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Hell froze over last week when Mattel introduced Fat Barbie. They're calling her "curvy Barbie," but, as she looks like she went from a size 0 to a size 12 overnight, I'm calling her "Fat Barbie." To say this marks a point of departure from Mattel's 57-year-old cornerstone brand is an understatement. Moms have been calling for a fashion doll that more accurately reflects the proportions of real women since the dawn of the feminist movement in the 1960s. But their wishes have always fallen on Mattel's deaf ears, and each year Barbie appeared more sexualized than the year before. To be sure, Mattel defended its icon against charges of being a poor role model by giving her an increasing number of professions. Over the years, Barbie has been an astronaut, veterinarian, doctor, and even President. But she has also been a hair stylist, princess, and fairy. And her principal profession has always been that of a fashion model, forever subject to the male gaze.
Mattel's long-standing tag line, "We girls can do anything, right Barbie?" continued to ring false as the number of model, princess, and fairy barbies continued to outnumber the odd astronaut and president thrown into the mix. And that shouldn't be very much of a surprise. Those princesses and models sold like hotcakes. Little girls had long been instructed that their worth lie principally in their physical rather than cognitive attributes. Of course, we cannot lay the blame for this solely on the doorstep of Mattel. But Mattel's marketing machine did its part to reinforce what little girls had always been taught by society at large: You are what you look like.
I find it interesting that Fat Barbie comes close on the heels of 2014's Sports Illustrated Barbie, through which Mattel vehemently defended its iconic busty, anorexic fashion model. Equating Barbie with Sports Illustrated models was a slap in the face to the growing ranks of Barbie-denouncing moms. The SI swimsuit model is the very embodiment of anti-feminist sentiment. Her existence confirmed to concerned mothers everywhere what they had suspected all along: Barbie was the embodiment of Sex with a capital "S"–and the kind of sex of men's misogynistic fantasies at that.
In what seemed like a emphatic slap in the face of feminists everywhere, Mattel adopted the hashtag #unapologetic as its marketing campaign for the swimsuit-clad, blonde-haired, blue-eyed model. "As a legend herself, and under constant criticism about her body and how she looks, posing in the issue gives Barbie and her fellow legends an opportunity to own who they are, celebrate what they have done, and be #unapologetic," Mattel stated in its press release. Take that, feminists. You may hate Barbie's body, but it's here to stay. And we're going to shove it in your face in the most misogynistic way possible. Fuck you.
It's no surprise that this created a backlash among the feminist set, which is what Mattel probably wanted. You can't buy the kind of coverage that accompanied Barbie's debut as an SI model. Everyone media outlet from CNN to The New York Times fell over themselves interviewing Mattel's media machine and angry feminists everywhere. The clear winner? Mattel. Their SI model sold out in no time. Again, fuck you, feminists.
But wait. Such a bold move to position Barbie as an in-your-face anti-feminist icon reeked not a little of desperation. When Sports Illustrated Barbie made her debut, Barbie sales were tanking. In January 2014, Mattel's Barbie sales were on a downward spiral. Barbie sales plummeted 20% from 2012 to 2014, and they continued to fall last year. In fact, Barbie sales have been down for four consecutive years now. Heads have rolled in Mattel's executive suite as new talent with new ideas have tried to save the brand that was once the envy of toy makers everywhere.
So how do we reconcile SI Barbie with Fat Barbie, which appeared just two years later? Simple. Being unapologetic about her body didn't do a damned thing for Barbie's sales. So let's give the hollering feminists what they've asked for all along and make a Barbie that actually looks like a real woman. What the hell. It's not like things can get much worse.
Other companies had already beaten Mattel to the punch. In 2014, Nickolay Lamm launched "Lammily," a realistically proportioned fashion doll, after a successful crowdfunding campaign to create a Barbie alternative. "Lammily" sold out on her first run, and she's attracted a large following. An African-American Lammily is currently in the works.
Lammily
Mattel's marketing campaign for Fat Barbie is the polar opposite of that used to market Sports Illustrated Barbie. Whereas Mattel declared that SI Barbie unapologetically owned her busty, skinny, leggy body, the same company is now telling us that Barbies come in all shapes and sizes, and that should be celebrated. In a video Mattel released to introduce the dolls, a bespectacled little redheaded girl declares, "It's so important for Barbies to look different. You know, like the real people in the world."
"Curvy" isn't the only new body Mattel has given its iconic doll. The company is also debuting "tall" and "petite" variations. But those latter two will be lost in the shuffle in the media frenzy currently buzzing around Fat Barbie. It's an admirable effort to put Fat Barbie in with a mix of other alternative body types, and it gives the appearance that Mattel isn't really caving on changing Barbie's proportions from one type to another. They're just giving girls a few more options. And, oh yeah, one of them is fat.
I predict that Mattel's Fat Barbie will likely get a positive reception in the media. The coverage that I've read thus far all echo the same "it's about time" sentiment. And, of course, it is about time. It's fucking overdue. But will finally joining the 21st century revive Mattel's Barbie sales? Will little girls who have been forever conditioned to perceive thinner bodies as more desirable bodies voluntarily reach for Fat Barbie?
Sadly, probably not.
Posted in Dolls	BarbieCurvy BarbieDoll TherapistDoll TherapyFat BarbieLammilyMattelPlus-sized dolls
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19 thoughts on "Fat Barbie"
Gail Gary says:
As an experiment, to please myself as an adult Barbie enthusiast, I bought a Barbie last year of each of the new types. Well, the tall Barbie has the strangest build and is hard to dress in anything other than a pair of shorts or a long sloppy skirt or halter dress. The feet are hard to do much with, either…you can't glam her up, in spite of her glowing brown skin and cinnamon red hot curled hair, two features I love. The curvy doll (yah, she's fat Barbie to me too) is hard to dress flatteringly in anything. It's pregnant teenager look or nothing. I am both tall and kinda fat (and was as a kid, too), and neither of those dolls are much fun. And those flat feet again on fat Barbie…The petite and regular build dolls are just fine; easy to dress and style without making stupid compromises. But as a kid of the 60s, I do know I would not have liked tall or fat Barbie at all. Kids now? I don't know. Even as a tomboyish kid I craved beauty in a doll, something lovely to hold, and man, those two exaggerated form Barbies wouldn't been it for me. I just wanted something beautiful more than anything. If kids today like these dolls, I am happy for them, and I love that their parents care…but I just wanted to offer another perspective, from another time! Consider it time travel
Julie Manley says:
Fascinating discussion isn't it.
I love curvy barbie. I think that most girls who relate to this doll would rather refer to her as "curvy". Using the word "fat" re-enforces the stereotype that heavier girls are less attractive.
I have already begun making clothes for curvy and I'm having a great time.
I totally agree with you. I used the term "fat" completely tongue-in-cheek in response to Mattel standing behind their "Sports Illustrated" Barbie two years ago and now telling us that Barbie is beautiful in all sizes. Curvy Barbie is "fat" by Mattel's historic standards and is an extreme contradiction of the company's 50-year refusal to expand Barbie's definition of beauty.
I am in total agreement with Lisa. Barbie is a doll. Something to be played with. I never aspired to look like my doll. Growing up, I loved the make believe world she took me to! That being said, I happen to love the new variety of body styles Barbie has introduced. Not because of the body image it gives me, but because I am a collector who plays with my dolls. I pose them in my dioramas and use them to tell stories. Having dolls of different races and sizes makes story telling more interesting. I own all kinds of dolls in all shapes, sizes, ages and colors (albeit all in 1:6 scale). I have Lammily, Big Beautiful Dasia, Fashion Royalty, Barbie (of course), Prettie Girls and Mixis. I own curvacious Phicen, Triad and other action figures. All to add diversity to my collection, play and story telling! I will own the new curvy, petite and tall Barbies soon too! I do think this is a good step for Mattel to make. If only they also had articulation!
dawn davis says:
their sales most likely fek because they were cheaper made. The stiff legged stiff armed look didnt appeal to me at all
Hmmm…wasn't the original Barbie the curvy Barbie?
I scope out the Barbies at Goodwill from time to time, and interestingly, the ones in perfect condition so far have been graduate Barbie, professional Barbie(s) and minority Barbie(s). We'll see how Fat Barbie does when she ends up there…hopefully that takes some time.
Lynn Stratton says:
As a formerly fat kid who was given the Barbie in the striped swimsuit as a less-than-gentle nudge in the 'right' direction by a mother whose highest aspiration for me was to marry a rich guy, I loved this. Bravo.
I love your article , especially the part of Mattel telling the feminists to go …well get over themselves. As a person who likes variety, I think on the one hand, it is a good thing to mix it up a bit. On the other hand- people or women who think kids get their body image from a toy have serious issues. I'm 50 and played with Barbie with my aunt who is 60, and we never at any point in time, thought we should look like Barbie- it was all about the fashions, the dreamhouse, dating Ken, etc. What an idiotic thought for anyone to think that a child does not get their body image from their environment at home- family- friends, mom, dad, teachers, etc. That's my point. sigh. It's a toy for goodness sake. On another hand, I am glad that hideous Lammily is having her thunder stolen. The curvey or fat Barbie is a whole lot more attractive than that doll with those vulgar period and cellulite stickers. I always thought that doll was a tad 'chunky' and not what I would call athletic even though it was billed that way. For us diorama builders, it means more variety in our scenes, with a variety of people populating the diners, boutiques, like a 'real' life. If they would add articulation to those curvey girls, I would be over the top.
edenlouise says:
I'm so sad that it's taken so much time and a drop in sales for this to happen. I grew up surrounded by skinny, leggy, long-haired fashion dolls, not only Barbie but Sindy, Pippa, Daisy and more. I loved their beauty and glamour but as much as I loved them there was a core of sadness in me. No one ever wanted to play with the brunettes. Not even a skinny brunette was as popular as the blondes. I was a plain, chubby brunette and my fashion dolls sewed the seed of an inferiority complex inside me that it took years to exorcise.
I love all kinds of dolls, I adored my fashion dolls, Barbie included, and I still find escaping into their world deeply therapeutic, but I think it's more than time for every little girl to know that in that enchanted land of beautiful clothes, exciting adventures and magical colours it's not just the skinny blondes who can be gorgeous and glamorous. That's a lesson that applies to any land you're in, and you're never too young to learn it.
Jackie_NJ says:
Whereas I like the idea, the theory, that dolls offered are now representative of a variety of body types, clothes look better on tall, slender bodies that are straight of line, not curvy. Fashion dolls wear cool clothes, that's the play, get the doll, buy the clothes, put the clothes on the doll. Play a bit, change the doll. Ad infinitum. Play involves different activities, and Henry David Thoreau notwithstanding, doll buying people embrace enterprises that require new clothes.
I design for dolls, and back in the day, when Tonner first released Emme, a healthy plus sized model doll, I applauded the difference. Well, not that many people are willing to accept a fashion doll with a plus sized body. And Tonner made some really lame outfits, and the doll's sales did not thrive. There may have been other problems with the person and the line, I didn't follow the story that closely, but the doll ran for a couple of years and disappeared.
It's probably good for the psyche to say we're all beautiful in our own way, but in nature, the animals with the desirable genetics will win. Peacocks parade and pea hens choose 'em. The idea that certain traits are more attractive than others, is just part of the picture. Not fair, just the way things work.
I like diversity in my friends and associates, and I embrace the idea of it in the market place, but I don't think a Barbie who is overweight and curvy is going to be able to sustain an audience after the initial offering.
Maybe if we can change human nature, it would work? Look, young people today are a whole lot less prejudiced than Boomers like me, so maybe there's hope. Maybe.
"…but in nature, the animals with the desirable genetics will win." Not necessarily. All that is required for genetic survival is passing on DNA into a new generation. Looks are only a part of this. Peacocks may rely on the beauty of their feathers, but ducks pretty much just gang rape to accomplish the same thing.
Lila Phillips says:
Interesting. I have loved Barbies nearly all my life; and to be honest, their figures were inconsequential and always have been. I collect some of them now, and intend to buy at least one of the curvy models, and perhaps some of the others. I like the diversity, and hope they succeed.
Bri says:
" And her principal profession has always that of a fashion model, forever subject to the male gaze."
Is this really an accurate statement? I always thought that fashion models (however unrealistic they are in Body mass) were meant to be "hangers" for the clothing and as such wouldn't the appeal be Primarily to women ? While I may be an exception, I always have thought that voluptuous was a vastly more look than Barbie.
Not trying to be argumentative. Just curious. I always enjoy your posts and since I'm on Prego daily , I appreciate the notices of the new ones.
It is really not a fat body. Even when I was 115 lbs my body was huge next to my friends that did not have curves. Some of us have buts and thighs. I applaud the new curvy Barbie. I also love the new Tall Barbie. One of my best friends is over 6′ and this really says that she too belongs.
barbtheevilgenius says:
I agree that this body is not really fat. I also think it's ridiculous to call a size 12 fat. Not everyone can have a flat waist, no hips, and thighs that don't touch. Even people who exercise.
fiercefemmefatale says:
I think it's…underwhelming. However, being 6′ myself, I am very excited for the tall Barbie. I do think that means something – maybe more (children) will see something and say "Wow…that…that is ME!" I mean, it got me excited and I'm 31. I was known as the Barbie girl, I had a basement FULL of them. I'm not a huge fan of curvy/fat Barbie. Frankly, I grew up in a time where we were told the difference between make believe and real life and Barbie was make believe. Of COURSE she was a body we couldn't attain naturally. It … oh well. We didn't sob about it and get depressed. I just played with her and she was…NOT something I looked to to BE. She didn't have a vagina, she WAS NOT a human. She was a TOY. I think these 'feminists' making her something of a holy grail…a beacon…a sort of 'what we should be' should be actually ashamed of themselves. How about you just teach your kids the difference between make believe and real life…and kids will get that. We don't look like Gumby and yet kids played with him and didn't sob and go on rants that we can't pull our arms 3 feet from our bodies. Make. Believe.
I love your article. On point. I'm still looking forward to some of it. But…I think it's a novelty. Barbie is Barbie. This is just…kind of sad, and too little too late, in my opinion. But I could, and I hope, I'm wrong. Since it doesn't seem that Barbie as a "role model" is going to go away anytime soon.
Good luck Barbie. That's a huge 'order' to fill. Yikes.
So, if I understand this correctly, you're "very excited" about the new tall Barbie – because you are 6′. That makes sense – You're tall, and while you fully understand the difference between reality and make-believe, you see a doll that reflects something about you which it didn't before and it makes you happy. Yet, you're "not a huge fan of curvy/fat Barbie". I get it. You don't see yourself in *that* doll. But, if you acknowledge feeling happy about the tall Barbie, shouldn't it stand to reason that others are likely feeling the same about curvy Barbie?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This 8,500 square foot exhibition presents a single graphic designer's view of a 232-year-old icon—the American flag. The juxtaposition of giant 10' x 10' wall photos and intricate display cases filled with various Americana memorabilia gives a unique pacing to the exhibition. This exhibit includes Civil War-era flags, handmade quilts, hundreds of toy flag bearer soldiers, weather vanes, jewelry, Native American weavings, political campaign memorabilia, clothing and protest banners, packaging labels and fine art photographs.


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Home Broadway 'Misery' at The Broadhurst Theatre in New York City
New York Theater News
'Misery' at The Broadhurst Theatre in New York City
Richard Seff
The title is misleading. It leads one to think the play is going to be one long groan of sadness, and that's not what unfolds for us in its ninety minutes of playing time. "Misery" is the name of the central character in a series of nine best selling novels by Paul Sheldon, and a lady named Annie Wilkes, who lives just outside Silver Creek, Colorado has become obsessed with her just as though she were flesh and blood.
Laurie Metcalf and Bruce Willis. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Sheldon has badly crashed his car very near Wilkes' home, and as she'd been following him from a sighting of him in town, she was the sole witness to his accident, the one who ran to his rescue, brought him back to her home, and saved his life. When he regained consciousness after three days he was naturally grateful to her for the attention and care she's d given him. Little by little we learn that she can no longer distinguish between reality and the life that Misery leads between book covers. As Sheldon is bed ridden, suffering from internal bruises as well as two shattered legs, Annie has him under her full control, and when an officer comes to visit seeking any information she might have about the missing Paul Sheldon, she very adroitly avoids any connection to herself.
William Goldman, the gifted novelist and screen writer, has written for the theatre before, but not often. An early start led him to a collaboration with his brother James and John Kander (three friends from Kansas City announcing they were in New York — to stay) on a musical, A Family Affair which softly launched the three of them. He and his brother then turned out a wartime comedy, Blood, Sweat, and Stanley Poole. It wasn't a success and William turned to novels and hit pay dirt early on with Soldier In The Rain, The Temple of Gold, Magic, Marathon Man, and The Princess Bride, among many others, and sprinkled them with best selling non-fiction titles like The Season and Adventures In The Screen Trade. Clearly he knows how to tell a story.
His screenplays put him on the "A" list in Hollywood, with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (an original) and All The President's Men (an adaptation) both winning him an Oscar. He wrote the screenplay to Stephen King's novel Misery, and it is that material he has now fashioned into a one act 90 minute play that has attracted Bruce Willis and Laurie Metcalf to come to Broadway in the roles first played on film by James Caan and Kathy Bates (who won an Academy Award for her performance)..
The play is in cinematic form, structured around many short scenes. It is set in front of and inside Annie Wilkes' remote home in Colorado, to which she has retreated with the borrowed broken body of Paul Sheldon. She tells no one that he is there, even lying to him in reporting that she has reached his wife and agent in New York City. A local sheriff, is suspicious that Sheldon may be hidden in this house, because someone in town let slip that Annie had been buying reams of writing paper. The designer has given the play a most atmospheric setting, David Weiner's lighting can give you the creeps, and Ann Roth's costumes for Annie are very helpful in knowing who she is.
Goldman's play has removed all the characters from the film except Sheldon, Wilkes and to add suspense, the small role of "Buster," the sherriff. Though Sheldon is bedridden throughout the play, he does manage to crawl into the living room and the kitchen and whenever he moves, the house moves with him. They are both accompanied by incidental music by Michael Friedman, and there is use of Liberace material (unlikely and very effective) to create mood or to counterpoint some of the scariest moments (and there are several ).
What makes it all work however, is the contrasting and beautiful work of both stars. Laurie Metcalf has hidden reserves of madness stored up within her very pleasant face and form, but it's a different and more dangerous sort than the eccentricities in her current TV series Getting On, in which she plays another tightly wound nurse. She is charming, goofily funny, terrifyingly menacing and even on occasion coyly flirtatious.
Bruce Willis as Paul Sheldon. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Bruce Willis has wisely chosen to stress the inner calm and self control that is inherent in his version of Paul Sheldon but manages concurrently to let us know he is scared (almost) to death. There is quiet dignity in his performance, and it's all far from his screen image most usually presented as the man who must Die Hard. It's not a movie star "drop in" performance, as it's well grounded and works very well with what Ms. Metcalf is doing.
The Sheriff is played by Leon Addison Brown.It's a believable quiet performance and he works well with Metcalf who is aware that she must deflect him from all thoughts of interfering with her plans for the future. I won't tell you what that plan is, but I suspect you are going to be afraid that she will achieve it.
There are times when things happen slowly, but I was always involved, and willing to wait as the set turned once again from bedroom to hallway to living room to the exterior. I was never quite sure where all this was going, and the conclusion, which may surprise some, deserved the enthusiasm with which it was greeted by a very happy house.
Running Time: 90 minutes, with no intermission.
Misery is playing at The Broadhurst Theatre – 235 West 44th Street, in New York City. For tickets, go to the box office, call Telecharge at (212) 239-6200, or purchase them online.
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RICHARD SEFF has been working in theatre since he made his acting debut in support of Claude Rains in the prize winning DARKNESS AT NOON, and he agreed to tour the next season in support of Edward G. Robinson, which took him across the nation and back for nine months. When it was over and he was immediately offered another national tour with THE SHRIKE with Van Heflin, he decided to explore other areas, and he spent the next 22 years representing artists in the theatre as an agent, where he worked at Liebling-Wood, MCA, eventually a partnership of his own called Hesseltine-Bookman and Seff, where he discovered and developed young talents like Chita Rivera, John Kander, Fred Ebb, Ron Field, Linda Lavin, Nancy Dussault and many others. He ultimately sold his interest to ICM. When he completed his contractual obligation to that international agency, he returned to his first love, acting and writing for the theatre. In that phase of his long and varied life, he wrote a comedy (PARIS IS OUT!) which brightened the 1970 season on Broadway for 107 performances. He became a successful supporting player in film, tv and onstage, and ultimately wrote a book about his journey, SUPPORTING PLAYER: MY LIFE UPON THE WICKED STAGE, still popular with older theatre lovers and youngsters who may not yet know exactly where they will most sensibly and profitably fit into the world of show business. The book chronicles a life of joyous work working in a favored profession in many areas, including leading roles in the regional theatres in his work in Lanford Wilson's ANGELS FALL. His last stage role was in THE COUNTESS in which he played Mr. Ruskin for 9 months off Broadway. Five seasons ago Joel Markowitz suggested he join him at DCTheatreScene. His accurate and readable reviews of the New York Scene led, when the time was right, for his joining DCMetroTheaterArts to continue bringing news of the Big Apple's productions just to keep you posted. He is delighted to be able to join DCMTA and work with Joel and hopes that you like what he has to say.


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Q: What is the matrix representation of the linear space isomorphism $\mathbb{R}^4\cong\mathbb{R}^{2\times2}$? Every linear map between finite dimensional vector spaces can be represented by a matrix, once bases are chosen for the domain and range spaces.
Question:  What is the matrix representation for the linear space isomorphism
\begin{align}
\mathbb{R}^{2\times2}&\rightarrow\mathbb{R}^4\\
\begin{bmatrix}a&b\\c&d\end{bmatrix}&\mapsto[a\;b\;c\;d]
\end{align}
between $\mathbb{R}^4$ and the space $\mathbb{R}^{2\times2}$ of $2\times2$ matrices, given the standard bases of these spaces?
Edit:  Let's say the standard basis of $\mathbb{R}^{2\times2}$ is:
$$
\bigg\{\begin{bmatrix}1&0\\0&0\end{bmatrix},\begin{bmatrix}0&1\\0&0\end{bmatrix},\begin{bmatrix}0&0\\1&0\end{bmatrix},\begin{bmatrix}0&0\\0&1\end{bmatrix}\bigg\}
$$

A: Given a map  $V \to U$ with bases $\{e_i\}_{i=1}^{n}$ and $\{u_j\}_{i=1}^n$ respectively, a matrix form is given by forming columns $[u_1 \dots u_n]$ where  $e_i \to a_{1i}u_1+ \dots a_{ni}u_n$.
In your case the map is  $e_i \to u_i$, where $u_i$ is the standard basis for $\mathbb R^4$.
This means that the matrix representation is just the identity.

A: Using the (ordered) basis you provided for $\Bbb R^{2\times 2}$ and the standard basis for $\Bbb R^4$, your isomorphism is given by the identity matrix! Check it out. (By the way, most people will denote elements of $\Bbb R^4$ by column vectors.)

A: This is a short answer to my own question.
In the given basis of $\mathbb{R}^{2\times2}$, we have that
$$
\begin{bmatrix}a&b\\c&d\end{bmatrix}=a\begin{bmatrix}1&0\\0&0\end{bmatrix}+b\begin{bmatrix}0&1\\0&0\end{bmatrix}+c\begin{bmatrix}0&0\\1&0\end{bmatrix}+d\begin{bmatrix}0&0\\0&1\end{bmatrix},
$$
so this matrix is just the point in the $4$-dimensional vector space $\mathbb{R}^{2\times2}$ with coordinates
$$
\begin{bmatrix}a\\b\\c\\d\end{bmatrix}.
$$
Hence, the desired linear space isomorphism is represented by the identity matrix.

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Summary: The fifth full-length solo release for the British singer-songwriter features guest appearances from Kevin Godley, Peter Hammill, Dylan Howe, David Longdon, Jim Matheos, Andy Partridge, and Steven Wilson.
Flowers at the Scene features influences from various decades of pop, classic/art rock, jazz and successfully experiments to offer an eclectic and rewarding collection of stand-alone tracks.
By synthesizing the myriad facets of Bowness' output as a songwriter and channeling them into 11 focused and tightly composed songs, Flowers at the Scene stands out amongst his already impressive crop of solo albums.


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Plan my holiday!
Top 21 things to do in London, United Kingdom
Visiting London for the first time? Or heading back to London again? There's just so much to do in London that even three visits over several years, is still insufficient for us! We have specially curated the top 21 things that you absolutely need to do during your next visit to London, United Kingdom!
But first, with London's crazy weather, you'll want to ensure that you have packed everything you'll ever need: The Perfect London Packing List. Prepare those brollies and raincoats!
1. Visit the iconic Big Ben
A must-visit when you are in London! The majestic Big Ben is a majestic architecture that is a delight to admire and marvel at. Head onto the Westminster Bridge to get the best view of Big Ben along River Thames!
To get to the Big Ben, the nearest metro station's the Westminster Station. For first time travellers, do be careful of the gypsies that may get you to purchase flowers or friendship bands at the entrance of the station. Just brisk walk away to avoid any form of confrontation or pleas.
2. Ride the London Eye
This is probably an extremely touristy thing to do but it is one landmark that you'll have to see and take a picture of! The London Eye used to be the largest ferris wheel in the world before it is overtaken by Star of Nanchang in 2006, the Singapore Flyer in 2008, and now the High Roller opened at the Las Vegas Strip in 2014. The London Eye is now ranked number four.
Nearest metro station: Waterloo Station
3. Marvel at the architecture of the Westminster Abbey
Just across the road from the Big Ben, you'll find the 700-year-old Westminster Abbey. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it welcomes visitors to enter the church or join their worship.
Nearest metro station: Westminster Station
4. Stroll along River Thames and head to the Tower Bridge
It is quite a far walk but given the cool weather, it is quite enjoyable to stroll along River Thames. Otherwise, head onto the MBNA Thames Clippers (RB1 from Westminister to Tower Bridge) and cruise along the Thames to the Tower Bridge.
Nearest metro station: Tower Hill Station
5. On your way, get onto the Millennium Bridge
Harry Potter fans, you will definitely need to head onto the Millennium Bridge. In the movie, you'll see the death eaters attacking the bridge!
While you're there, don't leave out the Shakespeare's Globe! During Christmas, you can also find a Christmas Market at the Tate Modern Community Garden.
Nearest metro station: Blackfriars Station
6. Feast to your heart's content at the Borough Market
Borough Market's our favourite place to find delicious eats! It also has a nice bustling atmosphere where you can find all sorts of produce. Read also our guide to the 10 things you must eat in Borough Market.
While you're there, you can also marvel at the Southwark Cathedral right next to the market. If you're spending Christmas in London, you'll also see many decorations and a Christmas tree in the market.
Nearest metro station: London Bridge Station
7. Check out the view on top of The Shard
Or just the view of The Shard if you do not wish to head up! The Shard is Western Europe's tallest building and it is certainly not cheap to head up. Tickets at the door cost a whooping 30.95 pounds! If you really would like to head up, book online to get your tickets at 18.95 pounds.
8. Get to the Medieval Times at the Tower of London
The Tower of London is officially known as Her Majesty's Royal Palace and the Fortress of the Tower of London. Throughout history, the Tower of London has served several purposes and is a historical landmark that is worth visiting.
9. Leadenhall Market
Although there is nothing much going on here, the architecture of this market is simply stunning! It also inspired one of the scene from Harry Potter. While you are there, why don't you also book a visit to Duck and Waffle?
Nearest metro station: Monument Station
10. Watch the Changing of Guards Ceremony at the Buckingham Palace
The main draw of the Buckingham Palace is the Changing of Guards Ceremony. Time your visit with the ceremony! It is held every other day at 11am. It will be an extremely crowded affair so do prepare to stand around and perhaps squeeze with the public if you would like a glimpse of the ceremony!
Nearest metro station: Victoria / St James' Park Station
11. Marvel at the red Westminster Cathedral
Been to the Westminster Abbey? Then you'll have to complete your trip with the Westminster Cathedral. Not just that, it is also really beautiful.
Nearest metro station: Victoria Station
12. Avoid London's gloomy weather and enjoy the British Museum!
The British Museum is an astonishing museum where its interiors are simply #goals! The museum is massive and has so many rooms and exhibits that you'll take an entire day to tour through! It is also one of the 9 free museums in London.
Nearest metro station: Tottenham Court Road / Russell Square Station
13. The alternative? The National Gallery
The National Gallery is also another free museum in London and it houses the world's greatest paintings. The exterior of the National Gallery is also stunning! For some reason, you can never ever complete walking around in London's museums!
Nearest metro station: Charring Cross Station
14. Reminisce your monopoly playing days at Trafalgar and Leicester Square
At Trafalgar square, besides the stunning National Gallery, you can also admire the fountains and lion statues. Just a short walk down, you'll find Leicester Square where you'll find the TKTS store to get cheap(er) tickets for musicals and plays!
15. Shop to your heart's content at Oxford Street
Oxford street is a 1.9km road that is filled with many luxury and mass market stores for all your shopping needs. You'll find Primark at both ends of the street, with a large Hamleys store, and Selfridges. Since Oxford Street opens till late, you can consider visiting after you have completed visiting the various landmarks in the day. Lots of delicious food (The Breakfast Club and Flat Iron) can also be found in the area!
Start: Marble Arch Station, End: Tottenham Court Road Station
16. Chill out at the cafes at Convent Garden
Convent Garden was a new find on our most recent trip to London. It is such a nice area to chill out with your friends. Here, you can find Shake Shack, tea houses, and cafes! There's also another Flat Iron restaurant here!
17. Catch a play or musical
You should definitely catch the broadway musicals when you are in London as they have them all year-round! From Phantom of the Opera to Lion King and Matilda. You have a wide selection of musicals and you'll always have a new one to catch when you are in London again!
Another popular musical is the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Play! Tickets for these are highly sought after and you should definitely book in advance if you wish to watch the play!
To get cheap(er) tickets, head to the TKTS at Leicester Square on the day that you wish to catch that musical. You should be able to get tickets around 40 pounds if you are not picky with your choice of musical or play!
18. Head to Knightsbridge to visit the huge Harrods Store!
Harrods is a world-renowned departmental store. Our favourite section of Harrods has got to be its food hall! Otherwise, you can get all the luxury brands here! Don't forget to get to the section where they sell their Harrods products!
Nearest metro station: Knightsbridge Station
19. Find Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station
Harry Potter's Platform 9 3/4 is not between Platform 9 and 10! It used to be there but was relocated to the station concourse. There will be a queue to take photographs with the luggage embedded in the wall so do prepared to wait for your turn! To complete your look, consider purchasing a robe or scarf from the store next to the "platform".
Don't forget to head out of the station as its architecture is simply marvellous! If you are a book lover, you may also want to visit the British Library situated nearby!
Nearest metro station: Kings' Cross St Pancreas Underground Station
20. Take a walk in Hyde Park!
Hyde Park during Christmas has got to be the best! Christmas Wonderland is a christmas market that is free for all. Here, you can purchase lots of food and take rides! In the day, the huge hyde park also offers peace and tranquility in the midst of bustling London!
Nearest metro station: Hyde Park Underground Station
21: Go for a food hunt!
London has an amazing variety of food and you should definitely try them all! Read our guide to the Top 10 Restaurants in London, United Kingdom!
We've stayed at several hotels during the many times we've been to London and these are our favourite mid-tier hotels:
Paramount Hotel, $120 SGD / night
This hotel is located at a quiet area near Earl's Court metro station (5-minute walk). It is a humble guest-house like property that has spacious and clean rooms. We liked living in the Earl's Court region because you can find many hotels at affordable price points and still enjoy the station that is located within Zone 1. A 24-hour Sainsbury Local is also located just a 4-minute walk away from the property.
Ibis Styles London Kensington Hotel, $130 SGD / night
We love the AccorHotels chain and tried Ibis Styles London Kensington Hotel on another occasion. Again, it is located within a 2-minute walk from Earl's Court Station. Sainsbury's Local is also just a mere 4-minute walk away. This property is much closer than Paramount Hotel. However, the rooms are smaller, and doesn't feel as cosy or homely as the Paramount Hotel. But being an international chain, you can expect higher quality of service and modern-styled rooms!
There's still so much more to explore in London and we would love to hear from you if you have tried any of these or if there are some other places or restaurants that we should visit in future. We truly appreciate if you could leave a comment! :)
#TravelGuide #London #TravelHack
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Hello there! Michelle is based in Singapore, and she started The Munching Traveller to document her love for travelling, trying delicious food, and writing.
© 2020 by TheMunchingTraveller.com


"Nintendo is dying!" they said. "Nintendo needs to market the Wii U!" they said. "Without marketing the Wii U is doomed!" they said. From the highest rooftops down to the lowest smoothed cobblestones of the dank streets of Bourbon, everyone yelled in unison "Nintendoom!" Only, the joke is on all the doomsayers, because the Big 'N' isn't taking the eighth-gen lying down.
Yes, Nintendo is going to commercial the crap out of Mario Kart 8 in America. How do we know? Well the television ad above gives you a good enough view of the action and an idea about what to expect from the marketing campaign.
Nintendo's biggest failure to date for the Wii U has been a lack of marketing presence. A lot of people still think that the Wii U is a tablet add-on for the Wii (heck, even I originally thought that when it was first announced.) A lot of people have no idea that the Wii U is 100% backwards compatible with the Wii, meaning that you can carry over your entire library or start a fresh one with a bunch of cheap, used copies from Amazon. A lot of people also don't even know that all your Wii accessories are also compatible with the Wii U, meaning that split-screen and couch co-op gaming doesn't require brand new controllers like the Xbox One and PS4.
Sadly, it's been Nintendo's inability to sell the wider market on the Wii U's affordability, compatibility, accessibility and functionality that has hurt them the most with selling the console.
Thankfully, Nintendo is taking steps to make up for the ditch they've ended up in, and they're starting with Mario Kart 8's global promotion campaign. The game is being hailed as the prime-time mover and shaker to help get the Wii U out of its sales rut and moving hardware in competitive sales figures comparable to the Xbox One and PS4.
If the above sounds about as far-fetched as Al Frankin and Bill O'Reilly becoming tag-team advocates for bipartisanship, then you're not alone. However, the early numbers for Mario Kart 8 are beginning to show that the Wii U is, in fact, not dead.
Amazon has been consistently selling out of the Mario Kart 8 bundles, and the U.K.'s GAME has also suffered pre-order stock shortages of the limited editions as well. Nintendo even sweetened the deal by joining forces with Best Buy, who included $10 cash-back gas cards with pre-orders of Mario Kart 8.
The television ad above, courtesy of Nintendo Enthusiast, shows that the Big 'N' is finally starting to take the console wars seriously.
Proper marketing and the right bundle deals will help surge the sales of the Wii U, especially in light of the Xbox One's recent price-cut and the removal of the NSA Spybox.
If you thought you had an idea of where this console war was going, you really need to think again.


text:
New turf ready to welcome Packers into 2018 season
Five-month reconstruction of Lambeau Field's playing surface completed
Evan Siegle, packers.com
GREEN BAY - While it might not be visible to the naked eye, a new playing surface awaits the Packers once the team runs out of the tunnel at Lambeau Field on Saturday for Family Night.
The organization recently completed a five-month reconstruction of Lambeau Field's turf, transitioning from the GrassMaster polypropylene fibers it installed before the 2007 season to polyethylene-based SIS Grass.
Although Lambeau Field houses the first SIS Grass field in the United States, the technology has grown in popularity on soccer fields throughout the world over the past decade.
Instead of the previous three-to-four-week timetable to stitch the field, a single machine shipped from Japan worked around the clock from July 9-16. It stitched fibers ¾ inch from each other and seven inches deep, sticking up just under an inch above the ground.
Synthetic fibers are intended to provide a safe stabilization for the sand underneath the field, preventing the ground from getting pushed around and becoming uneven over the course of a long season.
"The whole driver of everything is we want a sand-root zone," fields manager Allen Johnson said. "The only way to get good drainage is to have straight sand, but when you have sand, sand in itself isn't that stable. Picture the beach and then picture our growing season and 300-pound guys pushing on each other. The grass is going to wear and (you need) something to help stabilize the sand and give it some insurance."
The heating coils underneath the field allowed construction to begin in February. Roughly 15-16 inches of material was peeled off in layers and discarded to the parking lot near the Fleet Farm gate through a conveyer set up in the stands between sections 130 and 132 in the south end zone.
With the drain tile on the sub-floor remaining in place, more than 3,500 tons of sand were brought into the stadium – approximately 170 dump trucks – and smoothed over the heating and irrigation systems, which are atop a new laser-graded layer of pea gravel.
While an historic winter storm dumped nearly two feet of snow in mid-April, it did little to halt construction since snow drifts accumulated on the north side of the stadium, where a majority of the work already had been completed.
"We were really lucky. I'd say like four or five days delayed," Johnson said. "A majority of the snow ended up on the north end and the south end – where we were working – we had a little snow near the 50. We had to wait for that to melt but it was all a matter of a few days so it wasn't as bad. It was just a matter of clearing out that four-foot drift in the tunnel that was the problem and that didn't take too long."
Staying on schedule, crews replanted sod in spring and proceeded to stitch more than 2,500 miles of synthetic fiber into the Kentucky bluegrass field.
The organization used the opportunity to also rezone the irrigation system, which needed to be tweaked after the microclimate inside the stadium was altered following the South End expansion in 2014.
In doubling the amount of zones, the field crew can now water individual areas of the field when needed. The Packers took a similar approach with their new grow lights, which now can be amplified or reduced in certain areas of the field.
More pea gravel also was installed to shorten the depth of the root zone from 12-13 inches to 10-11, bringing the heat pipes closer to the surface.
The boilers and plumbing remain the same from the previous heating system, with the exception of the tubing that spans the field and connects to the main pipes. The Packers also switched out the rubber apron around the field to a new non-skid surface.
The turf will be put to use for the first time on Family Night in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 78,000 inside Lambeau Field.
"Day-to-day, I don't really have a boss. In reality, I have a million bosses if things aren't right," Johnson said. "When they're out there, I'm watching warm-ups and watching them really push. I'm watching from the knees-down in a football game at the beginning and watching their footing. I watch guys who are going fast and if they're cutting, it's a sigh of relief."
Johnson, who is in his 22nd season with the organization, is fully aware the last time the organization overhauled the playing surface in 2007, the Packers wound up hosting the NFC Championship Game.
If history repeats itself, Lambeau Field will be ready.
"There's a lot of pride. We love what we do. I love what I do," Johnson said. "It is special that what we take care of means so much to so many people. Absolutely. It makes it extra special. We think we have a good reputation and we hope people see that, as well. We do it for ourselves, for our organization, the team and hopefully the fans see it positively, as well."
New field installation
Take a look at photos of Lambeau Field during the progression of the new field installation.


For efficient deposition of thin fillms , the sputter deposition method is often the method of choice. It offers a higher throughput than evaporation and produces a more conformal coating.
Most often metals are deposited with the sputter method, but some dielectric materials also offer good sputter characteristics.
Metal coatings available include aluminum, copper, gold and titanium. Most common substrate sizes up to 6" can be processed.
A great variety of materials can be evaporated under high vacuum to obtain functional thin films. Our evaporation system contains a thermal as well as an electron-beam module, allowing the deposition of the full range of materials.
For micromachining and structuring of materials, two laser systems containing an array of laser types are available.
Depending on the needs, a CO2 laser (1500 nm), a Nd:YAG laser ( nm), an excimer laser ( 248 nm), a picosecond laser at 553 nm or a femtosecond laser at nm can be used.
A number of ovens are available for temperature steps in different environments.
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Let the good times begin! This buffet table provides classic elegance to your dining room. It features two wine racks hold up to 8 bottles and two side open shelves for plates or glasses. There is a drawer to storage your serving accessories. Two single and a middle double wood doors open to reveal three cabinets for additional space for your entertaining needs. Buffet Table assembled size is 46"W x 16"D x 34"H. There is two open Shelves with size of 12"W x 14"D x 12" Clearance for plates or decorations. Bottom section has three cabinets. Two side cabinet inside is 12"W x 13"D x 11.61"H. Middle Cabinet is 16.54"W x 13"D x 11.61"H. It also has one pull out drawer with an inside dimension of 16.37"W x 11"D x 2.3"H. Made from combination of solid and composite wood in Walnut finish. Assembly Required.


BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, June 27, 2007 – The Trinidad conglomerate, Neal and Massy, wants shareholders of the Barbados Shipping & Trading (BS&T) to stay focused when they meet today and vote in favour of a merger between the two.
Neal & Massy Chairman, Arthur Lok Jack, wants them to dismiss a counter offer by another Trinidadian conglomerate, ANSA McAL, which is wooing them with an offer of BDS$7 per share – more than Neal & Massy is offering. Neal & Massy is already a major shareholder in BS&T with a 22% stake.
Lok Jack said if the other shareholders decided to take ANSA McAL's offer, it will sell off its stake in the Barbados conglomerate.
His comments come on the heels of the Neal & Massy shareholder meeting in Trinidad & Tobago on Monday when all the resolutions regarding the merger were passed unanimously. BS&T shareholders are due to meet today, but will have much more to consider in their deliberations with the offer from Trinidad's largest conglomerate now in the mix.
Speaking in Barbados at the BS&T headquarters on Tuesday, Lok Jack said Ansa McAl was not offering shareholders any stake in that business or part of the Trinidad economy, just cash which depreciates. However, he said the planned amalgamation between Barbadian conglomerate, BS&T and energy and industrial giant, Neal & Massy would give them an opportunity to own shares in a fast growing company, and diversification in a country whose economy is also quickly growing.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, ANSA McCaL suggested that its offer was more advantageous than the proposed merger since it is 33% more than what its competitor has on the table, 37% higher than the BS&T share price, and gives shareholders cash in hand to invest as they see fit. Neal & Massy is offering a face-value trade on shares – one of their shares for every 2.75 of BS&Ts. Neal and Massey share price is worth about 2.75 times that of BS&Ts BDS$5.51.
It says a comprehensive offer document will be delivered to shareholders on or before the middle of next month.
If that offer is accepted and Ansa gains controlling interest in BS&T, Neal & Massy which owns 22% of BS&T shares, does not plan to accept such an alliance with its competitor.
Meantime, Lok Jack says BS&T has still received no correspondence from ANSA and it will continue efforts to complete the merger which had been in the making for months before being announced last month, and which has already been granted the requisite approvals by the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission and the Barbados Securities Commission.


I know, I know, it's December. I don't care. I have to write a conclusion post, don't I? Besides, I didn't get to write about it last week. Dumb glaucoma testing.
It's no secret that NaNoWriMo 2014 was my first NaNoWriMo participation. I experienced all the emotions I've heard about. All the enthusiasm at the beginning, being stuck and wanting to put it off in the middle, and the inching closer and closer to the 50,000 word mark and getting really excited again at the end. Every single thing I heard about, I experienced.
My NaNoWriMo project is nowhere near a decent first draft, but I put it away for about a month. I'm hoping that by putting it away, I'll have a clear mind of how to even start editing it. I'm pretty sure nobody wants to read it right now. It's bad. And there's a lot of holes. A lot of holes.
Until I start working on my NaNoWriMo project again, I'm going to keep working on editing Days of the Kill. I'm working on the third draft of that. Yay! More about that on Wednesday.
Hey, everyone's got to start somewhere, right? Why not start in November during NaNoWriMo and transform that dream into words? I can't wait until next year. And you can bet that I'll be updating every single Monday about NaNoWriMo 2015.
As for what I'll be doing on Mondays until then…well, I guess we'll see!


text:
NeighborhoodPolice & UsWhy I Love My City
Oct 30, 2020 - 12:02 PM
SAN FRANCISCO — Voting in California is not just a matter of plumping for Trump or Biden — residents are confronted with scores of other decisions in a bewildering array of referendums and for officials ranging from judges to school boards.
The largest state in America by population holds elections that mix direct local democracy with politics that is heavily influenced by powerful lobby groups.
In total, nearly 380 referendums will be held on November 3 across California, in addition to electing the president and all the "down-ballot" officials.
"Usually I just show up at the voting booth and I read a small amount and I vote one way or the other. About halfway through, I feel guilty about not really understanding it," admitted Kathy Otterson, a telecoms manager who lives in Berkeley, California.
"But this year, I have lots of time and I am home voting. My husband and I made a date out of it, so we went to lunch and we ran through it," she told AFP.
Otterson faces 45 different decisions — including 25 referendums — on a seven-page ballot paper, plus a thick booklet of manifestos written in dense, small type.
Almost $750 million has already been spent on campaigns for the 12 state-level referendums known as "propositions" in California, making it the second most expensive political exercise in the United States after the presidential election.
Democracy in action?
With an economy bigger than Britain, France or Italy, California's state politics are serious business.
This year, the vote on "Proposition 22" will be followed closely nationally, and around the world.
It will determine if Uber and Lyft drivers are self-employed "independent contractors" or salaried employees — a key battleground of the modern gig economy.
The other referendums range from rent control issues and dialysis clinic regulations, to stem cell research and voting rights for prisoners on parole and 17-year-olds.
With many people overwhelmed by the choice, action groups offer guides on how to vote along your political inclinations.
The feisty "League of Pissed off Voters" advises left-wing progressives in San Francisco how to go through the ballot, rating each option somewhere between "Hell Yes," "Hell No" or "Conflicted."
"It is very clearly left-leaning, but they had fair, factually-based information about each proposition and each candidate," said 30-something Dawn Rose. "It was like 20 pages of information instead of 200!"
Rose's companion Dave said that finding a way through the maze seemed an important civil duty after Donald Trump's divisive first term.
"We already delegate a lot of our power to our state representatives," he said. "It makes me feel good to feel like I have a voice and say in the world that we live in."
But California's democracy is also accused of being open to exploitation by companies determined to protect their interests, or even to circumvent laws passed by elected officials.
The "Proposition 22" vote is a response to a new state law which would force taxi app companies like Uber to register their drivers as employees and pay them social benefits.
Lobbyists in action
The campaign to vote "yes" to exempt the firms has already spent nearly $200 million on their cause.
The referendum is set to become the most expensive in the state's history, ahead of one in 1998 on the right to open casinos in Native American territories, according to David McCuan, professor of political science at Sonoma University.
"If you're trying to get a 'yes' vote… you have to spend early and often," he said, adding that most referendums are rejected by voters.
"(But) if the campaign rises and is visible and strong in California, there's a spillover effect to other states — that is what's so important here."
Lobbyists make strenuous efforts to secure public support — mailboxes and social networks are currently engulfed by messages such as "Mothers Against Drunk Driving endorses YES on 22."
"It's a huge business," says McCuan, explaining that companies are being paid up to $8 per signature to gather individuals who back an issue being put up for a future referendum.
Despite all the lobbying, few campaigns make it from conception to success.
California, known as a liberal bastion, voted twice against same-sex marriage — in 2000 and 2008 — before it only really became commonplace after a long battle in the courts.
The referendum route is "problematic as it's used too much," said Eric Schickler, professor of political science at the University of California, Berkeley, adding the concept was historically developed as a way to bypass corrupt legislators.
Nowadays "the place where you want to be able to use propositions is where the legislature's making decisions about themselves," he said.
Voter Kathy Otterson cannot make up her mind on Proposition 22, but she is clear about Proposition JJ — on increasing the local mayor's salary.
"I said yes, because I think they should have enough money to live."
New York, northeast US try to hold off second virus wave
New York City to resume limited indoor dining September 30


img020, originally uploaded by dputty123.
It's 55 degrees and sunny on December 11th! That is crazy and almost scary, but also makes for a great day to have lunch in the park. I've only been here for 3 months, but weather like this seems more like the norm. I'm still waiting for those long stretches of cold and wind, but we've only had a day or two of that so far. Either way, it's great.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Tagged nyc, personal, photo journal.


text:
Prosecutorial Formal Diversion and DEJ Granted on a Driving on a Suspended License and Possessing a Controlled Substance Case! Case Completely Dismissed After Defendant Completed Conditions!
Recently, in Los Angeles County at the East Los Angeles Courthouse our client's family hired our office after he was arrested and charged with four misdemeanor counts: (1) Vehicle Code section 14601.2(a), "Driving on a Suspended License"; (2) Vehicle Code section 12500(a), "Driving Without a License"; (3) Health and Safety Code section 11364, "Possession of Drug Paraphernalia"; and (4) Health and Safety Code section 11377, "Possession of a Controlled Substance." Our client's family hired us the same day that he was in court for his first appearance, in custody, on his case. We were able to make it to court in time for his hearing and we were able to negotiate to a fantastic disposition that would result in a complete dismissal of the charges.
After reviewing the discovery for the case, and meeting with our client in-custody, it was clear that our client had in fact committed the offenses and he did not dispute the factual allegations. Our client was not a United States citizen and obtaining an immigration safe disposition was the priority for our client, especially given that he was being charged with controlled substances offenses – which cause mandatory and permanent federal immigration consequences.
After strenuous negotiation with the prosecution, we were able to negotiate to prosecutorial formal diversion on Count 1, the violation of Vehicle Code section 14601.2, and we were able to negotiate to pre-trial diversion ("DEJ") on Count 4, the Health and Safety Code section 11377 offense. For Count 1, after our client completed 15 days of community labor, the charge would be completely dismissed. For Count 2, after our client successfully completed 45 Narcotic's Anonymous Meetings, the drug possession charge would be completely dismissed – with no plea ever having been entered for the offense.
After successfully completing the diversion requirements and providing proof of completion to the court, the case was COMPLETELY dismissed!
This is an AMAZING result for our client, that resulted in a complete dismissal!
We can help you now! Call now for a free telephonic consultation at 626.577.7700!


You can buy citalopram online 20 or 40 mg right now by clicking on the button below. You will go to the site of our partner - an online pharmacy, where you can find out more information about the purchase.
Citalopram is a drug from the group of antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Form release, composition: Citalopram is presented in the pharmaceutical market in the form of tablets for internal administration at a dosage of 20 and 40 mg. The active ingredient is citalopram hydrobromide.
Citalopram is a drug whose action is directed at selective blockade of serotonin reuptake in synapses of neurons of the central nervous system. Under the influence of the drug Citalopram, there is a decrease in obsessive conditions, an improvement in mood, elimination of anxiety, overexertion and fears, as well as dysphoria. The use of this medication practically does not provoke the development of a sedative effect.
A strong clinical effect is achieved after 1 week - 10 days of use of tablets. Antidepressant effect can be achieved after 2 weeks - 1 month of regular use of the drug.
After the internal administration of the drug, the maximum concentration is achieved after 2-4 hours. Excretion of the active component is carried out by the kidneys and intestines.
In patients with liver dysfunction, the clearance of the active component of the drug is reduced to 37%.
- Depression in the elderly.
Before you start taking pills, you need a doctor's consultation.
Tablets Citalopram should be taken orally 1 time per day. The drug is not chewed and washed down with a small amount of water.
Therapy starts with a minimum effective dose, which can be further increased on the recommendation and under the supervision of the doctor. The exact dosage and duration of therapy can be determined only by a qualified specialist, given the indications for admission, the tolerability of the drug and the characteristics of the patient's body.
Patients with mild or moderate forms of chronic renal insufficiency do not show a dosage adjustment. Patients with severe forms of kidney failure should be especially careful when selecting the appropriate dosage.
The total duration of therapy, as a rule, is about six months.
Abrupt withdrawal of the drug Citalopram can lead to nausea, dizziness, vomiting, headache, sleep disturbances, tremor, parasthesias, nervousness, asthenic conditions.
To avoid the development of withdrawal syndrome, after the completion of treatment, the abolition of taking tablets should be carried out for several weeks, gradually reducing the dose of the drug. The period of cancellation is about 14 days, but in each case, this issue is considered individually. Some patients needed several months and more to stop using the medication.
Citalopram can be used during therapy of pregnant women in those cases when the potential benefit to the mother exceeds the possible risks to the fetus.
Experimental studies have not revealed a teratogenic effect of the drug on fetal development and reproductive function.
- Due to lack of necessary information on the effectiveness and safety of the drug during treatment of children, citalopram is not used in the treatment of patients under the age of 18 years.
Against the background of the use of citalopram, unwanted side effects can be developed on the part of the organs of vision, urinary, cardiovascular, digestive, reproductive, respiratory, nervous system, as well as metabolism and skin. Increased risk of developing asthenic conditions, fainting, allergic manifestations, yawning, gnashing of teeth, dizziness, headache, atrial flutter, tachycardia, body weight fluctuations, rhinitis, sinusitis, cough.
At the beginning of therapy, the patient may have complaints about insomnia, a sense of anxiety. Such conditions can be eliminated by correcting the initial dose of the drug.
When an overdose increases the likelihood of drowsiness, episodic convulsions, coma, sinus tachycardia, increased sweating, nausea, hyperventilation, vomiting, cyanosis.
There is no specific antidote, with the development of an overdose, symptomatic therapy is required and the use of funds for maintenance treatment is required.
When the drug Citalopram with drugs from the MAO inhibitor group interacts, there is a possibility of developing a serotonin syndrome (hypertensive crisis).
The active component of citalopram can lead to an increase in the effectiveness of drugs, the active component of which is sumatriptan, as well as other serotonergic drugs.
In the case of indirect use of anticoagulants with indirect drugs, as well as other means that contribute to the effects of blood coagulation (atypical antipsychotics, tricyclic antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetylsalicylic acid, dipyridamole), there is a possibility of developing coagulation disorders. In this case, at the beginning and after the completion of the use of citalopram should monitor blood coagulation.
When combined with medications based on warfarin, an increase in prothrombin time by 5% is possible.
If there is a risk of suicidal tendencies in patients who have a history of depression, you should carefully monitor these people at the beginning of therapy and prescribe the medication at the lowest effective dose to reduce the risk of overdose. This precaution should be followed when treating other types of psychological disorders due to the risk of simultaneous development of a depressive episode.
Children, adolescents and people younger than 24 years with depression and other psychological pathologies constitute a risk group, because taking drugs from the group of antidepressants can contribute to the development of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Short-term studies have demonstrated that in patients over 24 years of age, the risk of suicide did not increase, and in persons over 65 years of age it declined.
During therapy with citalopram or other drugs from the group of antidepressants, these categories of patients should be carefully and systematically monitored in order to detect suicidal tendencies in a timely manner.
Citalopram should be used with extreme caution in those patients who have a history of renal insufficiency (with creatinine clearance below 30ml / min), hypomania, mania, diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis, bleeding tendency, pharmacologically uncontrolled epilepsy, depression accompanied by suicidal tendencies.
Also caution requires simultaneous use with alcohol, with medications that help reduce the threshold of convulsive readiness, provoking hyponatremia. Hyponatremia can develop as a result of impaired production of antidiuretic hormone. Risk groups are older women.
The use of the drug may affect the level of glucose in patients with diabetes mellitus. Against the background of treatment with citalopram should adjust the dose of insulin or hypoglycemic drugs.
In rare cases, the occurrence of an actusis was reported, which is characterized by the development of a permanent or recurring feeling of motor anxiety, manifested in the form of the patient's inability to remain calm in one position or the duration to be without movement. Such a reaction can take place during the first few weeks of therapy.
Patients who have a history of biopolar disorders increase the risk of developing mania. The use of the drug in this case is recommended to be discontinued.
The drug is used with extreme caution in the event that the patient's history has epileptic seizures or drug dependence.With the development of manic states, the taking of tablets is immediately stopped.
A sharp cessation of the use of a medicine may trigger a withdrawal syndrome. There is a possibility of developing dizziness, nausea, headache. In order to avoid such reactions of the body, the abolition of the use of tablets should be carried out for several weeks.
Storage of tablets should be carried out in a dark place, protected from direct sunlight and children with observance of a temperature mode: no more than 25 degrees.
"Citalopram was prescribed by a neurologist after treatment of complaints of restlessness, increased irritability, problems with sleep. Before appointing this medication specialist for a long time talking with me, checked the reflexes, etc.
I took the drug in the evening time for 10 days. After that, it was decided to slightly increase the dose, this course of admission continued for 3 months. Periodically, I could forget to take Citalopram on time, but loved ones always reminded me in a timely manner. Initially, there was no special effect, but the doctor immediately warned that it would take about 2 weeks for the "swing". And indeed, after a specified period of time, sleep and general health normalized, and became irritable. Surprisingly, the drug also positively affected the chronic osteochondrosis: the muscles relaxed slightly, and the neck began to ache less.
Of the side effects, there was only drowsiness. But such a reaction can be avoided if you take the medicine immediately before bed. The drug is released only on prescription, and it should be taken only after consulting a doctor. Sharply stop taking pills, too, should not be - can develop withdrawal syndrome."
Is it safe to buy citalopram online?
Many patients very often wonder: Is it safe to buy citalopram online? Answer: Yes, and No.The most important thing when buying online - is to choose a proven pharmacy, read reviews, compare prices, contact the customer service directly, request the necessary documentation for the tablets. And after that you can buy the medicine you need. To begin with, you can order a small amount to finally make sure of the reliability of the online pharmacy.Our site provides links to a proven online pharmacy.


This document provides information on generating and renewing access tokens.
You can generate your OAuth2 access token in the API Directory . However, this method is only suggested for when you are testing the features of the API as the access token is only valid for a short period. When you want to embed an API from the API Directory in your application, you want to have your code generate and renew the tokens. To do this, you want to use the token service. This service allows you to pro-grammatically retrieve your access token by supplying your client ID and secret. Follow the steps below.
Save your client ID and client secret from the API Directory when you create your application. These are displayed only once when the application is created.
Combine the client ID and client secret keys in the format: client-ID:client-secret. Encode the combined string using base64. Most programming languages have a method to base64 encode a string. For an example of encoding to base64, visit Base64 Decode and Encode site.
Execute a POST call to the token API to get an access token.
Please follow the below steps to get the proper url for the OAuth Token API.
Click on the API you want to test from the left section.
Click on the resource under the API.
To the right, you will see some relevant information. Scroll down and check the Try this Operation section.
You will find the OAuth token url and the scope from the above section. Use that information and formulate the Token url like below.
Note: The url and scope for the token url may be different for each API. Remove the << >> in the above urls when using the actual values.
Use the access token above in the Authentication header to call APIs. If you want to generate a brand new Access Token, you can repeat the call in step 3 at any time.


text:
C-26, r. 231 - Regulation respecting equivalence standards for a permit to be issued to dental prosthesis and appliance technologists
Enabling statute 1
Alphanumerics
C-26 Professional Code
Occurrences0
Updated to 15 July 2021
chapter C-26, r. 231
Regulation respecting equivalence standards for a permit to be issued to dental prosthesis and appliance technologists
DENTAL PROSTHESIS AND APPLIANCE TECHNOLOGISTS — PROFESSIONAL CODE — PERMITS
Professional Code
(chapter C-26, s. 93, par. c).
09September 011 2012
O.C. 1663-88; S.Q. 2020, c. 15, s. 71.
PROCEDURE FOR RECOGNITION OF AN EQUIVALENCE
1. The secretary shall forward a copy of this Regulation to any candidate who wishes recognition of an equivalence.
O.C. 1663-88, s. 1.
2. A candidate who wishes recognition of an equivalence must provide the secretary with those of the following documents that are necessary to support his application:
(1) his academic record, including a description of the courses taken;
(2) a copy of his degree certified true by the educational institution concerned;
(3) an attestation that he has undergone a training period;
(4) an attestation of his relevant work experience;
(5) payment of the cost of opening the file, as prescribed by the board of directors under paragraph 8 of section 86.0.1 of the Professional Code (chapter C-26).
All documents provided in support of his application must be accompanied by a French translation certified by the consulate of the country from which such documents emanate.
3. The secretary shall forward the documents prescribed in section 2 to a committee formed by the board of directors to study applications for equivalence and to make appropriate recommendations. At the first meeting following receipt of the committee's report, the board of directors shall rule upon recognition of the equivalence, and inform each candidate in writing of its decision.
4. Within 15 days following any decision not to grant an equivalence, the board of directors shall inform the candidate concerned in writing of the program for studies, field training or examinations that, taking into account his present level of knowledge, he must complete successfully in order to be granted an equivalence.
DEGREE EQUIVALENCE STANDARDS
5. A candidate holding a degree issued by an educational institution outside Québec is granted an equivalence if the degree was received upon completion of college studies comprising the equivalence of a minimum of 56 credits distributed as follows:
(1) 6 credits in ceramics;
(2) 1 credit in dental materials;
(3) 20 credits in removable dental prostheses;
(4) 18 credits in fixed dental prostheses;
(5) 5 credits in cast frameworks for removable dental prostheses;
(6) 4 credits in dental anatomy;
(7) 2 credits in orthodontia.
A credit is the quantitative value attributed to a workload required of a student and representing 45 hours of attendance at a course or personal work.
6. Notwithstanding section 5, where the degree for which an application for equivalence has been made was received 5 years or more before the application, equivalence may be refused if the knowledge acquired by the candidate no longer corresponds to the knowledge now being taught as a result of developments in the profession.
However, equivalence must be recognized if the pertinent work experience and training that the candidate has acquired subsequently have enabled him to attain the required level of knowledge.
TRAINING EQUIVALENCE STANDARDS
7. A candidate is granted a training equivalence if he shows that he has a level of knowledge equivalent to that acquired by the holder of a degree recognized as giving access to a permit of the Order and comprising the number of credits defined in section 5.
8. In order to determine whether a candidate has shown that he has the level of knowledge prescribed in section 7, the board of directors shall take into account all of the following factors:
(1) the nature and the length of his experience;
(2) the degrees obtained in Québec or elsewhere;
(3) the courses taken;
(4) the training periods completed;
(5) the total number of years of schooling.
Where the evaluation made under the first paragraph does not allow a decision to be taken, the board of directors may prescribe an examination in order to complete the evaluation, the whole in accordance with this Regulation.
9. Examinations shall be divided into one or several sittings, for the purpose of verifying the candidate's knowledge in one or more of the following subjects:
(1) ceramics;
(2) dental materials;
(3) removable dental prostheses;
(4) fixed dental prostheses;
(5) cast frameworks for removable dental prostheses;
(6) dental anatomy;
(7) orthodontia.
10. A candidate must obtain 60% to pass an examination.
O.C. 1663-88, s. 10.
11. A candidate wishing to sit at an examination must pay the examination fee beforehand, as prescribed from time to time by resolution of the board of directors and must provide the equipment and materials required by the Order for the examination.
12. A candidate wishing to recover the precious metal alloys used during an examination shall apply therefor in writing within 90 days following the examination, failing which he shall be deemed to have renounced such recovery.
13. This Regulation replaces the Regulation respecting equivalence standards for a permit to be issued to dental technicians (R.R.Q., 1981, c. C-26, r. 160).
O.C. 1663-88, 1988 G.O. 2, 3859
S.Q. 2008, c. 11, s. 212


text:
"It's About Disconnecting:" 'THR Presents' Q&A With 'I'm Your Man' Filmmaker Maria Schrader and Star Dan Stevens
'Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief': Sundance Review
Oscar-winning documentary director Alex Gibney takes on the Church of Scientology armed with research from Lawrence Wright's book of the same name.
By Leslie Felperin
Leslie Felperin
More Stories by Leslie Felperin
Hollywood Reporter Film Critics Pick 10 Underseen 2021 Gems
'Julia': Film Review
Idris Elba and Jonathan Majors in 'The Harder They Fall': Film Review | BFI London 2021
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, director Alex Gibney's documentary about the famously litigious, allegedly religious organization, arrived in Sundance trailing high expectations, wild speculation and a massive amount of anticipation. There were rumors on the streets of Park City that the screening on Sunday, Jan. 25, might be the only time it would ever be shown, that (per executive producer Sheila Nevins) over 160 lawyers examined the film and that there might be protests from angry members of the church. There were even whispers of damning new material about famous followers Tom Cruise and John Travolta.
Read more Sundance: Scientology Film Subjects Called "Brave," Get Standing Ovation
As it happened, the event went off with no protests — except from peeved festivalgoers who failed to find a seat at the packed screening — and there was little in the way of revelations that couldn't be found already in Lawrence Wright's 2013 book of (almost) the same name, upon which the film is based. Indeed, there were subjects covered extensively in Wright's book that the film eschewed completely, such as the mystery surrounding the whereabouts of Scientology head David Miscavige's wife, Michele Miscavige. But none of that detracts from the fact that this impeccably assembled and argued film represents a brave, timely intervention into debates around the organization that have been simmering for some time.
With the same methodical assiduousness he has displayed in previous investigative films such as the Oscar-winning Taxi to the Dark Side, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God and We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, Gibney provides an authoritative overview of Scientology's history, beliefs and organizational structure, drawn from testimony from some of its most prominent survivors and critics. Supplemented by rare archival footage, almost entirely deployed under the copyright terms of fair use when no news agencies or rights holders agreed to cooperate, the film is an accessible, one-stop shop that will comprehensively counter apathy from viewers who might consider the organization nothing more than a bunch of harmless kooks who believe in mumbo jumbo about intergalactic overlord Xenu and volcanoes.
A significant presence throughout the taking-head–intensive film, author Wright acts as the Virgil to Gibney's Dante as the film works its way through the major issues covered in his book. The early reels survey the strange, fantastical life of L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology's founder, whose displays of bonhomous pomposity, gimlet-eyed cunning and vague derangement in the archival footage eerily recall Philip Seymour Hoffman's fictional cult leader in Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master. Although devout Scientologists will dutifully pour scorn on the portrait drawn here, Wright and Gibney take pains to paint LRH in an almost sympathetic light, suggesting that even if there was some avaricious calculation in his early ambition to start a religion, his belief in its teachings was ultimately sincere and that his mental imbalance later in life was almost deserving of pity.
More from THR at Sundance:
Nevertheless, as Scientology expanded, Hubbard's personal paranoia set the tone for the organization as a whole, and well-known former members such as Mark "Marty" Rathbun, Mike Rinder, Hana Eltringham Whitfield, Sylvia "Spanky" Taylor and Sara Goldberg paint detailed portraits of how abusive and controlling the organization could and still can be. In what's otherwise a fairly grim catalog of cruelties, a midpoint montage of slyly satirical archival footage unpacks just what OT III's get revealed to them as they go "up the bridge," a theology immortally skewered before in a now hard (but not impossible) to find episode of South Park.
See more Sundance: Exclusive Photos of Kristen Wiig, Jack Black, Ethan Hawke and More
In terms of the much-anticipated exposure of the church's links to celebrities, there's not much here that hasn't surfaced before, but some of the aforementioned ex-members speak very forcefully on camera about their convictions that high-profile members like John Travolta and Tom Cruise surely can't be wholly unaware of the worst accusations against the organization. Accounts of how the church set about undermining Cruise's marriage to Nicole Kidman, who like Cruise and many others declined to speak to the filmmakers, are not unfamiliar, nor are the stories about the organization's efforts to match-make Cruise with a pliant new girlfriend after he and Kidman split for good. Still, the material is sufficiently juicy to attract interest from casual viewers when the film airs on HBO later this year.
Other famous so-called apostates, including writer-director Paul Haggis and actor Jason Beghe (the latter mounting a firecracker display of profanity-laced fury), offer their own personal testimonies and, like the onetime high-ranking officials who appear alongside them, express their shame at willfully shielding themselves from the darker aspects of the organization. No one, however, expresses it with more eloquent simplicity than Rathbun, who, when asked what he regrets most about his time within Scientology, replies, "the entire experience."
In the end, the main point of this deeply admirable documentary is to reach and enlighten that broader audience in a way that far too many publications and media outlets have been afraid to do. Experts who have never been part of the church, such as campaigning journalist Tony Ortega and The Hollywood Reporter's own Kim Masters, offer astute analysis and factual context about why the organization has recruited within the entertainment industry and why it has managed to survive innumerable legal battles — although new cases may turn that tide.
The doc ends on a hopeful note by reporting that according to best estimates the numbers of followers has dwindled to approximately 50,000 at most worldwide. That said, an organization that's managed to retain its tax-exempt status based on its classification as a religion according to the IRS, with access to some $3 billion in assets, is still a fearsome beast to contend with. Money like that can buy a lot of lawyers. But survivors, "suppressive persons" and the "disconnected" families of people who have suffered from Scientology's unholy war against its enemies will take enormous comfort in the fact that at least one film has now dared to say what only a few years ago seemed impossible.
Production companies: An HBO Documentary Films presentation in association with Sky Atlantic of a Jigsaw production
With: Lawrence Wright, Mark "Marty" Rathbun, Monique Rathbun, Mike Rinder, Jason Beghe, Paul Haggis, Sylvia "Spanky" Taylor, Sara Goldberg, Tony Ortega, Kim Masters
Director: Alex Gibney
Screenwriter: Alex Gibney
Based on the book by Lawrence Wright
Producers: Alex Gibney, Lawrence Wright, Kristen Vaurio
Executive producers: Chris Wilson, Sheila Nevins
Director of photography: Sam Painter
Editor: Andy Grieve
Music: Will Bates
Sales: HBO
No rating, 120 minutes
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
Sundance Film Festival Reviews


text:
Swiss Indoors cancelled
AFPPublished July 16, 2020
PARIS: The Swiss Indoor tennis tournament in Basel, scheduled from Oct 24 to Nov 1, has been cancelled in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, the organisers announced on Tuesday.
"The ATP has officially approved the cancellation request from Basel, even though the tournament management had already declared in mid-June that it would be irresponsible and unrealistic to organise the event because of the medical, social and economic uncertainty linked to the situation," the organisers said in a statement.
The organisers had said they believed a tournament with social distancing or behind closed doors was impractical. The 50th edition of the tournament, which Roger Federer has won 10 times, will take place next year from Oct 23-31.
The tennis season has been at a standstill since mid-March due to Covid-19.
The ATP has set the resumption date for mid-August in the US in Washington, with the US Open (Aug 31-Sept 13) behind closed doors and Roland Garros (Sept 27-Oct 11) in front of a reduced attendance.
Pakistan to host 2023 SAF Games after prime minister's approval: POA
Boucher wants Kallis back in SA coaching set-up
Boucher upbeat about safety on Pakistan tour
Verbal street harassment is real for women and Ali Gul Pir's new video drives home that point


There are lots of ways that you can fundraise. Whether it is bag-packing, a pub quiz, or a coffee morning, the most important thing to remember is that you do a fundraiser that suits YOU.
Below are some ideas of how you can raise much needed funds for Habitat.
It is easy to continue to support Habitat for Humanity projects around the world after you come home from volunteering. Cake sales, coffee mornings, street collections, a charity box in the canteen or coffee dock are just some ways of supporting Habitat projects from Ireland.
Why not take part in a challenge event (e.g. run, triathlon, cycle or a marathon) for Habitat for Humanity Ireland. Be part of something active to raise much needed funds to help Habitat eliminate poverty housing in Ireland and around the world!
Do you have a skill that you think Habitat could use? Contact us and let us know that you are willing to volunteer! We are always looking for support, from photographers to those who work in PR or the media.
Want to be first to hear about Habitat for Humanity's upcoming volunteering opportunities in Ireland? Email us with your contact information and we will let you know when our next Open Volunteering day is. Click here to read about some of the experiences that our volunteers have had onsite!
Enquire now about supporting Habitat for Humanity Ireland.


The Cornwall has been created to give a more enclosed feeling when using the garden building. Incorporating larger panels and double glazed windows with Georgian Bars, the look and feel of the Cornwall is traditional but offers a stunning design within the Nordic Orangerie range of buildings. Using the latest techniques in manufacturing we have created a beautiful Orangerie that requires no maintenance, giving you more time to enjoy this spectacular building every day of the year.
Also known as the Cornish Riviera featuring picturesque harbour villages, towering cliffs and seaside resorts, Cornwall is on England's rugged Southwestern tip. With wild moorlands to sandy beaches it contains some of the most vivid landscapes in England. Surfing and other outdoor activities are very prevalent across the county, which creates a real outdoor lifestyle ensuring everyone enjoys everything Cornwall has to offer. There is no better example of a garden building designed to bring the outdoors in, as the seasons change, they each have something unique to offer, from a wild and windy winters day to the glorious sunshine in the summer, in your Nordic Garden Building you can enjoy them all in comfort and warmth.
You are currently viewing (151 sq ft / 14sqm).
Interested in our Cornwall (COR-PC) building? We have stockists across the UK and Europe.


text:
Tighter credit to dampen housing boom
By Clancy Yeates and James Eyers
Updated May 26, 2015 — 9.59pm first published at 5.09pm
The major banks' clampdown on lending to landlords will help the Reserve Bank of Australia to keep interest rates at record lows by dampening the investor-led housing boom, economists predict.
Figures on Tuesday showed tentative signs of slowing in higher-risk parts of the mortgage market that have been worrying the country's financial regulators. Interest-only loans and mortgages with deposits of less than 10 per cent both fell slightly as a share of new loan approvals in the March quarter compared with the previous three months, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority figures showed.
A key to a sustained recovery in the Perth housing market is an improved performance from the local economy. Credit:Louie Douvis
APRA has demanded investor lending slow to less than 10 per cent a year, and in response, the country's biggest banks have in recent weeks cut discounts for investors and tightened their credit criteria. ANZ Bank economists said these moves had the potential to curb the growth in housing investor lending.
ANZ's co-head of Australian economics, Felicity Emmett, said the tightening up in investor lending practices were likely to have a marginal softening impact on house price growth, including in the exuberant Sydney market.
"This looks as though APRA's step-up in supervision is starting to have some effect," Ms Emmett said. "If that's successful, then that's going to give the RBA scope to keep rates lower."
More tightening necessary
However, Credit ratings agency Moody's still believes additional tightening of lending criteria and higher capital levels will be necessary to curb lending growth. Such action would be a positive for the strength of the banking sector by reducing its exposure to looming risk caused by "growing imbalances" in the housing market, it said.
Statistics released by APRA on Tuesday show the value of new
"With investor approvals declining by more than the drop in owner-occupied approvals, perhaps signaling that APRA's announced macro-prudential action may be taking effect," Goldman Sachs analyst, Andrew Lyon said.
Interest-only loans – a key concern for APRA – fell to 42.3 per cent of all approvals, down from 43 per cent in the previous quarter to the lowest level in a year.
The share of loan approvals with loan-to-valuation ratios of 90 per cent or higher continued its downward trend, and is at its lowest level since December 2010.
Owner-occupied lending rebounded slightly to 62.6 per cent of total residential lending approvals in the quarter, up from 62 per cent.
Over the past week, the banks have introduced a range of measures to attempt to pull the growth rate of lending to property investors below a 10 per cent cap demanded by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
These have included removing or reducing the discounts on new investment property loans, introducing an 80 per cent loan to valuation ratio cap on investment property loans, and changing investment property home loan calculators used by brokers.
Credit positive initiatives applauded
In its report on Tuesday, Moody's applauded these initiatives. "In our view, these initiatives are credit positive since they reduce the banks' exposure to a higher-risk loan segment,"Moody's vice president, Ilya Serov said.
"In the absence of mitigating actions, the increasing proportion of investment and interest-only loans would, in our view, lead to a weakening of the bank portfolios' quality."
However, Moody's said the housing market is currently characterised by "elevated and rising house prices, declining mortgage affordability, and record levels of household indebtedness".
"The growing imbalances in the Australian housing market pose a longer-term challenge to the Australian banks' credit profiles, over and above the immediate concerns around investment lending," the report said.
Mr Serov said the banks could further curtail exposure to high loan to valuation loans and investment lending over the coming months. Combined with upward revisions to mortgage risk weights and capital increases as foreshadowed by APRA and the financial system inquiry, he said Moody's was comfortable with its stable outlook on the major banks'credit ratings.
Moody's assessment comes as several analysts suggest the banks – which fell around 15 per cent in May – have been oversold.
CLSA analyst Brian Johnson said rising regulatory capital intensity for the banks is manageable and high dividend payout ratios are sustainable. Even though the banks are trading on peak cycle price earnings ratios; "we think they will continue to trade expensively as structurally underweight international investors continue to chase their high dividend yields," he said, adding the banks "will emerge in great shape" after they are recapitalised.


text:
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Persian Verses: The Fortieth Year of King Kisra Nushirwan's Reign and the Story of Buzurgmihr (recto) from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025)
Iran, Tabriz, Ilkhanid period
Ink and opaque watercolor on paper
Sheet: 59.3 x 40.2 cm (23 3/8 x 15 13/16 in.); Text area: 40.6 x 29.2 cm (16 x 11 1/2 in.)
John L. Severance Fund 1959.330.a
Mongol interest in the production of illustrated manuscripts eventually focused on Persian epic poetry. The Shahnama, a compilation of the epics and tales of Iran's legendary heroes, was a natural choice; the book included many subjects that suited Mongol taste, such as banquets, battles, hunting, and magical or fantastic events.
The painting on the other side of this page is of the Sasanian ruler of Iran, Khusraw I Anushirwan (531–579), descendant of Bahram Gur. Above the king's head an inscription reads, "Picture of Nushirwan the Just." The figure in the elaborate turban to the left of the king is probably the young Minister Buzurgmihr, famous for his wisdom and virtue. To celebrate the explanation of a troublesome dream by Buzurgmihr, Nushirwan held a series of seven banquets. The text around this painting describes the fifth banquet.
Script: Naskh
c. 1910-?
(Georges Demotte [1877-1923], New York, NY)
(Mrs. Paul [Marguerite] Mallon [d. 1977], Paris and New York, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
The Classical Style in Islamic Painting. The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, NY (organizer) (November 1, 1968-January 4, 1969).
Persian Miniature Manuscripts. The Scottish Arts Council Gallery, Edinburgh, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (organizer) (August 13-September 11, 1977).
{{cite web|title=Persian Verses: The Fortieth Year of King Kisra Nushirwan's Reign and the Story of Buzurgmihr (recto) from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025)|url=https://clevelandart.org/art/1959.330.a|year=1330–35|access-date=27 January 2023|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
John L. Severance Fund