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How tech firms can drive growth — without making inequality worse
July 6, 2020 - 8:00 am
An independent news and commentary website produced by academics and journalists. An independent news and commentary website produced by academics and journalists.
For many cities, tech hubs have been a key to jump starting economic growth in the wake of the global financial crisis. In an era of uncertainty, tech-sector growth is proving to be a driving force for nations attempting to reach into the "next economy". In the UK, for instance, the sector is – optimistically – predicted to grow four times faster than GDP, while tech job growth is expected to outperform all other occupation categories by 2020.
By traditional measures of a successful economy – jobs and wages – this is a welcome development. But there is a growing body of evidence which suggests that the growth of the tech sector in cities is associated with increased economic segregation. And while it's true that, in general, large, successful, high-growth cities tend to have high rates of economic segregation, areas with tech hubs seem to experience this effect more markedly.
Broadening the benefits
Studies have found that the share of tech jobs a city has is positively associated with income inequality: so, the higher the proportion of tech employment in a city, the more unequal it is. In short, pessimistic analyses suggest that a technology-driven economy greatly favors a small group of talented and lucky individuals, while bringing little benefit to others.
Soaring costs in San Fran. from www.shutterstock.com
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Getting to the heart of the European tech and startup scene
This trend is being borne out in international tech hubs. Tech growth in San Francisco's Bay Area has driven property prices to levels far out of kilter with the average local salary, and is pricing out smaller firms. Meanwhile, in London, tech growth has increased the cost of living in parts of the city. Coupled with a shortage of housing options and office space, this has led to both smaller firms and households being displaced from central areas.
The gentrification of formerly industrial areas has been a particular issue in recent years. The introduction of permitted development rights has placed the need for new homes in direct competition with the demand for business space. But now, a new report from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) argues that this need not be the case.
The impact that tech enterprises have on a city is grounded in the choices we make as a society. The question is: as the tech industry grows, how can we increase the opportunities on offer, for the greatest number of people?
The marked growth of the tech sector and its resources – and the profitability of many tech firms – means that there is more that these businesses can to do address the challenges facing local economies where they are based. Local and national governments have an important role to play in all this. Pursuing a tech growth agenda may well lead to overall gains. But policy makers must combine this agenda with efforts to ensure that these gains are shared, if they are to address longer-term city challenges.
The RTPI report argues that cities experiencing tech sector growth, and the infrastructure challenges that go with it, cannot simply rely on existing planning and tax obligations. Instead, authorities should put together a clear city technology plan, which takes the potential for wider benefits of tech sector growth into account.
Such a plan could clearly lay out the longer-term challenges faced by the city and possible alignments that exist between tech firms' resources and public policy challenges. Not all tech growth involves new development, and many of the potential benefits are social rather than financial in nature. And measures can be taken to secure these benefits, rather than simply hoping tech growth will naturally spillover to the local economy.
Getting glassy. uncoolbob/Flickr, CC BY-NC
One obvious solution is to up-skill the local community. One of the biggest problems facing the tech sector is a shortage of coders and software developers. Many tech firms' city centre locations place them close to relatively deprived communities, so why not make the local community tech literate, in order to deliver the skills tech firms need? For instance, Hackney Community College in London has started an apprenticeship scheme with local tech firms, to both grow the local skills base, and help meet the demands of the sector.
Another option is to collaborate with tech firms in urban regeneration projects. Tech firms and employees display a preference for easily accessible, walkable, multi-use districts. This provides a clear opportunity to reconfigure urban areas. In some cities, previously industrial districts are undergoing physical transformations, alongside economic ones. Well planned regeneration projects will make use of consultations to involve the views of the local community. This is a crucial part of the process, in order to avoid displacing local residents and businesses.
Finally, local governments can employ a team to engage with the sector. In order to attract and harness the growth of the tech sector, it is crucial to get a sense of what these firms want from the city. Dublin's commissioner for startups and Amsterdam's chief technology officer are two newly devised roles that provide interesting models in this context.
The tech sector is likely to continue growing well into the future. Yet the benefits are not always shared. But there's huge potential for mutual economic and social support between a city and its tech sector. This potential should be nurtured into a collaborative relationship, which achieves economic growth that everyone can benefit from.
This article is republished from The Conversation by Neil Lee, Assistant Professor of Economic Geography, London School of Economics and Political Science under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Home / Publications / Free Presbyterian Magazine / 1998 to 2003 / October 1999 / Notes and Comments
The Stornoway Relief Free Church
The latest issue of "Free Church Foundations", the official magazine of the Free Church Defence Association, draws attention to the formation of yet another Church which professes to adhere to the standards of the Disruption Free Church of Scotland. As this new body, known as the Stornoway Relief Free Church, declares "that they do not see themselves as forming a new denomination", it is difficult for us to know what exactly their standing is. The Free Church Defence Association, in all that it has hitherto published, has, more or less, ignored the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the stand that was taken in 1893 to conserve inviolate the Constitution of the Disruption Free Church. We humbly believe that the Master did then commit that testimony to us as a branch of His Church and in humble dependence upon Him we shall continue to uphold it.
Defections from the APCs
It would appear that the APCs are in the process of disintegrating. The Aberdeen congregation had well-nigh disappeared by the time its minister decided that it was time for him also to depart. He is now the Church of Scotland minister in Cromarty having made the transition surprisingly quickly and without much difficulty, it would seem. It gives us no pleasure but a great deal of pain to draw attention to what we regard as backsliding on the part of a former colleague but candour compels us to do so. It will be remembered that the Rev John Tallach was one of the chief spokesmen for the APCs in 1989 and an apologist for those who saw no harm in attending requiem masses. Extremism was what he was against and he wrote a booklet entitled "A Plea against Extremism" in which, among other things, he endorsed the Church of Rome as a Church of Christ. He has now placed himself in an extreme position far removed from what he preached and practised as a young Free Presbyterian minister. When he preached in the Cromarty Parish Church on Sabbath, 1st August (after which the congregation was to determine his election as their minister), worshippers were informed in the "Order of Service" leaflet that their minister-elect was seeking "a broader outlook & greater flexibility and understanding in his Ministry and believes that he will achieve this within the Church of Scotland." We thought that the APCs were set up for this purpose! The Church of Scotland is broad enough with its women ministers and elders (the Cromarty Session Clerk is a woman); its use of organs, hymns and paraphrases in public worship and its toleration within its ministry of men who deny the virgin birth and even the uniqueness of Christ as the alone Saviour of the lost. We ask ourselves: how can it be possible for anyone brought up within the bosom of the Free Presbyterian Church to feel at home in that environment?
Blasphemous productions at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
How sad that the capital city of Scotland, the city of John Knox, and where the dust of so many martyrs lies, should be the venue for the production of a stage play which goes so far in blaspheming the name and ministry of the Saviour that one is reluctant even to mention its title far less its content. It takes the Lord Jesus Christ completely out of the context of the Bible and truth and portrays Him in a way that is blasphemous in the extreme. What depths of wickedness must there be in the hearts of those responsible and how evident it is that they are motivated by Satan the arch enemy of Christ! "Are we, as a nation," a newspaper correspondent writes, "becoming so inured to sacrilege, blasphemy, obscenities and perversion that they are now acceptable?" It would seem that we are when the Edinburgh 'powers that be' permit such productions to be staged and audiences in sufficient numbers to make them viable are prepared to patronise them. Not only was this blasphemous play staged with the connivance of Edinburgh councillors, three controversial, pornographic films were also screened notwithstanding the protests of Conservative councillors and others who were aware of what was taking place. Mr Phil Gallie, the Scottish Conservative Party condemned the Council's action. "Edinburgh City Council", he said, "obviously feel that the only way they can interest people to come along to the film festival is to stoop to the depths of the lowest element." It all goes under the name of culture! "Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The influential Jericho Forum has published a free 'tool' it hopes will be used by companies to work out which security systems to invest in – and which to pass on - before buying them.
Describing itself unofficially as "the set of nasty questions to ask your security vendors", the tool is actually a full self-assessment methodology in the form of a series of 11 principles, complete with descriptions of how to relate these to 'acceptable' and 'best practice'.
At the end of the assessment, an overall score is calculated taking into account whether the product or system in question achieves these basic standards. There is no absolute score that should be achieved, but they can be used, the Forum argues, as a rational means of assessing any system as 'mature'.
Those familiar with the Forum will recognise the principles as the 11 commandments that have been used since its inception in 2004.
"The Jericho Forum is trying to signal where we should be moving in the next decade," said Forum member Adrian Seccombe, whose day job until recently was at Eli Lily, where he was CISO. Interestingly, Seccombe sees the tool as also being of value to vendors as a way of demonstrating the efficiency of a product, and by companies which already have a system in place but want to review its security-worthiness.
The tool's self-proclaimed ideal is to persuade vendors to move from feature-drives security to a design process where security is put first.
Will every vendor be pleased about having its products assessed in this way? According to Seccombe, some vendors are enthusiastic, some possibly less so. Many will keep the scores private.
"There are some cynical vendors out there but they tend to be the ones living in the last century," he said, pointing out that enlightened vendors could use the tool to work out a product's strengths and weaknesses. The important part of the market was the middle ground that wanted to evolve.
The Forum itself already has vendors and service providers as members, or course.
The Jericho Forum self-assessment Scheme document [PDF] can be downloaded direct form the group's website.


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K-pop stars expose personal conflict in social media
By Lim Jang-won
Former AOA member Kwon Mina (Mina's Instagram)
More and more previous and current members of K-pop groups are revealing conflict with other members on social media.
FNC Entertainment announced late Saturday night that Jimin, leader of AOA, will be leaving the group and will quit all activity following former bandmate Mina's exposure of Jimin's harsh actions.
"The company also feels responsible for the entire situation and will do everything possible to take care of its artists. We are once again sorry for causing worry for such events," a FNC Entertainment official said in a statement.
On Friday, Mina posted in a series of posts that she had attempted to take her own life because of the harsh treatment she experienced from a bandmate during her time as a member of AOA. She later revealed she was referring to Jimin and uploaded a picture of her wrists with multiple cut wounds, along with many episodes that outlined Jimin's cruel actions.
Jimin (Jimin's Instagram)
The quarrel between the two former AOA members continued Saturday as Mina refuted Jimin's claim that she had apologized and begged for forgiveness, saying Jimin took a stance that her actions were done to lead Mina to the right path. Mina later deleted the post.
AOA is not the only group facing internal conflict.
Woo Ji-yoon (left) and Ahn Ji-young (right) (Yonhap)
Conflict between Ahn Ji-young and Woo Ji-yoon, who worked as duo Bol4 before Woo departed in April, surfaced when fans pointed out that Ahn had unfollowed Woo on Instagram.
Ahn revealed through an Instagram Story on Friday that the lyrics to Woo's song "Dodo," released in June, had a mental toll on Ahn despite the intentions of Woo. The lyrics by Woo included phrases such as, "You pushed me away" and "Don't worry, I'm leaving."
"I am getting psychological consulting every week and am having a hard time from depression. It appears and bothers me in my dreams every night, and I have to fight insomnia. I couldn't endure any longer and was troubled every time I looked, so I unfollowed. Are you guys happy now that you know the reason I unfollowed?" Ahn posted Friday.
In response, Woo posted on her Instagram that she wanted to quit the group after their concert, but as Ahn wanted her to leave before then, she had to quit sooner than expected. She also said that the lyrics to her song "Dodo" were written many years back and that she has nothing else to say regarding the lyrics.
Ahn responded to Woo the same day, claiming she had been hurt by hearing that Woo wanted to leave from the agency rather than directly from Woo. Also, Ahn mentioned not having wanted to continue musical activities with Woo when her leaving the group was decided.
Former Momoland member Yeonwoo (Yeonwoo's Instagram)
Meanwhile, Yeonwoo, previously of Momoland, hinted at conflict with her agency through her fan page early Saturday, claiming her leaving the group and becoming an actor was not her decision.
"I have been enduring and holding on, but it was no use. I did not betray you guys because of my personal ambition to try something else," wrote Yeonwoo.
Yeonwoo's agency, MLD Entertainment, had announced in November 2019 that Yeonwoo would be leaving Momoland because taking on both group activities and acting had been a burden on her.
Yeonwoo also posted on social media Saturday, explaining her intentions of the earlier post on the fan page. She said it was only to discuss recent trouble in her livestreaming on Instagram, where fans blamed her for selfishly leaving the group.
"I am sorry for unintentionally causing worry to everyone," Yeonwoo added.
By Lim Jang-won (ljw@heraldcorp.com)


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Current (https://current.org/2011/02/la-times-pop-music-critic-going-to-npr-music/)
LA Times pop music critic going to NPR Music
By | February 20, 2011
Ann Powers, the Los Angeles Times pop music critic since 2006, is joining NPR Music and will switch to contributor status at the newspaper, LA Observed is reporting. Powers opined on the recent Grammy Awards on the NPR Music website. "There is no more articulate authority on pop music in the country than Ann," wrote Sally Hofmeister, Times assistant managing editor, in a memo to staff.


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package org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.security.authorization.composite;

import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.security.authorization.permission.Permissions;
import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.security.privilege.PrivilegeBits;
import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
import org.slf4j.Logger;
import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;

final class Util {

    private static final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(Util.class);

    private Util() {}

    static boolean doEvaluate(long supportedPermissions) {
        return supportedPermissions != Permissions.NO_PERMISSION;
    }

    static boolean doEvaluate(@NotNull PrivilegeBits supportedPrivileges) {
        return !supportedPrivileges.isEmpty();
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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BYOD requirements 2023
Year 7 and Year 8
The subjects students will study in Year 7 and Year 8 are;
Christian Studies (CAVE)
Year 9 and Year 10
In Year 9 and Year 10 students will be given the opportunity to select certain academic pathways. There will be mandated components of the curriculum. Mandated components for both Year 9 and Year 10 are:
Year 9 Subject Options (four selected)
Marine Studies
Children, Family and Community
Year 10 Subject Options (four selected)
Engineering and Metals
Year 11 ATAR
Physical Education Studies
Maths Specialist
Maths Methods
Maths Applications
Year 11 General
Career and Enterprise
Marine and Maritime Studies
Materials Design and Technology
Maths Essentials
Design (Photography and Media)
Year 11 VET
Certificate II in Business
Certificate II in Hospitality
Politics and Law
Materials, Design and Technology
**Subject gridlines are subject to change each year dependent on student interest.
Assessment Policies
Year 7 – 10 Assessment Policy
This Assessment Policy conforms to the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) guidelines. It refers to any type of School Assessment for Years 7 to 10.
Year 11 and 12 Assessment Policy
This Assessment Policy is provided to all Year 11 and 12 students at St James' Anglican School and is based on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) requirements as outlined in the WACE Manual 2021.All Year 11 and 12 students are enrolled in a combination of ATAR, General, Foundation, Preliminary and VET industry specific courses. Some students are also gaining unit equivalence for the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) by undertaking one or more of the Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications and/or one or more endorsed programs which are available at the School.
Year 7 2023 Booklist
Year 10 2023 Booklist
Year 10 2023
Students entering Year 10 2023 who have selected pre-ATAR Mathematics in Year 10, will need to purchase a Classpad.
Students entering Year 10 2023 who have selected pre-General Mathematics in Year 10, will need a Scientific Calculator. Should a student change their preference and move into Year 10 pre-ATAR Mathematics during the year, they will need to then purchase the Classpad device.
Year 11 and Year 12 2023
Students entering Year 11 and Year 12 2023 and enrolled in Mathematics Applications, Mathematics Methods or Mathematics Specialist will need a Classpad Calculator.
Students entering Year 11 and Year 12 2023 and enrolled in Mathematics Essentials or Mathematics Foundation will need a Scientific Calculator. Alternatively, students can purchase a Classpad, if they wish.
Camps & Tours
St James' Anglican School believes that camps and tours form an integral part of our curriculum and provide experiences and activities central to students' academic and personal development.
Experiential learning is well founded in education, and provides unique opportunities, which will endeavour to enhance learning outcomes across all subject areas for our students. Through camps and tours, students are given the opportunity to experience a wide range of activities beyond the usual school settings.
Students are able to interact with their teachers and peers in a setting vastly different from the classroom. With these day-to-day barriers broken, there is great potential for positive interaction at a much higher level.
A school priority is establishing harmonious school relationships for the achievement of common goals and camps are a natural extension of this philosophy.
Secondary Assistance Scheme Years 7 - 12
Secondary Assistance Scheme
The State Government through the Western Australian Department of Education provides an allowance to assist eligible families with secondary schooling costs. To be eligible for the allowance the parent/guardian must hold a Department of Human Services (Centrelink) or Veterans' Affairs card that represents a statement of income for the family.
The allowance consists of two components:
$115 Clothing Allowance paid directly to the parent/guardian.
$235 Educational Program Allowance paid directly to the school.
ABSTUDY Supplement Allowance
Parents/Guardians in receipt of the ABSTUDY School Fees Allowance from Centrelink are not eligible for the Secondary Assistance Scheme, but they may apply for the ABSTUDY Supplement Allowance.
The payment allowance is $79 Education Program Allowance (payment made to the School).
Applications Closed for 2022
SEQTA Engage
Student Reports: https://engage.alkimos.stjames.wa.edu.au/
Most parents will already have a login to SEQTA Engage as the same system is used for accessing semester reports. If you do not have a login, please contact the School Administration.
Above is a link to SEQTA Engage; otherwise you will need type the following into the address bar of your browser:
https://engage.alkimos.stjames.wa.edu.au/
Teachers are currently configuring their SEQTA marks books to release results for some recent assessments. The system works as follows:
Teachers enter marks into the SEQTA system.
Marks are checked with colleagues and then released to you.
Parents receive an email advising results are available.
Each time marks are released, an email is sent to you.
Should you have any queries regarding the releasing of marks, please see the class or subject teachers. We hope you find this new system helpful and easy to navigate.
Using social media has become a regular part of life for most young people. Supporting your child to manage the risks on social media means they can safely enjoy all the benefits it has to offer.
Social media is constantly changing and evolving. It can be hard to keep track of what platforms are most popular with your child and their friends.
The types of platform your child may use include;
Social media networks; Facebook (where people interact with others)
Microblogging; Twitter, Tumblr (where users broadcast short messages)
Messaging apps; Kik Messenger, Snapchat (where texts and short videos can be sent)
Media Sharing; YouTube, Instagram (where photos and videos are shared)
Multi-player online games; Fortnite, World of Warcraft (Gaming where users interact)
St James' Anglican School would like to provide the School Community with information to guide parents to keeping their children safe on social media.
Auditing your child's Instagram account
A parent's guide to Snapchat
A parent's guide to online safety


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Symphony Nova Scotia to premiere brand-new work by Kelly-Marie Murphy, inaugural winner of the Maria Anna Mozart Award
Halifax, NS – Symphony Nova Scotia is proud to perform the world premiere of Dr. Kelly-Marie Murphy's Dragon, Unfolding on March 8, 2018 at 7:30 pm at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. Dragon, Unfolding is the first work to be commissioned by Symphony Nova Scotia as part of the Maria Anna Mozart Award for Canadian women composers.
Launched in 2016, the Maria Anna Mozart Award supports the work of Canadian women composers, providing funds for Symphony Nova Scotia to commission and perform a new symphonic work by a Canadian woman every three years. The award is the first of its kind in Canada, and was made possible through the generosity of Halifax resident and Symphony supporter Dr. Jane Gordon.
"We received so many applications, full of incredibly good music – I am always amazed at the wealth of outstanding compositional talent there is in Canada," says Bernhard Gueller, Music Director of Symphony Nova Scotia.
"Kelly-Marie Murphy stood out. Her submitted pieces immediately grabbed my attention. They were, from the first note, so interesting and full of temperament, so well crafted. I know Symphony Nova Scotia will do great justice to the world premiere of her new piece, made possible through the generosity, foresight, and insight of Jane Gordon."
Murphy's music has been described as "breathtaking" (Kitchener-Waterloo Record), "imaginative and expressive" (The National Post), "a pulse-pounding barrage on the senses" (The Globe and Mail), and has been performed across Canada and around the world. She is the winner of multiple awards and prizes, and has written for some of Canada's leading performers and ensembles, including the Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver Symphony Orchestras, the Gryphon Trio, and the Cecilia and Afiara String Quartets.
Murphy describes Dragon, Unfolding as being inspired by an ancient Japanese legend that anyone who folds one thousand paper cranes will be granted a wish.
"In Japanese mythology and folklore, the dragon was believed to signify wisdom, success, and strength," says Murphy. "In creating Dragon, Unfolding, I speculate about what would happen if one folded a thousand paper dragons."
Dragon, Unfolding will be about 10 minutes in length, and consists of a single strong and energetic movement, which follows the dragon being formed, rising, and taking flight.
The new piece will be premiered by Symphony Nova Scotia on March 8, International Women's Day. The concert will be led by guest conductor Jean-Claude Picard, and the program will also feature Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 and Copland's Clarinet Concerto, highlighting the Symphony's own virtuoso clarinetist Dominic Desautels.
"I am honoured to be the first recipient, and extremely thankful for the generous support of Dr. Jane Gordon in creating this opportunity," says Murphy.
"I was absolutely delighted with the number of women who applied for this award," says Dr. Jane Gordon, the supporter of the award. "It showed me that many women across Canada are working to create symphonic music. And now that Symphony Nova Scotia is aware of these women, they're part of the pool of Canadian composers to consider in the future."
According to a recent report by NPR, only 1.8% of music programmed by major U.S. orchestras was written by women. Even more surprising is the fact that women composers only accounted for 14.3% of performances of works by those living composers.
"This is a problem with orchestras around the world," says Gordon. "And I'm delighted that Symphony Nova Scotia is being creative in addressing this. We should be proud that our orchestra here in Halifax is forward-thinking enough to try and break that mold."
More information about the Maria Anna Mozart Award can be found at symphonynovascotia.ca/award.
Tickets for the March 8 concert are available at 902.494.3820 or online here.
About Symphony Nova Scotia
Symphony Nova Scotia is Nova Scotia's orchestra. With a home base in Halifax and performances across the province, Symphony Nova Scotia reaches more than 50,000 Nova Scotians of all ages each year with a diverse mix of concerts, free community programs, and educational outreach. Under the thoughtful and dynamic leadership of Music Director Bernhard Gueller, it is the largest employer in Nova Scotia's cultural community, and has won many awards, including five East Coast Music Awards for classical music. Visit www.symphonynovascotia.ca to learn more, listen online, or get tickets today!
Heidi MacPhee
Director of Communications and Marketing, Symphony Nova Scotia
marketing@symphonyns.ca
symphonynovascotia.ca
Symphony Nova Scotia's media kit.
Symphony Nova Scotia Biography
Symphony Nova Scotia Fact Sheet
Symphony Nova Scotia Quotes
Symphony Nova Scotia In Our Community
Symphony Nova Scotia High-res Photo
Interested in learning more about Symphony Nova Scotia? Looking for more marketing and promotional information? Please contact Heidi MacPhee at 902.421.5264.
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Plus, one Canadian comedian is on the roster of celebrities in the new Big Brother run.
On Jan. 30, the day otherwise known as Bell Let's Talk Day, Bell Media will broadcast an all-new primetime special hosted by CTV Your Morning's Anne-Marie Mediwake. In Their Own Words: A Bell Let's Talk Day Special, will feature Mediwake interviewing Canadians living with mental health challenges. The event will premiere on CTV and CTV2, and will partner with Twitter to simultaneously stream the special on the social network. Besides interviewing everyday Canadians including a truck driver living with PTSD and a policy analyst living with addiction, the special will also include Leafs head coach Mike Babcock, a longtime advocate for mental health awareness.
Mere hours after MiC announced the departure of Snap's Canadian country manager Joe Strolz, another top exec left the company. The departure of Tim Stone, who served as CFO at the company for less than a year, was announced by the company on the afternoon of Jan. 15 in a securities filing. Stone had formerly served as the VP of finance at Amazon. He joins a list of high-profile departures from the company including Strolz. In the last year, Snap has confirmed that its CSO, as well as VPs for sales, engineering, product, content, marketing, partnerships and HR. As recently as 11 a.m. on Jan. 15, a Snap rep confirmed that Stone was still employed at Snap, citing him among several new high-profile hires for the company.
Corus Entertainment has announced the celebrity contestants for the upcoming season of Celebrity Big Brother, which will air 13 episodes during midseason beginning Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. Partaking in the cast are: Mean Girls actor Jonathan Bennett; singer Tamar Braxton; Canadian comedian Tom Green; singer Kandi Burruss; actor/OJ Simpson witness Kato Kaelin; track and bobsled Olympian Lolo Jones; former teen hearththrob Joey Lawrence; Olympian Ryan Lochte; Hollywood mom Dina Lohan; former WWE wrestler Natalie Eva Marie; Heisman trophy winner Ricky Williams; and former White House staffer Anthony Scaramucci.


The Hole wasn't always in my closet—at least, I don't think so. But it's there now. It's been there since I was little. Different closet, you know, but still. Always the closet.
The first time I saw the Hole was right after Liam was born, so I was maybe 4? I remember having to push my old snow pants to one side to get a better look.
It's a funny Hole. You can't look in it and see through to the other side of the wall. I remember peeking into it and thinking I'd see Liam's room, his crib and the rocking chair. But it's just black. Not dark—black. It's definitely a Hole, though, because I can sense space beyond the blackness.
I wanted to put my hand in it.
I wanted to crawl through.
Even now, the thought of crawling into that funny Hole gives me goosebumps.
I didn't, of course. I tried to forget about it, but there was no forgetting it. The same questions that plague me now echoed in my child's brain: Where does it go? Is there another world over there? Or is it just . . . nothing?
That night was the first time I sat in front of the Hole. God, I remember it so clearly. It was almost 20 years ago now, but thinking back, here, in this dark closet, I'm that girl again, in that room, in that closet. I've had a bath. My hair is dripping down the back of my nightgown. I'm cross-legged on the floor, staring at the Hole. There is the Hole, nothing else, nothing but the whispering . . .
It was very faint, then, the whispering, like a sheet rustling in another room. I wanted to hear, wanted so badly to hear, I was leaning forward, my ear inches from the Hole. If mom hadn't knocked on my bedroom door just then, I don't know what would have happened.
I might have fallen in.
Barbie, though. Barbie was just a doll. She wasn't even a good doll—Allie next door had pulled off her leg and her hair looked chewed. At first I just pushed her foot through, the only foot she had left. It was weird; it looked like Barbie's leg just stopped at the ankle, like it was chopped off, right where the Hole was. I kept pushing her farther in, and Barbie kept disappearing, one piece at a time.
Then, all that was left was her head. Just her head, chopped off at the neck. Oh, but her smile, she kept smiling, it was horrible. I didn't want to see that smile anymore, that painted false smile, so I pushed it in the Hole to get rid of it.
And then Barbie was gone.
God, I wish I had a cigarette right now.
After Barbie went in the Hole, the whispers were louder, just barely. All I ever wanted to do after that was sit and listen.
It was right around that time that my parents got divorced. I admit, I threw quite a tantrum the day we moved. Mom had gotten some crappy apartment that was so small I had to share a room with Liam and leave most of my stuff behind. No one knew it, but really I was mad that I was leaving the Hole behind. It already had its hook in my brain, you see.
Turns out, I didn't need to be worried. The Hole was waiting for me in the new closet.
While we lived together in that room, I never let Liam near that closet, near the Hole. Did he know about it? Over the years, in that apartment and later the house with the porch, did he ever wonder what I was doing, sitting in the closet for hours on end, alone? I wish I could ask him now. Of course, I wish I could do a lot of things now.
Not much happened with the Hole while we were in that apartment. One time I got angry because Liam wouldn't stop crying for daddy, so when no one was looking I took his favorite blankie and threw it in the Hole. Mom thought dad had taken it and they got in a huge fight. She probably still thinks he took it.
Another time my teacher had sent home a note wanting mom to call her about a fight I got into with another kid. I was terrified to let mom see that note, so it went into the Hole.
The house with the porch was much bigger, which is what happens when your mom remarries and the guy has money. The guy in our case was named Larry, and he liked to drink. I listened to the Hole a lot in those years (it was waiting for me, of course, in my big closet at Larry's house). I was 11 then, and when mom would go out with her girlfriends and Larry would get extra drunk, I was very aware of my new breasts. I would lock my bedroom door and listen to the Hole and its whispers. They were louder then—not as loud as they are now, oh no, but I didn't have to listen quite so hard anymore.
I started talking to them sometimes, the whispers. I don't know if they can hear me, and if they do, whether they can understand what I say. I think that's best, really, the not knowing. I'm not sure whether I want them to know so much about me. Hell, I wish I didn't know so much about me.
My grades sucked. It's hard to find time to study when you spend all your time either in a closet or being accidentally groped by your mom's new guy. Mom and I fought a lot, and Liam went to live with dad.
When I was 15, I dragged the entire contents of Larry's liquor cabinet to the Hole and disappeared the bottles one by one. That was funny. They both wanted to think I drank it all with friends, but they knew I didn't have any friends. They were so mad they couldn't prove anything, and I was off the hook.
By the time I managed to graduate from high school I was beyond ready to move out. I landed a job working nights as a grocery store clerk, and moved into an apartment with a girl I found on Craigslist. She was going to school to be a nurse, so she was gone a lot, which suited me fine. I didn't want to have to explain who I was talking to in my closet.
A couple years went by and I moved to the day shift. I met a guy, one of the stock guys. His name was Dave. I started bringing him back to the apartment. It seemed like something to do. When he did his thing, I would lay on the bed and try to listen past his grunts. Afterwards, we'd smoke a couple cigarettes from the pack he would bring and he'd tell me about his dead parents and how he wanted to get into the electrician's union. I'd kick him out before he fell asleep.
The other day, he came over reeking of gin. I told him to leave, but he started shouting at me. Told me he was sick of the one-way thing. He wanted to know if I was just using him. He accused me of being frigid. He grabbed at me and shook me and tried to make me kiss him, but I kneed him in the balls and he fell. His head hit the corner of the dresser.
He didn't move for a long time. I think maybe he was dead. I couldn't bring myself to check. I smoked the last half of a stale cigarette I found in the ashtray and listened to the whispers from the closet. They seemed very loud. Screaming whispers.
I think he's dead now. He must be. But I don't know. I can't know, really. It doesn't matter much at this point. He's gone in the Hole.
Oh, Dave! I wish I'd checked to see if you were dead first. Maybe you were alive but you're dead now. But maybe . . . maybe you're alive now. Are you alive? Are you with the whispers? What is it like there? What are they saying? What are you saying? What are you telling them about me?
Ah, shut up! Shut up, whispering Hole! Shut up and tell me if Dave's dead! Was he dead? Is he dead? Is he alive?
I have to find out. I have to. Dave, I have to know if you're alive and what you're telling them. I have to get these screaming whispers out of my head.
I just wish I had a cigarette first.


text:
Sky Bet Championship stats XI of January: Tammy Abraham, Oli McBurnie and Said Benrahma feature
By Martin Laurence, WhoScored.com
Another entertaining month of the 2018/19 Sky Bet Championship season is behind us and here is the WhoScored.com Championship Team of the Month for January…
Goalkeeper: Costel Pantilimon, Nottingham Forest - 7.19
Forest's giant goalkeeper isn't always the most orthodox or wholly convincing of shot stoppers, but his efforts ensured the team kept up their play-off hopes despite a change of manager. The 31-year-old produced 20 saves in four appearances last month, including a penalty stop to help earn a first three points under Martin O'Neill.
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Check out all the latest EFL odds and more from Sky Bet here...
Right-back: Elliott Bennett, Blackburn - 7.37
After five games without a win and three defeats in a row, Rovers summed up the division with a four-game winning streak in January, with the versatile Bennett playing his part at both ends. The 30-year-old started all four games at right-back as Tony Mowbray's side conceded just once, winning 11 tackles and seven interceptions and registering a third assist of the season at Millwall.
Centre-back: Tomas Kalas, Bristol City - 7.60
As for Blackburn, the New Year has been sensational thus far for Bristol City, whose three consecutive league wins in January extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches and left the Robins just two points off the top six. They too shipped just one goal, with Kalas a commanding presence at the back, making seven interceptions, 21 clearances and winning 16 aerial duels.
Centre-back: James Collins, Ipswich - 7.70
It will be a huge ask at this point for Ipswich to avoid the drop but the addition of a player of Collins' experience certainly gives them greater hope. Reunited with former Villa boss Paul Lambert, the veteran centre-back made an instant impact in a Man-of-the-Match display as the Tractor Boys beat Rotherham 1-0, winning 26 aerial duels and making a massive 39 clearances in his first three appearances for the club.
Left-back: Rico Henry, Brentford - 7.49
Having endured a torrid time with injuries over the past two years, Henry is back fit and proved why he is so highly rated at Championship level. The 21-year-old left-back started every match for the Bees as they picked up seven points from nine to climb out of trouble, scoring his first league goal for the club in the win over Stoke before registering an assist from one of four key passes at Rotherham.
Right midfield: Jarrod Bowen, Hull - 7.88
Following a fantastic end to 2018, Bowen didn't let talk of a January transfer distract him whatsoever, scoring four goals in as many appearances last month. The youngster's tally now stands at 14 for the season, and he chips in defensively too, winning eight tackles and six interceptions to complement 10 shots and six dribbles.
Central midfield: Mario Vrancic, Norwich - 7.74
Bosnia and Herzegovina international Vrancic couldn't buy a start early on this season, but has returned to the Norwich midfield with a point to prove since the start of December. The 29-year-old registered an assist in the draw at Brentford and scored in the victory over Birmingham, but it was his defensive work rate that stood out, making a whopping 22 tackles in four appearances.
Central midfield: Kamohelo Mokotjo, Brentford - 7.87
Like Vrancic, Mokotjo has returned to the Brentford midfield of late to add some steel in the middle of the park and it's certainly benefited the Bees, who have ended a run of eight defeats in 10 with a six-match unbeaten streak in the Championship. The South African started all three league games in January, making 11 interceptions and completing seven dribbles, and proved an unlikely match winner against Rotherham, scoring twice - having done so just once in his time at the club beforehand.
Left midfield: Said Benrahma, Brentford - 8.00
Thomas Frank's recent switch to a 3-4-3 formation has certainly suited winger Benrahma, who excelled from the left flank last month. The Algerian scored twice and registered another two assists in January to take his respective tallies to three and seven, with the 23-year-old's confidence clear to see as he fired off 13 shots and completed seven dribbles in three appearances.
Clarke's breakout season at Leeds
Striker: Oli McBurnie, Swansea - 8.36
Scotland international McBurnie endured a difficult end to 2018 but he has been a different animal altogether in the New Year, scoring five times in three league appearances and a further brace in the FA Cup. With an assist to his name against Birmingham to boot, the young striker has led the line superbly for the Swans, converting 71.4 per cent of his total attempts at goal in the league last month.
Striker: Tammy Abraham - Aston Villa - 7.73
January could have proven to be a real distraction for Tammy Abraham, who rejected the advances of Wolves to aid in Villa's faltering promotion push and added a further five goals to his league haul in the process. The Chelsea loanee is now the outright top scorer in the Championship and just one away from becoming the first Villa player to score 20 league goals in a season in almost 40 years
'Sheff Weds fans have renewed faith'
Transfer Target: Mason Mount
Jansson: I wanted to stay in England
Best of Jay Rodriguez


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Home Medford News Medford Township announces Citizen Police Academy
Medford Township announces Citizen Police Academy
Applications are due August 1 for residents to get a behind-the-scenes look at various functions within the Medford Township Police Department.
ANDREW TURCO
Medford Township Police Department's Chief Richard J. Meder and Medford Township announced that the inaugural Citizen Police Academy Class is coming this fall.
According to the town, the academy is an opportunity for residents to get a behind-the-scenes look at various functions within the police department.
Interested residents and business owners at least 18 years old are required to complete an application. Applicants must pass a thorough background investigation and will be given temporary access to sensitive areas of the department. Applications are due Aug. 1 and need to be turned into the Medford Township Police Department. The class size will be limited to 20 participants to allow for quality interaction throughout the program.
According to the department, the Citizen Police Academy allows citizens to become educated as to the roles and responsibilities of law enforcement. During classroom presentations, lectures and hands-on activities, residents will gain insight into daily operations to further improve the quality of life for residents and business owners.
The program is designed to build a bond of trust, respect and transparency between the police department and the community it serves.
Officers and instructors will lecture and demonstrate various topics handled on a daily basis including, but not limited to: overview/history of the department, a tour of the department building, patrol tactics, traffic unit, Motor Vehicle stops/DWI, criminal and special investigations, K-9 unit, a tour of 911, Firearms Training Systems, firearms and internal affairs.
Program dates will run on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Courses will be held on Sept. 25, Oct. 2, Oct. 9, Oct. 16, Oct. 23, Oct. 30 and Nov. 7 at 91 Union St.
For more information and to download an application, visit www.medford-police.org/citizen-police-academy.
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Previous articleMantua Township patrol summary, June 20 – 25
Next articleVoorhees committee addresses Connolly Park and bike safety
Annual council meeting full of agenda items, including new leaders
'Medford Messi' lives the World Cup dream
Alex Murphy - January 20, 2023
County offers drawing classes to residents
CHRISTINE HARKINSON - January 17, 2023


We took second place in this workout. My legs felt like crap after this one, but it was good to get a top finish in a strength bias workout.
2. Sandbag Sprint, Female runs 60m, picks up #30 sandbag runs back, does 10 burpees over the bag while male runs 60m, picks up #60 sandbag runs back, does 10 burpees over the bag… 3 rounds each.
4:12 – We took 3rd place on this, which was the wod I thought we'd WIN for sure. We headed into the third workout with 5 points (lowest score is what you want) which was a great place to be.
3. Triplet – Female runs 400m, then male runs 400m, alternating until 2400m total is completed, mean while each partner can chip away at these movements and in this order: 140 kettlebell swings #53/35 and 90 pull-ups. Brooke did 47 swings, then I got us to 105 swings, when I got back she had finished up the swings and got us 3 pull-ups, I ripped off a bunch of reps and when she got back we were at 72 reps, I did my last run and she finished them up. We took 2nd overall in this workout with a time of 10:20.
4. The final workout sucked, but they cut the field down from 42 teams to the top 16, we were in 1st place going into the workout, and we knew who we had to beat. I love competition, it brings out the BEST in everyone.
Female – 21 Cleans #95 + 21 Ring Dips.
Not sure what our time was, but I know we got second place on this workout giving us a total point finish of 9 points.. giving us the title of "Fittest in the Park." My partner Brooke was clutch, and I didn't expect anything less. It feels great to compete and win, CrossFit has changed my life for the better.
Time to get home and see my new baby Avery.


Best SUV awards through their hosted challenges this year.
The recently launched Atlas model was awarded Cars.com's "Best 3-ROW SUV of 2017" and the redesigned Tiguan was ranked No. 1 as the "Best Compact SUV of 2017".
Both models offer the People First Warranty which is a transferable bumper-to-bumper warranty. The warranty runs for six years or 72,000 miles, whichever occurs first, and includes coverage for powertrain components including engine and transmission.
For more information about the vehicles and their awards, click on the inventory or original Volkswagen articles links below.


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Archive for Grounds of Inadmissibility
Top 10 Reasons Why Immigrants Get Visas Denied
Posted in Grounds of Inadmissibility, Immigrant Visas, Lawful Permanent Residence, Removal (Deportation) Proceedings, Unlawful Presence Bar (3- or 10-yr bar) with tags Consulate Processing, Extreme Hardship, Grounds of Inadmissibility, Unlawful Presence Bar (3- or 10-yr Bar), Waiver on September 14, 2009 by GuruImmigration
We thought it would be fascinating and instructive to analyze and compile a list of why people were denied their visa applications in trying to immigrate to the U.S. An immigrant with one of these reasons potentially lurking in the background could try to gauge their chances of success to some extent using this list.
Only 2017 statistics are included in the list. Also, it only includes people who tried to apply for immigrant visas last year, that is, to immigrate permanently to the U.S. In legalese, these reasons for denial are known as "grounds of inadmissibility" or "inadmissible grounds." These grounds come into play at the last step of the immigration process: at the consulate interview in the immigrant's home country before the immigrant receives the immigrant visa for permanent residence. This is after all the years of waiting for the visa priority date to be current, after all the facts of the relationship have been proved to be true between the petitioner and beneficiary, after all the forms appear to have been correct….but then these grounds appear suddenly like thieves in the night to derail the immigrant visa application.
Note: Our new self-consultation apps on how to immigrate to the US, available as described here, are for applicants who do not have these grounds on their records, except for Nos. 6 and 4 below (Unlawfully present in US 365 days or more) which fortunately, as can be seen below is not too difficult to overcome with the right type of extreme hardship evidence.
For each inadmissible ground, along with our comments, the list includes the total number of people denied last year, as well as the percentage who were denied. In other words, out of the total number of applicants faced with a certain ground of inadmissibility, such as for example, criminal convictions, some percentage of applicants was ultimately approved for their visas because they managed to receive some type of waiver.
The list is ranked by the total number of applicants denied, from the smallest to the largest. So, let's begin…
No. 10 – Controlled substance violators
Applicants denied: 644 Denial rate: 94%
The extremely high rate of denial is quite fitting here. Those applicants who violated or were convicted of violating controlled substance laws (no matter in what country, by the way) have an extremely difficult time overcoming this ground, as seen in the 6% figure of those who managed to do so.
No. 9 – Public charge
Applicants denied: 1,221 Denial rate: 38%
A public charge is someone who cannot support themselves in the US but must resort to the government to support them. Such a person cannot immigrate here. As can be seen, however, this reason for denial is relatively easy to overcome with 62% of applicants able to correct the problem when they were told by the consulate that there was a problem. In reality, the immigrant's petitioner had to sign the Affidavit of Support form ahead of time to agree they would pledge their income and assets to support the immigrant. Even if the income is not enough, a joint sponsor's income can be used to help out. Thus, it's quite easy to overcome the ground of being a public charge and for the immigrant visa to be approved as a result.
No. 8 – Smugglers
Just to be clear, this refers to alien smuggling, not contraband. And yes, there is a waiver available if the alien being smuggled was someone in the immigrant's immediate family. The term "smuggling" makes it seem as though the immigrant committed a very serious act, but actually, it includes acts such as "encouraged, induced, assisted, abetted, or aided any other alien to enter or to try to enter the United States in violation of law." So, it's not only hiding another person in the trunk of a car that can make you guilty of alien smuggling! Regardless, the 51% denial rate shows that this ground is not so difficult to overcome as in previous years when there was up to 90% denial rate.
No. 7 – Crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT)
The bad CIMT. In immigration work, lawyers hate to hear this acronym mentioned because it means the client's case could be a very hard case! A crime, such as DUI (driving under the influence) will not involve moral turpitude because it does not involve "baseness" or a "bad heart," which is a rough definition of "moral turpitude." But DUI with death or injury involved may involve moral turpitude, depending on the local DUI law involved and if there was at least recklessness on the part of the driver in causing the death or injury. Of course, it goes without saying that more serious crimes such as fraud, theft, rape, murder, and so forth are CIMTs. A conviction for a CIMT in an applicant's past will make them inadmissible to the U.S. although a waiver is possible. However, the 80% denial rate shows that the waiver will be quite difficult to get.
No. 6 – Unlawfully present 365 days or more (provisional waiver)
Applicants denied: 1,956 Denial rate: 5%
This category is very common because, as we discussed it in detail in our other article, "I'm Illegal, I Can Still Get a Green Card by Marrying My U.S. Citizen Boyfriend or Girlfriend?", many immigrants have previously accumulated unlawful or illegal presence in the US of 365 days or more, such that if they leave to try to apply for their permanent visa at the US consulate in their country, they are confronted with the 10-year bar. As was shown in that article, this bar has available an extreme hardship waiver that is applied for in the US even before the applicant leaves for the interview, known as the "provisional unlawful presence waiver" or just "provisional waiver."
The 5% rate of denial is misleading; it does not mean this waiver is easy to get (anything involving the showing of "extreme hardship" to a US relative is not easy to begin with). It only means that even after the provisional waiver had been approved for the applicant before leaving the US, he or she was confronted with something seriously deficient about the waiver: for example, maybe the consulate discovered there was fraud in applying for the waiver, or some other problem, etc. All this statistic really shows is that for 95% of applicants who had the provisional waiver approved before leaving the US for consulate interview (if it's not approved, they most likely wouldn't leave), they will eventually be approved for their visa.
No. 5 – Unlawfully present after previous immigration violations
This category is an extremely harsh category to be caught under. It consists of immigrants who had been unlawfully present in previous times in the U.S. for a total period of more than 1 year, or who were ordered removed or deported, but later they entered or tried to enter the U.S. illegally. At their consulate visa interview, when this negative immigration history is discovered, such a person cannot be admitted to the U.S. It's a lifetime bar! However, the person could wait 10 years outside the U.S. then apply to immigration authorities for permission to reapply for admission to the U.S.
No. 4 – Unlawfully present 365 days or more (non-provisional waiver)
This category is the same 10-year bar as in No. 6 above, except that for these applicants, for whatever reason, they did not obtain an approved provisional waiver before leaving the US for their consulate interview. Instead, at the interview they are confronted with the 10-year bar. And, as was shown in the same article, this bar does have an extreme hardship waiver available to excuse it when the applicant is applying from outside the US, the non-provisional waiver type. This waiver had a 39% denial rate last year, or in other words, nearly 6 out of 10 applicants got the waiver approved.
However, this doesn't necessarily mean this waiver is easy to get. Obviously, the statistics used to construct this list does not, and indeed, cannot tell us how many people who knew ahead of time they would be denied and did not bother to apply. For example, someone with a weak case might have obtained legal advice ahead of time from their immigration lawyer that applying for a visa would be a waste of time even if there is a waiver available in the law. Thus, it may be that for certain waivers such as this one, there were more applicants with stronger cases to begin with anyway, thus biasing the rate of success toward approval. To obtain approval of this waiver, the immigrant has to leave behind their family in the U.S. and travel back to their home country and apply at the U.S. consulate. If the waiver is denied, they are stuck in their country unable to return to their family. Thus, looking at the statistics we believe that it's likely only people who felt more confidently ahead of time that they have a strong hardship case would take this risk.
No. 3 – Misrepresentation
This is the "When you lie, you fry" category. These were immigrants who had their visas denied due to being caught committing fraud or misrepresenting (lying) some fact in order to obtain the visa or even any previous visa or admission document. The relatively high denial rate shows that U.S. immigration authorities do not have a high tolerance for immigrants not being truthful on their applications. Still, 26% of them last year ended up overcoming this due to a waiver being available. The waiver is to show extreme hardship to a spouse, child or parent who is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident and thus, is quite similar to the waiver used for the very common 10-year bar, which is the next category.
No. 2 – Labor certification
A less well-known way of immigrating to the U.S. is through an employer petition. A U.S. employer can petition for an immigrant worker to take a permanent job position in the U.S. In order to qualify, however, the employer must file a labor certification application with the U.S. Department of Labor to certify that there are no willing, able, and qualified U.S. workers for the job position. Only if this labor certification is certified will the immigrant worker be approved a visa to immigrate. However, at the consulate interview, there are many applicants whom the consulate found to have intended to immigrate to the US to work, without having had a labor certification filed and certified for them. Those cases must be denied. Or, even if a labor certification has been obtained, the visa may still be denied, such as when the consulate officer believes the worker does not truly intend to work for the employer, or fraud in obtaining the labor certification, etc. This ground of denial is almost impossible to overcome as seen in the almost 100% rate of denial.
Finally, we come to the TOP REASON FOR VISA DENIAL, which is…:
No.1 – Application does not comply with provisions of law or regulations!
Applicants denied: 85,185 Denial rate: 33%
Amazingly, for something that is #1, it is not a fancy reason to deny a visa! The Department of State does not break out in fine details what these consisted of, but they have to do with reasons such as the applicant not being eligible for the visa being sought, filing requirements not met, lack of required evidence, missing forms, missing information, etc. Pretty mundane reasons actually. That said, this category seems to also be a catch-all category containing reasons for denial that do not fit neatly into any of the main categories laid out in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
This reason for denial (legally, section 221(g) of the INA) is relatively easy to overcome. This is understandable if the denial has to do with deficient application forms or missing evidence since those can be easily fixed by the applicant. A HUGE number of applicants were told initially they were in this category last year, more than 254,000, which easily dwarfs all the other nine categories combined. The lesson here is, make sure you are eligible for the visa ahead of time and your applications and documents in tip-top shape! Hiring a good immigration lawyer is obviously a good start toward this end.
So, those are the top 10 reasons for denial in terms of number. In terms of percentage, the ranking goes like this from the most difficult to overcome to the easiest:
1. Labor certification – 96%
2. Controlled substance violators – 94%
3. Unlawfully present after previous immigration violations – 83%
4. Crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT) – 80%
5. Misrepresentation – 74%
6. Smugglers – 51%
7. Unlawfully present 365 days or more (10-year bar)(non-provisional waiver) – 39%
8. Public charge – 38%
9. Application does not comply with provisions of law or regulations – 33%
10. Unlawfully present 365 days or more (10-year bar)(provisional waiver) – 5%
We hope you will never face any of these reasons for denial in your quest to immigrate to the U.S.!
Source: US State Department, Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Report, Table XX, Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visa Ineligibilities, available at http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/AnnualReports/FY2017AnnualReport/FY17AnnualReport-TableXX.pdf
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If state leaders adopt the most proven ways to reduce drunken driving, Texans will pay either in money, convenience or their sense of freedom.
Each potential solution comes with either a financial cost, such as money for more police, or a political cost, such as asking lawmakers to approve using sobriety checkpoints or to lower blood-alcohol limits for drivers, researchers say. Lower limits would come over the objections of the alcoholic beverage industry, and elected officials say checkpoints are an illegal search of innocent drivers.
"There are two underutilized strategies (checkpoints and a lower BAC) we have the science behind, yet this country won't do them," said James Fell, who worked at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for three decades before joining the nonpartisan research organization NORC at the University of Chicago.
Sobriety checkpoints, conducted frequently in 37 states, have been shown by studies in the past decade to reduce drunken-driving crashes, injuries and fatalities by 15 percent to 20 percent. Earlier this year, researchers with the World Health Organization estimated that each checkpoint saves between $1,500 and $3,000 when the cost of operating it is compared to the reductions in crash investigations, loss of life and property and other factors of crashes.
Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board in 2013 called for the legal blood-alcohol limit to be lowered to .05, citing evidence from numerous studies that drivers with a .08 BAC are more likely to die in a driving crash than someone with a lower limit.
A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine released in January estimated that a BAC reduction to .05 would cause DWI-related crashes to fall by 11 percent. That would save around 1,800 lives a year in the U.S.
Science, however, doesn't necessarily guide lawmaking.
The American Beverage Institute, a national industry lobbying group, calls lower BAC limits a "distraction" that won't seriously curb drunken driving. Sarah Longwell, the institute's managing director, said that the vast majority of DWI-related fatalities are caused by drivers with high BAC levels.
The alcohol industry, researchers, elected officials and victim advocates do seem to agree on the more common use of interlock devices, a vehicle-installed breathalyzer test that won't allow the car to start if it detects alcohol in the driver's system.
The devices have been used for years for repeat and severe DWI offenders, notably those charged with a blood-alcohol content above 0.15.
Texas law allows judges to order some defendants to install interlocks to continue driving, and first-time offenders now can opt to keep driving with one of the devices.
About 500 vendors are approved to install 20 different types of interlock devices in Texas, with costs ranging based on the complexity and oversight of the system. Some vendors waive installation fees, and monthly costs vary from $65 to $90, paid by the driver to the companies that verify and track the devices.
"It is really one of the only treatments that is truly effective," said Troy Walden, director of the Center for Drug and Alcohol Education at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
Interlocks remain on the vehicle until the specifics of the sentence are carried out. In many cases, drivers need to have the interlock for a period of one or two years. In extreme cases, judges can order the person to use the interlock until they show the court proof of completion of an alcohol treatment program.
In its latest assessment of interlock use in Texas, Mothers Against Drunk Driving estimated the devices stopped 244,991 attempts to drive drunk from 2006 to 2016. In a 2016 study by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, researchers found interlocks were more effective at keeping drivers off the road than suspending licenses.
Since 2015, first-time DWI offenders in Texas can agree to have an interlock installed to avoid an automatic license suspension. Though in its early stages, the program has proved beneficial, said state Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, who authored the legislation.
Walden said researchers are less confident about changing people's long-term habits.


Welcome. I am so happy that you stopped by. My garden gate is always open for you to come in an sit and relax with an ice tea while I share with you some of the treasurers my friend Marilyn and I found at the flea market. You know it is a good day when you come home with 3 step ladders and 2 large bird houses in the back seat along with a tail gate filled with treasurers.
Let's take a quick tour of one of our favorite Flea Markets in Costa Mesa, Ca -Behind the Picket Fence - and then we will come back to my garden to see a few of my new finds.
How cute is this "Itty Bitty Vintage Shop"?
Love all of the rust on the vintage metal items.
New vendor, Pristine Gardens, had a beautiful display of succulents and containers and will come to your home for landscape and maintenance of your garden and can be reached at 949 -702-6955.
Her containers are beautiful and so well made.
Lots of unusual enamel ware.
I love birdhouses made from recycled wood and my heart skipped a beat or 2 when we stopped at The Birdman of Orange's space. I ended up buying 2 large birdhouses and 2 signs and will share them with you at the end of this post. The Birdman of Orange can be reached at 657-600-2089 and is also on Facebook and Instagram ,. They also makes custom pieces hand painted to order. Their prices are very reasonable and I was able to buy all 4 pieces for what some shops charge for one piece.
Now for the fun part - sharing some of my new flea market finds. The Birdman of Orange birdhouse displayed with all water-wise succulents and plants.
Red ladder - love the galvanized trim on it - with new galvanized containers.
Love the red ladder with my red cushions.
Large red birdhouse made by The Birdman of Orange - I have been looking for one this size for a while and love how this one fits with my old vintage flag.
One of my favorites is the galvanized cow feed bucket as it has a big handle that can be hung on a fence or in this case old shutters.
Thank you for stopping by. I sincerely appreciate your visits, e-mails, comments and those following my blog. I apologize for not getting around to visit you as often as I would like - I am now showing my art in two galleries and there is not enough time in the day. I hope to be able to visit you again soon.
I would have fun there.
Such Fun "Finds" I love finding things for my yard too!
Erin, your garden looks so good. Love all the bird houses you purchased. I will have to make a trip down to that places - so many pretties.
My garden looks so bad that it is hard for me to go out in the back yard. I am praying that we get a lot of rain this fall and winter.
Thank for sharing all your new garden accessories with us.
Have a great week - it's getting HOT again.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh. The luggage. The luggage!!!!!!!!!!!
Love what you've done to your outdoor space, too.


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"Grammofon" je druhý singl z EP Parim Päev od Getter Jaani. Autorem singlu je Sven Lõhmus, který byl zároveň i jeho producentem. Byl vydán dne 4. června 2010. Obsahuje jej také druhé album Rockefeller Street.

Externí odkazy
 Píseň Grammofon na YouTube

Reference

Singly z roku 2010

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


If your former spouse tries to relocate with your child, you may become emotional about this subject. You do not want your child to be farther away from you. This can give you a hard time getting to spend time with your child and developing your relationship even further. When this situation arises, you should seek the help of an attorney to defend your case. If you believe this relocation can have a negative impact on your child, it is important to speak up. This can greatly alter their life and yours as well. A judge will try to decide for the best interests of the child. They will take into account how this can have an impact on the child. Usually, the judge will recognize that there should be an open form of communication with the child and both parents. This is to encourage healthy relationships for the child's growth. The judge will ultimately make their final decision on the matter.
Is physical custody more important than legal custody?
Physical and legal custody are two forms of child custody that are involved in the arrangements. However, neither one is necessarily more important than the other. They apply to different areas. Physical custody names one parent as the custodial parent. This means that the child will reside with them most of the time. They may spend time with their other parent and stay in their residence sometimes. However, their custodial parent spends more time with them. Due to this, this parent may also be given child support to help with the financial responsibility of having the child live with them consistently.
Legal custody gives a parent the ability to make important decisions for the child. This can include the child's medical treatment, their education, religion and much more. With this form of custody, parents are still involved in big decisions in the child's life. This can include the relocation of their child. Even though they may not have physical custody of the child, they still should have a say in the matter. Child relocation matters can be very tough for them and they should share their concerns to prevent this from occurring and damaging their relationship.


Description: A bill for an act relating to energy; prohibiting recovery of certain costs of electric service.
Description: An act concerning climate change.
Description: Establishes as state policy statewide greenhouse gas emissions limits at or below the statewide greenhouse gas emissions levels in 1990 to be achieved by January 1, 2020. Establishes greenhouse gas emissions reduction task force to prepare a work plan and regulatory scheme to achieve the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limits.
Description: This document focuses attention on emissions trading and greenhouse gases by providing internet links to governmental sites affiliated with emissions trading, government agencies, and other miscellaneous sites.
Description: This report presents a chronology of major federal agency actions taken in the wake of Massachusetts v. EPA. In Massachusetts v. EPA, the Court held that greenhouse gases (GHGs), widely viewed as contributing to climate change, constitute "air pollutants" as that phrase is used in the Clean Air Act (CAA). As a result, said the Court, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had improperly denied a petition seeking CAA regulation of GHGs from new motor vehicles by saying the agency lacked authority over such emissions.
Description: This report presents a chronology of major federal agency actions related to environmental concerns following the decision of Massachusetts v. EPA; it particularly looks at actions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In Massachusetts v. EPA, the Supreme Court held that greenhouse gases (GHGs), widely viewed as contributing to climate change, constitute "air pollutants" as that phrase is used in the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Description: This report discusses the basic methodology of life-cycle assessments and compares several of the publicly available studies of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data for Canadian oil sands crudes against each other and against those of other global reference crudes. As congressional concern over the environmental impacts of Canadian oil sands production may encompass both a broad understanding of the resource as well as a specific assessment of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, the report surveys both the general scientific literature as well as the individual findings in the State Department's 2011 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and 2013 Draft Supplementary EIS for the Keystone XL Project.
Description: This report discusses the air pollution regulations and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) regulatory actions on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and also addresses some climate change issues.
Description: This report discusses some factors taken into account when considering whether biopower is carbon neutral. It does not discuss carbon accounting for other bioenergy pathways.
Description: This report provides background and discusses four options to address greenhouse gas (GHG) sources: (1) resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act; (2) freestanding legislation directing, delaying, or prohibiting EPA action; (3) the use of appropriations bills as a vehicle to influence EPA activity; and (4) amendments to the Clean Air Act, including legislation to establish a new GHG control regime.
Description: This report discusses the basic methodology of life-cycle assessments and compares several of the publicly-available studies of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data for Canadian oil sands crudes against each other and against those of other global reference crudes.
Description: This report discusses elements of the greenhouse gas (GHG) controversy, providing background on stationary sources of GHG pollution and identifying options Congress has at its disposal to address GHG issues, including: (1) resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act; (2) freestanding legislation; (3) the use of appropriations bills as a vehicle to influence EPA activity; and (4) amendments to the Clean Air Act, including legislation to establish a new GHG control regime.
Description: H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, contains provisions that would amend the Clean Air Act to establish a cap-and-trade system designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from covered sources 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83% below 2005 levels by 2050. Following an overview, this report contains a section-by-section summary of H.R. 2454 as passed by the House, and interpretive or informative commentary for some sections, when appropriate.
Cars and Climate: What Can EPA Do to Control Greenhouse Gases from Mobile Sources?
Description: This report discusses legislation being considered by congress to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change. It discusses the EPA's authority under Title II and provides information regarding the mobile sources that might be regulated under this authority. Among these sources, motor vehicles (passenger cars and light trucks, including SUVs) are assumed to be the most likely initial targets for regulation, both because a petition addressing these sources began EPA's consideration of the endangerment issue, and because these are the most significant GHG emission sources among those covered by Title II.
Description: This report examines basic questions concerning carbon sequestration in forests. The first section provides a brief background on congressional interest in forest carbon sequestration. The second describes the basic carbon cycle in forests, with an overview of how carbon cycling and storage vary among different types of forests. The third section then addresses how forest carbon is considered in the global climate change debate.
Description: This report examines the interrelationships of the variables regarding the debate on climate change to explore their implications for policies that address the problem. The three variables underpinning the debates and justified response to the issue are: the magnitude and rates of change of (1) population growth, (2) incomes, and (3) intensity of greenhouse gas emissions relative to economic activities.
Description: This report assesses the variables involved in determining whether or not biopower (i.e., electricity generated from biomass) is a carbon-neutral alternative to fossil fuels as a way to help meet meet U.S. energy demands and reduce U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It includes information about the biomass carbon cycle, GHG accounting for biopower production, recent developments affecting the assessment, and overview of whether or not it can be considered carbon neutral, and legislative implications.


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St. Luke's Children's NICU Follow-up Clinic
St. Luke's Children's NICU Follow-up Clinic provides continued assessment for many NICU babies after they "graduate" from the unit. Clinic staff members evaluate children's growth and development, ensure access to resources, and coach parents in recognizing and caring for growth or developmental concerns.
Our team includes a behavior and development pediatric physician specialist, developmental specialist, neonatal nurses, social workers, pediatric physical and occupational therapists, speech and language specialists, and child psychologists.
305 E. Jefferson St.
Keeping You Healthy and Safe
For Current Patients
Trisha M. Barnes, OT
Trisha Barnes, OT has a passion for working with children who have developmental coordination disorder or any impairment in sensory processing, coordination, handwriting, or strength. She also teaches classes for new parents about infant motor development, tummy time, and infant massage.
Trisha earned her bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from Pacific University. She enjoys teaching babies to enjoy tummy time, watching her kids play soccer, and skiing.
Favorite Book: Building Babies Better: Developing a Solid Foundation for Your Child by Roxanne Small.
Specialties, Conditions & Treatments
Chantelle Bernier, OTD
Chantelle Bernier, OTD, OTR/L specializes in infant feeding and developmental disorders. She also works closely with children who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, sensory processing disorder, and general sensitivities. She helped develop the Bluebird Program that focuses on fostering supportive interactions for pediatric patients.
Chantelle is passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of her patients and their families through the understanding of their needs and by providing a compassionate environment where they can succeed in their occupational roles.
She earned her doctorate in occupational therapy from Pacific University of Oregon and completed her residency in Canada, conducting research and program development related to technology and its impact on children. Chantelle is also an adjunct professor for the School of Occupational Therapy at Pacific University of Oregon.
Chantelle enjoys traveling, hiking, and learning something from everyone she meets.
Favorite Book: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.
Mindi M. Carr, SLP
Pediatric Speech Language Therapy
Mindi Walters, MS, CCC-SLP enjoys working with language delays in both preschool and adolescent age groups. She is certified in Hanen's It Takes Two to Talk® and works in both outpatient rehabilitation and with the NICU follow-up clinic.
Mindi is an Idaho native and earned her master's degree in speech language pathology from Idaho State University.
Favorite Therapy Toy: Mr. Potato Head.
Charlene A. Crichton, MD
Charlene Crichton, MD is a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics. She performed her neonatology fellowship at Oregon Health & Science University, where she also served as an assistant professor.
Abigail M. Fry, OT
Celene Hunter, OT
Celene M. Hunter, OTR/L is certified in NIDCAP and has experience in St. Luke's PICU, NICU, NICU follow-up clinic, and pediatrics.
Celene earned her bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from the University of Kansas. Her hobbies include traveling, gardening, and caring for animals. She's married and has a daughter, son, and a granddaughter.
Jobeth D. Kuchar, RD
Nutritional Counseling for Children
Jennifer R. Merchant, MD
Jennifer Merchant, MD is a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics and the medical director of the NICU Follow-Up Clinic.
Keri Noll, SLP
Keri Noll, SLP is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist. She has extensive experience working with infants and children and has a passion for early intervention.
Keri earned her master's degree from Idaho State University and has worked in both home and hospital settings.
Nicole D. Nord, DPT
Declan P. O'Riordan, MD
Declan O'Riordan, MD is a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics and is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington.
Dr. O'Riordan has experience in pediatric emergency medicine and general pediatrics. His research interests include neonatal herpes simplex virus infections, perinatal brain injury, and intrauterine methamphetamine exposure.
St. Luke's Children's Rehabilitation: Boise
Mon - Thu: 7:15 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Fri: 7:15 a.m. - 5 p.m.
St. Luke's Children's Dietitians
St. Luke's Children's Rehabilitation: Nampa
Mon - Thu: 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Fri: 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Access Your Mobile Medical Record Anytime, Anywhere
Sign up for a myChart account today!
With myChart, you're able to view test results, contact your provider, request medication refills, schedule appointments and more. We encourage you to sign up for easy access to the tools and information you need to proactively manage your health. You can also set up online proxy access requests for medical records of children, spouses, or dependents.
There's also an easy-to-use myChart app available for your mobile devices!
Learn more about myChart
Schedule Your Flu Shot Appointment


Understanding how to place adjectives will help you achieve fluency. Adjectives change based on the gender and number of the noun they describe. Fortunately, the case does not change based on the case of the noun, so you only need to learn a few rules and memorize a number of common exceptions.
The easiest way to remember how to use the right adjective for French gendered nouns is to memorize the rules for feminine because adjectives do not change for the masculine form. When you have a noun that is feminine, in most instances you will add "-e" to reflect the gender.
It is possible that an adjective already ends in "-e," in which case you do not need to change it as the masculine and feminine versions will be the same.
There are two exceptions for plural masculine nouns.
1. Adjectives ending in "-s" and "-x" are not changed.
Il est vieux (he is old).
ils sont vieux (They are old).
2. Adjectives ending in "-eau" use "-x" for their plural form.
About the only way to deal with irregular adjectives is to memorize them since they do not follow any rules or guidelines.
Unfortunately, there are three adjectives that are more complex because the masculine version also varies, depending on the beginning of the noun they describe.
Adjective placement in French is reversed from what you are accustomed to in English. Where you are used to putting the adjective directly before the noun, you will need to start training yourself to place it directly after the noun when thinking or speaking in French. This needs to become your default though process for dealing with most adjectives.
There are a few adjectives that almost alwaysprecede the noun. The following list is one to memorize. It is likely best to simply note these for now and choose other adjectives that follow the usual sequence (after the noun) so that you get accustomed to placing the adjective after the noun – this is going to be far more common than the few adjectives that do not follow this pattern.
You can place emphasis to the noun by adding "-ci" (this/these) or "-là" (that/those).
In English, you either use the words "more" or "less" before a noun, or add "-er" to the end of a word to show how it compares to something else.
This shirt is shorter than the one I'm wearing.
The area is larger than my last sales area.
He is more obstinate than his brother.
This village is less interesting than the one we visited earlier.
Cette chemise est plus courte que celle que je porte.
La zone est plus grande que ma dernière zone de vente.
Il est plus têtu que son frère.
Ce village est moins intéressant que celui que nous avons visité auparavant.
Similarly, superlatives use the words "most" and "least" before a noun, or add "-est_ to the end of a word.
That was the prettiest lamp in the store.
My sister is the most optimistic person I know.
The least pleasant experience offers a valuable lesson.
The rarest samples weren't available to the public.
C'était la plus jolie lampe du magasin.
Ma soeur est la personne la plus optimiste que je connaisse.
L'expérience la moins agréable offre une leçon précieuse.
Les échantillons les plus rares n'étaient pas disponibles au public.
Finally, there are irregular comparatives and superlatives, and the ones you are likely to use are the same in French as in English.


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MP Daisy Cooper takes part in sustainable Polar Bear Plunge
Maya Derrick
Published: 1:41 PM December 21, 2020
St Albans MP Daisy Cooper took part in the Polar Bear Plunge at home with her sustainable ice bucket challenge. - Credit: Earthworks/Daisy Cooper
St Albans MP Daisy Cooper has made a splash by taking part in this year's Polar Bear Plunge.
After collecting rainwater in her back garden over the last few weeks and topping it up with water previously used for hot water bottles, Daisy was caught off guard by being drenched with ice cold water for the challenge.
Daisy Cooper received a shock when she was drenched in ice cold water for the challenge. - Credit: Earthworks/Daisy Cooper
Sporting a Santa hat and tinsel scarf, Daisy encouraged others to join in with the plunge at home, which is raising money for Earthworks and Youth Talk.
The famous annual Polar Bear Plunge usually sees participants taking a dip in the outdoor pool of the St Albans Sub Aqua Club – which is ice cold - for charity.
READ MORE: St Albans' Polar Bear Plunge is back with a splash!
Instead of plunging into the ice cold water at St Albans Sub Aqua Club, this year's participants are taking part in a sustainable ice bucket challenge at home. - Credit: Earthworks
With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic halting the usual proceedings, Earthworks are encouraging people to plunge at home to keep the spirit of the plunge alive.
Members of the public who take part in fancy dress are in with a chance of winning a £100 prize, thanks to Affinity Water.
To enter, post a photo or video of your sustainable Polar Bear Plunge challenge, just like Daisy, on social media with the hashtag #plungestalbans or email submissions to plunge@earthworksstalbans.co.uk. Closing date is January 8, 2021.
All details about the challenge can be found at polarbearplunge.org.uk/on-the-day


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Dilapidation Advice/Landlord and Tenant Issues
Party Wall Advice
Fire Insurance Valuation
Statutory Consents
Due Diligence/Development Monitoring
Employer's Agent/Contract Administration
Fusion leads new £2m Telford College facility
Work is almost complete on a new £2 million teaching facility at Telford College of Arts and Technology for students with severe and complex learning disabilities.
Fusion is providing quantity surveying and CDM co-ordinator services for the construction of The Willow Tree – a 1,000 sq m secure facility that will comprise teaching rooms, a sensory room, a holistic therapy room, and a care suite.
Rachel Jelfs, CDM co-ordinator at Birmingham-based Fusion Building Consultancy said "The Willow Tree will extend the college's teaching provisions for students with learning difficulties and disabilities and the design team and the college have been working very closely with the local authority to ensure that the right specification is achieved.
"It will be a secure building to ensure the students' safety and have high levels of durability. A palette of materials and colours will be used throughout to create a welcoming comfortable atmosphere."
The facility, which was designed by architects Pinnegar Hayward Design LLP, also includes a new access road and large drop-off area to accommodate multi-axle minibuses that can manoeuvre without reversing.
This specialised, high-quality project at Haybridge Road, Wellington, is being built by Paveaways Ltd, Oswestry, and it should be completed by the end of May.
It is the third new-build project that Birmingham-based Fusion has been involved with at the college, having undertaken QS and CDMC services at its £2.2 million Discovery Centre and £2 million automotive engineering workshop.
It has also carried out with a number of refurbishments at the college, including a new construction centre, facilities for arts students and learners with learning difficulties and disabilities, plus a number of demolitions.
The college, which has 6,000 campus-based students and has spent more than £10 million on refurbishments and new buildings, is just one of the many education providers in the Midlands the building consultancy has worked with.
Fusion Building Consultancy Ltd
Griffin House
18-19 Ludgate Hill
Birmingham B3 1DW
Email: info@fusionbc.co.uk
© Fusion Building Consultancy 2020 |


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'Enthiran' plagiarism case: Director Shankar says no non-bailable warrant against him
By	Nivetha on February 2nd, 2021
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Shankar, the director of Rajinikanth-starrer 'Enthiran' said the reference to the warrant was due to an online glitch.
Film director Shankar, on Monday denied reports that claimed that a non-bailable arrest warrant has been issued against him in the Enthiran plagiarism case. His statement came after several media reports said that an arrest warrant has been issued by the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Egmore against him.
In his statement, Shankar said that he was shocked to see 'false news' about a non-bailable warrant issued against him. "My advocate Mr Sai Kumaran has approached the Hon'ble court today and brought this to the Court's attention. The Learned Judge was pleased to immediately confirm that no warrant has been issued against me. The reference to any warrant has apparently occurred due to a glitch in the online court reporting, which is presently being corrected," his statement said. He added that such news without verification has caused needless anguish to his family and well-wishers.
Earlier reports had stated that the court had issued the warrant against Shankar as he failed to appear for hearings for around 10 years in the case. The petition was filed by a short story writer Arur Tamilnandan in 2010, who alleged that Shankar used his story for Enthiran, a blockbuster film that had Rajinikanth and Aishwarya Rai in lead roles. He had alleged copyright violation of his story, which was first published as Jugiba in a magazine named 'Iniya Udayam' in April 1996. Adding that his story was republished in 2007 in a novel Tik Tik Deepika, the petitioner alleged that Enthiran was a copy of his work and was punishable under the IPC and the Copyright Act. The writer had also demanded Rs 1 crore from Shankar and Kalanidhi Maran, who is the producer of Enthiran for patent infringement.
When the case was heard in Madras High Court in 2019, Shankar's counsel denied the allegations. However, the petitioner's counsel pointed out 29 similarities between the two stories, and added that Arur Tamilnandan has a Kalaimamani award for his work. The Madras High Court, convinced by the submissions, refused to quash the case. In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled against Shankar even as he pleaded that he had written the story even before Jugiba was published.
'Enthiran' plagiarism case: Non-bailable warrant issued against director Shankar
'Enthiran' story theft case: Court issues non-bailable warrant against director Shankar
Enthiran: Non-Bailable Warrant Against Shankar Over Rajinikanth-Aishwarya Rai Starrer
'Enthiran' copyright violation case: SC refuses to quash case against director Shankar
'Enthiran' story case: Apex court dismisses director Shankar's appeal
Categories: Other News, Rajinikanth
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