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Tag Archives: Samuel Miller
Here's hard evidence that sickness benefits are causing severe hardship rather than helping
Kevin and Amanda Stannard [Image: Daily Gazette].
Long-term disability campaigner Samuel Miller sent me the article quoted below, with the following words:
"The news story that I just brought to your attention is solid evidence that seriously ill and disabled people in the ESA WRAG are suffering immense hardship—and validates my tireless campaigning against these life-threatening cuts."
He is absolutely right, of course.
And he quoted the following, from the Huffington Post:
"Nor are we dealing here with people with minor illness. Charities report that 45 per cent of people who put in a claim for ESA, and had Parkinson's, Cystic Fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, or Rheumatoid Arthritis, were placed in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG).
"Around 700,000 apply each year for ESA, of which number around 60 per cent proceed to full assessment (the others generally return to work before the process is complete). Currently around 14 per cent of these go into the WRAG. That's around 60,000 people affected every year."
A survey of people claiming ESA shows 60 per cent of 1,755 respondents say the amount they receive is not enough to live on.
When asked about the consequences of this, 62 per cent said they struggled to stay healthy, while 49 per cent said they could no longer pay their bills.
For most people, the news that you have Parkinson's Disease is earth-shattering enough.
But for sufferer Kevin Stannard, 62, the worst was yet to come.
In 2010, he was made redundant from the blind-fitting firm [where] he had worked for … 40 years due to his worsening symptoms.
He was forced to begin claiming disability benefits or Employment and Support Allowance.
For the next few years, he and his wife, Amanda, struggled financially as part of the ESA Wrag group – which was set up especially for people who may be fit for work in the future.
Unfortunately for Kevin and Amanda, 60, from Colchester, the allowance was not enough to cover the cost of living.
The stress of working while dealing with the "confusing" process of claiming ESA for her husband led to Amanda suffering a minor stroke, which meant she also had to give up her part-time work as a director with a housing association.
The struggle experienced by Kevin and Amanda is not uncommon, according to the latest findings of the Disability Benefits Consortium, a national coalition of more than 80 different charities and organisations.
Source: 'Sickness benefits just aren't enough to live on' says family of Parkinson's sufferer
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This entry was posted in Benefits, Employment and Support Allowance and tagged activity, allowance, Amanda, Department, DWP, employment, ESA, Group, hardship, Kevin, Mike Sivier, mikesivier, Pensions, related, Samuel Miller, Stannard, support, Vox Political, work, WRAG on January 20, 2018 by Mike Sivier.
The DWP has caused so many deaths it should be forced to submit to outside regulation
A classic satirical take on Iain Duncan Smith – but under his "reforms", tens of thousands of people DID starve. Many more committed suicide in despair. He has yet to be brought to justice for causing these deaths.
Were you aware that more deaths have been linked to the Department for Work and Pensions and its homicidal "welfare reforms" than to aviation accidents?
One reason for this, according to This Writer's fellow campaigner against murderous DWP activities, Samuel Miller, is that airlines are regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure that they don't cut corners and introduce unsafe practices into their business patterns.
The DWP has been merrily inserting unsafe policies into its administration of benefits – but of course it doesn't have a regulator. Mr Miller says it should have one:
If the DWP were an airline, it would be regulated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, a watchdog with statutory powers. As it stands, there have been more DWP-linked deaths than airline accident fatalities in the UK—and shockingly, the DWP remains unregulated because the Work and Pensions Select Committee lacks statutory powers.
The DWP is a 'grave and systematic' human rights violator and its draconian welfare reforms are prematurely ending the lives of many benefit claimants. We must insist that it be governed by an independent body with statutory powers; otherwise, welfare reform in the UK will remain a 'human catastrophe', according to the UN, for sick and disabled Britons.
We should publicly call for the DWP to be regulated by a watchdog. A Private Members Bill (PMB) could help facilitate this, by eliciting discussion of reining in this rogue department, which is gravely and systematically violating human rights. I'm well aware that all Select Committees are devoid of statutory powers and that Private Members Bills have virtually no chance of passing. But it will provoke discussion and that alone is worthwhile.
It's an interesting idea.
But, as Mr Miller rightly points out, under a Conservative government it would be doomed to failure because Tories don't want anybody interfering with their genocide of people with disabilities (for one example).
However (again) he is also right that the discussion of such a move would return the issue of the DWP-related deaths to the public eye.
People are still dying because of the DWP's cruel assessments and sanctions – every day. We need to do all we can to end this and bring those responsible to justice.
This entry was posted in Benefits, Conservative Party, Death, Politics and tagged assessment, dead, death, Department, die, DWP, Mike Sivier, mikesivier, Pensions, regulator, Samuel Miller, sanction, Vox Political, work on October 15, 2017 by Mike Sivier.
Malnutrition and 'Victorian' disease return – because of rising poverty driven by the Tories
The numbers aren't huge at the moment, but they are significant – between 2010 and 2014, malnutrition in Salford rose from 43 cases to 85.
The longer we have a Conservative government, the worse it is going to get.
This Blog predicted the problem all the way back in December 2012, when I wrote: "In the UK, there are currently 13 million people living below the poverty line [including] working people, whose income does not cover their costs; the unemployed, who are finding they do not have enough money to buy food due to the vicious and unwarranted benefit cuts thrust upon them… and of course the homeless, a sector of society that is due to grow exponentially, again due to the many cuts inflicted by the bloodthirsty Conservatives.
"As a consequence of the rise in poverty, overseen and orchestrated by Mr Cameron and his lieutenant Iain Duncan Smith in the Department for Work and Pensions, the classic poverty-related diseases of rickets and tuberculosis are on the increase. In 2012, the Conservatives have achieved their aim to revive the Dickensian Christmas."
Almost a year later, the UK's chief medical officer announced the formal return of rickets. One may presume that the disease, while present, did not exist in great enough numbers prior to this but, thanks to the policies of David Cameron, Theresa May and the Tories, that had changed.
This time, I wrote: "Can there be any doubt that this rise in cases has been brought about, not just by children sitting at home playing video games rather than going out in the sunlight, as some would have us believe, but because increasing numbers of children are having to make do with increasingly poor food, as Cameron's policies hammer down on wages and benefits and force working class people and the unemployed to buy cheaper groceries with lower nutritional value?
"The Tory wage-crushing policy has been ignorant in the extreme… as it has created an extra burden on the NHS. Preventative measures 'could save the economy billions'."
More than three decades of neoliberal political rule had had a devastating effect on the nation's children, I wrote. While our mortality rate for 0-14 year olds was among the best in Europe during the 1980s, it was now among the worst, with five more children dying every day than in the best-performing country, Sweden.
The highest death rates were in deprived areas – in the northwest, northern cities and some of London's poorer boroughs, with 21.1 deaths per 100,000 people under 17.
I also wrote that the then-government seemed hell-bent on ensuring that predictions of a rise in tuberculosis would come true as well, with its plan to tackle the phantom problem of "health tourism" (see how long that little nonsense has been floating around?) deterring temporary migrants from seeking treatment when they first fell ill.
By October last year, the list of 'Victorian' diseases re-surfacing in the UK had increased to include gout, TB, measles, scurvy, rickets and whooping cough.
Social security researcher and commenter – and stalwart friend of This Blog – Samuel Miller called on local authorities to investigate the return of these diseases.
He told us: "There is growing evidence that the draconian welfare reforms are irreparably damaging the mental and physical health of benefit claimants. Health figures recently revealed a 50% increase in the number of people admitted to hospital with malnutrition over the past four years, and a return of Victorian diseases linked to poverty such as gout, TB, measles, scurvy, rickets, and whooping cough are a barometer of failure and neglect," – and referred to a list of articles which may be found here.
And now Salford council has answered the request, telling us what we all knew – and what we all feared.
Back in 2014, I wrote something that, while accurate then, seems even more true now, so I make no apology for repeating it here:
In the Bible, Jesus is quoted as saying, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not" – meaning he did not want his disciples to stop youngsters from hearing his teachings.
That saying may now be re-worked to fit the philosophy of Theresa May and Jeremy Hunt to read: "Suffer, little children – for you have a Conservative government."
The number of malnutrition cases in Salford has doubled – with many of the victims children.
Victorian illnesses such as rickets and beriberi – thought to be long eradicated – are on the rise due to food poverty according to a shocking new report.
The number of people being admitted to hospital with the condition doubled over a four year period.
Although health conditions are often a primary cause, Salford council leaders believes that poverty is also to blame.
Source: Salford children are suffering malnutrition and Victorian diseases as poverty tightens its grip on the city
This entry was posted in Austerity, Benefits, Conservative Party, Cost of living, Health, Politics, Poverty and tagged benefit, benefits, Conservative, David Cameron, Department, disease, DWP, gout, government, health, Iain Duncan Smith, Jeremy Hunt, malnutrition, measles, Mike Sivier, mikesivier, Pensions, revive, rickets, Samuel Miller, scurvy, sick, social security, TB, Theresa May, Tories, Tory, Victorian, Vox Political, welfare, whooping cough, work on December 6, 2016 by Mike Sivier.
Will the Tories ever admit their 'welfare reforms' are reviving Victorian diseases?
Painful deformities of the skeleton such as bowed legs: The return of rickets is another sign that the Conservative Government is regressing Britain to conditions during the primitive Victorian era – or even earlier.
Social security researcher and commenter Samuel Miller thinks they are.
He wants health authorities in the UK to investigate whether the return of diseases linked to poverty – and to the Victorian era – such as gout, TB, measles, scurvy, rickets and whooping cough.
This Writer flagged up the possibility as long ago as October 2013, after the UK's chief medical officer formally announced the return of rickets.
I wrote: "Can there be any doubt that this rise in cases has been brought about, not just by children sitting at home playing video games rather than going out in the sunlight, as some would have us believe, but because increasing numbers of children are having to make do with increasingly poor food, as Cameron's policies hammer down on wages and benefits and force working class people and the unemployed to buy cheaper groceries with lower nutritinal value?"
Despite Tory claims that the UK is in better shape than it has been in years, it seems clear that these health issues are getting worse.
Mr Miller writes: "There's an urgent need for health authorities to investigate whether Ian Duncan Smith's welfare reforms, and cuts to social services, are responsible for the alarming rise in cases of malnutrition and the return of Victorian diseases.
"There is growing evidence that the draconian welfare reforms are irreparably damaging the mental and physical health of benefit claimants. Health figures recently revealed a 50% increase in the number of people admitted to hospital with malnutrition over the past four years, and a return of Victorian diseases linked to poverty such as gout, TB, measles, scurvy, rickets, and whooping cough are a barometer of failure and neglect."
He cites these sources:
Malnutrition and 'Victorian' diseases soaring in England 'due to food poverty and cuts'
Gout and malnutrition levels soaring as Victorian disease return
NHS hospital to offer food parcels to patients at risk of malnutrition
Malnutrition a public health emergency, experts warn
Who are you going to believe? Tory rhetoric or demonstrable evidence?
This entry was posted in Austerity, Benefits, Conservative Party, Cost of living, Health, Politics, Poverty, UK and tagged benefit, benefits, Conservative, Department, disease, DWP, gout, government, health, Iain Duncan Smith, malnutrition, measles, Mike Sivier, mikesivier, Pensions, revive, rickets, Samuel Miller, scurvy, sick, social security, TB, Tories, Tory, Victorian, Vox Political, welfare, whooping cough, work on October 31, 2015 by Mike Sivier.
UK benefit policy is to 'save money by ensuring people die waiting for claims to be processed'
The Conservative Government has been challenged to let experts analyse the effects of its policies on benefit claimants, following the publication of – extremely limited – mortality figures in August.
Disability studies specialist and disability activist Samuel Miller has written to Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, and employment minister Priti Patel, asking whether they would co-operate if epidemiologists – experts in studying the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations such as benefit claimants – requested permission to conduct a thorough investigation of government policy.
In 2013, Duncan Smith turned down Mr Miller's request to have his department hire an epidemiologist to conduct an independent study of the impact of the welfare reforms on the mortality of claimants on Incapacity Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance.
"The professionals most qualified to analyse the recent DWP statistical releases on benefit deaths are Professor David Stuckler and Dr Sanjay Basu, the co-authors of The Body Economic: Why Austerity Kills. Why haven't you asked them to analyze the mortality releases?" wrote Mr Miller.
"In my opinion, thousands of sick and disabled benefit claimants died needlessly because of the benefits backlog, long waits for mandatory reconsideration decisions, and the failure of the DWP to implement a sensible Work and Pensions Committee recommendation: In 2014, that Committee called on the Government to pay sick and disabled people benefits while they appealed against incorrect 'fit for work' decisions.
"Why didn't you implement that recommendation, and if you would do so, how much more would it have cost your department in additional benefit expenditures?
"It's a hard truth, but it must be stated: The purpose of a benefits backlog is to ensure that people die waiting for their claims to be processed, thus saving the Government money. The Government failed to set a reasonable timescale for the mandatory reconsideration process, leaving it open-ended. The human cost was enormous and thousands died.
"Why is your department so unwilling to implement sensible and humane mortality avoidance measures?"
This entry was posted in Austerity, Benefits, Conservative Party, Cost of living, Death, Disability, Discrimination, Employment and Support Allowance, Health, People, Politics, Poverty, UK and tagged allowance, analyse, appeal, backlog, benefit, benefits, claimants, committee, Conservative, David Stuckler, dead, death, decision, Department, die, disability, disabled, DWP, employment, epidemiologist, ESA, expert, fatality, fit for work, government, health, Iain Duncan Smith, IB, Incapacity Benefit, mandatory reconsideration, Mike Sivier, mikesivier, mortality, MR, Pensions, people, policies, policy, politics, Priti Patel, Samuel Miller, Sanjay Basu, sick, social security, support, Tories, Tory, Vox Political, WCA, welfare, work, work capability assessment on October 2, 2015 by Mike Sivier.
Where are the sanctions for employers failing to offer additional hours?
'Daftie' Duncan Smith before a previous hearing of the Work and Pensions committee.
It's a valid question.
More than a year ago, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith told us "In work conditionality" within the Universal Credit system could encourage part-time workers and the low-paid to seek additional hours.
But it seems nothing is being done to "encourage" employers to provide the extra work.
So what, exactly, did Duncan Smith think he was playing at?
It seems we may soon find out, because Disability Studies specialist and disability activist Samuel Miller has written to the Secretary-in-a-State and his employment minister, Priti Patel, to find out whether employers will face sanctions for refusing to offer part-time and low-paid workers additional hours.
"My field of interest is disability," wrote Mr Miller. "If the British government is truly interested in increasing employment opportunities for the disabled, why doesn't it follow the U.S. example and compel businesses to significantly increase the number of people with disabilities that they employ?
"The U.S. rule requires most federal contractors to ensure that people with disabilities account for at least 7 percent of workers within each job group in their workforce.
"While officials at the U.S. Department of Labor say they are not establishing a firm hiring quota for contractors, they do expect that businesses servicing the government will work toward achieving the target. Contractors that fail to meet the goal and do not show sufficient effort toward reaching the 7 percent threshold could lose their contracts under the new rule.
"Disability advocates say the added pressure on federal contractors will go a long way—and, in my opinion, Britain should follow suit."
This entry was posted in Austerity, Benefits, Business, Conservative Party, Disability, Discrimination, Employment, Health, Human rights, People, Politics, UK, Universal Credit and tagged additional, America, Conservative, contractor, Department, disability, disabled, DWP, employer, employment, extra, federal, government, health, hours, Iain Duncan Smith, in work conditionality, Mike Sivier, mikesivier, minister, Pensions, people, politics, Priti Patel, Samuel Miller, secretary, social security, Tories, Tory, United States, Universal Credit, US, Vox Political, welfare, work, working on October 2, 2015 by Mike Sivier.
How many deaths have Tory evidence-free policies caused?
Here comes the reaper: Iain Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
Yesterday's Guardian article by Zoe Williams about evidence-free government is strangely muted about the main headline-grabber: The fact that she is writing about policies that kill.
"Recently, Dame Anne Begg had some questions for the employment minister, Esther McVey, on the Welfare Reform Act of 2012," the article states.
"She wanted to know about cuts to benefits, having carefully gathered evidence from charities and food banks in advance. 'Minimum JSA [jobseeker's allowance] sanction,' she began, 'went from two weeks to four weeks and the maximum went from six months to three years. These are quite sizeable lengths of time, so what evidence did you have on the likely impact on claimants that these extended sanction periods would have?'
"Were there any reasonable grounds that could be shared with any reasonable person to think this policy would be effective – any attempt to visualise how it would look?… There were not. There was a lot of faffing, and some broad and extraneous evidence about sanctions in general. 'I take it from your failure to answer the question that you did not do any research,' the chair finally concluded, having grilled McVey and the DWP's Chris Hayes for long enough."
This is a policy that kills people. We only have to look at the recent record of Ashton-under-Lyne Job Centre to realise that. Remember the man whose Jobseekers Allowance was sanctioned just before Christmas? "Without warm clothes and very little food he fell asleep on the streets and never woke up. He died of hypothermia."
Jobcentre staff reportedly said they were "only following orders" – the 'Nuremberg defence' used by guards in Nazi extermination camps.
Dame Anne Begg knew about this because Yr Obdt Srvt had written to inform her.
Then – again, just before Christmas – another claimant at Ashton-under-Lyne died. This one was driven to suicide after being sanctioned, and was found hanged.
That's two, within two weeks – claiming at just one Jobcentre. Working on the law of averages, that gives us 52 deaths per Jobcentre per year, and with 800 Jobcentres in the country our average number of deaths per year would be 41,600.
Both of these claimants had mental health problems but had been dumped off incapacity benefits and onto JSA. Clearly they had failed their Work Capability Assessments – but then, we all know that these are phony tests based on a long-ago-debunked assessment system.
Again, there was no evidence to show the WCA was a valid assessment procedure. Blame for its use falls at Labour's door (it was introduced in 2008, under a Labour government) – although it should be recognised that Labour soon realised its mistake and would have changed the system if the Conservative-led Coalition had not sidled into office in 2010.
The Tories introduced changes that made the assessment much harder, and it is from the introduction of those changes that the Employment and Support Allowance deaths really started to pile up (the article referenced suggests 73 deaths a week, but the total number was in fact more than 220 – deaths from the support group were included after it was pointed out that random reassessment of people in this group created stress that could easily lead to death).
Right: 220 deaths per week is 11,440 per year. Add that to the 41,600 we already have and our rolling total is 53,040 deaths per year – and remember this is only an extremely rough average to demonstrate the possible extent of the problem. The ESA death figure is from 2011 and may have increased hugely since then – we don't know because the DWP is hiding the figures from us.
To cut a long story short, we could be looking at as many as 100,000 deaths and more, in the benefit system alone. This carnage, driven by Coalition Government policy, would be the largest genocide of the British people by their government in history, beating even the Harrowing of the North in 1070.
Samuel Miller, who has spent more years researching the fatal effects of evidenceless DWP policy than this writer, had this to say about it yesterday: "There exist only a few studies on the effectiveness of sanctions in social welfare systems, yet that did not deter the DWP from implementing one of the harshest sanctions regimes of all OECD countries.
"Moreover, the Department failed to conduct a 'real world' impact assessment of the effect of extended sanctions on claimants. So when the minimum JSA sanction went from two weeks to four weeks and the maximum went from six months to three years, people died as a result."
Last week, Iain Duncan Smith was campaigning for a Tory government to be elected in 2015. In the face of all the misery and death for which he should be held directly accountable, this creature squelched out of his lair and tried to convince you that he has saved the country £50 billion – because the number of benefit claimants is falling. Even this was a lie.
The Tory insistence on evidenceless policy means that, if a Conservative government is elected in May, the deaths will continue. Every one of the thousands who have died already was some mother's son or daughter, somebody's brother, niece, cousin; somebody's friend or relative.
Maybe somebody close to you will be targeted after May – how would you feel about that?
Maybe it will be you. By then, it will be too late to do anything about it.
If you have enjoyed this article, don't forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let's try to get everybody involved!
peeling back the layers of lies to find the ugly facts.
This entry was posted in Benefits, Conservative Party, Cost of living, Disability, Employment and Support Allowance, Homelessness, People, Politics, Poverty, sanctions, UK, unemployment and tagged allowance, Ashton Under Lyne, assessment, capability, Conservative, Dame Anne Begg, Department, DWP, employment, ESA, esther mcvey, evidence, Free, genocide, government, Guardian, Iain Duncan Smith, jobcentre, Pensions, policies, policy, Samuel Miller, sanction, support, Tories, Tory, WCA, work, zoe williams on February 10, 2015 by Mike Sivier.
Shame of minister who refuses to accept link between benefit 'reforms' and deaths
Tarnished record: Mark Harper previously came to our attention when it was discovered that he dodged a £20,000 fine for employing an illegal migrant worker. Vox Political covered the story on August 7 this year. [Image: Political Scrapbook.]
The new Conservative minister for disabled people has insisted that his department is right to ignore reports of deaths linked to the loss or non-payment of disability benefits, according to the latest article from kittysjones.
It seems that, in an interview with the Disability News Service at last week's Conservative conference, he said he did not accept that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) should be collecting this information or trying to learn lessons from such deaths.
The article continues: "One disabled activist suggested last week that this failure could amount to criminal negligence, while Samuel Miller, a prominent disabled academic from Canada, said this week that DWP had 'seriously breached its duty of care by ignoring benefit-related deaths'.
"But Harper said he did not 'accept the premise' that DWP should collect and analyse reports that suggest a disabled person's death could have been linked to the non-payment or withdrawal of benefits.
"He said: 'If somebody in those sort of cases, if someone has [a] mental health [condition] and then something happens, trying to disaggregate what was the cause I don't think is as simple as you are trying to suggest.'
"When asked whether he accepted that any deaths had been caused, or even partly caused, by the loss or non-payment of benefits, he said: 'Of the cases I have seen since I have been the minister where there have been allegations, when you look at the detail they are not as simple and straightforward as people are alleging.'
"But Harper did promise to 'go back and look back at what processes we have in place to track cases' and to look at the Freedom of Information Act response from DWP that led to the DNS story.
"There have been numerous reports of disabled people whose deaths have been linked to the employment and support allowance claim process, or the refusal of benefits, including the writer Paul Reekie, who killed himself in 2010, and the deaths of Nick Barker, Jacqueline Harris, Ms DE, and Brian McArdle.
"Many of the cases became widely-known through media reports of inquests, but in the case of Ms DE, the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland concluded that the work capability assessment process and the subsequent denial of ESA was at least a 'major factor in her decision to take her own life'."
Of course this all goes back to the Freedom of Information requests submitted by Samuel Miller and others that prompted Yr Obdt Srvt to make the now-infamous "vexatious" request of June 2013. When it was refused on appeal to an information tribunal, Disability News Service submitted its own request.
A repeat request by Vox Political has since been refused on the grounds that the DWP intends to publish some or all of the information at an unspecified time in the future. These 'section 22' refusals must be supported by certain conditions which the DWP did not meet, and a reconsideration request has been met with stony silence (other than the acknowledgement of receipt), so once against it seems an appeal to the Information Commissioner (and possibly another tribunal hearing) will be necessary.
It's all stalling tactics. The Conservatives in the government know that, if the true extent of the deaths becomes clear, the game will be up for them.
After all, who in their right mind would want to vote back into office an organisation that had just caused the deaths of anything up to or beyond 50,000* of their fellow citizens? Nobody would be safe under such a government.
Turning back to Mr Harper, independent disability researcher Mo Stewart has written to him with a stern rebuke that he will, no doubt, ignore. Here it is:
"Please be advised that the public are beginning to challenge why, historically, your predecessors don't manage to remain in post for very long and I note your website continues with the government rhetoric whilst totally disregarding the human consequences of the austerity measures.
"I often wonder what exactly MPs mean when claiming that we are living in 'difficult times for families' when failing to take responsibility for the deaths and devastation you have clearly created, using cash as the only justification for the fact that 'malnutrition' is now regularly found in Coroners' reports. The poor, the sick and the disabled people of the UK didn't create the banking crash Mr Harper, so why are you hurting them but refusing to publish the growing mortality rates of government policies?
"Please be advised that your defensive claims that that you do not "accept the premise" that the DWP should collate and analyse the many, many thousands of deaths now directly linked to the withdrawal of DWP benefits is tantamount to an abandonment of responsibility by the British government, it may well lead to charges of crimes against humanity once all the detailed and often disturbing evidence has been collated and analysed by other sources and the British government is already about to be investigated by the UN for the demonstrated human rights violations of disabled people. All this whilst the UK faces the return of Victorian diseases linked to extremes of poverty…. That's quite a track record this government has built up.
"With respect, you are not professionally qualified to assess these reported cases and regardless of if you admit it or not, high calibre REAL experts are now advising that: '…there is growing evidence that the draconian welfare reforms are irreparably damaging the mental and physical health of benefit claimants.'
"If someone is already surviving on a token income and the government reduce or remove it, with savage sanctions or by using a totally compromised 'assessment', how precisely do you expect these people to live, to eat or to survive when they are already the poorest in the land?
"Coroners don't lie Mr Harper and the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland didn't make up the case history when they concluded that a vicitm's death was due to the impact of being 'stripped of benefits.' http://disabilitynewsservice.com/2014/03/woman-killed-herself-after-being-stripped-of-disability-benefit-says-watchdog/
"This question isn't going to go away because DWP Ministers fear the public reaction if the figures of welfare reform related deaths are ever published.
"Now the DWP are attacking our older disabled veterans by threatening to remove the DLA of our War Pensioners, whilst the PM continues to wax lyrically at Conference about the debt this nation owes to our armed forces. Unwise Mr Harper, very, very unwise.
"Release the mortality figures Mr Harper and don't ever presume that we are about to stop asking for them."
In addition to the above, it seems appropriate for Vox Political to reiterate:
Not only does the DWP have mortality statistics for benefit claimants, but it has them in a form that may be freely distributed to anybody asking for them, within the cost limits imposed by the Freedom of Information Act.
The only reason these numbers are not in the public domain is the fact that ministers like Mark Harper refuse to allow their release.
The only reason they have for refusing to release these figures – that makes any sense – is that they fear the consequences: Public shock and outrage.
That is not the response of a responsible government. It is the response of a gang of criminal killers who are terrified their misdeeds will be revealed.
*This is an estimate based on the known number of deaths related solely to a single benefit – Employment and Support Allowance – between January and November 2011.
asking the searching questions!
This entry was posted in Benefits, Conservative Party, Health, People, Politics and tagged allowance, benefit, benefits, Brian McArdle, Conservative, dead, death, Department, die, disability news service, disabled people, DWP, employment, ESA, fatality, figure, FOI, Freedom of Information, Jacqueline Harris, kittsjones, link, Mark Harper, Mental Welfare Commission, Mike Sivier, mikesivier, minister, Mo Stewart, Ms DE, Nick Barker, number, paul reekie, Pensions, Reform, Samuel Miller, Scotland, section 22, social security, statistic, support, Tories, Tory, vexatious, Vox Political, WCA, welfare, work, work capability assessment on October 7, 2014 by Mike Sivier.
Sickness benefit death statistics – a quick update
(No, I haven't had the tribunal's decision yet!)
Those of you who have read my report on the benefit deaths tribunal will know that Samuel Miller received a response to his own Freedom of Information request for updated death statistics of incapacity benefit (and ESA) claimants a few weeks ago – but it did not cover the correct dates and was not ordered in a similar way to the 'Incapacity benefits: Deaths of recipients' report released in 2012.
It was impossible for anyone to consider it an update of the figures in that report, as the Department for Work and Pensions was claiming by sending it to Mr Miller.
I reported on Thursday that he had requested another response, made out in an appropriate manner, and that he had been advised he would receive this soon.
In fact, he was told the response would arrive yesterday (Friday).
That's right – no show.
"As you know, I had asked the DWP to put these latest mortality statistics into context. Well, they haven't responded by today's date, as promised," Mr Miller said on Twitter.
Quelle surprise.
Perhaps we can hope this is a simple mistake and the numbers will be with him soon.
Just don't hold your breath waiting – or you may become another government statistic.
Alternatively, you can buy the first Vox Political book,
Strong Words and Hard Times
This entry was posted in Benefits, Conservative Party, Disability, Employment and Support Allowance, Health, Liberal Democrats, People, Politics, UK and tagged allowance, benefit, benefits, Coalition, Conservative, death, Department, DWP, employment, ESA, FOI, Freedom of Information, government, health, IB, ill, Incapacity, Mike Sivier, mikesivier, Pensions, people, politics, request, Samuel Miller, sick, social security, statistics, support, Tories, Tory, tribunal, Vox Political, WCA, welfare, work, work capability assessment on April 26, 2014 by Mike Sivier.
Case proven? Government stays away from benefit deaths tribunal
Seen to be done: The tribunal took place at the Law Courts in Cardiff (pictured), in public – which allowed friends of Vox Political to hear the case.
The Information Commissioner's Office and the Department for Work and Pensions have highlighted the weakness of their own case for hiding the number of people who have died while claiming sickness and disability benefits – by failing to turn up at a tribunal on the subject.
They had the opportunity to explain why mortality statistics for people claiming Employment and Support Allowance since November 2011 have been suppressed, at a tribunal in the Law Courts, Cardiff, yesterday (April 23).
But, rather than be grilled on the reasons for their decision by a judge, a specialist in this area of law, and a 'lay' person (representing the opinions of right-thinking members of the public), they chose to stay away.
The tribunal had been requested by Vox Political's Mike Sivier, after he made a Freedom of Information request for access to the information – and it was refused on the grounds that it was "vexatious".
The Department for Work and Pensions said he had written an article about his request on the blog, containing the line, "I strongly urge you to do the same. There is strength in numbers." According to the DWP, this line constituted a co-ordinated, obsessive and protracted campaign of harassment against the department.
One line in a blog article, added as an afterthought – an obsessive campaign designed to "disrupt" the workings of the DWP. It's ludicrous.
The DWP claimed it had received 23 requests that were similar or identical to Mike's, in the days following his own, and inferred from this that they were from other members of this fictional campaign. Mike has only been able to track down evidence of seven such requests and, of them, only one mentions him by name. Without a tangible connection to Mike or Vox Political, the case is not made out – and one connected request does not constitute a campaign.
In fact, Mike's own request was made after he read that a previous request had been refused – that of disability researcher and campaigner Samuel Miller. Mr Miller had published this fact in the social media and expressed that he was "furious" about it, and this inspired Mike to write his own request. Who knows how many other people did the same in response to Mr Miller? Yet he has (rightly) not been accused of starting any conspiracy.
Mr Miller's original request has now received a reply, after the Information Commissioner's office ruled that it had been mishandled by the DWP. This reply contained the wrong information and Mike urged Mr Miller to point this out. Clearly Mr Miller's claim is not being treated as vexatious, even though it has inspired others to follow his example – as Mike's article shows that he did. The contrast in treatment betrays a clear double-standard at the DWP (and the Information Commissioner's office, after appeals were made to it in both cases).
Perhaps it is because of this fatal flaw in their logic that neither the ICO nor the DWP saw fit to send representatives to the tribunal. This left the floor free for Mike to make his own case, with nobody to speak against him or cross-examine him. Tribunal members asked questions, but these were entirely helpful in nature – allowing Mike to clarify or expand on his argument.
So the claim that the number of similar requests, received soon after the blog article appeared, indicated a campaign against the DWP was refuted with the simple observation that the subject was of topical interest at the time, because of what had happened to Mr Miller. Mike said an appropriate comparison would be with complaints to the BBC over the now-infamous radio show involving Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand. The corporation received only a couple of complaints from people who listened to the show at the time, followed by thousands from people who heard about it later. Mike asked: "Were all those thousands of complaints vexatious in nature? Were they the result of organised campaigns against Messrs Ross and Brand? Or were they genuine expressions of horror at behaviour they considered to have gone beyond the pale? The BBC accepted the latter choice because logic mitigates in its favour."
The claim that abusive or aggressive language exhibited by blog commenters indicated harassment that was likely to cause distress to members of the DWP was batted away with the argument that nobody from the department would have seen it if they had not gone looking for it (after reading the FOI request from a Vox Political reader who referenced the blog).
Mike said it would be "like a social landlord gatecrashing a residents' association meeting, listening to the grievances of the tenants and then saying they are harassing him and he's not going to service any of their requests for repairs. That is not reasonable".
The DWP had claimed that actioning the 24 requests it insisted on connecting with Mike's "could impose a burden in terms of time and resources, distracting the DWP from its main functions", but Mike showed that this was not true, as an email to the ICO, dated October 21, 2013, makes clear: "We can confirm that the Department does hold, and could provide within the cost limit, some of the information requested."
Nevertheless, the ICO had upheld the claim, saying on November 27, 2013: "For the DWP to respond to all of the requests, it is not simply a matter of sending an email to 24 people. There is a requirement to collate the information, consider exemptions under the Act which may apply, provide a formal response and then, if necessary refer the decision to an internal review…. The Commissioner considers that 24 requests on the same topic in a few days could represent… a disproportionate use of the FOIA."
In his speech to the tribunal, Mike responded: "It is reminiscent of the line in the TV sitcom Blackadder The Third, when the title character, butler to the Prince Regent in Georgian times, demands a fortune in order to buy votes in a by-election for a 'tupenny-ha'penny place'. Challenged on the amount, he responds: 'There are many other factors to be considered: Stamp duty, window tax, swamp insurance, hen food, dog biscuits, cow ointment – the expenses are endless.'" He said the ICO's claim "smacks of desperation".
One aspect that worked in Mike's favour from the start was the fact that both the DWP and the ICO have accepted that there is a serious purpose to his request – publication of figures showing how many people have died while claiming ESA. This is important because the assessment regime for this benefit has been heavily criticised as harmful to claimants and the government has claimed that it has made changes to decrease any such effect. The only way the public can judge whether this has worked, or whether more must be done to prevent unnecessary deaths, is by examining the mortality statistics, but these have been withheld. This is the matter at the heart of the request and the fact that the ICO and DWP acknowledge this is a major element in Mike's favour.
Perhaps realising this, the ICO tried to claim that the intention was changed by the volume of requests submitted: "The purpose of the totality of the requests as a whole may have gone beyond the point of simply obtaining the information requested and may now be intended to disrupt the main functions of the DWP."
It is not reasonable to suggest that the purpose of an action changes, just because other people carry out the same action within a similar time-frame. Mike put it this way: "Millions of people make a cup of tea in the advertising break after Coronation Street; would the Information Commissioner suggest that this was a campaign to overload the national grid?"
With nobody on hand to provide the ICO/DWP side of the case, the hearing ended at around midday, after Mike had been speaking for two hours. He was grateful to be supported by his McKenzie friend, Glynis Millward, who provided help and advice, and by a group of Vox Political readers who attended to hear the case.
Now the bad news: No decision was handed down on the day. The tribunal judge explained that the panel must now think about the issues raised and discuss their findings. He said they would aim to provide a full, written decision within 21 days.
It is interesting to note that Mr Miller has acted on Mike's advice and has been advised that a revised response to his request should be with him soon.
If this response contains updated information under the same headings as the original 'ad hoc' statistical release provided by the DWP in July 2012 (and from which we derived the 73-deaths-per-week figure that shocked so many people at the time), then a decision by the tribunal to release the same information may seem redundant. In fact, it is possible that the DWP may provide the information to Mr Miller, simply to spite Mike.
But this would be yet another misunderstanding of what this case is about. Mike doesn't care who gets the mortality statistics first; for him, it is not about who gets to say they were the one who forced the government into submission – this is about getting the information out to the public, so the people can decide whether ESA does more harm than good.
The tribunal's decision will still be important as it will establish whether the DWP – and other government departments – will be able to manipulate the principles behind the Freedom of Information Act to avoid providing politically inconvenient information in the future.
In Mike's opinion, a decision in the government's favour would effectively turn the Act into a dead letter.
So – for now – the long wait continues.
But it is nearly over.
This entry was posted in Benefits, Democracy, Disability, Employment and Support Allowance, Health, Justice, Law, People, Politics, Poverty, UK and tagged abusive, aggressive, allowance, assessment, BBC, benefit, benefits, Blackadder, campaign, co-ordinated, Coalition, commenter, complaint, Conservative, dead, dead letter, death, Democrat, Department, die, disability, disabled, disrupt, distress, double standard, DWP, employment, ESA, figure, FOI, Freedom of Information, government, harassment, harm, health, ICO, ill, Incapacity Benefit, Information Commissioner, Jonathan Ross, language, Liberal, Mike Sivier, mikesivier, mortality, number, obsessive, Pensions, people, politics, protracted, Russell Brand, Samuel Miller, serious purpose, sick, social security, statistic, support, Tories, Tory, tribunal, vexatious, Vox Political, WCA, welfare, work, work capability assessment on April 24, 2014 by Mike Sivier.

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How Introverts And Extroverts Handle The Covid-19 Pandemic Differently
At the beginning of the pandemic, several decades ago ― sorry, several months ago ― writer Harris O'Malley and his wife had very different feelings about lockdown.
Harris, who writes the dating advice blog Paging Dr. NerdLove, is a self-described extrovert. His wife tends to be more introverted, which at least initially, seemed to work in her favour in lockdown.
"She thought, 'This is the life,' nothing to do but stay home, take care of the house, not worry about needing to go anywhere and do anything," Harris told HuffPost.
For Harris, no amount of Zoom happy hours, Animal Crossing and podcast listening could satisfy his extrovert needs for socialising.
"I'm a living example of why taking an extrovert and locking him in his house for six months means bad things start to happen," he joked.
The big difference between extroverts and introverts is that introverts recharge by being at home and crave space to process information. Extroverts charge their batteries by socialising with others.
The Coronavirus pandemic has complicated all that, though. Months of quarantine have proved that even introverts have their limits with "me time."
"My partner may be an introvert, but she's still incredibly social; she just wants to socialise at the house," Harris said. "So now she's planning a truly impressive number of parties that she wants to throw when the lockdown is over, including a 'Yeet The Treats' Halloween shindig where we fling full-size sweets at any trick-or-treaters from a safe distance."
Another introvert-extrovert couple, writer Betsy Talbot and her extrovert husband Warren, told HuffPost that even simple conversation come with new complications because of quarantine.
"We always joke that Warren thinks by talking, and I can't think when I'm talking. Now that there's a lot more to think about, he needs to talk it out more," said Talbot, the author of "Married with Luggage: What We Learned About Love by Traveling the World." "And since I'm the only one he has to talk to most days, I've spent a lot more time in daily conversation than I'm used to."
That constant chattiness can wear on Talbot, so the couple have come to a compromise: Talbot listens intently Monday through Saturday, but on Sunday, she gets a day to fully recharge and enjoy her "me" time (which for Talbot, means crocheting, reading and ― most importantly ― having "zero conversational demands" placed on her).
"All of this is to say, we're trying hard to give each other what we need to stay healthy while taking care of ourselves, and so far this works for us," she said.Check on those of us who are introverts but married to extroverts who now have to stay in the house. We are not okay. 😩— Luvvie is the #ProfessionalTroublemaker. PREORDER. (@Luvvie) March 14, 2020That's about the best an introvert and extrovert muddling through a pandemic can do, said Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, a public speaker and the author of "Creating Introvert-Friendly Workplaces."
Given the unique challenges both personality types are facing, that understanding and compromise means everything.
Kahnweiler said that many introverts who seemed to be thriving early on in the pandemic are experiencing some lows now."I reached out in the early days of the quarantine to some of my introverted clients, just to make sure they were OK," Kahnweiler said. "One of them, an introverted leader who was adjusting to leading a team from home, said he missed the informal banter with his fellow IT pros."
Working at home full-time for him and so many other introverts isn't the nirvana they expected. For starters, the constant Zoom happy hours and extra conference calls are utterly exhausting. The pressure those under your roof or in your social circle put on you can be taxing, too.
Still, many introverts continue to revel in the quietness and relative serenity of lockdown, said Laurie Helgoe, a psychologist and author of "Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength."
"For me, just as my extroverted family and Friends were getting restless under lockdown, I was hitting my sweet spot," she said. "I could work remotely and engage from the quiet of my home ― our kids are grown. I could dig more deeply into projects and open up new worlds of insight and knowledge. I could pause to let ideas sink in."
Because our lives are mostly online now, Helgoe said introverts like her have the opportunity to regulate social stimulation and engage more fully in these interactions: "I'll stay engaged and look excited on this Zoom birthday party," they might tell themselves, "but after an hour, I'm going to tell my friends I have to bounce to get some leftover work done."
In other words, they're benefiting from the space, Helgoe said.
"This is the point often missed: Introverts do not seek space to escape from relationships," she said. "We need space to be present for relationships."
As for extroverts, Kahnweiler said she's surprised to see many of them coping fairly well, given their predilection for people.
"They're tapping into their inner introvert," she said. "They've experienced time to think more deeply, prepare for their day and meetings, and be more present with friends and family."
"They've been learning to breathe a bit more slowly," she added. "Extroverts are accessing those introverted qualities of engaged listening, and even embracing silence."
Many are getting their extrovert fix by talking to friends and family while walking ― or by scheduling extra FaceTime calls with friends, Kahnweiler said.That said, it's taken extroverts months to get to this place of acceptance.
They struggle, Helgoe said, in large part because as a society, we tend to emphasis strong social skills but fail to instil similar solitude skills. Usually, that social preference doesn't impact extroverts all that much, but things are clearly different now.
"There is research evidence that, while introverts can act like extroverts to adapt to situations ― think a work party ― it is harder for extroverts to act introverted," she said. "This makes sense — introverts have long been expected to be 'bilingual' in order to adapt to an extroverted society."
With social distancing, extroverts are forced to live outside their comfort zones ― and after months of staying at home, many have become pretty adept at keeping themselves entertained.
"Just as introverts often find surprising pleasures in uncomfortable places, if you're extroverted, see if you can get a better understanding of what introverts relish about solitude," Helgoe said.How Introverts And Extroverts Can Work Through Their Differing Social Needs At HomeNow that we've looked at the different, sometimes conflicting ways introverts and extroverts are coping with this pandemic, here are some tips on how the two personality types can peacefully coexist.Don't take it personally if the extrovert or introvert in your life has differing socialisation needs.
It's common for the more introverted partner to feel hurt or rejected when their extroverted partner feels depleted or in need of socialisation. It can leave the introverted partner feeling as though they're not enough. After all, their spouse or roommate isn't entirely alone.
When that concern isn't verbalised, the extroverts may move ahead with their plans to schedule Skype or Zoom sessions with friends and family. But for the introvert, any social gatherings ― even over Skype or Zoom ― can be a drain.
"In fact, I think it can be more exhausting, since a lot of the social cues and normal interactions aren't there and we all have to work harder to process non-verbal information like tone of voice, facial expressions and what body language signals we can see," O'Malley said. "That can drain an introvert's batteries even faster, making them more likely to want to check out early, or skip them entirely."
As O'Malley has learned firsthand in his own introvert-extrovert marriage, the key to harmony between the two types is to find the right balance.
"You have to allow the introvert to participate or not in Zoom calls, depending on their mood and energy level, while allowing extroverts space to try to meet their social needs," he said.
O'Malley also said that introverts need to recognise that the extrovert's need to socialise with more people doesn't have anything to do with the quality of their relationship or the strength of their connection. That need exists separately from their partner or friends.Don't be afraid to ask your partner or flatmate about their social needs at at given time.
Months of quarantine have taught Talbot and her husband to be transparent about their socialising needs. Instead of talking her head off, Talbot's extrovert husband will straight-up ask if she's in the mood for a good chat.
"Introverts will always appreciate these three statements when you're unsure what we need: 1) Do you want us to just be quiet together for a while? 2) It's OK with me if you want to cancel these plans. 3) When would be a good time to talk about [whatever you want to talk about with your introvert that takes longer than 2 minutes]?" Talbot said.
On the flip side, if you're an introvert and sense that your extrovert partner is itching to talk, inquire with them. If they seem bothered while working from home, ask if they'd like to hash something out with you. If they seem starved for socialising, schedule a fun remote game night with your friends or family members. If you feel comfortable eating out, see about making a reservation for an al fresco dinner at your favourite restaurant.
The bottom line? Now, more than ever, it's important to be accommodating and as explicit as possible in voicing your needs.
Be adaptable in the ways you come together as a couple, family or house. Again, communication is vital. We all have different needs for mental nourishment, whether you're an introvert, an extrovert or a somewhere-in-between ambivert. When figuring out the best ways to connect (as a couple, as roommates, as a family) stay in conversation about what's working for you and what categorically isn't working for you.
"I heard Michelle Obama say on her recent podcast that her family disperses in the day but gets together at night for board games," Kahnweiler said. "My husband and I have a standing date to watch 'Jeopardy!' reruns. Not too exciting, but it is a fun ritual we have created to make sure we still see each other. We're making it work."
Don't forget to check in on your introvert and extrovert friends.
When reaching out to your friends with different personality styles, be mindful of their communication style. Dealing with an extrovert? You know how much they love to talk, so make sure you carve a good chunk of time to chat.
"Extroverts tend to work through their ideas out loud so expect to do some brainstorming," Kahnweiler said.
Is the person an introvert? Slow down, pause, and give them time to reflect and respond, Kahnweiler said. And don't surprise introverts too often with impromptu phone calls. Text first. Your introvert friend will thank you. Related... 11 Gorgeous Photos Of Small-Scale Weddings In A Pandemic World How To Turn An Acquaintance Into A Good Friend The 'Work Staycation' Is On The Rise. Here's Why People Are Doing It
Gaby Hoffmann: 'I really love my job, but I don't want to do it that often'
George H.W. Bush


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Aber Head To Capital Looking To Repeat November Victory: Cardiff Met v Aberystwyth Town Preview
JD Welsh Premier League
Saturday 20th April (ko 2.30pm)
Cardiff Met v Aberystwyth Town
Aberystwyth Town head for the capital on Saturday looking to repeat November's 3-2 victory at Cardiff Met in order to recover their place at the top of the Play Off Conference, with one further match to play next week. A seventh place finish at the top of the Conference will guarantee a UEFA Europa League Play Off spot for either Met or Aber in May, and with two games remaining it is all to play for.
The Black and Greens relinquished pole position on Saturday after their 0-0 home draw with Cefn Druids was bettered by Met's 2-1 win at Llandudno, but a win on Saturday would repair the damage. Met have 45 points to Aber's 44, and with a better goal difference and a strong home record seem clear favourites to earn the Play Off spot. Looking closer however, the Seasiders however have an excellent record at Cyncoed Campus, having won on their last two visits, including that unforgettable, momentous victory in November when Town came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 with Ashley Ruane's injury time winner causing delirium amongst the massed Green Army. Great memories!
Town have also scored more points since the split than their weekend hosts, with 17 points from 8 games compared to Met's 15, and they beat the Students 3-2 in their last meeting at Park Avenue so Matthew Bishop's men will travel fully confident that they are capable of getting the result they need. A traditional large and vocal following will surely attend as the capital's Aberystwyth diaspora come along to cheer on the Black and Greens.
Bishop told the Welshpremier.com website earlier today: "Aberystwyth have been doing very well so I haven't really had to come in and do very much straight away, I haven't had to change anything. Nev and Gav have been doing a very good job, and the players have really stepped up. The squad has been on a great run since Christmas and we're looking to end the season strongly to carry on that good form."
Kick off for the game is at 2.30pm and supporters are requested to enter the Campus from the Western, Cyncoed Road entrance, turn left before the barriers and follow the road around to the Parking area. Admission will cost £6 for Adults and £3 Concessions, and the campus is listed as CF23 6XD. Your team needs you – see you at Cyncoed on Saturday!


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Graduating students in Fountain Valley saluted…
Graduating students in Fountain Valley saluted … by circus performers
Jennifer Drilling, center, on stilts, and fellow circus members treated kids in Fountain Valley's Green Valley neighborhood to a parade Saturday, June 13. (Photo by Lynn Seeden)
By Curt Seeden | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: June 16, 2020 at 7:47 a.m. | UPDATED: June 16, 2020 at 11:08 a.m.
Parades have become a common thing these days, celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and more.
On Saturday, June 13, the Green Valley neighborhood in Fountain Valley was treated to a unique version of the celebration.
Jennifer Drilling, a Fountain Valley native who grew up in Green Valley, organized a 2 1/2-hour parade through the community that featured five circus performers — two stilt walkers, an acrobat duo and one Hula-Hooper.
Drilling, a successful cirque artist who has performed as a stilt walker, fire breather, dancer, aerialist, Hula-Hooper and acrobat, said she organized the parade as a gift to the community.
"The Fountain Valley Green Valley neighborhood is near and dear to my heart. I grew up here attending Cox Elementary, Masuda Middle School, and Fountain Valley High and it breaks my heart that so many kids have had their school year and graduation activities completely eliminated with the COVID pandemic," Drilling said on her gofundme page.
The parade saluted all school-age children in the community and included music by local deejay John Borack riding in the iconic Fountain Valley Bodyworks giant red wagon. Masuda School Principal Jay Adams and Fountain Valley High Principal Morgan Smith were on hand for the fun.
Drilling said her company's mission is to inspire others to live their full creative expression in the world by providing a platform for artists to shine.
She grew up training at Newhope Gymnastics in Fountain Valley for 10 years. She reached international gymnastics status and became an Academic All-American scholarship athlete at Penn State University, where she earned a master's degree in construction management and architectural engineering.
After college, she became a construction manager at Toyota Motor Sales North America in Torrance. But her acrobatic passion turned into a circus arts hobby in 2004. And that led to her starting her own company, FIREnICE Entertainment, in 2005.
The event company services a variety of corporate and private events, weddings, New Year's Eve ball drops, galas, parades, high school dances and family-friendly events.
To donate to Drilling's cause, go to gofundme.com/f/gvgradparade, with 100% of the funds raised supporting the artists involved in Saturday's parade.
100-year-old Holocaust survivor to tell his story at Newport Beach Chabad
Lucie Arnaz bringing music and memories to Laguna Woods
Curt Seeden


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India-Australia education
One of the leading, Australia's top Indian expert has said that providing education and creating the adequate jobs for the large population of the south Asia is a global challenge like that of climate change. He said that Australia has a role in developing the talent in the crucial demographics. The director of Australia India institute, Prof. Craig Jeffery said that Indian leaders have a sharp focus on providing skills to young Indian and see Australia, one of the key contributors for this.
The Prof. said that one in every ten people in world is Indian and the size of this demography is very large.
Prof. Jeffery will chair "engaging with India 2016" – an annual trade and investment forum in Sydney. On the goal of PM Modi to provide skill to 500 million people by 2022, he said that PM is looking actively towards Australia to assist in achieving this goal.He added that Mr. Modi especially mentioned Australia and U.K. as a source of information and experience for vocational training.
In the last fiscal year, the export of Australia education related services to India worth 2.1 billion $. There are more than 50,000 students from India in education institutes of Australia that becomes 10% of the total international students there. He said that universities are looking for next wave of students and a lot of smart money is on India.
The professor said that there is a stage of transition and after the influx of Chinese students – the universities are now looking of possibilities for attracting Indian students especially in the areas of science and technology.However, the Prof. Jeffery is optimistic about the education cooperation and sees it much beyond the Indian students in Australia including the delivery of courses to India and collaborated research network. He said that no doubt! Australia can work to help India in establishing world class universities.
The number of Indian students' dropped sharply after the attacks on Indian in 2009 and also by the policy reform and destabilized condition of Australian dollar between2010-12. The situation is much better now and the number is constantly growing since 2013. The tendency of the Australian universities to link up with China is very clear, as according to the University of Sydney's latest strategic plan, 13 references are to china and only one to south Asia, none of these references pointed out towards India.
Prof. Jeffery, there is a growing mismatch between the aspirants of the youth of India and their capacity to find the work. Prof. also said that there is a question that how will you use the energy of thee millions of population across south Asia.
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He said that this challenge is as important as the climate change for the future of our planet. Now! It depends on Indian government on how to build relations with Australia and use the Australian expertise in the best way. The questions raised by prof. jefffeyr are genuine and require careful analysis.
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Kindness Meters
Because Kindness Matters
Several Locations
North County San Diego has become the 'Kindness Korridor'
Kindness Events
From walks to Kindness Challenges
100% of proceeds benefit local charities
Is there a more nobel cause than to make your city "America's Kindest City?" This is precisely what Carlton Lund, visionary behind the Kindness Meter Project, aimed to do when he began this quest over 15 years ago.
It All Began With a Sign
On January 8th, 2015, hundreds of citizens of Carlsbad gathered at the intersection of Carlsbad Village Drive and historic Highway 101 to inaugurate the newly erected city sign. This ceremony was the culmination of 15 years of effort lead by Carlton Lund and other prominent members of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce and City Council. This gift to the city of Carlsbad to commemorate the Chamber of Commerce's 90th Anniversary of service to the city, was made possible through the initial act of kindness from Taylor Made Golf Corporation, who donated $225,000 to the project.
The original plans and design for the city sign included both a 5 foot tall casting of "Darlene the Dolphin," by famed oceanic artist Wyland, as well as a Kindness Meter at the sign's base. Lund conceptualized the Kindness Meter as a place where families could teach their children about giving back to the community by donating a few coins as they enjoyed a stroll downtown. While neither Darlene the Dolphin or the original Kindness Meter made it into the final approved design downtown, the idea of making Carlsbad "America's Kindest City" had already taken root.
Feeding Darlene the Dolphin
Today, several Kindness Meters have been erected around North County San Diego with 100% of the proceeds benefiting a number of charitable organizations in the community including the Carlsbad Charitable Foundation, Carlsbad Educational Foundation, Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, and The Moonlight Cultural Foundation. These solar powered, credit card accepting meters were donated in yet another act of kindness by San Diego-based parking meter company, IPS Group, Inc.
Near each of the Kindness Meters, kids and adults alike can enjoy Wyland's image of Darlene the Dolphin with caption "Feed Darlene," a throwback the the original concept of the overall project.
Find a location where you can donate here.
Take a Look at Some of Our Recent Events
Kids for Peace at Kindness Challenge Carlsbad
We recently received this beautiful letter about how the Kindness Meters are affecting the community.
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Anyway: On Kotaku I just found this post about the website to that Soul Calibur movie. If you don't know the Soul Calibur series, here's a short summary: Tekken with swords and sword-inspired weapons, and always bundled with some quite long mission-oriented mode. Or simply put: IMO the only fighting game out there, that tried to innovate a little bit if it comes to main mode. And now you even get a movie somewhen in 2007 according to the official website.


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Browse other items in the Party Time collection from Sparks HomeStore & Home Furnishings Direct in the Thatcher, Cottonwood, Safford, Sedona, Morenci, Arizona area.


More than 100 sheriff's deputies in riot gear broke up an out-of-control crowd waiting outside a mall to buy a limited edition Nike basketball shoe.
ORLANDO — More than 100 sheriff's deputies in riot gear broke up an out-of-control crowd waiting outside a mall to buy a limited edition Nike basketball shoe.
The Orlando Sentinel reported the crowd was asked to wait across the street when the mall closed. But one person ran toward Foot Locker and others followed. Authorities formed a line and used shields to push back the crowd.


2005's Gimme Fiction may have been Spoon's fifth album, but it was my introduction to their power pop brilliance. It's been 10 years since this great album was unleashed. The sparse yet intricate arrangements, building intertwining riffs with sometimes traditional and sometimes off-kilter phrasing and structures, are at once unique and accessible, and quintessentially Spoon.
"The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine"


The horizontal design of this case not only provides a wide opening that makes it easy to retrieve your smartphone, but also allows you to bend or stoop without it jabbing into you. Made of abrasion-resistant ballistic nylon with a non-marring lining, it has a secure hook-and-loop flap closure.
An internal pocket holds cards or cash. Sized to fit phones such as the iPhone® 6, the case has elastic side panels that allow it to accommodate larger-format phones, even those enclosed in a holder. The tough, flexible hook-end clip secures over any belt or strap up to 2" wide.
About 4" tall by 6-1/4" wide, the holster protects your phone while keeping it within easy reach, and can also be used to hold a small digital camera or GPS unit.


text:
Q: Sendmail : forwarding emails problem So here is my situation.
I have this 2 DNS (say a.org and b.org) with the same IP address (both A record) tied to this box. We have Google mail handing our a.org emails . I want b.org emails to forward to users at a.org emails . My sendmail is getting confused and is delivering all b.org emails locally instead of forwarding them to a.org (which is specified in the .forward) .
What do I do from the sendmail side to force external delivery .
Thanks Much

A: *

*add "FEATURE(`mailertable')" to sendmail.mc

*run m4(make) to install new config, then restart sendmail

*add to /etc/mail/mailertable ".b.org     smtp:[aspmx.l.google.com]"

*makemap hash /etc/mail/mailertable < /etc/mail/mailertable

*test

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Work to construct a new bridge that will connect Santa Elena and San Ignacio has commenced. Minister of Works, and Area Representative for Cayo Central, Hon. Rene Montero told The Guardian on Wednesday ,October 17th that work started two weeks ago.
The project, which will cost some 58 million dollars, got under way with the signing of a contract between the Ministry of Works and CISCO Construction in April of this year. It has taken up until a couple weeks ago for the physical work to commence but, so far, it is well underway. In this phase of the project, the Loma Luz Boulevard will be paved leading up to the river. This is one of 4 components of the project.
The other component will also see the paving of Joseph Andrews Drive from Sacred Heart College to the intersection with the Benque Viejo Road. Another component is the filling of Joseph Andrews Drive up to the Macal River. And the last component is for the actual construction of the bridge.
As for the supervision of the work, it will be done also by a consultant from the Caribbean Development Bank and engineers from the Ministry of Works.
The project is expected to last for two years and at the end of the project, the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena would have a two-lane bridge that connects them.


How can KMB Management Help Find Me a Place to Live? By reading this you're likely seeking a new place to live. We'd like to thank you for considering KMB Management for your leased housing needs. As a property manager, we have access to a diverse portfolio of properties that range from single-unit rentals, all the way up to multi-tenant houses. By having access to this portfolio, we have the ability to search this wide range of properties to help fill your unique needs. Our property clients are homeowners and associations that place a great deal of trust in us to make sure their investment is safeguarded. For renters like you, this means that we can help you find the perfect apartment or home in the quickest time possible.
At KMB Management, our focus is on providing our tenants with an exceptional living experience. By offering quality service and exceptional properties, we put the focus on our tenants. Below are some more great reasons to rent from KMB Management.
We have units available in many different locations.
Many of our locations have parking options included.
Select units are pet friendly.
Why Rent from KMB Management?
Why would you want us to be your next landlord? Well that's a great question, and something we find many renters never consider. While property managers continually seek quality tenants, tenants rarely ask "Why should I rent from this guy"?
KMB Management is different from some of the other management companies you may find. We are not a division of a larger real estate company, and we are fairly selective on the clients we take on. Profit is not based on hidden fees on tenants or owners, nor do we press for a potential listing or sale of a property in the future. In fact, if a client will not continually invest and keep a property in an acceptable condition, we will fire them!
We realize that property management goes far beyond rent collection, maintenance and repair. For the tenant, we are your only source of immediate help when something goes wrong in the place you call home. We request, and many times demand a lot. So we always strive to be fair, honest and a good landlord.
We understand real estate and the issue's that impact your short and long term goals. We help you take the necessity steps to make sure you find the lease that fits your needs. To help make your leasing experience as convienent as possible, our current residents also have the option to pay rent or submit a request for service with our secure online account system.


An annual study of women in the board room and executive leadership of Georgia public companies.
Since 1993, OnBoard has been measuring the corporate landscape to track the progress of women's role in the board room and executive leadership positions on Georgia public companies. All information is derived from Form 10-K, 8-k or proxy filings with the Securities & Exchange Commission as of the current study data cutoff date of 8/24/18.
Click here to view a copy of the 2018 Making an Impact: Leaping Forward, OnBoard's top line study results, what progress is being made and how OnBoard is making an impact.
2018 Study Communication Strategy & Design provided by Modo Modo Agency.