text:
Poland - History
Poland has had an agrarian history that can be dated back 7500 years.
Poland's place has varied over the times from a huge state in central Europe the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, to no formal recognition at all.
Poland regained its independence in 1918.
From the 10th century, the Polish nation was led by a series of rulers who converted the Poles to Christianity. In the 1300s the basis for the new dominant Kingdom of Poland was established.
By the 18th century democracy had gradually declined into anarchy, making the once powerful Commonwealth vulnerable to foreign intervention and ultimately ceased to exist in 1795.
Following the reestablishment of its independence the Second Polish Republic was destroyed by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union by their Invasion of Poland at the beginning of the Second World War.
The late 1980s saw the establishment of Solidarity, a reform movement, that caused a peaceful transition from a communist state to a capitalist democracy, which resulted in the creation of the Polish state today.
The Stone Age era in Poland lasted five hundred thousand years and involved three different human species. The Stone Age cultures ranged from early human groups with primitive tools to advanced agricultural societies using sophisticated stone tools, building fortified settlements and developing copper metallurgy.
Bronze Age cultures in Poland begin around 2400/2300 BC. The Iron Age commences ca. 750/700 BC.
From about 400 BC many Germanic tribes moved from present-day Poland in the southern and eastern directions, while other remained. As the Roman Empire was nearing its collapse and the nomadic peoples invading from the east destroyed, damaged or destabilized the various Germanic cultures and societies, the Germanic people left eastern and central Europe for the safer and wealthier southern and western parts of the continent. The northeast corner of modern Poland's territory was and remained populated by Baltic tribes.
After the departure of the Germanic tribes around the 5th century some half century after these territories were vacated by Germanic tribes. Slavic peoples inhabited the area living from cultivation of crops and were generally farmers, but also engaged in hunting and gathering.
From the early part of the 10th century the Polans became a force behind the historic processes that gave rise to the Polish state.
The 10th century, saw territory expansion resulting in a territory about the size of Poland as it is today. Bolesław Chrobry (ruled 992-1025) continued his father's policy of alliance with the Holy Roman Empire. Conflicts with Germany ended in 1018 with the Peace of Bautzen accord, on favorable for Bolesław terms. In the context of the 1018 Kiev expedition Bolesław took over the western part of Red Ruthenia. In 1025, shortly before his death, Bolesław I the Brave crowned himself, and became the first king of Poland.
Bolesław II the Bold, also known as the Generous (ruled 1058-1079), developed Polish military strength further, waging several foreign campaigns between 1058 and 1077.
Bolesław III the Wrymouth (ruled 1102-1138) became the Duke of Poland by defeating his half-brother in 1106-1107.
The 13th century brought changes in the structure of the Polish society and political system. In mid 13th century Bolesław II the Bald granted Lubusz Land to the Margraviate of Brandenburg, which made possible the creation of the Neumark and had far reaching negative consequences for the integrity of the western border. Western Farther Pomerania broke its political ties with Poland in the second half of the 12th century and from 1231 became a fief of the Margraviate, which in 1307 extended its Pomeranian possessions even further east. Pomerelia or Gdańsk Pomerania had been independent of the Polish dukes from 1227.
The civil strife and foreign invasions, such as the Mongol invasions in 1241, 1259 and 1287, weakened and depopulated the many small Polish principalities, as the country became progressively more split. This period weakened the rulers and established a permanent trend in Polish history, whereby the rights and role of the nobility were being expanded at the monarch's expense.
In 1226 Konrad I of Masovia invited the Teutonic Knights to help him fight the Prussian people. The Teutonic Order quickly overstepped the authority and moved beyond the area granted them by conrad. In the following decades they conquered large areas along the Baltic Sea coast and established their monastic state.
The 14th century unified Kingdom of Poland of the last two rulers of the Piast dynasty, Władysław the Elbow-high and his son Casimir the Great, Poland experienced a period of accelerated economic development and increasing prosperity during this period. Kazimierz the Great considerably strengthened the country's position in both foreign and domestic affairs
With the death of Casimir the Great the period of hereditary (Piast) monarchy in Poland ended. The land owners and nobles did not want a strong monarchy; a constitutional monarchy was established between 1370 and 1493.
Many large scale building projects were undertaken in the 14th century, in particular during Casimir's reign. These included Gothic churches, castles, urban fortifications and homes of wealthy city residents.
Between 1386 and 1572 Poland and Lithuania were ruled by a succession of constitutional monarchs of the Jagiellon dynasty. The Jagiellon Era is often regarded as a period of maximum political power, great prosperity, and in its later stage, the Golden Age of Polish culture.
The Great War of 1409-1411, precipitated by the Lithuanian uprising in the Order controlled Samogitia, included the Battle of Grunwald, where the Polish and Lithuanian-Rus' armies completely defeated the Teutonic Knights. The offensive that followed lost its impact with the ineffective siege of Malbork. The failure to take the fortress and eliminate the Teutonic (later Prussian) state had for Poland dire historic consequences in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
In 1438 the Czech anti-Habsburg opposition, mainly Hussite factions, offered the Czech crown to Jagiełło's younger son Casimir. The idea, accepted in Poland over Oleśnicki's objections, resulted in two unsuccessful Polish military expeditions to Bohemia.
After Vytautas' death in 1430 Lithuania became embroiled in internal wars and conflicts with Poland.
Toward the end of Jagiełło's life, Poland was practically governed by a magnate oligarchy led by Oleśnicki.
The Grand Duke of Lithuania, was crowned in 1447 on becoming King of Poland Casimir also freed himself from the control the Lithuanian oligarchy had imposed on him.
The southern and eastern outskirts of Poland and Lithuania became threatened by Turkish invasions beginning in the late 15th century. King John Albert in 1497 made an attempt to resolve the Turkish problem militarily, but his efforts were unsuccessful as he was unable to secure effective participation in the war by his brothers, King Ladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary and Alexander, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, and because of the resistance on the part of Stephen the Great, the ruler of Moldavia. More Ottoman Empire instigated destructive Tatar raids took place in 1498, 1499 and 1500. John Albert's diplomatic peace efforts that followed were finalized after the king's death in 1503, resulting in a territorial compromise and an unstable truce.
The 16th century saw development of mining and metallurgy and technical progress took place in various commercial applications.
During the 16th century prosperous patrician families of merchants, bankers, or industrial investors, many of German origin, still conducted large-scale business operations in Europe. Calvinism in mid 16th century gained many followers among both szlachta and the magnates, especially in Lesser Poland and Lithuania.
The act of the Warsaw Confederation, which took place during the convocation sejm of 1573, provided guarantees, at least for the nobility, of religious freedom and peace.
The Polish "Golden Age", the 16th century, is most often identified with the rise of the culture of Polish Renaissance.
Despite the favorable economic development, the military potential of 16th century Poland was modest in relation to the challenges and threats coming from several directions, which included the Ottoman Empire, the Teutonic state, the Habsburgs, and Muscovy.
In the 16th century the Grand Duchy of Moscow continued activities aimed at unifying the old Rus' lands still under Lithuanian rule. Under Vasili III Moscow fought a war with Lithuania and Poland between 1512 and 1522, during which in 1514 the Russians took Smolensk. The same year the Polish-Lithuanian rescue expedition stopped their further advances, and an armistice took effect in 1522. Another round of fighting took place during 1534-1537, followed by over two decades of peace.
To prevent Poland from extending military aid to Hungary, Suleiman had a Tatar-Turkish force raid southeastern Poland-Lithuania in 1524. The Hungarian army was defeated in 1526 at the Battle of Mohács, where young Louis II Jagiellon, the son of Vladislas II, was killed.
The 1526 death of Janusz III of Masovia, the last of the Masovian Piast dukes line (a remnant of the fragmentation period divisions), enabled Sigismund I to finalize the incorporation of Masovia into the Crown in 1529.
From the early 16th century the Pokuttya border region was contested by Poland and Moldavia. A peace with Moldavia took effect in 1538 and Pokuttya remained Polish. An "eternal peace" with the Ottoman Empire was negotiated by Poland in 1533 to secure frontier areas.
Other states wishing the Livonian Baltic access responded with partitioning of the Livonian state, which triggered the lengthy Livonian War, fought between 1558 and 1583. Ivan IV of Russia took Dorpat and Narva in 1558, and soon the Danes and Swedes had occupied other parts of the country. The Baltic region policies of the last Jagiellon king and his advisors were the most mature of the 16th century Poland's strategic programs. The outcome of the efforts in that area was to a considerable extent successful for the Commonwealth. The conclusion of the above wars took place during the reign of King Stefan Batory.
It took Sigismunt II's unilateral declaration of the incorporation into the Polish Crown of substantial disputed border regions, including much of Ukraine, to make the Lithuanian magnates rejoin the process, and participate in the swearing of the act of the Union of Lublin on July 1, 1569. Lithuania for the near future was becoming more secure on the eastern front. It's increasingly Polonized nobility made in the coming centuries great contributions to the Commonwealth's culture, but at the cost of Lithuanian national development.
Rzeczpospolita in 1569; the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, having lost lands to the Russian state and to Lithuania's partner Poland, is much smaller than a hundred years earlier.
The increasingly uniform and polonized (in case of ethnic minorities) szlachta of the Commonwealth for the most part returned to the Roman Catholic religion, or if already Catholic remained Catholic, in the course of the 17th century.
The changes that took place during the 17the century defined the character of Polish Catholicism for centuries to come.
With the coming of the Polish Enlightenment in the second half of the 18th century, the movement for reform and revitalization of the country made important gains, culminating in the adoption of the Constitution of May 3, the first modern codified constitution on the European continent. However the reforms, which transformed the Commonwealth into a constitutional monarchy, before the Commonwealth could fully implement and benefit from its reforms, it was invaded in 1792 by Russia aided by the local anti-reform alliance of conservative nobility known as the Targowica Confederation. The ensuing war was not lost, as the Polish army conducted a mostly defensive campaign, but the King surrendered and the pro-Russian Targowica took over.
In the wake of the 1792 war and the Second Partition a new conspiracy came into being. Among its leaders were both the civilian personalities of the reform movement and military officers of the previous war. The Kościuszko Rising erupted in March of 1794. When it too became extinguished, the three partitioning powers executed the final, or Third Partition, and the Commonwealth ceased to exist.
Polish independence ended in a series of Partitions (1772, 1793 and 1795) undertaken by Russia, Prussia and Austria.
By the end of World War I Poland had seen the defeat or retreat of all three occupying powers.
Polish independence was eventually proclaimed on November 3, 1918 and later confirmed by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
From the mid 1920s to mid 1930s the Polish government was under the control of Józef Piłsudski, the politically-moderate war hero who had engineered the defeat of the Soviet forces. Polish independence had boosted the development of culture. In 1939, under constant threat from Germany, Poland entered into a full military alliance with Britain and France. In August, Germany and Russia signed a secret agreement concerning the future of Poland, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
On September 1, 1939 Hitler ordered his troops into Poland. Poland had signed a pact with Britain and France and the two western powers soon declared a war on Germany, but remained rather inactive and extended no aid to the attacked country. On September 17 the Soviet troops moved in and took control of most of the areas of eastern Poland having significant Ukrainian and Belarusian populations under the terms of the German-Soviet agreement. After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, Poland was completely occupied by German troops.
In July 1944 the Soviet Red Army and the Peoples' Army of Poland controlled by the Soviets entered Poland, defeated the Germans (losing 600,000 of their soldiers), and established a communist-controlled "Polish Committee of National Liberation" in Lublin.
During the war about 6 million Polish citizens were killed by the Germans.
The Soviet government retained most of the territories captured as a result of the Nazi-Soviet pact in 1939 (now western Ukraine, western Belarus and the area around Vilnius), compensating Poland with parts of Silesia, Pomerania and southern East Prussia, along with Gdańsk, which were granted to Poland.
In June 1945, following the February Yalta Conference, a Polish Provisional Government of National Unity was formed; the US recognized it the next month. Although the Yalta agreement called for free elections, those held in January 1947 were controlled by the Communist Party. The communists then established a regime entirely under their domination. The Polish government in exile existed until 1990, although its influence was degraded.
On August 31, 1980, workers at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk, led by an electrician named Lech Wałęsa, signed a 21-point agreement with the government that ended their strike. Similar agreements were signed at Szczecin and in Silesia. The key provision of these agreements was the guarantee of the workers' right to form independent trade unions and the right to strike. After the Gdańsk agreement was signed, a new national union movement "Solidarity" swept Poland.
In late 1980s the government was forced to negotiate with Solidarity in the Polish Roundtable Negotiations. The Polish legislative elections in 1989 became one of the important events marking the fall of communism in Poland.
In the early 1990s, Poland made great progress towards achieving a fully democratic government and a market economy. In November 1990, Lech Wałęsa was elected President for a 5-year term. In December Wałęsa became the first popularly elected President of Poland.
Poland's first free parliamentary elections were held in 1991.
Back to Poland Travel Insurance page


It has been pointed out that not everybody in Scotland who voted 'Yes' to independence in 2014 voted Remain in 2016. Presumably, the point being made is that support for remaining in the EU is not, of itself, sufficient to deliver a 'Yes' vote in a future indyref. This is unsurprising. EU membership and Scottish independence are two distinct issues: there is nothing nationalist or unionist per se about voting either Remain or Leave. A Remain vote based on the desire to keep the UK in the EU is indistinguishable from a Remain vote cast with the intention of keeping Scotland in the EU. The issue is further muddled by the fact that both the SNP and the Conservative and Unionist party in Scotland both campaigned for a Remain vote.
The reason Brexit justifies calling a referendum on Scottish independence lies not in the fact that the Brexit referendum produced different results in England and in Scotland, but in the London government's reaction to this fact. Scotland's government, virtually all its MPs, and a clear majority of its people, are opposed to leaving the EU. That fact, as far as London is concerned, is irrelevant. It is there that the democratic outrage lies. It would still be a democratic outrage regardless of what the particular issue was. The point is the negation of Scotland's democratic will, not the EU question as such.
The Prime Minister has given repeated assurances that the Irish border post-Brexit will be a 'soft' one. This will be difficult to achieve and Mrs May has yet to give an account of how this can be done. In fact, during the referendum campaign itself, Mrs May claimed that it would be "inconceivable" that there would be no hard border between north and south in Ireland in the event of Brexit. She is clearly not naïve in relation to the difficulties Brexit poses in this regard. Yet despite this, assurances have been given by her government that there will be no hard border after Brexit.
In contrast, no practical recognition of Scottish opposition to being dragged out of the EU on England's coattails has been given. Theresa May could have stated that she recognised the Scottish position and would strive to respect it by seeking to make continued Scottish membership of the EU – or, at least, of the Single Market – a negotiating aim in the Brexit negotiations. Such a course appears not even to have been considered. Scotland's own democratically expressed position on its membership of the EU is apparently irrelevant to London.
Brexit has shown us exactly where Scotland stands within the UK. It has shown us that Scotland doesn't stand at all. It lies prostrate and face down, crushed by the boot of right-wing English nationalism. There can no longer be any doubt about where Scotland is in relation to the rest of the UK; the contempt and arrogance of a Tory Government and its hard-as-nails Brexit has shone a harsh light on the realities of the so-called United Kingdom. It's just a veneer for a state in which Scotland counts for as much as an English local authority. The UK is not a partnership. It is not a joint project in which the four nations co-operate and collaborate – Scotland is subsumed by English political priorities, and a dying Labour Party will do nothing to help.
A recent opinion poll conducted for The Telegraph showed that a clear majority of British voters, 59 percent, are opposed to Scotland leaving the UK. However, 60 percent consider Brexit, a primarily English obsession, more important than the Union. A majority consider the break-up of the UK an acceptable price to pay for Brexit. What are we to make of these figures? There is, apparently, a majority in favour of the union, but not at any price; in fact, they want the Union on the cheap.
It is hard to avoid the conclusion that at least some of the support for the Union is based on a sense of 'ownership' of Scotland, rather than any sense of 'national' solidarity. Brexit is clearly English nationalism in disguise, and it will not let the Union stand between it and its object of desire if a choice must be made.
If Mrs May wants to head off Scottish nationalism, she needs to take cognisance of Scottish opposition to being dragged out of the Single Market. In short, she needs to take Scottish democracy seriously. What makes this unlikely is that to do so, she would have to risk running foul of English nationalism. Given that Scotland returns exactly one Conservative MP, and England hundreds, this is not likely to happen.
Gordon Brown, Tom Nairn's 'bard of Britishness', has been preaching federalism in Scotland. He may be right, but he is not in power. Nor should it be imagined that federalism can be brought in without a revolution. It would mean rewriting the entire British constitution. Even then, it would need a referendum to legitimise it. And what would happen if Scotland – or Northern Ireland – voted 'No'?
Enoch Powell once famously observed that there is no European demos. He may have been right, at least with relation to England. (And Powell, for all his imperial yearnings and Ulster Unionism, was fundamentally an English nationalist). We may now have reached the point where there is no longer a functioning British demos – a situation which has as much to do with English as with Scottish nationalism. If such is the case, separation is a matter of 'when' not 'if'.
The economic arguments relating to Scottish independence have been rehearsed. They are largely marginal. The main relationship between the price of oil and support for independence in the last three years is that as oil prices have dropped, support for independence has risen. It is the old 'too wee, too poor, too stupid' argument retold. The time may soon come when Scottish voters take these arguments as seriously as English voters did in the Brexit debate. They may conclude that the assumption that Scotland cannot be independent, something that Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and many other small European countries – inside and outside the EU – find boringly normal, is just a bit silly. Change may now come suddenly and fast. The wind of change is blowing through these islands.
The key point is that in the Brexit move by PM May the democratic choice of Scotland wanting to remain in the EU were completely ignored. This may turn out to be a fundamental mistake which the romantic English nationalists or Brexiteers, may well come to regret. In any event there is much to be concerned about because even the contents of PM May letter for triggering Article 50 are imbued with an adolescent romanticism that has surprised me, even without being an expert in politics.
My point of contention with Brexit is that the ill-informed referendum missed out completely on the vision of the EU. Granted there are many shortcomings in the way the EU has dealt with issues such as immigration and austerity. But to abandon all for a romantic view of past English glories is a big mistake and an historic humiliation that will be recorded in history books. The pragmatism and efficient government of the UK should have been the big motivator to get the EU Commission to move along similar lines. This role is now empty and has to be covered by some other country, possibly France or Germany once their political elections are out of the equation. As the wise Hazeltine put it: Westminster surrendered the peace of Europe to Germany.
Brexit is tragic not only for the economic impact in the future but for its moral damage that has done to the UK, or Westminster. The UK Union has never been at risk as much as it is now. And yet Westminster ignored those cries. Churchill must be turning in his grave. I hope sage statemen, and there are many in Westminster, come out and articulate their voice powerfully. Immigration from Europe is a temporary "evil" that disappears once the Eastern European economies start to grow and become more equal to the Western economies. That is why the EU budget supports more those countries as beneficiaries. I think this is very laudable and part of a strategic plan that cements peace across Eastern and Western Europe and projects it towards a global superpower.
What I find incredible is that so many talk about Europe as though it was the answer to all our economic problems, I have yet to hear anyone truthfully state what all these advantages are for staying in. I'll start by saying there are none.
Europe from a socialist perspective is an idyllic solution, but Europe in fact is a Neo-Liberal capitalist establishment which is precisely the same as here in Britain, dedicated to transferring wealth and power into the hands of the few.
It does appear to me that so many have convinced themselves that the risks to coming out are greater than staying in, while forgetting what Europe actually did to Greece, and blamed the crash on the southern states that had absolutely nothing to do with it. Greece is 3% of the European economy, all the other southern states were complying to the economic constrictions of keeping their public expenditure within the 3% of GDP guidelines, but , still had their economies destroyed by Neo-Liberal politicians who made them pay for the crisis created by German Banks. The German Banks created the disaster in Europe, and far from being financially prudent own the highest levels of debt in Europe, Deutsche Bank is again on the verge of Bankruptcy and the EU changed the rules in order to give the Banks Quantitative Easing which they deny to Greece.
What that little story tells us is that whilst innocent people living in Europe had nothing or very little to do with the crisis created by capitalism, they like us were made to pay for it whilst those same capitalists used the crisis to asset strip their states. That process is continuing here as we speak, and whilst most are engrossed in the minutia banded about as proposals, corrupt politicians on this side of the channel are using the smoke screen of debate to continue dismantling our NHS and in Germany to privatise their motorways.
The problems in Europe are exactly the same as here, what we can do here but can't influence in Europe is that we can cut the cancer out of our society and rid ourselves of corrupt Neo-Liberal politicians.
It is the politicians that are driving the collapse in the economy and transferring public assets into the hands of the very people who created our crisis. That is what we need to focus on, and the direction of travel can not be better illustrated than the collusion between by these politicians and Multinational Corporations in setting up TTIP, and now CETA. Those pieces of unnecessary legislation would have handed total power over to large corporations and at a stroke ended democracy itself.
Poverty is a political policy that serves the interests of the few, and it really is time for academia in the world to recognise the threat to our very existence that this poses.
It really is time to start taking back our democracy, but not the way these corrupt politicians want lead us, that means recognising what a sustainable economy will look like, it means using money creation to benefit people not just to protect the financial assets of a corrupt elite.
People are the real economy, not the City of London and it really is time people understood that.
The SNP was voted in by the Scots, not the english. THEY will decide how to react to england's choice to BREXIT. The scots voted to remain.Overwhelmingly. hose commenters here who disparage this fact are not being honest. Scotland has been bullied and taken advantage of by the south for over three hundred years. Its time to end this garbage and let the english know their hatred and contempt for the scots is no longer going to allow them to rule us.
Scottish people are no more 'bullied' by 'the South' than are people in Stoke, Sunderland or Southampton. Few English people hate or feel contempt for Scottish people, and vice versa. Why exaggerate this? Yes SNP were voted in to the Scottish Parliament, with its limited powers and jurisdiction. Scottish people also voted to remain within the UK nation state. This is how our democracy works. If it is to change, I hope it is not in response to divisive and largely baseless assertions about 'the English' , or as a proxy to opposition to Brexit. It is too important for that.
Good article with many pertinent points being made. We Scots would rather be seen as good neighbours with England, as opposed to being treated as a region of North Britain by successive Westminster Governments.
What I read into the independence vote of Scotland is that there was a sea change of attitudes developing, that Scots were beginning to see a future without English Conservative rule. Something they had long past relegated out of Scottish life, only to have it imposed by the rest of the UK.
Then Brown came along with his promise that the Tories would keep their promise on the Barnett formula, which after the referendum and true to form duly reneged on, left Scots to take their vengeance out on Labour at the following election.
As far as the EU is concerned and Brexit I rather suspect that Scots followed the SNP line of staying in Europe more in solidarity than actual belief. The whole Brexit issue is really just a farce, brought about by conservative politicians through expediency rather than any radical challenge of reform. Indeed I would challenge anyone to clarify what Cameron actually negotiated of any substance. Fundamentally it was just an exercise in hiding the divisions over Europe within the conservative party.
The Scots, if the truth be known, are probably just as divided over Europe as anyone else in the UK and only when people start to look for themselves will they see just how sterile this whole debate has become.
Europe offers nothing different to the policies we are suffering from here, for the very same reasons, Neo-Liberal governments. So whether we or the Scots are inside the EU or out of it we still have to get rid of Neo-Liberal politicians in order to reclaim our democracy.
If Scotland does eventually leave the United Kingdom, it would need to have it's own independent currency, otherwise it would be tying itself unnecessarily to the very restrictions we see in the Euro. For the life of me I can't understand why an independent Scottish government would hand power back to the very people it had released itself from. It is just totally illogical and would put Scotland in a much worse position than it is now.
I find it rather strange that London which has a greater population than Scotland also voted remain, but they are not demanding to have a veto, they are not demanding a referendum, and they are claimed to be English. Why was it that Scots living in England were denied the opportunity to vote on independence for Scotland? The whole EU result is a red herring, has Scotland voted leave in 2014 it would not be a member of the EU now and would be looking for bailouts from the IMF because the SNP had budgeted on getting monies form the eu to prop up the Scottish economy.
Not this tired old claptrap again. The line was drawn around Scotland. Those resident inside the line were allowed to vote. Those outside of it were not. This is civic nationalism. If you start allowing people to vote based on ethnic identity, this crosses the line from civic nationalism to ethnic nationalism, which is but one step away from racism, if that.
And your point about London is also complete claptrap. Let me explain, for the hard of thinking: London is a city. Scotland is a country. The UK is not a unitary state, and it never has been. Scotland and England are two countries in political union. Which is why Theresa May's determination to ignore the Scottish result is a measure of her own ignorance and stupidity, rather than the mark of a strong prime minister.
As for the Scottish economy, it is in fine form, much like other countries of Scotland's size. To claim Scotland is too poor is plain ignorant.
You'd have to ask Westminster why Scotland was not given the power to push a referendum beyond its borders.
Also, London seems to be looking at a quiet financial services passport but regardless, London is not a country.
Us scot's have had our once in a generation/lifetime vote. The country voted NO in 2014. What part of that result do you fail to understand? Scotland's democratic Will as you put it, was sorted in 2014.
The vote on brexit was a uk vote in 2016, which scotland voted to be an equal partner of.
We cannot keep having referendums because some people do not like the outcome.
I voted for the uk in 2014, but i also voted remain in 2016, i can accept the outcome.
Also the majority of scots do not want a 2nd referendum for the uk. We are part of it and the majority want it.
Why cant the likes of the snp just do what the scottish people want, and get back to the day job as the country needs its schools/hospitals etc sorted instead of petty squabling.
Alright then. Feel free to never vote in any election again. You had your chance last election, your democratic will! And the SNP have the majority of votes… thus are doing what the people want.. will of the people and all that! If the Tories could trigger an EU referendum with a mandate of 35%, then the SNP+Greens can damn well do the same with a mandate of 52ish%.
You also seem to not understand what an independence referendum is about. It's about seeing whether Scotland wants to remain part of the UK or not. Scotland IS a country, as is wales, N Ireland and England. But as it stands only England has a say in anything as their MPs in Westminster completely utterly outnumber the devolved parliament MPs combined. And does it not concern you that the Supreme court basically said that our Scottish Parliament is a political entity and not a legal one? If Westminster wanted to, they could dissolve the Scottish Parliament at a snap of a finger. Heck the only reason we have one IS because of the EU.
Also in case you haven't noticed, Scotland has the best NHS and Police in the UK… thanks to the *shock horror* SNP. The only squabbling is from the unionist parties who believe they should speak for the people rather than the people by denying a 2nd indyref.
The democratic outrage boot is on the other foot, and only a Scotocentric view of the world would fail to see it. Given that Cameron and the Civil service failed to make any plans at all for an 'Out' vote, the best part of 3 years is still precious little in which to establish exit policies, negotiate with the clumsy EU machine, reach agreements on a very wide range of issues, international bodies, etc, and have those agreements passed by the relevant bodies. It's going to be very hard for the UK to achieve this.
Meantime, blethering from the North about independence- carrying in its train another complex set of constitutional changes, repositioning of various departments of government, etc is pie in the sky- there simply is no governmental capacity for the negotiations and legal changes that would be involved.
Yes, Scotland has demonstrated that it thinks differently from the UK, especially England, and imho, that justifies an eventual indyref2. It does not justify doing anything which interferes with the UK's vote for Brexit.
This article is a well thought out and true perspective of the people of scotland's position in this Kingdom. It is precisely the democratic deficit of one half of the Union that is the issue. Nothing else. Brexit only serves to highlight this. It is not identity that this is about but governance. Who is best placed to represent the people. Answer : those that live closest and share their goals and aspirations.
To me the "time factor" is important in gaining a perspective on these matters so let me try using a bus journey analogy.
In 1707 scotland and england got on the bus together. Created an empire and fought and died together. Fair enough we recognise we have a lot of shared history and a lot in common.
In 2014 scotland voted to stay on the bus and remain in the UK. In part because we wanted to be in the EU and also because of the now infamous "Vow". Not only did we not get anything except roadsigns we find that the scottish parliament is not permanent and can be overridden by wastemonster whenever it likes. This is not what we voted for imho.
45% voting for independence should have told wastemonster that we are not happy. Deaf ears comes to mind.
2016 the english and welsh decided to get off the bus. Scotland and NI did not. We do not want to get off the bus.
We then prepared a detailed paper of options which would have meant that we would have got off the bus willingly. Wastemonster has ignored these. Deaf ears again. This is unacceptable in a democracy.
A new referendum is the only solution.
Do the people want to be independent or be subject to wastemonsters continued rule?
Now I also hear people saying we cannot have indy until after brexit because it will upset the negotiations. I agreee it will upset the english negotiations. If WM wanted to have a UK position then they need to take accou t of the devolved administrations wishes not ignore them completely.
And so brexit and indyref are inexorably combined to take place in a suitable timeframe where the people who live in scotland can decide based on the facts (though these will be muddied by the MSM). Now even if we choose indy and stay in the EU in one form or another that does not preclude the scottish parliament and english parliaments coming to a more equitable agreement on any matter they feel they should. However it will at that point be an agreement between equals. We will both be happy.
Kiss goodbye to the Union, for all the above reasons.
Repetition of the same error of the original article. There were not four 'bodies on the bus', t was only one- the UK. The UK is getting off the bus. Live with it. What a 'detailed list of options' is supposed to refer to, I have no idea. If you're suggesting that the UK should negotiate Brexit with 27 countries, trying to achieve a sensible outcome, while simultaneously pinned by a list of demands from Remainers, well, laugh my socks off. That's a recipe for a complete and utter fiasco. Which, possibly, is what the SNP seem to want.
If the majority of housemates in a shared house want to play rap and your taste is for metal, live with it. Or leave, but don't stick around and wreck the sound system on party night.
We are constantly told that Scotland and the Scots are too wee, too poor and too stupid to run our own COUNTRY , what strikes me is the panic and terror palpably coming from wastemonster unionists , if their assertions are indeed true surely they have everything to gain with separation from this basket case.
Your confusion about 'how democracy works' rests on 'their citizens' in your first para. The UK is currently a member of the EU, and the UK electorate has decided to leave. Scots decided fairly recently to remain as part of the UK, so they are citizens of the UK, not Scotland. So your reference to 'their citizens stated wishes' makes no sense. UK citizens stated wishes are to Leave, and currently there is no such thing as a citizen of Scotland.
When, as a matter of legislative and governmental practicality, there is time to do so, which is not in the next two,years, Scotland should clearly be offered another referendum because of the electoral divide shown bynthe Brexit vote. Until then, live with the pros and cons of being part of the UK.
English nationalism was not a significant feature in the Brexit campaign. Scottish people voted recently to remain part of the UK. Opinion polls do not indicate support for Indyref2. The U.K. voted, democratically, for Brexit. Most English people want Scotland to remain part of the UK. Most Scottish people, according to most polls, want to remain part of the UK. These are the facts. They have been ignored here in a narrative that makes England sound like some sort of colonial dictator and Brexit voters (bear in mind that includes 38% of the vote in Scotland) as backing that to the hilt. I' m half Scottish myself and I find the determination to view Scottish people as so different from English as reprehensible, inaccurate and premised upon an inability to accept the Brexit vote and argue from there in good faith.
"English nationalism was not a significant feature in the Brexit campaign".
The form English nationalism takes is Euroscepticism. English nationalism usually calls itself 'British' or 'UK'. Look at the Conservatives (English, surely – how many seats have they in Scotland or NI?) or consider the more extreme forms of Euroscepticism like UKIP or the BNP and where they won seats.
"Scottish people voted recently to remain part of the UK".
Yes, partially on the premise that doing otherwise would lead to them finding themselves outside of the EU. They also subsequently elected a Nationalist government and returned 56 (out of 59) nationalist MPS.
"Opinion polls do not indicate support for Indyref2. The U.K. voted, democratically, for Brexit. Most English people want Scotland to remain part of the UK. Most Scottish people, according to most polls, want to remain part of the UK. These are the facts".
What the opinion poll in The Telegraph (which was either UK, or possibly, GB, wide – and thus 88% England by population) showed was that if it came to a choice between the Union or Brexit, a majority would choose Brexit. So support for Scotland remaining part of the UK is highly conditional. And if we are speaking of democracy and referenda, what's wrong with a second Indyref given the material change in circumstances (Brexit)?
"They have been ignored here in a narrative that makes England sound like some sort of colonial dictator and Brexit voters (bear in mind that includes 38% of the vote in Scotland) as backing that to the hilt. I' m half Scottish myself and I find the determination to view Scottish people as so different from English as reprehensible, inaccurate and premised upon an inability to accept the Brexit vote and argue from there in good faith".
Wrong. Polling suggests the opposite. Some recent polling has been UK wide, and therefore largely irrelevant.
This is not to confuse polling with what way people will vote, where the polling has consistently remained more or less the same as in 2014 – and therefore undiminished.
The simple fact is, many feel that promises made during the last referendum, as well as events that have occurred since, with EVEL, The Smith Commission, etc, right up to Brexit, mean that some voters feel conned.
The number of people wanting a second vote on Independence is greater than it was at the start of the last campaign. You see some polls say that a majority don't want independence and incorrectly think that means the majority don't want a referendum.
As for making England sound like some sort of colonial dictator, that isn't quite right. The UK Government is acting like a colonial dictator.
The essential difference between English people and Scottish people is that Scots are less subject to a hysterical London-centric press and therefore not as propaganda drenched – and being someone who has lived in both countries, I can attest to the difference.
English nationalism was a feature of the Brexit campaign. Of course it was. It was also a feature of the last general election where the Tories used the fear of an SNP/Labour alliance (strong Scottish voice) to stoke up and English nationalist vote.
The whole anti immigrant voice in Brexit is based on there being too many immigrants (foreigners). That is English nationalism. The rise of UKIP was based on anti immigration.
Most of the latest polls have shown a swing in support for independence recently. They are now around 50%. That is around 50% before we have even started campaigning. They started at around 27% last referendum and got up to 45%.
The problem you have is that there is a pro independence majority at Holyrood. They are going to vote democratically for another referendum and with support for a yes vote at around 50% of course there is strong support for another referendum.
The problem you have now is there are around 180,000 EU citizens who will not be scared into voting no this time as they now know the NO side has taken us out of the EU. Also, there will be no knew last minute vow promising federalism or devo max (a breach of purdah rules) that anyone will believe and there are loads of broken promises that everyone still remembers. EVEL and the 'poisoned chalice' powers over tax offered as well as the shameful way the cross party recommendations for the Scotland Act were treated by the English unionist members at Westminster will be brought up. That and the fact GERS and the supposed 15 billion deficit is being attacked by Prof Richard Murphy, Deloitte and The Fraser of Allander Institute none of which have any connection to Scottish nationalism or the SNP.
You must accept the reality that this is going to happen now. The SNP warned of this from way back in 2014. It is not as if they did not continually say this would happen in these circumstances. They said this way before Brexit even looked likely. You cannot whinge and complain that the democratically elected parties of Scotland the SNP and the Greens are going to back this. That is democracy. Being told we have no voice by May isn't. You don't care and try and suggest that democracy should stand still after each referendum. That is not democracy. Democracy should never stand still. Expecting a vote arrived at under completely different circumstances to stand for as long as you (as PM) decides is not democracy but totalitarianism. It is treating Scotland's democratic system with utter contempt and very akin to a colonial (non democratic) relationship.
It has always been so. Only now that people are paying attention are they beginning to notice.
One of the clearest expositions of the current situation that I've so far seen.
Splendid rhetoric that, deserving to be quoted once again. Just the word "jack" is needed before "boot" to make it perfect. Next time I visit Scotland I hope I won't find it crushed by a BNP boot.
As I understand it, the SNP does not regard the Brexit referendum as democratic, because it didn't give Scottish residents a veto. Would they also regard any Scottish independence referendum as undemocratic if it doesn't give the individual areas of Scotland (for example the Orkneys or the Scottish Borders) a veto? Or are the Borders in danger of being crushed by Nicola Sturgeon's boot (strange idea) and dragged out of the UK against their will?
Sturgeon has repeatedly stated she has no wish to challenge England's decision to leave the EU, so she does regard the EU referendum as democratic. However, she is entitled to act on Scotland's decision to Remain, and she leads the Scottish government, that was elected on that very mandate – to call an independence referendum in the event Scotland is dragged out of the EU, against our will.
It was a majority decision in every of 32 local authority areas, so the Islands clearly value their EU citizenship. At some point, they will have to choose which Union they value more, UK or EU.
There is no consideration given of our majority view, so the term boot is appropriate. We are the other Kingdom in this Union, but it's clear, we have no say, or input.
Leaving the EU is the impetus for, and exactly the right time to begin the process of, revisiting the Union between Scotland and England, as well as the distribution of power throughout the UK and Northern Ireland. There are also disparate communities within each of the constituent states who feel that their legitimate cultural and moral positions are continually bulldozed by a dictatorship of the majority. The challenge for a modern state – a challenge that has been dodged throughout the widening of the franchise from the Norman conquest onwards – is how to devise, administer and sustain a form of government that adequately serves the whole of the population within its territory, when that population does not hold to a single set of norms and aspirations. This aspect of national interest has consistently been repressed in order to concentrate on the simpler (but far from simple) objective of economic prosperity.
I think you overemphasise the community differences and ignore the individual differences. While the average Scot and the average Englishman/ woman may differ slightly, the range of 'cultural and moral positions' (legitimate or otherwise) within either Scotland or England is far wider than the small regional differences. The general trend, I'd suggest, over a long period is towards a more pluralistic, tolerant society with more individual choices. The trend towards bigger and bigger government, of course, results in the effect you refer to: with government responsible (on a long-term view) for more and more, individual, let alone community choices on the ever-widening government sphere of activity cannot be made.
I'd also position the widening of the franchise a bit more recently than the Norman conquest. I don't think the robber barons did a lot for democracy for a number of centuries after that point.
I agree 100% with all that's said in this post. I wish all my fellow scots could read these truths and not the nonesense in all the msm Tory owned/ influenced news . If they did we'd be free already!
You nailed it in one word "cheap". This is the fundamental issue the English operate in a way seeking everything on the cheap. Cheap it all its connotations. English nationalism is now being called out by Brexit and to be found seriously wanting.


text:
package org.springframework.cloud.sleuth.instrument.rsocket;

import io.netty.buffer.ByteBufAllocator;
import io.netty.buffer.ByteBufUtil;
import io.netty.buffer.CompositeByteBuf;
import io.rsocket.metadata.CompositeMetadataCodec;

import org.springframework.cloud.sleuth.propagation.Propagator;

class ByteBufSetter implements Propagator.Setter<CompositeByteBuf> {

	@Override
	public void set(CompositeByteBuf carrier, String key, String value) {
		final ByteBufAllocator alloc = carrier.alloc();
		CompositeMetadataCodec.encodeAndAddMetadataWithCompression(carrier, alloc, key,
				ByteBufUtil.writeUtf8(alloc, value));
	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Don't understand the record of banks debit and credit? Learn Now!
If you want to know your bank accounts position, the bank will provide you a statement. If you have no knowledge about debit and credit or basic bookkeeping than you are not able to figure it out what happens in your account's transactions? Then you go to a banker and asked him about your deposits. Bankers said your amount is debited but you have no knowledge about debit accounting and you say what is debit? Or if you withdraw money from your accounts then banker said your amount is credited but you have no knowledge about what is credit?
If you are newbie learned about debit and credit in bookkeeping. It might seem to be puzzled. You know bank accounts debited means the general ledger of accounting is increasing in balance. But the bank says it is crediting, increasing the general ledger balance. On the other hand, you learned cash amount is crediting the general ledger is decreasing but the bank says it is debiting and increasing amounts in general ledger.
Above the journal entry, Alex Corp. received the cash and increases its cash accounts with debit $500. As per double entry system, this transaction has required credit amount of $500 and it goes to general ledger accounts. In the general ledger accounts revenue is not credited because the revenue has not earned yet. The credit accounts name is unearned revenue which is liability accounts intend of revenue accounts. Alex Corp. records this amount as revenue accounts when the job was done.
In the bank's point of view, when you deposited your cash amount in your bank account $500. The bank records that transaction as debits in his general ledger accounts and so that bank assets increase. In the double entry, the bank has recorded credit accounts also in general ledger accounts $500. The reason is why the bank has not earned yet $500 and also bank cannot credit the revenue account. Because of the bank has an obligation to pay this money to accounts holder. So that reasons, bank credited his liabilities account.
In the journal entry shows that banks assets increase by cash $ 500 and increase in liability by deposited credit amount $500.
In a journal entry, cash increasing assets in the balance sheet in banks accounts and credit are increasing banks liability by the deposit of amount.
In the above transaction to collect amount $300 from a client, Alex Crop's increasing assets by cash debited and other aspects assets decreased by credited Accounts Receivable.
Now and then most of the bank revised their monthly fee on accounts holder. If the bank does that and changes their service charge by $ 20 then bank decreases Alex Corp. accounts balance for the monthly bank charge, and it will show to Alex Corp. bank statement as a "Debit Memo." On the other hand, bank decreases his liabilities and it also shows that his revenue increased by the servicing the accounts holders.
The entry will look like when it will record in Alex Corp.
When the cash is credited by the amount $ 20 the company's Assets will be decreased and when the bank charges debited by $ 20 expenses will increase.


A few thoughts, while wondering if we�ll be able to maintain our regular appearance in the national championship game every time it�s played in Miami this century.
Spring practice lacked a certain thrill factor this year, what with DeMarco Murray still rehabbing a knee and so many other big-time playmakers sitting out for one ailment or another. The good thing is that everyone looks like they�ll be back when it counts in August, which is the main thing, knock on wood.
Every Sooner fan is going to go into the 2008 season all twisted up about BCS bowl games and when we�ll win one. The team and the coaches, of course, will not lose sight of the fact that, despite our recent regular attendance at the BCS party, it�s not automatic. It takes a lot of work and usually a conference title to get there.
We�re working on the only repeat Big 12 title run in the history of the conference so far, and we�re likely going to have to make it three in a row if we want to worry about whether we can get over the BCS hump in January 2009.
So don�t get ahead of yourselves � there are a lot of things that have to happen before we get that shot again.
Once that opportunity presents itself again, which I think it will next postseason, I would imagine the approach to the BCS game will change in almost every respect. From when the team heads to the site to the practice schedule, to what the players are doing for fun.
Given recent history, it can�t hurt to change things up wherever possible.
If any of you have been browsing the innerweb, and who hasn�t really, you may have stumbled across the construction pictures from the Cotton Bowl. It�s definitely going to be a different look when we roll in there on October 11.
The bond issue that was passed down there to put $50 million into the old dump is starting to show results beyond just the new scoreboard we saw last season. The upper decks in the end zones are almost done at this writing, and we�ll see a full double-deck bowl for OU-Texas this season. That translates to somewhere around 92,000 people on hand for the Red River Shootout.
It will be quite interesting to see how much louder it will be, both because of the increased attendance and the new seating arrangement. The bathroom improvements are going in as well, I�m told, which is perhaps the more important renovation from the fans� perspective.
In any event, with hoops over now, we�re on the downhill run to the end of the school year and the long, hot days of summer. Personally, I recorded every bowl game from last season, or at least most of them, on my DVR for the sole purpose of having some stuff to watch during the summer to get ready for football.
Who knows, I might even watch the Fiesta Bowl for the first time on TV. Maybe. To this day, I have not looked at one highlight or read one newspaper story about that game.
On a brighter basketball note, it�s nice to see that Joe C�s hiring wizardry has proven itself once again with Jeff Capel. With the progress he�s made in only two seasons, after the mass exodus of the 2006 recruiting class, he deserved a raise whether another school was after him or not.
I can�t think that anyone seriously thought he would go to South Carolina from here. We don�t have the history of a Duke or anything like that, but South Carolina is a non-entity when it comes to basketball pedigree. It still weirds me out that I remember him playing for Duke against us when Kelvin Sampson was our coach, but that�s just me.
As for Sherri Coale�s bunch, they just didn�t have enough to overcome a home game for Notre Dame in the tournament to get to a home game in OKC. Honestly, the way they were playing at the end of the season, Tennessee might have put a hurting on them in the Ford Center, but it would have been nice to see how 19,000 screaming Sooner fans affected the thing.
Next year is the Paris twins� last, and everyone is back, so I think it�s got to be the time to make the big push to get back to the Final Four.
And finally, on April Fools� Day came word that Sean Sutton has been canned at Oklahoma State. The real joke was when Papa Sutton somehow got the powers that be up there to hire his boy as the coach-in-waiting in the first place. Trust me Ags, Bill Self is not coming home to roam the bench at Eddie Sutton Quart, no matter how much of T. Boone�s money gets thrown at him. If he does, well, he�s a true Aggy.
But enough about hoops. Football season is that much closer now. With spring practice winding to a close with the Red-White Game, let the killing of time resume.


A great space to develop vital skills for positive mental and physical health.
Our Open Day was a Huge Success!
Come and See Our New Hub!
Vote for a Better Future @CBGC with Aviva!
There's no Summer like a #CBGC Summer! Here are a selection of images from some of our fantastic days and events….
CBGC on Tour with Sports and Snax!
Fit & Fed @ #CBGC!
A positive environment for young people to spend time….
For children aged 7 – 18. Here they can play all sorts of sports and activities, hang out with existing friends and make new ones. First session is free!


text:
Welcome to the official website of Nowgong Girls' College, an institution with a long history of promoting educational excellence, creativity and human values among the girl students of central Assam and beyond. We are driven by the aphorism from the Aitareya Brahmana, 'Charaiveti.. Charaiveti' which means, March on.. March on. And this remain the core value of NGCians where the faculty and students strive to give their best to the curricular, co- curricular and extra-curricular activities year after year.
It gives me great pleasure to invite you to share an insight into what your life will be like studying at Nowgong Girls' College. I thank you for your interest in this exceptional institution which has a proud legacy of 60 years of constant development, in the course of which it has accomplished much, making it one of the colleges recognized for its pioneering role and excellence in imparting higher education to the girl child.
Today, Nowgong Girls' College runs 18 departments under the Faculties of Arts and Science. Our highly qualified, dedicated, dynamic and hard-working faculty and non-teaching staff are constantly striving to guide and motivate our students to enable them to achieve their dreams, goals, aims and aspirations.
The symbiotic relationship between the faculty and students makes the spirit of Nowgong Girls' College unique and democratic. The Institution strives to provide a stimulating active learning environment attracting young women with exceptional desire to make a difference to the world. NGC is an institution that makes great effort to provide quality education for its present students and to instil a sense of pride and belongingness among thousands of its alumnae through its various activities.
Nowgong Girls' College has always focused on the journey of the individual student and the celebration of her unique strengths and talents. The College is committed to the values of providing excellence in education for generations of women who aspire for the stars. These precious stars remain the core essence of NGC, and our dedicated faculty provides works day in and day out to provide them with the best in teaching - learning tradition while meandering through the curriculum in the faculties of arts and sciences. Mentoring remains the cornerstone of the teaching - learning experience in NGC. This Institute has done its best to enrich the prescribed syllabus of the Gauhati University by introducing need-based add-on courses to ensure that the precious girl child remains equipped and updated to face the upcoming challenges of her life.
It is through organising a myriad of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities that the College tries to bring out the hidden talents of each student. Students are encouraged to participate in such activities and hone their talents through interaction with leading experts, academicians, practitioners, and a plethora of government, non-government and international bodies.
Nowgong Girls' College has been accredited at A Grade by the NAAC in its 2nd cycle in the year 2015. The College does not rest on its laurels and constantly strives for new heights and we are gearing up to face the 3rd cycle of accreditation during this academic year. I take this opportunity to appeal to each and every one of you to come and be a part of this journey towards achieving excellence and help us attain the noble goal of ensuring the very best for our students.
Dr.Balin Kumar Bhuyan

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Yesterday I was listening to one of the audio books where I came across the story of Chinese bamboo, which I must share with you.
Unlike other trees, growing Chinese bamboo requires lots of time and more of passion. It takes 5 years and 3 months (almost 63 months) for Chinese bamboo to grow to the height of 80 feet. So, what's so unique about this tree?
At 80 feet, not just the height to which Chinese bamboo tree grows is unusual, but the way it grows is even more so. For almost 5 years, you keep watering the place where you have planted the seed of Chinese bamboo on a daily basis without fail, but you don't even see a shoot growing out of the soil. 5 years of watering and passion!!! Huh!!! That's long time. Still during all this time, you see nothing but just a small sprout coming out of land which can be measured to couple of inches if you are lucky. In many cases nothing's visible above the ground for 5 years. After 5 years you can see the first sight of the small green bamboo trying hard to coming out of soil, and that small bamboo which gave its first appearance after watering the soil for 5 years, grows to 80 feet in less than 90 days. Yes, it's true.
Sometimes the waiting period fluctuates from 4 to 6 years, but the sure thing about the Chinese bamboo is, it's definitely going to start growing and once it starts growing the speed is definitely going to be unusual. It definitely will reach the height of 80 feet from ground zero, which is equal to an 8-storey building, in the short period of 6 weeks to 12 weeks.
There are great chances of person quitting the idea of growing Chinese bamboo due to the long waiting period. Everyone can find the soil and plant the seeds and also can start watering it, but when it comes to waiting, sooner or later many drop the idea. Only few who keep watering the soil consistently with full faith, can get the 80 feet high bamboo tree.
Equity investment is also like growing Chinese bamboo tree. One should have passion after planting the seeds. Now we all know that the Chinese bamboo tree takes a time to start growing but once it starts, it grows rapidly to 80 feet. The same way, in case of equity investment also we all know that after investing you should wait for long time but in practical world very few have got that patience to wait it out.
Once your clients have invested in the most suitable equity mutual fund scheme identified by you, you have helped your clients plant the seed of investment by opening up the investment account. Now you need to ask them to wait... and wait.... and wait. You and your clients have to be very disciplined in watering the plant i.e. in regular investments. In the beginning, neither the market nor your client's investments could be moving anywhere. In fact, they could start falling and eating away the value of your client's money. You still wait... And wait. Oh sure, you have been told by people that it takes a while to grow your client's money into equity and you are also ok with that. Because you believe "waiting for while is surely going to pay you the premium".
Year one is over and you and your client are entering the second year. You are still watering but started becoming a little bit of sceptical about the power of your investment seed to grow. Anyway, you have heard about so many other success stories about many successful people who also invested in the same market and made their fortune. So you and your client kept on watering the seeds by regularly investing in it.
Now, it has been three years and you started wavering and doubting about your choice of investment seed. Some voice inside of you has started telling you that you are a special fool to believe into the something which was too farfetched. You start thinking about other possible seed which you might have planted instead of equity. You wonder why you had to pick up an equity investment only. You start losing sight of your purpose and your faith starts to diminish…You decided to re-commit yourself for the entire third year.
You were going crazy, because you've already spent a lot of time and invested a lot of money. So after the years of lot of dedication and effort toward this investment, you have decided to give it a chance for one last more year.
Finally it is 5 years and you feel they were wasted because you kept on regular watering by investing into it every month, but alas! Nothing happened. So you decided to let your client QUIT. And the client withdraws his money with no or little profit, perhaps less than the interest of bank fixed deposit.
They day your client quits, the equity market starts taking small upward leaps, and you wonder what's happening. Within couple of years the bamboo (equity category) starts growing rapidly and grows to newer heights but unfortunately you or your clients couldn't get anything out of it.
Equity is just like the Chinese bamboo, it's possible that it doesn't give you any return for years but then in very small period of time it starts growing with the unusual and unbelievable speed which eventually compensate you and your client for all your dedication, passion and faith.
Looking at the history of the Indian market, whenever it has not moved upward for few years, it is always followed by a strong bull run that too in very fast speed. Take an example of the period, starting from Feb 2000 to December 2007. During this time the Indian equity market delivered a return of approx. 240% absolute (Sensex went up to approx 20,500 from 6000). But if someone entered into the market in Feb 2000 and kept on investing for some time would surely have got frustrated, as after almost 4.5 years, market gave no return. The Sensex was just 6000 in Feb 2000 which went down to 2600 and again in Nov 2004 it came back near to 6000. Now 4 and a half year is a long time, isn't it?
Many investors quit the journey in between and thought it was their worst mistake ever to invest in the equity market. But after 2004 it started its nonstop journey and over the next 3 years it grew to over 20,000.
Equity market gave approximately 240% absolute return in a span of 7 years, but to get those returns, one has to plant the seed and wait for 7 years. Wherein, for the first 4.5 years, returns were either not present or negative.
Now let's look at someone who planted the seed into the December 2007 and is waiting till now - he has not seen any sign of investment tree growing. There is no sign of return (bamboo), so what? It's definitely going to start sometime in near future, once it starts the speed will also be definitely unusual.
Be faithful and keep watering your Chinese bamboo tree.


text:
layout: post
title: Video - Why You Need To Start Using Bitcoin
description: Video - Why You Need To Start Using Bitcoin
author: Melvin Draupnir
authorurl: /melvin-draupnir/
published: true
---

Have you joined the Bitcoin revolution yet? This new digital currency is gonna change the world, and in this clip I explain why everyone needs to get on it.

TRANSCRIPT


text:
Horne St Streetscape Project
Virtual: Monday, Aug. 8, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. CT
In-person: Monday, Aug. 8, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT
Public comment deadline All comments must be received on or before Aug. 23, 2022.
Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, at 5:30 p.m., and will remain online through Aug. 23, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.
The virtual public meeting will be posted beginning Aug. 8, 2022, at 5:30 p.m., and will remain online through Aug. 23, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Please note, this is not a live event. The materials can be viewed at your convenience.
Additionally, TxDOT is providing an in-person meeting for individuals who would like to participate in person instead of online. In-person attendees will be able to review the same materials and presentation as the online public meeting.
In-person details Monday, Aug. 8, 2022
5:30 - 7 p.m.
Como Community Center
4660 Horne Street
Purpose The proposed improvements of the Horne St Streetscape Project is to design and construct improvements to enable safe, accessible, comfortable, and convenient access for all people and travel modes.
The street segment is located in the Como neighborhood of Fort Worth, Texas, south of the I-30 and US-377 interchange, southwest of downtown Fort Worth. Possible improvements to the Horne Streetscape include expanding current two lanes to three lanes with center turn lane, traffic signal improvements, sidewalk, pedestrian and bike paths, on-street parking, landscaping, and pedestrian amenities. The outcome of the project will be developed through a collaborative process that will build upon the efforts of, and engage, the community at large, city staff, and elected officials.
Although additional right of way would be required, no residential or non-residential structures are anticipated to be displaced at this time.
Accessibility The public meeting will be conducted in English. If you need an interpreter or document translator because English is not your primary language or have difficulty communicating effectively in English, one will be provided to you. If you have a disability and need assistance, special arrangements can be made to accommodate most needs. If you need interpretation or translation services or are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation to attend and participate in the public meeting, please contact the city of Fort Worth project manager, at 817-392-8022 no later than 4 p.m. CT, on August 2, 2022. Please be aware that advance notice is required as some services and accommodations may require time for the City to arrange.
Email Fort Worth District Office
2501 SW Loop 820


text:
DATELINE Sandra Melgar staged a home invasion to hide her husband's Christmas killing
John January 19, 2018 Dateline, True Crime
Dateline's latest examines the grisly and puzzling case of Texan Sandra Melgar, whose Christmas killing of her husband Jaime made national headlines in 2012. Though Sandra wasn't charged with Jaime Melgar's murder for almost two years, prosecutors eventually built a strong enough case against her that the defense appeared to think Sandra Melgar's testimony might have done more harm than good.
The basic facts of the case are these. On December 23, 2012, Melgar family members gathered at Sandra and Jaime Melgar's Houston home to celebrate the couple's 32nd wedding anniversary. They found Sandra, bound but alive, in a closet — and Jaime, dead from 31 stab wounds, in another. Sandra would tell police officers that she and Jaime had been victims of a home invasion the day before. She said she'd had a seizure in the night and passed out
Sandra's story didn't add up
Police wouldn't arrest anyone in connection with Jaime Melgar's murder until July of 2014. By then, Sandra remained the only suspect, in part because her home invasion explanation didn't line up with the fact that nothing was missing from the couple's home.
Sandra Melgar, her daughter Elizabeth Rose, and her husband Jaime Melgar. Photo via Elizabeth Rose on Facebook
Instead, police had arrived at a disturbing conclusion: Sandra had somehow managed to kill Jaime; and then, as the Houston Chronicle reported, "she tied her own ankles and hands behind her back, then somehow locked herself in a closet by wedging a chair under the outside door knob."
At Sandra's trial, the prosecution would eventually play a crime scene reenactment video — filmed in December of 2012, just days after Jaime Melgar's body was discovered — showing a police officer "positioning a pillow sham underneath the legs of a chair, and then pulling the sham underneath the door from inside the closet to wedge the chair against the door from the outside."
The maneuver, though difficult, was in fact possible. And it turned out to be an important factor in Sandra Melgar's trial — since it explained a partially torn pillow sham found in the bedroom where Sandra had been discovered. The sham in the recreation tore in a similar manner.
Sandra Melgar's testimony may have been considered, but ultimately never took place
Prosecutors claimed that Sandra had two compelling motives for murder. The first was a $250,000 life insurance policy that Sandra stood to receive upon Jaime's death. The second was the couple's beliefs as Jehovah's Witnesses: even if they were able to divorce, they would have been shunned by their community.
Harris County prosecutor Colleen Barnett pointed to more beliefs that a Jehovah's Witness like Sandra would have had — and that would have made murder in some ways a more feasible option than divorce:
The witnesses testified that they view Jaime as being asleep now [that he is dead]. Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to divorce unless the spouse has committed adultery, which Jaime had not done, so I think that was part of the motive — that if she killed him and wasn't found out, she could still socialize with her Jehovah's Witness friends and it is all okay, because he is just asleep.
Instead of Sandra Melgar's testimony, the defense focused on errors the initial investigators made upon discovery of Jaime's body. A bloody fingerprint found on the family's safe came under particular scrutiny: despite being spotted during the investigation and documented in crime scene photographs, the print was never checked — and what could have been crucial evidence in Sandra's defense was instead lost.
"Inexplicably," one defense motion read, "no examination was conducted for latent prints or the presence of DNA despite the fact that fingerprint ridges and grooves are easily observed on photographic evidence of the handle."
Sentenced to less than the maximum, Sandra Melgar's appeal is underway
On August 23, 2017, Sandra Melgar was convicted of murdering her husband Jaime following an eight-hour jury deliberation. Sandra's family, which had gathered in the courtroom expecting a dismissal of all charges, let out a collective gasp upon hearing the verdict. Sandra, per the Chronicle, howled.
Houston's ABC 13 captured the moment:
Sandra's 27-year sentence was less than the life imprisonment she faced, though far greater than the five-year minimum sentence. Her lawyers have since begun Sandra Melgar's appeal, arguing in an 85-page brief that "jurors relied on their own experiments" in the original trial, and that "prosecutors impermissibly shifted the burden during closing arguments by saying the defense criticized the investigation but never found 'the real killer.'"
Since her mother's sentencing, Elizabeth Rose Melgar has become Sandra's most passionate defender, calling the verdict a "gross miscarriage of justice" and claiming that her father's real murderer still walks free:
"Unspeakable," the Sandra Melgar Dateline episode, airs Friday night at 10 on NBC.
(Photo credits: Sandra Melgar's testimony via Facebook, Harris County Sheriff's Office)
Father catfishes daughter into sending nude photos online
Dateline: The Accomplice examines David Sweat and Richard Matt's prison escape
LHHATL Is Tommie really getting 50 years for child abuse? Her latest legal woes, explained


We are proud to present the 2018-19 Neshaminy High School Marching Band. This year the band is comprised of 121 members, which includes 106 musicians and 15 color guard. The band is directed on the field by Drum Majors Daniel Aungst and Jordyn Sounder and Field Captain Chris McVey. The band director is Michael Lipton. Band staff includes Lisa Boccuti, Justin Aungst, Josh Campbell, Robert Lazenbury Megan Reilly, Dan Fullman, Katie Gallagher, Bennett Stump, Matt Snyder, Michael Allen and Kate Currie. Musical book is by Synced Up Designs. Percussion arrangements are edited by Josh Campbell. Front Ensemble arrangements are edited by Bennett Stump. Drill design is by Tim Darbonne.
The Marching Band will be kept busy this fall with performances at all Redskin football games as well as participating in Marching Band Shows at Upper Dublin, Downingtown West, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Council Rock, William Tennent and Conestoga High Schools. We will host our own 26th Annual Kaleidoscope of Bands Show on Saturday, October 27, 2018.
In our 2018 production, we take a journey through the Norse afterlife to the hall of Valhalla. In Norse mythology, half of those who die in battle are chosen by the god Odin to live out their afterlife in this majestic hall. Those who are chosen are led by Valkyries to Valhalla to join the masses of those who died in combat, along with legendary heroes and kings as they prepare to aid Odin during the events of Ragnarök. Please sit back and enjoy our presentation of Voyage to Valhalla.


text:
SAFTI FIRST App Now Includes Fire Rated Framing Options
SAFTI FIRST has announced its mySAFTI fire rated glass and framing product selector app now includes fire-rated framing options, according to a company release. The free, interactive tool allows users to select the appropriate fire rated framing option along with their glazing choice straight from the app.
"The fire rated framing requirements must match the glazing requirements in order to fully meet the requirements of the code," says Diana San Diego, director of marketing for SAFTI FIRST. "With the help of the newly updated mySAFTI app, users can now easily choose the correct, code-approved fire rate framing option based on their glazing choice, fire rating or application straight from their device."
The app is now available through the Apple App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, as well as Google Play for Android devices.


text:
Zgornji Dražen Vrh je naselje v Občini Šentilj. Do leta 2002 se je imenoval Dražen Vrh.

Sklici

Glej tudi
 seznam naselij v Sloveniji

Naselja Občine Šentilj

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


I'm hoping that someone can help me solve a situation that I'm in regarding midi program change on the 12 step.
I am running the 12step into a roland soniccell sound module (via the kmi expander).
I wish to send program change messages from the 12step to the soniccell, so that the soniccell patch will change when I change the preset on the 12step.
According to the 12step manual, the CC#0 value (MSB) is fixed at 0 and cannot be changed is this true? Is there some way that I can change this?
ALSO, the soniccell WILL accept CC#0 = 0 if I am trying to reference the GM patches instead of the user patches. But even when I try this, I can get the program change function in the 12step to work, but the bank change (LSB/CC#32) doesn't seem to work at all - it also appears to be stuck at zero? - If you look at page 231 of the soniccell manual, I can use the PC in the 12step to cycle through GM1/4/6/8 etc, but I can't get the LSB to change (for example) between GM1/2/3 with PC=1?
I hope that makes sense, I have some midi knowledge but I am not any expert by any means.
The 12 Step is able to access 16,384 presets with a MSB hardcoded at zero and an adjustable LSB. I don't know why Roland decided to put so many important presets within the non-default MSB value of 87 when they could have easily fit all the presets on the device within a single MSB value. Generally the default value is zero, which is what the hidden value is for all devices that don't support bank control.
Unfortunately the 12 Step cannot access MSB=87 so that isn't going to change but if you are using a computer you can likely get around this with Bome's MIDI Translator which is a powerful but complex MIDI application.
On the Sonic Cell it looks like the GM sounds are the only ones able to be reached with MSB=0. It does seem like you should be able to access that whole section though. To program in the 12 Step editor you would enter into the bank field what you see in the LSB column of the GM MIDI sheet and in the program change field you would enter the value in the PC column of the GM MIDI sheet.
Firstly, thankyou for your response and I apologise that it has taken me so long to get back to you.
1.) The PC column shown in the roland document (program change filed in 12step) appears to be incorrect by a factor of one (e.g. putting PC 19 into the 12 step then seems to select the GM patch corresponding to PC = 20 in the roland document).
2.) The LSB shown in the roland document (bank in the 12 step) doesn't appear to do anything at all, it is always the first patch for each PC that is selected no matter what the bank value is.
Do you have any further thoughts on this issue? Seems very strange to me. I'm happy to test further if you have any recommendations.


There are days I wonder why I bother to read the paper. I typically end up shaking my head in disbelief or shuddering at the apathy and viciousness with which we seem to be treating each other. Yesterday was no different.
In that very same paper there was an article about a beach that I've been swimming in since I was born that was closed to swimmers over the weekend because of increased e-coli levels. The beach remains closed today.
Alberta is still dealing with a massive oil spill that went undetected for days, the second spill in the past year, and ten animal species were added to the Canadian endangered list in May 2012.
I find it shocking that our leaders have decided to grow (resuscitate) the economy at the expense of the environment. The leaders of this amazing country, so rich in natural resources, should be using their position of power to build on something genius, something that future generations will marvel at like my son does now when he asks in awe how people were able to think of technology, skyscrapers and other wonders of daily life we seem to take for granted as adults. Our leaders should be working to redefine progress not forging ahead focused only on the dollar and so little on the splendor and necessity of our natural world.
The definition of progress is forward movement towards a destination. I want to move towards a future where my kids have clean water to drink and Lake Huron is still clean enough to swim in. I want an economy that embraces the environment instead of exploiting it with such an intense focus on money.
I'm not even close to perfect when it comes to having an eco-friendly lifestyle but I'm happy about the changes that my family and I have made. And, I'm especially proud of the changes I've made with mocobabies. I no longer manufacture overseas, our packaging is eco-friendly and each component I've sourced is made in North America. Still, we can do more.
The kids and I were out playing in the rain yesterday and as the thunder grew louder my son said "Isn't it weird that the earth would want to destroy things and sometimes kill people with tornadoes and lightening when it should be protecting us?" I tried to explain that the earth supports us but it's our job to protect it. Unfortunately, we're doing a horrible job.
Since our leaders aren't providing us with ingenuity, we have to work on ridding ourselves of apathy and get creative; it seems it's up to us to redefine progress. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go hug a tree.


Image Title: Home Depot Cabinet Handles With Hardware At The Designs 17. Filename: home-depot-cabinet-handles-with-hardware-at-the-designs-17.jpg. Image Dimension: 400 x 400 pixels. Images Format: jpg/jpeg. Publisher/Author: Victor Mohr. Uploaded Date: Saturday - May 12th. 2018 13:48:03 PM. Category: Architecture. Image Source: contemporist.com.
Tap The Thumbnail Bellow to See Related Gallery of "Home Depot Cabinet Handles With Hardware At The Designs 17"


text:
In 2015, the Hudson Rotary Club dedicated a memorial in downtown Hudson outside of Town Hall to Paul Cellucci, former governor of Massachusetts. Paul was born in Hudson and graduated from Hudson Catholic School. He held various positions in government for 3 decades, including being governor from 1999-2001.
Paul announced that he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) in 2011. He died from complications from the disease 2 years later.
In addition to dedicated the memorial benches, our club was able to raise an additional $10,000, which we donated to the UMass ALS Cellucci Fund, which was created on Paul's behalf to advance critical research breakthroughs in ALS.
This was a very proud moment for our club. As you can see from the pictures below, we had a great turnout on a wonderful day for the memorial dedication. We hope the memorial will keep Paul's name alive, and will aid in the fight to find a cure for this disease.


text:
Some thoughts on reconstructing prehistoric life.
Reconstructing prehistoric life through visual representation is not fantasy art. It is a considered approach towards representing the past, by combining artistic skill with scientific consultation, the purposes of which are to convey a better understanding of the possible life appearances of now long extinct organisms.
Prehistoric animals were once living, breathing creatures, just like extant organisms today, subject to environmental and ecological pressures, predator prey relationships, eating, mating and other intraspecific competition.
As such, it becomes important to understand the landscapes, plants, environments and ecology where these creatures lived. Likewise, we can look to living animals for a direction towards possible behaviour, herding, nesting, feeding and perhaps even colour.
However, the information required to restore prehistoric organisms to the point of photorealism is seldom available, and any attempt comes with the risk of imposing upon the subject an unjustified level of speculation.
My background in archaeological reconstruction has taught me to be cautious when depicting the unknown and unproven, and to err on the side of caution and not take unnecessary leaps of imagination.
When depicting much more ancient eras of time, I hope to distil an overview of my understanding of the prehistoric past, not through a single image but through a larger body of work, which offers an unsensationalised, considered and believable representation. Plausible reconstruction requires a certain level of ambiguity to embody the distinct difference between definite and probable.
This may change over time as our understanding of prehistoric life improves. Indeed, many of my early illustrations are now outdated, postures have been revised, nasal horns removed, new material has been found and feathers, where once assumed but not proven, are now understood to be the default integument for most small theropod dinosaurs. My art may be outdated, but this is good, for it demonstrates that science is moving forward.
Lastly, for those interested in my materials and techniques; I favour manual drawing and painting, using a digital component, if at all, only in the final preparation of the image. I work predominantly, although not exclusively in acrylic paint, stippled inks and graphite.
The basic information I have prepared to accompany the images in the gallery is just that; a brief breakdown and a little background information to convey to the interested viewer what they are looking at, my hope being to take them just a little further into the wonders of the past.
Jon Hoad
X Close Info


text:
Digital Traditions
Basketry | Digital Traditions
Elbert Brown
Elbert Brown of Pendleton crafted split-oak baskets for over eighty years. He carried on a tradition that has been in his South Carolina upcountry family since the mid-nineteenth century. Brown learned to make baskets from his father and his uncle, both of whom were skilled basketmakers. Early in this century, Mr. Brown learned to make large split-oak hampers for the farmers of the Piedmont region. Later in his life, he learned to make fish trap baskets.
Depending on type, split-oak baskets can require special designs and construction details. As a skilled basketmaker, Brown always spent significant time selecting the white oak splits and shaving and smoothing each split before it is woven. He also spent many hours teaching basketmaking to others, enabling the continuity of his traditional construction style. Brown received the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award in 1988.
NOTE: A video transcript is available for the video below.
Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award Program
Stout Hearts: Traditional Oak Basketmakers of the S.C. Upcountry
Basket Use | Digital Traditions
Elbert Brown recalls how farmers used the baskets in the first half of the 20th century.
Elbert Brown Photos | Digital Traditions
Elbert Brown of Pendleton crafted split-oak baskets for over eighty years. He carried on a tradition that has been in his South Carolina upcountry family since the mid-nineteenth century. Brown...
Institute of Museum and Library
McKissick Museum


Ra's Al Ghul is typically one of the more outlandish villains in DC's stable, even if he's not one of the goofballs running around in a themed costume and barking orders at similarly themed henchman. Instead, he usually has ridiculously sculpted facial hair, wears a lot of bright green capes, and has a tendency to engage in shirtless sword fights—which is not a euphemism. Also, he's the head of an ancient order of assassins and is immortal, thanks to the magical healing waters of Lazarus Pit. He's basically ridiculous, which makes him a perfect fit for Fox's Gotham.
According to Deadline, Ra's Al Ghul will make his debut on the show at some point after it returns from its winter hiatus, and he'll be played by Game Of Thrones' Alexander Siddig. He played Doran Martell on the HBO series, who you might remember as one of the many people in Dorne who did pretty much nothing and then died. We don't know much about what he'll do on Gotham, but hopefully it's a bit more interesting than that. At least we'll get another chance to hear people pronounce his name, which is always fun.
A few seasons ago, Matt Nable played Ra's Al Ghul on Arrow, and Liam Neeson played him in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Rises.


Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. No branding, no graphics, no bull – the Airflite Gloss Solid kicks decoration to the curb and gets right down to business. Just like this copy.
Includes internal DropShield ™ and Clear quick-change fog-free FliteShield ™.
Removable HydraDry ™ moisture wicking liner.


text:
2019's New Folding Phones – What Do They Mean for Businesses Websites and Apps?
Created: Tuesday, November 27, 2018, posted by Geetesh Bajaj at 10:00 am
by Anthony Main, The Distance
Recently, Samsung announced their folding Galaxy X smartphone. This followed the launch of the FlexPai by Royole Corp and there are rumors of similar devices from Motorola, LG, Huawei and Apple launching in 2019. Many app owners are becoming concerned about how these devices will impact their apps and websites.
From the announcements, patent applications and design concepts, the main goal for the manufacturers seems to be to design devices which offer a smaller, more convenient form factor but with the benefit of large screen real estate. The demand for bigger pocket-sized devices has been clear, as all device manufacturers (including Apple – despite Steve Job's best wishes) now offer oversized pocket-bulging devices.
As this trend seems to be increasing, and with the introduction of devices which unfold to support such demands, usage patterns will change and users and app owners will find new ways to take advantage of the technology advances.
Multitasking – the additional screen space could allow for multiple apps to be used simultaneously. This would be perfect for "second screen" apps such as live voting on the X-Factor or Tweeting about the latest celeb gossip whilst reading your news feed. Samsung have confirmed the Galaxy X will support three apps running in parallel.
Multiple Screens – could mean that apps can segment and highlight key pieces of app information, such as notifications and live data across the user interface (UI)
Larger Keyboards – will provide more space for the app UI and allow users to enter data and create content more easily.
Improved productivity – as Apple continues to promote how productive their iPads are, the extra screen space will enable users to be more productive and use their devices more efficiently.
Desktop/Laptop Quality Apps – with the increased opportunity of the device, users will drive the demand for more feature packed apps. Could this mean the end of fully functioning computers at home?
Hardware Announcements – it will be important to monitor the market over the next 12 months to understand the variety of devices coming to fruition and the varying opportunities they provide.
Platform Announcements – for novel interfaces to be well supported, it is unlikely app owners will invest until the support is provided directly by the operating system. Google showed their support for these future ideas by supporting Samsung at their recent announcement.
Device Specific – each foldable device is likely to be different (based upon the patents) and their uptake will determine which features are worth supporting from an app perspective. App owners will need to evaluate the options and balance the ROI on a device-by-device basis.
Responsive Design – smartphones/tablets come in a wide variety of sizes, resolutions and aspect ratios, and best practices have been to design app interfaces to resize to scale to each devices screen. Ensuring this will give an app the best opportunity for the unknowns on the horizon.
Possible Timings
Current Hardware – the FlexPai is already available but in limited markets, but the Galaxy X is expected to be demonstrated either at CES over the New Year period or at Mobile World Conference (MWC) in February, when we would also expect other manufacturers to announce their own devices.
Operating System Releases – both Apple and Google generally only release major updates to iOS and Android in Q3, so we wouldn't expect large scale adoption to happen until then. However….
Proprietary Support – device manufacturers could develop bespoke Software Development Kits (SDKs) to allow app owners to harness device-specific hardware features well before they are adopted by the operating systems. Samsung specifically announced the device at their technical event, solely to drive adoption by app developers.
Scalable – most platforms already support flexible screen sizes and, therefore, device support may be possible from the outset, so preparation will be essential.
App owners should reach out to their developers or specialist app agencies who will be best prepared to offer advice and guidance on how they can prepare their apps and websites and plan for how they can be tailored to take full advantage of this technological evolution.
Anthony Main is Managing Director of The Distance, an app development company. Anthony has been developing apps since the first iPhone, and with his UK based team of digital natives, The Distance delivers intuitive mobile solutions for clients on both iOS and Android.
From disruptive start-ups to global enterprises, including NHS, Bentley Motors, Virgin Trains, PGA Golf, Slimming World, and Astra Zeneca, The Distance supports solutions developed to meet all app based-challenges.
How Will Technology Change for Business Telecoms in 2019?
By Mike Ianiri, EquinoxChange will be accelerating in business telecoms over the coming year. Here are some thoughts on how this will develop and the ...
5 Ways Sports Are Benefiting From Tech
By Ferran Martínez, GlobaTalentAs an ex-pro basketball player and Olympian, I like to keep track of developments in sports, particularly those where t...
Why You Need to Test Tech Candidates to Get the Right Fit
By Gurvinder Singh, TechRankThe digital tech sector is dynamic. This means that to fuel growth businesses need to recruit the right people with the ri...
How to Get Set Up to Work From a Beach
By Mike Ianiri, EquinoxIf you want to get away from the city and start working from your dream location, here is what you need to think about to make ...
Tagged as: Foldable Phone, Phone, Samsung, Technology
« How to Stop Being a Slave to Your Airbnb Business
6 Steps for Attracting Third Party Sellers to Sell via Your Platform »


text:
Afghanistan's Karzai Angry At U.S. Government
Afghan President Afghanistan Hamid Karzai denounced what he called an insufficient U.S. focus on targeting Taliban sanctuaries in Pakistan.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has expressed "extreme anger" toward the U.S. government, saying that the 12-year war in Afghanistan was not waged with his country's interests in mind.
"Afghans died in a war that's not ours," Karzai said in the interview published Sunday in "The Washington Post."
The Afghan president was quoted as saying he was certain the war was "for the U.S. security and for the Western interest."
Karzai also denounced what he called an insufficient U.S. focus on targeting Taliban sanctuaries in Pakistan.
The interview was conducted in Karzai's office late on March 1, a month before an election to pick his successor and ahead of the withdrawal of most NATO-led troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
Based on reporting by "The Washington Post"