GR. No. 198261, October 16, 2013 - HECHANOVA BUGAY VILCHEZ LAWYERS, HECHANOVA & CO., INC., ATTY. EDITHA R. HECHANOVA, Petitioners, v. ATTY. LENY O. MATORRE, Respondent.
HECHANOVA BUGAY VILCHEZ LAWYERS, HECHANOVA & CO., INC., ATTY. EDITHA R. HECHANOVA, Petitioners, v. ATTY. LENY O. MATORRE, Respondent.
On appeal under Rule 45 is the March 14, 2011 Decision1 of the Court of Appeals (CA) which upheld the Decision2 of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) that set aside the Decision3 of the Labor Arbiter in NLRC-NCR Case No. 09-12260-08. Likewise challenged is the Resolution4 denying reconsideration of the said CA decision.
As the managing partner of HBV Law Firm, Atty. Hechanova was the one who supervised Atty. Matorre and gave her work assignments.
On August 11, 2008, Atty. Matorre, orally or through e-mails, started to express her feelings of being harassed by Atty. Hechanova.
I cannot register yet the corporate name of Big Flick Animation with SEC online because the steps to be done require a lot of time and its system or our system is very slow before I proceed to the next step [sic].
I regret to realize [sic] that you seem to be not pleased with my work output so far, even if I am trying and doing my best to adjust with your work style here, x x x.
Honestly, I get seriously offended every time you speak to me because you always get irritated about the things I say, that I hesitate now to approach you personally to find out what I need to know about a certain assignment.
I feel so humiliated whenever you scold me or whenever you raise your voice within the hearing [sic] of x x x other associate lawyers at a distance [sic]. I feel so embarrassed because it seems that you make it appear I am so stupid x x x.
Hoping for your understanding and I pray that you would have a not-so- stressful work schedule, so that you can keep your cool at all times.
Atty. Matorre also explained8 that she intended to improve her work and that she was not making excuses when she could not accomplish assigned tasks on time.
Complainant [Atty. Matorre]: Ma'am kung sa tingin po ninyo, wala akong ginagawa o nagagawang trabaho, kahit na kung tutuusin araw-araw akong may natatapos na trabaho, mas mabuti pa po sigurong mag-resign na lang ho ako, kasi lagi na lang po ninyo akong hinahanapan ng mali at kinagagalitan kahit hindi naman kailangang pagalitan. Hindi po tayo nagkakasundo sa trabaho.
Respondent [Atty. Hechanova]: Okay, if that is what you like!
Complainant [Atty. Matorre]: Pero Ma'am kung pwede po sana sa katapusan na lang ang effectivity, sa katapusan po ng September, kasi alanganin po kung katapusan ng August, para may enough time pa po ako maghanap ng new job.
Respondent [Atty. Hechanova]: No, you make it earlier! Pumunta ka na ng SEC habang maaga pa kasi almost 2:00 p.m. na!
On September 1, 2008, Atty. Matorre received a letter14 from Atty. Hechanova conveying the latter's acceptance of her oral resignation. Atty. Hechanova's secretary, Gladies Nepomuceno, attested15 that when Atty. Matorre received the aforementioned letter, Atty. Matorre merely said "okay" without displaying any sign of protest.
On September 1, 2008, Atty. Matorre filed a complaint for constructive illegal dismissal, nonpayment of separation pay, and for payment of moral and exemplary damages and attorneys' fees against HBV Law Firm.
On May 13, 2010, the NLRC reversed23 the Decision of the Labor Arbiter and declared that Atty. Matorre was illegally dismissed.
Aggrieved, HBV Law Firm filed a petition for certiorari with the CA alleging that the NLRC committed grave abuse of discretion in holding that Atty. Matorre was constructively dismissed.
Petitioners are now before this Court asserting that the CA erred in not finding that Atty. Matorre's resignation was voluntary and that she was not constructively dismissed.
It should be noted that the fact of resignation is now undisputed. What remains to be determined is whether Atty. Matorre voluntarily resigned or was constructively dismissed by petitioners.
We find the petition meritorious. The resignation of Atty. Matorre was voluntary and she was not constructively dismissed.
Atty. Matorre failed to prove that her resignation was not voluntary, and that Atty. Hechanova and other members of HBV Law Firm committed acts against her that would constitute constructive dismissal.
Atty. Matorre was not able to prove her allegations of harassment, insults, and verbal abuse on the part of Atty. Hechanova.
Hence, petitioner cannot take refuge in the argument that it is the employer who bears the burden of proof that the resignation is voluntary and not the product of coercion or intimidation. Having submitted a resignation letter, it is then incumbent upon her to prove that the resignation was not voluntary but was actually a case of constructive dismissal with clear, positive, and convincing evidence. Petitioner failed to substantiate her claim of constructive dismissal.
We agree with the Court of Appeals that it was grave error on the part of the NLRC to rely on the allegation that Mr. Tecson threatened and forced petitioner to resign. Other than being unsubstantiated and self- serving, the allegation does not suffice to support the finding of force, intimidation, and ultimately constructive dismissal.
Digitel Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. v. Soriano38 is similarly enlightening. In that case, the employee, a Director for Market and Communications, claimed that her employers harassed her to compel her to resign. This Court found that the employee failed to present a single witness to substantiate her claims of harassment and that her narration of events was unbelievable and contrary to human experience. It was then held that she failed to prove that she was constructively dismissed.
In relation to the two abovementioned decided cases, in the case of Atty. Matorre, she also presented no evidence of constructive dismissal, apart from her self-serving and uncorroborated allegations.
First, Atty. Matorre was not able to present a single witness to corroborate her claims of verbal abuse and insults from Atty. Hechanova. She was only able to adduce transcriptions39 of what she claims were conversations between her and Atty. Hechanova, and nothing more. These are indeed self-serving and uncorroborated and should not be given evidentiary weight.
On the other hand, the body of evidence presented by HBV Law Firm would show affidavits demonstrating that the other personnel in the said law firm neither heard nor saw any inappropriate behavior on the part of Atty. Hechanova towards Atty. Matorre.
The Affidavit of Gladies Nepomuceno,40 the secretary of HBV Law Firm, states that the said affiant did "not believe that Atty. Matorre was treated like a slave" by the firm, as Atty. Matorre argued.
The Affidavit of Gladys C. Vilchez,41 a partner at HBV Law Firm, states that Atty. Vilchez, whose room was near Atty. Matorre's, never heard Atty. Hechanova shout at Atty. Matorre nor speak to her in an offensive manner.
Moreover, the act of HBV Law Firm of moving the effectivity date of Atty. Matorre's resignation to an earlier date cannot be seen as a malicious decision on the part of the firm in order to deprive Atty. Matorre of an opportunity to seek new employment. This decision cannot be viewed as an act of harassment but rather merely the exercise of the firm's management prerogative. Surely, we cannot expect employers to maintain in their employ employees who intend to resign, just so the latter can have continuous work as they look for a new source of income.
Third, the fact that HBV Law Firm was no longer assigning new work to Atty. Matorre after her resignation is not an act of harassment, but is also an exercise of management prerogative.
Expecting that Atty. Matorre would no longer be working for HBV Law Firm after three to four weeks, she was no longer given additional assignments to ensure a smooth turn-over of duties and work. Indeed, having an employee focus on her remaining tasks and not assigning new ones to her would be beneficial on the part of HBV Law Firm as there would in fact be less tasks to be turned over to Atty. Matorre's replacement. Said actuation is well within the ambit of the firm's management prerogative, and is certainly not an act of harassment.
To reiterate, in line with settled jurisprudence,43 since Atty. Matorre admittedly resigned, it was incumbent upon her to prove that her resignation was not voluntary, but was actually a case of constructive dismissal, with clear, positive, and convincing evidence.
As shown above, Atty. Matorre failed to present any evidence of constructive dismissal, such as proof of the alleged harassment, insults, and verbal abuse she allegedly received during her stay at HBV Law Firm that led her to terminate her employment. Thus, it can be concluded that she resigned voluntarily.
Since Atty. Matorre failed to prove that she was illegally or constructively dismissed, there is no need to discuss the issue of her monetary claims due to her lack of entitlement thereto.
WHEREFORE, the petition is GRANTED. The Decision dated March 14, 2011 and Resolution dated August 12, 2011 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 115266 are REVERSED and SET ASIDE. The Decision of the Labor Arbiter dated April 22, 2009 is hereby REINSTATED. The complaint of respondent Atty. Leny O. Matorre for illegal dismissal is DISMISSED in its entirety for lack of merit.


I am having quite a bit of trouble trying to complete the automatic motor identification portion of the KMS GUI with my own motor on my own hardware.
During the resistance measurement portion of the Self Commissioning Mode used during the automatic motor identification I am pulling ~600A of current. I have the RS and LS identification current both set to 10%. My motor rated current is 37.5A, and my rated system current is 400A. These are all set in the KMS GUI. Therefore, I'm confused as to why I am pulling 600A of current when attempting automatic motor identification.
It would be good to have a call about this if possible to talk about the system, what I've done, and what to do to move forward.
I'm a little confused as to why your custom board is setup to sense 400A of current. What is the maximum current you expect to use with your motor? The reason I'm concerned about this is the finite ADC resolution. If you only ever expect to run with 37.5A, but you can sense 400A, you are only using 8 of the 11 bits (one is lost to sign) of resolution on the ADC. This will impact how well you can control the motor.
But the motor parameter identification can be treated as a separate issue. When the motor parameter identification runs, it needs to control the current in the motor, but without knowing the motor parameters it needs to be de-tuned to the point where it will still work. So it assumes a very slow tuning, and attempts to control the current in the motor. Under some situations this may not work.
Also if you are switching 400A, what is the PWM frequency you are using. Most IPMs that can handle that much current can't switch very quickly, and if you motor is too small the inductors act like wire instead of inductors, making control impossible.
Where you able to estimate the motor parameters and spin the motor using the reference hardware? If so, you shouldn't need to perform the motor parameter identification on your custom hardware.
It would be good to have a call about this if possible. Would it be possible to get on the phone / Skype with yourself or some others at NXP (today if possible) and some of our engineers here at General Electric (hardware and software) so that we can walk through what we are doing, and you all can maybe point out things we are doing incorrectly.
We are unable to connect our motor to the reference hardware. Therefore, we are trying to identify it using our hardware. We have put our system parameters into the GUI, as well as verified our ADC scaling. Our PWM frequency is 4kHz.
We can setup a call for today.
Thanks for the help on the call. We resolved our problem and now are able to run all of the self identification, resistance, induction, flux, and inertia from the GUI. We are also able to control the motor in speed and position mode from the GUI using our own hardware. The issue was that we reversed the polarity on the current feedback. We are going to fix this in the hardware, but for the time being we inverted the ADC values for current feedback by taking 4095-RAW (So That 4095 is full negative and 0 is full positive).
Once we corrected the current feedback, we could then also run the DC Injection validation to ensure we have 5A applied to phase A, and -2.5A applied to both B and C.
Great news! I'm glad everything is working well.


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The first MLP movie...Better than expected upon first viewing, but divulged into slog after the subsequent movies.
Let's see how everything ended up.
Lots of fun and goodies all around.
Lot of fun things that happened today. Really excited for what the next two days bring.
Pinkie Pie, you have a challenger!
A little addendum to our last review; this is snakeskin talking about his problems with Rainbow Dash.
I love this episode. Let's talk about it!
UPDATE: Sorry about having to leave suddenly. I had a slight emergency.


With the increasing timely improvements in Forex technical analysis tools, the year 1978 saw a new oscillating indicator "Relative Strength Index (RSI)" introduced by J. Welles Wilder. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a very famous momentum indicator. This indicator is often confused with other common names "Relative Strength" rankings or "Relative Strength" charts. Unlike other types of "Relative Strength" indicators, the RSI uses one currency for calculating the value.
Given a data, RSI first sums up the amount for all previous gains or losses respectively. This data is usually taken for standard 14 time periods as suggested by Wilder. If the cases are more or less than 14, the calculation value is changed accordingly. RSI is a running calculation indicator, so the accuracy degree depends on how much old are the time periods used in the calculation. The "First Average Gain" is an estimated value, which helps to get the later values accurate. Therefore, one must have such 14 estimated values already calculated in hand. Thus "First Average Gain" is the total value of 14 such time periods divided by 14. The calculation for "First Average Loss" too goes in the same way, except for replacing the gains with the figures of losses.
The next step in this running calculation is computing next average gain / loss values with the help of previous values. This is done by multiplying the previous average gain / loss value by 13 and then adding the present average gain / loss value. Dividing the result as calculated, by 14, derives the final output. This is also termed as "smoothing" of the value.
The "RELATIVE STRENGTH" is calculated by dividing "Average Gain" by "Average Loss" for each time period.
The computation of RSI (Relative Strength Index) is then calculated by conversion of the RS value into an oscillator, which ranges between 0-100. The formula for the same is given above.
The RSI increases when the RS value exceeds 1. This happens when Average Gain exceeds the Average Loss. The RSI decreases when the RS value falls beyond 1, i.e. goes negative. This happens in strikingly opposite scenario, where Average Loss exceeds Average Gain. Theoretically, if Average Loss is 0, the RSI is 100, which is the maximum value for the RSI.
While using overbought or oversold values, Wilder suggested using 70 and 30 respectively. So, the scenario becomes bullish when the RSI crosses 30 and bearish when it is low than 70. The traders hence identify the entry / exit points with the help of strong signals.


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Dwayne Johnson 'Kicked Puberty's Ass!' See How Old He Looked at Age 16
By Jackie Willis 5:50 AM PDT, August 7, 2015
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson looked older at age 16 than he does now.
The 43-year-old Ballers star shared a shocking photo of himself from high school on Throwback Thursday, and also disclosed quite a bit about his rough upbringing.
WATCH: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Accidentally Hit a Truck and It Totally Made the Owner's Day
"By the time I was 16 yrs old, I had already enrolled in four high schools across the country due to being evicted and lil' trouble with the law, McKinley HS (Honolulu, HI), Glencliff HS (Nashville, TN), McGavock HS (Nashville, TN), Freedom HS (Bethlehem, PA)," he wrote.
Johnson admits that not even back then did people believe he was only a teenager.
"I was also 6'4 225 lbs, rockin' a dead caterpillar on my lip (aka the porn 'stache)," he said of his appearance. "And all the kids in every high school thought I was an undercover cop cause I looked like a mutated, yet handsome SOB of a man child."
WATCH: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Adorably Tricks a 2-Year-Old Into Thinking She's Pulling an Airplane
The Rock certainly grew up fast! "Plus in Nashville I was already hangin' out in [honkey] tonk dive bars on Music Row and hustlin' cars from crackheads," he also revealed in the lengthy caption.
The actor credits these tough times to keeping him grateful as an A-lister. "Yup, one of the many reasons why I'm a grateful man for the life I have today," he wrote. "And also grateful I straight up kicked puberty's ass early in life."
2-Year-Old Girl Pulls an Airplane - with Some Help from Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson
Orlando Bloom Sheds a 'Tear of Joy' Over Katy Perry's Performance
Chrissy Teigen's 'Tooth' Falls Out in a Fruit Roll-Up

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: I want to to retrieve the data from the table in the format I have the data in the table like the following.
column1 | column2 | column3

123       234        1234567890
123       234        1234567892
234       123        1234567893
345       234        1234567894
345       123        1234567895

I want the output to be in the following format
234  123  1234567893
345  234  1234567894
345  123  1234567895

can anyone tell me how write a query to retrieve the data in the above specified format..

A: If I understood correctly this is what you want,
select b.column2,b.column1,max(b.column3) column3 from table1 a, table1 b
where a.column1=b.column2 group by b.column2,b.column1;

A: The pairs of unique items can be found with
    SELECT column1, column2, MAX( ROWID) GROUP BY column1, column2;
ROWID is incremented at each insertion, but doesn't quite equate to latest.
The results of the first query can now be used to create the required result.
SELECT t1.column1, t1.column2, t1.column3 FROM tbl AS t1 JOIN ( SELECT column1, column2, ROWID AS ID FROM tbl GROUP BY column1,column2) AS t2 ON t1.ROWID = t2.ID;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Our Wizard artists have been hard at work this month crafting beautiful paintings, drawings and other creative endeavors. Each month we like to feature Pirate101 fan art and fan photo submissions through or official social media like Facebook and Pinterest. There are always tons of creative works from dedicated Wizard101 players, and this month is no different!
We had many talented artists submit in the past few months, but here are some of our recent art favorites.
Want to submit something creative of your very own? If you are under 13 years of age, ask your parent or guardian for permission to send us your screenshot. If you would like to submit something, send the picture and your character name in an email to community@wizard.com! Please attach no more than three images per email, and please limit total submissions to no more than nine screenshots in a month. Try to only submit your very best images!
Wow So many talented Players!!
I love the fire from above, i so wish i could do that in game.
I love them all! All of you guys are so talented!! I have been following Dark Rapier on W101 Central and I love his stuff!


This article is a copy of a message we posted on the NIST hash-forum mailing list on September 30, 2013.
SUMMARY: In the SHA-3 standard, we propose to set the capacity of all four SHA-2 drop-in replacements to 512 bits, and to make SHAKE256 and SHAKE512 the primary choice.
Technically, we think that NIST's current proposal is fine. As said in our previous post, we have proposed to reduce the capacities of the SHA-3 hash functions at numerous occasions, including during our last visit to NIST in February. Nevertheless, in the light of the current discussions and to improve public acceptance, we think it would be indeed better to change plans. For us, the best option would be the following (taking inspiration from different other proposals).
Keep the SHAKEs as they are (i.e., SHAKE256 with c=256 and SHAKE512 with c=512) and make them the primary choice for new applications of hash functions, for replacing mask generating functions (MGFs) and for those who wish to follow the security strength levels approach of [NIST SP 800-57].
For the SHAKEs, we think it would be good to include in the standard a short procedure for replacing a hash function or MGF based on SHA-1 or SHA-2. For instance, if there is only one to be replaced, here is a sketch.
Choose between SHAKE256 and SHAKE512. If the user can determine the required security level and it is 128 bits or smaller, choose SHAKE256. Otherwise (or if unsure), choose SHAKE512.
Let the output length be determined by the application.
We have seen proposals for keeping instances with c=1024 in SHA-3. We think that claiming or relying on security strength levels above 256 bits is meaningless and that c=1024 would induce a significant performance loss, which should be avoided.
This proposal means that SHA-3 standard will offer drop-in primitives with the same security level as SHA-2 (modulo the comment on c=1024), but also gives protocol and product designers the possibility to use SHAKE256, which is more efficient and is in practice not less secure than SHAKE512 or the drop-ins.


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Fort Negley Park
READ ABOUT THE THREAT
Located just over one mile south of Nashville's downtown, this park is the site of Fort Negley, a Civil War-era fort largely reconstructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Most of the park's 55 acres once belonged to Judge John Overton, one of Tennessee's most prominent early citizens, who acquired the land between 1805 and 1828. Overton's tract, which featured a rocky prominence known locally as Saint Cloud Hill, remained undeveloped until the Civil War, when the Union Army occupied Nashville in 1862 and seized the land to fortify the city. Constructed of local limestone by African American laborers on the crest of Saint Cloud Hill, Fort Negley was the crown jewel of the federal fortifications and entrenchments that ringed the city. In the early twentieth century, Civil War commemorative efforts inspired three unsuccessful attempts to establish a National Battlefield Park at the site of Fort Negley in remembrance of the 1864 Battle of Nashville. In 1928 Nashville's Parks Board purchased the Saint Cloud Hill tract from Overton's heirs with the intent of restoring the fort and making it a public park. In 1935 the Board applied for WPA funding to develop the land into a municipal park.
By 1941 nearly 50 acres had been transformed into a multi-use public recreation facility that included the restored fort and stockade, a sports complex with four softball fields, a hard-ball field that was also used as a boxing ring, stone bleachers, a comfort station, open greenspace, and hundreds of feet of limestone walls. By the beginning of World War II, the restored fort's wooden stockade had deteriorated and the fort was closed to the public. However, softball games continued to be held at the WPA-built diamonds. In the late 1970s, the Nashville Sounds baseball team leased the ball field section of Fort Negley Park and built Greer Stadium and parking lots on the site. In 2004 Fort Negley was reopened to the public on the 140th anniversary of the Battle of Nashville. The Sounds moved to a new stadium in 2015, allowing its site to be reclaimed as park space. Fort Negley was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
Fort Negley Park, Nashville, TN - Photo by Gary Layda, 2011
Fort Negley, Nashville, TN - Photo by Corey Seeman - Flickr, 2014
Fort Negley, Nashville, TN - Photo by Fort Negley Staff, 2016
Southwest View of Fort Negley - Illustration by W.H.H. Fletcher, courtesy of the Library of Congress, 1864
View of downtown Nashville from Fort Negley - Photo by Fort Negley Staff, 2013
Fort Negley, Nashville, TN - Photo © David Wittenberg, 2011
Annual Landslides
Landslide 2017: Open Season on Open Space


Profile of the Week This is Youko Watanabe from the Wednesday Yarn Alive class. She originally lived in Shobuta but that was wiped out by the tsunami in 2011. She now lives in a temporary housing unit. She started coming to Yarn Alive when the first Wednesday class started in October 2011 at the Community Hall. She loves coming to Yarn Alive and talking with everyone. She prefers to crochet and loves the color light blue and making vests. Here's a picture of the black vest that she just completed!
Meet Masayou Aikawa, also known as Sensei (teacher) as she has an extraordinary ability to whip something up and teach everyone how to do it. Every week she has a new project that she is working on. She always amazes us with her creativity and skill.
She lives in Hanabuchihama a minute's walk away from the beach. Her mother-in-law use to live in the house in front but that was washed out by the tsunami in 2011. Her own house received about a meter of water. Her mother–in-law now lives with her and comes every week to Yarn Alive with her. Masayou started going to Yarn Alive in the Autumn of 2011. She thinks Yarn Alive is a lot of fun. She prefers knitting to crocheting. Her favorite color is blue and her favorite projects are ponchos and sweaters. Over the next couple of days, we will be featuring her latest creations which she recently made for her husband. Get ready to see some amazing Cowichan sweaters!


text:
Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Railway Museum Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Railway Museum
The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum, Inc., is a nonprofit organization established in 1989 to acquire, preserve, and restore the operation of narrow gauge railroads and equipment which operated in the Sheepscot Valley and on other r... Read more
97 Cross RoadPO Box 242Alna, ME 04535
The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum, Inc., is a nonprofit organization established in 1989 to acquire, preserve, and restore the operation of narrow gauge railroads and equipment which operated in the Sheepscot Valley and on other roads and to establish a Museum for the display of artifacts for enlightenment and education of the general public concerning the social and economic impact of railroads on the communities served.
The WW&F Railway Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, dedicated to the display and preservation of the two-foot gauge Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Railway; and its predecessor roads, the WW&F Railroad and the Wiscasset and Quebec Railroad. To that end, we attempt to replicate history as best we can, through the use of steam locomotives, hand signals, and the methods used by people on the original railroad, as much as possible. We are entirely volunteer-run.
Volunteers are a critical part of our operation. It is the volunteers that work on our projects, that meet and greet our visitors, and that operate our trains. We have no paid staff.
We encourage new volunteers to come and find a place with us. Because of the variety of things we do, and the potential dangers of working around railroad equipment, we require that new volunteers only do work at the railroad when there are longer-term volunteers around, at least for the first couple of months, so that we can "show you the ropes".
To volunteer, just show up. All ages, abilities, and interests are welcome.
http://www.wwfry.org
Would you recommend Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Railway Museum?


Passion Archives - Page 2 of 10 - #besomebody.
You can rearrange the places and change the directions.
You can stop, and stand, and fight.
You can create the compass as you go.
You hold the keys, and you own the lock.
I know it's not fun. I know it's painful and awkward and uncomfortable at times. I know it hurts.
But the only way to rise high, is to dive deep.
You have to fall into the depths of you. Sink into yourself, and start to discover everything about you that's not sitting on the surface.
Everything that's been hidden by time, turmoil or circumstance. All that's buried beneath your garden of excuses. All that's waiting to be found.
You have to ask yourself the tough questions and accept the harsh answers.
The deeper we go into the origins of how we feel and what we think and what we do and why we do it and who we are doing it for, the clearer our paths become.
I've learned that passion provides the spark, but without perseverance, you can never get to where you want to go.
It's your self-induced resilience and tenacity and belief that keeps you going when the walls are crumbling and the sky begins to fall.
It's an unbreakable commitment to a mission that's greater than you, a vision that's larger than you, and a purpose that has nothing to do with you… that's what enables you to inch forward.
And I really do believe that's the biggest lesson. Just to keep going. Even when it's hard or dark or painful. Even when your toes are tired and your compass is broken.
It's not about changing who you are. It's about evolving who you become. Life is a work in progress. And we are at our best when we try to be a little better, a little smarter, a little quicker, each day. The competition is always internal, no matter the noise on the outside. But learning ourselves is the toughest part. It's where everything breaks, and begins.
Starts with our values. Once we find them, they should stay steady. But everything else is in constant flux. We discover and rediscover our purpose. We write and rewrite our principles. Our passions sway over time. We step in and out of relationships, and fall over and under love.
Colors fade and settings change.
The journey is not straight, or narrow. The climb is not easy. And we often look nothing like when we started.
And really, that's the lesson.
Evolving. While staying true. That is our challenge and our opportunity. That is why we walk this walk. But no matter what the compass reads, the key is that we're always moving. Learning is a specific direction. And forward is the only way.
Grateful for a beautiful 2018. Ready to keep going. Happy New Year everyone.


It's announcement time again. We are happy to let you know that we have added some popular new features into the dating mobile application by PG Dating Pro.
People can send a kiss or a virtual gift to someone they like.
The members of your dating service will see a list of people who visited their profile.
One can find people within a certain radius from one's current location, by allowing access to the GPS coordinates to make that happen. Other people's profiles info will be taken into account, not their GPS coordinates, so this is pretty secure.
People can send each other pictures, songs, and even videos.
We've also included a simple video chat that enables immediate connection if both app members are online.
And we've added emojis into the IM chat and the messages that come with kisses and virtual gifts.
Want to see the new features in action? Contact us to preview the app and see if you want your own app, with a unique design and even more features.
Illustration in this post is by Pavan Trikutam.


When you or a family member make the decision to seek supportive care in a residential setting, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) may meet your needs. CCRCs offer health care along with a variety of services, amenities and social activities in a single community.
As your health needs change, you'll have access to increasing levels of care. With the option to remain within one community, CCRCs provide enhanced comfort, convenience and support.
Before you choose a community, it's helpful to gain a better understanding of how they work. To assist with your research, we've compiled some common questions and answers.
Why Should I Consider a Move to a CCRC?
CCRCs provide residents with the convenience of a variety of amenities and supportive services — along with health care if and when it is needed — within a single campus. Individuals can transition easily from one residential environment to another while remaining in familiar surroundings, and family members can feel confident about their relative's care without the need to locate new housing.
Individuals choose to move to CCRCs for a variety of reasons. In some cases, they want to relieve family members of worry and the responsibilities of caregiving. In others, individuals have lost a spouse and wish for the companionship and security that CCRCs offer.
For many people, the low-maintenance lifestyle serves as the main attraction; with no yard work or household chores to worry about, residents can spend their time building relationships and engaging in activities they enjoy. Additionally, they know that if they should need additional support in the future, they can get it within their familiar community and surroundings.
CCRCs, sometimes referred to as life care retirement communities, offer several levels of support to meet a variety of health needs. Communities typically offer independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing and rehabilitation within one campus.
Residents may transfer from one level of living to another as they encounter changing health needs. With the full continuum of care available within one campus, individuals can continue to enjoy familiar surroundings and experience the least possible disruption to their lives as they gain access to additional care.
Many individuals move to CCRCs as residents of independent living, which is ideal for those who can continue to live on their own but can benefit from a range of amenities and supportive services such as housekeeping, maintenance and transportation. Assisted living provides help for personal care tasks such as bathing, dressing and taking medications, along with the same range of convenient services and amenities as in independent living.
Skilled nursing provides personalized health care for individuals who require long-term, continual medical monitoring, and rehabilitation provides temporary support following an injury, illness or hospital stay.
What Are the Contract Types?
Fee for service – In a fee-for-service community, residents pay an entrance fee that may be lower than with other contract types, but residents pay higher rates when they need additional levels of care such as assisted living or skilled nursing. In addition, certain services and amenities may incur additional charges above the basic monthly fee.
Life care – Under this contract type, also referred to as an extended contract, residents may receive unlimited access to services and care including assisted living and skilled nursing without incurring additional charges.
Modified Contract – A modified contract may offer a combination of both of the other types of contracts, with services provided for a specified time period at a fixed rate and additional services provided with higher fees.
What Services and Amenities Can I Expect?
CCRCs offer a wide array of services, amenities and programs to make life more convenient, social and enjoyable. In independent living, residents can take advantage of services like local transportation, maintenance and security, and chef-prepared meals. A full calendar of activities provides multiple opportunities for social engagement, learning, cultural enrichment and fun.
Residents also experience a welcoming, elegant environment in CCRCs, with a variety of amenities that may include an art studio, bank, multiple dining venues, game room, gift shop, hair salon, guest accommodations, coffee shop, indoor pool and spa, fitness center, library, tennis courts, art galleries and more.
Residents of assisted living and skilled nursing also experience inviting environments with an array of amenities. In addition, residents of assisted living have access to personal care services, including assistance with daily activities like bathing, dressing, eating and taking medications. Skilled nursing residents have access to personal care assistance along with medical monitoring and services.
Accreditation is a type of quality certification that some CCRCs seek. The independent accrediting body, the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission, provides standards and best practices for corporate accountability, financial management and other areas. The ongoing nature of the accreditation process demonstrates a community's commitment to upholding high standards of quality and continuously seeking to improve.
The commission, the only accrediting body for CCRCs in the nation, imposes a strict process for granting accreditation. The commission reviews every aspect of a community, including services, residences, management, amenities and long-term financial outlook. Only approximately 350 CCRCs— out of thousands across the country — have received the commission's "seal of approval" as an indicator of quality.
What Are the Fee Requirements?
Fees for entering a CCRC can vary significantly nationwide, depending on location, amenities, services, levels of care offered, and other factors. Communities may offer different payment options depending on contract type and level of care entered.
Life care communities typically require the highest initial fee to enter the community, but fees typically do not rise as much as with other contract types when an individual moves to a higher level of care. Fee-for-service communities may offer a lower initial entrance fee, but costs can rise more than in a Life Care community with a move to a different residential option within the community. Some communities offer all-inclusive monthly fees that cover most or all of the services and amenities provided, while others use a-la-carte pricing to let residents pick and choose the services they prefer.
If you or a relative believe a move to a CCRC will benefit you, reviewing the contract will allow you to understand the specifics of a community's fees along with services and amenities, health care coverage provided, conditions for transferring to other residential options within the community, and the policy on cancellations and refunds.
How Can I Choose the Right CCRC for Me?
CCRCs offer an array of options for amenities, services, activities, medical care, residences and contract types. Choosing the right community can seem overwhelming.
While you can gather significant information online, the best way to gain a comprehensive understanding is by visiting the communities that interest you. By meeting with a representative and taking a tour, you can learn about the various residential options, contract details, entrance requirements and more.
Make sure you understand the process for transitioning to a different residential option, and review the community's financial and licensing reports. In addition, allow enough time for a complete tour of the community, including the various residence types, dining rooms, and amenities like the fitness center and art studio.
Medford Leas is a fully accredited, CCRC with two campuses in Medford and Lumberton, New Jersey. The heart of our 168-acre Medford campus is nestled within The Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve and offers an inviting lifestyle in a scenic setting.
We invite you to come by to experience our woodlands, streams, trails, wildflower meadows and more firsthand. To plan your visit, please contact us today.


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Study to consider extending Crossrail to Ebbsfleet
TOPICS:Crossrail
The proposed route of the Crossrail extension from Abbey Wood to Ebbsfleet International.
There has recently been a growing interest in extending the south-eastern 'leg' of Crossrail, which currently terminates at Abbey Wood, into Kent as far as Ebbsfleet, where it could link up with the HS1 high-speed line to the continent, promoting regional development.
The C2E (Crossrail to Ebbsfleet) movement has suggested stations at Belvedere, Erith, Slade Green, Dartford, Stone Crossing, Greenhithe, Swanscombe and Ebbsfleet International.
The proposed station at Belvedere would connect with Bexley Riverside, one of London's most exciting development opportunities with over 1,100 acres of underused industrial land along 8km of Thames riverfront.
In Dartford, a major new residential community is being planned with potential for 5,000 new homes around a revitalised town centre.
Ebbsfleet, in north Kent, is emerging as the UK's latest garden city, delivering 15,000 new homes and establishing major economic opportunities around its new commercial zone.
The C2E route connects many major destinations. (Click to open a larger and more detailed image in a new tab)
To take these ideas forward, Atkins and Jacobs have been appointed as lead consultants on a new study looking at transport improvements to support growth and regeneration in the corridor between Abbey Wood and Ebbsfleet.
Funded by the Ministry for Housing and Local Government , which has pledged up to £4.85 million, the work will be overseen by the C2E Partnership, comprising Kent County Council, the boroughs of Bexley, Dartford and Gravesham, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, the Thames Gateway Kent Partnership, the Greater London Authority and Network Rail.
The study will explore and build a business case for enhancing transport links in the area, subject to suitable housing ambition.
Ellis Walker, Atkins.
Ellis Walker, client director at Atkins, said: "Transport continues to be a key enabler for regional growth, and the Abbey Wood to Ebbsfleet Connectivity Study is a great opportunity to help secure a bright and exciting future for the region.
"Our team of experts at Atkins and Jacobs bring significant experience from other transport schemes and a wealth of local knowledge to help the region understand and unlock the potential of local transport investment."
As lead consultants, Atkins and Jacobs will help C2E launch a broad programme of research and analysis to detail the transport and development challenges within the area, identify possible transport improvement options, understand how these options can support further housing and jobs growth both within the study area and beyond and consider what potential mechanisms could help fund any improvements.
The work will include analysis of a range of transport interventions, engagement with local stakeholders and two phases of public consultation, later this year and again in the new year.
Cllr Teresa O'Neill.
Cllr Teresa O'Neill OBE, Leader of the London Borough of Bexley and chairman of the Partnerships Local Authority Board, commented: "This is a really exciting moment for all those who have been pushing for improved public transport in this area and across the Thames Estuary for so long. We know that to get good growth you need to better connect people to jobs and services both locally and in the wider area.
"There is a lot of uncertainty at the moment, about the future of public transport and how people are likely to work and use cities. However, we are clear that there remains an imperative to bring forward new, high quality homes and jobs which can be accessed in safe, sustainable ways.
"This study will put the partnership in an excellent position to meet those challenges within the Abbey Wood to Ebbsfleet corridor, for the benefit of local residents and businesses, as well as the regional and national economy."
The study is programmed to last approximately 15 months, ending in the autumn of 2021. Atkins and Jacob are also working with KPMG, who will consider funding and finance options for the scheme.
Crossrail remains on track to open Elizabeth line around the end of 2020
Network Rail stations to be upgraded for Crossrail
Crossrail governance transfers to TfL
Coronavirus stops work on Crossrail
1 Comment on "Study to consider extending Crossrail to Ebbsfleet"
clive sewell | 9 December 2020 at 11:34 | Reply


It's often said that the race is won or lost in the last few miles.
Although the natural instinct is to run faster early in the race for insurance, that strategy can leave you fatigued and unable to push when it counts.
A strong finish is the outcome of a wise start. Learn how to plot your strategy to push through the final few miles.
Racing is all about energy management. If you expend too much energy early in the race, you're left with nothing for the finish. It's easy to hammer out fast miles from the start.
However it takes discipline to pace yourself from the start. Especially when there is entertainment at the start, fans cheering for you along the sidelines, and you're well rested and ready to rip! Whether you're running your first 5K or your fifth marathon, the key to finishing strong is in controlling your effort level early in the race. Line up according to your realistic planned pace at the start area to avoid getting caught up with faster runners.
Cut the race in half and aim to run the second half slightly faster than the first half (negative split). Conserving your energy early on will leave you with enough gas to push through the most demanding part of the race--the end.
Think your way through the race by keeping your mind actively engaged every step of the way. Review the course ahead of time and break it into smaller, more digestible pieces. When you toe-the-line, you'll have a mental strategic plan for the race.
Perform a head-to-inventory as you pass every mile marker to stay in tune with how efficiently your body is moving. Focus on running with short, quick strides, especially in the later stages of the race when fatigue plays a factor. Doing so, will maintain efficient running economy and avoid wasting precious energy. When you pace yourself wisely from the start, you end up with plenty of energy to go fishing in the last few miles of the race. And that's when racing really gets fun! Focus on a runner ahead and slowly reel them in.
Then catch another, and another...there is nothing more motivating than to have the stamina to pass runners (nicely) in the final few miles. It keeps your mind actively engaged in reaching for a specific short-term target and allows your body to push hard to get there.


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UK Immigration Forum
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Archive for pdup
Applying for Permanent Residence for Family Members of EEA nationals
12 January, 2015 pdup Current News, EU Law, Human Rights No comments
Top Tips to consider before applying for permanent residence
Family members of EEA nationals who are exercising rights of free movement are entitled to be admitted to and stay in the UK with the EEA national. The definition of family members includes the third country nationals, a term used to describe nationals who are not members of the European Union.
Family members of EU nationals also have the right to reside in the UK and do not need to leave the UK if they have overstayed on their visa.
This is of great advantage to family members, who may have overstayed under the Immigration Rules, and do not have any leave to remain. They are able to regularize their stay in the UK.
Family members issued with a residence permit are also entitled to family reunion, under the EU law and may also qualify under the Immigration Rules. Reunion can be achieved under EU law more effectively, but this needs to be assessed on a case by case basis. It always worth getting immigration advice so one can weigh up the pros and cons. EU law is more generous in allowing family reunion with distant family members, but make sure you check out whether you meet the requirements first.
Family members of EU nationals should note that their rights of residence are dependent on their connections to the EEA national and this can be lost. For instance when the EEA national themselves ceases to be a qualified person, by no longer living and working in the UK. Divorce is another example, unless the family member has retained his or her rights of residence.
Settlement Applications
The EU law does allow all persons who have been admitted under the various immigration categories including family members of third country nationals to apply for permanent residence after 5 years continuous lawful residence.
Family members of third country nationals considering applying should not assume it's purely a question of meeting the residence requirements, they need to show connections to the EU national.
The immigration Rules now include provision for applicants wishing to remain in the UK on the basis of their family or private life. These rules are located at Appendix FM and Para 276ADE. But once again applicants should also seek advice on their circumstances before deciding the best way to proceed; as they may find out they do not qualify! In view if the ever increasing uncertainty of the UK continuing to be a member of the European Union, seeking advice over rights of settlement is now increasingly of great importance.
Requirements for a Chinese Visa
23 April, 2014 pdup Business Visas, UK Visa applications No comments
Requirements for Chinese Visa
Have you been asked to provide a letter of invitation for a Business Visa for China and not too sure what information is needed?
Follow the guideline for a business visa for China, you should ensure that your letter of invitation contains the following details listed below:
Full Name, Gender and DOB of invitee
Your intended Entry and Exit dates to China
Your purpose of your visit to China
Your intended destination(s) in China
Your source of financial support for your trip to china
Your relationship with the invited institute
A letterhead showing the name, address, telephone number of the inviter
Signature and stamp from the inviter on the invitation
Make sure your letter of invitation outlines all the above to ensure that your application is processed in a timely manner. For further information contact First Visas, to speak to one of our specialist please give us a call on 0208 769 1750 or you can email us at info@firstvisas.co,uk.
Are you applying for the correct Nigerian Visa?
23 April, 2014 pdup Business Visas, UK Visa applications, Visit Visas No comments
Are you applying for the correct visa, when traveling to Nigeria ? If you are intending to travel to Nigeria to work, even on a short term contractual basis, you should consider applying for a temporary work permit (TWP) and not a business visa.
Applying for the incorrect visa could cost you unnecessary time and additional cost in referral fees charged by First Visas. We want to be sure you get your application right first time, before it is submitted. Business visas are issued specifically for travelers attending business meetings, ventures, conferences, trade shows etc. Multiple entry business visas (valid for 6 months) are issued where clients can demonstrate a proven track record of attending Nigeria for permitted business activities.
If it is your first business meeting trip to Nigeria, consider asking your sponsor to request in their letter of invitation for a single entry business visa, instead of a multiple entry. There after an application can be made for a multiple entry business visa. If in doubt or need any help please contact First Visas for helpful tips you can call us on 0208 769 1750 or you can email us at info@fistvisas.co.uk.
Bulgarian and Romanian Immigration into the UK
2 December, 2013 pdup Current News, EU Law No comments
As from January 1, 2014 citizens of Romania and Bulgaria will enjoy the same rights as the rest of the EU which will allow them to work in the UK. It was back in 2007 when Bulgaria and Romania both joined the EU which meant its citizens could have the right to travel in the UK without the need to get a visa. However, there were restrictions imposed at the time of the type of work they could do.
Any employer in Britain that wanted to hire someone from Bulgaria or Romania would have to have work permits and the employees (from Romania and Bulgaria) have to have a document called the "Accession Worker Card."
It all made life rather difficult for those wanting to come and work in Britain, particularly for unskilled workers. But come January 1, 2014 these tough restrictions will be lifted after seven years of being in place.
There are other countries in the EU that face the same issues as Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Holland, Malta and Luxembourg for example. The Romanian and Bulgarian workers will be entitled to the same benefits as the rest of the EU member states but prime minister David Cameron has proposed a number of restrictions that should be in place by the time the immigration visa restrictions are due to be lifted.
There will be a restriction on migrants claiming out of work benefits, like Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) for the first three months and all welfare benefits will stop completely after six months unless there is a real chance of that migrant worker getting a job. Migrants will not be able to claim housing benefit and any migrant caught begging will be deported and not allowed to return to the UK for a period of 12 months. Whether or not these restrictions go far enough is a burning question. Several Romanian visitors spent well over three months sleeping rough on the grounds of Marble Arch in central London over the summer months, some would get by with food that had gained from bins and begged from tourists.
Another proposal is to quadruple the fines imposed on employers who undercut British workers by paying less than the minimum wage. The backlash has come from political party UKIP and pressure group Migration Watch that has predicted more than 55,000 could arrive in the UK every year until 2019.
How to secure a Nigerian Business Visa
10 October, 2013 pdup Business Visas No comments
In this article you will gain an understanding of the process required to obtain a Nigerian visa. Nigeria is one of the most popular destinations in West Africa. It is comprised of nearly 36 states and it shares a border with Chad and Cameroon and the Republic of Benin. If you're business owner that is traveling to Nigeria, you not only have the opportunity to witness is vast culture but you can see firsthand how its administrative legal structure is categorized and its vast oil reserves that have brought prosperity to its country.
Nigeria is one of the most popular destinations in West Africa. It is comprised of nearly 36 states and it shares a border with Chad and Cameroon and the Republic of Benin. If you're business owner that is traveling to Nigeria, you not only have the opportunity to witness is vast culture but you can see firsthand how its administrative legal structure is categorized and its vast oil reserves that have brought prosperity to its country. However, you first have to gain admittance and this is accomplished with a Nigerian Business Visa.
In essence, a passport and Nigerian Business Visa is absolutely necessary for traveling purposes. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months and have at least one page that can be stamped when you arrive.
1. To apply for a Nigerian Visa, you must fill out an application form. The Nigerian Embassy now allows you to fill out your application online and to render payment there too. However, you must select the right Consulate and your documents should be sent to the Travisa location you have selected on the application. In addition, you must bring your credit card payment receipt and include it with your application, as proof of payment is absolutely required for processing purposes.
2. Make sure you include passport photos that are on a plain/white background. They should be 2X2 and in color.
3. You will also need to bring a letter of invitation from an individual or company sponsor that has been properly signed and executed. This letter must explain why you are traveling to Nigeria, how long you will be there, where you will stay and must include a note that states that they will accept full immigration responsibility for your visit.
4. You will need to include a letter from your sponsoring company or employer that introduces you and explains your current position and job duties and why you will be traveling to Nigeria.
5. If you intend to work in Nigeria on a short term basis, you can apply for a temporary work permit (TWP). For long term employment you can consider apply for a STR Visa (Subject to Regularization Visa) A number of documents are required for this application, and professional assistance in compiling the bundle should be obtained before submitting the application.
Lastly, you will need to include all the above information and where you want the visa to be sent once it has been processed. Keep in mind that you may or may not be approved and the decision is based entirely on the consulate. It typically takes less than 5 working days for processing and you can pay extra if you want the express service.
As you can see, it is quite a lengthy process to be approved for a Nigerian Visa however, once you get clearance, you will marvel in this populous country and all that it has to offer to its natives as well as those traveling for business and pleasure.
http://www.firstvisas.co.uk/topvisas.html
Helpful tips in applying for a business visas to top destinations
30 September, 2013 pdup Business Visas No comments
Helpful tips in applying for a Business Visas
Membership of the European Union (EU) provides the rights of free movement within the EU. Nationals of the EU and their family members have very extensive rights of free movement within the EU. British nationals are able to freely travel within the European Union without the need for a visa. However British and foreign nationals settled in the UK seeking to travel outside the EU either for business or pleasure will need to ascertain whether a visa is required for their place of travel. Business visas will be required to attend a business venture, attend business meetings, conferences, trade shows, and lecturing/ researcher etc.
The procedure for applying for a business visa varies from country to country. Travelers should not assume that all Consulates offer the facility where visa application can be processed using an express service. It is always advisable to allow plenty of time to process visa applications. It is strongly advisable that travelers should avoid purchasing a ticket, until they have secured their visa.
Top 8 Visa Applications for Business Visas
We have listed below the top 8 business visa destinations including the processing time for a business visa.
Name of country
Visa Required
Express Service available?
Online application required
Yes -24 hours service
Yes -24 hour service
Yes – 3 working days
No – 3 working days
No – 10-15 working days
To avoid any delays in the processing of applications for foreign nationals, particularly for Nigerian business visas, applicants should ensure that they include evidence of their residence in the form of two utility bills (2-3 months). Please note that mobile phone bill is not a utility bill. Utility bills include gas, electric, water rates or council tax.
If you are looking to travel whether business / tourist FirstVisa can help. There will be no need to wait in the queue or travel up to central London. Couriers are on hand to deal with and expedite your application from start to completion. So if you are intending to travel on business or tourist please feel free to contact them on the requirements needed. Further information on the top 8 business visa express service applications can be found at their website. http://www.firstvisas.co.uk/topvisas.html
Full details or each country requirements, can also be found by visiting www.firstvisas.co.uk and clicking on the search facility top right corner.
First Visas www.firstvisas.co.uk an agent specializing in securing tourist and business visas and work permits.
Switching from Tier 4 student (general) to Tier 2 (General) work permit employment
25 July, 2013 pdup Tier 2-5 PBS Scheme, UK Visa applications No comments
Under Tier 4 (general) of the point based system adult aged 16 – 17+ are able to come to the UK to study a course at or above National Qualification Framework level 3. Entry clearance is a requirement. The UK economy still actively encourages students to come to the UK to study. Students are able to switch into work permit employment, if suitable employment is secured.
The UK still remains one of the top destinations for students wishing to study, followed by Germany. Germany has is not only Europe's biggest economy. It is also well-known for its high-class education especially in the field of engineering.
Immigration Minister Damian Green 'Britain is open for business to the brightest and the best migrants…….."
So what are the opportunities for securing a work permit employment to those able to find employment after graduating? What specific skills are required from the applicant? In what instances does the resident labor test apply, and when is it exempt? We will be examining the answers to these common questions.
The job must require the applicant to have either:
• A UK equivalent degree level qualification; or
• An Higher National Level (HND) level occupational qualification that is
• relevant to the post on offer; or
• An HND level qualification which is not relevant to the post on offer, plus
12 months of relevant full-time work experience; or
• At least 3 years relevant experience at NVQ level 3 or above.
Switching – Post Study work visa & IGS
Applicants who are in the UK on a Tier1 post study visa or International Graduate Scheme (IGS) will also be able to switch into this category.
Securing offer of employment
Applicants will first have to secure employment offer in their respective fields of discipline before they can apply.
Resident labor Market Test
The test requires that the employer must advertise in national form of media to enable a resident worker to apply. Eg Job centre plus or a publication that is available throughout the UK. This test does not need to be done if the applicant is applying following a post study visa or under the International Graduate Scheme (IGS). The test is also not required where the skill is listed on the shortage occupation list. The Tier 2 (General) category is also the route for applicants outside the UK who have been offered a skilled job route.
Applicants must score a minimum of:
50 points for Attributes, which includes having a sponsor and a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (Appendix A of the Immigration Rules); and
Assigned Certificate of Sponsorship having met the requirements of:
• A resident labor market test exemption; or
• A resident labor market test by the sponsor; or
• An extension – Continuing to work in the same occupation for the same sponsor.
Appropriate salary £20,300 or above
10 points for English language skills (except for certain Intra-Company Transfers) (Appendix B of the Immigration Rules); and
10 points for Maintenance (funds) (Appendix C of the Immigration Rules).
The Certificate of Sponsorship must confirm that the job is at NQF level 6 (or the equivalent in Scotland) as stated in the codes of practice, or the job is a creative sector occupation skilled to NQF level 4 as listed in the Tier 2 & 5 Sponsor Guidance. This does not mean that the applicant must be educated to that level; it means that the job is at that level.
The Certificate of Sponsorship must also confirm that the applicants will be paid at or above the appropriate rate for the job.
Leave granted up to 3 years + extension
Successful Tier 2 (General) applications will be granted leave up to 3 years with the possibility of extending for a further 3 years. They will not be able to extend beyond 6 years. Applicants will also not be able to re-apply to return to the UK under Tier 2 until 12 months after their last leave under Tier 2 expired or they can show they have been outside the UK for 12 months, whichever is sooner, unless they will be paid a gross annual salary of £152,100 or more.
UK Government set to get tough on overstayers, Illegal Immigrants & failed asylum seekers
27 June, 2013 pdup Current News No comments
The queen speech gave news of the recent proposal by the UK government to tackle illegal immigration Proposal are expected to increase employers sanctions, restrict access to the National health service, and require landlords to check immigration status.
Clearly these proposals will be viewed as alarming for some who has overstayed, entered the UK Illegally or, failed asylum application. How the new law will be implemented in practice, we will have to wait and see. The proposals appear to be in response to concerns from the public generally about immigration.
However here are my concerns, Immigration from the European Union (EU) countries cannot be stopped, because UK is part of the EU. On 1 Jan 2014 Romania and Bulgarian will have full EU membership, and have the same rights to work. We are having been built up to expect a stampede of migrants. So evidently there is nothing the UK Government can do about this, whether this materializes or not… Why then is there in response to these concerns, that the UK government decides to turn its resources into focusing on the small proportion of those who do not have a right to remain. By the UK governments own admission does not know how many overstayers or illegal immigrants or failed asylum seekers are in the UK. The figure may be small. Consider the following extract from Capita "There are only a very small minority of people living in the UK illegally"
Many who are have overstayed are in the position where they have outstanding applications, and are awaiting a decision. How will the proposals affect those who are in this position? Will they be asked to move from their home? If someone is in need of urgent medical treatment, will they then be denied medical treatment?
The point that is being made here is that the UK Border Agency seems to be proposing the new immigration bill purely as a means to appease their voters and supporters. But are they focusing on the real issues? Or are they just goings for easy pickings.
UK referred to the European Court because of breach in EU Laws
20 June, 2013 pdup EU Law No comments
The Commission has referred the UK Government to the European Court over breaches in UK law over its failings in applying the habitual residence test to EU Nationals.
Instead the UK government applies the right to reside test. This is an additional test, and has been imposed unilaterally by the UK.
UK nationals meet the requirements of habitual residence by virtue of their UK citizenship, whereas other EU nationals have to demonstrate that they do have the "right to reside."
The effect are that EU national who are unable to demonstrate that they do not have the right to reside cannot receive specific social security benefits.
· Child Benefit
· Child tax credit
· Job Seekers Allowance (income based)
· State pension credit
· Employments and support allowance
Opportunities for Tier 2 Male Migrants under Points Based System:
13 June, 2013 pdup Current News, Tier 2-5 PBS Scheme No comments
Migrants are a huge topic within British life and especially in recent times. The debate about migrants is not just about the people themselves, but their culture, background and home country all factor in and affect people's views and opinions.
One of the big factors British citizens seem to face is the employment crisis which has come hand in hand with the economic down turn. Newly released figures show that there are real opportunities for applicants seeking work permit employment under Tier 2(General). Although the overall figures of employment are still steadily dropping, male migrants situated within the UK have seen a much higher level of employment than native born citizens. These figures have been the same since 2007, and have continued that way to this day. By having immigrant's cultures and citizens can learn a lot from each other and enable much better development all round.
Sir Andrew Green, chair of campaign group Migration Watch UK, said: "It is time for a thorough assessment of the impact of immigration on the employment of British workers that this report only touches on.
"The effects may not show up statistically in a labour force of nearly 30 million but the anecdotal evidence is very strong.
These findings have been supplied by "think-tank" who has also revealed that the UK and Germany are the biggest recipients of immigrants globally, with figures doubling within the last few years.
The UK operates with a Points Based System, to attract the brightest and the best, in order for the country to be able to gain. Tier 2 of the PBS system is all about offering "skilled working". This means that any immigrants that have the required skills set are able to apply for work permit employment.
This Tier system works very well for the UK and attempts to ensure that anybody trying to gain residency within the UK must be able to fill a gap in the workforce that cannot be filled by a settled worker. This is to stop people coming into the UK and abusing the system, such as coming directly for the NHS.
Tier 2 states that "foreign nationals whom have been offered a skilled job to fill in the gap in the workforce that cannot be filled by a settled worker", meaning that its aim is to utilize the immigrants in a way in which benefits everybody and the country as a whole. Many of the UK's immigrants that were formerly students have been able to switch into this category to remain within the UK and offer something valuable for the country and its residents. This means that the country can now benefit from its migrants and they have a lot to offer.
The UK is still dedicated to attracting the brightest and best immigrants possible, whilst still trying to control immigration fairly and effectively.
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Home Authors Posts by Benoit Durand
Benoit Durand
Benoît Durand is Partner at RBB Economics, which he joined in 2008. He has over 20 years of experience in competition economics, particularly in applying quantitative techniques in the context of competition law investigations. Prior to joining RBB, he was Director of Economic Analysis at the UK's Competition Commission, and a member of the Chief Economist Office at the Directorate General for Competition at the European Commission. He was previously based in Washington DC, USA, where he worked in private practice. Benoît received his Ph.D. in economics from Boston College, USA. Benoît has worked on a vast range of competition cases, including numerous merger reviews, abuse of dominant position, horizontal and vertical agreement investigations, market inquiries and state aid investigations. While at RBB he has advised among others Nespresso, Google, Honeywell, British Airways, Reckitt Benckiser, Orange, Zimmer, Halliburton, TeliaSonera, Univar etc. Benoît has provided evidence before the European Commission, and national authorities, notably in France, the UK, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Latvia, Albania and Singapore. He speaks regularly at competition policy conferences and has published numerous articles on competition economics issues. He teaches competition economics at the Brussels School of Competition and at the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, as well as a course on quantitative techniques.
CPI Content by Benoit Durand


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10 Reasons why the Philadelphia Phillies winning the 2011 World Series would be good for baseball
The latest entry for the Why Each Team's Potential World Championship Would Be Good For The Game series will be for the Philadelphia Phillies.
A lot of these entries have been for long shots or teams that are pretty much dead right now (I'm looking at YOU Indians, Giants and White Sox.)
But now it is time for one team that not only has a shot, but should be the prohibitive favorite against any team.
The Phillies were picked by many people (including yours truly) to win it all. And frankly it would be stunning if they didn't. Now if you are the kind of person who doesn't like offense, pitching and power, then the Phillies aren't for you.
Today they clinched a playoff berth.
With 95 wins and 16 games left, they are a cinch for 100 wins.
If they win 102 games, they will have the best regular season record in franchise history.
And with the memory of last year's stunning loss in the NLCS against San Francisco fresh in their minds, they have gone all in.
The Phillies are the Big Bad Wolf. They could turn the Red Sox or Yankees into underdogs.
So they are another big market Northeastern team with unruly fans using their deep pockets to buy another championship!
What could there POSSIBLY be to root for with a Phillies World Series title?
PLENTY!
10 Reasons why the
winning the 2011 World Series
would be good for baseball
1. Another World Series title would make Charlie Manuel's Hall of Fame candidacy very compelling.
Charlie Manuel seems like a cool guy. A classic "Gold Ole Boy" Southern manager who has tamed the wild Philadelphia fanbase and delivered the city's first Championship in a quarter century.
While the classic Hall of Fame manager seems to be a strategist or a fiery, who can deny the results. With a clinched playoff spot this year (and assuming the Division is inevitable) he will have 5 straight Division Titles, back to back pennants and the 2008 World Series title.
Throw in the fact that his Phillies zoomed past the Mets in the wild 2007 Division race and Manuel could be the best manager in the team's history. Who is ahead of him?
(He also has another Division Title as a manager of the Indians.) If he wins another World Series title, his Cooperstown resume would start to look convincing.
2. Another title would shine light on the new "Core."
Jimmy Rollins has been a Phillie for 11 plus seasons. Chase Utley has been a Phillie for 9 seasons. Ryan Howard has been a Phillie for 8 plus seasons. Cole Hamels has been a Phillie for 6 seasons. Ryan Madson has been a Phillie for 8 plus seasons. Carlos Ruiz has been a Phillies for 6 seasons.
They are all home grown players who have been together for all 5 Division Champions. Throw in Shane Victorino who came over to Philadelphia after making his big league debut with the Padres and you have a core of players who have been together through many different Octobers and give the Phillies a sense of stability with the franchise not seen since the Joe Torre Yankee days.
3. The redemption of Ryan Howard's contract.
Speaking of that core, Ryan Howard has been much maligned since signing his long contract extension. I understand the deal emotionally. Having him play the bulk of his career in Philadelphia would mean that Phillies fans could invest some emotion in the big guy. And he is no doubt one of the more likable stars in the game.
But with his numbers declining (except RBI... the REASON he is paid so much) and the age of sluggers suddenly getting good again seems to be over, the deal looks like it might be an albatross for the next 5 years.
Ahh but what if he helps the Phillies earn ANOTHER World Series title? You could say "Sure he's over paid and slipping, but that's the price for an MVP, 3 pennants, an NLCS MVP and being part of 2 of the only 3 World Series titles in team history."
4. Speaking of redemption, Philadelphia fans can show themselves in a better light.
You might not like it, Phillies fans, but you have one of the worst reputation in sports. I know not ALL of you booed Mike Schmidt... or Santa Claus for that matter. I know not ALL of you got tased or threw up on a little girl. But enough of you have to give Philadelphia sports fans a bad rep.
Want to change that? When the Phillies win the World Series, cheer. Clap. Stomp your feet. Have a great time. But don't riot. Don't flip cars over. Show some class. And you can say "Yeah, I'm a Philly fan. At least I'm not a Vancouver fan!"
5. Roy Halladay is great for baseball and deserves to be a champion.
As we move past the Steroid Era and pitchers are becoming more and more dominant, it would be nice to see the BEST current pitcher get a ring.
Halladay could win his third Cy Young this year (although it will probably go to Clayton Kershaw) and last year showed his greatness with a regular season perfect game and a playoff no hitter. Today he threw a complete game shutout to clinch a spot in October. He's already a Hall of Famer. He is lacking the ring and he'll join Tim Lincecum, CC Sabathia, Cole Hamels, Jon Lester, Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter as current aces who are also World Champions.
6. Cliff Lee's bad ass-ness needs to be celebrated.
In 2009 World Series against the Yankees, Cliff Lee casually caught a pop up while barely moving his body. He just was so cool and non chalant. That's how he plays the game. He is good. He KNOWS he is good. And he'll just shut you down on HIS terms.
And those terms also means being a cool customer after being traded from the Indians to the Phillies to the Mariners and to the Rangers in two years. And cool in saying "Thanks but to thanks" to the Yankees money and declaring Philadelphia the place to win.
Like Halladay, Lee is one of the stars of post steroid pitching. And save for his two games in the World Series last year, has been as exciting a big game pitcher as you will see in baseball. He should be a champion.
7. Juan Samuel would get his World Series ring.
In the mid 1980s, Juan Samuel was the best second baseman in the National League not named Ryne Sandberg. He was part of the 1983 National League Champion Phillies and looked like he was going to be a staple in Philadelphia for a long time.
Then he went to the Mets, fetching Lenny Dykstra and Roger McDowell, which turned out to be one of the best deals in Phillies history. Samuel is a baseball lifer. He's been a coach and briefly managed the disastrous Orioles last year before Buck Showalter arrived.
The three time All Star has been in professional baseball since 1980 but has never been part of a World Series winner. The current member of the Phillies coaching staff has earned it.
8. A World Series ring for Brian Schneider, the last Expo.
There are very few Montreal Expos left in baseball. Schneider is one of them and he played for the team as MLB was screwing the franchise sending them to San Juan, not letting them call up players in September even while Frank Robinson was putting a winning product on the field. When baseball sent an All Star team to Japan after 2004, the Expos last season, Schneider represented the team. When he returned, they were the Washington Nationals. So by definition, Schneider was the last ever Expo.
He's now Carlos Ruiz's backup and probably won't see any action in the post season. But it would be nice to see one of the remnants of that lost team be rewarded.
9. Another title would make this the greatest Philadelphia team in history
If the Phillies win the World Series this year, which Philadelphia team would be better in history than this squad? The Dr. J/Moses Malone 76ers? The Broadstreet Bullies? The Jimmie Foxx/Lefty Grove Connie Mack led A's?
This Phillies team might be better than them all.
And sometimes it is GOOD to see greatness unfold and the best of something emerge.
10. Sometimes it is good to have the best team win.
Yeah, underdogs are fun to see win. A little team that could like last year's Giants or the 2006 Cardinals beating the odds can be appealing. But there are other times it is cool to see a team that is clearly the best in the sport take the title and the crown.
Sometimes seeing a champion who was the best from start to finish can be more satisfying than simply honoring whichever team happened to get hot over three weeks. This Phillies team was designed to win the whole damn thing and they played like it since April. There is something to be said for that.
Is there any doubt who the best team in baseball is? Then by definition they deserve to win the World Series!
Oh I know this will be a hard sell for a lot of you. Philadelphia is as bad as New York and Boston in terms of gluttony in many people's eyes. (The Phillies payroll is now bigger than the Red Sox!) But trust me, the world won't end if the Phillies win the World Series. And in many ways, it could be a very cool thing.
Show some brotherly love, my dear readers.
If you liked this then go ahead and read the entries for the other teams.
Labels: 2008 World Series, 2009 World Series, Brian Schneider, Charlie Manuel, Cliff Lee, Juan Samuel, Philadelphia Phillies, Roy Halladay, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino
Trey J. 7:46 PM
As an Astros fan I wouldn't mind seeing the Phillies win just so Oswalt and Pence could get their rings.
michael x. ferraro 3:21 PM
Well done, Sully. as a Philly lifer stranded in LA, not sure why i bash on Andy Reid's strategic and clock-management bungling so much, and yet am so charmed by Chollie's deficiencies in those areas. guess it's because baseball has less moving parts, but infinitely more potential outcomes, and his philosophy clearly is-- "go with who brung ya to the dance."
he keeps his keel and lets guys play. or be supreme bad-asses, like Cliffy Lee. or supreme but loveable dorks like Hunter (Big Boy) Pence. As in: "I got my big-boy pence on all by myself! problems with the buttons and socks, though."
did he cement us losing the 2009 Series by leaving Pedro in to get RAKED by Godzilla (as big a foregone conclusion since Joe Carter took Mitch Williams yard in Toronto)? sure. but he let them play.
also, hell yeah Sammy deserves a ring. (if we could somehow snag one for Mickey Morandini, that'd make it perfect.)
The Greatest Last Day of the Season... the Worst F...
My post season picks... and my mother in law's, so...
What Fox Wants For The World Series... 2011 Edition
Terry Francona to leave the Red Sox... STUPID STUP...
New Sully Baseball Video "It Wasn't Bill Buckner's...
We interrupt our Red Sox sorrow to crap on Colby R...
For the AL MVP vote, it is Verlander over Ellsbury
THE FINAL TALLY
The Braves are happy the Red Sox lost
If the Red Sox only were mediocre at the beginning...
7 THINGS RED SOX FANS SHOULD BE HAPPY ABOUT TONIGHT!
Do you really expect me to write about tonight?
Quite a big swing between today's potential outcomes
Imagine if this was happening on Labor Day weekend
No California Teams this year
Lisa Swan returns to the Sully Baseball Show to to...
So it has come to this
Garage Sales, extra innings and magic numbers
Curt Young had better get his resume in order
The Red Sox look like the 1927 Yankees...
I'm of explaining why I'm not panicking about the ...
10 Reasons why the Atlanta Braves winning the 2011...
Joe Girardi should win the AL Manager of the Year
"Hey World Series Contenders: Stop Wasting Preciou...
For Red Sox fans, tonight was like the end of Jura...
The Dodgers could clean up on Off Season Awards
A very strange night
Logan Morrison needs a new nickname
Hats off to Rivera... the greatest closer ever
Wow. The Orioles pitcher sucked more than Lackey
Mike Lortz (aka Jordi Scrubbings) joins the Sully ...
Did that really just happen?
NOT having Instant Replay Slows Down The Game
Don't count your Orioles before they hatch
It's glass half full time
This run by the Giants is great but...
Yeah, this sucked
New Sully Baseball Video "John Sterling Through Hi...
Tigers won... Tigers will continue to win
Reason to hope for the Champs?
Relax a little, Red Sox fans
Can the Nationals go 11-3 the rest of the way?
A Nation Tested
Video of me talking to Red Sox fans during tonight...
10 Reasons why the Tampa Bay Rays winning the 2011...
10 Reasons why the Philadelphia Phillies winning t...
Jonathan Papelbon will owe Daniel Bard a few milli...
Tim Wakefield is 100 wins away from 300!
10 Reasons why the Arizona Diamondbacks winning th...
I'm not panicking yet
Well... we wanted an exciting September
Mattingly and Collins deserve Manager of the Year ...
When should the Yankees get nervous?
Designate John Lackey for Assignment
I didn't think it would come to this
New Sully Baseball Video - "The All 'Nope...Not TH...
Thank you Orioles
A question about the Dodgers-Nationals double header
Nominate Bill Buckner for an Emmy!!!
Two sad things about the Red Sox
If the Orioles don't win today, they should be con...
Don't get me wrong. I love a blow out win. But...
What the hell happened?
Brian Kiley joins The Sully Baseball Show
10 Reasons why the Detroit Tigers winning the 2011...
That's it for the Champs
This could be baseball's worst September in 25 years
Slamming out the string
10 Reasons why the Milwaukee Brewers winning the 2...
Now THAT is how you fall out of First Place!
New Sully Baseball Video "'Tis the Season to End t...
The Giants World Series defense could end this wee...
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10 Reasons why the San Francisco Giants winning th...
Things are more bleak for the Mets than the Dodgers


text:
module Fog
  module ServicesMixin
    def [](provider)
      new(:provider => provider)
    end

    def new(attributes)
      attributes    = attributes.dup # Prevent delete from having side effects
      provider      = attributes.delete(:provider).to_s.downcase.to_sym
      provider_name = Fog.providers[provider]

      raise ArgumentError, "#{provider} is not a recognized provider" unless providers.include?(provider)

      require_service_provider_library(service_name.downcase, provider)
      spc = service_provider_constant(service_name, provider_name)
      spc.new(attributes)
    rescue LoadError, NameError  # Only rescue errors in finding the libraries, allow connection errors through to the caller
      raise Fog::Service::NotFound, "#{provider} has no #{service_name.downcase} service"
    end

    def providers
      Fog.services[service_name.downcase.to_sym] || []
    end

    private

    def require_service_provider_library(service, provider)
      require "fog/#{provider}/#{service}"
    rescue LoadError  # Try to require the service provider in an alternate location
      require "fog/#{service}/#{provider}"
    end

    def service_provider_constant(service_name, provider_name)
      Fog.const_get(service_name).const_get(*const_get_args(provider_name))
    rescue NameError  # Try to find the constant from in an alternate location
      Fog.const_get(provider_name).const_get(*const_get_args(service_name))
    end

    # Ruby 1.8 does not support the second 'inherit' argument to #const_get
    def const_get_args(*args)
      if RUBY_VERSION < '1.9'
        args
      else
        args + [false]
      end
    end

    def service_name
      name.split("Fog::").last
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Nowadays, Internet goes deep into peoplepsilas daily routines, brings human beings mass information, and becomes an increasingly important channel of obtaining information. Facing such tremendous amount of information, it is a matter of life and death for us to look for a rapid and efficient method of hunting information. This paper revolves around Search Engine, which is a most efficient tool for information organization and retrieval on the Internet. The methods of retrieving information on the Internet have been improved greatly in recent years because of the application of search engines. Nevertheless, for some reasons, search engine does not provide Internet users perfect retrieval service, and often returns unsatisfied results. Basing on the statistical data from authority, this thesis concentrates on the current developmental situation and its problems found in application of search engines in China, aims at providing search engine developers some references.


Could a prepaid funeral help reduce your assessable assets?
Legislation changes to the Age Pension announced in the 2015/16 Federal Budget will take effect from 1 January 2017. These changes will see the thresholds applied to the Age Pension asset test increase at the lower end and reduce at the upper end. The taper rate, the rate at which Age Pension payments are reduced when the lower threshold is exceeded, will double. This means that for every $1000 the lower asset threshold is exceeded, Age Pension payments will reduce by $3 until the upper threshold is reached and no pension payment is due.
While many Australian age pensioners are concerned about the impact this will have on their pension payments and may look for ways in which their assessable assets can be reduced, it is imperative that you seek independent financial advice before making a decision. This should take into consideration your personal circumstances and financial goals.
Q. How can assessable assets be reduced?
A. Once such way is by purchasing a prepaid funeral plan, as the value of such plans when purchased through a funeral director is exempt from the asset test. Pensioners who are looking to reduce their assets to ensure they qualify for an Age Pension or maximise their Age Pension payment may wish to consider purchasing a prepaid funeral plan prior to 1 January 2017.
Q. What other assets are exempt from the asset test?
Q. How does a pensioner take advantage of a prepaid funeral in these circumstances?
A. To take advantage of the exemption, pensioners must have a contract with a funeral director that sets out the services to be undertaken noting that there are no more expenses to be paid. There is no set maximum value of this investment.
Q. Are funeral bonds excluded as well?
A. Funeral bonds are not excluded from the asset test and are treated as financial investment as they earn interest. An exception is where the funeral bond is assigned to a funeral director as prepayment for contracted services and the owner has no other prepaid funeral assets. There are restrictions to this option with the Funeral Bond Allowable Limit as at 1 July 2016 being $12,500. This is indexed in line with CPI, annually on 1 July. A maximum of two qualifying bonds are also allowed under the asset test exemption.
To find out more about prepaid funerals, visit simplicityfunerals.com.au/asset-test and request a call back from a prepaid funeral consultant.
The information above is of a general nature and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It has been prepared with due care but no guarantees are provided for the ongoing accuracy or relevance. Before making a decision based on this advice you should consider its appropriateness having regard to your own circumstances. You should seek professional advice from a financial planner, lawyer or tax agent in relation to any aspects that impact your financial and legal circumstances.
Actually the answer to the last question is incorrect as it implies that all funeral bonds not assigned to a funeral director are treated as an asset by Centrelink. This is incorrect.
Funeral bonds, where they are not assigned to a specific funeral director/home are Centrelink exempt where they meet 2 specific criteria – see below.
Care needs to be taken when you are providing information from "Sponsored Content" to ensure that its correct.
The Funeral Bond Allowable Limit as at 1 July 2016 is $12,500 and is indexed in line with CPI pension increases every 1 July.
You may have a joint funeral bond. If you do, we consider it a single bond when assessing your allowable limit. You and your partner may both contribute towards the single bond, in which case we assess both contributions against the Funeral Bond Allowable Limit.
Funeral bonds that are not exempt are treated as financial investments. Your share of the current value including interest is included in your assessable assets and is deemed to be earning income under the deeming rules.
Prepaying your funeral is a good idea. I have chosen my own flowers, cask and herse. Funerals double in price every ten years so its economical. Go for it unless you have family who can pay $6-11,000.