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JPP: Perverting Justice?
Auldheid
The SFA's Judicial Panel Disciplinary Tribunal (JPDT) process itself is now under scrutiny .
Aberdeen FC have asked for change and the Celtic Supporters Association have written to Ian Maxwell SFA CEO expressing concerns about judgements reached concerning recent on field incidents that appear to herald in A Cloggers Charter.
However the whole Judicial Panel Protocol (JPP) on which the JPDT is based (and which was the brainchild of the discredited former SFA Chief Executive Stewart Regan) has shown itself to be a means of perverting justice rather than providing it since it was introduced amidst a loud fanfare at the SFA AGM in June 2011 (the same one that saw Campbell Ogilvie elected SFA President)
To see how the JPP has been misused we need to start with a definition of judicial which according to Websters dictionary is:
of or relating to a judgment, the function of judging, the administration of justice
The latest Judicial Panel Protocol can be found on the SFA Web Site .
One of its Founding Principles is:
2.2 Principle 1 – Economic and expeditious justice. The objective of the Protocol is to secure the Determination of disciplinary proceedings arising in respect of Association Football and that Decisions are made economically and expeditiously in a fair manner. Tribunals appointed from the Judicial Panel may impose reasonable procedural requirements on Parties to ensure that matters are dealt with economically and expeditiously.
The word justice actually appears nine times and injustice three times, so it would appear that whilst economy and speed are the means to the end, that end is justice, but how has that panned out since June 2011?
I am grateful here to Glasnostandtwostrickers for three enlightening articles in Pie and Bovril in which he reviews the protocol a year later in 2012 with suggestions that with the passage of time have been shown to be prescient when made. They can be read at:
Pie and Bovril One
Pie and Bovril 2
Of particular interest is the important view that the process is not independent of the SFA and the following is an extract from Pie and Bovril 3 covering that aspect which explains how the JPP has been used by the SFA to pervert rather than administer justice.
"So to what extent does the JPP system achieve that independence? We think that it does so to a far greater extent than the old system, but not nearly enough. Ensuring that the Tribunals are chaired by respected members of the legal profession was perhaps the single most important reform to make. But there remains a serious lack of independence in the JPP system. This centres on the roles of the SFA's Compliance Officer (Vincent Lunny) and the SFA Secretary (Stewart Regan) in the process of bringing a case in front of a Tribunal.
The Compliance Officer's task is to monitor what goes on in Scottish football, assess whether anyone has broken any rules, and – if so – to initiate the disciplinary process. What happens if the Compliance Officer reviews a given event and decides that the conduct of the club, player or official in question doesn't breach any rules? Well, that is the end of the matter. Neither the SFA executive nor the Judicial Panel can do anything about that decision. And, given that some SFA rules are very vague (e.g. 'bringing the game into disrepute), the Compliance Officer wields a great deal of power. If the system is to be independent of the SFA, it the Compliance Officer must be independent of it. Yet, as things stand today, Vincent Lunny is an employee of the SFA.
The lack of independence associated with the SFA Secretary's role is even more flagrant. Firstly, he can veto any decision of the Compliance Officer to mount a disciplinary case. Secondly, even if he allows a case to go ahead, he has the power to select (from the 100-strong Judicial Panel) the 3 individuals who will hear the case. The SFA claims that this takes place on a 'cab rank' basis (i.e. the Tribunal is formed of next 3 people in line), but no such rule is to be found in the JPP. On the contrary, it states that:
"Tribunals shall be appointed by the Secretary or his nominee from the Judicial Panel…The Secretary or his nominee may take such steps in respect of the appointment of Tribunals as he considers, in his sole discretion, to be appropriate." (sections 7.2.1-2)
This applies equally to the Appellate Tribunals as it does to the first-instance Disciplinary Tribunals. So, in theory at least, the SFA Secretary gets two bites of the cherry. He may appoint to a Disciplinary Tribunal the individuals who he thinks are most likely to return the result that he desires. If they don't, and there is an appeal, he also gets to choose the make-up of the Appellate Tribunal that will hear the appeal. And that's only if he hasn't blocked the case from happening in the first place. That is not to impugne Stewart Regan himself, but rather a system that allows him (and his successors) such great power.
The reasons why the JPP is structured in the way that it is are unclear. Despite the fact that it represents a great improvement over the system it replaced, more work must be done if we Scottish football is to have a genuinely independent – and therefore credible – system of footballing 'justice'.
This article however will let the readers decide if they impugn Stewart Regan and shows how he has used the Judicial Protocol not to deliver justice but to prevent such an outcome, which might just clarify the reason why the JPP was structured in the way that it was and why it absolutely must be replaced on the lines of the suggestions in the excellent Pie and Bovril articles.
Perverting the Course of Justice.
The Judicial Panel Disciplinary Tribunal on Craig Whyte – Bringing The Game Into Disrepute.
The First instance can be found in this E Tim's article where Regan and LNS met in February 2012 to set the terms of reference for the Judicial Panel that charged Craig Whyte with bringing the game into disrepute.( Telegraph Report 21 Feb 2012 )
As the E Tim's article shows, whilst Whyte was charged with non payment of PAYE and VAT no charges were made with regard to his failure to pay the £2.8m tax liability that CW undertook to pay in his statement to Rangers shareholders of June 2011. This omission prevented scrutiny of what lay behind that liability, what created it and why it was accepted by RFC in March 2011 and how the SFA were able to grant RFC a UEFA licence in April 2011.
Whatever information Regan had from his telephone conversation with Andrew Dickson on 6th December 2011 and subsequent meeting at Hotel Du Vin with Craig Whyte along with Campbell Ogilvie and RFC CEO Ali Russell, appears not to have been passed to Lord Nimmo Smith in February 2012 when Regan and Nimmo Smith were drawing up the JPP Terms of Reference for the Craig Whyte Tribunal.
The Lord Nimmo Smith Commission
The second instance of Regan's ability to shape outcomes is in respect of the LNS Commission. Here the SFA stood aside on the grounds they were the Court of Appeal should RFC wish to appeal the eventual LNS Decision and let the then SPL take the running in March 2012. This was a convenient argument given that Regan knew by March 2012 that RFC had a £2.8m tax liability that Sherriff Officers had called to collect that prompted a number of enquiries asking how the SFA were able to grant a UEFA licence in March/April of 2011.
That event caused UEFA and the SFA in September 2011 to discuss the submission RFC made in June 2011 under Article 66 of UEFA FFP that described the status of the liability as postponed and awaiting scheduling of payments but more of this SFA/UEFA discussion later in the context of the current JPDT charges of non compliance against Rangers FC.
It is inconceivable that by March 2012 when the investigation into ebts and side letters began that this September 2011 discussion along with his conversations in December 2011 that Regan was unaware that the tax owed was the result of RFC use of unlawful ebts nor the reasons why RFC had accepted liability for the sum owed arising from their use. However by standing aside there was no specific mention in the SPL Lawyers letter of 15 March 2012 that began the investigation of the by then clearly unlawful ebts that caused the £2.8m tax liability, although it did refer to all ebts with side letters from 1998. All rather convenient for Regan under the powers the Judicial Panel Protocol gave him.
The impact of this exclusion in skewing the LNS Terms of Reference and so the LNS Decision is now a matter of Social Media record that can be followed from beginning to end HERE.
The E Tim's article already mentioned covers how events from February to April 2012 allowed the exclusion from the Craig Whyte JPP and The Reasons given by Lord Nimmo Smith in September 2012 appear in a follow up E Tim's article where LNS himself justifies the exclusion of the £2.8m tax liability caused by RFC's use of unlawful ebts in from 1999 to 2003 on what are less than convincing grounds unless he was kept in the dark by Regan.
SFA JPP Charges In Respect of UEFA Licence in 2011
The final instance of the misuse of the JPP begins in September 2017 when after court testimony stating when the £2.8m tax liability was accepted, the SFA, whilst rejecting an investigation into the handling of RFC use of ebts with side letters (and the foregoing on LNS spells out why) Regan accepted that the granting of the UEFA Licence by the SFA in 2011 should be subject to the Judicial Protocol process.
It took until mid-May 2018 for that process to come up with two charges of non compliance of SFA Articles by RFC that were put to TRFC presumably on the basis that they were responsible for the events in 2011, particularly when at least three current TRFC officials/Directors were in place in 2011, charges which TRFC said they would contest and subsequently in July wanted CAS involvement on grounds that the secret 5 Way Agreement requires it but on scope that that have still to be made known as the parties negotiate the terms of reference to CAS.
Now seven plus months is a long time to finally arrive at charges that according to a TRFC statement in May 2018 in this BBC report excluded the very period at end of March 2011 stating accusations were groundless, that caused the SFA to invoke the JPP process, but what is interesting about those charges is the absence (and as Regan left in February he might not have had an influence or was his parting shot), of any charges against the SFA itself of aiding RFC noncompliance at end of March in September 2011. The Compliance Officer himself resigned not long after the charges of non- compliance were made which raises eyebrows higher than Roger Moore level.
Perhaps it was because of possible SFA complicity in September 2011 that the Compliance Officer agreed to exclude this end March period although that exclusion was challenged by Resolution 12 lawyers just before the SFA Judicial Panel Disciplinary Tribunal (JPDT) sat on 25th June. No answers to the evidence backed questions in that letter, copied to Celtic, have so far been provided.
So what are the SFA hiding from or behind the JPP process this time?
Here is a copy of the Good News e mail of 19th September 2011 between Keith Sharp the UEFA FFP man at the SFA and Ken Olverman the Financial chap at RFC. In it Sharp tells Olverman that UEFA have verbally accepted the RFC submission of June 2011 under Article 66. (This admitted that the 2.8m EBT proposed settlement also required to be disclosed but is shown as a status of postponed (awaiting scheduling of payments) but that a further declaration will be needed under Article 67. This can be read here but note the Comments were not part of original exchange.
Note the tone of the advice given about the Article 67 submission but the point is, either Sharp of the SFA told UEFA porkies to get the monitoring submission under Article 66, that itself was false at the time it was made, verbally accepted or told UEFA the truth and as RFC were out of Europe there was an agreement to bury it between SFA and UEFA.
That UEFA involvement if the latter instance, would explain Celtic's reluctance to take Res12 to UEFA in 2013 especially as we don't know UEFA's response to Celtic's earlier letter of May 2012 to SFA re ebt investigation copied to Infantino at UEFA.
If the former instance i.e. SFA told UEFA porkies it makes SFA complicit in covering up the non compliance they are charging Rangers with!
I mention this in the context of the SFA Judicial Process being totally inappropriate in this case and why there should be a speedy independent investigation because the charges of non-compliance that the JPDT are covering relate to RFC and NOT the SFA which is perhaps why the terms of reference to CAS are taking so long to emerge.
There is clearly a conflict of SFA self interest here.
It would be more than ironic if the organisation bringing charges against Rangers were in fact complicit in the non-compliance by Rangers after it became public HMRC were owed tax in August 2010!
The point of this long blog is that the Judicial Panel Protocol introduced by Regan in June 2011 with the flaws pointed out a year later in The Pie and Bovril articles has been used by the SFA under Regan not to produce justice but pervert it since 2011.
Only a truly independent investigation will provide the justice that the crimes perpetrated against Scottish Football and its supporters since 2000 by RFC under the dishonest leadership of Sir David Murray requires, an investigation that should recommend changes that make the JPP independent of the SFA..
Justice is there to uphold the rule of law, that applies to football law as much as natural law and without justice there can be no law. That is where Scottish football now exists, in outlaw territory with the bad guys still ruling as they please, not as justice demands.
Until justice is served and seen to be served there is no law in football and no fake Judicial Protocol Panel is ever going to provide it.
The owners and Directors of all SPFL clubs need to revisit the scene of the crime, the 5 Way Agreement has done its job, a form of Rangers drawing big crowds will continue to exist, but on it has to be on more honest grounds, where who knows, they might even earn redemption.
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Celtic fan from Glasgow living mostly in Spain. A contributor to several websites, discussion groups and blogs, and a member of the Resolution 12 Celtic shareholders' group. Committed to sporting integrity, good governance, and the idea that football is interdependent. We all need each other in the game.
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Cluster One 9th October 2018 at 22:07
Tuesday, 09 October 2018, 13:45
by Rangers Football Club
RANGERS International Football Club PLC is pleased to announce that Barry Scott is rejoining its Board of Directors.
Barry left the Board for a short time earlier this year in order to attend to other business affairs and the Board is delighted that he is now able to offer his services again and contribute to the continued success of the Company.
And just the other day we were posting why he left…..Strange one
Ex Ludo 9th October 2018 at 22:06
0 0 Rate This
https://twitter.com/clydessb/status/1049739271198904320?s=21
The Griffiths bashing continues apace.
LG won't worry, he knows you can get banned for life and still be asked back.
Homunculus 10th October 2018 at 00:27
Please don't "just post a song".
It really does this blog no favours.
StevieBC 10th October 2018 at 00:34
As other Bampots have alluded to, and apologies if I'm repeating other posts I've missed…
This surprising Milne public utterance about questioning the SFA to improve the customer/fan experience…
Of course, he hasn't suddenly found his moral compass. He has more immediate needs to appear fan-focused: whether it's simply to punt semi tickets, or something else – I haven't a Scooby.
as another SPFL chairperson has placed his head above the parapet to have a pop at the Hampden blazers…
then Shirley, it is a rare opportunity for Lawwell to give Milne very public and very loud backing to have a review of the SFA & the SPFL practices. (And discreetly enlarge the scope of said review, following lobbying of other clubs.)
Upshot is a review, as requested by AFC: so it neatly removes any attempted deflection that it is a CFC/TRFC bun fight.
Ex Ludo 10th October 2018 at 07:50
https://twitter.com/bbcjamescook/status/1049907280056082433?s=21
James Cook (not a football correspondent) telling it like it is.
Allyjambo 10th October 2018 at 09:06
https://twitter.com/bbcjamescook/status/1049907280056082433?s=21 James Cook (not a football correspondent) telling it like it is.
While agreeing with him, entirely, it's a bit hypocritical of a BBC correspondent, and ex Scotland correspondent – who has as a tag line 'facts are chiels that winna ding', to criticise another media outlet for their use of hyperbole when talking of an Ibrox club or it's players. He also made the classic error of those media toadies by describing Kyle Lafferty as 'Rangers striker' which is, as far as facts go, a 'chiel that dings' rather loudly!
wottpi 10th October 2018 at 09:58
As I posted a few days back it is also the ideal time for Budge to join the party along with Milne and Lawwell.
The leaders of three of our biggest clubs actually taking a lead in asking difficult questions would be a breath of fresh air.
Strength in numbers and all that.
fishnish 10th October 2018 at 10:08
As someone who agrees wholeheartedly with Homunculus that posting bland, soporific, maudlin song videos does this site a disservice, I feel I'm mibbe being two-faced (and certainly pedantic) in suggesting to Allyjambo that "ding" disnae mean a sound.
In that phrase, the fact is impervious to blows or damage: it won't "dent".
EG in car metal work you get dings, that need hammering out.
As someone who agrees wholeheartedly with Homunculus that posting bland, soporific, maudlin song videos does this site a disservice, I feel I'm mibbe being two-faced (and certainly pedantic) in suggesting to Allyjambo that "ding" disnae mean a sound.
In that phrase, the fact is impervious to blows or damage: it won't "dent".
______________________-
I wasn't suggesting it did, just using reverse onomatopoeia (if there is such a thing) to make (what I thought as) a mildly humorous comment, and to make the point that his hypocrisy was 'loud' in the same way a colour can be loud. Also, as one interpretation of 'ding' is 'disputed', I was inferring that it is loudly disputed.
The point of my post was that here is a man, working for the very much discredited BBC, criticising the hyperbole of another media outlet, while proclaiming that he is an honourable journalist interested only in facts, who totally ignores the fact that Kyle Lafferty used to play for Rangers FC but now kicks a ball for a new entity that uses the word 'Rangers' in it's title to mislead. He also works for a corporation that refuses to allow the facts of Rangers' demise, along with many other facts pertaining to cheating and other dishonesties, to be aired on any of it's programs. I just wish the BBC would attempt to make these chiels ding (to try to justify their change in position from before the failed CVA until after a known liar changed their minds), but we know they never will?
AllyJambo@09.06
To be fair to James Cook I think he might have been trying to be funny. I did like a tweet in the thread which declared "The Hunt for the Red Hand of October "
Maybe phoning the Scotland manager and telling him you are not available to play, explaining that you are not fit enough for either club or country is seen as a heinous treachery, whereas unilaterally withdrawing from the Northern Ireland squad is a perfectly acceptable expedient.
The important point though, as others have said, is the use of the word "unilaterally" as it clearly exonerates his club from any blame. It was Lafferty's decision and his alone. Nothing to do with his employers.
____________________-
However funny his tweets, or the validity of what he said about the Scotsman's tweet, if he is going to label himself as a purveyor of facts/truth then he should also publish the truth before pointing out his competitors' faults.
Of course, I may be wrong and he has already published an article giving a true and accurate summation of all (or even one part) that has gone on at Ibrox since 1998.
Billydug 10th October 2018 at 11:57
@eaamalyon Big news from Belgium this morning: top football clubs raided, leading managers and refs questioned, the country's biggest agent is under arrest Top managers, agents and refs interrogated in Belgian corruption probe independent.co.uk 10:37 AM · Oct 10, 2018
https://t.co/9vbU8lHXab?amp=1
John Clark 10th October 2018 at 12:23
'..I just wish the BBC would attempt to make these chiels ding (to try to justify their change in position from before the failed CVA until after a known liar changed their minds), but we know they never will?'
To be scrupulously fair to BBC Scotland, aJ, their 'volteface' was against their (natural) instincts.
As I understand it, BBC Scotland's hand was 'forced' by a decision of the now defunct BBC Trust's
Editorial Standards Committee. The full decision is here:
downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/appeals/esc_bulletins/2013/apr_may.pdf
BBC Scotland reported the decision in brief https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-22951447
as follows:
"In its evidence to the Trust, BBC Scotland had stated: "We remain of the opinion that due accuracy was achieved."
It said: "A football club, once incorporated, is indistinguishable in Scots law from its corporate identity.
"If the club was separate it would need its own constitution, committee members, trustees, etc.
"Rangers Football Club does not have that because it is incorporated."
BBC Scotland's submission said that an implication of the ESC ruling could be that future reporting, in order to achieve a "common standard", may have to differentiate "between the business elements of a club's activities and its footballing activities".
It added: "This, we believe, would add layers of complexity to reporting that would not be to the benefit of clear reportage or enhance the understanding of such issues by our audiences."
Following publication of the Trust's findings, BBC Scotland said: "We note the findings of the report."
They then, sadly, 'obeyed' without further challenge to decision which they knew ran totally counter to the fundamental duty to be truthful to the facts.
It is that cowardly obedience to a body which had already by then become so arcane and irrelevant that it was abolished soon afterwards that stains BBC Scotland.
Any Controller and management team ought to have kicked up a din and threatened to resign en masse at such a ridiculously outrageous decision that required them to lie!
The decision by one now abolished effete , undemocratic, 'establishment' Trust is as little to be honoured as are the dishonest decisions of a Sports governance body which too readily sold the Integrity of the very Sport which they are supposed to defend against sports cheats and perverters of Truth.
And, with the abolition of the BBC Trust and its replacement by a far more democratic governance model, the current Controller ,Donalda Mackinnon, should review the matter, and get BBC Scotland back into truthful, accurate reporting.
p style="margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px">As much for the sake of the BBC and what it claims to stand for, as for the sake of Scottish Football as a Sport, and of Scottish professional football clubs as 'businesses'.
It seems the Rangers and their support are a special case in Europe as well as domestically
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/uefa-give-rangers-special-permission-13395114
UEFA give Rangers special permission to cut Europa League ticket quota over police fears
Homunculus@14.25
Interesting choice of words in the DR piece. "Special permission" and "dispensation " and "special dispensation " all used to make out the club is, well, special. I've had some experience in dealing with Russian football fans in Ibrox. They were on the whole well behaved apart from a few numpties much like any football crowd. I'm wondering if there is particular information re this game or have UEFA been paying attention to a recent unfortunate incident involving west of Scotland fans.
@eaamalyon Big news from Belgium this morning: …in Belgian corruption probe…
Scottish football, Italian football, FIFA, UEFA, etc…
Have we all been conned since forever?
Have we unwittingly supported possibly the most corrupt global sport?
And are we past the point of no return: football is a business first, and any consideration of sporting integrity simply has no place in the pursuit of profit / backhanders / bias, etc.?
And now Belgium?!
News 3 hrs ago
Transport cops hunt for RANGERS fans who abused passengers on Glasgow train
By Evening Times Online
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Oops, Chris Jack will be greetin' at this headline.
…wonder how long before this explicit / truthful headline is redacted?
Posted on the ET site at about 12.15pm Glasgow time…
easyJambo 10th October 2018 at 15:19
You can add Portugal, and specifically Benfica to that list.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/10/sports/soccer/benfica-leak.html
It seems they don't like Bloggers revealing internal club documents, such as:
" It included a Benfica slide show detailing an apparent effort to gain greater influence over federation and league officials "
" There were also documents suggesting connections between the club and the men responsible for overseeing refereeing in Portugal. "
…… the article goes on:
" The police are investigating the hack on Benfica's system, but also the club itself. Law enforcement officials have conducted raids on Benfica's offices, and last month prosecutors charged the club with corruption after investigators found it had a mole inside the Portuguese judicial system. "
" The Portuguese soccer federation has started a separate investigation. "
It couldn't happen in Scotland of course, because all our football authorities and club officials are beyond reproach, …………. or so we are told.
https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/scotland/rangers-and-sports-direct-back-at-high-court-over-merchandise-deal/
Bosses at Rangers Football Club are embroiled in a fresh merchandise deal row with Sports Direct and Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, less than three months after a High Court judge said both sides should "try to make peace".
In a High Court hearing in London in late July, Mr Justice Phillips was told a dispute over the terms of the deal had been settled.
But lawyers representing the two sides were back at the court on Wednesday after Mr Ashley complained of a breach of contract by Rangers.
https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/scotland/rangers-and-sports-direct-back-at-high-court-over-merchandise-deal/ Bosses at Rangers Football Club are embroiled in a fresh merchandise deal row with Sports Direct and Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, less than three months after a High Court judge said both sides should "try to make peace". In a High Court hearing in London in late July, Mr Justice Phillips was told a dispute over the terms of the deal had been settled. But lawyers representing the two sides were back at the court on Wednesday after Mr Ashley complained of a breach of contract by Rangers.
Worth noting that PMGB hinted at this yesterday.
It does make you wonder, though, what RIFC/TRFC, or is it just King, are up to in their pursuit of trouble, for they seem determined to have at least two court cases on the go as often as possible. It's as though they are poking a stick at the legal system as often as they can and acting as though a legal ruling doesn't bind them.
PMGB reporting that Mr Kings QC has advised in court that he represents RIFC, TRFC and Mr King. I'm not sure of the significance of this admission but I suspect it might not bode well for the Club/Company and the shareholders.
The Rangers support who have bought merchandise from Elite Group are not going to be best pleased if the Court rules that it breached Sport Direct's contract and that Mike Ashley is entitled to a cut of that income.
Surely Mike Ashley didn't let this go for a while until a whole load of sales had been made.
Ex Ludo
I think that relates to the Takeover Panel case in the Court of Session, as opposed to the hearing which would appear to relate to who can sell the merchandise, being heard in England.
That 'off message' headline from the ET has changed.
'RANGERS' is now 'Rangers' in the headline.
Pedantic I know, but surprised the article hasn't been dropped onto an earlier page, or simply dropped.
Noted and thanks.
Auldheid 10th October 2018 at 17:23
wottpi 10th October 2018 at 09:58 Edit This
The CSA wading into Milne in their latest post.
When they say fear of retribution is a factor impeding sporting justice then those intimidating should be named by the clubs.
Its not just Milne who needs to grow a set, it is all other clubs. Enough lies
http://thecsa.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2007&sid=e7a78203f764aef70ec66e192c873c33
Given that the CSA and Celtic have a respectful relationship perhaps Joe O Rourke's article is a reflection of Celtic's frustration.
Bill1903 10th October 2018 at 17:28
Rangers ticket statement
RANGERS are pleased that commonsense has prevailed and that our supporters will be able to purchase the lion's share of tickets available for the Betfred Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday, October 28.
We have received an allocation of just under 26,000 tickets with the possibility of more, subject to how other sales go.
It is important to make it clear there had been an attempt to deny Rangers fans all of Hampden's north stand but this was resisted fiercely and that entire area will now be a sea of red, white and blue.
Hampden should now be full to capacity for a match which is eagerly awaited.
Rangers' allocation will be issued by way of a ballot which will be held on Friday (October 12) and successful season ticket holders will be advised shortly afterwards
Resisted fiercely aye
It's not like them to have a sense of entitlement over other clubs and their supporters.
I note that an "unopposed" motion was granted yesterday in the RIFC v Chuckles case, which is about him agreeing deals not in the club's best interests.
A97/18 Rangers International Football Club Plc v Charles Green – Anderson Strathern LLP
Based on Anderson Strathern being named, I'd expect that the motion originated from RIFC. It is probably a fairly routine request, e.g. for documents.
It might be an interesting case once it starts making progress through the court. I understand that Green has engaged Heriot Currie QC to defend him, so he's getting one of the best available. Currie defended David Whitehouse in the preliminary hearings in the criminal trial, before the charges were dropped against him.
Jingso.Jimsie 10th October 2018 at 19:27
Big success for the 'Gers today:
https://www.scotsman.com/news/rangers-win-legal-fight-against-street-trader-over-club-s-logo-1-4812928
RFC? Shouldn't that be followed by '2012 (IL)?
Still, break out #winning!
Jingso.Jimsie
Would it be churlish of me to point out that "RFC" is an initialism, not an acronym. Though with such imprecise use of language it will be soon.
"……These came as part of 44 raids nationwide and 13 more across France, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Montenegro, Macedonia and Serbia."
Perhaps if the shareholders of Celtic had made an approach some years ago to the COPFS suggesting a wee seizure by Police Scotland of documents from the 6th Floor relating UEFA licencing , the list might have included Scotland!
( But perhaps such a seizure of documents would have been compromised by the Plod mistakenly seizing 'legally privileged' material thus bu..ering up the chances of conviction! I've heard that such a thing can happen.)
Mordecai 11th October 2018 at 06:58
You may recall I made a Freedom of Information request to Scottish Government (SG) and SportScotland as funders of Scottish sporting bodies and Scottish sports governing bodies regarding the measures in place to ensure compliance with the expectation that sporting bodies funded from the public purse had the necessary levels of transparency, accountability and financial integrity in place. I received a reply from SG to the effect that SG funds sporting bodies through SportScotland and I should perhaps direct my question to them. This despite the fact that I have seen several letters addressed to Stewart Regan from SG advising of grant awards to the SFA which were being made direct from Scottish Ministers. I have now disputed their answer and escalated it to the Director of Population Health? asking for a review of the answer. I will keep you posted. I have not received a reply from SportScotland although some aspects of their acknowledgement do not fill me with enthusiasm:
Thank you for getting in touch with sportscotland.
This is an automated message to acknowledge that we have received your email. If it is appropriate to respond to your enquiry, then you should receive a reply from us within 20 working days.
sportscotland offices are closed from Wednesday 24th December at 12.30 pm until Monday 5th January 2015 at 9.00 am inclusive. Your enquiry will be responded to as soon as possible thereafter.
Firstly, it looks like I will hear from them only if they see fit to respond. And secondly, they have helpfully advised me that I will have to wait until after 5th January until they start work on my request. Oh wait…..
upthehoops 11th October 2018 at 07:12
Good luck with the Scottish Government. I once received a reply from them basically saying they will not interfere in the way a members organisation like the SFA is run. All I asked was that since they gave the SFA funding, shouldn't they (the SFA) be publicly accountable to someone?
Of course, if a certain SFA member decides to cheat the state out of tens of millions in social taxes things are different. Even though those taxes would have funded vital public services the Scottish Government are not particularly bothered about the tax cheating, because the cheats themselves are classed as part of the fabric of our society. The most senior member of the Scottish Government may even choose to contact HMRC to demand they let the tax cheats off.
That, I'm afraid, is the society we live in, and it would happen again and again if required.
Up the Hoops 11 October 2018 07.12
This is exactly the the matter I was pursuing. The body responsible for funding sporting bodies – including sporting governing bodies – in England is UK sport. The have published a code which came into effect in April last year for Sports Governance that sets out the levels of transparency, accountability and financial integrity that will be required from those who ask for Government and National Lottery funding. Sport Scotland are the equivalent in Scotland and have published a similar code.
In England, the Code is proportionate, expecting the highest standards of good governance from organisations requesting the largest public investments, including:
Increased skills and diversity in decision making, with a target of at least 30 per cent gender diversity on boards
Greater transparency, for example publishing more information on the structure, strategy and financial position of the organisation.
Constitutional arrangements that give boards the prime role in decision making.
I was merely asking SG and SportScotland what arrangements they have in place to monitor compliance with the Code and who does the monitoring. Anyone can introduce a code for any purpose in any organisation but unless compliance is monitored, it is nothing more than words in a glossy brochure.
I suppose the worrying thing is that significant column inches have been devoted to a 'success' in beating a street trader while far bigger stories re Ashley's legal battles and the general financial position and associated gongs on at Ibrox are under reported and left to continue without any serious investigation.
What a riddy having to draft up such pish to make a living when these guys probably started off thinking they would be the next Woodward and Bernstein.
'… that significant column inches have been devoted to a 'success' in beating a street trader while far bigger stories re Ashley's legal battles …. are under reported and left to continue without any serious investigation…………… these guys probably started off thinking they would be the next Woodward and Bernstein.'
News item this morning about the Johnston Press (publishers of the 'Scotsman' ) being up for sale, due to declining revenues from advertising and digital presence.
While there is no likelihood that any media corporation which might buy it will be any more inclined to seek the truth about the 'saga' and print it, it would be gratifying to see those in the 'Scotsman' who so assiduously propagated the Big Lie get their jotters.
My concept of 'freedom of the Press' does not include 'freedom' to refuse to seek the Truth, or disguise it, or cover it up, or generally protect bad guys from accountability.
I would feel unmoved by the death of Pravda.
I would equally be unmoved by the death of those newspapers which have supported the ridiculous notion that a dead football club, stripped of any entitlement to participate in Scottish Football, is somehow the same club as a club newly created in 2012; and the equally absurd notion that that new club was somehow able to earn lots of sporting honours and titles over the preceding 140 years! honours and titles.
I'm not sure whether I am more offended by the insult to even the meanest intelligent than I am by the wicked intent to deceive.
The newspapers in question are pretty much like the GRU, with its fantastically ridiculous story about the Salisbury murder.The sheer stupidity of the attempt to deceive makes the attempt even more wicked.
The Ibrox side are just about to start spending big.
They have struck oil underneath the Albion Car Park
…or they could be digging a hole deep enough to hide their shame?
I know, brass necks all round at Ibrox.
But the stench of the industrial scale cheating will forever linger over the team/club playing out of Ibrox.
Is this going to lead to more fracking protests?
The news that Gascoigne's name has been withdrawn from nomination for the Hall of Fame is yet another indication of how fatuous and shallow are those who first proposed his inclusion,basing their decision apparently on the fact that he aided in securing 9-in-a-row!
On that basis, Harald Bratback should be nominated as having stopped the other nine-in-a row from becoming ten. a significant achievement.
Halls of Fame are surely meant to recognise a whole lot of things- sportsmanship over a career, 'model' behaviour as athletes, long-enduring effort, talent and skill, ambassadorship on the part of the sport and so on.
Short-term bouts of individual brilliance are shown by lots and lots of players who would think themselves worthy to be nominated when compared to those ,by and large, who have been deserving of inclusion.
amendment to my previous post at 8.38 …"who would NOT think themselves worthy.."
'Homunculus
They have struck oil underneath the Albion Car Park…'
I'm so old that I immediately starting singing the theme song from 'The Beverly Hillbillies' when I read that.
'Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea' etc. etc…
slimjim 11th October 2018 at 19:45
The public humiliation of a guy with both mental health and addiction issues is a new low for the SFA board members concerned.
Shameful decision by all those involved.
Forgive me if I have picked you up wrong, but as I understand it the SFA board members don't select who gets into the Hall of Fame.
Fans make nominations and the Scottish Football Hall of Fame committee pick who gets in.
Seen a post saying JD sports have removed The Rangers gear from stores and online. Apparently being discussed on follow follow.
Cluster One 11th October 2018 at 20:58
25 1 Rate This
How much will this cost king…err the ibrox fans i mean.££££
Does this mean no pumpkin coloured tops for halloween?
Billydug@20.41
Puma kit still available. £10 a pop.
slimjim: it's now 9.20 pm and I've just come backon totheblog.
I have looked at your post of 19.45. I don't know what you are referring to!!
Please,indicate in any post what you are referring to :hours, days,can pass before any post might be read!
Was part of the loan deal with close brothers not to maintain the securities, not dig a great big bloody hole in them?
shug 11th October 2018 at 21:42
Well Scotland did well to keep the score down.
Talking about those deserving to be included in the 'Hall of Fame'…
did any other Bampots get an update on the consideration of Turnbull Hutton?
I did get a reply a few years ago from a lady at the Hampden museum saying IIRC that he 'might be nominated in future'.
A guy who was brave to enough to call out the corruption in Scottish football – and which probably went a long way to curbing further corruption in 2012.
Turnbull Hutton should be honoured before any football player, IMO
I know many of us didn't want him in the the first place but now he is there can I be the first to say 'McLeish oot' !!!
bfbpuzzled 11th October 2018 at 21:51
Your Albion Carpark picture put me in mind of Daniel Day Lewis playing the Oilman in "There Will Be Blood" which fits in with a notorious song.
It would be interesting to know why the drilling is being done. Given that the Car Parl must remain for th sake of the Club Deck it may indicate problems and there are many potential issues in such old heavy industrial areas.
Talking about those deserving to be included in the 'Hall of Fame'…
I did get a reply a few years ago from a lady at the Hampden museum saying IIRC that he 'might be nominated in future'.
https://mobile.twitter.com/ClusterOne2/status/1014213611936452610?p=v
'…can I be the first to say 'McLeish oot' !!!
I suspect not: there are a good few in the queue afore ye!
A wee thought on the pic of the iconic Albion car park. Is it an old photo, as I seem to remember it from a while back? I may be wrong, though.
If it is current, then maybe they are preparing it for the fan zone Digging for victory, anyone?
In the late '70's the Scotland squad of the era got involved in health promotion activities. The slogan on the posters read "The Squad don't smoke" I remember seeing one of those posters in a pub with the slogan crossed out and replaced with a hand written message "The Squad don't score". In all the time since then nothing has changed.
On McLeish oot.
I'm not one to post on here about individual matches, and I've never been great at discerning a team's tactics/set up, but Israel looked pretty effective out wide, and Scotland set up, and never changed, a rather narrow back three. Did McLeish not watch and/or study Israel's tactics, and is he unable to realise what's happening and change things before the EBTs hit the fan?
Regardless, whenever he was caught on camera, he just looked like a man happy in the knowledge that, whatever happens, his Scotland contract covers his EBT tax debt!
https://twitter.com/standforceltic/status/1050499262184923137?s=21
Maybe it was the heat of the moment.
https://twitter.com/skynews/status/1050493894515990529?s=21
Remake of Nixon meeting Elvis.
CO – good link. His stance looks even more impressive as times goes by: Turnbull knew only too well the amount of sh!t which would be coming his way for voicing fans' concerns.
…and as for this latest in a long line of low points in Scottish national team results…
I have no sympathy for EBT McLeish, but he simply shouldn't be anywhere near the national team. Clubs wouldn't touch him for 2 years previously, which is a bit of a huge, maniacally waved red flag.
Wonder how many fans the SFA expect to turn up at Hampden for the return Israel game?
15K…10K…?
It's the bumbling blazers who have stumbled into this latest debacle of their own making.
McLeish probably needs help.
Extracted from an ET article after Israel loss;
"…McLeish continued: "Did we ever say we were at a level where we should be qualifying for major tournaments? We've not said that…"
Ok, assuming that is a correct, direct quote from McLeish, then he has to go now.
If the manager is publicly saying his team isn't good enough to qualify for a Finals, then guess what?
His players won't believe they are good enough either, and the Scottish national team will continue to be a minnow.
To state the bleedin' obvious.
I don't think the Scotland team is any good, and the choice of quality players is limited.
But it doesn't help either when the manager seems hellbent on alienating decent players.
…and why should fans pay good money, in good faith, in a reasonable expectation that the national team is set up – as best as possible – to secure that elusive qualification.
If McLeish himself doesn't believe, then why is he there?
…just to finance a tax demand…?
So he was going to replace souttar with mckenna who was already on the park but it was wee forrest who was being readied something wrong with mcleish.
It was heavily rumoured McLeish was the choice of Petrie and McCrae in return for the Ian Maxwell camp getting their man. If true, it just shows what an entire shambles the SFA is. McLeish was unemployable in my view, and the stench will always remain that the SFA are paying his tax bill from a time Rangers evaded taxes to fund success on the field.
The whole thing stinks.
https://twitter.com/thejeremyvine/status/1050612505901391872?s=21
Jezza catching up with SFM.
https://twitter.com/standforceltic/status/1050499262184923137?s=21 Maybe it was the heat of the moment.
________________-
I think he just cemented his place as the worst ever Scotland manager. As things were going from not very good to very bad, the camera caught him smiling! Not a grimace, not an ironic 'what the f…', but an actual smile. Could it be he's working towards the sack and a pay-off that would clear his EBT debt, once and for all, allowing him to lead the easy life he thought he was going to lead as a part-time TV pundit?
How perfect would his credentials then be for a BBC football pundit: failed Scotland manager who had previously abandoned Scotland for more money and a Rangers EBT recipient? He'd almost certainly be due his own program after that! BBC Scotland's very own Gary Lineker…with a twist!
Darkbeforedawn 12th October 2018 at 09:00
As far as the Scotland farce is concerned a major part of the blame must be placed at McLeish's door! I have always been vocal on here of opposing his appointment for pure football reasons and he is once again proving me right. The only area in the whole team we really excell at is left back with two genuinly world class players fighting for that position. The big challenge for any Scotland manager is deciding who gets to play in that position, yet McLeish in his wisdom thinks the answer is none of them! So we have Tierney who is never a centre half, playing in the heart of defence and Robertson pushed into midfield! And a team crying out for creativity and inform players leaved Forrest, hot of the back of 4 goals in one game, on the bench for 60 minutes? I would honestly argue this is the worst Scotland team I have ever seen and there have been some howlers in recent years.
As far as Gazza is concerned, as much as I loved him as a player the very fact the SFA thought it would be an idea to propose a wife beater, alcoholic and recent perpatrator of racial abuse should be added to the hall of fame is a new low. For all I will stick up for players that are ostracised for tax avoidance etc, there can be no excuses for the crimes that Gazza has committed. To then allow this circus to develop around a deeply troubled and huge sufferer of mental illness is completely irresponsible by the SFA. Shame on them.
'I have no sympathy for EBT McLeish, but he simply shouldn't be anywhere near the national team. Clubs wouldn't touch him for 2 years previously, which is a bit of a huge, maniacally waved red flag….It's the bumbling blazers who have stumbled into this latest debacle of their own making…'
The McLeish appointment was no more than a continuation of the fundamental rottenness at the heart of Football Governance in this country: a rottenness that created the Big Lie,a lie that destroyed any belief that our Sport was run on any kind of basis of either Sporting or commercial Integrity.
The re-appointment of a failed manager who
had contemptuously deserted them on a previous occasion (for filthy lucre's sake and to hell with loyalty and principle)
had been unemployed for two years or so,
had been part of a crowd of tax-cheating individuals who either played for or managed or directed a club which so massively cheated Scottish Football for a decade and right royally f.cked up all belief in sporting merit as the only measure of entitlement to honour and respect,
betrayed a crass, lop-sided ,inability to face truth and reality.
Bad cess to the SFA, and may none of those involved in creating and propagating the Big Lie enjoy any further influence in the running of our Sport.
Not only must McLeish get his jotters:so must the dirty wee nest on the 6th Floor be emptied of those who have so disastrously been running Scottish Football into the mire of rottenness and inefficiency.
easyJambo on Bad Money?
StevieBC on Bad Money?
John Clark on Bad Money?
Remember these?
Stevie G – The Real Deal?
Fantastic Voyage ..
To Comply or not to Comply ?
Is it time for the Sin Bin?
Is Regan a DIDDY?
SFM is a community of football fans who want to see the game in Scotland run fairly and in a manner that befits true sporting endeavour
© Scottish Football Monitor 2018


So, yesterday, I had my leaving do.
I cried. I knew I would, but I managed to do it when ALL eyes were on me – during my "speech". Awesome. I say "speech", because it was terrible. In the face of people I love, admire, like or even just tolerate, my usual communication skills completely abandoned me, and I didn't manage to say half of what I wanted to.
But everyone applauded anyway, because they are NPLers and they are lovely. I have rarely felt as special as I did yesterday – it was a day I will never forget.
I promise you that I don't care about popularity, I am entirely myself, all the time. If people like it, great. If they don't, too bad. But just to know that I have made an impact on such fantastic people. To know that I will be missed. It was incredible. I've been going though a real crisis of confidence of late, one which only really my boyfriend has had to witness – lots of tears (unhappy ones), anxiety, sleepless nights, paranoia. I'd stopped seeing myself clearly, I think, that was the core of it. I was just focussed on getting stuff done, ticking boxes, feeling guilty for not being able to give my time to everyone, stressing… you get the idea. But yesterday, I felt like I could breath again, it was awesome.
One of the things I DID manage to get out before I blubbed yesterday was that NPL is just a place, but it's the people that make it a family. And I meant it.
For writing such thoughtful messages in my cards – yep, that's cards – plural!
For the bought gifts – an SI unit bracelet, Water Rocket hoodie, NPL mugs, books, vouchers, bag, pencil case….
Managed to survive a work day without laurie. yay!


Some Things for our Gentleman Readers out there. Again Thank you for your time spent on my Blog!
Here is some more blasts from the Past. I hope that you like them! Grumpy California only charged 3% sales tax back then. Now it's almost 10% or more! I was born too late!


* Here is a quick comparison between the Imaginext Snake Man (on the left) and an original Battle Beast (on the right). Hare Razing Rabbit is only about 2/3rds the size of the Imaginext Snake Man. Still, Imaginext nailed the style, didn't they?
* This guy is just really, really cool. He definitely looks like some sort of armored snake creature who wouldn't look out of place paling around with King Hsss and the other Snake Men from Masters of the Universe. The colors are spot on (including the cool little red things on the shoulders. Maybe blasters of some sort?) and the presence of the small title on the chest that on the original Battle Beasts revealed their strength (wood, water, or fire).
* The headsculpt is pretty cool. Even though this snake has a body, the way the "neck" is positioned definitely makes it look like this cobra is going to rear back and strike.
* I actually owned Triple Threat Snake as a kid but sadly I've lost the body over the years, though. I still have at least one of the arms, somehow. All that is to say that just like the vintage figure, this Snake Man has hands that looks like snakes themselves. That's a cool detail and I'm glad Mattel retained it here.
* While the Snake Man's weapon doesn't quite resemble the weapon of Triple Threat Snake (I think it looks more like Big Horn Sheep's weapon) it's still a very cool staff that fits the style of the figure quite well.
* Oddly enough, the spot where the original figure had a heat sensitive sticker is just a blank black box. I was hoping that rubbing it would cause something to appear, possibly a stylized version of the Imaginext logo. That would have been an incredibly cool feature, wouldn't it?
* The articulation on the Snake Man is quite limited. He's not only missing the swivel head (which most figures in this series are as well) but his arms are greatly restricted by the armor. Rather than have the shoulder armor sculpted as part of the body, the armor extends over the shoulders. He can only raise his arms as high as you see them in the photo to the right. The armor extending over the shoulders looks nice but it severely hampers the movement.
While the articulation is limited, the strong design, sculpt, and cool factor of the Snake Man are hard to beat. I'm still quite shocked that we got this direct remake of Triple Threat Snake in the Imaginext line considering the Battle Beasts property is, I believe, owned by Takara and was never held by Mattel (Hasbro, Diamond Select, and Plastic Imagination! have all held the rights art some point as well). Considering that Mattel always seems like such a cautious company for stuff like this I'm curious as to what happened behind the scenes to make this guy a reality. He's a Great minifigure and I'm glad he's part of the series, though. Maybe we'll see more in the future.
I see this figure slithering around in any of the toy stores here, I'm getting it. After the weather settles down, of course.
I only had four Battle Beasts: a jaguar or leopard; a raccoon; a rat with a trowel for a left hand (it was too flat to be a hook); and a hippo. All this time, I never even knew that they had names.
They totally have names! Good luck finding this one!
I have so far only found a single figure to this wave in the wild. Most stores in my area are stocked with wave 8 still.
Did you pick it up? What did you get?
Very nice! That Swamp Thing is amazing, too! I need to check for him next time I'm out.


The finished chocolate hazelnut cake! Chocolate biscuit cake layered with chocolate mousse, hazelnut dacquoise, hazelnut mousse, and glazed with chocolate mirror glaze. I tasted this one tonight and it's good!
We baked another almond dacquoise.
And made a chocolate-hazelnut-royaltine mixture to go on top.
It tastes like the filling of a Rocher chocolate. So good.
The Rocher mixture was topped with another almond dacquoise, and then a raspberry gelee.
We also are making puff pastry by hand. I'm guessing it's for some kind of cake we're baking this week, but I don't know what. Puff pastry is a lot of work.
Sleep. Need sleep. Long day. Can't form sentences.
8 comments on "Day Sixty-Five"
OH MY! That looks soooo good! Save me a slice...OK!
Love the giant silpat and rolling pin! Puff pastry is a lot of work but almost all the store-bought brands don't use butter, so I still make it every once in a while. It's a real feeling of accomplishment when you finish!
It does feel good! What? They don't use butter? What do they use? I'm appalled.
Frozen puff pastry you buy in the supermarket is made with vegetable shortening. I have only found one brand, Dufour, that's made with butter. It costs at least twice as much as the others and isn't always available.
Your cake is very shiny!


STONEHENGE'S purpose has perplexed people for millennia. But groundbreaking new research has revealed the the ancient race responsible for the mysterious stone structures.
Stonehenge, with its iconic concentric ring of standing stones, is one of the wonders of the world and Europe's iconic prehistoric monument. Almost nothing was known about who erected the stone slabs on Salisbury Plain and why they took such pains to do so – until now. For a landmark new study suggests it an ancient culture from overseas was in fact responsible for Stonehenge's standing stones.
A race of early man from what is today known as the Brittany region of northwest France most probably begun building Stonehenge's structure some 7,000 years ago.
Study author Dr Bettina Schulz Paulsson of Sweden's University of Gothenburg believes the megalith building began in France and spread from there via sea routes around Europe over the next millennia.
Over an exhausting 10 years, Dr Paulson created a "megalith evolution" using radiocarbon dating of more than 2,000 historic sites across Europe.
So although this group of ancient people may not have built Stonehenge, they probably inspired those people who did go on to build it.
And if this is the case, then the maritime skills, trade and culture will have been far more advanced than previously thought.
Stonehenge is among the most recent megaliths constructed, likely around 2,500 B.C.
This latest research contradicts earlier theories suggesting Stonehenge could have originated in the Near East or even possibly independently.
And an unrelated study supports the core of this theory, but believes those who built Stonehenge had travelled from an area near modern Turkey.
This group arriving around 4,000BC, and who rapidly replaced local hunter-gatherer populations, according to the conflicting research.
The team examined DNA from scores of Neolithic farmer skeletons dating from 6,000 to 4,500 years ago and other Mesolithic hunter-gatherer skeletons from the preceding period.
Dr Tom Booth, of the Natural History Museum said: "We looked at the genetic ancestry of human remains from both before and after 6,000 years ago – so some dating to the Mesolithic and some to the Neolithic – to see if we can characterise any changes.


text:
Metlife, Inc. v. Financial Stability Oversight Council
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Case dismissed
Case held in abeyance
The D.C. Circuit granted Metlife's motion to hold FSOC's appeal in abeyance indefinitely, pending further order of the court.
Chamber asks D.C. Circuit to uphold district court's decision striking down FSOC's classification of insurance company as a SIFI
The U.S. Chamber and Investment Company Institute ("ICI") filed an amicus brief in the D.C. Circuit, arguing that the court below correctly set aside FSOC's determination that a large insurance company is a nonbank systemically important financial institution ("SIFI") because the agency committed "fundamental violations of administrative law." In its brief, the Chamber explained that under the Dodd-Frank Act, FSOC is required—but failed—to consider whether the company itself is vulnerable to a plausible scenario bringing about material financial distress. Further, the brief argued that the district court correctly held that FSOC abandoned its own guidance and departed from a reasoned analytical approach and that its failure to consider the consequences of the SIFI designation was contrary to law.
Steven G. Bradbury, Thomas P. Vartanian, Robert H. Ledig, and D. Brett Kohlhofer of Dechert LLP served as co-counsel for the amici in this case.
Notice of Appeal -- MetLife, Inc. v FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
Statement of Issues by FSOC -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
Brief for Appellant -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
Professors Amicus Brief Supporting Appellant -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
Current and Former Members of Congress Amicus Brief -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
Bernanke and Volcker Amicus Brief -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
Better Markets, Inc. Amicus Brief -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
Professors of Administrative Law and Financial Regulation Amicus Brief -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
Scholars of Insurance and Financial Regulation Amicus Brief -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit)_0.pdf
Cunningham Amicus Brief -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
Brief for Appellee -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
Cato Institute Amicus Brief -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
Academic Experts in Financial Regulation Amicus Brief -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
Washington Legal Foundation Amicus Brief -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
U.S. Chamber and ICI Amicus Brief -- MetLife, Inc. v FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
Reply Brief for Appellant -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
FRAP 28j Letter -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
Order re Abeyance -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
Order -- MetLife, Inc. v. FSOC (D.C. Circuit).pdf
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Dodd-Frank Act
XY Planning Network, LLC v. SEC
United States v. Bases
United States v. Vorley
Lower East Side People's Federal Credit Union v. Trump
Loan Syndication and Trading Association v. SEC

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Help spread the word about the The Chaz Lipp Groove Tripp's jazz album Good Merlin by entering for a chance to win a mystery Blu-ray!...
Giveaway: Mystery Blu-ray – Enter by June 26, 2016
We've partnered with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment for a giveaway of the brand new Teen Titans Go! Eat, Dance, Punch Season 3 Part 1 DVD. Availabl...
Giveaway: Teen Titans Go – Eat Dance Punch: Season 3 Part 1 DVD
While I wouldn't say it's the best of the Marvel movies to date, it's full of fun and excitement and deepens the continuing story of The Avenger...
Movie Review: Captain America: Civil War
This unnecessary sequel does contain enough laughs to make it recommendable to fans of the superior first film....
Movie Review: Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
This George Clooney and Julia Roberts thriller is what happens when a truly dumb idea is taken seriously, in this case by one Jodie Foster (who direct...
Movie Review: Money Monster
Looking for a horror film with no scares? The Darkness is it....
Movie Review: The Darkness
The 2016 horror film The Boy throws its hat in the scary doll ring with disappointing results. The story is fairly rudimentary, but the biggest proble...
Blu-ray Review: The Boy (2016) starring Lauren Cohan
There are many types of horror movies, but they usually all fall into one of two categories – it could really happen or a supernatural something is ...
Movie Review: Green Room
This big screen adaptation of the long-running video game series might bore adults, but it will entertain young viewers....
Movie Review: Ratchet & Clank


text:
Q: How to get the activity of a Google Drive file using Google Activity API I am trying to integrate the Google Activity with my Application. I have integrated the Drive API and creating files in drive. I tried with the below code but i am getting some error.
var accessToken = gapi.auth.getToken().access_token;
    var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
    var url = "https://www.googleapis.com/appsactivity/v1/activities";
    xhr.open('GET', url);//Document
    xhr.setRequestHeader('Authorization', 'Bearer ' + accessToken);
    xhr.onload = function() {
        if (typeof callback == "function") {
            callback(xhr);
        }
    };
    xhr.onerror = function() {
        if (typeof callback == "function") {
            callback(null);
        }
    };
    xhr.send();

Responce :
{
 "error": {
  "errors": [
   {
    "domain": "global",
    "reason": "invalidArgument",
    "message": "Bad Request"
   }
  ],
  "code": 400,
  "message": "Bad Request"
 }
}

I have checked on Google and could not find any document to get the activity of a file.
Thanks

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Showing: roberto rossellini
The Age of the Medici
Rossellini's three-part series is like a Renaissance painting come to life: a portrait of fifteenth-century Florence, ruled by the Medici political dynasty. With a lovely score from composer Manuel de Sica, this grand yet intimate work is a storybook conjuring of a way of life and thought.
Roberto Rossellini Italy, 1973
In this evocative, atmospheric biography, Roberto Rossellini brings to life philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal, who, amid religious persecution and ignorance, believed in a harmony between God and science.
Cartesius
As profoundly simple as its hero's famous statement "I think, therefore I am," Roberto Rossellini's Cartesius is an intimate, psychological study of obsession and existential crisis.
Ingrid Bergman plays a wealthy, self-absorbed Rome socialite racked by guilt over the shocking death of her young son. As a way of dealing with her grief and finding meaning in her life, she decides to devote her time and money to the city's poor and sick.
The Flowers of St. Francis
Gorgeously photographed to evoke the medieval paintings of Saint Francis's time, and cast with monks from the Nocera Inferiore Monastery, Rossellini's _The Flowers of St. Francis_ is a timeless and moving portrait of the search for spiritual enlightenment.
35 mm, DVD
Germany Year Zero
The concluding chapter of Roberto Rossellini's War Trilogy is the most devastating, a portrait of an obliterated Berlin shown through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy.
Roberto Rossellini Germany, 1948
Journey to Italy
Among the most influential films of the postwar era, Roberto Rossellini's Journey to Italy (Viaggio in Italia) charts the declining marriage of a couple from England (Ingrid Bergman and George Sanders) on a trip in the countryside near Naples.
Roberto Rossellini's follow-up to his breakout Rome Open City was the ambitious, enormously moving Paisan, which consists of six episodes set during the liberation of Italy at the end of World War II, taking place across the country, from Sicily to the northern Po Valley.
Rome Open City
This was Roberto Rossellini's revelation, a harrowing drama about the Nazi occupation of Rome and the brave few who struggled against it. Rome Open City is a shockingly authentic experience, conceived and directed amid the ruin of World War II.
The first collaboration between Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman is a devastating portrait of a woman's existential crisis, set against the beautiful and forbidding backdrop of a volcanic island.


I created this site to motivate you to become a tech speaker, and to provide resources for you to be great at it. I hope you find it useful!
Become a speaker We are all awesome. You included.
Excuses, Excuses! Why you say you won't become a speaker, and why your reasons aren't valid.
Starting with nothing It is possible to give a great talk on a subject you didn't know much about when you submitted the proposal.
How to write a compelling proposal Before you can speak, you have to be selected!
Practical tips for becoming a great speaker Tips for both preparing your talk, and being a good presenter of the content.
Practical tips for creating great slides Great slides can enhance your arguments. Awful slides can take away all of the focus from what you're saying.
Conferences with open calls for proposals (CFPs) Find conferences where you to can submit a talk proposal.
Are you a conference or user group organizer who wants to encourage new speakers? Check out our curator resources.


text:
Fabulous People: Ryan Hibbert
Written by Fabulous Arizona Published on January 8, 2017 in Fabulous People
Ryan Hibbert is the CEO of Riot Hospitality Group, which encompasses some of the top restaurants and bars in the Phoenix area including Dierks Whiskey Row, El Hefe, Farm & Craft and Hand Cut. At a young age, Ryan has built an impressive and successful group of restaurant concepts. Learn more about Ryan…
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
First job: I started as a busser at a Mexican food restaurant… I started to learn the restaurant business early!
Favorite AZ restaurant: Farm & Craft. I like to eat healthy and it's one of the few places I can do that every day and still have some variety
Person who has impacted your life the most: I would have to say it's been two people, my Mom and my Dad… My Mom helped me develop the personality and kind person I am today. My Dad showed was extremely important in my business life because he is a CPA and really showed me the ropes of the way a business should run.
Your biggest accomplishment in your eyes: I would say my biggest accomplishment was starting Riot Hospitality Group. I had been partners in a few restaurant groups before, but Riot Hospitality has been a massive success and we have some of the best people and concepts in the Hospitality business.
The biggest obstacle you have overcome: My biggest obstacle has to be all the different types personalities in business. Everyone is so vastly different, finding common ground in all relationships is really key to growth and success.
Someone who inspires you: My daily inspiration comes from my Riot Hospitality Team. They are the reason I have been able to achieve so much, and I love them all like family.
Favorite quote: It's all about the relationships you create, so make some friends along the way.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Put your head down and work. Period. It's not a secret, hard work pays off sooner or later if you keep at it.
What makes someone fabulous: Puppies and rainbows make everyone fabulous
Carousel Dierks Whiskey Row El Hefe Hand Cut Restaurant Phoenix Restaurants Riot Hospitality Group Ryan Hibbert Scottsdale Restaurants
Phoenix Open Transportation Discount
'The Founder' Movie Screening Giveaway
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About 20 patients have received bone marrow transplants using their own stem cells. Some patients who were paralysed have been able to walk again.
Around 100,000 people in the UK have MS, an incurable neurological condition. Most patients are diagnosed in their 20s and 30s.
The treatment – known as an autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) – aims to destroy the faulty immune system using chemotherapy.
It is then rebuilt with stem cells harvested from the patient's own blood. These cells are at such an early stage they've not developed the flaws that trigger MS.
In MS the protective layer surrounding nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord – known as myelin – becomes damaged. The immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin, causing scarring or sclerosis.
Holly Drewry was just 21 when she was diagnosed with MS and her condition deteriorated after she gave birth to her daughter Isla.
All those on the trial have relapsing remitting MS, where patients experience attacks – or relapses – followed by periods of remission.
The treatment involves intensive chemotherapy, so patients are warned that there are side-effects such as nausea and hair loss.
The transplant involves a one-off cost of around £30,000, which is comparable to the yearly cost of some MS treatments.
Because the procedure involves no new drugs and instead re-purposes an existing therapy using the patient's own cells, there is little profit incentive for drug companies to get involved.
The outcome of the more detailed MIST trial – which will report in a couple of years – could determine whether the stem cell transplant becomes a standard NHS treatment for many MS patients.
Dr Emma Gray, head of clinical trials at UK's MS Society , said: "Ongoing research suggests stem cell treatments such as HSCT could offer hope, and it's clear that in the cases highlighted by Panorama they've had a life-changing impact.


text:
Why 3stepIT?
Cost-efficient IT
Cost Optimiser
Carefree IT management
Step 1: Acquire IT
Step 2: Manage IT
Asset NG
3CheckIT
3ConnectIT
3FindIT
Step 3: Refresh IT
3ChooseIT
Sell your old IT
Directors and management
3stepIT as a workplace
Cycling for saves?
Why should you cycle to work, when driving takes you only a half an hour?
Four factors that make driving to work dangerous
Finland has the world's cleanest air, according to World Health Organisation. Still, every year I feel devastated by the polluted dust clouds caused by car traffic during winter and spring. The air is so bad in cities and on motorways that you have to close your car's air-intake to avoid the dust and the bad smell.
My 27km one-way drive to work is typical for a Finn. If I take that drive every day throughout the 200 workdays a year, it totals into more than 10 000km per year. It also means using around 700 litres of fuel, and producing more than 1400kgs of CO2, every year. In addition, just the fuel alone would cost more than 1000 euros, let alone the other driving-related costs.
Even without the dust, fuel spend and CO2 emissions, driving the same route to work and back daily is a bore. Occasional traffic accidents block the way and make the usual half an hour into an hour drive. Driving to work in the early morning means that you cannot use the time for calling anyone. After eight hours in the office, you feel so out of energy that you usually just want to get home as fast as possible. At home, you are so exhausted that you just sink to sofa for the rest of the day.
I also believe that a big part of road rage incidents happen because people are so sick of driving the same route all the time that even a small nuisance will start to irritate more than it should. Anyone seen the movie Falling Down, 1993, with Michael Douglas?
Cycling instead of driving makes sense – the results after one year
Cycling to my local office in Tampere is more than just a way to stay in shape – it's a way to avoid the worst part of my workday, the boring drive to work, while also doing good for the environment. When I cycle to work, I use different routes and avoid traffic even by occasionally picking a slightly longer route.
Earlier, I cycled to work with a standard bike, but felt the effort was too high to be able to do it daily. Winter conditions in Finland make it even harder to maintain the habit throughout the year. So a year ago I figured that an e-bike would make it easier to keep me going throughout the year. Best decision I have ever made.
I record my activities through an app daily, and that allows me to see the statistics for my cycling from a longer period. For a year now, I've replaced unnecessary car driving with an e-bike. After a full year, I've ridden 4300km, which means savings of 568kg CO2 and 300 litres of diesel. I've used around 172 hours on bike, and saved 72 hours of driving.
Think what an effect it would make if 100 000 people would each replace even 500km of driving yearly? That's only 1,4km a day. Using the numbers in my example, it would mean a total of 50 million km, saving 3,5M litres of fuel, and 1,32M kg CO2 emissions…
And that is just a small change that each of us can do.
To read more about 3Step IT's dedication to Sustainability, click here >>>
My new world
Stepping up for World Environment Day
The Story of 3 Step IT
Walking the Talk - Every action counts
Challenging companies to a circular economy
Mechelininkatu 1A
3 Step IT Group Oy. Registered in Finland, No. 2087590-4.
Registered office at Mechelininkatu 1A, 00180 Helsinki.


text:
We Are Closely Monitoring Developments At Twitter – FG
by Segun Akinleye
Following the change of ownership at the micro-blogging platform, Twitter, the Federal Government on Thursday said it is "closely monitoring the evolving developments at the social platform."
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this in Abuja at the third edition of the "President Muhammadu Buhari's Administration (PMB) Scorecard 2015-2023" programme.
According to him, the warning to the social media platforms became imperative because of the spike in fake news and disinformation following the change in ownership of a micro-blogging site, Twitter.
After Getting Robbed In Ghana, Meek Mill Announces Visit To Nigeria
Elon Musk Gives Only Condition To Step Down As Twitter Boss
"Permit me to quickly address an issue that has elicited a lot of inquiries from the media in recent times.
"Many of your colleagues have called to ask us what will become of our agreement with Twitter in view of the change in its ownership.
"Many have asked for our reaction following reports that there has been a spike in fake news, disinformation and hate speech since the micro-blogging site changed ownership.
"Many have even asked us if another ban is in the offing.
"Let me say this: We are closely monitoring the evolving developments at Twitter.
"It has never been our intention to ban any social media platform or stifle free speech. Not at all.
"But we will also not sit by and allow any platform whatsoever to throw our nation into crisis," he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari's administration, in June 2021, suspended the activities of Twitter in the country after the platform deleted the president's tweet for violating one of its rules.
Tags: Lai MohammedTwitterTwitter Ban
'They Threatened To Bury Me Alive', PDP Chieftain Narrates Ordeal In Ebubeagu's Hands
FULL LIST: Richest Pastors In Nigeria 2022-2023


The list of demands includes five items as simple as they are basic: work, a home, education, health insurance and formal recognition of the informal economy. Wardah Hafidz, coordinator at the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) in Jakarta, puts them on paper. An election is about to take place. The Republic of Indonesia´s new president will be chosen democratically, for only the second time in the country´s long history. The five items are the subject matter of a contract which will be concluded between the poor and the candidate who promises to provide them. In return he will receive votes.
These issues are matters of democratic inclusion and exclusion that Ascan Breuer´s Jakarta Disorder is built around. They crystallize in a smoldering conflict involving space: In Jakarta poor residents live in squatter settlements known as kampungs that sprang up on unzoned areas in the course of the city´s rapid growth. As no one has legal claims on the land, these neighborhoods are supposed to be cleared to make way for large-scale development projects, while social housing built by the city government is too expensive for the kampung residents.
In the end, just how democratic a country´s life is, and this is the film´s powerful thesis, is shown by the way space is divided up. The chaos portrayed in Jakarta Disorder refers not only to the all too obvious contrast between squatter settlements and planned urban spaces, but also the circumstance that the city´s poorest residents are excluded from the city´s order.
In the heart of the mega-city Jakarta, slums that have multi- plied for decades must now make way for colossal housing projects. This housing development poses an existential threat to the inhabitants. Two women practice resistance against the despotism of the local law enforcement. They postulate the sharing of that freedom promised to them by Indonesia´s fledgling democracy, which is still withheld from the poverty- stricken majority.


BC Fabrications is a Certified Woman Owned and DBE company. Read more.
Throughout the years, BC Fabrications has earned a distinguished reputation for outstanding quality and workmanship.
BC Fabrications, Inc. is a full service manufacturing company and have a wide range of applications from precision sheet metal to heavy plate. We are passionate about our work and consider each metal fabrication project, large or small, a unique opportunity to surpass your expectations of craftsmanship and customer service. Our enthusiasm will inspire you.
BC Fabrications, Inc. is one of the most diversified metal fabrication companies in Southeastern Pennsylvania, located in New Berlinville outside of Boyertown, PA. BC Fabrications' impressive range of comprehensive metal fabrication capabilities include cutting, bending, welding, machining and finishing, and handling and logistics. BC Fabrications is a Certified Woman Owned and DBE company.


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Matwei Christoforowitsch Smajewitsch (, auch Matija Zmajević; * 6. Januar 1680 in Perast, Montenegro; † 23. August 1735 in Tavrov, Russland) war Admiral der Baltischen Flotte und Schiffbauer unter Peter I.

Frühes Leben
Er wurde in einer katholischen Familie in Perast geboren. Bereits im Alter von achtzehn Jahren wurde er Hauptmann in der venezianischen Flotte. Die Familie von Smajewitsch befand sich in einem interfamiliären Konflikt mit einer anderen lokalen Sippe. Nachdem ein Mitglied der gegnerischen Sippe in einer Auseinandersetzung getötet wurde, musste Matija Perast wegen seiner angeblicher Beteiligung an der Tötung verlassen. Zu dem Zeitpunkt war er 28 Jahre alt. Er entkam in die Republik Ragusa und flüchtete weiter nach Istanbul, wo er Zuflucht fand und Bekanntschaft mit dem russischen Botschafter Peter Tolstoi machte. Im Jahre 1712 schickte Tolstoi ihn mit Empfehlungen an Peter I. Dieser war vom maritimen Wissen Smajewitschs beeindruckt, nahm ihn in Dienst und entsandte ihn nach Sankt Petersburg im Rang eines Fregattenkapitäns.

Smajewitsch hatte große Erfolge in den Seeschlachten gegen Schweden im Großen Nordischen Krieg um die Vorherrschaft auf der Ostsee. Er erbeutete 1714 sieben kleinere schwedischen Galeeren in der Seeschlacht von Hanko, in der er den rechten Flügel der russischen Flotte befehligte, und kämpfte in der Seeschlacht bei Grönham im Jahre 1720, in der letzten Seeschlacht des Kriegs. Peter der Große schickte einige seiner jungen Offiziere nach Perast, um dort die maritimen Fertigkeiten zu erlernen.

Anschließend wurde er in den Rang eines Vizeadmirals befördert. Im Jahre 1725 erhielt er die Ehre, die Kaiserkrone auf der Beerdigung von Peter I. zu tragen. Katharina I. zeichnete Smajewitsch mit dem Alexander-Newski-Orden aus, und in 1727 erhielt er den Rang eines Admirals.

Nach dem Tod von Katharina I. im Jahre 1727, wurde Smajewitsch der Veruntreuung angeklagt vor dem Kriegsgericht zum Tode verurteilt. Das Urteil wurde in letzter Minute aufgehoben. Als Gouverneur vom Astrachan erhielt er erneut den Rang eines Vizeadmirals. Dort verbrachte er die letzten Jahre seines Lebens. Er arbeitete beim Aufbau der Schwarzmeer-Flotte.

Er wurde mit militärischen Ehren in der katholischen Kirche des Hl. Ludwig von Frankreich in Moskau beigesetzt.

Quellen

Admiral (Russisches Kaiserreich)
Person im Großen Nordischen Krieg (Russland)
Historische Person (Südosteuropa)
Träger des Alexander-Newski-Ordens (Russisches Kaiserreich)
Geboren 1680
Gestorben 1735
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Baked Potato Pizza from Gina Pierson at AllRecipes makes a great party dish, but we enjoyed as our main dish at supper. It reminds me of the loaded fries we had once in St. Louis and haven't been able to find since, so I was on Cloud 9 when I found this recipe.
If you try it out, be sure to take the advice of the reviewers and substitute 1/2 cup of ranch dressing for 1/2 cup of the sour cream to add flavor. I used a super cheap Great Value pizza crust mix, and it was awesome. Don't feel like you need to spend a lot on the crust, as the Great Value crust was perfect.


text:
Q: Why does onCreateOptionsMenu run multiple times? For some reason, my onCreateOptionsMenu and onPrepareOptionsMenu run twice (checked with a log input on the start of both methods). This happens for multiple fragments that I have, including some that are very basic (just inflating the menu, nothing else).
This is one of the onCreateOptionsMenus that has this issue:
@Override
public void onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu, MenuInflater inflater) {
    inflater.inflate(R.menu.actionbuttons_add_removeall, menu);
    optionsMenu = menu;
}

What could cause these methods to be called multiple times (mostly twice)?

Update
I found out this is being caused (in some way) by the RecyclerView I'm using. All the views that are having this issue use a RV, the view I mentioned before that didn't have this issue, indeed doesn't.
With this new info, which part of the RV could possibly be posing this issue?
Update2
I found out that I call .invalidateOptionsMenu() in the getItemCount() method in the Adapter. I thought that this would call onPrepareOptionsMenu(), but reading the docs, it seems like it calls onCreateOptionsMenu(). I'm probably getting onCreate..() and onPrepare..() reversed here, gonna check that out now.
Update3
I have just realized that I invalidate the options menu in my RecyclerViewAdapter, in the getItemCount() method, which obviously runs when the fragment is first created.
@Override
public int getItemCount() {
    int tableSize = getTableSizeMethod();

    if (tableSize < 1) {
        if (!AppManagerFragment.hideDeleteAllButton) {
            AppManagerFragment.hideDeleteAllButton = true;
            ((Activity) context).invalidateOptionsMenu();
            return 0;
        }
    } else {
        if (!AppManagerFragment.hideDeleteAllButton) {
            AppManagerFragment.hideDeleteAllButton = false;
            ((Activity) context).invalidateOptionsMenu();
            return tableSize;
        }
    }
}

A: These methods will be called whenever fragment either first creates or becomes visible and onResume, because onCreate is called even before onCreateView where all non ui things get initialized and calls to Activity is made. Hope it is clear why these two are calling super() of Parent Activity multiple times.
Now what to do to stop fragment from calling activity's onCreateOptionsMenu to inflate Menu layout again n again, declare this inside onCreate (overridden method) inside fragment.
setHasOptionsMenu(false);

If you want to have menu at activity as well but different menus for fragments then do
menu.clear();

Instead of calling super() from fragment's onCreateOptionsMenu()
If you just want to disable menu at Mainactivity try return false or simply remove onCreateOptionsMenu() from MainActivity.
As you said, launcher activity is a fragment so you want to disable menu for this fragment, so do something like this in this fragment:
@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setHasOptionsMenu(true);
}

Then from onCreateOptionsMenu() inside same fragment disable and hide those menuItem.
@Override
public void onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu, MenuInflater inflater) {
super.onCreateOptionsMenu(menu, inflater);
menu.clear();
}

Even if this doesn't help, then try finding separate items of menu and disable them and set their visibility to false.
@Override
public void onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu, MenuInflater inflater) {
    if (menu != null) {
       menu.findItem(R.id.action_abc).setVisible(false);
       menu.findItem(R.id.action_xyz).setVisible(false);
    }
}

Hope i helped . !

A: This one was my own fault. I was invalidating the options menu in the getItemCount() method of my RecyclerViewAdapter, which obviously runs when the fragment is initiated. You can check out the question for the code that contains my error. Thanks for the help/suggestions all.