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Britain - It's time to present them with the bill!
Britain - NHS: 60 years of "not enough", and they're still cutting
Britain - Labour's empty promises on housing
Pakistan - After Benazir Bhutto's murder
South-Africa- Factional struggles in the ANC, class struggle on the ground
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Lutte Ouvrière
Translations into English
Class Struggle/
This year the National Health Service will turn 60 years old. PM Gordon Brown has not waited for the official celebrations due this summer. He is already boasting about the "world class" NHS, which is better and bigger than ever before, thanks to its staff, but mostly thanks to Labour and especially thanks to him.
He chose to make his first major speech of the new year on the subject of NHS, reminding everyone that the NHS had, in fact, been the government's main priority since he took over. Of course. However, many of his "new" announcements of screening tests and even the NHS constitution "setting out patients' rights and responsibilities" were not new. Much of the screening already takes place, but the problem which already arises is that there is not enough funding for it.
A year ago, the NHS was still in a bit of a mess. There were persistent financial deficits in many hospitals and in primary care, "reconfiguration" meant more cuts and closures, and the rebellion continued among staff against the plans to cut the number of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), sack thousands of workers and oblige trusts to "commission" (buy) services from private health care companies.
By contrast, 2007 has ended with the NHS in surplus, apparently by as much as £501m, and the "return to financial balance" according to chief executive, David Nicholson. But this is hardly surprising, given that the PCTs have, in the meantime, undergone major "reorganisation" (i.e. major cuts) and in fact many of the staff who were sacked in hospitals which had deficits, remain sacked and the wards and units which were closed at the time, remain closed.
Despite the assertions of Brown and his acolytes, there are still not that many happy stories to tell about the NHS. After all, what positive spin can be given to the consequences of closing a maternity unit under the so-called "reconfiguration" , or the drastic shortage of junior doctors' training posts and the failure of the new computer system for selection of candidates? Especially in the context of a crying need for more hospital specialists and GPs!
But there is probably nothing more indicative of a health service in deep crisis, than the on-going and seemingly intractable scandal of so many deaths from hospital acquired infections, whether it be methycillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile, or another less notorious bug. Never mind, though, because Gordon Brown has announced that all the hospitals will be given a "deep clean", whatever that means.
Then to add to it all, in these days of nigh hysteria over "identity theft" the fact that hundreds of thousands of NHS records, which have been undergoing a seemingly endless computerisation (another failed PFI project!), have gone missing, is yet another scandal. There is something highly symbolic about the fact that when new technology is actually installed in the NHS, which could improve diagnosis, the continuity of care, and follow up, the tools of this technology should get lost by some private subcontractor or another. Yes, no matter how high-tech, nothing is immune from being sabotaged by the profit motive. So no, not much to celebrate.
That said, when Blair resigned in June, he took with him the highly unpopular health secretary, Patricia Hewitt, whose back many were glad to see. Brown has brought in the ex-postman turned gamekeeper, Alan Johnson, in her place. This is an important job for Johnson, so he apparently spent his summer reading up the history of the NHS, ending this brief respite by offering NHS staff a below inflation, 2% pay deal - an issue which has yet to be resolved. No change there then!
The Brown-Johnson-Darzi plan
For obvious reasons, the NHS is politicians' biggest football. If they do not appear to be performing well with it, they will always pay for it in the polling booth.
So, almost as soon as he got his feet into Blair's shoes, Brown appointed Professor "Lord" Ara Darzi - a kind of "superhero" surgeon - as a parliamentary under secretary of state at the Department of Health to join his "government of all the talents".
Whatever Darzi's skills as a doctor may be - and these are certainly impressive - the point is that he really fits the bill insofar as he is a supporter of the government's "reforms". In these days of celebrity culture he cuts a bit of a dash, and will, Brown hopes, provide an excellent cover for continuing his government's policy of more privatisation under the guise of "choice" and more cuts, under the guise of "reconfiguration". Like any good surgeon about to amputate a limb, Darzi will explain quite plausibly how much better off the patient will be without it.
Darzi tends to begin his speeches by saying "I am a doctor not a politician". But he is most definitely a politician, seasoned and well-baked. He has been sitting in the House of Lords ever since 2002 after being knighted by the Queen for his "services to medicine and surgery". He knows the score very well by now and is obviously quite willing to be used by Gordon Brown to sell the supposedly "last phase" of NHS "reform".
This ties in with the other reason why Darzi's appointment is significant. Brown realises that one big criticism of the NHS is that it is not run by doctors and nurses - often cited as the reason for many of the problems, including the near epidemic of hospital acquired infections. Putting a doctor (and, what is more, a super-doctor) in charge of the government's health reform programme might seem a clever answer to this. What is more, Darzi had already shown his worth by producing a review on "Healthcare for London: a framework for action" at the request of NHS London, the all-London strategic health authority.
To give an idea of what sort of solutions the final phase of Labour's reforms have in store for the NHS, it is worth looking at Darzi's proposals for London, which have been more spelt out, but are in essence the same as what he has outlined for the whole of the NHS, in his Interim Report published this October and called "Our NHS, our future". Darzi is meant to complete his review and recommendations for some "fundamental changes" by the time of the NHS birthday this coming June.
While the government keeps saying that people should have "choice" and that they should have "personalised, local services" close to where they live, what is proposed is fewer and more specialised hospitals, and a new kind of service - which Darzi chooses to call polyclinics. These polyclinics would incorporate the functions of GPs, of hospital outpatient departments (with some consultants on duty and many investigations available, including X-rays) as well as some treatments and "minor" accident and emergency services. For London he proposed 150 of them, at an estimated annual cost of £3.1bn.
There are a number of assumptions involved in these proposals. For instance it is asserted that the population no longer needs big district general hospitals (DGHs) with all the diverse specialities and services, nor the beds, since hospital stays are so much shorter, and medical science and technology have progressed so much. We are healthier, our needs are different, but more complex, there are computers which can do next to everything, etc., etc. This surely means that the general hospitals can be closed?
Of course, new technological advances can, in many instances, shorten the time people need to be in hospital and shorten the duration of treatment and recovery. But that assumes that the funds are there, to pay for all the equipment and the computers which are needed and that the appropriately qualified personnel are available as well. This latter point is all the more important because nurses are being asked to do even more of the jobs which doctors used to do and no-one is doing the jobs that nurses used to do! What is in effect being proposed is the removal of a comprehensive hospital, long before people have stopped needing it!
The government's argument continues: a number of highly specialised hospitals dotted around London (under Hewitt these were referred to as "super hospitals") would be able to "improve outcomes" for patients because the expertise would be concentrated, instead of spread thin, or maybe even absent - as is often the case in district general hospitals today. The specialist hospitals would expand on what already exists in London i.e. hospitals like Great Ormond Street for children, Moorfields for eyes, the Royal Marsden for cancer, etc. Of course, but they would need to expand by an enormous amount - and this is not spelt out - if they were now the only places to obtain specialised care.
Downgraded general hospitals, now referred to as "local hospitals" would still care for "non-complex" inpatients and do day-case surgery and rehabilitation. It seems that these will be a bit like what used to be called "cottage hospitals" in the past. These local hospitals would offer emergency care on a 24/7 basis, but would not have a full intensive care facility. Anyone requiring high level critical care would have to be transferred to a "major acute hospital".
These major acute hospitals would be the only hospitals with a full range of facilities for emergency admissions. We are told they will provide "highest clinical standard" care (fewer, but better ...) and have stroke units and trauma units, for instance. But they would also need significant expansion and a lot more qualified staff if they were now having to take transferred emergencies from local hospitals.
As for the so-called independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs) which were launched in 2002 - by private healthcare companies - the idea is that they would still provide the non-urgent elective procedures like cataract, hip and knee replacements - and would be called "elective centres". Indeed, the question is asked whether they could maybe do more?
Preparing the way for more shark species
Some of these proposals might sound quite reasonable. For instance, polyclinics, staffed with salaried GPs and specialists, as well as all the technicians, laboratory workers, therapists and social care specialists sound like a marvellous idea. A patient sees the doctor, gets sent for tests, goes back with the results and the GP speaks to the specialist next door, who sees him straight away and books him in for your treatment. If it is a minor procedure it might be done there and then. All in the same day. What is more, these clinics would offer extended opening hours and the majority of Londoners would be just 1-2km from such a clinic.
Yes, it all sounds like progress, until the real "why" and the real "how" are examined.
What is immediately obvious is the scope that all of this new healthcare structure offers to the private sector to come in and offer services for profit. In fact Darzi uses the US as his example time and again, and in a more recent "International Health Summit" invited a speaker from the US company, Kaiser, which runs polyclinics over there, to make the case.
Actually it is already happening in primary care as a result of the reforms begun in 2006. Now Darzi wants 100 new GP practices and 150 new health centres (polyclinics) in England (over and above those in London). But the fact is that contracts for clinics and services run by so-called "alternative providers of medical services" from the private sector are already being considered as the only option in primary care. And GPs are justifiably afraid that they could squeeze out traditional NHS GPs.
It is all the more ironical as this is being done, among other things, in the name of "a more personalised health service." Today, it would be true to say that NHS GPs are among the few NHS personnel who actually provide a really "personal service"!
Indeed, Darzi's proposals seem to have been especially designed to upset general practitioners. They are also being told that they must work extra hours at night and weekends at the risk of losing their bonuses. He seems to realise that the present system of general practice would be undermined by polyclinics, and "alternative providers of medical services" and so he says that possibly GP practices could integrate themselves in some way with the polyclinic/medical centre.
If all of this was envisaged as a proper restructuring of the health service under public ownership and control, to make it work much better, then general practice and GPs themselves, would certainly have had to come under the spotlight. And there would be no way round upsetting GPs, in this case, either. Because the GP system was always an inbuilt flaw in the NHS, right from its inception, since GPs refused to be salaried employees of the government. So, as "independent contractors" they were never properly integrated into the NHS, to provide a really "joined-up" service. But as a consequence they were able to play a vital role in keeping patients out of hospitals and de facto rationing the service - because another fundamental flaw in the NHS has been its chronic under-funding.
If the government's aim really was to modernise and improve the quality of the health service it would turn general practice into a salaried public sector job first. But if its aim is merely to provide openings for the private sector - which would compete with GPs by offering salaried positions to doctors in polyclinics - then it would be quite happy to leave GPs to stew in their own juice, if need be, which seems to be the case. Of course, it is an expensive stew!
Not too hard to figure it out
The question of "why" all these proposed changes at this stage (provided one has accepted the fact that a "world class NHS", top quality care for all, etc. is all hyperbole), is actually quite simple.
All in all, the latest "Darzi" version of the government's reform plan would require a lot more investment in the NHS - even in basic infrastructure. Yet at this "phase" of Labour's NHS polices, the funding for the NHS is being cut significantly - with only a 4% annual increase in resources over the next 3 years. So there is obviously something not so straightforward going on behind all the glossy reports, reviews and public consultations and incredibly ambitious plans.
An admission by the NHS chief executive David Nicholson brings us back to the Hewitt-conceived "NHS Reconfigurations" which were launched in 2006, and which precede and prepare the ground for Darzi's plans - and are probably his starting point.
"Reconfiguration" , in government parlance, means the "redesign" of the NHS to concentrate key services in fewer hospitals. No matter if these services were needed in more hospitals!
Nicholson justified this at the time as follows: these "60 reconfigurations of NHS services, affecting every strategic health authority in the land" were "to squeeze out overcapacity that contributed to the NHS's £512m deficit in the last financial year." This is probably news to most people, because these deficits were said to be due to "bad management" and nobody talked about "overcapacity" at the time! They were in fact caused mainly by the excessive payments which trusts were obliged to make to the private sector for PFI projects and the like.
But of course, after Trusts had been forced to sack their workers and close wards and as a result, with difficulty, at last balance their books, how could they admit that the capacity they had just cut was actually essential? And that now they have to turn patients away? This is exactly what is already happening.
The example of the so-called Outer North East London NHS exposes the problems behind Reconfiguration and Darzi alike - and very graphically also reveals the main motive as cost-cutting on the one hand and opening up opportunities for the profit sharks on the other. These motives were denied consistently by health minister Hewitt while she was in post.
In 2006, a reconfiguration plan based on Hewitt's "Fit for the future", was put forward for the health service covering 4 boroughs of outer north-east London - Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge and Waltham Forest. It later transpired that this was due to "marked financial stresses, particularly in two Acute Trusts". This reconfiguration proposed a number of options, but these all boiled down to downgrading to a "local" type hospital, one of the three big district generals involved - either Whipps Cross, or King George, or the brand new PFI Queens Hospital in Romford.
However, the all-London strategic health authority was obliged to request a "review of the clinical case for change" - which was completed in October 2007 - because - to quote the review "the plans have caused major unrest amongst both the public and their representatives on councils and in Parliament, with the focus of concern centring on the fear of closure of an A&E department in either Whipps Cross or King George hospital. There is deep scepticism about the ability of the community to cope and little belief that the proposed changes are for patient benefit rather than just a book balancing exercise".
This is true. And in fact the Tory MP and ex-party leader, Ian Duncan-Smith was himself very much involved in the campaign to stop the downgrading of Whipps Cross! But what is also true is that these Trusts were all already struggling with too few resources. Professor Alberti, the author of the review, explained that "All are struggling to reach the 98% operational standard (i.e. the standard that 98% of those attending A&E should be admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours of arrival) and face major problems with providing experienced cover for 24/7 services."
Basically Professor Alberti's recommendation was that the consultation on changes in these boroughs should start again from scratch and be based on improving the service rather than cost-saving. The point was made that "we are concerned that at present there is a lack of capacity in both the acute sector and community to undertake the major changes envisioned."
Yes, lack of capacity, not overcapacity! This review is damning, because it exposes the government's reforms for what they are - that they bear no relation to need and are really about cutting capacity - even where it is already stretched, and cutting costs at patients' expense.
The changes have been put on hold and new consultation is meant to start in January 2008. That said, it appears that this part of north-east London is going to have to do without one of its acute hospitals anyway, and this is likely to be the relatively new (built 16 years ago) King George hospital in Goodmayes. This is one thing Alberti admitted. Even if the health service in these boroughs is already inadequate, the resources are not going to be made available for improvements and in fact there is no choice but to make cuts!
The question now is, where would the cuts be least damaging?
Moving maternity services and other acute services to the new Queens hospital, which is what is proposed, will require an immediate increase in capacity there. In fact, Queens was built with 5% fewer beds than the hospitals it replaced, even though an increase in the population it serves was already underway, due to the Thames Gateway housing developments. In other words, the situation may have been calmed by a few honest words from a learned professor and his team of experts about what was behind this reconfiguration, but the government is not going to offer the resources needed to provide "top quality care" in these hospitals and PCTs. But maybe the great grandchildren of the present residents will get some polyclinics, (if Lord Darzi does not fall out of favour with this government, or the next), given how long it will take to build such temples of excellence and find the staff for them!
The poor are still being killed off prematurely
It is necessary to go back and deal with, in no uncertain terms, one particular and much-used justification for the current NHS reforms, even if it is obvious that this is just one more cover-up for cuts. And this is the assertion that the population is so much healthier today.
The government itself commissions research on health inequalities so it is in prime position to know better than anyone how bad the situation is in this respect and that it has got worse in the last few years!
In December 2007 The Department of Health published the data on life expectancy at birth and infant mortality, given that it has a target to improve the mortality and life expectancies by 10% by 2010.
The latest data shows that a man in Manchester can expect to die 10 years earlier than a man living in Kensington and Chelsea - 73 years compared to 83.1. In 1995-7, the gap was less (70 years in Manchester compared to 78.2 years in Chiltern - which at that time had the highest life expectancy.
This is a very big gap. And it implies that there is a big class difference in the health of populations, which 60 years of the NHS has not managed to narrow. But of course only getting rid of the class system can eradicate this difference.
However, in the meantime, the factor that seems most associated with this lower life expectancy is the shortage of GPs in the areas where people are dying prematurely.
Yes, in this day and age - when the NHS is apparently again "the best in the world" somehow the old entrenched problems are still entrenched! Who would have expected, after so many years of trying to "equalise" the service provision, that an increasingly non-uniform provision would be offered - and that this provision would still be largely dependent on old poor-rich boundaries?
Yet this gross inequality - not surprisingly - is not given priority in the Darzi report. However it is mentioned. And it seems that it will be used as a justification to bring in private providers to fill the gaps. Even if what is really needed are dedicated public-minded health workers who will really and truly provide personal care to these deprived areas with a commitment to the long tern and without any commitment to profit.
The mystery of the vanishing ISTCs
The experience of private sector provision so far, is pretty mixed, and of late, tailing off somewhat, if the independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs) are taken as an example. So far there are 23 of these operating and to make the market attractive, the government has exempted then from national tariffs until 2008, so they have been able to charge the NHS 11.2% on average more than the NHS equivalent cost.
Shortly after Alan Johnson was appointed health secretary, the rumour started circulating that the second wave of ISTCs would be scrapped. In fact Johnson said he would probably scrap some of them, but not all. Whether the ISTC programme is actually being scaled back or not is doubtful, despite the griping over it in the financial press.
This alleged "setback" for ISTCs and the private health sector in general seems more like a temporary lull, which was inevitable, and will probably last until the current reforms are all in place, especially since it is hard to see what else the reforms can be aimed at other than creating enormous new opportunities for profiteering in the future.
If ISTCs have not been making worthwhile gains lately then it is probably because some district general hospitals are outdoing them, having improved their ability to do day cases in a lot of instances. In other words ISTCs have difficulty competing profitably with the NHS at the price. But what are the reconfigurations going to do? They will cut NHS capacity for such operations and the private sector will be able to fill it. This is not even taking polyclinics into consideration, because they are so far not exactly feasible.
The other way that the private sector is in for a big boost is via the policy which is being forced onto PCTs - so called "world class commissioning" which will ensure that they buy more services from the private sector over the coming years.
A document which the DoH prepared but has not published called "ISTCs, the story so far" apparently explains (according to the Financial Times) "that without a sufficiently large private sector, there will be no competitive tension to drive down cost, raise quality and improve accessibility and the market will not be large enough to be self-sustaining."
Part of this reasoning is economic nonsense, but the market is soon to become much, much larger, provided that the proposed new reforms go ahead. And that will be "problem solved" for all concerned, except patients who will have less for more. This is especially the case, since so far, ISTCs are not at all integrated into the NHS which means that there is no assurance of any kind of continuity of care or after-care. Which may well be recognised as a problem, but tackling it could pose a few problems given the conflicting aims of the two sectors.
The unions kow-towing to Brown
The final Darzi review for fundamental change in the NHS is due out next June. But in the meantime the reconfigurations of local services are going ahead, in preparation.
Affected local communities continue to protest. For instance, those campaigning against the closure of a maternity unit at Eastbourne district general. If this closure goes ahead, women in labour would have to travel to Brighton or Hastings, along a single-lane winding road for at least 30 minutes but more likely one hour. Complications would make such a journey life threatening, for both mother and baby.
This is why ordinary people have been protesting vociferously ever since specific reconfigurations were announced and indeed these protests still continue all over the country, even if they seldom get more than local media attention.
Labour figures and even the NHS trade union organisations however, have been conspicuous by their absence, usually justifying this by a refusal to protest alongside a Tory. However, on the 3 November last year, finally, a national demonstration against the cuts and closures in the NHS was meant to take place in London. Initially it was called by the "NHS Together Alliance", which includes the doctors' and nurses' professional association as well as the trade unions, and was billed as a "demonstration to defend the NHS". But surprise, surprise, it was taken over by the largest public sector union Unison, and was turned into a "celebration of the NHS" instead of an anti-government protest! This is probably quite understandable, since as far as union leaders like Prentis of Unison is concerned, it was not appropriate even to hint at rocking the government's boat after the new Brown regime took over. Especially if a general election might be called - which was thought to be a possibility at the time. So Unison handed out hearts with "I love the NHS" on them. And hardly anyone came.
There is a way to resist
Since his appointment, Darzi has been involved in an on-going charm offensive in order to convince NHS staff, in particular, that the government's reforms should be allowed to go through. This is where the biggest stumbling block has been quite rightly identified. Because who, other than those who work on the front line, really knows the full impact of the government's privatisation and cost-saving policy? So he has opened blogs, e-mail discussion sessions and has put up questionnaires. And he can be watched and heard on "You tube".
A number of conferences and consultations have been held for and these will continue. Whether the majority NHS staff are going to be taken in by all of this is doubtful, however. But will the scepticism of NHS workers turn into anger which is expressed in real resistance? We can hope so. And there are real grounds for this hope, as one case in particular bears out. This is the case of Karen Reissman, a particularly dedicated community psychiatric nurse in Manchester, who was sacked on the 5 November for speaking out against the cuts in mental health services. She had twice been interviewed by national newspapers in 2006 about the mental health services and the deleterious effect of the transfer of work to the voluntary sector on patients. But the Trust which employs her decided to get rid of her "for bringing the Trust into disrepute".
The real reason may well be that Karen Reissman is also active in her union branch (of Unison) and this branch organised a successful strike in January 2007 against the cutting of 40 nursing and therapy jobs and pay downgrading.
When she was sacked, 150 mental health workers went on indefinite strike in her defence and have been supported by many of their patients in fact! The appeal against the sacking was lost early in December. After 6 weeks on strike the 150 workers have suspended their action. The official support of the Unison bureaucracy may well help Karen win an employment tribunal eventually. But it remains to be seen whether the "national campaign" it says it will launch will keep the fight against the Trust bosses alive.
Over the past 10 years nothing significant has come out of any of the official union campaigns - while drastic cuts and closures and losses of thousands of jobs have occurred. And as the 3 November fiasco "celebrating the NHS" shows, the union machineries are more likely to intervene to prevent any fight against the government than organise it.
Neither have the campaigns started outside of the unions had any real effect. But what the Karen Reissman case proves is that NHS workers are prepared to take real action if they judge it to be necessary, both against cuts and in solidarity with others. And they are absolutely right to do so!


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Share this Story: France's Macron calls for efforts to tackle climate change
France's Macron calls for efforts to tackle climate change
Sep 07, 2017 • September 7, 2017 • 3 minute read
A man swipes the red carpet before French President Emmanuel Macron's arrival at the Presidential palace in Athens, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. Macron arrives in Greece on a two-day official visit expected to focus on Greece's financial crisis. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
ATHENS, Greece — French President Emmanuel Macron kicked off his first official visit to Greece on Thursday with a call for concerted efforts to tackle climate change, after Hurricane Irma slammed into the northern Caribbean with deadly force.
Irma, the strongest Atlantic Ocean hurricane on record, has affected French, British and Dutch Caribbean territories.
France's Macron calls for efforts to tackle climate change Back to video
"All of France is grief-stricken by the many victims yesterday from the hurricane," Macron said during statements alongside Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, noting the final death toll from the disaster still wasn't known.
But he said, "our sentiments are frank only when what we say is backed by action. When what we say after such a disaster is followed up with actions that lead us to (its) causes."
Referring to similar comments made by Pavlopoulos regarding global warming and climate change, Macron said the planet's situation must be stabilized.
"All the decisions we will take from now on at a European level and an international level must lead us to combating global warming so we can avoid such natural disasters in the future," he said.
Macron was at the start of a two-day visit to Greece, where he was expected to outline his vision for the future of the European Union and discuss Greece's financial crisis.
Greece considers France a vital ally and counterweight to fiscally hawkish Germany in its efforts to ease the stringent terms of its international bailouts. The country has relied on international rescue loans since 2010, and in return has seen its economy put under strict supervision by its creditors. Successive governments have had to enforce radical fiscal and structural reforms, including pension cuts and repeated tax hikes, in order to qualify for the loans.
Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos hailed the visit as a sign that Greece had finally turned the page and had emerged from its deep financial crisis.
The future of the European Union will top the agenda of talks in Athens, Tzanakopoulos said, adding that Macron's choice of starting "the discussion for the future of Europe" during a visit to Greece "shows that we are at the end of a difficult course."
Talks during the visit of Macron, who arrived with a sizeable delegation of French business leaders, will also focus on French investments in Greece, and the progress of Greece's reforms as part of its bailout, which officially ends in mid-2018.
Speaking alongside Macron, Pavlopoulos thanked the French president for his country's role in helping Greece during its financial crisis.
"Greece, all of us, warmly thank you — France and you personally — for your great contribution, your help, at a crucial time in the summer of 2015 for Greece remaining in the European Union and the eurozone," Pavlopoulos said.
Wracked by political and financial turmoil in 2015, Greece came to the brink of being forced out of the eurozone, potentially endangering its place in the EU. France was seen as having played a key role in negotiations to keep Greece within the 28-nation bloc.
Pavlopoulos noted Greece continued to stick by the commitments it made under its international bailouts, and was now looking to its creditors to also uphold their end of the agreement, specifically concerning providing some form of debt relief for the country.
"Greece … will continue to fulfil its obligations. What we agreed to do, we will do," Pavlopoulos told Macron.
"But Greece expects …. with the recognition that there are mistakes on both sides for what happened, for this deep crisis, it is expecting the fulfilment of the obligations of our partners too, especially on a big issue for Greece … the viability of Greek public debt."
Security was tight for the French president's visit, with Greek authorities banning protests through a large part of central Athens and mobilizing more than 2,000 police on the capital's streets.
Later Thursday, Macron was to hold talks with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras before delivering an evening speech at the Pnyx, a symbol of ancient Athenian democracy.
Nicholas Paphitis and Derek Gatopoulos contributed to this report.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Name released of man killed in morning crash near Florence
Second person suffered minor injuries
Updated: 6:58 AM EDT Jul 24, 2015
A Hebron man was killed in a crash Thursday morning on a road located on the south side of Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport.The two-vehicle crash happened around 7 a.m.The Boone County Sheriff's Department said Nicholas Wilde, 20, was driving eastbound on Ted Bushelman Boulevard when he went off the right side of the road, then over-corrected, steering back onto the roadway, and crossed into the westbound lane into the path of an oncoming 2001 Toyota Sienna minivan.Wilde was killed in the crash.The driver of the minivan was transported to Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Florence with minor injuries.Ted Bushelman Boulevard is a two-lane road that connects Houston Road to Aero Parkway.The crash remains under investigation.
FLORENCE, Ky. —
A Hebron man was killed in a crash Thursday morning on a road located on the south side of Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport.
The two-vehicle crash happened around 7 a.m.
The Boone County Sheriff's Department said Nicholas Wilde, 20, was driving eastbound on Ted Bushelman Boulevard when he went off the right side of the road, then over-corrected, steering back onto the roadway, and crossed into the westbound lane into the path of an oncoming 2001 Toyota Sienna minivan.
Wilde was killed in the crash.
The driver of the minivan was transported to Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Florence with minor injuries.
Ted Bushelman Boulevard is a two-lane road that connects Houston Road to Aero Parkway.
The crash remains under investigation.


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		$scope.update = function() {
			var marca = $scope.marca;

			marca.$update(function() {
				$location.path('marcas/' + marca._id);
			}, function(errorResponse) {
				$scope.error = errorResponse.data.message;
			});
		};

		// Find a list of Marcas
		$scope.find = function() {
			$scope.marcas = Marcas.query();
		};

		// Find existing Marca
		$scope.findOne = function() {
			$scope.marca = Marcas.get({
				marcaId: $stateParams.marcaId
			});
		};
	}
]);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
604-574-0161 - info@teamkatronis.com
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Fraser Valley Real Estate Market Update
Slower than normal market still attracting buyers in the Fraser Valley
SURREY, BC – The Fraser Valley real estate market experienced its second slowest April in ten years and yet sales of certain property types and price ranges remain solid.
The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board processed 1,383 sales of all property types on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in April, a 13.3 per cent increase compared to sales in March 2019, and a 19 per cent decrease compared to the 1,708 sales in April of last year. Of the 1,383 total sales of residential and commercial combined, 489 were residential detached homes, 379 were townhouses, and 374 were apartments.
Darin Germyn, President of the Board, said of the market: "Consumers may not have the purchasing power that they did prior to January 2018, but the desire for home ownership is still there and we're seeing that reflected in our MLS® data.
"Detached homes under one million dollars and attached homes – ranging from $400,000 to $700,000 – continue to attract buyers in the Fraser Valley. Townhome sales in Abbotsford increased by almost 60 per cent compared to March and were on par with last year's April sales."
There were 7,870 active listings available in the Fraser Valley at the end of April, an increase of 12.3 per cent compared to March 2019's inventory and an increase of 38.9 per cent year-over-year.
The Board received 3,391 new listings during the month, an 18.1 per cent increase compared to March 2019's intake of 2,872 new listings and a decrease of 1.1 per cent compared to April of last year.
"A slower, stable market has had a positive impact on affordability in our region. Prices of typical residential homes in the Fraser Valley have decreased between 5 and 6 per cent in the last year. In the last three months, benchmark prices have either plateaued or have experienced a small recovery," added Germyn.
For the Fraser Valley region, the average number of days to sell an apartment in April was 37, and 31 for townhomes. Single family detached homes remained on the market for an average of 37 days before selling.
HPI® Benchmark Price Activity
Single Family Detached: At $964,600, the Benchmark price for a single family detached home in the Fraser Valley increased 0.2 per cent compared to March 2019 and decreased 4.8 per cent compared to April 2018.
Townhomes: At $521,800 the Benchmark price for a townhome in the Fraser Valley in the Fraser Valley increased 0.9 per cent compared to March 2019 and decreased 5.1 per cent compared to April 2018.
Apartments: At $420,700, the Benchmark price for apartments/condos in the Fraser Valley increased 0.6 per cent compared to March 2019 and decreased 6 per cent compared to April 2018.
For the full Fraser Valley Real Estate Market Update package:
http://www.fvreb.bc.ca/statistics/Package201904.pdf
Keep informed with the Katronis monthly newsletter. Direct and concise, this detail-oriented newsletter will make sure you are the first to know about changes in the market. We will never send you additional, unwanted emails.
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Are you trying to find a highly certified home automation systems installer that will bring the wow aspect to your home at a figure that you can pay for? You have discovered the ideal place! We are prepared to direct your production of the home automation system you have constantly wanted. Hi Tech Home Pros is all set to put in a high-quality home automation system on your home or business property here in Bend, Oregon. Do not run the risk of the established of your home automation system on a fly-by-night professional, get it properly fix and with set up by Hi Tech Home Pros. We currently set up all kinds of premium home control services including, Control 4, Savant, Lutron, Leviton, URC, Apple, Nest, and Android. Provide us a call at phone today to discover how our experts of automation experts can bring your estate to life!
Choose one or install them all!!!
Hi-Tech Home Pros recognizes that safety is a homeowner's main issue. Setting up best in class alarms and surveillance systems can protect your home. Techniques can consist of closed circuit TELEVISION cam systems, off-site monitored cameras, noisemakers, smoke alarm, movement detectors, and glass break sensors. Noticing units can be positioned along the border of your home when triggered can cause a range of actions including triggering lights, playing recorded noises, begin tape-recording video, along with sending you a smart device notice. Home control systems can do jobs on their own such as after disconcerting your security system all the lights inside your home can be programmed to be shut down. When the security alarm is set off, the lights will right away turn back on. Our certified professionals are trained to program your system to fulfill your requirements. When there is a noticing unit triggered, you will look out via TEXT, e-mail or phone call. In the occasion you are away, you will know exactly what's going on in your house or firm.
Entertainment systems consist of audio and visual devices such as your Hd Television, gaming systems, music player, audio speakers, DVD/Blu-ray players, Av receivers and so forth. Motion picture night or your favourite team have never looked and sounded much better with a smart home theater system in you living room. Play your favorite music throughout your home with dispersed audio. The very best part is you won't require a 4 or 5 remote for each part. Change every possible setting on all of your electronic devices using a single push-button control.
These consist of your home's lighting, electronic gadgets, appliances, windows, along with doors called the essentials. With your easy to use the device, you can turn your essentials on or off to save energy. By getting in space, motion sensors can immediately turn on the lights.
Home Automation System combination enables you to manage your home's temperature with a touch of a button. Simplify your life so that you can remain in bed to show up the heater to your preferred temperature level. Other money savings benefits home automation users is the capability to put your HVAC SYSTEM devices on timers, so they turn off when not being utilized.
Manage your home from remotely from a smart cell device. Your home smart system functions can be entered using smartphone. You can interact with your home through cell phone to alter the temperature level, shut off lights, monitor security, and a lot more.
Provide our CEDIA Pros to do the heavy lifting of setting up and configuring your home automation system. Hi Tech Home Pro installers will help you design and install your smart home. Our professionals do the installation from a few simple features to the whole smart home automation packages. From start to finish we will support you as innovation advances.


Fundamentally, by definition does not "western" refer to the mythic struggle between "good" and "bad" in the settlement and taming of the geographical portion of the continental United States west of the Mississippi River?
Consequently, how can what Kurosawa produced–"Yojimbo"–be considered a western?
I think the Western genre is broader than your definition suggests, Camilla. There's far more going on in The Searchers, for example, than a mythic struggle between good and bad; there's a psychological dimension to that film, and social commentary (and to The Man who Shot Liberty Valence) — both of which influenced Kurosawa, by the way.
The form evolved over time. Look at McCabe and Mrs. Miller. Or Unforgiven. I'm saying that Yojimbo was a necessary step along the way.
Food for thought in this discussion. What IS a reasonable description of a "Western film"? I'll take a stab at it, throwing some things I'm unsure about. As a genre of film, it arose in the US, derived from 19th-century works of popular or pulp fiction, but its variants have been made in other countries and have taken place in other places and times. A Western usually (always?) takes place away from the centers of civilization, often takes place in a border zone between populated spaces and tracts of nature, and frequently depends on issues of social, political, or moral order. That's probably missing something—precision if nothing else—but it allows for Japanese films such as Yojimbo as well as Italian films that take place God knows where (Sergio Leone's films were, if I recall, typically shot in Spain). It even allows for space Westerns, of which the single-season TV series Firefly is a good example.
That said…I haven't seen Yojimbo, but it sounds worthy. Thanks for another film adventure, Lisa!
I think the classic Western fit within the parameters that Camilla laid out, but these were stretched by directors like John Ford after the war, undermined by Kurosawa, parodied by the French (Dynamite Jack) and Italians, and subsequently reinterpreted by Vietnam-era American directors to criticize the very values that were once ennobled: individualism, frontier justice.
All of these variations and reinterpretations breathed new life into the genre, enlarging it and making it pertinent to the current era. It remains (as one of the Italian Spaghetti Western directors said) a superb container for moral and political messages.
While pondering ideas raised in this discussion, I've paid particular attention to the use of the words "evolve" and "metamorphosis." As I see it, Kurosawa, Leone and others produced non-western westerns. They may have started out, thinking they were creating a variation on a theme, but they ended up creating an entirely new type of movie (and one that does not appeal to me at all).
The classic western (which I love dearly) plays/played a very important role in the socialization process of the United States. In fact, its emphasis on such values as fairness, justice, the rule of law, etc. has served over the years to attract also people born outside of the United States. Further, that classic western has sensitized them to the importance of those values in fostering the growth of civil society (something we see sorely needed in such places as Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan, and even Russia in today's world).
Certainly, Kurosawa, Leone and company were free to criticize the classic form. However, was their sole purpose only to criticize or tear down? Did they offer something of value in its place? If so, what exactly?
Were Leone's films good Westerns? That's a matter of taste. But I don't think anyone would deny that they influenced subsequent Westerns, including such modern "classics" as Clint Eastwood's Outlaw Josey Wales and Unforgiven.
Though it doesn't directly answer Camilla's questions in the final paragraph of her latest comment, I think it's important to consider changing attitudes in the society within which Westerns are made. It's a complicated matter, but a simple way of getting at it is to look at those values of "fairness, justice, [and] the rule of law" that you mentioned and ask "for whom?" Yes, I'm thinking of Native Americans. It's not so easy to think of taming the land once you realize that it was fine the way it was for the cultures already living on it. It's not so easy to speak of fairness and the other things—at least not without a sense of irony—when you consider relocations and broken treaties. For that matter, setting aside the Native Americans, it's not even easy to settle the conflict between cattle ranchers and sheep herders, where the former wanted fences and the latter did not (although that's a little off my main point). For a long time, it was possible for white Americans to look at their stories of the West as THE stories and to make those into the story of the country, but eventually filmmakers and the public realized there was more than one way to write history. Whether in the past or in the present time, fairness and justice and law are complicated matters; history itself is a complicated thing. The classic Western was bound to change as people became more aware of those issues.
I would rather have studied the matter before writing, but that could've taken a long time.
You're welcome, Thom. Part of the joy of keeping a blog is making new friends and sharing our passions. I'll enjoy sampling your music — Iris Dement is already a favorite.


We finally had the girls' Hello Kitty party and even though I didn't get to go to the extent I wanted, it turned out with smiles from them. The wind here is unreal so I had to move some of it inside and the part I had outside, had to be taken down as quickly as it was put up. I had an image in my mind how it would turn out but no thanks to the wind, I wasn't able to do it.
This picture was a sweet shop which I took a white bookcase and altered it into my shop. I used fabric, styrofoam (top part with the Hello Kitty wrap), two covered wrapping paper tubes to hold up the top and a hot glue gun. I also used both my Silhouette SD Cutter and the Cricut with Hello Kitty cartridge to make the sign along with Elmer's glue adhesives for poster boards.
The table was just an existing table we had along with Hello Kitty plastic plates, cups and hats.
Hello Kitty Marshmallow Pop, 1.48-Ounce Packages (Pack of 24) and PEZ Hello Kitty, 0.58-Ounce Assorted Candy Dispensers (Pack of 12) and Hello Kitty Candy Tin Sours Raspberry .
This was the little set up outside that included cupcakes with handmade picks, popcorn cones with Hello Kitty ribbons and push up pops as seen in the book Push-up Pops . I used Push Pop Containers 24ct. Clear Plastic Push up Pops to layer brownie and pink icing. I adorned Hello Kitty charms along the edge with a ribbon.
The pre-party dresses were compliments of Adorable Baby Clothing that have a beautiful assortment of amazing quality clothing for children. From every day wear to formal wear, the selection is definitely there. My favorite part outside of the superb customer service is the ease in finding the sizes you want if you decide to dress more than one child in the same outfit.
Activities included painting our nails with the Hello Kitty manicure set, playing pin the bow on Hello Kitty and practicing riding our new bikes.


text:
brexitjack o'connorSIPTU
SIPTU President Jack O'Connor says Brexit is the result of years of austerity
SIPTU General President, Jack O Connor, has stated that the victory of the Leave campaign in the British referendum on EU membership results from the implementation of austerity policies that have alienated working people across Europe.
O'Connor said: "The vote for Brexit is the result of the years of austerity which have alienated working people all over Europe. Unless there is a dramatic shift in fiscal policy and an immediate end to one sided austerity the end of the European project is now inevitable.
"The UK result will add immense momentum to the hard right across the continent and will fuel demands for referendums in the Netherlands, France and several other countries."
He added: "The policy of prioritising banks over people must end at once. Europe desperately needs a new deal entailing a massive public investment strategy to generate sustainable jobs. This must be accompanied by a series of measures to secure people's rights at work in face of the relentless 'race to the bottom' in wages and working conditions."


text:
Q: How do I extract a string value from a cell so I can check its datatype? Intro Matlab Q Part of my assignment is testing what datatype is stored in my "studentNames" variable.
However I believe that because the studentNames are being held within a cell that MATLAB cant detect the datatype.
How could I solve this problem?
Editor Window
function [studentCell] =classCellArray(studentNames, studentIDs, studentGrades)

studentCell(1,:) = [ **studentNames{1,:}** studentIDs(1,:) studentGrades(1,:) {mean(studentGrades(1,:))}];
studentCell(2,:) = [ studentNames{2,:} studentIDs(2,:) studentGrades(2,:) {mean(studentGrades(2,:))}];
studentCell(3,:) = [ studentNames{3,:} studentIDs(3,:) studentGrades(3,:) {mean(studentGrades(3,:))}];
studentCell(4,:) = [ studentNames{4,:} studentIDs(4,:) studentGrades(4,:) {mean(studentGrades(4,:))}];

Command window
studentCell =

'Ali'    'G10293'    [1x3 double]    [82.6667]
'Yin'    'G10498'    [1x3 double]    [     93]
'Bob'    'G10201'    [1x3 double]    [56.6667]
'Jim'    'G19532'    [1x3 double]    [    100]

EDU>> class(studentNames)
Error using subsindex
Function 'subsindex' is not defined for values of class 'cell'.**

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Grant Frost is an experienced Executive, Information Technologist and Security Strategist with extensive experience in both public sector and private sector. Grant is known for and has extensive experience in IT transformation and the ability to increase capability while decreasing cost in IT services.
Grant is currently the Chief Information Officer for the Niagara Catholic District School Board where he has been working since 2014. He started his career in Information Technology in his teens developing video games in the 1980s and as a programmer, software & database developer for both a provincial and federal political party as well as for a municipality and business development organization in the Niagara Region.
Grant is a graduate of the University of Guelph. Prior to his current position he was a Senior IT Manager for BlackBerry (formerly Research In Motion) in Corporate IT working out of the HQ in Waterloo. Prior to BlackBerry Grant was a Senior Technology Analyst and Software Developer for CI Investments in Toronto.


text:
Centromerus furcatus är en spindelart som först beskrevs av James Henry Emerton 1882.  Centromerus furcatus ingår i släktet Centromerus och familjen täckvävarspindlar. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Täckvävarspindlar
furcatus

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Members of the HEI Biostatistics Caucus (Shrikant Bangdiwala, Joseph Beyene, Gary Foster, Lauren Griffith, Jemila Hamid, Steve Hanna, Diane Heels-Ansdell, Robert Hopkins, Rob Roberts, Harry Shannon, Lehana Thabane, Stephen Walter; and Joint or Associate members Noori Akhtar-Danesh, Angelo Canty, Yannick Le Manach, Sameer Parpia and Gregory Pond) will consult on research design at the outset of a research program, and on statistical analyses of research data. For extended consultations, collaboration as a co-investigator throughout the project may be the best arrangement. The Biostatistics Unit at St. Joseph's Healthcare, led by Dr. Lehana Thabane, caters to researchers in the Father Sean O'Sullivan Research Centre (FSORC) but also offers advice to other Health Sciences faculty members and business clients.
Provides evidence-based information products and systems.
Provides an extensive range of quality of life questionnaires.


text:
Sydney • Eating Out
Untied, Barangaroo
Let loose at Untied, the Sydney rooftop restaurant with tropical vibes and a detached sense of spirit...
Lisa Davidson • 21 September, 2017
Rooftop eatery Untied — located within the foodie precinct of Barangaroo's mammoth new development at the southern end of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge — epitomises Australia's tropical north with its reinterpretation of lush tropical rainforests and the laid-back vibes echoed in the restaurant's mantra: 'kick back and let loose'.
Daily specials and a happy hour give patrons the perfect excuse to congregate after a hard day's work to make their way through the craft beer and cocktail menu, lining their stomachs as they go with a variety of small plates and wood grills served with flat breads.
As The Streets of Barangaroo's newest rooftop, the local provides a much needed respite from its urban surrounds; something that Technē Architecture + Interior Design have achieved by "recreating the feeling of walking into a house party, stripping back the formality and focusing on achieving a sense of intimacy and vibrancy through design."
Taking influence from Untied's privileged location and its views across Sydney's world-famous harbour, the stylish space is split between two zones — rich interiors comprising timber floorboards, black marble mosaic and framed mirrors contrasting against graphic wallpaper and an abundance of greenery.
Great food, vistas and good vibes; untie those restraints and let loose.
@untied_sydney
@technearchitects
Cocktails, Restaurants, Food & Drink, Sydney, Techne Architecture + Interior Design, Barangaroo
With its rooftop garden and clean aesthetic, this Antwerp restaurant sets a new Standard in supreme sourdough pizzas...
Imbibing Buda's historic wonder with a little of Pest's bohemian spirit, Baltazár Budapest is a remarkable boutique hotel and bistro...
A world-class architectural wonder reimagined plays host to a decadently-designed Cape Town hotel...
The colourful work of iconic Mexican architect, Luis Barragan, informs the invigorating aesthetics of Fonda's arrival in Bondi...
Design practice Studio Esteta were responsible for executing the Instagram-ready interior architecture on Fonda, Bondi, the first national outlet for the otherwise Melbourne-based Mexican restaurant chain. Nodding to traditional 'Fondas'...
Australia's diverse landscape celebrated at elegant and earthy Sydney harbour restaurant, 12-Micron...
Situated at the northern end of Sydney's waterfront with an expansive 270 degree view of the harbour, 12–Micron is an imposing bar, restaurant, and dessert kitchen which takes sleek style as seriously as sustenance. Taking its name...
Rooftop eatery Untied — located within the foodie precinct of Barangaroo's mammoth new development at the southern end of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge — epitomises Australia's tropical north with its reinterpretation of lush tropical...
The clean aesthetic at The Dessert Kitchen Sydney hits the sweet spot between sharp and seductive...
Matt Woods is the considerably talented designer behind the crisp interior aesthetics of The Dessert Kitchen, Sydney, the first foray into the city for an ever-expanding brand that's already set down roots in Melbourne as well as Hong Kong,...


I am pleased to be here today in my second appearance before you as the Commissioner of Social Security to discuss the challenges facing the Social Security Administration (SSA). For all of the people who depend on Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the work we do matters greatly. We must provide the kind of service that each and every claimant, beneficiary, and citizen needs and deserves.
I also want to thank you for holding this hearing at this time, because it gives me the chance to discuss with you the wide range of important issues facing Social Security early in my tenure. I've been Commissioner just over five months now. When I think of the things I want the agency to accomplish during my watch, it seems like the time has flown by. I look forward to working with you and all the members of the Subcommittee, as well as the experienced and dedicated employees at SSA.
Today, Social Security faces great challenges: Giving the American people the service they deserve, particularly as the number of beneficiaries increases each year with the aging of the baby boomers; improving program integrity through sound fiscal stewardship; ensuring the program's financial solvency for future generations; and maintaining the quality staff SSA needs to meet these goals. I think of these challenges as the four S's: service, stewardship, staffing and solvency.
The Social Security Administration's programs touch almost every person in the nation in one way or another-whether to get a social security number, contribute through payroll taxes, apply for retirement or survivors benefits, or apply for disability benefits. And, generally, the agency does a good job of providing the kind of service people need, but there are other areas where we must improve. The most glaring of these areas is the disability process.
I know everyone is concerned about the length of time the disability process takes. Quite frankly, I think the length of time the disability claims process can take is unacceptable. Over the last five years, through my work as a member of the Social Security Advisory Board and now as Commissioner, I have had the opportunity to visit SSA field offices, hearing offices, and State Disability Determination Services (DDS). For the past 5 months I have spent a lot of time getting different perspectives on the disability process. I have talked to many people--employees and the public, individually, in small and large groups, to hear about the concerns they have with the disability process, at both the initial and appeals levels.
In the weeks leading up to my confirmation, I was often asked what additional resources would be required to get control over the delays in the disability process, and address other areas of concern. I said that I could not answer that question until I could analyze our current processes, determine the optimal levels of service from the point of view of both applicants and taxpayers - future applicants, and what was necessary to get us there.
At my confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, Chairman Baucus and I discussed my plan to develop a service delivery budget, and I promised him that I would report back.
As I mentioned, it is clear that the disability process takes too long.
Let me also say that I am not waiting to take steps to improve the disability process where we can take action now. I feel very strongly that we must move forward now and make decisions on what we can do immediately to improve disability processing while laying the groundwork for additional mid- and longer-term improvements. For instance, SSA's prototype process has been in place in 10 States since 1999. In December, I issued a Federal Register notice that the prototype would continue for six more months. That gave us time to evaluate the prototype, to see what works and what does not. Now is the time to make decisions and put them into effect nationwide. For instance, the prototype confirmed the value of the single decisionmaker (SDM) feature. This feature allows the claims examiner to make the determination without a mandatory physician sign-off on many claims (except for determinations for children and those with mental impairments) and relies on the examiner to decide when to seek consultant physician advice on difficult and complex claims. It lets the DDS make more effective use of examiner and medical consultant resources and provide faster determinations for some claimants. I have decided to put the SDM into practice now, so that all States can take advantage of it, as we continue to develop longer-term improvements.
I have also decided not to extend the formal claimant conference feature of the prototype. This end of the line conference between claimant and examiner added processing time (an estimated 15 to 20 days) and was not as effective as we had hoped in helping claimants understand claims issues. Most prototype States found early and ongoing contact with the claimant to be more effective.
More needs to be done and we are continuing to work in this area, but these are important first steps. I also have some good news to report with regard to hiring ALJs. In October we were able to bring on board 126 new ALJs from a list of candidates that had been (and continues to be) the subject of litigation. I want to thank the Social Security Subcommittee for your interest in hiring the new judges, and hope that we can continue to rely on your support.
One thing that has become clear is the need to accelerate implementation of what we call e- DIB, an electronic disability determination folder. This should organize, store, transmit, and track claimant files and medical evidence electronically. I have formed a committee of the deputy commissioners of the 3 offices most closely involved with this. We have a plan in place to have this process up and running in another 20 months. This will go a long way to speeding up the process.
As you are aware, many of SSA's employees are retirement-eligible and many more will become eligible over the next few years. We need to explore ways both to retain employees who may be eligible for retirement and recruit employees as they first enter the workforce. I believe part of that effort must be to reinforce the idea that pursuing a career in the federal government is a noble and worthy cause. We can even look creatively at this challenge as an opportunity for employment of our own SSI and SSDI recipients.
Over the years, SSA has earned a well-deserved reputation as an agency with a "can-do" attitude as it has taken on new responsibilities, developed new technologies, and worked hard to meet increasing workloads. With the support of talented and dedicated employees, I believe that we can make service improvements at this time within our available resources, and that we can improve the efficiency of our processes as we fulfill our legislatively mandated duties.
I mentioned earlier the importance of good stewardship, but I'd like to elaborate a little bit on this theme. Providing true service to the public includes an obligation to ensure sound financial management. The people of America, who fund the Social Security program through their payroll tax contributions, and SSI through their income tax payments expect and deserve well managed programs. There is also a strong economic incentive for doing so. In several areas, such as SSA's continuing disability reviews, ensuring that disability beneficiaries still meet eligibility criteria can reap significant savings.
But good stewardship involves more than money. The tragic events of September 11, and reports that some of the terrorists had Social Security numbers and cards, which may have been fraudulently obtained, have brought home the need to strengthen safeguards in our enumeration process. In response to those events, SSA formed a high-level response team, which includes participation from our Office of the Inspector General (IG), and from the New York and San Francisco Regions. We have already begun implementing a number of process improvements to help ensure that we are strengthening our capability to prevent those with criminal intent from using Social Security numbers and cards to advance their operations.
In all program integrity areas, not simply identity fraud and enumeration but also in our efforts to improve our stewardship of the SSI program, I am looking forward to working with SSA's Inspector General. As a matter of fact, I met with the Inspector General during my first days in office to begin a review of his recommendations. And Deputy Commissioner Jim Lockhart and I met with the Comptroller General recently to discuss the SSI program's high risk designation and develop a plan for removing the designation from the SSI program. I have asked Mr. Lockhart to take the lead on this important initiative. With regard to September 11, although it has been several months since the terrorist attacks, I want to take this opportunity to express my pride in the response of SSA's employees to the terrorist attacks. Particularly in New York, but also in northern Virginia and throughout the country, they worked tirelessly to help those who lost family members in spite of the chaos and highly charged emotions of those first few days. They will always have my gratitude and respect for their quick and compassionate action.
Whatever their individual circumstances, the vast majority of Americans will at some point in their lives be touched by Social Security. By providing survivor benefits to children and spouses, disability benefits, retirement benefits, and SSI benefits, SSA's programs reach almost every single home. And for the millions of Americans currently receiving benefits, be it a supplement to retirement or critically needed income support, and for those who will become eligible in the future, we must make sure that we can offer the same assurances in the future.
During my tenure as a member of the Social Security Advisory Board, one of the issues on which we pressed for action is to ensure the long-term solvency and sustainability of Social Security. The combined assets of the Old-Age and Survivors and Disability Insurance Trust Funds are estimated to reach cash flow deficit in 2017 and become exhausted in 2041 according to the latest report of the Social Security Trustees. I believe it is important to act as far in advance of that time as possible to make necessary changes to the program.
I also believe that the impetus for constructive improvements must come from a bipartisan consensus. While I am not an economist, as Commissioner I will work to help reach that consensus. The final report of the President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security is the beginning of public discussion to work toward that goal.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, I did not assume my duties as Commissioner of Social Security in order to manage the status quo. Through my work on the Social Security Advisory Board, I am convinced that we can and must do better. In doing so, I will work within the Administration, with the Congress, and with the dedicated and experienced employees of the Social Security Administration to find the best solutions.
Again, thank you for inviting me to be here today. As you know, in order to meet the challenges I've described, and others, we will also need the help and advice of the Congress, and your continued support to obtain the needed funding for our operations. I look forward to working with you to make Social Security's programs-especially disability--more responsive to claimants and beneficiaries and more accountable to the nation's taxpayers.


Please take out your packet I will be stamping Wk 3. We are having a board meeting on WK 3.
After our board meeting please post your groups slide into google classroom.
Work on Wk 4 Density. What you don't finish will be homework!!!
Wk 4 Density if you did not finish in class.


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We manage all wedding transportation services in Canberra with a level of professionalism, reliability, and sophistication that you won't find anywhere else. Dedicated wedding planners are at your service throughout the week, while problem-free application forms and flexible payment structure get rid of any unneeded stress from the experience. Our unique mix of modern cars and conventional, yet advanced vehicle hire service ensures that your big day in Farrer 2607 is one you won't soon forget.
Our wedding event vehicle hire services include a red carpet grand entrance, full wedding decors for the automobile, complimentary champagne (with all stretch limo bundles), and tyre covers to keep the bride's beautiful dress in beautiful condition. Limousine drivers arrive on-time and photo ready in full suit and tie! Service is versatile to include photo locations for the bridal party, reception areas, and specific paths you may wish to follow. At the end of the night, we can even set up a vehicle to deliver the pleased couple to the hotel or home, putting you in complete control of your entryways and exits throughout the day.
Any lingering concerns you may have concerning your wedding will be put to rest when you begin dealing with our friendly and skilled wedding event group. We are more than delighted to communicate with you and tailor every aspect of our wedding event vehicle hire to fit your budget plan and preferences. Our fleet of brand new Chrysler 300C sedans and stretch limousines in Canberra are at your disposal, or select from one of our wide array of Audi, Holden, or Mercedes automobiles to experience the height of luxury travel. Coaches and buses are also available also for wedding event group transportation! From coaches to Canberra wedding limousines, we have your every need covered.
We have actually tailored some plans for you to pick from regarding your wedding application form for your wedding event transfers. They are listed below for your perusal and we even have given the opportunity for you to customise your day if the tailored choices do not cover all of the stops your big day require.
Air travel can be demanding– let us take a few of the pressure off! Our Farrer airport transfers give you some much needed peace of mind throughout the course of your journey. We ensure timely arrival at both your collection address and your destination, leaving space for anything and everything that may arise prior to your flight departs. Canberra airport transfers can make your limo hire or automobile hire to the airport safe, simple, and hassle-free.
Chauffeured limousine works to Canberra Airport means you do not need to handle the troubles of driving or automobile leasings once again. We provides vehicle hire services all over Canberra to or from Canberra Airport, and we offer drop-offs and pickups to all Canberra area hotels.
We pride ourselves on the professionalism, reliability, and status we give the transportation market. Our dedication to exceptional executive service in Canberra differs from any other, and is made possible by our huge fleet of business sedans, limousines and coaches. No matter your travel needs, our cars will be there to assist you.
We are Australia's premier one-stop shop when it concerns corporate travel. We specialise in dealing with personal and executive assistants, and our billing center assists make booking transport services in Farrer as simple, streamlined and worry-free as possible. Whether you require a business vehicle hire for Canberra or more, we are capable of accommodating all your organisation's travel needs.
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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has hit back at BJP president Amit Shah over his criticism of the CPM-led government on the Sabarimala row.
Vijayan said Shah's statements were an attack on the Supreme Court and the Indian Constitution. "The BJP president's assertion that courts must only pronounce verdicts which could be carried out conveys the message that fundamental rights guaranteed by our Constitution are not meant to be implemented. These statements of Shah also reveal the true colour of the RSS and the Sangh Parivar," Vijayan said on Saturday.
He said Shah's argument that gender equality must not be implemented through temple entry laws was a precursor to the argument that caste-based discrimination must not be abolished by law.
Shah's "ramblings" revealed the Sangh's indebtedness to the obsolete views of gender inequality propounded by Manusmriti, Vijayan said and urged the civil society to rise against "uncivilised" ideologies.
The state government has continued arrests in connection with protests against the entry of women of menstruating age to the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. The BJP alleges that devotees are being targeted as part of the crackdown.
"Amit Shah, who threatened to oust the LDF government, must remember that this government did not come to power at the mercy of the BJP but with the support of the people of this state. It must also be noted that the BJP leader dared to threaten a democratically elected government because it stood by the Supreme Court verdict and its commitment to protect fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution," Vijayan said.


I loved this company they gave me a dedicated box for 180 Quad core. There support is great, quick respond times, nice people. They installed other games for you on the game config under tc-admin. These guy really put effect in a great company. +10.
I currently own a velocity-server and its just been an ounstanding experience. I come from a long run of servers, nfo, hd, nxgs, branzone, xfactor, and none of those is comparable with velocity because velocity beats them outs. Not only they are well known but they are also sister companies with summit.
The reg is like no other. Yeah.. like any other server you have to restart it atleast once a day for the reg to be at its best, but thats a no biggy.
Support is outstanding. They know what they are doing and they are professional about it. IRC support isnt the fastest, but if you just trough our a support ticket, within minutes its answered.
Overall I love velocity and plan to stick with them for future purchases. Keep it up velocity!


text:
Q: testing de una clase abstracta que tiene un metodo constructor Tengo problemas a la hora de testear una clase de tipo Abstracta . Actualmente hago cosas como esta:
    $coche = new class extends CocheAbstract {
        public function hasRuedas(){}
        public function setColor(MyColor $color){}
        public function getErrors(){}
    };

Esto es debido a que mi clase CocheAbstract tiene los metodos hasRuedas, setColor y getErrors de tipo abstract. Este metodo para conseguir un "objeto" de clase abstracta me ha funcionado bien hasta ahora. Pero me he encontrado en la situacion de que otra clase abstracta tiene un constructor incluido:
abstract  class MetodosPagoAbstract
{
    // aqui unos metodos abstractos
    public function __construct($param1, $param2)
    {
       // codigo del constructor
    }
}

El metodo que he empleado hasta ahora no me permite enviar parametros al crear un objeto de esa clase para testearlo. He intentado con:
    $metodosPago = (new class extends metodosPagoAbstract {
         // aqui los metodos abstractos
    }($param1, $param2);

Pero el test se queja porque no se llama al constructor del objeto:
Time: 425 ms, Memory: 6.00 MB

There was 1 error:

1) tests\Coches\Handler\MetodosPagoAbstractTest::testConstructor
ArgumentCountError: Too few arguments to function CochesBundle\Handler\Pagos\MetodosPagosAbstract::__construct(), 0 passed in /tests/CochesBundle/Handler/MetodosPagoAbstractTest.php on line 22 and exactly 2 expected

alguien se ha encontrado con una situacion similar? sabeis como se puede crear este objeto para poder testearlo?

A: En el código que muestras encuentro algún error conceptual que conduce a que no logres el resultado que esperas.

Las clases definidas como abstractas no se pueden instanciar y cualquier clase que contiene al menos un método abstracto debe ser definida como tal. Los métodos definidos como abstractos simplemente declaran la firma del método, pero no pueden definir la implementación.

*

*La clase contiene métodos abstractos debe ser declarada como tal te hace falta abstract
<?php
abstract class MetodosPagoAbstract {
   // aqui unos metodos abstractos

*

*Estas tratando de instanciar y extender simultáneamente una clase que se presume  abstracta. Pero no lo es porque carece de la clave abstract (por eso chilla)

referencia abstracción de clases
Ajuste necesario de sintaxis para la clase anónima (php7+)
De acuerdo con la documentación oficial has debido usar la siguiente construcción verclases anónimas:
<?php
$metodosPago = (new class($param1, $param2) extends metodosPagoAbstract {
         // aqui los metodos abstractos
    });
// observa la posición de los parámetros luego de class

Nota. Tomando la sugerencia que hace en su respuesta @Osoria pordrías hacer luego de declarar la clase como abstracta: (la planteo para mostrarle como podría haber planteado su respuesta.)
<?php
class MetodosPago extends class MetodosPagoAbstract
{
   // implementación de los métodos abstractos
   // Métodos particulares
}
// uso
$metodopago = new MetodosPago();


Image Title: Extendable Dining Table Seats 12 Excellent On Room With Tables That Throughout Decorations 13. Filename: extendable-dining-table-seats-12-excellent-on-room-with-tables-that-throughout-decorations-13.jpg. Image Dimension: 936 x 702 pixels. Images Format: jpg/jpeg. Publisher/Author: Macey Hoeger. Uploaded Date: Friday - May 18th. 2018 06:25:27 AM. Category: Architecture. Image Source: zillow.com.
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Two weeks ago, a SpaceX rocket inexplicably burst into flames, taking its satellite payload up in smoke. Now the space company has given a date for when we can expect to see its rockets back in the air.
Pad 39A is one of SpaceX's other launchpads at Kennedy Space Center. It is not the same pad as the one in Cape Canaveral that may have been damaged by exploding rocket. Shotwell did not specify which of the company's rockets will fly in November, however. SpaceX had both the first flight of its massive Falcon Heavy and the first re-flight of a Falcon 9 rocket scheduled to go up this fall. Both of those flights were pushed back after the Cape Canaveral incident.
The Falcon Heavy test has been tentatively pushed off to next year now. It's very possible that the company will simply use a new Falcon 9 for its first flight back—especially if it ends up altering the rocket's design at all after the investigation of the fire. But there is a chance that we could still see the first re-flight of a used Falcon 9 before the end of the year.


2019 E-Z-GO EXPRESS L6 GAS Golf Car. Color: Jacobsen Orange. Factory Street Ready Package, Headlights, Taillights, Turn Signals, Brake Lights, Mirror, Windshield, Rear Flip Seat, Safety Grab Bar, 14" Spartan SS Wheels, 23" KTW Tires, 118" Extended Black Top, Custom 3 Tone Orange, Carbon and Black Seats, Fuel Gauge/Oil Indicator Light, 13.5 HP Kawasaki Engine, 2 Year Factory Warranty, Inspected with Title.


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Save AED 0 (0%) Earn 400 Shukrans What is Shukran? Shukran is the Landmark Group's award-winning loyalty programme in the Middle East, which allows you to earn Shukrans when you shop any of our brands.
Stylish and elegant, this king-size bed comes with a padded and upholstered headboard and footboard in a contrast colour. Made from rubberwood, it has beautiful detailing on the sides that adds to its appeal.


Gordon Leslie Marchand passed away on his 63rd birthday at Vernon Hospice House on Friday, June 12, 2009. Gordon was known for his carving of dug out canoes. He was a well respected elder teaching others his craft.
Gordon is survived by life long partner Irene; children Frank, Abby and Dale (Dennelle); step-children Vivienne , Deanna, Gwen, Colin (Terry) and Stacey; many extended family.
A Funeral Service was held at St. Benedict's Catholic Church, Head of the Lake, on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. Arrangements in the care of Personal Alternative Funeral Services, Armstrong, 250 546-7237.


Qatar Airways announced a new promotion under the name 'Premium Companion Offer', with exclusive booking discounts of 20 percent during the promotion period for two or more passengers travelling together.
The promotion is valid for bookings between February 11-18 on Qatar Airways flights in Business Class, for flying until December 11.
Additionally, Qatar Airways will grant double Qmiles and Qpoints for passengers flying in Business and First Class.
Chief Commercial Officer of Qatar Airways, Ehab Amin, said, "Travel is even more special when it is experienced in the company of family and friends, and what better way to celebrate this than by taking advantage of Qatar Airways' Companion Offer. With this unique promotion, we want to encourage our passengers to experience the many special moments travelling together can provide".
To book flights, passengers can visit qatarairways.com or any Qatar Airways sales office, or contact the nearest travel agent.
Qatar Airways is one of the largest airlines in the world with a modern fleet of over 230 aircrafts that fly across six continents.
The airline was named 'World's Best Business Class, 'Best Business Class Seat', 'Best Airline in the Middle East' and 'World's Best First Class Airline Lounge' in the 2018 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax.


Nam Tok or 'waterfall' is a delicious Thai preparation of beef. Thin streaks of beef are grilled alongside green onion, chilies, onion and fish sauce, with spearmint and lime added in the end. The waterfall refers to the juice dripping from the meat. This dish is also known as Thai beef salad.
Tom Yum Goong or Thai shrimp soup is a must-try Thai dish. The soup is made from shrimp, fish sauce, oyster mushrooms, chilies, galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves or maybe tamarind.
Kai Med Ma Muang is basically a fried chicken and cashew dish. Other ingredients of this Thai dish are green onion, garlic, carrot, chilies, pepper and occasionally mushrooms, sautéed in soy and oyster sauce.
Pad See Ew or Thai rice noodles is one of the popular dishes found at food stalls, as well as restaurants in Thailand. The dish is made from rice noodles which are fried with garlic, Chinese broccoli (Kai lan), eggs, chicken or beef, soy sauce, oyster sauce, vinegar and chilies.


Kintore Midmill Primary School is a village school situated twelve miles north-west of Aberdeen. The school provides primary and nursery education for the local area and holds a strong sense of community and village atmosphere. We worked closely with the existing design team, community stakeholders, pupils and staff to generate ideas and implement high quality designs, which enhanced the new building. The artwork is rooted in its environment, drawing inspiration from the historical and natural aspects that surround the new school site such as the rich history associated with the archaeological sites at Tuach Hill and Midmill Longcairn.
Integrated art schemes throughout the school include wallcoverings, glass vinyls, acoustic panels and external cladding. The design narrative was created in collaboration with the teaching staff and the pupils to identify cultural themes and educational approaches. The artworks are integrated into the fabric of the building providing a playful twist to the modern architecture. The patterned facades were designed with the children's ages in mind by adjusting the imagery and height-level of the patterns accordingly.
With Aberdeenshire's approach to language learning (where every child learns two languages at school) in mind, we looked into the development of the Pictish Script. In Kintore's history, Pictish was the language spoken by the Picts from the late iron age to the early middle ages. We worked in collaboration with a specialist in Pictish culture, Katherine Forsyth, from the University of Glasgow to celebrate this forgotten language in a modern approach. A family of graphics and patterns was created for the school to create a fun way to learn about the history of the area by employing an almost secret code for the children to engage with.


Since I'm in this vein now of looking through old stuff and mining for gold, basically I thought I'd throw these up there…yes, it's true, I have a penchant for nature-theme metaphor in my writing.
Another dreaming of the sea.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged lyrics, nature metaphors by mrsmetaphor. Bookmark the permalink.


In a recent blog post, Stack Overflow's David Robinson made the argument that "Python has a solid claim to being the fastest-growing major programming language." The post notes that within high-income countries, Python was the most visited tag on the Stack Overflow site in July 2017, having grown 250 percent since 2012.
The post notes that some smaller languages like TypeScript had larger traffic growth, but "Python is an unusual case for being both one of the most visited tags on Stack Overflow and one of the fastest-growing ones." And interestingly, Python's year-over-year growth rate is actually accelerating, which is unusual for such a popular language.