drake and others announced at The Royal Society today $100 million funding for Breakthrough Listen — the "most powerful, comprehensive, and intensive scientific search ever undertaken for signs of intelligent life beyond Earth." They also announced $1 million prize funding for Breakthrough Message, a competition to generate messages representing humanity and planet Earth. "It's time to commit to finding the answer to search for life beyond Earth," said Hawking. "We are live, we are intelligent, we must know … if we are alone in the dark." The search will be done at two of the largest radio telescopes, the 100 Meter Robert C. More sensitive, faster, wider spectrum, more sky coverage The Breakthrough Listen initiative will be 50 times more sensitive than previous programs dedicated to SETI research, the scientists say. More information: Breakthrough Initiatives.
Helioseismology Active Learning Exercises in Planetary and Solar Astronomy Copyright 1996 National Optical Astronomy Observatory Volume 1, Number 1 NEW! This lesson module was written as part of a NASA IDEA grant titled Active Learning Exercises in Planetary and Solar Astronomy for K-3 Students. This module was developed by NSO astronomer Dr. We used the following 5 color slides for this lesson; Click the images below for a larger, more detailed image [28 to 84K]. Slide 1: Image of actual solar surface Slide 2: Computer image of slice through sun showing how sound bounces inside sun Slide 3: Computer image of cutaway of sun showing up and down pattern of one solar musical note Slide 4: Image of actual solar surface showing the up and down pattern of all 10 million solar musical notes together at one instant Slide 5: Image of the "keyboard" of solar music. Today we would like to teach you about solar music. Have any of you ever heard the sun? Have any of you heard echoes? What do you notice about them? Lower
Related: Astronomy & Physics - The Universe: Cosmology, Astronomy & Astrobiology


Montgomery loses to the Jackson Generals 6-0 on Thursday.
JACKSON, Tenn. — Jake Faria (0-1) matched Edwin Diaz (1-0) nearly every step of the way, but it was the Jackson Generals' right-hander who came out on top, downing the Biscuits 6-0 on opening day on Thursday.
Faria, who led the minor leagues with 17 wins last season, allowed a hit on the first pitch of the game to Guillermo Heredia before retiring the next 15 batters he faced. The right-hander struck out eight but ran into trouble in the bottom of the sixth when he allowed a two-out RBI infield single to D.J. Peterson.
The 22-year-old was removed for Jeff Ames, and the right-hander served up a two-run triple to Jackson right fielder Tyler O'Neill to make it 3-0. Faria finished with a line of 52/3 innings, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk.
Diaz was outstanding. At one point, the 22-year-old struck out six consecutive Biscuits, and eight of nine. He finished at six innings, allowing just two hits with nine strikeouts.
The Biscuits mustered just four hits, but Johnny Field collected two of them from the clean-up spot. Montgomery will look to even the series against Jackson on Friday night when it sends Taylor Guerrieri to the mound against Ryan Yarbrough at 7:05 p.m.
The Biscuits will open up at home on Tuesday night against the Mississippi Braves on Free Hot Dog Night.


The Parliament of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, on 5 February 2019, passed unanimously a new public health legislation on food and medicine administration. The new law covers tobacco products, and its relevant sections aim to protect the public from the devastating health, social, and economic consequences of tobacco products. The measures the law foresees to regulate tobacco products are considered among the strongest tobacco control legislations in Africa.
The new law requires public and work places to be 100% tobacco-free. It is also prohibited to manufacture, import or sell electronic nicotine delivery systems, heated tobacco products, and flavored tobacco products.
In addition, the new law addresses the packaging and labelling issues and requires pictorial health warnings covering at least 70% of the front and back sides of tobacco products. Other measures required by the law include a ban on all direct or indirect tobacco product advertising, promotion and sponsorship and a restriction on the sale of tobacco products to persons under the age of 21.
The WHO FCTC was ratified by Ethiopia in 2014. The approval of the new legislation is in line with the requirements of a number of WHO FCTC Articles, including Article 8 (Protection from exposure to tobacco smoke), Article 11 (Packaging and labelling of tobacco products), Article 13 (Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship) and Article 16 (Sales to and by minors) among others, and provides a solid foundation for strengthening tobacco control in the country.
The new law also corresponds to the recommendations of the needs assessment mission that was conducted jointly by the Convention Secretariat and the Federal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia in 2015. The assessment report specifically highlights the need for 100% smoke free indoor public places and for a ban on the sale of tobacco products to minors. The factsheet of the needs assessment is available here.


text:
"It's about sharing a dream I fortunately got to live," Bill Trent said Wednesday as he described a goal and an eventual career molded around aviation. "I hope a show like this makes young people want to get into aviation, just like I did."
It was about 60 years ago that Trent, 70, fell in love with aircraft. He eventually flew planes in Vietnam as a member of the U.S. Air Force, and throughout the world as a Delta Airlines pilot. The career enabled him to meet and marry Jo West 48 years ago, a marriage that helped him find his adopted hometown of Anderson 38 years ago.
"Aviation has given me a lot of great things," Trent said after an exercise session at the Anderson Area YMCA.
Some recent health problems forced Trent to the sidelines for much of the fundraising campaign by the air show committee, which prompted the Trents to make the name-bearing donation.
"We wanted to put on a nice show and the committee was trying to do it totally free. To do that, you need sponsorship and a lot of hustle," he said. "I wasn't able to help the committee raise funds, so Jo and I decided that we might be able to help this way.
"It might be the only time in our lives we get something named for us," Trent joked.
Trent also jokes that his love of aviation predates tight security at airports. As a youngster in Chattanooga, Tennessee, his room was filled with plastic model airplanes, and his favorite diversion was riding a bike to Lovell Air Field.
"In those days, you could ride onto the runways, park near a plane and talk to pilots," he recalled. "I'd talk to pilots from Southern, Delta and Eastern Airlines, and they were all accommodating. I was able to go to the tower and listen and watch as pilots brought planes in. You can't do any of that stuff these days, but it sure was exciting for a kid."
At age 12, he successfully "begged for a ride" in a Piper cub. Flying became his primary pursuit for the next several decades.
While in high school, he looked up the name and address of a Delta executive in a phone book and knocked on his door, asking for a job.
Anderson Air Show returns Saturday
Air Show to honor Vietnam veterans
"He told me to join the military, learn to fly heavy transport planes, and call them when I got out," Trent recalled.
He enlisted in the Air Force, met his future wife while in pilot training, and flew the largest transport planes available in Vietnam. Trent called Delta as soon as he came home, and over the next 30 years flew its largest commercial planes, including the Boeing 767 and 727, and his favorite, the L-1011. He retired with more than 23,000 hours of flight time.
By the mid-1970s, the Trents had grown weary of Atlanta's sprawl and congested traffic. While visiting Jo's sister, whose husband was a student at Clemson, they discovered Anderson. They relocated here in 1978 and enjoyed it so much that Bill commuted to his job in Atlanta for several years.
"We love this place. It's home," Trent said. "In 1978, our son was nearly 2, and we saw it as a great place to raise kids. It still is."
Trent has been involved in several nonprofit organizations, including the air show committee.
"All this came out of a childhood dream," he said. "I'd love to pass that dream along to young people."
Follow Abe Hardesty on Twitter @abe_hardesty
Airshow Schedule
10 a.m. — Gates open; exhibits on display
12:45 p.m. — Band and color guard staged
1 p.m. — Veterans Walk
1:01 — Jumpers Away (Paratrooper unit from Fort Bragg, North Carolina)
1:05 — National Anthem
1:15 — Aircraft demonstration
2:15 — Chief Pitts antique aircraft
2::20 — Shockwave solo run
2:37 — Rescue at Dawn
2:53 — Special Forces demo
3:10 — Scott Francis
3:25 — Shockwave vs. Scott
3:41 — F/A 18 Demo


text:
World Neighbours 27 Dec 2016 World Bank gets in t ...
World, Neighbours
World Bank gets in touch with Pak over Indus water dispute with India
Published Dec 27, 2016, 2:17 pm IST
Updated Dec 27, 2016, 2:18 pm IST
Pak on Dec 23 wrote a letter to WB on the dispute over 2 hydroelectric power plants, Kishanganga and Ratle that India is building on Indus.
Tensions over the water dispute intensified in November when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi threatened to block the flow of water into Pakistan. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)
Islamabad: World Bank President Jim Yong Kim has held a telephonic conversation with Pakistan's Finance Minster Senator Ishaq Dar and discussed with him Indo-Pak water dispute, days after the country asked the global lender to "fulfil its obligations" on the issue. Dawn newspaper quoted official sources as saying the call was made on Monday.
Dar on December 23 had written a letter to Kim over the dispute over two hydroelectric power plants, Kishanganga and Ratle that India is building on the Indus rivers system.
Dar in his letter said that delaying arbitration would seriously prejudice Pakistan's interests and rights under the Indus Waters Treaty.
The letter explained that Pakistan was not withdrawing its earlier request to the bank to appoint the chairman of the Court of Arbitration and since this process had already been "inordinately delayed", Islamabad wanted the bank to appoint the chairman as soon as possible.
Pakistan believes that further delay would hurt its interests as India is working day and night to complete the two disputed projects. And once they are completed, it will be difficult to undo them.
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, distributed the Indus basin rivers between the two countries, giving India control over the three eastern rivers, the Beas, the Ravi and the Sutlej while Pakistan has the three western rivers, the Indus, the Chenab and the Jhelum. The treaty empowers the World Bank to arbitrate any water dispute between India and Pakistan.
Earlier, last week Kim sent a letter to the finance ministers of India and Pakistan, informing them that he had decided to 'pause' the bank's arbitration and urged the two neighbours to decide by the end of January how they wanted to settle this dispute.
Tensions over the water dispute intensified in November when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi threatened to block the flow of water into Pakistan.
In the formal request sent to the bank, Pakistan argued that the Court of Arbitration could be formed at the request of either party, if the party concludes that the dispute is not likely to be resolved by negotiation or mediation.
The bank would also be obliged to establish the court if the aggrieved party concluded that the other government was unduly delaying the negotiations.
Pakistan informed the World Bank that it has already exhausted the option to engage India for resolving the dispute through bilateral talks and was now exercising the option to take its case to the Court of Arbitration.
Tags: world bank, indus water dispute, court of arbitration, indo-pak water dispute
Location: Pakistan, Islamabad, Islamabad
More From Neighbours
Aafia Siddiqui: The Pakistani prisoner at centre of Texas siege
Nepal tight-lipped over Chinese encroachment of its territory in border areas
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala marries senior officer of Pakistan Cricket Board
Pakistan to rally Muslim countries to help Afghanistan
Pak model defiles Kartarpur Sahib


Dads always get in Free with Paid Child's Admission on Fathers Day!
Come join us as we celebrate Father's Day! Dads get in FREE with paid children's admission! Make it extra special, sign up for Sunday's Behind the Scenes Tour! Make your Fathers Day extra special by signing up for an Encounter or Experience! Visit our website for more info or to book tickets!


Our signature pant in a new fantastic material!
Plum fleece will match with any of our Best T's. Also matches perfectly with Aurora Summer Pullover Sweater. We can't wait for you to feel how soft it is! This eco Fleece wil keep your littles so warm this season.
Made and Designed in Vancouver, Canada.


text:
(idea) by sekicho Thu May 27 2004 at 2:53:18
It's 9 PM. I've been in this office since 8 AM and I'm showing no signs of wanting to go home. They clapped for me at this morning's staff meeting, and replaced the dining room table I had been working on with a massive improvised L-shaped desk larger than my boss's. Not that he cares, because he sees me as a good investment, what with all the mad tricked-out rock star Dean-esque internet work I've been doing.
My car is falling apart, not that it matters, because I only really need it to get to Orlando and back every other weekend, just an hour and a half from my ghetto apartment on the south side of Tampa. My old laptop's keys keep sticking here and there, making coding laborious and logins a bit of an adventure.
I feel alive. Escaping school might be one reason. It's not that things have gotten easier, mind you. I do more work now than I ever did in college. But the work is gratifying... it actually accomplishes something. What we do in a back office in Tampa has the potential to reverse the status quo in Washington, to end the blind interventions and the soulless domestic policy.
But that's another story. There are bigger things on my mind.
I talked about her in a previous daylog. Just a few weeks before graduation, I found myself lying next to her on her dormitory bed, looking up into her eyes. There's a little bit of Punjabi blood in them, enough to make them glow brown. (Yes, brown can glow. Trust me on this one.) And those glowing eyes hooked me and drew me in.
This is the first real relationship I've been in for... well, years. I don't even know how many years. Maybe the proper answer is "ever."
Our summertime romance script is fairly well-defined. We meet around Kissimmee early in the evening, spend an hour or two in the open together, get into the same car to go somewhere for dinner, delay our dinner for an hour or so, finally get around to eating it, get back in the car with intentions to see a movie or somesuch, and end up leaving the same darkened parking lot around 1 AM. And then, for the rest of the days we can't spend together, our nights are full of chatter over tinny cell phone speakers.
It's truly a dog's life.
Anyway, my point is this...
A year ago, I was totally depressed, and I felt like my life was totally fucked up. At the time, I attributed this to two key factors:
No romance
No motivation to do what I was supposed to be doing full-time
If you've read my daylogs of April 26, 2003 and October 29, 2003, you know that I wasn't a happy person. The noding spree that I went on from 2002 to 2003 reflects this pretty well: 886 writeups in just over 2 years. Were it not for this daylog, May of 2004 might have been my first node-free month since I joined E2.
But there was something bolder within me. One of my friends dragged me into campus politics, the bloodiest politics of all. I raised my voice for the first time. I called out crazy liberals alongside crazy conservatives. I had freshmen following in my wake. Unthinkable, a year ago. But it happened. Now, it's hard to hold me back.
So now I have a growing resume, a girlfriend far lovelier than any of my past crushes, and--best of all--a reason to live, a reason to keep marching forward into tomorrow. A meaning. A little bit of hope that every tomorrow will be better than its yesterday. When I walk out into the baking heat of a Florida afternoon, I praise God, because it's all good so far, and it's all good as far as the eye can see.
(idea) by vandewal Thu May 27 2004 at 4:03:19
Yeah, um, getting fired isn't very cool.
I signed a little piece of paper saying that I wouldn't make any disparaging remarks about my former workplace, and I'm going to take that little agreement literally as somebody forgot to clean out their temporary internet files on the way out the door. However, I will say that the whole process was as painless as it could have been, and I appreciate that. I am certainly going to miss certain coworkers, but that would have been the case even if I had left under different circumstances. I was packed up and out of the office building by quarter after 10, which was also very nice of them. It gave me the opportunity of meet up with my wife for lunch, run to the DMV, and make a few phone calls before dinnertime. Overall, not counting the whole getting fired bit, today was as good a day as it could have been.
Instead of jumping right back into the employment pool, I think I'm going to use my free time to take on some projects that I wouldn't be able to concentrate on if I was still working the ol' nine to five. I can certainly expand the garden in the backyard by quite a large margin, and I've got a few pages to construct. I should also get around to finishing up that book, no? This will also give me the opportunity to get some of these boxes out of the way from the move, which I'm sure the both of us will appreciate. While this new place feels like home, parts of it resemble a warehouse.
Anyway, both my wife and I are fine with the new situation that we find ourselves in, even if it wasn't what we had envisioned. We're both convinced that things will end up on the okay side of things before we move to Albany in a little over a year. And, really, that is the important part.
(idea) by TheDeadGuy Thu May 27 2004 at 5:19:12
It grows ever closer.
The zealots have paved the path. The prepare to bring it to the point of no return. The elections might not even matter any longer. Chaos climbs anxiously over the horizon.
Legislation has been introduced into the United States Congress in the form of S89 and HR163. This legislation will bring back the military draft. This time there is no escape. It does not allow for exemptions based on higher education and the likes. It will even include women. There will be no running away, as elements of the Patriot Act make it possible to track you and agreements have already been signed with Canada.
Drink up now. Smoke 'em if you got 'em. Even Hillary is calling for a larger military.
Watching the local news last week, here in Florida, there was a thirty second clip of Camilo Mejia, a Florida National Guardsman who deserted in protest of the war. This was followed by a subtle shaking of the head by the news anchor. The story was followed by a four minute long story on a recent high school graduate who signed up for the United States Army because of the great benefits and the opportunity to "fight for freedom." Media bias is a myth.
Won't get fooled again? You're about to get fooled again.
If you don't know how brilliant Osama bin Laden really is, then you have no idea what his agenda really is. As a zealot seeking to inspire total war rather than participate in total war, he met his objectives. He waited until a zealot was in the highest office in the world's last remaining superpower before masterminding 9/11. And now he will act again to make certain that a zealot remains in office. Somewhere he is cackling as he has manipulated George W. Bush, and in turn the United States of America, into the "war footing" his hero George often speaks of. Chaos is his objective, not victory. And don't think George and his associates did not welcome the invitation. We're too conditioned to think in terms of wins and losses. We forget there are other reasons for action. Too many action movies with simple plots and predictable conclusions.
The last time the zealots attempted convergence, their own version of it, there were those who stood up. There were those who shouted the word. Those people have since either taken to their own form of zealotry, or became apathetic, burned out or were marginalized. You know who you are. I love you.
They are counting on this generation not rising. Yet the King of the Zealots himself has already figured out how to marginalize any resistance.
"Isn't it nice that they are able to protest freely in this wonderful nation of ours." -- The King of the Zealots
The call to rise again is before you. It will be much more difficult this time. Soon you will have to choose. The decision is yours.
Peace be upon you.
Yes, I am fully aware that this legislation has been in committees for a year and a half. Yes, I do know it was authored by Democrats in an effort to show potential costs of a war. The point is that it is about to become more that just that. Many thanks to sekicho for requesting the clarification.
(person) by Lord of Nothings Thu May 27 2004 at 10:50:17
I like to tell people I'm related to David Malouf. It impresses people here in Australia, and tonight I decided to capitalize on that relationship. Screw the long, hard road to recognition-- I've got a famous and respected relative! Turns out he's only a very distant relation (as the person I called informed me) and thus this will require some form of work.
I saw a girl today who I often see. Her name is Esther, with its Biblical ring, and she's sad, always. I tried to cheer her up, like I do, and I sense some strange core of wonderfullness in her. That comes with doubts-- do I think this because I think she would be easy to "win", to control? Should I take her to see Ghost World, or would this depress her? Should I concentrate on my "stronger" crush? No, no, and "there's enough time for everybody". I'm going to invite her to Luna Park when break is over; we shall see what transpires. (No, I will not tell you how I feel about the crush. There's enough of that here)
(place) by 54b Thu May 27 2004 at 12:35:04
2nd Infantry Division is deploying soldiers to Iraq. My unit, 2nd Military Police company, is expecting to recieve 40% casualties. They are headed to Fallujah and 2 other classified areas. They won't tell the soldiers where until after they come back from leave. I'm guessing because the soldiers probably won't want to come back after they find out.
The Korean nationals were protesting outside the front gate today. They don't want us to leave. They are afraid once 2ID leaves, it will crush their economy. They live off us. There were 1 or 2 thousand people outside the gates. It was a beautifully peaceful protest. The main gate was closed so I went out Gate 3. The Koreans had setup a stage and men with headbands stood on it, and stood on the stage. A Korean took the microphone, screaming in Hangul, inspiring the crowd to scream in response. They had, what looked like, nerf bats, and they banged them together in agreement. Many wore what looked like chef hats, cream colored. They signified something, but I couldn't discern what. Men carried 20 foot tall banners with Hangul, while a full-sized mobile crane draped a white 50 foot tall banner over the crowd. The protestors scheduled the protest with the MPs and dispersed at a pre-designated time.
As I walked to the gate, I could hear them screaming. The board in front of the pedestrian gate said, "Possible attempt to ram the gate". I talked to the MP lieutenant, 1LT Spooner, and asked her what they were protesting. She said, "They don't want us to pull back. They are afraid it will crush their economy. They're totally peaceful." I had walked towards the gate expecting violence, and tension. My buddy in supply had issued the MPs their riot gear prior to the demonstration. The Korean National Police maintained a large presence, what I approximated to be some 300-500 police. I was delighted to see the Koreans join hands and sing a collective song, swaying back and forth. Nationals on my side of the street looked at me warily, but it wasn't hostility. It was peace. They were protesting peacefully, utilizing the democracy that so many Americans and Koreans died for in the Korean War.
It was moving.
(idea) by heyoka Thu May 27 2004 at 13:05:15
Back in October last year, I was arrested inside USAF Lakenheath. After several months of court appearances, pre-trials and reviews, the trial has just ended.
We went in to perform a weapons inspection and get full proof of the B61 nuclear weapons held on the base, to start the process of their removal from British soil.
Although the threat and use of nuclear weapons breaks a whole book full of major laws, under section 47 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, keeping, transferring, or preparing a nuclear weapon in Britain is illegal without a licence. We're still waiting to see that piece of paper from the Base Commander.
There is no denial that there are US nukes in Britain (I've even had a letter from the Minister for the Armed Forces confirming this) and there is documentary evidence from the US Air Force that the only storage systems for the B61 freefall bombs in England are at Lakenheath. Add these two simple facts together, and it seems that yes indeed there are nuclear bombs held at Lakenheath in Suffolk. While the prosecutor insisted that we already had enough proof and thus had no reason to enter the base, the Judge told us that we had no proof at all and thus had no reason to enter the base. These two should compare notes and get the story straight.
We were accused of being unrealistic in our attempts, and asked how could we find anything at all, did we really think bombs were left lying around? Activists in the past have managed to get onto (and redecorate) nuclear submarines, decommission fighter planes, and find bomb loading and transporting equipment and make it unusable. Other campaigners, after spending rather productive hours inside military facilities, have had to go looking for people to arrest them. Armed with knowledge, cameras, notebooks, measuring kit (and buckets of flour to make us look entirely harmless and not worthy of shooting) I still don't think it is unrealistic that we could have got that proof if we had made it further into the base before being stopped. We were trying to get into the right area of the base, the "restricted area" that even the police are not allowed to access without special permission.
We never denied cutting the fence, but this was only so we could get in and prevent much greater crimes. In terms of criminal damage, the effects of a pair of bolt cutters and 30 nuclear weapons couldn't be more different.
We were, however, found guilty of criminal damage. Compared to similar actions, and related trials, our sentence was very harsh--three years conditional discharge and 500 pounds each. Our lawyers believe that the judge may have misdirected himself on several points of law, and are looking into the possibility of an appeal, but we'll need to raise a contingency fund of several thousand pounds to go ahead with this.
Although we were found guilty, I am extremely proud of what we tried to do, and plan to keep on trying.
I like it! 10 C!s
(idea) by revolution Thu May 27 2004 at 15:08:16
Today is a pretty good day. The sun is shining (a rare occurrence in England), I'm sat outside with my laptop and a wifi card, management is away on holiday so I can node all day long (and maybe, just maybe, make it to level 3!), I finish my steenkin job tomorrow and already we've started the leaving celebrations (we've got beers in the company fridge and I've got a cold brew in my hand). Oh yes, this is sweet.
I noded a cheeseball list of things that make me happy and then realised that pretty much everything makes me happy right now. Ditching some lame job makes a massive difference to your outlook on life. I'd recommend it to anyone.
(idea) by gavmck Thu May 27 2004 at 15:46:50
Right, this is going in my daylog because it should never have been a node, but I thought it was a cool idea.
Everything Summer Camp
Just imagine, a summer camp devoted to Everything2 for all the newbies who need teaching about everything or just addicted users who want to hone their noding skills and hang out with other noders. You could stash it somewhere nice with a big pool/lake, maybe a forest or something.
Get a massive room full of computers, all running double screens and an enormous bandwidth internet connection, so you can research and node at the same time. Attach a huge library with books upon books. Bring in some experts about various fields, some experienced "pro" noders who can guide people on how to write better. Fit a cosy bar for après-noding. Maybe an observatory, some mental stimulus rooms to keep people's brains functioning and a health spa so people can get out all the toxins from eating junk food and sitting in front of a computer all day.
By the end of doing 5-6 weeks on a noding summer camp, you'd be fully trained up and ready to take your noding skills out to the world. You could probably knock out a couple of hundred quality nodes in this time, what with all the facilities available to you.
I'd go…
On another note, my new computer came today, which is groovy. It's going to be nice to have one all of my own that I can use for film editing, noding and the suchlike
(place) by Devon Thu May 27 2004 at 17:02:21
This is what's been happening.
I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Our NHL team is called the Edmonton OIlers. Four or five hours south of us lays the city of Calgary. Their hockey team is called the Calgary Flames.
After a shitty season, the Oilers had just started to shape up. Unfortunately, "just started" coincided with "end of season," and they did not make the playoff cut. Calgary, however, did. Fairly resoundingly.
In this province, there is a fair rivalry between the two hockey clubs, and Edmonton fans, specifically, are known for their fanatic support of their boys (even though Jarome Iginla, the Calgary team captain and all-around decent player, lives in St. Albert, a suburb of Edmonton, about a fifteen minutes drive from my place). Calgary's team is primarily known by their ability to get stomped, at least in the last five years or so.
And now, they're in the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Stanley Cup Final. The enemy's in the Stanley Cup Final. The twist is that Canadians are insanely patriotic, so we have to side with our own..
I have lived in this city for six years, and as such have not formed a great bond with the Oilers. I do enjoy the fact that they are, by and large, a young, violent team. The other side of that coin is that, in all truth, they are not a very good team. I have been inundanted with enough Oilers propaganda, however, to like them enough to root for them, in a very general, yet unabashed, way. After all, I was here when they renamed Capilano Drive--a fairly important east-end thoroughfare--to Wayne Gretzky Drive.
So it becomes a test of wills, really. Do we swallow our pride and root for the enemy hockey team, against the American Enemy? Or do we turn traitor against our beloved country, the true north strong and free? The decision is clear.
I guess what's been happening is that this story is on everyone's lips. It comes up in just about every conversation you'll hear. It is difficult to go five minutes, walking around any area of the city and not see some news of the Stanley Cup Final. The front page of the Sun has been showing hockey-related pictures for at least the last three days. It's on television, in coffee shops, on the radio, in smoky bars, in oxygen bars, in t'ai chi classes, at work, at home, at play, at your girlfriend's place. It's fucking insanity. It never goes away. It follows you home. Game two's coming on in eight hours' time.
So, I'd better get a nap. I have to go cheer for Calgary, but be aware that next season, all bets are off and I'll be laughing while Edmonton beats the shit out of them.
(idea) by Tiefling Thu May 27 2004 at 23:55:15
And now, the news
18 000 terrorists 'ready to strike'
According to official intelligence sources, eighteen thousand al-Qaida terrorists are on the verge of taking action. "We will bring the entire system down if necessary," said Abdullah al-Qandahari, spokesman for the National Union of Terrorists, Torturers and Arsonists (NUTTA), on Tuesday. "We're going on strike over our pay and conditions. Osama promised us all heavenly virgins, but so far, despite all his assurances, none of our members has reported receiving any. We've decided on industrial action to ensure we get pay in advance, in the form of earthly virgins." The pay issue is not the only cause for concern among the union's members, however. "We're also protesting about cheap imported labour," Al-Qandahari went on, "It takes a lot of time and money to train a really effective terrorist, and now we hear from our comrades in Iraq that the Americans are using crude bulk production methods and unskilled migrant labour to undercut professionals like NUTTA members." Talks with management were said to have broken down last night, and senior al-Qaida officials were unavailable for comment.
Terrorist threat to democracy - Ashcroft
US Attorney General John Ashcroft spoke yesterday of the threat posed to American democracy during the continuing war on terror. There was a real danger, he said, that a terrorist attack on United States soil could affect the outcome of this November's presidential election. "We have seen clearly, in Spain, the effect that such events can have on the democratic process. When Madrid was attacked, the people voted our ally, Mr Aznar, out of office. It is clear that the possibility of a similar event here in America raises questions about the November election. We are determined that this should not happen. In the event of an attack prior to this autumn's poll, we will take appropriate measures to ensure that the government of this nation proceeds uninterrupted." British prime minister Tony Blair added his voice to the Attorney General's warning. "The danger is clear. Every true democrat will understand the threat which Mr Ashcroft has described. We would advise everyone to stay away from areas of risk, such as prisons, detention centres, army camps, and opposition party rallies."
Bush hits out at Amnesty report
President Bush has condemned a report by Amnesty International which claims the world has been made a more dangerous place by the actions of the US and their allies since September 11, 2001. The report cites an increased danger from terorrism and a rise in human rights abuses on both sides in the conflict. Speaking from an underground nuclear bunker at an undisclosed location, the leader of the free world said, "Although we have all seen the appalling pictures from Abu Ghrim, we must not allow the actions of a few rogue elements to affect our strategification. If these images of terror cause us to flinch from the holy struggle we have undertaken, then the terrorists have already won. We must go about our business as usual, in our burger bars, on our golf courses, and in our high-security prisons. I commend the loyalty and fearless obedience of our troops. It would be wrong to take wide-ranging action based only on the slender allegations in this report. No solid evidence has been produced to back them up, and such unfounded claims are unacceptable as the basis for action. Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, speaking in another hidden bunker, said "Argh, no, stop, please don't do that..."
Doonesbury criticised for 'inappropriate' image
Political commentators have criticised Garry Trudeau's popular 'Doonesbury' cartoon strip for depicting an image of dismemberment at an inappropriate time. Football-helmeted character B.D. lost a leg while serving in Iraq in a recent instalment of the syndicated story. As conservative radio presenter Hawk 'Hawk' Mysuvitz said: "It's entirely unacceptable. We had just seen these shocking images from Iraq, and this appalling video, and then Trudeau expects the American people to be entertained by this grotesque parody. How dare he make light of a character disabled by the loss of a limb when our own government has been left without a leg to stand on? This insensitivity is typical of the bleeding-heart liberal faction." Garry Trudeau, when told of Mr Mysuvitz's comments and others, responded that he had drawn the strip before the now-infamous pictures appeared, and that it had no bearing on domestic issues. Mysuvitz went on to broaden his attack on the series. "And this guy Trudeau, who is he anyway? He sounds like a cheese-eating surrender monkey to me. We should be supporting good American cartoons like The Simpsons. In a time of war, it's vital that we support our national products."
Rumsfeld moves to curb abuse pictures
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld today announced immediate measures to prevent further images of abuse coming out of Iraq. "As of now, any soldier found to be in possession of a digital camera, camera phone, or any other photographic device will have it confiscated, and will be court-martialled in secret for treason. This move has been necessary to prevent the American people being further offended by the gratuitous nudity and images of sexual perversion which has so upset them in the past few weeks. Images from Iraq will be delivered by approved channels such as CNN, Fox, and Universal." When quizzed about an apparent rift with the British administration over future withdrawal of troops, Rumsfeld added, "And Mel Gibson will be on hand for script and direction assistance."
Rappist rejects link to terror
A leading rap artist lashed out at implications his artform was linked to international terrorism today. Dr Brutaal, author of such hits as Shut yo Face, Bitch and Armed 2 da Teeth , was speaking after seeing images from the Iraqi prison scandal. "One of the guards there had written 'rappist' on one of the prisoners' legs." Brutaal told our reporter. "I think it's a fuckin' scandal, man. They're doin' all this faggoty shit with these guys, draggin' them around naked and shit. And then they go an' write 'rappist' on one of the fuckers. It's a disgrace to rap. An offence. Rap don't got nothing to do with that prison. Rappists, like turntablists and all that, are musicians. Not fuckin' terrorist fags. I think they must have meant somethin' else, man." Fr Antonio Silencio of the Trappist Brothers of the Quiet Life was contacted, but declined to comment.
Brown bullish about £1trillion debt
Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown has expressed his continued confidence in the British economy. The declaration came as it was announced that the total personal debt of the UK population had exceeded a trillion pounds sterling. Mr Brown said that the rise in borrowing was predictable and manageable, and that by prudent and careful repayment, borrowers would gain the full benefit of their decision. "All this borrowing puts more money into immediate circulation," said the Chancellor, "which stimulates economic growth. Inflation and unemployment are both low, which is a combination for which this government can claim responsibility. Continued borrowing will enable us to drive the country forward without a return to boom and bust." Mr Brown was speaking in the lobby of a private bank, during a week-long visit to the island of Bermuda.
McDonald's to support help for disabled children
Multi-national burger chain McDonald's today announced the creation of a large new charitable foundation to support disabled children. The fund, entitled the Ronald McDonald Mobility Assistance Trust, would be aimed primarily at developing and supplying motorised wheelchairs for children with mobility handicaps. A spokesman for the firm said that all kinds of mobility impairment would be considered. "We're looking at the whole range of movement disability. We would naturally want to help children with damaged or malformed limbs. But we'd also be more than willing to assist those who have become immobile due to obesity. Lots of recent research has shown that this condition is a growing difficulty for our children, and we think that the establishment of this new trust will go some way to addressing that issue." When asked if this was simply a ploy to keep children eating fatty food and leading sedentary, indoor lives, the spokesman denied it. "On the contrary. We're committed to outdoor lifestyles. In fact, once our scheme has started work in earnest, all our drive-thru restaurants will have a special wheelchair-height window."
UK 'not 51st State' - Powell
Following Secretary of State Colin Powell's recent application for a Scottish coat of arms, emphasising his British ancestry, there has been growing speculation that London's ties to Washington are to be strengthened. However, the Secretary of State was anxious today to quell speculation that a dramatic step was imminent. "I would just like to reassure those of you who have been concerned about this," he said. "There are no plans to make the United Kingdom into one or more new states. Quite aside from the problems of abolishing a monarchy which has kindly honored many of my colleagues - Tommy Franks most recently - and the obvious difficulties posed by the European Union, there are also domestic considerations. In order to add states to the Union, we would require two-thirds majorities in both houses of Congress, and three-quarters of the current states. I just don't think that would happen. For the time being, the United Kingdom will remain under direct federal administration."
Baby fed on lard explodes
There was revulsion in England today as a government report into growing childhood obesity (see McDonald's , above) made a shocking revelation. A baby aged just eleven months apparently exploded after achieving a weight of over half a ton. The mother, who has not been named, had apparently fed the baby nothing but lard due to a morbid horror of breastfeeding. Although the details are not altogether clear from the report, it seems that the mother, aged 17 and herself grossly overweight, had learned the idea of feeding a child lard from her own mother, who used the heavy fat as a butter substitute. A doctor who attended the scene of the ensuing disaster said that although the mother had been hit hard by debris, she had not changed her views on parenting, and intended to feed her next child lard too. "It was amazing. The little sod had gone off with such a bang, there was a crater in the floor. The mother was lying on a sofa, unable to stand, murmuring 'Would you like some dripping?' to herself." The government minister for food, Lord Asco of the Asco supermarket chain, was attending a meeting of the International Intensive Beef Production Forum, and could not be reached for comment as we went to press.
Arts section special: Britney's new, more mature style
By our Arts Correspondent:
Princess of pop Britney Spears granted me an exclusive interview this week to discuss the new style direction she has taken, marked by her forthcoming album release. Reclining in black satin underwear on a leather couch, she beckoned me sensuously into the room. As I sat down opposite her, she licked the tip of her forefinger.
"So, I hear you're moving towards a new, more mature style?" I asked as an opener.
"Yes, that's right," she said, running her wet finger down her cleavage. "I'm taking music seriously these days. You've seen the last of the schoolgirl Britney." As I prepared my next question, she unhooked her bra.
"So what have been the main influences on the new work?" I asked, a little nervously.
Before answering, she released her breasts from their confinement, discarding the bra over the arm of the couch. "I'd definitely have to say Beethoven," she began, tweaking her left nipple. "I was particularly affected by Für Elise . But you'll also notice some jazz material in there, and Baby Fuck Me One More Time has definite echoes of Mahler." With this revelation, she lay back, sliding her hands down across her bare torso.
"And what about the stage show? I've heard a rumour concerning baby oil." I felt nervous asking this, as she already seemed to be on her way to fulfilling the rumour before my eyes.
Sliding her hand into the front of her panties, she said "Well, I've been somewhat influenced by Salvador Dali in the creation of the new album's look and feel. The rear-view nude picture of me on the cover is based on one of his later landscapes. As for the stage show itself, it's something quite new, that hasn't been seen before. I don't want to give too many surprises away, but you'll see that I've recruited my male dancers for very specific reasons." Giggling, she peeled down her panties, revealing the smooth flesh beneath.
Blushing furiously, I continued. "Now it's, er, clear from this that the 'virign' Britney of a few years past has gone." I pressed on manfully with the script. "Do you still feel religion has a place in your life?"
Producing a large, black rubber dildo from the side of the chair, she rubbed it against her thighs as she considered the question. "I think you could say I've become more Catholic in my tastes. I found Christina Aguilera's recent performance as a nun very moving, for example. And as you may be aware, I've developed a great veneration of the Madonna."
As she arched her back and slid the plastic member into herself, I fled from the room, unable to take any more.
Britney Spears' new album, Uh, yes, harder, mmm is available from Monday at all branches of Ann Summers.
Apologies to the creators of Private Eye, Bremner, Bird and Fortune, and This is Spinal Tap for being so blatantly inspired by their work.
May 26, 2004 Won't Get Fooled Again heyoka May 28, 2004
Ann Summers April 26, 2003 War in Iraq, pacifism, and the real world The "It's just a few bad apples" London Meetup
October 10, 2003 It is never too late to be what you would have been It's all a bunch of tree-hugging hippie crap May 27, 2003
January 3, 2001 Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament May 27, 2005 October 29, 2003
David Malouf September 11, 2001 Everything Daylogs Defeating Junkbuster by using one server for all images
Greenham women Pansy Division
They hit each other, like fucking Christ intended!
Kiss me, you are beautiful. These are truly the last days.
The Poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko
Fear of sex is the power of rape


By: Tom Vilord My wife asked me to go the the store earlier this week to buy a gallon of milk, so Sammie and JJ can have their cereal in the morning.
Investment Checklist Tip # 9 – The PEG Ratio The PEG Ratio is a a great tool to quickly see where a stock may be valued at any point in time.
Tom Vilord from Wall Street Value Quoted in US News and World Report Today.


text:
var dateFormat = require('../lib/dateformat.js');

var val = process.argv[2] || new Date();
console.log(dateFormat(val, 'W'));