Vipers SC player during a previous match in Kampala. Courtesy Photo/Vipers SC.
Uganda's Premier League side Vipers Sports Club have qualified for the first round of the 2017 Total CAF Confederations Cup.
After a goalless first leg last weekend, Vipers battled to hold home side Club Volcan De Moroni from Comoros 1-1 on Saturday at the Stade de Moroni. They qualify for the next round second on an away goal rule.
The home side took the lead after 15 minutes with a Kamal Djabir goal that caught the Vipers SC defenders napping.
But Vipers SC who preferred to rest their leading marksman Tony Odur continue to push forward on the artificial turf before Deus Bukenya converted a free kick after 29 minutes to level matters.
It was a cautious second half as both teams played more defensively but occasionally went forward. Not even the presence of Cameroonian born Noah Stephane together with two players from Madagascar Razafy Andre and Andrianomenjanaharyangelot Aristide could help the Comoros team.
"We are happy we have made it to the next round," Vipers SC coach Richard Wasswa told the media in Comoros.
Vipers SC will now face the winner between Mozambique's Uniao do Songo and Platinium Stars of South Africa. Platinium Stars won the first leg 1-0.


Choose one of the 1 escape rooms available in and around Pittsfield! Escape rooms are perfect for any occasion: a night out with friends, a date, a birthday celebration or a team-building activity. Search for clues, solve puzzles and work together to uncover the mystery – it's time you escaped the room!
Can you find the cure and escape the quarantine before your time runs out?
Incredible game. I've only played a few but this was much better than the others I've played. Lots of secrets and surprises and it wasn't so impossibly difficult that you'd just get stuck. We barely got out.
We had a blast! We had ages 12 to 50 and everyone contributed! Definitely recommend.
Came here for a birthday party with 7 people and this place did not disappoint! What a fun experience and definitely way harder than I thought it would be. We all contributed something and made it out in about 36 minutes! Would recommend this experience and can't wait for a new one so we can go back!
They were very accommodating for scheduling a time and date. The front entrance is nice. The escape room when you first walk in seems small, sparse, and kind of run down, but as you begin the challenge and make it to the secret room it's more exciting. It's different than some of the other rooms we've done. All in all we had a good afternoon and will go back when they open the next room. He said it would be like a horror theme so we're excited to give it a try. It's nice to have one in Pittsfield and not have to travel an hour to do an escape room. I would recommend keeping to 6 people or less due to the space.


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Kate Hudson is engaged to Danny Fujikawa after 5 years together
By September 15, 2021 Leave a Comment on Kate Hudson is engaged to Danny Fujikawa after 5 years together
Kate Hudson announced in an Instagram post that she is engaged to longtime boyfriend Danny Fujikawa. Hudson caption a photo of herself and Fujikawa embracing on top of a mountain while showing off her engagement ring: "Let's go! ."
Hudson and Fujikawa began dating in December 2016 and they welcomed their daughter, Rani Rose Hudson Fujikawa, in 2018. This will be Hudson's second marriage; she was previously married to rocker Chris Robinson from 2000 until 2007. They have one son together, 17-year-old Ryder Robinson. Hudson also shares 10-year-old son Bingham Hawn Bellamy with ex-fiancé Matt Bellamy, whom she split from in 2014. This will be the first marriage for Fujikawa.
Kate Hudson Engaged To Danny Fujikawa: 'Let's Go!'
The Kid LAROI announces the "End Of The World" tour in 2022
Saturday Night Live's Norm Macdonald dies at age 61 following private cancer battle

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Arduino multiple device connection I am making an Android Bluetooth app which will send and receive data from 2 Arduino devices simultaneously.
I am able to connect either one of the devices (sender or receiver), but I cannot connect to both of them and send and receive data at the same time.
Any link, any reference app, any documentation would be highly appreciated.
Thank you.

A: NOT SURE you can connect with 2 devices at the same time. you might
connect to one and disconnect and do the same with the second.
i'm trying to do the same things with 2 arduino. but at this time i can connect
to one arduino, but i don't know how to disconnect .
i'm using " Androidapi.JNI.BluetoothAdapter.hpp"?
how do you disconnect your sock??

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


This edition of ´European Para-Badminton Towards Tokyo 2020´ features Mathieu Thomas from France. The Parisien started with one other sport before playing para-badminton professionally. Listen to his interview and find out which other sport he played and his thoughts about para-badminton.
Thomas is now the European silver medalist in Men´s Doubles, with his new partner, Guillaume Gailly. His previous partner was Lucas Mazur, who now concentrates on Men´s Singles and Mixed Doubles. Thomas participated in four tournaments in 2018, and they are now ranked no.2 in the BWF World Rankings after the Indonesian pair of Ukun Rukaendi and Hary Susanto.
Thomas became a father of a pair of twins last year and since then, he had to prioritize his goals on his ambition to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Thomas is still a consultant for Ippon Technologies but is now a fulltime player. In Paris, he is licensed at Montrouge Badminton Club.
ʺ I´m in full preparation for the Road to Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. I train hard every day for this and I know that this road will be long but I am already looking forward to competing in Turkey in March, ʺ expressed Mathieu Thomas. We wish Mathieu good luck in his Paralympic dream!


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Tag Archive for Iraq War
Rewind: Bush's Pinocchio AG
October 15, 2019 bb_admin Compassionate CONservatives, Corporate States of America, Dubya's Madcap Misadventures, Grand Old Plutocrats, Let Them Eat Cake, Neocon Media Circus
The Trump impeachment inquiry grinds onward but last week, the 2nd worst president of our lifetime, George W. Bush, a.k.a. Dubya, reappeared in the national arena when a football broadcast showed talk show host Ellen DeGeneres palling around with ol' Dub Dub, who supported at one time a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage, at a Dallas Cowboy's game in luxury seats. This has sparked much controversy, some celebrities being supportive of Ellen's new buddy and others, like Mark Ruffalo, not so supportive. Given how much we've griped about Dubya since 2003, we tend to agree with Ruffalo's statements. In fact. we say Bravo!
We've noted before about the recent normalization of Dubya's clusterf*cked administration now that Trump is in office. Make no mistake, Bush was awful! His administration tried to undermine rule the law just like Trump is doing now because. . . you know . . . that's what Republicans do. Dubya lied repeatedly to the public and his Attorney General Alberto Gonzales did for Bush what Bill Barr is doing for the orange haired, megalomaniac man child in the White House. Remember, Gonzales tried to fire federal prosecutors back in 2007 for political purposes. He also had a litany of other controversies, which eventually led to his resignation. That's just part of the Republican's eternal blue print to destroy government regulations (or laws!) and privatize everything for the good of the plutocrats of corporate America.
We recommend that everybody review the history of these conservative Republican con artists from the Bush era. They should be held accountable but instead people choose to forget. We like Ellen. But it's too bad that she is so willing to look past Dubya's war crimes, because he should be held accountable for them. But, in true conservative fashion, Bush has not apologized and will never apologize for his transgressions, because in his mind, conservatives never make mistakes and to admit a wrongdoing is a sign of weakness. Sound like anybody currently occupying the White House?
Well, in America, we guess when you're a rich celebrity, money trumps everything else. Who cares if you tortured people and started a war on false pretenses that screwed up the entire Middle East. Let's enjoy a football game together in luxury seats because we're famous and wealthy. What Ellen should have done was to offer up her seat to one of the many veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who lost limbs or who are suffering from PTSD. Better yet, why don't Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and all those other millionaires and plutocrats who profited from those wars pay all the medical costs for those veterans who are now suffering. Nope; like everything else, we the people end up paying for everything while the wealthy skate away with their money without a care in the world and without accountability.
Here's photo-toon featuring Dubya and Fredo 'Pinocchio' Gonzales from our June 26, 2007 issue.
President Bush continues to support his embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, despite calls for his resignation from both Democrats and Republicans, following his dubious testimony during the Senate's investigation into the possible politically motivated dismissals of eight federal prosecutors last year.
No comments administration, Afghanistan, attorney general, Barr, Bush, capitalism, celebrity, conservative, corporate, corporations, corporatism, crime, DeGeneres, Dubya, Ellen, Gonzales, GOP, government, Iraq, Iraq War, lying, millionaires, money, Pinocchio, plutocrats, Republican, Ruffalo, war, White House
McSally: Another Trump Lackey
October 15, 2018 bb_admin America's CEO/Dictator, Compassionate CONservatives, Corporate States of America, Grand Old Plutocrats, Let Them Eat Cake, Neocon Media Circus, Teabagging **it
Since phony, feckless, Jeff Flake has opted out of politics for the time being, Democrats have an excellent chance to pick up a Senate seat here in usually red Arizona in the 2018 midterms. Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, who has served the 9th Congressional district since 2014, is running for Senator against Republican Martha McSally, who has served the 2nd Congressional district. So at least Arizona will have it's first female Senator.
But as you'd expect from the modern day GOP, they are slinging mud like it's a monster truck show. McSally has been relentless in her character assassination attack ads on local tv here, spewing forth volumes of lies and misleading claims on Sinema, forcing the Democratic candidate to play defense. Unfortunately, the ads seem to be working as Sinema's lead since earlier this year, which was substantial, has slipped in the polls. Sinema has voted many times with Republicans over the past four years because she has to walk a political tightrope since many in her district are Republicans. But like her ads state, Sinema is truly an Independent like the majority of Arizonans are and will represent the state as it is now becoming; a purple state.
But McSally is hardly a ramrod straight as she claims to be and she seems to be adopting a Trumpian manner in attacking Sinema and the Democrats. Sure, she impressively served as a pilot in the military (we truly applaud her record of service). But she had the nerve to attack Sinema for protesting the clusterf*ck that was the Iraq War and the quagmire that still is the Afghanistan war. And she's claiming Sinema is protecting molesters and rapists, and would leave the border unprotected, which is downright lying and dirty politics, something Republicans claim to abhor. The only thing Sinema disagrees with McSally on border security is the necessity of a wall: McSally wants Trump's stupid wall and Sinema wisely sees that its a waste of taxpayers money that won't solve the problem (drones, tunnels, etc…). McSally also distanced herself from Trump after his election, but is now embracing the orange haired megalomaniac with open arms like other former moderate Trump-haters like Lindsey Graham and Susan Collins in the GOP. There is no doubt that McSally will be a rubber stamp for a man who is proudly ignorant and grossly dishonest as evidence by his recent 60 Minutes interview. If there's anything we don't need more of in this country, it's Trump lackeys.
It should be very interesting here in Arizona on election day. This state may not become blue, but it could become very purple November 6th which is more indicative of what this state is: Independent.
Arizona Republican candidate for Senator, Martha McSally, clarifies that she'll be nothing more than a rubber stamp for any stupid, disastrous policy that springs forth from America's CEO/Dictator, Donald Trump's addled brain.
No comments 2018, advertisement, Afghanistan, Arizona, attack ad, capitalism, capitalist, christian, christians, conservative, corporate, corporations, corporatism, Democrat, election, GOP, independent, Iraq War, McSally, media, Neocon, photo-toon, politics, president, propaganda, purple state, Republican, senate, senator, Sinema, Tea Party, Teabaggers, Trump, tv
The King And Queen Of Pain
May 21, 2018 bb_admin America's CEO/Dictator, Compassionate CONservatives, Corporate States of America, Grand Old Plutocrats, Holy Huckster Hijinx, Let Them Eat Cake, Neocon Media Circus, Teabagging **it
Gina Haspel was narrowly approved by the Senate last week to be the new CIA director despite being grilled for being a supposed proponent of torture during the Bush Administration. Lawmakers repeatedly asked her if she would protest if perhaps Trump wanted to restart interrogation techniques such as waterboarding to which she basically did what all conservative Republicans do; avoid answering the question. You know it's bad when Dick Cheney reemerges from his lair and states with Haspel in charge, the U.S. should restart harsh interrogations.
Of course, the Trump administration denies that Trump wants to resume the torture program, despite stating many times that he would definitely reinstate the method because "it works". Perhaps Haspel can initiate a new torture method involving spanking with a Forbes magazine. We're sure our megalomaniac, liar-in-chief would volunteer for that and maybe confess everything about lying on his taxes, his affair with Stormy Daniels, any collusion with Russia and the 3001 other deceptions he's thrown at the public since his inauguration.
New CIA director and torture aficionado, Gina Haspel, has announced a new method of interrogation that meets with overwhelming approval from American CEO/Dictator Donald Trump.
No comments Bush, Cheney, christian, christians, CIA, conservative, corporate, corporations, corporatism, director, Dubya, Gina Haspel, GOP, Iraq, Iraq War, media, Neocon, politics, propaganda, Republican, Tea Party, Teabaggers, terrorism, terrorist, torture, Trump
Ryan The Rat Jumps Ship
April 20, 2018 bb_admin Compassionate CONservatives, Corporate States of America, Grand Old Plutocrats, Let Them Eat Cake, Neocon Media Circus, Teabagging **it
Paul Ryan made big news recently by announcing that he will not be seeking re-election for his congressional seat, thus ending his reign of mediocrity as Speaker of the House. Of course, this is after he emphatically denied rumors he was going to resign. We've had nothing but contempt for this Ayn Rand acolyte ever since he was Spiff Romney's vice-presidential choice back in 2012. Go ahead: check our archives. Now, claiming that he wants to 'spend more time with his family', it's obvious that he wants to jump clear of the exploding clusterf*ck that is the Trump administration, which he supported despite weak and ineffectual statements to the contrary.
Ryan proudly claims that he's achieved what he wanted to do so it's time to go home. But his dubious achievement is a tax cut which will only benefit the wealthiest Americans, add 1.9 trillion dollars to the deficit and burden most Americans in the future with the bill that they really can't afford. This from a supposed fiscal hawk who cried and whined that Obama was adding to the deficit with Obamacare and then when Republicans seized power, they immediately augment it. So between Bush's idiotic war in Iraq and Trump's tax cuts, we're talking close to four trillion dollars added to the deficit by Republicans, who are supposed to be the masters at fiscal responsibility. What a bunch of hypocrites!
Paul Ryan has been nothing but a lackey for the plutocrats of corporate America. We here at the Bucket would just like to say good riddance and don't let the door hit your greedy, feckless ass on the way out.
Speaker of the House and Ayn Rand acolyte, Paul Ryan, plans to jump off the GOP sinking ship now that he's achieved his dream of giving plutocrats a huge tax break while burdening America with debilitating debt for decades to come.
No comments capitalism, capitalist, congress, conservative, corporate, corporations, corporatism, debt, deficit, fiscal, GOP, greed, Iraq, Iraq War, lackey, media, Neocon, photo-toon, plutocrat, politics, propaganda, Rand, Republican, responsibility, Ryan, tax, tax cuts, Tea Party, Teabaggers, Trump
Fox News: GOP Propaganda Machine
March 23, 2018 bb_admin Compassionate CONservatives, Corporate States of America, Grand Old Plutocrats, Let Them Eat Cake, Neocon Media Circus, Teabagging **it
It's hard to keep up with the flak generator that is the Trump administration, but this piece of news is straight from the DUH file.
In a bombshell, retired Army lieutenant colonel and news analyst, Ralph Peters, quit Fox News, a.k.a. the Republican Propaganda Network. In a scathing statement, Peters said "In my view, Fox has degenerated from providing a legitimate and much-needed outlet for conservative voices to a mere propaganda machine for a destructive and ethically ruinous administration." Peters went on to lament on how the Fox anchors now shamelessly "dismiss facts and empirical reality to launch profoundly dishonest assaults on the F.B.I., the Justice Department, the courts, the intelligence community (in which I served) and, not least, a model public servant and genuine war hero such as Robert Mueller." Wow! And this is from an ultra conservative hawk who thought the clusterf*ck Iraq War was a good idea, and called Obama a pussy. Of course, Fox News has obviously been spewing Republican Party propaganda since it's inception over twenty years ago. This is crystal clear to anyone with half a brain. Hence, the DUH.
We're not saying we like Peters now…far from it. It's just that Trump and his propaganda channel are now officially so pathetic that staunchly conservative Republicans are abandoning ship or as Peters put it, he could not "in good conscience" remain with a network that "is now wittingly harming our system of government for profit."
Conservative pundit, Ralph Peters, a.k.a. Captain Obvious, shocks the world by declaring Fox News to be nothing more than a propaganda machine for American CEO/Dictator Donald Trump and his gang of Republican party lackeys.
No comments capitalism, capitalist, Captain Obvious, conservative, corporate, corporations, corporatism, fake news, Fox News, GOP, hawk, Iraq, Iraq War, media, Neocon, Obama, photo-toon, politics, president, propaganda, Ralph Peters, Republican, Tea Party, Teabaggers, Trump, tv, war
Rewind: John Bolton's Image Makeover
March 11, 2018 bb_admin Compassionate CONservatives, Grand Old Plutocrats, Let Them Eat Cake, Neocon Media Circus, Wide World O' Wacky
The exodus of personnel from the disaster that is the Trump White House continues. Rumor has it that NSA advisor, H.R. McMaster, one of the few competent people in the Trump administration, is heading for the hills. The scuttlebutt is that everyone's favorite mustachioed, hate filled, crusty curmudgeon, former United Nations Ambassador during the Bush Administration, John Bolton, is being considered for the NSA position. Bolton is an unabashed warmonger and would be disastrous not only for the country but for the world.
Back during Dubya's days in the White House, we had a regular feature here at the Bucket called Probing Inquiries. Bolton definitely had an image problem (and still does) and desperately needed an image makeover so he'd appeal to a wider swath of Americans. How'd it turn out? You be the judge.
This is from our January 11, 2006 issue.
Probing Inquiries
John Bolton Softens His Image
The new controversial U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, recently hired a crew to completely makeover his image from a grizzled curmudgeon to a softer, more amiable statesman. Leader of the makeover team, world renowned fashion consultant Fantasticus, who is also responsible for the stylish makeovers of Katie Couric, Condoleezza Rice and Prince Charles' polo horse Skippy, describes the different looks considered in the makeover odyssey. The final result will surely make John Bolton the most loveable U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations ever!
The obvious first choice was to make John Bolton look like the other famous Bolton in America, singer Michael Bolton. We thought the long locks, smoldering eyes and sex appeal of Michael would transfer well to John. We were wrong. Next!
Next!!!!!
We decided to try to make John Bolton more fluffy and lovable and who is more fluffy and lovable than the Easter Bunny. Well this just plain frightened our test group, which was made up of mostly children. I'm pretty sure they'll probably have nightmares for the remainders of their lives. Next!
The makeover was going downhill quicker than Bill O'Reilly's 'War on Christmas', so I called in makeover diva, Tyra Banks, as a consultant. Tyra is known for her 'fierce' makeovers, but this look just creeped everyone out. Next! Hurry!
WINNER! We fired Tyra immediately, but she was on the right track. Who's more non-threatening in a masculine-feminine way than Dame Edna. This look will put his fellow ambassadors at ease and bring laughter and love to the entire United Nations.
No comments Banks, Bolton, Bush, conservative, Dame Edna, Dubya, Easter bunny, Fantasticus, GOP, Iraq, Iraq War, media, Neocon, photo-toon, politics, propaganda, Republican, Tea Party, Teabaggers, Trump, United Nations
The Normalization Of Dubya
October 31, 2017 bb_admin America's CEO/Dictator, Compassionate CONservatives, Corporate States of America, Dubya's Madcap Misadventures, Grand Old Plutocrats, Holy Huckster Hijinx, Let Them Eat Cake, Meme-ries, Neocon Media Circus, Teabagging **it, There's No Planet B
The Trump presidency has been frightening enough, but another disturbing trend is becoming more frequent since Trump's election: the normalization of right wing conservatism. For some reason, only Republicans like Bob Corker and super-hypocrite Jeff Flake are heralded for 'standing up' to Donald Trump, even though they've voted for everything he's pushed forward.
Now for some reason, some people, including Democrats are willing to forget the horrendous presidency of George W. Bush or at least say he wasn't all that bad. Are you freaking kidding???!!!! Bush and his cadre royally fucked this country up and now people are embracing him just because Donald Trump is so awful? Bush even recently gave a resounding well received speech about the evils of Trumpism. That's right, DUBYA!!!! This is how screwed up this country is! We commented before about how Megyn Kelly has been hired to try and normalize right wing conservatism. We're seeing it all over the place in the main stream corporate media. Chris Wallace has been presented as a somewhat sane veteran 'journalist' now instead of the partisan hack he truly is. If you ask us, you should never trust Fox News, a.k.a. the Republican Propaganda Network and you should never praise Dubya as being a font of wisdom. In case you've forgotten, he was the worst president since Nixon. He should never be forgiven for the clusterf*ck that was Iraq, the Great Recession, which his policies help create or for his almost completely running this country into the ground with his massive tax cuts for the rich, not to mention gutting environmental regulations and denying climate change like Trump is doing. From 2003-2009, we mocked and ridiculed Dubya and his fellow Republicans for the lies and deception they spewed on the American public and now the Republicans are doing it again, with a different moron in charge.
We came across one of our old photo-toons from 2006, when Dubya got counseling from James Baker through the Iraq Study Group that staying in Iraq was a bad idea. Hell getting into Iraq was an even worse idea. But typical of all conservative Republicans, they will never admit that they made a mistake. To this day, Bush won't admit that his decision to unilaterally invade Iraq was a mistake, despite the fact that it has brought turmoil to the Middle East likely for the next half century. His trillion dollar debacle destabilized the whole region and gave rise to not only Al-Qaeda infiltrating Iraq, but the rise of ISIS later on during Obama's presidency. His stubbornness to listen to any other voice other than Republican Neo-cons like Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, put this country in the dumper. It was only the political 'thumping' the Republicans took in the 2006 election, which brought Democrats back into power that he considered other options about Iraq. And now were seeing another conservative Republican named Donald Trump pulling the same 'I'm the Decider' crap that Dubya pulled. The only evolution that is occurring in the Republican party is from having a President who is a moron to one that is a f*cking moron.
The Republican President has evolved from being a childish moron to being a childish f*cking moron.
No comments Bush, capitalism, capitalist, christian, christians, conservative, corporate, corporations, corporatism, decider, Dubya, evangelical, Fox News, GOP, Iraq, Iraq War, media, Neocon, photo-toon, politics, president, propaganda, religion, Republican, Tea Party, Teabaggers, Trump
Syria: Shock And Awe Redux
April 11, 2017 bb_admin America's CEO/Dictator, Compassionate CONservatives, Corporate States of America, Grand Old Plutocrats, Let Them Eat Cake, Neocon Media Circus, Teabagging **it
We were all ready to do a post on Vice President and modern day Puritan, Mike Pence, when BOOM…American CEO/Dictator decided to create a distraction to the investigations into Russians meddling on his behalf during the 2016 elections and bomb Syria. Officially, Trump proclaimed that he saw the images of children who were gassed by Syrian leader, Bashar Al-Assad, and at the urging of 'heartbroken' daughter Ivanka, had to do something. But of course, that sympathy doesn't extend to letting Syrian women and children enter the United States as refugees. What's more, he contacted the Russians before hand to tell them of his plans. The Syrian military knew about the attacks as well. By most accounts, the attacks did little damage to Syria and raises more questions that it answers. What's interesting is that some Democrats, like Chuck Schumer, supported Trump's move and Hillary Clinton suggested taking action a few hours before Trump did. But this certainly seems like a classic 'wagging the dog' moment.
But the most appalling development of this affair was the nauseating obsequiousness of the main stream corporate media as they fawned and practically had orgasms in praising Trump's action. It reminded us of the 'shock and awe' bombing of Baghdad at the beginning of that clusterf*ck known as the Iraq War. We expected moderate GOP hawks such as John McCain and Lindsay Graham to be giddy about the bombings. But media pundits like Fareed Zakaria said Trump "Donald Trump became the President of the United States". Brian Williams took the prize for the biggest ass kisser. We lost all respect for Williams way back in 2005 when he suggested that the government could pay journalists to promote a certain viewpoint. (Can you say unethical, boys and girls.) Then there was his admission that he made up some stories about the Iraq War back in 2015. Williams repugnantly called the bombings in Syria "beautiful pictures of fearsome armaments". Good grief guys…get a room already. Why is Williams even on the air any more? He should be putting his talents to work where they belong: selling used cars.
But it worked, like it always does for Republicans. They create distractions and their buddies in the corporate media compliantly shift their focus and forget about previous criminal activities. Talk about short term attention spans. We're having serious doubts now that anything will come of these investigations into Trump's connection with Russia.
So basically, for future reference, in the coming years of the Trump administration; if things are going badly, just expect a bombing in a country in the Middle East and the media will lighten up and all will conveniently be forgotten.
Corporate media 'journalists' Brian Williams and Fareed Zakaria dutifully kiss the ass of American CEO/Dictator over his beautifully presidential bombings in Syria.
No comments Assad, attack, bombings, Brian Williams, chemical, conservative, corporate, corporations, corporatism, election, Fareed Zakaria, gas, GOP, Iraq, Iraq War, media, Neocon, photo-toon, politics, propaganda, pundit, Putin, Republican, Russia, Syria, Tea Party, Teabaggers, Trump
If You Got The Oil, We Got The Time
February 8, 2017 bb_admin Compassionate CONservatives, Corporate States of America, Grand Old Plutocrats, Let Them Eat Cake, Neocon Media Circus, There's No Planet B
Now that oil baron, tycoon and former Exxon-Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson has been confirmed as Secretary of State, the United States has sent a message to people in America and around the world: America is officially a corporate oligarchy governed primarily by the oil, gas and coal industries and that just like the Bush Administration, which, like Ralph Nader said, was marinated in oil, America is open for business with any country that has oil. Even Alan Greenspan said in his book The Age of Turbulence, (page 463), "I am saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: the Iraq war is largely about oil." Does that mean that we've got another war for oil, like the Iraq War, (possibly Iran) coming? Donald Trump has said the Iraq War was a mistake but since the Republicans never seem to learn from their mistakes and America's CEO/Dictator will always take the side of money and machismo; probably.
But another factor figures in here as well and that is the fact that Tillerson is good buddies with Russia and Vladimir Putin; so much so that Tillerson was named a Friend of Russia in 2013. Can you imagine how pissed the Republicans would be if Obama would have been named a Friend of Russia? So not only is America dependent on Middle Eastern oil, we could very well become dependent on Russian oil as well in the very near future. But hey…business is business.
Then there is the conflict of interest with a former CEO of a major oil company controlling the Department of State. Tillerson is a complete newbie when it comes to diplomacy and international relations. Although Tillerson is supposedly a great business negotiator, dealing with governments of the world is not the same as dealing with corporations of the world.
We were initially glad that Trump decided to get out of the TPP, which would have been a disaster for the environment. But with Rex Tillerson at the helm in the State Department and climate change denier, Scott Pruitt, selected to head the EPA, the new motto of America very well may be Sarah Palin's mantra, Drill baby Drill! So screw the burgeoning alternative, clean energy industry. Let's continue to pursue 20th century technology. Oh and don't worry about more oil spills, environmental contamination and flammable drinking water…there are profits to be made. Cha-ching!
Oil baron, tycoon, Grand Old Plutocrat and Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, greedily proclaims that America is open for business, especially if you have oil, like his Russian pal, Vladimir Putin.
No comments baron, capitalism, coal, conservative, corporate, corporations, corporatism, drill, energy, EPA, gas, GOP, Iran, Iraq, Iraq War, media, Neocon, oil, photo-toon, politics, Pruitt, Putin, Republican, Russia, secretary, state, Tillerson, Trump
Pence's Inspiration
December 6, 2016 bb_admin Compassionate CONservatives, Corporate States of America, Grand Old Plutocrats, Holy Huckster Hijinx, Let Them Eat Cake, Neocon Media Circus, Puritan Pence, Teabagging **it, What a Dick
We've commented before about Vice President and modern day Puritan Mike Pence's admiration for former Bush administration VP Dick Cheney. Yes, Pence wants to be just like the lying, disingenuous architect of the clusterf*ck called the Iraq War in every phase including garnering an inspirational 13 percent approval rating. Way to aim high, Puritan Pence! We have no doubt that with his 17th century mindset, he'll achieve his goal.
Vice President elect and modern day Puritan, Mike Pence, vows to achieve the same lofty 13% approval ratings as his idol, Bush administration Vice President Dick Cheney.
No comments 2016, Cheney, christian, christians, conservative, Dubya, election, evangelical, GOP, Iraq, Iraq War, media, Neocon, Pence, photo-toon, politics, religion, Republican, Tea Party, Teabaggers, Trump
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Sometime written Cinsault, is a red variety known for centuries in the Longuedoc related to Grenache. It has a good drought resistance and its best wine come from vines that yield less tan 40 hl/ha. The wine it produce tend to be lighter, softher, and, in extreme youth, more aromatica and charming cherry –fruited tan most of its peers. Cinsault is used almost exclusively to add suppleness, perfume, and inmediate fruit to blends.


Sometimes you have to break your vow to keep your promise.
An unusual believable interesting movie!
The more I see of Laura San Giancomo, the more I like her. She was excellent in "Pretty Woman" and her presence was powerful. I'm sure her real personality comes through when she acts. All of the actors were excellent in this movie, and believable. Wouldn't married life be more fun if we could throw away the boring side, and create new characters every now and then? Instead of a husband going out to create a fantasy, it's all there under his own roof. Be who you want to be at any time, not just on Halloween :-) although it would probably be considered an abnormal state of affairs ... then again, from what we see today at the movies or on TV, maybe it would be accepted. For sure, watching this movie would make you want to try when you see the end results. I enjoyed every minute of it. The TV guide only had two and a half stars against it. I would have given it four!!!


We are delighted that INSTANDA has been shortlisted for the Insurance Day London Market Awards 2018!
There are 11 different categories to be won this year. After deliberation by the judging panel, it was announced INSTANDA is one of the Insurtech Initiative of the Year finalists. The winners will be announced at the Royal Lancaster, London on 22nd November. Watch this space!
The tough conditions facing the London market show little sign of abating. Fierce competition, evolving distribution trends and the growth of other international hubs weigh heavy on the market. The pressure on firms to be more efficient, to be more innovative and to find new ways to demonstrate their value and relevance has never been greater.
At the same time, the impact of last year's devastating hurricanes and wildfires is still being felt. Yet these catastrophes provided an opportunity for the insurance industry to demonstrate what it is here to do: to pay claims. And it is in the face of such events that the industry shows its expertise, entrepreneurial flair and creativity — characteristics that the London Market Awards celebrate. It is in these current challenging market conditions where the most resilient and innovative companies and teams stand out. These challenges demand every ounce of tenacity, skill and creative thinking to prevail. So, it is with great pleasure that Insurance Day opens the entry process for this year's annual London Market Awards, which recognise the very best in insurance.


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Home » Asian Rugby News
Japan Rugby Men's Team Toughest Competitors
rugbyasia247 Posted On December 3, 2022
Japan's national men's rugby team is regarded as the strongest in Asia – the side has a long history having been formed in 1932 and they carry the nicknames – Cherry Blossoms, Brave Blossoms and Sakura. The side is currently ranked 10th in the World Rugby Rankings and reached a high of 7th in 2019.
Here are some rugby teams that may prove quite challenging for Japan to defeat for them to reach the pinnacle and sit atop the rankings.
Ireland Rugby
Ireland will be one of the most formidable competitors for Japan to beat; after all, the team's currently ranked 1st worldwide at the end of the 2022 international XV season based on the World Rugby rankings.
Ever since the rankings started in September 2003, the lowest Ireland has ranked was 9th. Fans from around the world enjoy visiting their stadium in Dublin – the 'home' of the team. One can also continue the live-action atmosphere by playing their favourite casino game at an Irish live casino.
A win over Ireland will always be huge for Japan, and the only time they have achieved this was in Japan at the RWC 2019, which was a huge upset as it enabled the Brave Blossoms to reach the knockout stages for the first time at a Rugby World Cup.
France Rugby – Les Bleus
Another team that poses a huge challenge to Japan is the number two ranked France national rugby union team. The team has been runners-up in the Rugby World Cup (and thus far the unluckiest not to have claimed the Webb Ellis trophy – but they have been one of the form teams for a few years, play the next RWC 2023 at home, and are current Grand Slam champions of the 2022 Six Nations.
Japan played France twice in mid-2022 at home and lost both matches and then lost again 35-17 on their end-of-year tour in Toulouse. Japan Brave Blossoms are yet to record a win over Les Blues.
Argentina – Los Pumas
Also known as the Pumas, the Argentina national rugby team is the most successful in the Americas. Currently ranked 6th worldwide, one of the Pumas' most impressive feats was defeating the All Blacks – New Zealand's national rugby team and one of the most successful sports teams in the world. The team came third in the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and is shaping up to be a threat at RWC 2023.
The side also beat Australia in 2022 and has defeated the Springboks previously in the Rugby Championship. On their end-of-year tour in November 2022, the side also defeated England at Twickenham for the first time.
Japan and Argentina will play each other at RWC 2023 in Pool D
South Africa – Springboks
South Africa's national rugby team, the Springboks, are certainly a team the Brave Blossoms have some recent history with. Although the Boks are ranked 4th worldwide at the end of 2022- they ended their season with a polished win over England at Twickenham (their first since 2014) and narrow losses over the top two ranked sides (Ireland and France). SA only narrowly lost the Rugby Championship to the All Blacks in 2022.
South Africa is one of only two teams on the planet to win the Rugby World Cup no fewer than three times – but Japan famously beat the Boks in Brighton at the RWC 2015 dubbed "The Brighton Miracle" even though SA went on to finish 3rd at the World Cup.
SA claimed some revenge on Japan by beating them pre-RWC 2019 in a warm-up and then eventually knocking out the hosts from the World Cup on the way to claiming the Bok's 3rd title in Japan.
Japan beat Boks RWC 2015
England's team is ranked 5th at the end of 2022 and is the only northern hemisphere team to have won a Rugby World Cup- famously in 2003. Although England and its head coach Eddie Jones us under some pressure at the end of 2022, the side has never ranked lower than 8th on the World Rugby rankings and is the six nations' most successful team, having won the most outright titles.
On Japan's 2022 November tour if Europe, the Brave Blossoms suffered a heavy defeat at Twickenham (52-13) and the two sides will face off at RWC 2023 in Pool D.
New Zealand – All Blacks
If there's one team to beat, it's New Zealand's All Blacks. This team has been ranked 1st worldwide approximately 75% of the period since the rankings were initiated by World Rugby.
Over the years, the NZ men's XV rugby union team has racked up many records and notched up many impressive wins and titles. The All Blacks are by far the most successful team in the annual Rugby Championship which includes SA, Australia, and Argentina (they are the 2022 reigning champs too!).
NZ and SA have both won three Rugby World Cups and NZ has been named World Rugby Team of the Year ten times! Japan have never beaten the All Blacks and in the 2022 encounter in Tokyo, had one of their best opportunities but lost 38-31 after nearly scaring their formidable opponents.
Photo Credit: JRFU -Japan play All Blacks in 2022
This is an invited post not written by Rugby Asia 247.
HKRU 2023 New Year's Day Youth Rugby Tournament


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Shottendane housing scheme: inquiry into Gladman appeal begins this week
Home » Thanet
Tag Archives: Thanet
Shottendane Road: "a poor and late allocation in the first place"
A planned housing development that has been refused permission three times goes before a 'virtual' appeal inquiry tomorrow (Tuesday, January 11).
The scheme, from land agent Gladman Developments, entails the building of 450 properties on farmland at Shottendane Road on the edge of Margate.
Thanet District Council is hosting the inquiry, which is being held online, with no in-person meetings. It starts at 10am and could take anything up to a week to complete – if you would like to speak, email planning.services@thanet.gov.uk asking for details of how to take part. Proceedings will be live-streamed to the council's YouTube channel.
Gladman's third bid to win planning permission for the scheme was refused by Thanet District Council's planning committee on Wednesday, July 21. The decision followed previous refusals by the committee in April and June.
CPRE Kent, through its Thanet committee, has contested the Gladman scheme throughout on a range of issues, particularly viability and the proposed cut in affordable housing from 30 per cent (as set in TDC Local Plan policy) to 10 per cent on the first application and then 15 per cent on the second.
And it is the level of affordable housing that has most concerned the planning committee, although loss of farmland, flooding, challenging topography and impact on wildlife have all been cited as further reasons for refusal.
As part of its third attempt, Gladman offered 68 properties as affordable housing on an 80 per cent affordable rent and 20 per cent shared-ownership mix. It also claimed it would make almost £5 million in contributions to community and highways infrastructure.
However, this was not enough to convince the TDC planning committee, which also looked to agree on reasons for refusal to be cited should the case be taken to appeal by Gladman.
Sure enough, the appeal to the Secretary of State came and this will be heard at inquiry this week. CPRE Kent has made an eight-page submission and a representative of our Thanet committee will be speaking tomorrow.
Salmestone Ward Residents' Association and Westgate & Garlinge Action Group have played principal roles in fighting the appeal and over the coming week the scheme's viability and the level of affordable housing will be highlighted, with new evidence presented and witnesses cross-examined. The inspector has agreed to discuss biodiversity and flooding.
There is also the fundamental issue of whether the Shottendane Road site should have been included in the Thanet Local Plan at all. Michael Hand, a planning consultant speaking against the Gladman appeal, believes it has so many flawed aspects that it should not have been.
He views it as "a poor and late allocation in the first place" that was only included in the Local Plan to fill a gap left by the loss of another potential site, while documents justifying its inclusion do not appear to have been prepared.
A petition calling for the site to be protected attracted more than 5,500 signatures, while SWRA's crowd-funder for the appeal costs reached some £3,400 – you can contribute here
Read more on this story here, here and here
Tagged appeal inquiry, Gladman, Margate, Michael Hand, Shottendane, Shottendane Road, TDC, Thanet, Thanet District Council
Manston report: airport hopes dealt another grim blow
Posted 15th Nov 21 , filed under Aviation
If nothing else, the saga of Manston airport has had enough twists and turns to hold the attention
Is it the final blow for Manston as an airport?
An independent report has concluded there is no national need for the Thanet site to reopen as a freight hub.
Its long and convoluted saga since closure in 2014 included the granting in July 2020 of a Development Consent Order to RiverOak Strategic Partners to reopen the airport.
The decision was made by Andrew Stephenson, Minister of State for Transport, who effectively dismissed the conclusions of the four-man Planning Inspectorate's Examining Authority, which had been clear the DCO should not be granted.
Mr Stephenson's move was slated by Dr Hilary Newport, director of CPRE Kent, who said: "It is shocking that four inspectors spent some nine months preparing a report and concluded very strongly that the DCO should be refused.
"The developer was not able to demonstrate need, there were adverse impacts on traffic and transport and there were concerns over noise pollution.
"Most importantly, though, the Examining Authority recommended the Secretary of State refuse the DCO due to conservation of habitats and species regulations.
"In short, the inspectors' conclusions were ignored.
"This decision flies in the face of the Heathrow third-runway judgement where the Court of Appeal ruled that proposals had failed to consider this country's commitment to reduce carbon emissions."
The developer's delight, however, did not last long as in February this year the granting of the DCO was quashed, the Department for Transport accepting that the approval letter from Mr Stephenson had not contained enough detail on why the conclusions of the Planning Inspectorate's Examining Authority were pushed aside.
After that turn of events, Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, demanded further evidence from interested parties while also commissioning the independent report before the DCO decision could be redetermined.
And that report, by Ove Arup & Partners and released on Thursday, October 21, concluded that any potential increase in demand for air freight could be met by other airports such as Heathrow.
It stated: "The Examination Authority recommended there was no need case for the proposed development.
"Overall, the independent assessor concludes that there have not been any significant or material changes to policy or the quantitative need case for the proposed development since July 2019 that would lead to different conclusions being reached with respect to the Manston development."
It set outs the principal reasons for its verdict:
The changes to policy, notably the withdrawal and reinstatement of the Airports National Policy Statement and adoption of the Thanet Local Plan, do not significantly change the policy context that was in place at the time of the Examination
The recent growth in e-commerce sales is not driving a demand for additional runway capacity for dedicated air freighters in the South East
Although there have been short-term changes in the balance between belly hold freight and dedicated freighter activity during the Covid-19 pandemic, these changes are not expected to be permanent, notwithstanding growth in e-commerce and changes to the UK's trading patterns post-Brexit
There is unlikely to be a significant reduction in belly hold freight capacity (once the passenger market recovers) due to the introduction of narrow-bodied twin-engine aircraft
Despite the uncertainty concerning the timescale for the Heathrow Airport third runway, changes since July 2019 as described do not lead the Independent Assessor to reach a different conclusion on the need case for Manston Airport. East Midlands Airport has sufficient capacity to handle additional dedicated freighter services should the market demand them, while the planning determination at Stansted confirms that significant freight capacity remains available
There is no new evidence to suggest a different conclusion should be drawn in respect of the locational performance of Manston compared to East Midlands Airport, and to a lesser extent Stansted, to that of the Examination Authority report
Mr Shapps has written to RSP and interested parties, asking for comments on the report by Friday (November 19) before making his final decision.
For (yet) more on the tale of Manston, see here
Tagged airport, aviation, Manston, Ove Arup, Thanet
Gladman pushed back for a third time: 'a great day for democracy'
Posted 26th Jul 21 , filed under News
Harvest time on Thanet's wonderful farmland: Gladman wants 450 houses to be built here
"A great day for democracy," was how the chairman of Thanet CPRE described the third refusal of plans to build 450 houses on farmland at the edge of Margate.
The Gladman Developments bid to win planning permission for the development at Shottendane Road was rejected by Thanet District Council's planning committee on Wednesday, July 21.
CPRE Kent, through its Thanet committee, has contested the Gladman scheme throughout on a range of issues, but the principal concern for the planning committee has been the proposed cut in affordable housing from 30 per cent (as set in TDC Local Plan policy) to 10 per cent on the first application and then 15 per cent on the second.
However, this was not enough to convince the planning committee, which was looking to agree on reasons for refusal to be cited should the case be taken to appeal by Gladman.
In the end, the statement for refusal read: "The proposed development, by virtue of the proposed level of affordable housing, would not meet the identified need for affordable housing in the district, thereby not providing the required homes to create a balanced and mixed community.
"This harm is considered to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the development, therefore the proposal would not constitute sustainable development and is contrary to Strategic Priority 3 of the Thanet Local Plan and the objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework."
David Morrish, Thanet CPRE chairman, said: "This is a great day for democracy and common sense. Let's hope it's a lesson to other would-be speculative developers that Thanet council won't be deterred from defending its own policy to provide affordable housing.
"It took three meetings of the planning committee, but it's been good to see councillors defending the housing policy."
For more on this scheme, as well as the way Gladman operates, click here
Tagged David Morrish, Gladman, Margate, Shottendane, Shottendane Road, Thanet, Thanet District Council
CPRE Kent urges Thanet council to be bold and refuse Gladman application that runs contrary to Local Plan
Posted 21st Jul 21 , filed under News
Under threat from Gladman: countryside at Shottendane Road, Margate
Thanet District Council will tonight (Wednesday, July 21) reconsider the Gladman Developments bid for planning permission for 450 houses at Shottendane Road, near Margate.
CPRE Kent has long argued against this development, both during the Local Plan process and the current attempts to win planning permission. Despite this, only one significant ground of dispute appears to remain between the council and Gladman, and that is the issue of affordable housing.
This is because Gladman only wants to provide half the amount of affordable housing that TDC considers should be provided.
Thanet's planning committee is reminded that Gladman is not in the business of building houses – rather, it is in the business of maximising land value through the securing of planning permissions.
It is worth noting that Damian Green, MP for Ashford and former First Secretary of State (de facto deputy prime minister) highlighted Gladman as the only company with which he had "flatly refused" to speak.
Gladman is a land agent or land promoter, taking on the costs of securing a planning permission on the basis that it then splits the resulting profits with that landowner when it sells to an actual housebuilder.
This incentivises putting maximum pressure upon a council to approve as quickly as possible and encourages negotiating out as many future costs as possible so the permissioned land can be sold at a premium.
As Gladman says on its website: "It is in our interests to optimise the value of your land as we, like you, only get paid when the land is sold."
The point is, this land has not yet been sold on, meaning everything is theoretical until this point.
If the council insists on the full level of affordable housing being provided, the purchaser will need to reflect this in the price it pays for the land. This is exactly what planning policy guidance on viability expects should happen.
For these reasons, CPRE Kent is calling on Thanet District Council to be bold and refuse this application as contrary to the adopted Plan.
Our comments on the revised application are here
Details of the Gladman business model are set out on its website here
Tagged Gladman, Margate, Shottendane, Thanet, Thanet District Council
Delight as Thanet council 'sticks to its guns' and sends back Gladman housing scheme
Posted 28th Jun 21 , filed under News
The attractive landscape on the edge of Margate targeted by Gladman Developments
The decision to refuse a revised planning application for 450 new houses on farmland at Margate has been warmly welcomed by CPRE Kent's Thanet committee.
The scheme from Gladman Developments had first been refused by Thanet District Council's planning committee on Wednesday, April 21, with seven members voting against it, four voting in favour and two abstaining.
Loss of farmland, flooding, challenging topography and impact on wildlife were all noted as reasons for refusal, but the main concern was the proposed cut in affordable housing from 30 per cent (as set in TDC Local Plan policy) to 10 per cent.
Gladman came back with the level of affordable housing increased from 10 per cent to 15 per cent – a rise described as pathetic by David Morrish, chairman of Thanet CPRE – and on Wednesday, June 23, this was also refused by the planning committee, this time by an overwhelming vote of 11-1.
Thanet CPRE had objected to both Gladman applications for the Shottendane Road site.
This was despite council officers saying the 15 per cent figure was acceptable as Gladman had claimed a higher level would not be financially viable. They recommended the decision be deferred to officers for approval.
"Thanet CPRE is delighted that Thanet council's planning committee is sticking to its guns and defending its Local Plan policy to ensure that 30 per cent of all housing-zone major developments is genuinely affordable," said Mr Morrish.
"It has resisted attempts by a land promoter to chew into the countryside, resisting paying minimal costs to the community and placing profit above people.
"It is great that councillors have not been cowed by 'advice' from planning officers threatening dire problems if the council turned down this application.
"A CPRE national report showed that experienced land promoters, such as Gladman, which can afford expensive lawyers and multiple appeals, often win against local authorities at appeal, leaving them confident in their ability to gain planning permission that goes against local wishes.
"For example, the Gladman website states: 'Whilst we try to achieve planning permission locally, sometimes for a variety of reasons this is not possible and the site is refused permission at planning committee. This is nothing to worry about; on average around two thirds of our sites go through the appeal process.'.
"Meanwhile, councils are retreating from the appeals process due to high expenses and the perceived low chance of winning – standing up for their own policies is seen as an unmerited expense.
"Let us all hope that Thanet councillors will have the courage to not retreat on this important matter and follow their own consciences rather than the diktats of council officers and threats of greedy land promoters."
Tagged Gladman, Margate, Morrish, Shottendane Road, Thanet
Pathetic! CPRE Thanet chairman slams cut in affordable housing as Gladman tries again to push through housing scheme
Posted 23rd Jun 21 , filed under News
Big deal! Gladman is raising its affordable housing commitment from 10 per cent to 15 per cent in its 'revised' scheme
A scheme from land agent Gladman Developments for 450 new houses on farmland on the edge of Margate will be reconsidered by Thanet councillors this evening (Wednesday, June 23).
The plans were narrowly refused by the planning committee on Wednesday, April 21, with seven voting against them, four in favour and two abstaining.
Loss of farmland, flooding, challenging topography and impact on wildlife were all cited as reasons for refusal, but the primary concern to councillors was the proposed cut in affordable housing from 30 per cent to 10 per cent.
Planning officers had argued that potential infrastructure funding made the cut in affordable housing acceptable.
Now Gladman has come back with the level of affordable housing increased from 10 per cent to 15 per cent – still half the target figure set by Thanet District Council planning policy.
Thanet CPRE has lodged an objection to the revised proposal, referring to several issues. Of course, it is difficult to see how the plan could now be deemed acceptable simply because of the risible increase in affordable housing.
David Morrish, Thanet CPRE chairman, said: "It's an outrage that one part of Thanet council is producing a plan for 30 per cent affordable housing while another part appears to be negotiating that figure down to 15 per cent.
"Of course, if this scheme is approved, it will set the benchmark for every other developer here to push for lower levels of affordable housing – eventually, no affordable housing will be built.
"These apparent negotiations appear to have been done behind closed doors, with no community involvement. This pathetic increase from 10 per cent to 15 per cent is insulting to the wider local authority and the people it represents.
"A further concern is that councillors, or at least some of them, did not appear to have been given the information that the local authority is likely to benefit to the tune of £2-3 million should the development proceed. This is due to a covenant involving Margate Town Council, which formerly owned the land.
"There are many issues with this scheme – for example, there is no clear strategy for disposal of foul-water, which will have to be pumped to another system, while the effect on surface drainage is certain to be detrimental.
"Long-running problems with water quality where Tivoli Brook meets the sea will only be exacerbated by this development if it goes ahead. As if the beaches of Margate haven't had enough of such problems in recent years!"
Tagged Gladman, Shottendane, Thanet, Thanet District Council
Gladman pushed back in Margate… for now
Posted 23rd Apr 21 , filed under News
A proposed cut in the scheme's affordable housing was deemed unacceptable by the planning committee
A proposal by land agent Gladman Developments to build 450 houses on agricultural land on Margate's Shottendane Road has been turned down… but it will be returning.
The scheme was narrowly refused by Thanet District Council's planning committee on Wednesday evening (April 21): seven voted against it, four were in favour and two abstained.
There are many issues with the plan, such as loss of farmland, flooding, challenging topography and impact on wildlife, but the principal concern to councillors was the proposed reduction in affordable housing from 30 per cent to 10 per cent.
It also became evident that support for it was down largely to its role in new infrastructure, being linked to other housing proposals at nearby Westgate (2,000 new properties) and Birchington (1,650) that, via Section 106 payments, will between them fund a new 'inner circuit' road complete with three roundabouts and two link roads.
Planning officers argued that this infrastructure funding made the cut in affordable housing acceptable. Happily, enough councillors did not agree – although the committee did vote for the Gladman scheme to be brought back to it with amendments.
Tagged Gladman, Margate, Shottendane Road, Thanet, Thanet District Council
Thanet farmland targeted by Gladman
Posted 21st Apr 21 , filed under News
The red arrows mark where Gladman would like houses to be built
Tonight (Wednesday, April 21) Thanet District Council will decide whether planning permission should be granted for the building of 450 houses on agricultural land on Margate's Shottendane Road.
The applicant, land agent Gladman Developments, has already cut affordable housing on the site from 30 per cent to 10 per cent so is not addressing the issue of providing affordable housing for local people.
The planned development is linked to proposed housing schemes at nearby Westgate and Birchington via Section 106 payments for a new 'inner circuit' road. Together, they would mean the loss of some 750 acres of farmland.
The attractive character of central Thanet's undulating chalk farmland will be changed forever by the proposed housing, roadbuilding and streetlighting, while open views from footpaths enjoyed by so many will go, with some of the footpaths absorbed into new housing estates.
Farmland birds such as skylarks and other wildlife will lose their habitat. And another chunk of Thanet's long farming heritage will be lost.
CPRE Thanet has put in a strong objection to the proposed development, while you can read the submission from Margate Civic Society here
Tagged Gladman, Margate, Shottendane, Thanet
Confirmed: Manston DCO has been quashed
Posted 15th Feb 21 , filed under Aviation
Manston… the story with more twists than a flamenco-dancing snake
The granting of a Development Consent Order allowing developer RiverOak Strategic Partners to reopen Manston as a freight hub has been quashed.
The Department for Transport had already accepted that the DCO approval letter from Andrew Stephenson, Minister of State for Transport, did not contain enough detail on why the conclusions of the four-man Planning Inspectorate's Examining Authority were effectively dismissed.
And today (Tuesday, February 15), the department agreed to a High Court Consent Order stating the minister had indeed not laid out adequate reasons explaining his decision to go against the advice of the inspectors.
The Examining Authority had been clear that the DCO should not be granted.
The revocation of the DCO meant a judicial review of Mr Stephenson's decision scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, February 16-17, at the High Court did not go ahead.
The review had been launched by Jenny Dawes, chair of Ramsgate Coastal Community Team.
However, on Wednesday, December 2, she wrote on her CrowdJustice page set up to help fund the judicial review: "… yesterday my solicitors received a letter from the Treasury Solicitor, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, which said 'my client has agreed to concede this claim on the basis of ground 1(b), namely that the Secretary of State did not give adequate reasons in his decision letter to enable the reader to understand why he disagreed with the Examining Authority Report on the issue of need for the development of Manston Airport'.
"We subsequently learned that the Interested Party, RiverOak Strategic Partners Ltd, will not be defending their claim."
With neither the DfT nor RiverOak contesting proceedings, the High Court judgment was short. It did, though, result in the government being ordered to pay Mrs Dawes's legal costs of up to £35,000; RSP was ordered to pay additional costs, again capped at £35,000.
A statement from RSP said: "In the High Court today, Mr Justice Holgate approved a court order which had been agreed by all the parties to the Manston judicial review in December last year.
"The order allows the judicial review on the ground that the Secretary of State for Transport did not give adequate reasons for his decision. It also quashes the Manston DCO and orders costs in favour of the Applicant.
"The effect of the order made today is only to require the decision to be re-taken following a further representation period, it does not reverse any earlier stages of the process. The Secretary of State is likely to explain the reasons for his decision in more detail this time round."
For more on Manston, see here
Tagged DCO, Manston Airport, RiverOak, Thanet
Coastal bungalows scheme thrown out
The setting of Pegwell Bay has been spared the unpopular proposal for six bungalows on a greenfield site
Plans for a bungalow estate on the edge of Pegwell village have been refused.
The application for the six properties failed to make the Thanet District Council's planning committee following a critical officer's report.
CPRE Thanet had made a strong objection to the scheme, as did Pegwell and District Association – a member of CPRE Kent.
The officer's report included the following observations as reasons for refusal:
"The site is located within the countryside, outside of the village confines, and within a Landscape Character Area, which is characterised by its openness and views of Pegwell Bay and the former Wantsum Channel.
"The erection of six dwellings within this prominent location, which would be visible in long views and in wider views across the open countryside opposite, is considered to cause severe harm to the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside, and the valued Landscape Character Area, and harm the character and appearance of the adjacent Conservation Area, contrary to Policies SP24, SP26, HE02 and QD02 of the Draft Thanet Local Plan, and paragraph 170 of the NPPF.
"Furthermore, insufficient information has been submitted to address highway and ecology concerns.
"The environmental harm caused through the development is considered to significantly outweigh the extremely modest economic and social benefits provided, and is therefore not considered to be sustainable development.
"The application has also failed to provide an acceptable form of mitigation to relieve the pressure on the SPA, contrary to paragraph 177 of the NPPF and the Habitats Directive.
"It is therefore recommended that the application is refused."
David Morrish, Thanet CPRE chairman, said: "These commentaries, I am glad to record, very much mirror the objections that we submitted."
To read more on this story, click here
Tagged bungalows, Pegwell, Thanet
Our stolen night skies
Posted 13th Sep 20 , filed under Environment
The orange mushroom cloud of Thanet Earth blights much of the east Kent night sky (pic Craig Solly)
Light pollution is an acknowledged blight on both the rural and the urban environment, but perhaps less known is its detrimental effect on wildlife and even our own health. Vicky Ellis investigates.
We humans seem preconditioned to take rather than give back – perhaps nowhere is this more evident than when it comes to nature and our dark skies.
Dark skies are more than just pretty stars in the sky or moonlit trees on a clear night. As romantic as that sounds, the darkness we inexplicably try so hard to flood out is vital for not just our health and well-being but also the health and well-being of flora and fauna.
As more and more housing is built, along with ancillary infrastructure, the more street lighting, outside lighting, security lighting and garden lighting goes up, with little or no regard for the damage caused to our ecosystems that rely on darkness for their very survival.
Why are dark nights so fundamental? This article hopefully goes some way to explaining how important dark nights are and why they should be protected, embraced and treasured.
The night sky with its wondrous stars and moon are part of our heritage. It belongs to no one and everyone at the same time. There is not one person alive who has right over our night sky and not one person who has the right to rob the joys of the night sky from anyone else. It should be our fundamental right to see, enjoy and benefit from the darkness and the tranquillity it generates.
Over billions of years, life on Earth has evolved to rely on the rhythmic cycle of night and day to govern our physiology. It's part of nature's DNA and therefore part of our DNA. Science is now uncovering the deadly effect light pollution has on our flora and fauna, from birds, amphibians, mammals, insects and plants to our own health and well-being.
The process behind these circadian rhythms is initiated by photons signalling via the retina a tiny part of the brain responsible for the secretion of melatonin.
Melatonin begins to increase at dusk and peaks around midnight, relinquishing a cascade of chemical signals responsible for the regulation of sleep and wake cycles, body temperature, metabolism and appetite.
Leptin is one of these hormones. Sometimes referred to as the 'hunger hormone', it is released primarily from fat cells and ironically contributes to the regulation of body weight, curbing appetite while we sleep. According to epidemiologist Dr Richard Stevens from the University of Connecticut, who has studied links between ALAN (artificial light at night) and human health, one theory as to why it's important our appetite is suppressed during the night is because 'back in the day' foraging for food when it's dark would have been a high-risk strategy resulting in the likelihood of us becoming food.
All ALAN, be it computer screens, streetlights shining through windows or indoor and outside lights, interfere with circadian rhythms to varying degrees by interrupting regulation of melatonin. Obesity is one consequence among many and is linked to low levels of leptin.
Other studies have found a strong correlation between low melatonin levels and disrupted circadian cycles with heart disease, diabetes, depression and cancer – particularly breast cancer.
Further studies implicate ALAN as having a negative psychological impact on health. On the other hand, Dacher Keltner, a psychologist from the University of California, claims that observing stars rotating gently above our heads creates a feeling of awe and amazement that can elicit a sense of positivity.
Blinded by the light: this illumination on a retirement estate near Faversham can be seen for miles around (pic Vicky Ellis)
Nocturnal animals, which sleep during the day and come out at night, have their natural rhythm drastically disrupted when their night-time environment is destroyed by ALAN. Predators use light to hunt, while prey species utilise darkness to stay safe and other fauna use night-time features to navigate. When affecting ecology, ALAN is sometimes referred to as 'ecological light pollution' and can affect nature down to the tiniest organism. Spiders, for instance, will seek out light sources to spin their webs as insects are attracted to the light, so it makes sense to exploit this to their advantage. The same can be said of bats feeding on moths.
However, this disruption in predator-prey balance can result in crashes in prey populations, as we are witnessing now with insects, especially flying insects. While it is unlikely that ALAN is the sole driver of our insect population crash, it is a contributing factor.
ALAN is just one more avoidable man-made negative that affects nature's natural balance. Nocturnal insects such as moths navigate at night. ALAN can severely inhibit this ability to navigate, interfering with reproductive success. Artificial light sends moths into a frenzy around the light source, which often results in them either being picked off by predators or dying from exhaustion. Flowers that bloom at night rely on moths for pollination. If there is no other night-time pollinator not affected by light pollution, the plant will be unable to reproduce, drastically altering the local ecosystem with sometimes disastrous consequences.
Many will have heard birds singing at night in an illuminated tree, something that makes us feel uncomfortable because we know it is not right.
Other fauna negatively affected include frogs that use a light-dependent compass to find their way at night, using this light to find their way to breeding ponds. Studies have shown ALAN to also cause developmental deformities such as retinal damage, impeded juvenile development, premature metamorphosis, reduced sperm production and genetic mutation.
Frogs croak at night under cover of darkness during their mating season. ALAN can disrupt this, interfering in successful reproduction and negatively affecting population numbers.
Light and glare from ALAN can have a devastating effect on wetlands, home to amphibians such as frogs and toads and migratory birds. Migratory birds often navigate at night using the moon and stars. ALAN can trick these birds into deviating from their migratory routes, sometimes with fatal consequences. Irresponsibly-lit tall buildings in cities around the world draw these doomed birds, which then collide with them.
Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) in America states that brightly-lit tower blocks in Toronto could be responsible for tens of thousands of bird fatalities a year.
The volume of flora and fauna negatively affected by ALAN is so far-reaching that it would be impossible to list each species, but they range across the spectrum to include such animals as turtle hatchlings, some of which turn the wrong way at night. Instead of heading for the moonlit ocean, tragically they are drawn to the bright lights of towns and roads.
Whether in town or country, many can't escape the light pollution of Thanet Earth (pic Craig Solly)
We often hear people panic at the mere suggestion streetlights are turned off after hours, citing safety as a primary reason. Others are that streetlights make people 'feel' safer and that the accident rate might increase 'tenfold' if street lighting is removed, either in towns or on dual carriageways, and crime rates will soar. It may come as a surprise, but these perceptions are not backed by science or fact, and in some cases, it is quite the opposite: street lighting can do more harm than good when it comes to crime and safety.
Many people reside in the countryside with no street lighting for miles and manage to survive quite adequately, avoiding being run over, burgled or attacked, while cars do not suddenly lose control when no streetlight is on.
A number of studies make the same findings, but two major papers draw similar conclusions:
The first study found, in summary, the following results:
Switch-off (permanently turning off streetlights) was not associated with an increase in night-time traffic collisions or crime
Part-night lighting (for example streetlights switched off between midnight and 6am) was not associated with an increase in night-time traffic collisions or crime
Replacing conventional yellow lighting with white light was not associated with an increase in night-time traffic collisions and was associated with a reduction in crime, though estimates were imprecise
Dimming of conventional yellow light or white light was not associated with an increase in night-time traffic collisions and was associated with a reduction in crime, though estimates were imprecise
It concluded that turning off streetlights resulted in "little evidence of harmful effects… on road collisions or crime in England and Wales" and "found no evidence for an increase in collisions where street lighting was reduced at night".
The second study of reviewed literature concluded: "In the light of these findings it can be considered highly unlikely that the Cambridgeshire part-night lighting scheme will cause an increase in crime."
What are the figures for rural crime, where few or no streetlights occur, as opposed to towns, often heavily peppered with streetlights?
According to statistics from the Office for National Statistics 2018-19 crime and justice bulletin, the rate of violence against any one individual was 20.2 per 1,000 population in mainly rural areas compared with 29.5 per 1,000 population in mainly urban areas.
For sexual offences the rural figure was 2.2 per 1,000 against 2.8 per 1,000 urban areas and the rate for recorded crime was also lower in rural areas than urban areas, for example robbery, domestic burglary and vehicle offences. The figures here were 4.3 per 1,000 population (rural) versus 9.5 per 1,000 in urban areas.
There is of course more reason for these figures than just a lack of streetlighting in rural areas, but these figures may tell us that streetlighting does not seem to have any influence on keeping people safe at night.
It has been found that ALAN can increase atmospheric pollution negatively, affecting the air we breathe. A recent study presented by Harald Stark from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that ALAN destroyed nitrate radicals and in so doing prevented the natural night-time reduction of atmospheric smog produced by fumes generated from cars and factories.
Every night the nitrate radical NO3, which is destroyed by sunlight, builds up during the night, neutralising some of the nitrogen oxides (NOx), which pollute the air during daylight hours, leading to increased levels of ozone (O3), which can cause breathing difficulties.
Further research, cited by Kelly Beatty in her article Night Lights Worsen Smog, claims to show that this clean-up is inhibited due to nitrate radicals being destroyed by vertical night-time light-glow spillage emanating from outside lighting on the ground.
Astronomers who study the night sky are particularly sensitive to even the lowest levels of light pollution. Indeed, skyglow can destroy their chances of studying the night sky completely.
… and this is what we're missing (pic Bob Mizon)
How can we reduce the impact of ALAN?
Of course, the one preferred default is no light at all. However, the type of bulb you use can have a huge impact on how many insects are attracted, especially winged insects.
It is recommended that we use warm-coloured LED bulbs for outside lighting and avoid white LED sources. A study by Michael Justin from the University of North Carolina found incandescent light bulbs were attracted the highest number of insects, followed by CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps), halogen globes and cool-coloured (such as blue) LEDs.
The second-best light was the 'bug light' and surprisingly the winner, with the fewest insects attracted, was the warm LED bulb.
We can use light fittings that angle the light down where it is needed and do not allow the light to flood out across fields and into the night sky. As pretty as that lantern is, it's not night-friendly. Further, lighting need be kept on only when necessary – we can turn it off once in bed or when our visitors have left. These are only small gestures in the great scheme of things, but if everyone did this it would collectively make a huge difference. Who knows, we might even get back our night sky and nature can begin to slowly mend.
Tagged light pollution, night skies, Thanet, Thanet Earth
Can we allow this popular cliff-top walk to be ruined by bungalow estate?
Posted 9th Sep 20 , filed under News
Pegwell Bay and the surrounding area attracts walkers from far and wide (pic Vicky Ellis)
The walk from Pegwell village along the cliff-top towards Pegwell Bay is enjoyed by locals, visitors and ramblers alike – but its setting will be ruined if a bungalow estate at the start of the footpath is granted permission.
A developer is looking to build the six bungalows on the edge of the village, which would of course itself suffer from the plans should they be approved by Thanet District Council.
Pegwell and District Association – a member of CPRE Kent – is objecting strongly to the application and inviting all concerned by the proposal to make representation by Thursday, September 17.
The application number is OL/TH/20/0564
The association is objecting to the application on the following grounds:
The planned scheme is totally incompatible with the rural nature of Pegwell village and its cliff-top setting – a designated conservation area.
The application seeks to widen the public footpath TR15 to create access to the proposed development. This is wholly inappropriate for this popular track that forms part of the England Coast Path and the Contra Trail, which is extremely popular with local people, walkers and visitors alike.
The loss of hedgerow that would be entailed in the planned widening of the footpath noted above is not acceptable. Hedgerows are a scarce feature in Thanet and home to a tremendous amount of wildlife.
The building of the bungalows would result in the loss of high-quality agricultural land, although note the observation below on an earlier planning application (OL/TH/20/0876).
The proposed development abuts the Thanet Coast Special Area of Conservation and is unacceptably close to Sandwich and Pegwell Bay NNR –Kent's largest National Nature Reserve – and the Thanet Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The planned road entrance would be an obvious safety hazard to road- users and pedestrians alike.
The proposed access route would necessitate the loss of hedgerow between the site and Pegwell Road – see observation on hedgerows above.
If you would like to make a representation, visit https://planning.thanet.gov.uk/online-applications and search OL/TH/20/0564
Tagged coast, Pegwell, Thanet, walking
£34 million on a new station that will increase journey time from Thanet to London: a 'robust business case'… apparently
This is what a (£34 million) white elephant looks like
Sometimes a planning decision leaves you struggling for words – and that by Kent County Council's planning committee to approve a parkway station that will increase journey times from Thanet to London certainly hits the spot.
Councillors decided by eight votes to five to approve the £34 million Thanet Parkway project, choosing to put aside a Department for Transport statement from 2018 that its panel was "concerned that accommodating an additional stop at Thanet Parkway would add two minutes to the journey on the line between Ashford and Ramsgate".
The county council argument has been that the station will in fact cut journey times to London by three minutes – yes, you read that correctly: three minutes – although it is by no means clear how even that laughably small reductionwill be achieved.
Extraordinarily, Thanet now has eight railway stations.
The committee made its decision in a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, September 2.
It is telling that committee members representing Thanet all voted against the scheme regardless of their party affiliation – but what do they know?
Clearly the statement by Sharon Thompson, the county council's head of planning applications, that "We are confident the business case is robust" carried more weight, despite a lack of supporting evidence.
KentOnline reported how committee vice-chairman Dick Pascoe dismissed the idea that Thanet would be oversupplied with train stations by talking about Chinese restaurants: "A Chinese restaurant wanted to open in a Kent area where there were several Chinese restaurants and we did not say no," he apparently said.
How £34 million for a scheme that will increase journey times represents a robust business case is something you might like to ponder over your evening Horlicks. As for the Chinese restaurants thing, perhaps it's best not to think about it.
For more on this baffling decision, click here
Tagged railways, Thanet, Thanet Parkway, transport
Thanet Parkway railway station: is this the most expensive white elephant we've spotted for a while?
Posted 27th Aug 20 , filed under Transport
Early impressions of a Thanet Parkway station
Just weeks after the announcement that Kent County Council was facing the biggest financial crisis in its history, its officers are recommending that a £34 million Thanet Parkway railway station be approved.
The officers claim the development of the station will enable journey times from Thanet to London to be cut by three minutes… and yes, that is put forward as a positive.
KCC planning committee is to decide on the scheme during a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, September 2, from 10am.
Just to clarify a little background to that impending decision: a cost of £34 million (the initial estimate was £11 million), the loss of some 23 acres of high-quality farmland, no permanent station staff and no commercial bus services… all for a saving of three minutes' journey time.
And even that alleged saving is very much up for debate. A damning Department for Transport statement from 2018 said its panel was "concerned that accommodating an additional stop at Thanet Parkway would add two minutes to the journey on the line between Ashford and Ramsgate."
So the time-saving from Thanet to London is, in truth, down to one minute, while the journey from Ramsgate to Ashford, for example, would actually take longer!
Then factor in the added driving time for travellers using the Parkway rather than existing stations such as Margate and Ramsgate (and the resulting congestion) and it's difficult to see any benefit to this scheme at all.
South East Local Enterprise Partnership has granted £14 million towards it, the government £12m and Thanet District Council some £2m. That leaves some £6m for the county council to pay.
It is reported that KCC could have to make up to £130 million savings… Thanet Parkway station might be a very good place to start.
To read more about the (very expensive) Thanet Parkway white elephant, click here
Tagged Railway, Thanet, Thanet Parkway


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