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Article 23 – 'Toxic Bonsai II'
February 26, 2017 April 10, 2022 ~ taigabonzai
Toxic Bonsai Part II
Ginkgo biloba – Family Ginkgoaceae. Also known as the maidenhair tree native to China is the only living species in the division Ginkgophyta, as all others are now extinct. Its fruit is used for culinary purposes and in traditional Chinese medicine and is considered by some to contain aphrodisiac properties. However, the seed pulp has toxins that are not destroyed when cooked and if eaten in large amounts poisoning by methyl pyridoxine, (neurotoxin) can cause epileptic seizures. In addition, the sarcotesta or fleshy seed coat is poisonous and disposable gloves are required as they are able to cause dermatitis and or blisters. Other side effects include; nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Guelder rose – Viburnum opulus. A deciduous shrub can be found in woods, hedges and in areas containing a lime-rich soil compound. The tree has large white flowers with smaller yellow ones on the inner part of the cluster, the white flowers are infertile whilst the yellow ones are fertile. In autumn the flowers produces red berries with a single seed in each. All parts of the tree are poisonous to humans as they carry toxins such as iridoid glycoside, isobutyric Acid, coumarins, tannins and saponins. These can cause severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, swelling and over heating.
Grevillea robusta – Family Proteaceae. Commonly known as the Australian silver oak although uncommon can be found in European bonsai collections. This evergreen tree with its feather like leaves similar to a fern frond is known for its prolific growth and produces golden orange blooms. The flowers and fruit of G. robusta are poisonous, they contain hydrogen cyanide sometimes referred to as Prussic acid and tridecylresorcinol responsible for severe contact dermatitis.
Honey Locust – Gleditsia triacanthos. Is not a toxic tree unlike its 'look-alike' counterpart the black locust, Robina pseudo which is extremely poisonous. The two species can be identified as follows: the black locust has wisteria like flowers and small black seed pods, whilst the honey locust has small clusters of flowers and long seed pods 15–20 cm. Honey locust trees have extremely sharp thorns 3 cm to over 20 cm protruding from the branches, that harden and turn red as they age, then fade to grey becoming brittle as they mature. As a result the honey locust is considered difficult to wire and shape although thorn less varieties (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis) are occasionally found growing wild and are available as nursery plants. But there is no guarantee they are free from toxins.
Holly – Ilex. Family Aquifoliaceae. There are 400 to 600 species ranging from evergreen to deciduous trees and shrubs, found in temperate to tropical climates around the world with many shaped into bonsai. The bark is relatively smooth with small nodules known as 'warts', the glossy oval leaves are dark green in colour. Holly is dioecious meaning that the flowers of male and female are peculiar to their own sex and tree. These flowers 4 white petals when mature become scarlet berries and are attractive to birds, whom ingest them, but pass the seed through their digestive system intact. However, for humans they are predominantly poisonous as is the rest of the tree. Holly contains such toxins as caffeic, feruloylquinic, chlorogenic and quinic acids, kaempferol, tannins, rutin and theobromine compounds found in all parts of the plant. Holly berries can cause severe vomiting, diarrhoea and nausea that can be fatal for young children if consumed.
Hawthorn – Crataegus. Family Rosaceae. Is a species quite common in bonsai grown for its floral display. The flowers are hermaphrodite, meaning both male and female reproductive parts are contained within each flower. Flowers are highly scented, white or occasionally pink with five petals, and grow in flat-topped clusters, with small pome fruits and thorny branches. Although hawthorn fruit is not toxic if used in herbal remedies and culinary purposes it must be prepared properly. Failure to do so can cause nausea and sedation, cardiac arrhythmia and dangerously low blood pressure if taken in large quantities. Those taking digoxin a medication used to treat various heart problems should avoid hawthorn completely.
Indian Pea – Lathyrus sativus. Family Fabaceae. Although not really considered as bonsai material, is often cultivated for its striking blue flowers, but more importantly as an insurance against famine in third world countries where drought is a major problem. The crop is harmless to humans if ingested in small quantities occasionally, but continuous intake over a prolonged period (3 months) can have serious side effects. The plant produces seeds containing diaminopropionic and neurotixic amino acids and can cause a disorder known as lathyrism. A neurodegenerative disorder causing paralysis of the lower body, emaciation of gluteal muscle and brain damage in children.
Idesia – Family Salicaceae. A tree not normally found in western bonsai collections is common in its native regions of China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. It is a deciduous tree with greyish-green bark and heart shaped dark green leaves 8 to 20cm in length protruding from a red petiole. Flowers are small, fragrant and yellowish green in colour. The fruit of the Idesia is a small orange berry, which ripens to dark red almost purple in colour, that can be consumed, but as with all wild fruit care should taken in its preparation prior to ingestion. Idesia has no known toxins that are harmful to humans.
Incensed Cedar – Libocedrus decurrens. Family Cupressaceae. Is a popular species for bonsai as formal, informal and literati styles. It contains strong volatile oils including thujone, a ketone that is known to be toxic in large quantities and it is best known as a chemical compound in the spirit absinthe. Thujone has a menthol odour and is considered toxic to the brain, kidney, and liver cells and could cause convulsions if used in too high a dose. It should not be used during pregnancy, breastfeeding or those with kidney weakness.
Jacaranda – Jacaranda mimosifolia, Family Bignoniaceae. Has been cultivated in many temperate parts of the world and also in bonsai thriving in sandy soils with full sunlight. Young trees are unable to withstand cold conditions, but mature specimens are able to tolerate temperatures down to -7°C (19°F) for brief spells. The jacaranda is known for its stunning display of flowers produced in large panicles, with colours ranging from blue to purple and fruit in a flattened oblong pod containing the seeds. Nonetheless, the Jacaranda is said to be toxic, exposure to the pollen can cause skin irritation and rash. Ingesting either and or flowers and seeds can result in, vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain.
Jade tree – Crassula ovata. Family Crassulaceae. Has other common names including, 'Friendship tree', 'Money tree' and 'Lucky plant' and is native to south Africa and Mozambique and is found throughout the world as a common house plant. Arguably, C. ovata is not a true tree in the sense of the word, meaning it does not shed its leaves or needles on an annual basis as deciduous and conifers do. It is a succulent, a water retaining plant that has the ability to thrive on limited water sources. Whereas most conifers and deciduous trees require a constant supply of water that is continuously pumped through its system. In addition, its trunk and branches never become true lignified tissue, they remain soft and fleshy during the plants life. Nonetheless, it is found in many bonsai collections with some attractive results. C. Ovata has rich jade green thick, shiny, smooth, leaves growing in opposite pairs along the branches. Some varieties may have a yellowish-green appearance, whilst others have a red tinge on the edges. The flowers of C. Ovata under the right conditions are small star-like white or pink flowers arriving in early spring. The jade plant is poisonous to domestic pets (dogs and cats) and marginally toxic to humans and if ingested may cause vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite and lethargy.
Jasmine – Gelsemium sempervirens. Family Gelsemiaceae. A relatively common species found in bonsai collections for its individual trumpet shaped yellow flowers, that are strongly scented and appear on the tree prior to the production of new growth. However, all parts of this species are poisonous containing toxins such as strychnine related alkaloids and gelsemine a highly toxic compound that acts as a paralytic and often results in death. In addition, the sap from this plant can cause severe problems if in contact with those having sensitive skin causing rash and swelling.
Juniper – Spp. Family Cupressaceae. This order has many species widely used in bonsai horticulture and it is argued that they are all toxic due to the volatile oils found within the plant. Alpha-pinene, myrcene and sabinene, which if ingested can cause diarrhoea, nausea and hypertension. Although considered by many to be safe for culinary uses, juniper berries if consumed on a regular basis can cause cause serious kidney damage. Pregnant or breastfeeding women are advised to refrain from usage due to the risk of miscarriage. Those taking Telmisartan a prescribe drug, which is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) should refrain from ingesting any part of this plant.
Kentucky coffee – Gymnocladus dioicus. Family Fabaceae. A species native to north America is also used in bonsai. Its rough ash-grey bark similar to that of oak can fall or peel away from its surface leaving scarring and indentations, which adds character to the tree. Its flowers are dioecious and has fruit in the form of a hard-shelled bean in pods from 13cm to 25cm. (5 to 10 inches) The seeds are considered poisonous as they contain the toxic alkaloid cytosine, that if consumed can cause respiratory difficulties, which can have fatal results. However, it is argued that if the seeds are roasted, the cytosine is neutralized, but for those with respiration problems it is not a risk worth taking.
Kumquat – Fortunella japonica. Family Rutaceae. The species has no known toxins harmful to humans and is usually grown as an ornamental plant, but is found in bonsai collections. The fruit resembles a small orange a little larger than a grape, its peel has a sweet flavour whilst the inner pulp is sour but is edible when cooked. It is also ingested in its raw state, but those with a sensitive digestion system should refrain from doing so due to the concentration of oils (Limonene) and acids within the fruit. Which can cause diarrhoea, nausea and other abdominal complaints.
Kurrajong – Brachychiton populneus. Family Malvaceae. Is native to Australia and found in various habitats from wet coastal districts to semi-arid regions. The bell-shaped flowers range in colour from pale cream to pink with simple pointed shaped leaves. The seeds are covered in small stiff irritating hairs, which have to be removed prior to roasting and ingesting as they contain toxins. Although these are not considered dangerous to humans they can be to domestic pets, sheep and cattle causing lameness, tremors, collapse and in some cases fatality depending on the victims disposition.
Laburnum – Family Fabaceae. Is a genus of two species of trees that are Laburnum anagyroides known as the common laburnum and Laburnum alpinum the alpine laburnum. They are often found in bonsai collections due to their colourful yellow pea-like flowers. That are in pendulous leafless racemes 10–40 cm (4–15.5 in) similar to the wisteria, making them very popular trees. However, all parts of the tree are poisonous; roots, bark, wood, leaves, flower-buds, petals and seeds as they contain the toxin cytosine a nicotinic receptor agonist that produces a biological response. Symptoms may include intense lethargy, vomiting, convulsion, coma and severe diarrhoea.
Laurel (Cherry) Prunus laurocerasus. Family Rosaceae. Is a shrub often used for topiary in hedging and also in bonsai as it is easily shaped. The leaves are a shiny dark green with creamy white flowers and fruit that turn black when ripe. The whole plant is poisonous containing the toxin hydrogen cyanide, also known as prussic acid and identifiable by its strong almond-like smell and bitter taste. Symptoms can include breathlessness, weakness, spasms, convulsions, coma and respiratory failure.
Manchineel – Hippomane mancinella. Family Euphorbiaceae. Classed as an endangered species is a flowering and fruiting tree native to Florida, Mexico and the Bahamas growing among mangroves and in coastal waters. Its fruits are green and round resembling a small apple, hence its common name the 'Beach apple'. H. mancinella is an evergreen tree with reddish-grey bark, glossy oval green leaves, greenish-yellow flowers and grows to a height of approximately 15m. (49ft) It is also known in Spanish as 'Manzanilla de la muerte', the 'Apple of death' and is considered one of the most dangerous trees in the world. All parts of the tree are extremely poisonous with arguably the sap being the most toxic as it contains phorbol a member of the tiglian family of diterpenes. Even the smallest amount diluted in water can cause severe blistering of the skin and ingesting the fruit can cause intense gastrointestinal problems that can have fatal results. Manchineel is cultivated for its timber source, but little is known of its use in bonsai.
Mistletoe – Viscum album. A hemiparasitic plant in the order Santalales. A mistletoe seed attaches itself to a tree by a structure called the haustorium and is able to germinate independently, but as it develops it penetrates the branch of its host absorbing nutrients and water. The European mistletoe has evergreen leaves in pairs with waxy white berries in clusters of two to six, that contain the toxins polysaccharides, alkaloids, and lectins. Which can cause blurred vision, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, blood pressure changes that can be fatal. Those taking Telmisartan a prescribe drug, which is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) should be aware of potential problems. Mistletoe is found in bonsai, but is uncommon as it can affect other species within a collection.
Mock orange – Philadelphus coronarius. Family Hydrangaceae. A species of flowering plant native to Southern Europe is a deciduous shrub growing to approximately 3 m tall by 2.5 m wide and often found in bonsai collections. What makes this a popular collectable species is because of its bowl-shaped double white flowers on prominent stamens, that are highly fragrant. The 'toothed' dark green leaves turn to yellow in autumn adding more colour to the plant. Yet the seeds and flowers carry toxins that although considered mild and not life threatening, can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and skin rash if consumed. But much will depend on an individual's digestive system.
Myrtle – Myrtus communis. Family Rosopsida. A common species found in bonsai has reddish brown bark that is apt to peel off in mature plants. The flowers usually white in colour have five petals and numerous long stamina and can be heavily scented. The leaves are small, narrow and dark-green and filled with oil, which is visible as small dots when held against a light. This oil is slightly toxic and may cause headaches, nausea, indigestion, and may colour urine purple if consumed in large quantities.
In toxic bonsai part III we continue the discussion on species 'N' to 'T' until then BW, N.
< Previous Article 22 – 'Toxic Bonsai I'
Next > Article 24 – 'Toxic Bonsai III'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying all his interviews on public platforms were scripted.
The Congress chief was referring to an interview of PM Modi that he gave at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU) last Friday. At the interview, PM Modi was responding to the questions in Hindi, and an interpreter was translating it in English immediately. Responding to a particular question, the Prime Minister gave his answer in Hindi, but the English version given by the translator was way lengthier, and more detailed than Modi's answer.
The Gandhi scion took to Twitter and wrote that if PM Modi took real questions it would be a real embarrassment to all.
"The first Indian PM who takes "spontaneous" questions that the translator has pre-scripted answers to! Good that he doesn't take real questions. Would have been a real embarrassment to us all if he did," he tweeted.
The first Indian PM who takes "spontaneous" questions that the translator has pre-scripted answers to!
With the translated version also giving out some details that the PM did not even mention in his reply, many are speculating that the interview of PM Modi, the queries and his responses to them were all scripted and not spontaneous.
On Friday, PM Modi was interviewed by NTU president Subra Suresh before a live audience. Suresh took questions from select, pre-decided members of the audience.
A video of the interview has gone viral on social media.


Guillain–Barré syndrome causes one to not be able to move one's extremities.
A limb (major appendage of human or animal such as a leg an arm or a wing).
In HIV-1 and foamy viruses, the polyadenylation signal (poly(A) signal) is found at both extremities of the viral progenome, in the redundant 5' and 3' long terminal repeats (LTRs).
The ceratohyoid is slender and it is thickened toward both the proximal and distal extremities.
Meaning of extremity for the defined word.
Grammatically, this word "extremity" is a noun, more specifically, a countable noun.


What is the Marcus Fund?
Climate Change has a significant impact on agricultural activities in semi-arid drought prone regions of India. In the State of Karnataka, the monsoon has failed several consecutive years, creating significant problems for peasants. With no rainfall, Field Crops fail and poverty and hardships increase for the peasant families.
The Marcus Fund has been set up by Alf Bjørseth of Scatec AS, Norway, to specifically support small and poor peasant families switch over from risky, rainfall dependent Field Crops, to more hardy Tree Crops that do not need timely rains. In particular, the Marcus fund will support planting of trees which may bear fruit for a long time, creating income for peasants, independent of weather conditions.
Each family will plant about 260 Tamarind or Mango trees on 1 Hectare of land, and water the saplings during the hot and dry summer months for 3 years. They will each receive € 1,430, over a 3 year period, to prepare the land, dig pits, place Rockwool, haul Red Earth & Sand, plant Saplings, build Field Tanks for water, assistance to haul water to their Field Tanks, and provide annual Labour Compensation for watch and ward.
In the last 3 years, from April 2007 to date, Alf Bjørseth has granted the Marcus Fund a total of Rs 31,784,331 as grants.
A total of 156 families from 32 villages are participating in the Marcus Fund Project (against the planned 85 families from 15 villages).
They have planted on 285 acres (against the planned 212.5 acres/85 hectares).
Survival Rate is 29%. This is an acceptable figure and the Fund is working hard to improve this number by better planting technology.
105 tub-type open top water storage Field Tanks of 2,600 litres capacity have been procured.
You can participate in the Marcus Fund with any contribution. However, support of € 1,430 will assist a single Coolie family to switch over from risky Field Crops to hardy Tree Crops on 1 Hectare of their land holding. Please click here to contact Alf Bjørseth.
Please click here for a full description of the ADATS organization, which is Marcus Fund's partner in India. ADATS has for more than 32 years assisted Coolie cultivation in this region.


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MHSAA>
Ritchie Feys Is One Of The Best DC In The Whole Thumb Area For The Almont Raiders Football Team.
Ritchie Feys is one of the best DC in the Whole Thumb Area for the Almont Raiders Football Team. Had good success with Head Coach Jeremy Ferman in 2011-14. Best Defensive Team he ever had was in 2014 with Mike Couch at LB. That Defense was unreal that season. Lansing Catholic put a season high on Almont's Good Defense with 21 points they put up on them in the Division 5 Semifinals at Brighton HS. Lansing Catholic scored 21 points in the 2nd Half. Won 2 BWAC Conference Titles in 2014 & 2018. Played High School Football at Almont HS. Played for the Hall of Fame Head Coach Gary Carson in 1985-87. Standout RB/DB during his career. Tom Abraham was a good DC also too. Went to Alma College & played College Football in a Division 3 School. Got his Degree in PE. Now he is the Gym Teacher at Almont HS. Been there for a while now. One of the nicest guys you will ever get to talk to these days of ages. DC at Imlay City in 2004-10. Went back to Almont in 2011-present. Won Assistant Coach of the Year Award in 2018. They present the honor at the Basketball Game this past season. James Leusby is glad to have him on the squad now as DC. Players love playing for Ritchie Feys. Knows his Defense very well. 4-4 Stack Defense for the Almont Raiders Football Team has worked very well for them. Ritchie knows what he is doing anyways. Coached Baseball & Softball also too. Refs Basketball Games as well too. All 4 of Ritchie's kids have Graduated at Almont HS already now. His wife Liz Graduated at North Branch HS in 1988. He is a good guy to have on your coaching staff anyways in Football. They will have a good Defense again in 2019 for the Almont Raiders Football Team. Defense Wins Games & Championships….
Hunter Soper Incredible In The Division 2 Regional Championship Game At Cros-Lex HS On Thursday Night.
Kurt Long Had A Excellent Season For The CPS Tigers Girls Basketball Team As Head Coach.
James Minard Doing A Good Job As Head Coach For The 2022 Sandusky Redskins Baseball Team…….


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Everyday Heroes for June 2018
For mentoring two Engineering Technology students who were recognized with provincial honours, Nazia Pathan is a Mohawk College Everyday Hero. Nazia (2nd from left), a part-time professor with Mohawk's Chemical, Environmental and Biotechnology department since 2012, volunteered as the faculty advisor for Santosh Kumar Veerbadra and Jodi Turner. Santosh and Jodi organized five on-campus events to celebrate National Engineering Month and won the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists' Ontario College Student Challenge. Recognize someone who's making a difference at Mohawk with an Everyday Hero Award at www.mohawkcollege.ca/everydayhero.
For making memories for North Hamilton families, Cheryl Post is a Mohawk College Everyday Hero. Cheryl, who's just completed her second year of Mohawk's Advertising and Communications Media program and graduated from Fanshawe's Photography program, volunteered her time and talent to lead a team of classmates in taking more than 50 family portraits during the annual holiday party at St. Ann's Elementary. Cheryl also created the winter wonderland backdrop for the photo booth and edited each photo. The portraits were then framed and sent home with the children as holiday gifts. Cheryl returned to photograph all the students at St. Ann's and Hess Street schools as they received gifts from Mohawk's annual McKeil School of Business Toy Drive. Mohawk President Ron McKerlie dropped by The Agency at Mohawk to present Cheryl with her Everyday Hero Award. Recognize someone who's making a difference at Mohawk with an Everyday Hero Award at www.mohawkcollege.ca/everydayhero.
For being the backbone of the Department of Liberal Studies, Cathy Hamilton is a Mohawk Everyday Hero. As the assistant to the department's associate dean, Cathy is the go-to person for 102 full and part-time faculty, 11 staff and eight support staff in Liberal Studies, Communications and Language Studies, Community Integration through Co-operative Education and Career Pathways. Cathy plans and coordinates key academic-related activities, from preparing and submitting faculty workloads to generating the reports used to create workloads, class assignments and budgets. Cathy also ensures program of studies are up-to-date and runs orientation for new faculty and staff to the department. If anyone in the department has a question, Cathy knows the answer. If anyone needs help, Cathy lends a hand. Cathy joined Mohawk in May 2002 as a receptionist at the Stoney Creek campus and has served as a customer support assistant and admissions officer. Dean Neil McMahon presented Cathy with her Everyday Hero award. Recognize someone who's making a difference at Mohawk with an Everyday Hero Award at www.mohawkcollege.ca/everydayhero.
For consistently going above and beyond as a leader for both students and colleagues, Shelley Lang is a Mohawk College Everyday Hero. A professor and program coordinator in Mohawk's Department of Social Services and Justice Studies, Shelley has created new programs and collaborations among existing programs to give students yet another competitive edge in the job market. Shelley is especially passionate about supporting students with limitations by developing modifications and creating alternate pathways. Shelley also serves as a mentor for new and part-time faculty, freely sharing her experience and expertise. Colleagues credit Shelley with being humble, good-hearted and quick to show appreciation for others. Shelley joined Mohawk in October 1999, managing the Brantford campus athletic facility and then serving as a technologist, professor and coordinator responsible for more than 1,000 students in seven programs. President Ron McKerlie (left), Dean Neil McMahon and Associate Dean Judah Oudshoorn presented Shelley with her award. Recognize someone who's making a difference at Mohawk with an Everyday Hero Award at www.mohawkcollege.ca/everydayhero.
For delivering value-added support to the Continuing Education team, Alison Wiskel is a Mohawk College Everyday Hero. Alison joined Mohawk in September 2015 and serves as a Financial Planning Analyst in the Financial Planning and Analysis Department. Alison helps colleagues in Academic areas with their budgeting, analytics, reporting, reviews and financial inquiries. Alison is credited with going above and beyond in supporting Mohawk's Continuing Education team. Alison has been instrumental in analyzing the potential profitability of new CE partnerships, as well as developing a new course profitability template and a revised program costing model. Alison was presented with her Everyday Hero Award by President Ron McKerlie. Recognize someone who's making a difference at Mohawk with an Everyday Hero Award at www.mohawkcollege.ca/everydayhero.
For being the consummate team player, troubleshooter and a go-to person, Lisa Arnold is a Mohawk College Everyday Hero. Lisa joined Mohawk in May 1986 and serves as the college's Senior Accounts Receivable Clerk. Lisa oversees all student and non-student accounts receivable, as well as sponsorships, OSAP payments, reporting and other critical tasks. Lisa is recognized for her troubleshooting skills and spirit of collaboration with teams from across the college. Lisa is involved with each and every new initiative or upgrade that has an impact on Accounts Receivable. Last fall, Lisa played an invaluable role in implementing the Province's full tuition refund for both domestic and international students who chose to withdraw from Mohawk. Lisa (centre) was presented with her award by President Ron McKerlie and Comptroller Joanne Lack. Recognize someone who's making a difference at Mohawk with an Everyday Hero Award at www.mohawkcollege.ca/everydayhero.
For her outstanding commitment and dedication to providing the highest level of service to all students and visitors at the Square, Louise Nowak is a Mohawk College Everyday Hero. Louise is a role model within the Registrar's Office where she is currently working as an Admissions Advisor. She is a mentor to her team members, especially those who are new to their positions. She consistently assists in onboarding new team members, readily answering questions, and demonstrating processes, and she does it all with professionalism, genuine concern and a smile.Louise is always willing to step up and assist when needed. Her positive outlook and calm demeanor is a tremendous asset to her team. Recognize someone who's making a difference at Mohawk with an Everyday Hero Award at www.mohawkcollege.ca/everydayhero.


sample meeting minutes : Written minutes are distributed to board members before each meeting for member's review. Minutes for the previous meeting should be reviewed right away in the next meeting. Any changes should be amended to the minutes and a new version submitted before the next meeting where the new version is reviewed to be accepted.Minutes of Meeting Sample. There are various formats available when creating the minutes of a meeting. Having a sample meeting minutes document can assist you in creating a final rendition. Meeting management systems like MeetingBooster include a variety of sample minutes of meetings such as sales meetings, ...The sample meeting minutes document below was set up in MS-Word and contains all of the key information elements that you should include when developing your own meeting minutes. As mentioned above, the minutes below are based on an actual meeting that took place. Meeting Minutes – Sample FormatTo streamline the process of taking meeting minutes, simply use a template that is formatted to fit your needs.Below you'll find a comprehensive selection of free meeting minutes templates for Word. Choose formal or informal, corporate or board meeting, or basic or detailed ...Proofread your template. Congratulations! Your meeting minutes template is completed. Your productivity and accurateness during meetings should rise up exponentially now that you have a template to guide you and organize your thoughts. As with any project, skim the details of your template to see if there's anything missing or unclear.Minutes for organization meeting (long form) Word Elegant meeting minutesMeeting minutes can also be used to keep track on previous activities and determine whether the outcomes were beneficial to the organization. But some of us may not know how to start writing them, which is why our website is providing you with Minutes of Meeting Templates to help you get started. Our templates can also help guide you on the different fields that need to be filled up.A Sample of Meeting Minutes for a Federal Advisory Committee (FACA) Meeting. A Sample of Meeting Minutes. NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR HUMAN GENOME RESEARCH SUMMARY OF MEETING. January 27, 1992. The National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research was convened for its fourth meeting at 8:30 A.M. on January 27, 1992, at the Hyatt Regency ...Download our Meeting Minute Checklist for Associations and Nonprofits with sample minutes taken at a meeting and learn how to take better minutes. 3. The Minutes Writing Process. Once the meeting is over, it's time to pull together your notes and write the minutes. Here are some tips that might help:Meeting Minutes Templates and Examples. Whether for business, club, or sports events, meeting minutes can be a key part of keeping the entire team up-to-date on what happened.


Declaration under article 30 (5): Pursuant to article 30 (5) of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Argentinian Republic declares that any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force with respect of Argentina only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification or accession with respect thereto.
Declaration: Any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force for the Republic of Armenia only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession in respect thereto.
"The Republic of Austria declares in accordance with Article 25 paragraph 2 of the Convention that, with regard to any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention, it recognizes both of means of dispute settlement mentioned in paragraph 2 as compulsory in relation to any party accepting the same obligation.."
"This signature also engages the Wallon Region, the Flemish Region, the Brussels-CapitalRegion, the French Community, the Flemish Community and the German-speaking Community."
" Pursuant to Article 30(5) of the Convention, Canada declares that any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force for Canada only upon the deposition of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession with respect thereto.."
" In accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, the Government of the People's Republic of China decides that the Convention applies to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.."
" .. in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article 30 of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Czech Republic declares that any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force for the Czech Republic only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession in respect thereto."
"Declaration of Competence by the European Union in accordance with Article 30 (3) of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The following States are at present Members of the European Union: the Kingdom of Belgium, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Estonia, Ireland, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Republic of Croatia, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Poland, the Portuguese Republic, Romania, the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Article 30 (3) of the Minamata Convention provides: '3. In its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, a regional economic integration organization shall declare the extent of its competence in respect of the matters governed by this Convention. Any such organization shall also inform the Depositary, who shall in turn inform the Parties, of any relevant modification of the extent of its competence. The European Union declares that, in accordance with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 192 (1) thereof, it is competent for entering into international agreements, and for implementing the obligations resulting therefrom, which contribute to the pursuit of the following objectives: - preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment; - protecting human health; - prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources; - promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems, including climate change. The following list of legal instruments of the Union illustrates the extent to which the Union has exercised its internal competence, in accordance with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, regarding matters governed by the Minamata Convention. The Union is competent for the performance of those obligations from the Minamata Convention on Mercury regarding which the provisions of Union legal instruments, in particular those listed below, establish common rules and insofar as these common rules are affected or altered in scope by the provisions of the Minamata Convention or an act adopted in implementation thereof. - Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and the Council of 17 May 2017 on mercury, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1102/2008, - Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and the Council of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (OJ L 174, 1.7.2011, p. 88), - Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 6 September 2006 on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators and repealing Directive 91/157/EEC (OJ L 266, 26.9.2006, p. 1), - Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 18 September 2000 on end-of-life vehicles (OJ L 269, 21.10.2000, p. 34), - Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products (OJ L 342, 22.12.2009, p. 59), - Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1), - Regulation (EU) 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2012 concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products (OJ L 167, 27.6.2012, p. 1), - Regulation (EC) 1107/2009 of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC (OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, p. 1), - Council Directive 93/42/EC of 14 June 1993 concerning medical devices (OJ L 169, 12.7.1993, p. 1), - Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17), - Directive 2012/18/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directive 96/82/EC (OJ L 197, 24.7.2012, p. 1), - Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 January 2006 concerning the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register and amending Council Directives 91/689/EEC and 96/61/EC (OJ L 33, 4.2.2006, p. 1), - Directive 2004/107/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2004 relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air (OJ L 23, 26.1.2005, p. 3), - Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1), - Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives (OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3), - Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April1999 on the landfill of waste (OJ L 182, 16.7.1999, p. 1), - Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 on shipments of waste (OJ L 190, 12.7.2006, p. 1). The exercise of competences which Member States of the European Union have transferred to the European Union pursuant to the Treaties is, by its nature, subject to continuous development. The Union therefore reserves the right to adjust this Declaration."
"Declaration under article 25 (2): The Federal Republic of Germany declares, in accordance with article 25, paragraph 2, of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, that it accepts both means of dispute settlement referred to in that paragraph as compulsory in relation to any Party accepting one or both means of dispute settlement. Declaration under article 30 (5): The Federal Republic of Germany declares, in accordance with article 30, paragraph 5, of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, that any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force for the Federal Republic of Germany only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession with respect thereto."
Declaration: "The Republic of India, in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article 30 of the Minamata Convention on Mercury declares that any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force for the Republic of India only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto."
".. pursuant to Article 30, paragraph 5 of the Convention, the Islamic Republic of Iran hereby declares that any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force for the Islamic Republic of Iran only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto. "Consistent with its principal policy of protecting and promoting the environment and human health, the Islamic Republic of Iran has ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Fulfilling the obligations enshrined in the Convention is a clear duty of all relevant stakeholders including governmental or non-governmental; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the National Focal Point and the Organization of Protection of Environment as the National Authority of the Convention are assigned with the task of handling and monitoring the national implementation of the Convention. It is the understanding of the Islamic Republic of Iran that implementation of the Convention is subject to providing the developing countries with sustainable, adequate and accessible financial support, technical assistance, technology transfer as well as capacity building and proper training which are recognized in the Articles 13 and 14 of the Convention as part of responsibilities of all parties, specifically the developed country parties. The Islamic Republic of Iran is of the view that full and accurate implementation of the said articles is as necessary as other articles of the Convention and non-implementation of the said Articles may raise the issue of compliance. Should the above assistance and support fail to be adequate, timely and sustainable; the extension of the exemptions will be a necessity. The Islamic Republic of Iran would like to encourage all countries that have not yet done so, in particular developed countries to join the Convention and emphasizes that the whole international community should work together to realize the accepted principle of 'Common But Differentiated Responsibilities'."
.... any amendment to an Annex to the Convention shall enter into force for Jamaica only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto.
Declaration under article 30 (5): .. Pursuant to article 30, paragraph 5, of the Convention, the Republic of Mauritius declares that any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force for the Republic of Mauritius only upon the [deposit] of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto..
Declaration under article 30 (5): .. as per article 30 (5) [..] with regard to the Republic of Namibia, any amendment to an annex shall enter into force only upon the deposit of Namibia's instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto..
"The Kingdom of the Netherlands declares, in accordance with Article 25, paragraph 2, of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, that it accepts both means of dispute settlement referred to in that paragraph as compulsory in relation to any Party accepting one or both means of dispute settlement."
"In accordance with Article 25, paragraph 2 of the Convention, Norway hereby declares (b) Submission of the dispute to the International Court of Justice."
"Declaration under article 25 (2) In exercise of the right to make the declarations or communications permitted under the Convention and in relation to article 25, paragraph 2, the Republic of Peru wishes to bring to the attention of the parties the declaration that it made on 7 July 2003 [..] which was made under Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, pursuant to which the Republic of Peru recognizes as compulsory ipso facto and without special agreement, in relation to any other party accepting the same obligation, subject to the condition of reciprocity, the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in all legal disputes. Such declaration does not preclude the possibility of recourse to the arbitration and conciliation procedures established in the Convention (annex E) for the matter disputed if the other party or parties to the dispute agree to such in writing. The present declaration does not prevent the parties from settling the dispute through direct negotiation or any other means of settlement recognized by the Convention. Declaration under article 30 (5) In exercise of the right to make the declarations or communications permitted under the Convention and in relation to article 30, paragraph 5, the Republic of Peru declares that, with regard to it, any amendment to an annex shall enter into force only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto."
"Declaration under article 30 (5) .. in accordance with Article 30 (5) of the Convention, [..] any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force for the Republic of Seychelles only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratifications, acceptance, approval, or accession with respect thereto..
".. in accordance with Article 30 paragraph 5 of the Minamata Convention, [...] any amendment to an Annex to the Convention shall enter into force for the Republic of Suriname only upon its deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto."
".. any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force only upon the deposit of [the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand's] instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession in accordance with Article 30 paragraph 5."
"The United States hereby declares, pursuant to Article 30, paragraph 5, that any amendment to an annex to the Convention shall enter into force for the United States only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession with respect thereto."


6 Minutes of Terror: What Passengers Experienced on Ethiopian Airlines Fl. 302In a clear sign something is amiss, the autopilot turns itself off. In the cabin, people are now getting shaken as the plane rolls.
Is the Boeing 737 Max Worth Saving?Even when the Max does get FAA approval to fly again, its troubles won't be over.
Could the 737 MAX Kill Boeing?The plane is the biggest profit center for America's biggest exporter — and there's no telling how bad this crisis will get.
The Recent Deadly Boeing Crash No One Is Talking AboutLast month a cargo jet abruptly nosedived to the ground near Houston – an accident even more disturbing in its implications than the one in Ethiopia.
After 2 Deadly Crashes, Is It Safe to Fly on a 737 Max?Many nations grounded the 737 Max after Sunday's Ethiopian Airlines crash, but the FAA says it's safe. Should U.S. travelers relax or switch flights?
Bath Salts to Bitcoin: John McAfee's Bizarre Crypto HustleHow the early internet guru turned international fugitive became crypto's spokesman.
How to Keep Your New Year's Resolution and Achieve Your GoalsTo change your life, consider the easy route.
What the New York Times UFO Report Actually RevealsThe takeaway appeared to be "flying saucers are real." But a closer reading suggests a murkier proposition.
When Pleasure Makes Us Hate OurselvesFrom the viewpoint of classic conditioning theory, this kind of hedonic flip-flop doesn't make much sense.
To Change Your Life, Learn How to Trust Your Future SelfHow to change for the better, for good.
Why We Love SpeedThe U.S. now churns out 211 tons of amphetamines every year. We're hooked on the stuff, and the reason lies deep in our evolutionary roots.
Supersonic Underwater Travel May Be Coming SoonThanks to the property of supercavitation, scientists say submarines will eventually be able to rocket through the ocean inside a gaseous bubble.
What Is the Speed of Thought?It takes half a second for sensory information to be incorporated into conscious experience. So, in a sense, the future has already happened.
How Your Brain Controls the Speed of TimeWhy does reality seem to slow down in moments of extreme peril? Can the mind really bend time? Here's the neuroscience behind the phenomenon.
Why Would a Pilot Let His Plane Run Out of Fuel?The "human factors" that may have played a role in the LaMia crash.
The Obscure, Legal Drug That Fuels John McAfeeThroughout the software engineer's bizarre downfall and remarkable comeback, his drug of choice has been a mystery — until now.
Signs Point to a Catastrophic Event in the EgyptAir Disappearance Abrupt loss of contact and a steep descent.
Amateur Intelligence Analysts Tie MH17 Shoot-Down to Russian MilitaryA deep social-media dive reveals that the missile wasn't fired by accident.
AirAsia Flight 8501 and the Risks of AutomationIf we rely on automation to fly our planes and drive our cars, what happens when those systems fail?
About That Airplane Part That Was Supposed to Solve the MH370 Mystery …It's been a month since that flaperon washed up on the shore of the island of La Réunion.
With New Batch of MH370 Info, Mystery DeepensDissecting some strange details in part three of the MH370 conspiracy chase.


As with most industries there is often industry specific processes and materials that are utilized. For those who would like further information on wire and metal forming options please investigate these links.
If you would like further information on our ability to custom make wire and metal products for you, please contact us.
For those projects where a design has been engineered already, but still has some flexibility, forward the engineered samples or drawings to us. With these, we can make suggestions that may result in a more reliable and cost effective product while still meeting the original criteria.


Retirement schemes duly licensed in Malta by the MFSA, may be recognised by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in the U.K. (the "HMRC") as Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes ("QROPS"). CSB Group assists clients with Malta Retirement Schemes and Investment Planning as well as the setting up a QROPS / QNUPS in Malta which would be established in the form of a trust or otherwise by contract.
Malta being a QROPS jurisdiction.
Furthermore, retirement schemes duly Malta licensed in Malta by the MFSA may be recognised by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in the U.K. (the "HMRC") as Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes ("QROPS"). Malta has gained further popularity as a pension jurisdiction for British expats' UK pensions since the country met HMRC regulations for UK QROPS. Non-UK tax residents may transfer their QROPS to an attractive and tax-efficient jurisdiction such as Malta and benefit from greater flexibility as regards investments and withdrawals (when compared to similar UK Schemes). Thus, newly set-up Schemes licensed in Malta may apply for recognition as QROPS with the HMRC. QROPS give their pension holders greater control of their pension and in addition, Malta offers attractive and comprehensive tax breaks to such QROPS investors.
Since QROPS are subject to UK inheritance tax upon the holder's decease, British authorities have introduced Qualifying Non UK Pension Scheme (QNUPS) whereby money transferred into these Schemes will be free from such UK inheritance tax.
Malta is an attractive jurisdiction particularly since it is the only QROPS compliant jurisdiction offering 100% flexibility on full pension access.
Malta's current regulatory and legislative framework is robust and ensures the integrity of pensions plans. Pensions are currently regulated by the Retirement Pensions Act which came into force in January 2015, replacing the the Special Funds (Regulation) Act. It regulates Retirement Schemes, Retirement Funds and the Service Providers related thereto. This Act also seeks to further attract high-net-worth individuals, multinationals, individuals and wealthy expatriates to Malta and base their pension provisions. There have also been significant amendments to UK law in April 2015 which have updated the position from the UK perspective.
UK-based Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pensions Scheme (QROPS) providers are moving to Malta to set up new schemes at a fast pace. As such, an individual having accumulated benefits under a private pension in the UK, but who has left the UK to take up residence elsewhere (not necessarily Malta), may transfer such benefits to a Maltese QROPS.
QROPS are Pillar II pension schemes established outside the UK and which are recognised as such by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The administrators of a pension scheme established in Malta may apply to HMRC for formal acceptance of the scheme as a QROPS. Once approved as a QROPS, the Maltese scheme could accept funds/assets transferred from existing UK pension schemes.
A Maltese QROPS would be regulated by domestic legislation – specifically, the Retirement Pensions Act, which as of January 2015, replaced the Special Funds (Regulation) Act, Chapter 450 of the laws of Malta and subsidiary legislation promulgated thereunder. There have also been significant amendments to UK law in April 2015 which have updated the position from the UK perspective.
Maltese legislation is suitably comprehensive and meets the high standards set by HMRC. Still, a Maltese QROPS may afford greater flexibility as regards investments and withdrawals (when compared to corresponding UK schemes) and is likely to be attractive from a tax perspective.
In light of the comprehensive and high quality of Malta's applicable legislative framework, and the ongoing scrutiny of that framework and of domestic schemes by the local regulator (the Malta Financial Services Authority), such additional flexibility and tax advantages would not be achieved at the expense of investment security – an overriding concern, particularly in the context of retirement pensions.
A QROPS would be established in Malta in the form of a trust or otherwise by contract. Each scheme must be licensed by the MFSA.
Such a license would be procured pursuant to the submission to the MFSA of an appropriate application, the accompanying trust deed/scheme document (detailing, for example, the purpose and rules governing the scheme) and any other documentation or information required by the MFSA.
the reputation and suitability of the scheme administrator and any other parties connected to the scheme.
Every Maltese pension scheme must appoint an auditor and an administrator – approved for the purposes by the MFSA. The administrator may be responsible for the day to day management of the scheme. A licensed asset manager would be required to manage the assets of the scheme should the administrator not have the required competence and/or facilities in this regard. The trustee of a scheme set up as a trust may also undertake the functions of administrator provided, of course, that the trustee has all requisite expertise and resources. The MFSA may also require the appointment of a custodian charged with safekeeping all assets pertaining to the scheme and, perhaps, monitoring the administrator in the exercise of its duties. Once a pension scheme is established, the administrator/s would be required to apply to HMRC for formal recognition of the scheme as a QROPS.
When can the Contributor Benefit from a Maltese Qrops?
The beneficiary under a Maltese QROPS may only receive benefits from the scheme once s/he shall have attained the age of fifty-five but before s/he shall have turned seventy (although benefits may be accessed earlier in limited prescribed circumstances should, for example, the beneficiary suffer permanent invalidity or death). However, upon maturity, the beneficiary would be entitled to opt to take an annuity and/or a lump sum payment. Details as to timing and amounts of benefits would be specified in the trust deed/scheme document.
For more information on Financial Services, please do not hesitate to contact us by completing the form below.


Chris Brown is part startup attorney and part entrepreneur.
His firm, Venture Legal, works with various small businesses and startup companies in the Kansas City metro area. To say that Brown values the technology would be an understatement—rather, he sees it as a lifeline in which his firm operates.
While the practice is still taboo to many attorneys, Brown uses Dropbox for the purpose of sharing client files or contracts, as well as for document storage.
From Dropbox to Evernote, SalesForce to Slack, these are just a sample of the cloud-based platforms and softwares that are disrupting the legal industry.
In 2016, the American Bar Association said only 38 percent of lawyers used cloud computing. In just a year, that share rose to 52 percent in 2017, making Brown ahead of the curve.
Venture Legal is a one-man firm, suggesting that Brown's use of Dropbox is a creative solution to a lack of manpower, but Brown would argue the contrary — it simplifies things and, in his opinion, is safe, if not safer than storage of paper documents.
"A lot of lawyers are really afraid of this because they think putting all their client data in the cloud is risky. But the funny thing is a lot of lawyers say they don't use the cloud, but if they're using Gmail, they're using the cloud," Brown said.
A 2017 Legal Technology Survey Report by the American Bar Association (ABA) saw a slight decline, 72 to 69 percent, of attorneys that reported confidentiality/security concerns; meanwhile, 69 percent of those not using the cloud reported confidentiality/security concerns as the No. 1 reason they have not adopted such technologies.
The perception of risk attached to cloud computing remains the leading reason for legal professionals to shy away from such efficiencies. A 2017 Deloitte report, "Objections overruled: The case for disruptive technology in the legal profession" confirms that attorneys are risk-averse and reiterates Brown's argument on whether tangible records are more secure.
Despite the concerns among the industry, startup platforms forge ahead with advanced security framework such as blockchain and encryption.
Vector Legal Method addresses the need for efficiency and security within the legal industry through its cloud litigation management platform. Deploying centralized control in the form of a dashboard, a firm or attorney can manage documents, deadlines, tasks and case history in one place by using a Vector's litigation-specific framework designed for federal and state rules of civil procedure.
"Vector was designed and built by veteran litigation partners who saw a need for a litigation-specific platform where all stakeholders could collaborate from the beginning of a case through case resolution," said Thadd Hale, Vector Legal Method CEO.
The platform ensures all uploaded content is encrypted at rest and in transit.
"We are a Box Platform company, so we have the same document security as the leading enterprise cloud-based solution," added Hale. Box Platform is a security system used in applications for cloud content management.
Vector is intended to help attorneys differentiate their services and show clients that they can manage the litigation process better than their competitors. Of course, given the slow adoption of cloud computing among attorneys, Hale and his team are taking a different approach to illustrating Vector's value.
In a similar approach to Vector Legal Method, Intelligent RMS is a new cloud-based business management platform geared toward the legal industry for the purpose of internal efficiency. Unlike Vector, however, Intelligent RMS does not manage cases; rather, it combines a firm's business data into a single, real-time view for the purpose of firm management.
"All organizations face similar core challenges — they have invested in multiple core technologies that don't integrate causing increasing complexity to gather meaningful information. Notwithstanding, the outlying manual processes and spreadsheets that have to be aggregated," said Elizabeth DeZeeuw, president and CEO of EDZ Systems, developer of Intelligent RMS.
DeZeeuw explained that by combining internal and external tools into one interface, firms can realize a greater level of efficiency and transparency.
"This includes productivity in matter management as it aligns with financial forecast to actuals; assignment of resources to matters based on prior history and skills; providing clients a greater level of transparency into firm's management of their matters," she said.
While adoption of cloud technologies is slow, the 2017 ABA Survey actually indicates that consumer cloud platforms are in higher use among attorneys compared with platforms dedicated to legal services.
Intelligent RMS counters this sentiment by addressing time and resources.
While the time it will take attorneys and law firms to grow in their acceptance of cloud computing is unknown, it is suggested that an accelerated acceptance among clients will likely move the needle.
Valuing time and increasing communication with clients, matched with cost savings, will prove to be critical advantages to a legal industry operating in the cloud.
Brian Kearns, CEO of HipHire and Venture Legal client, values Brown's use of technology for his business.
Brown said the bottom line will continue to drive law firms to new technologies.


So Netflix is now officially launched in Qatar after years of wait, but within a month it has proven to be a big disappointment compared to the US/UK editions. In fact, as shared in the graphic below, only 18% of the TV shows/movies are available in Qatar compared to US version.
But one good thing is that even if you sign up for Netflix in Qatar, you can watch US Netflix in Qatar, albeit using a small hack shared below.
After my personal experience in Doha, I scouted for a hack to get netflix Qatar access, and I've found a very simple solution to address this, valid not only for Qatar but anywhere in the world, and not only for Netflix but also for Hulu, beginning at just $3.33/month.
Getting straight to the point, the best way to get netflix Qatar access is to get a VPN service (I use IP Vanish), which is as easy as a single click and a 3 second wait to enter the entertaining world of Netflix from your couch. In layman terms, a VPN service is basically showing netflix that you are logging in from the United States, and not Qatar. And voila, you get the access.
While doing this, I have also compiled a quick list of best VPN services for getting netflix Qatar access below. For those interested in details, may learn more about VPN here, or can get a detailed summary prepared by me for best VPN service here.
Do share your experience and feedback of the process of getting US Netflix in Qatar access through this little hack.


text:
About jtd
iMDT Corner
ESTS-AME Prize column
AME Fellow Page
Meet the Thoracic Surgery Team
Vol 5, No 5 (October 2013) /
Signal stratification of autoantibody levels in serum samples and its application to the early detection of lung cancer
Authors: Graham F. Healey, Stephen Lam, Peter Boyle, Geoffrey Hamilton-Fairley, Laura J. Peek, John F. R. Robertson
Background: Further signal stratification for the EarlyCDT®-Lung test should facilitate interpretation of the test, leading to more precise interventions for particular patients.
Methods: Samples were measured for the presence of autoantibodies to seven tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) (p53, NY-ESO-1, CAGE, GBU4-5, SOX2, MAGE A4, and HuD). In addition to the current test cut-offs (determined using a previously reported Validation case-control sample set, set A; n=501), new high and low cut-offs were set in order to maximize the test's positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively). All three sets of cut-offs were applied to two confirmatory datasets: (I) the case-control set B (n=751), and (II) Population-derived set C (n=883), and all three datasets combined (n=2,135).
Results: For the Validation dataset, cancer/non-cancer positivity for current cut-offs was 41%/9% (PPV =0.109, 1 in 9). The high positive stratum improved this to 25%/2% (PPV =0.274, 1 in 4). The low negative stratum improved this to 8%/23% (NPV =0.990, 1 in 105). This provides a 25-fold difference in lung cancer probability between the highest and lowest groups.
The test performs equally well in subjects who fulfilled the entry risk criteria for the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) and subjects who did not meet the NLST criteria.
Conclusions: The EarlyCDT®-Lung test has been converted to a four-stratum test by the addition of high and low sets of cut-offs: patients are thus stratified into four risk categories. This stratification will enable personalization of subsequent screening and treatment programs for high risk individuals or patients with lung nodules.
The Journal of Thoracic Disease (JTD, J Thorac Dis, pISSN: 2072-1439; eISSN: 2077-6624) is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal, which was founded in Dec 2009. JTD is indexed by...
Phone: +86 20 66355775; Email: jtd@amepc.org


This is one of three covers based on a three-book series by author K.A. Laity – Chastity Flame will be published September 20, 2012 by Tirgearr Publishers. I also created 4 banners for the website.
Thanks for entering. Send me an email with your format preference (katelaity at gmail).
Very clever to have the name of the book repeat over and over and over. Chastity Flame K.A. Laity. But I am guessing? Or did I read it from someone else's comment? Anyway its great!
LOL, send me an email and what format you want the ebook in.
I love this cover! And outside of the binary code for infinity (looping forever) I don't have a clue. I'm adding the book to my TBR pile.
Not sure if I am posting in the right area…but here goes….
If you send me an email (katelaity at gmail) and which format of the book you'd like, I'll send you the ebook. Congratulations, I hope you enjoy it!
You got it! We have a winner!
vsery nice – hot, hot, hot!!!
Thanks so much, guys- you made my day!
I'm so excited about the new and improved CHASTITY FLAME — because she's about to be a trilogy with fab art by the wonderful S. L. Johnson!


Methadone withdrawal will be called for sooner or later, after methadone maintenance or a pain administration program using methadone has started. If your sensation shackled by needing to go to a Hatboro PA clinic or a drug store day-to-day and going through heck if you intend to travel, there is an escape.
Methadone use produces a numb feeling to living, significant belly problems and physical dependency that defeats all others; that's the short list. All sort of various other health problems that methadone usage produced are exposed when starting methadone withdrawal. I'll give you some solution to aid right now, and also better remedies to deal with the problem to finishing methadone reliance forever.
Addictions medical professionals and discomfort monitoring clinics in Pennsylvania are seriously suggesting methadone for opiate abuse and persistent discomfort, yet exactly what are the effects of methadone use? I have actually detailed numerous below. If you have actually already attempted Methadone withdrawal and had troubles, I've got some help you wouldn't have found elsewhere.
Once it is time to begin methadone withdrawal, lots of people are having BIG troubles finishing their methadone use. Exactly how does one take out from methadone in Hatboro Pennsylvania? What obstacles will they have to get over?
The fact is that numerous dependencies physicians and also pain administration experts in Hatboro are acting on the recommendations from their peers and also advisors. They are not informed of the deaths as a result of recommended methadone use neither the troubles that occasionally happen when withdrawing from methadone use.
Vital: thoroughly research medicines or medicines on your own prior to you acquire or take them. The effects can be terrible. They likewise could have dangerous interactive effects when taken with various other medicines.
Lots of if not every one of methadone results are brought on by nutritional shortages. Methadone use develops dietary depletion – especially calcium as well as magnesium deficiency. One more is B vitamin shortage. This is exactly how these shortages are manifested.
Methadone withdrawal will certainly need a great deal of additional nutritional supplements. That implies it's time to feed the body. Calcium and magnesium will assist with the cramping and so on. But there will certainly be some problem many will certainly have taking their nutrients – a bad digestive tract.
Methadone and anxiety meds have the tendency to ruin the gut cellular lining. A dripping gut gives pains when eating or allergic reactions, prone to health issues and skin troubles. One more signs and symptom of a leaking intestine is impatience and also a 'attitude problem'. The mindset could have physical causes unmentioned by the person.
A great idea to assisting the gut issue is consuming lots of top quality yogurt with online probiotics in it, like acidophilus and also bifidus. One could additionally supplement with big quantities of glutathione – an antioxidant to help the detoxification procedure.
The problem with methadone is that it is hazardous to the body. Your body recognizes it, yet you might not. Taking methadone difficulties your organs to purify the body as well as secure the essential organs before they are terribly harmed.
Toxins provide the body a tough time. If you've seen drug users with dark circles under their eyes, gray skin, negative skin, hair falling out, low power, strange ailments, and so on they're obtained nutritional deficiencies. Those shortages are hard to recuperate from with food alone. In some cases that food isn't really being appropriately digested = negative digestive tract.
Detoxing the body is greater than just quiting drug use. Substance abuse creates inner body damages you may not immediately recognize. Nevertheless, the body will certainly attempt to cleanse right after drug use and heal itself using any kind of nutrients available. If the nutrients typically aren't offered, the body will certainly obtain (steal) them from the bones, nervous system or other important functions.
Some will require medical detox from methadone – the problem is that most Hatboro methadone detox centers don't use nutritional supplements as part of their program. They just give more medications, and often not the right ones. The lack of full understanding on Methadone detox creates a brutal scene to withdraw from.
The good news is that I have actually located the tools and the detox facilities in PA that could defeat methadone withdrawal smoothly as well as quickly.
Early resident John Dawson entertained guests at the Crooked Billet Inn as well as manufacturing a line of hats. When the post office opened in 1809 the town was officially called Hatborough. U.S. Postmaster General John Wanamaker officially changed the name of the town in the 1880s to Hatboro.
The Union Library Company of Hatboro, the third library company to be founded in Pennsylvania, was formed in 1755. This building still stands on its original site today and still serves as a library. George Washington and his troops passed through the town numerous times during 1777 in pursuit of British Troops. The Battle of Crooked Billet was fought in 1778.


Nestled in the heart of the South African Lowveld, the MalaMala Game Reserve's Rattray's Camp harks back to a by-gone era of tourism that combined the magic of the African wild with an old-world elegance.
The camp's eight luxury khayas can accommodate a maximum of 16 guests. The rooms feature en suite his and her bathrooms with both an indoor and outdoor shower as well as a bath. Spacious bedrooms come with large beds and elegant furnishings. A private veranda not only provides breathtaking views of the river, but leads into the private heated plunge pool and intimate indigenous garden. Other amenities include air-conditioning, heated towel rack, mini-bar, fans, bathrobes, heater, safe, television, fridge, and complementary Wi-Fi.
The camp is located on the banks of the Sand River within the private MalaMala Game Reserve which comprises 33,000-acres and is the largest private Big Five game reserve in South Africa. MalaMala shares a twelve-mile unfenced border with world-famous Kruger National Park. As the first commercial, private game reserve it's the model for all others. The park is well-known for its frequent sightings of the Big Five game animals: lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant as well as cheetah and cape hunting dog. MalaMala's river front running north to south is the lifeblood of the reserve, especially in the dry winter months. So concentrated are Africa's big game in this reserve that in 2009 there were only ten days where tourists did not record seeing all of Africa's Big Five.
The camp is the epitome of regal colonial safari-style and is the most luxurious of the MalaMala properties. Decorated in crystal and leather, with beautiful furnishings the camp evokes the romance of Karen Blixen's Out of Africa. The pride of the camp's common area is the sophisticated library. There is also an elegant African-themed dining room, historic bar, safari boutique, fitness center, and wine cellar. A large infinity pool has stunning views of the river.


If you are thinking about purchasing a new piece of equipment for your gym, it may be between an elliptical or a treadmill. This is a decision that many people face when they are looking to perfect their work out room. Both of the machines offer many benefits, but each of them have a few drawbacks as well. You need to consider what is right for you by looking at the pros and cons of each one. You may need to have more space in your gym room if you are thinking about getting an elliptical as most of these are not able to be folded into a smaller form.
If you are wondering what is more effective, then an elliptical is your best bet. This machine is going to give you the same cardiovascular work out that a treadmill will give you but you are also working out your upper body equally. This allows you to tone your biceps and triceps while you are running. It also allows you to disperse your weight evenly on the machine so your legs are not taking the brunt of the work out. You will probably be able to last for much longer on an elliptical machine compared to a regular treadmill. However, a treadmill may be the better option for you if you need something that can be put away into a closet. Many treadmills are able to fold up so that they are easily able to go inside of a regular closet. Keep that in mind if you are in need of something that is a bit more space friendly.
Another reason you may want to choose a treadmill is because of the setting options. Most elliptical machine do not come with a speed setting and you might want to increase your speed one day. Going faster is going to allow you to complete your routine much more quickly if you are ever in a hurry. An elliptical machine is good if you don't have many other large pieces of equipment in the room. One elliptical can replace several machines anyways, which is another reason that people choose them over treadmills. Keep these pros and cons in mind if you are debating between a treadmill or an elliptical for your gym room.


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Submitted by romaniainsider on Wed, 01/23/2019 - 11:30
Therme Bucharest opens new restaurant upon EUR 3.5 mln investment
The Therme wellness and relaxation complex near Bucharest has opened a "fusion restaurant" following an investment of EUR 3.5 million.
The Humboldt Restaurant has 190 seats on an area of 1,100 sqm on the inside and a terrace of 900 sqm. There are five unique dining areas in the restaurant: Sushi bar, Asian Corner, Mediterranean & Pasta Corner, Fish & Seafood, American Steak, Burgers & more.
Launched in 2016, Therme Bucharest is the largest thermal spa centre in Europe, built on a 250,000 sqm area, with an indoor area of 35,000 sqm, hosting the largest botanical garden in Romania with over 800,000 plants, of which over 1,500 palm trees. Last year, the complex expanded with two thematic urban parks, with over 10,000 sqm of green space.
With a total investment value of over EUR 100 million and over 500 employees, Therme Bucharest complex exceeded the threshold of 3 million customers in 2018, of which about 30% were foreign visitors.
"The three years of activity have brought us more visitors than we initially expected. The international popularity of the centre has also generated a significant and growing percentage of visitors from the Balkans, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Austria, Israel," said Stelian Iacob, CEO of Therme Bucharest.
Therme Bucharest spa complex adds three new relaxation areas
(photo source: Therme)


Which Male K-Pop Idol Will Be Jealous When You Said You Are Going Out With Another Guy?
Q1. Where do you think is the best place to hang out on a Friday night?
Q2. What delivery would you call in when you feel lazy to cook or eat out?
Q3. What would you choose to wear when meeting a guy?
Q4. What would you do if you friend suddenly cancelled an appointment with you?
Q5. What is the most important quality you look out for in a guy?


Micro-Cap Market Report: January 6, 2014 – Micro-cap stocks, the clear winners for 2013 (you can see the results below), came out of the gate a bit slow… and another holiday-shortened week was not the start to 2014 those looking for a sequel to 2013 were hoping for.
Due in large part to a big tumble on Thursday, all three major U.S. indices closed modestly lower on the week. Volume was predictably light because of the New Year's holiday.
On Friday, about 5.3 billion shares changed hands on U.S. exchanges, 11% below the 30-day average, according to Bloomberg data. While the Friday's losses were easier to digest than Thursday, 2014 is the first time since 2005 that U.S. stocks opened a new year with two consecutive down days. The good news is that in 2005, the S&P 500 was able to post a modest gain.
It was a somewhat lethargic week for small and micro-cap stocks with mixed signs of a legitimate January Effect, the scenario where small-caps lead the market higher in January and the broader market finishes higher for the year. To start the year, the iShares Russell Microcap (NYSE: IWC) posted a small gain of 0.05% on the week while the Guggenheim Wilshire Micro-Cap ETF (NYSE: WMCR) gained 0.41%.
The NASDAQ Golden Dragon China Index (^HXC) lead all of the indexes we report on with a whopping 58.95% gain for 2013. Admittedly, 2011 and 2012 were not kind to China stocks and the Index was starting from a, shall we say, compressed position, but it made a spectacular comeback.
In second place was the Guggenheim Wilshire Micro-Cap ETF, which sported a 46.16% yearly gain… the Russell MicroCap ETF snagged third place with a 43.58% gain.
Since this is a micro-cap stock newsletter, let's just say that we kicked some serious "tush" this year. As in the ZZ Top variety.
The majors were flying high as well… the NASDAQ Composite turned in a 38.32% gain for 2013 and was followed by the S&P 500 at 29.60% and the DJIA at 26.50%.
For the week… all of the indexes/ETFs we cover, except the Russell Micro, were flashing red numbers across the board. The major indexes were led by the DJIA that only dropped 0.05%.
Although it was a short week, traders and investors still had a few important economic data points to chew on.
On Thursday, the Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index showed a reading of 57. Readings above 50 indicate expansion. New orders and production, the index's most important components, each topped 60.
Also on Thursday, the Census Bureau provided another sign the U.S. economy, the world's largest, is gaining steam when it said construction spending rose one percent in November. Economists were expecting an increase of 0.7 percent.
The Labor Department reported that first-time claims for unemployment benefits dropped a tad to 339,000 for the week ending Dec. 28, 2013. The four-week average for claims, however, nudged up to 357,250 on upward revisions to prior data, according to the Miami Herald.
Those are certainly some strong data points and investors will have more to digest in the week ahead when the Labor Department delivers the December jobs report on Friday. However, it can, perhaps, or should be viewed as a disappointment (take your pick) that stocks did not react more favorably to what was a sturdy batch of data.
Gold continued a slight recovery… up $22.30 to close at $1,238.40. That makes the "G" Bugs happier.
Oil gave back some recent gains… prices closed Friday at $93.96, -$6.36.
The US Dollar was up… +0.0085 for the week to close at 0.7361 euros.
Bonds were up too, but just barely… The 10-year bond gained $0.06 to close at $97.90 and the 30-year bond gained $0.14 to close at $96.78.
Rumors, headlines or actual facts… didn't knock investors off the course they chose for 2013. Budget cuts, government defaults, stimulus scale-backs, international rumblings all just seemed to be taken in stride and the markets turned in what will be a "hard to duplicate" performance.
Believe it or not, small- and micro-cap gold and silver miners posted exceptional gains in the just completed week. The Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: GDXJ) and the PureFunds ISE Junior Silver Miners ETF (NYSE: SILJ), both of which are home to plenty of micro-caps, each gained about 9%.
Also worth noting is that January is often a strong month for the biotechnology sector because two major industry conferences take place in the middle of the month and that could be an upside catalyst for micro-cap health care names.
Micro-cap financials are also worth considering because it seems to be a foregone conclusion that Treasury yields will rise this year.


Catherine's Uniforms – The Affordable Uniform Store!
including Littmann, ADC and Prestige Medical.
Catherine's Uniforms has recently transitioned to new ownership. Our goal is to continue serving Hartford and Litchfield counties, and expand our products throughout Connecticut.
We are committed to provided to quality products and service.
Our product lines currently include Cherokee, Grey's Anatomy, Jockey, Koi, Med Couture, Urbane, Dansko and more. We stock a wide variety of scrubs, jackets, lab coats, socks, stethoscopes, safety glasses and accessories for the medical field. We also carry restaurant uniforms including tuxedo shirts, vests, bow ties, aprons, and cook wear. Please call us at 860-849-9298, or stop in and visit us today at 194 Main Street, Bristol CT!


Gazprom is attempting to settle a long running antitrust investigation by the European Commission, the Russian energy giant said this week.
Gazprom has asked the EC to consider a settlement over competition infringement charges. The Russian gas company, the dominant natural gas supplier Eastern European countries, with market share of 50 to 100 per cent in many countries, started being investigated by the EC competition authorities in 2012. Alexander Medvedev, Gazprom's deputy chairman, said on 21 September 21: 'We have sent our proposals to settle the claims formally brought against Gazprom'. A EC acknowledged it has recieved the letter, with the competition authority spokesman Ricardo Cardoso telling Bloomberg News: 'The EC can confirm it has received a set of commitment proposals from Gazprom, which it will assess carefully'.
The European Commission sent a further Statement of Objections to the Russian state owned energy provider in April 2015, alleging it was still abusing it's monopoly power in European gas markets. 'I am concerned that Gazprom is breaking EU antitrust rules by abusing its dominant position on EU gas markets' the EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager stated in April, adding that the company has built artificial barriers preventing gas from flowing between different European countries, impinging cross-border competition.
'Keeping national gas markets separate also allowed Gazprom to charge prices that we at this stage consider to be unfair. If our concerns were confirmed, Gazprom would have to face the legal consequences of its behaviour,' said the former Danish cabinet minister in April. Sources: EC; Financial Times.


Discount Dental Plans are a great way to access needed coverage immediately and lower the cost of dental care. These plans are not actually "insurance" and are attractive for people who do not have insurance coverage for these services or who have inadequate coverage. Discount Dental Plans allow for unlimited use of services by using a dental network and are based on a discounted fee schedule. There are no annual limits, no health questions to answer and generally no waiting periods. The cost is small compared to the potential savings for you and your family.
While you are able to use any dentist, the monthly premiums for dental insurance are typically $25 or more per month for individuals and $90+ per month for family plans. These plans generally pay a percentage of the dentist's fee or a set dollar amount (usually, whichever is less). The individual usually pays the difference between the dentist's full charge and the amount paid by the dental insurance plan. They typically include a calendar year maximum, annual deductibles and have waiting periods on certain procedures.
These are typically the least expensive of dental insurance plans. All dental services are provided by a limited panel of dentists who are paid a fixed monthly amount by the insurance company for each individual, regardless of how much or how often covered services are used. The DMHO dentists agree to provide specific dental services to members at no charge, although some services may require a co-payment. DHMO plans reward participating dentists who keep patients in good health, thereby keeping plan costs low.
Generally these are less expensive than Indemnity dental plans and typically include a calendar year maximum, a deductible and have waiting periods on certain procedures. Individuals select their dentist from a network or listing of dental providers who have agreed by contract to reduce their fees. Individuals can also seek treatment from dentists outside of the PPO (non-participating dentists) but may be responsible for higher deductibles and/or co-payments.
A scheduled plan or scheduled reimbursement plan reimburses for a specific amount based on a fee schedule with any balance due being your responsibility. Scheduled plans typically include a calendar year maximum, a deductible and have waiting periods on certain procedures. A Scheduled plan shows every covered procedure and specifies the amount you will be reimbursed for each procedure.


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Home Tags Posts tagged with "Education"
by Stewart Munro - Jan 8, 2016
Article 3 of a 3 part series on the NHS. Co-authored by Dr Aisling Koning
NHS in England is facing unprecedented challenges: a prolonged funding squeeze alongside a changing burden in society's healthcare needs has put intense pressure on services and finances. As Healthcare Arena described in Part I, since its inception, the NHS has constantly been subjected to cutbacks and reorganisations by the government, who many believe are focusing more on cutting costs as opposed to investing in a business. A key problem may be that NHS is framed as a problem needing fixing, instead of an asset (Part II).
The current dispute between politicians and junior doctors over extended working hours is a case in point, highlighting political incompetence and mismanagement of the NHS. Politicians have the audacity to claim the doctors' primary concern is loss of earnings when they themselves preside over the scandalous waste caused by agency nurses. It is indeed likely that many more people would trust doctors more than politicians, after all, who would you trust with your health?
Funding, transparency and Education
Any business needs investment to flourish. Unfortunately, there is currently no political party with a plan to fund the NHS properly for the future. The equation is simple: if the NHS is to survive and flourish we must pay more, alongside improving efficiency and management.
Because healthcare is free at the point of delivery does not mean that it is free. However, generations have grown up with this impression and expectation. Therefore, regarding funding of the NHS, the lack of transparency on personal contributions leads to confusion for the majority. The proportion of an individual's national insurance and general tax contribution to the NHS, pension or social care remains largely unknown; some feel that there is no personal connection with financing all three; many people are not aware that their employer also contributes toward their national insurance contribution. Health and social care are closely related and should be managed as such.
A system that allows individuals to see how much they have contributed could have a significant impact. This could be the starting point for dealing with the reality that the NHS cannot survive as a first class service in the long term without a significant increase in funding.
A core solution to properly funding the NHS, and social care in the future, lies in education. A large increase in spending and social care, funded by increased contributions by individuals that are fully aware – and proud of their contributions – could bring significant improvements in health and social care. Indeed, there may not be huge resistance to such increases, you Gov polls in April 2014 demonstrated that 48% of individuals would be happy to increase national insurance contributions if they were ring-fenced for the NHS. This would facilitate sensible discussions on the methods for increased funding, including top-up contributions schemes etc.
Without any political party proposing meaningful solutions to sustaining, let alone improving the NHS in the next decade, this funding must come from some form of taxation; the future of the NHS is dwindling. The Scottish National Party (SNP) and Labour refer to cutting trident and defence spending to reinvest in other areas including healthcare. There is a real need for reality on funding healthcare. This concept of juggling budgets is ingrained in backward political thinking and often counter-productive because it does not address the real underlying issues. There is an urgent need for reality on funding healthcare.
Continued efficiency and prudent financial management are vital but clearly cost savings alone are not enough. This should be achieved with a cooperative, fully-inclusive management policy that is transparent, instead of continual confrontation.
Variation in NHS across the UK
As described in Part I, the universal availability of healthcare underpins the core principles on which the NHS is based. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the NHS provides both health care and social services, where as in England and Wales the NHS provides healthcare, and local councils provide the social services. However, between the UK's four nations – despite similarities and shared history, there are considerable variations in areas such as health outcomes, spending, staffing and quality (1). Unequal regional access to treatment and prescription charges – for some but not others, undermine the principle of universal accessibility.
In Scotland, political mismanagement of the NHS has been exacerbated by devolution. This has resulted in the unnecessary creation of regional versions of UK-wide initiatives: Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the inadequate version of NHS England's National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE); and their equally substandard procurement system, Healthcare Innovation Portal. Owner of Pentland Medical, Stewart Munro, commented on his own personal experience after approaching both NICE medtech and HIPP with one of his products, "I have tested both the NICE medtech programme and HIPP with one of our products. The NICE experience was professional and worth testing. The HIPP experience was clearly inferior. I would add both organisations declined to adopt the product." He added: "NICE at least explained their decision after due consideration, in a reasonable timescale. HIPP dismissed the application after basic form filling and took a ridiculous time to respond."
The future of the NHS
The UK's ageing demographic, increases in non-communicable illness (like diabetes and obesity) and the requisite cost of their prevention and treatment, plus the cost of technological advances, are all new challenges facing the NHS. There is a need for a system of funding that is directly related to delivering a first class healthcare system. The NHS is capable of providing this, however without investment, continuing on the present course will lead to the terminal decline of the NHS within the next decade.
Fortunately, all is not doomed, The Five-Year Forward View was developed as a five-year plan of how to close gaps in funding and quality of care in the NHS (2, 3). It describes national, and local models to support more efficient healthcare delivery, disease prevention, models of service delivery, and integration of services. Its delivery, however, is dependent on fundamental changes in the NHS. While there has been overall consensus on the broad models, change has been slow. Now, more than ever, we need a new, systematic and comprehensive approach to supporting and implementing change to health services, from simple improvements to more radical transformation. With this in mind, the King's Trust has set out the need for an annual £1.5bn Transformation Fund for investment in new types of care and robust implementation, aligned with more practical support (4)
Being a human endeavour, the NHS will never be perfect. It does not deserve to be treated as a pawn by incompetent, self serving, feuding political factions. The NHS is arguably our greatest national asset and many people still proudly contribute to its running with the hope of seeing it flourish.
http://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/1213192es.pdf.
http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/5yfv-web.pdf.
https://healthcare-arena.co.uk/the-nhs-goes-back-to-the-future-in-2015/.
http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/files/kf/field/field_publication_file/making-change-possible-a-transformation-fund-for-the-nhs-kingsfund-healthfdn-jul15.pdf.


This wedding earring is hand beaded on fabric. Silver thread, ivory pearls and offwhite fabric. This listing is for the silver earring as shown. It can also be made in gold. If you prefer a gold version, please add a note on the order.


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Simon Wiesenthal, Israel-austria Joint Issue.
In June 2010, Israel and Austria issued a stamp to commemorate the life of Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal.
The stamps were the first ever to be issued using a Laser etching and lacing technology and the Star of David can be seen on both sides of the stamp. The perforations were also done using Laser technology.
The stamps were printed by a Thai-British Laser Security Printers in New Zealand.
The Israel stamp was issued in Sheetlets of 4, two with tabs. On the tab is written Wiesenthal's lifelong motto " Justice, not vengeance".
I do not have an example of the Austria stamp but it is almost identical except for the country name and value. Both were printed by the same company.
I was in our office yesterday and was shown a new arrival of stamps by our Secretary, as I often am. One was this issue and I took some sheetlets away with me. But before I did I was shown what happened when she tried to seperate the stamps from the sheet for use on mail. I was immediately intrigued as there seemed to be no regular pattern to the splitting. [see below] Most of the problems occurred around the Star of David.
The joint issue Stamp group has advised never to soak this stamp off the cover....now I know why !
Does anyone have an Austrian example to show and tell ? Or has anyone seen one used off paper ? Might be interesting to know.
Londonbus1....not splitting just yet !
I guess these will have to be collected in mint condition. They must have set the lasers on HIGH!
Seriously, they are impressive stamps with important historical significance.
If I am ever lucky enough to get a used one, I will definitely keep it on paper! Thanks for the heads up.
If I am ever lucky enough to get a used one, I will definitely keep it on paper!
For you, a used copy can easily be arranged !
Reminds me of a tecnique to prevent re-use of the stamp.
You are too kind. When I get to my 50 posts, I think I have some flags for you.


Posted on June 23, 2014 by Lisa B.
Taking a break – Thanks everyone for making this so awesome! I wanted to let you know that I won't be posting deals to my blog for the next few months. This summer has been very busy and the extra time posting deals has taken time away from being with my family. I still will be checking out the daily deals but only posting them on my Couponing Muskegon Facebook Page itself. That page will be strictly posts from me on deals that I've found online. If you are interested in that, I have put the link to the page below. Thanks for your understanding.