text:
Internet Video: Half $ Billion Belmont School Described by Former Legal Counsel (7 min)
Los Angeles, CA Senior Partner with the O'Melveny & Myers lawfirm, Mr. David Cartwright, who served as the outside real estate Counsel to the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) in the early days of the Belmont Learning Center project, appears in a seven minute Full Disclosure video preview of a one-hour interview at the following URL: http://www.fulldisclosure.net/flash/395-6_Cartwright.htm
HISTORY OF PROJECT
Cartwright explains the history of the project and why there was no prosecution of allegations of waste, fraud and abuse, documented in the reports prepared by LAUSD Inspector General Don Mullinax. Experts have estimated the unfinished and unoccupied Belmont school has cost a half a $Billion dollars and is under re-construction almost ten years later after a demolition of some of the new buildings located on an earthquake fault.
KNOCK DOWN BARRIERS
He also, describes how as legal counsel he charted the course as "part of a project team that was specifically created to start knocking down the barriers to school construction" and explains why the Belmont site, formerly known as the old Los Angeles oil field, was purchased "as is" and why the developer failed to remediate the toxic hazards of methane gas and hydrogen sulfide on the site.
INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT "FICTION"
In describing the condemning reports prepared by LAUSD Inspector General Don Mullinax and the California Joint Legislative Audit committee on Belmont, Cartwright says they were complete works of "fiction". .
He blames school board member David Tokofsky and legal counselors to LAUSD Inspector General for shutting down Belmont construction. Cartwright claimed they didn't "have a clue about school construction or oil and gas." Describing them as having "...a fairly scandalous role in the Belmont project..." "...who have quite reprehensible conduct in this whole affair."
BELMONT TELEVISION SERIES
This interview is one of fourteen, hour-long interviews conducted by the Full Disclosure Network, with the major players involved in the planning, financing and development of the notorious Belmont Learning Center. Award winning host and interviewer, Leslie Dutton was presented with a local public affairs Emmy for the 2002 series entitled "L.A.'s War Against Terrorism" featuring law enforcement officials LAPD Chief Bernard Parks, L.A. County Sheriff Leroy Baca, Police Union Director and LAPD Lt. Ken Hillman and Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas on how they planned to work together to fight terrorism in Los Angeles.
The Full Disclosure programs can be seen on 43 cable systems and the Internet. A listing of cable channels and airtimes is available on the website at : http://www.fulldisclosure.net/Channels/channelsINDEX.htm
Posted by Full Disclosure Network at 8:49 AM
Watch Video of Civil Rights Attorney Stephen Yagma...
U.S. Attorney Yang Describes Arresting Illegals At...
Boycott Backlash? Nativo Lopez Describes the Immi...
Internet Video: Half $ Billion Belmont School Des...
Public Response to Illegal Immigration Debate:
Public Channels Black-Out L.A. Sheriffs Debate & I...
L. A. COUNTY SHERIFF CANDIDATES DEBATE THE ISSUES


text:
Central Florida Regional Hospital Receives Full Level II Trauma Center Designation
Central Florida Regional Hospital...
Sanford, FL – Central Florida Regional Hospital has received official designation as a Level II Trauma Center from the Florida Department of Health. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) officials completed in-depth reviews, including an on-site visit to the hospital in March, before issuing approval.
In May 2015, Central Florida Regional successfully completed AHCA's initial review phase and was granted Provisional Level II Trauma Center status. Since then, the hospital has accepted Level II trauma patients with critical injuries, such as victims of motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries and penetrating wounds.
When emergency medical services personnel respond to critically injured patients, they transport them to the nearest trauma center capable of providing appropriate treatment. Prior to May 2015, many patients in Seminole and West Volusia counties were transported more than 25 miles to the nearest trauma center. The availability of a trauma center in Seminole County reduces transport times for many patients during the "golden hour" – a 60-minute window for bringing patients to a designated trauma center. Multiple studies, including a Sept. 2015 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Surgery, show that the sooner care is given within that hour, the better the outcome. Trauma is the leading cause of death among Floridians under the age of 44, and Florida's death rate for trauma remains higher than the national average.
Central Florida Regional Hospital is affiliated with Florida's first and largest statewide network of trauma centers, developed as an affiliation between the University of South Florida (USF) and HCA to improve access and outcomes of injured patients. These trauma centers provide:
24/7 in-house coverage by a trauma surgeon
24/7 access to specialty and non-specialty surgeons and physicians
24/7 on-call neurosurgeons
24/7 on-site anesthesia provider, surgical services team and trauma-trained nurses
"All of us at Central Florida Regional Hospital are honored to have expanded our community's access to life-saving trauma care for critically injured patients," said Wendy Brandon, Chief Executive Officer of Central Florida Regional Hospital. "Today we celebrate the dedication of our entire hospital team in achieving this milestone."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


University of Kentucky basketball great Mike Casey died Thursday at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville.
Mr. Casey, who was 60, had had congestive heart failure since 1988.
Recently he had been on a heart transplant list, but he was taken off the list because he was too ill for the procedure, said his daughter, Laura Lake of Franklin, Tenn.
Mr. Casey received a ventricular assist device, which helps the heart pump blood, in March, she said.
His sophomore year successes led to an appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
He was named All-SEC three times and All-NCAA Mideast Regional in 1968.
He averaged 19.1 points during his junior year.
Mr. Casey was forced to sit out the 1969-70 season after he suffered a broken leg in a car accident but returned for the 1970-71 season.
"He went very peacefully, and we were all around him," Lake said. "He fought as much as his body could fight."
Former UK men's basketball coach Joe B. Hall said, "We feel like it's a great loss to our Wildcat family ... We remember his courage and his fight. He carried on just the way he did on the floor."
This month, Mr. Casey is to be inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Louisville.
In addition to his daughter, Mr. Casey is survived by a sister, Masha Miller of Shelbyville.
Arrangements were pending at Shannon Funeral Home in Shelbyville.


text:
Kellogg appoints DigitasLBi as EMEA digital agency of record
Julia Conroy PR & Marketing Director Phone: +44 20 7063 6914 Email: julia.conroy@Digitas.com
DigitasLBi has today announced that it has been appointed as the retained digital agency for Kellogg across EMEA. The announcement follows a competitive pitch.
DigitasLBi will now partner with Kellogg's to develop and implement a category-leading digital marketing strategy for all brands across key EMEA regions.
In line with Publicis Groupe's Power of One approach, and in order to demonstrate the need for a seamlessly integrated agency team with data and digital at its heart, DigitasLBi chose to pitch for the Kellogg business in partnership with its current creative agency Leo Burnett. DigitasLBi will now work alongside Kellogg's other agencies to deliver a fully joined-up marketing approach for its brands.
The deal is the latest example of Publicis Groupe agencies joining forces to pitch and win new business, and follows the recent appointment of a DigitasLBi-led Publicis Groupe agency team to Shangri-La's global digital business.
Chris Nolan, Media & Digital Director, Kellogg's EMEA, said:
"Digitas demonstrated a deep understanding of how digital can drive our business forward. They understood the need to put data at the heart of what we do and to drive change in how we connect with our consumers into the future. Their approach to integration is simple and compelling, and we believe our brands will benefit from it immediately".
Lianne Dixon, International Client Service Director, DigitasLBi added:
"We couldn't be happier about having the opportunity to work with Kellogg's, and we're delighted that our open and collaborative approach to pitching was such a success. We're looking forward to working as part of a seamless agency team to support Kellogg's on their digital journey."
DigitasLBi is a modern, data-inspired agency.
We are the only agency designed to offer clients who seek to transform their marketing a complete stack of services, from integrated communications, to commerce to CRM and innovation services, across the world, all driven by our data about what really counts for your business.
Our global workforce of 6,000 includes industry-leading creatives in each region, working with data scientists, technology experts and media specialists to demonstrate what can be achieved when hard data meets imagination.
Our work is designed to make a place for our clients' brands in the busy lives of the people they want to connect with.
In short, DigitasLBi exists to make your brand count.
DigitasLBi is part of Publicis.Sapient, a Digital Transformation Platform purpose-built to solve for the challenges of today's digital world — where companies seek to become fully digital businesses. Publicis.Sapient is 23,000 people strong, across 100 offices in 50 countries.
For more information, visit www.publicis.sapient.com.
DigitasLBi promotes Scott Ross to Chief Technology Officer, International
REGION Required field
REGION Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Check this box if you would like to receive emails from Digitas. Required field
©2020 Digitas, 2 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London W12 7FR, United Kingdom +44 (0)207 063 6465


Policy and practice in NSW for behaviour support prior to the introduction of the NDIS.
The primary target for this resource is clinicians working with people from a CALD background - but it makes useful and interesting reading for all services looking to be culturally appropriate.
This is a very useful compendium and guide to good positive behaviour practice - particularly in supporting people with intellectual disability or other cognitive impairments.
A short, easy to read fact sheet about the benefits and risks of integrating social media platforms into an organisation's public relations strategy.
A simple, easily-read fact sheet about the National Employment Standards under the Fair Work Act. Covers all 10 Standards from a not-for-profit, NGO perspective.
A webinar (just over an hour) considering the legal distinctions between employees, contracts and volunteers involved with an organisation's support arrangements. Asks the question, why should NGO leaders care about such distinctions?
Short video about the risk management questions, obligations and management duties of involving volunteers in supporting clients. Very watchable.
A blog on effective leadership published by an adviser with global IT consultants, Gartner Inc. Short. Articles are sharp and easy to read with a focus on what leadership means and requires in transforming environments.
A short article about leadership attributes from a blog published by an adviser with global IT consultants, Gartner Inc. Short, sharp and easy to read with a focus on what leadership means and requires in transforming environments.
A quick read from an American Executive Search company. The short article focuses on the need to align staff recruitment with organisational purpose.


text:
Kejimkujik National Park New Solar Installation to Save CA$30K in Power Costs
Announced by Parks Canada in 2021, an impressive solar array installation in Kejimkujik National Park (Nova Scotia, Canada) has now been completed.
According to a report, it is anticipated that the solar panel will be able to produce enough power to meet the electrical needs of campground visitors.
Jennifer Eaton, a volunteer coordinator from Kejimkujik National Park, explained that the installation comprises 272 solar panels connected to the Nova Scotia Power grid.
The four solar panels will provide electricity to the grid and offset the power campground visitors use for the park.
The large solar array makes Kejimkujik the first national park in Canada to establish a net zero campground which significantly helps in reducing greenhouse emissions.
According to Eaton, the solar array already produced more power than expected. It's producing about 550-kilowatt hours a day. Eaton added that the solar array's output in one day could supply a refrigerator for 18 months.
The federal government funded the solar array with a CA$600,000 investment and is expected to save the park CA$30,000 annually in electricity costs. According to Eaton, the project will have paid for itself in 20 years.
The project significantly reduces the park's greenhouse gas emissions by 17%, equivalent to 96 tonnes of greenhouse gases. Eaton noted that the amount of greenhouse gases removed from the system is comparable to taking 30 cars off the road for a year.
The hope is that other National Parks will also follow and establish systems to offset the carbon footprints in Canada's protected areas.
As per its website, Kejimkujik features a variety of camping experiences, from front-country campsites for tents, trailers, and RVs to backcountry sites accessible by hiking, biking, or paddling.
Campers can stay at an oTENTik, Ôasis, rustic cabin, or yurt for a more private and cozy camping experience.
This story originally appeared on PV Buzz.


Is The Sunshine Coast Population Growing Too Fast?
No Comments on Is the Sunshine Coast growing too fast?
Popularity is a double-edged sword it seems.
While there are plenty of reasons why the Sunshine Coast region is the growth darling north of Brisbane, there's the threat more people calling the coast home will bring services and amenities to a grinding halt.
The Sunshine Coast's renaissance following the GFC is well and truly entrenched.
According to the Sunshine Coast Council's Priority Infrastructure Plan 2014, the region's population is expected to jump to approximately 457,000 by 2031 – so it seems the coast needs to get its house in order before all these new guests arrive.
Drill down into the numbers and you discover where the newbies are coming from.
Queensland as a whole has seen net interstate migration (NIM) on the rise – the ABS reports NIM as at March 2017 reaching 15,716 people.
To put that into perspective, the 2016 figure was a respectable 14,256, but in 2015 NIM was just 5598.
Couple this with the fact that while Queensland's population is on the rise, jobs are not.
The State's unemployment rate of six per cent is one of the country's highest, so, new Queenslanders aren't looking for jobs – they're arriving for lifestyle.
This is reinforced when you consider, according to CoreLogic, home values grew just 2.4 per cent in Brisbane over the past 12 months, while they jumped nearly seven per cent on both the Sunshine and Gold coasts.
The Regional Australia Institute forecasts the Sunshine Coast to have the second highest growth rate of any region in Queensland through to at least 2036.
While it's great to be the centre of attention, can the infrastructure cope?
Government seems to be giving it a red hot go with some great infrastructure plans already well documented.
The University Hospital at Birtinya has been on the lips of every southern Sunshine Coast agent and resident for years as its construction gave a wage to a whole swathe of builders.
Now we're seeing the rise in professional health care service staff looking to take advantage of this great facility. In relation to medical infrastructure the coast seems to do alright.
The Sunshine Coast Regional Airport upgrade is another shining light.
With a spend of more than $345 million on the cards, the new runway, tower and other facilities will create a truly international hub for tourists as direct overseas flights with bigger aircraft become the norm.
The Maroochydore retail and commercial precinct is getting even more impressive, and the Sunshine Plaza $400 million upgrade just keeps on going.
The Sunshine Coast Council is also touting a business, technology and retail precinct adjacent to the University of the Sunshine Coast as a boon to the region, while the 24-hectare Sunshine Coast Solar Farm began working in earnest last year.
Perhaps the most confounding element of infrastructure on the Sunshine Coast is transport.
It's a region of car owners – there's no doubt – with the Sunshine Motorway forming a connective spine between north and south.
And while there are options to head inland and take the Bruce Highway, congestion among the service roads can be a bit troublesome – just ask anyone looking to merge in around Caloundra Road.
Trains between the beaches are non-existent and probably not a practical solution.
The result is a bus network to help commuters within the region's boundaries get around.
While we should applaud their gumption, some journeys that would be 30 minutes by car can exceed an hour by bus – particularly if they involve one or two changes or multiple stops between destinations.
For those who're brave enough to live coast-side but travel to Brisbane for work, there are daily headaches on the Bruce Highway.
Upgrades are under way to increase the numbers of lanes but the highway is still like a carpark during many rush hours.
You can take the train to and from Brisbane but sometimes infrequent services and connecting buses will make for a long journey. Mind you, the rail line duplication from Beerburrum to Nambour should help improve the journey.
Expect the Sunshine Coast to continue being a region on the grow… as long as all tiers of government continue to recognise its economic importance – and treat its infrastructure requirement with the gravity it deserves – then there's little doubt the Sunshine Coast will continue to forge ahead.


text:
Analyzing Social Networks on Twitter
Date: This event took place live on November 09 2011
Presented by: Maksim Tsvetovat
Duration: Approximately 60 minutes.
Questions? Please send email to
Twitter is rapidly becoming a "common carrier" of social media, a wire that transmits a variety of content rather then a social network in itself. Yet, Twitter data is rich in elements that yield to Social Network Analysis techniques and can produce unique insights into information diffusion. This course will cover:
Harvesting data from Twitter via search and streaming APIs
Decomposing Tweets into constituent parts
Fast-and-frugal content analysis of tweets
Deriving and analyzing social network data found in tweets.
Analyzing friends and followers
About Maksim Tsvetovat
Maksim Tsvetovat is an interdisciplinary scientist, a software engineer, and a jazz musician. He has received his doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University in the field of Computation, Organizations and Society, concentrating on computational modeling of evolution of social networks, diffusion of information and attitudes, and emergence of collective intelligence. Currently, he teaches social network analysis at George Mason University. He is also a co-founder of DeepMile Networks, a startup company concentrating on mapping influence in social media. Maksim also teaches executive seminars in social network analysis, including "Social Networks for Startups" and "Understanding Social Media for Decisionmakers".
© 2020, O'Reilly Media, Inc.
All trademarks and registered trademarks appearing on oreilly.com are the property of their respective owners.
About O'Reilly
Community & Featured Users
Meetups & User Groups
makerfaire.com
craftzine.com
O'Reilly Insights on Forbes.com
Shop O'Reilly
The O'Reilly Guarantee


Yi Gang, deputy governor of People's Bank of China and head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, said in the speech that the appreciation of the yuan benefits more people in China than it hurts.
The People's Bank of China said the country does not benefit any more from increases in its foreign-currency holdings, adding to signs policy makers will rein in dollar purchases that limit the yuan's appreciation.
"It's no longer in China's favor to accumulate foreign-exchange reserves," Yi Gang, a deputy governor at the central bank, said in a speech organized by China Economists 50 Forum at Tsinghua University yesterday. The monetary authority will "basically" end normal intervention in the currency market and broaden the yuan's daily trading range, Governor Zhou Xiaochuan wrote in an article in a guidebook explaining reforms outlined last week following a Communist Party meeting. Neither Yi nor Zhou gave a timeframe for any changes.
China's foreign-exchange reserves surged $166 billion in the third quarter to a record $3.66 trillion, more than triple those of any other country and bigger than the gross domestic product of Germany, Europe's largest economy. The increase suggested money poured into the nation's assets even as developing nations from Brazil to India saw an exit of capital because of concern the Federal Reserve will taper stimulus.
Yi, who is also head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, said in the speech that the yuan's appreciation benefits more people in China than it hurts.
His comments are "consistent with the plans to increase the renminbi's flexibility so they become less interventionist,"Sacha Tihanyi, senior currency strategist at Scotiabank in Hong Kong, said by phone today. The central bank may widen the yuan's trading band in "the coming few months," he added.
The yuan's spot rate is allowed to diverge a maximum 1 percent on either side of a daily reference rate set by the People's Bank of China. The trading range was doubled in April 2012, after being expanded from 0.3 percent in May 2007. The band could be widened to 2 percent, Hong Kong Apple Daily reported today, citing an interview with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's former chief executive Joseph Yam.
Capital inflows into China accelerated in October, official data suggest. Yuan positions at the nation's financial institutions accumulated from foreign-exchange purchases, a gauge of capital flows, climbed 441.6 billion yuan ($72 billion), the most since January.
About half of October's increase in the positions was attributable to surpluses in trade and foreign direct investment, with the rest accounted for by inflows of "hot money," Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Hong Kong-based analysts MK Tang and Li Cui wrote in a Nov. 18 note.
"It appears that many in the People's Bank think the time is about right to scale back currency interventions," Mark Williams, London-based chief Asia economist at Capital Economics Ltd., wrote in an e-mail yesterday. "But China has got itself into a situation where stopping intervention will be very hard to do" and comments such as Yi's will spur speculative inflows, he added.
Yi's comments didn't imply China will be cutting its holdings of U.S. government debt, said Scotiabank's Tihanyi. "They are probably going to keep their allocations reasonably stable unless there's a big policy shift, but it means they will possibly be buying less at the margin," he said.


Quality landscape installations involve care and attention. The landscaping contracting process includes several important steps… many of those happen long before a truck, crew and equipment appear at your home to put plants into the ground.
Successful landscape installation projects involve a skilled contractor. Earthscape takes an active role in the selection process of trees, shrubs and ground covers. We select trees, shrubs and ground covers for quality and their particular purpose within the landscape plan. We have the experience and strong relationships with local nurseries. We take pride in the selection of plants that will flourish and enhance the appearance of your home.
Every member of our team working on your site has been properly trained and will work to provide you with quality landscape installation safely and effectively. Our crew leaders have several years of experience in the industry and are prepared to tackle a variety of projects.
Landscape is not something that stands still and looks the same; it grows and changes. Following your home landscape installation, we are available to answer your questions on plant care. Contact the experts at Earthscape today to help you with all of your landscape questions, including landscape installation. We are proud to serve Neenah, Appleton and all of the surrounding areas.


When in 1946 Norman Granz decided to record Ralph Burns Introspection, a short mood piece with several changes in rhythm, the young Burns was already well-known thanks to his association as chief arranger and pianist with Woody Herman. For the next five years, this recording remained the only one he had done under his own name, being concentrated mostly in his work as a freelance and occasionally writing for Herman.
In 1951, again for Granz, Burns recorded Free Forms, a series of random thoughts, little melodies set down for a small chamber orchestra. Some of them are jazz tunes, some are not. All are representative of a wide range of music, from Bach and Verdi to Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker. The 1954 Leonard Feathers suite Winter Sequence is played by an eleven-piece band for which Ralph built the arrangements of each number as a miniature concerto tailored to the talents of the featured musician.
Sonny Berman, Conrad Gozzo, (tp); Bill Harris, Ollie Wilson, (tb); Vince DeRosa (frh); Harry Klee (fl,cl); Hal McKusick (as); Herbie Steward, Lucky Thompson (ts); Chuck Gentry (bs); Dodo Marmarosa (p); Arvin Garrison (g); Red Callender (b); Don Lamond (d).
A 15-piece orchestra conducted by Ralph Burns including: string quartet, woodwind quintet, and French horn, with Ralph Burns (p); Ray Brown (b); Joe Jones (d); Lee Konitz (as on #2,5,7,9).
Joe Wilder (tp); Kai Winding (tb); Jimmy Buffington (frh); Bill Barber, (tuba); Herbie Mann (fl, ts); Vinnie Dean (piccolo, as); Danny Bank (fl, bs); Ralph Burns (p); Billy Bauer (g); Oscar Pettiford (b, cello); Osie Johnson (d).


text:
Carlisle MP re-elected Chair of the APPG for…
Dozens of trees toppled in Great Knott Wood
[F]erocious winds which ripped through the Lake District last week toppled dozens of 50ft trees.
Great Knott Wood, on the banks of Lake Windermere, took a huge brunt of the storm, due to its hillside position.
Strong winds toppled Norway spruce and there was fears that the Blessed Talking Tree would be affected but it has stood firm.
Woodland Trust Site Manager Heather Swift said; "The wind came from an unusual direction which these huge fast growing trees couldn't cope with as roots has insufficient grip on the wet, rocky ground."
Around 170 trees fell, resulting in a massive tangle along the main track and many single blockages. Signs are now up at the main entrances, explaining to visitors where they can or can't get to.
Work to clear the tracks is ongoing and expected to be completed by Easter.
Recordings of actor Brian Blessed's voice were fitted and installed inside the very special yew tree at Great Knott Wood last year, bringing the wood to life for visitors.
Great Knott Wood is a precious area of ancient woodland on the edge of Lake Windermere being used by the Trust as a restoration demonstration site to educate and inspire visitors' understanding of why ancient woodland is so important.
The tree tells us it's been there for hundreds of years as the woodland has been looked after by people, but later too many planted trees had blocked out the sun for the yew, before the trust thinned out the wood as part of its restoration process.
Ancient woods are a vital part of our history and natural landscape. These precious, irreplaceable habitats have been in existence since at least the earliest reliable maps were published – 1600 in England and Wales and 1750 in Scotland – although many are centuries older.
Soil in ancient woodland is unique and contains numerous fungi, insects, microbes and nutrients – some rare plants and fungi rely on its ecological value to grow and survive. Ancient woodland is also the home of veteran trees which, along with deadwood, fallen logs and branches provide one of the most important habitats for wildlife. Archaeological features that create links to our past can also be found in many ancient woods.
Today, ancient woodland is facing increasing threats and covers only 2% of the UK. Almost half of what remains is in need of restoration as a result of being planted with non-native conifers and the spread of invasive species such as rhododendron, which can cause damage to the existing wildlife.
foundGreat Knott WoodLake DistrictLake Windermere0
Birds of prey persecution: The Evidence
£125,000 from National Lottery players awarded to Cumbrian community projects
Firefighters tackle Whitehaven blaze
Have your say on Allerdale taxi fares in new consultation exercise
The 'Northern Kingdom' Prepares For Latest Instalment of 'Game of Stones'
"Fagin-like" Penrith robbery teen facing long jail term


AMMONNEWS - The United States marked the 40th anniversary of Iran's Islamic Revolution by highlighting what it says are the "broken promises" of the Middle Eastern country's leadership.
Tehran launched celebrations Friday to mark the 1979 return from exile of the Islamic republic's founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and the revolution that overthrew a centuries-old dynasty.
"When he returned to Iran in 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini made lots of promises to the Iranian people, including justice, freedom, and prosperity. 40 years later, Iran's ruling regime has broken all those promises, and has produced only 40 years of failure," the US State Department wrote on its official Twitter account.
The administration of President Donald Trump has been consistently hawkish on Iran and tries to counter what it considers Iran's "destabilizing" influence in the region.
The two countries have not had diplomatic relations since 1980, and the president pulled the United States from an international agreement meant to check Iran's nuclear weapon ambitions.


My sisters new Iphone found all these pictures of me and put this video together. We laughed so hard. The funny thing is all of these pics are over like a ten year span. I love it so much and think it is hilarious.


Chart Courtesy of Western Asset Management. Source: J.P.Morgan, Bloomberg, as of Nov 12, 2018. * Index: J.P. Morgan GBI-EM Global Diversified Index FX Return. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indexes are unmanaged, and not available for direct investment. Index returns do not include fees or sales charges. This information is provided for illustrative purposes only and does not reflect the performance of an actual investment.
The chart shows, over the past five years as of November 12, 2018, the currency component of global Emerging Market fixed-income securities, as represented by J.P. Morgan GBI-EM Global Diversified Index FX Return.
Between a strong U.S. dollar, headlines about Brazil, Russia, Argentina and Turkey, and the beginning of the end of central bank largesse, investors in Emerging Market (EM) bonds have not had much to celebrate this year.
But one notable result of the onslaught has been some of the most heavily-discounted valuations available within the universe of fixed income investing.
Consider EM currencies. As of early November, the currency component of EM returns over the past five years – that is, the share of asset class performance affected by the fall of its currencies alone – is down over 35%.
That's one reason Western Asset, in CIO Ken Leech's quarterly outlook, singles out EM debt as the most undervalued asset class at current levels – the direct result of the current level of skepticism. The deep discount offered by the EM sector thus may merit a second look for investors seeking return as well as diversification.
The J.P. Morgan GBI-EM Global Diversified Index FX Return measures the currency component of the return of the J.P. Morgan Global Bond Index – Emerging Market Global Diversified (GBI-EM). The J.P. Morgan Global Bond Index – Emerging Market Global Diversified represents the performance of Emerging Market bonds in all geographies.


text:
Dennis W. Donley, Jr.
Email: donley@namanhowell.com
Dennis is a partner in the 100+-year-old law firm of Naman, Howell, Smith and Lee, PLLC. Dennis is chair of the firm's Regulatory/Infrastructure and Government Relations Sections. His practice has primarily focused on work for infrastructure projects, utilities, litigation and government relations. Dennis has successfully led multibillion dollar matters as well as represented clients and litigated cases across numerous jurisdictions. Additionally, Dennis was appointed to serve as Conventional Counsel and General Counsel for The Republican Party of Texas for a number of years while he has been at Naman Howell and is a frequent speaker on a variety of topics.
Prior to joining the firm in 1998, Dennis clerked/interned for Justice James A. Baker of the Texas Supreme Court, Judge Paul Davis, 200th District Court Judge, Congressman Frank Lucas and even founded his own company, "Power Wash +".
Dennis received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law and his Bachelors Degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (summa cum laude) with double majors in Political Science and History. Dennis completed both his undergraduate and law school education in just over five years.
Litigation/Advocacy
Government Relations/Political Law
The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
Honors: A.T.L.A. Senior Mock Trial Competition, Champion
Law Review: Editor/Founder, Texas Review of Law & Politics, 1996 – 1998
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton, Texas
B.S. – 1995
Major: Political Science
Major: History
Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star, Thomson Reuters Legal, 2004, 2012-2014
General Counsel, Republican Party of Texas
Convention Council, Republican State Convention
Marquis Who's Who in American Law
2010 Austin Under 40 Award Winner, Legal Category,
Austin's Young Men's Business League (YMBL)
Texas Young Lawyers Association Voter Education Committee, Member
Texas Young Lawyers Association Dropout Prevention Committee, Member
Austin Young Lawyers Association Bench-Bar Committee, Member
Austin Young Lawyers Association Community Service Committee, Member
Austin Young Lawyers Association Teen Court Committee, Member
Travis County Bar Association, Member
University of Texas Business Network-Austin, Chairman
Young Men's Business League of Austin, President
Austin Under 40 Awards, Board of Directors
Austin Area Texas Exes, President
Adopt-a-School Program


Hi, I need a SPI-connection between the arduino and a DDS-chip. The DDS chip generates a signal with an adjustable frequency and phase. The frequency and phase is determined by a frequency or phase word which will be send through the SPI-connection. So I'm trying to write something easy to start, but I can't get it too work. I've read the datasheet and SPCR is OK. I thought that the compiler would recognize the function spi_transfer, which he don't. Since I absolutely have no clue, I wonder how I could send the byte DATA_H_MSB2 through the SPI connection.
I used SPI with another device, it seemed pretty straight forward.
I'm interested in this as well. It looks like there are some SPI setups to take care of. e.g. Clock divider, bit order, etc. Does anyone know what it defaults to if the bits in the SPCR register are not set up?
Here's the code for writing to a MAX7221, compare to the data sheet. Nothing was changed from whatever the defaults are.
The only pin you need to define is the SS pin to be used, the rest are taken care of by the library (and are not changeable in the ATMega hardware).
pinMode(SS, OUTPUT); // Slave Select for SPI <--- Need this here before any SPI writes?
It looks like the MAX7219 wants to transfer data bits on the rising edge of the clock cycles. If I'm using a AD9833, the data sheet indicates the data transfer needs to happen on the falling edges. I guess I need to set the CPOL bit in the SPCR register. Not sure if there is an easy way to do this other than a brute force write to the register?


Buying a home really builds your investment portfolio. Most people want to grow their personal wealth as quickly as possible. A very powerful and popular tool inside your investment portfolio should be real estate. While stocks and bonds may rise and fall quickly, real estate traditionally is less risky with hard collateral in hand.
So how much does home ownership pay? According to Pulsenomics' most recent Home Price Expectation Survey., home prices over the next five years are expected to appreciate 3.64% per year on average and to grow by 18.4% cumulatively. Not too bad of an investment choice.
So how does this work and how is home equity working for homeowners? Oh it is such a beautiful and simple thing. As time progresses and sales prices are pushed up, the homeowner gains equity. Even without doing any upgrades or improvements. The rate of this price acceleration is not constant and many factors can contribute to the calculation. A housing inventory shortage is one factor that would push sales prices higher and encourage competition. Nationally, we are currently in a sellers market, meaning there is less than six months inventory available.
Here is a great situation of real estate working for the homeowner. As an example, let's assume a young couple purchased and closed on a $250,000 home in January. If we look at only the projected increase in the price of that home, how much equity will they earn over the next 5 years?
As you can see, home ownership is a major player in almost any successful investment portfolio. And while you may buy stocks, bonds, and mutual funds; only real estate leaves you with hard collateral in your hand.


text:
Local Journalism Initiative
Prince Rupert Curling Club to host first tournament in two years
Prince Rupert Curling Club will host the Ugly Christmas Sweater Sturling Speil on Dec. 4.
The first competition in two years, since the pandemic halted play, will see ten teams of two face off for the winners crown at the 2021 champions.
The tournament will be played with modified rules to allow for an inclusive array of different levelled curlers. Teams will throw six curling rocks each at both ends of the ice and players will also have the option to play stick delivery or regularly, with their hands.
"I'm super happy to be back," Natasha Lebedic, curling club board member, said. "I love curling. I'm kind of addicted to it."
For Lebedic, the return to the ice feels like a double comeback after the curling rink was closed for a year due to maintenance upgrades. Then the pandemic closures forced the club to remain closed for another year.
"I feel kind of proud that we made it through. We survived and we still have curling to go back to," Lebedic said.
"It feels fantastic," she said. "It's going to be a slow comeback, but it's the comeback," she said adding everybody is super happy and energetic to be back on the ice.
"People are just happy."
The day-long event will also feature planned a "turkey shoot" where a frozen turkey will be thrown down the ice like a curling rock, Lebedic said.
The club's regular curling leagues restarted in November with a weekly scheduled open league, on Wednesdays, and a mixed league played on Fridays.
The Ugly Christmas Sweater Sturling Spiel will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the club's rink and of course, will feature a prize for the ugliest sweater. The entrance fee for participating is $50, which includes the dinner.
Norman Galimski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prince Rupert Northern View
MILAN (AP) — Jeff Goldblum infused Milan Fashion Week with some levity on Sunday as he shimmied down the Prada runway in a dark overcoat that cast a dramatic silhouette. The latest menswear collection in the two-year-old collaboration between Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons as co-creative directors was at once elemental and celebratory, presenting elevated everyday pieces. "We were thinking about meaningful fashion, pieces that make sense,'' Prada said in show notes. "Clothes that make people feel


Designblok, Prague International Design Festival is the largest selection of design and fashion show in Central Europe and traditionally shows a selection of works of designers and manufacturers from all over Europe. Designblok is annually attended by over 200 exhibitors and attracts more than 50,000 visitors.
As part of our first appearance at the prestigious Designblok, our stand will represent a connection between tradition, craft and innovation. You will see new design pieces from our new VISION catalog supplemented with a classic chandelier in an unconventional concept.


For almost 23 years in the industry, I have had the pleasure of helping hundreds of families find their dream homes with the team at Tru Value Homes in Alexandria, AL for 3 years. My goal is to help match every family with a home that meets both their wants and needs. As a frequent top salesman in the region I have the experience and knowledge to help you find the home of your dreams! It would be my pleasure to assist you in your home buying journey! Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you have or if you would like to schedule an appointment call me at 256-820-0510 ext. 103. Hope to hear from you soon!


text:
(function (window) {
    "use strict";

    var console = window.console,
        $ = window.jQuery,
        gui = window.gui,
        old = $.fn.guiNav;

    $.fn.guiNav = function (option) {

        var defaults = {
            styleName: "",
            itemFadeIn: true,
            animationDuration: 500
        };

        option = $.extend(defaults, option);

        this.each(function () {
            var $guiNav = $(this),
                isVertical = $guiNav.hasClass("gui-nav-vertical");

            if (option.styleName) {
                $guiNav.addClass(option.styleName);
            }

            $guiNav.find("li").mouseenter(function () {
                var $navItem = $(this),
                    $$subMenu = $navItem.children("ul");
                $$subMenu.css("left", (isVertical || !$navItem.parent().hasClass("gui-nav")) ? $navItem.width() : 0);
                if (option.itemFadeIn) {
                    $$subMenu.css("opacity", 0).animate({opacity: 1}, option.animationDuration);
                }
            });
        });

        return gui.plugin.patch($.fn.guiNav, this, option);
    };

    // NO CONFLICT
    // ===============

    $.fn.guiNav.noConflict = function () {
        $.fn.guiNav = old;
        return this;
    };

})(window);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Hepatitis B virus is the main cause of chronic liver infection. More than 65 million people are infected worldwide; In Sudan the prevalence is about 8%.
UMST, in collaboration with Ibn Sina Hospital, is carrying a campaign to vaccinate all children at Ed Babiker Khelwa who are negative for Hepatitis B virus with the vaccines. The number of pupils at Ed Babiker Khelwa is around 1200 pupils, and their age ranges from 6 years to 23 years; they are mainly from Darfur states.
A questionnaire was designed for the pupils showing the history of previous infection and jaundice in siblings or parents.
Blood samples are collected (Sera) and examined for (HBSAG) – if the result is positive, the children will be referred to Ibn Sina Hospital for management with follow up.
Those who are seronegative will be vaccinated by HBV vaccine.


text:
With summer comes the mosquitoes: Which spray is best?
Posted: 8:18 AM, Jun 27, 2019
By: Annie Taylor
Summer is in full swing, and with the warmer months comes the mosquitoes.
Not only are the small insects pesky, they are considered the deadliest animal in the world, believe it or not. More than 700 million people around the globe get sick from mosquito bites, and more than 700,000 people die from those bites each year.
"We always see West Nile Virus peaks right after the Fourth of July weekend, because people have been outside and not protecting themselves," says Kylee Grenis, an expert on mosquitoes.
Grenis helped us conduct an experiment to find out which bug repellent works the best.
We purchased three mosquito traps. We sprayed one trap with DEET. The other with a top rated non-DEET spray called Skin So Soft by Avon. The third trap was a controlled trap with no spray.
The traps were hung next to dry ice in a mosquito-infested park.
"We are going to hang some dry ice near those traps to simulate a human standing and breathing and hopefully that will help attract more mosquitoes to our traps," explains Grenis on the use of dry ice.
After an hour, the trap sprayed with DEET had one mosquito. In the Avon-sprayed trap, there were no mosquitos. In the control trap, there were six mosquitos.
The sprays kept the mosquitos away.
As far as sprays go, Grenis says she still prefers DEET.
"It is great at making you invisible to mosquitoes," she says. "That blocks the receptors so that they can't detect your carbon dioxide signature."
But, many consumers fear products with DEET are not safe.
"I think a lot of the time people get it confused with DDT," she explains of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), a chemical compound banned in many countries due to the danger it poses to wildlife and the environment.
DEET is safe to use and just like the Avon spray, and both sprays are effective in keeping mosquitos away during the summer time months.


There are many maxims in the fashion world, from when to wear something to what to buy. Some are also about price, such as: if you buy a smaller amount of clothing, it's going to cost you less! Sounds simple, right? And it gets even simpler when the clothes are super cute! This logic is also perfect in the summer, because it's the time of year that you're going to be heading out in breezy pieces as opposed to layers of sweaters. Dresses are a perfect way to implement this rule, because they are one easy piece that can have a huge impact on your look.
One such dress that is hugely on trend this summer is the maxi dress. This style is a perfect option when you feel like adding a little boho to your look, or you just haven't shaved your legs in a few days - that kind of thing. Maxis are also super easy to pull on and run out the door in, while at the same time giving you an uber trendy vibe. They still keep you cool, and are a great alternative to your everyday shorts.
A fun floral maxi is right on trend for summer, and the bright colors hint at one of the season's hottest trends. Braided sandals add to the look's goddess vibe and are super easy to walk in as well as super stylish! Belt your maxi to add shape and extra definition to your look, and make sure to choose a belt that will work with your dress and your accessories. For jewelry, a pendant necklace and some bracelets will give your look that effortless boho chic feel, and a statement ring will add some glam. A floppy hat is a chic option for sun protection, which is always important. Throw all your essentials in your favorite neutral-colored bag, and you're ready to flow out the door!


Building a society open for everyone requires a sensitivity for justice, a creative mind and strategic thinking. We help organisations and decision makers to address the challenges of inclusiveness and develop innovative ways and tools to make society more equal.
"We want IT to be for everybody!" But people with disabilities and many others remain faced with serious access barriers. Through policy analysis, empirical studies and consultancy we support eAccessibility efforts.
The notion of "social innovation" has arisen from the increasing engagement of citizens, social activists, public campaigns, and non-profit organisations. empirica has long experience and wide expertise in social initiatives, participation, inclusion, accessibility for all, and user requirements.
eAccessibility is ensuring that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products and services are designed and provided in a way that allows use by people with disabilities and by older people with age-related changes in functional capacities. For people with visual impairments, hearing impairments and other disabilities, eAccessibility is a sine qua non as electronic devices and services become essential ingredients of everyday social and economic life. This will become even more pronounced as the population ages. Today, digital exclusion is widespread and many people relying on the availability of accessible digital content, services and gadgets tend to be excluded from activities that have become common practice to large parts of the population. In Europe and elsewhere, eAccessibility has acquired a prominent place in policy debates concerning ICT-related developments. Dedicated policies have started to emerge directed towards removing the technical, legal and other barriers that some people encounter when using ICT devices and services.
For more than ten years we have supported evidence-based policy development and strategy building in this field. Here, we offer extensive research expertise which is constantly updated to reflect the latest developments. This concerns the conceptualisation and implementation of eAccessibility-related monitoring and benchmarking approaches as well as evidence-based impact assessment of related policies. We possess a well-proven set of research methods and instruments for gathering high quality evidence on a global scale. This is supported by an international network of experts spanning 40 countries. Furthermore, we help ICT service providers in ensuring that the new services they develop comply with the latest eAccessibility standards.


Get an alert with the newest ads for CDs, DVDs & Blu-ray in Dartmouth.
The Rocketeer - DVD in perfect condition. Any questions welcomed and still available if the ad is still posted - thanks for looking!
2007 Edition DVD's. One for AM/PM workouts and the other for back care.
Two ways to learn the beautiful movements of Tai Chi, instructional book or DVD. 2006 Edition by Graham Bryant & Lorraine James.
Post your classified or want ad in Dartmouth CDs, DVDs & Blu-ray. It's fast and easy.


My Own Midwife GC is a family friendly midwifery practice that provides care to women and their families on the Gold Coast and surrounding areas, including the Hinterland and NSW borders. We offer a large range of services, which include pregnancy education and care, labour and birth preparation and care and postnatal care for yourself and baby.
We believe that it is important for every woman to receive continuity of care from their own midwife throughout their pregnancy, birth and immediate postnatal period up to 6 weeks. Our midwives view pregnancy, labour and birth as normal physiological processes and our role is to support women and their families to achieve a safe and satisfying experience. By working in partnership with women, relationships are built on mutual trust and respect, care is evidenced based and midwifery knowledge and skills are shared.
All midwives have an access agreement at the Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) where your own midwife can provide all of your labour and birth care. For your convenience we provide antenatal and postnatal care in your home or from either of our two practices located in Ashmore and Burleigh.


After resting for a couple days we were feeling ready to attack the Salkantay. After some initial confusion with our guide company and trying to figure out what we were allowed to bring (yah we used donkeys and porters, sue us). It was another early start and sketchy bus ride to our starting point. One sign of what we hoped not to come was the second our bus stopped for us to begin the trek, one guy rushed off the bus to throw up… not a great start. The first day was easy hiking wise, it was only about 10km with very little elevation gain. Good practice for the next day.
However the gem of day one was that after lunch we did the hour long hike up to Humantay Lake, one of the prettiest lakes in the world if you ask me, though that list is getting real long. Nestled at the bottom of Humantay mountain is a perfect crystal blue lake and I mean how do you beat that. The hike was tough but the view was incredible and we spent most of the afternoon up there. Dinner was good and started with a soup (as every meal but breakfast did for the whole trip, soup and I are on better terms than ever before), then a high carb meal and always ended with a tea, usually coca tea. Yes coca tea is the same plant that is used to manufacture cocaine, but we were using it for its altitude and headache helping properties, not the Wolf of Wall Street purposes.
That night we all froze our asses off in the tents that are provided, I'm not usually a guy who sleeps in clothes but if I didn't, this blog would have needed a new author. A real perk was that we were awoken at 5am with a knock on the tent and a steaming hot cup of coca tea, now thats a way I'd like to start are my mornings! We had a quick breakfast and were hiking by 6:20am. We had been warned that the first 3 hours were going to be only uphill and that we were going to gain about 800m of elevation ended at a peak elevation of 4600masl at the Salkantay pass. The going was slow but everyone was cruising, it was definitely quiet and you could only hear the steady breathing of everyone as we just keep putting one foot in front of the other. The final 200m of elevation gain was done quickly as we headed up to the pass and the scenery was amazing, nothing like hiking in a valley surrounded by 6000m+ mountains.
We got to our max elevation by about 10am and then the descent was epic, 1000m of elevation loss to our lunch point. I was walking like a zombie by the time we hit the lunch tent, completely spent. Then we were told that our camp for the night was another 1000m below us. 3 hours of downhill hiking really put a beating on my knees and Becca was using hiking poles but I don't think she faired much better. We were happy to get to our final camp which was at about 2600masl and the air felt so thick! We were also just beginning the jungle portion of our trek. Becca and I shared a well deserved beer with dinner that night and we all slept much better being in a warmer climate and also being totally exhausted. Day 2 was approximately 22km of hiking, 800m of elevation gain and then 2000m of elevation loss, a pretty full day if you ask me! Good thing day 3 included a hot spring!
Previous Cusco: The city and Rainbow Mountain!


Just the other day I was talking to a group of friends about Jackie Chan and reminiscing on his career. He gave us Rumble in the Bronx! He gave us The Legend of the Drunken Master! He gave us silly banter while fighting guys in the Rush Hour movies, all while sporting a big, goofy smile. It's nearly impossible to not like Jackie Chan, and now he's getting an Oscar.
The Academy announced on Thursday that the Hong Kong martial artist, actor and stunt man would be one of four recipients of the 2017 Oscar's Honorary Award. The Board of Governors will celebrate Chan for his "dazzling athleticism, inventive stunt work and boundless charisma" in both international and American cinema.
Chan has been acting since he was eight years old, did stunt work for Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon, and eventually became one of the most famous martial artists in film. At 62 years old it's kind of insane to think a guy who has done most of his own stunt work all his life is still actively working. And if you we're wondering what he's up to, he has eight new movies on the way including The Karate Kid 2 and the rumored Rush Hour 4.
The Academy's other honorees include editor Anne Coats (Lawrence of Arabia, The Elephant Man), casting director Lynn Stalmaster (Tootsie, Gunsmoke), and filmmaker Frederick Wiseman (In Jackson Heights). The awards will be presented at the Governor Awards in November, we can probably expect to see the recipients make an an appearance at the 2017 Oscars. This year's Oscar Honorary Awards went to Gene Rowlands and Spike Lee.


text:
Protected Conversations
Can the privilege that covers 'protected conversations' under section 111A ERA be waived?
No, held the EAT giving the first appellate judgment on 'protected conversations' in Faithorn Farrell Timms LLP v Bailey.
The Claimant, a secretary in a firm of surveyors, brought claims for constructive dismissal and indirect sex discrimination. An issue arose over admissibility of evidence under common law 'without prejudice' principles, and, for the first time on appeal, 'protected conversations' under s111A ERA for Unfair Dismissal claims.
The EAT noted that case law on 'without prejudice' discussions was not applicable to the 'protected conversations', the statute had to be read on its own terms. In this case, claims other than Unfair Dismissal not covered by s111A, the admissibility of evidence was determined under 'without prejudice' principles. Evidence may be admitted for a discrimination claim, but remain excluded regarding Unfair Dismissal.
The EAT held that the protection of s111A extends not just to the content of protected conversations, (e.g. an offer) but also the fact of them taking place, a protection broader than with 'without prejudice' discussions. Furthermore, an employer's internal discussions about a protected conversation (e.g. between management and HR advisers) could also be protected.
The Claimant's cross-appeal on waiver of privilege partially succeeded, the EAT holding that privilege had been waived under 'without prejudice' principles, but not under s111A, as that did not allow for waiver of privilege. The EAT noted that s111A can be dis-applied where there is 'improper behaviour', which gives employment tribunals a broader approach to admitting evidence that the limited 'unambiguous impropriety' required to admit in evidence without prejudice discussions. The issue of the applicability of s111A because of alleged improper behaviour was remitted for re-consideration.
The case is important for practitioners and illustrates the complicated scenarios that may arise when without prejudice and protected conversations overlap, along with issues over express or implied waiver of privilege for without prejudice discussions in proceedings.
Discrimination: Work Placements
Does section 56(5) of the Equality Act 2010 prevent a claim being brought in the employment tribunal against the provider of vocational training in respect of discrimination in the provision of that training?
No, held the Court of Appeal in the case of Blackwood v Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust.
The Claimant was assigned a work placement with the Defendant Trust as part of her University Course in Mental Health nursing. She was not able to work the shift pattern offered because of her childcare commitments, and her placement was withdrawn.
The Claimant brought a claim against the Trust in the employment tribunal, relying on section 55 of the Equality Act, but the employment tribunal dismissed the claim on the basis that it was precluded by section 56(5), which, in summary, was thought to prevent claims being brought by students of universities (et al) in relation to training to which their university had the power to afford access, even where no claim could in fact be made against the university.
The Court of Appeal held that section 56(5) needed to be interpreted in line with the EU Directive, reading into the subsection that a claim could not be brought in the employment tribunal against an education service provider concerning training for university students but only "to the extent that the student is entitled under [section 91] to make a claim as regards that discrimination."
Thus a lacuna in the law was removed in that if a Claimant cannot, in the circumstances, bring a claim against the university arranging the vocational training under section 91 Equality Act (in the County Court), she is now entitled to bring a claim against the training provider in the employment tribunal.
Equal Pay Claims: No Power to Stay Claims in Employment Tribunal
Thanks to Dr John McMullen of Wrigleys Solicitors LLP for preparing this case summary
Should the Asda equal pay claims in the employment tribunal be stayed, in effect compelling the Claimants to pursue High Court proceedings?
No, held the Court of Appeal in Asda Stores v Brierley.
There are currently over 7,000 equal pay claims against Asda. The claims allege the work the Claimants do is of equal value to their comparators, and yet their comparators are being paid substantially more than they are. The claims are being defended.
Asda made an application, in effect, to stop the claims proceeding in the employment tribunal. It was accepted that the employment tribunal had no power directly to transfer the claim to the High Court. But Asda contended that the employment tribunal had the power to stay proceedings indefinitely and, if it exercised that power, the Claimants would be compelled to go to the High Court if they wanted to pursue their claims.
The employment tribunal rejected the application, concluding that it had no power to impose a stay for the purpose sought and even if it did, it would not be appropriate to exercise that power in the present case. Asda's appeal to the EAT was rejected.
Asda appealed to the Court of Appeal. Asda's case was that, although, in most cases, the employment tribunal is well suited to hear an equal value claim, the present litigation was exceptional. It said that this was the most important, complex and financially significant equal pay claim ever pursued in the private sector with ramifications, not only for Asda, but the retail trade generally. It also submitted that there were very complex points of law which would need to be resolved, and a High Court Judge would be better suited to decide them than an Employment Judge.
The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal. It was true there was power to stay proceedings, even indefinitely; but this should not happen in the present case. It would be prejudicial to employees. They would have to start proceedings again with additional stress, court fees, limitation issues and the risk of costs if they lost. Finally the Employment Judge had exercised his discretion properly, and had considered all the issues. He was entitled to take the view that an employment tribunal was perfectly capable of handling the claims and it would not be appropriate to "transfer" them.
Elias LJ expressed the view that the assumption that Employment Judges would not be up to the task did less than justice to the quality of some outstanding judges who sit in the employment tribunals.
Abuse of Migrant Workers not Unlawful Discrimination
Does abuse of migrant domestic workers, on grounds of their status as vulnerable migrants, amount to unlawful discrimination?
No, held the Supreme Court in an important judgment (Taiwo v Olaigbe and another and Onu v Akwiwu and another) handed down this morning.
Two Nigerian nationals, both in the UK under domestic migrant visas, were mistreated and abused by their employers (see paras 3, 4 and 8 of the judgment for the description of how they were treated). After escaping, they brought successful claims under the minimum wage (and other similar) legislation. They also sought compensation under the Equality Act, asserting they had been directly or indirectly discriminated against on grounds of their nationality.
The Supreme Court disagreed. It was not direct discrimination because the mistreatment was due to their vulnerable migrant status, not because of their nationality. Nor was it indirect discrimination, because there was no 'provision, criterion or practice' applied by the employers to their employees.
Baroness Hale suggested, in a concluding paragraph, that Parliament might consider whether employment tribunals ought to be given jurisdiction to award compensation under section 8 of the Modern Slavery Act to grant recompense for ill-treatment meted out to vulnerable migrant workers.
Acas Code does not apply to Ill Health Dismissals
Thanks to Jamie Anderson of Trinity Chambers for preparing this case summary
Does the Acas Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures apply to ill health dismissals?
No it does not, held the EAT in Holmes v QinetiQ.
The Claimant was dismissed on the grounds of ill health. It was conceded that the dismissal was unfair because of the failure to obtain an up to date occupational health report. At the remedy hearing, the Claimant contended that the Acas Code applied and that due to the unreasonable failure to follow the code he was entitled to an uplift under s.207A TULR(C)A 1992.
The EAT agreed with the employment tribunal that the Acas Code did not apply. Rather, the Acas Code applies to all cases where an employee's alleged act or omissions involve culpable conduct or performance on their part that requires correction or punishment e.g. misconduct and poor performance. It was difficult to see how ill health fell into this category.
The position would be different where the ill health leads to a disciplinary issue such as a failure to comply with sickness absence procedures. In that situation the disciplinary procedure is invoked to address alleged culpable conduct.
Employment Tribunal Fees Review
The House of Common Justice Committee has published its review into Court and Tribunal Fees. Note this is not the government review which was completed in 2015 but has not been published, about which the report is deeply critical at paras 58 and 59.
These are the key findings of the report:-
there has been a significant drop in the number of employment tribunal claims
the government's assertion that the drop is largely attributable to the success of Acas Early Conciliation is "even on the most favourable construction, superficial" (para 69)
fees "have had a significant adverse impact on access to justice for meritorious claims" (para 69)
the 'type A' and 'type B' claim distinction did not relate to the complexity or length of cases (para73)
the level of fees should be a "substantially reduced" (para 79)
the remission system should be overhauled, with only one application needed (to cover both issue and hearing fees)
The report also recommends special consideration - and a review of the three month time limit - in pregnancy discrimination cases (para 79).
This report is embarrassing for the government, but has little political impact (especially as the timing of the report, three days before the Brexit vote, means it will receive very little press attention).
Supreme Court: Reinstatement after Unfair Dismissal
Thanks to Neil Addison of New Bailey Chambers for preparing this case summary
Before making an order for reinstatement, does an employment tribunal have to be satisfied that reinstatement would be acceptable to both parties?
No, held the Supreme Court in McBride v Scottish Police Authority.
The Claimant was a fingerprint officer who had been involved in a notorious Scottish Criminal case which had led to a Detective, Shirley McKie, being charged and then acquitted of perjury concerning a contested fingerprint at a murder scene. The case had generated intense media and political criticism in Scotland.
The Claimant was subsequently unfairly dismissed following a reorganisation. The employment tribunal ordered her reinstatement under s114 Employment Rights Act, but impliedly accepted that she would be employed in a non- court going role. The employer appealed on the basis that the Claimant would not accept such a restriction.
The Supreme Court held that the only obligation under s114 was that a Claimant be restored to their contractual employment. On the facts it would be practicable to restrict the Claimant to non- court employment and there was no evidence such a restriction would be in breach of contract
A decision on very specific facts, but the judgment is a useful analysis of the principles of reinstatement and redeployment.
TUPE: Service Provision Change
For a service provision change TUPE transfer, there must have been, prior to the change, an organised grouping of employees, the principal purpose of which was to carry out the relevant activities for the relevant client.
In Amaryllis Ltd v McLeod the EAT considered that the principal purpose of any organised grouping of workers must be assessed at the point immediately before the change of provider, and not historically.
Millbrook Furnishings Ltd carried out work for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for many years renovating wood and metal furniture. Between 2003 and 2008 it did so as a sub-contractor to Amaryllis. From December 2012 the MoD awarded new contracts under a framework agreement. In 2014 the furnishings renovations contract was retendered among four contractors on the framework agreement. Millbrook was unsuccessful on the retender and, instead, the contract was awarded to Amaryllis.
The question was whether there was an organised grouping of employees in place prior to the transfer to work to Amaryllis, the principal purpose of which was to carry out the activities concerned on behalf of the MoD.
It was accepted that Millbrook's employees were spending just shy of 70% of their time on the MoD renovations contract. Nonetheless the Employment Judge considered that it was appropriate to consider evidence relating to the past. The Employment Judge was satisfied that the department had originally been set up with the specific purpose of servicing the MoD contracts, and although that grouping now serviced other customers, the MoD was still the largest customer. He found TUPE applied.
Amaryllis appealed. The EAT upheld the appeal. It was not sufficient that a department carries out significant work for a client. It must be organised for the principal purpose of carrying out that work for the client. The relevant time is immediately before the transfer.
The Employment Judge was wrong to look at the matter on an historic basis. And it was incorrect to take into account work done on furniture renovation by Millbrook between 2003 and 2008 when Millbrook was a subcontractor of Amaryllis. During this time the MoD was not a client of Millbrook. Millbrook's client for this work was Amaryllis. That period could not be taken into account since, even if there were, during that period, an organised grouping of employees, the grouping concerned was not dedicated to carrying out the activities for the relevant client.
Unfair Dismissal: Procedure and Polkey
Thanks to James Medhurst of Hill Hofstetter for preparing this case summary
Can a dismissal be found to be procedurally unfair without specifying the breach of procedure?
No, held the EAT in Express Medicals v O'Donnell.
The Claimant was the minority shareholder in a company. There were discussions with the majority shareholder to negotiate an exit, after a falling out between them, but he was dismissed while the process was still continuing. The employment tribunal noted that there was an "ongoing discussion and dialogue" but found the dismissal unfair because "no particular procedure" had been followed.
The Respondent argued that this was a dismissal for some other substantial reason but neither party addressed the issue of whether the ACAS Code of Practice would apply, and nor did the employment tribunal make a finding on the point. In circumstances where there had already been some dialogue between the parties, it also failed to specify what further steps the Respondent ought to have taken.
It was a further error not to make a Polkey deduction where there had been a finding of fact that the relationship had "seriously deteriorated and could not necessarily be considered to remain tenable".
Age Discrimination and National Minimum Wage
The House of Commons library has produced a debate pack (ie briefing note for MPs) on the interaction between bands of the national minimum wage and age discrimination.
It is intended to inform intelligent discussion in a forthcoming Westminster Hall debate about the introduction of the National Living Wage alongside a new 21-24 year old age band, which has led to renewed interest in the rationale behind minimum wage age-banding, fears that workers over 25 would be discriminated against in favour of younger, cheaper, workers and concerns that workers aged 21-24 are now ineligible for the full minimum wage.
The rationale for minimum wage age banding has typically been that younger workers occupy a more vulnerable position in the labour market, with a greater need to acquire experience, and that if younger workers were eligible for the full minimum wage they might be priced out of the labour market.
Consultation: Changes to IR35 in the public sector
HMRC has issued a consultation document.
It proposes that where individuals offer services to public sector 'employers' through an intermediary, such as a limited company, it will become the public body's responsibility to operate the IR35 regime and pay the tax, rather than the individual/intermediary. This is intended to crack down on what is seen as widespread abuse of the IR35 system and resultant non payment of tax.
These proposals will not affect the operation of IR35 in the private sector.
The closing date for comments is 18 August 2016.
Muslims, headscarfs and direct discrimination
Thanks to Miranda de Savorgnani of Outer Temple Chambers for preparing this case summary
Is it direct discrimination for a private employer to prohibit a Muslim employee from wearing a headscarf in the workplace?
Not if the prohibition stems from a general neutrality policy, opines Advocate General Kokott ahead of the European Court of Justice's first judgment on religious discrimination under the Equality Directive, Achbita v Centrum voor gelijkheid van kansen en voor racismebestrijding.
Three years into her employment at a Belgian security company, a Muslim employee began to wear a headscarf at work despite a company rule which prohibited the wearing of any visible signs of political, philosophical or religious beliefs. She was dismissed and appealed through the courts to the Belgian Constitutional Court which posed the question to the ECJ.
AG Kokott considers that as the neutrality policy is not limited to religious beliefs, it could at most amount to indirect discrimination. Even then, it may be objectively justified as an occupational requirement, subject to a proportionality assessment based on the size and conspicuousness of the symbol, the nature and context of the employee's activity, and the national identity of the Member State concerned.
AG Kokott distinguishes this case from the finding of religious discrimination by the European Court of Human Rights in Eweida v United Kingdom, where a similar neutrality policy had not been applied consistently to individual employees.
Equal Pay Claims: No Power to Stay Claims in Emplo...


text:
Spotlight On: Port Royal
Posted by Tia | Oct 9, 2017 | Spotlight On | 0
After experiencing constant change throughout their careers, Port Royal have overcome their setbacks to become one of Brisbane's hottest rising bands. Born from a mutual love of classic rock n roll, the four-piece have recently released their new single Pinch-Hit and are in the middle of their first East Coast tour.
Forming in 2015, after high school friends Lawson Doyle and Connor Arnold met Chase Brodie, the band went through several lead guitarists before Taine Josephson came along and completed the line-up.
"We're all passionate about guitar music and writing songs that preach the good work of rock music," said drummer Connor Arnold, "so our current line-up is a great fit."
Influenced by the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and Oasis, the band seeks to create music inspired by love, friendships, and social issues.
"We try to take the best and worst moments of our lives and connect them all through our song-writing."
Port Royal believes the crucial part of being in a band is having music people can enjoy and dance to. While the band loves the experience of a live audience, they know longevity and hard work behind-the-scenes are also key ingredients needed to succeed.
Their latest banger, Pinch-Hit, kicks off with an embellished drum roll that leads into the track's main gritty and groovy hook. The track is inspired by the band's shared history of resilience and will have audiences dancing along in no time.
Revered as one of the band's livelier tunes, Pinch-Hit take its name from a Baseball term. A pinch hitter is a substitute batter that at any point in the game while the ball is dead can replace the next batter. The term could not represent Port Royal's situation any better, and perfectly describes the addition of new member Taine.
"As a writer I hope Pinch-Hit influences young people of all different passions, styles, influences and social circles to make something of themselves and believe that whatever it is they want to achieve is achievable," said front man Lawson Doyle.
The band is currently working on new music and hope to record another single soon.
Port Royal works hard, and plays hard. They'll be playing Brisbane's Woolly Mammoth this Friday, 13 October in what's set to be one of their biggest shows yet. You can listen to Pinch-Hit HERE and buy tickets to the show HERE.
PINCH-HIT – PORT ROYAL
PreviousThis Week (2-8 October): Top 10 Brissie Gigs For $10
NextTiarne's Tips To Create The Perfect Space Aesthetic For Red Deer Festival
Forming an interest in writing at a young age, Tia's first stories were about her family's cat. Often found with a good book or creating a new playlist, she went on to study a Bachelor of Creative Industries with disciplines in media and journalism. Her passion for the arts and people is the driving force behind her writing, and she enjoys exploring all that the Brisbane music scene has to offer.
Spotlight On: Francesca de Valence
Spotlight On: Hemingway
Spotlight On: Charlie Stewart
Spotlight on: Napoleonic Wars
Premiere: The Double Happiness Surf Into 2020 With 'Wild Bikini'
Premiere: Carla Thursday Heralds In 2020 With Stunning Single 'NYE'
Don and the Mobsters' Pointers For a Purely Sinful Christmas
Review: First Beige's Insatiably Groovy 'Mirrors' EP
Premiere: Ruby Gilbert Breaks Free In 'Slave' Music Video


People with shoulder pain who expect physiotherapy to help them are likely to have a better recovery than those who expect only minimal or no improvement, according to our latest study. We also found that people are likely to have a better recovery if they are confident they will be able to continue doing things that are important to them, such as socialising, hobbies and work.
Shoulder pain affects people of all ages and can become persistent. Injury and overuse are common causes of shoulder pain, but sometimes the cause is unclear. It can disturb sleep, interfere with work, leisure and everyday activities like washing and dressing. Exercise, prescribed by physiotherapists, is an effective treatment for shoulder pain, but not everyone benefits from physiotherapy.
Researchers from the University of East Anglia and the University of Hertfordshire in the south-east of England, together with local physiotherapists, wanted to find out more about the characteristics of people who benefit from physiotherapy compared with those who continue to experience persistent pain and disability.
Knowing the outcome is important for people with shoulder pain as it helps them decide whether or not to pursue a course of physiotherapy.
Our study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, included 1,030 people attending physiotherapy for musculoskeletal shoulder pain in 11 NHS trusts across the east of England. We collected information on 71 patient characteristics, such as age, lifestyle and medical history, and clinical examination findings before and during the patients' first physiotherapy appointment.
What surprised us was that patients who had said they expected to "completely recover" as a result of physiotherapy did even better than patients who expected to "much improve".
The most important predictor of outcome was the person's pain and disability at the first appointment. Higher levels of pain and disability were associated with higher levels six months later. And lower baseline levels were associated lower levels six months later. But this relationship often changed for people who had high "pain self-efficacy", that is, confidence in the ability to carry on doing most things, despite having shoulder pain.
Another surprise finding was that people with high baseline pain and disability, but with high levels of pain self-efficacy did as well as, and sometimes better than, people with low baseline pain and disability and low pain self-efficacy.
This is the first study to investigate patient expectations of the outcome of physiotherapy for shoulder pain. Earlier research shows that high patient expectation of recovery predicts a better outcome following physiotherapy for back pain and neck pain, and a better outcome following orthopaedic surgery.
On a similar note, this is the first study to show that higher pain self-efficacy predicts a better outcome in non-surgically managed shoulder pain. Previous research has shown that self-efficacy predicts a better outcome for a range of other health conditions. Also, people with higher self-efficacy are more likely to do the home-exercise programme suggested by their physiotherapist.
If you have shoulder pain, there are several ways to increase your pain self-efficacy. Work with your physiotherapist to understand and manage your symptoms. Practice your exercises together and ask your physiotherapist for feedback, including how to adjust your exercises to make them harder or easier. Finally, make sure you discuss what you want with your physiotherapy and the activities that are important to you.


Abstract: A mobile multimedia E-learning application that is designed base on a PC platform for server and a Mobile device for clients. The video-based e-learning materials include video clips, images and scripts. In this report, we will discuss on how video segments can be transmitted to the mobile devices by video streaming. In addition, there is an authoring tool built in the PC server application. Then, we will probe into how the users can insert markers to video clips, adding images and typing scripts.


How was your weekend? Mine was quiet and relaxed, I got some "me" time courtesy of Mr L (hope it might result in my first Vlog but lets not get carried away…) More excitingly, a dear friend of mine was celebrating the safe arrival of her beautiful baby whom I had the great pleasure to meet. It's amazing that Little L used to be that small, where does the time go? (that is a rhetorical question, since this is not a Stem blog!) So this weeks high five is all about August and things that make it great. If you live in a place that gets super hot as we do, August can begin to get you down. It can be quite limiting, especially with energetic toddlers, but behind all clouds is that silver lining so I wanted to celebrate that with August.
The Weather, don't scream at me for this, especially those of you who, like me, fantasize about rain. I am not a sun worshipper and never have been; don't really have the complexion for it. This was never such a problem when I lived in the UK as it was such a rarity to see the sun (even in August.) The heat in Texas in August is no laughing matter: it gets road-melting hot! So that often means being outside a little less – unless of course you can use a pool. I am thankful because the weather has caused the L family to use the pool and enjoy more family time. We also spend time together in Little L's play area, compensating for the fact we want to be outside at the park. It has also caused me to focus on tweaking areas of the house which needed sorting, which I would be more reluctant to do if the weather was more agreeable.
Travel, August is one of the most popular months for travel. Whether it's to get out of the heat, find more of it, or enjoy it in more pleasant circumstances, August is travel time. I love to travel, but I don't love travel and I don't know many who do, especially with a toddler. Travel to me is a form of education and I cannot get enough. It really is a treat to immerse and expose yourself to new cultures and experiences. With school vacations being in August this makes it prime time for holidaying/vacationing. Since Little L is not at school yet, we might shoot for a vacation in the next few months.
Shopping, yay August is a fantastic month for shopping and sales, in particular large expensive purchases. If you are looking to book flights for Thanksgiving or Festive Season, it is widely alleged that you will receive the best prices in August. So come on BOOK. If you are looking for a new automotive (I'll have an Aston Martin please Mr L), August is your month. The industry is preparing for the new season models so great deals on older models. Patio furniture and grills are a summer staple in any climate. You can get great deals on these items in August and still get plenty of use for the remaining season. Do not even get me started on storage and organizational sales.
Back to school time. This is bittersweet but I am putting this one out there for my mama friends who have kiddies of school age. A combination of heat and a bored child means that the beginning of the school season can be a blessing. In the US the majority of kids head back in August and in Europe preparations for an early September start will be underway. We all need the normalcy of getting back to the routine. Children back at school means Little L and I will start back with our usual routine classes.
What do you like about August? Leave me a comment?


A guest article by Anna Feldman of Wild and Woolly.
"Is it OK if I can't knit at all? I mean I've never even knitted a stitch before."
"Oh yes, that's absolutely fine. See you on Sunday morning."
I smile inwardly, and wonder whether I've given it away with a cheeky twinkle.
The Absolute Beginner knitting classes in my wool shop are promoted on the website with a bulleted list of what you will learn: "Cast on, knit, purl, cast off, sew up". It's the knitting ABC, where new knitters can learn the basics.
What the web page doesn't tell you is that something much more extraordinary than all of that will also take place, and that there's every chance that nothing will ever be quite the same again. It can't be explained as a class outcome or learning objective. Frankly until now, I've thought it probably couldn't be put into words at all.
The students take their seats around the shop table, each with a ball of wool and a pair of knitting needles. Tea is poured, names shared, self-deprecating comments made, stories of past failures told. I try and jolly things along with an introduction to the little hand warmer that everyone's going to make. Nervous glances are exchanged.
And so we begin, carefully inserting the right needle tip, wrapping the yarn around, catching the strand, pushing the old stitch off.
"Yes, you've made a stitch—well done."
Around the table, brows are furrowed and the odd tongue pokes out in concentration. The cups of tea go cold.
"Yes, catching the stitch can be tricky. Look at where the yarn wraps through—that's the bit you want to catch."
"Like this? Why doesn't mine look like yours?"
"Nearly.. just make sure the tip goes into the loop of the stitch, and try and pull the yarn down a little before catching it—yes, you're knitting!"
"Yes, look at the fabric, it wasn't there half an hour ago. It was just a ball of wool. You made that."
That's when it starts. The student gazes, slightly awestruck, at the first few rows of garter stitch bumps that she's created. I leave her to enjoy the moment in privacy and make a fresh pot of tea.
This time the tea is drunk hot, and smiles are starting to replace wrinkled brows.
And then the stories begin to unfold—about last week's night-shift in the hospital; about the baby left with in-laws for the first time to enable coming to the class; about why the head scarf, and how much more treatment there is to go; of the loneliness and also relief of getting out of an unhappy relationship; of the grandchild who is going off to university, the first in the family ever to do so; of the blanket his granny knitted that tragically got left behind on a train.
Gently, and littered with interruptions, we learn about each others' lives, and their hands learn the comforting repetition of inserting the tip, wrapping the yarn, and catching the stitch.
"Oh mine looks terrible, there's a great big hole down there". I rescue the dropped loop, carry it back up its ladder and avert the crisis. The stories can continue and the fabric grows. Needles are clicking around the table, each holding a different coloured rectangle of garter-edged stocking stitch.
"22.. 23.. 24 rows. Yes, it looks like you're ready to cast off now.. work as loosely as you can.. and lift the first stitch over the second... can you pass those scissors over. You need to cut the yarn, and pull it through the final loop".
But first pause. Actually I never say to pause first, I only ever think it. The final stitch is a special one, with it's own delicious feeling of accomplishment and completion, and I want to say: just pause and enjoy it. But it turns out that you really don't need to say anything. Because the magic happens without saying it and you can feel it all around the table. It doesn't need a drum roll or a popping cork or applause. There's a joy that bubbles and ripples around the table—as though they'd all had a draft of a magic potion to drink. But all they did was learn to knit.
Of course there is more to it than that. They were no longer thinking of the washing up waiting at home, the essays to write, the buses to catch, the people to call, the emails to read.
They'd learned and mastered a sequence of new instructions that they didn't know or understand before, which forms the foundation of knitting whatever they'll ever want to make. They have a new skill which can shape some space for themselves, as well as join them together with other knitters. They can retreat into its reassuring repeating rhythms, or dive deep into complex new stitches.
One by one, they pack away their wool and needles to leave. One pauses in the doorway.
"But what happens if I drop a stitch again and you're not there to pick it up?"
"It will be fine. You're a knitter now, and apart from this shop, there's a wool shop in just about every town and city, and each one has a shop keeper who knows how to pick them up. They will help you with dropped stitches...and more besides."


text:
Auto newsMotosport
A podium success for the SLS AMG GT3 in Abu Dhabi
Vlad Mitrache, December 17, 2014
Home Auto news A podium success for the SLS AMG GT3 in Abu Dhabi
While we're waiting for the debut of the new AMG GT3 race car, the "old" SLS AMG GT3 is still doing its thing. This time, it finished on the podium of the Gulf 12 Hours race in Abu Dhabi.
The same venue that hosted the last F1 race this season was where Mercedes-Benz recorded its latest success. It's the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi/United Arab Emirates and this time, the car responsible for the champagne at the end was a SLS AMG GT3.
AMG Customer Sports Team Abu Dhabi Racing Black Falcon (ACSTADRBF – my god, even the anagram is humongous) managed to come in second at the end of the Gulf 12 Hours Race, after taking the first place one year before. The gap between second and first place, though, was just 3.058 seconds which really speaks volumes about how close of an affair the race was.
Coming second in overall also meant that the SLS AMG GT3 managed to win the Pro-Am category. There were two more SLS AMG GT3s involved starting from the fourth and last position, the latter as a penalty for some technical problems during qualifying. The first of the two kept its position at the end of the race finishing in fourth, while the Russian team starting at the end of the grid did a superb job and managed to climb all the way to the eighth position.
The twelve-hour race in Abu Dhabi started on Saturday, 13 December, at 9 am local time and interrupted as scheduledat 3 pm. The re-start was at 6 pm while the chequered flag was waved at midnight.
Here's what a few of the people involved had to say after the race:
Jochen Bitzer, head of AMG Customer Sports: "Congratulations to the Abu Dhabi Racing Black Falcon and Black Falcon teams. Second place overall and a class win are a great result, of which we are very proud. Further congratulation goes out to the GT Russian team that also managed to bring its SLS AMG GT3 to the finish with success. After this great final race we wish all AMG Customer Sport Teams, their drivers and families relaxing Christmas holidays. We are looking forward to the 24h of Dubai in January, where twelve SLS AMG GT3 will compete in the first race of the year. This will be a new record: Never before more gullwings have participated in a long distance race."
Bernd Schneider, AMG Customer Sports Pool Driver: "The race was exciting and the battle for the top positions remained very tight until the end. Therefore, it was great fun. We might have just missed out on victory, but we are very happy with this success."
Sean Paul Breslin, team manager Abu Dhabi Racing Black Falcon: "We are very happy with this result. The race in Abu Dhabi was a successful end of the season and I would like to thank our team for this. We were involved in a hard battle with the winning Ferrari and the McLaren. Unfortunately, it just wasn't enough for victory in the end. Our entire team has deserved this podium finish and the victory in the Pro-Am-Class is also a great success for our second SLS AMG GT3."
Tags : endurance racing, motorsport, racing, SLS AMG GT3
Razvan Magureanu, August 19, 2020
Mercedes-AMG One performs speed testing on the Mercedes test center
Mercedes 230 SL Pagoda By Carlex is timeless luxury
Razvan Magureanu, July 29, 2020
The new Mercedes S-Class W223 received rear axle steering and E-Active body control suspension
Razvan Magureanu, November 26, 2014
Mercedes Vision SLR: the concept which defined the best selling hypercar ever
Cristi Stefan, April 4, 2016
Mercedes 9G-Tronic transmission enters production in Sebes, Romania
Razvan Magureanu, January 18, 2016
New SLC, SL and E-Class prices announced. FULL EQUIPMENT LISTS
Ola Kallenius – The Next Daimler CEO?
B-Class Electric Drive awarded Environmental Certificate
Vlad Mitrache