Our administrative and surgical team is pleasant, friendly, and eager to address your questions or concerns. Our front office will be your first stop into our friendly and respectful atmosphere, where we will provide you genuine care and non-judgmental consideration of your needs and concerns. We pride ourselves on providing our patients with flexible appointment times and multiple payment options. The back office will then carry on our mission to treat every patient as we, ourselves, would like to be treated. During each outpatient surgery, there are experienced surgical assistants who support the administration of IV sedation under the supervision of our very own unique combination of oral surgeon and registered nurse. In addition, our office staff has completed certifications in basic life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), OSHA infection control and sterilization techniques. Your care and safety are our number one priority.
Dr. Bailey was raised in Canyon, TX and attended Canyon High School and West Texas State University graduating with honors in 1987. Dr. Bailey served as a Captain of the United State Air Force Reserve from 1987-1993. He received his dental degree from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1993 and graduated from the University of Missouri with his Oral and Maxillofacial surgery certificate in 1997. He was a faculty member in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of Missouri Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, serving as an assistant professor from 1997-2000. Dr. Bailey entered private practice in 2000.


WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 6, 2016)- Drivers who miss between one to two hours of the recommended seven hours of sleep in a 24-hour period nearly double their risk for a crash, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 35 percent of U.S. drivers sleep less than the recommended seven hours daily. And with drowsy driving involved in more than one in five fatal crashes on U.S. roadways each year, AAA warns drivers that getting less than seven hours of sleep may have deadly consequences.


Fiserv, Inc. FISV reported disappointing third-quarter 2018 results wherein both earnings and revenues lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate. In response to the lower-than-expected results, shares declined 2.9% in after-hours trading yesterday.
Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 75 cents missed the consensus mark by 2 cents but rose on a year-over-year basis attributable to operating leverage, tax rate reductions and capital deployment.
Revenues of $1.41 billion lagged the consensus estimate by $19.4 million but came ahead of the year-ago figure by $12 million. Adjusted revenues of $1.35 billion increased $10 million on a year-over-year basis. The improvement in revenues was driven by strong results from a number of businesses, including Card, Biller, and Bank Solutions.
Concurrent with the earnings release, Fiserv announced completion of acquisition of the debit-based assets of Elan Financial Services, a unit of U.S. Bancorp (USB), for approximately $690 million. The deal includes the purchase of Elan's debit card processing, ATM Managed Services and MoneyPass surcharge free network. It should boost Fiserv's payments portfolio, widen its client base and provide new solutions to enhance the value proposition for its existing 3,000 debit solutions clients.
So far this year, shares of Fiserv have gained 21%, significantly outperforming the 10.8% rally of the industry it belongs to and 0.4% rise of the Zacks S&P 500 composite.
Revenues at the Payments and Industry Products segment increased 6% year over year to $844 million. The upside was driven by card services and biller businesses' solid performance and increased adoption and growing transaction volumes. In the quarter, debit transactions grew double digits, total P2P transactions, including both Popmoney and Zelle, grew nearly 50% and Mobiliti ASP subscribers increased 23% to nearly 8 million, all contributing significantly to growth in digital and payments solutions.
Revenues at the Financial Institution Services segment decreased 7.3% year over year to $574 million. These revenues were hurt by the divestiture of 55% interest of the company's Lending Solutions business (the "Lending Transaction").
Internal revenue growth was 5% in the reported quarter, with 5% growth in the Payments segment and 4% growth in the Financial segment.
Revenues at the Total processing and Services segment increased 2% on a year-over-year basis to $1.22 billion, while product revenues were down 5.9% year over year to $189 million.
Adjusted operating income of $425 million was down 2.3% from the year-ago quarter. Adjusted operating margin declined 100 basis points (bps) year over year to 31.6%. The decline was due to a negative impact of 160 bps resulting from Lending divestiture, acquisitions completed last year and the impact of client-focused incremental investments funded through tax savings. These were, however, partially offset by a positive impact of 60 bps from the company's strong operational effectiveness performance and operating model leverage.
Adjusted operating income at the Payments and Industry Products segment was $267 million, up 5.1% year over year. However, adjusted operating margin contracted 40 bps to 34.2%. Segmental adjusted operating margin was hurt by a negative impact of 140 bps owing to acquisitions and investments from tax savings.
Operating income at the Financial Institution Services segment totaled $204 million, down 8.3% year over year due to the Lending transaction. Operating margin declined 40 bps to 32.7%.
Fiserv exited third-quarter 2018 with cash and cash equivalents of $673 million compared with $348 million at the end of the prior quarter. Long-term debt at the end of the quarter was $4.82 billion compared with $4.81 billion at the end of the prior quarter.
The company generated $368 million of net cash from operating activities in the reported quarter. Free cash flow was $322 million. Capital expenditures were $94 million.
During the reported quarter, Fiserv repurchased 5.6 million shares for $438 million and announced a new 30 million share repurchase authorization. As of Sep 30, 2018, the company had 34.9 million shares available for buyback.
Fiserv raised the lower end of adjusted EPS guidance for 2018.Adjusted earnings per share are expected in the range of $3.10-$3.15, which indicates 25-27% year-over-year growth after adjusting for the Lending Transaction. The previously guided range was $3.02-$3.15 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.13 is almost in line with the midpoint of the currently guided range.
Fiserv continues to expect internal revenue growth of at least 4.5%. Additionally, the company anticipates adjusted operating margin to be around 10 bps and free cash flow conversion to be around 106%for 2018. Full year adjusted effective tax rate is expected to be below 22%.
Fiserv currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here .
Investors interested in the broader Business Services sector are keenly awaiting third-quarter earnings reports from key players like Genpact G , Delphi Technologies DLPH and Green Dot GDOT . While Genpact will report on Nov 6, Delphi Technologies and Green Dot will release quarterly results on Nov 7.


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POLITICO Playbook: How to think about impeachment this week
By JAKE SHERMAN and ANNA PALMER
Once Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gets the articles of impeachment, expect three or four days of housekeeping and logistical work before the trial actually begins. | Susan Walsh/AP Photo
DRIVING THE DAY
THIS WEEK WE'LL SEE KINETIC ACTION on impeachment for the first time in a while. And here's what you can expect:
-- THE HOUSE will come into session tonight, but the weekly caucus meeting will be TUESDAY morning. It is there that Speaker NANCY PELOSI will discuss the next steps on impeachment with House Democrats. We anticipate a vote to send the impeachment articles and name the managers sometime Tuesday or Wednesday.
-- ONCE THE SENATE GETS THE ARTICLES, expect three or four days of housekeeping and logistical work before the trial actually begins.
-- SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL anticipates keeping the Senate in SIX DAYS A WEEK until impeachment is over. In closed meetings, McConnell has been pressed on this, and he's been consistent that he wants to keep the chamber in all week, save Sundays -- in line with the Senate's guidelines for impeachment. MLK Day is also probably an off-day.
-- IN RECENT DAYS, MCCONNELL allies have told us multiple times that we should expect a robust conversation in the Senate GOP about calling witnesses in the trial. We'll see just how robust the debate is, and what the rules call for.
IF THIS TRIAL DOES MIRROR BILL CLINTON'S in its rules, the opportunity to call witnesses will come after the presentation of the trial and the senators' questioning of both sides. This makes the managers incredibly important for those seeking witnesses.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S team is coming together, per NYT's MAGGIE HABERMAN: "Some aspects of how Mr. Trump's team will approach the trial have yet to be determined, including whether it will seek witnesses and how much time it will ask for to argue its case. But the basic configuration of the team defending the television-savvy president in a made-for-TV congressional event has been established.
"The two constants will be Pat A. Cipollone, the White House counsel, and Jay Sekulow, who has been Mr. Trump's personal lawyer since 2017. Both are expected to have speaking roles during the trial. … There will be other lawyers involved, primarily Mr. Cipollone's two top deputies, Patrick F. Philbin and Michael M. Purpura, two people familiar with the plans said. Neither was authorized to speak publicly about the formation of the president's defense. …
"Last week, Mr. Trump's lawyers met at the White House with Stephen R. Castor, who served as the Republican counsel in the House impeachment hearings, according to people briefed on the discussions." NYT
BURGESS EVERETT and MARIANNE LEVINE on Senate Minority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER: "How Schumer might get the last laugh on impeachment trial": "Schumer will force a series of votes designed to squeeze vulnerable Republicans and harm them on the campaign trail if they side with Trump.
"Democrats argue the half-dozen at-risk GOP senators will need some daylight between them and Trump to get reelected. And if they vote against Schumer's motions to hear new evidence and witness testimony, they'll be seen as Trump sycophants — undermining their bids and boosting Schumer's odds of becoming majority leader.
"Support for obtaining new documents at the trial is 'even stronger than we thought, with large numbers of Republicans supporting it,' Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in an interview. 'And when you go against what the American people feel strongly about, on an issue they're paying attention to, it's not a good idea.'"
NYT'S SHERYL GAY STOLBERG on SCHUMER: "Schumer, Eyeing Senate's Top Job, Navigates Tricky Impeachment Terrain": "For Mr. Schumer, who has spent three years as the Senate's top Democrat in the shadow of his House counterpart, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the impeachment trial of Mr. Trump is both an opportunity and a risk.
"It is no secret in the capital that the job Mr. Schumer really wants is that of Senate majority leader — a post he thought would be his with Hillary Clinton in the White House, before Mr. Trump's 2016 victory unleashed a political earthquake. A schmoozer and a deal-maker, he is more suited to the politics of getting things done than to the partisan knife-fighting culture of Mr. Trump's Washington." NYT
WAPO'S GRIFF WITTE on MCCONNELL, from Florence, Ky.: "A pact with Trump on impeachment? McConnell's Kentucky backers demand it": "[F]or now, McConnell — who can afford to lose up to three votes while retaining a working majority — has the support he needs to call the shots. The political calculus on McConnell's home front offers him little room to compromise, even if he wanted to.
"To Trump's backers here in northern Kentucky — the small cities, affluent suburbs and rolling hill country that fans out just across the muddy Ohio River from Cincinnati — that is just how they like it. Many have long been wary of McConnell, deeming him overly willing to cut a deal and insufficiently committed to the president's agenda. His management of the president's trial, they say, will be a test." WaPo
THE PRESIDENT suggested Sunday that maybe the Senate should not even hold an impeachment trial, something MCCONNELL has rejected … @realDonaldTrump at 2:55 p.m.: "Many believe that by the Senate giving credence to a trial based on the no evidence, no crime, read the transcripts, 'no pressure' Impeachment Hoax, rather than an outright dismissal, it gives the partisan Democrat Witch Hunt credibility that it otherwise does not have. I agree!"
DARREN SAMUELSOHN: "Meet John Roberts' Senate impeachment whisperer"
Retailers use data to offer benefits to consumers and enhance the overall shopping experience. In doing so, there is no higher priority than protecting and responsibly using consumers' personal information. That's why we support a comprehensive federal privacy law. What does that look like? Find out here: nrf.com/consumerprivacy.
TRUMP READING … DAILY MAIL: "Meghan Markle's REAL dream is to move to Los Angeles... but only after Donald Trump's presidency ends, say pals"
Good Monday morning.
SPOTTED: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) having brunch at Dacha Navy Yard on Sunday with her boyfriend and new French bulldog. Pic
NEW: "Trump authorized Soleimani's killing 7 months ago, with conditions," by NBC's Carol Lee and Courtney Kube: "President Donald Trump authorized the killing of top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani seven months ago if Iran's increased aggression resulted in the death of an American, according to five current and former senior administration officials.
"The presidential directive in June 2019 came with the condition that Trump would have final sign off on any specific operation to kill Soleimani, officials said. That decision explains why assassinating Soleimani was on the menu of options that the military presented to Trump last week for responding to an attack by Iranian proxies in Iraq that killed an American contractor and wounded four U.S. service members, the officials said.
"The timing, however, could undermine the Trump administration's stated justification for ordering the U.S. drone strike that killed Soleimani in Baghdad on Jan. 3. Officials have said Soleimani, the leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite Quds Force, was planning imminent attacks on Americans and had to be stopped." NBC
-- "Video: Iran police shoot at those protesting plane shootdown," by AP's Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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2020 WATCH …
-- HOLLY OTTERBEIN in Iowa City: "Sanders surges as progressives flock to him over Warren": "Something's happening with Bernie Sanders that looked unlikely to many a few months ago: Progressive leaders and organizations are lining up behind him, not Elizabeth Warren, in the lead-up to voting.
"Two groups run by young people — the Sunrise Movement, which seeks to combat climate change, and Dream Defenders, which advocates for people of color — endorsed him last week. He's also won the backing of People's Action and the Center for Popular Democracy, which together claim more than 1.5 million members, as well as three lawmakers in the so-called "Squad" and liberal-minded labor unions.
"The consolidation of left-wing support is a remarkable turnaround for Sanders. In September, the Working Families Party became the first major national progressive group to endorse a candidate when it picked Warren — despite siding with Sanders in 2016. Warren was surging at the time, and looked poised to overtake Sanders as the leader of the progressive movement and a frontrunner for the nomination." POLITICO
-- WAPO'S ANNIE LINSKEY in Marshalltown, Iowa, and SEAN SULLIVAN in Iowa City: "Bernie Sanders's campaign goes on the attack as he seeks a victory in the Iowa caucuses": "Sen. Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign has suddenly gone on the attack as he seeks to secure an opening victory in the early February caucuses, engaging in a rare dispute with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, tussling with former vice president Joe Biden and drawing an insult from President Trump.
"Although Sanders (I-Vt.) mostly had resisted comparing himself with other candidates, over the weekend, his surrogates and aides intensified their attacks on Biden, targeting his past positions on racial issues and his vote to sanction the Iraq War." WaPo
-- POLL … DES MOINES REGISTER: "More than three-quarters of Iowa's likely Democratic caucusgoers use the word 'optimist' to describe themselves, according to the latest Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll. When offered a selection of a dozen potential self-descriptions, 78% of poll respondents picked the word 'optimist,' making it the label most often picked by respondents."
-- TIMELY! … NYT'S 'THE LONG RUN' SERIES: "Joe Biden's Vote for War," by Katie Glueck and Tom Kaplan, on A1: "'At each pivotal moment,' Mr. Biden said of Mr. Bush, 'he has chosen a course of moderation and deliberation, and I believe he will continue to do so. At least that is my fervent hope.'
"On Oct. 11, he was one of 77 senators to authorize the use of military force in Iraq. Twenty-three colleagues, some of whom harbored grave doubts about the danger Iraq posed at the time, refused to back the president's request.
"Nearly two decades later, Mr. Biden, who by 2005 was calling that vote a mistake, is running for president in part on his foreign policy experience, emphasizing his commander-in-chief credentials at a moment of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. Yet the Iraq war vote is part of the extensive record he cites, and he has struggled to accurately account for it on the campaign trail, repeatedly suggesting he opposed the war and Mr. Bush's conduct from the beginning, claims that detailed fact checks have deemed wrong or misleading."
-- "Judge Judy Has Issued Her Decision: She Likes Michael Bloomberg," by NYT's Lisa Lerer
-- THE TEXAS TRIBUNE'S ABBY LIVINGSTON: "With its 228 delegates and Super Tuesday slot, Texas looms in the presidential primary": "A sleeping giant looms over the Democratic presidential campaign, even as excitement continues to build toward the first-in-the-nation contests in Iowa and New Hampshire.
"That behemoth is Texas. Slowly but surely, Democratic presidential campaigns are taking breaks from the early state presidential primaries and are making their cases to Texans. The March 3 Texas primary will deliver 228 delegates on a proportional basis, the third-largest delegate count of the primary season. But for now, the top priorities are clearly Iowa, which will host its caucuses Feb. 3, and the succeeding contests in New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina."
-- JAMES CARVILLE is endorsing Sen. MICHAEL BENNET (D-Colo.) for president, and will travel to New Hampshire to campaign for him.
TRUMP'S MONDAY … THE PRESIDENT will have lunch with the vice president at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time, and at 4:10 p.m., they'll leave the White House for Andrews, where they will fly to New Orleans for the college football national championship. At 9:05 p.m., they'll leave New Orleans for Washington. They are slated to arrive at Andrews at 12:40 a.m., and get back to the White House at 1 a.m.
PLAYBOOK READS
PHOTO DU JOUR: Residents walk in a cloud of ash after a sudden eruption of ash and steam from the Taal Volcano forced villagers to flee on Monday, Jan. 13, in Tagaytay, Cavite province, Philippines. | Aaron Favila/AP Photo
HAPPENING TODAY … AP/LONDON: "Queen prepares for royal family summit over Harry and Meghan"
THE DISASTER IN AUSTRALIA -- "'If We Stayed Outside We Would Have Died': Australia's Fires Devour Farms and Forests," by WSJ's Jon Emont, James Glynn and David Winning: "Fires have ravaged Australia in recent weeks, burning an area roughly 10 times the size burned in California's historic 2018 wildfire season. The flames have spread with stunning speed, cutting off roads in and out of towns and flushing coastal residents to beaches where they were rescued by sea.
"Thousands of homes have burned and more than 25 people have died, with blazes expected to keep burning through Australia's summer into February, if not longer.
"Beach towns, ski resorts, and dairy farms have fallen to fires that have eaten more than 26,000 square miles of land—an area larger than West Virginia. Some experts have said the fires could shave as much as 0.4% off economic growth, mainly in the current quarter, and insurance losses are already estimated at around $686 million, based just on claims made so far, according to the Insurance Council of Australia on Friday. That total is sure to rise as more than 100 fires raged Sunday in New South Wales, the southeastern part of the continent, which has borne the brunt of the disaster." WSJ
FOR YOUR RADAR … TAIWAN ELECTION FALLOUT -- "China could flex military muscles to pressure Taiwan post-election," by Reuters' Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee in Taipei: "His policies rejected by Taiwan voters in a landslide re-election for President Tsai Ing-wen, Chinese President Xi Jinping will most likely continue to tighten the screws on the island, with state media already floating shows of force. …
"Options for increasing pressure post-election include many of the actions China was taking before: stepped up military drills around the island or picking off more of Taiwan's 15 remaining diplomatic allies. It could also withdraw from a key trade agreement reached a decade ago.
"Widely read Chinese state-backed tabloid the Global Times said in a Monday editorial that military flexing may be the next step.
"'We need to plan to crack down on Tsai's new provocative actions, including imposing military pressure,' it wrote." Reuters
Data privacy legislation should protect consumers' personal information, the shopping benefits they receive and the technological innovations businesses employ. Learn more.
TRADE WARS … THE STAKES OF THIS WEEK'S CHINA DEAL -- "Trump Trade Deal Raises Issue of Trusting China to Deliver," by Bloomberg's Shawn Donnan and Jenny Leonard: "After three years of tweets and tariffs, President Donald Trump has arrived at his China moment.
"The phase one deal to be signed Wednesday is expected to include China's commitments to respect American intellectual property and not manipulate its currency. U.S. officials also anticipate $200 billion in new purchases that should help reduce a yawning trade deficit and repair some of the damage suffered by farmers. It hands Trump at least a partial agreement many skeptics doubted was ever possible.
"But even that political victory leaves Trump confronting the same China conundrum that has plagued his predecessors. The broad and bipartisan agreement in Washington is that American presidents have for decades been hoodwinked by a China that has often failed to deliver on its promises." Bloomberg
HAMBY READING -- "The Dangers of the Twitter Primary," by Helen Lewis in The Atlantic
MEDIAWATCH -- Cuneyt Dil will join the AP's California statehouse bureau in Sacramento. He currently is a reporter for The DC Line and Washington City Paper and author of the District Links newsletter.
-- A new publication, Rest of World, is naming WaPo and BuzzFeed alum Anup Kaphle executive editor. He previously was editor-in-chief of the Kathmandu Post. (h/t Brian Stelter)
PLAYBOOKERS
Send tips to Eli Okun and Garrett Ross at politicoplaybook@politico.com.
TRANSITION -- Vanessa Day is now a VP on Targeted Victory's public affairs team. She most recently was a senior adviser at the nonprofit Urban Specialists and is a Paul Ryan alum.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD -- Pete Bisbee, executive director of the Rule of Law Defense Fund, and Audrey Bisbee welcomed Beatrice Virginia Bisbee on Friday. She came in at 7 lbs, 7 oz and 19 inches, and joins big sister Penny. Pic … Another pic
BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Rod Rosenstein, partner at King & Spalding and former deputy A.G., is 55. How he got his start: "I joined the Department of Justice in 1990 because the virtue of the mission eclipsed the financial sacrifice. I stayed because it is an extraordinary honor to represent the United States and work with men and women of great integrity. Patriotism is not merely about pride in your country. Patriotism is about gratitude for your country." Playbook Q&A
BIRTHDAYS: Nate Silver is 42 (what are the odds?) … Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is 49 … Marc Thiessen is 53 … Julia Tishman (h/ts Ryder and Josie) … Natasha McKenzie … Nick Butterfield, deputy assistant to the president and deputy WH policy coordinator … Andrew Riddaugh of the WH advance office … Brian Scarlett … Jason Chung, nominee to be U.S. director of the Asian Development Bank and current alternate executive director … Andrew Kossack, state director for Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) … Monica Notzon … WTOP alum Mike McMearty … Ginger Zee … Tali Stein Elleithee … POLITICO's Tim Noah and Alexandra Velde … Dick Sheffield … Joseph Rodota, California political consultant and writer … National Journal's Mini Racker … Chandra Hardy … Fox News' Christina Robbins … Ryan Murphy of The Texas Tribune … Britt Bepler, COO of Monument Advocacy (h/t Stewart Verdery) … Abigail Seldin … Rich Gold …
… Kristina Schake … Deloitte's Mollie Bowman … Antony Phillipson, the U.K.'s consul-general in New York and Her Majesty's trade commissioner to North America … Rebecca Cathcart … Jordan Bell, president of American University's College Republicans, is 21 (h/t Inuri Abeysekara) … Maria Gavrilovic … Will Baskin-Gerwitz … Sam Cohen … Allan Rivlin … John Cole … Michelle Mowery Johnson … Mia Walton … Liz Swiker … Laurence Wildgoose … FEMA's John Allen … Katie Murtha … New England Center for Investigative Reporting/WGBH's Paul Singer … Robin Bravender … Liana Guerra … Carly Freedman … Heidi Krizer Daroff … BGR's Kristin Strobel … Ali Tulbah … Max Sanders … Rashid Dar … Ian Gilley … Kevin Kiley … Vincent Pan … Wisconsin state Rep. Chris Taylor … Lisa Caputo … Anna Lidman … former Iowa Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson … Dave O'Brien (h/ts Teresa Vilmain)
Why is a comprehensive federal privacy law important to enact now? As businesses leverage new technologies to meet consumers' growing expectations for personalization and a seamless experience between online and in-store shopping, consumers are sharing an increasing amount of data. But states are crafting and enacting privacy laws that don't require all businesses – such as third-party businesses which consumers don't even know exist – to protect consumers' personal information. If this trend continues, it's American consumers who stand to lose the most. It's time for federal data privacy legislation that will provide a uniform and fair framework for consumers and businesses alike, across all industry sectors. Learn more at nrf.com/consumerprivacy.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


No coach at departure time, a long wait on the ferry while waiting for a berth at Calais, cold torrential rain on arrival in Dieppe - the Third Year French Visit did not have a very auspicious start!
Fortunately the 33 pupils and five members of staff were optimistic and creative. Mr Kerr's group even braved the tempest in an attempt to fulfil the scheduled "exploration" of the big Normandy port . We were staying in a hostel called "Domaine Les Roches", a well-equipped hostel in spacious grounds offering "salle à manger avec vue superbe" and "salle d'animation" where a table tennis tournament (champion, Peter Edwarde) and table-football competitions (champions, Tom Kirschen and Simon Hope) were organised.
A day in Rouen was programmed for the second day. It was cold, but sunny and the pretty squares and timbered houses looked beautiful. The morning market offered the first chance to practice French - "je voudrais un pain au chocolat" (James Sheldrake), "un kilo de fraises, s'il vous plaît" (Sarah Perry) and "où sont les toilettes?" (Ben Holding). David Evans was even given "une tête de lapin" - a rabbit's head!
After some shopping and a picnic lunch beside the River Seine we met our French tour-guide, called Fred. He told us about the cathedral and Rouen's turbulent history, then he took us to a quaint tree-filled courtyard enclosed by very old black and white timbered buildings. There was a sinister atmosphere to this place named Aître St Maclou, which we soon discovered had been a plague cemetery! The day ended with delicious crêpes and, for some, a ride on a colourful merry-go-round.
On Sunday it was possible to explore Dieppe on our walk to the maritime museum, Cité de la Mer. The cliff-top chateau overlooking the huge promenade, the garden commemorating the ill-fated Canadian raid on German-occupied Dieppe and the picturesque quayside with its cafés and shops all make up the charm of the town. In spite of the difficulty in understanding the details in French about ship-building and fishing the museum was generally appreciated, not least for the opportunity to touch the ray fish and make Lego boats! Our last hour in town was spent on the "Grande Rue" buying more delicious crêpes, glaces and bonbons.
We had anticipated some delay on the Calais dock due to the restricted use of berths, but we had not anticipated the failure of the coach's turbo! However, spirits were still high on arrival at school and, as usual, because the visit had been so busy and eventful, it seemed much more than three days since our departure.
"What did you like most about the whole visit?"


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Gentle Wind & Warm Water
Immerse yourself in the modern incarnation of this Altair residence, a marvel in the upscale Orange County community.
Inspired by the natural sanctuaries and shapes that are native to Southern California, Helena Brana called forth an organic color palette of light woods, moonstone grays, and amethyst purples to transform the 4,000-square-foot build into a luxury oasis.
The zen living space, which Helena titled "Warm Water and Gentle Wind", embodies peace and comfort. It blends spaces to relax, entertain, play, and feel calm within—like a reflecting pool of the client's own values and what "home" means to them.
Helena Brana's signature aesthetic revolves around experimenting with contemporary designs, curating a global assemblage of exquisite furnishings and lighting elements, and incorporating materials and textures rooted in tradition. For this project, she selected hand-blown crystals, modern curved shapes, champagne metals, cement, plaster, plain & rift-sawn woods, and a combination of organic wool, silk, and linen.
COMING WINTER 2023
Interior Designer: BRANA Designs
brana designs, Contemporary Interior Designer, helena brana, Interior Designer Newport Beach, interior designer orange county, Luxury Interiors, luxury real estate, Modern Interior Designer, modern interior designer orange county, Modern Interiors, newport beach, orange county, Orange County real estate


This is the Distant Days CD - a brand new pressing with previousy unreleased bonus tracks. This package comes with the complete Distant Days album in compact disc format along with a booklet of the artwork and lyrics. This critically acclaimed work of progressive art rock will satisfy any fan of modern symphonic prog.


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Alice in Wonderland Animated (Single Disc)
Please Note: Not all customers will receive their product in the O-Ring packaging.
Follow Alice as she chases the White Rabbit on a magical journey into the fantastical world of Wonderland. It's a topsy-turvy place that gets "curiouser and curiouser" as Alice's madcap adventures introduce her to some truly unforgettable characters — the Mad Hatter, March Hare, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts and more. Filled with spectacular songs and dazzling animation, Alice in Wonderland is a timeless classic your entire family will love.
Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn, Sterling Holloway, Verna Felton, J. Pat O'Malley
Hamilton Luske	, Wilfred Jackson	, Clyde Geronimi
Dubbing Languages:
Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch
Subtitle Languages:
English, English SDH, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch
Theatrical Release Year:
A Disney Classic!
A classic film that stands the test of time! While it's songs were never great, Alice in Wonderland is so different from other Disney films that it stands out among the crowd and it's animation and quirky characters still hold up today! Wonderland is crazy, and that is perhaps why it appeals today, just as much as it did in 1951, with odd but charming characters such as; The Cheshire Cat, The Mad Hatter, and The Caterpillar, to name but a few. The blu-ray version looks suprisingly crisp, clear and beautiful for such an old film and I'd recommend it to anyone, especially fans of Disney or Lewis Carroll's novels! The blu-ray also features an assortment of cool extras too, perhaps not as much as previous DVD releases or the US BR release, but I'm sure it'll be enough to satisfy most peoples needs. Included are; Reflections of Alice Featurette Operation Wonderland One Hour In Wonderland Feature And a bunch of stuff that is exclusive to Blu-Ray Disc; -Through The Keyhole: A Companion's Guide to Wonderland -Painting the Roses Red Interactive Game -DisneyView - Enhanced Viewing Experience -Walt Disney Colour TV Intoduction (1959) -Reference Footage: Alice And The Doorknob -Pencil Test: Alice Shrinks Most of it is fluff, but some of the featurette stuff can be quite insightful, especially concerning the history of Disney's production of the film (perhaps even more interesting because of the time period it was released in). So as a classic from my child hood brought into HD in a beautiful little package I'll give this 5 stars! Highly recommended! =)
05/11/13 by Chrome
I love Alice in Wonderland and when I found out it was on Blu-ray I couldn't resist. My Blu-ray Disney collection is ever expanding and this makes a great addition.
29/04/13 by Moomiin
Yes its a Disney, yes its a classic, but its just not one of my faourite disney films
11/10/12 by MadAmdyMan
Another Disney classic. The only thing I have to point out is that its not in widescreen. so you ether watch it 4;3 or have the Disney-view on the sides which were not that bad I must say, but as for the film brilliant adventures loved it as a kid and now I do as an adult.
15/07/12 by alanm


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What you're doing this weekend
by Jason Ferguson
Jason Isbell (Drive-By Truckers), Will Hoge and the ever-lovely Centro-Matic are playing the Social.
Kottonmouth Kings and some other awful blunted rap-rockers are playing what amounts to an afternoon show at Firestone. This, of course, is the weekly winner of "If you go to this, you're retarded."
But, there's also Disney's Aladdin Jr. at Theatre Downtown. So, you know, you've got choices.
Well, there's this:
Marc With a "C" is celebrating the completion of his new CD, Normal Bias, with a show at Stardust.
The Thread folks are having an under-pressure art show called Make Haste at the Cherry Street Studios.
The Orange County Convention Center is hosting Taste of the Nation, in which a bunch of rich people get together to raise money for hungry children by eating really fancy food. But on VERY small plates. Because they care.
Erykah Badu performs at House of Blues.
Or, if you'd like to actually experience real old-school rather than an old-school act, you could catch KRS-One at Club Element.
The Orlando Gay Chorus' latest show, "Of Ghosts and Glory," is all about catching "the musical spirit of pre-Nazi German cabarets." At least that what we said in Selections. It's happening at the Jewish Community Center.
And, speaking of ... uh, well, you know, Clay Aiken's doing whatever he does at Hard Rock Live before an audience of extremely in-denial females and not-really-as-perceptive-as-they-think men.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Belfast weather set for another dusting of snow and Arctic conditions
Widespread snow is forecast with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning
Chris SherrardAudience and Content Director
(Image: stock photo)
Northern Ireland is set to be blanketed by snow with some parts set to feel colder than places in the Arctic Circle as the freezing temperatures continue into the week.
Widespread snow is forecast, and the Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
By the middle of the week, the majority of the UK is being warned of the potential for delays on the roads, trains and in the air.
The alert also warns there may be some power cuts and loss of mobile phone signal.
The Met Office said that by the end of Wednesday, more than 20cm of snow may have accumulated in some parts of eastern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Met Office meteorologist Charlie Powell said: "The UK is on track for some really cold weather this week. It's not going to be record-breaking, but it'll be pretty exceptional - winds are going to make it feel minus 10C (14F) to minus 15C (5F) during the day.
Belfast weather warning as 'Beast from the East' sweeps in
"We will see the first signs of that tonight in the shape of snow showers working all the way down the east coast.
"That continues into Monday, with snow showers moving across the country during the day before reaching Wales.
"Winds are then going to strengthen and we could see some easterly gales through the eastern Channel and east Anglia by the middle of the week.
"That's going to make it feel really cold, daytime temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday will be struggling to get above freezing for most of the country."
Belfast weather set to take dramatic turn as 'arctic blast' sends temperatures plummeting
He added: "By Thursday evening, there are growing signs there could be some significant snowfall across southern England.
"Unusually for Britain, the snow is going to be quite dry, so it will blow around and gather in drifts and we could see some blizzard conditions.
"We don't want to scare people, but people should make sure they are prepared for some seriously cold weather."
When does spring 2018 begin?
Lows of -5C (23F) recorded over the weekend marked the lowest temperature in the week leading up to March 1, the first day of spring, since 1986.
The wind chill, which could see parts of the UK feeling as cold as -15C (5F), rivals the temperatures forecast for parts of northern Norway and Iceland.


Ugly, ugly weather up in Ohio. Supposed to be around 38˚ at game time.
The big, big deal for WDBB is that Mikie Mahtook will be playing with the Mud Hens. Mikie came to the Bulls back in 2014 and played some terrific ball for the Bulls. He went back and forth with the Rays until going off to the Detroit Tigers for the 2017 season, when he had a good year. He appears to be caught in some roster turmoil, is off to a slow start, and had options left. I'm skeptical. I always like watching him play, so I hope my MiLB connection is working over the next couple of days.
The Mud Hens are off to a good start. Most notable is their defense. They've only given up 2 unearned runs this year (the Bulls have given up 6).
I notice that former Bull and Rays prospect Taylor Guerrieri is on the roster for the Buffalo Bisons. Apparently, Toronto picked him off waivers in November. He has pitched once, in relief. I guess I'll stop waiting for him to show up and help the Bulls.
I missed that as well. You're right.


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Food Review: Easy to see why Piccola Italia is holding its own
Michael Russell eats at Piccola Italia, 21 The Green, Ealing, W5 5DA.
Fish soup at Piccola Italia in The Green, Ealing
JUST yards away from established Italian restaurants, Piccola Italia must have faced a lot of competition in the five or so months it has been open.
But judging by the experience my girlfriend and I had dining there I can see why it is holding it's own.
The small restaurant was quite busy, with about half its tables full when we walked in on a quiet Wednesday night. It was decked out in some of the usual cliches, checked table clothes, terracotta walls and photos of Italy. But it was cosy and felt reasonably intimate despite the number of other diners.
The waiter offered to take my girlfriend's coat, but then, bizarrely, laid it over a chair at an empty table after realising he had nowhere to hang it. He was very friendly, though, bantering with the customers and the service was very good.
Neither of us felt like alcohol so we both had cranberry juices at £2 each.
There was a good selection of pizzas, meat and pasta dishes, on the menu. In the end I chose the Zuppadi Pesce (fish soup) off the specials board for £10.95. The swordfish, king prawns, mussels, clams and calamari were oven baked in a cherry tomato and white wine sauce. The sauce was very good, subtle yet flavoursome, but some of the fish was a little bland. It came with crusty bread which was perfect for mopping up the sauce.
My girlfriend had homemade gnocchi with bolognaise sauce costing £7.95. It was tasty and filling (luckily so filling that I also got to eat some) definitely a good choice.
The dishes on the menu are reasonably priced. With service charge the total bill came to £25.20.
The restaurant used to be a cafe called Bistro which was unremarkable and which I only ever visited when I failed to find a seat at Farm W5 a couple of doors down.
Piccola Italia (which means Little Italy) is definitely an improvement, despite the number of other Italians in the area. I'm sure I'll be back to sample some more of their homemade pasta.
Things To Do9 of the best London spas to to get the year off to a relaxing startStart 2020 off right and head to one of these places for a pamper
Your MoneyLondon's secret Cockney cashpoints where you can take out some 'sausage and mash'Certain cashpoints, much like in a foreign country, allow you to select your language of choice - and at a select few you can pick "Cockney"
FacebookMum's viral £1 method for stripping dirt and grime out of clothesThe mum's genius hack has been shared over 50,000 times on Facebook
Things To DoThe stunning log cabins you can stay in just outside of LondonYou'll feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of the capital
London UndergroundWe raced on the London Underground's two Northern Line branches to see which is fasterThe Charing Cross branch is quieter, but is it quicker?


Rutherford Briant are pleased to be working with a top Accountancy Practice located in Peterborough who are looking for two audit seniors to join their audit and accounts department which provides a wide range of advisory, audit and accounting services to their clients.
Corporate staff and Partners advise businesses ranging from large multi-national corporations to small family companies, many of which are owned by wealthy individuals. In addition to commercial companies in service/manufacturing industries, we also deal with professional partnerships, financial service companies and a significant number of not-for-profit organisations. The aim is to provide outstanding service in a professional and efficient manner tailored to give the client the benefit of exceptional advice and maximum added value.
The applicant should be able to demonstrate the following skills and behaviours.
In addition to the above the individual should be organised and commercially minded. They should display a flexible, professional approach and have the confidence and ability to establish credibility with Partners and clients.
Applicants will be either ACA or ACCA qualified and good pass rates in the professional exams would also be expected. Professional training experience should have been broad based with exposure to a good range of clients both in size and sector in general practice or audit. Familiarity with electronic auditing packages and accounts preparation with CCH Accounts Production is an advantage.


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Posts Tagged 'George Orwell'
Capitalism and the price of chocolate
1 March 2015 Frank Macskasy	2 comments
From a previous blogpost published on 4 July 2013, in The Daily Blog…
The Price of Cocoa (2013)
Three cans of cocoa tell an interesting story.
Can A is the oldest, with an expiry date of April 2011. The can measures 110mm (H) x 75mm (D). It contained 200g net dry cocoa powder.
We purchased Can B sometime in 2011 (?). The expiry date was March 2012, so it's the second oldest can.
Interestingly, it also contained 200g net dry cocoa powder. However, whilst the contents remained the same as Can A – the dimensions of the can inexplicably increased; 130mm (H) x 75mm (D). Same diameter as Can A – but 20mm taller. Contents remain the same net weight.
A month ago we purchased Can C (expiry date, March 2015). The dimensions of this can is the same as Can B: 130mm (H) x 75mm (D). But this time, the contents decreased from 200 to 190g net dry cocoa powder. Ten grams less.
So the up-shot? The can-sizes have gotten bigger – whilst the contents has reduced by 5%.
On 9 June, I emailed Nestle to find out what was going on,
Kia ora,
It has recently come to my attention that two cans of Nestle Baking Cocoa measure 110mm X 75mm, whilst the other measures 130mm x 75mm.
Both contain 200g net cocoa powder.
The smaller can measuring 110 x 75 has a "best before" date April 2011.
The larger can, 130×75 has a "best before" date March 2012.
It appears that you have increased the SIZE of the can, whilst the contents remain the same.
Is there a reason why the size of the cans was increased, by 20mm in height?
And can you confirm that the price stayed the same; increased; or reduced; when the change was made from a 110mm height to 130mm height?
(The email was sent prior to purchasing Can C.)
Perhaps not surprisingly, I received no reply from Nestle. [Blogger's note: I never received any reply from Nestle.]
Unfortunately, I never retained the receipts for Cans A and B, otherwise I could compare prices. But what's the bet that the retail price probably increased?
And thus it came to pass…
"As short a time ago as February, the Ministry of Plenty had issued a promise (a "categorical pledge" were the official words) that there would be no reduction of the chocolate ration during 1984. Actually, as Winston was aware, the chocolate ration was to be reduced from thirty grams to twenty at the end of the present week. All that was needed was to substitute for the original promise a warning that it would probably be necessary to reduce the ration at some time in April." – George Orwell, '1984'
Doubleplusgood!
The Price of Chocolate (2015)
A recent story in the media caught my attention;
The unattributed Fairfax article further stated,
Amanda Banfield, managing director of Australasia for Mondelez International, the parent company that owns Cadbury, said she expected a backlash.
She pointed to rising packaging costs and a lift in the price of raw materials.
The main ingredients are cocoa, sugar and milk.
So let's have a look at the prices of raw ingredients.
Sugar.
This commodity dropped in price from NZ$0.22 per pound, in July 2014, to NZ$0.20 per pound, by January of this year, according to IndexMundi.com;
Over the last year, the price of sugar increased, peaking in July last year, before falling back;
But taken over a five year period, look at how the price of sugar has dropped dramatically;
So the rationale for Cadbury's decision to de facto increase their prices cannot be blamed on sugar, which is cheaper now than it was, five years ago.
Let's have a look at cocoa (beans) – and a similar story unfolds;
Six months – a 3.95% increase;
Twelve months – a 12.26% increase;
However – over 5 years – a 21.06% drop in price;
It would be interesting to note if when the price of cocoa beans collapsed to NZ$2,601.96 per metric ton, in March 2013, did the price of a Cadbury's bar of chocolate increase in size? Or fall in price?
As for the price of packaging, this would be based on a local commodity (paper and ink) and if New Zealand's low inflation is anything to go by (an average of 2.7% pa since 2000), would not be much of a factor in pricing. With the exception of four Quarters around late 2010 to mid-2011, inflation has remained at or below 2%, a fallout from the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and ongoing recessionary/low-growth influences;
So with commodity prices for sugar and cocoa beans lower now than five years ago, and with low inflation, what other cause could there be for the de facto price price of Cadbury's chocolate bars?
Perhaps the answer lies with Kraft's acquisition of Cadburys for £11.5 billion (US$18.9 billion) in 2010. Kraft financed the take-over deal by borrowing a massive £7 billion (US$11.5 billion) to finance the deal.
However, the New Zealand branch of Cadbury's did not return a profit to it's parent company (Mondelez International) until three years later, when it paid a dividend of NZ$40 million to its parent company, Mondelez.
According to statements, Cadbury NZ's profit tripled to $11.6 million, from $3.5 million a year earlier, even as costs fell by 2.3%.
So despite falling costs, and increased profits, Cadbury NZ was struggling to make dividend payments to it's parent company, and meanwhile Kraft was committed to servicing a £7 billion (US$11.5 billion) loan which had financed the acquisition in 2010.
The reduction in Cadbury's chocolate bars can therefore be attributed to Kraft's indebtedness rather than the official company line of increased costs. Unless Cadbury is lying in it's financial statements, their costs have actually fallen, not increased.
As with many corporate takeovers, the benefits do not necessarily accrue to the public. The number one beneficiary is almost always shareholders, and consumers come a poor second (or third, or fourth…).
In this case, reducing the size of Cadbury chocolate bars by 20% is equivalent to a price increase, and Kraft's shareholders will reap the rewards of increased profits.
Not exactly a sweet deal for New Zealand consumers.
On 15 February, I contacted Statistics NZ, to enquire how SNZ views reduction in product sizes, whilst retail prices remain the same, in it's calculation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Dave Lum, from Statistics NZ replied;
The CPI measures price change in a "fixed" basket of goods and services, which means that we aim to measure price change based on quality being constant. In an instance where the quality (in your example, the weight/size) of an item changes, we show a price adjustment to account for the fact that the quality of the item has changed.
As an example, if the size of a can of beans goes from 300g to 330g for the same price, this is shown as a price decrease for that item in the CPI. Likewise, if the can of beans went from 300g to 250g for the same price, it would be represented as a price increase.
So according to Mr Lum, Cadbury's "switcheroo" with product sizes, will not materially distort CPI price measures.
Fairfax media: Cadbury blocks get the chop
IndexMundi.com: Sugar Futures End of Day Settlement Price (6 months)
IndexMundi.com: Sugar Futures End of Day Settlement Price (12 months)
IndexMundi.com: Sugar Futures End of Day Settlement Price (5 years)
IndexMundi.com: Cocoa beans Monthly Price – New Zealand Dollar per Metric Ton (6 months)
IndexMundi.com: Cocoa beans Monthly Price – New Zealand Dollar per Metric Ton (12 months)
IndexMundi.com: Cocoa beans Monthly Price – New Zealand Dollar per Metric Ton (5 years)
Reserve Bank: Inflation 1990-2014
Trading Economics: Inflation 2010 – 2015
NBR: Kraft Foods (NZ) pays $40m dividend to parent Mondelez
Wikipedia: Acquisition by Kraft Foods
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 24 February 2015.
Categories: Dollars & Sense, The Body Politic Tags: Cadbury NZ, George Orwell, inflation, Kraft, Mondelez International, Statistics NZ
It is 1984. It is ALWAYS 1984…
23 February 2013 Frank Macskasy	6 comments
First, the Labour government introduced the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002. This law could outlaw an organisation and declare them a "terrorist groups".
Some see Greenpeace as a terrorist organisation.
Ten years later, and National enacted the Search and Surveillance Act 2012. This law allowed the Police to search or keep citizens under surveillance, without a warrant. The Police simply had to show it was an "emergency".
This law allows Police to keep someone under surveillance and search their home if they are a political dissident/protestor.
Or maybe I'm being overly dramatic?
After all, Police wouldn't be interested in people exercising their democratic right to protest.
Eventually, though, the gradual demise of our privacy impacts on all of us. Even for those within the Establishment, who originally thought it was a good idea.
After all, if you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear.
As mainstream media focus and reports endless stories about crime and violence, society becomes more frightened of bogeymen just around the corner; or lurking behind bushes; or following us.
So we welcome any and all laws that successive governments give to the Police because, like children, we're afraid of the bogeymen that the media tells us is waiting… just around the corner, or behind bushes.
Yes, crime does exist. Meteorites falling out of the sky also exist. Lotto winners exist.
So what are your chances of experiencing all three?
The way the media constantly fixates on crime – you'd think it could happen to you tomorrow.
The government could pass new laws every day of the week. Crime, however, will not go away. You probably will not be a victim tomorrow. Society will not be any more or less be any safer.
After all these laws – is it any more or less safer now?
Is the bogeyman real? Yes, he probably is.
But not today. And not tomorrow. Perhaps, for you, not ever.
But your loss of privacy is with you always.
Categories: Social Issues, The Body Politic Tags: 1984, George Orwell, police, privacy, Search and Surveillance Bill, Signal, Terrorism Suppression Act
How Can A Minister of Finance Get It So Wrong???
Five days ago, Finance Minister Bill English released a statement on the part-privatisation of several State Owned Enterprises. It is worthwhile re-printing his statement in full, and responding to it, point-by-point,
Running up $5-$7b more debt not the answer
by Hon Bill English, Finance
Opponents of the Government's mixed ownership programme need to explain to New Zealanders why it would be better to borrow an extra $5 billion to $7 billion from overseas lenders, Finance Minister Bill English says.
Speaking to an Auckland Chamber of Commerce and Massey University business lunch today, he said the challenge was how the Government pays for forecast growth in taxpayers' assets over the next few years.
"Taxpayers own $245 billion of assets, and this is forecast to grow to $267 billion over the next four years. So we are not reducing our assets. Our challenge is how we pay for their growth, while getting on top of our debt."
The rationale for offering New Zealanders minority stakes in four energy companies and Air New Zealand is quite simple, Mr English says.
"First, the Government gets to free up $5 billion to $7 billion – less than 3 per cent of its total assets – to invest in other public assets like modern schools and hospitals, without having to borrow in volatile overseas markets.
"Our political opponents need to honestly explain to New Zealanders why it would be better to borrow this $5 billion to $7 billion from overseas lenders at a time when the world is awash with debt and consequent risks.
"We would rather pay dividends to New Zealanders on shares they own in the energy companies than pay interest to overseas lenders on more borrowing.
"The fact is, the Government is spending and borrowing more than it can afford into the future. So it makes sense to reorganise the Government's assets and redeploy capital to priority areas without having to borrow more.
"Most nights on television, we see the consequences of countries in Europe and elsewhere borrowing too much. We don't want that for New Zealand."
Secondly, under the mixed ownership programme New Zealanders will get an opportunity to invest in big Kiwi companies so they can diversify their growing savings away from property and finance companies.
"Counting the Government's controlling shareholding, we're confident 85-90 per cent of these companies will be owned by New Zealanders, who will be at the front of the queue for shares."
Thirdly, mixed ownership will be good for the companies themselves, Mr English says.
"Greater transparency and oversight from being listed on the stock exchange will improve their performance and the companies won't have to depend entirely on a cash-strapped government for new capital to grow.
"We already have a living, breathing and successful example of mixed ownership in Air New Zealand, which is 75 per cent owned by the Government and 25 per cent by private shareholders."
In his speech, Mr English reiterated the Government's economic programme this term would focus on rebuilding and strengthening the economy.
It's main priorities are:
Responsibly managing the Government's finances.
Building a more productive and competitive economy.
Delivering better public services within tight financial constraints.
Rebuilding Christchurch.
"So there will be no big surprises from this Government," Mr English says. "We have laid out our economic plan and Budget 2012 will focus on implementing that plan."
Firstly, let's call a spade, a spade here. Whilst National ministers use the euphemistic term, "mixed ownership model", the issue here is partial-privatisation of state owned enterprises. National's spin-doctors may have advised all ministers and John Key to always use the phrase "mixed ownership model" – but the public are not fooled.
To begin, I take great exception to English's opening statement,
"Opponents of the Government's mixed ownership programme need to explain to New Zealanders why it would be better to borrow an extra $5 billion to $7 billion from overseas lenders…"
Opponants of National's part-privatisation do not "need to explain" anything. It is up to National to explain why it feels the need to part-privatise tax-payer owned corporations that are efficient and give a good return to the State.
Demanding that the "opponents of the Government's mixed ownership programme need to explain" their opposition is the height of arrogance. Governments in western-style democracies are accountable to the public – not the other way around.
English then goes on to say,
"…we are not reducing our assets" ?!?!
Selling 49% of Genesis, Meridian, Solid Energy, Might River Power, Air New Zealand (from 75% to 51%) down to a 51% holding is "not reducing our assets" ?!?!
Bill English's command of his namesake language is strange at best. I believe this is what George Orwell wrote about in his dystopian novel, "1984", when he described "doublethink",
"To know and not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies, to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancelled out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them…"
English laments that "our challenge is how we pay for their growth, while getting on top of our debt".
This involves two distinct issues;
Paying for the growth of state assets.
Genesis, Meridian, Solid Energy, Might River Power, and Air New Zealand are all profitable enterprises in their own right. In the 2010 financial year, these assets made a combined profit of $581 million dollars. None of these five SOEs are loss-makers.
They can each pay for whatever growth programme they require, using their profits.
Where National interfered in SOE operations, the results were highly distorted,
"Genesis paid out no dividend and had a zero yield on its operating profit of $293 million.
It had a 30.5% shareholder return on total assets.
Meridian had a dividend yield of 10.4%, achieved by paying out 428.8% of its profit. The increase came from the $300 million special dividend it received during the sale of Tekapo A and Tekapo B stations to Genesis, which was forced by the Government to borrow to pay for the purchase." – Source
The reason that there is a "challenge [in] how we pay for their growth" is simple: National demands high dividends from these SOEs (often by forcing them to borrow) leaving little for the companies to reinvest in their own growth.
Under-funding is a problem only because National has created the problem.
Getting on top of debt.
Linking New Zealand's $18-plus billion dollar debt to funding the growth of SOEs is deliberate sophistry (ie; a deliberate deception).
The reason we have out-of-control debt is because,
the global banking crisis and recession hit New Zealand's export-driven economy as it did nearly every other country (which is also why we have high unemployment – which makes National's current beneficiary-bashing all that much more repugnant);
the two earthquakes which damaged or destroyed much of Christchurch;
and two tax-cuts in 2009 and 2010 which we could ill-afford; benefitted the top income earners/wealthy; and left a gaping $1.4 billion "hole" in the government's revenue.
As a society and as an economy, we had no control over the first two crises to hit us.
But we sure had control over our taxation policy, and doling out generous tax cuts to millionaires and wealthy businesspeople was a luxury we could not afford. (Many maintain that National was "rewarding" certain affluent socio-economic groups for electoral support at the ballot box.)
Next. English states,
National appears confused (as with most of its ad hoc policies) as to the proceeds it may gain from the partial sales. Only a year ago, Key stated authoritatively,
"If we could do that with those five entities … if we can make some savings in terms of what were looking at in the budget and maybe a little on the upside you're talking about somewhere in the order of $7 to $10 billion less borrowing that the Government could undertake." – John Key, 26 January 2011
Then again, as recently as eleven days ago, English let slip that,
"I just want to emphasise that it is not our best guess; it's just a guess. It's just to put some numbers in that look like they might be roughly right for forecasting purposes. That's an honest answer." – Bill English, 17 February 2012
The best description of Key and English on asset part-sales: clueless.
It is also worrying that National is selling state assets to pay for "other public assets like modern schools and hospitals, without having to borrow in volatile overseas markets".
Every householder will tell you that if you have to sell of your furniture; whiteware; tv, family car, to pay to maintain your home – then you are in deep financial trouble.
What National is doing is "selling the household furniture to pay for painting the house". Selling off assets to pay for maintenance is not sustainable – eventually you run out of stuff to sell. It is a really dumb idea.
But more than that, it indicates that National is not "earning" enough, by way of taxation revenue to pay for it's house-keeping. If we have to borrow or sell assets to do simple things like paint schools or properly resource hospitals – then it is a fairly clear indication that taxation revenue is insufficient for day-to-day operations of public services.
It also indicates that we are paying for the 2009 and 2010 tax cuts by selling state assets.
This is not "fiscal prudence" – this is foolish profligacy.
Bill English again demands, in his speech,
No, Mr English. Perhaps you should "honestly explain to New Zealanders" why you believe it makes greater commerciall sense to part-sell profitable assets that are returning a higher yield on investment, than what the government pays to borrow?
"The Government is estimating a $6 billion reduction in net debt after the sale of the state-owned enterprises – but concedes the savings on finance costs will be less than what it would have booked from dividends and retained earnings if it kept them.
Treasury forecasts released today in the Government's budget policy statement outline the forecast fiscal impact of selling up to 49 per cent in each of the four State-owned power companies – Mighty River Power, Meridian, Genesis Energy and Solid Energy – and by reducing the Crown's current shareholding in Air New Zealand.
They assume a price of $6 billion – the midpoint in previous estimates of a $5 billion to $7 billion sale price – and a corresponding drop in finance costs of about $266 million by 2016.
But the trade-off is the loss of an estimated $200 million in dividends by 2016 and the loss of $360 million in forecast foregone profits in the same year.
Documents supplied today state that the overall fiscal impact of selling a partial stake in the SOEs is a reduction in net debt, but the Government's operating balance will also be smaller, because foregone profits would reduce the surplus." – Source
Yet, only a year ago, Bill English was forced to concede that state owned power companies were indeed, highly profitable. In fact, he was complaining bitterly about State-owned generators "earning excessive returns",
"Generally the SOE model has been quite successful in that respect. But if you look at those returns being generated particularly out of the electricity market, the Government has taken the view that that market is not as competitive as it should be." – Source
The State will be losing money on the deal; earning less dividends from the SOEs than the cost of borrowing. The sums simply don't add up.
There also seems to be some confusion (no longer a surprise) as to what National intends to do with sale proceeds.
On the one hand Bill English sez he wants to reduce debt,
"We are firmly focused on keeping the Government's overall debt as low as possible and that is the most important consideration over the next few years." – 16 February 2012
And a week later, English is spending it,
"First, the Government gets to free up $5 billion to $7 billion… to invest in other public assets like modern schools and hospitals…" – 23 February 2012
I guess Mr English is hoping that no one is paying attention?
Further in his speech, English makes this rather candid admission,
And there we have it, folks: the clearest statement yet from our Minister of Finance that the partial-sale of our state assets has little to do with giving "mum and dad" investors a share in our power companies; or making them more efficient; or paying down any of our $18+ billion debt; or putting a new coat of paint on your local school – the government is desperate to raise cash because it "is spending and borrowing more than it can afford ".
The tax cuts of 2009 and 2010 were never "fiscally neutral" as National kept insisting.
The "tax switch" left a $1.4 billion "hole" in the government's revenue and this is how they are attempting to "plug that hole".
We have been conned.
The tax cuts will be funded by the sale of state assets that we, as citizens of this country, already own. And because the bulk of tax cuts benefitted the highest income earners/wealthy – who are also in a better position to acquire shares in Genesis, Meridian, Solid Energy, Might River Power, and Air New Zealand – the transfer of wealth from low and middle income earners will be two-fold.
The legacy of John Key's government will be to make the rich richer, and for the rest of us, we can look forward to,
more expensive power
losing half ownership of our taxpayer-created state assets
and the top 10% to increase their wealth even more
But, to be generous, I will leave the last word to the Hon. Bill English,
"Would you be willing to increase the mortgage on your house to go and borrow the money to buy shares on mighty river power?" Bill English, 16 February 2012
Categories: Dollars & Sense, The Body Politic Tags: 1984, 2009 tax cut, 2010 tax cut, Bill English, christchurch earthquakes, doublethink, George Orwell, global banking crisis, minister of finance, mixed ownership model, part privatisation, privatisation, recession, SOE, SOEs, state owned enterprises, tax cuts


The new adhesive, half-cylinder fibers made from a new silicon-based material called polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), yields closer results than other similar adhesives developed in the past. Mimicking gecko feet, Turner's new material easily sticks to smooth surfaces, adheres strongly when pushed forward and slides off when pulled backwards.
This directionality is due to the angle and shape of the fibers, fabricated using an angled photolithography technique created by Turner and her colleagues. Photolithography etches a pattern on a thin photosensitive material using light—it's "like taking a Polaroid picture," said Turner. This process allows certain sections of the light sensitive material to be removed with a developer, much like photographic developer used to process film.
Using photolithography, the researchers carved out half-cylinder fibers of the silicon-based adhesive. When the fibers were pushed flat side down, the large surface area enabled the adhesive to stick firmly to the glass surface. When the fibers were pulled round side down, the limited surface area allowed the adhesive to slide off easily.
The scientists next tested adhesion strength and durability and found that the adhesive retained 77 percent of its stickiness after 10,000 repeated test cycles. The material is the stickiest of gecko-inspired adhesives but falls short of gecko feet.
Jenni is a freshman at Swarthmore College, contributing to the APS Physic Buzz as a winter 2013 Swarthmore extern.
Nature has the best adhesive and we just have to be inspired from it. Sometimes we just forget mother nature already has what we need.


The classic Shafi Jurisprudence primer written by the Jurist and Imam Abi Zakariya al Nawawi. Well bind in new edition with deluxe paper & 2 color text for easy distinguishing between matters. Extensive footnotes and explanation by Abd al-Razaq Shahud al-Najm.


Art Party is held monthly, February - April and August - November. A different theme each month.
Bring your favorite beverages and snacks and enjoy a fun time with friends. Each time you'll leave with a masterpiece of your own creation.
Time:Weeknight 6-8:30 p.m.; Saturdays 2-4:30 p.m.
Payment is required the day of event. Class size is limited with a minimum of 6 for a class to make.
Reserve your place in person at the Delta Heritage Center, 121 Sunny Hill Cove, or by calling 731-779-9000. Check or money orders made payable to Friends of the Delta Heritage Center.
Saturday, April 22 | 10 a.m.
Call 731-779-9000, to reserve your spot. Payment due on date of class.


I'm a Nigerian living in Germany with my husband and two kids.
Learning new language, mixing up with people of different cultures have given me a new perspective about life.
INCREASE YOUR READERSHIP AND GET NEW FOLLOWERS. WELCOME TO WEEKEND BLOG HOP IS ON AND RUNNING. COME AND LINK UP, DON'T MISS OUT!!!
Nice to see someone from Germany. Come by and visit by blog sometimes.
Hi, I'm a new follower of your blog. Please follow back if you can, Thanks!!
Thanks, Nekky. Enjoyed reading your blog as well. By linking up, do you mean, including each other on our blog lists? Thanks.
Hi Nekky! Thanks for the warm welcome...I will definitely check out your site and the blog hops!
Thanks for the comment. I'll check out your blog hop! Also feel free to post your giveaways on my blog!
Thanks a lot Nekky for letting me know about your blog hop. Your blog seems very nice. I will definitely join the next hop and become your follower.
Thanks for warming welcome. Your blog is really nice. I enjoy your mom bloggers club.


text:
Millennials Are Turning in Their "Sexy Lingerie" for Body Shaping Granny Panties
If you would have told us, 10 years ago, that the most popular type of lingerie would be shapewear, we honestly wouldn't have believed you, but that's exactly what has happened. In 2018, the shapewear market was worth more than 2 billion dollars.
This year alone, the market has seen almost an 8% increase over the previous year.
But, if you have ever worn shapewear, you are probably wondering why do millennials adore constricting shapewear? Millennials have embraced the body positivity movement and are constantly preaching about selflove. That is why this movement is so puzzling, because shapewear has been considered to be completely contradictory to their beliefs. So, why do Millennials love shapewear?
Studies on women's shapewear habits showed that sales by millennials have increased in the past year, spending more than half of their lingerie budget on shapewear last year alone. Researchers attribute the increased popularity due to the desire for being fashionably comfortable and that women are increasingly busier, so they have less time to hit the gym. Women today want results faster, easier and without the sweat.
Also in the past, celebrities were publically shamed if they were caught wearing shapewear on the red carpet. But nowadays they are showing it off, to make themselves more relatable to the public. In the last two years, shapewear has transformed itself from something taboo and anti-feminist into an empowering body positive undergarment.
Plus, the online shapewear marketplaces are using real women to model their products from different ethnic backgrounds and body types. Also, their social media presence is stronger than ever, as it is flooded with all sizes of women, all flaunting their newfound bodies in different styles of shapewear.
For years shapewear was marketed to women to enable them to have a figure similar to that of Jessica Rabbit. But now it is being marketed to millennials and 45+ women who just want to feel comfortable in their own skin.
In the past, shapewear only targeted certain areas and was made from extremely uncomfortable fabrics. But today, it is specifically designed to target certain troublesome areas such as the tummy, rear, thighs, and hips or back fat. Thanks to innovative compression fabrics, now they're lighter, more breathable and comfortable, thus, making them part of our everyday wear instead of just for those special occasions.
Maybe this is one of the reasons why millennials are attracted to shapewear?
Shapewear Makeovers
Interesting enough, Millennials are boycotting certain shapewear brands such as Spanx. Why? They want to support shapewear companies that actually want to empower women and not just make money off of their insecurities. Millennials find the overly repeated scene from the movie, "Bridget Jones" when she tries to squeeze her way into a pair of ugly granny panties, to be distasteful and anti-feminist.
Spanx tried to save face by making a public announcement that their mission is and always has been to help women of all shapes and sizes to look and feel their best. They emphasize that their goal is to empower women. However this statement doesn't jive with their ad campaigns or website, as they still are promoting an exclusive shapewear line with a smaller plus-size collection with a separate tab.
Millennials seem to have a gift for separating the facts from the lies, and they cringe at the very idea of Spanx but not shapewear. Many shapewear brands are avoiding the pitfalls of the very company that recreated shapewear, as we know it. These companies are creating inclusive body shaping collections and providing several different options of skin tones and often sizes from XXS to 5X.
In a recent article of the New York Times, they interviewed one of the fastest growing online shapewear websites called Shapermint about their body positive marketplace. Shapermint sells dozens of popular shapewear brands and listen to their customers by removing any products that receive negative reviews. Plus, they advice everyone who visits their website to be confident with or without shapewear.
In the interview with New York Times, Shapermint's brand manager, Stephanie Biscomb, stated the following: "Shapewear isn't about hiding the body, It's underwear, it's not miracles, in my case and a lot of women's cases, it's about wearing something that makes you forget how your clothes are fitting."
Shapermint's customers, up to just recently, were mostly women over 45, but recently there has been a significant increase with younger women. They prefer lighter compression, as it still offers shaping power but with extra comfort without squeezing the bejesus out of them.
One of the reasons millennials are in love with Shapermint is because they aren't trying to body shame you into purchasing their products. They understand that sometimes women just need a little extra hand in accepting our body's changes, such as menopause or pregnancy. Shapewear just helps us fall in love with our bodies faster.
The New York Times interviewed another shapewear company called Honeylove, who are committed in creating shapewear that you can feel proud about wearing. The founder of Honeylove, Betsie Larkin, believes that shapewear should boost your confidence from the inside out, without being uncomfortable. Honeylove markets their product entirely on social media showing videos of how their shapewear works with different body types.
Shapermint and Honeylove are leaders in transforming how shapewear is perceived. Women today want to see real women with body types they can identify with, instead of skinny paper-thin models wearing shapewear. Women want to see what they will look like if they wore that product.
But Can We Really Consider Shapewear to be Body Positive?
There are quite a few opinions out there about wearing shapewear. Some consider it to be empowering, liberating and feminist but on the other hand, some believe it represents everything against the body positive philosophies.
A pro-feminist, single mother from Atlanta, only recently, started wearing shapewear after seeing body-positive ads on social media. She admits that shapewear makes her feel more powerful and confident when she goes to work. She reasons what is anti-feminist about something that makes her feel better about herself?
A 24-year old woman, from Ohio, stated that shapewear was her go-to during high school as it felt like a safety blanket, protecting her insecurities about her body. But after graduating, she didn't feel right about giving money to people who were taking advantage of her insecurities.
Another single lady admitted that she loves her shapewear, often wearing two or three pieces at a time for a more streamlined look. She said shapewear helps her concentrate on the more important things and not whether her back fat is visible under her blouse. Her decision to wear shapewear is entirely about personal preference.
The conclusion is that body positivity depends on accepting your body and loving it, and if shapewear can help you do that, who are we to judge.
The future of shapewear
Quite a few of shapewear brands are investing big bucks into creating fabrics and designs that women will want to wear day after day. They are studying how certain fabrics and cuts can create a smoother shape under your clothes. But is this feminist?
Just think about Nike's ad campaign stating that their clothes will make you a better athlete. Or when Speedo introduced the Fastskin suit, which claimed that it will make you swim faster. Were hey being presumptuous in claiming that their clothes will make them a better person? No, because they made the user feel more confident about themselves, so they'd swim or work out harder. Shapewear increases confidence and empowers women to be the best they can possibly be.
Shapewear has taken get strides in the last century, from the original binding corset to breathable, comfortable shapewear that we have come to love and appreciate today.
So, if you want to feel empowered or need an extra boost to tackle the world, shapewear can transform your world.
Give it a try then you can decide.
Source: NY Times