text:
Warwickshire CCC
Golden memories of my time writing about Warwickshire CCC
Brian Halford recalls some of the people who made his job such a pleasure covering the Bears
Brian Halford
Dennis Amiss, Ashley Giles and Allan Donald chat before the 2003 Edgbaston Test between England and South Africa
Well, ladies and gentlemen, this is my last offering on Warwickshire County Cricket Club for the Birmingham Mail and Coventry Telegraph. Some thanks are in order.
It's strange to think I have covered the Bears for the Mail and Telegraph for 15 seasons. That's 11.36 per cent of the club's history (data supplied by Mary Bonner Statistics). Where on earth does the time go?
To be associated with one of the world's most important cricket clubs and involved with its supporters, players, staff, officers and stewards for so long has been a privilege. And a pleasure (mostly!)
Professional cricket is a complex old beast. Constantly evolving, in some ways for the better, in others unarguably not, it is tweaked and tinkered with every year.
Yet while it changes it stays, in essence, much the same. The basics of cricket barely change. And, wonderfully, neither, I believe, does the spirit of cricket.
These days we hear a lot about the spirit of cricket. Of course, unedifying things happen – attempts to corrupt, abusive sledging, batsmen taking leg-byes thereby accepting profit which they have not earned by hitting the ball.
Well, here's some news – those things have been around since WG first decided not to shave. Cricket is not and never has been perfect. It is played by human beings – and they have certainly never been perfect.
But having been immersed in the county game for a good few years, I can vouch for the fact that it and its participants retain a great deal that is groovy. Humility. Integrity. An ability to appreciate quality in opponents and, by and large, acknowledge one's own fallibility.
Put simply, there is just much less of the, to use the technical term, b******* prevalent in some sports (one in particular springs to mind). Cricket remains a jewel in this nation's crown.
Anyway, those thanks...
Firstly, to everyone for the literally hundreds of messages I have received in recent weeks. Every single one is appreciated. Particular thanks to those following me on Twitter whose company and wit sustained me through rain-breaks and long evenings galore. Fantastic.
Thanks, too, to Warwickshire's officers, coaches, staff and players past and present for all the help and succumbing to interviews, invariably cheerfully, despite on occasions it being the last thing you desire (Ashley Giles after a ten-wicket defeat in the pouring rain at Canterbury springs to mind).
Bob Woolmer
Thanks specifically to operations manager Keith Cook and physio Gerhard Mostert. The list of all-time great contributors to Warwickshire cricket is small – RV Ryder, Tiger Smith, Dennis Amiss, Neal Abberley, (Ian Bell will be there) – but Keith's name firmly belongs upon it. His only flaw is that he can't stop helping people.
Gerhard has the same weakness. When at Arundel in 2011 he saved the life of a collapsed spectator, later that day he couldn't understand why I was so impressed. With a background and expertise far beyond sport, saving lives and healing and helping people is just what he does.
Another small example: Scarborough, 2009, late one Friday night, he receives a call from a stricken reporter who has tripped and broken his arm. Typically, the physio is studying for an exam and the last thing he needs is a call-out – but out he comes. Just a great guy.
Cookie, Moz – it's been an honour.
Thanks also to the Bears' fans. Thanks for your time and company and for all the help, advice, feedback, information and criticism (usually constructive!) and for the cake, fruit, coffee (sometimes laced with dodgy east European alcohol as a match drifts to a draw at Gloucester), conversation, jokes, pints, hamsters, friendship and the red woolly hat.
Cheers, too, and all the best to my press-box colleagues at Edgbaston, principally Mike Beddow and Paul Bolton who were there before me and are still going strong, and BBC jewels Mike Taylor, Kevin Howells and Clive Eakin.
Cricket really is a special environment and, for me, one of its most heartwarming aspects is that people at the very top can remain so rooted and approachable.
On my very first day with the Bears, at a Norwich Union League game at Southampton, I turned up hoping with all my heart for a quiet day on which nothing happened to expedite extra work (a mindset which I retain to this day) only for Allan Donald to fall over and break three ribs. Post-match I nervously rang Bob Woolmer to ascertain the damage.
"Oh, hi," he said. Then he gave me all the details and said: "Would you like a word with AD" who was sitting next to him in the car. The rookie reporter got the full story from one of the world's great coaches and its greatest fast-bowler. This might not be too bad a gig, I thought.
That ethos remains. In the last three years the three major Bears figures of this generation – Ian Bell, Ashley Giles and Jim Troughton – have freely given their time to travel to talk to cricket-lovers at events connected to my books.
May that connection between top exponents and supporters, joyously exemplified at the Neal Abberley Memorial Match at K&D last Sunday (Moeen Ali high-fiving a row of boys on the boundary was one of many moments to treasure) never be lost.
Perhaps I have been just been extraordinarily lucky to have worked with this generation of Bears.
Anyway, to you all, on both sides of the boundary rope, thanks a million, cheerio and see you in Arbroath.
Good and bad, thanks for all the memories
Here's a few stand-out memories from my years with the Bears...
* Twenty20 Finals Day this year. Great day and atmosphere. Champagne moment: Pietersen c&b Javid.
* Imran Tahir's bowling and Ian Bell's batting lifting the Bears to CB40 final victory over Somerset at Lord's, 2010.
* Kumar Sangakkara's dazzling debut century against Durham on an Edgbaston greentop.
* Old Trafford press room minutes after Bears' championship relegation in 2007 was confirmed: Mark Greatbatch, asked to sum up the season, replies without a hint of irony: "It's been great fun."
* Hove seagulls. Noisy at one end, devastating at the other.
* Chris Wright and Keith Barker dovetailing brilliantly for 118 wickets in the 2012 title triumph.
* Alan Richardson's 91 in a tenth-wicket stand of 214 with Nick Knight v Hampshire at Edgbaston in 2002.
* Having a curry in Canterbury with Ashley Giles and Allan Donald and being asked to move out of the way so the restaurateur could take a picture.
* 'Gimme Shelter' belting out from the balcony at New Road on a sunny September afternoon as the Bears' 2012 title celebrations took flight.
* A Blues fan casually strolling on to the field during play at Edinburgh, removing a bail and walking off again unchallenged.
* Having two laptops in two months nicked from the press box at Edgbaston, the second during lunch despite a colleague assigned to keep watch. "Oh yes, two blokes did come in," he later observed...
* After a flare-up of the back at Blackpool, being wheelchaired round the boundary to the great mirth of every child in Lancashire.
* Championship cricket at Stratford-upon-Avon. Shame it came and went so quickly.
* Collins Obuya's debut at Abergavenny. Alex Loudon's doosra. Sreesanth, short of a lift, taking a taxi from Birmingham to Scarborough.
* Ian Bell's cover-drive, Mark Wagh's off-drive, Ian Westwood's forward defensive, Neil Carter's pull, Oliver Hannon-Dalby's leave.
* A sun-blessed day at Arundel with only myself and Christopher Martin-Jenkins in the press-tent. An honour for me. Less so for CMJ.
* Politely declining a request for money from a beggar outside Trent Bridge only to be informed: "I'm gonna break your arms and legs."
Jim Troughton

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Articles --> Ziemia Kwidzyńska
Only cowsheds and barns have survived among the still existing examples. Homesteads probably had detached granaries and coach houses on their premises, which unfortunately have not survived.
One of the elements of a combined homestead always was a residential part and a farming part - cowshed. A passage to it always was situated in the hall of the residential part, opposite the black kitchen. A long corridor went right through the whole cowshed, dividing it into two parts. One side was destined for horses, the other for cows and pigs (il. 20, 70). The entry always was situated in both longer walls. The oldest known presentations show that the cowshed was also erected as a skeletal structure, covered with planks (il. 37). Although there is no direct evidence, certain elements indicate that such a structure has been applied in case of Kaniczki 4 and Mątowskie Pastwiska 3088. A characteristic element was the internal row of posts which reinforced the attic used for storage of hay (il. 71)89. Of course, that part was also built as a tie-beam structure. Location of the manure depended on the type of homestead. If it was an angle-shaped homestead, or it only had a cowshed, the place for manure was situated behind the gable wall. In case of linear homesteads, it was situated at one of the longitudinal walls. At the end of the 19th century, wooden walls started to be replaced with walls made of brick. In that period, free-standing cowsheds made of brick started to appear.
Barns were always erected as planked, tie-beam structures. Irrespective of the type of homestead, at the wall adjacent to the cowshed, there was a mud floor closed on both sides with two-wing gates. A similar situation took place in case of angle-shaped homesteads. The oldest known wooden barn (1779) had two mud floors at the gable walls (il. 20, 70). The longitudinal walls of the mow were built of four posts fixed to the ground beam. The longitudinal stiffening consisted of a pair of spandrel beams placed on the whole length of the wall. On the posts, there was a rafter plate, on which, on the extreme posts, truss beams were laid. From here, rafters connected intermittently with the rafter plate or the girt. Both elements were additionally connected with posts by way of angle braces. In case of the truss of the extreme walls, the angle braces before and after the mud floor were doubled. Spandrel beams connected with posts with a tenon often fixed with two pegs. That oldest skeletal structure had a space between spandrel beams filled with (peca ?) wound on longitudinally fixed perches. This solution has no analogy, although it is known from the literature (il. 72)90. Another barn, in the angle-shaped homestead Barcice 20 of 1869 has a similar solution of the skeletal walls (il. 73), while the second floor above the girt has been additionally reinforced with a two-post longitudinal frame. At the end of the century, barns tended to be bigger and bigger. Solutions typical for the framing of that period were used in them, suech as, for example, roof tie.
88 In case of Mątowskie Pastwiska those were preserved middle posts with angle braces. A similar arrangement has been preserved in the barn.
89 H. Wernicke, Bauernhauser..., s. 6.
90 Such a filling of the spaces in the skeletal structure of barn were not only known among partitions of mows, but also among skeletal walls themselves. See: W. Łęga, op. cit., p. 40.


text:
White House Staffers Hold Virtual Meeting with Ex-Incarcerated, Mexico Cartel Drone Attacks, More... (5/3/21)
by psmith, May 03, 2021, 04:10pm, (Issue #1132)
A drug decriminalization bill is winning support in Maine, so is a buprenorphine legalization bill in Vermont, and more.
White House staffers held a virtual meeting with formerly incarcerated people to talk policy last Friday. (Whitehouse.gov)
Maine Drug Decriminalization Bill Garners Support at Committee Hearing. A bill that decriminalize the possession of personal use amounts of illicit drugs, LD 967, won support from medical and religious groups during a hearing before the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee last Thursday. Testifying in support of the bill were the Maine Medical Association and a coalition of religious groups. The bill would make drug possession a civil violation punishable by a $100 fine. The fine could be avoided if people submit to an "evidence-based assessment for proposed treatment for substance use disorder." No vote was taken in committee, but the testimony suggested strong support for the move.
Vermont Senate Committee Poised to Pass Buprenorphine Legalization Bill. The Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Health Committee heard testimony largely in support of a bill to legalize the possession of small amounts of buprenorphine, a drug used to treat opioid addiction. The bill, House Bill 225 , has already passed the House. The Judiciary Committee didn't vote on the bill because it is currently before the House Rules Committee, but they did express unanimous support for it and expected to approve it once it reaches the committee. The Health Committee must also approve it before it goes for a House floor vote.
White House Officials Meet Virtually with Formerly Incarcerated Criminal Justice Reform Advocates. White House officials met virtually last Friday with a group of former drug war and other prisoners to listen to ideas about how to change criminal justice policies to advance prison and sentencing reform. Domestic policy advisor Susan Rice, public engagement director Cedric Richmond, and White House counsel Dana Remus heard recommendations on how "to reduce incarceration, end racial disparities, and facilitate successful reentry," they said in a White House readout of the event. The trio heard from 10 differerent advocacy groups, including Forward Justice and JustLeadershipUSA.
Mexican Drug Cartels Are Attacking Security Forces with Explosive-Laden Drones, Defense Minister Says. Mexican Defense Minister Luis Sandoval said last Wednesday that drug cartels are employing bomb-carrying drones to attack security forces. "We have found that there are some cartels using drones with explosives," the general said during President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's daily news conference. The Jalisco New Generation cartel is among those using the drones, Sandoval said, pointing to an attack last Monday in Aguilla, Michoacan, where police clearing roads that had been blocked by cartel members came under attack, leaving two wounded. But the drones are big enough to carry more lethal loads, Sandoval said. "They cannot carry amounts (of explosives) that are harmful to personnel or to a facility," Sandoval said.
WA to Make Drug Possession a Misdemeanor, FL Supreme Court Throws Out Legal Pot Initiative, More... (4/26/21)
by psmith, April 26, 2021, 04:22pm, (Issue #1131)
The Philadelphia City Council votes to bar most pre-employment drug testing for marijuana, leading Democratic senators call on the attorney general to undo a Trump-era ruling that federal prisoners freed because of the pandemic must return to prison once it ends, and more.
Prisons in Washington could be a bit emptier once the state makes drug possession a misdemeanor. (Pixabay)
Florida Supreme Court Strikes Down 2022 Marijuana Legalization Initiative. The state Supreme Court last Thursday threw out a proposed voter initiative constitutional amendment, holding that the measure's ballot summary was misleading because it says it "permits" the possession, production, and sale of marijuana when marijuana is still illegal under federal law. The state's Republican attorney general challenged the initiative on those grounds last year and the state's all Republican-appointed court justices agreed. Now, its back to the drawing board for legalization supporters in the state.
Philadelphia City Council Votes to Prohibit Pre-Employment Drug Screening for Cannabis. The city council voted overwhelmingly to approve a municipal ordinance, Bill No. 200625, that "prohibits employers from requiring prospective employees to undergo testing for the presence of marijuana as a condition of employment, under certain terms and conditions." Some safety-sensitive positions, such as police officers or those who supervise children or medical patients will be exempted, as well drug testing mandated under federal law. Mayor Jim Kenney (D) is expected to sign the measure into law.
Washington Legislature Passes Bill to Make Drug Possession a Simple Misdemeanor. The legislature on Saturday gave final approval to a bill designed to overhaul the state's drug sentencing scheme after the state Supreme Court in February threw out the state's felony drug possession law. The bill, Senate Bill 5476, passed the Senate with language making drug possession a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, but the House amended it to make possession a simple misdemeanor punishable by only up to 90 days in jail. The House also amended the bill so that it expires in two years, leaving the state with no drug possession law unless the legislature acts again.
Leading Democratic Senators Call on Attorney General to Rescind Trump-Era Ruling That Federal Prisoners Released Because of Pandemic Must Return to Prison When Pandemic Ends. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and US Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, last Friday sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting that he rescind the Office of Legal Counsel's January 15, 2021, memorandum opinion entitled "Home Confinement of Federal Prisoners After the COVID-19 Emergency" (OLC opinion). In their letter, Durbin and Booker write that the OLC opinion, issued during the Trump Administration, incorrectly finds that following the emergency period of the pandemic, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) must recall federal inmates released to home confinement pursuant to the CARES Act and require these inmates to complete their sentences at BOP facilities. In fact, the CARES Act neither requires nor permits BOP to recall these prisoners, according to the letter.
VA Governor Signs Marijuana Legalization Into Law, IL House Approves Drug Defelonization Bill, More... (4/22/21)
A Lebanese hash field. Other farmers are now turning to hash to survive. (Cannabisculture.com)
The House votes to temporarily keep fentanyl analogues in Schedule I, the Minnesota pot legalization bill wins an eighth (!) committee vote, and more.
Minnesota Marijuana Legalization Bill Wins Eighth House Committee Vote. A bill to legalize marijuana, House File 600, won its eighth committee vote Thursday, advancing out of the House Education Finance Committee on an 8-6 vote. It still has at least one more committee to clear before heading for a House Floor vote. It now goes to the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy Committee.
North Carolina Marijuana Legalization Bill Filed. Four House members have filed a bill to legalize marijuana, House Bill 617. "We all know someone or have a constituent that has contacted House Member's offices for help with a relative or friend being jailed for possession of small amounts of marijuana," Rep. Pricey Harrison said. "We took great care in writing this bill to include items to encourage bipartisan support. This bill will ensure appropriate guidelines and restrictions." The bill includes a provision allowing up to 12 plants for personal cultivation.
Virginia Governor Signs Marijuana Legalization Into Law. Marijuana will become legal on July1 after Gov. Ralph Northam (D) signed the bill into law. People will be allowed to possess up an ounce of pot and can grow up to four plants at home. Legal sales will follow once rules and regulations are established.
Birmingham, Alabama, to Issue Blanket Pardons for 15,000 Marijuana Convictions. Mayor Randall Woodfin announced Tuesday that the city will issue blanket pardons for some 15,000 people with misdemeanor pot convictions dating back to 1990. The pardons will be automatic, he said, adding that the move would help people rejoin the work force.
Louisiana Bill to Allow Smokable Medical Marijuana Advances. The House Health and Welfare Committee voted 12-1 Thursday to advance House Bill 391, which would allow medical marijuana patients to smoke their medicine. Louisiana's dispensaries sell medical marijuana in liquids, topical applications, inhalers and edible gummies. But they are barred from offering raw marijuana in smokable form. The proposal heads next to the full House for debate and a vote.
House Votes to Approve Temporarily Keeping Fentanyl Analogues in Schedule I. With a voice vote, the House on Wednesday approved an extension of an emergency designation that places fentanyl-like substances in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. The emergency designation is set to expire May 6. In both the House and Senate, there are various bills extend the scheduling of fentanyl analogues for varying lengths of time. This vote gives legislators some time to reach a more permanent agreement. Organizations have criticized the designation as effectively extending the use of mandatory minimum sentencing -- which President Biden has said should be abolished -- and circumventing the science-based process intended to be used in drug scheduling.
Michigan Senate Approves Bill to Ban "Drug Masking" to Defeat Drug Tests. The state Senate on Wednesday approved Senate Bill 134, which would criminalize using someone else's urine or taking a pill or vitamin to mask the presence of drugs in one's system. The bill makes the offense a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.
Illinois House Approves Bill to Defelonize Drug Possession. The House on Wednesday approved a bill that would turn drug possession felonies into misdemeanors, House Bill 3447. "This approach not only strengthens communities across Illinois but addresses fundamental problems in our criminal legal system, rejecting decades of failed policy under the moniker of the War on Drugs," said Ben Ruddell, criminal justice policy director with the ACLU of Illinois. "We know that taking a proven public health approach to reducing harms associated with drug use will benefit everyone in the State of Illinois."
Lebanese Farmers Turn to Hash Amidst Economic Crisis. Buffeted not only by the coronavirus pandemic but also by the country's deep economic crisis, farmers who for years grew potatoes and other crops are now turning to hashish. "It's not for the love of hashish", explained one farmer. "It's just less expensive than other crops... and allows you to live with dignity."
House Passes SAFE Banking Act, NJ AG Says No Mandatory Minimums for Nonviolent Drug Crimes, More... (4/20/21)
Dallas police will no longer arrest people possessing small amounts of pot, a North Carolina bill seeks to restrict needle exchange programs, and hemp is now legal in all 50 states.
House Passes Marijuana Banking Bill (Again). The House on Tuesday approved the SAFE Banking Act (House Resolution 1996), which would allow state-legal marijuana businesses to access banking and other financial services. The House also passed the bill last session, but it went nowhere in the then Republican-led Senate.
Alabama Democratic Party Endorses Marijuana Legalization. The state Democratic Party announced Tuesday that it supports the legalization of both medical and recreational marijuana in the state. "Nearly 100 years of marijuana prohibition and criminalization has trapped thousands of Alabamians, mostly Black, in our broken criminal justice system," said state Rep. Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa). "Reforming policy surrounding cannabis not only serves our state in producing hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues, but is an important step in reducing arrests and expunging records. Nobody should be sitting in jail for carrying a little bit of weed."
Dallas Cops Will Finally Stop Charging People for Small Amounts of Pot. Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia has ordered his officers to stop charging people found with small amounts of marijuana. Garcia revealed the policy change in a memo to the City Council last Friday. Under the new policy, people will be arrested only if they possess more than two ounces or if there is evidence of sales. Those caught with between two and four ounces will be ticketed, but not jailed.
Iowa Lawsuit Challenges Governor's Delay in Seeking Federal Exemption for Medical Marijuana. Veteran activist Carlo Olsen has filed a lawsuit against Governor Kim Reynolds (R) after she has failed to move forward with an effort to win an exemption from federal drug laws. The legislature passed and Reynolds signed a bill to do that last year but has failed to act. The lawsuit is an attempt to prod her to move on it.
With Idaho Governor's Signature on Hemp Bill, Hemp is Now Legal in All 50 States. Gov. Brad Little (R) last Friday signed into law House Bill 126, which legalizes industrial hemp production in the state. Idaho was the last state to legalize hemp after it was federally legalized in 2018.
North Carolina NIMBY Bill Would Hamper Needle Exchanges. Spurred by an Asheville neighborhood group that has tried for years to put restrictions on an Asheville needle exchange program, friendly lawmakers have filed Senate Bill 607, which would ban mobile needle exchanges and require engraved needles, background checks, and forced drug treatment. The bill is currently before the Senate Rules and Operations Committee.
New Jersey Attorney General Orders End to Mandatory Minimum Prosecutions in Noviiolent Drug Cases. Calling mandatory minimum sentencing "outdated policy," state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal issued a directive Monday telling prosecutors not to seek such sentences in nonviolent drug cases. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy applauded the new directive in a statement. The policy change means that mandatory minimums are "off the table" in current and future nonviolent drug cases. It also allows people currently serving mandatory minimums for such offenses to seek early release.
MedMJ for Vets Bill in Congress, Pfizer Donating One Million Naloxone Doses, More... (4/16/21)
A medical marijuana bill moves in Tennessee, Idaho lawmakers defeat an anti-drug legalization constitutional amendment, and more.
the opioid overdose antidote naloxone (gov.pa)
Bipartisan Bill to Legalize Medical Marijuana for Military Vets Filed in Congress. A bill that would federally legalize medical marijuana for veterans was refiled in Congress Thursday. Reps. Barbara lee (D-CA) and Dave Joyce (R-OH), both co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, and nine other original cosponsors filed the Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act on the House side, while in the Senate, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) is leading the proposal, and he's joined by five other lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). The bill would allow vets in states with legal medical marijuana programs to use it with a physician's recommendation, and it would allow doctors at Department of Veterans Affairs to make such recommendations.
Idaho House Kills Bill That Would Have Blocked Medical Marijuana. The House on Thursday defeated a proposed constitutional amendment that would have blocked the state from ever legalizing any illicit drug by requiring a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate to do so. House Joint Resolution 4 failed after a half-dozen House Republicans voted against it saying Idahoans want medical marijuana.
Tennessee Medical Marijuana Bill Wins Committee Vote. A bill to allow for the use of medical marijuana, Senate Bill 667, was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday and now heads for the Senate Calendar Committee. Companion legislation, House Bill 880, is also moving, having passed out of one House Health subcommittee and scheduled for a House Health Committee vote net week.
Pfizer to Donate One Million Doses of Naloxone in a Bid to Blunt Overdose Deaths. Responding to a record number of drug overdose deaths in the United States, Pfizer has made a commitment to Direct Relief to donate 1 million doses of the drug naloxone, which saves lives by reversing opioid overdoses.The newly committed 1 million doses are in addition to the more than 1 million doses Pfizer has donated since 2017, which Direct Relief has distributed at no cost to nonprofit, community-based organizations across the United States. Deaths and emergency room visits from opioid overdoses have accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to preliminary data released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 87,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in the 12 months ending in September 2020 -- the highest number of deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period.
Washington Senate Approves Bill to Make Drug Possession a Misdemeanor. The Senate voted Thursday to approve Senate Bill 5476, which would make drug possession a misdemeanor. The bill comes after the state Supreme Court threw out the state's felony drug possession law, leaving drug possession decriminalized. Some legislators argued for decriminalizing drug possession; others argued for refelonizing it but making it a misdemeanor is what the Senate passed.
Canada Opposition MP Files Drug Decriminalization Bill. New Democratic Party Member of Parliament Don Davies, who also serves as the party's health critic, has filed a private member's bill to remove provisions criminalizing drug possession from the Criminal Code. "Decades of criminalization, a toxic illicit street supply and a lack of timely access to harm reduction, treatment and recovery services have caused this ongoing catastrophe. It's time to treat substance use and addiction as the health issues they truly are," he said at a news conference. A Liberal bill to reform drug laws filed in February doesn't go far enough, Davies said.
Biden's Drug Policy Priorities Are a Small Step in the Right Direction, But Old Attitudes Linger [FEATURE]
by psmith, April 16, 2021, 09:00am, (Issue #1129)
On April 1, the Biden administration gave us the first big hint of what its drug policy will look like as it released the congressionally-mandated Statement of Drug Policy Priorities for Year One. The result is a definite mixed bag: a heavy dose of drug prevention, treatment, and recovery, along with an acknowledgement of harm reduction and a nod in the direction of racially-sensitive criminal justice reform, but also a reflexive reliance on prohibitionist drug war policies both at home and abroad.
And nothing about the most widely used illicit drug by far: marijuana. The word "marijuana" appears not once in the heavily annotated 11-page document, and the word "cannabis" only once, in the title of an academic research paper about the onset of teen drug use in the footnotes. That's perhaps not so surprising, given that, in response to a reporter's question, Vice President Harris said last week the administration was too busy dealing with other crises to worry about making good its campaign pledges about marijuana reform.
What is on the administration's mind is "the overdose and addiction crisis." Citing ever-increasing drug overdose deaths, the statement says "addressing the overdose and addiction epidemic is an urgent priority for [the] administration." But the solution is not to imprison drug users, with the statement noting that "President Biden has also said that people should not be incarcerated for drug use but should be offered treatment instead." (Underlying that seemingly humane approach is the errant presumption that all or most drug users are addicts in need of treatment when, depending on the drug, only between one in five and one in 10 drug users fit that dependent or problematic drug user description.)
Here are the Biden administration's drug policy priorities, all of which are gone into in detail in the statement:
Expanding access to evidence-based treatment;
Advancing racial equity issues in our approach to drug policy;
Enhancing evidence-based harm reduction efforts;
Supporting evidence-based prevention efforts to reduce youth substance use;
Reducing the supply of illicit substances;
Advancing recovery-ready workplaces and expanding the addiction workforce; and
Expanding access to recovery support services.
Prioritizing treatment, prevention, and recovery is bound to be music to the ears of advocacy groups such as Faces and Voices in Recovery (FAVOR), whose own federal policy and advocacy priorities, while focusing on specific legislation, lean in the same direction. But the group also advocates for harm reduction practices the administration omits, particularly supervised consumption sites. FAVOR noted the administration's statement without comment.
As with the failure to even mention marijuana, the Biden administration's failure to include supervised consumption sites in its embrace of harm reduction -- it is wholeheartedly behind needle exchanges, for example -- is another indication that the administration is in no hurry no rush down a progressive drug reform path. And its prioritizing of supply reduction implies continued drug war in Latin America ("working with key partners like Mexico and Colombia") and at home, via support of High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) and "multi-jurisdictional task forces and other law enforcement efforts to disrupt and dismantle transnational drug trafficking and money laundering organizations." Prohibition is a hard drug to kick.
Still, naming advancing racial equity issues as a key priority is evidence that the Biden administration is serious about getting at some of the most perverse and corrosive outcomes of the war on drugs and is in line with its broader push for racial justice, as exemplified by Executive Order 13985, "Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government," issued on Biden's first day in office. And it is in this context that criminal justice system reform gets prioritized, although somewhat vaguely, with the promise of the creation of an "interagency working group to agree on specific policy priorities for criminal justice reform."
The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) has some specific policy priorities for criminal justice reform, too, and they go far beyond where the administration is at. In its 2020 Roadmap for the incoming administration released in November, the group calls for federal marijuana legalization, drug decriminalization, and a slew of other criminal justice and policing reforms ranging from ending mandatory minimum sentencing and the deportation of non-citizens for drug possession to barring no-knock police raids, ending the transfer of military surplus equipment for counter-narcotics law enforcement, and dismantling the DEA. And the federal government should get out of the way of supervised consumption sites, or in DPA's politically attuned language "overdose prevention centers."
"We're glad the administration is taking important steps to address the overdose crisis -- by increasing access and funding to harm reduction services and reducing barriers to life-saving medications -- especially as people are dying at an alarming rate. We also appreciate their commitment to studying how to advance racial equity in our drug policies and best implement innovative practices on the ground. But it's clearly not enough. We need action," DPA Director of the Office of National Affairs Maritza Perez said in a statement responding to the administration's statement. "Black, Latinx and Indigenous people continue to lose their lives at the hands of law enforcement in the name of the drug war, and yet, the administration has chosen to prioritize increased funding for law enforcement. We need supervised consumption sites, not more money for police."
"And while we commend the Administration for taking steps to reduce employment discrimination, unless we address the biggest barrier for people trying to get a job -- past drug convictions and arrests -- we will still be left with significant inequities and racial disparities in the workplace," Perez continued. "It's time we get serious about saving lives and repairing the damage that has been caused by the drug war, particularly on Black, Latinx and Indigenous communities. We can start by passing federal marijuana reform and ending the criminalization of people for drugs in all forms."
Young drug reformers also had a few bones to pick with the administration's priorities. In their own statement in response to the administration, Students for Sensible Drug Policy applauded priorities such as more access to treatment and more research on racial equity, it complained that the administration priorities "fail to provide adequate support to Young People Who Use Drugs (YPWUD) in this country" -- especially those who use drugs non-problematically.
"There are no steps being taken to support YPWUD that do not want to and will not stop using drugs," SSDP said. "Young people have feared and faced the consequences of punitive drug policies and shouldered the burden of caring for their peers who use drugs for far too long. Young leaders calling for drug policy reform recognize that simply using drugs is not problematic and that we can support the safe and prosperous futures of People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) without forcing them to stop as a pre-condition for compassion, care, and opportunity."
Although only time will tell, for drug reformers, the Biden administration is looking like a step in the right direction, but only a step, and its policy prescriptions are limited by a vision of drug use rooted in the last century. Perhaps they can be pressured and prodded to plot a more progressive drug policy path.
Record Support for MJ Legalization in Quinnipiac Poll, CA Psychedelic Decrim Bill Advances, More... (4/15/21)
A Minnesota marijuana legalization bill continues to move in the House, the acting drug czar pledges more funds for drug treatment and greater access to overdose reversal drugs, and more.
Coca and cocaine are on the mind of the Colombian government this week. (Pixabay)
Quinnipiac Poll Has Record High Support for Marijuana Legalization. A new Quinnipiac University poll has support for marijuana legalization at 69%, the highest number ever reported in the poll. That's an increase of 18 points since Quinnipiac first polled the question in 2012. There was majority support for legalization in every demographic group, even people over 65 (51%) and Republicans (62%).
Minnesota Marijuana Legalization Bill Wins 6th Committee Vote. A marijuana legalization bill, House File 600, won a sixth House committee vote Wednesday in the Judiciary Finance and Criminal Law Committee. It now goes to the State Government Elections and Finance Committee.
Drug Treatment
Acting Drug Czar Pledges to Expand Drug Treatment as Overdose Deaths Rise. Regina M. LaBelle, acting director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP -- the drug czar's office) told House lawmakers Wednesday the administration is moving to muster significant federal resources to close gaps in drug treatment availability and make overdose reversing medications more available. She noted that the administration last week submitted its proposed budget to Congress, which included more than $10 billion for addiction programs, an increase of 57% from current funding levels.
California Psychedelic Decriminalization Bill Wins Another Committee Vote. The Senate Health Committee voted 6-2 Wednesday to a bill to decriminalize the possession of a variety of psychedelics, Senate Bill 519. The legislation sponsored by Senator Scott Weiner (D-San Francisco) now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Colombia Government Issues Decree Setting the State for Resumption of Aerial Fumigation of Coca Crop. In a joint message this week, Justice Minister Wilson Ruiz and Defense Minister Diego Molano announced Presidential Decree 380, which sets guidelines for the "program for the eradication of illicit crops by aerial spraying." While ministers clarified that the framework "does not automatically reactivate the Program," it is another step in Conservative President Ivan Duque's long-desired effort to reactivate the program, which was halted by former President Juan Manuel Santos in 2015 after the World Health Organization (WHO) deemed it "probably carcinogenic to humans."
Colombia Congress Debates Bill to Regulate Coca and Cocaine. The Congress has begun debate on a bill that would regulate coca and its derivatives. The bill is from two opposition parties, the Green Alliance and the Indigenous and Social Alternative Movement (MAIS). "Ending the drug trafficking business implies turning drug trafficking into a bad business for the mafias, and this is achieved by regularizing the business by the State. Let's remove it from the logic of violence," said Liberal Senator Luis Fernando Velasco. The debate continues.
OD Deaths Hit Record High During Pandemic, Campaign to End Crack Cocaine Sentence Disparity, More... (4/14/21)
Washington's governor commutes some drug possession sentences after the state's Supreme Court voids its felony drug possession law, the St. Louis County Council votes to decriminalize pot possession, the Orleans Parish prosecutors is not going to try most drug possession cases anymore and more.
There's a move afoot in Congress to finally end the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.
Connecticut Poll Finds Strong Support for Marijuana Legalization, Expungement. As legislators ponder whether to make Connecticut the next state to legalize marijuana, a new poll from Sacred Heart University shows strong popular support for the move. The poll had support at 66%, with 62% saying that if marijuana is legalized, those with prior marijuana convictions should have their records expunged.
St. Louis County Council Votes to Decriminalize Pot Possession. The council Tuesday night approved a resolution reducing the penalty for possessing less than 35 grams of marijuana to a fine of less than $100. The previous penalty had been up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.The Maplewood City Council also passed legislation Tuesday night to decriminalize marijuana possession.
North Carolina Medical Marijuana Bill Filed. A medical marijuana bill with bipartisan has been filed in the Senate. Senate Bill 711, the North Carolina Compassionate Care Act, would protect doctors and patients from civil and criminal penalties for using or recommending medical marijuana and would allow the cultivation and sale of medical marijuana in the state. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Operations.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Will No Longer Charge Small-Time Drug Possession Offenses, Except for Heroin and Fentanyl. The Orleans Parish District Attorney's office has adopted a policy of refusing to prosecute charges for possession of small amounts of drugs. New Orleans police may continue to arrest people for small-time possession, but they will not be prosecuted for "an amount intended for personal use." But there is one big exception: Heroin and fentanyl charges will continue to be prosecuted.
Pardons and Commutations
Washington Governor Commutes Sentences After Felony Drug Possession Law Thrown Out. In the wake of a state Supreme Court decision voiding the state's felony drug possession law, Gov. Jay Inslee (D) announced Tuesday that he had commuted the sentences of 13 prisoners who were incarcerated on drug possession charges. More commutations are coming, his office said.
Coalition Asks Judiciary Committee Chairs to Eliminate Crack-Powder Cocaine Sentencing Disparity. More than two dozen think tanks and advocacy groups from across the political spectrum have banded together to call on the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Judiciary committees to end the crack-powder cocaine federal sentencing disparity by passing Senate Bill 71, the EQUAL Act. Sponsored by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), the bill would eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine and make that change retroactive.
Biden Administration Supports Temporary Extension of Ban on Fentanyl Analogues. The Justice Department said Monday it would support a bill that would extend a temporary ban on fentanyl analogues for another seven months. The Trump-era ban is set to expire next month without action by Congress. The department said it would "work with Congress to seek a clean, seven-month extension to prevent this important law enforcement tool from lapsing." The move has been opposed by criminal justice reform groups some researchers, who worry it could incite mass incarceration and make research more difficult. The department acknowledged these concerns, saying it intends to "address legitimate concerns related to mandatory minimums (prison terms) and researcher access to these substances."
Drug Overdoses Hit Record High During Pandemic. Preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that more than 87,000 people died of drug overdoses in the 12-month period that ended in September. That's the largest number for any year since the opioid epidemic began in the mid-1990s. The biggest jump in deaths took place in April and May, in the depths of pandemic lockdowns and attendant fear and stress.
NM Legalizes Marijuana, Criminal Justice Reformer Named DEA Chief, More... (4/13/21)
A simple policy change causes a massive drop in pot arrests in San Antonio, the Maryland legislature has approved the legalization of drug paraphernalia, Vancouver sets proposed drug decriminalization quantities, and more.
New Mexico becomes the latest state to legalize marijuana, and the third in the past few weeks. (Creative Commons)
Minnesota Marijuana Legalization Bill Advances Again. A marijuana legalization bill, House File 600, passed a fifth House committee Monday. The bill was approved by the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee on an 11-7 vote. It now heads to the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee, which is scheduled to take up the measure on Wednesday.
New Mexico Legalizes Marijuana. With the signature Monday of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) on a marijuana legalization bill, House Bill 2, New Mexico has legalized marijuana, becoming the 17th state to do so, the third to do so in the past few weeks, along with New York and Virginia, and the seventh to do since last November's elections.
San Antonio Pot Prosecutions Down 99% Since 2018. Under a cite and release policy instituted by Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales (D), the number of people arrested for marijuana possession has dropped dramatically. In 2018, the DA's office prosecuted 4,515 misdemeanor marijuana possession cases, but in 2020, that number had dropped to 15. That's a 99.6% decrease.
Biden Names Criminal Justice Reform Advocate Anne Milgram to Head DEA. President Joe Biden (D) has selected former New Jersey attorney general Anne Milgram, a longtime criminal justice system reform advocate, to head the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the White House said Monday. The agency has been without a Senate-confirmed leader since the Obama administration.
Maryland Legislature Approves Bill to Legalize Drug Paraphernalia. The General Assembly on Monday approved a bill to legalize the possession of drug paraphernalia, Senate Bill 420. The bill has already passed the Senate, so it now heads to the desk of Gov. Larry Hogan (R). The House passed the bill by a veto-proof margin, but the Senate tally was one short of the number needed to override a veto.
California Bill to End Mandatory Minimums for Drug Offenses Passes Senate. A bill that seeks to end mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, Senate Bill 73, passed the Senate Monday on a 25-10 vote. The bill now heads to the California State Assembly.
Vancouver Outlines Personal Possession Amounts for Drug Decriminalization Proposal. As part of its application to Health Canada for a federal exemption from federal drug laws to decriminalize drug possession in the city, Vancouver has outlined its recommendations for what amounts should be decriminalized. The city is recommending the decriminalization of one gram or 10 rocks for crack cocaine, 1.5 grams for amphetamines, two grams for opioids such as heroin and fentanyl, and three grams for cocaine. Mayor Kennedy Stewart said Monday the goal is remove criminal penalties and reduce stigma by focusing on a health-centered approach.
NY Governor Signs Marijuana Legalization into Law, Biden White House Sets Drug Policy Priorities, More... (4/1/21)
The Biden administration has filed a brief with the Supreme Court supporting an effort to expand sentencing reductions under the 2018 First Step Act, the New Mexico legislature has voted to legalize marijuana, and more.
New York State Capitol
New Mexico Lawmakers Approve Marijuana Legalization, Governor Will Sign Bill. New Mexico has become the second state in as many days to see lawmakers approve marijuana legalization. New York did it on March 30, and with the approval of House Bill 2, the Cannabis Regulation Act, and Senate Bill 2, the Expungement of Certain Criminal Records Act, by legislators in Santa Fe, New Mexico got it done on March 31. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) supported the effort and says she will sign the bills into law.
New York Governor Signs Marijuana Legalization Bill into Law. One day after the legislature passed Senate Bill 854, the Marijuana Regulation and Tax Act, Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) signed it into law Wednesday. That makes the state the 15th to legalize marijuana.
North Dakota Legislature Approves Asset Forfeiture Reporting Bill. The state Senate on Wednesday approved House Bill 1480, which would impose new reporting requirements for property seized by police. The bill would require more information be provided in courts' forfeiture judgments, including where the seizure took place, the alleged crime, and the outcome of the case. The bill now goes to the desk of Governor Doug Burgum (R), who has three legislature days to either sign or veto it.
Biden Administration Releases First Year Drug Policy Priorities. Citing the nation's "overdose and addiction crisis," the Biden administration on Thursday laid out a set of drug policy priorities for its first year. "President Biden has made clear that addressing the overdose and addiction epidemic is an urgent priority for his administration… President Biden has also said that people should not be incarcerated for drug use but should be offered treatment instead. The President has also emphasized the need to eradicate racial, gender, and economic inequities that currently exist in the criminal justice system."
Biden Administration Urges Leniency for Harsh Crack Sentences. The Biden administration on Wednesday filed a brief with the Supreme Court endorsing an effort by low-level crack cocaine offenders to obtain reduced sentences. The brief urged the court to widen eligibility for sentence reductions for some drug offenses under the 2018 First Step Act. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case, Tarahrick Terry v. U.S., No. 20-10482, on May 4.


text:
Although still in its infancy, the USC Schwarzenegger Institute has already generated extensive media coverage in connection with its mission and activities.
California Sees Gridlock Ease in Governing
Before Washington, California was the national symbol of partisan paralysis and government dysfunction. This was the place where voter initiatives slashed the power of state lawmakers, runaway deficits and gridlocked budgets were the rule of the day.
Obamacare and Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Obamacare funding debate in Washington falls on deaf ears here in California. We aren't arguing over why the law was passed; we are too busy working together on how best to implement it.
Schwarzenegger legacy: Environmental protection
Schwarzenegger signed laws requiring the state's energy to come from a growing percentage of clean renewables and making solar affordable for every household; and perhaps the most prominent example of environmental leadership was AB 32, the historic bipartisan legislation that made California a leader in fighting climate change.
Physical Fitness: It's a Team Effort
When Governor Schwarzenegger first asked me to serve in 2006, we agreed that we needed to do something transformational for our kids, who were at great risk of obesity-related health problems.
Variety article on film tax credits
These days studio chiefs insist that filmmakers they work with take advantage of out-of-state incentives to lower production costs, which on a single major motion picture can amount to savings of tens of millions.
Terry Tamminen article on climate change and jobs
We may not have been smart enough to tackle the climate challenge soon enough for those who are already environmental and economic victims, but aligning science and investment capital may finally be a winning formula.
Politicians, experts discuss immigration reform
Daily Trojan by Daniel Rothberg As Sen. John McCain walked into the USC Schwarzenegger Institute's bipartisan summit on immigration reform, he stopped before a demonstration of about 15 students from the School of Social Work. "Let's keep families together," the group chanted in rally of support for comprehensive immigration reform. McCain (R-Ariz.) waved his hand and made his way into Town and Gown, the site of the four-and-a-half hour symposium that featured political leaders and immigration experts, ranging from former President of Mexico Vicente Fox to former U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez.
John McCain, Arnold Schwarzenegger Talk Immigration Reform at USC
Los Angeles Times April 30th, 2013
The Immigration Solution The Nation Needs
The Immigration Solution The Nation Needs in Politico. By Arnold Schwarzenegger
Vincete Fox op ed on immigration in the LA Times
This week, mine will be one of many voices at the USC Schwarzenegger Institute immigration forum. It is imperative for the people of Mexico and its government to have a voice in this debate.
← prev 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 next →


Lawyer and the law with a justice scale made of brass gold metal on a glowing background as a symbol of the legal advice, system in government and society in enforcing rights and regulations.
In larger towns or cities like New Jersey, municipal courts are lower courts that hear cases involving traffic offences, breaking of city ordinances, and small claims. A municipal court may have jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases that are minor, depending on the specific municipality. While some people feel that a municipal case can be handled without legal representation or guidance, anyone who has an issue in this court should consult a municipal attorney who knows the bylaws of the court and the rights of the individual. Because the ordinances differ among municipalities, it is important to understand those that apply in the city where you will be going to court.
The types of crimes that are heard in municipal court are non-indictable, meaning they are not severe enough to result in a prison sentence. For that reason, many people prefer to pay their fines instead of going to the trouble of defending themselves, even though they do not feel they are guilty. While traffic violations, petty disorderly offences and violations of local laws may appear consequential, they can have an impact on the individual's life. This is particularly true of traffic violations that are reported to your insurance company. These offences are measured in points that go against your driving record and cause your insurance premiums to go up.
Some of the types of cases that occur in the municipal court do not even require a court appearance. Traffic violations where an officer has given you a citation in person or where you have been sent a citation through the mail as the result of a traffic camera having recorded the violation can be paid through the mail. The same is true for other non-criminal offences. The ticket will usually have instructions on how to pay by mail or if you are required to appear in court. Taking the option to pay by mail means that you are pleading guilty to the offence. If you do not feel that you have committed the offence, you have the right to a hearing. A municipal attorney can guide you on your rights and help you gather and prepare evidence in the case.
Any time you are charged with a criminal matter, no matter how minor, you will be required to appear in court. The ticket you receive from a law enforcement officer or through the mail will be marked to indicate that you should report to the court. This does not mean that you have the option to go to court, which you always do, but that you are expected to be in court.
When you have your day in court, you should have a municipal attorney on your side to represent you. Even if you are being charged with a violation that carries no risk of imprisonment, you may be at risk of losing your driving privileges or being required to pay a substantial fine. A municipal lawyer will know how to prepare your defence to help you avoid the negative impact the charges against you may have.


Alistair McConnachie reports: The Sixth Annual Conference of the Bromsgrove Group was held at our regular venue, Barnes Close, set in the Waseley Hills, Worcestershire, on Tuesday 22nd to Thursday 24th October.
This was the best attended Bromsgrove Conference ever, with 39 people fully packing out the main conference room at the height of the proceedings on Wednesday.
Around half the attendees were staying both nights, and the other half were attending only during the day. Almost half the attendees were new faces, or second-timers.
There were 10 scheduled speakers and the format allowed each speaker to address his or her subject for 30-45 minutes, followed by questions and discussion for a similar time.
The event opened on Tuesday evening with a welcome from organiser Alistair McConnachie followed by a talk from Convenor James Gibb Stuart, which emphasised the importance of the policy of government-created debt-free money.
James then introduced his colleague from Canada, William Krehm the Editor of Economic Reform and Chairman of the Committee on Monetary and Economic Reform in Toronto, who spoke on issues related to his new book, Towards a Non-Autistic Economy — A Place at the Table for Society.
He emphasised the need to "reclaim our language" from the mainstream economic system which sought to define everything in its own warped terms.
He described banking as "a cross between a felony and a miracle" but did not believe that "marching bankers to jail" would solve the problem, since they were simply doing what the law allowed. It was necessary to change the law.
David Weston pointed out some examples of misleading phrases such as describing stocks and shares as "products", and banking as "an industry". Moreover, the "inflation index" was deliberately misleading because it did not include house prices! Sabine McNeill of the Forum for Stable Currencies suggested that another term for "anti-globalisation" should be "anti-dollarisation".
Canon Peter Challen, co-author with Rodney Shakespeare of new book, Seven Steps to Justice, opened Wednesday's proceedings with a summary of the varied Money Reform work which was in progress during the past year. He presented a folder detailing the extent of the valuable work which was on-going in this field.
Next, Chris Cook explained his concept of "land-backed money", and the need for "decentralised but connected markets". Using modern technology, these new connections and markets were becoming a reality. He emphasised the idea of "a National Equity" instead of "a National Debt."
Finally on Wednesday morning, Pat Conaty of the New Economics Foundation spoke about Credit Unions. Almost half the population of the Republic of Ireland, he said, is a member of a Credit Union. A Credit Union is not a bank, but "a co-operative lending institution." A co-operative economy is "a moral economy rather than a market economy."
He explained, to the astonishment of the audience, that Britain has no control over usury — by which was meant the charging of extortionate interest rates — under criminal law.
This was a serious problem in some areas of our towns and cities and the "Debt on our Doorstep" campaign — intended to highlight the plight of those people who are trapped in horrifyingly exploitative and usurious circumstances — had been launched against such "predatory lending".
He emphasised the need to "think about how we can do things strategically". This involved getting people at the local level engaged on economic and democratic issues and "recreating a culture of active democracy."
Monetary Reform, he explained, needed to be part of a wider agenda which included Banking Reform and Corporate Reform. Banking Reform would help to ensure the establishment of local, co-operative financial institutions which were participatory, democratic, and accountable, and which would help to rebuild housing, transport and the local economy.
Connie Fogal, our second guest from Canada, spoke in the afternoon. Connie founded the Defence of Canadian Liberty Committee and, in 1998, was heavily involved in publicising, and helping to defeat, the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. She is President of the Canadian Action Party and is running for the Green Party as a Councillor in Vancouver.
The two main planks of her platform are "opposing the corporatisation of the world" and promoting Monetary Reform. She believes the nation-state is a crucial element for the protection and development of real democracy.
We need, she said, "to take back the Commons". We need to reclaim the word "globalisation." It is necessary for nations to co-operate in harmony, but present globalising tendencies are threatening the freedom of peoples and nations. She is particularly concerned about the extent to which dissent itself is being criminalised under the pretext of "the war on terrorism."
She concluded that the role each of us has to play is immense. We need to use key issues to connect with, and inform, the Non Governmental Organisations (NGO's) and the anti-globalisation protestors. Housing is a good issue, as is health. Think of it as a pincer movement, she explained. It is necessary to educate the people at the top, but it is also necessary to create a groundswell, using correct language, passion, and philosophy.
Creating New Money author, James Robertson was next to speak on his new booklet, Forward with the Euro — AND the Pound, published by the Economic Research Council.
He argued that the either/or debate was mistaken and we should instead be offered the choice of using whichever of the two was better and more convenient for different purposes.
He argued that "keeping our monetary independence will enable the UK to continue to play a leading role in democratic monetary reform and innovation. Replacing the pound with the euro, and acquiring a fifteenth share of virtually no political control over the European Central Bank would make that very much more difficult."
In the evening Frances Hutchinson, Chairperson of the Social Credit Secretariat, gave a talk on the history and concept of Social Credit. Her new book, The Politics of Money (Pluto Press) will be released in November 2002.
On Thursday morning, Molly Scott-Cato, Economics Spokesperson for the Green Party of England and Wales, explained the concept of a new international currency based on carbon. This currency would act to cut down on CO2 emissions. She pointed out how the countries which presently owe their debt in US dollars are subject to "currency imperialism" and that the introduction of the new currency would also require wiping out present Third World debt.
Malcolm Currie of Birmingham LETS gave a fascinating report on the "Eco-Money" conference which he had recently attended in Japan. The Japanese, he explained, regard "eco-money" as "economy+ecology+community" It is "a currency usable within a community where good-will is circulated."
The final session of the Conference was an open forum.
Next year's event (2003) will be held on 28-30 October. If you would like to attend, please get in touch.


Dennis Day, 76, had not been seen in the small town of Phoenix since July.
A body was found in the Oregon home of original Disney Mouseketeer Dennis Day on Thursday, eight months after the former child star went missing.
"The way it looks now, unless we find a body, we're not going to find him," sister Nelda Adkins told USA Today in February.
Ernest Caswell, Day's partner for 45 years, has been battling dementia and resides in assisted care, according to the newspaper.
The Oregon State Police said in a statement that "human remains" were found at the home. Multiple agencies are assisting with the investigation, including the Oregon State Police Forensics Lab.
"At this time, the human remains have not been identified and the investigation is ongoing," the state police said.
Day was a member of Disney's Mickey Mouse Club for two years in the 1950s. The club later featured such modern stars as Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Ryan Gosling.
Concerned friends, family and fans launched a "Help Us Find Dennis Day" public Facebook page, which has more than 500 members.


text:
Q: changing icon foundry = search and replace class names snafu When we change an icon foundry, it causes a minor snafu in that a lot of code needs to be revisited because icon names change. Some automated translation might be possible using text utils, but not when icon names are generated in a structured way (e.g., i-star-filled v/s i-star-empty based on a boolean).
What I want instead is to use functional names for my icons (such as xyz-search, xyz-cancel, xyz-filterable, etc.) and then map them to the actual icon name provided by the foundry. For example, glyphicon names might be different from those used by font awesome. How can I provide some kind of indirection (the same kind of liberation that HTML tags strong and em provide)?
Our first thought was to use a lookup table in javascript to translate from one namespace into another. But that works only when the HTML is being generated (we use angularjs); not helpful for static code, nor in those few cases where the icon name is generated computationally, as in the example in the first para.
So now we are toying with SASS (I have googled a fair bit but all in vain, nor is my CSS very shiny). Is there a SASS idiom that fits here, to translate something like
<i class="xyz-filterable ...">

to
<i class="i-funnel ...">

for the same visual and interaction outcome. (I understand the actual CSS will look quite different)
I do not want to use any foo.addClass().
Thanks

A: Use @extend:
Sass:
.xyz-filterable {
  background-image: url(foo.png);
}

.i-funnel {
  @extend .xyz-filterable;
}

Compiled CSS:
.xyz-filterable, .i-funnel {
  background-image: url(foo.png);
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Valentine, you have a pizza my heart! I have a house full of pizza loving boys…boys that aren't big fans of mushy Valentine's Day cards and treats. I also hosted a Valentine's Day party today and had these left over cookies from Cebe's Cookies. I had just a few left over, but I knew they would be adorable with little tags as a valentine's treat for baseball buddies!
I couldn't decide if I wanted to put them in clear bags, clear boxes from Nashville Wraps (Have you looked at their site? I have LOVED them for years, and they were kind enough to send me a few boxes full of fabulous to use. They are affordable, ship ridiculously fast, and have TONS of products to choose from), or glassine bags. In the end, I went with glassine bags because I couldn't stand the idea of my cute clear boxes being tossed aside at the baseball field. I used red glitter tape I found on clearance at Walmart after Christmas for $0.10!!!!
But, seriously, can we all just take a moment to check out these cookies? I mean, really? They are so so fabulous!!
Download your free printable Valentine, You Have a Pizza My Heart tags.
Previous I Mustache You to be My Valentine!


text:
New volunteering project launched at Coventry's historic Charterhouse
Ashleigh Osborne 2nd Jun, 2021
A VOLUNTEERING project aiming to help young people in Coventry and Warwickshire learn valuable skills has been launched by at an historic site in the city.
National training provider PET-Xi has partnered with Historic Coventry Trust to provide volunteers to help improve the Charterhouse Heritage Park.
Kerri Bowers, PET-Xi contract manager, said: "We're very pleased to have launched our volunteering project at the Charterhouse, and we're grateful to Historic Coventry Trust for allowing our trainees to participate in the restoration.
"Those on the project will be helping out through activities like litter picking and restoring wildlife habitat.
"Volunteering helps build key skills, such as teamwork, punctuality, and commitment."
The volunteers will now attend every Friday to help out, and the company hopes this project will be a springboard for other volunteering projects around the region.
Outgoing Coventry City Mayor Coun Ann Lucas, who was at the launch, said: "It was fantastic to see some of the young people being trained by PET-Xi giving up their time to work on such a worthwhile project.
"When Charterhouse opens later this summer, they can be proud of what they've contributed to its restoration."
Charterhouse Heritage Park
Coun Ann Lucas
Historic Coventry Trust
Kerri Bowerts
litter-picking
Lord Mayor of Coventry
Pet-Xi
restoring wildlife habitat
View and download all of the public notices in the Coventry Observer.
New volunteering proj...


The burgundy is easy on the eyes and contrasts flawlessly with our definitive black. This bag is one tasty berry. It's made for the babes out there that need a staple for all hours of the day and night. Both sides come in our soft calf leather, so you'll look as delicious as a fresh bowl of berries on a summer's day.


Relax & rejuvenate at a world-class spa experience amongst the Gippsland vines.
Luxurious and contemporary, Brandy Creek Day Spa presents the ultimate escape for mind and body. With a peaceful valley outlook across rolling vineyards to the Baw Baw Ranges Brandy Creek Day Spa offers five treatment rooms, a tranquil relaxation area, luxurious change room facilities and a Turkish Hammam. Cathedral ceilings and expansive glass walls combined with dark stained timber exterior and carefully selected furnishings, frame the spectacular vista and add to the restful and restorative experience.
Personalised guest journeys from arrival to departure have been carefully orchestrated to deliver a restful and restorative experience using products from award-winning Australian skincare brands Uspa and Alpha H. The product ranges have been thoughtfully selected to complement the setting with hero ingredients including grape extracts and plant botanicals.
Whilst a full range of day spa treatments from maintenance to revitalising to cosmeceutical are available, Brandy Creek Day Spa looks forward to their mainstay being provision of soul soothing rejuvenating treatment rituals to complement the Gippsland restaurant and winery offering.
For further information, advance bookings and other enquiries, email dayspa@brandycreekestate.com.au or call (03) 5625 4498 ext 2.
At Brandy Creek Day Spa we have great facilities including a couples rooms for treatments with a partner or friend, great outdoor private balcony, a Turkish Hammam and breathtaking views! Brandy Creek Day Spa is also Wheelchair friendly and we have an all abilities treatment room and bathroom ready for your relaxation.
Our Turkish Hammam - a purpose built steam treatment.
Wheelchair friendly all abilities treatment room and bathroom.
Amazing views from the private Hammam balcony.
World class spa product by Uspa and Alpha-H.


Set of (2), (4), (6), (8) or more handcrafted mahogany leather napkin rings.
Black, Lt. Grey, Dk Grey, Brown, Fawn Brown, Mahogany, Distressed, Purple, Blue, Chartreuse, Orange, Pink, White Leather ...to name a few.
White version is excellent for Weddings!
These are very high quality and great looking. Bought them for my Thanksgiving table and am so excited to use them.


text:
The Content Marketing Blog
Categories: Brand Marketing, Content Marketing
Extending Ad Campaigns Means Extending Your Thinking
Jason Falls
@JasonFalls
This year, the most intriguing Super Bowl ad was from McDonald's. Certainly, we all wish we had their budget, but regardless of spend, McDonald's provided a lesson about extending ad campaigns through social engagement, which doesn't have to extend the dollars.
McDonald's "Pay With Love"
McDonald's "Pay With Love" advertisement extended their TV ad into restaurants where customers could indeed pay with love. And as we saw, they then shared that experience with social networks.
But then McDonald's added its proactive extension to the campaign by announcing on their social channels they would be giving away one of everything advertised during the Super Bowl. All fans had to do to enter was retweet their posts about each of the other sponsor's commercials.
While the two ideas could have existed separately, the "love" being paid by the brand did connect the ad with the social extension of the giveaway.
Extending an ad campaign doesn't have to be done solely with hashtags. In 2008, I helped extend Jim Beam's first television commercial in a decade with a video contest that garnered a Sammy Award the following year.
We took the commercial concept, a humorous parody of the perfect girlfriend, and challenged brand fans to create their own version of the perfect girlfriend or boyfriend. We gave them access to graphics, fonts, and even sound bytes from the original ad and challenged them to film a new iteration.
That effort resulted in a nearly six-month extension of a relatively short television media buy, over 500 content video entries and over 90 million online brand impressions through website visits and social shares.
The Key To Extending Your Advertising
While ad campaigns can live on in social and other avenues of online content for weeks, months and even years, there needs to be an intention behind it in order to be successful. Fans won't just like your television, print or even radio ads and talk about them — at least not on the vast majority of cases. It's when you devise a plan to extend the campaign that true virality happens.
As you plot your next ad campaign, ask the following questions to help inform your efforts to extend through social platforms:
Can we motivate our fans and followers to add to the campaign through ideas, images or other assets?
Is there an idea or platform larger than our brand that people will identify with and interact
If people follow our persuasion in this campaign, is there something we can do to reward them?
Can we tie purchases to a matching charitable effort?
The more you can develop advertising campaigns that have a natural engagement point beyond the ad, the easier extending the idea to the social web will be. The trick is looking at the campaign as more than just ads. Step back and think about extending the message and storyline to many channels. Sure, you can start with a hashtag idea, but don't stop there. The only limits are your imagination.
Jason Falls @JasonFalls
Contributor Bio: Jason Falls is SVP, Digital Strategy at Elasticity, an integrated digital marketing agency with offices in St. Louis, Mo., and Louisville, Ky. He is a widely read digital marketing industry pundit, the author of two books on digital marketing and a frequent media commentator and analyst. Find him on Twitter at @JasonFalls. Work with him at http://goelastic.com/.
Huddle Up! Super Bowl Ads Prove Integrated Marketing is the Best Play
How to Score Without a Super Bowl Sized Marketing Budget
Ignite Your Sales with Content on Demand
Equip your sales reps to deliver exactly the right content to the right customer on the right device, at the exact time it's needed.
Thismoment in Content Marketing with Microsoft's Stephen Bury
Read »
Have Words Like "Engagement" Become Meaningless? The Suspension Bridge Effect and How to Overcome It
Meet Spark: A Content-First Approach to Sales Enablement
← TV and Mobile: 5 Tips for Second Screen Content Marketing
Have Words Like "Engagement" Become Meaningless? The Suspension Bridge Effect and How to Overcome It →
trademark \'This‑mōmənt\
noun, Trademark: Our company: Thismoment is a marketing technology company that enables the world's biggest companies to connect with their target audiences in real time on any device.
noun, Trademark: Our product: Thismoment Content Cloud, is a digital storytelling platform that enables effortless content curation, digital experience creation and sharing and seamless enterprise technology integration.
noun: A precise moment in time and a really cool hashtag, #thismoment.
Learn more about our platform »
Find us on Facebook Watch us on YouTube Follow us on Twitter Find us on Facebook Find us on Google+
Every brand has a story to tell.
We make it easy.
Interested in learning more about engaging your customers through brand storytelling? Great, that's what we're here for! Send us a quick note about your current business needs and we'll be in touch shortly.


text:
Modern Art masters make a strong impression in $5.8m Bonhams sale
An impressive collection of works produced by influential artists like Amedeo Modigliani, Marc Chagall, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Joan Miro lit up Bonhams' Impressionist and Modern Art sale yesterday, June 21.
The exciting collection of paintings, sketches and sculptures, bringing art produced by some of the most famous names in the business together, made a total of £3,571,440 ($5,797,143).
The standout piece was a delicately painted oil on canvas work by Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, which reached a final price of £1,812,000 ($2,941,219).
Trademark Modigliani techniques define this $1,812,000 painting
Called Portrait de Femme, it contains many of his trademark stylistic features, like elongating the subject's face, giving them almond-shaped eyes and letting the work have a patchwork feel to it. Its undeniable quality meant it was always likely to sell for a high value, and it was fought over by bidders.
Modigliani is famed for his female portraits like this one, as they are said to be the reason why 'the artist earned his place in the history of art'.
Unsurprisingly for a sale of influential modern artists, Pablo Picasso's work also made an appearance, and proved as popular as ever. His two pieces, Tete de matador and Femme nue assise, both sold for more than £200,000 ($324,756).
Joan Miro's Femme was one of the main draws of the sale
Works by Joan Miro, who in many ways was the main draw of this auction, also did not disappoint, selling for high amounts. His crayon and ink on paper piece, simply titled Femme, made a final price of £90,000 ($146,101).
His deceivingly simple art with its complex use of colour and shapes is highly collectible, so it is clear why it sold above it estimate. Another of his pieces, a delightfully abstract watercolour called Tete, proved this by selling for £120,000 ($194,470).
Works by artists like these are always going to perform well at auction because of their quality and reputation, so keeping one by as an investment is always wise.
Click here to view our Art stock items for sale
Learn how you can get pleasure and profit from art
Read all the latest Art and Photography news


RE/DONE's 'Double Yoke' straight-leg jeans subtly nod to the Western-style pieces we've been seeing so much of over the last few seasons. They're made from rigid denim and sit comfortably high on the waist. Roll up the cuffs to reveal your sneakers.
Shown here with: RE/DONE T-shirt, Burberry Shoulder bag, adidas Originals Sneakers.


Product description: Present to your beloved this Vibrant Valise with Luscious Chocolates as the symbol of your love. The Valise is loaded with Baajis Chocolate�s Praline Milk flavors 432 g., Baajis Chocolate�s Caramel Mousse 260 g., Baajis Chocolate�s with Chocolate Wafer 494 g., Imported Rises Ceramic Tray (D 23 cm. x H 17 cm.) along with Special decoration and packaging.


The buzz: "Imagine if your washing machine itself was the diagnostician monitoring machine behavior and sending alerts … ahead of failures… scheduling a service call and ordering the service parts" (Lee Smith, 2014). High-tech companies are increasingly adapting their business model to deliver outcomes, not just products, to customers. This "outcome-based economy" is enabled by digital technologies including IoT sensors, big data and analytics, and near-unlimited bandwidth. Doing business in this new environment requires your organization to control your products, collect usage data, glean outcome insights and build an extended ecosystem of business partners and customers. Are you ready? The experts speak. Dave Carlisle, HPE: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" (Leonardo da Vinci). Manfred Kopisch, SAP: "Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential" (Winston Churchill, American novelist). Join us for The Outcome-based Economy and the Future of Manufacturing.
Join host Bonnie D. Graham as she invites you to take an additional Coffee Break with Game-Changers for our special series on The Future of Manufacturing with Game Changers.
We'll explore manufacturing innovations as well as industry challenges and trends across the aerospace, chemicals, high tech, and industrial sectors.
Learn how you can become the savvy Leader who takes your company across the finish line as you look ahead to the next wave of business innovation. The Future of Manufacturing with Game Changers, presented by SAP, broadcasts live on Thursdays on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel.


28/03/2015 · Hey guys! Today I'll be showing you how to make Fan edits! PLEASE COMMENT VIDEO IDEAS BECAUSE I WANT TO BE MORE ACTIVE -Call Me Jess.... An anime music video (AMV), known in wasei-eigo as MAD (music anime douga), typically is a fan-made music video consisting of clips from one or more Japanese animated shows or movies set to an audio track, often songs or promotional trailer audio.
In your video editing software, add your background music track to your video and set the volume level of your background music fairly low…enough to help mask the …... 28/03/2015 · Hey guys! Today I'll be showing you how to make Fan edits! PLEASE COMMENT VIDEO IDEAS BECAUSE I WANT TO BE MORE ACTIVE -Call Me Jess.
28/03/2015 · Hey guys! Today I'll be showing you how to make Fan edits! PLEASE COMMENT VIDEO IDEAS BECAUSE I WANT TO BE MORE ACTIVE -Call Me Jess.
An anime music video (AMV), known in wasei-eigo as MAD (music anime douga), typically is a fan-made music video consisting of clips from one or more Japanese animated shows or movies set to an audio track, often songs or promotional trailer audio.


Have you done it lately. . .
I S A U N T E R E D. . .
a little bit more than what I have. . .
Let's hear it for true sauntering. . .
or if I would like it to be bigger percentage of me. . .
sampling it along the way. . .
Not a whole lot of people saunter about these days. . .