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"AND THEN THERE WERE NONE" (2015) Review
Ever since I gave up reading the "NANCY DREW" novels at the age of thirteen, I have been a fan of those written by Agatha Christie. And that is a hell of a long time. In fact, my fandom toward Christie's novels have extended toward the film and television adaptations. Among those stories that have captured my imagination were the adaptations of the author's 1939 novel, "AND THEN THERE WERE NONE".
To be honest, I have seen at least three adaptations of the 1939 novel – the 1945, 1966 and 1974 adaptations – before I had read the novel. Although I found some of the novel's aspects a bit troubling – namely its original title and minimal use of racial slurs, overall I regard it as one of Christie's best works . . . if not my favorite. After viewing three cinematic adaptations, I saw the BBC's recent adaptation that aired back in December 2015 as a three-part miniseries.
I noticed that "AND THEN THERE WERE NONE" was the first adaptation I have seen that more or less adhered to the novel's original novel. But it was not the first one that actually did. One of the most famous versions that stuck to the original ending before the 2015 miniseries was the Soviet Union's 1987 movie called "DESYAT NEGRITYAT". However, I have never seen this version . . . yet. Anyone familiar with Christie's novel should know the synopsis. Eight strangers are invited by a mysterious couple known as Mr. and Mrs. U.N. Owen for the weekend at Soldier Island, off the coast of Devon, England in early August 1939. Well . . . not all of them were invited as guests. Waiting for them is a couple who had been recently hired by the Owens to serve as butler and cook/maid. The weekend's hosts fail to show up and both the guests and the servants notice the ten figurines that serve as a centerpiece for the dining room table. Following the weekend's first dinner, the guests and the two servants listen to a gramophone record that accuses each of them with a crime for which they have not been punished. The island's ten occupants are:
*Dr. Edward Armstrong – a Harley Street doctor who is accused of killing a patient on the operating table, while under the influence of alcohol
*William Blore – a former police detective hired to serve as security for the weekend, who is accused of killing a homosexual in a police cell
*Emily Brent – a religious spinster who is accused of being responsible for the suicide of her maid by abandoning the latter when she became pregnant out of wedlock
*Vera Claythorne – a games mistress hired to serve as Mrs. Owen's temporary secretary, who is accused of murdering the young boy for whom she had served as a governess
*Philip Lombard – a soldier-of-fortune also hired to serve as security for the weekend, who is accused of orchestrating the murder of 21 East Africans for diamonds
*General John MacArthur – a retired British Army officer accused of murdering a fellow officer, who was his wife's lover during World War I
*Anthony Marston – a wealthy playboy accused of killing two children via reckless driving
*Ethel Rogers – the maid/cook hired by the Owens, who is accused with her husband of murdering their previous employer
*Thomas Rogers – the butler hired by the Owens, who is accused with his wife of murdering their previous employer
*Justice Lawrence Wargrave – a retired judge accused of murdering an innocent man by manipulating the jury and sentencing him to hang
Shortly after listening to the gramophone, one member of the party dies from poisoning. Following this first death, more people are murdered via methods in synonymous with a nursery rhyme from which the island is named. The murderer removes a figurine from the dining table each time someone is killed. The island's remaining occupants decide to work together and discover the murderer's identity before time runs out and no one remains.
From the numerous articles and reviews I have read about the miniseries, I came away with the impression that many viewers and critics approved of its adherence to Christie's original ending. And yet . . . it still had plenty of changes from the story. The nature of the crimes committed by five or six of the suspects had changed. According to one flashback, Thomas Rogers had smothered (with his wife Ethel looking on) their elderly employer with a pillow, instead of withholding her medicine. General MacArthur literally shot his subordinate in the back of the head, instead of sending the latter to a doomed military action during World War I. Beatrice Taylor, the pregnant girl who had committed suicide, was an orphan in this production. Lombard and a handful of his companions had literally murdered those 21 East Africans for diamonds, instead of leaving them to die with no food or other supplies. And William Blore had literally beaten his victim to death in a jail cell, because the latter was a homosexual. In the novel, Blore had simply framed his victim for a crime, leading the latter to die in prison. I have mixed feelings about some of these changes.
By allowing General MacArthur to literally shoot his wife's lover, instead of sending the latter to his death in a suicidal charge, I found myself wondering how he got away with this crime. How did MacArthur avoid suspicion, let alone criminal prosecution, considering that Arthur Richmond was shot in the back of the head in one of the trenches? How did the murderer find out? Why did Thomas Rogers kill his employer? For money? How did the couple avoid criminal prosecution, if their employer was smothered with a pillow? Even police forensics back then would have spotted death by smothering. I understand why Phelps had made Beatrice Taylor an orphan. In this scenario, Emily Brent would have been the only one with the authority to reject Beatrice. But what about the latter's lover? Why did the murderer fail to go after him. And how did Blore evade charges of beating a prisoner to death inside a jail cell? None of his fellow officers had questioned his actions? And if they had kept silent, this made them accessories to his crime. Then why did the murderer fail to go after them, since he or she was willing to target Ethel Rogers for being an accessory to her husband's crime?
One character that went through something of a major change was Philip Lombard. His aggressiveness and predatory nature remained intact. But for some reason, screenwriter Sarah Phelps had decided to transfer his bigotry to both Emily Brent and William Blore. The screenplay seemed to hint through Lombard's comments that if those 21 men had been Europeans instead of Africans, he still would have murdered them to get his hand on those diamonds. In fact, he went even further with a tart comment to Miss Brent by accusing European religious fanatics of being more responsible for the deaths of Africans than the military or mercenaries like himself. It was Blore who used a racist slur to dismiss Lombard's crime. And it was Miss Brent, instead of Lombard, who insulted the mysterious Mr. Owens' intermediary, Isaac Morris, with an anti-Semetic slur. I can only wonder why Phelps deemed it necessary to transfer Lombard's bigotry to two other characters.
There were some changes that did not bother me one bit. Certain fans complained about the presence of profanity in this production . . . especially the use of 'fuck' by at least two or three characters, who seemed like the types who would use these words. Mild profanity has appeared in previous Christie novels and adaptations. And the word 'fuck' has been around since the Sixteenth Century. I really had no problem with this. Phelps also included lesbian tendencies in Emily Brent's character. There were some complaints about this change. Personally, I had no problem with it. This change added dimension to Miss Brent's decision to cast out Beatrice Taylor, when the latter ended up pregnant. Episode Three featured a party scene with the four surviving guests in which they indulged in booze and Anthony Marston's drugs to relieve their anxiety over their situation. It was not included in Christie's novel, but I thought the scene did a great job in showing the psychological impact upon the remaining characters . . . especially for Dr. Armstrong, who went into a drunken rant over the horrors he had witnessed in World War I.
Watching "AND THEN THERE WERE NONE" left me with the feeling of watching some kind of early 20th century Nordic thriller. I have to credit both the producers, director Craig Viveiros, production designer Sophie Becher and cinematographer John Pardue. What I found interesting about the miniseries' visual style is the hint of early 20th century Art Deco featured in the house's interior, mixed with this gloomy atmosphere that truly represented the production's violent and pessimistic tale. Everything visual aspect of this production seemed to literally scream death and doom. Even the production's sound department did an outstanding job in contributing the story's atmosphere, especially in those episode that featured the storm that prevented the survivors from making an attempt to leave the island. I also enjoyed Lindsay Pugh, whose costumes did an excellent job in re-creating the fashions of the late 1930s. More importantly, "AND THEN THERE WERE NONE" was not some opportunity for a Thirties' fashion show, but a more realistic look at how British middle-class dressed on the eve of World War II. My only complaint is the hairstyle worn by actress Maeve Darmody, who portrayed Vera Claythorne. I am referring to the long bob worn by Vera in her 1935 flashbacks, which struck me as a bit too long for that particular year.
Many have complimented both Sarah Phelps and Craig Viveiros for closely adhering to the moral quagmire of Christie's tale. Each or most of the characters are forced to consider the consequences of their actions and their guilt. If I have to be brutally honest, I have to compliment the pair as well. At first I was inclined to criticize the production's three hour running time, which I originally believed to be a tad too long. But now I see that the running time gave Viveiros and Phelps the opportunity more in-depth explorations of the characters – especially Vera, Blore, Miss Brent and General MacArthur. This was done through a series of flashbacks for most of the characters. I said . . . most. There were some characters that hardly received any flashbacks – especially the Rogers, Anthony Marston, Edward Armstrong and Philip Lombard. I could understand the lack of many flashbacks for one or two characters, but I would have liked to see more for Rogers, Dr. Armstrong and Lombard. Especially Lombard. I never understood why he only had one flashback that vaguely hinted his murders without his victims being seen.
On the other hand, I was more than impressed with the production's exploration of Vera, Blore, Miss Brent, Mrs. Rogers and General MacArthur's crimes. Both Phelps and Viveiros seemed to have went through a great deal of trouble to explore their backgrounds and crimes. In the case of Mrs. Rogers, the production did not really explore the crime of which she and her husband were accused. But the miniseries did spend some time in Episode One focusing on the consequences she had suffered from her husband's crime . . . and I found that more than satisfying. I enjoyed how General MacArthur, Miss Brent and Blore had initially refused to acknowledge their crimes . . . and how the growing death count and the possibility of their own deaths led them to finally face their guilt, whether out loud or internally. I found General MacArthur's acknowledgement of guilt very satisfying, for it culminated in that famous line regarding the characters' fate:
"No one's coming for us. This is the end."
From a dramatic point of view, the most satisfying character arc proved to be the one that belonged to Vera Claythorne. She is not my favorite character . . . at least not in this production. Nor did I regard her as the story's most interesting character. But I thought Phelps and Viveiros did a hell of a job handling her character arc. Vera struck me as the type who went through a great deal of effort to hide her true nature via a respectable facade. Actually, the other characters share this same trait. Judging from what I have seen from this production, no one seemed to do it better than one Vera Claythorne. I suspect most people would be hard pressed to believe that this attractive and intelligent woman would deliberately lead a young boy to his death. Like I said, I did not particularly regard Vera as the story's most interesting character. But I do believe that Phelps and Viveiros handled her story arc with more depth and mystery than any of the other characters . . . and with more flashbacks.
While reading several articles about "AND THEN THERE WERE NONE", I noticed that many had placed emphasis on the characters' guilt and the possibility of them facing judgment for their actions. In a way, their opinions on this topic reminded me of why the murderer had set up the whole house party in the first place. Then I remembered that the murderer had also used the house party to indulge in his or her blood lust. And the killer used the guilt of the other inhabitants to excuse the murders . . . in his or her mind. This made me wonder about society's desire for others to pay for their sins. Especially sins that involved death. Is society's desire for killers to pay for their crimes a disguise . . . or excuse for its own blood lust? Like I said . . . I wonder.
What else can I discuss about "AND THEN THERE WERE NONE"? Oh yes. The performances. The miniseries featured a collection of well known actors and actresses from several English speaking countries, especially Great Britain. I must admit that I may have vaguely heard of Douglas Booth, but I have never seen him in any particular role, until this production. But I must say that I found his portrayal of rich playboy Anthony Marston very impressive. Booth did a beautiful job in capturing the selfish and self-indulgent nature of the young elite. I wish Anna Maxwell-Martin had a bigger role in this production. However, I had to be satisfied with her performance as Ethel Rogers, who had been hired to serve as maid and cook for the Owens' house party. I thought she was excellent as the bullied wife of Soldier Island's butler, Thomas Rogers. I was also impressed by Noah Taylor, who gave a first-rate performance as Rogers, who hid his brutish nature with the facade of a servile man. I only wish that Phelps had not made the same mistake as Christie – namely failing to get into Rogers' mind. I think Taylor could have rolled with such material. Miranda Richardson gave a masterful performance as the prim and hypocritical Emily Brent, who hid her own passions and sins with a stream of moral pronouncements. Her performance culminated in that wonderful moment when her character finally acknowledged her role in that young maid's suicide. One of my favorite performances came from Sam Neill, who portrayed the very respectful retired Army officer, General John MacArthur. Neill had claimed that this particular performance was not a stretch for him, since MacArthur reminded him of his own father. But I thought the actor's performance rose above that assessment, as his character not only faced his guilt for a crime of passion, but also faced the realization of his impending death.
On the surface, Charles Dance's portrayal of retired judge Lawrence Wargrave seemed like many roles he had portrayed in recent years – cool, elegant and a little sharp. But I really enjoying watching him convey Wargrave's subtle reactions to the temperamental outbursts from the other inhabitants. And I found his skillful expression of Wargrave's emotional reactions to memories of the man the character was accused of killing via an execution sentence really impressive. "AND THEN THERE WERE NONE" marked the third time I have seen Toby Stephens in an Agatha Christie adaptation. Of the three productions, I regard his work in this miniseries and the 2003 television movie, "FIVE LITTLE PIGS" as among his best work. Stephens did a superb job in developing . . . or perhaps regressing Dr. Edward Armstrong's character from this pompous Harley Street physician to a nervy and frightened man by the third episode. Thanks to Stephens' performance, I also became aware that the character's alcoholism and tightly-wound personality was a result of the horrors he had faced during World War I.
Ever since I first saw 2012's "THE DARK KNIGHT RISES", I have become aware of Burn Gorman. He is one of the most unusual looking actors I have ever seen . . . and a first-rate actor. I really enjoyed his portrayal of former police detective William Blore as this slightly shifty man with a penchant for allowing his paranoia to get the best of him, as the body count rose. Although his Blore comes off as a rather unpleasant man, Gorman still managed to inject some sympathy into the character as the latter finally faces his guilt over the young homosexual man he had beaten to death. Most of the critics and fans seemed to be more interested in Aidan Turner's physique than his performance as soldier-of-fortune, Philip Lombard. I feel this is a shame, because I thought he gave an excellent performance as the shady and pragmatic mercenary, willing to do anything to stay alive . . . or have sex with Vera Claythorne. What really impressed me about Turner's performance is that he is the second actor to perfectly capture the animalistic and aggressive Lombard as described in Christie's novel, and the first English-speaking actor to do so. The miniseries' producers had some difficulty in finding the right actress to portray Vera Claythorne. In the end, they managed to find Australian actress Maeve Darmody six days before filming started. And guess what? They made a perfect choice. Darmody was superb as the cool and intelligent Vera, who is the first to connect the poem to what was going on.
I thought some of screenwriter Sarah Phelps' changes to Agatha Christie's tale did not exactly work for me. But despite a few flaws, I have to commend both her and director Craig Viveiros for doing an excellent job in translating Christie's most celebrated and brutal tale to the television screen. And they were ably assisted by superb performances from a very talented all-star cast. "AND THEN THERE WERE NONE" is one Christie production I can watch over and over again.
Filed under: Movie Review | Tagged: agatha christie, aidan turner, anna maxwell-martin, british empire, burn gorman, charles dance, douglas booth, early 20th century, literary, maeve dermody, miranda richardson, noah taylor, politics, religion, sam neill, television, toby stephens, world war 1 |	Leave a comment »
"Adapting AGATHA CHRISTIE"
Ever since the release of the BBC recent adaptation of Agatha Christie's 1939 novel, "And Then There Were None", television viewers and critics have been praising the production for being a faithful adaptation. In fact these critics and fans have been in such rapture over the production that some of them have failed to noticed that the three-part miniseries was not completely faithful. As long as the production followed Christie's original ending, they were satisfied.
Mind you, I thought this new production, "AND THEN THERE WERE NONE" was top notch, I have found myself growing somewhat annoyed over this attitude. Why do so many people insist that a movie/television production should be faithful to the novel it is adapting? I honestly believe that it should not matter. Not really. I believe that sometimes, it's a good thing to make some changes from the original novel (or play). Sometimes, it's good to remain faithful to the source novel. Sometimes, what is in a novel does not translate well to the television or movie screen.
A good example are the two adaptations of Christie's 1941 novel, "Evil Under the Sun". The 1982 adaptation, which starred Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot, made some major changes in regard to characters and a minor subplot. The 2001 television adaptation, which starred David Suchet, was somewhat more faithful . . . but not completely. In my personal view, I believe that the Ustinov version was a lot better . . . more entertaining. Why? If I have to be brutally honest, I am not a big fan of Christie's 1941 novel. No matter how many times I tried to like it (and I tried), it simply bored me.
In regard to the adaptations of "And Then There Were None", there are only two adaptations that I really enjoyed – Rene Clair's 1945 adaptation and this new version. The 1945 film is actually an adaptation of the 1943 stage play written by Christie. Because the play first opened in the middle of World War II, Christie had decided to change the ending in order to spare wartime theater goers the story's nihilistic ending. Two years later, director Rene Clair and 20th Century Fox decided to adapt Christie's stage play, instead of the novel. Several other movie adaptations – including the 1996 and the 1974 – did the same. As far as I know, only the Russian 1987 adaptation followed Christie's original ending.
And how do I care about these numerous adaptations? I have seen both the 1966 and 1974 movies. I am not a fan of either. Personally, I found them rather cheap. I have never seen the 1987 Russian film. As for the 1945 and 2015 versions . . . I am a big fan of both. That's right . . . both of them. I do not care that 2015 miniseries stuck to Christie's original novel, despite some changes, and Clair's 1945 movie did not. I simply happen to enjoy BOTH versions. Why? Both versions were made with skill and style. And I found both versions fascinating, despite the fact that they have different endings.
I do not believe it should matter that a movie or television ALWAYS adhere to the novel it is adapting. What should matter is whether the director, writer or both are wise enough to realize whether it is a good idea to be completely faithful or to make changes . . . for the sake of the production. If producer John Bradbourne and director Guy Hamilton can make a superior adaptation of "Evil Under the Sun" by utilizing major changes to Christie's original story and if there can be two outstanding versions of "AND THEN THERE WERE NONE" . . . with different endings, I really do not see the need for any film or television production to blindly adhere to every aspect of a novel it is adapting.
Filed under: Essay, Movie Review | Tagged: agatha christie, aidan turner, anna maxwell-martin, barry fitzgerald, burn gorman, c. aubrey smith, carolyn pickles, charles dance, colin blakely, david suchet, denis quilley, diana rigg, douglas booth, guy hamilton, hugh fraser, james mason, judith anderson, june duprez, literary, louis hayward, maeve darmody, maggie smith, marsha fitzalan, miranda richardson, mischa auer, movies, noah taylor, old hollywood, pauline moran, peter ustinov, philip jackson, queenie leonard, rené clair, richard haydn, richard vernon, roddy mcdowall, roland young, russell tovey, sam neill, sylvia miles, television, toby stephens, travel, walter huston |	Leave a comment »


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The Nissan () is a 200 km long river in southwest Sweden. It ends in the Kattegat bay of the North Sea in Halmstad. The straight middle and upper course of Nissan follows a branch of the Protogine Zone – a zone of crustal weakness in western Sweden. Nissan drains the western part of the South Småland peneplain.

References

Rivers of Halland County
Götaland

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The Economist reports that 40 countries have built fences since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Thirty of these were built since 9/11; 15 were built in 2015.
The United States already has about 650 miles of wall along the border with Mexico. Hungary built a wall on the Serbian border in 2015, and is erecting barriers on its borders with Romania and Croatia to hinder the entrance of refugees. Spain – an important link in Europe's southern border – built fences in its enclaves of Ceuta and in Melilla (northern Morocco) to thwart African immigration and smuggling.
My research focuses on why countries build legal and physical walls, especially in the Americas. The logic of walls – creating a spatial separation between people – predates the current craze. It's part of a broader logic of nation-building that humans have used for over three centuries.
This strategy is politically appealing for its simplicity, but it misunderstands the problems of globalization and migration it aims to address. Building walls has rarely has achieved its intended effect, and may result in wasted resources and lost opportunities for the United States.
In U.S. history, building paper and concrete walls resulted in episodes that today are widely viewed by historians as inconsistent with our better democratic angels.
Among the first paper, or legal, walls erected in the U.S. were the Chinese Exclusion Acts, which limited the entry of Asian immigrants, as well as their eligibility for citizenship, beginning in 1882. What the late political scientist Aristide Zolberg called "The Great Wall against China" did not come down until 1943, and did only then because the U.S. needed China's support in the war against fascism.
For 220 years, the U.S. discriminated against prospective immigrants and citizens on the basis of race. Although the United States was among the first countries to implement this strategy of excluding by race, all other countries in the Americas, Australia, New Zealand and southern Africa had similar laws and policies. In the U.S., this approach led to policies such as Chinese exclusions, the Nationality Quotas Act (which selected immigrants by ethno-racial origins), Japanese internment and closing doors to Jewish refugees fleeing murderous Nazi persecution.
Most countries used discrimination by origin to build their nation. It allowed political elites to choose which immigrants were suitable as workers, or as citizens. For example, in the U.S., Chinese immigrants were seen as suitable as workers who did dirty, demeaning and dangerous jobs, but not as full members of the nation.
My work with David FitzGerald describes how blatant discrimination by race in immigration and nationality law eventually came to an end in the Americas, including in the United States. This marked a decline in wall-building policy, though not of the underlying racism which surfaced in other policy areas.
The United States and other powerful, primarily white countries needed the support of countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa to wage wars against fascism, and later communism. The U.S. and its allies could not easily ask for support from the countries whose citizens they excluded on racial grounds.
Reluctantly, the U.S. and Canada ended their overtly discriminatory immigration and nationality laws in the 1960s – much later than other countries in the Americas. The fall of paper walls against particular groups resulted in a dramatic demographic transformation. In the 1950s, immigrants to the United States were 90 percent European and 3 percent Asian. By 2011, 48 percent were Asian and 13 percent were European.
The face of the nation was transformed, and "Americans" confronted questions about who was a full member. Was it those who belonged to a particular ethnoracial group? Or, was it those who subscribed to civic ideals of democracy?
The demographic changes that have happened since the demise of the Nationality Quotas Act in 1965 have again raised these questions among whites in the political mainstream. Immigrants are settling in "new destinations" – areas primarily in the South and Midwest that had experienced little migration until the 1990s. Calls to revive the logic of walls have become louder in those areas.
Building a wall does not address the complexities of unauthorized migration, or the economic woes of America's middle class.
For instance, as many as half of unauthorized immigrants in the United States are people who overstay their visas, not border crossers. Barriers also result in more deaths because people try to cross the border at the most inhospitable and unwalled places. The barriers in place now have generated billions of dollars of federal expenditures for border security and investment.
Working- and middle-class Americans are also feeling a vague unease about their place in the economy. Rhetoric that identifies specific culprits – immigrants and international trade – is very appealing. So are simple, concrete solutions.
But walls to limit mobility or trade are too simple a solution to a complex problem. Today's economies are more linked by exchanges of data, goods and services between countries than at any time in the past. Workers have also moved between countries, even if with greater regulation than in the past.
The effects of global income inequality have been felt differently among groups. Economist Branko Milanovic's research shows that during the most intense period of globalization, from 1988 to 2008, people in Asia and in the top 1 percent of global earners experienced the highest real income growth. Meanwhile, people in the lower- and middle-income strata in Western Europe, North America and Oceania experienced no growth.
The demographic shifts described, the perceived loss of political advantages among whites and stagnant incomes among working- and middle-class people in the United States are hard realities. No wall can change these facts.
Most importantly, walling the world distracts citizens and policymakers from complex problems. Extreme economic inequality, global conflict and environmental decline surpass the borders and capacities of any single country.


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The Buslines Group is an Australian bus operator in New South Wales and is the third largest private bus operator in New South Wales.

History

John A Gilbert Group
The John A Gilbert group was founded in March 1926 by John A Gilbert as Reo Motors, being renamed in 1951. Initially a motor dealer, in 1941 it diversified into operating bus services. Its first operation was in Parkes followed by Bathurst, Dubbo, Goulburn, Mittagong, Orange and Tamworth. It also operated services in Sydney with suburban companies in Bronte, Ramsgate and Matraville. Most of these were sold over the years, with only Mittagong, Orange and Tamworth remaining by 1980. From 1954 until 1982 it was listed on the Sydney Stock Exchange.

In November 1988, the Lismore based business of Kirklands Omnibus Services was purchased taking the fleet to 250 vehicles. In October 1992 Sydney operator Shorelink was purchased.

In March 1996, John A Gilbert sold its remaining bus operations to Frank D'Apuzzo and Peter Simpson. In March 2000 Picton Omnibus Service was purchased. In September 2001, Shorelink was sold to Transdev.

Buslines brand
From 2004 the Buslines brand was rolled out across all operations. In June 2006, Ritchies Bus Service, Griffith was purchased, followed by Perrett's Coach Service, Werris Creek in April 2008 and Selwood Coaches, Orange in December 2009, these latter two being integrated into the Tamworth, Orange and Dubbo operations.

In April 2012, the business of Jones Brothers, Lithgow and Bathurst was purchased, the latter having previously been part of the group until sold in 1977.

In October 2015, the Forster Bus Service and Wingham Coaches businesses were purchased with 41 buses.

On 3 December 2018, Ulladulla Bus Lines was acquired with the name changing to Ulladula Buslines

Buslines co-owner Peter Simpson passed away in May 2020.

Current operations

Ballina Buslines / Northern Rivers Buslines
In 1939, Clarrie and Jim Kirkland purchased two bus runs in Evans Head. Trading as Kirkland Bros, further operations would be purchased in the Northern Rivers region. In January 1970, the business of New England Motor Company which operated long distance services from Lismore to Brisbane, Tenterfield and Grafton. By this stage, the fleet stood at 45.

In November 1974, a service commenced from Ballina to Sydney. It was later extended to Brisbane. In 1986, the business was sold to Waugh & Josephson which in turn was sold to Bond Corporation in 1987. Kirkland Bros was sold to John A Gilbert in 1988. As at August 1989, the fleet comprised 111 buses and coaches.

In June 1996, the Brisbane to Sydney services were sold to Premier Motor Service who in April 2008, also purchased the Lismore to Brisbane service. In the 2000s, the Kirklands name was dropped with the business split into Ballina Buslines and Northern Rivers Buslines.

In June 2019 route 650 of Wallers Buslines to Nimbin was taken over and incorporated in Northern River Buslines.

Bathurst Buslines
Having been owned by John A Gilbert until sold to Warren Bremner in June 1977, the Buslines Group purchased the Bathurst business from Jones Bros in April 2012.

Berrima Buslines
The Berrima business is the depot with the highest quantity of buses.

Dubbo Buslines
Having earlier sold the business, in July 1985 John A Gilbert purchased the Dubbo business from the Stonestreet family.

Forster Buslines
Forster Bus Service was purchased on 1 October 2015 from the Deane family and rebranded Forster Buslines.

Griffith Buslines
Ritchies Bus Service was founded by Jock Ritchie in Griffith in March 1937, being taken over by son John in 1958. It was sold to Buslines Group on 1 October 2006 and rebranded Griffith Buslines.

Lithgow Buslines
Established in 1922 by Lewis and Maurice Jones, Jones Bros, Lithgow was purchased by the Buslines Group in April 2012.

Orange Buslines
In 1946, the Orange business was purchased from John Foley with eight buses, with Foley's Bus Service purchasing route 32 Kogarah station to Ramsgate in return.

Tamworth Buslines

The Tamworth business was acquired in December 1943 from Herbert Smith. Tamworth was the first depot to be operated by John A Gilbert, and the starting ground for bus operations. On 14 April 2008, Perrett's Coach Service of Werris Creek was purchased in April 2008 with 15 vehicles.

Ulladulla Buslines
Ulladulla Bus Lines was established in Ulladulla by John Owens, being sold in 1969 to David Bray with five buses. It was purchased by Buslines Australia on 3 December 2018 with 17 vehicles.

Wingham Buslines
Wingham Coaches was purchased on 1 October 2015 from the Deane family and rebranded Wingham Buslines.

Fleet
As at October 2019, the fleet consisted of 401 buses.

Livery
Up until the mid-1980s the John A Gilbert fleet were painted white and black. This was then replaced by a white background, and three blue stripes going from dark to light. This was then simplified when Buslines Group took over to a single dark blue stripe on a white background.

Former operations

Sydney bus operations
In 1956 John A Gilbert sold route 81 in Sydney from Fairfield to Cabramatta to Katen & Heath.

Picton Buslines
The Picton business was purchased on 29 March 2000 from George Lee (Picton Omnibus Service) acquiring 23 vehicles. Picton Buslines left the Buslines Group in September 2021 after its ownership was passed to the Ferris family. The business now operates as an independent entity with the same name but a different logo.

Shorelink
In October 1992 Sydney operator Shorelink was purchased. In September 2001 it was sold to Transdev.

Dealerships
In 1939 John A Gilbert became a GMC dealer. It relinquished its GMC dealership in 1958. It would later become a distributor of Bedford, Isuzu, International, Isuzu, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and RFW operating out of Guildford. It closed its dealership in 1999.

It previously owned Holden car dealerships in Parramatta and Waitara.

References

External links

Bus companies of New South Wales
Companies formerly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange
Transport companies established in 1926
Australian companies established in 1926


Formulation is enriched with moisturizers for user satisfaction. Sealed to eliminate the potential for contamination, this refill can be used with Rubbermaid® Commercial One-Shot® and manual soap dispensers (sold separately). Soap Type: Liquid; Application: Hand; Capacity (Volume): 1600 mL; Scent: Unscented.


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Cover Story: (25) Blueberry Hill. Fats Domino or Johnny Hallyday and Celine Dion
Cover Story: (26) Joan of Arc. Leonard Cohen with or without Jennifer Warnes
Dipping into the Past: the Irish Troubles and music
Tommy Sands takes a bow
Irish Philadelphia Photo Essays
October 2017 update (a further update appears below as a footnote) ...: I believe Salut! Live's archive deserves a wider audience, not for any merit in the writing but because it brings great music to those who stray into these pages.
That is why I occasionally reproduce items from the past, as now with some reflections from 2007 on musical by-products of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Brexit, and continuing problems that arise when two political parties with utterly opposing philosophies share power (power-sharing is currently suspended and there is a risk of direct rule from Westminster being imposed), may not lead to a return to violence on the scale of the Troubles.
But they leave some of us less optimistic than when this article first appeared 10 years ago. Otherwise, I stand by all that I wrote then - and you'll find I have added clips of the songs mentioned ...
The Troubles brought desperately sad and often tragic events to Northern Ireland, and the impact was felt far beyond the six counties that make up the province.
There seems reason to hope that the stumbling march towards peaceful reconciliation of the competing demands and traditions has at last produced something that, while a long way short of perfection, could hold.
But it is worth remembering that great art of one form or another often has its roots in times of bitter sorrow.
Songs of poverty and emigration, struggle and warfare and, on a more mundane level, lost love dominate the folk music repertoire.
The Troubles were no exception, offering abundant inspiration to gifted musicians, singers and writers.
I have complied my own short list of the best songs to come out of those three decades of strife. It is not the definitive selection; there is ample scope for different ideas and candidates, and since there is not - yet - any serious tradition of reader participation at Salut! Live, I will also launch a thread, or maybe two, at Mudcat to invite the views of others.
But here is my choice, in each case offering a link from the artist's name to the record shelf where an album containing the song may be purchased:
Tommy Sands There Were Roses
The anguished story, based on fact, of two friends from either side of the Protestant/Catholic or, you prefer, Loyalist/Nationalist divide, who became victims of tit-for-tat killings.
Cara Dillon also sings an excellent version as might be expected from a sensitive young woman who grew up not far from Greysteel, scene of one of the worst single instances of mass murder. Tommy Sands gets my vote because it was his words, and his voice, that originally and so searingly captured the helplessness of ordinary people in the face of such evil.
Isaac was my friend! he cried, he begged them with his tears/ But centuries of hatred have ears that do not hear/ An eye for an eye, it was all that filled their minds/ And another eye for another eye till everyone is blind
Paul Brady The Island Irish republicans reacted with contempt to Brady's incisive lyrics asking if cars bombs and ambushes represented the freedom they sought. Like Tommy Sands, Brady is from border country. He was, at the very least, fully entitled to ask his questions. And it's a magnificent, powerful song.
And I guess these young boys dying in the ditches/ Is just what being free is all about/ And how this twisted wreckage down on main street/ Will bring us all together in the end
Paul Brady: Folk Images Christy Moore North and South of the River Written with Bono and The Edge, this song (the lyrics are Moore's) neatly reflects both the search for an imperfect peace and the mellowing outlook of Moore himself.
Some high ground is not worth taking Some connections are not worth making This old church bell no longer ringing Some old songs are not worth bringing
Over at Mudcat, the idea of a second thread comes from a desire to be even-handed and will invite suggestions as to the strongest or most evocative Irish rebel songs. Irish nationalism has always seemed to me to be a respectable philosophy; you do not need to support or even forgive the IRA to be able to regard The Foggy Dew, from the Easter Rising, or Four Green Fields, by Tommy Makem, as songs of the highest quality. I have no more than skimmed the surface. Not everyone would go along with G K Chesterton's summing up of the "Great Gaels of Ireland":
For all their wars are merry And all their songs are sad
But I will come up with an appropriate prize - three CDs - if anyone responds with a candidate and reasoning strong enough to make me think again on any song inspired by the Troubles, or the preceding centuries of conflict. And if anyone comes up with a contender from the loyalist viewpoint, and in my expereince these are somewhat rare, I promise to listen with an equally open mind. There is no particular deadline. I will leave it for a few weeks, see how it goes and then announce a closing date (or quietly bury the whole idea!). My decision, as ever, must be final.
* UPDATE: OCTOBER 2017 - This article drew no responses for several months. Then one "Captain Ginger" posted the first comment you see below and, a little later after I wondered about the authorship of a song he mentioned, which I had always attributed to my friend and confrere, Geoff Lakeman, Anne Kennedy Truscott offered an authoritative account of its origins. It turned out that Geoff was aware of Mickey MacConnell's song but had written his own using the same title. But the real motivation for Capt Ginger's contribution was to draw my attention to a song of the Troubles that he especially admired, Mickey's Peter Pan and Me. The lyrics can be read here and are evocative and dignified without pretence at balance. Peter Pan and Me deserves to be listed along with the afore-mentioned examples. Here is MacConnell singing his own song ...
Posted at 06:06 PM in Dipping into the past, Salut! Commentary | Permalink | Comments (6)
Tags: Bono, Cara Dillon, Christy Moore, folk music, Geoff Lakeman, Irish rebel songs, Mickey MacConnell, Mudcat, Paul Brady, The Edge, the Troubles, Tommy Sands
I'm a huge fan of Mickey MacConnell's 'Peter Pan and Me'. Too often only remembered for 'Only Our Rivers Run Free' (written at a preposterously young age), Mickey has written some excellent songs since, of which 'Peter Pan...' is one. Yes, it's another sad and elegiac song, and yet another from ostensibly a nationalist viewpoint, but it's wonderfully poignant and transcends any divide.
Of his other material, 'The Boys of the Byline Brigade' should appeal particularly, as it should to anyone who has had dealings with the Night Desk.
Posted by: Captain Ginger | April 07, 2008 at 05:32 PM
I will check on this but I must say that I always thought The Boys of the Byline Brigade was written by Geoff Lakeman. I last heard Geoff (father of Sean, Seth & Sam) sing it, accompanying himself as ever on concertina, at the Daily Mirror's farewell party for a retiring colleague and friend, Sydney Young.
Posted by: Colin Randall | April 08, 2008 at 07:24 AM
Regarding Colin Randall's post :
"The Boys of the Byline Brigade" WAS written by Mickey MacConnell and not by Geoff Lakeman. Mickey, singer/songwriter/journalist, and Geoff knew one and other, years ago, and Mickey told me that he used to joke with Geoff that one day he'd write a song about the journalism profession, and did so, but this was sometime after they had gone their separate ways in life.
I sang one of Mickey's songs in a folk club in Devon about 15 years ago and Geoff, who was there that night, told me he used to know Mickey. On my next trip back to Ireland I mentioned meeting Geoff to Mickey and he told me to tell Geoff that he had finally got around to writing that song, "The Boys of the Byline Brigade". I duly told Geoff this on my return. Due to the passage of time, I cannot now recollect whether I gave Geoff Mickey's contact details, or whether I merely passed on a copy of Mickey's song to him, but I do recollect that Geoff wasn't aware of the existence of the song until I told him that Mickey had finally written it.
Posted by: Anne Kennedy Truscott | May 10, 2008 at 03:48 AM
I should long ago have thanked Anne for her detailed explanation of the provenance of Boys of the Byline Brigade as well as finally acknowledging the veracity of Captain Ginger's comments. I could argue that neither qualified for the prize CDs since their contributions were posted many months after my article appeared here with mention of the mini-competition. But I shall try to contact them and offer to delve in my CD collection for suitable albums (while suspecting they have superior collections of their own). I shall make a start by reposting this now (2017).
Posted by: Colin Randall | October 26, 2017 at 05:12 PM
And then suddenly, while trying to locate contact details to alert Capt Ginger and Anne to the updated post, I came across this subsequent comment from Anne - which appeared in a follow-up item (http://www.salutlive.com/2008/05/the-boys-of-the.html) showing that Geoff wrote his own song of the same title . I had completely forgotten that I looked into it way back then and established it to be the case. Memory, as Anne says, plays tricks but this is what she said in her follow-up message on May 14 2008:
Dear Colin, Thanks for contacting Geoff Lakeman and clearing up the matter. Thanks also to Geoff for helping to eliminate the confusion. I am a long standing friend of Mickey and his wife Maura since the 1980's, and I'm a great admirer of his superb ability as a songwriter. I have often heard him singing his Byline song, and being a firm believer that a songwriter should always receive due credit for his, or her work, I'm afraid I went ballistic at the idea that someone else was apparently being credited with having written "Mickey's song" !! Hence my posting onto your website, in Mickey's defence !! Not ever having heard Geoff Lakeman sing HIS Byline song, I had no idea that there existed a SECOND song with the same title. It was only after reading your latest blog that I now dimly recollect that, when I passed on Mickey's message about having written the song to Geoff, that Geoff had muttered something about having sent money to Mickey for the lyrics and hadn't received them ..... which means that I was incorrect in stating that Geoff wasn't aware of Mickey's song till I had told him about it, and Mickey had obviously completely forgotten that he had performed his song in Geoff's hearing on an occasion some 20 odd years previously. My apologies for my faulty memory. The passage of time does strange things to everyone's powers of recollection !! When I moved from temporary residence in Plymouth to East Cornwall in 1995, I stopped going to the folk club in Devon and consequently have not seen Geoff since then. I would dearly love to hear Geoff's Byline song..... hint hint !! Mickey is still making good music and writing great songs and playing regular sessions with his fellow musicians, both locally in the Listowel area and further afield. On my regular trips back to Listowel I delight in the opportunity to attend at least one of these great sessions. Mickey is on you tube and can be seen if you go to............ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRcJNvKqH8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N98OEvvgeSg&feature=related and lastly, accompanying piccolo player Jim Gornall, one of the fellow musicians previously mentioned) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi07rieCRP0 Thanks again for investigating and clarifying that there are TWO songs with the same title. Best Regards, Anne Kennedy Truscott
I have just found your re-post of October 26th 2017 hiding in a corner of my facebook, tonight (9/12/2017). On the subject of songs about the Northern Ireland conflict, might I recommend to you another powerful song by Mickey MacConnell, called "Follow the Flag" ?
On a lighter note Mickey has also written a very funny song about the perils of shopping in ALDI and LIDL (German supermarkets with branches all over Ireland and the UK, and other places too). It is on you tube and is worth a look, if you have not already seen it.
Best wishes to you and yours for a happy Christmas and a good New Year.
Posted by: Anne Kennedy Truscott | December 09, 2017 at 10:36 PM

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
TOURS/ MAPS
HERITAGE SITES MAP
Republished December 2016
Rossland Cemetery
The Columbia Cemetery in Happy Valley was opened in late 1899 as the City's official public cemetery. Over 1000 Rosslanders have been buried in this cemetery since that time with burial records kept until the 1960's. We have added more names to the list - monuments and plaques tell us of further burials although there are no records. The Columbia Cemetery was officially closed in 1985.
See, "Cemeteries of Rossland", a publication of the Rossland Heritage Commission for the complete history of the Columbia Cemetery and information about the Laural Hill, Sunnyside, Berg and Calvary (Catholic) cemeteries that research has provided. This book was republished in 2016 with updated information primarily on the Columbia and Calvary Cemetery burials.
The Database that follows gives information about the people known to have been buried in the Columbia Cemetery. The burial permit template used in all 4 books of Burial Permits, lists 17 fields of information. Unfortunately, the location of the burial plots was not always fully completed by the City at the time of issuing the burial permit. Despite exhaustive research we still don't know where approximately 100 people are buried but their other personal information has been recorded.
Use this link to download the Cemetery Database PDF. The PDF is in a zip archive, double-clicking the zip file will open it, then double-click the pdf.
Burial Permit
Cemetery Layout
Copyright 2019 by Rossland Heritage Commission Design by HLF Images


text:
Archive | Uncategorized
Posted on 18 October 2019.
The act of caring speaks in a universal language. It knows no bounds and transcends the barriers of time, culture and economic conditions. A simple act can definitely make a huge difference, touching every inch of a weary soul, lifting a dampened spirit and re-assures that even in the most difficult time, there is hope. For most, this unselfish deed restores faith in humanity.
For a very long time, mothers have innately epitomized unconditional caring. They put so much value on building a home fostered out of care. Their being radiates an atmosphere that defines selflessness. It is undoubtedly manifested from the moment they carry and deliver another life. Above all, they consistently put the welfare of their family, children and people that are dearest to their hearts first even it means sacrificing their own.
Caring has been the definition of the life of Ms. Zenaida B. Dumayag, a mother and a Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program beneficiary from Baggao, Cagayan. She was raised in one of the inaccessible Sitios of Barangay Asinga-Via, situated approximately 20 kilometers from the municipality's town proper. At an early age, she became mindful of the limitations that her community had to offer. She has known poverty since then, a hand-to-mouth living that became the norm in their locality. Growing up with so little did not dampen her heart with has so much to give.
Not too long ago, she built her own family and married Bobby R. Dumayag. Life as a married couple became more challenging especially when their family started to grow in number. Having four children to raise and with the limited opportunity to earn, they struggled to make ends meet. Even if they had a piece of land to toil, they lacked the resources to maximize its potential, instead becoming laborers for privately-owned farms. They took pride on their calloused hands and sun-kissed skin and wore it as badges of hard work.
To augment their daily necessities, her husband would trek in the nearby mountain just to gather "yantok". He's beyond grateful when he is able to bring home a bundle and sell it for an average of P150.00. As Ms. Zenaida recalled, there were instances when she couldn't serve three meals in a day for her children. There even came a point where debt became their constant resort; a cyclical habit that became the reason why they eventually lost their farmland due to unpaid interest.
The Road to Sustainability
In 2016, Ms. Zenaida was encouraged to be part of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). She received Seed Capital Fund (SCF) amounting to P10, 000.00 and was given the opportunity to lead the Asinga-Via SLP Association in their barangay. With the capital at hand, she decided to venture in backyard swine production and started with two piglets. With her innate ability to care, her project prospered. She was always on top of it and made sure that the piglets were well kept. After earning P14, 000.00 on the first cycle, she decided to purchase one sow and engaged in piglet production. With her perseverance, her sow was able to produce six piglets and eight piglets on the ensuing cycle.
A private buyer from Amulung, Cagayan now serves as her regular client and purchases her produce at an average of P8, 000.00 per pig. With the good standing of their association, the members including Ms. Zenaida were able to receive second cycle release of their SCF which covered her expanding project.
Since the inception of her project, the additional income augments the daily needs of her family. It also helps her provide the school fees, weekly allowances, board and lodging needs of her children in college. She was able to set aside a portion of her gains to gradually improve their house. Somehow her qualms during typhoons had lessened because they now have a more concrete and decent shelter. Likewise, they now have access to electricity which they previously just dreamt of having. She recalls the nights where they take refuge on the faint light of a kerosene lamp.
Her project may have reaped just enough for the family but it did not hinder her from giving more to others. In 2017, she opened the doors of her home to strangers, a family of six. For two years she gave the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ibanez a roof and cared for them like her own kin. She unselfishly shared whatever resources they had and even enrolled one of their children in kindergarten.
Every life that she touches reminds her of the days when she had nothing. She knows how it felt like to have nothing and this became the very reason why she is so passionate on what she does. She expects nothing in return and only thinks of ways to extend care to others.
For years, the adage that says, "It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving" has been the path of Ms. Zenaida. Every selfless deed humbles her and provides her a sense of fulfillment. Today, she continuously finds means to sustain and improve her project. She knows that her venture has a long way to go but with sheer grit she is positive that a better future lies ahead. ###Written by: Melisen Taquiqui/SLP Social Marketing Officer
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DSWD FO2 Awards Listahanan 2 Results to Cagayan Valley Center for Health Development
Tuguegarao City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 2 (DSWD FO2) thru the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) or Listahanan awarded a Certificate of Appreciation and the Listahanan 2 Data Base containing the list of poor households in Region 2 to the Cagayan Valley Center for Health Development (CV – CHD) on October 7, 2019.
Acting Policy and Plans Division Chief, Ms. Pasencia T. Ancheta explained that the data was gathered in 2015 and by virtue of Executive Order 867 series of 2010, the data shall be used by different National Government Agencies (NGAs) for their social protection programs.
Assistant Regional Director for Operations (ARDO), Ms. Lucia S. Alan personally awarded the certificate and flash drive containing the list of poor households to the Regional Director of the CVC-HD, Dr. Rio L. Magpantay during their Flag Ceremony.
ARDO Alan thanked the CVC-HD for having completed the requirements for the data sharing and foremost, has the interest to use the Listahanan data base of the DSWD.
Director Magpantay commended the efforts of DSWD for providing them the list which will be helpful in giving necessary assistance and priority to those who really need it the most. "Let our departments continue to be partners in the delivery of services to the marginalized sectors," he added. ### By: Christopher Soriano, Listahanan Regional Field Coordinator
Striving Towards a More Functional Balai na Inammu
Posted on 24 September 2019.
Tuguegarao City – Staff from the University of Cagayan Valley (UCV) conducted an assessment of the functionality of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 02 (DSWD FO2) Balai na Inammu, the field office's learning hub located adjacent to the main building, today, September 24, 2019.
The facility, formerly called the Regional Learning and Resource Center (RLRC), houses the field office's library materials for information and use by field office staff as well as guests looking for knowledge materials on social welfare.
The UCV evaluators, led by the school's Community Extension Services Office Director, Ms. Gregoria J. Gocal, expressed their admiration to the uniformity of the materials in the Balai na Inammu, remarking on the usefulness of the materials to the needs of facility users.
In conformity to the use of internet for learning and knowledge transfer, the facility also houses a built-in KOHA System, an open source automation collectively designed by programmers for librarians worldwide for efficiency in cataloging books and for easy access to the inventory of materials that the facility has.
The system was jointly installed by Cagayan State University (CSU) staff, UCV staff and the field office's Information and Communication Technology Management Section (ICTMS).
The current iteration of the Balai na Inammu had a soft launching last March 20, 2018 that was graced by DSWD Undersecretary for Special Concerns, Camilo G. Gudmalin, this after the facility was reconfigured after it sustained damages from Super Typhoons' Lawin in 2016 and Ompong in 2018.
The Balai na Inammu was borne out of the commitment made by members of the field office's Social Welfare and Development Learning Network (L-NET), with members coming from the academe, National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs).
Regional Director Fernando R. De Villa, Jr. meanwhile expressed his thanks to the continued collaboration within and among L-NET members and hopes the learning materials can be used to further foster education and knowledge transfer along social welfare.
To date, the facility houses 875 learning and knowledge materials, excluding outdated materials for scanning by the field office's Records Section before disposal. ###
Butil
Every bean comes in various shapes, sizes and colors. From the moment it is burrowed in the soil, to the constant drizzle of water, the dash of fertilizer until finally the bud comes out to feel the warmth of the world, each has a story to tell, of the countless phases it had gone through. The process of reaching maturity requires the right play of elements. It involves the art of waiting that does not rush time nor force abrupt growth. Likewise, it is essential that all must come together in harmony until it blossoms and the pod reaps a harvest.
Just like every life resting on the social plane, all began as a tiny sprout reared and tested through time. But then again not all were nurtured equally. Most kept their pace and bloomed effortlessly. Some struggled to flourish due to unfavorable circumstances and were hindered from reaching their full potential.
As dawn breaks, the untiring hands of a mother gather tiny golden beans. Amidst the difficulty to mobilize her hands, she patiently soaks each batch of beans. When it becomes saturated, she continues on to the process of grinding. Under a low fire, the extract is continuously stirred for almost three hours. After the grueling process, the mother finally gets a taste of her sweet labor, warm, creamy and smooth milk that eases her weary soul.
Miram C. Macasaddu was born with congenital hand deformities, a Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program participant from the municipality of Benito Soliven, Isabela. Even long before, she knew that she was one of the many who will struggle to flourish. But despite physical limitations, she strived to fight life's adversities but somehow felt that her efforts were not enough. Before finishing third year high school, she built a family and married Ernesto Macasaddu. To be able to add to the meager income of her husband as a utility worker, she peddled vegetables, snacks, and other things she could sell in the neighborhood. As she tried to withstand poverty, yet another challenge tested her faith. Her husband battled cancer and eventually passed away. It was a trying time when she had no choice but to sell whatever asset was left and resorted to debt. The circumstance not only drained her financially but also left her alone in raising her four children. She doubled her efforts and saw an opportunity to earn more and became a seller of soy milk under a private employer in Ilagan City. Through her dedication, she eventually learned the process of soy milk production. In mid-2017, a couple venturing in soy milk processing convinced her to be their processor. With a hope that this opportunity will give her a good break, she accepted the deal. Unfortunately, again the odds were not in her favor. For four months, she struggled to solely process an average of nine kilos of soybeans/eight hundred 800 bottles of soy milk a day and only brought home an average of P200.00 for her efforts.
Then in 2018, the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) brought courage for Ms. Miriam to finally earn commensurate to her efforts. Her spirit of entrepreneurship was re-kindled as she was given the chance to lead the organized association in Barangay Sta. Cruz, the Sweet SLP Association. Along with other eight members they were provided with Seed Capital Fund (SCF) amounting to P165,000.00. Through her initiative, she shared her expertise on soybean processing and the group decided to venture on the project. The SCF was used to purchase raw materials, packaging materials, tools and equipment for the production of soy milk and soy coffee. In a weekly basis they produce an average of 1,400 bottles of soy milk sold at P10.00 each and process an average of eight (8) kilos/ 20 bottles of soy coffee sold at P100.00 each. It translates to a weekly average net income of P4,800.00 for the group which helps each member to meet ends. Particularly for Ms. Miriam who exited from Pantawid since her children were no longer eligible, the project helped her finance their college education. Apart from that, the members earn P200.00 per production for their labor. They distribute their products within the municipality, selected schools in nearby municipalities of San Mariano, Naguilan, Reina Mercedes and Cauayan City. To reach a wider market, they are currently processing their certificate of product registration under the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). The group has already been able to purchase two additional units of freezer from their profits as part of their continuous commitment to expanding their enterprise.
Ms. Miriam's biggest take away in SLP was the opportunity to prove that her capacities are way bigger than her physical limitations. The endeavour stirred her leadership capabilities and gave her the chance to make a difference. Just like a bean slowly turning to a bud, she defied all the circumstances and gracefully blossomed in her own way and time. ### Written by: Melisen A. Taquiqui, SLP Social Marketing Officer
Thriving Through Vegetation
The town of Sta. Praxedes, a 5th class municipality which is the smallest in province of Cagayan, boast a total of 10 barangays with a total of 1,134 families and a population of 4,436 as of 2017.
The municipality has been no exception to the ravages of past typhoons, floods and erosions that has afflicted other areas in the region. Families living below the poverty threshold are the most affected because their houses are made mostly of light materials that are easily destroyed by strong winds.
Past disasters have caused damages to numerous houses and other infrastructures, including rice fields, crops, and other agriculture and fishery facilities.
Abridging Difficulties
Elizabeth C. Salino, 51, from Purok 1, Barangay Salungsong, has experienced her fair share of calamities in her town. She says that though disasters often bring challenges that take time to resolve, she, with the help of interventions given by National Government Agencies (NGA) and the local government unit (LGU), comes through the difficulties better equipped to handle future adversities.
Elizabeth and her husband, a farmer and an occasional driver, helped raised their five children through sheer will and determination.
The major challenge that was faced by the couple which was recounted by Elizabeth was the struggle to ensure that there was food on the table for their family to partake. The seasonal nature of her husband's trade made it all the more daunting for them to make ends meet.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 02 (DSWD FO2) through its Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (CCAM) thru Cash for Work (CFW) was introduced in the area in 2018 as part of the agency's program along disaster response to help affected families and individuals.
The program offers provisional employment and provides income augmentation to affected families and individuals to keep them from migrating or abandoning their communities in search of new sources of income by participating or undertaking preparedness, mitigation, relief, rehabilitation or risk reduction projects and activities in their communities or evacuation centers.
As part of the agency's partnership with LGUs, the latter chose the CFW area/program with the help of the identified community.
Sta. Praxedes Communal Garden
With the health, well-being, food security and the spirit of volunteerism of community members being priorities, communal gardening was identified as the chosen CFW of the municipality.
Elizabeth became one of 400 identified participants of the endeavor. She was elated when informed of the opportunity because, as she recalls, looking for work opportunities was a challenge especially in rural areas like her town. Looking back to her experience, she considers being a part of the program a turning point in their constant struggle to put food in their table.
"Ayaw naming masira itong oportunidad na ibinigay sa amin ng DSWD dahil para rin naman ito sa amin at kami rin ang makikinabang dito (We do not want to waste the opportunity given to us by DSWD because we know that we will benefit from this), Elizabeth says.
"Masayang maging parte nitong programa, lalong-lalo na sa mga katulad kong magulang… para meron po kaming pinagkaka-abalahan (I am elated to be a part of the program especially for parents like us to have something to be busy with), Elizabeth adds.
The town boasts 3 communal gardens across Barangay Centro 1, Centro 2 Day Care Center and Capacuan Elementary School wherein beneficiaries plant a variety of vegetables, herbs, fruits and spices in the available spaces in garden patches but also in pockets, pots and vertical walls. All vegetables also come with their name tags for easy identification.
Mr. Franco G. Lopez, head of the Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD), visited the communal gardens last August 15, 2018 and observed the innovativeness of the beneficiaries, using recyclable materials such as empty bottles, cans, basins, pails, trays, sacks, tires, bags and other disposable containers coupled with the use of organic materials for gardening and to ensure protection of the environment.
The beneficiaries also use grass cuttings, rotten leaves, fruit peelings, animal manure and other degradable materials to aid in their gardening task.
For Elizabeth, being given the opportunity to work in the community garden has seen her be able to provide nutritious food for her family, a task that she has embraced since starting her one of her own.
"Sa luwag noong aming community garden kapag namunga na mga halaman, napupunan hindi lamang mga pangangailangan namin pero para na rin sa mga kasama kong nagta-trabaho doon (With the wide area of the community garden, when the plants start bearing produce, our food needs and those of my fellow workers are met), Elizabeth mentions.
She says that she's more confident now knowing that there's a constant source of food for her family. Elizabeth adds that the opportunity provided to her has taught her the value of maximizing the resources given to her.
The Road Forward
The community gardens in Sta. Praxedes, Cagayan, for the short period of time that it has been implemented, has seen a reduction in food insecurity in the area as well as improved vegetable intake for the beneficiaries and their families as well as strengthened family ties.
Elizabeth for her part is thankful for the opportunity given to her and looks to a future where she is more equipped with skills to take on life's many challenges.
"Malaki pong pasasalamat sa DSWD na binigyan niyo kami ng ganitong opportunidad (I thank DSWD for this opportunity that was given to us), Elizabeth ends. ### With a report from: Mia Edsel Carbonell, Disaster Response and Management Division Information Officer
Tagpi
A tailor's masterwork starts with pieces of fabric which harmoniously interacts with needles and threads. It is a form of art that narrates how an ordinary piece of cloth transforms to various patterns and designs with each detail speaking intricacy, ingenuity and passion. More than these, it unfolds the way of life behind these creations.
Every rhythm of the sewing machine resonates the untiring steps behind the pedals. Rolls of thread, countless needles and yards of fabric are the first and the last to be touched by these meticulous hands. These hands and feet pay no attention to the twinge and numbing effect of the sewing process.
The mothers are locals from the municipality of San Pablo, Isabela. A third-class municipality situated in the boundary of the Provinces of Isabela and Cagayan. The community relies on agriculture as its primary economic activity producing rice and corn as its main commodities. Most of the mothers were plain housewives and accepted laundry service for a living. Some were long-time farm laborers of privately-owned lands earning P150.00 a day. Others rely on the income of their husbands on whatever side line jobs available in the area. The long period of waiting for harvest season were perhaps the longest days before they can serve a decent meal on their tables.
In 2016, the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) opened opportunities for the generation of alternative income. Through a partnership with the Isabela School of Arts and Trades (ISAT)-TESDA, skills training on various qualifications were made available for SLP participants. The nine mothers namely, Daisy Maltu, Damiana Asino, Brigida Dabo, Merlina Melchora, Rosemarie Fernandez, Gina Jose, Teresa Baquiran, Venus Palete and Jhovielyn Allauigan took the opportunity to gain life skills and underwent a 48-day Training on Dressmaking NC II. After the training, each received a unit of portable sewing machine and decided to establish a group enterprise under San Pablo Dressmakers SLP Association (SLPA). To further support the endeavour, SLP provided capital augmentation through Seed Capital Fund amounting to P120, 000.00.
The members were able to purchase heavy duty sewing machine, measuring tools, complete set of fabrics and other necessary materials for the project. Their sewing/ tailoring services accommodate the demands of their clients within San Pablo, nearby municipalities of Tumauini, Cabagan, Delfin Albano and adjacent municipalities of Cagayan. They gained expertise on producing quality ready-to-wear clothing, uniforms, gowns and costumes.
With their dedication to their craft, they gained regular clients particularly students and teachers from Cagayan State University, University of St. Louis Tuguegarao, Isabela State University, St. Paul Vocational Industrial High School, Simanu National High School and Delfin Albano National High School. Their market linkage expanded since the group was able to tap eight regular festival/events coordinators. They design and create costumes to be used for street dancing, drum and lyre and other festival competitions. The group earns an approximate weekly income of P5, 000.00 per contract apart from their individual average earning amounting to P300/day. On days were the demand is high, they earn as much as P25, 000.00 per contract.
Through their income the members were able to steadily provide the needs of their children; some acquired assets such as motorcycle, appliances and home improvement; while others ventured on individual projects such as animal domestication.
In the coming days, they plan to improve their production area as part of their expansion. As a way of giving back, they share their skills and transfer their learning to some mothers and younger generations in the community. The enterprise not only provided the group with a regular source of income but also shed hope for others.
Today, it is apparent that the project brought changes on their outlook in life. The mothers learned the value of maximizing their time and effort to improve their craft. They take pride on every piece of creation they sew out of passion. Their hearts are full when they see the delight on the eyes of their clients. More than the monetary gains, the compliments and appreciations became their driving force to do better. Their entire SLP journey made them realize that their pieces of dreams can be stitched in one tangible piece, as long as one is determined to embrace change. ### Written by: Melisen A. Taquiqui, SLP Social Marketing Officer
Additional Augmentation Arrives in Batanes as DSWD Kick Starts its Early Recovery Measures
Posted on 30 July 2019.
July 30, 2019 – As part of the field office's augmentation and early recovery measures, two additional social workers are now in Itbayat, Batanes to conduct psychosocial intervention to affected individuals and families from the earthquake that struck the province of Batanes on Saturday, July 27.
Joining them is one project development officer (PDO) to assist in warehouse management and assessment of damaged houses.
To date, they join a three-staff field office team that has already extended burial assistance to three clients at P10,000.00 each and eight clients provided with food assistance in the amount of P35,000.00 for a total of P65,000.00. The team will extend additional financial assistance to others affected within the week.
The field office staff also assisted the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) of Batanes and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) of Itbayat in the conduct of a thorough and quick validation of damaged houses.
The team has been given 9 days for the assessment of houses to be followed by a consolidated report that will be the basis for extending additional assistance through the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) program of the agency, as per commitment given by DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista during a cabinet meeting conducted in Batanes Airport last July 28.
The augmentation team also brings an additional P1,000,000.00 as replenishment to the Protective Services Fund to be used as additional financial aid in Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) office Batanes.
Meanwhile, two (2) trucks from the National Logistics and Resource Management Bureau (NLRMB) delivered 6,400 vacuum-packed rice and 60 pieces of folding beds while another truck from DSWD Region 1 brought 125 family tents and 400 boxes of sleeping kits to the field office on July 28 as additional augmentation.
1,000 family food packs (FFPs), 25 family tents, 60 folding beds and 400 sleeping kits will be ferried directly to Itbayat, Batanes from Port Irene in Sta. Ana, Cagayan through a Bureau of Fisheries (BFAR) vessel on Wednesday.
Regional Director Fernando R. De Villa, Jr. has also coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard through Commodore Ed Fabricante for possible transportation of field office food stocks from Basco, Batanes to Itbayat. The vessel is currently in Manila awaiting 100 tents, 400 sleeping kits and 10 rolls of laminated sacks from the NLRMB.
Affected families from San Rafael, Sta. Maria, Sta. Lucia and Sta. Rosa at still at the evacuation area in Itbayat's town plaza for concerns over aftershocks.
As of last report, there are a total of 63 individuals injured, 9 casualties and 2 missing persons as per report coming from the Batanes Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO). ###
Batanes Earthquake Victims Receive Assistance from the Field Office
July 28, 2019 – Five (5) individuals were given psychosocial and food assistance after being airlifted from Itbayat, Batanes yesterday by an air force plane to be taken to Batanes General Hospital (BGH) for immediate medical attention in the province's capital, Basco.
The said interventions, given by social workers of the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Batanes, were meant to help the victims recover from the disaster they experienced.
The victims were also given financial assistance amounting to P5,000.00 each as part of the agency's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) as further aid.
DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista also convened with other cabinet members earlier today in Batanes Airport for a briefing with President Rodrigo R. Duterte to address the relief operations that are being conducted to address the aftermath of the earthquake.
SWAD Batanes Team Leader Amparo Tobias travelled by motorboat to Itbayat, Batanes at 10 AM today to closely work with Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) staff and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) of Itbayat for immediate provision of DSWD support/assistance.
As of the 3 PM progress report of the field office, a total of 9 lives were claimed, 63 individuals injured, and 2 missing persons as per report coming from the Batanes Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).
A total of 158 Family Food Packs (FFPs) were accommodated by the C130 flight going to Batanes today to augment the existing 200 FFPs prepositioned in Basco, Batanes to be delivered in Itbayat, Batanes. ###


text:
Someone To Kiss My Scars
by Brooke Skipstone
Blessing and Curse
by J. Elias Epp
Silent Retribution Man
by J. Sato
Wildflowers and Train Whistles
by Lillian Frazer
Deadly Chance
by Talia Logan
Smoke On the Mountains
by Sam Knupp
Behind the Bitmask
by Jessica Kagan
The Three Little Doggies
by Endreketta
Happily Ever His
by Delancey Stewart
Death By Design
by John Graves
It's 5 AM Go Home
by Michael Scott Novilla
Curse of the Murderous Dummy
by Michael Ray Laemmle
Medical Missionaries in Turkish Arabia
by Christine I Bennett
Mægics Heir: Druid Quest
by GL Cramb
Good Morning Beautiful
by Daines L. Reed
Sweet Hawaii
by M. G. Marzen
Written in Their Stars
by Elizabeth St.John
The Legend of Deputy Jim
by Dan E. Hendrickson
Ultimate Burden
A JJ Gilbert Mystery
by Linda M. Williams
Contact Author - Linda M. Williams
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
JJ is a photographer. Everywhere she goes, she carries her camera. It's how she makes her living. But she's also an amateur sleuth, one with certain psychic abilities. In other words, she's something of a medium. The spirits help her solve murders, mysteries and find missing people. When attending her mother's party, she meets Erica, whose teenage daughter Brooke has been missing for several days. The police aren't taking it seriously, so JJ steps in to help. Not willingly. In fact, when she first meets Erica, she's besieged by a spiritual presence that at first disturbs her and then becomes a compelling aid in the difficult search that leads JJ, once again, into danger. She's done this before and those she works with know already how easily JJ can find herself in precarious situations.
Linda M. Williams's mystery novel, Ultimate Burden: A JJ Gilbert Mystery, takes the reader on another adventure with amateur sleuth and sometime medium JJ as she follows a spirit guide to find a missing teenage girl. The plot develops with lots of drama as nefarious deeds intersect with the mystery behind the girl's disappearance and some backstory detailing JJ's past medium-assisted sleuthing as well as events in her own life that affected who she is now. Most of the story is told through dialogue, but there are some adequate descriptive passages to help the reader feel a sense of place. The characters are well developed, also mostly through the use of dialogue. This is definitely a book for someone who enjoys a good mystery.
Ultimate Burden: A JJ Gilbert Mystery by Linda M. Williams is part of a series featuring Jordyn or JJ as she prefers to be called, a young woman who has psychic abilities. She is able to speak to spirits and she has visions. During a party at her mother's house, JJ picks up on a spirit attached to a woman called Erica. Her daughter didn't come home and JJ worries that it could be her daughter who is attached to her, but it is not clear. She needs to figure out what is going on and quickly if the girl is still alive. JJ doesn't ask to be bombarded with visions, but she has the ability to help and feels that is what she must do.
Linda M. Williams has written an interesting book in Ultimate Burden: A JJ Gilbert Mystery. I enjoy stories about psychics and though there are plenty of them on the market, I think this one could do quite well as it has strong characters and a good mystery. I understand there are other books that explain how JJ got her gift, but there was enough information in this book to fill in some blanks. The main character is well written and she does want to help people with her gift. I thought the book moved at a good pace and the story kept me entertained. I think it would do well in a paranormal genre too, considering the subject matter, but mystery lovers will enjoy it. I would recommend Ultimate Burden.
JJ Gilbert is a professional photographer – and a medium – living in Riverside, California. When her mother Patty hosted a going-away party for her boyfriend Frank, JJ felt the tension between them. She detected a spirit around a guest from Patty's church community, Erica Zeller. Erica informed JJ her 16-year-old daughter Brooke did not come home the previous night. This spirit continued to show up in JJ's life, giving her clues about where to find Brooke. JJ gave some information to Detective Ballard, with whom she had previous contact. She became involved in the investigation which became more complicated with each passing day. In Ultimate Burden: A JJ Gilbert Mystery, written by Linda M. Williams, a captivating plot unfolds. Not only did JJ discover similarities between Brooke's life and her own turbulent adolescent years, but she also faced several dangerous situations.
This book is an exciting page-turner, with many thrilling twists and turns in the plot. There are several fascinating characters, including Patty and Frank, the Zeller family, and Brad Wilson, the police officer to whom JJ was assigned. Additionally, JJ's mediumship gift is a unique contribution to solving the mystery of finding Brooke. While the visions did not give immediate answers, each one's meanings became clear as the story progressed. Author Linda M. Williams has written an engaging mystery in Ultimate Burden: A JJ Gilbert Mystery. It is the third book of the series, and every reader will want to grab the first two if they have not already done so. An intriguing and fun story!


This vegan soap is the herbal solution for stress and anxiety. As lavender fans know, the herb aids in healing wounds, has a sedative effect, and acts as an antiseptic. Organic cornmeal stimulates circulation while removing dead skin cells. Quiet your mind and stimulate your body with this exfoliating soap with a shea butter enriched lather.
Saponified Oils of Olive, Rice Bran, Organic Coconut, Organic Sustainable Palm, Organic Palm Kernel, & Organic Shea Butter. Lavender Essential Oil & Organic Cornmeal.


text:
using LaYumba.Functional;
using System;
using Unit = System.ValueTuple;

namespace Examples.Chapter5
{
   class CookFavouriteDish
   {
      Func<Either<Reason, Unit>> WakeUpEarly;
      Func<Unit, Either<Reason, Ingredients>> ShopForIngredients;
      Func<Ingredients, Either<Reason, Food>> CookRecipe;

      Action<Food> EnjoyTogether;
      Action<Reason> ComplainAbout;
      Action OrderPizza;

      void Start()
      {
         WakeUpEarly()
            .Bind(ShopForIngredients)
            .Bind(CookRecipe)
            .Match(
               Right: dish => EnjoyTogether(dish),
               Left: reason =>
               {
                  ComplainAbout(reason);
                  OrderPizza();
               });
      }
   }

   class Reason { }
   class Ingredients { }
   class Food { }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The Puerto Rico Shipping Association was founded in 1970. Following its inception, the association has grown to comprise a group of 32 companies dedicated to numerous sectors of the maritime business.
Its tasks have expanded to include the representation of its membership in various socio-economic forums, as well as acting as a clearing house for numerous maritime-related initiatives.
The PRSA''s provide a forum for discussion on legislation, tourism development, ports, safety, security and other maritime industry issues.


On our way from Carlsbad Caverns National Park to Mesa Verde National Park, we spent a few days in Albuquerque, NM. This was partly because we needed time to do some laundry but also because Jennifer's cousin, Brent, lives there and we wanted to see him, which we did. We had a great visit to his home and had time to catch up on our respective lives.
We found there are lots of things to do in the Albuquerque area.
Our first visit was Petroglyph National Monument. We were delighted. A petroglyph is an image on a rock created by an ancient person using stone tools. There were thousands of them in the monument. At the Visitor Center, we learned that the monument is on the edge of the West Mesa, a 17 mile long table of land west of the Rio Grande river, and also just west of Albuquerque. We visited the Piedras Marcadas Canyon and the Boca Negra Canyon. We walked out in the Piedras Marcadas Canyon. When we arrived at the parking lot, we found ourselves in their small parking lot nestled among homes and shops. How could this be a national monument? We walked a short way up the trail and found ourselves in the desert. The city is built right up to the monument, but stops right where the mesa and its petroglyphs begin. We walked out and quickly saw many petroglyphs on the rocks that form the sides of the mesa.
We went to Boca Negra Canyon but ran into a school outing that pretty much took up the entire parking lot and all of the picnic area, so we decided to move on.
We moved on to Sandia Crest, at the top of Sandia Mountains. There is a road that goes up the east side of the mountains and is used in the winter for reaching the ski area. We could see from Albuquerque that there was a good chance that we would not be able to see anything from Sandia Crest as the clouds were hovering around the top of the mountains, but we decided that we would go anyway. As we approached the crest, we saw some snow showers and, of course, road construction. And we were here in mid-May. It was so hot in the desert in Joshua Tree and Saguaro, so we were a bit surprised by the cold weather, but we were prepared just in case, so on we went. When we reached Sandia Crest, we couldn't see anything below us. We were completely in the clouds. We only have photos of the photos to see what it would have been like on a clear day.
We had one more day in Albuquerque. What to do? The AAA guidebook recommended the Jemez Mountain tour including Bandelier National Monument. We decided to take this loop road. The map looked so straightforward, showing no elevation. We drove almost to Santa Fe then headed west toward Bandelier. When we arrived at the visitor center, we found that access to the monument is now only by shuttle bus, and our guidebook was a few years old and this must have very recently started. We just didn't have the time to wait for a shuttle so we decided to drive past the monument entrance and on west toward Jemez Springs. This direction took us just south of Los Alamo. Yes, the Los Alamos. The road went up and up until we were in the high country where we could see snow falling. Fortunately, it was only sticking on the grass and trees and the road was staying clear with the temp just above freezing. Again, a surprise. We climbed over the ridge and down the other side and found ourselves in Valles Caldera National Preserve, a large open meadow in the middle of the mountains.
We drove on and started down again toward Jemez Springs and found ourselves driving through the canyon with large red cliffs on both sides. It was a nice resort area with art type shops and lots of restaurants and lodges. Down we went until we reached the valley and the highway we would take the next day toward Mesa Verde. We went rather suddenly from being in the canyon to being in the wide valley.
We stayed at the Enchanted Trails RV Park. It featured several vintage trailers and cars, and they were fun to see. We were on old route 66 which goes right through Albuquerque. It turned out to be a nice park. The park was basically gravel with a few trees. Our only complaint was that the WiFi was not reliable. Where have you heard this before? See any of our prior RV park stays. Only a very few had decent WiFi.


How automation affects the Business Industry. People will go jobless or what?
While reading a news "Uber will cut 40,000 jobs in London" (because of its' driverless cars), I was thinking about the situation in our country. Though we are far behind, the impact is inevitable. The world of business is currently experiencing an increased acceleration in automation.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is now taking over most of the occupations in the service industry, and some technological savvy hotels are utilizing apps to serve their customers.
The uneasiness regarding automation is apparent and below I'll discuss how automation will change the business landscape in the near future.
Currently, there is a highly charged debate on the subject of automation and whether computers rank higher in the human workforce. One side highlights a high level of optimism while the other only sees detriments.
But the quest to automate is driven by a desire to enhance productivity, improve quality and reduce the costs of doing business. The market is now highly competitive, and customers are unforgiving when it comes to the issue of quality and pricing. As a matter of fact, the need for efficiency in production is leading the push for automation.
A report published by Oxford Martin School on the future of employment suggests that up to 47% of the workforce in the United States is at risk of replacement by automation. The figure is even higher for developing countries with up to two-thirds middle-class jobs at risk.
But the issue of automation and machines replacing human workers is not new. The industrial revolution saw the introduction of assembly-line that made particular tasks easier cutting the workforce significantly. This continued with the 20th-century computer revolution that diminished the need to hire a large of workers in the manufacturing sector and clerical-based positions.
The computer revolution increased productivity levels, efficiency, and quality to unprecedented levels. The 21st-century digital revolution is where computers can deal with highly complex tasks.
The thinking of some people is that automation will affect the low-skill and low-wage jobs, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Middle-income jobs such as clerks, inspectors, junior lawyers, office workers and chefs among others are at risk. Computers excel in non-dynamic and linear systems. Any position centered on direct and finite knowledge is apparently at risk.
This means any job that doesn't require creativity and is highly repetitive can be taken over by automation.
Cornerstone Capital Group, an investment advisory company, estimates that up to 7.5 million jobs in the retail sector are at risk. The most affected will be the women as they are the majority retail cashiers.
One in every ten American workers is in the retail sector meaning that automation will have far-reaching impacts on the US economy. The restaurant industry is also not safe as human workers are at risk as machines could take over their work.
The sooner you accept the inevitability of automation, the better. As a small business owner, you should embrace automation and concentrate on how you can improve your business and be competitive. Automation can relieve you of administrative tasks leaving you to focus on building new business relationships and planning your long-term vision.
Robots perfect the repetitive tasks but will struggle where there is a significant variation. For example, the most advanced robotic arm may excel at piecing together a particular item like the chair but will struggle with a completely different object. Humans don't have this problem, and this means that is possible to automate-proof your job by adding to your skillset.
No amount of automation can take over tasks requiring interpersonal, social and persuasion skills. There is no replacing nurturing, negotiating and teaching abilities in any way. A computer cannot efficiently convince a potential customer to purchase a particular product over another.
A total replacement of the call canter representative will also not be possible as the computer cannot talk through a customer's frustrations with a specific product. Such tasks are entirely a reserve of human workers. A robot can make a product but can't sell directly.
It's often said that death and taxes are inevitable. Business automation is now in the same bracket of the things must happen, sooner or later. The integration of artificial intelligence will significantly change the business landscape and impact the global economy.
However, that does not mean machines will completely replace human workforce. There are still several tasks that demand a human touch such as interpersonal and negotiation skills. Functions that require creativity and varied skillset are also irreplaceable.
As a business, you can protect yourself by embracing automation to make it easier for you. Automate as much as you can and concentrate on creating new relationships and opportunities.
Should You Consider CMS For Your Startup Venture?