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Category Archives: Social commentary
The British came – and went (Part 1 )
In 2012, when I felt keenly that I could hear the whisper of the wings of Death, I wrote 44 articles (of a somewhat intellectual flavour) for exinearticles.com. I wished to leave my thoughts on some serious topics.
Since then, each month, a number of readers have looked at my articles. The article attracting the most interest is titled "The pros and cons of British colonialism."
That anyone could find any benefits to a subject society from European colonialism must attract some attention. To then find that the author is a former colonial subject who is avowedly anti-colonial (but clearly not anti-British), would be more surprising.
The principal benefit I and my age cohort received in British Malaya was a sound education in English. This was based on a curriculum in Britain. It was truly broad-based. My classmates succeeded in various disciplines post-school, studying in Britain and certain colonial outposts offering competitive professional qualifications. One classmate became a professor at Harwell, UK, the atomic research institution.
Our education was, in my experience, superior to that provided to my offspring in Australia. This assessment is based upon my substantial involvement in the education system in the national capital. My children's education was superior to that offered to their children. By then, there were many fads creeping into what should have been a focused preparation of the nation's youth to become viable in a highly competitive global realm.
My first grandchild, near the end of her second year in school, could not read. Why? Phonics was out – by fiat, by the teaching profession. The rationale? Semantically unclear verbiage of such a high abstraction that one would need a bank of anvils to ground the attempted rationale to an operationally-definable level. We do have many, many excellent teachers – but they had to toe the line. In two 20-minute sessions with me, my grand-daughter could read. She turned out to be a bookworm. What a waste of 2 years!
The second benefit of colonialism which I accepted was British law, codified, and based on precedence. That justice does not always match the intent of the law, is covered in another post.
The third benefit is the concept of democracy. It has surface merit. However, regrettably, from my 70-year exposure to Australian democracy, I now assert that what is known as Western democracy is a sham. Yet, as the former Prime Minister of Singapore (Lee Kuan Yew) showed, there are other viable versions of democracy. Refer my later post.
Posted in A personal destiny, Accountability, Children, Colonialism, Education, Family, Knowledge, Language, Law, My Views, Perceiving reality, Social commentary | Tagged A former colonial subjectbenefits from British colonialism, British law is also a benefit but not matched by justice, The principal benefit was a sound education in English, There are alternative versions of democracy., This British subject is anti-colonial but not anti-British, Western democracy - a third benefit - has been shown to be a sham in Australia |
Aborigines in my community (mid-1990s)
It is very sad to hear the community at large talk about the Aborigines. There was an armed hold-up at the local service station and a very early question was: "Was the perpetrator black?" There was a break-in at the local shops and six youths were seen running away – four black and two white. Almost everyone, including the police, talked about the black kids. I asked what happened to the white ones. How was it they had become invisible?
Both white and black youth in a seaside fishing village are unemployed; yet an educated retirement community will cluck to one another about the lazy blacks who do not want to work. White migrants and Anglo-Celts hold similar views. Why not see the problem as a class problem (with young whites unwilling to work), instead of a problem of race (meaning colour) …
I walk through the small shopping area of this village and receive smiles and nods from those (Aboriginal and white) to whom I have served petrol, and sold cigarettes and the like in recent times. Some of the Aborigines drive into the service station in new cars and are well dressed. But I never see them on foot anywhere. I presume they work for Aboriginal organisations. Others arrive in old cars and are obviously not well off; they, too, are invariably courteous.
Yet, on some occasions, before I go out to serve them, I can hear some very rough language addressed to one another – but never in my presence. Infrequently, a very inebriated Aborigine has staggered into the shop and, on sighting me, immediately straightened his shoulders and spoken most courteously. On the street, if I am bumped by an Aborigine, or if I have to slow or step aside, the words I hear are, "Sorry, bro" or "Excuse me, brother", and such like. I could not fault these people in their social conduct, but apparently some police can.
And, in this State, social conduct is not a crime. Yet 'resisting arrest', for use of language which allegedly 'offends' a policeman, is. Most of the Aboriginals we see are unemployed. An Aboriginal welfare worker told me that there are competent, educated, and trained people in the community. They cannot obtain work in the region in any capacity because, as my contact said, employers are racially prejudiced. Merit has no place where ignorance rules. And I used to think that I had experienced discrimination – little did I know.
… … there was a recent initiative for the community (meaning the whites) to foregather and learn about Aboriginal values. At the first meeting of seventeen people, organised by the local adult education committee of volunteers, including me, there was an Aboriginal lady present. She had been our guest at a literary lunch, when she had read her poetry to us. It was both beautiful and touching; her slim book had, however, to be published privately.
ll the whites attending this reconciliation meeting were joined in their sympathy for the Aboriginal people, i.e. it was only the supporters of reconciliation there. Guided by the poetess and the notes provided by the State bureaucracy, they would have become better informed about the values of the Aborigines. They were also introduced to some of the other members of the local Aboriginal community. In the discussions, we were told that it was the women who made community decisions; that any support for the reconciliation process would have to come initially from the women.
(As the above extracts from my first book 'Destiny Will Out' indicate clearly, in contrast to the broadly prevailing negative views of the indigenous population by Anglo-Celt Aussies, there are other well-meaning white people who wish them a better future. That the prejudiced speak freely in my company is intriguing; I also detect no negative views about me (that may be because of my substantial involvement in civil society).
That competent Aboriginals had difficulty obtaining employment commensurate with their qualifications is deplorable.
Against that, how does one explain those vociferous supporters of economic migrants arriving by boat who, having torn up all identifying papers, seek asylum? Are they unable to see that their own black fellow-citizens could do with a helping hand?)
Posted in A cosmic mind, Aborigines, Ancient societies, Asylum seekers, Colour prejudice, Cross-cultural issues, Discrimination, Ethnic affairs, False superiority, History, Intolerance, Migration, My Books, My Views, Perceiving reality, Racism, Social commentary, The bonds of co-existence | Tagged Aboriginal women make community decisions, Invariably Aborigines display courtesy to me, Many white Australians have negative views of their indigenes, Prejudice and some discrimination experienced by Asian students in the early days was less harmful than the treatment of the Aboriginal people, Skilled and educated Aborigines have difficulty finding jobs, There are pockets of Aussie good-will |
Pascoe's 'Dark Emus Black Seeds'
Here are the reviews contained in the book. White Australian supremacists, who seem to be thick on the ground, will not like what they say. What explains the derogatory views expressed publicly by white Aussies? A sense of collective guilt? No! One cannot feel guilty on behalf of one's forebears. 'Why can't they be like us?' is a better explanation.
Since the Irish Catholics were allowed to be a separate people, with their own systems of education and charity, should not the Australian Aborigines (who was here first) be a separate people within an integrated ethno-culturally diverse population?
Would that mean recognising them as First Nation People? Yes, but over the dead bodies of many a whitey. What about giving them a right to have a say in how they are now to be uplifted societally and integrated? Since terra nullius was proven false, could white-man superiority not be up to a requisite standard to 'bridging the gap' (a favourite mantra of politicians who prefer words to effective action)?
The reviews:
• "in 156 pages, Pascoe has inverted almost everything I thought I knew about pre-colonial Australia. Importantly, he's not relying on oral history, which runs the risk of being too easily bunked; his sources are the journals of notable explorers and surveyors, of pastoralists and protectors. He quotes them verbatim, describing all the signs of a complex civilisation but viewed through the blinkered lens of appropriation and White superiority. As a teacher – I recommended it as essential reading for any educator." Lisa Hill, blogger and educator.
• "This very readable, strongly argued study turns the accepted nation of the Aborigines as a hunter-gatherer people completely on its head" Steven Carroll, Sydney Morning Herald.
• "He has done a great service by bringing this material to students and general readers, and in such a lively and engaging fashion." Richard Broome, Agora Magazine.
• "This is an important book that advances a powerful argument for re-evaluating the sophistication of Aboriginal peoples' economic and socio-political livelihoods, and calls for Australia to embrace the complexity, sophistication and innovative skills of Indigenous people into its concept of itself as a nation … an important and well-argued book." Dr. Michael Davis, Honorary Research Fellow at Sydney University.
• "A remarkable book." Max Allen, The Australian.
The literary quality of Pascoe's book about the settled lives of his ancestral people is demonstrated by being short-listed for the Queensland Literary Award and the Victorian Premier's Literary Award, both in 2014; the 2016 NSW Premier's Literary Award as 'Book of the Year', and the 2016 NSW Premier's Literary Award as winner.
(Comment: The Bradshaw cave paintings show that the Chinese had visited the Kimberleys.
Regrettably, prejudice against the Aborigines by many of the movers and shakers of Australia is quite strong.)
Posted in 'Racial'superiority, A cosmic mind, A personal destiny, Aborigines, Accountability, Asian civilisations, Colonialism, Community relations, Cross-cultural issues, Early societies, Economic colonialism, Equity and fairness, Ethnic affairs, False superiority, History, Humanity, Inter-cultural superiority, Intolerance, Knowledge, Learning, My Views, Open-minded scholarship, Perceiving reality, Racism, Research findings, Social commentary | Tagged Co-operation and conservtion displayed relatinship between people and land, Evidence of agriculture and aquaculture while living in houses of sound construction, Fire was used to increase production, Pre-colonial Australians lived a settled life, The reviews of the book were all positive, Unlike Chinese explorers Europeans were cruel - almost barbaric |
An Aboriginal writer on Aboriginal culture
The plight of Australia's Aborigines is so sad that I was pleased to hear about Bruce Pascoe's book 'Dark Emu Black Seeds: agriculture or accident?' A retired school teacher drew my attention to this valuable book. Have our media paid any attention to its findings?
A book about pre-invasion Aboriginal culture, written by an Aborigine, is far more credible than writing by even a sympathetic non-Aboriginal writer. Pascoe's sources are journals and diaries of (white) pastoralists, explorers, and the like. His sources are plentiful. When British beneficiaries of invasion, killing, and despoliation of native culture say honestly what they saw and experienced, one would expect Pascoe's narrative to be accepted by one and all.
Not so! A retired Anglo-Aussie school teacher told me that she did not find the book credible. I repeat a belief I uttered way back in the racist 1940s and 1950s: that the oldest generation of (British) Aussies had to join their Maker before the lives of Asian students in Australia would be easier. That did happen.
Those supremacist white Australians who will not even accept that their indigenes are First Nation People, or who are unwilling to allow the Aborigines to have a say on policies to 'bridge the gap' in life expectancy, health, education, and a jail-free life have to leave us – in my view, as soon as possible.
Pascoe's report also suggests that the behaviour of settlers generally, and some explorers, was decidedly despicable and un-Christian. Pascoe's book also confirms what the redoubtable Dr. Coombs had earlier written about the Australian Aborigines. Their lives had all the hallmarks of a settled people, an organised polity, and a civilisation; and they had spiritual values of a high order, as well as a view of the Cosmic order.
Would not any intelligent person expect that a people who had survived this harsh land for 35,000 to 60,000 years know how to relate to Nature and to heavenly bodies? I doubt that modern man does. He wants control, not balance.
British settlement turned a settled people with agriculture, aquaculture, solid buildings, and a co-operative way of life into nomads. Being converted to Christianity did not protect the indigene from exploitation for more than two centuries. Now, they are expected to be 'like us.' Some already are; what about the rest?
Multiculturalism policy permits, even encourages, ethnic communities in Australia to identify themselves as identifiably separate; but not our indigenes. Why so?
Posted in A cosmic mind, A spiritual perspective, Aborigines, Ancient societies, Colonialism, Colour prejudice, Community relations, Coping with hardship, Corruption, Cross-cultural issues, Economic colonialism, Equity and fairness, Ethnic affairs, Exploitation, False superiority, Greed, History, Invasions, Justice, Learning, Multiculturalism, My Views, Open-minded scholarship, Racism, Religion, Social commentary, Spirituality, Suffering | Tagged Australia's First Nation People were settled - and had an organised polity, Dr. Coombs: The Aborigines had the hallmarks of a civilisation with spiritual values, He offers a barrage of credible sources, His sources are records of white men, Pascoe's writing is authentic, The behaviour of settlers and explorers decidedly non-Christian |
A 'tickle-my-tummy' nation
When I read this description of my adopted nation, decades ago, I was tickled (so to speak). When I was employed in the Balance of Payments Branch of the Bureau of Statistics, I realised how dependent Australia is on foreign capital inflows; and that there is a price to be paid when the economy is kept afloat by foreigners seeking a substantial profit or some economic advantage.
I arrived in 1948 when the British Subject status of Australians was replaced by Australian citizenship. British by origin and heritage, Australians seemed unconcerned by remaining beholden to Britain; except in relation to defence. When attacked by Japan, Australia had placed itself under the protection of the USA. We have been subservient to the US ever since, rushing into wars behind our hoped-for protector.
Since Australia is not in Asia, and is also not of Asia, with its Western roots, it cannot avoid being part of the West – in every way. We are an integral part of the West. American corporations also developed Australia in economic (and cultural) terms, allowing us to jump smoothly after World War Two from a consumer nation (riding on the sheep's back) to an industrial nation – a path not normally available to a developing nation. In the Treasury I learnt that the Government did rely on market forces to take the economy forward.
Our Governments, not known (ever) to possess any long-term plans for development (not even a population policy), are ever so grateful to anyone who wishes to invest in the country. Until the 1970s, when tariff-protected uneconomic, and technically inefficient, industries were opened up to foreign competition, with support from arbitral authorities, the people ate well. Welfare now subsidises or supports those affected by either import competition or the exigencies of an open market. (In 1963, I was the first 'free- trader' in the then Tariff Board.)
Like other nations, Australia seeks international trade agreements. Concessions of an economic nature are made, the signatories seeking mutual benefit. There will be some losers in each participating nation.
An amazing feature of the Trans Pacific Partnership to be signed is the surrender of Australia's sovereignty. Corporations in signatory nations will be able to sue the Australian government in a foreign court "when they believe a change in Australian laws are affecting their profits." Refer Anna Patty's article 'TPP deal may expose legal risks' in the 5 March 2018 issue of 'The Sydney Morning Herald.'
Patty quotes academic Stuart Rosewarne as describing this provision as "quite scary because it effectively allows a foreign-owned company to have any Australian law, including enhanced labour laws that are considered to impose additional or onerous obligations on a company's employment practices, to be set aside."
Tickle my tummy or not? How cheap is sovereignty?
Posted in Accountability, Allegiance, Economic responsibility, Foreign investment, History, My Views, National sovereignty, Perceiving reality, Social commentary, The national interest | Tagged A corporation in a signatory nation will be to sue Australia in a foreign court, Australia placed herself in the hands of the USA, Auustralian sovereignty will be dented by TPP, Only foreign capital Australians to eat well, The US converted Australia from a comsumer to an industrial nation, Until the Japanese attacked Australia the nation was beholden to Britain |
The El Dorado of welfare
When the Soviet regime allowed some of its Jewish citizens to join close relatives in Israel, 85% of those allowed to leave were (according to Israel's Prime Minister in the early 1980s) deflected to the El Dorado of the USA (and to less-attractive nations such as Australia). This is the power of economic opportunity.
In recent decades, beardless Middle Eastern men and niqab-free women paid large sums of money to 'snake-heads' to deliver them to the (no reciprocity of payment required) welfare regime of the El Dorado of Australia.
The extent of support for welfare (and attempts to widen its scope in Australia) is most impressive. While 'other people's money' is a natural drawcard, what motivates those who recommend (even demand) widening and deepening welfare eligibility for others? Paying students to study maths at school is the latest thought-bubble of a poobah in education policy.
And, until recently, there was a strident demand from a sector of the community that Australia should take in more economic migrants claiming asylum – without regard to the UN Convention defining a refugee. Is it not curious that their wish to offer charity is circumscribed by the availability of taxpayer money?
A concealed form of welfare takes the form of tax subsidies to the well-off. The most interesting one is described as 'wealth creation' by Conservative politicians. The most flagrant form is through 'negative gearing' of investments in property. Costs – actual or staged – are deductible against income from any source; a most generous unintended gift by other taxpayers, who have to make up the deficit in government revenue, and who are unable to reduce their tax burden honestly.
Interestingly, an article by Jessica Irvine in the Sydney Morning Herald of 9 Feb. 2018, about a report by the Grattan Institute on Australia's compulsory contribution by workers, suggests increasing rent assistance to vulnerable retirees.
What was the objective in establishing the 'superannuation guarantee charge'? Was it not intended to progressively replace the age pension, which is now popularly regarded as a right, and which is a very heavy budgetary burden?
Posted in Accountability, Asylum seekers, Economic responsibility, Equity and fairness, Humanity, Justice, My Views, Personal responsibility, Refugee entry, Social commentary, The national interest, Unlawful arrivals | Tagged Sociology |
Hindu influence on Greek philosophy
This influence is accepted as a probability in the book 'Hindu Influence on Greek Philosophy' by Timothy Lomperis, academic, "of Greek heritage and years in India." I offer the following thoughts. Extracts are shown with quotation marks.
• The author displays a tendency to see 'revolt' by Buddha and Mahavira against Hinduism; and refers to 'invasion' and 'occupation' by non-existent 'white' Aryans; and 'dictatorship' by Brahmin priests. Was the author influenced by the competition between the 3 'desert' religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; theological control within sectarian Christianity; and Eurocentric historiography?
• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, described by Lomperis as free India's first Minister of Education and a philosopher, wrote "In Greece, elements of religion acquired the characteristics of philosophy; in India, philosophy itself was turned into a religion."
• Indian author A.R. Wadia wrote: "Like the Greeks generally, Plato was intent on making the best of his life." "The greatest aim of Plato was to bring into being an ideal state." "The Upanishadic seers were not interested in developing an ideal society or state."
• Plato "never committed his deepest thoughts in writing."
• "The task of distilling Hindu thought to anything like a united body of teaching is even more difficult." Comparing the diverse philosophies spread loosely throughout a huge subcontinent in Asia over a long period of time, with the incompletely-articulated philosophies of a small peninsula jutting into the Mediterranean within a short historical period may be questionable.
• Plato and the Hindus share a concept of the soul and its reincarnation. However, many cultures held comparable views until the leaders of Christianity decided against it, in favour of priestly control of behaviour.
• The author admits to a significant difference between Hinduism and Plato. "Mainstream Hinduism" views the empirical world as "an inconsequential illusion." Plato "saw truth located in the world of ideas."
Being unable to unify Athenian philosophers in the sixth to fourth centuries BC into a Greek philosophy, Lomperis seems yet able to find a unified main channel within the highly diffuse philosophies in the wide-spread tribo-lingual cultures of India over thousands of years!
• "In the case of philosophy," the direction of influence "seems quite clearly to be from India to Greece." The flow of fables was also from the East to Europe (as previously proven).
How else could it be when Indian philosophies and cultures were not known to the Greeks? The then prevailing view of Asia was of 'barbarians' and "Ethiopians." As well, did not Aristotle express racist views?
Throughout the globe, in the history of mankind, a large number of cultures would have produced thinkers seeking the Cosmos and the place of Man in it. Without physical contact between cultures, comparable perceptions could surely have arisen over time.
Without cultural competition seeking antecedence (as in theological contests), mankind will create diverse paths to understanding the meaning of existence.
Posted in Ancient societies, Asian civilisations, Colonialism, Cross-cultural issues, History, Humanity, Invasions, Knowledge, My Views, Open-minded scholarship, Philosophy, Reincarnation, Religion, Social commentary, Spirituality, Tribalism | Tagged Eurocentricism led to efforts to show that Athenian philosophers influenced Hindu philosophers, Futility of comparing a few Athnian philosophers with India's philosophers, Greeks did not know India - not even Alexander, Greeks viewed Asians as 'barbarians' and 'Ethiopians', India probably influenced Greece through Persia, Indian religions are not competetive |
Multicultural, ethnically diverse or one people?
In the 1970s and 1980s, ethnic empowerment (my phrase) became federal government policy. Since 1948, selected able-bodied European immigrants had to find their way wherever they lived in Australia. Now, their successor entrants had to be shown their way by social workers. These would be employed by their ethnic communities at taxpayer expense. Settled ethnic (European) populations, with few new entrants, were to be served too!
Coincidently, during that period, both sides of politics decided (on obviously faulty advice) to chase the so-called ethnic vote. Instead of a residence of 5 years out of 8 to qualify for the grant of citizenship, one government reduced the qualifying period to 3 years; this was followed by the other government reducing it to 2years. The beneficiaries would have included those with a criminal intent; by keeping their heads down for only 2 years, they could go back with Australian citizenship. Dual citizenship was not then available.
Multicultural policy was also introduced – to manage multiculturalism; that is, to tell us ethnics how to relate to one another. Quaintly, some British then claimed to be an ethnic community too, displaying a revived Morris dance. Since the Anglo-Aussies had already accepted us foreigners as fellow-Australians, what was there to manage? By the very fact of being foreigners, we got along with one another. Ethnic enclaves had not been formed as yet.
To guide the government, ethnic advisory committees were established. There was also a Minister for Multiculturalism, with attendant public service staff. What did they all do? The parallel migrant-settlement service managed by the ethnic committees was also never evaluated for its effectiveness.
State governments were not slow in establishing counterpart ethnicity-focused structures. What did they achieve? In essence, what ethnic tribal chiefs opposed was 'mainstreaming,' where governments provided necessary services to the public irrespective of ethnicity; that would have saved a great deal of taxpayer money. Needed services, when ethnicity based, emphasised cultural differences.
Why were cultural differences relevant? Interpreters were available in both public and private agencies. Gone were the days when children interpreted for their parents; or when some host people raised their voices to be understood.
A prime minister and a state premier then replaced culture retention with shared citizenship, and pride in being one integrated people. Most of our children had already led the way to one people through their education, socialisation, sport, and habituation.
In what ways do people display their ethnic origins in day to day living? Are not diverse clothing styles over-laid by a shared Australian accent in spoken English? And in shared community attitudes?
Could we just be Aussies without burbling about how culturally diverse our origins were? Do allow our young to lead us.
Posted in Community relations, Cross-cultural issues, Education, Equity and fairness, Ethnic affairs, Language, Migrant settlement, Multiculturalism, My Views, Politics, Social commentary, The bonds of co-existence, The one-ness of existence, The perspicacity of youth, Tribalism | Tagged Ethnic diversity only describes origins, Multicultural policy is a waste of resources, Multiculturalism is meaningless when everyone behaves in the same way day to day, Nationality defines people by belonging, The days of ethnic empowerment are over |


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Investor Spotlight: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
Sep 25, 2020 | Investor Spotlight
President/CEO: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky President Kennan Wethington
No. of employees: 1,500
Forbes Top COVID-19 Corporate Responders
Forbes: America's Most JUST Companies
Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index
FTSE4Good Index
Best Places To Work for LGBTQ Equality
Military Friendly Employer
Tell us about Anthem's roots to Louisville. How did Anthem today come into existence?
Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky was established in 1938 in the wake of the Great Depression. With an unemployment rate close to 20 percent, many were faced with choosing between health care and other necessities like food and housing. Similarly, hospitals were having difficulty collecting payment from their patients. Blue Cross and Blue Shield was created to help people "prepay" for high cost hospital and doctor care, respectively. The model revolutionized healthcare across the United States, vastly improving healthcare affordability and access.
In 1993, Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana to form the company that later became Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Soon, other "Blue" plans joined the Anthem family as did other, non-Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans Today, Anthem-affiliated health plans serve one in eight Americans through employer-based, individual, Medicaid and Medicare plans in 28 states across the country.
What is one thing you wish others knew about your company?
How deeply ingrained Anthem and our associates are in the Kentucky communities we serve. Anthem's 1,500 Kentucky-based associates work and live in all parts of Kentucky and many serve on community boards including the Louisville Healthcare CEO Council, Shriner's Hospital Corporate Council, Seven Counties Services, the Healing Place, the Morton Center, the Louisville YMCA, and dozens of others. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the largest commercial health insurer in the state, serving nearly 2 million Kentuckians across its spectrum of health plan offerings.
What makes your company different from competitors?
Our commitment to building healthier lives and communities in Kentucky. Having served the Commonwealth for more than 80 years, Anthem's bluegrass roots run deep. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky is a unique combination of local management and national scope. Anthem is uniquely positioned to serve all Kentuckians through a full spectrum of health plans including employer-sponsored, individual and Medicare health plans as well as dental, life, disability and worker's compensation plans.
Have you had to pivot strategies over the years?
No, because our purpose has always been to provide Kentuckians with affordable access to quality healthcare. However, Anthem has evolved and expanded over the years as the state's needs changed. When Medicare was created, Anthem was there. When the Commonwealth introduced high risk insurance plans, Anthem was there. When the Affordable Care Act went into effect, creating health insurance Exchanges and expanding Medicaid, Anthem was there. Anthem always has and always will stand with the people, employers and communities of Kentucky.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Are you hoping for a lightning bolt to strike which will jolt you into action towards weight loss goals? Do you think that you'll be visited by three ghosts to get you going? Will you be lucky enough to get a gallstone or gout that will force you to change? Leave it to The Fun Police, Catherine and Donald, to tell you that lightning bolts don't rescue people. You and your choices are handcuffed together and you need to start getting along. The Tip of the Week (TOW!) is to have some dignity. The Product of the Week (POW!) is the Grid Gear cold/hot cup. Also in this episode, the couple discuss, Vegemite sandwiches, how a "citation" sounds nicer than a "ticket", and how the two of them are the turduckens of weight loss.


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Illinois law prohibits upfront fees to settle debts
Alysse Dalessandro
May 9, 2010, 12:00 PM
The Illinois General Assembly passed legislation May 6 prohibiting debt settlement companies from taking advantage of consumers by charging fees upfront but doing little to actually help.
Consumer Ally took note earlier this week of potential pitfalls in the debt settlement process. This new law, however, would address the behavior of debt-settlers.
"The legislation provides Illinois consumers with essentially the strongest protection in the country by prohibiting debt settlement operators from getting paid upfront without providing a legitimate service," said Natalie Bauer, spokeswoman for the Illinois Attorney General. "It will only enable debt settlement operators who collect a fee after they settle the debt."
The bill originated in the state Attorney General's office in response to what Bauer called a "sharp rise" in complaints. From those, the Attorney General filed seven lawsuits in the past year against debt settlement operators. The bill requires the governor's signature before it goes into effect.
The majority of complaints said the companies did not follow through on their advertising, which guaranteed "debt free status." Consumers have wound up with high interest rates and fees from the credit card the debt settlement company advised them not to make payments on, diminished credit scores and potential lawsuits from banks.
"As the economic downturn continues, it remains critical to protect people struggling to pay their bills from companies that will only make their situation worse," said sponsor Rep. Marlow H. Colvin, (D-Chicago) in a public statement from the Attorney General's office. "This legislation will serve as a model of consumer protection."
consumer ally
IllinoisGeneralAssembly
upfront fees


Are we really SO Different or are we more the same?
What is your child's Label? Diagnosis? Struggle?
Are our children so very different or more the same?
Do you know a child with Downs who needs the same kind of therapy as a child with Autism?
Do you know a child diagnosed with ADHD who can benefit from the gifts and talents and personality of a child with CP?
Increase your circle of friends regardless of diagnoses.
A child with Dyslexia could benefit from being friends with a child with high functioning Autism who writes easily.
We are more the same than we are different, no matter what our issues, capabilities, gifts, concerns.
In fact, a child with even multiple disabilities is more like a typical child than they are not.


Will it rain in Scotland?
Of course it will rain, and I have to be prepared. I can't risk 6 grands worth of kit getting wet. It's really difficult to find a camera-and-lens rain cover which will also work when carrying the combination upside down – my normal carry mode. Back in January I decided to go for broke and buy the best – the Think Tank Hydrophobia from America. It's advertised as fitting lenses from 300mm to 600, but it didn't fit my 100-400 so I sent it back. Ironically now that I have a bigger lens it would have worked, but I got a refund and eventually settled on the Matin Delux Rain Cover, made in Korea. It's tricky to fit but really does the job well.
Note the look of weary resignation – I have in my head an imaginary scenario: I need to walk across moorland or mountain for several hours in the rain to reach a point where I can make myself as invisible as possible and wait for the eagles to show themselves. I'll be carrying a heavy pack which will need protecting, and I need to be sure that, apart from my face, the rest of me will be kept dry and warm.
My first plan was to use a simple waterproof poncho which would cover me, the camera and the backpack. I would have a stool with me so could perhaps use the poncho as a hide as well. Great idea! Didn't work though. Simply getting everything in the right position to be able to see around and take pictures was just too complicated. I still think a modified poncho might work, but that project will have to go on hold for now.
Plan 2 was fully waterproof, breathable clothing and a rucksack rain cover. I would keep the camera and lens in the rucksack until I was somewhere with a chance of some good pictures, and then carry it side-slung from the harness, with the rain cover on. Last year, before my trip to Iceland, I bought a de-luxe rain coat by Paramo. It was expensive, but I could be confident of staying dry and comfortable. There wasn't much choice of colour so I went for black. It was fine in Iceland, but I had more difficulty with the cold there than with the sort of drenching rain which western and northern Britain gets.
Now I'm trying to see myself as an eagle would. They have far better eyesight than us, but possibly less sophisticated colour vision, and will be acutely aware of movement. Surely a black coat is going to stand out against the dull green of a typical Scottish mountain? Perhaps more to the point, I would feel conspicuous in a black coat. Would camouflage be better? From the French "camouffler" "to disguise", camouflage clothing is very popular with those who call it "camo" and fancy themselves as soldiers, hunters or stalkers of wildlife. You see them at bird reserves with jacket, trousers, hat and lens all designed to blend into the typical British countryside. It's not a look the fashion conscious have been anxious to achieve. How much does looking like a prat matter if it gets results? This morning it mattered enough for me to route my trial walk away from prying eyes!
I couldn't afford another expensive coat so scoured the army surplus sites on the web for green or camo lightweight coats. I have several pairs of waterproof over-trousers, but none you could put on while wearing boots, so I'm looking for those too. I suppose it's daft to complain that army surplus stores don't have the right sizes. Of course they are much more likely to have too large or too small or the garments wouldn't be surplus. Finally I found the perfect coat in the big "Go Outdoors" shop in Swansea.
Notice:cann't be put in water,just prevent certain rain drop or snow.
Fills you with confidence doesn't it? Rubber gloves? I'd rather have cold wet fingers. I have one pair of less insulated waterproof mittens, so I'll use those. After all this, what if it doesn't rain? Will I be really pissed off? How many seconds do I need to answer this?
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Have you thought about midges? Avon Skin so Soft is brilliant.


The first sports season at TK ended. Here are our sports teams' great results.
9U boys' soccer: Our students experienced a fabulous season as a result of improving their skills and learning challenging rules of the game. They completed the championship event by ranking within the middle range of their division.
11U boys' & girls' basketball: Our two basketball teams, boys and girls, had an exceptional championship day and achieved the highest ranking in their division. Congratulations to both teams and to their coaches, Ms. Sarah Cole and Mr. Jamie Yorke, for their dedication towards students.
12U girls' badminton: With determination and a lot of practice, the team achieved significant learning about the game and also good match results. Well done, girls!
12U girls' netball: These girls joined a new team and welcomed this new challenge! Students demonstrated quick learning of skills and solid knowledge as they learned the rules of the game. They practised a lot and had the opportunity to put into practice what they had learned. Naturally, they never gave up during matches...because they are CIS Huskies!
Cross country: It's always great to see our students, from the youngest to the oldest, become risk takers, strive to achieve their potential and exceed expectations. This year our students achieved an even higher number of overall points at matches than in the previous academic year.
Engaging actively in sports can generate many emotions, which can at times be challenging to describe in words. Yet it is a very rewarding experience that students will remember in future. I'm proud of all the student coaches and supervisors for making Season 1 so memorable. The second season has already begun and it looks like another exciting one to follow. Go Huskies!


Busy families turn to Life360 to make daily life run smoother and we wanted to create an updated layout that was even simpler for families to use. This new format allows you to easily switch between circles & get faster access to your most used actions with the centralized "+" shortcuts menu.
We know that when you need to get in touch with family, you want to do it fast. So we've made messaging available from anywhere in the app – just tap the icon in the upper righthand corner and message your loved ones instantly.
We heard your feedback that some of our premium features like roadside assistance* and crash detection** were difficult to find in the app. In fact, a lot of you didn't even know they existed… sorry! Now you can easily see and access all available services in the new Safety Tab. The Safety Tab is also where you will find your favorite features such as weekly driving reports and crime reports+.
And this is just the beginning. We are more dedicated than ever to building the world's leading membership service for families. Throughout 2019, we'll be introducing more new product features around safety, coordination, and togetherness with a few surprises along the way. We hope you'll love as much as we do.
** *Crash detection is enabled when: the vehicle is moving at a sustained speed of at least 25 mph for at least 30 seconds before the collision; the vehicle has come to a complete stop after the collision; user's phone has more than 20% battery life and not be in power saving mode; the phone's WiFi settings are turned on; and you are in an area with strong cell phone reception (e.g. crash detection does not work in a tunnel). If you're on a CDMA carrier (including Verizon, Sprint, and US Cellular), cell data doesn't always work if you are on a phone call. If you're on a phone call at the time of a car crash, we might not be able to detect it. Even if all the criteria mentioned are met, Life360 may not detect all major collisions due to network outages, algorithm error, availability of GPS location data, sensor error on the mobile device, and crash location outside of a wireless service coverage area among others.


Now Goldman Sachs has told staff not to campaign on EU referendum, although the bank itself has previously donated to the "in" campaign | City A.M.
Goldman Sachs has become the latest big name to tell staff to play their cards close to their chest when it comes to the EU referendum, it was revealed today.
In a memo sent to 6,000 staff, most of whom are based in London, the bank advised that it had chosen not to register with the Electoral Commission as a campaigning organisation and, therefore, employees should refrain from campaigning for either side to make sure they don't breach the rules on permitted activities.
However, although Goldman Sachs has not registered as a campaigning organisation, it has previously donated £500,000 to the "In" campaign.
The memo sent to staff, which was obtained and first reported by Sky News, advised them "not distribute any material which could be seen as campaigning for either outcome or endorsing the messages of either campaign".
Under the rules of the referendum campaign period, companies who have not registered as a campaigning organisation must not spend more than £10,000 on certain referendum-linked activities between Friday (15 April) and 23 June, when the country will head to the poll booth to decide whether to stay or go.
The Goldman Sachs memo warned: "Breaches may result in legal and regulatory action against companies, company directors and officers, or senior managers who have authorised a breach of the rules."
Read more: Is it wrong to spend taxpayer money on pro-EU leaflets?
Last week, Credit Suisse advised its staff to avoid discussions around the EU referendum, including declining to attend any client events where a Brexit might be a topic of conversation.
Meanwhile, last month, Bank of America banned its staff from saying "Brexit" in conversations with clients.


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In Pictures: 15 Ways Your Laziness Is Costing You Money
It's amazing how so many businesses make hay by taking advantage of our collective laziness--everything from not bothering to spend 15 minutes surfing the Web for a better rate on a savings account to not taking half as much time to mail a $50 rebate on a new laptop computer. Sloth may be a deadly sin, but it's not an immutable reality. Here are 15 ways your laziness is costing you--and what little you can do (because that's all it takes!) to turn things around.
Not Choosing the Best Rate on Your Savings Account
Many Americans are content to keep their money in traditional brick-and-mortar banks. Put less charitably, they're too lazy to root around for a better interest rate offered by online institutions. According to Justin Pritchard, banking expert at About.com, the best annual percentage rate you'll get at a traditional bank is about 0.75%, while Internet banks such as EmigrantDirect and Doral Bank Direct can easily offer a 2.25% APY. May not sound like much, but it all adds up. On a $100,000 principal, compounded monthly for five years, the higher interest rate yields an additional $8,000. A quick search for a good rate at an FDIC-insured bank plus the few clicks to set up an account can take under 30 minutes. "People are creatures of habit," said Pritchard. "If their money is somewhere, and they're busy doing other things, they don't necessarily try to do better. But if people have a decent chunk of change, it's worth it."
Not Opening a Retirement Fund (As Soon As Possible)
Twenty-somethings aren't necessarily in touch with their own mortality. Take a hint: Old age comes quick, and you'll need a serious retirement stash if you want to ride it out in any kind of style. Too bad for those who don't bother to set up a 401(k) account--one that can automatically draw a certain percentage from each pay check without you having to lift a finger. Consider: If a 40-year-old starts saving $5,000 annually at 6% interest per year (a conservative assumption based on historical returns for the stock market), he would have $291,000 at age 65; if that same person started saving that 15 years earlier, at 25, he would have amassed $821,000, three times as much. How to set a up 401(k)? Simply call your company's Human Resources department--you'll be enrolled in a matter of minutes.
Not Paying Your Credit Card Bill on Time
Laziness trumps logic, especially when it comes to the five minutes it takes to hop online and stave off late fees on your credit card bill. A recent survey conducted by indexcreditcards.com found that the average late fee is $34.09--enough for a decent steak dinner. The real danger of delinquency, though, is that your interest rate can suddenly shoot north of 30%. Assuming you borrow $10,000 at 10%, make minimum payments every month and never add to the principal, you would fork over $4,800 in interest by the time you got completely out of hock. At 34%, the interest tab jumps to nearly $28,000 over the same period. Worse still, even if you default on just one credit card, all of your lenders may increase your interest rate. Just pay the bills (or at least the minimums) on time.
Not Finding a Deal on Smaller, Regular Purchases
Saving a few cents on an impulse buy at the store may not seem worth the effort, but finding deals on regular purchases can save mounds of green. Take gasoline. Say you pump 1,000 gallons over the course of a year. Web sites such as gasbuddy.com can help you find inexpensive gas in your area, and the difference between the cheapest and most pricey petrol can be as much as 40 cents a gallon. That's $400 you could put toward a plane ticket to a tropical getaway. If you're going to be lazy, might as well do it somewhere sandy and warm.
Waiting Until the Last Minute to Send Mail
Overnight mail isn't just for cubicle warriors--it's also for procrastinating sons and daughters who forgot about Father's Day (friendly reminder, it's Sunday). Drag your feet and you'll pay a premium for speed. Overnight delivery at a U.S. Post Office starts at $13.05 for items up to half a pound and within two "distance zones" (there are eight zones in all)--prices escalate quickly based on distance and weight. Say you're sending a four-pound care package four zones away; in that case, the shipping fee jumps to $33.75. Meanwhile, regular delivery, which takes two to eight days, starts at $4.95. Saving that money takes no extra time, just a little extra planning ahead.
Not Paying Attention to 0% Financing Deadlines
Ah, the Siren song of "no money down." Many stores offer 0% financing for a length of time, allowing customers to pay in installments without incurring interest charges. Great deal, right? Only if you remember (or bother) to pay in full by the end of the no-interest grace period. Fall short and the often very steep interest rate that kicks in applies not to the remainder of the debt but the entire original purchase price. Example: Electronics retailer P.C. Richard & Son sells a $3,200 television with 0% financing for 18 months. Say you've paid $3,100 at the 18-month mark; one day later, you will owe an additional $800--the $100 you hadn't paid yet, plus the $700 in interest (22% of the entire $3,200). Not getting burned is as simple as reading your statement and sending in the bill.
Not Sending in Rebate Offers
Department and electronics stores often advertise goods at post-rebate prices, assuming most customers will be too lazy to mail in the rebate, which could save them up to 10% on big-ticket items such as dishwashers, refrigerators and computers. At Staples, a $650 laptop from Hewlett-Packard carries a $50 rebate. Don't let them get away with this. Filling out and mailing the rebate takes all of 15 minutes. Says Tod Marks, senior project editor at Consumer Reports: "Anyone who walks away from rebates is giving money away."
Not Making a Grocery List
Here's a classic example of how laziness can sneak up on you. Not taking the two minutes to jot down what you need at the grocery store increases the likelihood you'll buy items you don't really need--be it that extra gallon of milk because you forgot there's one sitting in your refrigerator or that box of irresistible Nutter Butter cookies (to go with the milk, natch). Too lazy to make it to the store, let alone scratch out a game plan? Shop online. Every grocer from ShopRite to Trader Joe's has a Web site that makes it easy to compare prices and ignore temptation; you might not even have to pay for delivery.
Not Selling Stuff You Don't Use Online
That stack of ABBA records collecting dust in your basement? Never going to hang that Cheers wall clock again? "You could have $1,200 worth of items you don't use, don't care about and could easily sell" just lying around your house, says Greg Kusch, who offers training for homebodies who aim to pay the light bill by peddling merchandise on eBay. "Just go on, set up an account and sell." Yes, it's that easy.
Not Taking Advantage of Corporate Wellness Incentives
With health care costs rocketing through the roof, more corporations are willing to pay you to be healthy--or even just to try. According to Fiona Gathright, president of Wellness Corporate Solutions, a wellness consultancy, plenty of companies are happy to pay employees $50 to $150 per year to take a 30-minute health-risk assessment and biometric screening to determine health risk factors. (Talk about money for nothing.) Tack on a lunch-hour health seminar and you could pocket another few hundred clams. "[Encouraging participation in] wellness programs is common, and becoming more common," says Gathright. "Because companies are trying to control health care costs, they will encourage people to change their behavior." (For more, check out: "Yes, You Can Cut Your Health Care Costs.")
Not Bothering to Negotiate a Better Deal
"It never hurts to ask" isn't just a bromide--it's a serious penny-pincher. According to a recent poll by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, roughly 80% of haggling Americans were able to win better deals on hotel rates, cellphone bills and clothing; more than 70% paid less for electronics and furniture. Landlords? They're ready to negotiate too, especially in this nasty real estate market. What are you waiting for? (Check out "How To Renegotiate Your Lease" for more on wangling a better rate on your office lease.)
Not Rooting Through Your Change for Valuable Coins
A penny saved is ... several hundred dollars? Jay Beeton, marketing and public relations director of the American Numismatic Association, tells the story of a man who found a dime worth $800 on an ascent of Pikes Peak. While most of us won't be coin-hunting in the Rockies any time soon, the average attic can suffice. Your investment need only be the time it takes to read a book on identifying what makes coins valuable (printing imperfections, for example) and to, well, keep your eyes open for the occasional surprise. You could bag $10,000 to $15,000 over a 20-year-period, says collector and author Bill Fivaz. "There are coins out there, in collections and attics," he urges. "People ought to know what they have."
Ignoring the Lingering Fat in Your Budget
We get it: Combing through a budget is boring. But easy steps like bundling your phone and cable service, cutting those ballroom dance classes you never attend, or eliminating those QVC indulgences (despite the undeniable appeal of today's gemstone jewelry clearance) can save some serious coin--perhaps 30% on monthly household expenses, avers personal finance expert and creditcards.com columnist Erica Sandberg. "How often do people look at every line item?" she says. "By not doing that, the chances of overspending are so great."
Sleeping Too Much
Lying in bed too long is laziness defined, but the price you pay is not as obvious. Sleeping the day away can lead to insomnia, and that can be costly to treat. "This can be fairly common when people don't have a regular schedule, if they're on vacation or unemployed," says Dr. Michael J. Breus, WebMD's sleep expert. "They pull themselves out of an overall routine, and that leads to a form of sleeplessness." The insomnia borne of oversleep can lead to obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension; co-payments for related medications run $30 to $40 per month. Sleep aids like Tylenol PM run another $15 a month. And being up all night in the Internet age can lead to torching an extra few dollars on books at Amazon.com or downloads at the Apple iTunes store.
Not Going the Extra Inch
We all know that staying in shape shaves society's overall health care bill (see the previous slide on corporate wellness initiatives). It would be one thing if you needed to run marathons to stave off heart disease or diabetes--but you don't. Even moderate activity, in small bursts, can have an impact. Walk a little farther for lunch; take an extra few flights of stairs; churn some earth in a garden. Every little bit helps--especially when you're lazy.


Senior brokers have tipped Virgin Money to become the most influential new mortgage lender in the market place this year.
"First, they have confirmed that they are going to carry on engaging with the intermediary market place which is great news for us.
He added that the mortgage relaunch under the Virgin Money brand is a positive move and will eliminate any negativity still surrounding the Northern Rock brand.
Ben Larkin, director of Simply Finance agreed that Virgin Money will be one of the more influential new mortgage lenders of 2012.
Biggs said that he remains undecided over the impact that Tesco Bank could have on the market.
Tesco Bank's chief executive, Benny Higgins, has suggested that its long-anticipated launch into the mortgage market will happen by as early as April this year.
Biggs said: "The problem is that Tesco hasn't said whether they will be dealing with intermediaries or not. It's because we haven't heard much from them that one assumes they will be doing direct-only lending.


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Welcome to Symrise
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Symrise benefits from its strong roots and its determination to continually forge new paths. The challenges presented by climate change, limited natural resources and societal change can only be overcome through unified, immediate action. In close collaboration with our partners along the entire value chain, we develop new concepts that make both sustainability and economic success possible. The main goals for Symrise are to make our corporate activities climate-positive by 2030 at the latest and to meet the ambitious ESG requirements of our stakeholders with a high degree of transparency. By achieving profitable growth in a sustainable way, we will secure the future viability of our company.
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Perfumer to Perfumer
Some are born into it, some stumble into it. But for all who find themselves in it, perfumery is all encompassing. Meet David Apel and Enrique Gomez, and watch as they discuss their journeys into the world of fine fragrances.
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Symrise successfully continues profitable growth
03/10/2020 Corporate | Financial
—	Group sales in reporting currency up 8.0 % to € 3,408 million
—	5.7 % organic sales growth
—	Increase in operating result (EBITDA(N)) by 12.2 % to over € 707 million
—	EBITDA(N) margin up to 20.8 %
—	Normalized net income for fiscal year rises by 10.2 % to over € 304 million
—	Dividend increase from € 0.90 to € 0.95 per share proposed
Symrise AG continued its profitable growth course in 2019 and achieved all of its targets for the year. With the acquisition of ADF/IDF, the Company furthermore reinforced its position in North America and expanded its product portfolio in the pet food market and in natural product solutions for the food industry. Taking portfolio and exchange rate effects into account, sales increased by 8.0 % to € 3,408 million (2018: € 3,154 million). As a result, Symrise was again one of the fastest growing companies in the industry. This strong performance was carried by good demand across all segments and regions. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization as well as normalized for one-time effects resulting from the acquisition of ADF/IDF (EBITDA(N)) increased by € 76.7 million to € 707.2 million.
"Symrise AG again posted strong growth in 2019. With the acquisition of ADF/IDF, we have continued to expand in fast growing, high-margin business areas. We have also further diversified our product portfolio in the attractive pet food market and expanded our position in North America. In addition, we made investments to expand our capacities over the course of the year and rolled out new technologies around the world. These targeted growth initiatives, combined with our disciplined cost management, are clearly reflected in our operational development in recent quarters," said Dr Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, CEO of Symrise AG. "Along with our customers, the capital market has also responded favorably to our performance. The share price has increased by 42 % in 2019. We want our shareholders to participate in our success again this year. At the Annual General Meeting of Symrise AG, the Executive Board and Supervisory Board will propose a dividend increase to € 0.95 per share."
Industry-leading sales growth
In the year under review, Symrise benefited from good capacity utilization and strong demand in all segments and regions. Taking portfolio and exchange rate effects into account, Group sales increased by 8.0 % in the reporting period to € 3,407.9 million (2018: € 3,154.0 million). The organic growth rate achieved a clear plus of 5.7 %. As a result, the Group exceeded the average market growth rate in 2019, which was in the 3 to 4 % range according to estimates. The acquisition of the ADF/IDF Group, a leading US supplier of poultry and egg-based protein specialties, completed in November 2019, contributed approximately € 32 million to Group sales.
High profitability despite investments and fluctuating raw material costs
Despite higher expenses, Symrise increased its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization as well as normalized for one-time effects resulting from the acquisition of ADF/IDF (EBITDA(N)) by a clear two-digit result of 12.2 % to € 707.2 million (2018: € 630.5 million). The deal resulted in one-time acquisition and integration expenses of € 16.3 million in 2019. The markets for raw materials remained tense, especially in the first half of the year. Notwithstanding the above, Symrise continued to invest in global capacity expansion. Major investment projects included the new manufacturing site in Nantong (China), the expansion of production capacity for menthol and natural extracts in the USA, and for pet food in Colombia and France.
Symrise achieved very strong profitability in the fiscal year 2019 and significantly exceeded the previous year's level, with an EBITDA(N) margin of 20.8 %. As a result, Symrise was once again one of the most profitable companies in the industry.
Normalized net income increased by 10.2 % year-on-year to € 303.5 million (2018: € 275.3 million). This led to an increase in normalized earnings per share to € 2.25 (2018: € 2.12). Against the backdrop of the positive growth in earnings, the Executive Board and Supervisory Board of Symrise AG will propose a dividend of € 0.95 per share at the Annual General Meeting on 6 May 2020 (2018: € 0.90).
Strong cash flow trend
Symrise grew its normalized Business Free Cash flow by 53 % to € 476 million in the year under review (2018: € 312 million). This represents 14.1 % of sales, as compared to 9.9 % in the previous fiscal year. This significant increase can be attributed above all to the strong gain in net income for the period and a below-average rise in working capital.
As at the reporting date, net debt, including pension provisions and similar obligations, had increased to € 2,221.5 million (2018: € 1,893.1 million). On 31 December 2019, the ratio of net debt – including pension provisions and similar obligations – to EBITDA stood at 3.1, and thus showed little change as compared to the previous year's level (31 December 2018: 3.0). The medium-term target corridor for the ratio is 2.0 to 2.5.
The equity ratio increased from 39.5 % to 41.4 % at year-end. Symrise is thus in a very good financial position.
Segment Scent & Care
In the Scent & Care segment, sales in reporting currency grew by a positive 7.2 % to € 1,419.1 million (2018: € 1,324.1 million). This represents an increase of 5.6 % in organic terms. Dynamic growth was seen particularly in the Fragrances division, which experienced strong demand for fine fragrance products. This was reflected in double digit percentage growth in fine fragrances applications, supported by strong demand above all in EAME and Latin America. The Cosmetic Ingredients and Aroma Molecules divisions also posted gains.
Scent & Care grew its EBITDA by 9.3 % to € 278.0 million (2018: € 254.4 million). The EBITDA margin for the year under review was 19.6 % (2018: 19.2 %).
Segment Flavor
Flavor achieved a 5.6 % increase in sales to € 1,257.3 million in reporting currency (2018: € 1,191.1 million). After adjusting for exchange rate effects, the organic growth amounted to 3.8 %. This positive trend was carried by all regions and application areas. Flavor benefited in particular from dynamic demand in Asia/Pacific, where the segment achieved organic growth in the high single-digit percentage range. This was driven by flavorings for applications for sweet and beverage products, above all in Indonesia, Malaysia and China.
EBITDA in this segment increased significantly by 10.1 % in the reporting period to € 268.5 million (2018: € 243.9 million). As a result, the EBITDA margin was an outstanding 21.4 % (2018: 20.5 %).
Segment Nutrition
The Nutrition segment achieved in 2019 a 14.5 % increase in sales to € 731.5 million after sales of € 638.8 million in 2018. This included a total of € 32 million in sales from the ADF/IDF Group. Through the initial consolidation of the Group in November 2019, the fourth quarter showed a remarkably strong sales increase of 28.7 %. The segment also achieved significant organic growth. Once again, this growth was driven by product solutions in Pet Food. The strongest impetus came from North America and Latin America, where growth was in the double-digit percentage range.
Normalized for one-time acquisition and transaction costs, the segment achieved EBITDA of € 160.7 million for the reporting period (2018: € 132.3 million). This represents an increase of 21.5 %. The EBITDA(N) margin also showed healthy growth. It increased to an excellent 22.0 %, as compared to 20.7 % in 2018.
Symrise looks ahead to 2020 with confidence
In 2020, the Company aims to yet again achieve significantly stronger growth than the relevant market for fragrances and flavors as well as cosmetic ingredients, which is projected to grow at a rate of around 4 %. The Company expects all of its segments to grow notably faster than the global market. Assuming raw material costs at their current levels and a stable EUR/USD exchange rate, Symrise currently anticipates an EBITDA margin of over 20 % in all segments for the current fiscal year.
Overall, with its global presence, diversified portfolio and proven strategy, Symrise believes it is well positioned to achieve these growth ambitions. The Company plans to continue expanding in fast growing, high-margin business areas in the future, combining organic investments with targeted acquisitions. In addition, Symrise will remain committed to its disciplined cost and efficiency management.
Symrise believes that it is very well positioned to achieve the targets updated at the beginning of 2019. By 2025, the Company plans to increase its sales from € 5.5 billion to € 6.0 billion by means of organic growth at an annual rate of 5 to 7 % (CAGR), combined with targeted complementary acquisitions. Long-term, Symrise aims to achieve an EBITDA margin within the target corridor of 20 to 23 %.
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Almost every story idea starts with a climax or inciting event. Where do we go from here? Learn how to produce compelling plots for both discovery writers and outliners.
You have a great story idea! Wonderful! Now how do you turn that into a coherent plot? Do you have writer's block before you even pick up a pen? Here's a trick to turn your story idea into novel.
Almost every writer starts with an idea for either a story climax or an inciting event. They are the most interesting parts of a book, after all. But in order to have a true plot with a recognizable story arc, it needs to be expanded in a manner that covers any major plot holes, that keeps people's attention, and builds the suspense.
Some people are planners who outline their story and know every twist and turn of their plot before they write the first chapter. Others are 'pantsers' who prefer to just sit down and write, letting the story flow naturally. Most fall somewhere in the middle, each individual writer falling in a slightly different place in the spectrum.
As a new writer looking to develop your plot, a staged approach is a good way to discover your preferences. Start with the bare basics and then proceed to flesh out the details until you feel comfortable enough to begin writing. If you ever hit writer's block, come back to your outline and flesh it out a bit more. You'll discover where you need to go next.
Inciting event - What prompted your characters to get involved in your story?
Your climax - How does your story end?
That is the bare minimum to a plot - the starting and ending points. But in order to build tension and keep things interesting, you need a bit more. So let's flesh it out.
Inciting event - Something interrupts your character's normal life.
Decision point - Your character has a chance to escape his involvement in this story. Why doesn't he?
Crisis - Without problems along the way, you have a boring story. What is fighting against your character?
Climax - A major problem appears and must be solved or vanquished.
That's a little better. A die-hard pantser could start writing here and have at least a general idea for where his plot needs to go. But I prefer a few more guideposts.
Dilemma - Your character wavers, problems arise, and he might not go on this journey - why not?
Decision point - He decides to continue on the journey? Why?
More troubles - Does your character regret his decision? Could he turn back?
Crisis - So many troubles, it looks like this is getting impossible.
Turning Point - There's no going back. Regrets are forgotten or ignored. Problems are worked around. You character is committed and he's going to do this thing!
Climax - Everything reaches a head. The final battle fought, the last confessions are made. The day is won (or lost)!
Denouement - Life returns to normal - or the new normal.
Now we have a story! You can see the rising tension and major plot holes will become more apparent. When you can see at at glance the path your story should take, you can also tell where the path might run into problems. With the path in place, you can take each one of those points and write a few chapters about them and your plot will follow a nice story arc.
What happens in each chapter?
When do side characters enter?
Do your characters travel? Where do they go and when?
Next to each chapter, keep a timeline - if your story begins on day 1, does chapter 5 take place on day 5? Or day 35? Or does everything happen on the same day?
Do you have subplots in mind? Where does the subplot take place in the story? Match it up with your timeline.
You could also add details of your scene settings, your character's culture, relevant world-building elements, or any other design element for your story. Your outline can be as sparse or as detailed as you like.
Whether you are a planner or a pantser, every great story needs a great plot - and to get your great plot, you need to plan it out at least a little bit. Start small and add until you're comfortable. Plot Factory has a terrific outline feature that can help you get started. Choose your preferred outline format and fill it in with as little or as much as your story and your psyche require. Your story will be all the better for it.
Questions? Feature Requests? Bug Reports?


text:
Getting out of the Republican coma
By David Harsanyi | Creators Syndicate
The Republican National Committee recently launched a website to give "users the opportunity to discuss their reasons for being a member of the Grand Old Party and what being a Republican means to them."
It means having their butts kicked — big time. The rest, I assure you, is a profound mystery.
So the battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party is on. Then again, many Democrats probably contest the notion that Republicans own a heart or a soul. On the latter, they may have a point.
The prominent conservative columnist David Brooks recently declared the coming Republican war would pit traditionalists (conservatives who believe Republicans have strayed too far from Reaganism) against reformers, who, he argues, want to modernize, moderate and expand the party.
Traditionalists vs. reformers. If only it were that clinical.
For the past eight years, we have had a Republican Party that was neither excessively conservative nor too moderate, but a party that employed no principles to speak of — unless securing power for power's sake is now a creed.
After all, what exactly did Republican candidate John McCain stand for? The GOP (and independents) conferred the mantle of leadership to a media darling and longtime Senate insider who based his entire campaign on fighting the entrenched establishment and media.
It was almost satirical. McCain was the most "moderate" candidate Republicans could unearth — in effect a non-pick of a lethargic party — and they were thumped, while Democrats nominated their most liberal candidate in history.
Conservative leaders from all sects promptly converged in Virginia after the election to plot ways to stop the Barack Obama agenda. Good plan. But there has to be more. Movements aren't hatched in think tanks or in top- down, dorm-room bull sessions (by the geniuses who brought you compassionate conservatism!).
After the 2000 Bush victory, elite Democrats spent years whining about a stolen election, while grassroots progressives channeled their anger into a revolutionary movement that, with the help of a charismatic leader, carried the day in 2008.
Nearly every faction of the Democratic Party's coalition is willing to live together (for now) in the name of victory. The left stiffened resolve, targeted traitors and sharpened rhetoric.
Such is not the case on the right. Republicans can't afford to purge mushy apostates. They can't afford to christen the half of the country that listens to Hank Williams Jr. the "real" America and ignore the half with taste. They can't afford to entice Middle America with a round of wonky remedies.
Republican stupor is not a result of lack of moderation; it's about a lack of purpose.
Economic conservatism — not the "slashing" of government, as Brooks contends, but a tenuous control of massive government growth and intrusion — is a moderate pursuit. The pursuit of free and international trade and the fight against collectivist policies in energy and health care are also moderate pursuits.
For now, the best antidote for Republicans will be a child's timeout. Sit, think about what you've done — and plot your revenge. Conservatives will be willing to fight the battles of tomorrow once they know what they are. What they need now is a shot of idealism and then a renewed intellectualism.
Now, they're stuck with neither.
Reach columnist David Harsanyi at 303-954-1255 or dharsanyi@denverpost.com.
Aurora City Council members made a significant mistake that could impact future expansion plans at Denver's international airport and would ultimately hit the pocket books of airlines and travelers.
Brooks: The Bernie Sanders fallacy
Each of these stories takes a genuine tension in society and blows it up into an all-explaining cartoon in which one part of America is trying to destroy the other part.
Editorial: Don't repeal Denver's camping ban; make it unnecessary through resources and compassion
Should it be legal to stake a tent and camp out on Denver's iconic Civic Center lawns? We don't think so.
Citizens want transparency in government. Special interests? Not so much.


Station development and operation in the Netherlands includes an amount of €27 million (2017: €23 million) relating to development activities.
The increase in revenue from train-related transport in the United Kingdom is mainly due to the West Midlands concession that was started in December 2017. The revenue 2017 bus-related transport in the Netherlands comes from the Qbuzz entity, which was disposed of as at 31 August 2017.
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Revenue from the sale of travel rights is recognised when the travel right arises. Revenue from subscriptions is recognised over time and spread over the period in the profit and loss account over the validity of the subscription period.
Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised in the income statement when control of the goods has been transferred to the buyer, recovery of the consideration due is probable, the associated costs or any returns of goods can be estimated reliably. Government or similar fees arising from transport contracts or concessions are recognised in the income statement over the period to which the fee relates.
Rental income from property is recognised in the income statement over time, with it being recognised over the term of the lease. Commitment costs incurred as an incentive to enter into lease agreements are recognised as an integral part of the total rental income and spread on a straight-line basis over the contract period.


text:
We Are Building American Buddhism
Dr. Frederick P. Lenz
2022 The Future of American Buddhism
2020 Webinar: Addressing Racism
2018 Advisory Committee Conference
2016 Mindfulness in Business Conference
2014 Collaboration Training
2011 Soul of Money Training
Living & Working in the World
Pay It Forward Program
Women in Buddhism
Grant Activity
Institute for Jewish Spirituality
330 Seventh Avenue, 19th Floor
Website: www.jewishspirituality.org
Description of Organization
The Institute for Jewish Spirituality (IJS) was founded in 1999 in response to a challenge by then President of the Nathan Cummings Foundation, Charles Halpern, to help Jews find greater access to the deep wisdom of the Jewish spiritual inheritance and to help them build lives of vital and engaged practice. Rabbi Rachel Cowan, then Jewish Life Program Officer at the Foundation, gathered a small group of colleagues who worked together to create an intensive, practice-based model of Jewish spiritual learning and exploration. In January 2000, IJS launched its first programs: an eighteen-month, retreat-based learning and practice program for rabbis and a similar year-long program for lay leaders. IJS believed that professional and lay Jewish leadership needed to work together to create structures of learning and exploration for Jews seeking a serious, contemplative, practice-based Judaism grounded in mindfulness meditation for the sake of transforming the world.
Grant(s) Awarded
In 2010, a grant in the amount of $10,000 was awarded to Institute for Jewish Spirituality to support the Jewish Mindfulness Teachers 16-month training program.
In 2017, A grant was awarded in the amount of $10,000 to continue their Jewish Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training course. The program consists of three intensive retreats (18 days total over 15 months), as well as a curriculum of weekly study with a learning partner and monthly assignments and check-ins with a faculty mentor. Each month of the curriculum features a theme for investigation through an integrated path of study and practice. This includes readings from Jewish and Buddhist sources; practice instructions and guidance for integration of Jewish thought, language, and mindfulness; and pedagogic instruction and practice.
In 2018, A grant was awarded in the amount of $10,000 to support two online offerings: a month-long Elul Intensive Program, an intensive meditation program during Elul with the goals of helping new and experienced meditators deepen their practice and prepare meaningfully for the coming holy days and the Weekly Meditation Series.
Return to Grant Activities
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The Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt private foundation.
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India has a definitive nature and a strong cultural voice of its own. A lot of the contemporary jewelers however, tend to work in isolated pockets. Project Bawra is a callout to bring all contemporary jewellers in India under one umbrella towards developing a cognitive movement.
I do strongly believe though, that India deserves to have a national show before it welcomes International artists into the domestic arena to avoid being overwhelmed by the language of the west. This is likely to aid in developing a strong national foothold in this space so it can present itself on an equal footing for an International dialogue.
It may however, include foreigners settled in India or working in collaboration with Indians.
working towards contemporary jewellery being recognized as a valid form of art along with other art disciplines.
CNC and 3d printing to be included in the mode of production alongwith hand fabrication.
Such an exciting development on the Art Jewellery scene, particularly for it to take root in India, now needs the support of the Art Community. It will be exciting to see how it develops.
This entry was posted in art, contemporary, jewellery, jewelry and tagged art, Indian Art, Indian art jewellery, Indian contemporary jewellery, Project Bawra. Bookmark the permalink.


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Mr. David E. Blackman, 79, of Watershed Road, Newton Grove passed away Thursday, February 7, 2019. Funeral Services will be held Monday, February 11, 2019 at Newton Grove United Methodist Church, Newton Grove beginning at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends from 1 till 2 p.m. prior to the funeral service. Officiating will be Rev. Allison Lancaster. Mr. Blackman will be laid to rest in Hillcrest Cemetery following the funeral service.
Mr. Blackman's survivors include his daughters; Amy B. Brewington and husband Richard of Newton Grove, Amanda B. Cook of Raleigh, son; Darrell Blackman of Clayton. Grandson; Riley Brewington, sister; Brenda Adams and husband Bobby of Four Oaks.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Mack Luther and Beulah Mae King Blackman, daughter; Diana Blackman, grandson; Rylan Brewington, brothers; Bill Blackman, Lloyd Blackman and Luther Blackman, sister; Stella Cotton.