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Mercedes-Benz launches GLB, EQB luxury 7-seater SUVs
Mercedes-Benz India launched the GLB and EQB luxury 7-seater SUVs. The company now boasts of the largest SUV portfolio in the country. The EQB is Mercedes-Benz's third all-electric luxury vehicle launched in 2022. T...
Record sales of 11,469 units for Mercedes-Benz India in Jan-Sept 2022
Forget the fact that Martin Schwenk, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India recently got stuck in Pune traffic and had to take an auto rickshaw to his destination. But what matters most for Schwenk as he leav...
Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX breaks own efficiency record on 1,202 km road trip
The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX has beaten its own efficiency record in real-world driving with another 1,000 km+ journey on a single battery charge. Following its record-breaking maiden drive from Stuttgart to Cassis...
Mercedes-Benz launches C-Class in India at Rs 55 lakh onward
The country's largest and leading luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz launched the new generation C-Class setting a new benchmark in luxury and technology in the luxury sedan segment. The New C-Class (W206) combines the m...
Bookings open for Mercedes C-Class aka baby S Class
Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz India announced the opening of bookings for the all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class often referred to as the baby S Class, exclusively for Mercedes-Benz customers from April 13 to 30, 2022. B...
Mercedes-Maybach S-Class launched in India at Rs 2.50 crore
Mercedes-Benz has rolled out the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, the most technologically advanced and exquisite 'Made in India' luxury vehicle ever. The price for Mercedes-Maybach S-Class 680 4MATIC starts from Rs 3.20 c...
Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ unveiled in India
Mercedes-Benz India has unveiled the new Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ . The sporty saloon will be available in India through the CBU router and is expected to be priced around Rs 70 to Rs 80 lakh. The vehicle is powe...
2021 FORCE GURKHA: Has Force done a THARough Job?
Every off-roader in the country was eagerly waiting for Pune-based Force Motors to launch their 2021 Force Gurkha 4x4 with differential locks. Every blogger and vlogger too was waiting impatiently. The reason was si...
Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S 4MATIC+Coupé launched at Rs 2.07 crore
Mercedes-Benz India has launched its most powerful GLE in India, the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S 4MATIC+Coupé. The Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S 4Matic+ Coupé is priced at Rs. 2.07 crores (Ex-showroom all-India price).
Mercedes AMG E 53 4Matic+, E 63 S 4Matic launched at Rs. 1.02cr & Rs Rs 1.70cr
Mercedes-Benz India has launched the all-new AMG E 53 4MATIC+and the new AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+ at Rs. 1.02 crore and Rs 1.70 crore respectively. The AMG E 53 4M+ is only the second 'AMG 53 series' product introduced in...
Mercedes-Benz launches its flagship S-Class at Rs 2.17 crore onward
Mercedes-Benz India launched the 7th generation S-Class at Rs 2.17 crore onward. While the S 400d 4MATIC is priced at Rs 2.17 crore the S 450 4Matic is priced at Rs 2.19 crore. More than half of the 150 units of t...
New Mercedes-Benz S-Class to be launched in India on June 17
Mercedes-Benz India will be launching the new S-Class in India on June 17, 2021. The S-Class, also referred to as the 'Best Car in the World', will be digitally launched by Martin Schwenk, Managing Director & CEO, ...
Ultra-luxurious Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4Matic in India at Rs 2.43 crore
Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has entered the ultra-luxurious SUV segment with the introduction of the first-ever SUV in its Maybach range of vehicles. The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC now sets a new benchmark al...
Mercedes-Benz India debuts all-new GLA and AMG GLA 35 4M
Luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz India has launched the new GLA and the AMG GLA 35 4M. The vehicles were to be launched in April 2021 but was had been delayed in keeping with the pandemic situation
Mercedes-Benz India drives in A-Class Limousine at Rs 39.90 lakh onward
Luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz India launched the much awaited A-Class Limousine at Rs 39.90 lakh onward. The A-Class 200 (Petrol)has been priced at Rs. 39.90 lakhs, while the A-Class 200d (Diesel) has been priced a...
2021 Mercedes GLC with 'Mercedes me connect' tech launched at Rs 57.40 onward
India's leading luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has launched the 2021 GLC with 'Mercedes me connect' technology along with a host of additional feature enrichment. The new Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 is priced at Rs...
Mercedes-Benz India launches S-Class Maestro Edition at Rs 1.51 crore
Luxury car brand Mercedes-Benz has launched the 2021 Mercedes me connect, the latest version of its Mercedes me connect (Mmc) technology, integrated with home automation and voice assistance. The company introduced ...
2021 Volvo S60, Safety Redefined
The luxury car segment in India is full of fascinating cars that offer the best of indulgence to its customers. These are literally electrically fortified with so many electronic features, it's as though you are dri...
Mercedes AMG GLC 43 4MATIC Coupé is first AMG to be localised in India
Mercedes-Benz has commenced localisation of a Mercedes-AMG model in India. The first Mercedes-AMG product to roll-out of the assembly line from Mercedes-Benz India will be the AMG GLC 43 4MATIC Coupé.
Mercedes-Benz EQC electric car launched at Rs 99.30 lakh
The Mercedes-Benz EQC electric car was launched in India in the luxury car space at a price of Rs 99.30 lakh, ex showroom, India. The EQC was launched in India by Martin Schwenk, Managing Director & CEO and Santosh ...
New Mercedes-Benz GLS launched with more comfort and tech features
Mercedes-Benz India has launched the latest generation of the GLS –popularly referred to as the S-Class of SUVs. The new Mercedes-Benz GLS is the largest and most luxurious SUV from Mercedes-Benz and offers the cust...
Car companies line up 'touch-free' experience for customers; Dealerships to be sanitised
In this new world which is reeling under the pandemic covid-19, automobile sellers like Maruti Suzuki India, Hyundai Motor India, FCA India, BMW India, Ford India, Honda Cars India, Mercedes-Benz India, Volvo India ...
India made Mercedes GLC Coupé priced at Rs 62.70 lakh onward
Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz India launched the 'Made in India' GLC Coupé in two variants, the 300d 4MATIC diesel and GLC 300 4MATIC petrol. With the roll-out of the GLC Coupe, Mercedes-Benz India has now added the...
Mercedes launches AMG GT 63S 4M 4 Door Coupe and other AMGs
Mercedes-Benz India showcased an array of products at the Auto Expo 2020. The company launched the world's fastest series production four door coupe and the fastest AMG ever in India, the AMG GT 63S 4MATIC 4 Door Co...
Mercedes-Benz India launches long wheel base GLE at Rs 73.70 lakh onward
Mercedes-Benz India launched the long wheel base GLE sports utility vehicle in the presence of Martin Schwenk, Managing Director & CEO and Santosh Iyer, Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India.
Mercedes-Benz to launch Marco Polo camper at Auto Expo 2020
Following the success of the V-class in India, Mercedes-Benz will be debuting the V-Cass Marco Polo camper at the 15th edition of the Auto Expo. It will also mark the country's first commercially produced camper.
Mercedes-Benz India launches product and technology brand 'EQ' in India
Mercedes-Benz India launched launch its product and technology brand 'EQ' in India. Brand EQ is a product and technology ecosystem that aims to shape the future of mobility, which derives from the Mercedes brand val...
Mercedes-Benz launches new GLC with MBUX at Rs 57.75 lakh onward
Mercedes-Benz India has launched the latest generation of the GLC. The new Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 is priced at Rs 52.75 lakh, and the GLC 220 d 4MATIC is priced at Rs 57.75 lakh (all prices are ex-showroom, India). ...
Festival of lights shines bright on Mercedes-Benz; records 600 car sales
Dhanteras and Diwali proved to be very auspicious for Mercedes-Benz India as the company delivered a record number of600+ vehicles to customer on the day of Dhanteras in key markets of Mumbai, Pune, Gujarat, Kolkata...
Mercedes-Benz brings in iconic G-Class - the G 350 d at Rs.1.5 Crore
Mercedes-Benz has launched the iconic G-Class - G350d for the Indian market at a price of Rs.1.5 Crore (ex-showroom). The new Mercedes-Benz G 350 d was launched in the presence of Martin Schwenk, MD and CEO, Mercede...
Own a Mercedes-Benz easily with Wishbox
Leading luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz today introduced a host of innovative mobility solutions for aspiring customers named 'Wishbox'. These offers are meant to encourage customers and financially empower th...
Mercedes-Benz launches 'Made in India' BSVI LWB E-Class at Rs.57.50 lakh onward
Mercedes-Benz has launched its first ever 'Made In India' BS VI complaint Long Wheelbase E-Class luxury business sedan for a starting price of Rs. 57.50 lakh. The new RHD version LWB E-Class comes in both petrol and...
Mercedes-Benz launches new AMG C 43 4Matic Coupe at Rs 75 lakh onward
Mercedes-Benz India is strengthening its line-up in the performance car segment this year with the new Mercedes-AMG C 43 4Matic Coupe. This is the first ever two door coupe in the AMG 43 line, introduced by Mercedes...
Six world premieres from Mercedes-Benz at 2019 Geneva Motor Show
Mercedes-Benz will present the new CLA Shooting Brake and, for the first time at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show to be held from March 7 to March 17, 2019 (Press days March 5 and 6), the Concept EQV and the facelifted Me...
Hyundai Ioniq, BMW i3 get five-star rating in Green NCAP test
The Hyundai Ioniq and BMW i3, both electric vehicles, achieve a maximum five-star rating in the first round of tests by Green NCAP. Green NCAP, the new consumer programme to promote greener cars, has launched its fi...
2019 Force Gurkha Xtreme 4X4 REAL BEAST
The new Force Gurkha Xtreme 4x4 from Force Motors is a true definition of a real beast. It may have a bland cabin but when it comes to its engine, transmission, transfer box, suspension and build, it's every off-roa...
Mercedes-Benz in India brings in Luxury Multi- Purpose Vehicle- V-Class
Mercedes-Benz India has launched the Luxury Multi- Purpose Vehicle- V-Class. The V-Class will target the multi- purpose vehicle segment which has a potential demand. The V-Class will be available in both the 6 and 7...
Mahindra Alturas G4 First Drive
Sometimes I wonder why it took so much time for Mahindra & Mahindra to get serious about their Ssangyong models, especially the Rexton which they launched several years ago. Nobody in India really knew from where th...
Force Motors introduces new, powerful Gurkha Xtreme
Force Motors has introduced the new Gurkha Xtreme with the drivetrain that powered the Force Gurkha vehicles which won podium positions at Rain Forest Challenge 2014, 2015 and 2016. The new Gurkha Xtreme is powered ...
Mahindra launches Alturas G4 at Rs 26.95 lakh onward
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. launched its high-end SUV , the Alturas G4 at a starting price of Rs Rs. 26.95 lacs (ex-showroom) for the 2WD variant and Rs 29.95 lakh for the 4WD variant.
Mercedes-Benz India launches CLS, the world's first 4-door coupe at Rs 84.70 lakh
Mercedes-Benz India has launched the world's first 4-door coupe, the new CLS 300 d, at a price of Rs 84.70 lakh. It is the first car to incorporate the new Mercedes-Benz design idiom of "sensual purity" in a stylish...
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet C300 launched at Rs 65.25 lakh onward
Mercedes-Benz India has launched the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet C 300 at a price starting Rs 65.25 lakh ex-showroom, all India. With this new sporty two-door Cabriolet, Mercedes-Benz India also introduced a...
Mercedes-Benz India launches AMG G 63 off-roader for Rs 2.19 crore onward
Mercedes-Benz India has launched the new Mercedes-AMG G 63 at a starting price of Rs 2.19 crore, ex-showroom, all India. This is the 10th product launched in 2018 by Mercedes-Benz India.
Mercedes-Benz all-new E-Class All-Terrain launched at Rs 75 lakh
Mercedes-Benz launched the the all new E-Class All-Terrain. The All-Terrain comes equipped with a four-cylinder diesel engine that generates 194 hp of power. Its All-Terrain transmission mode is inspired from the Me...
Mercedes-Benz India launches new C-Class with BS VI diesel engine
Mercedes-Benz India has introduced the new C-Class diesel range that comprises the C 220 d Progressive, C 220 d Prime and the C 300 d AMG Line. The company has for the first time introduced BS VI diesel power train ...
Mercedes-Benz India launches CLA Urban Sport at Rs 35.99 lakh onward
Luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz launched the CLA 200 and CLA 200 d Urban Sport, petrol and diesel versions. The Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 Urban Sport (Petrol) and CLA 200 d Urban Sport (Diesel) are priced at Rs 35...
Mercedes-Benz launches EQC electric car
Mercedes-Benz has launched the EQC, the first Mercedes-Benz vehicle to be launched under the EQ brand. It was at the 2016 Paris Motor Show that Mercedes-Benz first presented its new product and technology brand for ...
Mercedes-AMG S 63 Coupé launched in India for Rs 2.55 crore
Leading luxury and performance carmaker Mercedes-Benz India has launched the Mercedes-AMG S 63 Coupé for a price of Rs 2.55 crore (ex-showroom). The two-door Coupé is powered by 4.0L V8 biturbo engine with twin-scro...
Mercedes AMG E 63 S 4Matic+ Track Review
Imagine going on a blind date and meeting an incredibly beautiful lady. Even before you get to know her in the way you want, she is gone, leaving you with a heavy heart but with a memory that's going to last a lifet...
Mercedes-AMG GLE 43 4Matic Coupe OrangeArt, SLC 43 RedArt limited editions launched
Mercedes-Benz India has introduced the Mercedes-AMG GLE 43 4Matic Coupe 'OrangeArt' edition and the SLC 43 'RedArt' edition. Available in limited numbers, these exclusive Mercedes-AMG models are distinguished by exp...
Mercedes AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+ launched at Rs 1.5 crore
Mercedes- Benz launched the most powerful E-Class of all time – the AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+. The AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+ is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that generates 612 hp @ 5750-6500rpm, accelerates to 100 ...
Mercedes-Benz launches the Grand Edition of GLS for Rs 86.90 lakh
Luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has launched the Grand Edition of its flagship SUV GLS in both the petrol and diesel version. The plush interiors of the vehicle are inspired by the flagship luxury sedan, the S...
Mercedes Benz S 350 D Road Test Review
It has been nearly four years since the 6th generation Mercedes Benz S-Class was launched in India and I had just arrived at the opulent Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad to drive the 2018 Mercedes Benz S-Class. Essenti...
Mercedes launches new S Class for Rs. 1.33 Crore
Mercedes Benz has just launched the new 2018 S-Class facelift for Rs. 1.33 crore, the sedan features radar based safety technology as well. This article talks about the features, specifications, price, launch, safet...
Mercedes-Benz India launches Mercedes-Maybach S 650
India's largest luxury car brand Mercedes-Benz is showcasing an array of fascinating products at the 14th Auto Expo 2018. Mercedes-Benz kick-started its product offensive for 2018 with the launch of the exquisite Me...
Mercedes-Benz introduces India's first BS VI compliant vehicle
Luxury car brand Mercedes-Benz achieved a historic milestone in the Indian automotive industry, by being the first automobile brand in India to launch the first ever BS VI compliant vehicles, 'Made in India, for I...
Mercedes-Benz India to showcase top-end cars at 14th Auto Expo, 2018
Luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz India is all set to showcase an array of luxury cars at the 14th edition of the Auto Expo to be held in February 2018. The Mercedes-Benz Pavilion will be at Hall No. 15. The key...
Mercedes-Benz launches AMG CLA 45, GLA 45 4MATIC
Mercedes-Benz India has further cemented its strong presence in the performance segment, by launching two new AMGs, the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 and the GLA 45 4MATIC. The 45 AMG boasts of the 'most powerful four-cylinde...
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class 'Edition C' is priced at Rs 42.54 lakh onward
Mercedes-Benz India enhanced its C-Class portfolio with the addition of the new 'Edition C'. The 'Edition C' hosts new exterior and interior upgrades, enhancing the sportiness of the existing C-Class. The car comes ...
Mercedes-Benz launches GLC 'Celebration Edition' for Rs. 50.86 lakh onward
Mercedes-Benz India has launched a special GLC 'Celebration Edition' to mark the 70th anniversary of India's Independence and also the successful run of the GLC in the Indian market, since its debut in June 2016. Th...
Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4Matic Coupe launched for Rs 74.80 lakh
Mercedes-Benz India has launched the all new Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4Matic Coupe for Rs 74.80 lakh. Mercedes-Benz India also commemorated global success of its performance brand–AMG, which completes 50 successful years...
Mercedes-Benz launches new GLA for Rs 30.65 lakh onward
Luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz India has launched the new GLA in three engine variants – GLA 200, GLA 200 d and GLA 220 d 4 MATIC. The GLA 220 d 4MATIC features a 2,143 inline 4 engine with an output of 168hp and a...
Mercedes-Benz drives in Mercedes-AMG G 63 'Edition 463', GLS 63
Mercedes-Benz India has launched the limited 'Edition 463' of the Mercedes-AMG G 63 and the quickest performance SUV in the segment, the new Mercedes-AMG GLS 63. The vehicle can do a 0 to 100 kmph in 4.6 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz launches Long Wheelbase E-Class 220 d
After the successful market debut of the top ranging E 350 d diesel and the E 200 petrol, Mercedes-Benz India has launched the all new Long Wheelbase E 220 d. For the first time, the Indian market gets with the OM 6...
Mercedes premiers the new S-Class at 2017 Shanghai Motor Show
German luxury car manufacturer Mercedes Benz premiered their new S-Class at the 17th Shanghai Auto show. The new Mercedes Benz S-Class comes with the Distronic active proximity control while the Active Steering Assi...
Mercedes-Benz India sells 3650 units in Jan-March 2017
Leading luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has recorded sales of 3,650 units in the January-March 2017 period, supported by the strong sales momentum in the SUV segment. Mercedes-Benz luxury SUV portfolio comprising the ...
Mercedes-Benz drives in flagship S-Class 'Connoisseur's Edition'
Leading luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz India has launched the flagship luxury model--the S-Class 'Connoisseur's Edition'. The model will be available in both the S 350 d and S 400 variants. The S 350 d is powered by...
Lexus enters India's luxury car segment with RX 450h SUV, ES 300h
Lexus, the premium brand of car maker Toyota of Japan has formally entered India with a restricted media event organised in New Delhi that saw some major auto publications and journalists forced to sit outside. The ...
Mercedes-Benz Long Wheel Base new E-Class costs Rs 56.15 lakh onward
Luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has launched the first ever right hand drive (RHD) long wheelbase (LWB) version of the new E-Class luxury business sedan. From its launch, this sedan will be 'Made in India, for...
2017 Long Wheel Base Mercedes-Benz E-Class E350d: Road Test Review
The new 5th generation Long Wheel Base E-Class from Mercedes Benz India is not all about speed, power and torque. It is a lot about Indulgence. Where else in the world will you find in a car, a rear seat so spaciou...
Audi RS7 Sportback Performance
The Performance version of the Audi RS 7 Sportback is no different. This is a more powerful variant of the RS 7 which in a way is Audi's way of telling the BMW Ms and the Mercedes-Benz AMGs that its arsenal is loade...
Mercedes-Benz launches A-Class, B-Class Night Edition
Mercedes-Benz India has launched two luxury compacts - the A-Class and the B-Class 'Night Edition'. The Mercedes-Benz A 180 is priced at Rs 27.31 lakh and the A 200 d is priced at Rs 28.32 lakh. The Mercedes-Benz B ...
Mercedes Benz C43 AMG 4MATIC Track review
With great speed comes an even greater responsibility of control and that is exactly what the Mercedes C 43 AMG displays. It has been pioneered to perform in every aspect and that sets it a class apart from every ot...
Mercedes-Benz drives in AMG C43 4Matic for 74.35 lakh
Mercedes-Benz India strengthened its AMG portfolio by driving in the powerful AMG C 43 4Matic at a price of Rs 74.35 lakh (ex showroom Delhi). This is the third product with the 43 AMG nomenclature for the Indian ma...
Mercedes launches new CLA in India for Rs. 31.4 lakh
Mercedes Benz, launched their new CLA sedan for a starting price of Rs. 31.4 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
Mercedes launches S-Class and C-Class cabriolets in India
One of the fastest growing luxury brands in India, Mercedes Benz launched two new cabriolets, C-Class and S-Class, in the capital today. The new additions will join the previously launched E-Class cabriolet in the M...
Mercedes topless journey gets a boost on November 9
Mercedes-Benz is now all set to redefine open-top motoring in India, by launching two of the most fascinating and emotion evoking 'Dream Cars': the S-Cabriolet and the C-Cabriolet.
Mercedes-Benz GLA 220 d 4Matic Activity Edition for Rs 38.51lakh
Mercedes-Benz India has launched an all-new GLA 220 d 4Matic 'Activity Edition', thus introducing the 4Matic four-wheel drivetrain in the GLA, for the first time in the Indian market. The launch of the GLA 220 d 4Ma...
Beauties everywhere at the Paris Motor Show: Part 2
The Mondial De L'Automobile Paris or more simply the Paris Auto Show is being held in the beautiful capital city of France from October 1 to 16, 2016. Car manufacturers across the globe have unveiled vehicles, some ...
Mercedes-Benz launches 'Made in India' GLC at Rs 47.90 lakh
Luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz added the ninth product to its local production portfolio in India. By rolling out the GLC SUV from its assembly line, Mercedes-Benz India also becomes the only luxury car manuf...
Mercedes completes petrol portfolio in India; launches GLS 400 4MATIC
The tri-star luxury car manufacturer Mercedes Benz completed its petrol portfolio offering for the Indian market by launching the new GLS 400 4MATIC on September 7, 2016 for Rs. 82.90 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The S...
Petrol version of Mercedes GLE launched for Rs. 74.90 lakh
Luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz India launched for the first time, a petrol variant of its highest selling SUV, the GLE. The GLE 400 4Matic has been launched with a powerful V6 petrol engine by Roland Folger, Managin...
No. 43, the Mercedes-Benz roadster AMG SLC 43 for Rs 77.50 lakh
Commemorating 20 years of the SLK globally, the Mercedes-AMG SLC 43 was launched in the Capital within 4 months of the car's international debut. The Mercedes-AMG SLC 43 is the first product being introduced with a...
Mercedes-Benz GLC 220 d 4Matic: Well endowed
When things go bad, you can either slip into a corner and brood or you can continue to push yourself hard to win. The story of Mercedes-Benz India is more about pushing itself hard to win. Despite the ridiculous ban...
Mercedes-Benz India introduces Sport Edition A-Class, CLA and GLA
Leading luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz India has introduced a 'Sport Edition' of the A-Class, GLA and CLA in India, celebrating the spirit of the UEFA Euro Championship 2016. The introduction of this 'Sport Edition'...
Mercedes-Benz launches GLC, a luxury SUV for Rs 50.70 lakh
Leading luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz has launched its luxury SUV, the new GLC 'Edition 1' in New Delhi. The GLC has been introduced as a CBU and will be available in both petrol and diesel variants--the GLC 220 d ...
Audi R8 V10 Plus: Lightning Fast
Well believe it or not the Audi R8 V10 Plus is infact that fast, quick and mind bogglingly aggressive to have me sitting there confused, thinking is this actually real. The new Audi is powered by a 5204cc naturally ...
Mercedes-Benz drives in GLS 350 d in India for Rs. 80.40 lakh
Unfortunately, this new luxury SUV cannot be sold in Delhi NCR because of the Supreme Court ruling banning all passenger cars powered by diesel engine capacity of 2000cc and above.
Mercedes-Benz drives in S 400 at Rs. 1.31 crore ex-showroom Hyderabad
Luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz launched the S 400, a new variant of its flagship luxury model the S-Class, for its discerning customers in Hyderabad on Marych 29, 2016. Popularly referred to as the 'best car ...
WCOTY awards for Mazda MX-5, Audi R8 Coupe, BMW 7 series, Toyota Mirai
Mazda MX-5 is the 2016 World Car of the Year. The winner was announced during a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show, Bridgestone Corporation and Autoneum. The year 2016 marks the 10th an...
New Mercedes C 250 d launched for Rs. 44.36 lakh
Mercedes-Benz India has introduced the new C 250 d for Rs. 44,36,000 (ex-showroom Pune). The car will be offered in two variants -- C 200 and C 220 d. The C-Class has been one of the highest selling cars for Merced...
Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard launched in India for Rs 10.50 crore
Mercedes-Benz India has launched the new Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard, the first civilian vehicle to be certified with the highest ballistic protection level VR10. It is one of the safest luxury spots on wheels in t...
Mercedes launches Edition E for Rs. 48.6 lakh
Mercedes- Benz India has launched their Edition E to celebrate 20 years of the E-Class in India. The E-Class was one of the first luxury cars to be manufactured in the country and has had the longest manufacturing r...
Mercedes-Benz unveils global SUV, the GLC and S-Class Cabriolet
Mercedes-Benz India unveiled the much awaited dynamic SUV- the GLC; the stunningly attractive S-Class Cabriolet and showcased the exquisitely crafted fortress on wheels, the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Guard. Both the gl...
Mahindra back in Delhi NCR with XUV500 and Scorpio
There is now reason for Mahindra fans to smile. All those disappointed by the sudden Supreme Court order of December 2015 banning diesel cars with engine capacities more than 2000cc in Delhi and the National Capital...
Auto Expo 2016 will witness unveiling of 80 new vehicles
The 13th edition of the Auto Expo, jointly organized by ACMA,CII, and SIAM, and accredited by OICA is expected to see the unveiling of at least 80 new vehicles. While the Components Show will be held from February 4...
Mercedes Benz launches GLE 450 AMG Coupe for Rs. 86.40 lakh
Mercedes-Benz India launched their first ever SUV Coupe the GLE 450 AMG Coupé for a price of Rs. 86,40,000 (ex-showroom Mumbai). The GLE 450 AMG Coupe is the first of its kind of product to be launched in the countr...
Mercedes GLE 450 AMG Coupé launch on January 12, 2016
Unmindful of the Supreme Court ban on selling cars with diesel engines with more than 2000 cc capacity in Delhi NCR till March 31, 2016, the 2016 New Year will ring powerful bells for Mercedes-Benz India as it prepa...
Mercedes-Benz delivers promise: 15th model for 2015 is new A-Class
Mercedes-Benz lived up to its promise of 15 in 15 by launching the new A-Class on December 8, 2015. The new A-Class is the 15th vehicle to be launched by the company this year and will be available in petrol and die...
Mercedes-Benz drives in AMG GT S for Rs 2.40 crore
Germany based luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz India launched the 'World Performance Car of the Year 2015' and Red Dot Design's 'Best of the Best' winner, the Mercedes-AMG GT S in India for a price of Rs 2.40 c...
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The Seniors' Mental Health Community Consultation Outreach Program is administered in collaboration with the Seniors' Mental Health Program of the North Bay Regional Health Centre. Seniors can get referred to this program through their family doctor or nurse practitioner.
The Seniors' Mental Health Community Consultation Service provides consultation as part of the Seniors' Mental Health Program of the North Bay Regional Health Centre. The team serves elderly patients with mental health problems referred by their family physician. The family physician is considered an active member of the treatment team.
The team uses a patient-centred and/or consultee-centred approach in assisting patients and caregivers to attain, maintain and restore a high quality of health in the least restrictive environment. Our philosophy of care respects the rights and promotes the dignity and worth of all individuals.
• To provide mental health assessment, diagnosis, treatment recommendations, limited follow-up and\or referral for elderly people with mental health problems. Patients will be seen in our office or in the community depending on their needs.
• To collaborate with health care agencies and care-givers (formal or informal) to provide advocacy for patients and their families, to ensure that the mental health needs of the elderly are met.
• To provide consultation and education to community agencies as well as to other health professionals concerned with psychogeriatric problems.
• To prevent hospitalization when possible and to facilitate rehabilitation and reintegration when hospitalization is necessary.
The local team consists of a nurse based in Elliot Lake and a psychiatrist providing consultations. The program is affiliated with the Seniors' Mental Health Program at North Bay Regional Health Centre.
© Copyright North Shore Community Support Services, Inc. 2017, All Rights Reserved.


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Docs Diagnose Smartphone 'Blindness' in 2 Women
By Rachael Rettner 2016-06-22T21:05:00Z
(Image: © Syda Productions | Shutterstock)
For two women in the United Kingdom, mysterious vision problems that happened only at night or early in the morning turned out to have a rather innocuous cause: looking at a smartphone in the dark.
The cases, which are detailed in a new report, show the short-term vision problems that can occur when people look at a bright smartphone screen in a dark room.
In the first case, a 22-year-old woman told her eye doctor that she had trouble seeing out of her right eye at night while she was in bed. These episodes happened multiple times a week for a year. Each time, she said she could only see the outlines of objects with her right eye, although her vision was fine in her left eye, and in both eyes the following day. An eye exam showed her vision was normal, and she had no signs of a blood clot or other conditions that could cause short-term vision loss, the doctors said.
In the second case, a 40-year-old woman told doctors that she couldn't see out of one eye when she woke up in the early morning, before sunrise. This vision problem lasted about 15 minutes, and happened on and off for six months, the report said.
In both cases, doctors later discovered that these vision problems happened only after the women had viewed their smartphone for several minutes, while lying on their side in bed. [5 Odd Ways Your Tech Devices May Injure You]
The doctors hypothesized that these problems happened because the patients, without realizing it, were looking at their phone with just one eye, with the other eye blocked by a pillow when they were lying down. In this situation, one eye (blocked by the pillow) becomes adapted to the dark, while the other eye (looking at the smartphone) is adapted to the light, the doctors said. When the smartphone is turned off, the light-adapted eye is perceived to be "blind," until it also adjusts to the dark, the doctors said.
"What the patients are aware of is the differing visual experience between a light-adapted eye … and a dark-adapted eye … at low ambient light levels," the doctors wrote in the report, published today (June 22) in the New England Journal of Medicine. "As they can see well with the dark-adapted eye, it seems to them that they have lost vision in the eye which — a moment ago — was viewing the smartphone normally."
The patients were asked to experiment looking at their phone with both eyes, and also with each eye individually. The patients said they did not experience symptoms when looking at their phone with both eyes, and if they looked at their phone with one eye, the symptoms were always in the eye that had been viewing the smartphone, the report said.
The doctors also tried their own experiment, looking at their smartphones with one eye in the dark, and found that their vision was considerably reduced in one eye, and took several minutes to recover.
With smartphones now used around the clock, and screens increasing in brightness, according to the researchers, doctors will likely see more cases like these in the future, the report said. But by asking patients detailed questions, doctors should now be able to figure out if a smartphone is involved in vision problems.
"Our cases show that detailed history-taking and an understanding of retinal physiology can reassure both patient and doctor [in these cases], and can avoid unnecessary anxiety and costly investigations," the doctors wrote.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Stacy Hackney is the author of The Sisters of Luna Island, a new middle grade novel for kids. She also has written the middle grade novel Forever Glimmer Creek. She lives in Richmond, Virginia.
Q: What inspired you to write The Sisters of Luna Island, and how did you create your character Marigold?
A: I was inspired to write The Sisters of Luna Island because I wanted to write a story about sisters.
I am extremely close with my own sister, and I've always been interested in the relationship between siblings--the natural bond formed by growing up together, the conflict and closeness, and the way we define ourselves by who our siblings are or are not. I wanted to explore the complications and the emotions of that relationship.
I also wanted to write from the perspective of the youngest sister, which is how the character of Marigold came along. I was determined to write a book where the little sister saves her big sisters as a tribute to my own little sister who has saved me so many times throughout my life.
Marigold's character developed as I considered the influence of Marigold having magic she doesn't want, being the youngest of three girls, and growing up on a small island.
But a good bit of Marigold's character simply came to me fully formed; her determination and grit, her natural optimism, and her desire for harmony were all characteristics that existed immediately in my mind.
Q: The novel is set in North Carolina--how important is setting to you in your writing?
A: Setting is very important to me in my writing. I think it establishes the tone for the entire book!
I live in the South and my novels are set there as well because I love the quirky and friendly nature of small Southern towns. I also am happiest when I'm near a body of water, which is why my books tend to take place in towns near oceans or rivers.
Q: The Kirkus review of the book says, "This is a captivating fantasy with a touch of mystery centered around family." What do you think of that description, and what do you see as the role of fantasy and magic in the book?
A: I was delighted by the Kirkus review! That quote does a great job of capturing what the book is about--magic, family, and yes, a little mystery.
I like to use fantasy and magic in my writing as a way of addressing tougher issues in a more lighthearted manner. In this book, magic is used as a way to discuss personal responsibility and the consequences of decisions, as well as the importance of remaining true to yourself and your own nature.
A: A major theme of the novel is standing up for yourself and being proud of who you are. I hope readers will take away the message that it is important to celebrate your differences and your own unique talents.
A: I'm working on a new middle grade novel. It's got a touch of horror and mystery, and also deals with grief and recovery from loss.
A: I love writing for the middle grade age range! This is the time when kids really learn to love reading, and it's an honor that my books get to play a small part of that journey for some kids.
Thanks again for including me on your blog!


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Home Tags Collaboration
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Thailand Analytical Update: Thailand Announces Final General Election Results, Parties Form Key Coalitions
Thailand Analytical Update | May 15, 2019
Authors: Riley Smith, Ella Duangkaew
THAILAND ANALYTICAL UPDATE
On May 7 and 8, Thailand's Election Commission (EC) released the official results of the March 24 general election, Thailand's first election in eight years. The EC announced constituency MPs on May 7 and party list seats on May 8, just days shy of the Constitutionally-mandated, 90-day deadline from the polls, which was May 9. In addition, on May 14, the Royal Gazette published a the final list of 250 senators, whom were pre-selected by the current administration. This decree also stated that the first session of Parliament would take place on May 22. The final election results allocate 498 Lower House seats to candidates from 27 parties and do not give an overall majority to any single party in the Lower House, where 250 seats are needed. Nor does any single party have enough seats across the Lower House and Senate to nominate a prime ministerial candidate without having to form a coalition. As of May 14, two major coalitions have formed:
Anti-Prayut: 7 parties led by Pheu Thai with 245 seats
Pro-Prayut: 13 parties led by Phalang Pracharath with 131 seats
Leaving:
Undecided "third group": 4 parties led by the Democratic party with 116 seats + three parties that remain unaffiliated with 6 seats
With the current state of coalitions, the pro-Prayut coalition now has enough seats to have a majority across the House and Senate (131 House seats + 250 Senate Seats = 381 out of 750 seats) to nominate a Prime Minister. However, the anti-Prayut coalition has the overall majority in the House, which has the primary policy-making power, and can block any policies that a Prime Minister and their Government would propose. Some reports state that the pro-Prayut coalition may now have 20 parties aligned with it (garnering the coalition 255 seats), which may reveal that the undecided parties have chosen to align with the pro-Prayut coalition, and would give the ultimate Lower House majority to the pro-Prayut coalition. However, it also appears that members of the anti-Prayut coalition are working to convince the undecided parties align with them, particularly by promising (on May 13) the coalition's support for Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul to become Prime Minister. However, the anti-Prayut coalition would still fall short of an overall majority, even with the loyalty of the "third group" (they would have 367 seats out of 750). Still, it appears they believe this majority could give them enough clout to secure the Premiership in their favor. According to the Bangkok Post, Bhumjaithai Party will not make a decision regarding its alliance until a meeting next Monday (May 20). On Wednesday, May 15 the Democrats elected Jurin Laksanavisit as its new leader (following the resignation of its former leader, former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva), but the party is still deciding which coalition to align with.
While it remains unclear which way the unaffiliated parties will swing, and who will ultimately be Prime Minister (though chances leans heavily in the pro-Prayut coalition's favor) it is evident that Thailand's Parliament is clearly split, and may lead to a hung Parliament that could have little progress on initiatives if one coalition blocks the work of the other. Particularly given that Parliament is meant to open in about one week, it seems unlikely that the two deeply divided coalitions could come together. This lack of unity appears evident even to the monarchy, as the newly crowned Rama X made timely remarks about the "good" of unity during the royal coronation last week. Political unity is also critical while Thailand continues to serve as the 2019 ASEAN Chair, particularly as its theme encourages partnership to advance technological innovation and sustainability.
While the positions and policies of the rival coalitions are quite aligned in relation to wanting to advance Thailand's economic growth, particularly by attracting greater foreign investment and improving Thailand's infrastructure and business climate, none of the current coalitions may be able to advance this shared agenda due to the political rivalry and deadlock. This opens up the possibility for another election, potentially as soon as within the next 12 months. Accordingly, as reported by the Nikkei Asian Review, there is potential for a well-known technocrat and loyalist to the new King, Ampon Kittiampon, to emerge as a contender for Prime Minister who could be well-positioned to lead a "caretaker government" that shepherds the country towards the next elections. Mr. Kittiampon has served in various roles for seven different Prime Ministers and is reportedly well-trusted by the new King, and could ensure the unity and stability Rama X called for in his public audience, as the country prepares for new elections. On the whole, these developments should not impact the overall investment climate in Thailand, though decisions on key initiatives and legislation could be delayed.
The full election results for each party, and which coalition each party is aligned with, are as follows (reporting 498 seats, source: Election Commission and Bangkok Post):
Popular votes
Party list
Anti-Prayut Coalition
Pheu Thai Party
Future Forward Party
Thai Liberal Party (Seree Ruam Thai)
New Economics Party
Prachachart Party
Puea Chat Party
New Palangdharma Party (Phalang Puang Chon Thai)
Pro-Prayut Coalition
Palang Pracharath Party
Action Coalition for Thailand
Thai Nation Power Party
Thai Civilized Party
Palang Thai Rak Thai Party
Thai Teachers for People Party
Prachaniyom Party
Thai People Justice Party
People Reform Party
Thai Citizens Power Party
New Democracy Party
Thairaktham Party
People Progressive Party
Neutral Coalition (potentially aligned with Pro-Prayut)
Democrat Party
Bhumjaithai Party
Chartthaipattana Party
Chart Pattana Party
Undecided (potentially aligned with pro-Prayut)
Thai Local Power Party
Thai Forest Conservation Party
Thai People Power Party


text:
Voorkom updaten laatste toegang tijden?

Standaard wanneer een file word uitgelezen wil Linux zijn laatste
toegang tijd updaten. Omdat deze informatie zelden gebruikt word
en het veel geld kan kosten om op te slaan kunt u beter de optie
wijzigen naar Ja, dit zet het opnemen van de toegang tijd
uit.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The Central City Opera House was built by Welsh and Cornish miners. It cost $32,000 to construct.
Some of the opera house's original 1878 chairs hang from the ceiling in the Williams Stable House across the street.
In one of the opera house's dressing rooms, Central City Opera director of marketing Lisa Zetah looks at photos of some of the opera's past performers.
With 550 seats, the Central City Opera House is the only jewel-box opera house in North America, said Eric Chinn, the opera's director of historic properties.
Next door to the opera house, the historic Teller House has been everything from a hotel to a casino to a restaurant.
Kara Tinucci runs JKQ BBQ in the historic Teller House.
But more than 140 years later, the opera house still doesn't have a functional heating system. Without that, it's only usable for about eight weeks a year during the summer.
Getting heat in the opera house is the first step to not only better utilizing the venue Zetah calls the "jewel of Central City," but to reinvigorating the town.
In 1878, the Central City Opera House opened its doors for the first time. It was a labor of love for the town's Welsh and Cornish miners who had come to the community in search of fortune, and it quickly became the heart of the community, said Eric Chinn, director of historic properties for the opera association. The organization owns 30 historic properties in the town, including the opera house.
The Central City Opera House was designed by Denver architect Robert Roeschlaub.
For the first four years of its existence, the Central City Opera House was the place for everything, Chinn said. Theater, musical acts — Buffalo Bill and P.T. Barnum's circus even performed there. Then, Horace Tabor built his Tabor Grand Opera House in Denver and the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, stealing a lot of Central City's thunder.
To stay afloat, the venue had to adjust. It became a meeting house for local civic and church groups. Later on, it was a movie theater. For a brief time, the opera house even hosted kangaroo boxing.
"That's like a cartoon, you know, like where a boxer is fighting the kangaroo," Chinn said, shaking his head at the imagery. "But it actually happened here."
Alas, even boxing kangaroos weren't enough and the opera house shut down in 1927. Potential plans for the site included a garage and at one point, the opera house was even used to house cattle, Chinn said.
But in 1931, Denver cultural advocate Anne Evans and educator Ida Kruse McFarlane decided to return the opera house to its former glory, creating the Central City Opera House Association.
The opera house reopened with the 1932 premiere of "Camille," featuring Broadway legend Robert Edmond in the director's chair and silent-screen star Lillian Gish in the lead role. The event was broadcast on NBC radio. Old film footage shows attendees arriving on horse-drawn carriages and in period costumes for the event.
The opera house was back, along with big names like Myrna Loy and Mae West. After that, no more cows or boxing kangaroos, Zetah said. The opera house stayed an opera house.
Then in 1991, another competitor came to Central City.
Gambling was legalized in mountain towns and officials in both Central City and neighboring Black Hawk jumped on the potential cash cow.
As newly-elected Central City Mayor Jeremy Fey put it, "When gaming came in in the early '90s, it pushed all other businesses out. Every single commercial building in Central City became a casino."
For a while anyway. Then Black Hawk decided to go all-in, creating a Vegas-style atmosphere, Fey said. And just like with Horace Tabor in the 1800s, Central City couldn't compete. Casinos shut down, some owners simply locked the doors and walked away.
Gambling is still a big part of the town's economy — 85 percent of Central City's revenue comes from the casinos, he said. But the candy stores, souvenir shops and photographers who would take old-fashioned western pictures of families? Most of those didn't come back.
Five years ago, Fey was looking for a location to create a combined hospitality and arts residency space. His brother Tyler, who runs their late father Barry Fey 's concert production company, Feyline, invited him up to a show he was promoting in an empty casino.
"I came up to look and saw the vacancy rates up here and was shocked by them," he said. "We're 45 minutes from the core of Denver, but yet 75 percent of Central City was vacant."
"The arts have always been a mainstay in Central City."
Technically, the numbers are closer to 55 percent, Fey said. But that only accounts for the ground floors of buildings. Add second and third stories and the number rises considerably, he said. That's why Fey thinks now is the perfect time for the arts to make a comeback. Just don't call it a "comeback."
"The arts have always been a mainstay in Central City," Fey said, noting the town's long history with the Gilpin County Arts Association — the longest running arts association in the state — and renowned Denver painter Vance Kirkland.
Both Fey and the opera association envision a renewed arts focus for the town in the next five to 10 years that includes an arts academy and residencies for artists.
Also, despite the opera house's historic appeal and great acoustics, a 550-seat venue can be tough to make profitable, Fey said. Which is why he hopes to add two more venues to the landscape — a 1,600- and 3,600-seater.
With that, there also needs to be more hotels, a grocery store and freestanding restaurants, he said. Currently there's only one restaurant in the town that's not part of a casino.
Formerly from Las Vegas, Kara Tinucci and her husband, Joseph, have been in the food and casino business for the past decade. Seven years ago, the couple moved to Central City so Joseph could work at a nearby casino and Tinucci could start JKQ BBQ restaurant.
Their contract at the Teller House — which is right next door to the opera house — is for September through May, but Kara Tinucci said they do OK despite only being in business during the town's "off season."
"Business has been really good for us," Tinucci said. "We came in with pretty realistic expectations and the business has exceeded those expectations, so we're thrilled."
That said, she said she'd love the chance to expand her business, and having more of a draw to the town besides the casinos would help in lots of ways.
"The residents don't want just casinos, they want more to do," Tinucci said. "And of course visitors, they want to do other things. They may have one family member that doesn't want to go to the casinos and the city needs to offer more things for them to do."
That's why, Central City Opera spokeswoman Lisa Zetah said, town officials and the opera association are working together. Last summer, they brought back a rebooted version of the town's Central Jazz Fest and started a new plein air painting festival. The association is even working with Dory Vanderhoof, an arts consultant who helped Aspen expand its public profile from its ski town roots into a world-class arts community in the 1970s.
"Really our goal is to engage audiences — the pillar is Central City Opera — but then also to bring in other forms of art within the community so that it becomes more than just the summer festival that we have here," Zetah said.
Standing on the opera house's empty stage, watching her breath in the freezing cold opera house, Zetah said she can almost see it, just like the history of this beloved venue.
"I can just feel all of this energy around all of what's happened in the past, and everybody that's performed here," she said. "I don't know, there's just a — I don't even know how to explain it — there's an essence about this place that not many have."


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Posted by David Gray-Donald on February 14, 2018
How Courage Coalition members are preparing for the federal NDP convention
Activists discuss the possibilities, if any, for bold left moves from the NDP, and how they're engaging with the party
by David Gray-Donald
The federal New Democratic Party (NDP) 2018 convention begins this Friday, February 16, in Ottawa. I caught up with Courage Coalition members Nav Kaur, Yazan Khader and Darrah Teitel by email to see what Courage is up to in the lead-up, and how they're engaging -- or not -- with the NDP these days.
What can we expect from the NDP convention next week? Based on the agenda, the keynote
speakers, and the proposed resolutions, what sort of tone and political framing do you expect?
Darrah Teitel: To be honest, I'm trying not to read too much into hints that the NDP is trying to float down the centrist stream again. I genuinely want to give them a chance to pick up our bold policy gifts and define themselves by them. Their choice of keynote speaker [Iain McNicol] is... unfortunate. But hey, maybe they didn't realize? I mean, why else would they do that? So, I'm not getting out the pitchforks... Yet. I really welcome Jagmeet and his team to our [Courage to Leap] event and I hope they take note of what activists can offer the Party. We are hoping that provincial leaders show up too. The stakes will be high in Ottawa. If they're wise they will accept what we're offering.
Nav Kaur: My expectations are measured – I've organized with Courage to attend as a collective, because I wouldn't otherwise be motivated. In terms of convention itself, I'm happy to see Ian Campeau and Christiane Taubira on the speakers list, but in general it looks like the Federal NDP is trying to make everyone comfortable – which isn't very inspiring. Organizers at the margins like me are interested in gauging whether or not the party is ready for us, which means accommodating ways of organizing and "traditional logics" to support innovative campaigns, grounded in bold policy values. Courage has taken a proactive stance – we are eager to support an NDP that clearly state anti-colonial, anti-poverty and anti-elitism moves, both internally and ultimately on the ground, in campaigns around the country.
Briefly, what is Courage, and what has the group been up to in preparation for the convention?
Teitel: Courage is a grassroots, decentralized and democratic movement of lefties, defined by our basis of unity. Some people have misrepresented it to be about strengthening the left from within the NDP, but tons of our members are not within the NDP, nor does our movement end with the NDP. It's about much more. It's a place to gather power from activists who are disengaged from electoral politics and those that do engage but feel repeatedly let down. We want to galvanize that base and use it to give conditional support to a party, specific candidates or anyone else who brings bold left policies and practices to electoral arenas.
Kaur: Courage is a national network of organizers grounded in their local communities. We are building capacity to mobilize for bold policy shifts across Canada, that reflect and support this generation with vision, and clarity for the generations to come. Recently, Courage Coalition has acted as conduit to engage in political education and activism, work that is highly elitist in Canada. Some members are interested in influencing the federal NDP and we have collectively supported that strategy, but we are made up of many kinds of shoulders. Organizing to influence resolutions at convention, among other efforts, are concrete examples of this support. It has been fun – there is no disciplining on how 'things are supposed to be done'.
We've used convention as a project to build rapport within the party and for political education– but we are multi-faceted and have many fronts. We are tired of rhetoric and superficial calls to action; we insist on visionary and bold discourse. We are giving NDP members a chance to build relationships with us and we want opportunities to learn how to meaningfully engage with the Party that does not compromise our values.
Yazan Khader: Courage is mobilizing around a number of resolutions that we believe are key to moving the NDP leftward. Most prominent of those is our work around internal democracy. We are proposing a set of changes to the NDP Constitution to guarantee that local NDP chapters have a voice in decision making between Conventions. We are also working to support resolutions that would have the NDP call for Free Post Secondary Education, and solidarity with the Palestinians.
Courage is teaming up with The Leap to host an event, "Courage to Leap: How the Left can Win with Transformative Demands and Revolutionary Organizing" (which sold out and now has overflow tickets for sale) the evening before the convention officially starts. What's the rationale behind the event, and how does it relate to the convention?
Kaur: The rationale is to insist on an authentic dialogue around transformative mobilization. We guessed it wasn't going to be on the forefront at convention – so we organized this space for this specific discussion. NDP and labour activists are welcome – but we're not looking for any validation. I'm interested in gauging if party organizers are eager to interrogate elitism, racism and hierarchies in their organizing traditions. Teaming up with the Leap was a good fit at the visionary level; Courage members are mobilizing and are seeking meaningful engagement with all those who share our values throughout the process. This event, and our participation in convention are examples of more to come.
Teitel: I've often thought about the Courage to Leap event as a kind of workshop. It's a way for us to hear from organizational visionaries, who mobilized left wing takeovers of political parties in their respective countries and to consider en-masse, what that could look like in Canada. Of course, there is no one-size -fits-all strategy for taking over a country's parliament, but it's an historic opportunity for us to chat and engage across borders and dream big. It's intentionally timed for the eve of the NDP convention, but it's certainly not limited to dippers or conversations about the NDP. We do hope to set the tone for the convention, but plenty of people who are coming to the event aren't going to convention and we hope people tune in from across the country. We sold out within six days and are now wrangling an overflow room, so yeah, safe to say there's an appetite for this conversation.
In the context of Trudeau being over halfway through his term and having broken most of his progressive promises (reconciliation, climate action, systemic racism, economic inequality, etc), or at the very least having not acted on his campaign rhetoric, what can you say of the politically opportunities for the left? What does this mean for engaging with electoral politics?
Kaur: Trudeau's sleight of hand through misleading rhetoric is one explicit reason that loads of Courage activists have decided to engage with party politics at all. I find this approach of elitism in party politics may reproduce more of the same strategies from the past, but people are frustrated. Values and conviction matter, especially when confronting systems of traditional power. I'm not holding my breath – which is why I believe movements like Courage are conduits for masses, our neighbours, to engage with electoral politics in an accessible way.
If the NDP continues the timid centrist or even right-wing colonial and imperialist policy drift of recent years, how will Courage engage with the party, and what sort of organizing outside the party will Courage prioritize?
Kaur: We hope to build a relationship with the party and remind them that hedging and pandering to conservative masses is not aligned with who the party claims to represent. I know local Courage chapters are mobilizing and will have their own sets of priorities, based on their local contexts – which will mostly likely include involvement in municipal politics. Some priorities to expect include tangible demands for authentic reconciliation, centering the land, focus on supporting all workers and to uncover the contradictions of neoliberal policy moves. Our coalition is flexible enough to respond to local community demands and connect that with national policy discourse.
Tags: CourageactivismNDPleftCourage CoalitionpolicyNDP Convention 2018


Just a quick note - in an interview with animator Bill Plympton on The Onion in 2000, Plympton named Peter Chung right up there with Miyazaki as one of the only two people he could think of who actually take full advantage of what animation can do. Find the word "Chung" on the page if you just want to read that part.
Their films couldn't be more different, but as a big Plympton fan, I'm happy to see this. I don't agree with him on King Of The Hill (I think "realistic" animation has it's own sense of surrealism), but great interview.


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Christie Could Profit From Book Deal Thanks to Revived Bill
Published December 12, 2014 • Updated on December 12, 2014 at 4:15 pm
New Jersey lawmakers are once again considering reviving a bill that would clear the way for Gov. Chris Christie to profit from a book deal while in office.
Current state law prohibits the potential 2016 candidate from receiving pay or royalties from sources other than his day job.
An early version of a bill proposed earlier this year would have scrapped that restriction in exchange for pay raises for judges and legislative staffers. Christie's cabinet members would have also seen their pay increase.
Assemblyman John Burzichelli, who sponsored that bill, said there's interest in reviving it. But he says it's too soon to say what might be included.
Books have long been popular campaign precursors.
A Christie spokesman declined to comment.
The news was first reported by NJ Advance Media.
New JerseyspokesmanBillLawmakers
Woman, 29, Arrested After Enrolling at NJ High School and Posing as Student
Giant New Food Hall Coming to Brewerytown This Spring


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Set in the urban Chicago landscape, Central Air explores the human challenge of living with strong desires, limited knowledge, and no saving direction. The voices in this mix of elegies and soft litanies negotiate lives within the strangeness and unpredictability of each moment. Chicago is an intensely experienced, blue-collar homeplace where injustice is a given. The poems are stern, compressed, and unsentimental. But they are also empathic to human shortcomings and doubts, scored in unobtrusive consistency in both voice and language.
Puican's focus on the city, its people and underbellied spaces, pays homage in the tradition of the great Chicago masters: Carl Sandburg, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Campbell McGrath. This contemporary Chicago son finds his own place with lyrical integrity.
August 2020 from Northwestern University Press
"Mike Puican's Central Air is filled with vividly exuberant and deeply empathetic images of life. He has shaped the cheer and sorrows of hundreds of human moments into a bright constellation of poetic energy and inventiveness. His way of capturing spiritual as well as carnal intensities is striking and original. What a great debut! And a great Chicago book, as well."
—REGINALD GIBBONS, author of
How Poems Think
"Mike Puican's poems are stern, compressed, and unsentimental. But they are also big-hearted and empathic, even when their evocations of human failing are at their most acute. The poems succeed through an unobtrusive mastery of craft, surprising turns of imagery, narrative precision, and an unerring consistency of voice. The book is also a masterly evocation of contemporary Chicago, a worthy successor to collections such as Sandburg's Chicago Poems or Brook's A Street in Bronzeville. This is notable company indeed."
—DAVID WOJAHN, author of Interrogation Palace: New and Selected Poems 1982-2004


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Roux fears Brexit will sink fishing exports
Gabriella Bennett
Michel Roux Jr said Brexit talks on fisheries "could go very badly" and it should be addressed very quicklyIain McLean
Scotland's economy risks emerging "very badly" from Brexit unless negotiations over its fisheries are prioritised, the celebrity chef Michel Roux Jr has warned (Gabriella Bennett writes).
He said that visitors found it frustrating that they could not buy fresh seafood caught off the Scottish coast because of market forces, and suggested that bigger problems may lie ahead after Britain leaves the EU next year.
The son of the leading chef Albert Roux took over his father's two Michelin star restaurant Le Gavroche in London in 1993 and has since expanded the family's business to include restaurants in two upmarket Scottish hotels. In an interview with The Times, he said that Scotland may find itself in a position where fishing deals negotiated by the UK government…


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Man posing as woman guilty of grooming boys on Internet
Thursday, 3 May 2012, 6:32 pm
Press Release: ECPAT Child ALERT
Man posing as woman guilty of grooming boys on Internet for sex acts.
According to an article in the NZ Herald today a sexual predator who posed online as a pretty 18-year-old woman to lure young boys has pleaded guilty today to a number of charges.
Cameron Hore, 28, surfed internet chatrooms looking to exploit youngsters - some as young as 11 - and get them to perform sex acts for him. Posing as Sarah Ruddenklau, he even promised to pay some teenagers as much as $6000 to meet up and have sexual relations with him. After receiving sexual favours, he would refuse to pay the money.
Alan Bell of ECPAT Child ALERT, a child protection agency says "This is a timely warning for parents and the public. The offender here was a man (pretending to be a woman) seeking out boys to provide him with images of themselves carrying out sex acts. The common perception is that girls are the victims of child sex offenders but it is concerning that there appears to be a trend for boys to be more often targeted than previously. This means the same precautions should be taken regarding the protection of boys as with girls."
When his victims came looking for their money, Hore threatened to expose them by telling their friends and neighbours what they had done for money. One victim was 13, and he attempted to exploit another boy who was aged just 11. Officers received around 20 complaints from people who claimed to have been deceived by Hore, including complaints form his own "close family, cousins, friends and associates,'' police said.
Today Hore, who is profoundly deaf, appeared at Christchurch District Court and through an interpreter admitted 11 charges, including blackmail and sexual exploitation between September 2009 and September, last year.
" The potential damage and suffering caused by this sort of offence where young children are not only abused sexually but are then faced with threats and blackmail is not hard to imagine." says Bell. The message here for parents and caregivers is to maintain an interest in what sites children are visiting and ensure as much as possible that they only use the internet where they can be monitored. Unfortunately this is difficult to achieve especially with portable devices so education and guidance is essential so that young people make the right choices when surfing the net."
Judge Jane Farish remanded Hore, a data entry operator from Belfast, in custody until he is sentenced at the High Court on July 4.
Find more from ECPAT Child ALERT on InfoPages.


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CD1, CD2 candidates wrap up final weekend of campaigning
Siobhan Lopez
WEBVTT CRITICAL THESE FINAL DAYS ARE LEADING UP TO THE POLLS OPENING WHETHER IT'S KNOCKING ON DOORS TUESDAY. IN DERRY OR ENERGIZING A CROWD IN MANCHESTER, THE TWO CANDIDATES IN THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LOOK TO APPEAL TO VOTERS. >> THEY WANT MILITARY VETERANS IN GOVERNMENT BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW TO WORK TOGETHER WE KNOW HOW TO GET THINGS DONE. >> I'VE BEEN SOMEONE WHO RUNS A LOCAL BUSINESS. I HAVE SERVED AT THE STATE HOUSE FOR SIX YEARS. I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO PUT PEOPLE FIRST. SIOBHAN: DEMOCRAT CHRIS PAPPAS AND REPUBLICAN EDDIE EDWARDS BOTH VYING FOR THE SEAT LEFT OPEN BY RETIRING CONGRESSWOMAN CAROL SHEA PORTER. >> THERE'S A LOT OF ANGER AND DIVISION OUT THERE, BUT WE'VE GOT TO RESTORE THE VALUES OF DECENCY, OF INTEGRITY, OF COMMUNITY, TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET SOME THINGS DONE AND ALWAYS PUT NEW HAMPSHIRE FIRST. >> VERY POSITIVE, THEY LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY. THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR TAXES LOW, THEY WANT LOWER REGULATIONS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MOMS AND DADS AND COMMUNITIES ARE IN CHARGE AND NOT GOVERNMENT. SIOBHAN: IN THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, DEMOCRAT CONGRESSWOMAN ANNIE KUSTER IS BEING CHALLENGED BY REPUBLICAN STEVE NEGRON. >> THEY'RE REALLY CONCERNED AND THEY'RE ACTIVE AND I THINK THAT WAS THE BEST PART ABOUT IT. I'VE BEEN VERY BLESSED AND TO MEET SOME GREAT PEOPLE AND HOPEFULLY SOME LONG LASTING FRIENDS. >> WHAT'S EXCITING IS THAT PEOPLE REALLY FEEL THE ENERGY AND WE'VE HAD HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TURN OUT FOR MAKING PHONE CALLS. SIOBHAN: KUSTER LOOKS TO CONTINUE WORK SHE'S DONE OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS, WHILE NEGRON SAYS VOTERS WANT A CHANGE. >> WE CARE ABOUT EVERYBODY AND WE WANT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO HAVE OPPORTUNITY. THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. >> WELL, I THINK THEY WANT TO KNOW ONE IS THAT YOU'RE JUST A PERSON THAT'S GOING TO COME BACK AND LISTEN TO THEM AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS. THEY REALLY FEEL THAT THEY'VE LOST A VOICE IN WASHINGTON. IT'S ABOUT WHO'S FIGHTING FOR NH NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILIES. SIOBHAN: ALL FOUR CANDIDATES HAVE BUSY SCHEDULES IN THESE
Whether it's knocking on doors or energizing a crowd, New Hampshire's congressional candidates are making their final rounds to appeal to voters ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections.Democrat Chris Pappas and Republican Eddie Edwards are both vying for the 1st Congressional District seat left open by retiring U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter."They want military veterans in government, because we know how to work together. We know how to get things done," Edwards said."I've been someone who runs a local business. I have served at the state house for six years. I know what it takes to put people first," Pappas said.The CD1 candidates gave contrasting answers as to the tone of the Granite Staters they spoke with."There's a lot of anger and division out there, but we've got to restore the values of decency, of integrity, of community to make sure we can get some things (done) and always put New Hampshire first," Pappas said."Very positive. They like what's going on in the country. They want to keep their taxes low. They want lower regulations. Most importantly. they want to make sure that moms and dads and communities are in charge and not government," Edwards said.In the 2nd Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster is being challenged by Republican Steve Negron."(Voters are) really concerned and they're active, and I think that was the best part about it. So I've been very blessed and (got) to meet some great people and hopefully some long-lasting friends," Negron said."What's exciting is that people really feel the energy, and we've had hundreds of people turn out for making phone calls," Kuster said.Kuster looks to continue work she's done over the past six years, while Negron says voters want a change."We care about everybody, and we want you and your family to have opportunity. That's really what it's all about," Kuster said."Well, I think they want to know, one, is that you're just a person that's going to come back and listen to them as a member of Congress. They really feel that they've lost a voice in Washington. It's about who's fighting for New Hampshire families," Negron said.All four candidates have busy schedules in the next couple of days, but all of them said they want the public to get out and vote.
MANCHESTER, N.H. —
Whether it's knocking on doors or energizing a crowd, New Hampshire's congressional candidates are making their final rounds to appeal to voters ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections.
Democrat Chris Pappas and Republican Eddie Edwards are both vying for the 1st Congressional District seat left open by retiring U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter.
Record-high voter turnout expected for midterm elections
Congressional candidates wrap up final weekend of campaigning
"They want military veterans in government, because we know how to work together. We know how to get things done," Edwards said.
"I've been someone who runs a local business. I have served at the state house for six years. I know what it takes to put people first," Pappas said.
The CD1 candidates gave contrasting answers as to the tone of the Granite Staters they spoke with.
"There's a lot of anger and division out there, but we've got to restore the values of decency, of integrity, of community to make sure we can get some things (done) and always put New Hampshire first," Pappas said.
"Very positive. They like what's going on in the country. They want to keep their taxes low. They want lower regulations. Most importantly. they want to make sure that moms and dads and communities are in charge and not government," Edwards said.
In the 2nd Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster is being challenged by Republican Steve Negron.
"(Voters are) really concerned and they're active, and I think that was the best part about it. So I've been very blessed and (got) to meet some great people and hopefully some long-lasting friends," Negron said.
"What's exciting is that people really feel the energy, and we've had hundreds of people turn out for making phone calls," Kuster said.
Kuster looks to continue work she's done over the past six years, while Negron says voters want a change.
"We care about everybody, and we want you and your family to have opportunity. That's really what it's all about," Kuster said.
"Well, I think they want to know, one, is that you're just a person that's going to come back and listen to them as a member of Congress. They really feel that they've lost a voice in Washington. It's about who's fighting for New Hampshire families," Negron said.
All four candidates have busy schedules in the next couple of days, but all of them said they want the public to get out and vote.


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Department of Applied Physics and Materials Science, Caltech
Principal institution: Division of Engineering and Applied Science (EAS), Caltech
The table to the right includes counts of all research outputs for Department of Applied Physics and Materials Science, Caltech published between 1 October 2018 - 30 September 2019 which are tracked by the Nature Index.
Physical Sciences 28 9.73
Chemistry 12 3.82
Earth & Environmental Sciences 2 1.04
Self-stabilizing photonic levitation and propulsion of nanostructured macroscopic objects
Nature Photonics
Exotic states in a simple network of nanoelectromechanical oscillators
Metastable silica high pressure polymorphs as structural proxies of deep Earth silicate melts
Controlling organization and forces in active matter through optically defined boundaries
Ultraefficient thermophotovoltaic power conversion by band-edge spectral filtering
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
↳ Division of Engineering and Applied Science (EAS), Caltech
↳ Department of Applied Physics and Materials Science, Caltech
Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering (MedE), Caltech
Caltech Optical Imaging Laboratory (COIL), Caltech
Department of Aerospace (GALCIT), Caltech
Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences (CMS), Caltech
Department of Electrical Engineering (EE), Caltech
Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (MCE), Caltech
Downs-Lauritsen Laboratory of Physics, Caltech
Kavli Nanoscience Institute (KNI), Caltech
Physical Biology Center for Ultrafast Science and Technology (UST), Caltech
Center for Chemical Innovation in Solar Fuels (CCI Solar), Caltech
Center for Data-Driven Discovery (CD3), Caltech
Division of Biology and Biological Engineering (BBE), Caltech
Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, Caltech
T&C Chen Brain-Machine Interface Center (CBMIC), Caltech
Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (CCE), Caltech
Department of Chemical Engineering, Caltech
Department of Chemistry, Caltech
Warren and Katharine Schlinger Laboratory for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Caltech
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences (GPS), Caltech
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering (ESE), Caltech
Ronald and Maxine Linde Center for Global Environmental Science, Caltech
Seismological Laboratory, Caltech
Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy (PMA), Caltech
Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Caltech
Condensed Matter Physics, Caltech
Department of Astronomy, Caltech
Caltech Optical Observatories (COO), Caltech
Palomar Observatory, Caltech
Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO)
Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO), Caltech
W.M. Keck Observatory (WMKO), Caltech
Department of Physics, Caltech
Observational Cosmology, Caltech
Space Radiation Laboratory (SRL), Caltech
Theoretical AstroPhysics Including Relativity and Cosmology (TAPIR), Caltech
Caltech Relativity Theory Group (CaRT), Caltech
Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), Caltech
Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics (WBITP), Caltech
Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), Caltech
Emotion and Social Cognition Lab, Caltech
Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS), Caltech
Kellogg Radiation Laboratory (KRL), Caltech
Norman Bridge Laboratory of Physics, Caltech
Noyes Laboratory of Chemical Physics, Caltech
Rosen Bioengineering Center, Caltech
Tectonics Observatory (TO), Caltech
Stellar X-ray vision
Flipping the superconductivity switch
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Beating to the sound of a different drum


ISUTAMI UCF 4-bolt mounted bearing unit, also known as UCF 4-bolt square flanged housing with bearing. It is usually used when the bearing mounting surface is perpendicular to the shaft. The flanged housing is integrally formed and the main material is cast iron. The surface of the cast iron is painted, galvanized or nickel plated for corrosion protection. It has four bolt holes distributed near four corners to fix the entire product. The inner ring of the bearing housing is spherical and combined with the outer spherical ball bearing of the corresponding size to form a complete bearing unit. The insert spherical bearing is suitably mounted on the inner ring of the matching bearing case. In order to prevent dust, the bearing is usually equipped with a rubber ring on both sides. The 4-bolt bearing housing has a square appearance and the total unit can withstand higher loads than 2-bolt flange mounted bearing unit. Compared with ISUTAMI 2 bolt flange mounted bearing unit and 3-bolt flange mounted bearing unit, it is better suited for long shaft mounting. The dimensions of the inner ring and housing in the bearing unit are divided into inch and metric.
UCF series bearing unit, is a product with metric bolt holes. It is normal duty, with a wide inner ring, the inner ring protruding part with set screw locking for fixing the shaft. The bore diameter ranges from 1/2" to 3". UCF 4-bolt housing unit with bearing is usually fixed directly to the equipment through four bolt fixing holes on the flange for easy installation. If the product needs to be replaced, you can remove the fixing screw and replace it with a new one.
The bearings on UCF unit can be maintained by re-lubricating.The performance of a bearing is greatly influenced by the quality and quantity of the grease. In order to avoid over filling, it is advisable to replenish the grease in small amounts. Over lubrication is a major cause of bearing failure. Over filling can increase heat build-up in the bearing during operation which can lead to premature failure. Over filling can dislodge seals and flingers from their mounting position thereby interfering with the rotation of the bearing or destroying the integrity of the seal.


These planes aren't owned by Amazon, and the people maintaining and flying these jumbo jets aren't Amazon employees. They're employees of Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) and Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings and their subsidiaries.
Business Insider spoke with 13 pilots who work or have worked for Air Transport Services Group and Atlas Air Worldwide and fly or have flown planes for Amazon Air.
The rapid growth of Amazon's air-cargo empire, coupled with low pay, has led to inexperienced pilots in the cockpit, veteran pilots said, adding that it could lead to safety problems.
The Boeing 767 cargo jet, operated by Atlas Air and contracted by Amazon, had been approaching Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The cause of the crash is still unknown.
In conversations with Business Insider in the weeks before the crash, several pilots who fly planes for Amazon Air said they thought an accident was inevitable. The rapid growth of Amazon's air-cargo empire, coupled with the low pay, had led to inexperienced pilots taking to the skies, veteran pilots said.
The pilots described difficulties in attracting experienced pilots, training they considered shoddy, experience with fatigue, plummeting morale, and pay that's considerably lower than at other cargo carriers.
Of the pilots Business Insider spoke with, six worked at Atlas Air and seven worked at ATSG's ABX. All these pilots are in the Teamsters Local Union 1224.
Capt. Robert Kirchner, an Atlas Air pilot and executive council chairman of Teamsters Local 1224, said the situation at Atlas Air was a "ticking time bomb" weeks before the crash. Capt. Daniel Wells, an Atlas Air pilot and the president of Teamsters Local 1224, told Business Insider in January that the check airmen — who oversee new hires for training and safety — are forced to work at "full speed or over speed."
"I can honestly say, if you had all the check airmen in the room and we've done this, saying, who believes that it's likely that there would be an accident in the next year," Wells said, describing a hypothetical situation, "nearly 100% of the people will raise their hands."
And they have reason to be aggrieved. They said they have seen their pay and benefits erode over the past decade. Amazon Air pilots have been in contract disputes with their employers for nearly five years. Several of the pilots Business Insider spoke with are retired, and others have already left the companies.
Also, Atlas Air's union leaders emphasized in a statement after the crash that the safety concerns cited by some pilots should not be conflated with the causes of the February 23 accident, which is still under investigation.
Bill Flynn, Atlas Air Worldwide CEO, said in a statement to Business Insider five days after this story published that the pilots' and union leaders' statements are "are misleading and inaccurate, and inappropriately connect the Flight 3591 tragedy with ongoing contract negotiations."
"Since our founding over a quarter of a century ago, we have worked hard to earn and maintain a record of safety and compliance," Flynn said in the statement. "We are heartbroken by the loss of Flight 3591 that claimed the lives of three of our friends and colleagues. We are working closely with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to learn what happened, why it happened and what needs to be done to prevent a recurrence."
But while the cause of the Atlas Air crash remains unknown, the pilot concerns, which were consistent across the many conversations Business Insider had, raise new questions about overall safety standards on these flights, and risks associated with Amazon Air's rapid expansion and outsourcing strategy.
Analysts say those factors could lead to service disruption and a serious blow to Amazon's aspirations to expand its logistics empire.
Amazon did not respond to multiple requests for comments on pilots' claims, though representatives expressed interest earlier in the reporting process to provide an interview or learn more about the story. Atlas Air Worldwide provided comments five days after the story published. ATSG, which owns ABX and ATI, gave a statement but did not respond to specific claims. The union for ATI pilots, Air Line Pilots Association International, did not respond to requests for comment.
Another review showed that the aircraft reached an airspeed of 430 knots (nearly 500 mph) during descent before it crashed. One pilot told Business Insider that that broke pilot-safety norms not to exceed 250 knots (288 mph) when below 10,000 feet.
Wells said in a statement: "The legitimate concerns we raised in interviews done well before the accident have not changed. However, we want to caution everyone that our comments should not be misconstrued so as to imply any connections to or to speculate as to the cause of the tragic crash of GTI 3591."
Amazon doesn't employ these pilots directly, nor does it own the planes, but the e-commerce behemoth is a key customer of both ATSG and Atlas.
Twenty, soon to be 30, of ATSG's 90 aircraft are leased to Amazon. Amazon comprised 27% of ATSG's revenue in 2018, down from 44% the year before. Amazon is also authorized to increase its ownership of ATSG this year to 39.9% by increasing its warrant rights. ATSG's two other major customers are the US military and DHL.
Twenty of Atlas' 112 aircraft are leased to the Seattle-based e-commerce company, which owns 20% of Atlas' stock warrants. Amazon is also authorized to designate a nonvoting observer to Atlas' board. Atlas' other major customers include Asiana, DHL Express, and Nippon Cargo Airlines.
"Atlas' pilots operate for multiple customers," Flynn of Atlas said in the statement after this story's publication. "These customers play no role in setting pilot pay and work rules."
Eleven of the pilots Business Insider spoke with had been with Atlas and ATSG for more than a decade. Each told Business Insider that the airlines were having difficulty finding new hires, even as Amazon demands more flights. The pilots coming to Atlas and ATSG today aren't as experienced as the ones in the past, pilots said.
Kirchner said he was left speechless when flying an Atlas Air cargo jet with a new hire. They had just broken 30,000 feet when the "young fellow" turned to Kirchner.
"You know, Bob, this is the highest I've ever been as a pilot in any airplane at all," the first officer said, according to Kirchner.
"I didn't know what to say," Kirchner told Business Insider in January. "You're on a 747, the second-largest airplane in the world, and you've never been up here at this altitude."
An ABX pilot with 23 years' experience at the company said: "We have guys in the right seats [first-officer seats] who have no business flying airplanes, and certainly no business flying heavy jets."
Ross Aimer, the CEO of AeroConsulting Experts, said "explosive growth" at Atlas and ATSG could be unsustainable and dampen safety standards at the two airlines.
"Atlas and ATSG are having a hard time finding experienced pilots," Aimer, an aviation-consulting expert with 53 years in the industry, told Business Insider. "They're not getting the right talent as fast as they're expanding."
Atlas' fleet and workforce meet or exceed all government safety standards.
Atlas pilot training includes multiple reviews, evaluations and proficiency checks to comply with FAA regulations.
The 11 pilots said training standards have also eroded as Amazon's business demands have increased and pressure mounts to onboard more pilots.
ABX has received at least two warnings from the Federal Aviation Administration for "a disruptive and confrontational atmosphere" during pilot-training sessions. One ABX pilot told Business Insider that ABX president David Soaper regularly came to training to "just babble and berate and try to scare the hell out of everybody."
"This letter serves as an additional reminder that ABXA should keep training environments free of distractions," Lawrence Ward, the principal operations inspector at the FAA's East Michigan unit, wrote in a February 20, 2018, letter to Soaper. "This should include the avoidance of controversial topics by instructors and speakers."
Nearly all the pilots with whom we spoke shared stories of flights they experienced where they felt it could have become dangerous. ABX Capt. Stephen Page, who retired in February after 26 years at the airline, said a first officer he flew with in the last year "wiped the power," or took off the throttles and decreased the power at 100 feet, a technique not advised in large cargo jets.
"It was like he was flying his father's Cessna around the cabbage patch," Page told Business Insider. "Everyone who knows anything about swept-wing jets, you don't do that. You fly that aircraft to the runway; otherwise, you can have really catastrophic results."
Page quickly took control of the aircraft. He decided to train the first officer in landing the day after, but a similar incident arose. "It was just a total cluster," Page said.
ATSG, the parent company for ABX, did not respond to a request for comment on Page's comments.
An Atlas Air pilot, who has been with the company for 20 years, said his safety concerns were so strong that he doesn't feel comfortable sleeping during international flights when he's flying with pilots he thinks were "pushed" through training.
"I will not go in the back, or, if I go in the back, I won't go in the bunk. I'll stay up in the seat; I'll take little catnaps," he said. "I don't rest very well because you're looking to make sure everything is OK."
Asked how he gets through those long flights, the pilot responded, "Lots of coffee."
"The problems predate Amazon, but Amazon created such a rapid expansion with 20 airplanes, plus a lot of the airplanes that they were getting for other customers, have just amplified the situation," Kirchner said. "These 20 airplanes that were flying for Amazon really put them under more stress to keep hiring and hiring."
Under FAA safety laws, pilots cannot work more than 290 hours a month and cannot exceed 100 hours a month in flight time. But it's not exactly a 25-hour workweek; pilots often spend downtime at hotels or airports waiting for their next job or have to commute by flying to other airports.
Amazon Air pilots we spoke with said they didn't have a set schedule and, because of the lack of workers, they were often asked just hours before flights to come into work, on days they'd scheduled off. One pilot told Business Insider he was offered four days' overtime pay to fly a two-hour flight. The catch was that it was on a Saturday, and he'd have to fly to and from the job instead of spending his weekend with his children.
Further, cargo pilots don't have the same rest periods that passenger pilots have. Under safety laws that came into effect in 2014, passenger pilots are allocated 10-hour rest breaks between trips, which allow them to get at least eight hours' sleep, but cargo pilots have only eight hours between trips.
That's what cargo pilots call the "cargo carve-out" — rest-break rules that cargo pilots have been carved out of and can't benefit from.
"Cargo aircraft and the operations around cargo aircraft are second-class citizens in the FAA, and many times have been treated as second-class citizens by their operators," Hall, the former NTSB head, said.
"The fact of the matter is, because they're very few souls aboard, they do not get the media attention or the regulatory action that a commercial aircraft does," Hall added. "And that's regrettable. They're a very important part of our commercial-aviation operations in the country."
"The schedules our pilots fly are governed by rules established within their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), all of which are well within Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs)," Flynn of Atlas said in a statement.
"At Atlas, when and if pilots determine they are unable to fly due to fatigue or illness, their request to step aside is honored 100 percent of the time," he added.
One pilot said that fatigue calls, in which pilots can call their employer and tell them they are too tired to safely work, have peaked in the past 1 1/2 years because of the nighttime flying. He said it's common to have a week of normal daytime flying capped off with a red-eye. "Your body is completely on the opposite side of the clock," he said.
"We're staying up all night and then flying over your house the next day," an ABX pilot with 23 years' experience told Business Insider.
"It allows Amazon as well as ABX to get more productivity out of the airplanes," that same pilot added in a later interview. "It also, unfortunately, allows them to get more productivity out of you — your circadian rhythm be damned."
"I'm going through a divorce, and I attribute that 100% to the way our flying schedules have changed," the pilot told Business Insider. "They wouldn't let us go home."
"It almost more affects your family members than it affects yourself, because your family counts on you to be there for certain things," Jewell told Business Insider. "You keep telling them, 'Well, I don't know, don't plan this, I may be there, I may not,' and so forth and so on."
Above all, morale at both ABX and Atlas have plummeted. One Atlas pilot said he routinely has to ensure his coworkers are mentally sound enough to work. "Pilots show up and they're so disturbed I have to pull them aside," he said.
Pilots are almost universally unionized. Even pilots at FedEx, whose labor force is not completely unionized, are in a union. Meanwhile, an ongoing pilot shortage has forced airlines across the spectrum to raise wages. "In the last two to three years, we've seen really significant salary increases," Bob Seidel, the chief executive of Alerion Aviation, previously told Business Insider. "People are desperate to keep their airplanes staffed."
The union contracts at ABX and Atlas have been amenable since 2015, meaning they are still in effect but available to be negotiated. Negotiations, which are reaching their fifth year, have been challenging, according to each pilot Business Insider spoke with. Pilot union negotiations are often lengthy — FedEx's most recent pilot labor negotiations lasted two years, while UPS' went on for 3 1/2 years.
However, the ABX and Atlas contracts now in place were negotiated during the financial crisis, and pilots said the contract was "concessionary" in many ways. They allowed their pensions and healthcare matches to freeze, gave up vacation days, and took a pay cut. Pilots said that was to save the airlines, which were financially struggling. Atlas Air had declared bankruptcy several years prior.
"Any alleged delay in getting to the next pilot contract has been a direct result of the union's refusal to adhere to its contractual commitments, which provide for an orderly and timely resolution of unresolved contractual issues," Atlas's Flynn said in a statement. "Had union leadership followed the CBA, the pilots would have had a new contract by now."
"You have a bunch of pilots that were not happy to begin with, and now you see the company willfully and intentionally disenfranchising them and trying to basically crush or limit their careers going forward," Wells, the president of Teamsters Local 1224, said. "And that's never a good environment to work in, especially with pilots or with the kind of work that we do."
"This is another headache that Amazon just doesn't want, and why they don't want to get into the airline business," Kevin Sterling, the managing director of Seaport Global Securities, told Business Insider. His theory is that "there's no way around unions in airlines, which is why Amazon will continue to outsource this function."
Outsourcing pilot labor to low-wage airliners is part of Amazon's strategy to keep its ever-increasing shipping costs low. Amazon's worldwide shipping costs have grown fifteenfold from 2009 to 2018. Net sales increased by sevenfold in the same time.
It could be that cheap labor is the key thing keeping Amazon's air venture affordable. David Vernon, a Bernstein senior analyst and vice president, wrote in a December note that Amazon pilots' low wages allowed Amazon to carry goods more cheaply than UPS and FedEx airport to airport.
But Amazon Air has problems with crew scheduling and operations "dis-synergies." So Amazon Air's service is ultimately much more expensive than that of UPS or FedEx when looking door to door.
"Pilot pay at low-cost charter operations is lower, creating a cost advantage for Prime Air in airport-to-airport service — this does not mean, however, that they can deliver a 2-day box door-to-door cheaper than a commercial operator," Vernon wrote.
Satish Jindel, a supply-chain expert and SJ Consulting Group's principal consultant, said ATSG and Atlas have maintained their services; the two airlines also fly for big-name customers like DHL and the US military. But every pilot Business Insider spoke with said they suspect service disruptions are almost definitely coming.
ABX pilots already went on strike in late 2016, though that was quickly struck down. The 200-plus pilots were ordered back to work when a judge said the matter needed to be resolved through arbitration and under the terms of the labor agreement between ABX and their union. Continued disruptions could cause issues for Amazon's plan to overhaul airfreight, Wulfraat said.
"If it ends up that the service level becomes inconsistent because you can't find the labor to fly the planes and you're constantly having labor-disruption issues, that's going to have a direct impact on their ability to provide that two-day delivery," Wulfraat added.
"At some point in time, if you're moving such a great percentage of your outbound volume into this transportation channel, then you're going to have a regular supplier, consistent supplier capabilities, to do the delivery," he went on. "This could potentially have big disruptive impacts on Amazon's ability to deliver product to customers unless they figure out how to deal with this issue."
Pilots who fly for Amazon.com's Prime Air picket outside Amazon.com's annual Meeting of Shareholders, Tuesday, May 23, 2017, in Seattle.
One Atlas pilot who spoke on condition of anonymity said: "You have a whole bunch of morale issues. Guys are getting tired; they're getting sick. There's a lot of stress involved in it, too, because they're pushing everyone to their limit.
"When you do that, especially at these very safety-sensitive jobs, most guys are going to err to safety, which means that something is not going to move at some point. It's a matter of time before stuff stops moving or stops moving with any consistency.
"Right now, they're barely keeping it together," the person added. "And when I say 'barely,' it's right there. They're going to run out of people."