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'Supergirl': The ABCs of Sanvers
Alyssa BarbieriJune 27, 20170 Comment0
Supergirl's Alex Danvers and Maggie Sawyer were one of the most satisfying surprises last season. They were a couple we didn't see coming until Maggie made her debut. But the chemistry was instantaneous and compelling. Suddenly, we were looking at our next OTP.
Their beautiful relationship was depicted truthfully and intricately. Unlike other shows that depict same-sex couples, Sanvers was allowed to just be themselves in a relationship. Because while the representation is important, it's equally important to depict same-sex couples in an honest light. Alex and Maggie were allowed to be in a relationship, experiencing all the ups and downs that come with a relationship. It was simply beautiful.
We've put together a list of ABCs that reminds us of all the things we love about Sanvers. The only downside is that there aren't more letters in the alphabet – because we have so much more left to say!
A is for Always.
While Alex and Maggie might've just come into our lives this past year, there's a sense that their love is a love that will last forever. No matter the hardships, Alex and Maggie's love is enough to withstand the test of time. They're our always.
B is for Badass.
Alex and Maggie are both incredibly passionate, emotional, intelligent, and beautiful women. But they're also incredibly badass, as in you don't want to mess with them both yet alone them as individuals. They're the epitome of strong on their own but stronger together.
C is for Chemistry.
It's one thing to be a couple on screen, it's something else entirely to bring that to life in a way that's filled with so much raw emotion and chemistry that it feels like you're watching two real people instead of two fictional characters. Alex and Maggie have that chemistry that makes their relationship thrive.
D is for Dependable.
When it comes to having a partner in life, you need to be able to trust them with your life. Alex and Maggie have depended on each other in their professional lives, as well as their personal lives, that only makes their relationship stronger. When someone has your back, it makes you all the more stronger.
E is for Enough.
Life is full of ups and downs; good and bad; wins and losses. But sometimes love is enough to counteract all the struggles that life can throw your way. Alex and Maggie have always been enough for each other. Their love has always been enough.
F is for Firsts.
Alex and Maggie have shared so many "firsts" together, and I don't think we've ever been as compromised by the word "firsts" ever. There's so much these two women have experienced together for the first time, and the beautiful thing is there are so many more firsts in their future.
G is for Glow.
The way that Alex and Maggie just light up around each other is something that does not go unnoticed. Just being in each other's orbit is enough to make a bad day better, enough to make a good day the best day. Just gazing upon each other is enough to bring a smile to their face that just illuminates them in happiness.
H is for Honesty.
Opening up about your deepest, darkest secrets is something that's incredibly hard to do. But it's essential in a healthy relationship. From the beginning, we've seen Alex and Maggie be able to do just that as they've confessed things about themselves that they hadn't before. Even though it's hard. Even though it scares them. Being honest with each other is that important to them.
I is for Iconic.
Lesbian couples on TV are few and far in between. And when they do pop up, shows don't take the time to properly develop them or give them the same milestones as heterosexual relationships. That's not so for Sanvers. They've developed and grown together over time, hitting their milestones and roadblocks, to become an iconic lesbian couple that people can aspire to be like and relate to.
J is for Joyous.
This letter is dedicated more to the fans who watch and fall in love with Sanvers a little more each and every single week. It's filled us with so much joy and happiness to see them fall in love, struggle, and succeed against everything that comes their way.
K is for Kindness.
Living the lives they do isn't an easy thing. There are threats left and right that push at them to change who they are and lose that kindness inside of them and that they have for each other. Fortunately, they don't lose it. They continue to try to understand, be there for each other, and treat the other with as much kindness as they deserve.
L is for Laughter.
The ability to tease and joke around with each other is at the core of every great relationship. You know what pulls a peal of laughter from your partner, what they enjoy, and how to make them smile like the sun. The fact that Sanvers has this, grounds them and makes them even more relatable.
M is for Marriage.
Alex didn't ask Maggie to marry her because things got dangerous and she's scrambling to fill her life with all the good she can. She proposed to Maggie because she doesn't want to waste a second not married to this woman. She's happy and wants to revel in the love that they share.
N is for Natural.
Nothing is forced with them. Even from the very first moment they met, their was this playful back and forth, chess game of word play, that felt natural and like they'd done it before. And as they got to know each other and become more intimate, we got to see that Alex and Maggie complimented each other and proved to be naturals at providing what the other didn't have.
O is for Oneness.
At first glance these two women are different kind of people. Yes, being together comes natural to them and they compliment each other, but they're different. After working together and being put in a couple tough spots, they quickly realized that those differences are their strength and what makes them come together and be an amazing team.
P is for Perseverance.
The path to falling in love wasn't picture perfect for these two. But despite their personal issues or whatever alien, kidnapper, or problem that came at them…they kept trying! They kept fighting for what they had and it made them stronger for it.
Q is for Quiet.
The little moments where you can cuddle up with someone are just as important as the ones on the field where you're fighting for your life on Supergirl. Moments like this where Alex and Maggie are curled up together speak of comfort, of trust, and of knowing that they can let their walls down and be safe with the person beside them.
R is for Respect.
Because Alex and Maggie's relationship is built on a solid foundation of respect. Yes, they love each other and yes, they support each other and they push each other to be better, but above all things, they respect who the other is and what the other does. That's the foundation of every successful relationship.
S is for Sanvers.
Need we say more?
T is for Together.
None of that I'm leaving you for your own good or you'd be better off without me crap, Alex and Maggie face life's obstacles together, the way it should be. They're not co-dependant, or anything or the sort, but they still recognize that the time for being alone is over – they're partners now, and that's how they face life.
U is for Unstoppable.
Alex and Maggie don't have superpowers – unlike many of the other heroes on this show. But that doesn't mean they're not forces of nature, that doesn't mean they back down, and that doesn't mean that, together, they're not unstoppable.
V is for for Vulnerable.
Alex never truly knew what opening herself up and being truly vulnerable in front of someone else was, at least not till she met Maggie. Maggie opened her heart up for Alex, even though her brain was telling her not to, even though it was scary. And that's beautiful …that they're comfortable enough to be vulnerable together.
W is for Wedding.
The one they'll hopefully have and we'll get to see, both of them dressed in white or in purple or in whatever color they choose. They've already broken so many stereotypes, given us so much joy with the way their relationship has been portrayed and acted, and this would just be the cherry on top of a very large sundae.
X is for X-Ray Vision.
Though not really, not like Kara's. That doesn't mean these two don't see right through each other, and not in the bad way, but in that awesome way that couples have when they know each other inside and out.
Y is for Years.
And years, and years together. Because that's what we want for them. A life together, a full life, one with ups and downs and arguments and joy. They deserve to be more than a vignette in each other's life.
Z is for Zenith.
Because though they're not the only LGBTQI couple on TV, and they're not the only one who's journey we're getting to see, they're our favorite.
Have your own ABCs of Sanvers? Sound off in the comments!
Watch Alex and Maggie captivate us Mondays at 8/7c on The CW.
Chyler Leigh
DCTV
Floriana Lima
Sanvers
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Alyssa Barbieri
Teacher by day, writer by every other free moment | Obsessed with sports, TV, books, movies, and superheroes | Proud shipper and supporter of strong female characters | Co-executive Editor for Fangirlish | Contributor for Bears Wire at USA Today SMG | Producer/Co-Host of Buffone 55 for Bears Barroom Radio Network | Contact: alyssa@fangirlish.com.
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This site is dedicated to the memory of Kenneth Poch.
This website honors the Jewish American patriots who are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia. These patriots include service men and women, astronauts, Federal judges, spouses and children.
A project of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington (JGSGW), the research began with digitization of the information collected by Kenneth Poch, it is our intent to expand the database and website to include gravesites that have been added since Ken's death and others that he may have inadvertently missed. We have added photographs of grave markers, dates of interment or inurnment, and other information about those Jewish persons who are at rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The interface will permit genealogists and others to search the database and to drill down to additional data.
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The Conversation: Indigenous knowledge is the solution to Canada's health inequities
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Debbie Martin - November 30, 2018
Addressing Canada's health inequities through the health-care system will only take us so far. Real change will require listening to Indigenous stories, which teach about our relationships to one another as human beings, and between us and our four-legged, winged, finned, rooted and non-rooted relations. (Unsplash/jongsun lee CC BY-NC-SA)
This article was originally published on The Conversation, which features includes relevant and informed articles, written by researchers and academics in their areas of expertise and edited by experienced journalists.
Debbie Martin is Associate Professor & Canada Research Chair, Indigenous Peoples' Health and Well-being at Dalhousie University.
It is no secret there are stark differences between the health of Indigenous peoples in Canada and their non-Indigenous counterparts.
First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples fare more poorly than the average Canadian on virtually every measurable health indicator including infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic diseases and the incidence of illness and injury.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action appeal to the health sector. They call for the federal government to publish annual progress reports on its attempts to measure and address this unacceptable gap.
They also argue for more cultural competency training for health and medical professionals, as well as greater efforts to attract and retain Indigenous students into the health professions. These suggestions are measurable, achievable and commendable. However, these efforts will do very little, in and of themselves, to close the health gap.
Well, you might say, if addressing issues within the health-care system won't solve the health crises facing Indigenous communities, then what will?
Indigenous knowledge.
But before we go there, let's take a step back.
Plant medicines and ceremonies
Let's imagine for a moment that we all wake up tomorrow and somehow all of the recommendations from the TRC that directly pertain to health have been addressed.
Read more: More than one in 100 Nunavut infants have TB
The health and medical professionals in our health-care system have received cultural competency training. We have managed to attract and retain Indigenous health and medical staff within all of our health-care institutions. Students in all health professional programs are receiving mandatory curriculum that educates them specifically about Indigenous history and health. There is a robust progress report released each year that measures steps taken within the health-care system to reduce inequities.
These would be amazing leaps forward and I sincerely hope that we all wake up tomorrow and these changes have happened.
Evelyn Youngchief burns sweetgrass during a Coalition on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls news conference, in Vancouver, B.C., in 2017. Sweetgrass is a healing herb, used in smudging, to cleanse and purify. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
However, the question I keep coming back to is: what measurable improvements could that yearly progress report possibly offer if we continue to restrict our notion of Indigenous health to that which can be addressed and solved by the health-care system?
Now let's return to the term Indigenous knowledge. I use this term in its broadest, most complete and utterly comprehensive sense. Indigenous knowledge includes, but is not limited to, knowledge about traditional medicines.
Within the boreal forests of Canada, for example, more than 546 diverse plant species have been used by Indigenous peoples to treat over 28 different diseases and disorders, including everything from gastrointestinal disorders to musculoskeletal issues. But Indigenous knowledge does not stop there.
Indigenous knowledge also includes practices that relate to overall health and well-being. One example of this would be the ceremony of smudging, which is performed by many First Nations across the country. Two separate studies have found that the act of using medicinal smoke may have particular health benefits and can act as an air purifier by reducing airborne bacteria that is harmful for human health.
Now let's imagine for a moment that hospitals and pharmacies decided to start prescribing these different types of plants medicines to their patients beginning tomorrow. Would that address the health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples? Probably not.
Stories teach us how to heal
One of the reasons for this is that Indigenous knowledge is (w)holistic — spelled with a "w" to indicate the whole-ness and completeness of the knowledge.
It is intended to exist within a particular context, for a specific purpose and tailored to the intended users and/or listeners of that knowledge.
This is why, in virtually any Indigenous culture, Elders will share their knowledge via stories. Those stories hold infinite lessons — about life, about living, about what are the important things to learn from and focus on.
Read more: Indigenous group tackles diabetes with storytelling
You may hear the same story more than once. And that is OK because each time you hear it, you may take a little more meaning away it. Until one day that story becomes a part of you, and you can pass it along to others.
Often the stories that get shared might teach you something specific — like, for example, how to use a certain tree root to cure a headache. But the real meaning behind the stories isn't simply the intellectual knowledge that you have gained about the medicinal use of a plant.
Many Indigenous communities remain deeply connected to the land, water and air and recognize that the health of people depends upon the health of the natural world. Here, NunatuKavut in southeastern Labrador. (Emily Beacock), Author provided
The story itself will tell you much more than that — it will teach about our relationships to one another as human beings, and about the relationship between us and our four-legged, winged, finned, rooted and non-rooted relations that live alongside us on this shared space we call home, or Mother Earth.
And as we learn these important stories, we learn to understand that it is in our best interest, as human beings, to protect and preserve the air, water and soil around us so that the plants and animals upon which we rely for our own well-being will continue to be there for us when we need them.
It is the richness of language, culture and rootedness in place that gives rise to this particular knowledge. It is this knowledge that we all require, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to heal ourselves.
Respect for "all our relations"
So what is required for us to lessen the gap in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples? It requires relationships — listening and learning about how to respect one another and the world around us.
So yes, the TRC is right — we do need more Indigenous health professionals, more culturally competent health-care providers, and we do need to measure our progress.
But we need to do so within the context of the TRC Calls to Action, addressing not just those that pertain to health.
In his last Facebook post before his death, acclaimed Indigenous writer Richard Wagamese captured this sentiment very well. He stated:
"I've been considering the phrase 'all my relations' for some time now. It's hugely important. It's our saving grace in the end. It points to the truth that we are related, we are all connected, we all belong to each other. The most important word is all. Not just those who look like me, sing like me, dance like me, speak like me, pray like me or behave like me. ALL my relations. It means every person just as it means every blade of grass, rock, mineral and creature. We live because everything else does. If we were to collectively choose to live that teaching the energy of that change of consciousness would heal all of us — and heal the planet. We do it one person, one heart at a time… we are connected, we are the answer." Richard Wagamese, Facebook, Feb. 23, 2015.
All my relations. Inogiamit nunattinit ikKasugiaKavugut (Inutittut). Msit No'kmaq (Mi'kmaq). Nii'kinaaganaa (Ojibwe). Mitakuye-Oyasin (Lakota). Kakina ni Dodem (Algonquin). Niw_hk_m_kanak (Cree).
Read the original article on The Conversation.
Dalhousie University is a founding partner of The Conversation Canada, an online media outlet providing independent, high-quality explanatory journalism. Originally established in Australia in 2011, it has had more than 85 commissioning editors and 30,000-plus academics register as contributors. A full list of articles written by Dalhousie academics can be found on the Conversation Canada website.
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5.3 Adulthood: What is it?
6.3 An Adult: What is it?
7.3 Adulthood: What is it?
Dr. Dianne Ashworth qualified with honours from Deakin University Australia as a social worker in 2006. In 2013 she completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Devoted to Matthew, a young man who committed suicide, her thesis aimed to better understand young people's personal development in contemporary life. Through the voices of the young people who sailed on the Western Australian Leeuwin II tall ship, her study explored their relationship between their personal development and experiences on board in light of their everyday lives. Now teaching at university and voluntarily participating in the Australian bionic eye clinical trials to help researchers develop future bionic vision (Dr Ashworth lost her sight over twenty years ago), she wishes to share her book – Sailing Tall: Young People, Their Identity Development and Communitas adapted from her thesis; a study that interestingly indicates the relevance of tradition in young people's development in an individualised contemporary life.
Dedicated to Matthew who committed suicide when he was eighteen years old, this book focuses on youth development in contemporary life. The study investigates the relationship between young people's personal development and their participation on a tall ship called the Leeuwin II in light of their everyday lives. Through these young people's voices, who are referred to as trainees, they describe what benefits they experience and how and why they think this occurs. While what they say is not new and in many ways mirrors outdoor adventure literature, what emerges is the relevance of communitas in their development.
The first chapter sets the scene! In it I put forward my understanding of how young people develop in an individualised society, introduce outdoor adventure, the theoretical perspective and methodology. The second chapter reviews the outdoor adventure literature – its benefits and possible reasons how and why it works. Chapter Three is devoted to the theoretical perspective; expanding the relationship between young people's agency and social structure. Chapter Four introduces the field of the Leeuwin II tall ship through the perspectives of two board members, workers and volunteers and my own experience as trainee. The following three chapters analyse the responses of the three categories of trainees – 'Adolescents', Post Adolescents' and Past Trainees'. In the final chapter, Chapter Eight conclusions and future research are discussed.


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Wednesday, March 6, 2002, Chandigarh, India
E D I T O R I A L P A G E
CM on probation
With the increasing assertiveness of over-ambitious legislators, ministry-making is not an easy job in Punjab even in normal times. It became all the more ticklish exercise this time for the Congress which has wrested power from the SAD-BJP alliance after five years amidst high expectations.
Right political gesture
The Haryana Assembly made the right political gesture on the opening day of the Budget session by placing on record its deep sense of anguish over the incidents of communal violence in Gujarat. The political compulsion for making the gesture is not difficult to understand.
Of Saudi peace plan
Amidst killings and counter-killings involving Israelis and Palestinians a fresh initiative for peace has been made in West Asia. It has the stamp of the most influential Arab country, Saudi Arabia, earning instant support from the USA and the European Union.
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The extensive violence in Gujarat following the train tragedy in Godhra calls for deep reflection on the part of those who are trying to shape the destiny of this country. Capturing power by false slogans and dangerous propaganda will only result in more and more violence, including arson and murder.
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Jai Hanuman gian gun sagar, jai kapeesh..................
I went over the Hanuman Chalisa silently, line after line and verse after verse, with eyes closed, as I stood motionless in the chemistry lab of Lucknow University during the practical tests of B.Sc (final year) in 1964, beset with the problem, in a gravimetric experiment, of recording the weight in grams, correct to the fourth place of decimal, of a crucible with a residue which had been heated on a Bunsen burner six times earlier and weighed each time, to ensure the constancy of weight in the last two readings.
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SPIRITUAL NUGGETS
With the increasing assertiveness of over-ambitious legislators, ministry-making is not an easy job in Punjab even in normal times. It became all the more ticklish exercise this time for the Congress which has wrested power from the SAD-BJP alliance after five years amidst high expectations. Though major groups have been accommodated in the ministry, serious gaps from the angle of its representative character and the functioning skill remain. The 19-member two-tier Council of Ministers looks lopsided and not so cohesive, especially in critical areas of financial management and industrial growth. There are wheels within wheels and no one can be sure which wheel is running at whose behest and for what purpose. It will probably take a couple of months before a viable team emerges. Perhaps, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has not got the persons he wished to include in the ministry. But, then, he has to be realistic. He is expected to take everybody along to achieve the larger objective of faster growth and usher in a corruption-free regime he has promised to the people.
It will be a folly on the Chief Minister's part to think that he can improve things by large-scale postings and transfers. The administration and the police setup have to be toned up substantially—both functionally and attitudewise. So far one does not get the impression that the recent changes have been undertaken with a view to giving the state a clean administration. Some of the persons entrusted with the sensitive posting-transfer task may have a lot to explain. In any case, no government can establish its credibility by its transfer and posting exercise. The Chief Minister needs to remember that a perception of honesty creates a general feeling of fairness in the system. This, in turn, generates a high degree of legitimacy for the government, thereby increasing its effectiveness.
Capt Amarinder Singh has a long way to go. His real task begins now. He may have his problems—functional or otherwise. But as long as he is serious and sincere in his efforts and does not allow himself to be outmanoeuvred by manipulators and operators, he will get public support. He ought to remember that his party won the assembly election on a negative vote. So, he will have to work hard to give a new direction to the administration with the support from his ministerial colleagues. The people want "good" governance. And good governance requires a "good" government which is both capable and willing to chalk out the direction of growth on all fronts and is, at the same time, able to translate its policies and programmes into action through a productive and accountable system. Much will depend on how cohesive, transparent and purposeful is the working of ministers and key administrative functionaries. Capt Amarinder Singh is on probation. He will be watched closely for his performance as well as non-performance. As it is, there are no short-cuts to success.
The Haryana Assembly made the right political gesture on the opening day of the Budget session by placing on record its deep sense of anguish over the incidents of communal violence in Gujarat. The political compulsion for making the gesture is not difficult to understand. Haryana has a large Muslim population. And there was an attempt to cause trouble in a small pocket by a group of social malcontent. Yes, the main mosque in Kaithal was damaged by miscreants, who attacked certain other places of worship as a reaction to the rail coach carnage at Godhra, Gujarat. However, the prompt damage control measures taken by the district administration helped in bringing out the human face of the residents of this township. Funds are being raised by concerned citizens for repairing the places of worship damaged by the unscrupulous elements. That is as it should be. Besides, the Meos of Haryana are different from mainstream Muslims because they still follow most of the Hindu social customs of their forefathers. The Haryana Assembly resolution is important for another reason. Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala heads a coalition government comprising the Indian National Lok Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party. The fact that the BJP associated itself with the resolution that condemned the communal flare-up in Gujarat is significant. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who heads a BJP government, will not be amused by the flak his indifference to containing the communal mayhem has drawn from his own party men in Haryana.
Apart from the resolution condemning the Gujarat killings, the day's proceedings included the routine of the Governor's address on the opening day of the session. The address predictably harped on the Supreme Court judgement on the completion of the controversial SYL canal by Punjab and Haryana. The rhetoric too was appropriate considering that Governor Babu Parmanand was addressing the Haryana Assembly. There was expected table-thumping when he said that the Supreme Court judgement brought a "message of happiness for the farmers of Haryana". Did it? Remember, Punjab has filed a review petition and until that is decided Haryana may be jumping the gun by spending huge sums of money on reconstructing the part of the SYL that falls in its territory. According to rough estimates, Haryana would have to spend about Rs 12 crore on repairs alone. And what is the point in completing work on a project that can never become operational without Punjab agreeing to complete its part of the canal? The deadline set by the apex court does not necessarily mean that Punjab's response should be as positive as that of Haryana. Neither Punjab nor Haryana can afford to ignore the political compulsions that dictate their respective positions on the future of the SYL canal. And neither party should be expected to commit political suicide in the larger interest of the people of the region. Without the Centre agreeing to take the rap by working out as fair a solution as is possible the construction of the SYL may continue to remain a bone of contention between Haryana and Punjab, the apex court's directive notwithstanding.
Amidst killings and counter-killings involving Israelis and Palestinians a fresh initiative for peace has been made in West Asia. It has the stamp of the most influential Arab country, Saudi Arabia, earning instant support from the USA and the European Union. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon too have expressed considerable interest in the effort. But what exactly is this plan, a brainchild of Crown Prince Abdullah? In a nutshell, the Saudi formula offers Israel Arab recognition and normal economic, political and cultural relations with all its West Asian neighbours in exchange for vacating the areas it occupied in the 1967 war. This means complete Israeli withdrawal from West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. It is not clear whether the Israeli pullout will include the return of the Golan Heights to Syria, but logic says this should also be part of the proposed plan. The most significant aspect of the peace initiative is the desire of Saudi Arabia to play an active role in ending the Palestinian uprising (continuing since September, 2000) against the Israelis, including jehadi violence, and target killings by Tel Aviv using its military might. The kingdom is the richest country in the region, enjoying the maximum clout in Washington even today despite the fact that most of the terrorists involved in the September 11 strike at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon complex were Saudi nationals. Many West Asia watchers believe that this is the reason why the Saudis have decided to set afloat their own formula. In the past they had been mostly passive players excepting the period when King Faisal was at the helm of affairs. There are reports that Saudi nationals are greatly worked up at what is happening in the Palestinian Authority area. Thus Jeddah considers it essential to use its influence in western and Arab capitals to eliminate the factor which brought it international embarrassment.
The initial reaction from the Arabs is, however, not encouraging. Their inflated ego is coming in the way. Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi has outrightly rejected the peace initiative, saying that he had a better formula but it did not find enough support. Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa too has views similar to those of the Libyan leader. Mr Moussa has even threatened to resign from the Arab body, scheduled to hold its crucial meeting on March 27-28, if his reservations were ignored. Syria and Lebanon too have their misgivings. Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad is insisting on the implementation of the 1991 Madrid land-for-peace proposal or on the UN resolutions which alone, he feels, can lead to "comprehensive peace". Syria has a point, though it is not justified in rejecting the latest move. The Saudi plan is silent about the fate of the Palestinian refugees, who want a right to return to the land of their forefathers. It was the issue related to these refugees and the question of allowing the Palestinians to have East Jerusalem as the capital of their homeland that rocked the 1993 Oslo peace process. Yet the Saudi move should be given support by one and all, including the Israelis and the Palestinians who seem to be tired of killing each other. Let everybody talk peace. Any problem can be sorted out once people begin to hold discussions with an open mind.
The extensive violence in Gujarat following the train tragedy in Godhra calls for deep reflection on the part of those who are trying to shape the destiny of this country. Capturing power by false slogans and dangerous propaganda will only result in more and more violence, including arson and murder. The nation as a whole will suffer, with its very future becoming a big question mark.
Pakistan is a standing example of this nemesis. Violence was encouraged and promoted in Kashmir and elsewhere in India by those who were in power in Pakistan from 1989 onwards and this has now yielded the poison fruit which General Musharraf is unable to squash. The numerous active and sleeper modules promoted and planted by the ISI of Pakistan throughout India have been there for many years. Whether an ISI functionary and a fundamentalist owing allegiance to the Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami was responsible for mobilising the Godhra crowd and attacking the hapless karsevaks returning from Ayodhya is not clear yet. However, the fact that a big mob was waiting with petrol and weapons to burn and kill the karsevaks indicated pre-planning and preparations. This gruesome act has to be condemned without reservation.
It is unfortunate that the communal peace between Hindus and Muslims should have been so seriously damaged after many years. The revenge killings in big and small towns in Gujarat and a few other places elsewhere in the country are bound to leave a bitter legacy. The police apathy, and to some extent connivance, motivated by religious bigotry is a tragic development during the past two or three decades. The BBC showed on February 28 morning itself the looting of shops and gangs marching with swords in hands while the police stood at street corners merely watching. The PAC of Uttar Pradesh was known for this dangerous malaise, but what was seen in Gujarat has left a sense of dejection in those who value standards of public administration and justice. On top of all this came equivocal and almost partisan utterances of Chief Minister Narendra Modi who seemed unable to forget his past as an RSS pracharak. When the law and order situation had gone out of control and the local police was unable to handle the situation, the Army should have been requisitioned and deployed with instructions to shoot at sight at the rioters. Instead the Army was in a standby mode and later driven through the streets in trucks and not flag-marched in Ahmedabad. They were deployed on the streets only on March 2.
While we talk about Pakistan's perfidy and reaping what it sowed all these years, what is happening in our own country? The horrible events in Gujarat should trace its origin to the rath yatra undertaken by the then BJP President, Mr L.K. Advani, in 1990. Deposing before the Liberhan Commission on May 17, 2001, Mr Advani said that he was not ashamed of the Ram temple movement and the rath yatra as it was a movement of national glory. It may be recalled that Mr Advani announced on September 12, 1990, that the rath yatra, with him at its head, would traverse the entire North and pass through at least eight states. He commenced his yatra from Somnath on September 25, 1990, with considerable religious fervour. The route of the rath yatra turned out to be a bloody trail, with riots breaking out in several places in Gujarat, UP, Rajasthan and even Karnataka and nearly a thousand people died in the communal riots. In a signed editorial in the party's organ, BJP Today, Mr Advani wrote in September 1997, that the Babri Masjid as an "ocular demonstration against the Hindus". Citing Arnold Toynbee on the Babri Masjid, he said the intelligentsia was unanimous in describing the existence of Babri Masjid as an insult to the Hindus. The ocular provocation was no longer there and it was not a matter of regret. Had Toynbee been alive today, he too, like Naipaul and Nirad Chaudhary, would have justified the demolition of the structure, he wrote.
The inexorable march of events led to the demolition of the structure on December 6, 1992. The aftermath resulted in large-scale riots throughout the country. The Bombay explosions and killings in March, 1993 were the organised response at the instance of Pakistan and its ISI. While the nation as a whole suffered, the BJP's political prospects soared. After the BJP came to power, it was the VHP and its storm troopers who were keeping the Ram temple movement alive. As long as it was not time-bound it suited the BJP quite well since the BJP leaders had convinced themselves that it was the rath yatra and the Ram temple movement which gave the party the crucial last leap for capturing power in Delhi and several States in the North. It may be remembered that BJP President Jana Krishnamurthy asked the Sangh Parivar to work for the success of the party in the UP elections last month.
This dual and equivocal approach on the part of the BJP is mainly responsible for the present situation. To give yet another example, when the VHP leaders entered the site of the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya defying the ruling of the Supreme Court prohibiting the entry of anyone in the restricted area, there was an uproar. Commenting on the event, Home Minister Advani declared that while he did not approve of the VHP people entering the disputed site, he found no transgression of law by them. There was no explanation why then a case was subsequently registered against the VHP leaders and an Additional Director-General of Police deputed by the UP government to the site for enquiry.
The time has come for the Sangh Parivar and the BJP leadership in power to seriously ponder over the course of events since 1990, the rhetoric which attended the Ram temple movement, the demolition of the Babri Masjid, the extensive violence throughout the country in the aftermath and subsequent course of events. More than anything else, the Ram temple rhetoric should be toned down. An example of unwarranted eloquence on the temple issue was the statement attributed to Mr Advani at a Press conference at Bhopal on June 13, 1997. To quote the report in full, which appeared in The Economic Times dated June 14, 1997, "BJP President LK Advani today struck a hard line Hindutva stance by saying that Indian Muslims will have to make a choice between Lord Ram and Mughal emperor Babar. Mr Advani said that there would be no dilution in the party's position on the issue. In a news release here he virtually held Muslims responsible for Partition and called upon the community to purge from their mindset every trace of the ideological, theological underpinnings of the two-nation theory." Having nurtured and encouraged the Parivar on such heady talk, it is no wonder that the Sangh Parivar has become uncontrollable and unrestrainable. Hopefully, such a strident tone would be avoided in future.
Prime Minister Vajpayee had declared that he was talking to some concerned people about an amicable settlement for the construction of Ram temple by March, 2002. However, he announced recently that he was unable to work out the arrangement and the VHP should wait for the court decision or a consensus among the parties concerned. This exercise could well have been avoided as it had only added to the expectations of the Sangh Parivar.
In the aftermath of the Gujarat events, the BJP seems to be in a fix and unable to handle the parivar with strong measures. After the Prime Minister's appeal to the VHP on February 28 its spokesman, Mr Onkar Bhave, audaciously accused Mr Vajpayee of "criminal negligence". Another VHP spokesman, Mr Veereshwar Divedi, called the Central Government as the "Ravana Raj". Such verbal excesses would not help in restoring normalcy and the Sangh Parivar should be sternly told to behave.
The opinion abroad about the events in India in the past few weeks is depressing. An analyst wrote in The New York Times on February 25 that while General Musharraf strove towards a secular polity, the ruling politicians of India headed in the opposite direction. "Oddly, the illiberal tendencies a military dictator seeks to expel with popular support from Pakistan seem to be finding a hospitable home in democratic India." This comment is even more appropriate in the light of the events in Gujarat and elsewhere since February 27.
I went over the Hanuman Chalisa silently, line after line and verse after verse, with eyes closed, as I stood motionless in the chemistry lab of Lucknow University during the practical tests of B.Sc (final year) in 1964, beset with the problem, in a gravimetric experiment, of recording the weight in grams, correct to the fourth place of decimal, of a crucible with a residue which had been heated on a Bunsen burner six times earlier and weighed each time, to ensure the constancy of weight in the last two readings. The horror of horrors for me, the weight not only didn't come constant, it differed each time in the third place of decimal! It meant an error of the magnitude of 10.
Time was running out. Another experiment of finding out radicals in a mixture of salts had been earlier carried out successfully, in the first part of the practicals. The second part of gravimetric estimation had, however, yet to be completed.
I had with me now six recordings of the weight of the crucible-mixture-combine, each recorded on a precision weighing-machine, all differing from the another. Obviously, the readings were all wrong, or at best, one of them could be correct.
The thought first occurred to me to take the average of the six readings, but no sooner did the idea sprout than it was discarded, for the errors of them all would then attach to the average, and the average would definitely be incorrect.
Certainly, the time left did not allow further experimentation-heating and weighting et al. However, there was still the possibility that one of the six readings might be correct, after all.
It is then that I thought of invoking the blessings of god Hanuman. Having recited the Hanuman Chalisa, I picked up one folded piece of paper out of six on which I had scribbled down the weights, one on each. I chose the weight thus picked up, used it for calculations, derived the result and handed over the papers to the examiner.
Then followed the wait of two months. The results were announced. I got 28 out of 30 in the practicals. The gravimetric experiment had come out to be correct. By the grace of Hanuman or by pure chance? The mystery remains.
To substantiate, take this case of AVI Packaging India Ltd., which was housed in SCO No. 493/494 in Sector 35-C, Chandigarh. The management of this company had applied for a loan of Rs 68.30 crore from the Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) to set up plants in 1997.
Within no time, all the formalities were completed and a loan of Rs 50 crore was sanctioned by the then General Manager, IFCI, Mr M.M. Sikka. Interestingly, the first instalment of Rs 12.50 crore was also released within 1997 itself. IFCI displayed incredible efficiency and released the second instalment of Rs 17.50 crore within five months. Under the rules of any financial institution, the second instalment is never released without physically verifying the optimum use of the first instalment.
As per the agreement AVI Packaging India Ltd was supposed to put up the plant with the first instalment of Rs 12.50 crore. Despite the fact that not even a brick was laid, IFCI still went ahead in releasing the second instalment. Ironically, it was only after releasing the total loan of Rs 30 crore, the management of IFCI reportedly came to know that AVI had submitted forged documents and that the sanctioned amount was not used for the purpose it was sanctioned.
The management of IFCI directed Mr Sikka to get a case registered against AVI Packaging India Ltd. The Chandigarh Police lodged the case under FIR No. 35 on February 19, 1999, under IPC Sections 420, 406, 467, 468, 471 and 120B against Avinash Arora, Rohit Kumar Arora, Inderpal and Rakesh Arora. While the anticipatory bail of the accused was dismissed by the district court in March 1999, Rakesh Arora was arrested in January, 2001.
The accused moved anticipatory bail applications in the high court in March, 1999. The court in its order on July 8 asked the accused to deposit Rs 10 crore from their own sources and not from the "no lien account" of Canara Bank by August 31 and further directed they should not be arrested till that date. Thereupon, the accused filed a review petition against the July order of the court on which the court on September 9, 1999 rejected their bail application since the accused had not complied with the order to deposit money by the said date.
The accused then went to the Supreme Court for bail on September 27. The court directed the high court to review its July 8 decision. The high court finally rejected the bail application on October 6, 2000. The police took non-bailable warrants against the accused on October 12, 1999. The accused, except Rakesh Arora who was arrested in January 2001, are still absconding and have been declared proclaimed offenders.
In fact, the high court had also appointed a liquidator for the AVI Group of companies set up by the accused.
"Meanwhile, during the course of investigation and questioning of accused, Rakesh Arora, the police was led to the vehicles owned by the accused. The vehicles verified from different registration offices included two Mercedes cars and a luxury bus all bearing Haryana state registration numbers. This also did not help find any clues to the whereabouts of the rest of the accused. The Chandigarh Police has already flashed wireless messages and circulated photographs of the accused across the country seeking any tip-off on them. A hue and cry notice has also been issued to all-India police stations", revealed Mr B S Bassi, IG, Chandigarh Police.
"Interestingly, while investigating the police collected some record from the Regional Passport Office, Chandigarh. On verification it was found that the documents submitted by the accused were "false". The police also found an official letter from a Haryana IAS officer, Mr P C Jain, recommending the issuing of passports to the accused. However, investigations made it amply clear that Mr Jain was not aware of the fraud committed and had issued the letter in good faith", said Mr HGS Dhaliwal, SP, Operations.
The police, all these years, has been following the case with perseverance. It has not given up hope and is confident of a breakthrough. It has also dispatched investigating officers, SIs Prem Chand, Dewan Singh and Inspector Kultar Singh to places like Mumbai, Jaipur, Delhi, Sonepat etc taking cues from the telephone calls made from the office and residence numbers of the accused.
Meanwhile, IFCI, on its part, has held Mr M M Sikka responsible for not having followed the procedures, besides ignoring the physical verification of the utilisation of the first instalment of Rs 12.50 crore. Mr Sikka has since been dismissed from service.
The Chandigarh Police formed a special team of senior officers in January, 2001, for further investigation into this fraud. This team took into its possession certain revealing documents from the IFCI Head Office in New Delhi and the Regional Office in Chandigarh, besides the banks concerned in Chandigarh and Panchkula. It also took in its possession the related record from the Registrar of Companies office in Jalandhar. This record had mentioned names of associates of Avinash Arora and the chartered accountants of the AVI group. The investigations revealed that all the names and addresses were fake and fabricated.
However, the Chandigarh Police has not let the dust gather on their file. It approached "India's Most Wanted" programme to highlight the case and the accused with their pictures. "Within one hour we received information from several viewers giving us details of the hideouts of directors of the AVI group of industries. Police parties were immediately rushed to the Sainik Farm located in South Delhi. In all probability the accused had also seen the programme, which enabled them to escape in a hurry. However, vehicles like BMW, Mercedes and Pajero were parked in front of their house, which was rented accommodation. We discovered that they were running some business from this location as 100 computers were installed there. Although they escaped, we got many clues from there", revealed Mr HGS Dhaliwal.
Meanwhile, the accused directors of the AVI group succeeded in obtaining yet another loan of Rs 10 crore from the LIC, Mumbai. The management of the IFCI has disclosed that a sum of Rs 14.50 crore has been recovered from the accused through various means. Meanwhile, the visiting police party led by SI Dewan Singh confirmed this. The special team has also procured all the records of income tax of the AVI group. The Chandigarh Police has also confirmed a couple of expensive cars with brand names like Opal Astra, Cielo purchased by the AVI group.
Accused Rakesh Arora was arrested on January 25, 2001. A car belonging to the AVI group was also recovered from his possession. The accused was in police custody for nearly a month and was eventually sent to judicial custody. The Sessions Court as well as the high court rejected his bail application.
"The clues from the continued investigations have led the Chandigarh Police to Jaipur and Lucknow, where we discovered that the Aroras had opened huge SK Supermarts. The investigations also revealed that the Aroras were indulging in every law-breaking activity possible like not paying the rent for hired premises or using 'kundi' connections to avoid electricity bills etc. We now have extremely important information about them. Besides, we had in the very beginning alerted all international airports. Hence, the Aroras are bound to fall in our net", said Mr Bassi.
A mild sensation prevails today among the Hindu community of Sitabaldi, a suburb of Nagpur, over an incident that a cow was found stabbed and dead near a Mohammedan's house. The cow was sent for a post-mortem, which declared the death of the cow by a pointed weapon. The police enquiry is going on.
The German-led study found that patients hospitalised for acute chest pains lose the protective benefits of statin drugs in as little as 24 hours after stopping the medicine because their nitric oxide levels quickly fall to below-normal levels.
"The message to physicians is: Don't stop statins," said lead author Christian W Hamm, Director of Cardiology at the Kerckhoff Heart Center in Bad Nauheim and Professor of Medicine and Cardiology at the University of Hamburg.
"We tried to show that the withdrawal of statins in human results in a rebound phenomenon and has an adverse impact on patients with acute coronary syndromes." The study, published in latest issue of the journal Circulation, looked only at heart patients who needed to be hospitalised. It did not look at what the implications are for healthy patients who stop taking their cholesterol-lowering medicine.
Millions of Americans take statins every day. Statins are sold under such brand names as Lipitor, Zocor and Mevacor.
Dr Sidney Smith, chief science officer for the American Heart Association, said no studies have shown whether the same danger would apply to otherwise healthy people who stop taking their statins. But he said patients should not stop without first consulting a doctor.
In addition to lowering cholesterol, statins reduce artery inflammation, hinder the blood's ability to clot, speed the growth of muscle cells in the arteries and increase the release of protective nitric oxide from the cells lining the inner walls of heart arteries. AP
New research suggests children who snore face nearly double the risk of being inattentive and hyperactive, providing fresh evidence of an intriguing link between sleep problems and attention deficit disorders.
While the study doesn't answer whether one condition causes the other, the researchers believe snoring and other sleep problems may be the culprit in some cases because children often express sleepiness by being inattentive and "hyper."
If it turns out to be true, this theory could help explain the paradox over why stimulants such as Ritalin can effectively treat children with conditions like attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who already seem over-stimulated, said Dr Ronald Chervin, a University of Michigan neurologist and sleep researcher, and the study's lead author. AP
Around 100 British women who claim they were exposed to potentially lethal side-effects by using a "third generation contraceptive pill have launched legal action against three drug firms in London's high court.
"Several of them are the victims of disastrous injury which will incapacitate them throughout their lives," Lord Brennan, representing the women, told the court on Tuesday. The litigation includes claims brought on behalf of a number of women who, according to lawyers, died after using the pills that were introduced in the 1980s. AFP
People who want to know the identity of the father of Jodie Foster's two children will have to wait till they are grown up, the actress says.
The 39-year-old star says she will explain to her children, Charles, three, and five-month-old Kit, the circumstances surrounding their conception, but that everybody else will have to wait a few more years.
"I know what I'm going to say. But I'm not going to share it with America. So far they seem extremely content and well-adjusted. I have a big family and lots of male friends. I'm trying to do the best I can," Foster said. "Someday, somebody can ask them directly about their lives, and they'll have something to say. You're welcome to call them up when they're 18." DPA
The function of the "good teacher"... is two-fold. He of course explains the scriptures, the spirit as well as the letter; but what is more important still, he teaches by his life — by his little daily acts, by his most casual words, sometimes even by his silence. Only to be near him, only to serve and obey him in humility and reverence, is to become quickened in spirit.
— Swami Prabhavananda, Spiritual Heritage of India
A perfect Master descends from the inner spiritual regions of ineffable bliss with the sole purpose of redeeming mankind.... Enlightenment is the sword with which he cuts at the root of all earthly attachment.
— Isaac A. Ezekiel, Saint Paltu
Even if you should be the worst among all sinners,
You will cross, by the boat of wisdom alone,
the sea of evil.
As a blazing fire reduces the wood
to ashes, O Arjuna,
so does the fire of knowledge reduce
all activities to ashes
There is nothing on earth which possesses such power to cleanse as wisdom.
The perfect yogi finds this knowledge in himself by himself in due time.
— The Bhagavadgita, IV, 36-38
Jnana Yoga is communion with God by means of knowledge.... So long as God seems to be outside and far away, there is ignorance. But when God is realised within, there is true knowledge. Knowledge leads to unity; ignorance to diversity.
— Saying of Sri Ramakrishna, 732, 737, 741
We call on Thee,
Lord of hosts, the Sage of sages;
The most reputed of all;
The Supreme king of Spiritual knowledge
Of Lord of Spiritual wisdom!
Listen to us with Thy graces;
And in the place of worship.
— Rigveda, 2.23.1
| Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune


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What are the changes in the MOT law and how do they affect me?
MOT laws are changing and, with the changes coming into force from 20 May 2018, drivers need to get accustomed to the new landscape sooner rather than later. Faults will be assigned to one of three categories: Dangerous, Major and Minor. Meanwhile, diesel cars face stricter tests before they can pass the MOT. Conversely, certain vehicles over 40 years of age are to become exempt from the need for an MOT.
What are minor faults?
Defects with no significant effect on a vehicle's safety or its impact on the environment. Vehicles with minor faults will be permitted to pass their MOT (subject to other requirements) although these faults will be recorded.
What are major faults?
Defects that result in the vehicle being less safe, from the perspective of both other road users and in terms of their environmental impact. Vehicles with a major fault will fail their test but, unlike with dangerous faults, can be driven on the public road to somewhere the fault can be repaired.
What are dangerous faults?
These are defects with an immediate impact on both road safety and the environment. A single dangerous fault will result in an automatic fail. The vehicle cannot then be driven until the fault has been remedied and an MOT pass certificate has been issued. If the testing centre that issued the dangerous fault cannot repair the vehicle, it must be transported via a tow truck, low loader or similar to an alternative place of repair. Once repaired, the vehicle must then be transported back to the MOT testing centre.
I'm still not sure I understand. Can you give me an example?
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) uses a car's steering system to explain the changes. A power-steering fluid leak would constitute a minor fault that would be recorded but would not prevent the vehicle from passing its MOT. Persistent dripping of fluid would mean that the fault counted as a major one, requiring repair before the vehicle can pass its MOT. Classification as a major fault would mean that the owner could choose to drive it to his or her choice of garage.
Meanwhile, a steering wheel that is so loose that it is at risk of becoming detached would be a dangerous fault. As such, the vehicle would not only fail its MOT but could not be driven to a place of repair. It would require the services of a vehicle recovery unit. Moreover, even after repair, it could not be driven on the public road until it had received an MOT pass.
Not sure when your MOT is due? No problem, use our MOT Checker to find out...
MOT due? Book your vehicle in with Protyre today!
What about Advisory Notices?
MOT testers will still be permitted to issue advisory notices to warn drivers about faults that may become more serious. As is currently the case, anything listed in an advisory notice will need careful monitoring by the driver but will not prevent the vehicle from passing its MOT.
Diesel cars
Drivers of diesel vehicles need to pay particular attention to the changes to MOT law. Following environmental and health concerns, and in line with current government policy, diesel vehicles are a particular target of the changes. The draft MOT inspection manual states that "visible smoke of any colour" emitted by any vehicle that is fitted with a diesel particulate filter will result in a "Major" fail. A diesel particulate filter captures and stores exhaust soot to reduce emissions from diesel cars. If you're not sure whether your car has one, check its handbook.
What has prompted the changes in the MOT law?
There seems to be a consensus at government level that a significant minority of motorists are receiving notification that there is something wrong with their vehicle and rather than fix it immediately, are driving away on the public roads.
The potential for confusion among drivers and testers is significant. Testers will need to be confident in determining whether a fault is dangerous, major or minor. With the new system allowing for the making of judgment calls on particular faults, drivers may struggle to understand why a particular fault has been categorised in a certain way.
Are there any other changes to MOT law?
Yes, the new tests will check:
the reversing lights on vehicles that were first used on or after 1 September 2009
that tyres are not obviously under-inflated
whether there are any fluid leaks that might pose an environmental risk
the headlight washers (if they have them) on vehicles first used on or after 1 September 2009
the daytime running lights on vehicles first used on or after 1 March 2018
brake discs for signs of significant or obvious wearing, oil contamination or any indication that their attachment to the wheel hubs is less than secure
There are also other smaller changes to the way in which some existing checks are carried out. Your local Protyre MOT testing centre should be able to advise further.
Vehicles over 40 years of age
Any car, van, motorcycle or other light passenger vehicle will not need an MOT if it is over 40 years old and has not been substantially altered. This represents a change to the existing situation in which only vehicles built prior to 1960 are exempt from MOT requirements. As from 20 May 2018, the vehicles listed above will not need an MOT from the 40th anniversary of the date of their registration. You can confirm the date of your vehicle's registration online.
What is the best advice for drivers worried by the forthcoming changes?
As always, it is sensible to stay on top of a vehicle's regular service and maintenance schedules. Annual servicing can go a long way to ensuring that a vehicle remains in roadworthy condition and is as fuel-efficient as possible. At Protyre our team of experts is always happy to discuss your vehicle's servicing and MOT needs. With over 100 garages nationwide, you're sure not to be too far from your local Protyre. Why not give us a call or drop in today, and put your mind at ease.
Protyre are here to help
According to figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (formerly VOSA), 40% of cars and 50% of vans fail their MOT test check. Vehicles can fail for a number of reasons but there are measures drivers can take to ensure their vehicle is adequetely prepared.
Common Reasons for MOT Failures
For the statisticians out there...
14% of MOT check failures are down to a lack of tread depth on your tyres. Tyre damage, or a tread depth of less than 1.6 mm, will result in failure.
7% of MOT check failures are a result of faulty brakes. Excessive wear, or unusual wear patterns, will cause your vehicle to fail its MOT.
17% of MOT check failures are down to headlight bulbs and the direction your headlamps are pointed. A poorly adjusted headlight direction, any faulty brake lights or indicators that don't work will cause your vehicle to fail its MOT check.


Devon, PA is beautiful and integral part of the Pennsylvania Main Line. Best known for the Devon Horse Show, this community is filled with many wonders and Haly Oil is proud to serve its residents and businesses.
Haly Oil's technicians have a depth and breadth of experience in heating oil systems, and stand dedicated to quality in their work. Our technicians combine real-world, hands-on experience with factory training and have genuine concern for the needs of our Devon clients. Our technicians deliver an unrivaled customer experience in servicing Devon, Pennsylvania heating oil systems. The Haly Oil Constant Comfort guarantee is a first for our area's heating oil industry. It guarantees that our customers will stay cool in the summer and have heat when they need it in the winter. If you or your Devon business are in need of oil delivery or even a complete heating and cooling system, our technicians will serve your family with the same care and dedication we put forth with our own.
Haly Oil is proud to be the best when it comes to heating oil supplies and service in Devon, Pennsylvania. Our friendly delivery personnel and skilled service technicians know that your family is dependent on our products and services. We are here to help you maintain a comfortable environment with heating oil, year round. We will always be there as your professional, yet courteous and friendly heating company.
Devon, Pennsylvania customers want the best when it comes to heating and cooling products, and you can always expect such from Haly Oil. We sell and service systems from vendors such as Bryant and Thermo Pride, and all systems we sell are the most efficient and advanced heating oil and cooling systems available. In addition to these high and ultra-high efficiency systems, we offer a wide variety of thermostats and other devices to compliment them, together keeping your home or business comfortable, year round, all sold at low prices.


New webpage, new structure and tons of information this is our new page. It is now available in full screen mode.
You will find many new documents, drawings and information about our insulation systems and services around the track.
We continue to work on improved installation instructions, new products and keeping the site constantly up-to-date.
You will find a wide range of insulation options, starting with our rail filling elements to the various rail foot insulations. This is REGUM AROUND THE TRACK.
Just click through the new menu and convince yourself of our products and offers.
Regum.de is now also optimized for your smartphone and tablet. Small hint: Best to use in cross-format.
Do not hesitate to contact us directly, or use our contact form.
REGUM is a leading manufacturer of rail filling elements and a partner for insulation systems for construction of tram tracks.
We identify with you and your tasks. This results in tailor-made solutions for every project.
Contact us and find out more about our extensive range of toolings, covering almost all common rail types, our special solutions for turnout and crossing areas, as well as our additional products around track insulation.


The photo above is Small Coastal Living Room added on December 11, 2010. You could use this photo for your personal computer and your notebook screen as this picture has a pixel size. If you want to save on a computer, you can save this image in full size. Click on "Download" below of the content. The device will automatically save these image in a directory on your disk.
Switch the photo in the color display with Small Coastal Living Room to do your personal computer, PCs, laptops that you use every day to work. A photo has an aura that permeates a person's feeling. For example, that picture create joy and even create feelings of mourning.


Wall St. 24/7 study was based on a range of variables, including crime rates, employment growth, access to restaurants and attractions, educational attainment, and housing affordability.
PALM COAST, FL – November 9, 2015 – As reported in the Orlando Business Journal, a 24/7 Wall St. study ranked Palm Coast among the 50 Best Cities to Live. Palm Coast ranked #39.
The study acknowledged that Florida was hit by the housing crisis more than most other states and that Palm Coast suffered as well with an unemployment rate at 7.4%. On the other hand, strong job growth continues to draw people to Palm Coast. Palm Coast's job growth from 2012 through 2014 was 5%, according to the study, compared to the 1.8% national rate. The city's population has grown 14.8% over the past five years, more than double the national growth rate.
You can read the full 24/7 Wall St. study here.
*Be sure to listen to me and co-host David Alfin on our weekly half-hour radio show, Real Estate Matters, every Sunday morning at 9:00 on WNZF News Radio. David and I discuss a wide range of real estate topics. Listen on 1550 AM or 106.3 FM or streaming live at http://player.listenlive.co/36561. Past shows can be found at http://www.flaglerbroadcasting.com/wnzf/#archives.
I have a massive ' Bucket List '. Our little rag tag neighborhood Group - Levitt & I.T.T.'s 'Showcase Golf Course Neighborhood Group' is sometimes overwhelmed but we go forward. One of the items on my ' Bucket List' was to answer last Aprils' request from ' The Smithsonian '. Today I finally started and just sent two discs on which some of what our United States National Museum of American History is asking for.
For me this is a very joyous day. As a Palm Coast Pioneer, having bought from Levitt & I.T.T. before ' The Palm Coast Project ' opened...I now have been part of seeing ' The Palm Coast Project' in The Smithsonian. Tho' there is so much more that they are asking for I will slowly continue and this was the start and first step.
What a joyous day . I hope that this helps give a ' sense of place ' to the newer Palm Coasters. I hope you will be proud too !


For years we have donated to charitable causes we strongly feel about instead of having advertising campaigns and giving Christmas presents to clients.
It has not been the same amount given to the same organisation every year. We rather take time and make an effort to find new organisations that urgently need our help from our point of view.
Some projects supported in the recent past are listed below. We also offer special conditions to non-profit associations and organisations if we strongly feel about their projects (which is most often the case).


Veteran Indian Cricketer and former captain Sachin Tendulkar has appointed as an official ambassador of Women's World Cup – 2017. It will begin from 24th June, 2017 in England and Wales. 8 Women Cricket teams from different countries will play 21-day tournament. It having 28 matches including final match. In the final match in winner will be decided.
Eminent Konkani Writer Mahabaleshwar Sail has been honoured with the Saraswati Samman 2016, for his novel "Hawthan". The award comprises a cash prize of Rs.15 lakh and a citation. The 74-year-old writer's novel was shortlisted from 22 regional language books. He has four Marathi and seven Konkani novels to his credit.
The Ford Foundation appointed Pradeep Nair as regional director for India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. As regional director, Nair will guide the foundation's operations out of New Delhi. He will assume his new position at the end of March, Succeeding David Hulse. Nair holds an MBA in Finance from Karnataka University, an engineering degree in electronics form Bharathiar University.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh launched a mobile app and website "Mera Hunar HP" recently. Mera Hunar is a web based platform where the skilled, semi-skilled persons can apply for various jobs. And also plumber, Carpenter, Mechanic, Security Guards, Drivers, Tourist Guides can apply on online. This platform will directly connect with the prospective employers with job seekers.
William Bill Thomas has been elected as the Global Chairman of Netherlands based KMPG International for a four-year term. Thomas will take charge from John B. Veihmeyer on October 1, 2017. Presently he is working as Chairman of KMPG's American Region since 2014 and has been a member of the Global Board since 2009.
The central Board of secondary Education has come up with a new mobile app named Exam Locator. It will help students locate their examination center on the basis of their roll number. Using this app students can easily find the address, images and geolocation of the designated exam center on the map and get to know how to reach there. This development comes amid exams are round the corner for class X or XII examinees who can access information by selecting the option class and entering their roll number.
South Korea's Constitutional court on 10 March, 2017 voted Unanimously to remove the country's President Park-Geun-hye, from office. With the impeachment, park becomes the first South Korean President to be removed from office. Park's successor must be elected with in 60 days. At present, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ann is serving as the acting president of the country.
Senior BJP leader and Goa deputy chief minister Francis D'souza has won by 6,828 votes from Mapusa constituency. D'souza, who has expressed desire to made the chief minister in November 2014 when PM Narendra Modi moved then Goa CM Manohar Parrikar to the center, may again make that claim in the event of BJP going close to the majority mark of 21.
India on 11th March, 2017 successfully test fired the Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missile which is capable of carrying a warhead of 300 kg, from a test range along the Odisha Coast. The cruise missile was test fired from a mobile launcher from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near to the Odisha Coast. Defence research and Development Organization was test fired it.
The CBSE has made it mandatory for the students appearing for class 10 board exams from next academic year instead of five. Currently, the class 10 students have to study two languages along with Social Science, mathematics and science. However, it will be compulsory for class 10 students to study a vocational subject from 2017-18.


text:
The fitness industry is trying to lure gym members back — but experts say it's using flawed data
A top fitness industry trade association and some of its member gyms are promoting the message that health clubs nationwide are "safe and are not contributing to the spread of COVID-19" based on the conclusions of a study that experts in public health and research methods say was methodologically flawed and open to conflicts of interest.
The study was conducted by MXM, a company that helps health clubs understand and manage their member experience, in partnership with the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). According to MXM's methodology page, more than 2,800 gyms nationwide submitted self-reported data on the number of member visits and cases of the novel coronavirus linked to their facilities from May through early August. Only 1,155 positive cases were reported out of about 49 million visits, leading MXM and IHRSA to conclude that participating gyms' infection rate was a "nominal" 0.002 percent.
The Sept. 2 news release from IHRSA quoted above was titled "National Study Confirms It's Safe To Work Out At The Gym: Current Data Shows No Evidence of COVID-19 Spread in Gyms." An accompanying graphic declared: "THE GYM IS A SAFE PLACE FOR FITNESS."
Thinking about returning to the gym? Here's what you need to consider.
The findings have since been cited by IHRSA in letters to governors lobbying to keep gyms open, and the research has been shared online by prominent clubs and at least one elected official. But research experts and doctors who have looked at the study say major flaws in its methodology probably skewed data in favor of gym safety.
"It certainly isn't a blanket statement that all gyms are safe," said Emily Landon, a chief infectious-disease epidemiologist at the University of Chicago Medicine. "Gyms may be safe. Gyms may not be safe. This study doesn't answer that question."
But that was the question that Blair McHaney, MXM's chief executive, said he sought to address when he launched the "Visits to Virus" tracking project several months ago. "We just really, really wanted to help the industry with real data," said McHaney, who is also a longtime gym owner and a member of IHRSA.
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'No gym, no problem': Here's how people are working out amid the coronavirus outbreak
Following the temporary closures of gyms, people worldwide have gotten creative with their workout routines amid the coronavirus outbreak. (Drea Cornejo/The Washington Post)
Gyms, which were flagged by experts as a "high-risk environment," have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. Months of mandated closures increased interest in at-home fitness routines, and public apprehension about indoor workout facilities "created a severe shock" to the industry, said Joanna Zeng O'Brien, an analyst Moody's covering fitness operators.
At least three large fitness companies have filed for bankruptcy during the pandemic, including 24 Hour Fitness, Gold's Gym, and Town Sports International, which operates New York Sports Clubs and Boston Sports Clubs. And although gyms have been trying to promote their improved safety measures, getting members back indoors has been challenging.
Fear, anxiety, guilt: Inside the pandemic-time decision to abandon beloved gyms and fitness studios
Data on the spread of the coronavirus within gym environments are scarce. Few states have detailed contact-tracing data available to the public. As of early September, Colorado had tracked more than 600 outbreaks, none of which were traced to fitness clubs, which have been open since June. According to data from the state's health department, gyms have been linked to six outbreaks in Louisiana, totaling 34 cases.
A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study of about 300 adults who tested positive for the virus found that eating at restaurants may be riskier than other daily activities, including going to the gym. But the researchers noted that their findings were "subject to at least five limitations."
"The industry needed data that would show that when clubs were following proper safety and social distancing protocols — doing everything they can to keep their members, staff, and communities safe — that these facilities are not contributing to the spread of COVID-19," Meredith Poppler, IHRSA's vice president of communications, wrote in an email.
So when MXM approached the association with the idea for its study, IHRSA helped get the word out to gyms. Clubs were mostly contacted through social media, and by calling executives, McHaney said.
A team within MXM set up an online registry of participating gyms. These included large franchises, such as Planet Fitness, Life Time and Orangetheory, and more regional businesses, such as the D.C. area's VIDA Fitness, and amounted to about 10 percent of gyms in North America, McHaney said. Gyms provided identifying information about the locations, so the MXM team could verify they were legitimate companies.
Data collection started in mid-July and covered visits from May 1 to August's first week, McHaney said. Gyms that submitted data logged cases of coronavirus flagged through calls from their state health departments or by members and employees self-reporting positive tests. The gyms also pledged that their facilities are at least following safety recommendations from the CDC.
To McHaney, the final numbers convey a clear message: "It's pretty darn safe to go back to the gym."
That conclusion came as a shock to Paul J. Lavrakas, a research psychologist who reviewed MXM's data and methodology.
"Unfounded, unsupported, irresponsible," Lavrakas said of McHaney's interpretation of the data. "He doesn't have credible evidence that that statement is true. As a result, he's making a recommendation that's based on unreliable and not valid data."
There are several "major sources" of error in the data collection, Lavrakas said. "Possibly the biggest reason to discount the accuracy (reliability and validity) of the data that MXM has assembled is that such data are very likely to be incomplete and biased in the direction of underestimating the prevalence of COVID transmission at health clubs," Lavrakas wrote in his analysis of the data provided to The Washington Post.
Landon agreed that relying on data from state health departments or self-reporting could fail to capture an accurate case count, noting that a majority of states are still struggling to perform contact tracing in a timely fashion.
"I'm not sure how many people would call their gym and be like, 'Hey, I think I went out to eat at a restaurant, and I also went to the library, and I also worked out in your gym, and now I have COVID,' " she said. "I don't know that that's happening."
Michael Traugott, a survey methodology expert, also questioned whether the club's contributing data were representative of the target population, which was all gyms in North America.
Some fitness instructors say they don't feel safe at work. How should gym members react?
"Which ones are included and which ones are omitted?" said Traugott, a professor affiliated with the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research. "And is there any reason to believe that there's some systematic difference that would produce a bias?"
Another issue with the study is a conflict of interest, Lavrakas said. IHRSA bills itself as "one of the world's leading authorities on the commercial health club industry," and MXM works closely with gyms. McHaney said he estimated that at least 90 percent of the gyms reported data are members of IHRSA.
"Maybe the most damning thing here is . . . no independent, credible third party was hired to do this study," Lavrakas said. "You have a business interest in the outcome of this study, and you do it yourself. What more can I say? It's a total conflict of interest."
Traugott described MXM and IHRSA's efforts as "a case study in how a business group will try to use data to lobby legislators and policymakers to try to amend existing policies to extricate themselves from a very difficult financial situation."
"I don't believe it is a good data collection in the sense that the information that it provides is accurate and useful," he said. "It supports their interest in getting back into business, but it does it through an unusual and inappropriate data collection activity."
Stephanie Bagwell, a longtime Orangetheory member in Michigan, was outraged when she received an email last month from chief executive Dave Long, who linked to an IHRSA news release that included some data from the study and wrote: "There's no evidence to support the fact that gyms are contributing to the community spread of COVID-19 above any other types of businesses."
"Obviously, Orangetheory is struggling, and they want people to come back, but by doing it in that way, it turned me off a lot, and it really made me just not want to go back at all," said Bagwell, 30. "If I can't trust them to use appropriate science, how can I trust them to protect my safety?"
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Orangetheory and other gyms that promoted the study have emphasized that they are prioritizing safety. "A strict adherence to science has always been the bedrock of the Orangetheory experience," Long said in an emailed statement. "That hasn't changed."
Lavrakas, however, said he is concerned that IHRSA's and MXM's promotion of the study may be "pulling the wool over a lot of people's eyes."
"And maybe their own eyes," he noted. "Maybe this is not a blatant manipulation of information merely for lobbying, cheerleading purposes. Maybe they simply just don't realize how many flaws there are in their study and that they can't have really any confidence in what they've assembled."
Although Poppler and McHaney both said that they stood by the data, McHaney added that the study's intent was to draw attention to a need for more research into gyms.
"We never intended to say this is a perfect research study," he said. "It was intended to say, 'Wow, look, this is a perfect place to go do deeper research.' "
Popular wrote that IHRSA and MXM had "neither time nor funds to enlarge the scope and delay the process of getting the data out because of the pandemic." The association "put out information that we believe is important for the public and the members of our clubs to know," she wrote.
Landon said it was "reassuring" to see that many of the gyms that responded were unaware of outbreaks in their facilities, but she warned that the study's conclusion may be "overblown."
"Overblowing research results really does cause harm, not just to the people who believe them, but to science in general, and we need to stop doing that," she said.
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text:
Dev Cell. 2010 Mar 16;18(3):342-56. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2010.02.005.
Cellular plasticity within the pancreas--lessons learned from development.
Puri S1, Hebrok M.
Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
The pancreas has been the subject of intense research due to the debilitating diseases that result from its dysfunction. In this review, we summarize current understanding of the critical tissue interactions and intracellular regulatory events that take place during formation of the pancreas from a small cluster of cells in the foregut domain of the mouse embryo. Importantly, an understanding of principles that govern the development of this organ has equipped us with the means to manipulate both embryonic and differentiated adult cells in the context of regenerative medicine. The emerging area of lineage modulation within the adult pancreas is of particular interest, and this review summarizes recent findings that exemplify how lessons learned from development are being applied to reveal the potential of fully differentiated cells to change fate.
Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
10.1016/j.devcel.2010.02.005
Early Steps during Embryonic Pancreas Development
Dorsal (dp) and ventral (vp) pancreatic buds can be visualized (yellow) along with the stomach (sto), duodenum (duo), and liver bud (Li) in the posterior foregut at e10.5. The pancreatic mesenchyme (gray) collects around developing buds and provides essential instructive signals. Gut rotation (represented by the blue arrow) at e11.5 leads to fusion of the ventral and dorsal aspects followed by expansion into the surrounding mesenchyme (gray). After e12.5, secondary transition leads to endocrine specification (green) within the epithelium furthest from the mesenchyme, in close apposition to the vasculature (red vessels).
Cellular Plasticity within the Pancreas— Lessons Learned from Development
Dev Cell. ;18(3):342-356.
The Developmental Niche of the Embryonic Pancreas
During the early stages of development (e10.5–e13.5), multipotent progenitor cells within the pancreatic epithelium (yellow) expand into the surrounding mesenchyme (gray) while being populated by the endothelium (red tubes). Epithelium-mesenchyme, epithelium-endothelium, and endothelium-mesenchyme interactions occur simultaneously during pancreas development. The mesenchyme positively promotes the ''proximal'' tissue (purple cells), while being inhibitory to the more ''distal,'' endocrine progenitor cells (blue), which have been observed to form closer to the interior of the three-dimensional organ. Interestingly, the mesenchyme has a positive influence on the pancreatic progenitors. Endocrine cells (green) are found in close apposition to the vasculature, and known to secrete VEGF, which may recruit more blood vessels to the site of islet formation. The endothelium also exerts a positive effect on the mesenchyme, as in the absence of the vasculature the mesenchyme fails to develop around the dorsal pancreatic bud.
Lineage Restriction within the Pancreatic Epithelium
Expansion ofthe progenitorpool atthe tip of the epithelium occurs early during development. From an uncommitted pool of progenitors (before e10.5, in red) to multipotent, Cpa-1-positive cells (purple) that give rise to exocrine (orange), ductal (blue), and endocrine cells (green). Endocrine progenitors go on to delaminate from the epithelium and cluster with other endocrine cells. It is believed that distance from the mesenchyme influences the decision of exocrine versus endocrine lineage.
β-Cell Expansion
During embryonic pancreas development, β-cell (green) expansion occurs through neogenesis from progenitors (yellow) within the pancreatic epithelium (black). In postnatal life, under normal conditions, β-cell proliferation through the cyclinD2-CDK complex is the predominant mode to adjust for changes in insulin demand, e.g., during pregnancy or development of obesity. With age, however, accumulation of tumor suppressors p16INK4a/p19ARF leads to a block in the replication potential of β-cells (red) concomitant with a reduction in the epigenome modifiers Bmi-1 and Ezh2. Although it is unclear what the role of β-cell replication and senescence is in the development ofhuman disease suchas type 2diabetes, one can envision an islet populated by cells competent to divide and respond to glucose and those lacking these abilities (). Other endocrine cells are not shown for simplicity.
Fate Manipulation within the Adult Pancreas
In a ductal injury model such as pancreatic ductal ligation (top schematic), normal duct cells (yellow), or duct-associated cells (orange) adopt a progenitor state (purple) and upregulate Ngn-3 expression that correlates with increased β-cell formation, depicted by the green arrow. In an acinar cell injury model (left schematic), acinar cells (blue) undergo dedifferentiation (purple) (for e.g., upon caerulein treatment) followed by recovery (red arrow) and thus regeneration. Introduction of key transcription factors such as Ngn-3 and MafA into such dedifferentiated cells, shown in the bottom schematic, might promote β-cell fate. A third scenario is of direct acinar fate change (right panel). Ectopic expression of Pdx-1, Ngn-3, and MafA in the adult pancreas redirects acinar cells to adopt an identity resembling an endocrine β-cell (green), although these cells fail to cluster with other endocrine cells.
Embryonic Stem Cells/cytology
Insulin-Secreting Cells/cytology
Morphogenesis
Pancreas/cytology*
Pancreas/embryology*
Pancreas/growth & development
Pancreatic Neoplasms/etiology
Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology
R01 DK060533/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States
DK60533/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States


If you need someone to manage the flow of your event, we can help you. From helping you firm up the itinerary, and to smoothly run your event in the tone that you prefer – Professional corporate, or simply a fun one!
Get in touch with us and we will tailor to your needs once we understand your event goals and objectives, audience and other important factors that can positively affect the delivery outcome.
There are many ways to liven up an event, whether it is an annual dinner, or product launch or even a wedding. Emcee interaction with the crowd can be combined with fun and games. From physical challenges, to funny competitive games. Whilst most of these events are from organisations, other interesting ways to add value to the event could even be games with team building elements. Since there is a gathering of a certain group of people, it is worth putting in some effort to let the audience return with some take-aways and learnings. But all in all, most of the time what is most expected is a jolly good time.
We have experience ranging from live television hosting, to corporate events with Malaysian Ministers, weddings, concerts, mall tours, launches, etc.
Some instances even included acting through a skit with Harith Iskandar, Malaysia's funnyman in Sunway Pyramid Mall.
And of course presentability and presence of the emcee is also an important factor. We'll do our best to charm the ladies and gentlemen. Haha!
So looking at the spectrum of how delivery can vary, think about what is best for your event. And get in touch with us for further discussion. We look forward to hearing from you.
In the Ambi Pur Nose Blind video below, Kesh is scene playing a skit scenario with Malaysia's funnyman Harith Iskandar at Sunway Pyramid Mall concourse in Malaysia.
He has also vast experience emceeing in malls – from 8TV mall tours to the days working with Pavilion Group including fahrenheit88 mall and Pavilion KL. Below is Kesh hosting a casual fashion talk at the new DaMen mall by Pavilion REIT in USJ Subang Jaya the recent March 2017.
During a sofa-sit down interview event with expert motorcyclist and his family on their motorcycle journey through Indo-China using SYM Motorcycles, Kesh switched his phone on record to give you a glimpse to the event.
Below are some ads he starred in in the past.


Pawan Kalyan to meet Mudragada Padmanabham?..
Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan has started to move strategically as a part of which Janasena party treasurer Raghavaiah has met Mudragada yesterday at Kirlampudi. Pawan Kalyan has conducted district wise camps to select jana sainyam and has already started membership registrations. He is in plan of conducting plenary in March. It is learned that Raghavaiah has discussed with Mudragada about party structure, political strategies and reservations. Raghavaiah also told Mudragada that PK will be meeting him soon. Sources say that Janasena will come up with real politics after Plenary with the expected joining of senior leaders into the party.