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Homeowners go to to discover a top-rated pro to finish their home improvement undertaking or restore. The fee may be significantly lower or increased depending on what you're in search of. My contractor insists when all of the individually priced flat-pack components, panels, cabinets and man hours are added up, inventory real-wood cabinets from his supplier would have been in my price range.
To the person working on the kitchen transform and on shopping for new appliances, I might advocate going to Monti Sowsawat at Normal Equipment and Kitchen, on Shattuck between Dwight and Blake. After many non-responsive local contractors, we contacted Fairfax Kitchen Bathtub and a acquired a response in an hour!
So, if the take a look at kitchen lighting, however may be discovered at local home enchancment stores, verify online stores. Tour beautiful kitchens from the archives of Architectural Digest and discover ideas for your own renovation. Numerous kitchen designers and suppliers will press upon you the significance of the work triangle", which is the idea that the most purposeful kitchen layouts create a triangle between the main home equipment.
Arizona Republic reporter Kara Morrison shares her latest kitchen remodel of her Phoenix dwelling with readers. You probably have the time and expertise, it's possible you'll want to complete your kitchen rework by yourself. And do not forget to save lots of 10{47adbcaa08dedcc5ef63218957542a3cd86360d0da44e19ca04dfc3092dceee8} of your funds for the surprising—I guarantee you we had some unpleasant and costly surprises.
And not using a clear plan, your rework will possible end in more bills than you may comfortably afford, as well as an extended timeline. The price of the labor, for one employee, which was half of the total value, took 10 weeks. Inexperienced updates: LED lighting, environmentally friendly taps, inexperienced home equipment and double-paned windows are all potential with out gutting the kitchen.


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Flying, Gray-Haired Yank
More Info
Book by Egan, Michael Michael Egan wrote the Flying, Gray-Haired Yank long after he completed serving his adopted country, The United States, in the Civil War. Unfortunately, he died in 1888 – the year this book was published and he did not see it in completed form.Egan began service as a civilian contractor to the military and carried dispatches through the guerrilla infested portion of central West Virginia. Following his courier duty, he entered into service in the new state of West Virginia as an officer in the 15th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He participated in campaigns, was captured, escaped, and re-captured, and escaped a second time. His story includes details of evasion of Confederate patrols, help from slaves and Unionist, and his eventual return to safety within Union lines. Hardcover, 424 pages.

subset: commoncrawl


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Plot Description
The year is 1870, the place is the American West. In the roaring boomtown of Dorado, the Sheriff keeps order among the rowdy cowboys, miners, and outlaws with a small group of hired gunslingers, mercenary men of the West, with checkered pasts; some have been robbers and outlaws in the past, or members of the rebel Confederacy; others are paladins of the frontier (though even the best men of the West can have blood on their hands). There is even a Chinaman.
The heroes are these men.
(To expand… How should the heroes be dispatched to Elihu's home? How should the news come? Originally, I was going to have a companion of Elihu's stumble into town, but I don't know if that really fits my conception of the hermit…)
Basic outline-
1. Shootout at Elihu Short's house- The deputies (heroes) are sent to investigate the situation at Elihu Long's home, south of town on Busted Flat. There they discover Elihu wounded, firing at 4 armed attackers from behind a small cart. As they arrive, Elihu kills one of the attackers. The other attackers take Elihu down and attack the deputies.
After the shootout, one of the assailants escapes south. With his dying breath, Elihu tells the deputies that the attackers were part of the Damnbroke Boys gang, and that they were after his secret cache. He tells the deputies that the Damnbroke Boys will go after the only other person who knows where the cache is, Bart Heller, who lives on Castle Peak, a three day's ride to the south.
2. Showdown on Missouri Cliff- The deputies chase the escaped Damnbroke Boy southward, to Missouri Cliff, where there is a gunfight.
3. Ambush at Boulder Cut- The deputies head north out of Busted Flat and then down into Boulder Cut, leading into Petersen Canyon (the way south to Deadhorse Ferry and then Castle Peak). At the Canyon, a man dressed in gentleman's clothing tells them that aid is urgently needed in the Cut. It is a trick; once the deputies are in the Cut, they are ambushed by several armed Damnbroke Boys. A gunfight ensues.
4. Deadhorse Ferry- the deputies head south through Petersen Canyon and arrive at the Deadhorse River. At the Deadhorse Ferry, the deputies encounter a crazed Mexican who jabbers wildly in Spanish before attacking them with his fists. When subdued or wounded, the Mexican babbles about Big Nose Luke, the leader of the Damnbroke Boys, and about a golden necklace.
5. Cochise and Indians- the deputies cross the river on the ferry, and head down across the prairie, where the buffalo roam. At the foothills below Castle Peak, they encounter a band of Indians who draw arms. Their chieftan, Cochise ("koh-chee-say"), approaches and explains that a group of white men (described as dressing in a manner not unlike the Damnbroke Boys) stole two of their women. Some braves may attack later in the night, disobeying Cochise's instructions.
6. Bart Heller is dead at the desk in his cabin, with a hand clutched against a stomach wound. He has managed to scrawl out a message:
"Too lat for mee- dambrok boys got to the cash. bewar- the neckliss is cursd- git thoz dammed basterdz- sined, Bartholomew Remington Heller"
The message seems to indicate that some necklace in Long and Heller's cache was cursed, and that the Damnbroke Boys have already gotten to the gold. The deputies must bring the Damnbroke Boys to justice!
7. The deputies ride north, across the grasslands, taking the Deadhorse Ferry, back up through Petersen Canyon and Boulder Cut, and eastward, into the meadows below the old Pembroke Mine. The abandoned Pembroke Mine is called Damnbroke Mine by the people of Dorado, because it struck empty too early. It is the home of the Damnbroke Boys.
8. Battle with the Damnbroke Boys in the ghost town below the mine entrance. The boys not only fight the deputies, but squabble amongst themselves; some are fleeing the town, and surrender. Some seem violently insane. A wounded Damnbroke Boy warns the deputies that Big Nose Luke went crazy and started killing gang members in the mine after putting on a "savage's trinket" from the cache.
9. Showdown with the crazed Big Nose Luke, covered in blood and wearing an ancient, cursed Aztec necklace, in the Pembroke Mine.
(Now I've got to pretty it up)


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'Growth will be higher': Morneau says budget can be balanced in 5 years
Emily Chan, CTVNews.ca
Published Sunday, March 27, 2016 11:00AM EDT
Finance Minister Bill Morneau says he is confident the government's recently-unveiled budget will encourage enough economic growth to cancel out the country's deficit in "about five years."
Critics have been outspoken about the government's plan to take on approximately $30-billion in deficit this year, and say the Liberals have failed to outline exactly how they will bring the country's finances back into the black.
But speaking on CTV's Question Period, Morneau defended the government's course of action.
"We do have a plan," he said. "I don't think we're gambling at all."
Morneau pointed to the Canada Child Benefit as an example of an investment his government hopes will pay off in the long term.
The new program, which will replace the Canada Child Tax Benefit, National Child Benefit and Universal Child Care Benefit, will increase payments for most lower and middle class families. But, in general, families with a net income of more than $150,000 will receive less money.
Morneau touted these changes as a way of spurring spending in lower and middle class families.
"The signature part of our budget, which is the Canada Child Benefit … will take the amount of money we're spending on child benefits and focus it on people who really need it," he said.
"We're moving forward with putting more money in the pockets of people who will spend it. I don't think it's a gamble when you reduce taxes on the middle class."
According to Morneau, "investments" like this will jumpstart economic growth and, eventually, bring the budget back to a balance.
"We believe that growth will be higher, and we believe that we will be able to get into a balanced budget in about the five year time frame," he said. "The numbers you're seeing are a projection that we aspire to eclipse through the growth that we're going to generate."
'We had a plan'
While Morneau described the budget as a path to economic growth, opposition leaders have expressed skepticism.
Conservative Interim Leader Rona Ambrose said she believes the new budget will merely "redistribute" money without actually sparking growth.
"What I think is problematic with this budget is that … they actually said they wanted to stimulate the economy, (but) there is nothing in this budget that actually puts money out into the business sector right away," Ambrose told CTV's Question Period.
Despite Morneau's claims that the new Canada Child Benefit will encourage spending among lower and middle class families, Ambrose said it was a mistake to restructure the current benefits.
"The Universal Child Care Benefit was universal. It went to every Canadian family. And now they've scrapped that," she said. "Now it goes to certain Canadian families."
Instead, the Ambrose said the government should have stuck to the previous government's economic approach.
"There actually wasn't a problem there," she said. "We now have a government that is not focused in any way on the private sector or encouraging more private investment in our economy, which is a big concern."
The previous government did produce deficits of its own, but by April, 2015, then-finance minister Joe Oliver projected a small surplus – the first balanced budget in eight years.
Since then the state of that surplus has come under debate.
Still, Ambrose presented the former government's approach as a successful way to balance the books.
"The difference is that when we did go into deficit, we had a plan to come out," she said. "That took many, many years because it was based on the growth of the economy and the revenues coming back on stream."
'Broken promises'
Meanwhile, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair also questioned whether the Liberal approach could really lead to a balanced budget in five years.
"The Liberals have said that they're going to spend, spend, spend and then all of the sudden they're going to get back to balanced budgets," Mulcair said. "That would mean massive austerity programs to get back to that."
The NDP leader said spending on social programs is important, but questioned the way in which the Liberals have divvied up the dollars.
"We're the first to admit that when the economy goes down, you can look at stimulus spending," he said. "And yet, if we want to ensure the long term survivability of our social programs, we've got to really be smart in how we do budgets."
Mulcair said an NDP government would have increased corporate taxes to provide enough revenue to fund its spending, and criticized the government for omitting home care, childcare spaces and a national pharmacare plan from the budget.
"Right now what we're looking at is a lot of broken promises and a massive deficit," Mulcair said. "It's hard to understand how the Liberals were able to do both."


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30 November 2010 - FRANCE 24 NOW AVAILABLE IN SPAIN ON ONO
Issued on:
FRANCE 24 has finalized a new distribution agreement with the main cable operator in Spain, ONO.
As of December 1st, FRANCE 24 will be accessible, in English, to the 720 000 subscribers on channel 138.
Already available in Spain by satellite in 3 languages through DIGITAL +, and in French through IPTV services from ORANGE and TELEFONICA (Movistar Imagenio), this new deal with ONO allows FRANCE 24 to be now accessible on all of the countries paying platforms.
"The agreement with ONO completes our existence within the cable and satellite offerings of the country and insures our positioning in the Spanish audiovisual landscape", said Philippe Rouxel, Vice-President Worldwide for Distribution, at FRANCE 24.
About FRANCE 24 (www.france24.com):
FRANCE 24 is the first international news channel that offers a French perspective and sensibility on world events. It broadcasts on a 24/7 basis on three channels, in French, English and Arabic, in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas. FRANCE 24 can be accessed by cable, satellite, ADSL and mobile phone. The website www.france24.com is available in 3 languages (English, French and Arabic).
FRANCE 24 contacts:
Nathalie Lenfant – Tel.: +33 (0)1 73 01 24 11 - email@example.com
Damien Amadou – Tel.: +33 (0)1 73 01 24 31 - email@example.com


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It's funny how Christmas takes on different flavors as I get older. December as a whole becomes different, and instead of a spectator, I'm the orchestra director. I'm the one doing the Christmas magicking, whereas as a child it just seemed to happen. Back then, the music wrapped around the days in a soundtrack of jingle bells and choirs. My parents called us downstairs for the Christmas story, and explained our traditions as we lit candles and unpacked the tree. My mother taught us special Advent crafts, and we made ornaments of clay or felt that represented Baby Jesus coming to this world to show God's persistent love to surprised humans.
As a child, I watched as presents appeared under the tree, and wrapping paper rolls appeared in the closet. Guests showed up at our house to feast and laugh and hug. As an adult, and especially as an adult living in Holland, I know that Christmas dinners only happen when everyone synchronizes their schedules and messages about who brings what food. As a wife, and especially as a wife of a man surrounded by renovation projects, I know that holiday gifts and decorations and cooking tend to be the woman's responsibility. It was easier when the magic arrived at my house and I just had to greet it. Preferably with fuzzy slippers and hot cocoa.
It's not a bad thing to be responsible for making the magic, to know that work goes into it. To know what goes on behind the scenes.I have a special memory of staying up late one night as a teen, with the secret task of wrapping everyone's presents except for my own. Less work for my mom, more time online with my friends for me, and a win-win situation. When my siblings and I got older, we started finding presents for each other and going on mysterious shopping trips. I know that as Pippin gets older, I can draw him in more, letting him choose carols and find presents for family. He's already a grand little helper at mixing pancakes or muffins, and we made Christmas cards a few weeks ago together. Our small artificial tree that we've had since D's and my first Christmas together is just the right height for a toddler, but we're talking about getting a new, live one this weekend. While Pippin would want to help arrange (and rearrange) ornaments, he won't understand that it's a tradition to have a Christmas tree. Or that the little rocking horse ornament he chewed on as a baby has traveled with me around the world since I was a little girl. He doesn't know the carols yet, or understand that I tear up when I sing 'O Holy Night' because I think of it as my grandfather's song.
I know that this is an unusual year, with the renovations and new house and new city, and that no one expects me to have it all together (not now, maybe ever). But part of me worries that we'll miss out on this holiday season if I don't really stop, really take the time for it. That maybe I'll wake up one morning and it will be the third of January, and I'll have forgotten to fill our stockings with little treasures and mandarins, or given Pippin the present that I've been hiding for months, or to surprise D with something fun. There are already traditions that I've carefully let go for the time being, like singing carols with lit candles at night during Advent, or baking eight or ten different kinds of cookies to take to neighbors and eat whenever possible. But maybe its not a bad thing to adapt traditions. Like making carrot cake and banana bread muffins to wrap up as gifts for friends, instead of cookies for neighbors. Since my toddler and husband aren't all that enthusiastic about singing (yet), maybe we'll go on walks to see the Christmas lights in the harbor near our new house. And even if I would forget to pull out any presents at all until January, they would still be a surprise for my menfolk, who have have absolutely no expectations of holiday gift-giving.
It's almost mind-blowing to think of going through a December like that. No expectations? No wistful comparisons to old Christmases. No pressure to find that perfect outfit or present, to out-do or update last year's decorations or dinner. If some gift or shirt or recipe shows up, great; if not, there's still a holiday to enjoy. Then again, if I just rolled through December like that, I think I would be very bored. Someone needs to do the preparation for magic in this house, so that when it comes, it's welcome. If the meals are planned and the presents bought, the stress is tucked out of the way, and there's time for looking at the stars together on a crisp night. Or maybe for sleeping in on Christmas morning while we still can. And whether a stocking gets opened in January or precisely on Christmas Eve or Morning, the mandarins and little treats will still be magical to Pippin.


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April 26, 2017
JOB POST: LR Swami Co., Chennai: Trademark Attorney (IPR): Apply by May 8
L.R. SWAMI CO., Chennai is looking for law graduates (both experienced and freshers) who are keen to deal with prosecution of trade mark applications and oppositions.
The candidate must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
Please email your CV to [email protected]
L.R. SWAMI CO. was founded in 1925 and is an established Intellectual Property firm based in Chennai offering legal services in the field of trade marks, copyright, patent and designs.
Website: www.lrswami.com


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Two Chinese members of Brighter Green , Xinyi Lin and Zhu Qing, stressed the persistence of this problem in their country: every year Chinese breed, for their meat and eggs, 11,9 billion chickens, every chicken requires 500 ml water per day, making the yearly water consumption reach the amount of 2,340 olympic-size swimming pools. Statistics say that by 2050, 120 billion animals will be bred and they will produce 20 Gt of CO2
The solution seems to be stopping eating meat. Reducing meat consumption could definitely reduce greenhouse gases emissions, but if we eliminated all animal products from our diet, the problem would be simply shifted to other types of food. While the members of the association didn't mention the exploitation of non-animal resources, a researcher from the audience pointed out some current issues which are often underestimated or undisclosed. The avocado, a particularly appreciated exotic fruit, is the "new trend" among vegans. Its production requires vast plantations which cause the destruction of many trees in the Mexican forests. Another example given by the researcher is almond milk, taken by many people as an alternative to cow's milk. Almond trees need a high amount of water to grow, making therefore the drought problem in California more and more serious.
In order to achieve concrete results we need to change our mentality radically, broadening our points of view and taking into consideration the possible consequences of our actions. Finally, when it comes to intensive animal farming we have to take sensible decisions which ponder the effects of activity on our planet.
by Davide Leonardi and Tommaso Schirru


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Former Republic FC star Jake Gleeson looks forward to Bonney Field return
Jake Gleeson is unsure what kind of reception he will get Saturday night from fans at Bonney Field.
The goalkeeper is in Sacramento with his Portland Timbers 2 teammates to play Republic FC, the team for which he played last season on loan from Portland and helped lead to the USL title in its first season.
But Portland decided to field its own USL team this season, ending its agreement with Republic FC.
"It's going to be a little different, being on the opposite side," Gleeson, a native of New Zealand, said. "I have no idea how I'm going to be received, but I'm very excited. I'm looking forward to seeing the boys again."
Gleeson was popular, always quick with a smile and a joke. He also was one of the top goalkeepers in the USL, though he missed several matches with injuries.
"It was great to come in and win a championship," Gleeson said. "Everything clicked for us. It was a great season, and I enjoyed every minute of it. But now it's a new season and I'm with a new group who wants to win a championship."
Last year, Gleeson could count on the Tower Bridge Battalion's huge contingent for verbal support, but he knows the reception is a lot different for visiting keepers.
"I recall a few of the chants," Gleeson said. "They aren't things I dare repeat. They definitely weren't positive ones."
Gleeson is one of three former Republic FC players on the Timbers 2. The others are midfielder Steven Evans and defender Harrison Delbridge.
They are looking forward to receiving their championship rings and playing in the expanded stadium that now seats 11,000.
"It's going to be neat to see all the improvements," Gleeson said. "With a couple of thousand more people, it's going to be a little more intimidating. That means more Battalion fans to yell at us. But I love it. I expect there will be some good banter, good quips."
This is the second meeting between the teams this season. The Timbers 2 defeated Republic FC 2-1 on April 9 in Portland, with all three former Sacramento players factoring in the win.
Gleeson had two saves, including a one-on-one shot in the 48th minute by Republic FC forward Cameron Iwasa. Delbridge's pass to Taylor Peay led to a goal by Kharlton Belmar to tie the score 1-1 in the 62nd minute, less than 60 seconds after Iwasa put Republic FC up 1-0.
In the 87th minute, an unmarked Evans gathered a poor clearance at the top of the box and blasted a shot into the upper-right corner of the net for the game-winner.
"We were fortunate to get the winning goal in a tight game, and I expect we will be in for more of the same at Bonney," Gleeson said. "Hopefully we make our chances and they miss theirs."
Gleeson will be keeping special watch on Rodrigo Lopez and won't venture too far off his line.
Lopez, the Republic FC midfielder and USL scoring leader, connected on a 60-yard shot in Wednesday's 2-0 win over the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps 2. Lopez revealed later he made a similar shot against Gleeson when they were Portland teammates.
"It was an intra-squad match, and I got him from half-field," Lopez said. "Don't tell him that I said that. Jake's a great goalie. I don't know how he is not playing for the first team."
Gleeson made a splashy debut with the Timbers in 2011, their debut Major League Soccer season. Then 20, he played in four of the team's first five MLS matches.
But he hasn't played in an MLS match since as Portland has gone through a succession of starting goalkeepers. During the offseason, Portland signed Adam Kwarasey, a 27-year-old Ghana national team goalkeeper, and made him its No. 1 guy.
"It's part of the business," said Gleeson, who is on loan to Timbers 2 from the parent club. "Adam is a good goalkeeper. You have to make the best of the situation. I'm just focusing on how I'm doing."
The upside is that he's playing in the USL, which has grown at a tremendous pace. It has expanded from 14 to 24 teams and increased its MLS affiliates from one to eight since last season.
"The league is getting a lot more exposure with the MLS teams," Gleeson said. "USL is on the rise, and soccer as a whole is strong in America."
Call The Bee's Bill Paterson, (916) 326-5506.


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ALPINE MODERN - Vol. 02 'Beginnings'
Alex Rückheim
Alpine Modern is a quarterly magazine that explores living, architecture and design in mountain regions with the aim of elevating modern design and lifestyles of mountain communities worldwide. The young Boulder, Colorado based team believes in the "emerging design ethos of a more natural minimalism and refined life entwined with the outdoors", a shared passion that seems to boil down to two things: beautiful design and, the mountains.
'Each morning provides a new chance to redo and renew, the opportunity to be better, be more, or just be.'
- Richard Foy, Iss.02, p.044
In their second publication, the free-of-advertising magazine explores 'mornings and new beginnings in the mountains' on 132 pages through stunning photography, inspiring stories and a clean, minimal layout. Printed in USA, on uncoated heavy-weight paper. Images by Ali Baï and Gladys Fabie.


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Dermacare: Best Investment Opportunity for a Physician?/
Dermacare Laser Center Franchises sent me this solicitation email.
I'm wondering what they're thinking? Is anyone else getting these emails? You'd better hurry. Dermacare still has a few territories available.
Dermacare | 4835 East Cactus | Suite 345 | Scottsdale | AZ | 85254


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Sign In
Save and Track Your Favourite Properties
Delaware is nestled in the Thames River Valley, although it has now expanded over the top of the valley ridge. Most of the area surrounding Delaware is made up of forests and floodplain areas. Corn, soybeans and tobacco are farmed extensively in the area around Delaware, as well as inside the town limits in some areas. Delaware has undergone modest growth in housing over the last 30 years, with the developed area nearly doubling in that time.
Many of the buildings in the heart of Delaware are reputed to be over one hundred years old. These include the building that is now Delaware Variety as well as the antique shop across the street. Belvoir Manor is a private home that was at one point a seminary and a private school for boys, and at one point was destroyed by fire. The surrounding Belvoir Farms in which it is located is a prominent croquet venue for Croquet Canada.
The community of Delaware was first founded in 1796. Delaware was the objective of an American raid into Upper Canada in 1814 during the War of 1812, which resulted in the Battle of Longwoods, on March 4, 1814, just about 24 km outside of Delaware.


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Session 3: The economics of supply-side climate policy
Moderator: Mark Campanale
Panellists: Taran Fæhn, Ivetta Gerasimchuk, Franziska Holz, Frank Jotzo, Paola Yanguas-Parra
Implications of natural gas extraction in Western Australia for achieving climate targets
Bill Hare, Niklas Roming, Ursula Fuentes Hutfilter, Michiel Schaeffer
Western Australia has globally significant natural gas resources and reserves. By the end of 2018, its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export production drawing upon conventional resources is expected to account for around 11% of global capacity. Proposals exist to exploit much larger unconventional reserves. We analyse the impact of fully exploiting all of Western Australia's gas resources on achieving domestic and international Paris Agreement climate goals compared to Paris Agreement-compatible carbon budgets at global, national and state (sub-national) level. In addition, we assess the global and national gas demand expected for energy system transition pathways consistent with the Paris Agreement long-term temperature goal (LTTG) Finally, we look at how Western Australia can avoid lock-in of a carbon intensive energy mix and with high levels of stranded assets by making make use of its vast renewable energy potential for both domestic and international use.
The carbon footprint of Western Australia's total gas reserves (conventional and unconventional) is equivalent to 4.7-6.4% of a global energy system carbon budget consistent with the Paris Agreement LTTG. Domestic emissions (upstream and from direct use including LNG production) from the exploitation of conventional gas reserves are 40-75% above an Paris Agreement compatible carbon budget for WA's energy sector. Unconventional gas resources are much larger, with a domestic carbon footprint about three times Australia's national energy system carbon budget.
Domestic emissions from exploitation of Western Australia's conventional gas reserves present major challenges for compliance with the Paris Agreement. National and state gas demand in a Paris Agreement energy system transition can be met without recourse to WA's unconventional gas resources. In addition the global gas market will not need additional resources from unconventional gas in Western Australia, as gas demand will likely peak and decline within 10-15 years as the world implements the Paris Agreement
Coal taxes as an economic instrument for structural adjustment
Taxes on the production or export of fossil fuels have some useful features as an instrument of supply-side climate change mitigation policies. First, in contrast to quantitative constraints such as (non-tradable) production quota or rules of thumb such as 'no new mines', they can facilitate an economically efficient allocation of declining fossil fuel extraction. Second, they create a source of revenue which governments could use for purposes of their choice, including to facilitate structural adjustment in fossil fuel producing regions. Third, they have desirable features in distributing the gains from improved of terms of trade that accrue to fossil fuel producing countries: countries that implement coal taxes keep the revenue from their own taxes, thus creating an incentive to levy the tax rather than an incentive to cheat on agreements for OPEC-style production quotas. This could help to address, but is unlikely to overcome, the intrinsic challenges of coordination between fossil fuel producers and exporters.
This paper explores these theoretical and conceptual aspects of fossil fuel supply taxes, for the case of coal. It provides illustrative magnitudes for coal taxes, their revenues, terms-of-trade improvements resulting from supply-side taxes, and impacts on global coal consumption. These are inferred on the basis of parameters drawn from the energy economics literature.
Finally, the paper provides an exposition of the idea of using coal tax revenues to support structural adjustment in coal producing regions. The argument is that rather than subsidizing an industry that is in decline at the expense of growing parts of an economy, societies can achieve better long term outcomes by drawing additional revenue from declining fossil fuel industries and instead supporting alternative economic futures through investments in infrastructure and education.
Coal Phase-Out Implications for the International Steam Coal Market: The Risk of Asset Stranding in the COALMOD-World Model
Franziska Holz, Oliver Sartor, Thomas Spencer, Ivo Valentin Kafemann, Tim Scherwath, Roman Mendelevitch
Significant transition is occurring in the national energy systems of major coal-using economies. At the same time, on the exporter side, investments are being undertaken or planned that would potentially significantly raise coal supply capacities. The inconsistency between these two phenomena has become a recurring issue within national and international policy debate. They potentially amplify risks of a "hard landing" for coal market investors, workers and other affected stakeholders. Indeed, lessons from past coal phase-out experiences suggest that once underway, coal markets can move very quickly – if unanticipated, often with negative consequences for stakeholders who struggle to catch up. This paper sheds light on this issue by modelling the international steam coal market under a range of scenarios regarding the depth, speed, and drivers of transition in global and regional energy systems.
We investigate the effect of regional or global coal phase-out policies by using a holistic model of the world steam coal market, COALMOD-World. It calculates global steam coal production, trade, and prices as well as CO2 emissions from coal consumption. It features a detailed representation of domestic and international steam coal supply until 2050 and includes endogenous investment decisions in production, land transport, and export capacity, as well as an endogenous mechanism assessing production cost increase due to resource depletion.
Our results show that more stringent climate policies come with lower coal demand, despite assumptions on wide-spread use of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). We also find investments in the coal value chain closely related to the future demand prospects. We find more or less high investments in de-bottlenecking of transport and export capacities and mine mortality replacement in the different scenarios: the stronger the coal phase-out, the lower the total investments.
Carbon Entanglement in BRIICS: weaning government budgets off revenues from fossil fuel production
Ivetta Gerasimchuk, Kjell Kühne, Yuliia Oharenko, Vibhuti Garg, Richard Bridle, and David Braithwaite
The BRIICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia, China and South Africa) account for nearly 40% of the world's proved fossil fuel reserves and extraction. The six economies illustrate what the OECD's Secretary General Angel Gurria calls "carbon entanglement". This term means that governments have major stakes in bringing fossil fuel to market and taking their share of the rents – through tax and non-tax revenue from the industry, including participation in state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Among BRIICS, the share of fossil fuel rents in government revenues varies from around 1% in Brazil and China to 40% in Russia. It is also high in certain fossil-fuel dependent regions at the subnational level. The intent of securing the flow of these revenues remains a key factor motivating BRIICS national and subnational government policies that prop the fossil fuel industry with subsidies, new rounds of licenses for exploration and production, and facilitation of export contracts. "Carbon entanglement" creates a conflict of interests for the BRIICS governments in delivering against their renewable energy and energy efficiency targets and the commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change.
In a first-of-its-kind dataset, the authors sum up key numbers on the fiscal dependency of the BRIICS governments on fossil fuel revenues. They also highlight the risk of loss of these revenues and the risk of stranding for fossil fuel SOEs in a world switching to renewable energy. The presentation discusses opportunities for fiscal and economic diversification for the BRIICS economies. In particular, the analysis covers the use of earmarked fossil fuel revenues to support economic diversification and a just transition for workers. The authors underscore the importance of such analysis for BRIICS countries' mid-century development strategies and the UNFCCC work on response measures.
The Paris Agreement and Supply-Side Policies
Taran Fæhn, Geir Asheim, Mads Greaker, Cathrine Hagem, Bård Harstad, Michael Hoel, Diderik Lund, Karine Nyborg, Knut Einar Rosendahl, Halvor Storrøsten
This paper discusses unilateral options for contributing to climate change mitigation by restricting own petroleum extraction – so-called supply-side policies – with Norway as an example, the main question being how ongoing changes in the international climate policy conditions surrounding the country might influence.
First, we find that the motives for supply-side policy look different as a consequence of the wide participation in the Paris Agreement. If all countries set binding targets, global emissions are capped and supply-side measures on top are ineffectual. However, the emission caps of many countries are so vaguely formulated or so high that there is still scope for climate effects of cutting petroleum production. Besides, a rationale for supply-side policies, particularly in a coalition, is that it can serve as insurance in case the Paris Agreement fails.
Second, the European ambitions of closer climate policy integration will affect the cost-effectiveness considerations of unilateral supply-side policies on top of the Paris pledges. The question is no longer whether Norway should add supply-side or demand-side measures, as in a flexible European system, the latter will only relocate, not reduce, European emissions. Rather, supply-side efforts must be balanced against other possible additional ambitions, such as funding research and development, rainforest protection or technology transfer.
Finally, this paper addresses the choice of supply-side policy instruments given the novel conditions. We give economic and strategic arguments for both quantity and price regulations.


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Shirley by Charlotte Bronte (Smith, Elder & Co., first published 1849)
Introduced by Michael Evans
'My Booktacular Week'
This week, I was fortunate enough to work with Emma Balch, who is opening a brilliant sounding museum specialising in the story behind books. It'll be sure to be somewhere I will be eager to visit when it opens.
On Tuesday, we first went to Berrington Press. This is a family- run printing firm, which prints on paper the old-fashioned way. I found it absolutely fascinating and breath-taking thinking about how much time it would've taken to print just a single page, versus how long it must take to print now, using a computer.
There, it was all done by hand, using wood and metal versions of the letters in all their different fonts and sizes, and pressing them on paper with ink to make an impression. Think of all the time and money the printers would have invested in one book, and then think that they would have had to make some sort of profit. This would understandably make one simple book – that we all take for granted these days – very expensive. It was honestly an eye-opening experience, and has ensured that I will never take my Kindle books that only cost about £3 or so, for granted.
Handling an early edition of Shirley by Currer Bell at Wormhill Books
We also visited Wormhill Books, an online book dealership based on a farm, which was a lovely and enriching experience. We learned a bit about how the online book trade works, and I found it extremely heart-warming, as the place itself is most likely something that a lot of modern people, especially young people my age, would think is a very basic way of living and turn their back on. However, the owner Chris was so lovely, and all he was doing was following his passion, despite the fact that he doesn't get much recognition for it. This is a lesson I think we should all take into account. We should all try our best to just follow our individual passions, and live the way we feel works for us, despite the possible prejudices we may experience from others.
On Wednesday we visited the Chained Library at Hereford Cathedral, which is an extensive library of medieval books. It was fascinating to learn about how books used to be made, and to learn a bit about the culture and beliefs of the time. It was very pleasing to see the books being kept so well.
The next day, we visited some bookshops in Hay, which was just the icing on the cake for me. One bookshop, a children's bookshop which sells secondhand children's books, and another selling all kinds of books in general.
The Children's Bookshop was a lovely place, and has many old classics shelved. I love just holding a book I know, knowing that among the pages, is a story that I know and love, and a lot of them were here. I was glad to find a few Jacqueline Wilson books there, and of course there were your Enid Blytons, Ann Of Green Gables, Roald Dahls, Ladybirds, and many others.
Addyman Books was very special indeed. It had a room for each genre, and treated books seriously, as they so justly deserve to be treated. The decor around the shop was spectacular, especially for a hard-to-please blind person such as myself. There was spectacular steampunk decor, in the form of wheels and nobs, there were bats, there were chains, there were life-sized cardboard cut-outs, and so much more. They further pleased me by selling an array of book-themed merchandise, and I am a sucker for any merchandise, especially book-themed.*
All in all, it has been an absolutely spectacular week for me, and I am now able to say that I am in love with the town of Hay, and am determined to go back again. I'd really like to thank Emma, for making this happen, and all the owners of everywhere we visited, for putting up with us.
Happy reading everyone.
*Thank you to Anne at Addyman Books (and Sarah at Berrington Press) for the gifts!
Michael Evans is a student at the Royal College for the Blind in Hereford.


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As the racers make the first turn in the PA SUP Championships at Moraine State Park, they are met with the sound of live music from the main stage of the Regatta at Lake Arthur. Thousands of people are sprawled out listening to the music, sifting through food trucks, and watching the sailboats, paddleboards and windsurfers jetting by. A backdrop of thick conifers gives way to blue skies above the horizon of the lake and this is only the beginning.
The Regatta is all-ages, eco-friendly event with an incredible array of activities and entertainment. On the evening of the SUP race on Saturday, the headlining Pink Floyd Tribute band played on the stage just feet from the lake shore as a dramatic laser show danced across the water and fields of the park. Butler County is certainly known for its festivals and the Regatta delivers.
The Regatta is also the setting for the SurfSUP Adventures PA SUP Championship Race. The race is in its 3rd year and benefits the First Waves program for underserved youth mentorship and watershed conservation. This year's race saw some returning podium finishers along with plenty of new faces. The most exciting heat of the 2016 race was undeniably the grom division (grom = youth surfer or paddler!). A nail-biting finish and last-second lead change had the crowd cheering loud as they came through the final turn.
In the midst of such an iconic event, the PA SUP Championship is growing to become a premiere gathering spot for Pennsylvania standup paddleboarders. Put on by Ian Smith of SurfSUP Adventures and Micalla Mikus of Freeport Paddleboard Co., the event's mission is to bring together the SUP community, engage youth in the sport, and bring awareness to the First Waves Program which uses paddleboarding and adventure as a catalyst to inspire mentorship for underserved youth and conservation for local waterways. You can learn more about First Waves at: www.firstwaves.org.
2016 Results:
Men's: 1. Randy Rair 2. Scott Osterrieder 3. Nick Munk
Women: 1. Sara Rair 2. Tina Fisher 3. Heather Munk
Grom: 1. Ethan Martin 2. John Jackline 3. Kurt Jackline
Grom Girls: 1. Elly Hallmartin
Congratulations to this year's winners and a huge thanks to all those that participated and volunteered at the PA SUP Championships at the Regatta at Lake Arthur!!


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C. Stephen Davis focuses his practice on property tax counseling and controversies in the real estate, energy, oil, hospitality and healthcare industries. He litigates property tax controversies before local assessment appeals boards, superior courts, courts of appeal, and the California Supreme Court. His practice also includes participating in rule-making and other proceedings before the California State Board of Equalization.
°AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell DistinguishedSM and Martindale-Hubbell NotableSM are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell® certification procedures, standards and policies.


text:
Gusty winds on Friday morning caused authorities to close Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs, according to the California Highway Patrol.
A wind advisory was issued by the California Highway Patrol at 8:57 a.m. from Cabazon to state Route 62, and Gene Autry Trail between Interstate 10 and Vista Chino was shut down, said Officer Ramon Perez.
According to MyDesert.com, a big rig overturned Friday morning at the bridge on Gene Autry Trail near Interstate 10.
The newspaper reported that conditions were "extremely windy" and that the truck had two trailers, the first carrying dry goods and the second, which overturned in the sand, was empty.


text:
Could not retrieve Org's Metadata.You might receive an email with the message below every time a Git Snapshot backup that is scheduled is executed.
"A task could not be run on Copado. Please carefully review the below information as an action may be required from your end in order to enable the Copado task to complete successfully.
Details: Unexpected Error while taking a Snapshot. Id: XXXXXXXXXXXXX. Message: Could not retrieve Org's Metadata. "
If you access to the affected Git Snapshot where the backup is being performed and you run the backup manually, it will work but, when the backup runs automatically, the email above is received. If that happens, please go to Setup | Scheduled Jobs and check the user who submitted the job called Copado.
Once you have identified the user, check if that user has a Copado Deployer license assigned under Setup | Installed Packages | Copado Deployer.
If the user doesn't have a license, you have 2 options.
a) Assign a license.
b) Change the user submitting the Copado job following the steps below:
1. Remove the Job Name "Copado" from the Scheduled Apex page.
2. Log in with a user that has a Copado license assigned.
3. Open an org Credential record that has Test Frequency set to something different that None.
4. Click Edit in the record and Save it without changing anything.
5. Go back to the Scheduled Jobs page.
6. The Copado job should be there but this time submitted by the user that has the Copado license assigned.


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|GF/DF Mini Pecan Tarts
Recipe: Yields 9 tarts
- 3 ounces cream cheese substitute, softened Note: I used the Daiya brand which is gf/df and soy free.
- 1/2 cup *coconut spread (butter substitute), softened
- 1 cup all purpose gluten free flour, sifted Note: I like the Bob's Red Mill brand
- 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum if your gluten free flour does not already contain it
- 1 egg
- 2/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon *butter substitute, melted
- 2/3 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Mix cream cheese substitute and butter substitute together, stir in gluten free flour and xanthan gum if using. Chill dough in the refrigerator for an hour.
- Lightly grease a muffin tin with a little of the butter substitute.
- Shape dough into balls and place in muffin tins, press dough up the sides and bottom of the muffin cups.You need to work fairly quickly while the dough is chilled and still firm so it does not stick to your hands. You can flour your hands a little if necessary if it does begin to stick.This amount of dough should makes 9 little tarts.
- Make filling by beating together the egg,1 tablespoon of melted butter substitute, maple syrup, salt and vanilla until smooth. Fold in the pecans.
- Spoon filling into the muffin cups, being careful not to overfill.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Filling should puff up and pecans should look toasted.
- Cool slightly. Loosen from muffin tin carefully and finish cooling on a plate. Serve and enjoy!
This recipe was shared at: Allergy-Free Wednesdays, Weekend Retreat,


text: Am Freitag 16 April 2010 11:28:54 schrieb Phyx: > Hi all, > > > > I'm having a rather weird problem, > > > > Ghc-pkg list shows a package installed but doing a ghc -make will give > an error saying that It can't find a module that's supposed to be in the > installed package. > > > > And cabal install always reinstall all the dependencies on every change. > It doesn't seem to see that they're already installed. Can we have more details, please? As a first idea, you might try ghc-pkg unregister offending-package cabal install offending-package


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FBI Director: Cyber Attacks Could Be Bigger Threat Than Terrorism
FBI Director Robert Mueller suggested Thursday that cyber-security threats could soon be more of a threat than terrorism.
"Terrorism remains the FBI's top priority. But in the not too distant future, we anticipate that the cyber threat will pose the number one threat to our country," Mueller said in a speech before the RSA Cyber Security Conference.
As a result, Mueller suggested that the FBI "take lessons learned from fighting terrorism and apply them to cyber crime." Ultimately, he said, FBI agents that specialize "in cyber matters will have the greatest possible skill set."
What does that mean? "We are creating a structure whereby a cyber agent in San Francisco can work in a virtual environment with an agent in Texas, an analyst in Virginia, and a forensic specialist in New York to solve a computer intrusion that emanated from Eastern Europe," Mueller said.
After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the FBI increased the number of its Joint Terrorism Task Forces, which worked together to prevent terrorism. "We are developing a similar model to fight cyber crimeto bolster our capabilities and to build those of state and local law enforcement as well," Mueller said.
That includes identifying "patterns and players" as well as "links to cases and criminals."
He called on RSA attendees in the private sector to help in this mission. "Those of you in the private sector must have the means and the motivation to work with us," Mueller said.
The FBI is currently pushing legislation that would facilitate that type of information-sharing and require companies to report significant cyber breaches to law enforcement and to consumers, he said.
Meanwhile, technology and terrorism still have a link, he said. Mueller pointed to Al Qaeda's full-color, English language online magazine in the Arabian Peninsula, as well as the Twitter account for Al Shabaab, the al Qaeda affiliate in Somalia.
"Extremists are not merely making use of the Internet for propaganda and recruitment," Mueller said. "They are also using cyber space to conduct operations."
The attempted Times Square bombing in 2010 used public cameras for reconnaissance, file-sharing websites to share operational details, remote conferencing software to communicate, proxy servers to hide IP addresses, and YouTube to claim responsibility, he said.
For more from Chloe, follow her on Twitter @ChloeAlbanesius.


text: Lately I have been very confused about praying, god, religion, spirituality and the beliefs that are embedded in me. I think the more you read the more open your mind gets, the more open your mind gets the more questions you have. It's a never ending circle; I feel like a hamster on a religious wheel looking for god. I sometimes feel like saying Hello God It's me are you listening? Am I speaking the right language? Am I eating the right food on the right day to keep you happy? So I gave up on praying for a few days, not sure about which mantras to chant or which one of the higher beings am I calling. So if I call on one will the other one get upset? Should I follow blindly what was told to me by the pandits and so called wise elders in the family? I mean isn't that what parents are for to tell you what is right from wrong and what is true and what is not? But wait this is now all their perception, their right is not my right? It is true that you should learn from other's mistakes, and respect your elders. But what if the thing they called mistake was not done right by them and so they failed. What if I do it my way and maybe I will fail but what if I succeed? I will never know with so many opportunities lost due to living in someone else's experience and fear. Many restrictions, so many rules, do this, don't do this, if you eat this on this day then it won't be good. So wait I am not supposed to eat meat on Tuesday but I can on Wednesday? So God will love me less if I eat meat on Tuesday and he will ignore the fact that I did on Wednesday. For the past many years (I won't say the age here, come on now, I haven't lost it that much!) If I am in my periods for those five days, I am not supposed to pray according to Hindu philosophy that is because I am "impure". So out of the month, I am out of God's radar for five days. So that got me to reading, and researching; isn't google another word for god anyways? So lots of research and a lot of ramblings to do later on, but at the moment I have to go walk it out as it is a gorgeous day. The best conversations you have with your higher being is when you are out in the nature. Later peeps!


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On Wednesday, February 6th, SHADAC held a webinar introducing two new measures of health outcomes and social determinants of health on SHADAC's State Health Compare—Unhealthy Days and Unaffordable Rents. This presentation, hosted by SHADAC researchers Brett Fried and Robert Hest, examined these new measures and highlighted how the estimates can be used to explore disparities between states and among sub-populations. View a recording of the webinar and download the presentation slides here.
State Health Compare expands the health care discussion beyond a focus on coverage and allows analysts and policymakers to view state-level data on a wide range of topics through a broader Culture of Health lens. You can view data through maps, bar charts, trends, and tables. It's easy to explore within your state as well as compare across states and over time.
Join SHADAC Senior Research Fellow Joanna Turner on a guided tour of State Health Compare's user interface. Ms. Turner provides an overview of available estimates and shows how users can generate maps, bar charts, trend lines, and tables to examine the estimates within and across states and over time, as well as by characteristics such as age, race/ethnicity, etc. Ms. Turner also demonstrates how to download graphics and export the underlying data.


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K. Pattabhi Jois
Manju Jois
Srivatsa Ramaswami
I don't have one for Sharath Rangaswamy
I should also make one up for Saraswati (in progress)
That said, family....Parampara are not really my thing,
this is more of a service for those for who it is.
What is the meaning of Sharath's new paramaguru title?
1. Gallery - Posters, flyers and promotion
2. Video Selection
3. Interviews
4. Conference notes from JoisYoga
5. Selected blog posts
|Sharath as a boy with David Williams and Nancy Gilgoff
The Bio on KPJAYI .org( Sharath's own website, now called sharathjois.com).
from the primary Series DVD
2009 Copenhagen
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
UPDATED (New corrected Video) Sharath's Uttkatasana and Virabhadrasana video also Sharath's Pranayama tutorial.
There are a number of Led classes/tutorial's on this Live Sonima playlist
3. Interview
Interview with Peg Mulquween for Ashtanga Dispatch. Interview conducted in Mysore February 13 and February 20th
A translation I think from the Russian, perhaps conducted at Ashtanga Moscow.
And an English translation of the site
Search Results
Thursday, 27 June 2013
Book(let) Review : Ashtanga yoga Anusthana - R. Sharath Jois
|new/old rug in the home shala
A Book Method in Review: Astanga Yoga Anusthana by R. Sharath Jois. by Peg Mulqueenon
I'm calling my post a book review but actually this is more of a booklet than a book and there really isn't much to review.
Nothing wrong with a booklet of course
|Yoga Mala: The Original Teachings of Ashtanga Yoga Master Sri K. Pattabhi Jois [Paperback]
Friday, 28 March 2014
Sharath's revised Ashtanga Primary Series Book 5 second inhalation/ 5 second exhalation
"Aṣṭāṅga Yoga Anuṣṭhāna": 1st vs. 2nd Edition
The one thing that jumped out for me of course was this
23 Tristhāna:
1st edition: Breathing if you inhale for two seconds,
the exhale should be for two
2nd edition: if you inhale for five seconds,
the exhale should be for five
Five seconds inhale, five seconds exhale, that's much more like it, can live with that, Mysore here I come.... or at least I would if it wasn't for the crowds.
NB: The 'should' above is of course stressing that the inhalation and exhalation should be of equal duration, the 5 seconds is an example only, although it's interesting he changed it from the 2 second example in the first book.
Five second inhalation plus five second exhalation makes for a ten second breath, five of those gives us fifty seconds in the state of an asana. Actually there's that slight pause between the inhalation and exhaltion and the exhalation and inhalation. The slower the breath the longer the natural pause or mini kumbhaka as I like to think of it. At five seconds each I make it a one second pause between each so that's an extra two seconds a breath making it a full minute in the state of an asana.
I compared the breathing on teachers DVD's in a previous post. Their DVD presentations should be their ideal practice right.
Here are some comparisons to put it in perspective, all for when in Janu Sirsasana at astau/eight, the state of the asana ( this is hardly fair though as the time varies slightly in the different postures, especially in the led classes of Manju and his father ( it's guess work in Led), for example Manju left them in the preceding posture for 30 seconds), the demo's are a different case. gives an idea though of the general pace of the practice.
Update: I've added hyperlinks to reviews, click on the names
David Robson - 40 seconds!
David Garrigues - 30 seconds
Richard Freeman - 29 seconds
Manju Jois - 25 seconds
Lino - 24 seconds
Derek Ireland - 20 seconds
John Scott - 20 seconds
Mark Darby - 20 seconds
Kino - 20 seconds
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois - 20 seconds
David Swenson - 19 seconds
Sharath - 13 seconds
( I've heard a recent recording of Sharaths' Led where it comes in at 25 seconds)
David Robson comes closest to a minute but that's perhaps because he has the 1 second beat of the drum to guide him on his Primary with Drums Video/CD/MP3 - Highly recommended. However, if I remember correctly the drumbeat is set at 4 second inhalation, 4 second exhalation. If you want to explore a slower pace download his mp3 or follow the link (click on his name above) and practice along to my Sury A video on that post with the drum beat in the background. There should be a link to a post where I explore the drum beat with second series.
Bit of a game changer?
Notice how many of the above are around 20 seconds, that actually works out at 2 second inhalation, 2 second exhalation, which is of course what Sharath included in the first edition of his book. That perhaps reflects the pace the practice is generally taken, how it's come down to us, how we tend to practice. What I find most interesting is that Sharath consciously, pointedly, changed it to 5 seconds. We might practice at 2 seconds but perhaps we should be aiming to take it a little slower, even perhaps twice as slowly. We can explore it at least.
I have a great deal of respect for Sharath, for all of the above and in fact for anyone who has maintained this practice for the number of years they have but for me the final authority is the practice, my practice, not Sharath', not his Grandfather or even Krishnamacharya. I'll happily explore how they present it, really spend time with their approach, their instruction but ultimately I'll go with what feels right for me. At one point I tried to slow my Ashtanga right down, ten seconds for inhalation, ten for exhalation, I really worked at that. I thought at the time it reflected 'original practice' or the original intention perhaps, didn't work, eight seconds may work fine in Vinyasa Krama but in Ashtanga six seconds is about as slow as I can comfortably take it and maintain the integrity of the practice as a whole, although I currently I tend to add in kumbhakas. Once you do find an approach, a pace that works for you however, it seems good practice to stick with it for a significant period before exploring any slightly different approach. Ashtanga seems to be all about routine, it seems to work best when you know exactly where you are and what you are doing. Personal opinion of course. A shorter pre pranayama evening practice is good for exploring.
Sharath is using the conditional of course, IF we inhale for five seconds THEN we exhale for five seconds, he's stressing that the breath should be equal but using a five second example rather than one of two second sends a message perhaps, slower, fuller breathing encouraged.
Of course breathing rates are always merely a guide, we can breathe at whatever pace we are most comfortable with and that will of course change as our practice develops and as we focus on and explore different aspects of the practice but we should surely be aiming for a full, steady, stable breath at least at whatever pace we take it and Krishnamacharya does recommend, "slow like the pouring of oil". In interviews Pattabhi Jois talked of 10, 15 even 20 seconds each for inhalation and exhalations. My own preference is around eight in Vinyasa Krama, probably averaging six in my Ashtanga practice (1.5 in navasana). My workaround when practicing with DVDs or in Led is to take three longer breaths or sometimes just two if I'm including kumbhaka.
Take a look at my page at the top of the blog, 'Mysore rooms around the world' to get an idea of the pace others actually practice in their Mysore rooms.
Here'a link to my review of the original.
Book(let) Review : Ashtanga yoga Anusthana - R. Sharath Joi
Friday, 15 November 2013
Sharath discussion on Ishvara, Japa Mantra Religion, God at Sunday Conference in Mysore
|image from http://joisyoga.com
I'm particularly interested in this as japa mantra is something Ramaswami encourages at the the end of practice after pratyahara, pranayama and of course your asana ( perhaps a shorter asana practice in the evening with more time for pranayama and japa. I've also been including manta in my actual asana practice recently, it started with a kind of loving kindness mantra 'May I (she,he,they, Ramaswami, all living beings etc,) be safe, may I be well, may I be peaceful, may I be happy (different line of the mantra on each inhalation and exhalation throughout the practice) now I'm constructing mantra's based on Lamrim meditation, a different, meditation for each day, the asana practice as a kind of carrier for the mantra, it's an interesting approach.
The transcript is from Suzy's Mysore blog
Question 5
With surrendering to Ishvara, who is Ishvara?
Sharath – Ishvara is the existence, the nature, the energy who is making this world work.
Student – but how do we surrender to that energy?
Sharath – in your practice, by following yama and niyama. If you follow that, that means you are surrendering. Humans gave the name god to god. Humans see god as human. Tigers see god as tiger. Birds see god as a big bird, bigger than him. God means some energy, which is running this, the whole show.
How do you feel that? through your yoga practice. You have to apply yama and niyama to get to proper meaning, to understand what yoga is. If you follow that your mind gets very calm. If you follow ahimsa your mind gets very calm, there is no conflict with anyone.
Why everyone talks about spirituality? They need something to stop themselves to do bad things. So they go to a teacher, a master, he will guide you. If teacher says go and do anything, smoke cigarettes, go to party… he is spoiling you. It's all fake the joy you are getting from outside. You have to get inner joy. When you get there's nothing like that. Everything looks different. Everything looks joyful for you.
Now you want to see the internet, Facebook, Twitter, what this guy is doing… But instead if you sit for 15 minutes and try to understand how to bring inner joy. Do japa (mantra repetition) for 15 minutes, take one mantra – any mantra you want, chant it at home. Then you will see how this thing will change. Don't think anything, just do japa.
Question 8
If a person doesn't have a religion, how do they go about seeking a mantra?
Sharath – you have to have something. What is your taste? You can't say I don't believe in that supreme energy, you have to believe in one.
Student – it's not so much not believing in one, it's just not having a preference.
Sharath – you should have one. How old are you?
Student – 24.
Sharath – [laughs] see this is the problem. Later, when you get wiser the things change. When I was practising 23 years back I was just bending my body. But when I got wiser then I realised that yoga is beyond asanas. Many things I had to discover. Maybe in ten years you will know.
Part of svadhyaya (self-study) is getting connected to one god. We have to believe in someone otherwise we won't exist. Your mother, your father can be your god. Your teacher, your guru can be your god. You can feel that energy through your mother or your guru. Do you believe in this practice, what you're doing?
Student – yes.
Sharath – so that belief can be god.
Someone asked me long back, in the old shala… my grandmother gave me a ring. I was wearing that ring. I was wearing here [indicates ring finger] so many people thought I was married. So one lady asked me, "are you married?". I said, "yes". "So where is your wife?", I replied, "yoga is my wife" [laughs]. I was so involved in yoga. Your first wife is your practice.
Student – is your wife jealous?
Sharath – no, otherwise I wouldn't be here.
But sometimes we can see something different in our teacher. Many people believed Guruji as their god. They felt some energy through him. Once I had back pain lifting too many students. My challenge from day one was practice and helping. When you lift students your body becomes stiff. I got this pain in my lower back. And everyday Guruji used to make me catch in back-bending here [indicates mid-thigh]. So I told my grandfather, "I can't do today". My grandfather he said, "just do it, just breathe". He made me catch and after that all the pain was gone. That day it was a totally meditative practice.
That was the energy that he had within him.
That energy only comes from a proper sadhana (spiritual practice). Yogasadhana is not easy, it takes a lot of sacrifice. To master something you have to leave many things. If you are forced to do something it won't be the same. When you like to do some work it is totally different. When you do something willingly the energy is totally different. And sometimes you need that push from your teacher.
We see many attitudes here also. When a student comes and thinks he knows everything, he wants to prove that. I say I have to learn so many things still. It doesn't end. The person who knows everything he doesn't say he knows everything.
You can only experience yoga through your practice. If I eat masala dosa that doesn't mean you have relished masala dosa. You have to go and eat. Yoga is also like that. You have to do it.
Sharath's conferences are also being transcribed on Linda Mansion's Me and My Yoga Blog
Tuesday, 14 June 2016
Sharath, Paramaguru? What is the meaning, significance of the Paramaguru title.
Sharath's relationship with his grandfather clearly had a powerful and influential effect on him, leading him to stress the concept of parampara in his teaching. Personally the concept doesn't interest me in the slightest, not in reference to Sharath (who I do happen to respect as a practitioner and teacher, as I do anyone who has practiced as long or significantly longer) or teachers I've spent a little time with like Manju (who jokingly calls out "Never fear guru's here" when he enters the shala at the beginning of a workshop) or Ramaswami or even Patabbhi Jois and Krishnamacharya for that matter. I find the concept of the guru and parampara, as presented, along with that of 'a lineage' or 'tradition' unnecessary, even a hinderance, and along with the growing adoration that seemingly goes with it perhaps the most off-putting aspect of recent Ashtanga. In this Krishnamacharya 'tradition' ( I actually prefer 'approach' or 'method' to tradition) it's enough perhaps to practice daily and for a long time some appropriate asana, a little pranayama but to focus more on working with Patanjali's Yoga Sutras (or another appropriate meditative practice along with ones own cultural yama and niyama ) and not worry too much about what you call it, who taught it or where it came from (I'm, very much aware of the irony here given the nature of this mostly retired blog).
I'm too cynical of origin narratives perhaps, and coming from the UK, of honorary titles. Such titles appear to elevate the holder and of course all those who claim association, in this case Sharath's students and those Authorised and/or Certified by the 'Paramaguru'. Surely, playing the game and not calling yourself a guru yet (even tacitly) accepting an honorary title like Paramaguru (The Guru of a parampara or specific tradition ) and allowing it to be used extensively in promotion suggests a worrying contradiction. Apart from anything, although he would probably throw something at me if I addressed him as guru, it's surely insulting to Pattabhi's Jois' still living and actively teaching son Manju Jois who has been passing along this approach to practice (as has his sister and Sharath's mother Saraswati) for over fifty years along with several other senior teachers and early students of Pattabhi Jois).
Perhaps it's best we just agree to disagree on this.
However, if parampara IS your thing, check out Lu's Ashtanga Parampara platform
"The Guru tradition is one of the oldest foundations of the Hindu tradition. The Upanishads and Epics are filled with instructions, dialogues, and teachings of the great Gurus, Sages and Rishis. These teachings have been passed down to us over thousands of years. Holy places such as Banaras, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Uttarkashi, and beyond, have been the dwelling places of these revered teachers where in yoga's long past they performed tapas. To be able to perform sadhana in the same places where they did is considered to be a blessing. It is widely known that a Guru never calls himself a Guru—it is a title bestowed by his or her disciples. The Guru has no desire for fame, or for being revered; a Guru only has the desire to perform service to humanity, to teach the knowledge that is related to liberation, to be devoted to the removal of suffering, and nothing else. But sometimes the disciples of such a teacher wish to call him or her by a special name, and not simply by their given name. It is for this reason that we sought out the counsel of the elder Sannyasis and Sadhus of Uttarkashi, who also agreed that it was time for Sharathji and Saraswathiji to be formally bestowed with titles, and who, after conferring among themselves, decided upon an honorific title for each of them...
"After learning for a very long period of time—because it takes good time to learn from the teacher properly —then we are supposed to practice on our own, mananam. For mananam, the disciple who really wants to practice on his own now comes from Kasi to Haridwar and Rishikesh and stays there. He does a lot of contemplation on whatever he's been learning. He starts studying by himself and he becomes master over the teaching. Once he becomes master, he travels to Himalayas, to Uttarkashi. He stays here; he rests in his knowledge, nidhidhyasana. This is the place of nidhidhyasana. Whatever he has learnt in Banaras (Kashi), and contemplated in Rishikesh and Haridwar, when he comes here, he lives it, he becomes a yogi. Until then, he's a student. If you come here and stay amongst the sadhus, then you take upadhi of a real yogi...
"[To Sharath] Now we consider you as one of us. That you now can become a leader, and lead us. Because you have properly understood whatever has been taught by parampara. We are very happy to have Sharath here, who has taken part in the parampara itself. From today onwards, we call this upadhi, Amma, as Guru Ma. And Sharathji as Paramaguru R. Sharath Jois...
Now, from today onwards, there's a bigger responsibility of leading the world onwards on the path of yoga...
RSJ: Thank you.
Saraswathi Jois: With all credit going to Pattabhi Jois.
RSJ: [to students]: You have wealth, you have book knowledge. You have everything. If you don't put your mind towards adhyatama, your heart towards spirituality, towards jnana, it's no use having this life, having everything. Guru is very important. Guru is the one who teaches, who will take us towards that jnana which is the true knowledge. He removes all the obstacles in us and he removes all the pollution in us. He gives us the true knowledge, jnana. It has touched my heart deeply, all the love and affection everyone has given. Thank you so much. See you again.
"This practice that we are doing is an age-old practice; it has come from parampara, from the guru -shishya parampara—from Guru to his shishyas, Guru to his students. When a student becomes a master, then he becomes a Guru and passes his knowledge on to his students. Like this, the yoga knowledge has been passed on for generations. As we know it in this form of Ashtanga Yoga, it has come from maybe 300 years ago—I don't know for how many generations this knowledge has been passed on".
And below Sharath talking about the idea of Guru with Sonia Jones of Sonima, the organisers of Sharath's current US tour.
The question of parampara came up at his years Ashtanga yoga Confluence, here's a recap from Tim Miller's blog.
Tuesday March 8th—The Ashtanga Yoga Confluence and the Parampara
This past Sunday during the final panel discussion of the 2016 Ashtanga Yoga Confluence, a question was asked about the concept of Parampara and how it is interpreted in the Ashtanga tradition. David Swenson reminded all of us that Guruji's own eldest son, Manju, was present in the room, and if anyone could be considered the true lineage holder it would be him. Everyone in the room stood up and gave Manju an ovation. It was a very moving moment. I looked over at Dena and saw her eyes welling up with tears just like mine. Manju was very gracious and said that as far as he was concerned, all of us sharing the stage with him and countless other teachers throughout the world are all part of the Parampara.
New video uploaded today on Sharath's Youtube channel, sharath jois rangaswamy, titledParamaguru, Sharath Jois Yoga Class in New York.
UPADATE: This comment came in on a share of my post in FB, I hope the person who posted it wont mind me quoting it in full here
"All I can say is I just spent the last 6 days in one of his two daily guided primary series - he did 2 per day in Palo Alto, LA, NYC and Miami and he was super helpful, walking around adjusting over 200+ sweaty practitioner, making jokes and just generally being a super nice guy. So say what you will, but in my mind he knows the practice as well or better than any other living being, is an extremely hard working and dedicated guy, and a genuine nice guy. Not sure what else one can ask for. As he said to us after our practice today - "Keep Practicing!".
This is pretty much the impression I also have of Sharath, the same generous, good humoured work ethic I had of his grandfather and that I have of Manju and Saraswati too for that matter, it says a great deal, I would argue it says plenty and without needing to resort to names, terms and concepts like tradition, lineage, parampara, guru, guruji or paramparaguru
This post isn't intended as a critique of Sharath but rather of our pedestal building
Note: Namarupa is a beautifully produced magazine and worth getting, this edition follows the 2015 Ynamarupa Yatra (tour/pilgrimage). The Sharath section mostly consists of an intro, two or three conferences which are basically the same as those that have come out of Mysore over the last few years (although here the three conferences follow on from eachother) and a couple of extra paragraphs to the above section on Parampara plus a few glossy photos of Sharath as well as a couple from inside KPJAYI.


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Arachibutyrophobia is a fear of peanut butter, specifically a worry that peanut butter will stick to the roof of the mouth and make it hard to chew, breathe, or swallow. Like other phobias, it is the result of exposure to a trauma, such as choking on a peanut butter sandwich or being told frightening stories about people choking on peanut butter. It is treatable with psychotherapy, as are fears of other nut butters, and patients can work with a variety of mental health professionals including psychiatrists and family counselors to discuss management of a phobia.
The term "arachibutyrophobia," when broken down to its roots, literally translates as "groundnut butter fear." Peanut butter is infamously thick and sticky, and the origins of a fear about choking on peanut butter are usually grounded in exposure to the idea that a wad of nut butter could cling to the roof of the mouth and get stuck there. People with this phobia may develop it in response to reading or hearing stories, seeing scenes on television, or nearly choking themselves.
Phobias are a natural reaction of the brain to traumatic events, and they can be treated with a technique known as systematic desensitization. In arachibutyrophobia treatment, the therapist discusses the origins of the phobia with the patient and slowly introduces the object of the fear over time. The goal is to get the patient comfortable with encountering peanut butter in a variety of settings before finally trying a bite. This process can take time and pushing patients to conquer a phobia quickly may result in a setback; the patient can be traumatized by the pressure to get over the phobia.
While this phobia is not particularly harmful or dangerous, it can potentially be frustrating for the patient. Simple avoidance of peanut butter usually isn't challenging, but if the patient starts to develop a strong response, it can be a problem when other people in the vicinity are eating. The patient may experience a strong stress response, including feeling nauseous and dizzy. Treatment of the phobia will allow the patient to feel comfortable in any setting, without having to worry about how to avoid the object of the fear.
Food-based phobias are sometimes rooted in complex emotional patterns. A person with arachibutyrophobia may also have disordered eating and other issues surrounding food. Rigid food rules may be followed, and the patient can be afraid of other foods for various reasons. People with eating disorders often express a fear of high-fat foods like nut butters, and a patient with arachibutyrophobia should be evaluated for other mental health issues.
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Two riders were injured when the train derailed following a wheel coming loose.
Two Face, Six Flag America, Maryland, USA
An electrical failure stranded passengers on the lift hill. No injuries were reported.
Joker's Jukebox, Six Flags New Orleans, USA
A 53-year-old woman was killed when she was struck by the ride after leaning over the guard rails to check her grandsons safety belt.
Raven, Holiday World, Indiana, USA
A 32-year-old woman died when she fell 69 feet (21m) from the wooden coaster. She apparently unlatched her seat belt mid-ride and was flung from the rear seats of the train as it crested a hill. Paramedics responded to her immediately, but said she died instantly. Source


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The Early HIV Crisis in the United States
The AIDS epidemic was first recognized in the United States in the spring of 1981. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, was not isolated until 1983.
From 1981 through 1987, the average life expectancy for people diagnosed with AIDS was 18 months. The family members, loved ones, and health care professionals who witnessed, died, or survived the early years of the AIDS epidemic in the United States experienced an unimaginable holocaust. Hundreds of young people died each week. It was a time and system that lacked the medical, ethical, technical, and spiritual resources to soften the blow of so many young people dying of so mysterious an illness.
Since 1981 and as of January 2005, about 1.1 million HIV/AIDS cases had been diagnosed and reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), HIV infections are increasing more rapidly among women, who contract the virus primarily through unprotected sex with an infected male partner. In the United States, AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death for women between 25 and 44 years old. AIDS cases among women increased threefold from 1985 to 1996.
Though the rate of HIV infections continues to increase in the United States, the number of AIDS cases has fallen dramatically since 1996, when antiretroviral drugs came onto the market. HIV-related infections and cancers are much less common and much easier to treat with the potent combination antiretroviral therapy. The U.S. mortality rate due to AIDS has plummeted.
Current Worldwide HIV Crisis
Unfortunately, the AIDS epidemic continues in Africa and much of Asia, where antiretroviral therapy is not available and health care is seriously inadequate. Over 95 percent of AIDS cases and deaths occur outside the United States.
AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, the #1 cause of death due to infectious disease, and has surpassed malaria as the #1 killer in Africa. There are more than 2.2 million AIDS cases reported worldwide, and 33.6 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. More than 16 million people have died from AIDS. According to the NIH, AIDS caused 2.6 million deaths in 1999 and more than 3 million deaths in 2000.
Because of its incredible toll on human life, the United States formally identified AIDS as a threat to world security, expecting it to have catastrophic long-term consequences in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the former Soviet Union.
HIV/AIDS & Sub-Saharan Africa
AIDS is the leading cause of death in southern Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa makes up one-tenth of the world's population, but two-thirds of the world's HIV-positive population and more than 80 percent of all AIDS deaths occur there. In 1999, nearly 70 percent of the 5.6 million new HIV infections occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.
Uganda has reportedly taken the lead in AIDS prevention efforts in Africa, by establishing a National AIDS Control Program in 1987 and hosting the first Phase I HIV vaccine trial in 1999. Through extensive education efforts, approximately 90 percent of the population has awareness about HIV and AIDS, and many people have adopted safe sex practices. Unfortunately, other African countries are not following Uganda's lead.
The epidemic is made grimmer by the fact that most Africans cannot afford the antiretroviral drugs that are the cornerstone of AIDS care in the United States and other Western nations. The drugs can cost up to $20,000 per year. Although efforts are being made in the United States and elsewhere to lower the cost, some African leaders say that even an 80% cut in price would not be enough to make the drugs affordable.
Further, the strict regimen that the drugs demand requires a drastic change in lifestyle that may be difficult for many people. Perhaps even more basic than medicine, many HIV-infected Africans are undernourished and hungry. Getting food to the people may be even more important than providing drugs.
Various factors have contributed to the current AIDS crisis in Africa, including the following:
- The likelihood that the HIV virus originated in Africa and spread and evolved before preventative actions could be taken
- A fierce denial on the part of many Africans, including presidents of nations, that HIV causes AIDS, that sex education is necessary to stop its spread, and that Western medicine or science can be trusted
- The inability to pay for the expensive antiretroviral drugs
- The malnourishment and poor health of many Africans
Because education, prevention, and AIDS therapy present insurmountable challenges, some people think that Africa's best hope for stopping the epidemic is a vaccine. Though more than two dozen experimental vaccines have been tested worldwide, only oneAIDSVAXhas reached a Phase III clinical trial.
HIV/AIDS & Asia and the Pacific
In 1999, 20 percent of the 5.6 million new HIV infections worldwide were in southern Asia. HIV began its spread in Asia in the early to mid-1980s. With a population of nearly 3.5 billion60 percent of the world's populationthis region has the potential to greatly affect the course of the AIDS epidemic.
Nearly one-half million of China's more than 1 billion inhabitants are infected with HIV; most new cases are among injectable drug users who share needles.
India has more people infected with HIV than any other country in the world; 3.7 million Indians have HIV or AIDS.
HIV was first reported in Thailand in the mid-1980s and increased dramatically to 800,000 in 1999; prevention programs have stabilized its prevalence.
In Malaysia, HIV transmission appears to have stabilized since it reached its peak in the 1990s; 15% to 20% of all injectable drug users are infected with HIV.
In Vietnam, transmission is increasing, especially among injectable drug users and sex workers; the prevalence of HIV among injectable drug users has risen from less than 1% in 1995 to nearly 70% in 1998.
In Bangladesh, transmission is increasing among injectable drug users and sex workers.
The highest rate of HIV infection in Asia is in Cambodia, where the primary mode of transmission is heterosexual contact.


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Letters to the Editor
'Double our money'
To all who like to give the name "Fresno" a negative connotation, I say it's time to change.
There are many residents with a long history of being proud of the county and who have said "yes" to upgrade the quality of life here. They said "yes" to the library and have a wonderful system with upgraded facilities and just about any book, tape, CD or DVD a mouse click away. They said "yes" to the zoo and saved one of the best children's resources available. They said "yes" to Measure C and were able to make parts of the city and surrounding environs more easily accessible.
Each tax raised the quality of life for Fresno at a small price. Even people who never take advantage of these amenities are helped because a better city reputation attracts businesses and people who contribute to society rather than drain it.
How often do we benefit directly from our taxes? On Nov. 7, we make that happen by voting to continue Measure C. As a "self-help" county, Fresno County receives matching state funds. We double our money! I hope many thinking voters will support our community and vote "yes" for Measure C.
Jacqueline Spencer


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Dan Frank, Lead Pastor
Pastor Dan started Grace Church in May of 1990 when two small churches in Reno decided to merge. Since that time Dan has led the charge for Grace's growth and Kingdom impact in this city. He is Grace's primary teaching pastor and is married with three adult children and three grandchildren. Dan's passion is to reach all people for Jesus and that drives his leadership.
Russ Ruiz
Executive Director, Finance
Russ leads the finance and operations teams at Grace. He left the corporate world and now brings finance and accounting experience to Grace. He champions financial accuracy and transparency, and loves God with all his heart. He is married with three boys.
Karen Durst
Executive Director
Karen started in 1991 as a volunteer at Grace and now leads the Creative, Communications and Campaign Development teams at Grace. She is married with two adult children. Karen's heartbeat is using creative ideas and strategy to show the world that Jesus is the hope of the world.
Miguel De La Mora
Executive Director
Pastor Miguel came to Grace in 2017 with his wife Janelle and their five (yes, five) children. He serves as a Teaching Pastor and as the Family Team Director. He brings years of ministry experience, plus a BA in Religion and a MA in Theology. Miguel's passion is to see people who are far from God come into a saving relationship with Jesus.
Nick Torontali
Worship Pastor
Pastor Nick joined Grace in 2012, moving all the way from Orlando, Florida. He loves expressing God's power and love in various creative ways, but especially with music. He leads worship most weeks at Grace. He believes worship is a lifestyle, and music is a bonus. He is married to Tasha and has two kids.


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Fines and parking charges are simply highway robbery
THERE can't be many motorists who do not have a tale of parking ticket misery.
It isn't just a case of being held up for a few minutes and returning to find a ticket on the windscreen, motorists are now as likely to be fined for slightly straddling the line of an impractically small parking space, for stopping briefly to let someone out of the car or – as some motorists have found to their cost – fined after a CCTV camera caught them for "parking" when in fact they were stuck in traffic.
Much as Communities Secretary Eric Pickles likes to rail against the greed of parking enforcement teams, the Government has not in its four years in office exactly excelled itself in reining in the pirates.
As part of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, clamping of cars on private land was made illegal and the thugs who were allowed to extort money from motorists for so long were forced to retire – at least from clamping. Some are even in jail.
But there was one group of people who were mysteriously excluded from the reforms: local government officials who are getting away with conducting pretty much the same "enterprise". Not only is clamping on public streets and council-owned car parks still legal but councils have been allowed to get away with imposing outrageous charges and issuing ever-increasing numbers of parking tickets. During this financial year councils across England are forecast to make a profit of £635million from parking, a rise of £34million on last year. Much of this money comes in the form of fines with nearly seven million of them issued a year. Some councils are especially trigger-happy, with Liverpool issuing 146,000 fines in 2011.
It isn't just parking fines, either. Councils are earning a fortune, too, using cameras installed in bus lanes and box junctions, many of which could not be better designed to trap motorists. In one notorious example, at the junction of Bagleys Lane and New King's Road in Fulham, the council last year earned £2.7million in fines. The junction is a staggered crossroads which only allows four vehicles at a time to wait between two sets of traffic lights. Drivers cannot know when the second set of lights will change and so cannot help but get trapped in the box.
The Government has not in its four years in office exactly excelled itself in reining in the pirates
As for parking enforcement on private land there was a nasty sting in the tail of the Protection of Freedoms Act.
In return for clamping being banned, parking companies were instead granted the right to pursue motorists through the courts for parking charges.
DVLA, the government agency which registers vehicles, disgracefully aids sharp practice by selling motorists' details to parking companies. As a result, many cowboy-clampers have simply switched to issuing tickets by post instead.
Some MPs I suspect care not one jot about the interests of private motorists – not least those ferried around in ministerial cars and those cycling MPs who are claiming the extraordinary sum of 20 pence per mile in "expenses" for cycling on business.
Allowing exploitation of motorists isn't just a question of liberty; it is damaging the economy, too. David Cameron hired Mary Portas to try to revitalise the nation's high streets.
But if he had bothered to talk to the public he would know that the decline of many town centres has little to do with the shortage of the sort of fancy coffee shops that Portas favours and rather more to do with the shortage of parking.
Is it any wonder when faced with the choice of braving the high street – with its prowling traffic wardens – and driving to an out-of-town superstore with plentiful free parking that so many people choose the latter?
No one wants a parking free-for-all. That was tried recently in Aberystwyth where a bureaucratic bungle left no one with the power to issue parking fines. What seemed at first to be a taste of freedom degenerated into misery as the roads were constantly jammed.
But parking rules need to be fair and fines reasonable. It undermines any sense of justice when motorists who have killed pedestrians or caused train crashes by jumping the lights at a level crossing – to quote just two recent cases – are fined less than you can be made to pay for overstaying your welcome in a parking space.
Eric Pickles has announced he will ban the use of CCTV cars to collect fines for minor motoring infringements. That is welcome but he needs to do far more. First he needs to ban the use of CCTV for parking enforcement and policing other minor motoring infringements.
The proliferation of cameras monitoring things like bus lanes is completely disproportionate to the crime.
Second, he needs to ban parking wardens from being given incentives to issue penalties, and to forbid councils from keeping revenue raised in fines – the money should go to charity to ensure that fines are only issued where appropriate.
While he is at it he should prohibit the sale of motorists' names and addresses by DVLA to private parking companies.
Vehicle registration should be for fighting crime, not generating profits for parking firms.
In the 18th century our roads were notorious for masked highwaymen who would ride out at night and rob stagecoaches.
Motorists trying to negotiate the nation's streets and car parks without incurring opportunistic fines may wonder whether anything has really changed.


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refugees, but could do very little. She had been a pupil of Dr. Clarence Ussher, the noted American missionary surgeon, of New York, and Mrs. Ussher, both of whom were famous throughout Armenia for their kindness to our people during the massacres at Van. Mrs. Ussher lost her life at Van.
Late that day a squad of soldiers came from the Kaimakam to the consul's house and demanded that I be given up. Miss McLaine again refused to surrender me. The soldiers declared they had orders to take me by force. Miss McLaine asked that they take her to the Kaimakam that she might ask his protection for me. To this the soldiers agreed, and I was left alone in the house.
When Miss McLaine returned she was crying. The soldiers returned with her. The Kaimakam had said I must rejoin the exiles, but that I might be taken to a house where a large company of women who had embraced Mohammedanism were confined, with their children. This company, the mayor said, was to be protected until they reached a place selected by the government.
So Miss McLaine could do nothing more. She kissed me, and the soldiers led me away to the house where the apostasized women with their children were quartered.
These apostasized Armenians were nearly all women from small cities between Malatia and Sivas. None