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38th Report, 2012 (Session 4): Scottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Bill
38th Report, 2012 (Session 4): Scottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Bill (641KB pdf)
Scottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Bill
1. At its meetings on 12 and 26 June 2012, the Subordinate Legislation Committee considered the delegated powers provisions in the Scottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Bill1 ("the Bill") at Stage 1. The Committee submits this report to the Justice Committee as lead committee for the Bill under Rule 9.6.2 of Standing Orders.
OVERVIEW OF THE BILL
2. The Scottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Bill was introduced in the Parliament on 2 May 2012 by Kenny MacAskill MSP. It is a Government Bill which establishes the Scottish Civil Justice Council and makes provision about contributions in respect of criminal legal assistance.
3. The Scottish Government has provided a Delegated Powers Memorandum (DPM)2 setting out the need for the delegated powers, how they may be exercised and the choice of procedure applicable to their exercise.
4. In the consideration of the memorandum at its meeting on 12 June, the Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government to raise questions on a number of the delegated powers. This correspondence is reproduced in the Annex.
DELEGATED POWERS PROVISIONS
5. The Committee considered each of the delegated powers provisions in the Bill.
6. The Committee determined that it did not need to draw the attention of the Parliament to the delegated powers in sections 6, 17 (inserting new section 8A(1A) of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986, 18(1) (inserting new section 9(2)(dda) of that Act, section 20 (inserting new section 25AD of that Act), section 22 (inserting new section 33ZA of that Act), section 23(4), section 23(5), section 23(9), and section 25.
7. The Committee's comments and, where appropriate, recommendations on the other delegated powers are detailed below.
Section 18(2) – new section 9B of the 1986 Act (scheme of eligibility)
Power conferred on: the Scottish Legal Aid Board
Power exercisable by: scheme (not by Scottish statutory instrument)
Parliamentary procedure: no parliamentary procedure
Power conferred on: the Scottish Ministers
Power exercisable by: directions
8. The delegated power which is inserted by section 9(2)(dda) of the 1986 Act will enable the Scottish Ministers to disapply the existing eligibility criteria for assistance by way of representation ("ABWOR") and replace them with the criteria in sections 9A and 11A of the 1986 Act. One of the criteria in section 9A(2)(a) is that the scheme of eligibility provides that the fees and outlays of the ABWOR cannot be met without undue hardship to the client or the dependants of the client. "Scheme of eligibility" means a scheme approved under section 9B(3).
9. Section 9B(1) makes provision for the preparation and publication of a scheme of eligibility by the Scottish Legal Aid Board ("the Board"). It is to set out the financial circumstances which the Board considers would constitute undue hardship for a client or the dependants of that client if they were required to meet the fees and outlays in respect of ABWOR. The scheme requires to be submitted to the Scottish Ministers for approval (section 9B(2)) and they may approve it with or without modification (section 9B(3)). Provision is also made for the Ministers to approve a modification to an approved scheme, or to withdraw approval at any time (section 9B(4)).
10. Separately, the Scottish Ministers may give the Board directions as to the preparation and publication of a scheme of eligibility, and the Board must comply with those directions (section 9B(5)).
Scheme of eligibility
11. The Committee asked the Scottish Government to explain why the power to make a scheme of eligibility is not expressed as a power to make subordinate legislation, given its stated position (in paragraph 17 of the DPM) that the extension or alteration of eligibility for criminal legal assistance requires thorough parliamentary scrutiny. As noted above, the Scottish Government response is set out in the Annex.
12. Section 9B involves the delegation of power to the Board to prepare and publish the scheme of eligibility, subject to approval of the scheme by the Scottish Ministers. That delegation is not by way of a power to make subordinate legislation. As a result, the scheme of eligibility will not be subject to any parliamentary procedure. It will not be laid before the Parliament and it is not subject to the usual publication requirements for Scottish statutory instruments, although the scheme is required to be published in some form.
13. The response to the Committee explained that the intention underlying the new section 9A(1) of the 1986 Act is that the solicitor acting will have discretion to carry out the assessment of undue hardship. In turn, it is intended that the scheme setting out the financial circumstances which consist of undue hardship will be within the Board's discretion to define, from time to time. This will be subject to approval of (and possible later withdrawal by) the Scottish Ministers. This is intended to be analogous to the Board's existing non-statutory guidance which is issued on undue hardship in relation to criminal legal aid cases. The scheme will require to be rather complex. It may set out other circumstances which may amount to undue financial hardship, apart from an applicant's income level. The scheme is intended to take into account information on average case costs, and could summarise what is treated as income and capital, when calculating a particular applicant's resources.
14. The Committee noted, however, that the Scottish Government's response did not offer a satisfactory explanation why making the scheme by Scottish statutory instrument would not be sufficiently flexible to enable the ABWOR scheme to operate. It also did not offer an explanation why it is not appropriate that the Parliament should be required to approve, or have power to annul, the scheme. The statement of the circumstances which amount to undue hardship has significant consequences for the operation of the ABWOR arrangements and the payments which will be made to applicants. One of the criteria for ABWOR to be available in terms of the inserted section 9A(1) and (2) is that the solicitor is to be satisfied that the fees and outlays of the assistance cannot be met without the undue hardship.
15. The Committee also noted that what a scheme will set out is defined in the inserted section 9B(1). It is to set out the financial circumstances in which the Board considers that paying the fees and outlays in respect of assistance by way of representation will result in undue hardship for a client or their dependants. That provision does not include discretionary elements within it. The scheme is proposed to define the relevant financial circumstances which amount to undue hardship.
16. The Committee also noted that it would appear to be technically possible to provide that the scheme could be made in the form of a Scottish statutory instrument, whether made by the Board with approval of the Scottish Ministers or made by the Ministers.
17. The Committee considers that the proposed power to make a scheme of eligibility is a power of significance which it appears could be expressed as a power to make subordinate legislation by means of making a Scottish statutory instrument. The Committee considers that the Scottish Government has not justified in satisfactory terms within the DPM, or in response to the questions raised, why the power to make this scheme should not be subject to the approval of the Parliament. The Committee would accept that if there are good reasons why the scheme should not be subject to the affirmative procedure but rather the negative procedure – for example, that a modification could be required within the dates when the Parliament is in recess – then it is possible that the negative procedure could be applied as suitable for scrutiny of the scheme. However, taking into account the Government's response on this power, the Committee's view is that the scheme should at least be capable of annulment by the Parliament.
18. The Committee considers that the power in section 18(2) (inserting section 9B of the 1986 Act) enabling the Scottish Legal Aid Board to make a scheme of eligibility with the approval of the Scottish Ministers is a significant power which would be more appropriately expressed as a power to make subordinate legislation, by means of a Scottish statutory instrument. The Committee considers that, unless there is good reason to the contrary, a draft scheme should be laid subject to affirmative procedure.
19. The Committee accordingly asks the Scottish Government to consider this further in advance of Stage 2. It also requests that the Government indicates in response to this report whether it considers that any difficulties would arise with the suggestion that the scheme could be subject to the affirmative procedure.
Direction-making power in the inserted section 9B(5) of the 1986 Act
20. The Committee also asked the Scottish Government to explain why the direction-making power in the inserted section 9B(5) of the 1986 Act is necessary, given its extensive powers in relation to the approval, modification and withdrawal of a scheme of eligibility.
21. The Scottish Government's response explains that the proposed direction-making power is not intended to amount to any further powers of the Scottish Ministers to modify the contents of the scheme. It is intended to enable directions on the procedural matters of possible consultation requirements when preparing the draft scheme, or the method of publication.
22. The Committee is satisfied that this power of direction should not be exercisable in the form of a Scottish statutory instrument. However, the Committee considers that this power in the inserted section 9B(5) is generally framed to permit any directions which the Board must comply with in the course of preparing and publishing the scheme.
23. The Scottish Government's response to the Committee has clarified that the power is intended to cover any consultation or method of publication (and so procedural) requirements only. From the viewpoint of users' understanding and accessibility of this provision, the Committee considers that the Scottish Government should consider in advance of Stage 2 of the Bill whether the power to direct in the inserted section 9B(5) could be more clearly or narrowly drawn, so that the power enables directions on consultation, method of publication or other procedural requirements.
24. The Committee therefore recommends that the Scottish Government should consider in advance of Stage 2 of the Bill whether the power of direction in section 9B(5) of the 1986 Act (inserted by section 18(2)) should be more clearly or narrowly drawn. The Scottish Government has indicated to the Committee that this power is intended to relate to consultation, method of publication or other procedural arrangements in preparing and publishing the scheme of eligibility, rather than generally allow any direction which the Board must comply with in carrying out such preparation and publication.
Section 24 – ancillary provision
Power exercisable by: order
Parliamentary procedure: affirmative procedure where making textual amendments to primary legislation, and otherwise negative procedure
25. Section 6 of the Bill specifies the composition of the Scottish Civil Justice Council, in terms of maximum number of members and categories of members. Section 6(3) enables the Scottish Ministers to vary by order the maximum number of members on the Council, and to vary the minimum number in a category of membership. This power has attached to it its own ancillary provision in section 6(5). This permits the making of such supplementary, incidental, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.
26. It is expressly provided, however, in section 6(6) that these powers may not be used to modify the description of a category of membership or to add a category of membership. Section 6(4) requires the Ministers to consult with the Lord President before making an order under section 6(3).
27. Section 24 contains general ancillary powers for the Bill. Section 24(1) allows the Scottish Ministers to make such supplementary, incidental, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision as they consider necessary or expedient for the purposes of or in connection with this Bill. Section 24(2) provides that such an order may make different provision for different purposes. Section 24(3) provides that this power may be used to modify this or any other enactment. Section 24(5) provides that, where the power is exercised so as to amend any part of the text of an Act, then the affirmative procedure applies. Otherwise, negative procedure applies.
28. The Committee accepted those scrutiny procedures applying to the powers.
29. The Committee asked the Scottish Government whether, given the existence of the specific power in section 6(3) to modify that section and the limited nature of that power, it is intended that it should be possible to modify section 6 by means of an order under section 24. It also asked whether, if that is not the case, the Scottish Government intends to exclude the possibility of using an order under section 24 to modify section 6.
30. As noted above, the Scottish Government's response is reproduced in the Annex.
31. On the face of it, section 24 may modify any provision of the Bill, including section 6. Section 6(3) confers a very specific power to modify aspects of section 6. Section 6(6) is then expressed as a specific limitation on that power: it does not include power to modify the description of a category of membership or to add a new category. The response by the Scottish Government acknowledges that an order under section 24 which purported to augment the power in section 6(3) by modifying categories of membership would circumvent the clear intent of section 6(6), and would be contrary to the Act. The Committee welcomes this view. However, it observes that the views and intentions of the present administration cannot be determinative of the matter when the unrestricted section 24 power will appear on the statute book until it is repealed, and so will be available to any future administration, including one which took a different approach to this matter.
32. For this reason, and from the viewpoint of the reader and in the interests of the accessibility of the provisions, the Committee considers that it would be preferable to put the matter beyond doubt by providing that an ancillary order under section 24 should not be capable of modifying or repealing the specific exclusion made by section 6(6) on the categories of membership.
33. The Committee considers that it should be made clearer within section 24 that the powers in that section to make ancillary provisions for the purposes of or in connection with the Bill do not include the power to modify or repeal the specific restriction which is contained in section 6(6), as to the description of the categories of membership of the Scottish Civil Justice Council.
Correspondence with the Scottish Government
On 12 June 2012, the Subordinate Legislation Committee wrote to the Scottish Government as follows:
at Stage 1
1. The Subordinate Legislation Committee considered the above Bill on Tuesday 12 June and seeks an explanation of the following matters:
Power exercisable by: scheme
2. Section 18(2), which inserts new section 9B into the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986, enables the Scottish Ministers to disapply the existing eligibility criteria for assistance by way of representation.
3. A new scheme of eligibility, prepared and published by the Scottish Legal Aid Board, would have to meet certain criteria, including on the avoidance of undue hardship to clients or their dependants. Separately, the Scottish Ministers may give the Board directions as to the preparation and publication of a scheme of eligibility, and the Board must comply with those directions.
4. The Committee asks the Scottish Ministers to explain:
why the power to make a scheme of eligibility is not expressed as a power to make subordinate legislation, given their stated position that the extension or alteration of eligibility for criminal legal assistance requires thorough parliamentary scrutiny; and
why the direction-making power in section 9B(5) of the 1986 Act is necessary, given the Scottish Ministers' extensive powers in relation to the approval, modification and withdrawal of a scheme of eligibility?
5. Section 24 allows the Scottish Ministers to make such ancillary provision as they consider necessary or expedient for the purposes of or in connection with this Bill. However, there is an overlap between this provision and the bespoke ancillary powers provision in section 6(5), which may be used when making provision under section 6(3) on the number of members of the Scottish Civil Justice Council.
6. The Committee asks the Scottish Government:
whether, given the existence of the specific power in section 6(3) to modify that section, and the limited nature of that power, it is intended that it should be possible to modify section 6 by means of an order under section 24; and
if that is not the case, whether it intends to exclude the possibility of using an order under section 24 to modify section 6.
On 19 June 2012, the Scottish Government responded as follows:
Section 18(2) – new section 9B of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 ("the 1986 Act")
You have asked that the Scottish Government explain why the power to make a scheme of eligibility is not expressed as a power to make subordinate legislation, given our stated position is that the extension or alteration of eligibility for criminal legal assistance requires thorough parliamentary scrutiny; and why the direction-making power in section 9B(5) of the 1986 Act is necessary, given the Scottish Ministers' extensive powers in relation to the approval, modification and withdrawal of a scheme of eligibility.
In answer to the first part of the question, the Scottish Legal Aid Board ("the Board") currently applies the 'undue hardship' financial eligibility test in relation to summary and solemn criminal legal aid applications and in doing so has discretion about what constitutes 'undue hardship' in each and every application. The Board requires this discretion as application of the 'undue hardship' test is very dependant on an individual's case and circumstances. The Scottish Ministers are prevented under section 3 of the 1986 Act from giving any directions to the Board in relation to individual cases.
The Board currently issues guidance to the profession on how it applies the undue hardship test to applications for criminal legal aid and the kind of factors it takes into consideration. This guidance is non-statutory. Its status as guidance allows the Board to be as specific as it can be, in order to assist and inform practitioners, without limiting its discretion to consider all the circumstances of a case. Being guidance the Board can also alter it as necessary to reflect changes in what it considers would be undue hardship, for example as a result of changing financial circumstances in Scotland generally.
At present solicitors assess financial eligibility for Assistance By Way of Representation ("ABWOR") in certain criminal manners, most notably where a plea of guilty has been tendered. In carrying out the financial assessment, solicitors refer to regulations which prescribe what is counted as capital and income and other figures that are fixed by the Scottish Government and set out in the Board's Advice and Assistance Keycard ("the Keycard").
Section 18 of the Bill inserts a new section 9A into the 1986 Act which provides for a new financial eligibility test for certain criminal ABWOR proceedings to be based on undue hardship. The assessment of undue hardship will be carried out by the solicitor. The Bill proposes that a scheme of eligibility ("the scheme"), which would be analogous to the Board's existing non-statutory guidance for criminal legal aid cases, would be prepared and published by the Board and would be used by solicitors where applying the undue hardship test. However, section 18 also provides for a new regulation making power which will allow Scottish Ministers to prescribe the proceedings in which the new provisions about criminal ABWOR are to apply. These regulations will be subject to the affirmative procedure thereby ensuring thorough Parliamentary scrutiny.
Scottish Government officials have been discussing with the Board what will be in the scheme of eligibility. The scheme will probably be similar in approach to the ABWOR Keycard currently available to practitioners and the non-statutory guidance for criminal legal aid cases. It is expected that the scheme will set out when discretion may be exercised to grant criminal ABWOR even where the applicant appears to have too much income. This could occur where there are other circumstances of the case which would mean that undue hardship would be caused if criminal ABWOR were not provided. This discretion will only be exercised by the Board upon an application made to them either by the solicitor or the applicant. The scheme will include information on average case costs, so that a practitioner can factor in the likely total cost of a case in assessing the undue hardship of the applicant paying for his/her own representation. It is likely that the scheme will also summarise what is provided for in regulations about what should be treated as capital and income when calculating an applicant's financial resources.
In answer to the second part of the question, the powers of Scottish Ministers to approve, reject or modify a scheme (under section 9B(4)) are different to the power (in section 9B(5)) to make directions about the preparation or publication of a scheme. For example, Scottish Ministers might direct the Board to consult with the Law Society of Scotland when preparing the scheme, or to publish the scheme in a particular way to ensure the widest possible knowledge of it. The direction making power could be used to achieve both these things.
You have also asked whether, given the existence of the specific power in section 6(3) to modify that section, and the limited nature of that power, it is intended that it should be possible to modify section 6 by means of an order under section 24; and if that is not the case, whether the Scottish Government intends to exclude the possibility of using an order under section 24 to modify section 6.
In response, it is considered that it would be possible for the order making power in section 24 to be used to modify any of the sections of the Act including section 6 provided that any modifications are consistent with the power in section 24 – necessary or expedient for the purposes of or in connection with the Act.
However, the power in section 24 must be read in the light of other specific provisions and powers in the Bill. In particular, the general power's applicability will be excluded in any instance where there is a specific power which already makes similar provision.
Section 6 provides a specific order making power for use in amending the numbers in any membership category in section 6(1). The Scottish Government considers that section 24 could therefore not be used to amend section 6(1) in the same way as section 6(3) provides. Similarly, the Scottish Government considers that the power in section 24 could not be used to amend out the specific limitation contained in section 6(3). An order under section 24 is to be used only "for the purposes of or in connection with the Act". It is clear that the Act, in being explicit in section 6(6) as to the limitation on the use of the order making power in section 6(3), does not envisage the use of the power in section 6(3) to effect the modification or addition of a category of membership. Accordingly the Scottish Government is of the view that any order under section 24 which purported to augment the power in section 6(3) by modifying categories of membership would circumvent the clear intent of section 6(6) and would be contrary to the Act and not within the powers in section 24.
The Scottish Government does not consider that it is necessary to exclude the possibility of using section 24 in different circumstances relevant to section 6 as the position is covered adequately by the normal rules of statutory interpretation.
1 Scottish Civil Justice Council and Civil Legal Assistance Bill. Available at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_Bills/Scottish%20Civil%20Justice%20and%20Criminal%20Legal%20Assistance%20Bill/b13s4-introd.pdf
2 Delegated Powers Memorandum. Available at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_SubordinateLegislationCommittee/DPM.pdf

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Since our Moneybox Programme began in the 1960s our iconic moneyboxes have made their way into countless homes, churches and schools across the country.
Hundreds of dedicated Moneybox Collectors have inspired New Zealanders to donate their small change, and together we have raised over $3.35 million!
This has enabled us to bring about big change for thousands of leprosy-affected families.
Moneyboxes are not just for adults! No matter how young (or old!) you are, you can have a moneybox at home or take one to your school or church.
We are seeking enthusiastic young people to spread the word about our Moneybox Programme in their schools and churches.
Moneyboxes are a fun and easy way to help leprosy-affected children and their families living in Bangladesh. A few coins from your pocket money (and your friend's pocket money!) can go a long way!
Four years ago, Zorina Begum (pictured here with her children) found out she had leprosy. She developed white patches on her arm and a Leprosy Mission staff member working in her community took her to a Leprosy Mission clinic where she was formally diagnosed and given a 12 month course of multi-drug therapy.
When Zorina told her husband about her diagnosis he left her. He did not want a wife who had leprosy. She has not seen him since and now she has to look after her four children by herself.
The small change you collect transforms the lives of people like Zorina who are faced with the devastating consequences of being diagnosed with leprosy.
After she completed her treatment a Leprosy Mission staff member came to visit her and asked her what support she needed. Zorina replied: "How can I live? I have nothing?"
The Leprosy Mission were very concerned about Zorina's wellbeing and suggested that she join a self-help group with other leprosy-affected people living in her community.
The group, which has 17 members, were very supportive of Zorina and within a few months of joining she was able to take a small loan to set up a business selling clothes.
Her hard work paid off and she was able to repay the loan quickly. But despite her efforts Zorina was still only making just enough money to feed her children - sometimes she could only afford to give them one meal a day.
Recently she decided to take a second loan from her self-help group which she is using to grow the business and generate more income. She hopes that soon she will earn enough money to give her children three meals a day and send them to school.
Zorina has really enjoyed being part of the self-help group. Not only has it helped her financially, it has also helped her cope with the psychological impacts of being diagnosed with leprosy.


While the week ahead will undoubtedly contain more chair-slamming by senior politicians, brinksmanship by both parties, and hyperbole from the media remember one thing when you catch yourself listening to the empty babble. If you find yourself slipping into the "need to know mentality", remind yourself that nothing will happen this week that will change the die, already cast and solidified for America's near term financial future.
Doubt that? Think back about the important details behind QE1, QE2, the critical covenants behind the first Greek bailout, and prior debt ceiling agreements - they were largely irrelevant. The details to this sidebar are nothing more than a distraction either.
Do you really think Asia's policies towards gold, silver and the dollar are going to change because of any promise that any American official will make? Please! Not a chance - so you should not either. Ultimately it comes back to recognizing the financial paradigm has changed for the rest of our lives - Is your head buried in the sand or are you positioning your family to profit from it?
In spite of massive cash transfusions and bailout packages, the euro-zone has started trembling again over its weakest members. The future of the common currency is, again, at stake. Ireland and Portugal will receive billions of Euros in support, and a second bailout for Greece is in the works. And just as European politicians were starting to think about their summer vacations, Italy's public debt has slipped into focus.
No back room deal can fix our debt yet the vast majority of Americans haven't started positioning themselves for the pending tsunami - if you are like them, there is great news embedded in gold.
Specifically if you have not yet begun to position your family, your lack of action to date is almost as immaterial as the debt ceiling fiasco. Why? Because if you begin to diversify in gold and silver now, as a hedge vs. the incompetence of the American government, you will shortly have more gold than 95% of the world. And when you have gold and silver, you are positioned for your relative wealth to increase.
Being a US millionaire until 1933 meant you owned 50,000 ounces of gold.
Think about that - 50,000 ounces of gold! That position would qualify someone with a wealth of 1,000,000 in 1933 as holding more gold than all but 94 of the world's nations even today.
And what did being a millionaire mean in the United States in terms of silver? While silver was not fixed with a specific dollar handle leading up to Roosevelt, it entered 1933 at $0.25/ounce, meaning a millionaire in 1933 could have converted his metal-backed currency into 4 million ounces of silver.
"Your dollar will be worth just as much tomorrow as today"
"If anybody has any idea of hoarding our silver coins, let me say this. Treasury has a lot of silver on hand, and it can be, and it will be used to keep the price of silver in line with its value in our present silver coin. There will be no profit in holding them out of circulation for the value of their silver content".
When the game changes you will see that the counter party risk becomes the most important aspect of investing.
How many of you know investors who were short many stocks when Lehman Brothers imploded? Many of them never saw their profits because of counter party risk once dismissed as a non-event. If that would ever happen to your paper gold and silver positions I suspect you would be more than heartsick at having seen the debasement coming but not having protected yourself in any meaningful way.
The notion of gold as a "risky asset" has some merit in its volatility, but less so given its history. Foreigners are saying the dollar is a "risk on" trade and while knee-jerk reactions die hard making anything possible in the short-term, this will be an emerging trend. This is a signpost to the new paradigm, likely rewarding physical metals owners in the pending wealth-transfer as the world comes to see gold as the currency of last resort.
If you have a beachhead in gold and silver, we suggest that you don't worry about trading around your position - this could be your lifeline if history repeats itself. With history's track record supporting gold, perhaps it is occasion to recall the words of Jesse Livermore, and "Be right. Sit tight."


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Success At Alexander Steele - 3 Months In Recruitment and Consultant of The Month!
Alexandra Watt - Marketing & Resourcing Assistant Mar 22, 2022 Alexander Steele News
Sam Gilmour, our most recent addition to the Manchester team has impressed the whole company by navigating his way to consultant of the month in only his third month in the business... and working in recruitment!
Sam joined us from a career in account management and his natural charisma teamed with his northern work ethic has seen him take to recruitment like a duck to water! We sat down with him for a chat about his first three months with us to understand the challenges and successes that brought him to this achievement.
A new job can be daunting for anybody! How are you setting into this new role? –The honest answer is that I'm loving it so far! It's allowing me to continue to develop my people skills / build relationships whilst working in an industry that's familiar with roles that I've either been and done or seen in person. I've got a great and supportive team around me and feel like I've gotten off to a good start. I'm enjoying speaking to a wide variety of people across the UK and learning about new businesses as I go along.
What skills have been interchangeable from your previous job? - Some skills have been very transferable, particularly my people skills. This has allowed me to quickly build rapport with clients & candidates which I think is crucial for me at the start whilst I build my own desk. On top of that, communication, problem solving, adaptability etc have all been key and I'm improving my organizational skills day by day.
Did you think you would find recruitment harder or easier than you have? Why? - I suppose I didn't really know what to expect but I was mindful about starting a fresh and whether I would settle into the role as quickly as I have. Overall, I feel as though it's easier than I expected as I've been able to bring a lot of industry knowledge to the table so far which has helped build my confidence. I also expected recruitment to be a lot more KPI driven and was mindful I may not have the time to get my processes in place, but I've been given the time to understand the role, the business and been given the tools to succeed.
What was your biggest challenge during this month? - My biggest challenge in February was prioritisation. With it still being early stages in my recruitment career, I'm mindful about bringing in my own jobs and building a desk. With a lot of good roles available to fill I put a lot of focus in to speaking with candidates / searching and struggled to maintain my structure when it came to Business Development.
What resources have been important in gaining success?- Our database helps make life easier and the Linkedin Recruiter / Job slots were crucial to me filling the Sales Director Role which rocketed me towards consultant of the month.
Has being consultant of the month encouraged you to push harder this month? – Yes & No. Yes because it has brought me confidence but No because I try to humble myself each month and maintain the same level of commitment / effort. I'm always quite tough on myself as I feel like I can always improve or do more and I like to maintain that mindset with most things I do. I'm more than aware the role comes with good and bad months and so I'm trying to look at the year as opposed to individual months / achievements.
What is the best thing about this early achievement? - It has shown me what I can achieve after such little time in the role. The recognition and little bonuses that come with being consultant of the month are great and I will strive for repeat success!


Chico Natural Foods Cooperative will be holding our Board Meetings at KZFR's Green Room adjacent to the Broadcast Booth on the 4th floor of the Waterland-Breslauer Building on 341 Broadway, Suite 416. Our meetings will be held 5:30 - 8pm on the last wednesday of the month.
Folks arriving at 6pm will need to use the call box adjacent to the door to call the KZFR broadcast booth and ask for the door opened.


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Where to go in your classic car when we can explore the world again
Lockdown is easing, as more countries open their borders to foreign travellers and air bridges are announced, travellers will inevitably start to plan their next trip and classic car enthusiasts will be deciding where they will be revving off to next.
The Classic Car Finance Team at Cambridge & Counties Bank have pulled together their top choices to help you decide where to take your car for its next spin when it's safe to venture out there.
This popular route takes drivers from Los Angeles to San Francisco and passes iconic attractions like Big Sur, Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara and Carmel-by-the-Sea on the way. The route first became popular in the 1930s and with its rugged coastlines, towering mountains and expansive beaches, it really does have it all. Although the stretch takes around 10-11 hours in the car, it is advised to take your time, visit local farms, wineries, and beaches along the way to make it a five or six day trip.
Perhaps the most iconic of road trips, Route 66. Complete with 1950s style motels, diners and gas stations, this road, which stretches from Chicago to Santa Monica, really is an experience for any travel enthusiast.
The drive takes you through the interstate, through unseen small-town America and has a mixture of short and long routes to choose from. As well as its picturesque surroundings, the trip oozes history along the way, allowing you to follow in the footsteps of past and present Americans. The majority of visitors do the trip during summer holidays, especially families, so it is advised to stick to shoulder season if possible (April-May and September-October).
North Coast 500, Scotland
You don't need to venture abroad this year to take your classic car on a picturesque road trip. Scotland is home to ample breath-taking routes, offering drivers the opportunity to experience the country's natural beauty, interact with friendly locals and explore historic landmarks.
The North Coast 500 is a relatively new route; it runs along the north coast of Scotland, passing dramatic cliff tops, white sand beaches and historic castles. The circular loop covers over 500 miles and depending on how much sight seeing is done along the way, can take anything from just a few days to over a week or two.
Arguably one of the most scenic road trips in Europe, the Amalfi Coast is sure to be a popular destination for classic car drivers over the next year or two.
The route typically starts from Naples, which is known as the gateway to the Amalfi Coast, and passes through medieval villages and towns including Ravello, Positano and Praiano. Although there is not necessarily a bad time to drive the Amalfi Coast, many would advise to avoid 'high summer' (July and August) when visitors arrive in peak numbers and roads are more congested.
The Atlantic Highway
The Atlantic Highway is another option for those wanting to stay closer to home, and is not one to be dismissed. This stunning road trip takes you along the Devon and Cornwall coasts, passing hilly moors and seaside towns including Padstow, Newquay and Bude. With hit TV shows like Doc Martin and Poldark filmed here, there is no questions why this stretch is arguably the most scenic part of the UK.
Surfers will find themselves in their element as there is a new stunning bay at every turn, before eventually finishing the trip at Land's End, which was famously named as it was once believed to be the end of the world.
After staying indoors for so long, no matter the destination or route, there is no better way to warm the engine of your classic car than with a picturesque road trip. Whether it's a long bank holiday weekend or a two-week holiday, none of these road trips will disappoint, so sit back and enjoy the ride.
A Guide to Valeting Your Car like a Pro
Most Effective Ways To Clean Your Wiper Blades


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Amid scandal, Quenneville resigns as Florida Panthers coach
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Joel Quenneville resigned as coach of the Florida Panthers on Thursday, two days after the second-winningest coach in NHL history was among those implicated for not swiftly responding to allegations by a Chicago Blackhawks player of being sexually assaulted by another coach during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs.
The announcement was made shortly after Quenneville met with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in New York to discuss his role in the Blackhawks' response to claims from Kyle Beach that he was sexually assaulted by then-Blackhawks assistant Brad Aldrich.
"I admire Kyle Beach for his courage in coming forward, am appalled that he was so poorly supported upon making his initial claim and in the 11 years since, and am sorry for all he has endured," Bettman said.
Andrew Brunette — an assistant coach under Quenneville in Florida — was hired as the team's interim coach, and is expected to make his debut when the unbeaten Panthers play at Detroit on Friday night. Brunette has never been a head coach.
Quenneville resigned with about three years and $15 million remaining on his contract with the Panthers. In a statement released to TSN, Quenneville said he resigned "with deep regret and contrition."
"I want to express my sorrow for the pain this young man, Kyle Beach, has suffered. My former team, the Blackhawks, failed Kyle and I own my share of that," Quenneville said. "I want to reflect on how all of this happened and take the time to educate myself on ensuring hockey spaces are safe for everyone."
Bettman said he agreed with Quenneville's decision to resign. If Quenneville ever wants to return to the NHL, Bettman said the league would need to meet with him first and approve his hiring.
"Joel made the decision to resign and the Florida Panthers accepted that resignation," Panthers President Matthew Caldwell said.
The fallout likely isn't over. Bettman will meet Friday with Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, who also worked for the Blackhawks when Beach made his allegations.
"Joel Quenneville made a decision to resign his position with the Florida Panthers and as association we understand and respect the decision that has been take," a statement from the NHL Coaches Association said. "This decision is only one step in a long journey we must take together — one that must include learning from the incredibly painful experiences of Kyle Beach."
An investigation released Tuesday said Quenneville — who coached Chicago at that time — and others in the Blackhawks organization did not prioritize addressing Beach's allegations, presumably because they did not want to take away from the team's push toward a championship.
Quenneville has said he was unaware of the allegations until this summer, a stance he reiterated as recently as Wednesday morning. Beach, in an interview that aired Wednesday evening on TSN, said there was "absolutely no way" the then-Blackhawks coach could deny knowing about the allegations.
The Panthers allowed Quenneville to coach Wednesday night in a game that started about an hour after Beach's interview aired. At that point, the team's investigation into what to do and how to proceed was already underway.
"We thank the Panthers' organization for working with us to ensure that a thorough process was followed," Bettman said.
At 7-0-0, the Panthers are off to their best start in the franchise's 28-year history, looking very much like the Stanley Cup contender that Quenneville was hired in 2019 to build.
If they get there, it'll be without him now. Players on Wednesday insisted their focus was solely on the ice; some of the team's leaders like captain Aleksander Barkov and defenseman Aaron Ekblad even said they did not know much about the investigation or the massive fallout.
Florida Panthers coach Joel Quenneville calls out instructions during the third period of the team's preseason NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa, Fla. (File photo by The Associated Press)
Blackhawks ask Hall of Fame to cover assistant's name on Cup
Raanta wins Carolina debut, Hurricanes top winless Chicago


One convenient download. One bargain price. Get all April 2010 Silhouette Desire with one click! Bundle includes: Billionaire, M.D. by Olivia Gates; Money Man's Fiancée Negotiation by Michelle Celmer; Scandalizing the CEO by Katherine Garbera; His Ring, Her Baby by Maxine Sullivan; His Convenient Virgin Bride by Barbara Dunlop; and For Business...Or Marriage? by Jules Bennett.


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Q: ¿Cómo puedo acceder a la información de un objeto en PHP? Estoy integrando Openpay en un proyecto de tienda en línea, este tiene la opción de guardar las tarjetas pero veo al procesar el pago devuelve un objeto al cual no se como acceder a una parte del. Esta es una parte del objeto que devuelve, yo quiero acceder a [cacheList]:
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Solo puede acceder hasta ["cargos"]. ¿Es posible acceder a esta información?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
GM Reports Preliminary Q1 Financial Results
WEBWIRE – Thursday, April 20, 2006
* Reported Net Loss $323 Million, About $1 Billion Improvement From 2005
* Record Quarterly Revenue of $52.2 Billion
* $567 Million GMNA Improvement Despite $484 Million Health-Care Charge
* Automotive Liquidity Stronger at $21.6 Billion
DETROIT – General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) today reported significantly improved financial results for the first quarter of 2006, with operations from every automotive region in the world contributing to the turnaround efforts.
"The first quarter represented an important milestone in GM and GM North America's turnaround," said GM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner. "Not only did we see significant improvement in the financial results of all our automotive units, we also announced numerous additional actions to improve our North American competitiveness and liquidity. And, we made significant progress in implementing those and previously announced initiatives, such as the UAW health-care agreement and the North American capacity plan.
"We're pleased to see the significant progress in our first-quarter results and in the implementation of all four elements of our North American turnaround plan," Wagoner continued. "And we remain focused on accelerating our return to profitability and cash generation."
GM reported a preliminary net loss of $323 million, or $0.57 per share, in the first quarter of 2006, including special items. This was more than accounted for by the inclusion of a $681 million after-tax charge, or $1.20 per share, related to the recently approved health-care settlement agreement for U.S. hourly retirees. These first-quarter results represent a significant improvement from the year-ago loss of $1.3 billion, or $2.22 per share. Reported revenue rose 14.1 percent to a record $52.2 billion in the first quarter of 2006.
Excluding special items but including the effect of the $681 million health-care charge ($1 billion pretax), GM reported a preliminary adjusted loss of $529 million, or $0.94 per share in the first quarter of 2006. In the year-ago quarter, GM reported an adjusted loss before special items of $988 million, or $1.75 per share.
The reported results for the first quarter of 2006 include special items totaling a favorable $206 million after tax, or $0.37 per diluted share. These results include a gain of $317 million, or $0.56 per share, from the sale of most of GM's stake in Suzuki, partially offset by restructuring charges totaling $111 million, or $0.19 per share, at GM North America (GMNA), GM Europe (GME) and GM Latin America/Africa/Middle East (GMLAAM). Additional details on the special items are included in the "Highlights" section of this press release.
GM's results for the first quarter of 2006 are preliminary and may be revised prior to the filing of GM's first quarter report on Form 10-Q in early May, depending on factors such as the final determination of the accounting treatment for the retiree health-care settlement agreement.
Health Care Agreement to Reduce Liability by $15 billion
The unprecedented health-care settlement between GM and its largest labor union, the United Auto Workers, was approved by the U.S. District Court on March 31, 2006.
"The health-care agreement is expected to result in an immediate 25-percent reduction in GM's hourly retiree health-care liability, or about $15 billion," Wagoner said. "The court approval is an important milestone, enabling us to implement this on the schedule we had anticipated."
As part of the agreement, GM will make contributions to a new independent Defined Contribution Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association (DC VEBA) of $1 billion in each of 2006, 2007, and 2011. GM will also make supplemental contributions to the DC VEBA related to events like profit-sharing payments and increases in the value of GM stock.
Because the settlement received final court approval on March 31, the first $1 billion DC VEBA contribution is being recorded in the first quarter of 2006 even though the cost savings will not be realized until the second half of the year. Beginning July 1, the pretax savings associated with the health-care agreement will be approximately $750 million per quarter through 2011.
According to the accounting treatment that GM believes is appropriate under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, the obligation to make the contributions would be recognized in each of the three periods in which they become due and payable. Other possible accounting treatments include recognizing the present value of all three payments as expense on March 31, 2006 , which would significantly increase the amount of the first-quarter charge and eliminate any future charges. GM is currently in discussions with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to determine the final accounting treatment and expects the issue to be resolved before it files its Form 10-Q.
GM financial results described throughout the remainder of this release exclude special items unless otherwise noted (see "Highlights").
GM Automotive Operations
GM's automotive operations reported an adjusted loss of $721 million in 2006, including the health-care charge, halving the year-ago adjusted loss of $1.5 billion. All of the company's automotive units reported progress in the quarter, with three out of the four units posting profitable results.
Global automotive sales rose 4.4 percent to 2.2 million units as strong sales in GM's Asia Pacific and Latin American regions were partially offset by declines in the United States and Canada. Global market share was down slightly to 13.2 percent from 13.3 percent a year ago.
GM North America Shows Improvement
GM North America reported an adjusted loss of $946 million in the first quarter of 2006, including $484 million of the retiree health-care settlement charge. This compares to an adjusted loss of $1.5 billion a year ago. Higher production volumes, improved mix and better net pricing contributed $1.1 billion of improvement to GMNA operating earnings, offset in part by the health-care charge. Revenue per unit sold in GMNA was significantly higher in the quarter versus a year ago, mostly attributable to better pricing and richer mix. U.S. dealer inventories ended the quarter at 1,169,000 vehicles, down 74,000 units from the year-ago period, and well positioned for the spring selling season.
GM recently increased its structural cost reduction target in North America by more than $1 billion, to $7.5 billion on a running rate basis by the end of 2006, excluding the cost of the three $1 billion DC VEBA contributions in 2006, 2007 and 2011. Approximately $4 billion of this reduction will be cash savings. GM also continues to focus on achieving the previously reported $1 billion target of material cost savings in 2006, which is under pressure due to high raw material and commodity prices.
GM remains committed to revitalizing its product portfolio through an aggressive product spending program. In 2006, GM expects capital spending to total approximately $8.7 billion. This represents an increase of approximately $800 million over 2005 levels.
"We are very pleased with the market's reaction to our launch products," Wagoner said. "In the first three months of the year, our new products accounted for about 30 percent of our total sales – more than double where we were a couple of years ago. We're especially encouraged by the early sales of the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade. And we're pleased with the reaction last week to the new Saturn Sky and Aura at the New York Auto Show."
GM is revitalizing its sales and marketing strategy by focusing on the strength of its products, emphasizing their great value and features in relation to the competition. GM is focused on improving the mix and quality of its share by reducing incentives and the volume of sales to daily rental car companies. While this may result in short-term declines in sales and market share, it also is expected to result in improved retail sales and financial performance over time.
"Despite even higher incentives by many of our competitors, we think our new product-focused marketing strategy is the right one, and early results are in line with our expectations," Wagoner said.
GM Europe Posts Profitable Quarter
GM Europe reported adjusted earnings of $88 million in the first quarter of 2006, a significant improvement from the year-ago loss of $92 million, reflecting improved pricing, continued progress in reducing structural and material costs, better mix and lower warranty and policy costs. In addition, Saab showed significant financial improvement and sold more than 34,000 vehicles worldwide, an all-time first-quarter record.
"Our European turnaround plan moved into high gear in the first quarter," Wagoner said. "Looking forward, we'll continue to focus on that, as well as growing our multi-brand strategy in Europe and on important vehicle launches. The Cadillac BLS is arriving in dealerships now, followed by the Chevrolet Epica in June and the Opel Corsa and Chevrolet Captiva in the third quarter."
GM Asia Pacific Reports Improved Results
GM Asia Pacific (GMAP) reported adjusted earnings of $81 million in the first quarter of 2006, up from $70 million a year ago, reflecting improved sales volumes in China and higher sales volumes from GM Daewoo.
"Asia Pacific continues to be a very positive story for GM," Wagoner said. "GM vehicle sales in China were up 76 percent during the quarter, and our steady commitment to expanding our product line-up continues to pay dividends. Likewise, our investment in GM Daewoo continues to pay returns, with domestic sales and export shipments rising 60 percent in the first quarter."
GM Latin America /Africa/ Middle East
GM Latin America/Africa/Middle East reported adjusted earnings of $56 million in the first quarter of 2006, up from $31 million in the same period last year. This reflects a significant improvement in Brazil.
"GM continues to set sales and market share records in the Latin America/Africa/Middle East region," Wagoner said. "In the first quarter, LAAM achieved an all-time first quarter sales record of 230,100 units, up 26 percent from the year-ago period. Of the 11 major markets in the region, four set all-time quarterly GM sales records and another four set first-quarter sales records."
General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC) earned $605 million in the first quarter of 2006, compared to $728 million in the year-ago period, reflecting improved earnings from financing operations and insurance, offset by lower mortgage earnings.
"GMAC continued to post strong earnings despite lower credit ratings and higher borrowing costs," Wagoner said. "The agreement that we announced earlier this month to sell a 51-percent controlling interest in GMAC to a consortium of investors led by Cerberus Capital Management is expected to close later this year. Once implemented, the new ownership structure should strengthen GMAC's ability to support GM's automotive operations, improve GMAC's access to cost-effective funding and provide $14 billion in liquidity to GM over the next three years."
GMAC had cash reserve balances at March 31, 2006 of approximately $22.1 billion, including $17.3 billion in cash and cash equivalents and $4.8 billion in marketable securities. This compares with cash balances of approximately $20 billion at Dec. 31, 2005.
GMAC's financing operations reported earnings of $270 million in the first quarter of 2006, compared to $216 million a year ago. The increase is largely due to the effect of lower consumer credit provisions, primarily as a result of automotive whole loan activity and favorable international credit performance.
ResCap earnings were $197 million in the first quarter 2006, down from the $351 million earned in the year-ago period. While revenues were strong from higher asset levels, results were negatively affected by lower net margins resulting from both pricing pressures and higher funding costs. In addition, gains on sales of loans were down due to a significant gain in the year-ago quarter from the sale of a portfolio of distressed mortgage loans. Mortgage originations were $41.6 billion for the latest quarter, representing an increase from the $36.4 billion in the year-ago period.
GMAC completed the sale of approximately 78 percent of its equity in GMAC Commercial Mortgage on March 23, 2006, for approximately $1.5 billion in cash. At the closing, GMAC Commercial Mortgage, now named CapMark Financial Group Inc., also repaid to GMAC approximately $7.3 billion in intercompany loans, bringing the total cash proceeds from the transaction to $8.8 billion. GMAC e arnings related to Commercial Mortgage were $9 million, representing operating income of $50 million and a loss on sale of $41 million, after closing costs.
GMAC's insurance operations generated net income of $129 million in the first quarter of 2006, up from $94 million in the same period a year ago primarily reflecting the impact of strong underwriting results. In addition, first quarter results also benefited from the strategic acquisition of MEEMIC Insurance Co., a personal lines business that offers automobile and homeowners insurance in the Midwest.
Cash and Liquidity
Cash, marketable securities, and readily-available assets of the Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trust totaled $21.6 billion at March 31, 2006, up from $20.4 billion on Dec. 31, 2005 and $19.8 billion on March 31, 2005. GM withdrew approximately $2 billion from the VEBA trust in the first quarter of 2006, including $1 billion from the short-term VEBA.
Liquidity remains a key focus of the corporation. GM sold most of its 20-percent stake in Suzuki during the first quarter, generating approximately $2 billion in cash. Also, GM recently announced the sale of its stake in Isuzu which generated approximately $300 million in proceeds in the second quarter of 2006. In February, GM reduced its common stock dividend by 50 percent, which is expected to save approximately $565 million annually. Finally, the planned sale of 51-percent of GMAC is expected to provide GM with up-front cash proceeds of about $10 billion and significant ongoing cash flow from retained assets and GMAC distributions over time.
GM has made significant progress to turn around its North American operations, including the UAW retiree health-care agreement, the manufacturing capacity actions, the changes to GM's U.S. salaried retiree health-care benefits and salaried pension plan benefits and the hourly accelerated attrition program.
"While we are encouraged by the speed and scale of the changes we're implementing, there is clearly more work to be done," Wagoner said. "Our next key priority is to reach a consensual agreement with Delphi and its unions that makes sense for all of the parties. The agreement we recently reached with the UAW on the attrition program is a significant step in achieving this objective, but there is more important work to do."
In this press release and in related comments by General Motors' and General Motors Acceptance Corporation's management, the use of the words "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "forecast," "initiative," "objective," "plan," "goal," "project," "outlook," "priorities," "target," "intend," "evaluate," "pursue," "seek," "may," "would," "could," "should," "believe," "potential," "continue," "designed," "impact," or the negative of any of those words or similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements. Other than statements of historical fact, all statements in this press release and in related comments, including without limitation, statements about future events and financial performance, are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties. While these statements represent our current judgment on possible future events, and we believe that when we made these judgments they were reasonable, these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and GM's actual results may differ materially due to numerous important factors that may be revised or supplemented in subsequent reports on SEC Forms 10-Q and 8-K.
Such factors include, among others, the following: the ability of GM to realize production efficiencies, to achieve reductions in costs as a result of the turnaround restructuring, health care cost reductions and an accelerated attrition program and to implement capital expenditures at levels and times planned by management; the pace of product introductions; market acceptance of the Corporation's new products; significant changes in the competitive environment and the effect of competition in the Corporation's markets, including on GM's pricing policies; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources and an appropriate level of debt; restrictions on GMAC's and ResCap's ability to pay dividends and prepay subordinated debt obligations to us; changes in the existing, or the adoption of new, laws, regulations, policies or other activities of governments, agencies and similar organizations where such actions may affect the production, licensing, distribution or sale of our products, the cost thereof or applicable tax rates; costs and risks associated with litigation; the final results of investigations and inquiries by the SEC; changes in our accounting principles, or their application or interpretation, and our ability to make estimates and the assumptions underlying the estimates, including the range of estimates for the Delphi pension benefit guarantees, which could result in an impact on earnings; changes in relations with unions and employees/retirees and the legal interpretations of the agreements with those unions with regard to employees/retirees; negotiations and bankruptcy court actions with respect to Delphi's obligations to GM, negotiations with respect to GM's obligations under the pension benefit guarantees to Delphi employees, and GM's ability to recover any indemnity claims against Delphi; labor strikes or work stoppages at GM or its key suppliers such as Delphi or financial difficulties at GM's key suppliers such as Delphi; additional credit rating downgrades and the effects thereof; our ability to complete the sale of a 51-percent controlling interest in GMAC and the effect of that sale on the results of GM's and GMAC's operations and liquidity; other factors affecting financing and insurance operating segments'results of operations and financial condition such as credit ratings, adequate access to the market, changes in the residual value of off-lease vehicles, changes in U.S. government-sponsored mortgage programs or disruptions in the markets in which its mortgage subsidiaries operate, and changes in its contractual servicing rights; shortages of and price increases for fuel; and changes in economic conditions, commodity prices, currency exchange rates or political stability in the markets in which we operate.
In addition, GMAC's actual results may differ materially due to numerous important factors that are described in GMAC's most recent report on SEC Form 10-K, which may be revised or supplemented in subsequent reports on SEC Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Such factors include, among others, the following: the ability of GM to complete the sale of a 51-percent controlling interest in GMAC; significant changes in the competitive environment and the effect of competition in GMAC's and GM's markets, including on GMAC's and GM's pricing policies; GMAC's ability to maintain adequate financing sources and an appropriate level of debt; the profitability and financial condition of GM, including changes in production or sales of GM vehicles, risks based on GM's contingent benefit guarantees and the possibility of labor strikes or work stoppages at GM or at key suppliers such as Delphi; funding obligations under GM and its subsidiaries' qualified U.S. defined benefits pension plans; restrictions on ResCap's ability to pay dividends and prepay subordinated debt obligations to GMAC; changes in the residual value of off-lease vehicles; changes in U.S. government-sponsored mortgage programs or disruptions in the markets in which GMAC's mortgage subsidiaries operate; changes in GMAC's contractual servicing rights; costs and risks associated with litigation; changes in GMAC's accounting assumptions that may require or that result from changes in the accounting rules or their application, which could result in an impact on earnings; changes in the credit ratings of GMAC or GM; the threat of natural calamities; changes in economic conditions, currency exchange rates or political stability in the markets in which we operate; and changes in the existing, or the adoption of new, laws, regulations, policies or other activities of governments, agencies and similar organizations.
Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. GM undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where expressly required by law.
* Attachment(S):
- General Motors 2006 Highlights - Q1 Financial Results: http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/
newspublisher/support_file/04-20-2006/38/NR1q06220060420073711.rtf
- General Motors 2006 Consolidated Statements of Income - Q1: http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/
Toni Simonetti
Transportation / Shipping


360 Digital Lab, the clever way! We provide our clients with innovative approaches and offer them to make digital decisions based on real, valid, reliable and objective information about how their business.
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Brampton, ON - May 11, 2010 - Classifier Milling Systems (CMS), the designer and manufacturer of first-class processing equipment and systems for worldwide applications, announces the opening of their in-house toll processing division, headquartered in Brampton, Ontario. This division serves coal plants and other industrial facilities producing sulfur dioxide, trioxide or mercury. Specialists in the processing of environmentally sorbent materials such as such as sodium bicarbonate, trona, calcium carbonate and activated carbon, CMS is uniquely capable of assisting those with a requirement for significant sulfur reduction and mercury abatement.
Experts in fine powder processing, CMS's Air Swept Classifier System, offered in 3-to-600 hp, has proven to be the solution for innumerable applications. Highly energy efficient, durable and fully customizable, the system can go as fine as 10 micron (particulate size is easily adjustable to produce fine or coarse products). The mill grinds and classifies the product simultaneously producing narrower distributions. With the mill chamber constantly "air swept," the grinding temperature remains low. CMS's portable units process from 500-6000lbs/hour.
CMS's President & CEO Todd Vanderhart explains that, "Our lab test facility allows us to run sample grinds for our clients, ensuring our process guarantee with every system. The system is incredibly easy to clean, maintain and operate since the mill opens up fully, providing access to all internal wear parts. We stock all of our spare parts, manufacture spare parts for other brands, accommodate small and large requests for pre-milled emission control materials and provide training seminars on our systems. Our engineers have expert knowledge in all facets of fine grinding and routinely play an important consulting role in designing additions for existing systems, implementing new plants or sourcing new technology to process materials more efficiently."
Having two in-demand divisions of supply - Process and Air Pollution Control - gives CMS a particular competitive advantage. Process equipment grinds, classifies and mixes dry materials to specific particle sizes, often eliminating the need for additional sizing and reduces the energy needed to process the materials. Air Pollution Control supplies materials and equipment for the purpose of injecting the powder into flue-gas streams to transition them into solids and effectively remove high levels of emissions using CMS's cyclonic technology (in line with the exhaust air stream).
A complete solutions provider, CMS is a quality equipment manufacturer and toll processor with extensive expertise in the size reduction/air pollution control industry offering dependable, proven equipment, materials and knowledge. The company also has toll facilities located in Delano and Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.
For more information about Classifier Milling Systems, please contact Todd Vanderhart at 877.353.6455, or email him at t.vanerhart@cms-can.com. Visit the company's website at www.cms-can.com.


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International conference Necropolis of Communist Terror: Locating and researching burial sites, the language and form of memorials 9.-10. February...
Christmas Greetings from the Estonian Institute of Historical Memory
Exhibition 'COMMUNISM = RASHISM'
The State Archives of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance and the Estonian Institute of Historical Memory kindly invite you to...
Results of the 2022 EIHM Research Papers Competition
The Estonian Institute of Historical Memory thanks everyone that took part in the 2022 EIHM Research Papers Competition. There...
Black Ribbon Day Ceremony at the Maarjamäe Memorial for the Victims of Communism on 23 August
On the occasion of the Black Ribbon Day, or the Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian...
Our biggest ventures
Estonian Second World War refugees' database. The Estonian Institute of Historical Memory will thus establish a new database of persons that fled Estonia during the Second World War.
The Memorial to the Victims of Communism is located in Maarjamäe, Tallinn. The e-Memorial is its digital extension and contains data on more than 100,000 Estonian victims of communism.
Kogu Me Lugu (translates as Collect Our Story, We're Collecting the Story, Our Entire Story) is an online oral history portal. We collect, preserve and share video stories from around the world from Estonians that have weathered the storms of 20th century.
International Memorial Museum for the Victims of Communism in the historic Patarei Prison in Tallinn
A website on the Klooga Concentration Camp, where National Socialist Germany committed crimes against humanity
Books and other publications by the Estonian Institute of Historical Memory
The purpose of CommunistCrimes.org is to raise awareness about the crimes against humanity committed by communist regimes around the world..


Shelly Arora is your enthusiastic Bay Area Realtor committed to helping you find your perfect home. She has been in the business for over 13 years and has been an active member of the Bay Area community for over 25 years.
Shelly is known for her friendly attitude, energetic nature, and love of music and hiking. But when her clients' interests are at stake, her intense loyalty, assertive nature, and creative problem solving make their home buying/selling experience a happy and memorable time.
Hi SHELLY ARORA . I have come across your profile and I am interested in your services as a REALTOR®.


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Review by Jenny Bristol, Common Sense Education | Updated October 2018
A History of Ideas
Philosophy podcast makes heady concepts accessible
Platforms: Website
Pros: Short, interesting episodes connect traditional philosophy to modern references; episodes are downloadable or streamable.
Cons: No extension activities; it's up to teachers to provide the lesson wraparound.
Bottom Line: These philosophy podcasts and videos offer entertaining introductions to key concepts and thinkers, but require some smart lesson planning for deeper learning.
A History of Ideas is a podcast that provides valuable material for lessons on philosophy, history, or culture, but you'll need to provide the lessons, as there aren't any curricular resources. Here are a few suggestions on how to make use of the podcasts and videos:
Discussion starter: Listen to a clip or video as a class, and then facilitate a discussion that leads into a lesson. The themes are broad enough to fit a lot of different ELA lessons, and the topics are often historically influential, making them great for laying a foundation for a particular historical period. Teachers might also pick episodes that connect to current events.
Flipped: Assign podcasts as homework, and structure class discussion around the covered topic the next day. Encourage your students to keep a listening journal and note a key question to bring to class. These listening journals could also be shared with the class.
Interest-driven: Allow students to choose an episode and dig deeper, writing papers on topics related to the episode, and taking their own position on the topic.
Common Core ELA
A History of Ideas is a philosophy and history podcast created by the BBC. In each episode, the hosts and their guests dig into deep philosophical questions. They look at classical thought through a modern lens, examining the impact of philosophers and their philosophies both in the past and present. The podcast includes dozens of episodes on topics such as love, reality and perception, altruism, personal identity, justice, humanity, and death. Each episode is fairly short (10-15 minutes) and includes a cute illustration showing some of the things discussed, from Plato to the "Doctor Who" Daleks. The podcast episodes are streamable or downloadable from the website and are also available in podcast apps. The site includes shorter clips from the episodes that focus on the main points.
The website has short videos based on the podcasts, narrated by the likes of Stephen Fry, Aiden Turner, and Gillian Anderson. For example, there's an animated video companion to the podcast episode "Psychotherapist Mark Vernon on Freud" titled "Sartre: Love is a hazardous, painful struggle" that focuses specifically on Sartre's perspectives on some of the issues Vernon discusses in the podcast. The videos can be browsed by theme (e.g. "What Is Love?", "How Should We Live Together?", "What Does It Mean to Be Me?", and "Why Are Things Beautiful?"). There's not a ton happening on the site in terms of functionality or design, but what's there is cute and modern, with some funny references.
There are also a half-dozen quizzes, asking players to declare whether a quote was said by a famous philosopher, such as Aristotle, or by a modern-day individual or group, such as Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes, or Nirvana. If you listen to the podcast or watch the videos on the site, there are plenty of links to related BBC programs and other references.
This podcast valuably offers students a modern take on traditional philosophy. It's important for students to understand how thought and key concepts like reality have developed over time and influenced culture and politics, but the texts themselves are largely inaccessible to students. A History of Ideas bridges the gap, providing a way in for students to what philosophy is and why it's important. The breadth of episode topics is wide enough to be applicable in classes from history to English to science to mathematics, including topics that many might not know can be considered philosophy.
The podcast and its supporting media offer solid if minor introductions to the field that are best used as jumping-off points for more in-depth study. Unfortunately, there's really nothing tuned to classrooms or teachers, so it'll require some prep and planning to provide the next step that gets these concepts to stick for students. Still, what A History of Ideas does provide is great: accessible hooks to kick off lessons. Because the episodes are short (and the clips and videos are even shorter), it's very easy to fit these into any class period, or to assign as homework, and students are likely to find themselves more intrigued by philosophy and a bit more knowledgeable about why it's an important field.
Provides modern-day context for traditional -- and often inaccessible -- philosophical concepts, making the material relevant and interesting to students. Surprisingly tricky quizzes will spark discussion.
Experts help students learn about historical philosophical figures and their foundational thoughts, as well as the way they evolved concepts such as love, reality, and altruism.
There's little support for the podcast, and no teacher resources. But the website also includes short video segments that relate to and support the episodes.
Jenny Bristol Other
Key Standards Supported
SL.9-10.1
Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9–10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
SL.9-10.1c
Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that relate the current discussion to broader themes or larger ideas; actively incorporate others into the discussion; and clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions.
Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.
Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, identifying any fallacious reasoning or exaggerated or distorted evidence.
SL.11-12.1
Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 11–12 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
SL.11-12.1c
Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that probe reasoning and evidence; ensure a hearing for a full range of positions on a topic or issue; clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions; and promote divergent and creative perspectives.
SL.11-12.1d
Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives; synthesize comments, claims, and evidence made on all sides of an issue; resolve contradictions when possible; and determine what additional information or research is required to deepen the investigation or complete the task.
Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.
Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.
Favorite Phonics Games, Apps, and Websites
We sound off on the best bets for helping kids sound out words.
Apps and Sites for Storytelling
Help students find their voices with these vibrant apps.
Games for Building Decision-Making Skills
Give students the opportunity to make and learn from decisions both good and bad.


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Q: I am trying to read Excel data using Apache POI

import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileInputStream;

import org.apache.poi.hssf.usermodel.HSSFWorkbook;
import org.apache.poi.xssf.usermodel.XSSFSheet;

public void getDataFromExcel()
    {
        File src = new File("C:\\Users\\kunalku\\Desktop\\Selenium\\Excel\\TestData.xlsx");
        FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream(src);
        XSSFWorkbook wb = new XSSFWorkbook(fis);
        XSSFSheet Sheet2 = wb.getSheetAt(0);

    }

I am getting error like (The package org.apache.poi.hssf.usermodel is accessible from more than one module: poi, poi.examples, poi.scratchpad)
I am rookie in selenium, so kindly help me regarding this.

A: It seems you added all the JARS available in POI zip archive. I will suggest please use only below JARS in your project build path configurations:
poi-<version>***.jar
poi-ooxml-<version>***.jar


Levenhuk Zeno 100 Magnifier has a modern and sophisticated design. This magnifier is very lightweight with rimless lens and chrome-coated handle for a firm grip.
With the magnification of 2.5x (and an inset lens that provides 5x increase) you will be able to work with text and images of all sizes and fonts. The powerful 5x magnification makes it possible to study even the tiniest details of observed objects.


Based on the Pixar movie, this game puts you in the the treads of WALL-E and . WALL-E. First Released Jun 24, 2008. released. Download WALL-E free full version PC game from here and enjoy this game, here also available complete description about WALL. Jun 24, 2008 Wall-E is a video game based of the 2008 hit Pixar film of the same name. In the The PS2 and PC version was developed seperately from the.


and production of pulmonary or nasal delivered pharmaceuticals.
Setting up My Account will allow you to sign in to the Inhalation website as often as you'd like with just your Username and Password, giving you access to research our Article Archive, compiled since 2007, and download as many articles as you'd like from this valuable resource for free.
Since 2007, Inhalation has been providing valuable information to people involved in development and production of pulmonary or nasal delivered pharmaceuticals. The archive of these in-depth features and cutting-edge technical articles is now available to you free of charge, allowing you access to years of information. Through the support of our Partners, this resource is now free and you may be contacted by our sponsors.


timber frame, pink carpet, suspended steel sheets, transducer speakers, soundsystem at 127 dba, HD video, costume, performance.
Live collaborative work as part of 'Antivoid Alliance' (with Grant Cieciura and Tiago De Sousa) at Coastal Currents arts festival 2018.
Taking the pre-fix 'xeno' to denote that which is outside, rather than those who are other, the work initiates a xenofuturism: the ongoing commitment toward futures beyond the capitalist realist totality of possibility.
The piece explores technology and the human, referencing Reza Negarestani's essay 'The Labour of the Inhuman' (2015) in which the inhuman is figured as an autonomous commitment to the expansion of reason - unbound to any essentialist notions of 'the human'.
This video-installation/performance challenges the political naturalisation of technology as an integral part of the capitalist totality. Seeking to open up the debate around human relation to advancing technology beyond notions of threat or complicity, the work attempts to force open alternative futures - suggesting the potential for an 'inhuman' rationality - a fugitivity which departs determinate and instrumentalist visions of technology and culture.


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FRED WILLARD Biography - Other artists & entretainers
Biography » other artists entretainers » fred willard
Fred radiates a unique charm that has established him as one of our generations most gifted comic actors. A master of sketch comedy, Fred is most heralded for his quick wit and improvisational expertise, which he has exemplified in recent appearances on Ladies Man, The Simpsons and King of the Hill. Fred is also well known for his distinguished recurring roles on other successful, award-winning television sitcoms including Mad About You and Roseanne (for which Fred received an Emmy nomination).
His featured appearances in sketches on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno are indicative of his ability to transform any character into a unique comic portrayal.
Fred's work in Waiting For Guffman earned him an American Comedy Award nomination and a Screen Actor's Guild nomination for Funniest Supporting Actor. Some of his other film work includes, Idle Hands, Permanent Midnight, This is Spinal Tap, Roxanne and the Academy Award winning short film, Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall. Upcoming, Fred will be seen later this year in The Wedding Planner with Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey and Harry Shearer's Call O' The Glen.
Fred is an alumnus of Second City and was founding member of the classic improv group, the Ace Trucking Company. Fred and Martin Mull co-starred in Norman Lear's innovative cult classic, late night talk show, Fernwood 2Night, which aired recently on Nick At Nite and was celebrated this year at the Museum of Television & Radio. Year's later Willard was a series regular, playing Martin Mull's gay lover on the award winning show, Roseanne.
Fred's theatre credits include Promises, Promises, Little Murders, Isn't It Romantic and Elvis and Juliet. Fred recently completed a sold out run of his one-man show, Fred Willard: Alone At Last ! (with a cast of twelve) and received two Los Angeles Artistic Director awards, for Best Comedy and Best Production.
» Miland Soman
» David Hall McConnell
» Ian Bannen
» Ho Chin Minh
» Birju Maharaj
» Garth Brooks
» Tylene Buck
» Matthew Upson
» Sammy Hagar
» Bill Kreutzmann
» George Michael Cohan
» Hans Wenking
» Alison Krauss
» Swami Tapovan Maharaj


text:
Gdata may refer to:

GData, the Google Data Protocol
G Data CyberDefense, an software company

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Zeitgeist Matters
If you want to know who changed Manchin's mind--you did
For decades now, when asked about the point of one climate protest or another, I've usually said something to the effect of: we fight to change the zeitgeist, people's sense of what is normal and natural and obvious. Yes, we fight to block this pipeline or divest that pension fund, and each of those is important: but they add up to something more, a slowly moving weight that eventually shifts from one side to the other.
That's what happened last night when Joe Manchin caved. Now the Senate finally—for the first time in more than three decades—seems set to pass actual serious climate legislation.
This is a fighting newsletter. Subscribe, and if you really can't afford the small fee then don't worry about it
The bill—now called the Inflation Reduction Act—is no unmitigated victory. It is larded with presents for the fossil fuel industry, in return for the gifts they've lavished on Manchin. And it may come with real defeats: the fear is that when all the details are revealed, Biden will have committed himself to backing absurd projects like the MVP pipeline.
But even those defeats kind of make the case: because people fought so hard to oppose such projects, the tide eventually became too much for Manchin to bear.
The pushback against his decision two weeks ago to blow up the deal was harsh—clearly harsher than Manchin expected. Within hours he was trying to make the case that he hadn't actually walked away from negotiations. His fellow Senators stopped playing nice and made it clear they had no use for him. And the president seemed to understand he had to hit back: hence his increasingly clear talk of a climate emergency. But most of all it was, I think, the widespread public scorn. Somehow it began to break through to Manchin that the only thing history would ever remember about him is that he blocked action on the worst crisis humans have ever faced.
There's no longer a real public doubt about climate change. Yes, for partisan Republicans it remains fun to pretend it's a hoax, but after thirty years of science, fifteen years of movement building, and an ever-increasing cascade of fires, floods, heatwaves and droughts, the public mood is finally strong enough to at least begin to match the political power of the fossil fuel industry.
You could feel it building when Bernie made it a key campaign issue in 2016; by 2020, every Democratic candidate was on board, because primary polling showed it was one of the top two issues for voters. The political force most responsible for this victory was the Sunrise Movement; those young people built that wave and then rode it with immense skill.
But this is a win engineered by everyone who ever wrote a letter to the editor, carried a sign at a march, went to jail blocking a pipeline, voted to divest a university endowment, sent ten dollars to a climate group, made their book club read a climate book. It's for the climate justice activists who brought this fight into whole new terrain, the scientists who've protested, the policy wonks who wonked, and the people whose particular fights may have been sacrificed by the terms of this deal. (Them in particular—if Manchin had to deal because a pipeline he wanted was going down in flames, well, the people who made that possible are heroes).
It's not yet a done deal, and in any event far from a final win, of course. Now it's time to make that same zeitgeist weigh on the financial industry, the other source of ultimate power in our society. It's time for bank CEOs to feel what Manchin finally felt—the little shudder of worry at the idea that their names will be forever linked with the ravaging of a planet.
Together we can do it. Together we've done this.
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Lisa Canning
Jul 28, 2022Liked by Bill McKibben
Every wildfire story, every flood, every report of extreme heat around the world-I tweet at Manchin, with "This is on you"
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Ashley Shelby
Thank you for all your good work, and for being a merchant of hope, at a time when it is in short supply. I may actually sleep tonight!