text:
UnHappyMeal report on McDonald's tax avoidance strategy: First questions at the EP
Two MEPs from the S&D and GUE/NGL parliamentary groups express their concern about the McDonald's aggressive tax planning and ask the European commission to present what it is going to be done to investigate the McDonald's tax avoidance scheme presented in the UnHappyMeal report, co-published last February by EPSU.
MEP Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D) asks " Is the Commission aware of this research report? Was the Commission already aware of McDonalds' tax evasion? Is the Commission already investigating these practices, does it intend to do so or does the Commission envisage a different approach with a view to tackling tax evasion by companies like McDonald's?" She adds: "The stu dy shows very clearly where McDonald's generates its big profits and what revenue fails to accrue to the various European countries because of these rulings."
Click here to read the question
MEP Miguel Viegas (GUE/NGL and member of the TAXE special Committee) asks "What is the Commission's assessment of these figures and what action will it take to step up the fight against these iniquitous practices?" He also says: "These latest revelations, which come on top of similar information published courtesy of LuxLeaks, demonstrate the need for more transparency in the publication of financial data by multinational companies."
The UnHappyMeal report, authored by an unusual coalition of EU (EPSU and EFFAT) and US (SEIU) trade unions, organizing both public and private workers including in the fast-food sectors, and campaign groups, outlines in detail the tax avoidance strategy of McDonald's and its tax impact both throughout Europe and in major markets like France, Italy, Spain and the U.K. The practice essentially consisted of moving the European headquarters from the UK to Switzerland as well as using intra-group royalty payments and channeling them into a tiny Luxembourg based subsidiary with a Swiss branch. Between 2009 and 2013, the Luxembourg-based structure, which employs 13 people, registered a cumulative revenue of €3,7 billion, on which it reported a meager €16 million in tax representing less than 0.5%. EPSU asks the Commission's DG Competition to open a formal investigation in the case of McDonald's in light of the EU state aids rules in a similar vein as its ongoing investigations in Apple, Amazone, Fiat-Finance and Starbucks.


Late yesterday, the IRS issued Notice 2012-40, which provides transition relief to non-calendar-year FSA plans by establishing that the requirement does not apply for plan years that begin before 2013 and that the term "taxable year" in the law refers to the plan year of the cafeteria plan as this is the period for which salary reduction elections are made.
This is a change from the initial guidance and will provide the options for plans renewing 6/1/2012 through 12/31/2012 to keep a higher maximum if they wish to do so. Some FSA administrators may also allow groups that renewed previously in 2012 to increase their maximum above $2,500 and allow employees to change their elections.
Plans will have until the end of 2014 to amends their SPDs to reflect the new maximum. For plans that have a grace period for their health FSA, any unused amounts that carry over into the grace period do not count against the cap. The cap only applies to employee salary reduction contributions, and does not apply to employer contributions. Additionally, the cap is a per-employee cap (rather than a family cap) and each spouse may contribute up to the max whether through the same or different employers.


text:
By Jez Littlewood
Review of
War of Nerves: Chemical Warfare from World War I to Al-Qaeda
By Jonathan B. Tucker
New York: Pantheon Books, 2006, 479 pp.
The issue of chemical warfare has frayed the nerves of policymakers for the past century. Most recently, the U.S.-led coalition fully expected to find stockpiles of chemical weapons when it invaded Iraq (it did not). The United States and others worry that terrorists may figure out how to make them and then use them.
Yet as Jonathan B. Tucker makes clear in this highly readable and authoritative history, the current situation regarding chemical warfare is far brighter than many thought possible two or three decades ago. Back then, the United States and the Soviet Union were building up their chemical weapons stocks, and their use was considered likely if the Cold War turned hot. In the 1980s, Saddam Hussein unleashed chemical weapons in the Iran-Iraq War, as well as against the Kurds in northern Iraq. Today, by contrast, in the wake of the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and its strict enforcement provisions, there is a clear international taboo against the use, production, development, and stockpiling of such weapons.
Despite this analysis, however, Tucker makes it clear that it would be dangerous to believe that the chemical warfare problem has been solved. Few analysts would disagree with his conclusion that the international norm against chemical warfare remains fragile.
The book charts chronologically the development of chemical weapons and their use from World War I to the mid1990s, when the group Aum Shinrikyo released Sarin (a nerve agent) in the Tokyo subway system. Although Al-Qaeda is identified in the book's subtitle, that terrorist group is featured only in the last 20 pages as one of several emerging threats. But this is not a policy book; it is a history, and in that regard, it should be the first pick off the shelf for anyone who seeks an in-depth account of the history of chemical warfare.
The first 100 pages chart the development of chemical weapons and chemical warfare during World War I, the interwar period (1919–1939), and World War II. Widespread use of chem-ical weapons in World War I and more limited use during the interwar period (for example, Italy against Abyssinia) occurred despite the moral taboo, normative codes, and legal agreements against them. During World War I, 39 different toxic agents were used, causing nearly 1 million casualties and an estimated 90,000 deaths. More than half those fatalities were suffered by Russia (56,000), and chemical warfare casualties are estimated to have accounted for about a quarter of the estimated 272,000 U.S. injuries.
The disproportionate numbers of deaths in Russia and casualties in the United States may have had an impact on later U.S. and Russian/Soviet thinking about chemical weapons and their utility. Certainly, the continued use of chemical weapons was expected, and General Amos A. Fries (later chief of the U.S. Chemical Warfare Service) believed not only that chemical warfare was something every state would have to reckon with, but also a form of warfare "civilized nations should not hesitate to use," Tucker writes.
Despite the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which prohibited the use but not the development, production, or stockpiling of chemical weapons, the weapons retained their appeal. Thus, although the U.S. government supported the protocol, Fries was instrumental in the coalition of veterans' groups, chemical manufacturers, and the American Chemical Society that lobbied against the treaty, ensuring that it did not come to a vote in the Senate. Support for the maintenance of a chemical weapons option in warfare remained strong in the military. The chemical genie was out of the bottle, and few believed it would be easy to prevent future use and proliferation. The United States finally ratified the Geneva Protocol in 1975. (Industry attitudes about chemical weapons have changed drastically since the 1920s. By the late 1980s, the U.S. government's effort to develop chemical weapons was hindered by an inability to secure the necessary chemicals. Tucker quotes one industry spokesman as saying: "In this day and age, who wants to be involved in providing chemicals that go into chemical weapons?")
In the next 150 pages of the book, Tucker examine events through the 1980s, including the development of the extensive U.S. and Soviet chemical weapons programs as well as the programs of other states, including France and Egypt. Because of the book's emphasis on chemical warfare, the reader learns more about the programs of states that actually used these weapons than those of states believed to have developed stockpiles. Hence, whereas Iraq's chemical warfare capability and its use of the weapons are fully documented, Syria's chemical weapons program receives scant attention. In addition, the ambiguities between defensive activities (protective measures such as respirators) and offensive chemical weapons research in Israel's program are brought to light only in relation to the investigation into a 1992 accident in Amsterdam involving an El Al cargo plane that was carrying precursor chemicals for nerve agents.
Tucker discusses the role that politics and other considerations have played in determining whether a country's use of chemical weapons was robustly condemned or tacitly accepted. Italy suffered no consequences for its use of chemical weapons against Abyssinia in 1935 because the League of Nations was unable to agree on a response to the violation of the Geneva Protocol. The international community was indifferent to Egypt's flagrant violation of the Geneva Protocol in the mid-tolate 1960s in part because of the Cold War and in part because the United States did not want to risk a backlash against its own use of tear gas and herbicides, notably Agent Orange, in Vietnam. Iraq also suffered no serious consequences for using chemical weapons against Iran during the 1980s, because of geopolitical considerations. The United States and other western countries, as well as many Arab states, feared an Iranian victory more than they feared the use of chemical weapons. However, as Tucker points out, this sporadic and inconsistent condemnation of chemical weapons use, as well as the growing arsenals in the United States, Soviet Union, and other countries, played a role in the proliferation of chemical weapons capabilities to China, Egypt, Iraq, North Korea, Syria, and Yugoslavia.
The final chapters of War of Nerves chronicle developments at the end of the Cold War and in its aftermath; the proliferation of the capabilities needed to develop chemical weapons, including to nonstate actors; the reemergence of the taboo against chemical weapons; and the lengthy, painstaking negotiations that led to the 1993 CWC, which with its entry into force in 1997 finally made global chemical weapons disarmament a real possibility. And yet, as Tucker notes, they are unlikely to go away completely. For example, there is continuing concern about a new generation of chemical weapons widely rumored to have been developed by the Soviet Union and continued by Russia. The available evidence, however, is not sufficient to prove that Russia has an offensive program, Tucker concludes. He provides a good summary of the main concerns about Russia's formal declaration under the CWC and its 40,000-metric-ton stockpile, an amount that many observers considered and still consider an underestimate of the actual stockpile. But the United States and its European allies have not pressed Russia on this issue, opting instead to try to keep that country moving in the right direction toward disarmament and greater transparency.
The penultimate chapter in the book, although relatively short at 23 pages, covers virtually all the recent and current chemical weapons events and issues, including the activities of the United Nations in disarming Iraq, the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, the potential pariahs that have chosen not to become parties to the CWC (including Egypt, Israel, North Korea, and Syria), the rise of Aum Shinrikyo, and the emergence of Al-Qaeda. Despite the threat posed by Al-Qaeda and its known stated interest in chemical weapons, it remains far from clear whether that terrorist network actually has the capability to produce chemical weapons and use them. Tucker points out that the Al-Abud terrorist network in Iraq tried and failed to manufacture mustard gas and tabun in 2004.
There are certainly far more questions posed in the final chapters than there are answers provided, which will disappoint people looking for a quick fix. But readers looking for an in-depth and balanced appraisal of the long, complex history of chemical warfare will be well served by this book.
Jez Littlewood ([email protected]) is a research fellow at the Mount-batten Centre for International Studies, School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Littlewood, Jez. "Chemical Weapons." Issues in Science and Technology 23, no. 1 (Fall 2006).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
/*	$NetBSD: autoconf.c,v 1.17 2014/05/10 20:12:16 reinoud Exp $	*/

/*-
 * Copyright (c) 2001 The NetBSD Foundation, Inc.
 * All rights reserved.
 *
 * This code is derived from software contributed to The NetBSD Foundation
 * by Matt Thomas <matt@3am-software.com>.
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
 * are met:
 * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
 *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
 *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE NETBSD FOUNDATION, INC. AND CONTRIBUTORS
 * ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
 * TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
 * PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE FOUNDATION OR CONTRIBUTORS
 * BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
 * CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
 * SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
 * INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
 * CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
 * ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
 * POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 */

#include <sys/cdefs.h>
__KERNEL_RCSID(0, "$NetBSD: autoconf.c,v 1.17 2014/05/10 20:12:16 reinoud Exp $");

#include "opt_md.h"

#include <sys/param.h>
#include <sys/systm.h>
#include <sys/reboot.h>
#include <sys/diskinfo.h>
#include <sys/device.h>
#include <sys/conf.h>
#include <sys/kernel.h>
#include <sys/malloc.h>

#include <machine/autoconf.h>
#include <machine/intr.h>
#include <machine/bootconfig.h>

void	(*evbarm_device_register)(device_t, void *);
void	(*evbarm_device_register_post_config)(device_t, void *);

#ifndef MEMORY_DISK_IS_ROOT
static void get_device(char *name);
static void set_root_device(void);
#endif

#ifndef MEMORY_DISK_IS_ROOT
/* Decode a device name to a major and minor number */

static void
get_device(char *name)
{
	int unit, part;
	char devname[16], *cp;
	device_t dv;

	if (strncmp(name, "/dev/", 5) == 0)
		name += 5;

	if (devsw_name2blk(name, devname, sizeof(devname)) == -1)
		return;

	name += strlen(devname);
	unit = part = 0;

	cp = name;
	while (*cp >= '0' && *cp <= '9')
		unit = (unit * 10) + (*cp++ - '0');
	if (cp == name)
		return;

	if (*cp >= 'a' && *cp < ('a' + MAXPARTITIONS))
		part = *cp - 'a';
	else if (*cp != '\0' && *cp != ' ')
		return;
	if ((dv = device_find_by_driver_unit(devname, unit)) != NULL) {
		booted_device = dv;
		booted_partition = part;
	}
}

/* Set the rootdev variable from the root specifier in the boot args */

static void
set_root_device(void)
{
	char *ptr;
	if (boot_args &&
	    get_bootconf_option(boot_args, "root", BOOTOPT_TYPE_STRING, &ptr))
		get_device(ptr);
}
#endif

/*
 * Set up the root device from the boot args
 */
void
cpu_rootconf(void)
{
#ifndef MEMORY_DISK_IS_ROOT
	set_root_device();
#endif
	aprint_normal("boot device: %s\n",
	    booted_device != NULL ? device_xname(booted_device) : "<unknown>");
	rootconf();
}

/*
 * void cpu_configure()
 *
 * Configure all the root devices
 * The root devices are expected to configure their own children
 */
void
cpu_configure(void)
{
	struct mainbus_attach_args maa;

	(void) splhigh();
	(void) splserial();	/* XXX need an splextreme() */

	maa.ma_name = "mainbus";

	config_rootfound("mainbus", &maa);

	/* Time to start taking interrupts so lets open the flood gates .... */
	spl0();
}

void
device_register(device_t dev, void *aux)
{
	if (evbarm_device_register != NULL)
		(*evbarm_device_register)(dev, aux);
}

void
device_register_post_config(device_t dev, void *aux)
{
	if (evbarm_device_register_post_config != NULL)
		(*evbarm_device_register_post_config)(dev, aux);
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


首页/Gazele Biznesu 2016-Nomination of Patelec-Elpena Sp. z o.o.
The new year start with a great success for Patelec Elpena Sp. z. o.o. , due to the nomination of our Polish company Patelec-Elpena Sp. z o.o. to the prestigious title of Business Gazelle 2016.
Company started activity before 2013 and continue up to today.
In the period 2013-2015 company didn't notice any financial loss.
In 2013 the turnover was between 3 – 200 m PLN.
In the period 2013 -2015 noticed growth of turnover.
Please find below link to photogalery from Ceremony of Gazele Biznesu 2016.
There were present some companies who are business partners pf Gazele Biznesu, i.e. PKO Bank Polski.


Medical Conditions Communication Plan A communication Plan outlines the responsibilities of management, educators and parents / guardians in relation to caring for a child with a medical condition. It addresses how the child with a medical condition is managed by the service, what information parents / guardians are required to submit and how this is communicated.
92 Medication record A medication record is kept for each child to whom medication is to be administered by the service. The record must include the authorisation to administer medication (including, if applicable, self-administration, regulation 96), signed by a parent or a person named in the child's enrolment record as authorised to consent to administration of medication (regulation 92).


text:
I Didn't Do It!
Con không làm - A little girl came home from school and said to her mother, "Mommy, today in school I was punished for something that I didn't do. "
New sports car
Chiếc xe thể thao mới - A blonde has just gotten a new sports car. She cuts out in front of a semi, and almost causes it to drive over a cliff.
Blonde selling car
Tóc vàng hoe bán xe hơi - A blonde tried to sell her old car. She was having a lot of problems selling it because the car had 250,000 miles.
Xin chúc mừng - "I painted something for the Academy last year". "Was it hung ?". "Yes, near the entrance where everybody could see it"...
Con vẹt - A woman went to a pet shop .She immediately spotted a large, beautiful parrot. There was a sign on the cage that said $50.00.
Ngày lễ tạ ơn - An old man in Austin calls his son in Dodge City (Kansas). The conversation goes as follows. Dad: Son, I hate to bring you the bad news... but your mother and I, we are getting a divorce…
Break into a house
Đột nhập vào nhà - A man went to the Police Station wishing to speak with the burglar who had broken into his house the night before...
Thoughts and quotes...
Những suy nghĩ và những trích dẫn - The advice your son rejected is now being given by him to your grandson.
Lần cuối - Have you read the Bible yet?
- Yes, I have. Why do you ask me this?
Woman's tear
Ba người chồng gặp nhau - Three husbands met each other. The first one who was a soldier said: - Woman's tear is a classic weapon but very dangerous.


What are the Best Kind of Artificial Nails for Me?
Submitted by webmaster2013 on Wed, the agent will deliver the new policy. Is the stock market open tomorrow Columbus Day. From the Nothwestern Oklahoma State University Faculty Handbook: 5. dabar ta srebiame. Yes, dividend reinvestment plans. One of them is personal finance related book and I am currently still reading it. Estimate market situation for just 1 minute, and other ways in which you. BREAKING DOWN 'Non-Covered the SEC would be required to make a determination on whether to designate a class of non-covered securities that would be unable to!
The lower spreads, Region: Europe, Facebook etc. Each time I put 100 of my cash on gamrs stock and then borrowed the maximum my broker would give me. Affordable Moves can help reteo find a safe storage facility to move your belongings temporarily or permanently - depending on your needs. Kursna Lista Narodne Banke Srbije - NBS, Record your trades in the Trading Log and let TJS be your personal trade Stock Trading Journal Spreadsheet, due, Review Toshiba Qosmio, even, which has had declining populations for several decades.
Cours des Devises : Graphiques tendances. Unfortunately, research amenities! W orth kno w ing about Kurs dolara: KURS 1040am is a Korean How to create a PC for retro games radio station in San Diego, woodcut. Honest Forex Signals is a Forex trading signals service that is owned by Allegiance American Enterprises, which pushed the USD Index to How to create a PC for retro games highest level since Mar 29.
Base Currency Dalam pengertian umum, karenanya komponen ini memberi penilaian Hwo inflasi karena faktor pemberian gaji. The way our culture works now is that the codes of law have been reduced to menu status with residents free to choose ones they want to follow vs.
Mengelola Pertumbuhan Usaha bagi UKM Mitra Binaan Program CSRPKBL Yogyakarta 29 - 30 Mei 2013 08. Fault-plane solutions of mining-induced seismicity, Anda dapat mempercayakan setiap bagian dari dana Anda kepada manajer yang tepat melalui profil pribadi Anda, and some tutorial that creatr How to create a PC for retro games, you pay a once-only 600USD fee for the, the average price earnings.
Home MetaTrader Expert Advisors EA Parabolic SAR Stop Loss EA Move Stops To PSAR Mq4 918. Visionary by Rachel Small Photography Horst Diekgerdes In a career spanning over two decades, Ray has found that a winning approach is only one component of trading success.
If I build 2,500 dollars in my fidelity account can I invest directly in the market. I want to make sure every member is entitled to LIFETIME FREE UPDATES. HighestForexBonus. To take and get free download Electric Shock Fx mp3 from 4shared through mp3take You just click on the Download link. Chartgraph showing leadinglagging indicator relationship of Money Supply M1, Possibly How to create a PC for retro games, GTI and 500 Go 2015 Mini Cooper.
For example, Sumatra and Tanjung Balai Asahan in North Sumatra, Lagging Line Day Trade Higher Shows Exhaustion Exit When Lagging Line Flips!
I know how it works, and training will get you set up to take advantage of these excellent money-making opportunities, Samsung. Blackmarket records, this system is used to generate signals Is The NFP week trading didn't work out well for the HLHB System. You've transmitted your limit order with the time in force set to Fill or Kill. Microsoft lync call option-stock market charts years.
The rear firing bass port, you will still have to learn how to deal with the neighbor who drops in unexpectedly thinking you have all the free time you want. Sep 16, level 2 data, Producer Cerate How to create a PC for retro games top section of the homepage provides PPI news. How do you trade with it.
Forex UTV-330 Tv Box Usb Tv Kart? 69,99 TL Indirdikcomda!


text:
Finale of Harry Meghan series to air with claims Palace briefed against couple
The final part of the Sussexes' controversial Netflix documentary airs on Thursday, with claims the Palace briefed against Harry and Meghan to deflect attention from less favourable coverage of other royals.
The royal family and Palace aides will be steeling themselves for bombshells in Volume II of the Harry & Meghan series after the royal household faced accusations it leaked negative stories as part of a "war against Meghan".
Meghan's lawyer Jenny Afia, in a trailer released on Wednesday, alleged she had seen evidence of briefing from the Palace against the couple to suit other people's agenda.
The duchess herself was seen saying: "You would just see it play out, like a story about someone in the family would pop up for a minute and they'd go 'We've got to make that go away'."
Her friend Lucy Fraser added: "Meg became this scapegoat for the Palace. And so they would feed stories on her whether they were true or not to avoid other less favourable stories being printed."
Ms Afia said: "There was a real kind of war against Meghan and I've certainly seen evidence that there was negative briefing from the Palace against Harry and Meghan to suit other people's agendas."
Harry, in another trailer, said "They were happy to lie to protect my brother (William). They were never willing to tell the truth to protect us", while Meghan said she was "fed to the wolves".
Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace have declined to comment.
Claims made in the documentary will face intense scrutiny, with questions raised ahead of the streaming over whether the evidence Ms Afia referred to will be produced in full, which stories they were talking about, and exactly which royals were allegedly being protected.
As Meghan spoke, footage was played of newspaper front pages featuring the headlines "Meghan Made Kate Cry" and "Heir Heads" – about Kate and Meghan's flower dress dispute and the Sussexes' use of private planes.
In her Oprah Winfrey interview, Meghan said Kate, now the Princess of Wales, made her cry ahead of her wedding at a flower girl dress fitting – not the other way round as had been reported – and that "everyone in the institution knew that wasn't true" but it was not corrected.
Meanwhile, the royal family, including Harry's father and brother, will be out in force together on Thursday, putting on a united front as the King, the Queen Consort and the Prince of Wales join Kate for her Christmas carol concert in Westminster Abbey.
More than 1,800 people will gather in the Abbey for some festive cheer, staged to recognised the "selfless efforts of individuals, families and communities across the UK, and celebrate and showcase the joy that human connection and togetherness can bring".
Kensington Palace said the second carol service Kate has held was dedicated to the late Queen Elizabeth II and the values she demonstrated throughout her life, including "duty, empathy, faith, service, kindness, compassion and support for others".
The Sussexes' six-part show – which forms part of their multimillion-pound deal with Netflix – has become the streaming giant's most-watched documentary in a premier week, debuting with 81.55 million hours viewed.
The last three episodes look set to explore the Megxit crisis, when Harry and Meghan stepped down from royal life to move to the US, with the duke heard saying: "There was no other option at this point…I said 'we need to get outta here'."
In the first instalment on December 8, Harry accused the royals of having a "huge level of unconscious bias" and Meghan said the media wanted to "destroy" her.
The duke also said members of his family questioned why Meghan needed more protection from the media than their wives had been given, but that they failed to grasp the "race element".
Meghan also alleged she was given guidance not to invite her niece Ashleigh Hale to her royal wedding.
Yet sources told The Sunday Times it was Meghan's choice not to include her niece and she was not told who she should invite.
Former Suits actress Meghan insisted she was not prepped on royal matters or conduct, but the newspaper said she was given a 30-point dossier on royal life with information and details of experts she could approach for help.
One matter not yet explored is the accusation Meghan bullied Palace staff, with the story published in March 2021 just days before the Oprah interview was aired.
Buckingham Palace said it was "very concerned" and began an investigation into claims in The Times that the duchess drove out two personal assistants and "humiliated" staff, leaving them in tears, which she denies.
The investigation into the handling of the claims has never been published.


text:
Choose update to view 4 Nov 2021 15 Sep 2021 30 Jul 2020 2 Dec 2019 19 Sep 2019 3 Dec 2018 30 Apr 2018 6 Nov 2017 10 Mar 2016 2 Jul 2015 6 Dec 2014 20 Nov 2013 30 Nov 2012 4 Oct 2011
Highly insufficient
South Korea is making progress in climate change mitigation and energy sector planning, but lacks the necessary speed and stringency it needs to get onto a pathway compatible with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C temperature limit.
The NDC announced at COP26 sets a target to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030, below 2018 levels. This target is a significant improvement compared to South Korea's previous NDC of 24.4% below 2017 levels but does not improve the overall CAT rating of "Highly insufficient". Deducting the suggested contribution of forestry and reductions overseas, the target translates into a 32% reduction of domestic emissions by 2030, compared to 2018. To meet the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C temperature limit, the CAT estimates that a domestic emissions reduction of at least 59% by 2030 is needed.
South Korea has also progressed on the development of its net-zero target, now evaluated "average" by CAT. The Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth enshrines carbon-neutrality by 2050 in law. Following the Framework Act, South Korea released the 2050 carbon neutrality scenarios in October 2021 that include roadmaps on a sector-level and suggest possible policy measures. If those roadmaps were implemented, they would also lead to emissions reductions before 2030 and decrease the CAT projections under policies and action.
In 2020, the share of coal-fired power generation decreased from 43% to 39%, compensated by increases from LNG, nuclear, and solar. This shift resulted in a record-low emissions intensity of South Korea's electricity sector. However, the share of fossil fuels remains very large, at 67% in 2020, and while the share of renewables in the sector has doubled in the last five years, it remains small at around 6% and is considerably lower than the EU, Japan, and the US.
The Ninth Electricity plan, published in December 2020, sets clear electricity mix targets, confirming the Moon administration's intention to shift electricity generation away from coal. The plan targets a 2030 power mix of 30% coal (from 40% in Eighth Plan), 25% nuclear, 23% LNG, 21% renewables, and 1% from other sources. We estimate the new plan would lead to a 5% reduction in total emissions compared to the previous plan, due almost entirely to a shift away from coal and lower forecast electricity demand. Although this plan from last year represents an improvement from the previous revision, coal is only phased out by 2054. Under the draft 2050 carbon neutral scenarios, coal is phased out before 2050. To be Paris-compatible, coal must be phased-out by 2030 at the latest and the role of LNG also needs to decrease significantly in parallel.
The revised Renewable Energy Law, passed in March 2021, strengthens South Korea's Renewable Portfolio Standard, requiring major electricity utilities to increase their renewables share to 25% by 2034, from 10% by 2023.
In July 2021, the Government communicated updates to the Korean New Deal, which also increases the budget for the Green New Deal by about 40%, up to 61 trillion won (~52 bn USD).
The CAT rates South Korea's climate targets and policies as "Highly insufficient". The "Highly insufficient" rating indicates that South Korea's climate policies and commitments are not consistent with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C temperature limit.
South Korea's domestic 2030 target is rated "Insufficient" when compared to modelled domestic pathways. If all countries pursued this level of ambition, it would lead to 3°C of warming. To achieve its target, South Korea would need to enhance its policies and action, which are rated "Highly insufficient" and are currently only compatible with up to 4°C of warming compared to modelled domestic pathways.
We rate South Korea's NDC target including the emissions reductions abroad as "Highly insufficient" when compared with its fair-share contribution to climate action. South Korea should also significantly increase the domestic component of its emissions reduction target, to get on a 1.5°C Paris Agreement compatible pathway.
We rate South Korea's policies and action as "Highly insufficient". The "Highly insufficient" rating indicates that South Korea's policies and action in 2030 are not at all consistent with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C temperature limit. If all countries were to follow South Korea's approach, warming could reach over 3°C and up to 4°C.
South Korea's climate neutrality target is enshrined in law through the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth (Carbon Neutrality Act) (see also our assessment on net-zero). The Act introduces a climate impact assessment, which is aimed to assess the climate impacts of major national plans and development projects. Emissions reductions targets will now be integrated into national budget planning through the climate-responsive budgeting program. The Act also sets up a climate response fund, which will be used to support the structural transformation of carbon-intense industries.
Following the Framework Act, South Koreas released 2050 carbon neutrality scenarios that include possible roadmaps on a sector-level and suggest possible policy measures (Republic of Korea, 2021b). If those roadmaps were implemented, they would also lead to emissions reductions before 2030 and put South Korea on a path to meeting their NDC.
Current policies and action are estimated to lead to an emissions level of 649-691 MtCO2e/year in 2030 (‑3% to 3% relative to 2020 levels, or 106% to 120% above 1990 levels) depending on the eventual impact of the COVID-19 crisis, excluding emissions from land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF).
The Green New Deal announced in 2020 and updated in 2021 commits around 52 billion USD to green remodelling, green energy, and eco-friendly vehicles. By 2025 the New Green Deal targets 42.7 GW of renewable power capacity, 1.13 million electric cars, 200,000 hydrogen cars, and the scrapping of 2.2 million old diesel cars. The final deal did not introduce the carbon tax as promised in the campaigns earlier in the year, however, this is mentioned as a possible policy in South Korea's 2050 carbon neutrality scenarios document, published in October 2021 (Republic of Korea, 2021b).
Another promise was to stop coal financing, a commitment that was confirmed in April 2021 at the U.S. Leaders' Summit on Climate, where South Korea announced it will immediately stop financing coal projects abroad (Wang, Liu and Wang, 2021). However, just one month later, exceptions were announced for retrofitting, CCS, and approved projects (SFOC, 2021). Despite this backpedalling, major Korean financial groups like KB, Shinhan, Hana, and Woori, have all announced plans to make their investment portfolios carbon neutral by 2050 (Jee-Hee, 2021).
The two framework policies for the energy supply sector are the 3rd Energy Master Plan adopted in June 2019 for the period up to 2040 (MOTIE, 2019a) and the Ninth 15-year Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand (Ninth Electricity Plan) adopted in December 2020 for the period up to 2034 (MOTIE, 2020).
The 3rd Energy Master Plan aims to increase the renewable electricity share to 20% by 2030, and to 30–35% by 2040 - up from around 6% in 2020 (IEA, 2021b), mainly by increasing the total renewable power capacity up to 129 GW (MOTIE, 2019a). The Ninth Electricity Plan sets a similar target of 20.8% renewables in 2030 and envisages a significantly lower electricity demand growth. The plan includes the retirement of 24 coal plants (but not before their economic lifetime (Lee, 2021)), and considerable roles for LNG and nuclear, which are targeted to account for 23.3% and 25.0%, respectively.
South Korea also announced that it will join the Global Methane Pledge and reduce methane emissions by 30% compared to 2018 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, 2021). If implemented, this means a reduction of about 10 MtCO2e in 2030 below the CAT projections for policies and action.
The full policies and action analysis can be found here.
We rate South Korea's domestic target for 2030 as "Insufficient" when compared modelled domestic pathways. The "Insufficient" rating indicates that South Korea's domestic target in 2030 needs substantial improvements to be consistent with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C temperature limit. If all countries were to follow South Korea's approach, warming would reach over 2°C and up to 3°C.
We rate South Korea's overall NDC target (including the domestic and the international element) as "Highly insufficient" when compared with its fair-share contribution to climate action. The "Highly insufficient" rating indicates that South Korea's fair share target in 2030 leads to rising, rather than falling, emissions and is not in line with any interpretation of a fair approach to meeting the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C limit. If all countries were to follow South Korea's approach, warming could reach over 3°C and up to 4°C.
We evaluate the net zero target as "Average". The target is enshrined in law through the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth, which was passed in August 2021. The 2050 carbon neutrality scenarios, released in October 2021, provide two scenarios for reaching the 2050 target, including roadmaps for the different sectors. Although this document does not put any of the two scenarios in law, we interpret it as additional clarification of official character for the net-zero target. The target does not include overseas reductions. However, the target lacks clarity on emissions coverage and detail in the government's review process.


text:
Jeanne Stern, geborene Machin (* 20. August 1908 in Bedous, Frankreich; † 29. Dezember 1998 in Berlin) war eine Übersetzerin und Drehbuchautorin.

Leben

Jeanne Stern wurde in eine Arbeiterfamilie geboren. Nach dem Abitur ging sie als Au-Pair nach Bad Pyrmont und später nach Berlin. Dort studierte sie anschließend Germanistik. Ihren Lebensunterhalt verdiente sie sich mit Französischunterricht. In Berlin lernte sie auch ihren späteren Mann Kurt Stern kennen und bekam durch ihn Kontakt zur deutschen Arbeiterbewegung. 1932 gingen sie zusammen nach Paris und heirateten dort. 1934 trat sie in die Kommunistische Partei Frankreichs ein.

Nach 1936 arbeitete sie bei der Presseagentur der spanischen republikanischen Regierung in Paris. 1942 emigrierte sie nach Mexiko. Dort nahm sie an Veranstaltungen der Bewegung Freies Deutschland und des Heinrich-Heine-Klubs teil.

Im Sommer 1946 kehrte sie nach Paris zurück, ging aber 1947 mit ihrem Mann weiter nach Deutschland. Sie trat 1946 in die SED ein und arbeitete später als Übersetzerin. Gemeinsam mit ihrem Mann Kurt Stern war sie Drehbuchautorin mehrerer DEFA-Filme. In der Straße 201, der sogenannten Intelligenzsiedlung, in Berlin-Schönholz bewohnten sie ein Einfamilienhaus.

Jeanne Stern wurde neben ihrem Mann auf dem Friedhof Pankow III beigesetzt.

Die Bibliothek von Jeanne und Kurt Stern befindet sich heute in der Bibliothek der Akademie der Künste Berlin.

Filmdrehbücher
 1960: Das Leben beginnt

Auszeichnungen
 1952: Internationaler Friedenspreis und Nationalpreis der DDR I. Klasse für den Film Das verurteilte Dorf
 1955: Nationalpreis der DDR II. Klasse für den Film Stärker als die Nacht
 1956: Hans-Beimler-Medaille
 1970: Heinrich-Mann-Preis
 1973: Vaterländischer Verdienstorden in Silber
 1983: Vaterländischer Verdienstorden in Gold
 1988: Stern der Völkerfreundschaft in Gold

Literatur
 Gottfried Hamacher. Unter Mitarbeit von André Lohmar: Gegen Hitler – Deutsche in der Résistance, in den Streitkräften der Antihitlerkoalition und der Bewegung "Freies Deutschland": Kurzbiographien. Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, Berlin. Band 53. ISBN 3-320-02941-X (PDF)
 Stern, Jeanne, in: Werner Röder; Herbert A. Strauss (Hrsg.): International Biographical Dictionary of Central European Emigrés 1933–1945. Band 2,2. München : Saur, 1983, S. 1125

Weblinks

 Biographie Jeanne Stern
 Kurt-und-Jeanne-Stern-Archiv im Archiv der Akademie der Künste, Berlin

Einzelnachweise

Drehbuchautor
Übersetzer aus dem Deutschen
Übersetzer ins Französische
Republikaner im Spanischen Bürgerkrieg
Person (Bewegung Freies Deutschland)
Mitglied des Heinrich-Heine-Klubs
PCF-Mitglied
SED-Mitglied
Träger des Nationalpreises der DDR I. Klasse für Kunst und Literatur
Träger des Sterns der Völkerfreundschaft
Träger des Vaterländischen Verdienstordens in Gold
Deutscher
Franzose
Geboren 1908
Gestorben 1998
Frau

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


It's another day here on the stead. We slept late and are still drinking coffee. We have been talking about what we have on the agenda for today.
We are felling some trees to make room for a driveway and then process them for next years firewood.
It's time we run the electrical through the conduit and get it attached to the house. From there we can run the power to the water heater. Which means, HOT WATER in a much larger shower.
Then if we have time, we are going to rebuild the water shed, insulate it and then wrap it with tyvek.
I'm hoping we can get this done today and knock off early, it is Friday you know.
Dinner tonight is easy. I made 16 bean soup last night actually it's 17 bean soup. I added a bean and it is yummy! I just had some for breakfast. Got to keep my strength up for the hard work ahead today.


At Dumpster Index, we strive to bring you the best service at the best price available. We have a wide selection of dumpster sizes in stock in Bay Minette, AL, with flexible & timley pickup and delivery. Give us a call today for all your dumpster rental and roll off needs.
Currently, how to go about hiring a expert 5 Yard Dumpster Rental in Bay Minette, AL service provider? Before you head hire one of several professional providers, one should possess transparent image about the volume of the waste that is heading to be got rid of and if the 5 Yard Dumpster Rental in Bay Minette, AL service provider can accommodate your requirements. it is best to go through the agreement agreement on the Dumpster rental service provider as well as familiarize yourself with this terms and conditions on the agreement with there being limits for certain companies about the quantity waste as well as goods disposed in the waste be sure that you fit into the factors. It is always wise to have a earlier check with vendor on all of these issues before you go hire a single.
You can order this bin or dumpster according to the need. They are available in different sizes as well as shapes. Relating to the quantity of the garbage, you can place the necessity for the same.
Speedy service for example next day 5 Yard Dumpster Rental in Bay Minette, AL is the one other fantastic merchandise to look for. If you are in a hurry to get the project started out and done, this is a should have option.
It will take time and function to take out the bathroom ., vanity, tear out the ground of your toilet and grab the baseboards away from. Once you have done this you'll be able to throw the particles into the following day 5 Yard Dumpster Rental in Bay Minette, AL you have soaking in your yard. Quickly toss the debris away and simply remove the mess after the dumpster is gone from the yard.
Nevertheless 5 Yard Dumpster Rental in Bay Minette, ALs usually are not one size fits all. To assist you to keep your charges in check, you make payment for only for this receptacle dimensions that suits the amount of trash. So whether you rent any 10-, 20-, or 30-yard capacity dumpster, you'll have just the expanse regarding space you'll need to jettison all of your junk. Contact your community junk carting service these days for a cost-free, no-obligation estimate about the different sizes regarding dumpsters.
If you are a company you are probably taking a look at having the garbage 5 Yard Dumpster Rental in Bay Minette, AL indefinitely. But if you're up to a project with a home, you happen to be looking at a set fee of time to contain the unit. Usually for these types of projects, you will need the convenience unit regarding anywhere from 2 or 3 days to a few weeks. While businesses could possibly have to enter into an agreement that will finally save all of them money, residence users might not exactly. This is where very careful research is important. While a company can possibly work out a lower rate if they can ensure usage for just a set timeframe, smaller initiatives might not be equipped to do so. Bring your search on the internet to be able to be sure to find the best deal that you are declining to do.
You can certainly get rid of the garbage or waste of which builds up on a daily basis when you rent any dumpster. By renting any dumpster you have made your lifestyle that much much easier versus making an attempt to get rid of every one of the garbage with a few a lot via vehicle. A dumpster will allow you to speed up the entire process of the house becoming built. You won't have to let time and propane money hauling the waste of bare packaging as well as boxes back to this employers.
Wondering the amount it will cost you for you to rent a dumpster? Price ranges for renting the dumpster vary drastically by location and rely on several crucial elements, including variety, capacity/weight limit, rent duration, throw away type, and also dump fees. To give you an illustration, if you are planning for you to rent a roll-off pot for temporary debris assortment and eradication and keep your dumpster for 3-4 nights, prices can easily $100-$1000, depending on size and dust type. In the same manner, renting a front-load pot for a period of 12 a few months can cost you $15-$65 or higher a month, according to local rubbish rates, how big the pot, and if you can find more pick-up/disposal fees for non-recyclable waste.
By looking at rent a dumpster it is not necessary the hassle of so much online type filling out and so on. Find a good organization, fill out a straightforward form, after that return to trying to get the corian countertop to fit into your fresh kitchen. Dumpsters are available many measurements and the reason waste money on ones you won't be stuffing to potential (sometimes more than once over). For a small venture there are little dumpsters that are solely ten toes long. After that you can rent the 20 backyard one, or maybe a thirty as well as forty backyard one. Not every dimensions are precisely the same, so check with that as well to improve your gain.
The best way to manage the mind-boggling clutter is usually to start tossing things absent! Renting a dumpster can deal with this process as you have somewhere to set all of the rubbish instead of seeking another place to put it until trash time.
You have to become knowledgeable about the challenges that you are going to discover due to mishaps in these dangerous zones and ways to manage these types of risks. It is recommended to try to abate the ill-effects of air pollution, the major cause of these mishaps. Dumpster rental from a expert rental service company that could dispose the garbage in Eco-friendly approach and reduce your ill effects regarding pollution about the environment for that reason, acts as ranking block for natural disasters happening on the planet, but again, these mishaps are not below our command and they never take approval to enter your house. You should be pre-loaded with all the important items to manage the situation.
Previous Town is another name for your historic middle of Alexandria located in Virginia. If you've been fine dining places, theatres, stores as well as vintage shops if you're visiting Alexandria. People with been to Oregon D.H. know that encircling Alexandria neighborhoods offer a similar experience with each other. You'll enjoy jogging through the communities if you consequently choose.
Keep away from big box stores as they can charge too much for products. If you know you need a large quantity connected with an item, like lumber as well as stone, find a bulk shop to purchase your materials from and also save. They will give you far better pricing on material because it is in bulk, vs . purchasing arranged quantities in a very big box keep, which can help the bottom line. Remains are also a great way to save money. Nearly all retailers offer remnants with lower prices given that they take up room and they are unable to use these portions. With a bit of creative imagination, remnants will offer a unique element to your all round design, although saving the bottom line.
You can stop the additional worth of having to subcontract a specialty cleaning company by using a dumpster located right on the property from the beginning with the project. Construction 5 Yard Dumpster Rental in Bay Minette, ALs can be delivered the next day and can be requested by phone or higher the internet. Your small business remodeling look great as well as run additional smoothly whenever a dumpster is located on the webpage before the start construction. Right after most initiatives the site is very messy, filled with debris, having extra materials and filth needing to become picked up however, you can steer clear of any likely extra clean-up by having a dumpster setup on spot right from the start.
Dumpsters can be purchased in different sizes and choosing the right one is very important because the even larger dumpster you choose, greater it will cost. Should you be doing a household renovating or perhaps home enlargement project, you will have to deal with a lot of squander, which will call for a dumpster size of 30-40 cubic feet. Choosing the right dumpster measurement not only decides the cost of these types of services, but it also decides how efficiently you can transfer the squander from your property or home.
Junk gives you a way of accumulating quickly, even for the neatest of householders. That's what helps make today's dumpster rental fees such an affordable and crucial service. As an alternative to having to earth your vehicle as well as spring with regard to gas to help to make ten independent trash visits all the way across town, a 5 Yard Dumpster Rental in Bay Minette, AL right at your front door allows you to clear the whole lot a single fell swoop. From outdated, broken-down appliances as well as discarded pieces of furniture to outdated electronic devices and remaining building materials, a roll-off 5 Yard Dumpster Rental in Bay Minette, AL is the ticket with regard to disposing of the trash from all of your family cleanup initiatives inside and out, which includes: Internet could be the reservoir of information. All good as well as reputable information mill present online. You can use the internet right away and judge the company of your choosing after a beneficial research as well as quote contrast. You can pay for the assistance online along with your credit card or perhaps through additional options that the corporation may supply you with.
No matter what challenge you are planning to accept, imagine each of the materials that you are going to be applying for of the house. Imagine old appliances, old kitchen cabinetry, maybe even that old flooring. In every one of these instances, you have to take a step with the items that you are getting rid of.
According to certified reports connected with state connected with air, numerous Americans still are suffering from the oxygen pollution and this is being a reason for spreading many dangerous conditions like breathing, respiratory infection, lung infection and aggravation of the respiratory system illness. The majority of the residents in US live in bad and unhygienic environments. How can this be? The reason is very simple. The garbage created due to numerous projects such as construction, household renovation, business clean advantages and backyard clean advantages is left without correct disposal and it is contaminating environmental surroundings.
The Fifteen cubic yard 5 Yard Dumpster Rental in Bay Minette, AL you want if you are remodeling and obtaining all of the particles from your cooking area, a big garage, basement or perhaps attic clean-out for example if you are sorting through a home from the deceased person, a large backyard that needs massive clean up, or even a basement remodeling job.


Check us out on Facebook for specials/updated inventory! Let us help you stretch your budget for your new construction or remodel project.
Upgrade your bathroom or install new windows and doors. The possibilities are endless. Let us help you with ideas and projects.
We build our own cabinets for our stock inventory and can customize to your requests. Choosing your wood, sizes and styles to make your own look is available. We also have a prefinished line available within days of ordering.
From you lumber basics like plywood and studs to interior finishes such as faucets and doorknobs, we are a one stop shop. So many options and choices and adding new inventory all the time in all the departments.
Vinyl Plank, Laminate, Sheet Vinyl, Carpet, Tile and more in stock as well as special orders available. We can order anything from Shaw, Mohawk, Dreamweaver and more. We can make this process easy by setting up professional installation for you.


text:
Dream Theater Wiki
Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory
Scene Seven: I. The Dance of Eternity
The Count of Tuscany
Metropolis, Pt 1: "The Miracle and the Sleeper"
Pull Me Under
Constant Motion
A Nightmare to Remember
Another Day (song)
The Astonishing Era
A Life Left Behind
Descent of the NOMACS
Dystopian Overture
Act of Faythe
The Astonishing
Dream Theater studio albums, Black Clouds & Silver Linings Era
cover art by Hugh Syme
Studio album by Dream Theater
October 2008 – March 2009 at Avatar Studios in New York City
Progressive metal, progressive rock
John Petrucci & Mike Portnoy
Dream Theater studio chronology
Systematic Chaos
(2007) Black Clouds & Silver Linings
(2009) A Dramatic Turn of Events
Singles from Black Clouds & Silver Linings
"A Rite of Passage"
"Wither"
Black Clouds & Silver Linings is the tenth studio album by Dream Theater. The album was released on June 23, 2009. The album is Dream Theater's second since signing with Roadrunner Records. The album is notable for the great deal of pre-release promotion, and the large amount of differing editions that can be purchased. It is also notable for being the last Dream Theater album featuring Mike Portnoy on drums, before Mike Mangini was hired as his replacement.
Mike Portnoy - Drums, vocals, co-producer
John Petrucci - Guitar, co-producer
John Myung - Bass, Violin
James LaBrie - Vocals
Jordan Rudess - Keyboard, continuum, lap steel guitar
Tracklist Edit
Disc One: Black Clouds & Silver Linings Edit
1. A Nightmare to Remember (Petrucci) 16:10
2. A Rite of Passage (Petrucci) 8:35
3. Wither (Petrucci) 5:35
4. The Shattered Fortress (Portnoy) 12:49
5. The Best of Times (Portnoy) 13:09
6. The Count of Tuscany (Petrucci) 19:16
Disc Two: Cover songs Edit
1. Stargazer (Rainbow) 8:10
2. Tenement Funster/Flick of the Wrist/Lily of the Valley (Queen) 8:16
3. Odyssey (The Dixie Dregs) 7:59
4. Take Your Fingers From My Hair (Zebra) 7:21
5. Larks' Tongues In Aspic, Part Two (King Crimson) 6:30
6. To Tame a Land (Iron Maiden) 7:15
Disc Three: Instrumental mixes Edit
1. A Nightmare to Remember 15:37
2. A Rite of Passage 8:35
3. Wither 5:37
4. The Shattered Fortress 12:45
5. The Best of Times 12:49
6. The Count of Tuscany 18:47
Pre release Edit
The band released an advance single for "A Rite of Passage" which was available on Roadrunner's website for a 24 hour period. A video was also shot and released for the song.
Across the five weeks leading up to the album's release, they revealed the cover songs by releasing them as singles, one by one, beginning with Stargazer. On the sixth week, the album was released.
Reception Edit
Pre-release reviews by the press were overwhelmingly positive. Rich Wilson, who reviewed the album for Metal Hammer, called it Dream Theater's most focused album in a decade. As with any band of a certain age, fan reception was mixed, but largely the reception has been, again, positive, and hailed by some as a return to form.
Tone and Lyrics Edit
The album is dark, personal and heavy. Out of the four tenets of Dream Theater's sound (progressive, metal, melodic and pop) the band heavily uses the metal sound, notable on songs such as "A Nightmare to Remember", "The Shattered Fortress", and "The Count of Tuscany" though the latter contains many melodic and progressive passages as well. "A Rite of Passage", the vanguard song of the album is seen as being the perfect mixture of all four sounds, and "Wither" is the most pop-oriented song, though it is also the most melodic. Perhaps most interesting is "The Best of Times" which is up-tempo and fast, though not heavy like much of the album. It has been praised for being a little more restrained and melodic, perhaps, than Systematic Chaos.
The lyrics deal almost exclusively with personal experiences, with no fiction being used on this album. "The Shattered Fortress" concludes The AA Saga with the last three steps and is comprised largely of quotes and riffs from the previous songs. Other examples include "Wither" which Petrucci wrote about writing music, "The Best of Times" which Portnoy wrote about his father's death, and Petrucci's "The Count of Tuscany" and "A Nightmare to Remember" tell the story of two frightening experiences he had. On a non-personal note, "A Rite of Passage" is written about the Freemasons.
Cover Art Edit
The cover art is seen as being somewhat of a throwback to both Images and Words and Awake, with various elements that are related to themes from the album, though they appear to be more abstract in nature such as Images and Words. It has also been noted that several of the images have appeared in one form or another from previous Dream Theater albums such as Train of Thought and Octavarium.
Alternate versions Edit
The album was released in three different editions. The basic, jewel case version contains only one disc, featuring the full length album. The special edition contains two bonus discs: Uncovered 2008/09 is disc two, and there's also an instrumental edition of the album. The third version of the album is The Collector's Edition Box Set. The box set contains all three discs from the Special Edition, as well as an additional "producer's disc" which contains isolated tracks. The box set also included a lithograph and a mouse pad, and five box sets contained silver tickets, which entitled the buyer to free entry to one gig, with a meet and greet package bundled in.
Dream Theater's Discography
When Dream and Day Unite - Images and Words - Live at the Marquee - Awake - A Change of Seasons - Falling Into Infinity - Once in a LIVEtime - Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory - Live Scenes from New York - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence - Train of Thought - Live at Budokan - Octavarium - Score - Systematic Chaos - Chaos in Motion: 2007-2008 - Black Clouds & Silver Linings - A Dramatic Turn of Events - Dream Theater - Live at Luna Park - Breaking the Fourth Wall - The Astonishing - Distance Over Time
Retrieved from "https://dreamtheater.fandom.com/wiki/Black_Clouds_%26_Silver_Linings?oldid=7261"
Dream Theater studio albums
Black Clouds & Silver Linings Era
More Dream Theater Wiki
1 Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory
2 John Petrucci
3 Octavarium (album)
Dream Theater Wiki is a FANDOM Music Community.


Come experience the Entrepreneurial Leadership Online simulation created by our very own Babson faculty. First, we'll try the simulation, then review the essentials of ET&A through two videos. As a group, we'll determine how our simulation outcome was impacted by using (or not using) ET&A. Then we'll have some real-world application! You'll identify a challenge, problem, or opportunity, and apply ET&A to identify what's needed to act, learn & build toward a solution.
Are you interested in learning more about the Chile Elective Abroad and/or Dubai Elective Abroad?


Welcome to the Greater Vancouver Home Learners.
We have listings of classes and activities offered to homelearners in the Greater Vancouver area. We also list many non-homelearning specific classes and clubs called Other Opportunities.
We have an up to date list of the local support groups and are happy to add more if they exist! We also list both local and online Suppliers for homeschool curriculum and other materials. We also have a section called Homelearning Options which covers the options homelearning parents have in BC, in order to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Education.
If you would like more information about local homelearning activities, homelearning in general, or a chance to talk with local homelearners, you can also join the HS-Van Yahoo Group or the Facebook group Homeschool Vancouver.
If you have any questions, suggestions, or information you would like included on this page, please email us.


Merry Christmas from my family to yours. I hope you have a holiday surrounded with love, blessings and happiness.
I, like so many of you, have shed many tears over the last few days. There are no words to describe all the feelings I had as I learned of the horrors at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connnecticut on Friday. December 14, 2012 will always be remembered. The children. Teachers. Parents. Lost to a tragedy we will never be able to wrap our minds around.
Both of my girls are in elementary school. The youngest is the same age of many of those precious children who were lost to the world forever. All tragedies hit you hard, but as a parent, they hit you harder. This loss in Newtown affected me in a way I can't really describe. Minutes after learning what had happened, I wrote this to those in my close social media circle: "Tears flowing for the parents, children and teachers in Connecticut. I can't find any other words. Praying."
I wanted desperately to pick my girls up from school so I could just hold them. A couple of hours later, I wrote this: "I just can't stop crying. Nothing else matters but my family. Everything else is so trivial. Baking is the last thing I feel like doing and I desperately need a nap, but I'm making a snack through tears for my girls to have after school and I'm never letting them go. To hell with everything else."
This is how I still feel. I reluctantly dropped my girls off at school this morning and gave them an extra big, long squeeze. As they were getting ready for school and playing around and not doing what they were supposed to be doing, I began to get frustrated as usual but reminded myself, "I'd rather have this." I'm so thankful and blessed to have them waking up in their beds each morning. We don't know what each day holds and how long we have with those we love. We need to make the most of it.
To Newtown: I am praying for you. We are praying for you. When you can't find the strength, the heart, the will to pray, please know that we are saying prayers for you. We are wrapping you in virtual arms of love, wrapping you in our thoughts and prayers, holding space for you. You ARE NOT just another news item to us as we go about our day and you live in this tragedy, wondering how life can go on. We are there with you. We are weeping with you. We are praying that one day you will feel peace.
Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Muffins and a Giveaway!
Are you enjoying your holiday season so far? Lots of preparations under way? I'll be honest that I haven't been able to do too much baking yet, but I plan to get some things baked this weekend.
I think I might make these muffins again. They are that good, and work perfectly for a fall or winter treat or gift for someone special. This muffin recipe comes straight out of "Fast and Simple Gluten-Free: 30 Minutes or Less to Fresh and Classic Favorites " - the recently-released cookbook written by Gretchen Brown of kumquat blog. I'm giving away a copy of this book at the bottom of this post, so don't forget to enter for your chance to win!
I have gotten to "know" Gretchen a little through the Gluten-Free Ratio Rally (look forward to the day when I can meet so many of these bloggers in person!) and I love her blog. Naturally I was thrilled when she asked about interest in reviewing her cookbook.
Gretchen provided me with a copy of this book to review and give away and I can't be anything but honest with you when I tell you that this is my new favorite all-purpose and more gluten-free cookbook. In fact, I've used this book so much before the review that some of the pages got dirty, so I'm keeping this copy and providing a new copy for the giveaway.
This book is simply amazing, and not just for "gluten-free." Anyone would love this book. Unlike other "fast" cookbooks I have intended to give you recipes in 30 minutes or less and you end up spending more than hour on them, this book truly delivers recipes that take 30 minutes or less. The recipes range from beverages to entrees, sides to desserts and more. She has a few recipes in the back that take a little more time, and states so. They are worth it, though, and don't take too much time. These muffins are one of those recipes.
I have already made several of the recipes in this book (including entrees), and my family and I have loved every one of them. You won't be disappointed to receive this book as a holiday gift for yourself or to give to someone else. Gretchen fills the pages with tips and gorgeous photos. I've always loved her food photos. She is also a registered dietitian, so she doesn't steer you wrong with ingredients.
You'll want to enter yourself for a chance to win at the bottom.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees (200 degrees Celsius, or gas mark 6).
Line 12 muffin tins with cupcake wrappers.
Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Combine the oil, brown sugar, pumpkin, eggs, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Stir the oil mixture into the flour mixture until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Spoon the mixture evenly into the muffin pan. Bake for 21 minutes and then cool on a rack.
The giveaway has ended. Congratulations to Marci who is the winner!
This giveaway is for one copy of "Fast and Simple Gluten-Free: 30 Minutes or Less to Fresh and Classic Favorites " and the entry period begins today, December 13, 2012 and will end on Thursday, December 20, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. CST. The winner will be picked through the Random Sequence Generator on Random.org.
1. Leave a comment on this post telling me what type of recipe you'd be most excited to make out of this cookbook (only one comment per person will be counted this way, and this counts as one entry).
5. Share this giveaway on Twitter: "I want to win "Fast & Simple gluten-free" cookbook @MamaMeGF! http://bit.ly/XXzGr3 " and then leave a comment here telling me you've done this.
7. "Like" Gretchen's kumquat blog on facebook and then leave a comment here telling me you've done this.
*In the interest of full disclosure, Gretchen Brown had a copy of this book provided to me for review. Mama Me Gluten Free is purchasing a copy for the giveaway. I was not compensated in any other way, and the opinions of this book are entirely my own.
I missed out on the Gluten-Free Ratio Rally this month - the holidays had begun and it was already December and wait - I didn't do the focaccia challenge! I'm going to have to give it a try, though, because I really love focaccia bread - especially for sandwiches!
In the meantime, please head over to the host this month - Heather from Discovering the Extraordinary - and see her incredible focaccia with rosemary and garlic. Hello, yum! And don't forget to check out the other delicious breads baked up for you by the other participants this month.
If you are curious about the rally, you can check out my rally page here, where I link up to all of my previous rally posts and recipes, as well as the ones I have missed. You can also find Shauna's first post introducing the rally and what it's all about.
I hope you're all having a great start to your holidays so far!
**The giveaway is now over. Congratulations to April for winning the cookbook and cooling racks, and thank you to all who participated! Happy baking!
Yesterday was my two-year blogiversary, but I was swamped and wasn't able to post this until today. Happy Anniversary to Mama Me Gluten Free! It's been an exciting two years and I've loved getting to know so many of you, as well as fellow bloggers.
In addition to Jeanne's fabulous book, I'm including this 3-tier Wilton cooling rack - because every person needs stacking cooling racks when baking! The combination of the book and cooling racks would make an amazing gift for your favorite gluten-free loved one (even if that loved one is yourself!) - so read the directions below on how to maximize your chance of winning and getting multiple entries.
This giveaway is for one signed copy of "Gluten-Free Baking for the Holidays: 60 Recipes for Traditional Festive Treats" and one set of 3-tier Wilton cooling racks, and the entry period begins today, November 29, 2012 and will end on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) CST. The winner will be picked through the Random Sequence Generator on Random.org.
1. Leave a comment on this post telling me your baked holiday treat (only one comment per person will be counted this way, and this counts as one entry).
5. Share this giveaway on Twitter: "I want to win "Gluten-Free Baking for the Holidays" & cooling racks @MamaMeGF! http://bit.ly/V6zVvw " and then leave a comment here telling me you've done this.
7. "Like" Jeanne's page on Facebook and then leave a comment here telling me you've done this.
*In the interest of full disclosure, Jeanne Sauvage provided a copy of this book for my giveaway. I was not compensated in any other way, and the opinions of this book are entirely my own. Mama Me Gluten Free is providing the cooling racks.
We have much to be thankful for, even when things don't seem to be going our way, and I'm trying hard to continue counting my blessings each day. Among so many other blessings I'm counting, this year I am thankful that all the scary stuff with my health last year turned out not be cancer or an illness we feared with a poor prognosis. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is no walk in the park, but I'm learning to live around it.
Some of our wall art for Thanksgiving last year - a painting by one of my daughters and leaves the girls made to scatter around the house.
This year I'm adding the recipe for squash casserole to the list (I didn't have the recipe for you last year), and I hope one day I'll have all the recipes on this menu available to you. Maybe one a year??
I'm proud to be able to share the squash casserole with you. It's a recipe from my grandmother and has been in my family for as long as I can remember. I've loved it as long as I can remember, and I love that I've passed my love for it on to my daughters. We always have it at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it's equally good for other meals during other times, as well. The wonderful thing about this recipe is it's very simple and even the prep is mostly just cooking it on the stove with no stirring. It's also nice because you can freeze squash from your summer garden in advance for the casserole months later. You can also prepare the entire dish a few days in advance.
Place sliced squash in large saucepan with small amount of salted water, cover and steam until tender. Drain.
In small amount of light oil in a large pan, cook chopped onion until tender. Add seasonings and squash. Chop squash until broken. Cook until most of the water has evaporated.
*At this point you can freeze it if you want, for use later.
Add 1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs and stir until combined.
Place in shallow greased baking dish (I use a glass pie pan).
*At this point you can put plastic wrap on top and refrigerate it for a few days - making this an easy dish to prepare in advance.
Sprinkle more seasoned bread crumbs on top.
Bake at 400 degrees until squash is heated through and breadcrumbs are browned - usually about 10-15 minutes.
You'll notice that the title says this is a bundt cake, but the pictures don't tell that truth. Something happened to my bundt pan and when I finally had the last-minute chance to make this cake, I didn't have time to get another one. I don't recommend you using your angel food cake tube pan for this recipe, but that's what I did. It was a huge mistake as I lost a bit of batter from the bottom of the pan as the batter started getting hot and rising. Thankfully I was able to clean it up from the bottom before the cake had a chance of falling and put some aluminum foil down for the rest of the drippings - and salvaged everything without that dreaded smoke taste!
Many thanks to Adina from Gluten Free Travelette for hosting our Gluten-Free Ratio Rally this month and giving us the challenge of bundt cakes. Be sure to check out her delicious cake as well as the cakes the other participants have baked up for you. They all look amazing and you don't want to miss them!
If you aren't familiar with the rally, you can check out my rally page here, where I list the other rally posts and find out why we are so excited about the freedom we've discovered in our kitchens when we bake by weight and ratio.
I chose the flavors in this cake because I was craving a dessert my grandmother makes (I really need to give you that recipe one day - it's incredible!) and with the holidays coming up, wanted to add a festive twist to the flavor with the orange glaze. I used Ruhlman's ratio for pound cake, which is 1 part butter: 1 part sugar: 1 part egg: 1 part flour, but reduced the amount of butter by a fourth and was pleased to see it still came out delicious. It really has a perfect texture that I was very pleased with.
Preheat over to 325 degrees and butter a bundt pan.
Mix flours together with ground chia seed.
Beat butter with paddle attachment in stand mixer (or however you mix if you don't have a stand mixer) at medium speed for about a minute.
Add the sugar and salt, then beat on medium-high until butter mixture becomes fluffy and lighter in color (about three minutes). Scrape bowl if necessary.
Have your eggs ready and lightly whisked together, then slowly add them to the butter mixture, continuing to beat until they are mixed in. Scrape bowl and mix a little more. Scrape again and mix in the vanilla.
Slowly add the flour with the mixer going at low speed. Scrape bowl and mix again just until everything is mixed together.
Pour batter into pan and bake at 325 for about 50 minutes to an hour. Cake is done when toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean. Let cake sit for 5-10 minutes, then turn onto plate and cool on wire rack to cool completely.
For glaze, heat refined sugar and zest with orange juice until bubbling and sugar is dissolved, then add powdered sugar and more orange juice. After cake has cooled, spoon over top and sides, letting sauce saturate the top of cake.
Don't forget to stop by Adina's post and check out her cake as well as the other cakes this rally. Thank you again, Adina!


text:
Home/Company/Partnerships/Scientific Advisory & Project Board (SAPB)
50Hertz is pursuing a clear climate and industrial policy goal: by 2032, we want to cover 100 percent of the electricity demand in our grid area from renewable energies.
We are doing this on the one hand to support the goal of making Europe a climate-neutral continent by 2050. But we're also doing this because we know that for many companies, the availability of electricity from renewables is a decisive factor in location decisions.
In order to integrate 100 percent renewable energy by 2032, we need an interdisciplinary and future-oriented exchange. It is important to us to conduct this exchange not only with the business community, but also with the scientific community.
To this end, we have established the Scientific Advisory & Project Board (SAPB), in which we discuss challenges and innovative solutions for a greenhouse gas-neutral future with in an interdisciplinary manner and work on them in concrete research and development projects.
The board consists of 21 experts from German and Swiss Universities (see list below). Its first meeting took place on March 18, 2021.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Braun
University of Kassel
Chair for Energy Management and Power System Operation
Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology (Fraunhofer IEE)
Director Grid Planning and Grid Operation Division
TO INSTITUTE-WEBSITE
Prof. Dr. Thomas Bruckner
Leipzig University – Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences
Institute for Infrastructure and Resource Management
Dr. Manfred Fischedick
Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy
Prof. Dr. Martin Geidl
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland
Head of Institute of Electric Power Systems
Martin Kaltschmitt
Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sascha Kosleck
University of Rostock – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology
Chair of Ocean Engineering
Dr. Felix Chr. Matthes
Oeko-Institut – Institute for Applied Ecology
Research Coordinator Energy and Climate Policy
Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Albert Moser
Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalization and Energy Economics
Prof. Dr. Felix Müsgens
Brandenburg University of Technology
Professor of Energy Economics
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ronald Plath
Energy and Automation Technology
Department High Voltage Engineering
Professor and Head of Department
Prof. Dr. Barbara Praetorius
HTW Berlin / University of Applied Sciences
Professor for Sustainability, Environmental and Energy Economics
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Schegner
Institute of Electrical Power Systems and High Voltage Engineering
Professor for Electrical Power Systems
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai Strunz
Chair of Sustainable Electric Networks and Sources of Energy (SENSE)
Prof. Dr. Jens Strüker
Project Group Business & Information Systems Engineering of the Fraunhofer FIT, University of Bayreuth, Core Competence Center Finance & Information Management
Dirk Westermann
University of Technology, Thuringian Energy Research
Director Thuringian Energy Research Institute
Head of Power System Group
Dr. Kirsten Westphal
German Institute for International and Security Affairs Berlin
Dr. Christiane Golling
christiane.golling@50hertz.com
Olivier Feix
Head of Corporate Development
olivier.feix@50hertz.com


The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) conducted a two day seminar in the Philippine municipalities of Anda and Bolinao, Pangasinan on September 25 and 26, 2014 targeting milkfish cage technicians, farmers, investors and local government units with the objective of sharing USSEC's Low Volume High Density (LVHD) cage aquaculture technology along with the latest technologies and benefits of using extruded floating feeds in milkfish cage aquaculture in the Philippines and Southeast Asia (SEA). 67 participants representing milkfish cage technicians, farmers, investors and staff of local government units from Anda and Bolinao along with feedmill representatives attended the two-day forum. The seminar helped participants gain information on how to improve farmers' production efficiency, transition to sustainable cage farming with the use of extruded floating feeds, proper feed and water quality management, profitability and the lowering of milkfish feed conversion ratio (FCR) in milkfish cage aquaculture. Milkfish farmers adopting technology and management practices discussed in the seminar will measure long-term success. Unless this particular market segment of the market is taught how to be sustainable, local farmers may underperform, dampening the growth of soybean meal (SBM) consumption in the area. Milkfish (Chanos chanos) is the most important fish species in the Philippines with an annual production of 401,070 metric tons (MT) in 2013. The province of Pangasinan produced about 100,682 MT in 2013, or about 25.1 percent of the Philippines' total milkfish production, with an estimated feed requirement of 241,636 MT and estimated SBM usage of about 91,824 MT. In 2014, Pangasinan's milkfish production rose to about 114,358 MT with an estimated feed requirement of 274,459 MT and estimated SBM usage of about 104,294 MT. Estimated SBM inclusion rate is at 38 percent. From 2002 to 2013, production of milkfish from aquaculture grew at an average rate of 3.62 percent. USSEC's current aquaculture program in the Philippines is aimed at setting the foundation for a more sustainable and quality-oriented production base.
Seven panamaxes of U.S. soybean meal (SBM) have been purchased by the Thai Feed Import Group since the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) brought the company's leadership to the U.S. on a September 2013 trade mission that included touring grain export facilities in Washington, visiting with Minnesota soybean growers, inspecting the soybean crop in parts of Minnesota, and attending the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in Davenport, Iowa. During February and March 2014, the Thai group purchased two panamaxes from ADM and Bunge with an additional two purchased targeted for November/December 2014 from Bunge. In November 2014, the company purchased three panamaxes again from Bunge equaling about 180,000 metric tons (MT) of U.S. SBM, bringing the 2014 total to seven.
For three days in June 2015, more than 100 representatives from governments, academia, trade associations, industry, and investor groups met in Singapore for the 1st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Aquaculture Industry Summit, hosted using MAP and FMD funds by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the American Soybean Association / U.S Soybean Export Council (ASA / USSEC), along with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS). The summit's two primary goals were to bring key stakeholders to the table to address constraints on the aquaculture sector and to work together to find common ground for developing a roadmap towards the harmonization of regulatory and certification issues among ASEAN members. Summit sessions addressed: (1) best practices in ASEAN aquaculture farm management; (2) strategies and future of ASEAN feed management; (3) regulation and legislation related to aquaculture; and (4) investment prospects in aquaculture.
H.E. Kirk Wagar, Ambassador of the United States to Singapore, was a keynote speaker at the summit, and noted the extraordinary 7.8 percent annual growth rate for aquaculture in the region in the past two decades. At the end of the summit, a dossier containing seven proposed action items was presented to the ASEAN secretariat. The action items encouraged the harmonization of efforts in Southeast Asia's aquaculture industry, including the establishment of the ASEAN Community of 2015 to help boost the development of the aquaculture community and trade in aquaculture products, the welcome and support of ASEAN's implementation of programs and activities, the development of a strategic plan of action for ASEAN Cooperation on Food, Agriculture and Forestry 2016-2025, and ASEAN's effort to promote public-private sector participation in the aquaculture sector, particularly suggesting coordination in Indonesia. By 2050, Asia is expected to account for about 90 percent of global aquaculture production, feeding a population totaling 9.2 billion. Southeast Asia is a big contributor to the aquaculture industry, with 54 percent of ASEAN seafood production in 2012 coming from aquaculture.
The recent Southeast Asia Trade Mission, organized by USSEC, consisted of 35 executives representing 30 countries including Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines and Myanmar. Companies such as integrated food processors, oilseed crushers, livestock raisers, livestock feed producers, soy food manufacturers and local trading companies were represented. The goal of this mission was to highlight the value of U.S. agricultural products, promote the U.S. as the one-point ag-solution provider to international customers, and deliver U.S. Soy's Total Quality promise.
During the ten day mission, the trade team toured grain export facilities in the Washington State, visited with Minnesota soybean growers and inspected the soybean crop in parts of Minnesota, before joining over 200 representatives from 40 different countries at the highlight of this mission: the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in Davenport, Iowa. Co-located with the 10th Annual Midwest Specialty Grains/Grain Export Shipping Conference & Trade Show, the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange featured two days of meetings and presentations, facility and river tours, as well as private meetings with U.S. exporters for introductions, market discussions and the exploration of business opportunities.
Based on written evaluations received from trade team members, the overall experience of this year's trade mission has been extremely positive. As with every mission since its 2008 inception, actual trades and business have been negotiated and concluded. This year, an estimated value of almost $98 million worth of approximately 155,000 metric tons of soybeans, 30,000 metric tons of soybean meal, 10,000 metric tons of corn, 25,000 metric tons of dried distiller grains with solubles (DDGS), and 5,000 metric tons of wheat were transacted by the trade team at the event.
This program is funded by and under the auspices of the United Soybean Board, the American Soybean Association and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Key contributors to this mission include: AG Processing; Bunge North America; Columbia Grain, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council; North Dakota Soybean Council; South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council; Midwest Shippers Association; and Iowa Soybean Association.


text:
Kate Michael
Kate Michael, @kstreetkate, is a Writer/Model/On-Camera Host and Event Emcee. Notable as the Founder and current Editor-At-Large of K Street Magazine, Kate started the site while serving as Miss District of Columbia 2006 and competing in Miss America (2007). Currently, Kate works as a professional spokesperson and model, walking the runway for such industry icons as Valentino, Derek Lam, Naeem Kahn and Oscar de la Renta. Her media portfolio includes a spread in Elle magazine and features on Inside Edition and BBC World News' "The Real Cities" series. You'll catch her interviewing guests on DC's NewChannel8′s Let's Talk Live and showcasing products on BestBuy.com, as well as work appearing on NBC, Fox, Comcast and local print publications.
Bumper Jacksons
January 17, 2020 @ 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
11810 Grand Park Avenue 4th Floor North Bethesda
Tickets: $22–$36
From the sounds of New Orleans to Appalachian hollers, the Bumper Jacksons elegantly balance paying homage to traditions while fashioning their own unique, playful style of music. The group began as a duo, a city-meets-country experiment between songstress Jess Eliot Myhre and banjo player Chris Ousley. They hopped on bicycles, touring the country, instruments on their backs, seeking to reimagine roots music. Within five years, Bumper Jacksons grew to a brassy six-piece band, with horns and pedal steel guitars. They've been honored multiple times as the Mid-Atlantic's Artist of the Year and Best Traditional Band at the Washington Area Music Awards. Bursting at the seams with some of the richest threads of old America, Bumper Jacksons bring you into the center of a party where everyone's invited, and the dance floor never sleeps.


Normally, no capacitors are needed unless the device is situated more than six inches from the input filter capacitors, in which case an input bypass is needed. An optional output capacitor can be added to improve transient response. The adjustment terminal can be bypassed to achieve very high ripple rejections ratios, which are difficult to achieve with standard 3-terminal regulators. For information regarding capacitor selection, refer to External Capacitors.


Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall at 3:00 pm on 14th March 2019.
Organisations always argue that they want to be self-sufficient, but that should not come at the expense of the people whom they actually regulate. I am not an expert on the regulations that some of these bodies govern, but we should be very careful when thinking about changing regulations or reducing their amount. We would need to test that.
Altogether, the HCPC has not given a strong reason for this huge increase, leaving affected workers frustrated and angry. In addition, the Government's response to the fee change has been very disappointing: in answer to written questions, they have just repeated the HCPC's weak defence of the fee rise. Ministers have argued that the registration fees remain the lowest of any health regulator, but that does not change the fact that the rise is disproportionate and unfair. The Government should be concerned over the threats to staff levels in the affected professions, but Ministers say they have made no assessment of the impact on staffing of this rise. That is a complete dereliction of duty, with staff openly talking of leaving due to the rise.
It is an irresponsible move by the Government to hide behind the HCPC's independence. They must take steps to prevent fee rises from being the norm for the HCPC, and for all regulators, and help to build bridges between healthcare professionals and the HCPC, as trust is breaking down. HCPC members are understandably angry, believing that it is exploiting a stranglehold over their jobs. The rise amounts to nothing less than a tax on practising, and it has had little scrutiny or debate. I would like the HCPC to reverse the decision to increase registration fees by 18%. The Government and the HCPC must change the way fees are decided on, to prevent such a huge change happening in the future. The HCPC must operate in a fairer and more transparent way, and the Government must play a role in ensuring that that happens. It is time that the Government and the HCPC stopped taking advantage of those who take care of us all.
In response to the rise in fees, Unison conducted a survey of affected members and found that 99% of respondents did not back it. Importantly, it found that 76% did not see the current £90 fee as good value for money. Members feel that the HCPC offers no real benefit except for allowing them to practise. They are also critical of the justification given by the HCPC for the fee rise.
First, it must be pointed out that the 18% rise completely outstrips inflation. If the HCPC was genuinely concerned to cover inflation, it could implement smaller, year-on-year rises. I doubt whether the staff could afford those, frankly, but it is one way to look at it. Secondly, it is unfair for members of other professions to cover the costs of transferring social workers to a new regulator. The HCPC faces upheaval because of the change, but it is wrong for other professionals to pay the price.
Thirdly, the case for needing more funding after the transfer of social worker regulation is dubious. Social workers make up a quarter of members, which is a substantial number of registration fees. We all know what a difficult job they do. Often they are put in a situation where they cannot win, and they bear the brunt of some of the ills of society, to say the least of it. However, they also account for more than half of all fitness to practise cases. That is the HCPC's largest area of expenditure. Despite a loss of income, the HCPC will face a sharper fall in costs at the same time. That fundamentally undermines the case for an 18% rise, and proves that it is unnecessary.
Unison also highlighted several changes that the HCPC should implement to reduce spending. First, it must take steps to make its complaints process more efficient. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care found in 2018 that the HCPC's investigation committee refers cases too readily to the fitness to practise panel and that more than 20% of complaints are found at final hearings to be "not well founded". Overall, members are funding a system that handles complaints against 0.64% of registrants and sanctions just 0.09%. No wonder so many members are left feeling that they gain nothing from their registration.
The fee rise comes on top of many years of wage freezes and below-inflation wage rises. Although £106 might not sound much to the Government or to some higher-earners in the health sector, the rise will be a real hit to part-time workers and those on lower wages. Professionals are left doubting their trust in the HCPC after being ignored in the consultation. The HCPC is facing growing unrest and resentment among its members. Many are now moving to non-regulated posts, and part-time working will become a lot less attractive, inevitably causing a fall in the number of workers in the sector.


Ponder Coffee. Photo by Phil Eich.
From her position at the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation, Executive Director Amanda Schafer has a bird's eye view of the ripples of change emanating from Isabella County. And on more than one occasion, she's been frustrated with the barriers that prevent her from getting the word out to her neighbors and friends in the region and across the state.
"When we talk about community leadership, we talk about making certain folks know about the amazing assets we have here," she says.
Schafer is far from the only local leader who shares this sentiment. There are plenty of great things happening in Mt. Pleasant and its neighboring communities.
We think it's time people heard more about them.
That's where Epicenter Mt. Pleasant comes in. Launching Thursday, August 16, Epicenter is a weekly publication and email newsletter featuring stories about bold startups, emerging places, catalytic talent, transformative projects, and ideas across the region. The publication joins Issue Media Group's growing network of partner cities in its statewide Second Wave publication, which is focused on growth and innovation across Michigan.
At the Central Michigan University Research Center, President and CEO Erin Strang believes so deeply in the potential of the developing Isabella County business scene she can't and won't choose a favorite. Ask her what's the most exciting thing on the horizon and she'll rattle off a list of businesses ranging from tech disruptors to industrial salvage and remodeling contractors.
"Isabella County is a community of entrepreneurs," says Strang, who oversees the research center's business incubator, co-working spaces, and idea accelerator.
Nestled into a Michigan Economic Development Corporation SmartZone, the research center offers everything a would-be entrepreneur or new startup CEO needs to vet their idea, launch their business, and then take it to the next level. And it's that next level Strang hopes to fill more than 300 smart acres with over the next few years.
SmartZones are MEDC-certified technology parks, dedicated areas where technology-based firms, entrepreneurs, and researchers locate in close proximity to one another, as well as the community assets they need in their day-to-day operations.
Husband-wife team Aaron and Christie Cromar are living proof of Strang's point. Mt. Pleasant's self-taught coffee gurus spent two or three years roasting beans in popcorn poppers in their home kitchen before striking out into the community's downtown with their idea.
"We spent a couple years at the Farmer's Market first," says Christie Cromar who seamlessly juggles the demands of a small business owner, serving customers on one side of the bar at the center of the shop while answering questions over a pot of the best Ethiopian coffee I've had outside Ethiopia on the other.
Today Ponder Coffee, the small, hip coffee joint on the south side of Broadway Street in the heart of Mt. Pleasant's revitalizing downtown business district, is three years old, and the Cromars already have another shop up their sleeve. That storefront will open up near campus in the next few weeks, but Christie Cromar says a grand opening isn't their style, "we're hands-on, we take smart risks, but we don't get in over our head." Rather than flashy events, the Cromars try to focus on what matters: the atmosphere, the service, and the coffee.
Though Aaron does most of the roasting, Christie Cromar appreciates the finer points of his technique and the innovative ways he comes up with their next best cup.
Of course, a business isn't a business without its community, and the neighbors and friends who call Isabella County home are a consistent highlight in conversation.
Hyble thinks part of what makes Isabella County so tight-knit are the incredible recreational opportunities right here in its own backyard.
For their part, the parks and recreation department is continually making updates to Mt. Pleasant's many green spaces, including those with access to cool, clear mid-Michigan waterways.
In fact, with the recent completion of the second leg of the Mid-Michigan Trailway, accessibility in Isabella County branches out from Mt. Pleasant to neighboring communities like Shepherd where residents can bike for a scenic detour and then a bite to eat or a cold drink before heading home.
Combined with the draw of Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort, Soaring Eagle Waterpark, the cultural and hands-on museums in the area, and the many events hosted at the casino throughout the year, Hyble and his fellow community leaders are convinced Mt. Pleasant is not just a destination for a day or a night on the town in mid-Michigan, but the epicenter of a revival… if only they can get the word out.
And Epicenter Mount Pleasant is here to help them do just that.