text:
Weston-super-Mare carnival cancelled for second year in a row
Carnivals in Bridgwater, Burnham on Sea, North Petherton, Shepton Mallet, Wells and Glastonbury have also been cancelled
Heather PickstockNorth Somerset reporter
All the Somerset circuit of carnivals have been cancelled for a second year in a row. (Image: Dan Regan/BristolLive)
Weston-super-Mare Carnival has been cancelled for the second year in a row - due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival Association (SCGFCA) has announced that the annual carnivals across Somerset will not be held in 2021 - and instead will return in 2022.
The decision followed a meeting between the (SCGFCA) comprising the seven carnival towns - Bridgwater, Burnham on Sea, Weston Super Mare, North Petherton, Shepton Mallet, Wells and Glastonbury - and the three organisations which represents the entries Bridgwater Gangs & Features, Mid Somerset Gangs & Features and the Associates.
Organisers said the current uncertainty about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic led to the decision.
David Churches, SCGFCA Secretary, said: "It was an extremely hard decision for us to make, but in the current financial climate and with so much uncertainty still present in terms of the risk from the virus, we felt this was the most sensible option for us all.
"Time is not on our side for our carnivals which are held in November, and the lockdown restrictions over the past 12 months have seriously limited the fundraising opportunities for our towns, carnival clubs and walking groups.
"When this is combined with the ongoing social distancing arrangements, there is very little chance in raising the necessary monies needed to put on such spectacular events or indeed building the amazing entries we have become accustomed to over the years."
Annually the seven Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnivals attract tens of thousands of people from all over the county and world to the streets of Somerset and raise a huge amount of money for charities and good causes.
"I am sure many members of the public and carnival lovers will be disappointed by this news, and we look forward to welcoming them back to our carnivals as we know them in 2022," added David.
The carnivals are the biggest illuminated parades in Europe.
SomersetA358 in Chard re-opens as woman taken to hospital after lorry collisionEmergency services remain at the scene
UK weather: Charts show huge band of Arctic snow heading our way at end of January
WeatherTemperatures are set to drop towards the end of the month
Somerset27 homes and new commercial garage planned for small Somerset villageEight new affordable homes will be delivered as part of the proposals
Bath locals say new traffic management plans would be 'commercial suicide'
BathSome said the plan would kill off the city centre and hurt businesses
Thousands of free tickets will be available for Weston-super-Mare art installation
More than 1,000 fresh Covid cases confirmed in Somerset
CoronavirusThe number of infections in some areas of the county remains high


Evensen was KO'ed by Cheick Kongo in his UFC debut. He has no real big-fight experience, despite accumulating a decent record in minor promotions. Barry has a sparse MMA record through the CombatUSA promotion, but also holds an 18-6 kickboxing record. Both will look to strike early, though Barry should get the better of the standing exchanges. Evensen holds the size and reach advantage, but Barry should be able to pick him apart with strikes before he finds himself in any danger. Prediction: Barry, 1st round TKO.
Blackburn is 5-2 since his stint in the IFL, including a win in his UFC debut over James Giboo at Fight Night 14. Chonan's a mere 1-1 since coming over from PRIDE and DEEP, both fights going the distance. Chonan has the experience edge against tougher opponents, and Blackburn's striking will not be enough for him to contend here. While Chonan has looked lackluster, he's still far ahead talent-wise. Prediction: Chonan by decision.
Hamill has lost only twice, but in the only two bouts that have really mattered in his career. He was unable to finish a rather tepid Michael Bisping in that split decision loss, and has often been unable to capitalize on the mat. His wrestling and strength edges will largely be negated by Andy, who, despite his collegiate wrestling credentials, ended up on the losing side of a decision to Brandon Vera in a very disappointing UFC debut. Hamill has been surprisingly one-dimensional and may struggle in what looks to be a tough match-up for him. Prediction: Andy, 3rd round TKO.
Hardonk KO'ed Eddie Sanchez his last time out to give him a 2-fight winning streak since his loss to Frank Mir. Wessel holds an unblemished record, but only through tiny MMA promotions. Both are big, strong strikers, so look for this to end early. I'll lean towards the underdog with a puncher's chance. Prediction: Wessel, 1st round TKO.
It's surprising to see Okami on the "may-not-be-televised" undercard, as he's won 6 of his last 7 and had a title fight lined up against Anderson Silva before pulling out due to injury. His only loss in that span was a close decision to Rich Franklin, though his ground and pound attack may have limited effectiveness against Lister, who is quite comfortable working from his back. Lister has a long list of MMA and grappling accolades, and has never been knocked out or submitted in competition. This may spell trouble for Okami who has often struggled to finish elite opponents. It's worth noting that Okami has only been finished once himself, a TKO back in 2003. Nonetheless, Okami's strength won't be enough to keep him out of trouble for a full 15 minutes against a wily Lister. Prediction: Lister, 3rd round submission.
Al Turk is coming from Cage Rage, where he put together a decent 6-1 record since 2004 and left behind a heavyweight title to fight in the UFC. Kongo is known for his kickboxing, though his fights have been snoozefests lately. Al Turk has a decent submission background and should be favored when the action is on the mat. While Kongo's standup is better on paper, it hasn't been consistent enough to make him a play as this large of a favorite. Prediction: Kongo, 1st round TKO.
Silva ended a 3-fight losing streak by KO'ing Keith Jardine in the 1st round of their May battle. That brought Silva's record to 1-1 since his Octagon debut. Rampage lost his title to Forrest Griffin in July and two weeks later went on a rampage of his own on the streets of Newport Beach. The aftermath of that incident, including charges possibly as severe as murder, have yet to be played out. On top of that, Jackson split with longtime trainer and manager Juanito Ibarra. These fighters have faced off twice before in PRIDE, with Silva taking both victories by knee strikes. Has Rampage figured out how to defend Silva's Muay Thai? More importantly, is he mentally 100% after his outside-the-Octagon problems? We've seen plenty of both fighters, and there's no reason to think this will end any differently than it has in the past. Prediction: Silva, 1st round TKO.
Dollaway's only loss came at the hands of Amir Sadollah at the TUF 7 finales. He has a strong amateur wrestling background but has had limited experience in the cage. Massenzio has only a single UFC bout under his belt, a 1st round submission of Drew McFedries at September's UFC Fight Night. He also has an amateur wrestling background and decent submissions. These two have met before in collegiate wrestling, a match that saw Dollaway emerge victorious. Dollaway's TUF background gives him the name recognition making him a little too expensive to bet in a fight that's fairly close on paper. Prediction: Dollaway, 2nd round TKO.
This marks the traditional "Battle of the Coaches" after each season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show. Nogueira is one of the few PRIDE fighters to avoid the UFC jinx, as he's gone 2-0 since migrating over. With only 4 losses over a nearly 10-year career, Minotauro has to be considered the cream of the crop of heavyweights in MMA. When Mir last stepped into the Octagon, he ruined Brock Lesnar's debut with a kneebar in the 1st, though Mir is only 3-2 since recovering from a motorcycle accident in 2004. The winner of this match will face Lesnar in a title unification bout. Mir's typical jiu-jitsu advantage will be worthless here, and Nogueira is just the much better all-around fighter, though I can't solidly back him at such large odds. Prediction: Nogueira, 3rd round submission.
Griffin hasn't lost in 2 years, picking up 3 wins and the UFC light heavyweight title over that span. Evans is coming off a shocking KO over Chuck Liddell, although it's doubtful his stand-up will win it for him here. Rashad will need to employ his wrestling skills for the victory, though Forrest will likely prove more troublesome on the ground than his previous opponents. Evans has had trouble finishing fights with 7 of his 13 bouts going to the scorecards. He'll have a difficult time finishing Griffin and a decision victory seems unlikely. We know Forrest can go the distance, as he claimed the title with a 5-round decision over Rampage Jackson. At a minimum, Griffin should be able to grind out a win on the scorecards, if he doesn't manage to finish it early. Prediction: Griffin by decision.


There is no greater joy for a Russian intellectual than to speculate about a decline of America. The problem is that the Russians still do not see any other worthy role for their country in the 21st century than the role of a superpower, as a state that realizes itself primarily through influence on global processes.
There is a great risk of getting mired in counterproductive discussions about the frontiers of the European model of historical development. References to the history of one region or another or one nation or another as "European" or "non-European" are unscrupulously used today inside the EU itself and along its periphery when it comes to discussing whether the region or nation deserves to be a member of a united Europe.
Can Movement Politics Renew European Democracy?
One might expect diffuse, grassroots movements that emerge from large-scale street protests to be more inclusive, deliberative, and democratic than traditional political parties. But the proliferation of personality-driven movements on both the right and the left in recent years calls that assumption into question.
The forces inclined to continue the "process" of ever-increasing, but never final, independence of Catalonia from Spain continue to play a crucial role in the politics of this region.
The Spanish prime minister's decision to invoke Article 155 of the Constitution will not entail a full-fledged suspension of autonomy, but will probably include the convening of elections in Catalonia in early 2018, putting the Catalan police under control of Spain's Home Affairs Ministry.
In the endless discussions about the Russian World, our analysts have obscured the issue by vague theorizing, but have failed to produce any recognized scientific concept or school that would explain the idea of the Russian World.
The referendum on the future of Catalonia is scheduled for October, 1. With the national government opposing the vote, the results of the upcoming event remains unclear.
"I am not afraid," chanted the crowd that took to the streets in Barcelona after a van was driven into pedestrians on the Las Ramblas promenade, killing at least 14 people and injuring some 130 others. It was the most dignified and appropriate possible response to a terrorist attack, a firm demonstration of unity that transcended internal divisions.
Once again, a European city was hit by a terrorist attack. La Rambla of Barcelona, ??a tourist, commercial and entertainment center of the city, suffered a deadly assault.
The terrorist attacks in Spain have shown that ISIS is able to spread through the power of its ideology.
Over the past 24 hours two terrorist attacks happened in Spain.
Hungarian PM is preoccupied with battling Brussels as country's citizens lose faith.


text:
March 11, 2021 Natasha Post 0 Comments
How has Covid Changed Heavy Equipment Transport?
The global outbreak of the coronavirus that has been circulating since late 2019 has brought about several changes, not only to heavy equipment manufacturers but those who make a living from transporting heavy equipment. Some suppliers have temporarily shut down manufacturing plants, while others have shifted their efforts to producing much-needed medical supplies and equipment to battle the Covid-19 crisis. As a side effect, both equipment production and equipment sales are down.
The factory closures and national lockdowns that took place around the world in 2020 was estimated to cost the global construction equipment industry as much as 4% in lost construction. As many as 43,000 fewer machines were estimated to be built in 2020. The results from a survey by Off-Highway indicate that lost equipment production was seen in 26 countries around the world last year, including in China, Germany, Italy, and the UK.
Another side effect of the pandemic is the number of trade shows being canceled or postponed. Many of the significant expos due to be held in Italy, Spain, Germany, and China were affected, so there is a dramatic decline in the need for heavy equipment transport to deliver to trade shows at present.
During the global pandemic, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created a Covid-19 emergency declaration.
How Heavy Hauling Companies are Assisting Covid-19 Relief Efforts
Several manufacturers have shifted some of their manufacturing efforts towards building ventilators, supplying face masks, and face shields to increase the global supply. Yanmar, in conjunction with John Deere, equipped a Solis 90 CV tractor to spray disinfectant through city streets in Brazil. At the same time, SDLG excavators have also been used to support the construction of new hospitals built within an expedited 10-day time frame, particularly in Wuhan, the virus's epicenter. For others, donations are more often being made to healthcare workers and healthcare organizations assisting those impacted by Covid-19.
FMCSA Changes Affecting Heavy Equipment Transport
During the global pandemic, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created a Covid-19 emergency declaration. It was extended so that commercial vehicle drivers qualified for HOS relief if transporting necessary goods, such as medical supplies, equipment required for sanitization, and community safety, during the outbreak. The declaration makes some much-needed changes to the transportation industry's following areas for anyone involved in assisting in Covid-19 relief efforts:
- 30-minute break rule
- Down-time between shifts
- Sleeper-berth rules
- Adverse driving condition exceptions
- Short-haul transport exceptions
New Concerns for Heavy Equipment Shipping Fleets
Since many people are trying to stay at home as much as possible, more and more deliveries are taking place. Trucking companies are doing their best to meet the increased demand by hiring more drivers and obtaining more trucks and trailers.
The nation's response to the Covid-19 emergency is rapidly changing, and the day-to-day realities of fleet-based businesses, including those that specialize in heavy equipment transportation, are also changing. Some states have implemented or considered implementing stay-at-home rules, which has a knock-on effect on the availability of staff and has changed the way that some companies operate some of their roles. For example, customer service jobs may be worked from home, and opening hours may be extended to meet demand. However, drivers, mechanics, and other roles integral to heavy equipment transport have to continue to operate outside of the home environment.
The transportation industry, in particular, continues to face numerous challenges relating to disruptions to supply chains and emergency delivery needs. At the same time, drivers themselves strive to preserve their health while on the road by undertaking new routines. Keeping track of up-to-date information regarding essential travel, best practices, and more is a critical concern for all fleets operating during the global pandemic.
Many public fleets are still providing essential services during the pandemic, such as police, ambulances, fire trucks, trash trucks, keeping these vehicles on the road. During the pandemic, heavy equipment transporting may more commonly involve shipping these crucial vehicles, and the trend is likely to continue over the coming weeks and months. Utilizing trailer transport helps avoid wear and tear and avoids fuel costs of driving these vehicles to a new city location. They also provide a safe method of shipping a vehicle to a repair site as-and-when needed.
Get Your Equipment Transport Quote Now!
General Heavy Haul
Tags: hauling equipment and covid, how has transport changed with covid, how to safely haul equipment in the pandemic, transport and covid, trucking and covid, trucking industry and covid
How to Avoid Heavy Haul Trucking Scams
Shipping a 1975 Case 580 Backhoe

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl