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Geographic Information Systems Division
What is GIS ?
A geographic information system (GIS) is a framework for gathering, managing, and analyzing data. Rooted in the science of geography, GIS integrates many types of data. It analyzes spatial location and organizes layers of information into visualizations using maps and 3D scenes. With this unique capability, GIS reveals deeper insights into data, such as patterns, relationships, and situations which help users make smarter decisions. Incorporating GIS into an organization increases the efficiency of staff and reduces operating costs by allowing them access to city-wide data from their PC or mobile device.
The GIS Division creates and/or manages location data for a diversity of real-world features (examples include the stormwater network, water\sewer network, streets, and traffic signs). Other important data not considered real-world features are also maintained (examples include planning zones, police zones, disaster recovery zones, and the city limits). Detailed information associated with each feature are also stored with the location data. Using specialized software, the GIS Division is able to overlay location data, perform analysis, and create custom maps in a variety of themes and colors. These maps provide a superior method to interpret and understand data stored in a standard spreadsheet database.
The vast amount of location data available can make finding the answers to everyday questions a challenging task for City staff. The GIS Division solves this problem by creating interactive maps which are available for viewing via a computer on the City network. The interactive maps allow all City staff to quickly view and share location data between departments and the public. The maps are updated regularly and include aerial and land elevation views.
GIS Data Download
City of Vero Beach GIS data is available for download on our Data Download Portal.
Click HERE to view and download GIS data.
Please read and include the following disclaimer on all maps created with City of Vero Beach data: The City of Vero Beach makes no warranties, express or implied, and assumes no responsibility for the use of this material by agencies or individuals other than the City of Vero Beach. Any use of this material is strictly at the risk of the user.
1053 20th Place
Vero Beach, FL 32960
Indian River Lagoon Conservation
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Stormwater & Drainage Division
Streets Division
Traffic Division
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TIFFIN -- Behind a strong start, the Heidelberg University men's basketball team knocked off Muskingum University in a critical conference matchup on Saturday afternoon.
The Berg (7-13, 5-8 OAC) emerged with a 92-78 victory on home-floor. The Student Princes shot a dominant 54% from the floor and an astounding 20-of-21 from the charity line to propel them forward on the day.
Four Heidelberg shooters hit double figures in scoring, paced by Dylan Woods' 23 points. Myron Prewitt added 21, Alex Arellano scooped in 18, and Jimmy Hanley contributed 13.
Prewitt kept pace with Maddy Crawford's double-double consistency with his 13th double-double of the season. He added 12 boards with his 21-point affair.
"In the ever-tough OAC, that was a good win to get back into the win column," said head coach Andy Bucheit. "It's good to see the guys come through ... they made big plays and no one ever gave up and responded well when Muskie tied the game."
The Student Princes sat firmly in the driver's seat for much of the game. Their momentum began the first five minutes of play as they began play on a 13-2 run. Much the case in recent games, Heidelberg utilized a balanced offense to buoy the strong start.
Over the next ten minutes of play the Berg maintained the reward of their strong start. With 4:41 remaining in the half, Muskingum (7-14, 3-11) closed to within four on a pair of free throws by Tyler Bardall.
On the very next possession, a jump ball led to a Muskie inbound opportunity. On the pass, Coby Kelly deflected the ball to Emmanuel Perdue. Perdue drew the defender and returned the ball to a wide-open Kelly, who dispatched the 3-pointer to re-ignite the Berg momentum.
Heidelberg rode that energy into a 14-point halftime lead as Alex Arellano, Josh Dixon, and Dylan Woods hit back-to-back-to-back layups to close out the first half of play.
Across the first period of play, the aggressive Heidelberg offense connected on nearly 57% of their shot attempts, including 40% from beyond the arc. Dylan Woods led the first half scorers with 15 points.
Muskingum used the halftime respite to their advantage and stormed out on a 22-6 run at the beginning of the second half to level the score at 56 each.
The Berg responded nicely, on a 13-6 run. This time, Jimmy Hanley led the efforts with two free throws and a 3-pointer to give the Berg back their upper hand. Building on Hanley's efforts, Myron Prewitt scored on a forced hook shot, while Arellano knocked down two charity shots to give HU their 10-point advantage back.
Down by nine points with just under a minute remaining, the Muskies were forced to foul. After swift ball movement by the Berg, Hanley was sent to the line. He calmly knocked down both freebies to extend the lead to 11 and all but seal the win.
Two more trips to the line proved to be it, as Heidelberg polished off the victory.
Heidelberg held the overall edge on rebounding 39-38, but were dominated on the offensive glass by the Muskies, 17-9. MU converted those 17 offensive board to 23 second-chance points.
Three Muskies spread the wealth with three double-digit scorers. Carson Carter led the way with 18, followed by Jayson Peoples with 17, and Trey Singleton tallied 12.
"I didn't feel like we played great defensively, but we did play with confidence on offense, which makes up for those defensive errors," continued Coach Bucheit. "The guys have been battle tested all season and we've talked a lot about them, and it's great to see them respond and carry that over to a win."
The Student Princes begin a busy week as two home contests will sandwich a tough road match. Heidelberg will begin the week at home vs. John Carroll University on Monday, before traveling to No. 19 Capital University on Wednesday. HU will finish the tough week with a home contest on Saturday vs. the University of Mount Union.


There's been a small bugs fix patch that is now live. It fixes some issues like spectator numbers not updating, players being unable to queue into the correct division level in Arena mode, trap placement on walls that were blocked by stairs, and some other bugs! Check out the full patch notes below.
We released the v8.20.1 client update today, March 29 at 5AM ET(0900 UTC) to fix some issues that appeared after releasing the v8.20 update. You can find full details below on all the fixes included in this client update.
NOTE: We are working with Apple on certification of the iOS update, players on iOS can continue to play and we will let you know when the update is available.


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Woman caught selling unapproved Tramadol in Mankessim market
The Pharmacy Council and Police at Mankessim in the Central Region have arrested a woman who sells prescription drug Tramadol on the open market.
The woman was arrested during an audit of pharmacies and market centres in the Region.
Many pharmacies were also cautioned to adhere strictly to instructions concerning the sale of the drug as their facilities risk closure by the Council.
The Council's action is in response to what it says is the abuse of the medicine used to treat moderate to severe pain.
Tramadol, a restricted medication used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain, has become almost "a street drug" for the treatment of a normal pain like a headache, sometimes with approval from health practitioners.
Joy News' correspondent Richard Kwadwo Nyarko who was travelling with the two agencies said the move was part of a wider campaign to clamp down on the abuse of Tramadol.
Related: FDA seizes over 4000 unregistered tablets of Tramadol
According to him, the unannounced operation started early Friday morning at the Mankessim market and the officers came across one woman who was selling drugs in a bowl.
A further search through her bowl showed that she was selling unapproved milligrams of Tramadol in large quantities.
Other women who were also selling the same drugs took their heels when they realized the police were questioning her and subsequently arrested her.
Regional Manager of the Pharmacy Council, Appiah Kwesi Baffour, who led the operation told Joy News "as a regulator we want to arrest the situation about the abuse of the drug."
"We have been coming through pharmacies here and we are happy that they are stocking the approved 50mg Tramadol."
The Mankessim Divisional Police Commander, Augustine Mensah is urging parents to check the activities of their children so they do not fall prey to the abuse of the drug.
"We are going to continue the operation to nip the menace in the bud…we need parents to check their children to ensure they do not abuse unapproved drugs," he said.
Related: The people who go to drinking bars to buy Tramadol
He said the police are willing to help in every means possible to deal with the menace of abusing unapproved drugs.
Last month, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) referred 21 over-the-counter chemical sellers to the Pharmacy Council for stocking and selling high doses of Tramadol.
Nora Narkie Terlabi, the Ashanti Regional head of the FDA told Joy News, the exercise is to regulate the sale of the drug in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi.
The FDA seized over 4000 tablets which are beyond the registered dose of 50 and 100 milligrams. It discovered that there was a lot of unregistered 200 milligrams being sold on the open market in the region.
According to Narkie Terlabi, the Authority will soon be monitoring some pubs as well.
Amanpour's 'Sex & Love Around the World'; Moesha, Mama Zimbi others featured
16 Questions To Ask On A First Date, According To Marriage Therapists
Sunyani: Women living with AIDS cry over unrelenting stigmatisation
Daughters of Millionaires: Meet the beautiful daughters of the super rich in Ghana
10 tips for a healthy, fat-free 2018
Don't lower your standard for husbands – Ebo Whyte tells ladies

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Le massif de Visegrád (en hongrois : Visegrádi-hegység) est un massif montagneux d'origine volcanique de Hongrie, situé dans le Nord du pays, entre Visegrád, Pomáz et Esztergom, au creux du Coude du Danube. Traditionnellement situé dans le massif de Transdanubie, il appartient géologiquement au massif du Nord. Le point culminant est le Dobogó-kő à 700 mètres d'altitude.

Massif de montagnes en Hongrie

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Behind the Scenes with Roy Conboy, author of 'Native Soul'
Roy talks about the way he crafts his poetry to showcase the layers of his identity–Indigenous/Latino/Irish. He says (to paraphrase) that we're often like a car speeding down the road, dropping things to lighten the load. Often, one of the things we drop is culture. His job as a writer and a teacher involves stopping the car and picking up the things that shouldn't have been dropped.
Roy Conboy is a Latino/Irish/Indigenous writer and teacher whose poetic plays have been seen in the struggling black boxes on the edges of the mainstream theatre in Los Angeles, Santa Ana, San Francisco, San Antonio, Denver, and more; and whose musical plays for young people have toured extensively in California. His poetry has been seen in Green Hills Literary Lantern, Orphic Lute, Third Estate's Quaranzine, and Freshwater Literary Journal. His poetic radio drama Hue can be heard online at Barewire Theatre Company. He recently retired from 35 years of teaching, including three decades as the head of the San Francisco State University playwrighting program, where he created multiple programs that gave thousands of students a place to find and raise their voices.


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Information plea over joiner's asbestos death
By Peter Magill
George Charlesworth died at the age of 79 last November
THE family of a joiner from East Lancashire who died from an asbestos-related condition have appealed for his ex-workmates to shed some light on his demise.
George Charlesworth died at the age of 79 last November after suffering from a range of conditions such as nausea, back pain and a persistent cough.
But it was only after a post-mortem examination that his family discovered he had contracted mesothelioma, the asbestos-related lung disease.
Now his widow Sheila, 80, and daughter Julie, 41, of Brierfield, are seeking answers, stretching back to his first job as an apprentice at a former builders and joiners, aged just 15.
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Julie said: "My dad was a wonderful, dedicated and hardworking man who really enjoyed his job.
"He was always so active, so to watch him deteriorate so quickly was incredibly hard – even more so when we learnt after he had passed away that he had been suffering from mesothelioma. We are hopeful that his workmates from across the country will get in touch to help us with our investigation into how, when and where he was exposed to asbestos in a bid to understand whether his illness could have been prevented."
His first posting took him all over the country and he would later work for a joiners in Windsor, where he was employed at the likes of Eton College and Windsor Castle.
Later in the 60s he moved back to Lancashire and spent eight years with another joiners, which involved shop-fitting work across Burnley and Pendle.
Before retirement he also worked for a glass firm and for a local authority. The Charlesworths have enlisted the help of industrial disease legal experts Leigh Day as they inquire about the joiner's working conditions.
Helen Ashton, a partner in Leigh Day's Manchester-based industrial disease team, said: "Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that inevitably has a devastating impact on both its victims and their loved ones.
"His family are now appealing to his work colleagues from across the country to get in touch with any potential information."
People can call Helen Ashton on 0161 393 3544 or email her at hashton@leighday.co.uk
Police investigate fight between two females outside Blackburn McDonald's
These bus lanes have now gone live and you'll face a £60 if you drive through them
Gavin & Stacey: Attend Nessa and Smithy's wedding...in Burnley
Loved mum-of-two, 24, took her own life by taking estranged husband's medication
Police find gas-powered hand gun on man in town centre
Father of vulnerable Rossendale man who died in Egypt five years ago 'disgusted' at inquest adjournment
Euro Garages new HQ finally approved by council bosses


Dress by ASOS Collection, You'll want to put down the red wine, High neck, Sleeveless design, Zip-back fastening, Kick split, Makes walking a little easier, Bodycon fit, Skims in all the right places. Score a wardrobe win no matter the dress code with our ASOS Collection. From polished prom to the after party, our London-based design team scour the globe to nail your new-season fashion goals with need-right-now dresses, outerwear, shoes and denim in the coolest shapes and fits.


In PHP, you cannot include files in parent directories "../" from a file that has already been included from another file in a different directory. This has been a nuisance for a long time.
The first line of the _require function could also be removed by using the __DIR__ constant (instead of __FILE__) which was added in PHP 5.3.0.


Fundraiser for MACV (Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans).
Live, improvised music performance accompanies the Library of Congress silent version of All Quiet on the Western Front, in honor of the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day (end of World War I). Part of the ARMISTICE DAY: 100th ANNIVERSARY series at the Trylon Cinema.


1 Cuckoo Mill Farm Meats Farm reared turkeys.
3 Pick me up Pidge Crafts Vintage goods, peg bags, cushions, bunting, coasters, seasonal products. Bought in gifts.
7 Raspberry Cakery Chocolate, Sweetstuffs etc Gourmet cupcakes, brownies, cakes by the slice. Occasion cakes for all celebrations, birthdays, weddings etc.
8 Taste of Persia Food Producer of Persian Ready Made Meals (Frozen), Falafel, Persian Sweets including our popular Baklava & Pastries.
17 Riverside Sourdough Food We sell sourdough and long-fermentation bread. The type of bread we are selling is this: rye, wheat, San Francisco, low gluten, spelt and many more.
18 The Baker's Pig Food We produce a range of cured meats all made from rare breed Berkshire pork.
19 Oscar's Kitchen Food Homemade traditional preserves, such as chutneys, pickles, relishes, jams, jellies, marmalades and sauces.
24 Completely Caked Food Completely Caked Cakery specialises in Free From cakes, Gluten and Dairy Free and Vegan Friendly. We carry a wide range of flavours including Creamy lemon, Red Velvet, Caramel Drizzle.
27 Elvina Creations Jewellery Hand crafted Jewellery, locally made.
28 Trecastle Eggs Ltd Food Free Range Hen Eggs, Organic Hen Eggs & Duck Eggs, Welsh Salted Block Butter and Welsh Cheese.
29 Prim and Proper Crafts Folk art creatures,hand painted and hand sewn. Folk art Christmas decorations. Vintage textile jewellery hand sewn. No "brought in" products.
43 Ruby Anne Ceramic Jewellery Jewellery Ruby makes porcelain and ceramic jewellery. With vibrant colours and clean lines, each piece is a beautifully detailed contemporary design.
45 Goggi's Cuisine Food Authentic Pakistani food.
47 Blaencamel Farm Fresh/Farm Organically grown salads, vegetables, herbs and farm produced preserves from our produce. Sometimes flowers.
53 Popty Pizza Food Wood Fired Pizzas. Authentic Neapolitan Style thin crust pizzas. hand stretched from fresh dough.
54 Sam's Meat Roasts Food Mouth wateringly good freshly cooked burgers.
57 Ultimate Drifter Arts Works of Lighting Art & Naturally produced pieces with an Ecological conscience.
61 Dan Santillo Photography Arts Local View Photography of Swansea, Gower and Brecon Beacons selling prints, coasters, magnets, etc.
69 Cottage Garden Crafts Handwoven scarves, hand spun and crocheted pure wool hats, rag rau cushions. Will also demonstrate spinning wool on the day, plus perennial plants.
70 Uplands Market Team Other The Uplands Market information point.


Wathek Allal is the Syrian-born Algerian fashion designer behind cult streetwear brand Precious Trust. Wathek moved to Dubai in 2011 – a place he'd been visiting regularly since he was a child, that became his permanent home once the war began.
Six years ago, Wathek—who's heavily into skateboarding—became more and more involved in fashion (and the now-flourishing art scene in Dubai).
Another key influence on Wathek's designs is the complex combination of his Algerian heritage and Syrian upbringing. His latest collection—which he refuses to give a precise release date on—taps into his childhood and upbringing in Syria, combining nostalgic elements like colouring books, but still maintaining Precious Trust's key design elements: excellent silk fabrics mixed with super-wearable tracksuits and graphic tees that you'll want to pull straight off the shelf.


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Ranking Overall
Michaël Blaudzun
Historic Overview Michaël Blaudzun
Overall Rank 1235
Name Michaël BLAUDZUN
Date of birth 30-Apr-1973 - Herning (Midtjyllen)
Contempories View Contemporary Ranking
Michael Blaudzun (born 30 April 1973 in Herning) is a Danish former professional road bicycle racer. Michael is the son of 1972 Summer Olympics track cycling bronze medalist Verner Blaudzun and a strong individual time trial rider who has won the Danish national championship in that discipline in 2001, 2003 and 2005.
After Michael Blaudzun won the 1994 Danish Road Racing Championship while riding for amateur team Herning CK, he was signed for the remainder of the 1994 season as a stagiaire at professional team Word Perfect. For the 1995 season, the Word Perfect team changed its name to Novell, and Michael Blaudzun turned professional for the outfit, riding for the team until 1997, by which time the team had once again changed its name to Rabobank. Blaudzun had a few wins in his time at Rabobank, but when he switched to German outfit Team Telekom in 1998, he only managed a handful of secondary finishes.
For the 1999 season, he switched to Danish Team home - Jack & Jones (later named Team CSC) based on his former team Herning CK. Blaudzun participated in the first ever Tour de France for Team CSC, in the 2000 edition, but he quit the race at the 12h stage. He would ride a further two editions of the Tour de France in 2001 and 2003.
source - Wikipedia
Michaël Blaudzun - Scores by Season Tweet
1. 1994 WordPerfect 52 437
06/10 Giro del Piemonte 31
2. 1995 Novell Software 75 382
18/02 Tour du Haut-Var 34
26/02 Kuurne - Brussel - Kuurne 17
05/03 Stage 1 26
12/03 General Classification 38
26/03 Brabantse Pijl 20
3. 1996 Rabobank 175 241
17/02 Clásica de Almería 8
02/03 Omloop Het Volk 19
18/08 Wincanton Classic 41
16/10 Milano - Torino 20
16/04 La Flèche Wallonne 46
01/05 Rund um den Henninger Turm 46
04/05 Grosser Preis des Kantons Aargau - Gippingen 32
06/05 Prologue 12
11/05 Stage 5b 6
General Classification 39
07/06 Classique des Alpes 27
Dauphiné Libéré
5. 1998 Team Deutsche Telekom 61 467
25/04 Amstel Gold Race 44
Tour de Luxembourg
30/08 G.P. de Plouay - Ouest France 34
6. 1999 Team Home - Jack & Jones 325 180
16/02 Trofeo Laigueglia 10
Circuit de la Sarthe-Pays de Loire
07/04 Stage 1 3
G.P. du Midi-Libre
7. 2000 Memory Card - Jack & Jones 368 185
8. 2001 Team CSC - Tiscali 600 106
Critérium International
General Classification 7
Route du Sud
9. 2002 Team CSC - Tiscali 79 563
10. 2003 Team CSC - Imax 330 208
Tour of Qatar
22/03 Milano - Sanremo 29
Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
23/07 Stage 16 20
11. 2004 Team CSC 237 266
Eneco Ronde van Nederland
28/03 Rund um Köln 4
Eneco Tour of Benelux
10/08 General Classification 5
Etoile de Bessèges
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
Vuelta a Murcia
07/04 Hel van het Mergelland 7
15. 2008 Team CSC Saxo Bank 386 177
Österreich-Rundfahrt
Overall: 3852 1235


asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to review the efficiency of administration of the family practitioner services in England and Wales in the light of recent developments in information technology.
The administration of the family practitioner services in England and Wales involves a number of bodies—98 family practitioner committees, the National Health Service central register, the Dental Estimates Board and the Prescription Pricing Authority — whose working arrangements and interrelationships have not been studied as a whole for many years. New developments in information technology suggest that such a study is desirable and we propose to invite management consultants, working with our Department and the Welsh Office, to review the administration of the family practitioner services. The aim of the study will be to recommend a pattern of administration which will meet the needs of the public, practitioners and the various public agencies involved in the most efficient and economical way.
The terms for the study will be: To examine the functions of Family Practitioner Committees, the National Health Service Central Register, the Dental Estimates Board and the Prescription Pricing Authorities in the administration of the family practitioner services (FPS), with particular reference to patient registration and methods of calculating and making payments due to professional contractors; to review the potential for measures, including development of the use of computers, to promote efficiency and effectiveness of administration in the FPS and to facilitate exchange of information between the bodies concerned in FPS administration, professional contractors, Regional and District Health Authorities, Government Departments and other interested persons and organisations (including the provision of information for planning, clinical and research proposals); to assess the costs and benefits of proposals for change; and to recommend a strategy for the use of computers and other developments in the administration of the FPS over the next 10 to 15 years.
I should emphasise that the study will not call into question the status of general medical practitioners, general dental practitioners, opticians and pharmacists as independent contractors, the methods of determining their remuneration, or the status of FPCs as proposed in the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Bill which is now before the House.
Tenders for the work will be invited shortly from selected consultancy firms with a view to a report being available early next year.


Gor Mahia head coach Hassan Oktay has named his starting eleven for the derby match against AFC Leopards today at Kasarani stadium.
There are only three changes in the team that started against Zamalek of Egypt in the CAF Confederation match last Sunday.
Ernest Wendo is back to the starting team and he replaces Lawrences Juma who is unwell. Defenders Haron Shakava and Joash Onyango are back to the centre back as they replace Charles Momanyi and Joachim Oluoch. The rest of the departments remain the same but striker Dennis Oliech will be a spectator today as he sustained an injury during a training session.


We all know what a blender can do. First, it is a vital tool that can be used to craft the perfect, healthy meal. In fact, you can use your blender to achieve a variety of things such as preparing meals, making mouth-watering frozen beverages, creating great smoothies, and more. Some even have powerful motors that help them crush ice within minutes. In general, blenders are versatile tools that every household should have.
They come in numerous models and designs; thus, it can be difficult to get the best item; you may be confused on which product to take home. Nevertheless, this should not be a problem; thanks to a number of comprehensive reviews, which equip you with the much-needed background knowledge to help you get the best product. The following top 10 best commercial blenders in 2017 reviews have brought together top performing products to make your work easier.
The Vitamix 5300 Blender is a certified refurbished product. And like all certified refurbished products, the Blender functions exactly like a new product. Moreover, it has few or no signs of wear. Plus, it's backed by a 90-day limited warranty, meaning you should not have any worry having the product. The 5300 model features a commercial-grade 2.2 hp motor that propels it to success. It also has other stunning features such as laser cut, stainless steel hammer mill and cutting blades. The easy-to-use variable speed control and pulse feature make this low-profile blender a top performer in its class.
Like the Vitamix 5300 Red Blender, the Vitamix 5300 Black Blender is certified refurbished. However, this should not be a worrying factor; not after what we have talked about under the 5300 Red model. This blender boasts a low profile design and features a BPA-free 64-ounce container, which is large enough to help you blend large quantities of juice. Furthermore, the container comes equipped with a spill-proof vented lid that ensures your counter remains as clean as it were before you started to blend. Behind the Vitamix 5300 Black model, is a 5-year full warranty and 30-day guarantee for worry-free buying experience.
This iconic beehive blender comes equipped with an innovative whirlwind blade technology that takes its performance a notch higher. The technology makes it a powerful unit capable of eliminating blender jams, thereby, allowing you to blend more quickly and efficiently. In other words, the blender gives you opportunity to deliver comprehensive results with less fuss. You won't need to use a tamper neither will you stop and start the blender in the name of pushing down ingredients. The Oster 1000 Whirlwind Blender is arguably the best in its class and it comes with 3-year customer satisfaction guarantee.
Blend a smoothie to take on the go or a batch of milkshakes with this powerful and reliable blender from Hamilton Beach. Boasting a 700-watt peak-power motor, the 58161 model is efficient and will get the job done in no time. Moreover, it comes with two jars (40-ounce jar and 20-ounce jar), which you can both use for blending. It also has 12 blending functions, and this gives you the chance to find the right setting for a smooth drink. The 3-year limited warranty protects against manufacturer defects and gives you peace of mind in owning the product.
In 1936, the first blender was introduced by none other than Fred Waring, bandleader and inventor. Since then, blenders have grown in popularity and performance. For example, the Waring WBP05 Model is a hardworking blender that features a sturdy metal base and durable glass pitcher for unrivaled performance. It can quickly and effectively puree a vichyssoise or pulverize ice within minutes; thanks to the 350-watt motor. Ideally, the glass jar and lid are dishwasher-safe for effortless cleaning. This blender is backed by 1-year warranty while its motor boasts a generous 5-year warranty.
The Chrome Classic Hamilton Beach 730C Drink Mixer will help you recreate the forgotten days when thick, milkshakes was the talk of the town. It features two speeds and a tiltable mixing head that allow you to make chocolate malts, soda fountain drinks, and vanilla shakes. It also features a 28-ounce stainless steel mixing cup that gives you plenty of space to come up with a sumptuous treat that will leave everyone delighted. When you are done blending, simply remove the detachable spindle for effortless cleanup.
With powerful 900-watt motor, commercial-grade motor, this brushed chrome blender is versatile and can be used to create margaritas and pina coladas, soups and sauces, as well as milkshakes and smoothies. It can also be used to crush ice using either of its 2 speeds. Ideally, it has a 40-ounce glass container, which fits perfectly onto a rugged brushed chrome base, making it look great on any kitchen counter. You can remove the stainless steel blade for easy cleaning. The blender's container is calibrated in both liters and ounces to eliminate guesswork.
Before you settle on a product, it's always important to carry out in-depth research. This will help you land the best product with everything you've been looking for. Well, these reviews give you the opportunity to compare and contrast best blenders. The fact that blenders listed here are versatile with powerful motors means you are bound to get the best product that will not disappoint. So, visit Amazon today and land the best blender ever!


Jana brings robust leadership experience in local and global communities to her role of Executive Director of Redwood City 2020. Before joining the Redwood City 2020 team, Jana held the role of Executive Director of Global Learning, an international not-for-profit organization that she founded in 1997. Under her direction, Global Learning spearheaded projects that connected hundreds of young leaders from more than twenty-four countries and provided rigorous and relevant educational programs for more than 20,000 children in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico, and the United States.
Jana's broad range of professional experience also includes serving as a Community School Coordinator in the Redwood City School District; working as a consultant for foundations and nonprofits aiming to bridge research and practice in youth and community development; teaching preschool through university students in and out of classroom walls; and researching educational innovation and global citizenship in East Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
Jana has a bachelor's degree in Peace and Justice Studies from Wellesley College, a master's degree in International Relations from the University of Limerick, Ireland, and a master's degree in International Education Policy from Harvard University. Having grown up in Puerto Rico and California, Jana has a deep appreciation for the ocean, loves to dance, and is happiest outside in the company of loved ones. She is inspired by the strength of Redwood City's community of talented young people, dedicated families, and steadfast professional partners.


John Hare was a member of the 12th Regiment (no 3092). He may have been present at the Eureka Stockade on 03 December 1854.
hare was held in the Guard Room from a misdemeanour from 22 December 1854 to 05 March 1855.
This page was last edited on 21 June 2013, at 07:50.


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Olympic Hydrogen Hype
Today's Japan Times reports that the Organizing Committee of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is considering the use of hydrogen torches to light the Olympic flame ("Olympic panel mulls high-tech hydrogen torch, pares soccer venues" — JT, 2017-02-27):
"An important theme of the Olympics is how to promote environmental sustainability. We will talk to experts and see how realistic it is in terms of technological development," a committee member said.
One official said there are still safety and cost concerns, and asserted that there also was a need for a lightweight torch that can be easily carried.
In March 2016, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced a project to have the 6,000-unit athletes' village for the games run entirely on hydrogen power.
The Japanese government is one of the most active promoters worldwide of a so called "hydrogen economy". It sees the 2020 Olympics as an opportunity to showcase Japan's lead on hydrogen. Other projects are the construction of a nationwide network of hydrogen filling stations for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCV) such as the Toyota Mirai, research into shipping liquefied hydrogen from overseas using special tankers and production of hydrogen from lignite (brown coal) in Australia for export to Japan.
Let's start with the most obvious problem in the article, the hydrogen fueled torch: The usual Olympic torches use LPG (propane/butane) as a fuel, a gas mixture that can be stored as a liquid under moderate pressure at normal outdoor temperatures. This makes it easy to carry a significant amount of fuel in a light weight container. Hydrogen by contrast does not liquefy unless chilled to about -252 C. Hydrogen powered vehicles run on compressed hydrogen instead, at pressures of up to 700 bar, equivalent to half the weight of a car on each cm2 of tank surface. As you can imagine that kind of pressure calls for some fairly sturdy containers. An even bigger problem is that pure hydrogen flames are invisible because they radiate energy not as light but as UV. You could feel the heat, but you couldn't directly see if the flame is burning or not, which makes it quite hazardous. Talk about playing with fire…
The comment about running the Olympic village on "hydrogen power" is quite misleading. It's like saying they would run the Olympic village on battery power, without explaining where the energy to charge those batteries came from. Like batteries, hydrogen is not a primary energy source, it's an energy carrier. Since elementary hydrogen does not exist in significant quantities on earth, it has to be produced using another energy source such as natural gas or electricity generated using coal, nuclear, wind or solar.
Though it's possible to produce hydrogen from carbon-free energy sources such as solar electricity (splitting water through electrolysis) and then produce electricity from hydrogen again, this process is far less efficient than either consuming renewable electricity directly or via batteries. When you convert electric energy to chemical energy in hydrogen and back to electricity, about 3/4 of the energy is lost in the process. This is incredibly wasteful and far from green.
With its sponsorship of hydrogen, the Japanese government is trying to create business opportunities for industrial companies such as Kawasaki Heavy Industries, a Japanese shipbuilder (see "Kawasaki Heavy fighting for place in 'hydrogen economy'" — Nikkei Asian Review, 2015-09-03) and for its oil and gas importers, as almost all hydrogen is currently made from imported liquefied natural gas (LNG). In the longer term, the government still has a vision of nuclear power (fission or fusion) producing the electricity needed to make hydrogen without carbon emissions. Thus the 'hydrogen economy' is meant to keep oil companies and electricity monopolies like TEPCO in business. The "hydrogen economy" is coal, oil and nuclear hidden under a coat of green paint.
These plans completely disregard the rapid progress being made in battery technologies which have already enabled electric cars with ranges of hundreds of km at lower costs than HFCVs and without the need for expensive new infrastructure.
Hydrogen, especially when it's produced with carbon-intensive coal or dangerous nuclear, is not the future. Japan would be much better served by investing into a mix of wind, solar, geothermal and wave power, combined with battery storage and other technologies for matching up variable supply and demand.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars Are Not The Future (2016-12-05)
Posted in electricity, energy, environment, hydrogen, Japan, nuclear power | 1 Reply


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PAUL MCCARTNEY 'CHAOS AND CREATION IN...
PAUL MCCARTNEY 'CHAOS AND CREATION IN THE BACKYARD' LIMITED EDITION GOLD LP
Paul McCartney -"Chaos and Creation In The Backyard" Released in 2005, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, was instantly hailed as continuing a hot streak that included Flaming Pie, Run Devil Run and Driving Rain. Produced by Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck) and featuring the singles "Fine Line" and the Grammy-winning "Jenny Wren," the album debuted at #6 on the Billboard chart. It remained on the charts for nearly half a year, while Paul mounted the massive 'US' Tour. The album also earned three Grammy nominations including Album of the Year.
1 Fine Line 3:05
2 How Kind of You 4:47
3 Jenny Wren 3:46
4 At the Mercy 2:37
5 Friends to Go 2:43
6 English Tea 2:12
7 Too Much Rain 3:23
8 A Certain Softness 2:41
9 Riding to Vanity Fair 5:07
10 Follow Me 2:30
11 Promise to You Girl 3:10
12 This Never Happened Before 3:24
13 Anyway 7:22


It was so successful, we are doing it again!
Carolina Therapy Connection is partnering with Fresh Vibes (formally known as Juice Vibes) to offer a 4-week Wellness Series starting on Wednesday, October 3rd. These hands-on workshops will provide kids 3-10 years old a chance to create healthy snacks, learn the health benefits of incorporating fruits and veggies into their lives, and engage in mindfulness yoga. Our certified Occupational Therapists along with the wellness professionals at Fresh Vibes will help your child learn breathing techniques to increase confidence, body awareness, and emotional balance.
These workshops are FREE for any child actively receiving therapy services from Carolina Therapy Connection. This event is open to the public for $10 per session. Our first series was so successful and we had so much fun! Spaces are limited so sign up soon!


City officials scrounged up enough money Monday to ensure an ambulance for the northeast side can continue operating. The Green Bay City Council voted 8-4 to approve the 2019 budget in a tense, over four-hour meeting Monday night. The spending plan includes funding to staff an ambulance for the fire department's Station 7, at 3489 Humboldt Road, after a tight budget threatened to eliminate it altogether. The ambulance emerged as a priority for council members as Fire Chief David Litton warned response times for Station 7 would rise to an "unacceptable" level without it. All city departments face less funding than they hoped for in 2019 after the city spent years resisting a hike in property taxes.


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Myanmar food fights back
Amid the recent surge in popularity of foreign cuisine, restaurateurs look to raise the profile of traditional Myanmar food
Korean food. Thai food. European food. Yangonites are increasingly spoiled for choice when choosing where to go for a meal. While broadening one's culinary horizons can only be a good thing, traditional Myanmar restaurant owners are wondering whether this new found love for all foods foreign means that traditional cuisine will be left by the wayside.
In light of this, local restaurant owners are banding together in a celebration of local food and to give some much needed exposure to the overlooked favorites of times gone by.
Organisers of the Monsoon Myanmar Traditional Food Festival are seen at a press event at Pandonmar Restaurant. Nyo Me/The Myanmar Times
The first ever Monsoon Myanmar Traditional Food Festival, to be held in Yangon over the weekend at Padonmar Restaurant in Dagon township, will bring together 12 traditional Myanmar food stalls and an expected 150 hungry guests.
The festival has been organized by Myanmar Ethnic Restaurateurs Group (MERG), a body of 20 Myanmar restaurants, in partnership with local lifestyle publication Myanmore and online food portal Sarmal.
"Currently, Yangon has so many foreign food restaurants and people are losing interest in Myanmar ethnic restaurants. So, we are trying to promote them through the festival", said Sonny Aung Khin, the founder of MERG and owner of Padonmar Restaurant with over 20 years experience in the food industry.
A banquet table being prepared at Pandonmar Restaurant. Nyo Me/The Myanmar Times
Formed a year ago, the aim of MERG is to give more local and international exposure to ethnic restaurants, he said.
Twelve food stalls selling tradition Shan, Kachin, Rakhine, Mandalay and Myeik cuisine will participate in the festival.
"The influence of foreign food here, especially Korean and Thai, means lots of youth don't know much about traditional food and snacks, said Shwe Yee Phyo, the owner of a traditional Myanmar snack shop 'Tint Tint' whose products will be on sale at the festival.
Shwe Yee Phyo said she opened Tint Tint in 2013 because she could see younger people were becoming increasingly disinterested in local snacks being sold from street side stalls because, she says, they appear unhygienic.
Tint Tint sells over 30 traditional Myanmar snacks from its six stores throughout Yangon and Taunggyi and there are plans to export local favourites such as Shwe Kyi, a dense cake made with wheat flour, butter, sugar, salt, coconut, peanuts and poppy seeds, to foreign markets.
"To be honest, Myanmar traditional festivals should be organized by the government", said Myint Aung, business consultant of tea company Shan Shwe Taung which is also participating in the festival. "There needs to be more and more of these types of festivals. It is not a business oriented festival it's about exploring vanishing traditions."


You will feel like a princess in Camila Q Q18010. Cold shoulder offers this ethereal creation. The fitted bodice is sprinkled with twinkling display of luxurious beads that add glamour to this outfit. The lace-up back provides an adjustable fit. A floor-length, ball skirt unfolds from the fitted waistline and drops to the floor in a dramatic flare.


Here's my painting of a cat called Mr. Dobak. Including the only reference I had for this one.
Did this painting of a cat I found on instagram.
Putting it all together in this piece. We were given the ink outline of the house and had to paint it all in.
Studying effects of light hitting water/liquids. We were given a file with the land and had to paint in the water.
Posting up some of my lessons with Sam Nielson.
This one was about the effects of light on and through skin.
This one was about the effects of light traveling through objects.
This one was learning about reflections, in particular: specular reflections.


Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a set of symptoms due to elevated androgen hormones (male hormones) in females. Signs and symptoms of PCOS include irregular or no menstrual periods, heavy periods, excess body and facial hair, acne, pelvic pain, difficulty getting pregnant, and patches of thick, darker, velvety skin.
PCOS is due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Risk factors include obesity, a lack of physical exercise, and a family history of someone with the condition.
PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder among women between the ages of 18 and 44. It affects approximately 2% to 20% of this age group.
PCOS has no cure Treatment may involve lifestyle changes such as weight loss and exercise. Other treatments include birth control pills to regularize periods, a medication called metformin to prevent diabetes, statins to control high cholesterol, hormones to increase fertility, and procedures to remove excess hair (laser hair removal or electrolysis).


JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian President B.J. Habibie said Thursday he wanted the issue of East Timor resolved by the start of next year.
His comments come a day after he allowed East Timorese rebel leader Xanana Gusmao to move from prison to house arrest. Most expect Gusmao to lead the impoverished territory if it does eventually become independent.
Habibie last month abruptly reversed his country's long held stand on East Timor, offering its 800,000 people independence.
And Wednesday he bowed to mounting international pressure and moved Gusmao, who was captured in 1992, to house arrest.
Some analysts say Gusmao and the territory's religious leader Bishop Carlos Belo are the only East Timorese who have the credibility to lead the territory into independence.
They say most East Timorese would like to break from 23 years of Indonesian rule, which has been marked by a level of brutality that has earned Jakarta international notoriety.
That, they say, is a reputation Habibie feels Indonesia must shake off as he is forced to repeatedly go cap in hand to the international community to help the country deal with its worst political and economic turmoil in three decades.
Indonesia's annexation of the former Portuguese colony, which its troops invaded in 1975, has never been accepted by the United Nations.
Indonesia has said it would prefer East Timor to choose autonomy and many analysts question whether the fractious territory would be able to make it alone, even if led by Gusmao, given its politically divided population and impoverished economy.
Diplomats said the international community, and possibly United Nations peacekeeping forces, would have to get involved if the move to independence was abrupt.
Habibie said East Timor would still participate in June parliamentary elections.
``For the coming election, because they are still our province, they can join the election. That is democratic. But if our autonomy proposal is rejected, we will propose to the MPR to let them be independent,'' he said.
The MPR, or People's Consultative Assembly, is the country's highest legislative assembly.
Indonesia steadfastly refuses to allow a referendum, arguing it would spark a civil war, while Portugal says it would be the only way to decide.
JAKARTA, Feb 11 (AFP) - Indonesian President B.J Habibie said Thursday he wanted to see a resolution to the problem of East Timor by January 1, 2000 with independence being the preferred solution.
If it were up to the government, Jakarta would grant the former Portuguese colony independence because it did not want to be burdened with it into the year 2000, he added.
"If the government should be asked for a suggestion on East Timor, my suggestion is just give East Timor independence," Habibie said in a meeting with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Merdeka Palace.
"We do not want to be burdened by the problem of East Timor as of January 1, 2000," Habibie said.
In 2000, Indonesia would be concentrating on the development of its 26 other provinces, which had been together for 350 years under the Dutch rule, he said.
Indonesia annexed East Timor in 1976 a year after it invaded the territory which was a Portuguese colony for almost four centuries.
The United Nations has never recognised the move and still views Portugal as the official administrator of the territory.
Indonesia last month announced it may grant East Timor independence if the majority of East Timorese rejected a broad autonomy scheme, currently being finalized in talks with Portugal under UN auspices.


Not all lucky gifts are the same. But one thing is certain: Our good luck gifts are designed to be just that: Gifts to pass on good luck - items for the home or office that are genuinely believed to be lucky - possessing provenance and real, genuine character that really DOES mean something, and usually featuring symbols that people have put their faith in for years.
Indeed, all our gifts are symbolic in one way or another.
Gifts with real meaning . . that'll be us!


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FOG! Chats With Author SAMIT BASU, Writer of TURBULENCE and RESISTANCE
July 18, 2014 by Stefan Blitz
Interview conducted by Stefan Blitz
Samit Basu is a natural storyteller.
From breaking in as a published writer with the first Indian English fantasy series, the Gameworld Trilogy, over a decade ago, Basu has explored a number of different genres including Young Adult, comics and has crafted one of the best superhero novels, the extremely entertaining Turbulence.
Basu's latest book, Resistance, the sequel to Turbulence is in stores now, and Samit took some time from his busy schedule to chat with us about his new book, the Indian comic book industry and his ideal super power.
Your new book, Resistance is a sequel to your book Turbulence. What was the genesis of the series and what was the appeal in writing about superheroes in the medium of a narrative story rather than as a comic?
The series came from wanting to examine what would happen, in the real world, if people got what they really wanted instead of just moping over other peoples' perfect Facebook lives, and if our actions had genuine global consequences instead of just local soon-fizzles-out ones.
The superhero link came from that.
It was always going to be a book. The superhero genre is one that is most at home in visual media, but the idea of the superhero – one extraordinary person with the capacity to make things better, or at least fundamentally change them in a way that people who obey the laws of physics and reality can't – often gets overlooked in the process.
And while that can be done very effectively in other
media, comics, TV, the Internet and films – look at Joss Whedon's work in all these fields – I still believe a book is the best place to explore an idea.
The whole idea behind Turbulence was to write a novel of here and now, to say as much about the world right then as it could.
Hence the focus on present day desires and anxieties, present day obsessions and aspirations, as seen in both the world and the powers the heroes acquired. I wanted to write a fantasy story set in places I'd actually been to after years of making up worlds. And since I was looking at events on a global scale, and writing about people who could actually change the world, it made sense to make them superheroes.
Especially because nothing embodies the zeitgeist these days better than the evolved superhero.
They're everywhere, in one form or another.
Resistance was a different challenge. It was virtual reality, not augmented Reality like Turbulence.
This time, it wasn't about setting the story in places I knew.
It was about creating new places, based on the events of Turbulence.
What would the world look like if supers had ruled it for eleven years?
What would change?
What would stay the same?
It was also time to explore locations that you'd expect these stories to be set in, mainly New York and Tokyo.
Is the superhero genre prevalent in India? What is the comic book industry like there?
Not really. no. We have some hilariously bad superhero movies.
A hilariously bad superhero movie
There is a comic industry that's quite diverse, a mixture of older companies that do Indian history/folklore stories, independent graphic novelists and younger, more global new companies that are struggling to keep up with newer comics trends.
The superhero genre, with the American tropes, isn't really a thing, though of course there are larger-than-life heroes all over the place. I've been writing comics for several years too, and it's been interesting and mostly fun.
In addition to this series, you've written a fantasy series and a young adult novel. Do you have a favorite genre?
Basu's latest graphic novel, Local Monsters
And I'm doing a children's series, school stories. And that's the books. The comics are pretty diverse too, ranging from zombie comedy to historical fantasy/romance.
And then there are the film/TV screenplays, which are across a multitude of other genres, but none of those have been produced yet so lets not get into those. I don't have a favourite genre; in fact, I'd like to try them all.
Books are my favourite medium, though. Other media are fascinating and you learn a lot by hopping across media from time to time, but you can get a book done by yourself and don't have to wait for your collaborators to catch up or figure their lives and careers out.
I have an ever-growing list of incomplete TV, film, videogame and comics projects. Part of it is a result of being where I'm from, where all of these industries have massive systemic flaws, but not all of it.
If you could have any super power, what would you choose and why?
Tia's power from the books – I'd like to be able to split up into multiple bodies and never have to make a choice again. Live multiple lives, be everywhere, experience everything, learn, see, smell, touch everything.
Who or what are the biggest influences on your work?
That's a long, long list. Let's try – Pratchett, Ellis, Goscinny, Gaiman, Moore, Ennis, Morrison, Vaughan, Gemmell, Zelazny,Aaronovitch, Mieville, Simone, Watterson, Willingham, Murakami, Wodehouse, Adams, Rothfuss, Carey
Any upcoming projects you can tell us about?
Currently doing a children's school series set in India, planning a massive fantasy series, and working on a bunch of Bollywood projects in film and TV which will hopefully see the light of day at some point.
What are you currently geeking out over?
Comics: Saga. Film: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and can't wait for Guardians of the Galaxy. TV: Louie, Silicon Valley, Game of Thrones of course. Books: Lynch, Rothfuss, Aaronovitch, Abercrombie, Ahmed, Cline, Grossman, Carey. Haven't had time to play games for a while now.
Resistance and Turbulence are available now from Titan Books
For more details visit samitbasu.com and @samitbasu
FOG! Chats With ECHOES Writer/Director NILS TIMM
Interview conducted by Stefan Blitz An official selection of the New York City International Film…
FOG! Chats With 'The Hero' Director/Co-Writer Brett Haley
Brett Haley's newest feature The Hero tells the story of a Western movie icon who,…
FOG! Chats With 'Milton's Secret' Writer/Director Barnet Bain
Filmmaker and author Barnet Bain built his career telling spiritually themed stories. His film credits…
Filed Under: General, Interviews Tagged: Books/Literature, Interview, Super-Heroes/Villains
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Speaker by Various Artists
8:14 Jan 9, 2020 1
Planet History: Taking Tea with Quentin
by Rupert E. Taylor
This interview with Quentin Crisp is part of a series of articles republished from Planet, the independent magazine I edited in the early 90s from a base at 309 Karangahape Road, along with Grant Fell, Rachael Churchward, Fiona Rae, David Teehan, Paul Shannon, Mere Ngaigulevu and others.
Inevitably, you forget things, and over the years I've looked at the cover of Issue 12 (Summer 93) and thought "what did we do about Quentin Crisp?". Turns out it was this gem by Rupert E. Taylor.
Thanks to Leo Rae Brown for offering to re-type this and future articles to get them out of the memory hole. RB
"Shit!" I yell. "When do the banks close here?" "Oh, about four I think." I'm staying in New York briefly, with friends Shelly and Joost who have just moved into a new apartment, on my way to London. Anyway, it's 3.15, so I rush out down the hall, stairs, stoops and away, my first venture out alone in New York
'I won't get lost,' I'm thinking, 'cause the banks are on 2nd Street, so I'll just stay on 2nd.' I'm walking hurriedly up 2nd street searching for the bank. Have I missed it? Have I walked past it and not noticed? God, so much to look at, I love it here. Oh look there's Quentin crisp having lunch … Quentin Crisp!!?? He caught my eye, I wave, he nods a similar nod to that of the Queen of (shit!) England. 'My, my,' I'm thinking, 'I should talk to him. No Rupert, he's eating, you can't interrupt him. (Shit! I've missed the bank – closed 3.30). Go on, go and talk to Quentin, Rupert, you're not in New York every day'.
So I do.
I walk through the door of the cafe and straight up to him. "Mr Crisp?" I ask rather nervously, but confidently loud. "Yes," he replies, looking me from head to toe. "Uuummmmm ..." I stand not quite knowing what to say next. "For goodness sake move my shopping and sit down," he says. "Okay. Thanks." I sit down and look at this man. From my chair it's almost as if he is somehow dragging me closer. I move the chair further into the table so I can get closer and look harder. He has applied his blusher, a sort of rose pink, not too bright, below the outer corner of his eyes in small filled-in circles, rather clownish and not subtle. He is lightly powdered and his eyeliner has been applied with a very shaky hand; there's a hint of eye shadow, powder blue. His hair is plainer than I would have imagined. Mauve in the grey from his hairline, fading into silver-grey, both sides swept up to join in the middle, like two waves meeting in a windy sea, captured in a photograph or still life painting.
"Will you join me?" he asks, his dancing hands rolling together towards his sandwich.
"Okay," I reply, still bemused by the whole scene. He calls a waiter, who toddles off with the sandwich and returns with it cut in two with an extra plate for the unexpected guest.
"I'll have a black coffee too, thanks.
"Thank you," I say to Mr Crisp. "My name is Rupert."
"And mine is Quentin." He looks at my eyes, and I his. He has old eyes, soft and grey-blue. I liked them and lapped it up every time he looked at me which, as he only did occasionally, was an extra treat.
"I thought you were amazing in Orlando," I say. "You were great, I especially loved the opening scene with Jimmy Sommerville singing on the bow of the boat."
Quentin laughs: "Thank you, thank you. Yes, Mr Sommerville, (he starts singing in falsetto) singing very high in falsetto." He is leaning back in his chair, his head tilted back, singing and performing. Heads are turning in the cafe and I'm loving it. "Yes, that damned scene went on all night," he says. "Up and down, up and down we went, 'cut' they'd yell, and I'd think 'no, not again', and we'd have to start the scene from the beginning. Up and down, up and down. The poor men rowing. Of course they weren't proper actors y'know, actors wouldn't be seen dead rowing like that. They were extras with big chests. Poor fellows. Then before I knew it, someone yelled 'dawn has approached us', and sure enough dawn had approached us – we'd been going all night and it didn't stop there."
Did you prepare for your role as Queen Elizabeth? Did you study for the part?"
"Oh no. Not at all. They picked me up from the airport and drove me straight to the set and that was that. Y'know some people do that. Some actors, they go and become a nun or something, but I'm not really like that, in fact I wouldn't call myself an actor."
"Oh, I would Mr Crisp. I think if you can put on a costume and slip into the part of the character as immediately as you did, I would definitely call you an actor. I thought you played the part beautifully."
"Thank you, Rupert." Talking to him and watching his hand and expressive face, his dramatic voice – oh yes, he's an actor alright.
"What about The Naked Civil Servant?" I ask. "Was that a very close portrayal of your younger life? Did you like the way John Hurt played you?"
"Oh yes, indeed. Mr Hurt was wonderful and you know, by the time he had his makeup on and was dressed, I was very surprised, because yes, he really looked as I did when I was younger. I remember one day he said to me, 'I'm dreading this Mr Crisp, how the hell am I coing to play you?!' But then after he had been made up he approached me and said, 'I know I can play you now Mr Crisp, do you know why? Because I feel veerry pretty!' (he laughs). Y'know they were just so thorough about everything – everything had to be just right. They made me draw pictures of my close friends at the time and they would colour them and ask me if it was right or not. Yes they were very thorough."
"Were you paid lots of cash for the movie rights Mr Crisp?"
"Well, no, I was paid £350 and they paid me to be a technical adviser – no, not lots of money."
"I found The Naked Civil Servant very sad and quite disturbing. Did people really do those things to you? Were they really that harsh?"
"Oh yes! They were, very nasty people. Of course, getting beaten up during the Second World War was a horrid thing, but yes, people used to grab my hats and throw them on the road and jump on them. I didn't know what was wrong with them, as far as I was concerned I was doing nothing wrong, but the English most definitely did not like it, they are so bloody conservative, people would come right up to my face (he starts talking to his hand which he's holding up to his face) and say, 'who the bloody hell do you think you are anyway Quentin Crisp?' And I would say, 'I'm nobody, nobody at all, what is wrong with you?' Oh no, the English are very conservative, unlike here of course."
"How long have you lived here in New York?"
"I've lived here as a legal alien now for 12 years non-stop. I paid thousands of pounds and begged for years to be able to stay here. People here talk to you, people on the street say, 'Hello Mr Crisp', people here are very friendly and want to talk to you and find out about you."
"Do you live alone?"
"Yes, I do, as I have all my life, in a one-bedroom flat. That's how I've always lived. I share a toilet and bathroom with five others. I'm living in probably the only, or one of the only, boarding houses left in New York, on 4th/East Avenue. Y'know, these days people call anything an apartment – a tiny box, they'll put a gas cooker in one corner and a shower box in the other and call it an apartment.
"Will you look at that rain, look at the puddles, that's about six inches of water there. Y'know, the drain system here is dreadful, I mean I know New York is built on a large rock, but wouldn't you think they'd have better drainage?"
"What do you do in your spare time? When you're not performing or giving interviews?" He laughs. "People are always asking, 'Mr Crisp, What do you do when you're not on telly or in the movies?' I say, 'My dear, I'm only on telly or in the movies for four minutes here, five minutes there, what do you think I do? I do what you do – I fry an egg, clean the lavatory or write a letter.' People are so funny."
"Do you go for walks?"
"Oh no, I hate walking." He looks blankly out the window, silent for a few seconds. "Y'know, I don't think I've ever been for a walk. Oh, I go to the shops or I'll walk to get somewhere, but no, I've never been one to 'go for a walk'. I have a friend who lives in the country and he's always asking why I don't go and stay and I say because I hate all that grassy stuff and leaves. It's just not me, I love the city. Y'know, just the other day I was walking to catch a bus and I walked past this big black man who was looking at me in a rather surprised way. He said to me (laughing), 'We've sure got it all on today, honey.' Well, I laughed and said, 'Yes, we have haven't we?' It was very funny, I like people here."
"I went to Wigstock on monday," I say. "It was amazing, 20,000 people dressed up. Drag queens, transvestites, wigs galore, great acts and entertainment for eight hours. Ru Paul performed. Did you go? Do you go out to clubs here?"
"Oh no, no. What I can't understand is this; how can a man have a frock on, stockings and a full face of makeup and a wig, all the business and still have a beard on his face? (laughs). I just can't understand it. Of course, drag is very fashionable now and there are some good ones, but no, I don't go out.
"We'll, I'd better be off and go home now. It's been lovely chatting with you, Rupert."
"You too, Mr Crisp, I'm so pleased I've met you and thank you for talking with me."
"It was a pleasure. Goodbye."
I walk up to the counter with Mr Crisp and observe him as he pays his bill. He says goodbye again, this time turning around to have a final look from toes to head. I smile, he leaves.
I ask to pay for my coffees, of which I have lost count. "No, no," says the waiter. "Mr Crisp paid."
I later found out that Mr Quentin Crisp was very poor and did not own a lot of money – on the bones of his arse was how it went. Thank you Mr Crisp. I owe you one.
Originally published as Fairytales of New York: Taking tea with Quentin, in Planet 12 (Summer 93), by Rupert E. Taylor.
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12:59 Oct 18, 2019 15
Extinction Rebellion is not a cult (but ecstasy for the people)
by Anke Richter
Yoga gurus and cult leaders – I've seen a few. Two weeks ago, I unknowingly joined an alleged new-age cult at the Kāpiti coast, together with a giant kraken and some neatly dressed pensioners who would make any book club proud.
They were among the two hundred people of all ages preparing for a week of worldwide protests by Extinction Rebellion (XR). It kicked off in Wellington with rebels temporarily shutting down the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and gluing themselves to the Lambton Quay ANZ branch with "climate crime scene" tape.
The next day, a Māori XR commando squirted tomato sauce on James Cook's plaque and decorated the statue of Richard Seddon outside Parliament with a ball and chain. Melbourne rebels sang and danced in the streets to 'Staying Alive', turning civil disobedience into "disco-bedience". Meanwhile in London, a man had broken down in one of the many protests, overcome by emotion – shaking, crying and clutching a photo of his two little children. Mothers holding babies filled the streets.
After more than a thousand arrests in the UK alone, the BBC stopped reporting to not cause more disruption. Someone got on top of a plane at Heathrow. Over in Berlin, a controversial politician warned young school strikers to stay away from XR's piraty pranks. Her safety concerns were not because of physical danger. Jutta Ditfurth, co-founder of the Green Party, now on the far left and an abrasive voice even by German standards, called the apolitical action network an "esoteric doomsday cult". She tweeted that the movement is "anti-intellectual" and acting hyper-emotional instead of rational.
The global Greta hating and XR bashing has come from neoliberal and conservative camps as well as the radical left, the latter accusing XR of being too white (make that racist), tame or elitist. But in Germany, only the far-right AfD party branded Extinction Rebellion a "climate cult" – and also declared its full support of a fossil fuel counter movement to the school strikes. "Fridays for Hubraum" was started by car fanatics and instantly gained half a million followers.
Since XR is now being attacked by both extreme ends of the political spectrum, it must be doing something right which transcends all agendas and appeals to a simple human denominator: survival. If the concerned German politician would have come along to the Paekakariki Holiday Park, she might have found that the training weekend that took place there was one of political activism, even if two kitchen helpers went to meditate during a break and a yoga session was held.
The overall vibe was friendly, fun and undogmatic. Someone brought a ukulele along. No-one gave me a hard time for arriving by car. Although the food was mostly vegan, there was some milk and cheese at mealtimes – organic, not by Fonterra. My mission for the rebels was to go shopping: finding police hats, pink ribbon and magenta dye for a performance piece with mock arrests.
Their ethos, pinned to the wall on brown paper, was more in line with the principles of Burning Man and Non-Violent Communication (NVC). It mentions self-responsibility and "radical inclusivity". No shaming and blaming of individuals – they want systemic change from the top. Hate symbols like swastikas on a US flag aren't tolerated, nor is swearing at police officers. Instead, local organisers and their artistic helpers like Nelson photographer Jose Cano create a wave of love with visual imagery that they hope will catch on.
The first morning started with a powhiri. Rebel Haimana Hirini stood barefoot on the wet grass, holding a talking stick towards the sky and thanking his siblings: the trees, the mountains, the water. New Zealand's XR branch has translated the three demands of Extinction Rebellion – tell the truth, act now, lead by Citizen's Assemblies – into te reo Māori and wants to add a new one: decolonization and recognition of indigenous rights.
What Jutta Ditfurth and the European radical left dismiss as "new age" is in fact the spiritual foundation of many indigenous cultures which are directly affected by the destruction of our dying planet. If those critics are comfortable with Māori, Aborigines, Mongolian shamans or Native Americans referring to higher powers and the interconnectedness of all species, but ridicule the same sentiments if Swedish or white American teenagers express their fears, then it only goes to show their arrogance and inert racism towards non-western cultures by not taking them seriously.
If the politician calling XR a cult had ended up in the tent for the "Truth Mandala", she might have fired off more furious tweets. "The Spiral" was written out on a blackboard with a pretty floral drawing, explaining the emotional stages to move through before we kick into action: Gratitude that "brings us back to source", then "honouring our pain", finally "seeing with new eyes" and "going forth".
It sounds esoteric but is psychological, if not therapeutic. If XR works like a religion, then not as opium for the people, but ecstasy. MDMA can open hearts, heal trauma and bring out empathy.
"Regen" is short for "regenerative culture", from massages to cacao ceremonies: the XR wellbeing sector to prevent burn-out and create more connection. I missed the few body-mind offerings for the NVDA (non-violent direct action) training where I practiced breathing deeply and staying calm while being yelled at, for instance by people who cannot get to work. One group was painting hourglass symbols on flags, with endangered birds as an endemic note. In the evening, we sang chants: "The children have spoken – the earth won't be broken".
Sea Rotmann is a sustainable energy advisor and originally from Austria. She put on a kraken costume to introduce us newbies to the "rebels without borders" – not for fun, but because her "spirit animal" is a harbinger of ecological disaster. The Wellington marine biologist has been obsessed with the ocean since she was a child, then studied the dying Great Barrier reef for her PhD. She saw first-hand what is happening to the ice shelf on an expedition to Antarctica in 2016.
Rotmann gave an introductory talk about the non-violent principles of XR, their mass-mobilising philosophy ("hope dies, action begins") and the state of the world to come: "Shit is just starting to kick off". The climate is not warming, but heating. We got all the facts and numbers. "A dying ocean is a nightmare we cannot fathom", especially in this coastal country and with climate refugees from the pacific islands. No Elon Musk is going to come and whisk us away. "The clock has gone past 12." She wiped away tears. So did I.
I thought of Paraparaumu beach where I had walked that morning in the early sunshine, watching birds, water lapping on the sand and shells. And of my sons – one now a vegetarian, the other one sure that he will never have children. "Dr Sea", as everyone called her, closed her laptop. "Thank you for sharing your grief. I love you."
I also saw wet eyes in Wellington when the mourning brigade in red robes and white faces appeared there. One of the performers, decorated as Mother Earth, nursed her baby while she stood on the steps of Parliament, looking straight out of Wearable Arts. It was powerful, heart-breaking – and stylish. The XR newsletter uses similar images and emotive language: "compassion; awareness; courage", "We're a movement unlike any other", "you're not alone in this".
Apocalyptic scenarios, group intensity and woke jargon – this is also cult material which was discussed in July at the annual International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) conference. Cult researcher Yuval Laor from Colorado has researched the nature of fervour for his PhD and upcoming book, "The Religious Ape". What I took away from his lecture was that being in a cult – or a "high-demand group", as is the preferred term among experts – works similar to falling in love: an awe-induced state of limerence that opens us to exploitation, coercion or manipulation.
How does Laor see XR in the cultish context? Are the XR rebels inducing fervour by sharing grief, riding the trauma wave together and pulling in celebrities like Michael Stipe and Keira Knightley? Yes, he says, but fervour is neither good or bad in itself. "Cults, by definition, are bad, but there are positive groups that resemble cults." He mentions the French underground resistance in WWII as an example. "Inducing awe is a good way to influence people. When the situation is dire, it would be negligent not to use awe to inspire people to change."
Bestselling writer Jonathan Safran Foer says in his new book We Are the Weather that we know about the climate catastrophe, but we don't believe what's coming – similar to his Jewish family in Poland. Everyone in the village knew in 1941 what the Nazis were up to, but only his grandmother felt terror, packed her things and fled. The others thought that things would turn out okay somehow. They were all killed.
Extinction Rebellion is based on hard science but works with emotions. That's not cultish but smart.
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10:11 Oct 15, 2019 4
Disability and the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse
by Hilary Stace
The Royal Commission on abuse in care is very significant for the disability community. For many decades last century, thousands of disabled children, and adults who managed to survive, were locked away from families and communities. This was not for anything they had done, but for the perceived threat their impairments posed to some powerful people who believed that disability was caused by 'tainted heredity'.
These widely held but false scientific beliefs held that impairments, particularly learning/intellectual disability and mental illness, but also other conditions such as epilepsy, were signs of genetic inferiority. These supposedly hereditary physical and intellectual defects caused consequent moral 'degeneracy' making disabled people less 'fit', threatening the 'fitness' of the rest of society.
Powerful politicians, doctors, public servants and others decided that disabled people must therefore be segregated from mainstream society to prevent their reproduction. Laws such as the 1911 Mental Defectives Act started the requirement to report and classify disabled people. Later, psychopaedic institutions such as Templeton or Kimberley were developed.
The IHC was founded in 1949 by parents who did not want their children sent away to institutions and instead wanted education and other facilities in their local communities. However, the children and their families faced much stigma and discrimination.
Despite the advocacy of these brave parents a government committee in the early 1950s recommended that the current institutions ('mental deficiency colonies') be expanded and parents encouraged (or coerced) into sending their disabled children to them by the age of five. A decade later a government documentary suggested that one in a thousand children should be in such places because of disability. There are families around New Zealand who didn't find out that they had a missing family member until the institutions started to close in the late 1970s.
There are not many survivors of those times. Lives were often short and sad. But there are numerous reports of children denied identity, education, or contact with families, and exposed to physical , emotional and sexual abuse. The 'back wards' of the institutions were often places of horror. We need to hear and acknowledge this history to ensure such things never happen again.
The Royal Commission is working out how best to hear these stories, and to reach and welcome anyone who wants to talk to them, within a safe environment. This is the first inquiry in the world to cover all types of abuse in a variety of settings. It wants to hear the stories of disabled children, but also children who were sent to youth justice or abusive foster homes or experienced abuse in faith-based care. The main focus is 1950-1999, but survivors, family members or staff from outside this era will also be heard. So, coverage is large and complex.
One of the five Commissioners, Paul Gibson, has lived experience of disability and has long been an advocate for an inquiry into historic abuse through various roles he has had in the disability community including with DPA and more recently in the Human Rights Commission. For several reasons, stories of disability abuse are harder to find and hear than some others and need champions.
The Royal Commission is highly political. The last government fought against the idea, but in Opposition Jacinda Ardern promised an inquiry and announced the Royal Commission in early 2018. Despite its independent status there are numerous and sometimes competing agendas going on. In addition, abuse is messy and complex – and abused and abusers may be the same people. To hear and acknowledge abuse it is necessary to share human vulnerability, which is not easy when we are used to adversarial hierarchical systems.
Many people are working hard to make this Royal Commission work, but it will take time and the road will not be smooth.
You can find out more or register to talk to the commission through their website:
https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/
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8:04 Oct 12, 2019 15
Catalonia, interrupted
by Robert Southon
Two years have now gone by since the Friday afternoon when my university-student son and I headed out of our Barcelona flat to a nearby primary school, designated as a polling station for the vote that was to be held the following Sunday: the referendum on Catalonia's independence from Spain on October 1st, 2017.
Why were we going to the primary school two days before the vote? To keep it open. The Spanish authorities had declared the referendum illegal, and had spent several weeks carrying out aggressive police raids, making arrests and censoring media and internet in an attempt to stop the vote organized by the Catalan government. Yet they had failed.
So now it came down to whether people power could prevail over a central government which had simply turned its back on the whole issue for five years, while a massive grassroots movement had taken root wanting a vote on Catalonia becoming its own independent state within Europe.
On social media in the days before the referendum, appeals circulated to keep the schools and community centres open for weekend activities, so that the police would be legally unable to close them off. And folks turned up, all weekend – at our Escola Drassanes, and at hundreds of other designated polling stations across Catalonia.
Those 48 hours were the most intense community happening I've ever been part of in our inner-city neighbourhood. All sorts of people came out of the woodwork and between comings and goings it was a glorious improvised mixture of playing ping-pong, sharing meals and standing up to an authoritarian state. Yes. The last of these, because on referendum day morning, the sense of being under assault was brought to a climax as thousands of Spanish police simply barged in and unleashed violence on ordinary people all over Catalonia. They didn't stop the vote. They just disrupted it at about 5% of polling stations and bashed a hell of a lot of human flesh.
After that, how could things possibly ever be the same again? How could people carry on supporting a state whose only response to a reasonable democratic demand was orchestrated police violence? It would be turkeys voting for Christmas.
And yet the overall sensation at the close of the polls was tremendous, of having achieved something very important ourselves. The referendum had taken place, and it was not in the end the Catalan authorities but the people themselves who had brought it about and protected it. And gosh, how we celebrated – not only at places like Escola Drassanes, where the police never showed up, but at most of the centres where they did. "Hem votat, hem votat", people roared. "We have voted, we have voted."
We're two years on here in Catalonia, and as I write we are awaiting the imminent announcement of the verdicts and sentences in the Spanish Supreme Court mega-trial of 12 political and civil leaders who worked to facilitate the referendum and independence process. And if I am to explain how things are, I'd start by saying that, in daily life, Catalonia is as easy-going and relaxed as ever, in general. But politically, it's as though we're simply caught in a freeze-frame of one of those classic referendum images, of Spanish police batons poised in the air, ready to swing down on Catalan voters.
When the images of police violence first went round the world, it was easy to feel that a red line had been crossed: in the heart of the EU, a government was mistreating its citizens and its democracy. So the international community would surely react, and a reluctant Spain, that had buried its head in the sand for five years, would now start to address the problem politically. The idea that the referendum would lead to talks, rather than instantly to full independence, was implicit in the plan.
Yet Spain simply clamped down, the EU didn't react, the Catalan government lost the initiative while waiting, and the Catalan public, for all its energy, went home quietly at the end of the day as leaders suggested, even on the afternoon when the Catalan Parliament actually made a declaration of independence. On the other hand, the Spanish authoritarian steamroller, which had grunted into life in September to send 8,000 police to Catalonia with their batons and rubber bullets, now gathered speed.
And although so much has happened since then, it has really all been that same photo: the administration of punishment, and the threat of worse. First, via a destructive six-month period of direct rule from Madrid. But mostly through continuing judicial action, justified under the "rule of law" but mostly just criminalizing a whole sector of the population: throwing independence leaders in jail to get them out of the way (denounced as unlawful by the UN, rejected by courts elsewhere in Europe) with hundreds more people either still facing trial or under investigation for their referendum roles. And a complete stonewall, under successive Spanish governments, to even acknowledging that Catalans might have a legitimate political demand – with at least two million voters supporting it, and a vast majority of Catalans telling pollsters they want to resolve the issue through a referendum. Yet the Spanish state's ironclad constitution doesn't allow it, so end of story. Spain, under pressure, has simply retreated into the centralist ideology of national unity that Franco left well entrenched at the end of his four-decade dictatorship.
Yet, for all this, many Catalan turkeys are still voting for Christmas. Support for Catalan independence and its parties has not suddenly increased since the referendum; it remains only marginally larger electorally than the anti-independence bloc. So this is another sense in which the situation is frozen: we now have two polarized political blocs, but they don't engage in meaningful politics on the major issue that separates them – since all the pro-Spain forces, both here and in Madrid, say it would be unconstitutional to even consider it. Meanwhile the independence camp's actions are constantly stressed by the judicial repression. We're not going to move towards any solution as long as this toxic political tension is maintained.
But, glory be, a new phase now begins, and it's tailor-made by the Spanish authorities to raise the political stress even further: the court verdicts, with a general election to follow a month later. The ground has already been prepared: last month, a 500-officer operation by Spanish police arrested nine Catalan independence activists on extremely vague "terrorism" charges, which instantly sent the entire Madrid-based media and Spanish political parties into feeding frenzy-mode Catalan terrorists! What a coincidence! What better way to prime the Spanish public for the verdicts in the country's biggest trial in recent history, in which violence is the key point upon which the main charges stand or fall?
The four-month trial of 12 Catalan pro-independence politicians and social leaders was farcical. The principal accusations, rebellion and sedition, respectively depend by definition on "violent uprising" and "tumultuous uprising" from the independence movement. Those never took place, and have never existed in the 21st century Catalan movement. The only violence seen was from the police on 1st October.
Some laws were certainly broken in the referendum process – there was disobedience of court orders, a serious enough matter but not enough to send anyone to prison. But beyond that, the court case showed that the 2017 referendum process in Catalonia managed two extremely powerful things: firstly, it challenged Spanish legality but in a way that was peaceful, juridically smart and based on broad democratic principles; and more unfortunately, it wounded Spanish nationalist pride to the point where the establishment closed ranks and resolved to put a stop to this business, come what may.
Thus, legal experts expect guilty verdicts and sizeable jail sentences for people who have been protagonists of Catalan public life both as capable leaders and admirable human beings. Naturally, there will be a huge reaction from Catalans, both in the independence movement and beyond; new protest platforms organizing mass civil disobedience have appeared in recent weeks, and hundreds of extra Spanish police are once again being sent to Catalonia. The pro-independence parties have been fraught with division lately on where they go now, but, as in 2017, the clumsy action of the Spanish authorities might once again galvanise people to put their bodies on the line to protest the manifest injustice and break the political log-jam. For better or for worse.
And that's just it: cynical though it seems, the Spanish establishment is counting on the reaction, and counting on being able to control and discredit it. Because the next matter on the political agenda is the Spanish general election, to be held on November 10th. It's a repeat of last April's election, called by acting PM Pedro Sánchez's Socialists because they couldn't form a good enough coalition.
Their clear electoral strategy is now to reject the support from Catalan parties which brought them to power in 2018 and go the other way. They will take a tough line on Catalonia to gain the handful of seats from the right that they need to improve their parliamentary arithmetic. And Spain will see it live on all channels from here until the election. Can plucky Pedro challenge and slay the evil Catalan dragon in the nick of time, bring peace to the kingdom and be crowned new ruler? That reads like a fairy tale of course - and we know about fairy tales.
13:21 Sep 9, 2019 1
Tadhg Stopford: Why I'm standing for the ADHB
by Tadhg Stopford
Hi there, just call me Tim.
We face tough problems, and I'd like to help, because there are solutions.
An Auckand District Health Board member has nominated me for as a candidate for the ADHB, because her MS-related pain and fatigue is reduced with hemp products from Rotorua. Nothing else helped her.
If I can get on to ADHB, my goal is to drive changes in our public health approach that will rapidly improve public health and reduce our health spend.
My family have chronic health issues that are not served by the current model. Your family probably will too at some point. We are all getting older.
But our public health system is collapsing under the weight of obesity, diabetes, cancer, and age-related illnesses (dementia, arthritis, etc). That's why our DHBs are half a billion in the red, and bleeding cash.
Ironically, that cash burn isn't even fixing those chronic conditions, just spending money.
So, we need to change the model, quickly, if we are to prosper.
Evidence shows a homegrown healthcare solution can reduce many of those problems.
I'm a concerned father of two, a history teacher, and, with Dr Ben Jansen and Dr Graham Gulbransen, wrote NZs first recognised Hemp medicine/Medical cannabis course for GPs in 2017.
Most people don't realise that Industrial Hemp is a unique functional food, and that 'medical cannabis' is a bit of a swindle really. We can hugely improve our health system and economy if we use hemp properly as a food and dietary supplement; not just as a medicine.
Although a licensed crop for over a decade, with all plants and farmers licensed by the Director General of Health; anti-competitive practices by presumably captured regulators, mean we are not being allowed to use hemp properly.
This is terrible for our people, and local economy. We are passing up the triple win of improved health outcomes, reduced spending, and developing local industry.
We can. We can protect our families and friends better, cheaper; with industrial hemp.
That's why Italians are paying for hemp flowers instead of taking publicly-funded medicines. Because hemp flower is legal there, and its proving helpful without harm. Not only that, but public access to hemp flower hits organised crime revenues, and crime itself.
The Hemp Foundation has taught hemp medicine to six hundred and fifty medical professionals since 2017, and they support our plan to reduce health costs and improve health outcomes with hemp flower/food/medicine.
We have supportive senior doctors and agencies, and are actively working to educate and collect evidence that speeds progress in this exciting field. We have three RCTs (randomised controlled trials) in various stages, including one at DHB level.
Let's reduce our health burden, and improve the health and wealth of all kiwis. It starts with education. Let's face our future together, and improve our foundations.
For more information: www.thehempfoundation.org.nz
Introduction to the Endocannabinoid System
Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency Reconsidered (PubMed)
Speaker Archive


text:
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi
T&T and world mark Anti-Corruption Day
Today, the T&T Transparency Institute (TTTI) joins the world in observing International Anti-Corruption Day.
To this end, in a press release to mark Anti-Corruption Day 2019, TTTI said that while the Parliament has made efforts in enacting anti-corruption legislation, such as the passage of the Civil Asset Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth Bill, 2019, as well as the removal of the Anti-corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB) from under the purview of the Ministry of the Attorney General to the Commissioner of Police, more has to be done.
"TTTI also notes the recent analysis of country evaluations issued by the global anti-money laundering regulator, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which highlighted Trinidad and Tobago as the only country who fully complies with the FATF requirements for governments to ensure that authorities can quickly find out who the real or 'beneficial' owners of companies registered in their territory are. Additionally, TTTI encourages the Government to take tangible steps to achieve active/compliant status under the Open Government Partnership (OGP). As this country has been listed as 'inactive in the OGP due to acting contrary to OGP process for three consecutive years.'
"TTTI remains devoted to seeking ways to reduce, if not eliminate corruption from T&T. Countering corruption requires cooperation from all Parliament officials, sectors/organisations and every citizen of T&T," the release stated.
As such, in recognition of today being Anti-Corruption Day, the organisation was calling on citizens and organisations to join them in the fight against corruption.
"Together we can make the difference in building a stronger, more equitable society, through greater transparency, accountability and freedom from corruption," the release read.
What is corruption?
Corruption is defined by Transparency International (TI) as "the abuse of entrusted power for private gain". It intensifies poverty, violates human rights, undermines our democracy, causes environmental damage, is a barrier to economic development, and has long been a tool of organised crime.
It was further stared the TTTI, the national chapter of Transparency International, worked for "a world in which government, politics, business, civil society and the daily lives of people are free of corruption".
"TTTI as an NGO has been seeking to fulfil its mandate through advocacy and public education on matters of anti-corruption and 2019 marks TTTI's 21st anniversary in leading the fight against corruption in Trinidad and Tobago. Some of TTTI's key activities include : the launch of the Corruption Perceptions Index each year; operating Integrity Clubs in secondary schools; advocating for reform and proclamation of key anti-corruption legislation; hosting an Annual Anti-Corruption Conference on relevant topics; consultations with civil society organisations utilising our Civil Society Toolkit; operating our Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC) which provides free legal advice to witnesses and victims of corruption; lobbying for transparency and accountability in the collection of energy sector revenues as a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (TTEITI)," the release explained.
In December 2018, the TTTI launched the Business Integrity Country Agenda (BICA) Report, with a view to reducing corruption in the business environment. The BICA report was collated from extensive research, including interviews and data analysis from all stakeholders and captains of the business industry. The report provides a reference point for collective action involving government, the business sector and civil society, in a concerted effort to promote business integrity in T&T.
22nd murder in La Horquetta
The body of a man was found in La Horquetta on Saturday morning.
Venezuelan killed in Chaguanas crash
A Venezuelan national became this country's latest road fatality.
Missing man emerges from forest...with incredible story
Shane Ramjattan, the missing father of two, has emerged from the forest telling an incredibl…
Doctors' kidnap suspect paralyzed
ONE of the suspects in the crash that killed Dr Rudradeva Sharma may be paralysed.
UNC: Young a danger to democracy
THE Opposition United National Congress (UNC) is calling for the removal of National Security Minister Stuart Young, calling him "a danger to democracy" over his claims of a conspiracy afoot to destabilise the country through crime.
They were no pushers
"MY brothers were not any drug pushers, drug dealers or any of the bad things they are trying to paint them as. They (referring to National Security Minister Stuart Young) talking crap.
Amplia facing lawsuit over release of 'Rowley rant' recording
PM to sue UNC candidate
Shots like rain


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