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Posted on August 9, 2012 June 30, 2017
An ever closer legal union?
An ever closer legal union? Published today at The Guardian
Something interesting is happening to the legal services market in Scotland.
Firstly, like everywhere else, Scotland is feeling the effects of a double dip recession. This has shrunk the legal sector, dried up a good deal of commercial and domestic property work and left smaller law firms concentrating their billable time on wills, trusts and executries.
For the medium to large firms in the Scottish market, however, the seismic event of the past few years has been the falling away of work from the two most significant clients in the country: The Bank of Scotland and The Royal Bank of Scotland.
To give an idea of just how central this work is, I recall a discussion some years ago with a senior partner in one of Edinburgh's grandest firms. He pointed out that in 1800 their two largest clients were the banks and that this was still the case over two hundred years later. Indeed, the decline of bank business in Edinburgh – which all the major firms share in — has been compared by some to Glasgow's loss of heavy industry in the 1950s, or the disturbance of an ecosystem in which surveyors, lawyers, accountants and even sandwich shops have traditionally lived and thrived. Of course both banks are still very much present in the Scottish market, it's just that the transaction work which they consistently provided may not return on anything like the scale it once was.
Despite these changes, however, there is a great deal for lawyers to be optimistic about: the market has dynamism and Edinburgh is growing again as an eminent financial centre with secure funds under management; it's attracting headquarters for banks such as Virgin Money, Tesco and Green Investment; the city has over 700 established financial services firms; it's building a significant reputation for technology start-ups with IPO ambitions; there's oil and gas work and development; and it's still one of the top places in the world to live, work and study.
But the thing which is most interesting in the industry at the moment is the rapid trend of mergers between Scots and English firms. The most prominent link up earlier this year was between McGrigors, one of Scotland's lead firms, and Pinsent Masons. Others have followed: DWF and Biggart Baillie, Shoosmiths and Archibald, Campbell & Harley, DAC Beachcroft and Andersons. A number of other firms have featured in the rumour mill. The trend is a very significant one for a jurisdiction which has always been fiery about its independence: equally, however, its very independence from the rest of the UK legal sector has perhaps led Scots firms and their lawyers to underplay their hand on a wider stage.
Why are these mergers happening, and what are the incentives on both sides?
From the Scottish perspective, a link up with a strong London or regional player gives the strength and support of a larger firm in these tough economic times — for even the biggest in Scotland are small when compared to the likes of the magic circle firms. Many clients will have interests across the border, and it makes sense in those circumstances for the same firm to be able to offer a joined up service. For lawyers in Scottish firms, a link up with a global practice brings the potential to work and travel far beyond the jurisdiction's traditional boundaries.
From the opposite perspective, merger with a Scots firm is likely to bring in a high quality team of lawyers with an established share in some very lucrative markets including, for example, oil and gas work. As an added bonus, for those working on high value London deals there will suddenly be the availability of a skilled team of commercial lawyers working out of Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen, who would then be in a position to share the workload at a competitive rate.
Overall, the trend of cross border mergers meets a number of needs on both sides, as well as being a timely reminder that despite obvious differences (such as land law) there is much which is shared across the two jurisdictions. After all, the Act of Union in 1707 gave Scots the commercial freedom to reap the benefits of England's trade networks, whose doors had until then been closed to them; and it gave England the talent, drive and imagination of some of Scotland's best people. The combined strength from working together across the border is greater than the sum of the separate parts.
Through a telescope, darkly
The Sky's Dark Labyrinth, by Stuart Clark (Polygon, 2011)
In the same way it was once thought the Earth was flat, people (important people) used to think that the sun, moon, planets and stars moved across the sky like props on a medieval stage, perhaps even helped along with jerky twitches on strings, or poked with sticks by an out of sight but kind hearted old puppeteer with a white beard. The Earth didn't move of course, said the wise, how could it? No, it was everything else that revolved around it like so many clockwork toys.
We've come so far in this post-post-modernist second decade of the twenty first century, that it's difficult to imagine just how different the world of ideas once was. Four hundred years ago mildly eccentric old ladies were burned as witches: but the threat of burning also hung over anyone whose views differed from official church doctrine on any number of issues – doctrine which was anchored in Saint Thomas Aquinas' brilliant (but by the 1600s looking rather shaky) marriage of Christian theology and Aristotelian philosophy, set out in the numerous volumes of his Summa Theologica. I mean no harm to Aquinas: on the contrary, his thirteenth century writings are among the first lights flickering from the darkness; but after more than three hundred years his ideas were struggling against the dawning light of reason.
We have all seen the stars with our own eyes, and that is exactly how they were observed – even by the Egyptians – right up until the seventeenth century when a few spectacle makers in Holland suddenly realised (no doubt by accident) that by holding one lens in front of another, next door's windmill suddenly looked enormous. Within a few years Galileo in Italy had developed the first telescope and was crashing around, knocking down the medieval stage scenery of the skies.
Then there is the great Austrian mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler who, separate from Galileo, applied his mind to the recorded observations of his time and deduced mathematically the motion of the spheres.
Nobody liked this, it seems: or at least not many people whose opinions counted – which meant the church, both Catholic and Protestant.
There is something rather obvious, with hindsight, about the advancement of science – and looking back upon the collision between the immovable objects of faith and tradition and the irresistible force of evidence which refutes it, is like watching a very messy car crash in slow motion.
To the Vatican priests of the sixteen hundreds, the view through a telescope presented the reality that Holy Scripture was not literally true, that the philosophers of antiquity whom they adored had limits to their understanding, and that they could not respond by making new theology on the hoof – for who knew what the men of science might discover next, and where would the church be then?
It is a perplexing but fascinating period of history brought to life by Stuart Clark, an enthusiastic British academic, journalist, author and broadcaster who has devoted himself to bringing the world of astronomy to life. In The Sky's Dark Labyrinth he has created a fictional account of the development of stargazing from an eccentric and superstitious hobby through to the greatest scientific revelation of all time. I enjoyed seeing the Jesuits, the brilliant schoolmasters of my youth, cast in their role as sixteenth century thought police, and the glittering circle in which Cardinal Robert Bellarmine moved.
The book is gripping (I read it over the course of two days) and it brings out very sympathetically the tensions of the time both from the point of view of the geniuses Galileo and Kepler and the established Catholic and Protestant authorities.
The even better news is that The Sky's Dark Labyrinth is only the first in a trilogy: the second book, The Sensorium of God, was published earlier this year by Polygon and the third, The Day Without Yesterday, is scheduled for publication in 2013. The Sensorium of God deals with the life and times of Sir Isaac Newton and his contemporaries in the Royal Society (such as Sir Christopher Wren, Robert Hooke and Edmund Halley), while The Day Without Yesterday jumps forward in time to the twentieth century, Albert Einstein and his contemporary Father Georges Lemaitre, a brilliant Belgian astronomer and physicist; and proof that a person can be a visionary scientist and still see the hand of God in the marvels of the Universe.
Also published at Think Scotland
Posted on July 23, 2012 June 30, 2017
Is this party cool, legally speaking?
Published today in The Scotsman
Everyone seems to have a smart phone or tablet these days and, not unconnected, just about every major legal jurisdiction now seems to have intellectual property disputes arising from their sale and development.
In a dizzying whirl of litigation over the last twelve months, from Germany and Japan to the United States, the Netherlands and England, the major players in the market (including Apple, Samsung, HTC and Motorola) have locked horns in attempts to obtain injunctions against the sale and distribution of rival products. Success has been mixed.
In some instances, one company has been successful in one jurisdiction, only to obtain an entirely different or at least a conflicting outcome in another. While in essence the disputes have been about the designs and technologies used in mobile devices, the reality is that it is a battle for control or even a foothold in a multi-billion dollar worldwide market.
There are no definitive answers it seems, or at least there are a number of different ways of looking at the laws of patent infringement.
Some argue that the software designs and enhancements built in to each succeeding generation of devices have inevitably built upon those of the past; while others claim that certain features of 'searchability' and 'functionality' in devices are unique, and represent a recognisable development attracting their own intellectual property rights and legal protection. Some issues relate purely to the appearance of rival devices but overall a very real concern in the industry is that if each company becomes entrenched in successfully protecting its own patents and designs, future breakthroughs and developments will become all but impossible in the way all the major players have benefited from in the past.
This month's decision of Judge Birss QC, in the English High Court case of Samsung Electronics (UK) Ltd v Apple Inc. [2012] EWHC 1882 Pat, is a good example. Samsung raised an action seeking a declaration that three of its Galaxy tablet models did not infringe a European Community Registered Design registered by and belonging to Apple. Following an exhaustive consideration of many of the design features of both Apple and Samsung products, Judge Birss noted as follows:
"The extreme simplicity of the Apple design is striking. Overall it has undecorated flat surfaces with a plate of glass on the front all the way out to a very thin rim and a blank back. There is a crisp edge around the rim and a combination of curves, both at the corners and the sides. The design looks like an object the informed user would want to pick up and hold. It is an understated, smooth and simple product. It is a cool design."
Then, turning to the Samsung products he opined:
"The informed user's overall impression of each of the Samsung Galaxy Tablets is the following. From the front they belong to the family which includes the Apple design; but the Samsung products are very thin, almost insubstantial members of that family with unusual details on the back. They do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool. The overall impression produced is different."
And so by way of this rather back-handed compliment and affirmation of judicial good taste, Judge Birss concluded that Samsung had not infringed Apple's registered design.
The judge's remarks have been a gift to satirists, or at least who those who hang around the Royal Courts of Justice. "Surely, that's the last thing you want," they chortled on BBC Radio's Now Show, "judges basing their verdict on how cool they think the parties are. Older people just aren't behaving the way we expect." The thought led seamlessly on to the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones first gig. If 'gig' is still cool.
The makers of the Galaxy products welcomed the decision, stating that it 'affirmed our position that Galaxy Tab products do not infringe Apple's registered design right. As the ruling proves, the origins of Apple's registered design features can be found in numerous examples of prior art." And "Should Apple continue to make excessive claims in other countries based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited."
Apple of course sees the position very differently, and the litigations pending in jurisdictions across the globe will continue to play out, with one highly significant showdown, again with Samsung, moving slowly toward a U.S. Federal Court hearing. Apple has won the vital preliminary skirmish in securing an injunction against the sale of Galaxy products, a decision which Samsung is appealing in advance of the full hearing. The stakes for both companies could not be higher.
Scotland's War
A Time of Tyrants: Scotland and the Second World War, by Trevor Royle (published by Birlinn, 2011) – this article published today at Think Scotland
If you have never seen the view into the valley of the Clyde from the hills above Greenock, then that is something wonderful you have yet to experience in life. With the sun shining and a gentle breeze tugging at the yellow whins, you can see the blue river snaking down from Glasgow, past Dumbarton Rock, and Ben Lomond looming like an iceberg on the horizon; you can see it as it flows toward you growing wider, the channel of its navigable waters neatly pegged out like a putting green, red to port, green to starboard, all the delicate way between yawning sandbanks; and over your left shoulder now there's the Tail o' the Bank, where the water turns salty, then lazily moves south round the headland of Gourock and opens out into the mouth of the Firth, with Largs, Troon, Turnberry and the Ailsa Craig, and all the promises of fish teas and ice cream which those sunlit pavilions have to offer.
Across the water from you now are the Holy Loch, Loch Long and Gare Loch, where you could hide seventeen Royal Navy Frigates like so many kilted Jacobites in moorland heather: because you can see clearly now from where you're standing, plain as the nose on your face, that these are some of the best natural harbours anywhere in the world, bar nowhere. This is a home for giants: where ships were incubated then born onto the river like calving glaciers; and spread out before you it is a natural amphitheatre as glorious in its way as the view over Edinburgh from the North Bridge.
The mighty channel is usually empty these days apart from the occasional dredger heading up to Glasgow, or the quaint sight of the Waverley ploughing the waters like a mechanical swan. Indeed on a day like this, with the sun in the sky, the waters and shores look natural and clean: fish swim far upriver and razorbills and oystercatchers perch along the banks; but sprawling supermarket complexes and burger joints now fill the void of what was once the vast grimy, noisy, relentless, unceasing, ceased to exist glory – the clanging heart – that was shipbuilding on the lower Clyde.
Close your eyes; go back over seventy years to 1940 and the scene before you when you open them again is very different. I have mischievously convinced my four year old daughter that the world before 1980 was entirely black and white, but in this instance it's not hard to believe that the sky and the sea would have been a little less blue, the grass a little less green, the air thick with grey smoke and coal dust. In those days the Clyde was a seething mass of shipping, with every conceivable vessel butting its way through the choppy waters, crossing and crisscrossing before you like scars on a riveter's glove. Or as Trevor Royle describes the scene in A Time of Tyrants:
"Not only was the Tail of the Bank home to some of the warships of the Free French Navy, together with 1,500 of their sailors at Fort Matilda, but as the assembly point for Atlantic convoys it meant that the waters 'held the biggest small boat pool in Great Britain with French, Belgian, Dutch, Scandinavian and other vessels. Greenock was as a consequence highly internationalised then and each of its public houses a veritable Babel.'"
In those days of war the Clyde was alive with ships: so alive, in fact, that the Nazis knew that it had to be addressed through bombing raids; and so first Clydebank and then Greenock received their share of the bombs. As Royle describes, 35,000 people were made homeless in Clydebank and 528 killed, while in Greenock and Port Glasgow the figure was 320, with hundreds more seriously injured. There was tragedy and high drama, but I also remember the story of the Tate and Lyle factory on Greenock's Drumfrochar Road being bombed, and molten sugar running down the cobbled streets: why do I always imagine ragged schoolboys delightedly following its lava-like course?
It's rather difficult today to bring to mind the Scotland of the Second World War, since so much has changed both here and abroad. That's why it takes a past master like Trevor Royle to tell us the story: to lead us through the people, the politics, the honour and the sacrifice of the most important period of the twentieth century, and the immense involvement of Scots and Scotland in that global struggle. Following on from his successful appraisal of The Great War in The Flowers of the Forest, A Time of Tyrants has been thoroughly researched by Royle in the National Archives of Scotland, the National Archives at Kew, the National Library of Scotland and the University of Edinburgh: providing him with material which he has then knitted into a seamless account of the period in a lucid and engaging style.
There are, of course, many single volume histories of the Second World War (for example those by Anthony Beevor, Andrew Roberts or Sir Max Hastings, all published in the last twelve months) and very good they are too: however A Time of Tyrants looks at the phenomenon of the War both within Scotland at that time and as contributed to by Scots across the globe. It is, therefore, both a unique and important contribution to our stock of knowledge of the period.
If I had one small criticism, however, it would be this: it seems to me that the history would have benefited more from real stories from the war: for example where is the dramatic explosion of the Free French destroyer Maille Breze off Greenock? Where is Bill Millen, piper to Lord Simon Fraser the fifteenth Earl of Lovat, who on D-Day heroically played The Road to the Isles on Sword Beach and survived only because the German snipers assumed he had lost his mind? But these are mere trifles, interesting whimsies, compared to the hard work of Royle's impressive and wide ranging achievement.
The book is available from Birlinn publishers here: and if this has whetted your appetite for some stunning photographs of the Clyde, you'll find many at Gerard Watt's excellent River Clyde photography website here.
Think Scotland launches new website
'Think Scotland', set up some time ago by Scotsman columnist and former MSP Brian Monteith, has relaunched with an improved website and a number of new regular columnists including Bill Jamieson, Alex Massie, David Torrance & Tom Miers. It can be found at www.thinkscotland.org and is well worth a visit.
Egypt at the brink of a new dawn
Published today in the Caledonian Mercury – www.caledonianmercury.com
After months of uncertainty, Egypt stands on the brink of a new dawn: but judging by recent developments, quite what the future will hold for the turbulent nation remains far from clear.
Firstly, there was President Hosni Mubarak's dramatic resignation in February last year, bringing to an end his thirty years as the country's leader (which followed the assassination of President Sadat in 1981). There then followed in August his conviction by an ordinary Egyptian criminal court for failing to prevent the killing of protesters during the popular uprising which brought down his regime. He was immediately sentenced to life imprisonment, and continues to serve that sentence in an Egyptian prison: however as this goes to press the 84 year old has been transferred to a military hospital in a critical condition.
After his resignation, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces ('SCAF') became the de facto government; and in a statement issued at that time declared that it would both facilitate a transition to democracy and thereafter respect the will of the people as spoken through free and open elections. That is something that has never happened since the founding of the Arab Republic of Egypt in 1953.
In recent months Egypt has quickly had to get to grips with elections for both the presidency and also the parliament – which was dissolved at the same time as President Mubarak's resignation. There have been many arguments about the right of those associated with Mubarak's regime to stand in the elections and the country has become more openly divided on religious lines, with violent clashes involving Muslim and Coptic Christian communities.
Between November 2011 and January 2012 elections were held for 498 seats in the parliament's lower house, the People's Assembly (an additional 10 seats were filled by SCAF appointed candidates). The result gave the Democratic Alliance, which is dominated by the Freedom & Justice Party (founded by the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt) 235 seats. The second largest party, the Islamist Bloc, gained 121 seats, with a spectrum of liberal parties thereafter gaining less than 100.
Elections to the upper house, the Shura Council, took place in January and February 2012 and the Democratic Alliance and Islamist Bloc took the lion's share with 150 of the 180 seats, with liberals again making up the remainder.
With the parliamentary elections complete, the focus then turned to the presidential campaign and ultimately last week's run off between President Mubarak's ex-Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik (who has a military background similar to ex-Presidents Mubarak, Sadat and even Nasser before him) and Mohamed Morsi, chairman of the Freedom & Justice Party. Again, as this goes to press, the result of the election is too close to call, with both candidates claiming victory [Mohamed Morsi has, amid dramatic scenes, now been proclaimed President]. Whoever wins, SCAF has vowed to hand control to the newly elected president on 30 June, but whether this will happen is far from clear; and veteran Middle East analyst Charles Holmes has written that it doesn't really matter who the next president of Egypt is: that both are ghosts of the past, embedded in a clash between 'military and mosque'.
The most significant development of all, however, was Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court decision of 14 June that the elections to the People's Assembly were unlawful, a step which led SCAF to dissolve Parliament. This has led to an outcry, mainly by the Muslim Brotherhood, which has the greatest to lose from fresh elections, and accusations that SCAF is engineering a coup d'Etat. On the other hand, SCAF claims simply to be upholding its duty to govern in accordance with the rule of law.
In short, Egypt's future remains as unpredictable as at any time since the first shoots of the Arab Spring; and the real issue, its foundering economy, remains adrift in the political storm.
Stephen O'Rourke, June 2012
Stair Society launches new website
The Stair Society, Scotland's leading legal history society, has just launched an impressive new website: http://www.stairsociety.org/
Founded in 1934, the Society's aim is to encourage the study and advance the knowledge of the history of Scots Law by the publication of original documents and by the reprinting and editing of works of rarity or importance.
The Society always welcomes new members, and the next annual lecture of the Society will be given in November 2012 by Professor Norma Dawson, President of the Irish Legal History Society & Professor of Law at Queen's University Belfast.
Bella Italia!
Well, we're now back in sunny Edinburgh after three glorious weeks in Italy – notwithstanding that at one point the temperature was 12 degrees while it was almost 30 degrees in parts of Scotland! There were the occasional continental thunderstorms which are wonderful to watch, but mostly the weather was warm and sunny.
The area where we were, on the shores of Lake Bolsena about an hour north of Rome, is steeped in the history of the pre-Roman Etruscans and their relatively mysterious culture. The Etruscans were largely swallowed up by their ambitious neighbours to the south, as the Romans gradually gained control of all modern Italy at the end of the second century BC; but their mark is there in the tombs, pottery and surviving artwork from their heartlands in the border of Tuscany and Lazio – and even the words Tuscany and Etruria (the wider region) are ultimately derived from their name, so great was their mark on that part of the country – here's a map which in particular shows the Etruscan city of Velzna which became the Roman Volsinii, and then ultimately over the intervening centuries became the modern town of Bolsena on the northern shore of the lake which shares its name: such is the way that names and pronunciation change imperceptibly over time.
Bolsena is a beautiful and tranquil corner, and the almost perfectly spherical volcanic lake which it looks across is reputed to hold the purest water in Europe, as well as shoals of the local delicacy coregone, a delicate kind of white fish, a little like sea bass, and delicious roasted whole in the restaurants which dot the shores. The town is the home of the ancient festival of Corpus Christi (or Corpus Domini as it is known in Italy), celebrated this year on 10 June with a wonderful parade through the streets known as the infioriata, for the flower petals used to line the route of the procession. It looks like this:
The miracle of Corpus Christi in 1263 (next year is the 750th anniversary celebration) led the then Pope Urban IV to dedicate a cathedral in the nearby Umbrian city of Orvieto, which is truly one of the pearls of Europe. It looks like this:
(out of shot to the left of the cathedral is one of the best ice cream shops in all Italy!)
Apart from relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the surroundings, it was also interesting to follow the twists and turns of Italian public life in their newspapers, mainly La Repubblica (left wing) and La Stampa (right wing). The main theme was of course the daily unfolding of the Euro crisis, but there was significant coverage of allegations of large scale corruption in Italian football (shocking I know – who would have believed it!), refuse collectors on strike in Rome, a big story about the Pope's butler having been arrested for leaking Vatican documents to the media and last but not least, two terrible earthquakes which shook the Emilia region just north of my old university city of Bologna, on 20 & 29 May. The quakes killed 24 people, including one parish priest who had gone back into his church shortly before the second quake to recover a statue from the rubble of the first one. Many fine buildings were badly damaged or destroyed as you can see.
What was particularly interesting was the national response as Italy's 66th annual festival of the founding of the Italian Republic on 2 June drew closer. The Italian President called for a day of reflection and calm in light of the earthquake crisis, and true enough despite being a public holiday there was little of the usual pomp and ceremony, with significant resources being diverted to assist those affected in Emilia. It was impressive and touching to see that act of solidarity on the part of the Italian people in the face of adversity; and while their country seems at times chaotic and frustrating, it's still a wonderful and fascinating place to be – not to mention their fabulous ice cream and coffee!
Troubled times in Mexico
200 miles east of Mexico City on the Gulf coast lies Veracruz, the country's main port. Each year, millions of tons of cargo pass through its harbours, contributing to an economy which is ranked fourteenth in the world just behind Australia. The traffic through the port is vast: but equally vast, it seems, is drug trafficking.
According to the CIA's world fact book (easily found at www.cia.gov), Mexico has the world's second largest cultivation of the opium poppy, generating a potential annual yield of 50 tons of pure heroin. The Mexican government estimates the value of this trade at anywhere up to 50 billion dollars per year; and the country's internal cartels play out a seemingly endless and bitter struggle for their share.
On 1 July 2012 Mexicans will go to the ballot box, electing a new president to replace the outgoing President Felipe Calderon: but sadly, however, the election debates have so far been characterised by personal accusations of corruption among the candidates, rather than any clear vision for the country. And a vision is badly needed, as amply demonstrated by the tortured bodies of three young journalists, pulled ten days ago (on International Press Freedom Day) from a canal in Veracruz. Their crime: daring to report on the city's drugs trade. There have now been nine journalists killed in the Veracruz area over the past 18 months, prompting UNESCO's director general Irena Bokova to call for the Mexican authorities to do everything in their power to bring those responsible to justice.
The figures in recent years for attacks on journalists all across Mexico, however, are even more disturbing. It is estimated that 50 have been killed or have disappeared in the last 5 years alone, the highest figure anywhere in the world: but even more concerning, it is alleged that in many instances those responsible are the very agents who should be combating the drug trade, rather than turning a blind eye, or worse.
But there is some good news. In March, President Calderon's government, in a vote unanimously backed by the Mexican Senate, amended the constitution to make attacks against journalists a federal crime; and in the run up to the presidential election, there is much focus on the extent to which the candidates will pledge to track down Mexico's most wanted drug baron Joaquin 'Chapo' Guzman, the man who escaped from a Mexican federal prison in a laundry cart eleven years ago, and who has remained in hiding ever since. And broadly speaking, while Mexico is today alive with drug related problems, these problems have only been brought to the surface by President Calderon's commitment five years ago to a long term war on narcotics: a war he seems unfortunately far from winning as his presidency draws to a close.
Overall, the enormous issue of trafficking from Central and indeed Latin America seems to generate more questions than answers in today's world, and many would point to radical solutions: but for the time being Mexico's own attempts to face the issue seem paralysed. In the words of Viridiana Rios, a Mexican PhD student at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government: "Mexico is silent and blind and our leaders do not seem to care. Our justice system is broken, it has no teeth."
More than ever, Mexico needs a president with the vision and determination to help solve this unfolding human tragedy.


A rarely available spacious family home occupying a large corner plot which has been extended to the ground floor and has further scope for expansion (STPP). Other benefits include four double bedrooms, downstairs shower room, off street parking for several cars and garage. The property is located within a quiet residential area backing onto Scadbury Park Nature Reserve and is well served by public transport with several local bus routes and St Mary Cray and Chislehurst stations a short bus ride away.


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Artist Spotlight – Tommy Danger |@tomdanger
by admin | Aug 13, 2019 | Artist Spotlight, Interviews | 0 comments
Harlem rap artist Tommy Danger presents the Best Watch Films-directed music video for "What They Say", the new 20 Dollar Beats-produced single from Motivation and Confidence Vol.1: The 7 Steps, his new mixtape which was released in tandem with an e-book and podcast under the same name. Tommy released ten volumes of his mixtape The Now & Laterman on Spotify, inspired by his practice of handing out Now and Laters at Hip Hop events in exchange for email addresses. Past visuals include "Everyday We Droppin" (Youtube) featuring Jimmy Timeless and produced by CrummieBeats, and "Good Times" featuring Charlie Brown from Leaders Of The New School (Youtube). "I wrote the song to in response to what people say about me behind my back," Tommy says. "On the flip side, it's also to address people who talk crazy on social media about others."
Motivation & Confidence
the mixtape | the e-book | the podcast
Twitter | Instagram | tommydanger.net
Describe a day in the life of Tommy Danger.
Running Man – nothing short of running. The day usually starts about 5 in the morning – prayer, meditation, journal, reading – followed by exercise then get ready for the day to do the 9 to 5 thing. Most importantly during working out I get a chance to listen to whatever new music is out right now. I've been bumping that Madlib & Freddie Gibbs, dreamville, Benny the Butcher. I'm running a lot so it definitely helps me to hit the pavement and get aggression out, just clear my mind, take me to another zone, study music to where that's all that I'm into for the moment. After work spend time with the family and then it's blogging, podcast, video editing, promotions, answering emails, answering people on social media, interactive social media… just a non-stop grind. The current project Motivation & Confidence Volume 1: The Seven Steps is just an extension of the podcast. It's also an ebook, something to reflect on a strategy that an individual could use to execute an idea. A lot of people have ideas and they just stay ideas because they don't execute it. So it this book provides you the framework to execute your ideas and that's the grind. From like 5 in the morning till about midnight, get up the next day and do it all over again – 7 days a week.
Harlem has been a center for flavor for as long as it's been on the map. What's the vibe like in the town these days?
Crazy thing about Harlem right now and music is that there is no real authentic sound. It's just a mosh of whatever people feel like. It can be emotional, it can be hard core, it can be pop, it can be reggae, it can be latin, it can be alternative. It's just music and whatever sounds good, that's what people are into. There isn't a definitive type of local sound. When you look at Harlem, Harlem traditionally has been known for getting money and talkin that braggadocious s***. You don't really see that anymore except from time to time if you look at the ASAP crew.
Name three artists you'd collaborate with on your dream album and why?
Dream album collaboration will be Ghostface, Cam and J Cole. Ghostface is definitely a pick for his variety and range of styles. He can basically rock on any type of track and kill it. Cam still to this day is one of the kings of cockiness, like I don't know if there's another rap on this planet that has as much confidence besides myself and Cam followed by J Cole. Cole is lyrically extremely confident and also has the ability to be conscious at the same time. That would be my dream collaboration. The name of the album would be Dream Bigger.
What motivated you to mix business acumen into your music to such a degree?
When you look at music it's not about talent despite what people think. It's not about who's the talented artist. It's about networking. If you have decent business sense and good networking skills you can get a shitty record on the radio, you can establish good partnerships with bloggers and DJs to play your music and develop yourself with a decent fan base to show people statistical information based on what you're doing. If you don't have good business sense or general business sense but you're trying to make it in the music business, have a seat.
What have you sacrificed for your career?
Sleep. Definitely sleep deprived. I can't think about resting now. Worked too hard to get to this point and now is the time. thank you for this opportunity. Tommy Danger The Now & Laterman – Motivation & Confidence Volume 1: The Seven Stepsonline right now check it out http://tommydanger.net/

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MBBS (NUS, Singapore), MRCP (UK), M Med (Int Med)
Dr Zeng Shanyong graduated from Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore in 2010 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. He subsequently attained his postgraduate qualifications for Membership to the Royal College of Physicians (UK) in 2017 and his Masters of Medicine in Internal Medicine in 2018.
Throughout the course of his training, he has worked in some of the largest tertiary and community hospitals in Singapore. He has worked in a variety of specialty departments, including Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine and Critical Care, Endocrinology, Infectious Disease, Dermatology, Geriatrics, Rehabilitation Medicine, among others. All this exposure has given him invaluable insight into managing a wide range of medical problems, from acute to chronic conditions.
Dr Zeng firmly believes that holistic patient care is at the very heart and soul of his medical practice. He feels that good patient-physician communication is important and believes in working closely with patients to achieve their desired goals and outcome.
Dr. Zeng Shanyong is currently practising at our Robertson Walk & Holland Village Branches
We will contact you via phone to confirm your appointment.
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The launching took place at Liza Beirut, an oriental Lebanese restaurant to accompany the Arabian theme. Guests received flowers headpieces as they posed in front of a beautiful white flowers wall. It was simply magical. Oud infused scents remained around as guests tested the perfume, body milk and shower gel.
I leave you with these shots from the launching event and awaiting to hear your thoughts about the perfume.


Jace Pitre and Sarah Trenchard are agents collectively licensed to sell insurance through New York Life Insurance Company and may be licensed with various other independent unaffiliated insurance companies in the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, & Colorado. No insurance business may be conducted outside these states referenced.
Jace Pitre and Sarah Trenchard are Registered Representatives of and offers securities products & services through NYLIFE Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC, a licensed insurance agency. In this regard, this communication is strictly intended for individuals residing in the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, & Colorado. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident outside the specific states referenced.


Push-out test and FEISEM evaluation of three post cementation techniques.
Push-out test and FEISEM evaluation of three post cementation techniques. / A. RUGGERI; P.S. SUPPA ; M. BIASOTTO ; M.A. SANDRUCCI ; N. SCUOR ; R. DI LENARDA ; V. GRILL ; L. BRESCHI. - In: JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH. - ISSN 0022-0345. - ELETTRONICO. - 83(2004). ((Intervento presentato al convegno International Association for Dental Research tenutosi a Honolulu, Hawaii nel 10-13 March 2004.
Titolo: Push-out test and FEISEM evaluation of three post cementation techniques.


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TEB Financing A.Ş. (TEB Cetelem), a BNP Paribas Personal Finance and TEB Holding A.Ş. Partnership, is a financing company operating in Turkey since 1995. BNPParibas Personal Finance holds 86% share of TEB Cetelem and is the largest consumer financing company of Europe operating in 30 countries with 29.000 employees.
Türk Ekonomi Bankası, the first institution of "TEB Group" has started its operations in 1927. It is the founder and shareholder of many TEB Group companies. In the 1980's while banks usually serviced customers with a network or branches throughout the country, TEB was well known mostly for its operations in foreign trade financing and investment advisory services.
A pioneer in private banking in the Turkish market, TEB continues to hold a respected and privileged position through an extended network of branches, product and service range as well as its subsidiaries in various fields such as investment, leasing, factoring, insurance and portfolio management in the finance industry.
TEB Holding A.Ş., one of the shareholders with 84,25% of shares at TEB, executed a partnership agreement with BNP Paribas on February 10, 2005, which is the 6th largest bank in the world and the largest of Euro zone with ongoing operations in 87 countries around the globe. The partnership enabled TEB, one of the respectable and strong brands engaged in the Turkish finance industry, and BNP Paribas, an international brand, to combine their forces and experiences. With this partnership agreement BNP Paribas became a shareholder in TEB Investment, TEB Leasing, TEB Factoring, TEB Insurance, TEB Portfolio Management and TEB NV, a bank of the Netherlands, operating in Amsterdam.
Please refer to http://www.teb.com.tr for additional information.
BNP Paribas Personal Finance is a 100% subsidiary of the BNP Paribas Group, and is the specialist for personal loans via its activities in consumer credit and housing finance. BNP Paribas Personal Finance is present in more than 30 countries on 4 continents and employs over 29,000 people and is the industry leader in France and in Europe. BNP Paribas Personal Finance offers a full range of personal credit products at points of sale and car dealerships or directly through its customer relations centers and Internet via its brands such as Cetelem, Findomestic in and AlphaCredit. In parallel, BNP Paribas Personal Finance aims to effectively use its know-how and experience in the development of integrated credit products and services custom-made for the business strategies of its business partners. As a result of this, BNP Paribas Personal Finance creates value for companies in consumer products, insurance and banking and is a leader in responsible credit®.
Please refer to http://www.bnpparibas-pf.com - http://www.moncreditresponsable.com for additional information.


2270 FENESTRA VHC It could light middle of vestry in ruined fane estr in anag., & lit.
1875 GOUTTE / UPREAR (Right and Left) VHC Sky – empty air – after pure tumbling drop with which para jolts tutor agape anag. + a(i)r; comp. anag.
1602 FENESTRA VHC What can be each side of fireplace niche and of sunlit rotunda? first and last letters, & lit.
1589 JOKESMITH VHC Joe Miller's his, maybe – so he can dress in Joe's mackintosh! comp. anag.
1506 BARE(-)BONES VHC William's (Hudibrastic?) beanpoles bore beans entwined. anag.
1494 MARATHON VHC Many race this only half-length each time halves of first 4 words, & lit.
1424 HEIST VHC Early pieces taken from Hellas: Elgin initiated superior this? first letters & lit.
1325 UPROOTAL VHC It's needed by me to get tropaeolum out comp. anag. & lit.
1200 Nine letter word (C and T latent) (Letters Latent) VHC Unhappy choice as night-watchman – plays on googly NY(CT)ALOPS; anag.
1180 COLD TURKEY VHC Withdrawing dope? cold turkey, & lit.
1139 BENJAMIN First What's 'Wedgy' in his family circles: a pet name? jam + i' in Benn; ref Tony (Wedgwood) B.
1087 OLD SOLDIER VHC Veteran Rolls and De Dion almost fully restored anag.
930 SABULOSE VHC Suitable for petanque and as boules pitch anag.
862 OFF-AND-ON VHC In the manner that characterises female – Donna – mobile! of f + anag., & lit.
840 SONDE VHC Stratocruiser's heading is set with bit of data captured by one S + d in one, & lit.
831 COOLABAH (Spoonerisms) VHC Tigger's drunk maybe – pleasing a Pooh! digger's trunk; cool a bah!
731 STRING VHC Essential for starting straight the rows in neat gardens initial letters, & lit.
609 LUCKY-BAG Second Where you pay to fish alewife and mort 2 meanings each for a. and m.
513 ETYMOLOGICON Third What's 'cento' originally about? I go and look mine up I go lo my (rev.) in anag., & lit.
349 ODDCOMESHORT VHC A small rum – neat – holds courage! come in odd, short; courage interjection, small n.
212 SURCINGLES VHC Torturing ulcers and gins – essentials for those in the saddle anag.
456 PLAFOND VHC Elevated feature, possibly Italian, sticking up and seldom attempted nowadays alp (rev.) + fond (obs. vb.), & lit.
430 GAMIN (Printer's Devilry) VHC O me/us! Bottom in Classics again!
277 PRODIGALLY VHC Like a play-boy and play-girl do, extravagantly anag.
275 ESTOVER (Printer's Devilry) VHC The Tories are equal, Bevan! Cri/minal—most! ref. Aneurin B.
251 UNMETHODICAL VHC Careless on much detail anag. & lit.
235 ASPHETERISM VHC Predated Das Kapital, but its essence is there passim anag.


Our Mission is two-fold: To provide a wonderful place for holistic healing methods, and to unify our spiritual community.
We believe that we are whole beings, therefore we must treat the whole individual - heart, mind, body, and spirit! We compliment traditional medicine, and can help alleviate many of the side effects associated with conventional treatments. We offer an ever growing range of healings, activities, and diverse classes to provide everyone an opportunity to explore and learn in a safe, non-judgmental, friendly environment. Non-traditional spiritual counseling is also offered. Our goal is to appeal to people of all ages, from all walks of life, and all faiths.
We are hoping our presence in the community will attract all the little pockets of spiritual individuals, and bring everyone out into the Light together as One. Our desire is to provide seekers with a way of finding the right person to assist them in their awakening. We offer a non-denominational community altar. And will eventually hold a Sunday Service for all Lightworkers and anyone who is interested.


The electrical energy sets a long way from its source to reach you. In order to decrease power losses in the transmission lines, the voltage needs to be stepped up. Here comes the role of a step up transformer which turns low voltage into high voltage. In other words, a step up transformer is a transformer in which the secondary voltage is greater than its input voltage. It reduces the output current to maintain a balance between the input and output power of the system. When active current flows through the input of the transformer, an area of alternating magnetic field is created in the iron ore, which turns on the AC current with an equal frequency in the output of the transformer. A step up transformer contains more turns of wire in the secondary coil that lifts up the received voltage in it. It generally follows the principle of electromagnetic induction.
A transformer is a vital electrical device that comes in various forms, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Through this blog readers, will be enlightened about the advantages and disadvantages of these transformers.
A step up transformer enables electricity to pass through a long distance and that too at a lower cost. It raises the voltage of the power that has to be transmitted. This helps in reducing the resistance on the line, resulting in a fewer loss. In the absence of this, the power losses in the transmission line would have been so massive that it would become difficult for electricity to reach all the places that today it does.
Step up transformers are built with an incredible ability to work constantly without any break. Where other electrical devices need to get switched off on regular intervals for few hours for their work efficiency, step up transformers are exceptions to this case. This also shows why they are used in power distribution systems.
Step up transformers not only work without intervals, they also come with a low maintenance facility. The regular maintenance of these transformers covers, contacts cleaning, repairing damaged part etc which do not involve much time and money.
A step up transformer has the ability to begin operations immediately after its installation. Delay occurs only during the transportation of the machine from the manufacturer to the actual location and installation.
The recent technological advancements have made these transformers highly efficient that generally do not suffer from major losses.
Nothing is flawless in this world and these transformers are also no exceptions. Let's have a look at the disadvantages of the step up transformers.
As we have mentioned before, step up transformers are able to operate continuously, due to which it heats up a lot. Now that we cannot wait for it to cool down, the only option is to use a round-the-clock cooling system.
This is probably the biggest disadvantage of the step up transformers. The size of these transformers increases with an increase in the voltage which means the higher the output, the bigger the transformer. The cooling system also puts additional weight to the transformer. Both of them contribute in making the system bulky that consumes a lot of space as well.
These transformers can only be used for increasing the alternating or AC voltages and not for DC voltages.
The usage of the step up transformers can be seen in factories and power distribution system for proper functioning. That is why it is important for you to get your transformer from a renowned step up transformer manufacturers that offers a variety of transformers to meet with your requirements.


Orb Live introduced the latest version of their app this morning which just so happens to include Hulu support. And no, we aren't talking Hulu+ paid support, we are talking the free streaming you get when you jump on their site via computer. To be clear though, the app isn't necessarily pulling straight from Hulu to your phone, but is instead pulling a feed from your computer and then making it playable on your phone. Did that make sense?
So in order to get Hulu up and streaming on your phone, you will need to buy this new Orb Live app for $9.99, install some software on your PC or Mac, and then have at it. You can also pull any other media content that's on your home computer (music, photos, videos, Pandora, etc.) – just make sure it has an internet connection at all times.
To download the PC or Mac software, click here.


Register your Nord Rhein Westphalen, German Region .nrw domain name with us today!
Register your Nord Rhein Westphalen, German Region domain name with 0allfreedomain.com today and take advantage of savings for multi-year registrations. read about the pricing, registration requirements, and registration timeframe for .nrw below.


By Muctarr Jalloh,Lanham, Maryland, USA.
Over the last several years, Alhaji Abubakarr Jalloh had been telling anyone who could listen about the promise and prospect of an Ernest Koroma presidency for Sierra Leone. On September 8, 2007, it appeared that the majority of his compatriots had listened to him and voted Mr. Koroma as president of Sierra Leone. Mr. Jalloh was the running mate of then Presidential candidate Koroma during the 2002 presidential elections; however, due to legal maneuvering and political malfeasance, he was forced out of this race. This time around, President Koroma has appointed Mr. Jalloh as his minister of mineral resources. If confirmed by Parliament, Mr. Jalloh will be the most qualified individual to occupy that ministry.
Since independence, Sierra Leone's mineral resources have caused it tremendous harm, culminating in the gruesome civil war. Past governments have used the country's resources to line the pockets of their leaders, leaving the country and its people in a state of despair and beggary. This makes the appointment of Mr. Jalloh a very crucial one in the exploitation and utilization of the country's mineral resources to enhance the economic well being of the people of Sierra Leone. Mr. Koroma has picked Mr. Jalloh to head this sensitive ministry as a way of getting every cent that would come from the sales and proceeds of our mineral resources to pay for the programs and services that would improve the lives of ordinary Sierra Leoneans.
Unlike some of his colleagues in the Cabinet, Mr. Jalloh has a humongous task ahead of him. This writer envisages that Mr. Jalloh would arrive at the mineral resources ministry full of hope and optimism in going against the grain of entrenched corruption, malfeasance, and cronyism to make it one of the most transparent, accountable and efficiently-run ministries. Indeed, Mr. Jalloh's has the credibility, potentials, and tenacity to effect change at this moribund ministry. He would bring with him fresh ideas, look out for the best and brightest within this ministry and instill a culture of trust and responsibility in the discharge of their duties.
Mr. Jalloh's life has always presented him with tough challenges and he has faced each challenge with a determination to succeed. The eldest of three children born to a Fullah migrant couple, who settled in the East End of Freetown, Mr. Jalloh always looked at the natural and social disadvantages of his life as a plus and made the best use of them. He loved school and excelled in all his educational pursuits.
In all his endeavors in life, he has brought to bear serious and sometimes intense competitive spirit that has landed him as the leader of the pack. He attended the Methodist Boys' High School where he served as Head Boy, completed his A levels at the Prince of Wales and then went to Fourah Bay College, where he majored in math and physics. At Fourah Bay College, he became part of the 1960's radical student/socialist movement, following students' protests the world over, reading Mao's Red Book with devotion and expressing admiration for the radical Socialist leaders of the time, especially the Argentine Ernesto Che Guevera.
During this time also, he joined the All Peoples' Congress Party. He once told this writer that Siaka Stevens' populist message was central to making him an APC member. And what a loyal and committed member he turned out to be. In his years in exile in the United States, he tirelessly attended meetings with other party stalwarts; planning and plotting on their return to power. It seemed those difficult years of brainstorming finally paid off with the Party's recent parliamentary and presidential victories.
Mr. Jalloh's goal in life was to be a scientist, but in actual fact, his true talent was discovered as an administrator. Immediately after he graduated from Fourah Bay College he went into teaching and working as an external examiner for the West African Examination Council. He later pursued his education in the United Kingdom, where he obtained double Masters Degrees in Geophysics, Atmospheric physics and Hydrogeology from Imperial College and University College respectively.
He returned to Sierra Leone, where he was first appointed as the Director of land resources survey at the Ministry of Agriculture before starting an illustrious career at the National Diamond Mining Company (NDMC), where he was first an exploration geophysicist and geologist and gradually rose to the ranks of company secretary and then executive director. He served in all these positions with distinction and integrity that won him admiration from both foreign expatriates and his fellow compatriots.
As an exile in the United States, he taught Mathematics and Physical Science at the University of the District of Columbia and served as the Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Sciences at the Sojourner Douglas College in Baltimore, Maryland.
This writer has found tremendous inspiration and strengths in Mr. Jalloh, a very hopeful person and a trailblazer. His credible track record, resiliency and humility have made him a leading role model and symbol of great pride and hope to the Fullahs, an ethnic group that has suffered humiliation, discrimination and long held at bay on the fringes of Sierra Leonean society. He surely will make the Fullahs proud by serving his nation well.
Photo: Alhaji Abu Bakarr Jalloh.


text:
First Group given the green light to sell US school bus divisions
Shareholders give First Group the green light to sell US school bus and transit divisions for £3.3bn
Published: 21:50 BST, 27 May 2021 | Updated: 22:36 BST, 27 May 2021
First Group shareholders have voted in favour of allowing the firm to sell its US school bus and transit divisions for £3.3billion.
Just 61.3 per cent of investors in the train and bus business voted in favour of the deal with 38.7 per cent rejecting it.
Only 50 per cent of shareholders needed to agree to the deal for it to be approved.
All aboard: First Group shareholders have voted in favour of allowing the firm to sell its US school bus and transit divisions for £3.3bn
Bosses sold the First Student and First Transit businesses to EQT Infrastructure more than a year after first announcing plans to quit North America following pressure from activist investors.
First Group's largest shareholder, activist investor Coast Capital, had said it would vote against the deal, saying it undervalued the divisions.
Coast wrote to First Group's board demanding yesterday's vote be pushed back by 60 days to allow for an independent valuation for the businesses.
But the firm refused and held the vote, which was also criticised by its second-largest investor Schroders.
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BSR is Brown Student and Community Radio that serves the curious listener on the web at www.bsrlive.com.
Localism – We love our city and state!
Education – Spread knowledge and ideas!
Diversity – Different is great!
Entertainment – Have fun and a sense of humor!
Public Participation – Get into it! Get involved!
"The Brown Network" began in 1936 as the first student-run radio station in the country. It was a carrier-current AM station broadcasting to Brown dorms. Eventually the station's name was changed to "WBRU-AM." In 1966, some of the station's members secured a loan from the University and founded the radio station WBRU-FM (95.5), while others continued the student-oriented AM tradition. WBRU-FM became a commercial corporation, financially and legally separate from Brown University, while WBRU-AM continued to operate for the Brown community and surrounding areas in the college radio tradition. The AM signal in time became virtually inaudible. During the mid-1990s, a few students worked to find a new, more audible outlet for those still broadcasting in the older, experimental, student tradition. In 1997, WBRU-AM became "Brown Student Radio" (BSR) and started broadcasting on WELH-FM (88.1). In the early 2000s, BSR began broadcasting online 24/7 and became a joint student/community collaboration.
Alternative news and views from Providence.
Radio that serves the curious listener in even more curious ways.
This week on Sine Languages: Extended improv, meditation, the sounds that surround us.
The first real episode of Sine Languages. Featuring: Alphabet stations, drones, digital experiments and improvisation.


The first major revolution of consciousness that was provoked by the emerging Science was what we might call the Copernican revolution. Copernicus was a polish physician, mathematician and clergyman who was one of a small band of courageous and innovative souls who ushered in the Renaissance in Europe. The very birth, or perhaps we should say rebirth of Science, is frequently credited to the publication of Copernicus' Heliocentric Theory in which he held that the Sun was the center of our System, and that the Earth was much like the other then known wandering stars, circling the Sun in a yearly orbit.
This insight into the organization of the heavens was a great stroke of genius, and it is sometimes seen as a great victory for truth and scientific inquiry. It is believed that starting with Copernicus, the emerging Science sounded the death-knell for the many superstitious biblical beliefs and religious doctrines which were prevalent in those days, but which had no basis in reason or verifiable experience.
However, when we view this in retrospect we see that far from being a victory, the effect of Copernicus' revelation was a catastrophe, for it cut away Man's moorings in the safe harbor in which he had taken shelter for 1500 years. Its effect was to set Man adrift in an infinite caringless sea without landmarks and without hope. Suddenly, Man lost his innocence and his security, and with it, his centrality, in this new understanding of the make-up of the Creation. Dead matter replaced Man at the center. That was the long-term effect of the revolution brought about by Copernicus.
Even a great stroke of genius and vision does not make a mind-transforming revolution. That came about much more slowly as the spirit of the times steadily shifted towards popular interest in the rigorous logic and objective reality revealed by Science. The revolution we are speaking of here did not really crest until hundreds of years after Copernicus, but it had its beginnings with him in the 16th Century. When the time had come for a great leap of consciousness, a Copernicus had to come along to sow the seeds which were to fructify much later, and which were destined to put mankind on a long and lonely path, that was dry of heart and devoid of light.
What was the revolutionary change in world-view that we link with Copernicus' heliocentric insight? What did it eventually lead to? It led to this: That we are just completely negligible little specks of matter on this globe which is the Earth; but that this Earth itself is just one of the minor planets orbiting the Sun; and that the Sun is just a rather ordinary member of a huge assembly of stars circling within this Milky Way Galaxy; and that the Milky Way is but one of an incredibly vast number of island worlds like it, making up this infinite Universe.
So, as physical entities we are a vanishingly small and insignificant part of this unlimited Universe. Far from being the most important entity in the very center of the World, we are essentially nothing. And should even this whole Earth and the Solar System and the Galaxy in which it is embedded all suddenly vanish without a trace, the Cosmos would be about as much affected as would be a vast colony of ants if one of its members disappeared.
With the Copernican revelation, suddenly Man had to face up to his smallness, a smallness which was now in his relation to cold matter where previously his smallness had been in his relation to God. Far from being the measure of all things, Man was now a measure of no consequence, at all. Man, the heroic figure was lost; and with him God became lost also. In a Universe of infinite matter that ran like a vast clockwork, there was no continuing need for God, except perhaps to assemble the whole thing and wind it up at the beginning. Once it got going, blind laws could take over and a personal God could easily be dispensed with.
And so, more and more, God went out of sight in the consciousness of Man, and with His departure went the grandeur of the original vision, of a Father-protector who looked after Man and eventually brought him home. Since there was no requirement for such a God in the new philosophy, both God and man effectively disappeared into the realm of the insignificant. It was the grand triumph of Nature over God.
This was the powerful current that launched Science and became its dominant theme for hundreds of years. This was the materialistic view based totally on gross matter, which was the early preoccupation of Science.
In the mystical understanding we can speak of five levels of illusion or unreality, maya, which makes up the corpus of the Universe and can also be seen to make up the successive sheaths or gross and subtle bodies of Man. Each of these levels or sheaths interpenetrate each other and is successively finer and more extensive than the previous. Beyond all these is God, the one true Reality, the Single Source and Essence of everything, the One Self of which we cannot speak. Covering that in our human awareness are the five sheaths. Our progression into the realm of Spirit is to uncover these one by one. The first and grossest of these sheaths is the physical,which represents the material aspect of the Universe. It is associated with the materialistic view given above. It is a cold, dreary, heartless domain, which still has much of the World locked in its grip. It represents the insane world-view in which physical matter is recognized as constituting the only reality.


Divine Savior Healthcare's long history began in 1916 when we were created by the Sisters of the Divine Savior. The community of Portage realized that there was a medical need in their community, so they worked in conjunction with the Sisters of Divine Savior to open St. Savior's Hospital. Since then our name has changed, but our mission has remained the same. Divine Savior Healthcare is proud to offer our community a continuum of care. Our organization consists of a hospital, residential facility (Tivoli) and clinics (in Portage, Pardeeville and Oxford).
At Divine Savior Healthcare, employees are passionate about the work they do every day.


My name is Claire and I blog over at Ninjakillercat I work in a school as a teaching assistant , in my spare time amongst other hobbies, I love walking in the countryside and taking way to many I do love the sea but I don't get to the seaside very often.
For me my favourite places and spaces are the woods and countryside.
I feel without sounding twee that I have an affinity with the countryside and woods.
Even though you see the same views over and over again for me they change every time because of the light, the season , my mood whom I am with etc The other morning for example I just took myself off to have breakfast in a field around the corner , I love my life to be impromptu!
I am very lucky where I live to to have such stunning and beautiful rolling countryside, fields of green are but a breath away from me. I live in a village near Derby and I am flanked by the countryside you see, if you place me in the city I don't enjoy it I feel like I can't breath.
Countryside it is where I need to be!
Such wonderfully textured photos and I am inspired by your impromtu breakfast idea :).
Stunning photographs! I'm a beach girl but I do love a scenic drive through the country.


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Why does Thor have short hair? Where's his hammer? Thor: Ragnarok plot revealed!
By Tim Stack
March 09, 2017 at 10:00 AM EST
For more on Thor: Ragnarok, stay tuned to EW.com this week and pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly on stands Friday, or buy it here now – and don't forget to subscribe for more exclusive photos and interviews.
Haircuts. Swords. Goth eye shadow. All of these elements are part of Thor: Ragnarok. So WTF is this movie about?
When we last saw Thor, he was flying off to figure out who was manipulating the Avengers at the end of Age of Ultron. Eventually, he hears rumblings of trouble in Asgard: His evil brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), has been impersonating their missing father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). Loki's rather lax governing leads to the reemergence of an imprisoned Hela (Cate Blanchett). Thor's initial encounter with Hela gets him blasted to Sakaar, a barbaric planet ruled by the charming but nefarious Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), a tough, hard-drinking warrior hiding out on Sakaar brings the god to the Grandmaster. "Thor is a bit of a fanboy for the Valkyrie, the elite women warriors," Hemsworth says. Thor is then forced into becoming a gladiator, which leads to his haircut and the loss of his trusty hammer. (His replacement weapons include a pair of swords seen on EW's cover.)
GALLERY: Exclusive First Look Photos of Thor: Ragnarok
Sakaar's most popular and successful gladiator? Bruce Banner, a.k.a. the Hulk. Comics fans will recognize this plotline as part of the popular Planet Hulk series. "He's much more of a character than the green rage machine you've seen in the Avengers movies," Ruffalo says of this new Hulk. "He's got a swagger. He's like a god."
Once Thor and Hulk unite, Ragnarok becomes a sort of road-trip film, with director Taika Waititi drawing inspiration from movies like 48 HRS., Withnail and I, and even Planes, Trains and Automobiles. The director particularly wanted to show off Hemsworth's comedic abilities, only recently exploited in films like Vacation and Ghostbusters. "He's so good and underutilized in that department," Waititi says. "He's legitimately one of the funniest things in this film."
Fans will also see some familiar faces, like Benedict Cumberbatch's Stephen Strange. The New York-based sorcerer met with Thor in the post-credits epilogue of Doctor Strange, and he will help the Asgardian locate Odin. Teases Feige, "There's not a whole lot that takes place on Earth in this film, and that's one of the things that does."
RELATED: Comic-Con 2016: See Portraits of Marvel Studios Stars
The events of Ragnarok will also help set up Marvel's biggest Phase 3 installment, Avengers: Infinity War, the first half of which is due in May 2018. But Waititi is adamant that his film will not only stand on its own, it will reinvent the franchise. "A lot of what we're doing with the film is, in a way, kind of dismantling and destroying the old idea and rebuilding it in a new way that's fresh," he says. "Everyone's got a slightly new take on their characters, so in that way, it feels like [this is] the first Thor." Just with a little less hair.
By Tim Stack @EWTimStack


FBCAthens will be offering an Evangelism Training class for 5 weeks during February. (February 3 – March 3) Pastor Drew will be teaching this class at 9:30am, and invites everyone who would like to attend to do so. This is a 5 week class and not intended to be a replacement of your Sunday Small group. Rather, this is a time when we would invite people of different ages, classes, and gifting to come together to learn about the important task Evangelism plays in the life of the believer.
This class is also a prerequisite for the missions sending process developed by our missions committee. This class will firmly root us in the gospel and equip us to share our faith with our neighbors and around the globe. There is a sign up sheet for the class at the welcome center in the Atrium.


Alice and her sister Emily enjoy getting messy.
Alice and Emily are learning to develop their sensory skills by experiencing different textures in their messy play session.
Play is an important part of every child's development and this activity is engaging Alice and Emily in playing together which incorporates social skills, sharing and cooperation.


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HOME CULTURE Ryukyu History 2nd Sho Dynasty built prosperity of Ryukyu Kingdom
2nd Sho Dynasty built prosperity of Ryukyu Kingdom
Category: [ Ryukyu History ]
Date: March 14th, 2016
By Hoshin Nakamura, NPO Okinawa Language Center
Because of the revolt of Lord Amawari of Katsuren Castle against Lord Gosamaru of Nakagusuku Castle and against King Sho Taikyu of Shuri Castle, the First Sho Dynasty went into crisis. The fall of the First Sho Dynasty was hastened by the sudden and mysterious death of the new young tyrant king Sho Toku who had succeeded his father, Sho Taikyu.
There are several legends regarding young King Sho Toku's death. One legend is that he was a womanizer. He fell in love with a young priestess called 'Kunichasa' on the sacred island of Kudaka, which was the 'Garden of Eden' of the Ryukyu Islands. On his way back to Shuri Castle where a coup was taking place, he was thrown into the ocean and died.
Another legend concerning his death is that someone might have poisoned him to death because there was a revolt against him as he had sent his troops to invade and conquer a very small island Kikia-jima off the east coast of Amami Island.
The third version is that King Sho Toku simply died of sickness.
Sho Toku's death brought about the end of the First Sho Dynasty of Ryukyu Kingdom in 1469.
King Sho En started the dynasty.
Immediately after King Sho Toku's death, the king's treasurer, Kanemaru, escaped and hid himself in a place called Uchima, Nishihara village. Kanemaru originally came from Izena Island to northeast of Okinawa Island. Kanemaru was a very wise and capable man who was trusted by former king Sho Taikyu.
Kanemaru had also been in charge of foreign affairs and foreign trade of the king's office. Why did Kanemaru have to run away from Shuri Castle to Uchima? There might have been a big trouble regarding why King Sho Toku died, and who should succeed the deceased king. Kanemaru was trusted and supported by the ministers and retainers of the king's office, therefore, he was called back to Shuri Castle to succeed King Sho Toku.
Kanemaru accepted the offer but decided to take the name of the former King Sho instead of selecting a new royal family name.
When Kanamaru ascended to the throne, he changed his name and reigned as King Sho En. Consequently, Kanemaru became the founder of the Second Sho Dynasty in 1470.
Why did Kanemaru adapt Sho En as his name? He inherited Sho from the former Sho Dynasty. Regarding 'En,' his own name was a combination of 'Kane' and 'maru'. 'Kane' means money or gold. 'Maru' means circle or round, which is pronounced 'en' in Chinese. 'En' is also related to a round coin. Thus, 'Kanemaru' could mean a round 'Golden Coin,' which symbolizes wealth and prosperity.
King Sho En cast his coins. He also built Buddhist temples, such as Sogen-ji temple in Naha in order to enshrine the spirits of the successive kings of the Second Sho Dynasty. He also built the Ten'no-ji temple in Shuri, and Fukuryu-ji temple in Urasoe for the safety and prosperity of the Kingdom. The dogma of Buddhism, however, was not taught to the general public.
King Sho Shin made Ryukyu prosperous.
The most outstanding king of the Second Sho Dynasty was King Sho Shin (1477–1526), who was the son of King Sho En. At the age of 12, Sho Shin became the third king of the Second Sho Dynasty when his uncle gave up the throne. During his 50-year reign, he made outstanding accomplishments, including confiscating and banning weapons in order to establish a peaceful kingdom in 1478.
He also Centralized the kingdom by forcing local Aji and their families to live in the capital city Shuri in order to prevent possible rebellions in the country side.
He had the Enkaku-ji temple built to enshrine the spirits of the ancestors in 1492, and constructed the Benzaiten shrine to house the Benzaiten (goddess of music holding a lute) statue and sutra, present from the Korean King in 1502.
He built stone-paved highways, roads, bridges, seaports, and beautified the kingdom by planting trees and flowers, promoted general aesthetic and performing arts as well as arts and crafts, and established theocracy by supporting High Priestess's Office that appointed the local priestesses.
He encouraged to send as many tribute ships as possible to Ming China and promoted so-called triangle trade with Japan, Korea, China, and Southeast Asian nations, which brought lots of wealth to the kingdom. As a result, the people of the Second Sho Dynasty enjoyed peace, prosperity, and longevity.
Sho Shin Banned the custom of 'junshi' (殉死?) (following the lord in death, sometimes translated as "suicide through fidelity"), which refers to retainers committing seppuku or ritual suicide in Japan upon the death of their lord. The custom originated in the ancient China, and was believed to allow to serve one's master in the world after death.
King Sho Shin died at the age of 61 in 1526. His son Sho Iku succeeded him. Japanese monks came to Ryukyu Kingdom in order to propagate Buddhism, and Japanese and Chinese studies became popular.
In 1579, the Emperor of Ming China called Ryukyu Kingdom "a Nation of Courtesy" that had been framed and placed on the gate of Shuri Castle. The gate is known as the "Gate of Courtesy" or "Shurei-no Mon" that welcomes all the visitors to Shuri Castle.
The Japanese Buddhist monks and Shinto priests as well as Japanese merchants might have acted as spies by establishing close relationship with the successive kings and their officials. While closing the door of the nation, Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan learned what was going on in the outside world through Ryukyu Kingdom. Eleven years before the Mayflower reached Plymouth port, the southernmost clan of Japan, Satsuma sent 3,000 samurai troops armed with shotguns to invade the peaceful kingdom in 1609. What was happening to the Ryukyu Kingdom will continue in the next issue.
Registration for the enrollment to the course "A History and Culture of the Ryukyus": call OLC office at 098-943-1852 or e-mail: OLC@okilc.org
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Business Queries
B4SA calls for collective action to deliver change
by Business for SA
"Just as we have acted together to defeat this virus, we must roll up our sleeves and get to work rebuilding our economy," President Cyril Ramaphosa, 16 September 2020
Business for South Africa (B4SA), the alliance of volunteers formed to support government through and beyond the pandemic, and working toward the effective execution of an economic recovery strategy, has welcomed President Ramaphosa's announcement of further lifting of restrictions and the transition to Level 1. These will take effect from midnight on Sunday, 20 September 2020.
The relaxation of the restrictions related to social, religious and other gatherings, curfew times and international travel, together with the defined safety and health measures, are all additional steps on the road to a reset for the country's economy. B4SA acknowledges that significant work still needs to be done, but the opening of all sectors of the economy, particularly the tourism, leisure and hospitality sector, together with allowing cross border travel, will be beneficial as we embark on the move to our 'new normal'.
B4SA is encouraged by the declining trend in new infections, and the progress that has been made to expand the criteria for COVID testing and contact tracing. These actions have certainly reduced pressure on South Africa's health facilities and will allow us to quickly identify and contain outbreaks before they spread further. Martin Kingston, B4SA's SteerCo Chair, said, "It is, however, critically important that we guard against a resurgent second wave. This can only be achieved by adhering to the now well-known imperatives of continuing to wear masks, maintaining safe distances from other people and washing hands or using hand sanitiser regularly".
Kingston echoed the President's appreciation to the nation's frontline workers for their dedication to caring for our people and for the enormous sacrifices they have made. Kingston commented, "The tremendous contribution and relentless hard work from our healthcare workers is something that all South Africans can learn from, and emulate. They have shown that if we all come together in crisis and work together for common cause, we can overcome uncertainly and challenge. B4SA is now making a call for all South Africans to play their part in the economic recovery now so desperately needed. We must all ask ourselves how each one of us can contribute to the rebuilding of our economy by supporting relevant areas in the plan".
B4SA believes that an immediate area of support is to assist, wherever possible, in the urgent actions that are needed to stop current levels of corruption and crime. B4SA's research and analysis done for its Economic Recovery Strategy concluded that corruption ranks as one of the top impediments to economic stability, and undermines B-BBEE and inclusive growth, particularly following COVID-related economic shutdowns. Kingston added, "We are making an urgent call for all parties in South Africa to immediately cease all forms of fraud, crime and corruption as these will certainly obstruct the success of the agreed priority focus areas requiring urgent action. And if we work together, we can deliver an inclusive, long term and successful economic recovery". Business believes that we must all follow a zero-tolerance approach to crime and corruption. B4SA is encouraged by efforts across society to combat corruption, and has endorsed and given its support to the 'Orange Mask Campaign' recently launched by numerous foundations and religious groups.
It is reassuring that South Africa's law enforcement agencies are making important progress in investigating all allegations of crime and corruption, which includes the misuse of COVID-related funds, as well as the recent efforts to encourage transparency and accountability.
The urgent need to rebuild and accelerate the economy has started finding "common ground for the ambitious social compact for economic recovery" being developed at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). The social partners (government, business, labour and community groups) facilitated by Nedlac have, over the last few weeks, had fruitful and substantive discussions and are advanced in finalising an ambitious social compact for critical interventions to promote a sustained and accelerated economic recovery. There is widespread agreement between the partners with priority areas highlighted for immediate and urgent implementation. The need for quick and effective action is acknowledged and well understood by all partners.
B4SA has also shared its admiration and gratitude to the Solidarity Fund, which has received donations totalling over R3 billion from all sectors of South African society. The success of the Fund is yet another demonstration of working together to achieve the power of social partnership and cooperation. The President highlighted the massive contribution from the Fund, saying, "…it has included the purchase of testing equipment, medical supplies and personal protective equipment and the local manufacture of ventilators. It extends to food relief for vulnerable households, vouchers for subsistence farmers, care for survivors of gender-based violence and a national COVID awareness campaign".
Additionally, B4SA's Innovation Work Group has recently made significant progress in seeding localisation efforts for the supply of medical and related health equipment. Its immediate objective is to close the gap between local supply and demand, by helping local manufacturers gear-up to produce personal protective equipment and medical devices.
The significant efforts being made by government to prevent further transmission of the virus through the planning and preparation for a future vaccine is commendable. A critically important component of this is the work underway, through the President's chairmanship of the African Union, to ensure "…equitable access across the globe so that no country should be left behind".
Kingston concluded by adding business' 'voice' in condemning the escalating violence against women and children. "As the President has requested, we must direct all efforts and resources to continue with our resolve to deal with the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide". This is a blight on our society and busines will continue to work together with all parties in South Africa to provide its backing in increasing and improving support services for the survivors of gender-based violence.
Julian Gwillim
Email: info@businessforsa.org
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HANSARD 1803–2005 → 1950s → 1957 → April 1957 → 15 April 1957 → Commons Sitting → MINISTRY OF POWER
Smokeless Fuels
HC Deb 15 April 1957 vol 568 cc1538-40 1538
§ 21. Mr. Moyle
asked the Paymaster General the tonnage of natural solid smokeless fuel, Manufactured solid smokeless fuel, other than coke, and smokeless briquetted fuels produced in 1954, 1955 and 1956, respectively; and what is in his view the estimated total tonnage necessary to implement the provisions of the Clean Air Act, 1956.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Power (Mr. David Renton)
About 17 million tons were produced in each year. The smokeless fuel requirement under the Clean Air Act will ultimately be met by coke, other solid smokeless fuel, electricity, gas and oil, and it is impossible to estimate how much of the various fuels will be required.
§ Mr. Moyle
May I conclude from the Parliamentary Secretary's statement that there is sufficient smokeless fuel for the purposes of the Clean Air Act? If so, and having regard to the fact that domestic consumers of smokeless fuel will have a big part to play in ensuring clean air, will the hon. and learned Gentleman explain why domestic consumers have to wait months before they can get a hundredweight of smokeless fuel?
§ Mr. Renton
The last part of the hon. Member's supplementary question raises a distinct point. I assure him, however, that bearing in mind that it will inevitably take some years wholly to implement the Clean Air Act, we are confident that with increased production of the various fuels that will be needed the requirements of the Act will be met.
In view of the fact that local authorities have already had their smokeless zone orders approved by the Ministry, may I take it that in those areas there will be sufficient smokeless fuel available for domestic consumers?
asked the Paymaster-General the percentage of the solid smokeless fuels produced by the nationalised industries and private enterprise, respectively, in 1956.
Excluding hard coke supplied to blast furnaces and foundries, about 94 per cent, and 6 per cent. respectively.
§ 23. Mr. Dodds
asked the Paymaster-General by how much he estimates the production of smokeless fuels, exclusive of coke and anthracite, will be increased this year over 1956.
The expected increase this year in the production of solid smokeless fuels excluding coke and anthracite, is about 450,000 tons.
§ Mr. Dodds
Is the hon. and learned Gentleman not aware that there is widespread dissatisfaction because so many people who are persuaded to have fittings with which to use the smokeless fuels in order to avoid the harmful effects of smoke, find that they cannot get the smokeless fuel to burn in them? Is it not about time there was some co-ordination between Departments to ensure that people are not let down, as they often are, in this way?
I do not accept what the hon. Member says. The smokeless fuel which is principally in use and which will principally be required to achieve smoke abatement is coke, and that is in very plentiful supply.
§ Mr. P. Noel-Baker
In view of the heavy losses to the nation due to air pollution, amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds a year. will the Minister press the nationalised industries to maximise the production of all kinds of smokeless fuel?
If the right hon. Gentleman studies the plans which the nationalised industries have for these matters, he will realise that they do not need much further pressing at the moment.
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Forward to Ex-Municipal Employees (Pensions)