text:
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Secretary of State was asked—
Protected Geographical Indications: Export Value
I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for International Trade and others on promoting the UK's food and drink abroad, including those foods with geographical indications. Food and drink with GIs represents about 25% of UK food and drink exports by value, with Scotch whisky being the largest by far. Those play an important role as exemplars of quality British produce.
I thank the Minister for that reply. Arbroath Smokies, Stornoway black pudding and Scotch whisky are all key products in maintaining a high profile for Scottish food and drink. When he comes to agree trade deals post Brexit, will he be consulting and involving the Scottish Government in these discussions to make sure that all brands are protected?
I simply say to the hon. Gentleman that we are clear that initially, through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, all of our protected food names will come across and be protected in UK law. We are absolutely committed to ensuring that we maintain all our protected food names, and we have some 70 right across the country. I know that some, particularly salmon and Scotch whisky, are incredibly important to Scotland, and of course we will be working with our devolved Administrations and with our MPs in this House to make sure we protect those foods.
As well as working with the Scottish Government, does the Minister agree that the Scotch Whisky Association has done an incredible amount of work on this issue, which is hugely important for that industry? Will he give further assurance that he is working across government—not just in his Department, but with every Department—to ensure that everyone knows how important the GIs are?
Yes, and I would like to pay tribute to the work that the Scottish Conservative MPs have done to highlight these important issues. On Scotch whisky, we, along with the Department for International Trade, have done a lot of work with other Departments to ensure that we highlight the importance of these vital brands.
The Secretary of State was explicit that
"market access for fisheries products is separate to the question of fishing opportunities and access to waters."
But what use are fishing opportunities and access to waters if your product risks being held up in customs? For industries such as the live shellfish industry of Orkney this is literally a life-and-death situation, for should one of these shellfish perish, the whole tank is lost. Has the Minister had conversations about the difficulty we may have in the near future?
I am not aware there is a precedent anywhere else in the world of giving a country access to your waters—to your own resources—in return for trade agreements. That is just not the way it works. There will be a discussion and an agreement on the management of shared fisheries stocks, and we are clear in our White Paper that we will manage our own exclusive economic zone and control access to it. Then there is a separate discussion to be had on trade, and the EU wants access to the UK market, too.
Tree Planting
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dr Thérèse Coffey)
It is a great pleasure to welcome the hon. Lady back to the House.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is a great pleasure to be back, and I want to thank my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (David Rutley) for the fantastic work he did.
Last year, we were listening to hon. Members and the industry, which is why we changed the criteria for the woodland carbon fund and the woodland creation planning grant to make them more attractive to applicants. I am pleased to say that countryside stewardship applications have increased; we have established a large-scale woodland creation unit; we are providing funding to kick-start the northern forest; and we have appointed the national tree champion, Sir William Worsley, to help drive the growth in forestry.
May I, too, say how wonderful it is to see the Minister back in her place? But while back in her place, can she reassure me that a pilot forestry investment zone will be launched this summer and that its sole focus will be on delivering the productive softwood planting that the forestry industry, including sawmills in my constituency, so desperately needs?
My hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield did announce that the first forestry investment zone will be in Cumbria. I cannot give my hon. Friend the Member for Brecon and Radnorshire (Chris Davies) an assurance that it will solely focus on softwood planting, but we are recruiting the person to lead that zone and I am confident they will be in place before the end of year.
I welcome the Minister back, but will she give that Secretary of State of hers a good thump in the direction of taking trees seriously? There is a close relationship between trees and the quality of air that we breathe in our country, and this Government only plan to sort out clean air by 2040. Can we not have more trees, as under the northern forest initiative and the white rose initiative? Will she get that man next to her to do something and do it now?
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is exceptionally passionate about trees; I think the hon. Gentleman will find that the Secretary of State's constituency has the highest concentration of trees in the country. This issue is not always straightforward. I was at the planting of the first Lowther park estate, where 230,000 trees are due to be planted, and there is more happening up on Doddington moor. Through things such as the woodland creation grant and the creation unit, we will continue to work to get more parts of the country planting quickly.
Mr Speaker, I am sure that in your constituency and mine there will be a lot of tree planting to replace the trees that have to be felled for the construction of High Speed 2. I welcome the Minister back to her role. Will she give serious consideration to the proposal for a new national park at the heart of the west midlands conurbation, so that the biodiversity lost can be offset at scale?
The Department for Transport has already issued a grant so that tree planting can start, so that is already under way. Julian Glover is undertaking a review of national parks and we want to understand the future perspective. I am sure that my right hon. Friend's application will be considered carefully.
The right hon. Member for Meriden (Dame Caroline Spelman) may not know this, because she does not have eyes in the back of her head, but I can advise her that she has now thoroughly wound up the right hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Dame Cheryl Gillan).
Pursuant to the question asked by my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Dame Caroline Spelman), I remind the Minister that HS2 will go through Buckinghamshire and the Chiltern hills. Is she aware that we are contemplating applying for national park status for the Chilterns area of outstanding natural beauty? That would help to protect what ancient woodland and trees are left after HS2 has gone through the middle of Buckinghamshire.
I am sure that that consideration will be given serious attention in due course.
Oh, very well; I call Mr Philip Dunne.
I welcome my hon. Friend the Minister back to her place. On the proper stewardship of trees, is she satisfied that the existing arrangements between the Forest Holidays group and the Forestry Commission fully accord with the commission's statutory objectives?
We are not happy about the arrangement that the Forestry Commission has entered into with Forest Holidays, which is why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked Colin Day—the Department's non-executive director and chair of its audit and risk committee—to undertake a review. He will be investigating the matter carefully.[Official Report, 16 July 2018, Vol. 645, c. 2MC.]
Leaving the EU: UK Fish Exports
We want to secure an agreement with the European Union that ensures tariff-free and frictionless market access for fisheries products. That is of course a separate negotiation from those on fishing opportunities and access to waters, which will be founded on the UK's legal status as an independent coastal state and will be consistent with fisheries agreements internationally.
Commiserations on the tennis, Mr Speaker.
And the football.
I welcome the Secretary of State's belated recognition that we cannot have frictionless exports to the European Union for our fish and agriculture products if we are not in a single market, as the Chequers agreement recognises. Will he explain why his fellow hard-Brexiteers do not seem to grasp that simple truth? Do they just not care about our fish and agricultural exports?
It would be wrong to say that the position put forward in the Chequers agreement is analogous to membership of the single market or the European economic area. The right hon. Gentleman will be aware that membership of the European economic area and the single market does not guarantee entirely frictionless access to the European Union for fisheries or other products.
Many fisheries and seafood-processing companies in my constituency have come together with other businesses to express interest in the concept of a free port, post-Brexit. Will the Secretary of State assure them that the Government will agree to nothing that would prevent a future Government from designating free ports?
It would be reckless of any Government to do anything that would imperil the ambitions and aspirations exhibited by the exemplary constituents whom my hon. Friend serves so well.
The White Paper makes it clear that the Government do not intend to change the method for allocating existing quotas. Two thirds of UK fish quotas are controlled by three huge companies, and small boats are being squeezed. Is it not time for the Government to admit that Scotland's fishermen will see absolutely no benefit from Brexit, but will lose access to the world's biggest marketplace?
Almost everything in that question was wrong, but that does not surprise me because almost everything in the Scottish National party's position on fisheries is wrong. It wants to stay in the European Union and therefore in the common fisheries policy and yet it wants Scotland's fishermen to enjoy all the advantages of being outside the common fisheries policy. Some Members of this House have been accused of wanting to have their cake and eat it. I am afraid that SNP Members want to have a whole chain of bakeries and eat everything in them. If hypocrisy were a term that was allowed to be used in this House, then it would fit the Scottish National party like a bunnet.
There is no prohibition on the use of the term. It can apply to a collective, but not to an individual. The judgment as to whether the Minister is on the right side of the line falls to me. Happily, from the point of view of the right hon. Gentleman, he has not erred.
Persuade me that the common rulebook is not the acquis by another name.
The acquis is, of course, a French term and the common rulebook is an Anglo-Saxon one, and therefore they are happily distinct. I know that my right hon. Friend is fond of Anglo-Saxon terms and pithy ones at that. One thing I would say about the common rulebook is that it governs goods and it governs agri-foods only in so far as is necessary to have free and frictionless access. In that respect, we remain, and will be, a sovereign nation.
Leaving the EU: Agriculture and Fisheries Management
Mr Speaker, thank you for your indulgence on the line call earlier in saying that the ball was in.
The Government's consultation setting out the policy framework for agriculture in England after the UK leaves the EU closed on 8 May. All responses have been analysed and will be used to inform future policy. A report of the findings will be published in due course. Plans for the reform of fisheries management when the UK leaves the EU were set out in the "Sustainable fisheries for future generations" White Paper, which was published on 4 July.
What post-Brexit safeguards are being put in place to stop EU vessels registering in the UK simply to farm our waters of fish, as happened in the Factortame case, if there is to be a common rulebook in the agriculture and food sector?
The hon. Lady raises some very important points. The first thing to say is that the Factortame case was a case that relied on the supremacy of the European Court of Justice. The supremacy of the European Court of Justice will end under the Government's proposals for leaving the European Union; that is quite clear. The second thing is that the common rulebook on agri-food applies only to those sanitary and phytosanitary requirements that allow us frictionless access to the EU. That means that we will be outside the common agricultural policy and outside the common fisheries policy. It is also the case that economic link conditions can be reformed in such a way to meet the needs that she points out.
What consideration has been given to changing the fishing-quota-based system post Brexit to either a percentage-based system or a days-at-sea-based system, which would significantly help my fishermen in Newhaven?
My hon. Friend stands up very well for the fisher people of Newhaven. One thing we can do outside the common fisheries policy, as the fisheries White Paper spells out, is reallocate additional quota and we can also—and we propose to do this—pilot days-at-sea or effort-based methods of fisheries control. We hope to work with inshore fishermen such as those whom she represents so well.
The truth is that the Government could be taking action today to support the UK's catching sector. Instead, they are sending the most lucrative licences out of the UK. Why?
Well, we are in the European Union at the moment and governed by its rules and that is why the people of Grimsby voted to leave.
When will the farmers and crofters in my constituency know the shape and content of the UK-wide framework for the payment of agricultural support post Brexit?
There are many important things for the farmers whom the right hon. Gentleman represents, but the details of how payments will be paid have been laid out by the Scottish Government, by the relevant Cabinet Secretary, Fergus Ewing, and I know that he is consulting on those proposals.
As my right hon. Friend will be profoundly aware, the EU Commission wishes to maintain guaranteed and continued access to UK waters even after we leave the EU and the common fisheries policy. I am pleased that, in the fisheries White Paper published last week and in discussions with fishermen during his visit to Peterhead in my constituency last week, he confirmed that that is not the position of this Government. Will he confirm again today that, as negotiations with the EU continue, this Government will not allow the Commission to conflate its access to British waters with our access to EU markets?
My hon. Friend puts the case absolutely correctly.
It is a delight to see the DEFRA team still in their place, but may I offer a special welcome to the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the hon. Member for Suffolk Coastal (Dr Coffey), who we have missed? We hope that she enjoys her time back as part of the team.
Will the Government tell us exactly who they can sign a free trade deal with, apart from the EU, whereby we do not degrade either environmental protection or animal welfare standards?
Lots of countries.
Monopoly Water Providers: Senior Executive Pay
On 1 March I set out the need for water companies to respond to public concerns over executive pay and a number of other practices. The Government fully support Ofwat's reforms that require water companies to ensure that executive pay is linked to customer service.
The chief executive of Severn Trent earned £2.45 million last year. As a Wrexham customer I have to contribute to that salary, following the hostile takeover of our local water company. Does the Secretary of State, in his new progressive form, agree that Severn Trent should follow the example of the John Lewis Partnership and link the pay of its highest paid chief executives to those within the business who are lower paid?
It will not surprise the hon. Gentleman to know that I am a huge fan of the John Lewis Partnership and the leadership that its executives have shown. This Government and this DEFRA team have taken stronger action than previous Governments and previous teams have done in order to ensure that water companies smarten up their act, that they deal not just with executive pay, but with some of the byzantine financial structures that have not worked in consumer interests in the past, and that they invest more in improving the environment and keeping bills low.
Far too much water in this country is wasted by it leaking out of water pipes. Why on earth can we not link the pay of senior water company executives to their achievement of leakage reduction targets?
Ofwat, the regulator, has been stringent in the steps that it has taken in order to ensure that performance will be linked to pay in the future.
Mr Speaker, may I first join you and others in welcoming back the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the hon. Member for Suffolk Coastal (Dr Coffey), to her rightful place at the Dispatch Box?
I am afraid that prior to the "beast from the east" Ofwat made it perfectly clear that it had no interest in taking direct action on executive pay, tax structures or dividends. May I say how delighted Labour Members are that, after months of raising this very issue, Ofwat has finally U-turned on its position? Will the Secretary of State explain why it has taken Ofwat so long to take this action and tighten up the weak regulation that has let customers down so badly?
I am so glad that the hon. Lady welcomes the action that Ofwat is taking. Ofwat has superb leadership and I am four-square behind that leadership in ensuring that we get a better deal from water companies.
Waste Criminals
Since 2014, the Government have given the Environment Agency an extra £60 million to tackle waste crime, as well as additional powers to take stronger enforcement action. This year we consulted on further measures to prevent crime at waste sites and I have commissioned a review of serious and organised crime in the sector. The review's recommendations will inform our strategic approach to waste crime in the forthcoming resources and waste strategy.
One area about which I get considerable correspondence from my constituents is that of fly-tipping. Does the Secretary of State agree that it is not only morally reprehensible, but a threat to the environment and our wildlife? Will he also outline what the Government are doing to tackle fly-tipping, particularly in the countryside?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right; fly-tipping is morally reprehensible and does have environmental costs. That is why a review, being led by Lizzie Noel, one of the non-executive directors at DEFRA, and supported by Chris Salmon, former police and crime commissioner for Dyfed-Powys, will look at exactly what powers and sanctions are required to deal effectively with this scourge.
Fly-tipping in all its forms is unacceptable, but it is particularly unacceptable when businesses try to avoid costs by dumping commercial waste on unauthorised sites. In such circumstances, does the Secretary of State feel that those businesses should have their vehicles confiscated, alongside any other assets that they use to facilitate this unacceptable practice?
The hon. Gentleman, like me, is tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. Therefore, we will give consideration to his recommendation in the review that is being led by Lizzie Noel.
Plastic Waste Recycling
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dr Thérèse Coffey)
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs estimates that in 2017 there were exports of 661,000 tonnes, compared with 790,000 the year before. Since China banned imports of certain plastic waste at the start of this year, exports to China have fallen significantly, but exports to other countries have risen. We want to ensure more and better-quality plastic recycling in the UK, and we will set out measures for this in our resources and waste strategy later this year.
Will the Minister give the House more detail on the likely impact on UK plastic pollution of China's and Thailand's decision to restrict UK dry recycling imports?
As I said, exports to China have fallen drastically, but other countries such as Turkey and Vietnam have taken on more of the plastic waste. Our issue has been more with the paper waste that China used to take from us. It is proving a challenge to get the price that it used to attract.
Wales has the best recycling rate in the UK and the second best in Europe, and the Welsh Labour Government have the stated aim of being the first "refill nation". Could not the Department learn a lot from Wales, including on plastics that we send abroad, and incorporate that in the upcoming resources and waste strategy for England?
Indeed. I give credit to the Welsh Government for their progress, as I have at the EU Environment Council in the past, and I assure the hon. Lady that we have been looking carefully at what they are doing.
It is vital that we recycle more of our plastic waste here at home and create jobs and growth in every nation and region of this great country. I welcome the Secretary of State's commitment to my Committee yesterday to recycle half of England's 35 million asthma inhalers by 2020, not only because of the damaging plastic but because of the damaging fluorinated gases—greenhouse gases—that they release into the atmosphere. Will the Minister enshrine the principle of extended producer responsibility into law through the waste strategy so that more producers are responsible for the waste they produce?
Extended producer responsibility is already part of the legal framework that exists today. I assure the hon. Lady that EPR and the PRN—packaging recovery note—are being very carefully looked at, but she will have to wait until later in the year.
Farming: Environmentally Sustainable Produce
The Government have pledged to work with farmers, food producers and environmental experts across Britain to devise a new agri-environment scheme to be introduced in the next Parliament.
What provisions is my right hon. Friend's Department making to maintain high environmental standards in farming in case of no deal?
The Department is undertaking significant steps to ensure that high environmental standards are maintained not just in farming but across the piece in the event of the country leaving the European Union in March 2019 without a deal, but of course it remains the commitment of this Government to secure the best possible deal for Britain.
Will the Secretary of State support the recommendations of the agroforestry review by the Soil Association and the Woodland Trust and put on-farm tree planting at the centre of any environmental land management scheme?
We absolutely recognise the vital importance of integrating forestry with farming on appropriate sites and at appropriate times.
Leaving the EU: Food Quality Standards
As a country, we are proud of our high food safety and animal welfare standards, and we have no intention of undermining our reputation for quality by lowering our food and animal welfare standards in pursuit of trade deals.
The Government are demonstrating today that they are happy to roll out the red carpet for unpalatable arrivals from the US, so can the Minister confirm that the Prime Minister's Chequers agreement means that we will hold a stronger line when it comes to rejecting chlorinated chicken imports?
The existing food safety provisions on issues such as chlorinated chicken will come across through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. We have always been clear that we will not water down our standards in pursuit of trade deals. The general approach is that if one is a guest in another country seeking to do business there, then one should adopt and abide by the customs and rules in those markets. That is what we do when we seek access to foreign markets, and that is what countries will have to do when they seek access to our markets.
Air Quality
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dr Thérèse Coffey)
Air pollution and climate change are closely linked. Our strategy for cleaner air recognises that our "road to zero" strategy tackles several of the issues that were raised in the report. In addition, our future energy, heat and industrial policies, including phasing out coal-fired power stations and improving energy efficiency, show that we can do stuff by working together for air quality and climate change.
The Committee on Climate Change has been scathing about the Government's abysmal response to the UK's seriously poor air quality, citing the fact that we are now on course to miss the fourth and fifth carbon budgets. Many of us struggle to breathe due to air pollution, and around 50,000 people die prematurely each year, while the Government have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds defending their record in the courts. When will they get a grip and put forward a workable and funded air quality strategy for the sake of my residents in York?
Overall air quality has actually been improving, and the hon. Lady will be aware that our legal challenge is on roadside nitrogen dioxide concentration. I am sure she will want to respond to the clean air strategy, which is ambitious and will achieve a lot of the outcomes we all want, wherever we live in this country, so that we have better air.
The Government's "road to zero" strategy, published earlier this week, provides clarity on the role that cleaner diesel vehicles can play in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and meeting ever more stringent air quality standards. My hon. Friend will be aware that we continue to have the policy to end the sale of new conventional diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2040.
I am not aware of that call about the national parks, but I am sure that the hon. Lady recognises the £3.5 billion being invested in improving air quality—a lot of it in changing transport mode to more buses, which I know she is a fan of, and through more cycling and walking. We continue to want to implement that.
The tragic death of a nine-year-old is the first death to be directly linked to illegal levels of air pollution. The lawyer representing the family has said:
"The Government has willingly presided over illegal EU air quality limits since 2010 and this ongoing failure is costing lives."
Does the Secretary of State agree?
The death from asthma of Ella Kissi-Debrah is absolutely tragic. It is important to say that this is part of an ongoing legal assessment, and it has not yet been conclusively linked to air pollution, but I am fully aware of the impact that poor air quality can have, and that is why this Government are acting on it.
According to UNICEF, more than 4.5 million children in the UK are growing up in areas with toxic levels of air pollution. It is unacceptable that the most vulnerable members of society, who contribute the least to air pollution, are the ones suffering most from its effect. Will the Minister accept that this is a children's health crisis? What urgent targeted action and funding to reduce child exposure have the Government committed to?
I recognise that this is a challenge, and that is why the Government are addressing it so clearly. The clean air strategy has come out, and the issue that UNICEF refers to is particulate matter. Under current EU rules, we are not in any way breaching the levels set out, but we have recognised that we have to take action. Some 40% of particulate matter comes from domestic burning, which is why we will be consulting on measures later this summer.
Topical Questions
The future of food production has to be at the heart of DEFRA's work. That is why I am very pleased that, in conversations I have been having over the past two weeks with our lead non-executive director, Henry Dimbleby, he says he is drawing up plans to envisage how a food strategy can operate across Government. I look forward to updating colleagues on the progress of that work.
I very much welcome the appointment of Julian Glover to do a review of national parks. Will my right hon. Friend say when he expects that review to report? Does he agree that it is very important that national parks are not held back to become museums, but become thriving places for people to invest and develop houses in the right places?
I am grateful for my right hon. Friend's comments. He is absolutely right; Julian Glover is an outstanding individual who I know will conduct a superb piece of work, which we expect to publish in the latter half of next year. My right hon. Friend is also right to say that the reason our national parks are so successful is that they are not museums; they are active, working places, and individuals make sure that they are places of beauty that draw so many visitors, but are also places of food production and economic activity.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dr Thérèse Coffey)
The Environment Agency is the regulator in this regard, and operators are bound to ensure that what is exported gets recycled appropriately. I have not looked at that report yet, but I am happy to look into this and write to the hon. Gentleman.
I remember my visit to Wales with affection, and I am very much looking forward to revisiting my hon. Friend's constituency, I hope, in under a fortnight's time for the royal Welsh show. Those young farmers are outstanding young men and women, and it is my responsibility to make sure that their commitment both to food production and to high environmental standards is supported at every level. May I also congratulate the Welsh Government on their proposals for providing support for farming in the future? I look forward to working with them.
The Secretary of State scored a major coup in being the first to interview President-elect Trump. As the Secretary of State has since become a born-again green and the President will touch down on these shores today, will the Secretary of State use all his famous skills of tact and persuasion, as well as that pre-existing special relationship, to impress on the President that climate change is an existential threat to our planet and to persuade him to reverse his disastrous decision to pull out of the Paris climate change accords?
I am very grateful to the hon. Lady for being so generous about some of the activities I undertook when I had a sabbatical from the Front Bench earlier in this Parliament. Of course, she is very flattering. I do not know that I have the diplomatic skills to bring the President of the United States into the same space that she and I are in when it comes to fighting climate change, but believe me, I will do my best.
The Secretary of State should not undersell himself; he really should not. Do not break the habit of a lifetime.
My hon. Friend raises a very important point. Earlier this year, we invited calls to a small grants scheme to promote farm productivity. It was over-subscribed, so we have put in an additional £7 million, making a total of £23 million. We intend to have additional calls later this year.
Yesterday, senior industry leaders were in Westminster as part of the Prince of Wales's corporate leaders group, which is facilitated by the Cambridge-based Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. Industry will be key in tackling the environmental challenges of the future, but when will the Government acknowledge that far from being a burden, intelligent regulation is the key to environmental innovation?
I think the Government have always acknowledged that. In the spirit of your comments about not underselling myself, Mr Speaker, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the speech I gave at the Policy Exchange four weeks ago on the need to reform capitalism. I am afraid that that is something only the Conservatives would undertake, because while we can reform capitalism in the interests of the country, the hon. Gentleman's right hon. Friend the leader of the Labour party would destroy capitalism and, with it, torpedo this country's prosperity.
The joint air quality unit provides advice to councils that are seeking support. I suggest that councils have many powers already, but this will largely be a case of working closely with the county council to try to make sure that the traffic flows, and I am sure that that will improve air quality in my hon. Friend's area.
It seems only right, in Environment questions, to call someone called Mr Ben Lake.
Diolch, Mr Speaker.
What consideration has the Secretary of State made of ways in which the UK Government might intervene to alleviate the pressures faced by farmers across Wales as a consequence of the recent dry weather, particularly the pressures on the already dwindling fodder reserves?
We will hold discussions with our colleagues in the devolved Administrations on those issues. Only a few months ago we sought and achieved a derogation from the EU linked to wet weather. I am now aware that in many parts of the country, including England and Wales, there are issues linked to dry weather, and we are considering seeking derogations from certain schemes to take account of that problem.
I congratulate my right hon. and learned Friend on his tenacity and success in ensuring that service animals will be better protected as a result of the Bill that he is bringing forward. We want to ensure better protection for all God's creatures, which is why we will bring forward proposals to increase the sentences available to the courts for those who commit the most extreme acts of animal cruelty.
Has the Secretary of State made any progress in understanding what is happening on our farming land and in our countryside that causes so many species of birds and other animals to disappear?
The hon. Gentleman makes a good point. The farmland bird index shows that over the past 30 or 40 years there has been a precipitous decline in some species, although there has been an increase in others. Many factors are at work—sometimes the way the land has been farmed has had an impact, but there are also other factors, including climate change. At the Environmental Audit Committee yesterday the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas) raised a number of issues that we need to address, including through education, to ensure that conservation, biodiversity and environmental enhancement are valued not just by the Government but by us all.
In a rural area such as west Oxfordshire, the livelihood of farmers is of enormous importance, as is leaving our environment in a better state than we found it. What are Ministers doing to ensure that farmers are protected while improving our environment?
My Department and Ministers personally carry out extensive consultation with farmers and those who work alongside them. In the agricultural shows that I have had the opportunity to visit over the course of this summer, and in meetings with the National Farmers Union and others, I have been struck by the commitment that farmers have not just to food production, but to the highest environmental standards for the future.
I do not know whether the Environment Secretary has had a chance to look at Oxfam's excellent new report, "Behind the Barcode", which looks at modern slavery and human rights abuses in the food supply chain. I know that it is not his primary responsibility to consider issues such as modern slavery, but given that it is so prevalent in our food system, what conversations has he had with his colleagues about trying to stamp it out?
I have had conversations with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Home Secretary about ensuring that high standards are maintained—not just environmental standards, but also social and labour protection standards—at every stage in the food chain. I will endeavour to look at that report and ensure that my colleagues across Government are acquainted with its contents.
What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of the current weather on farmers across the country, on future food prices, and particularly on the viability of small farms?
As I said earlier, there have been challenges with the dry weather, particularly for cereal crops that in some cases are having to be harvested early. There may be a knock-on impact on the availability of winter forage and straw, so we continue to monitor the situation closely. Farmers are used to weather events, which are a common feature of agriculture. Just a few months ago we had too much wet weather, and we now face problems with dry weather.
The plastics industry in Corby is not only a significant employer but it is keen to engage with the Government and try to identify solutions and innovate around the issue of non-recyclable plastics. What steps will the Government take to foster that engagement?
I and my officials have met a variety of companies to discuss this issue, and if they feel that they have not yet been consulted, I would be more than happy to hear from them.
Church Commissioners
The right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, was asked—
Ordination Numbers
I would first like to congratulate all those ordained deacon or priest last month. Within the hon. Lady's diocese of York, four women and three men were ordained priest, alongside eight women and two men who were ordained deacon. Nationally, the Church of England is on target to increase the number of people who are recommended for training in 2020 by 50%.
I thank the right hon. Lady for that answer—it is good to hear that the stained glass ceiling is being well and truly smashed. However, is it not about time that, in the evolution of the established Church of England, the special arrangements that were put in place for those who do not accept the equality and ministry of women were abandoned?
The Church has come to an accommodation on that issue. I think that the gradual increase in the number of women who are coming into ministry, and people's experience of being ministered to by a female priest, is in itself changing social attitudes in a holistic way. I expect to see more and more women coming into post, and therefore more and more people getting used to seeing them there.
What are the main barriers to women becoming ordinands in the Church of England?
There are no barriers to women becoming ordinands in the Church of England. As I have just explained, there has been a sharp increase in the number of women coming into ministry, and the overall number of ordinands entering training has increased by 14% over the past two years. The number of women under the age of 32 entering training has actually increased by 27%, which shows that it is an increasingly attractive vocation for younger women who look forward to a career in the Church as a female priest.
I hear what the right hon. Lady says, but will she also consider the impact of the number of churches that new ordinands have to look after? It is a real worry, given the pressure we are putting on these poor people, particularly if they are not full time, in order to carry out their ministry.
It is obviously a pressure for male and female priests, who might find themselves in charge of eight or 10 very small, rural ministries. The Church has looked at how sustainable that is, and the status of some churches has been changed to that of festival churches, which are open only on the high days and holy days of Christmas and Easter, to try to ensure that the workload is sustainable. It is something the Church Commissioners have very much in mind, alongside training more ordinands.
House of Commons Commission
The right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, was asked—
Electronic Voting Systems
The Commission has received various oral representations in previous Question Times. At its meeting on 14 May 2018, and in the absence of any House determination of a change in voting procedure, the Commission endorsed a plan for a House of Commons decant that envisages a Commons decant Chamber and two Division Lobbies, on the basis of a like-for-like layout, with adjustments to improve accessibility for Members and visitors to the Public Gallery. It will be a matter for the shadow sponsor board, once appointed, to consult on the requirements of the Palace. The procedures of the House remain the responsibility of the House itself.
Last week MPs were concerned that multiple votes interrupted their watching of the England match, but the more fundamental issue is that multiple votes eat into valuable debating time, as happened with the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill. We were left only 15 minutes for a so-called debate on the UK Government's power grab. Surely it is time to consider electronic voting, and the decant could be the first step in that process, instead of having a like-for-like, outdated set-up.
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I remind the House that it is a matter for the Procedure Committee. Members who ask me this question should perhaps make a submission to the Procedure Committee so that it can consider their proposal.
Is the opportunity of Government Back Benchers to have a cosy chat in the Division Lobby with Ministers a good enough reason to maintain the antiquated voting system, which costs not only a huge amount of money but a great deal of valuable parliamentary time?
I suppose that matter would be entirely appropriate for him to include in the submission to the Procedure Committee as perhaps a reason why the House might want to change its procedures on this issue.
Palace of Westminster: Repair and Refurbishment
The Commission has made no such estimate. It will be for the sponsor board and delivery authority, which the two Houses agreed earlier this year to establish, to develop a proposed scope of works and budget for agreement by Parliament.
With the eye-watering bill estimated so far for here, the similarly-eye watering bill for Buckingham Palace, and the biggest bill of all, the bill we will pay for Brexit, is it any wonder that the public are losing confidence in politicians? Is there not still time to decide to move out of London to a purpose-built modern Parliament with sensible things such as electronic voting? If not, is there at least a team looking at how to cut the cost of this nonsense?
I am sure that the hon. Lady will be aware that the possibility of moving out of London has been considered. The joint Commission that was set up through both Houses looked at that matter and dismissed it as a proposal. The sponsor body and the delivery authority will have responsibility for making sure that the costs of the project are kept to a minimum while delivering a prestigious project on a world heritage building.
Is that not exactly the point? This is a world heritage building and if it was in the ownership of any individual, the state would require them to keep it up to a certain standard. That is exactly what we have to do as the owners of this building.
Of course we have to. I am sure that Members on both sides of the House will want to ensure that the sponsor body and the delivery authority between them deliver exactly the sort of project that the right hon. Gentleman set out.
Electoral Commission Committee
The hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, was asked—
Referendum Rules
After the June 2016 referendum, the Electoral Commission recommended improvements to modernise electoral law. Recommendations covered the consolidation of referendum legislation, the regulated period, rules for campaigning and sanctions. The Commission also recently recommended changes to improve the transparency of digital campaigning at future referendums and elections. Further details can be found on its website.
I thank the hon. Lady for that answer. She is obviously aware that questions surrounding changes to the rules on elections and referendums are at the heart of some of the political reform debates that are currently occurring here and around the world. Is she aware that this week, the University College London Constitution Unit, under the leadership of Professor Meg Russell and Dr Alan Renwick, has published the results of the Independent Commission on Referendums, which has been sitting for the last nine months? Will the hon. Lady look at the recommendations in the report and see whether she can add those to the list of reforms that this House must consider before another referendum is held?
I am very grateful to the right hon. Lady for raising this issue. The Electoral Commission welcomes the report that she refers to and shares the view that the Government must take steps to modernise electoral law, especially on transparency and digital campaigning. It chimes with the Electoral Commission's report on digital campaigning concerning areas such as misinformation, the misuse of personal data and overseas influence. I am sure that she will continue to impress on Ministers the need for action.
If the ultimate findings of the Electoral Commission investigation into law-breaking by the leave campaign are as serious as the version that was leaked disgracefully by the leave campaign, will my hon. Friend make it absolutely clear to the Electoral Commission that this House and the public will expect full criminal investigations by the police and the National Crime Agency into this alleged wrongdoing, so that the public can have confidence in the integrity of our referendum and electoral system?
The Commission has repeatedly called for an increase to the maximum penalty that it can impose on political parties and other campaigners for a breach of the rules. On the investigation that my right hon. Friend refers to, the Vote Leave organisation took an unusual step in sharing its views on the Electoral Commission's initial findings. The Commission will give due consideration to any further representations made and will, at the earliest opportunity, publish a thorough and detailed closing report to provide a full and balanced account both to the public and to Parliament.
Church Commissioners
The right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, was asked—
Church of England Schools: Creative Learning
As the largest provider of education in England, with 4,700 schools, the Church's "Vision for Education" sets out a commitment to educate the whole child. That includes nurturing
"academic habits and skills…and creativity across the whole range of school subjects".
This involves a commitment to educating for character rather than a sole focus on academic subjects.
Those are words that give me great encouragement, but is the right hon. Lady aware that in many schools the art of creating and making things has almost disappeared with the abolition of design and technology from the curriculum? Will she look into the Victoria and Albert museum's new education foundation? It is doing very interesting work on making things in schools—and, of course, it is led by a chap called Tristram Hunt.
That is a name with which we are all familiar. I found that the only way of maintaining any sort of control in a Sunday school class was to do arts and crafts, which seemed to absorb everyone. I am a strong advocate of that kind of practical creativity, but I will certainly look into what the V&A is advocating.
Modern Day Slavery
I am very grateful for that question, because it allows me to pay tribute to the work of the Bishop of Derby, who has just announced his retirement, but who has been the Church of England lead in the House of Lords in tackling modern-day slavery. It was Bishop Alastair who pioneered the idea of creating an information pack for children in schools so that they could understand the horror of the history of slavery and this country's involvement in it. He did that in the diocese of Derby, but we have learnt a great deal from it, and the scale of the initiative will now be extended.
On a recent visit to Romania, the ministry in charge of Romanians abroad was very concerned about the number of women who were being trafficked for sexual purposes across the European Union and the number of children who were being forced into modern-day slavery. What more can the Church do to highlight the problem and combat it?
The Church of England has always had a great heart for the marginalised, the excluded and the vulnerable. Through the "We see you" campaign, we are starting to raise awareness in society of what we often do not see around us. The Church is working in all schools to raise children's awareness of this modern form of slavery, together with the charity Just Enough UK—as much as anything, to help them to protect themselves from becoming victims.
My personal view is that the approach taken by countries such as Sweden, Norway and, more recently, Canada and Ireland to outlaw paying for sex is a policy worth looking at, and is infinitely preferable to the approach taken in countries such as Germany, which has liberalised prostitution. That is a personal view and not necessarily the view of the Church of England, but it can have escaped no one that sexual exploitation is a horrific aggravation of the crime of modern slavery.
I am sure that the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr Dunne) wants to ask about the Clewer initiative, on which he has a related question which might otherwise not be reached. I am all agog. Let us hear the fellow.
My hon. Friend is an assiduous member of the Environmental Audit Committee, which has launched an inquiry into abuses in unregulated car washes, and I can only commend his work and that of the Committee. Hopefully, in return, he can commend the ingenuity of the Church of England in making a leap into the digital age and developing an app that helps all of us to identify circumstances which we suspect may involve slavery or exploitation. That is but one example, and I imagine that other apps could be created that would really help us to stamp out modern-day slavery in our society.
Churches: Metal Theft
Since I last answered a question on this subject in April the largest concentration of reported attacks on churches for metal theft has been in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. While we are starting to see small numbers of people being prosecuted for these crimes, the value of the thefts is considerable and the cost of replacement and repair is high.
Can my right hon. Friend confirm what partners the Church of England is working with to tackle metal thefts across its parishes?
The Church cannot do this on its own, and it works very closely with Historic England, the police and its insurers alongside the Home Office in order to provide advice and guidance to its parishes. All dioceses now advise their churches to install deterrents such as alarms and cameras. I am pleased to say that the Church in Wales similarly endorsed Historic England's metal theft guidance.
Inter-faith Dialogue
The Church of England continues to take active steps at local and international level to promote inter-faith dialogue. The Church works through organisations like the Council of Christians and Jews and the Christian Muslim Forum alongside close working with the Office of the Chief Rabbi and senior Muslim clerics.
Does the right hon. Lady agree that many Church schools, both C of E and Catholic, with multi-faith intakes, such as Our Lady of Victories Catholic School Keighley, pupils from which came down to Parliament last week, including many Muslim pupils, bind our communities together from a young age and teach respect for others?
I could not agree more. Church of England schools are open to the whole community and reflect the demographic profile of the community they serve. Thus in some parts of the country 80% or 90% of pupils in a Church of England school may be Muslim. If you will forgive me, Mr Speaker, I would like to commend what the new Home Secretary had to say about his own education as a Muslim in a Church of England school, and how important a part of his own upbringing was an awareness of religious literacy in our world today.
It might be thought to be a helpful prompt if I advise the hon. Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce) that inter-faith dialogue can embrace the subject of the evils of modern-day slavery, in which I know she has an intense interest.
I was very pleased to hear my right hon. Friend's response to the question of my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Michael Tomlinson). Does she agree that trafficking women into prostitution is a most heinous form of violence against women and girls and that, if we are to review the law on prostitution, a priority must be to improve exit strategies for these exploited women?
And one would assume that it was a matter that fell within the rubric of inter-faith dialogue.
We need to understand, in the world today more than ever, the different faiths of the world and their tenets, and be respectful of the fact that 84% of the world's population adhere to one of the great religions of the world. By working through religious institutions in all these countries, which should all condemn outright slavery in all its forms, I hope that we can work together internationally to bring an end to the terrible exploitation to which my hon. Friend refers.
Church Building
This is a bit of good news. The Church Commissioners have made £27 million available for the creation of up to 100 new churches. I am pleased to say that eight new churches are to be created across all the London diocese, and already 100 new worshipping communities meet outside formal church buildings in a fresh expression of "church."
Will the right hon. Lady confirm that the Church of England is now building its first new church buildings in London since the 1950s to accommodate not decline, which is widely understood to be what is going on, but a very sharp increase in the number of people attending public worship?
I can do a bit of myth busting here. The Church is not in fact closing more churches than it is opening; interestingly, it is opening almost as many new ones as we are needing to close older ones. But that is often to serve gaps in provision and new communities. At the recent Synod I attended over the weekend in York there was an interesting fringe meeting about the planting of new churches on estates and evangelism on estates. We often build new housing developments, but we do not put a church community building in the heart of those communities. That is why the commissioners have seen fit to make extra resources available for the creation of new churches in areas where demand is high.


text:
US cyber security agencies shares list of routinely exploited vulnerabilities since 2016
Hackers are most frequently exploiting bugs in Microsoft's OLE technology
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have released a list of top 10 vulnerabilities routinely exploited by hackers since 2016.
According to CISA, the primary purpose behind sharing the list is to advise security personnel to prioritise the work on patching critical vulnerabilities in their environments in efforts to spoil attacks from foreign cyber actors.
The CISA believes a focused campaign to patch these bugs would introduce friction into the operational tradecraft of foreign adversaries and would force cyber actors to develop exploits that are more expensive and less widely effective.
According to CISA, the top ten most exploited bugs by state, nonstate and unattributed threat groups from 2016 to 2019 are:
Since 2016, hackers have most routinely exploited bugs in Microsoft's Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) technology, as per CISA. OLE is a proprietary technology from Microsoft which enables embedding and linking of application data and objects written in different formats.
CVE-2017-11882, CVE-2017-0199, and CVE-2012-0158 are three vulnerabilities in OLE technology that have most frequently used by state-sponsored threat groups from Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.
After OLE, Apache Struts web framework is the second-most-reported exploited technology, as per CISA.
Security agencies are also observing Chinese hackers using CVE-2012-0158 flaw more frequently since December 2018, suggesting that many organisations have not yet patched the bug.
This year, attackers have increasingly tried to exploit unpatched Citrix VPN (CVE-2019-19781) and Pulse Secure VPN (CVE-2019-11510) vulnerabilities. The number of attacks has specifically increased amid COVID-19 outbreak, which has forced millions of people to work from their homes.
The alert from CISA provides mitigations measures for each of these vulnerabilities. It also recommends organisations to shift away from any end-of-life software as the easiest way to mitigate unpatched bugs in their environments.
More on Threats and Risks
Vulnerabilities impacting Oracle iPlanet Web Server could result in data leakage, phishing
Vendors says it will not release a security patch as affected product has already reached end-of-life
Lazarus hacking group hiding a new variant of Dacls RAT in security app to target macOS users
The app is mostly used by Chinese speakers, as per researchers
Threat groups are looking to steal Covid-19 research, NCSC and CISA warn
The organisations being targeted include healthcare bodies, medical research institutions, pharmaceutical firms and others
InfinityBlack hacking group busted by European law enforcement agencies
'Well organised' cyber criminals were focused on loyalty card schemes
Warning over EventBot banking Trojan draining financial details from Android phones
The malware can intercept the two-factor authentication security codes sent to the device

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Establishing food integrity should be a task undertaken by all players in an increasingly global food supply chain. Therefore, USP is taking steps to bring together representatives from industry, regulatory agencies, consumer groups, and other standard-setting bodies to discuss proposed FCC standards and encourage collaboration.
You Might Also Like
Explore This IssueApril/May 2014
Also By This Author
One of these steps is access to the FCC Forum (www.usp.org/fcc/fccForum.html), where FCC monographs and identity standards are open for stakeholder feedback. In-person workshops on selected topics of interest are also available (www.usp.org/meetings-courses/workshops). In November 2013, USP held a workshop on food and dietary supplements adulteration and in November 2014, USP is scheduled to hold a workshop focused on food contamination.
Dr. Lipp is the senior director for food ingredients at USP. Reach him at email@example.com.


text:
(Created page with "

 In Cambodi...")
GrimReaper (Talk | contribs)
|Line 43:
|Line 43:
|In Cambodia, shlain is a name for both a tree and
its product. The very hard wood of the shlain tree
is light colored, almost white. It is shaved, mixed
with hemp (Cannabis indica, Cannabis sativa),
and smoked. The addition of shlain to the hemp
clearly increases the effects of the THCTetrahydrocannabinol and makes
it somewhat more psychedelic. The wood has been
tested many times with success, but unfortunately
its botanical identification is still uncertain. It is,
however, possible that it is Strychnos nux-vomica.
In Cambodia, a traditional cough medicine is
made from dried kancha (hemp herbage), which is
chopped up on a board made from nux-vomica
(Strychnos nux-vomica) wood. Mixed with small pieces of the wood (which contains strychnine),
the resulting product is then smoked (Martin1975,67).
| Literature
Martin, Marie Alexandrine. 1975. Ethnobotanical
aspects of cannabis in Southeast Asia. In
Cannabis and culture, ed. V. Rubin, 63-75. TheHague: Mouton.


text:
Being Yourself and Playing Your Own Way
Story time at Bank Street Bookstore on Saturday, June 23 at 10:30 a.m. features author Afsaneh Moradian and her book "Jamie Is Jamie." This book emphasizes the importance of the freedom to play as a means of expressing who you are. Join us for an author reading that helps present gender identify in sensitive and heartfelt ways. Whether kids dress dolls, don superhero masks, fix bicycles, or make dinner, this book shows how different roles feel for different kids as they play at home and at school. Join us at 2780 Broadway to celebrate a month of pride in New York and around the world.


text:
Luna FR Stone Vertical Blind
from £16.65
Luna FR Stone Vertical Blind
from £16.65
This flame retardant and blackout coated Vertical blind called Luna FR Stone has a lot to offer. The stylish light beige louvre will go with a whole host of different décor schemes, while the two clever coatings means it's perfect for kitchens, bedrooms and even commercial settings. The blackout coating helps to reduce glare and creates a dim out, room-darkening effect. So it's more than just a pretty face – it's a pretty practical one!
All our products are designed to be quick and easy to fit as standard. Download Instructions
We've got every confidence in the quality of our products and we want you to feel the same. That's why we offer an extended 5 year guarantee on all our blinds and curtains, completely free of charge. Peace of mind at no extra cost! Take a look at the sensible small print here.


text:
Tanker market to recover in 2018, despite a disappointing 2017 end
December 2017 was a very disappointing month for the tanker market. Namely, especially for mid-size tankers it was the worst December for spot rates since the early 1990s and for VLCCs it was the worst December since the 1980s. However, in the end of 2018 and start of 2019, the situation is expected to recover.


text:
The Times has revealed that a group of UK racing stakeholders are preparing to establish a rival pool-based betting system to Betfred's Tote, as the sport looks for new revenue streams.
Led by the Jockey Club and Arena Racing Company (ARC), it is understood that 56 of the 60 UK racetracks have committed to the Tote rival venture which will aim to launch its services by 2018 when Betfred's exclusive pools licence runs out.
The Racing Post reports that former Gala Coral Chairman Neil Goulden is leading the new racing pools project which has gained support from numerous high-powered racing stakeholders.
In 2011 amid the ongoing financial crisis recovery, the UK government sold the Tote to Betfred for £265 million. UK racing received 50% of the sale which was ring-fenced for the Racing Foundation charity.
At the time of the Tote sale, a number of racing stakeholders were critical of the government's actions stating that Betfred had been granted a 'cheap pass' to create a trackside monopoly on racing pools.
Backers of the venture, which will not be allowed to be branded as a 'Tote' product, have detailed that a successful system could double pool betting contributions to UK racing.
Speaking to The Times, racing CEOs Martin Cruddace (ARC) and Simon Bazalgette (Jockey Club) personally backed the project stating that racing needed to revamp its pool system with better centralized operations and flexibility for racecourse owners.
In recent years, Betfred owner Fred Done has had a fractious relationship with UK racing. In December 2015, Done stated that his company could 'walk away from the sport' following the loss of Betfred's title sponsorship of Cheltenham Festival's Gold Cup for not committing to UK racing's 'authorised betting partner' scheme.
Furthermore, Done has been publicly critical of racecourse owners funding strategy for the sport, stating that their plans made no economic sense.


text:
The First Art Newspaper on the Net
Established in 1996
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Last Week
A Complete List of the Best Vape Mods to Buy in 2019
With all the different vape mods out there that exist, it may be hard to choose one. If you need some help, check out this list of the best vape mods.
E-cigarette and vape usage is
on the rise
throughout the country among both teens and adults.
There's also a lot of hullaballoo at the moment about the dangers associated with these devices. The truth, though, is that if you're using a safe, high-quality vape and vape oil, you're unlikely to experience negative effects.
If you're a heavy-duty vaper who wants to have a better and safer experience, it's especially important to make sure you're using the best vape mods. Listed below are some of the best options you might want to purchase in 2019.
GeekVape Aegis Legend 200W
The GeekVape Aegis Legend 200W is one of the most popular vape mods out there, and for good reason.
It's more powerful than many other products on the market, and it's also waterproof, dustproof, and shock-resistant.
This high-quality, highly durable mod is made of a combination of silicone, leather, and alloy, so it can last through just about anything. It's a perfect fit for vapers who have a tendency to drop their vapes.
SnowWolf Mfeng UX 200W
Not only does this vape mod have an awesome name (who wouldn't want to use something called the SnowWolf?), but it's also an awesome, high-voltage product.
The SnowWolf Mfeng is one of the newest SnowWolf products. It features a stylish, sleek design as well as a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for anyone to use.
This vape mod is compatible with a variety of vape tanks, drippers, and wire types. It's made of a highly durable zinc-alloy material, too.
Tesla Poker 218W
The Tesla Poker 218W offers high wattage and high-quality, durable design. It also features a distinctive poker theme that's perfect for those who want a unique looking vape mod.
This vape mod provides you with lots of options to customize your vaping experience. It even lets you choose between different taste modes and has an easy temperature control setting.
Thanks to its slidable on and off switch, you also don't have to worry about accidentally firing this mod while you're on the go.
SMOK T-Priv 220W
This powerful mod has definitely earned its place on the list of best vape mods.
It features a unique design with lots of customization options, so you can create a vape that's different from everyone else's. It has an intuitive display that provides you with lots of feedback too, making customization easier than ever.
It's best to buy it as part of a starter kit. That way, you get to enjoy the punch that the mod packs when paired with SMOK's unrivaled Big Baby Beast Tank.
Voopoo Drag 2 177W
Voopoo vape mods are known for their unique designs, and the Voopoo Drag 2 is no exception. This mod is an upgraded version of the original Drag model, and it features a stylish appearance and a beveled, ergonomic design that makes it easier than ever to use.
The Drag 2 features individual settings to help you customize your vaping experience. It's also designed to protect the tanks from burnout and provides a longer-than-average battery life.
Dovpo Topside Dual 200W
Squonk vape mods allow for better flavor and give the user the opportunity to build their own coils for a more customizable experience.
If you're an advanced vaper, squonking is definitely worth trying out, especially with a vape like the Dovpo Topside Dual 200W.
This vape has a chunky design that makes it easier to hold and manage. It has an intuitive design that's not too hard to get the hang of as well.
Vandy Vape Pulse X 90W Squonk
Another good option for those looking to get into squonking is the Vandy Vape Pulse X 90W Squonk. This mod is smaller and more lightweight than the Dovpo Topside Dual.
It may be a little less powerful, but it's still a great choice, especially if you want a smaller and more minimalistic vape. You can't beat the cool pattern options for this mod either.
Innokin BigBox Atlas
The Innokin BigBox Atlas has one of the coolest designs on the market. It comes in a larger, chunkier style that helps it stand out from other mods. It also packs quite the punch with its 200W maximum output.
In addition to being larger and more powerful than many of its competitors, the Innokin BigBox Atlas offers top-notch temperature control and high-quality coils that allow for a more customized vaping experience.
Eleaf iStick Pico S 100W
The Eleaf iStick Pico S 100W is an update to the original model. Those who were fans of it will surely love this new and improved version, which features a sleeker design, greater maximum power, and new battery requirements.
This compact mod is a good option for those who prefer discretion when vaping. The tank adds a bit of height to the mod, but it's still more compact than a lot of other models.
Leaf Buddi TH-320
Vapes that belong to
this collection of mods
are a great option for anyone who's on the hunt for a small but mighty vape mod. The Leaf Buddi TH-320 has a great battery capacity and voltage range. It's also compatible with 510 vape tanks.
This vape mod is smaller than many of its counterparts, so it's a good fit for those who want their vaping to be on the discreet side.
It comes in a wide range of colors, too. Whether you want something subtle in black or blue or a stand-out vape in gold or silver, there are tons of options for you to choose from.
Order the Best Vape Mods Today
As you can see, there are tons of great vape mods out there that you can purchase for the ultimate vaping experience.
Now that you know more about the best vape mods on the market, are you excited to give one (or more) of them a try? Keep this list in mind as you begin shopping to ensure you're investing your hard-earned money in the right places.
Don't forget to check out some of the other vaping-related articles on our site. Whether you're a new vaper or a seasoned pro, there's lots of helpful information in them for you.
Today's News
September 16, 2019
McNay Art Museum marks centennial of the Mexican Revolution
Hire the best cross country movers for hassle-free relocation
Put It on Display: How to Apply for Art Grants and Funding
A Complete List of the Best Vape Mods to Buy in 2019
Digital Art
Special Photos
Special Reports
Featured Stories
Art Fairs
Art Quiz
3D Images
Last Week
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher:
Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
sa gaming free credit
Royalville Communications, Inc
Founder's Site.
The most varied versions
of this beautiful prayer.
to a Mexican poet.
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Your name *
Your e-mail address *
Name of recipient *
Recipient's e-mail address *
Your message *
Sending Mail
Sending Successful


text:
Dave Winer thinks the NYT has focused too much on itself:
They're not offering anything to readers other than the Times' survival, and they're not even explicit about that. Wouldn't it have been wise to, at this juncture, offer something to sweeten the deal. Something truly exciting and new that you get when you pay the money. Something that makes your palms sweat and your heart beat faster?
I put down $700 last week to get a few minor improvements to my iPad. If they had said "Give us $700 so we can survive," well, I might have done it. But I feel better about getting the new features.
Darrell Etherington finds the new plan myopic when it comes to apps:
[A]pp users will be most affected by the new subscription plan. Apps will still work for iPhone and iPad readers, but they'll only provide access to the Top News section (remember the Editor's Choice app? Like that.) and all other content will require a digital subscription. No monthly limit will apply in either app.
This, I suspect, might be where the Times sees its biggest decline in readers. Light to moderate app users faced with the choice of becoming a digital subscriber or going back strictly to the web with its broader access, I think most will choose the latter, which could hurt the Times' ability to attract lucrative advertising deals to the apps.
Nieman Journalism Lab rounds up more reactions to the new pay-fence.
(Hat tip: Chris Rovzar)
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to email@example.com.


text:
The Pollan Family Table Recipe: Hallie's Mixed Berry Pie
This heavenly summer pie will make good use of those ripe, luscious berries. From The Pollan Family Table.
Makes one 9-inch pie
Fresh raspberries (1 pint)
Fresh blueberries (2 pints)
Lemon (1)
Unsalted butter (½ pound, or 2 sticks, plus 1½ tablespoons)
Milk, whole or low-fat (2 tablespoons)
Coarse or decorating sugar, or granulated sugar (1 tablespoon)
All-purpose flour (2½ cups plus extra for flouring the work surface and dusting)
Granulated sugar (½ cup plus 1 teaspoon)
Kosher salt
Cornstarch (3 tablespoons)
Ground cinnamon (pinch)
Pure vanilla extract (¼ teaspoon)
My first pie was born out of a misunderstanding. My boyfriend, Sam, and I decided to go berry picking. Sam had never gone berry picking before and when we reconvened at the end of the day, he had amassed over 25 pounds of berries. He hadn't realized you are charged by the weight! We went home, prepared to eat only smoothies for a month. About a week later we were invited to a community potluck and I turned to the mounds of berries in the freezer, and with this my first pie was created.—HALLIE
2½ cups all-purpose flour plus extra for flouring the work surface and dusting
½ cup plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar (you may need a little more sugar depending on the sweetness of the berries)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ pound (2 sticks) plus 1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter, very well chilled
4 cups fresh blueberries
2 cups fresh raspberries
3 tablespoons cornstarch
Pinch of ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons whole or low-fat milk
1 tablespoon coarse or decorating sugar (granulated may be substituted)
Fill a small mixing bowl with water and ice and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, 1 teaspoon of the granulated sugar, and the salt.
Working quickly so it stays cold, dice ½ pound of the butter into ¼- to ½-inch cubes. Add these to the flour and, using your hands, blend into a coarse meal. (If you pinch some of the crumbly dough, it should stick together.)
Begin to add ice water to the dough 1 tablespoon at a time. After each spoon¬ful, lightly knead the dough. Continue to add the water until the dough holds together when shaped. Do not exceed 8 tablespoons; too much water or han¬dling will make a tough dough.
Divide the dough into two pieces, one slightly larger than the other. Flatten them into disks and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. Place a rolling pin in the freezer.
Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 375°F. Place a rimmed baking sheet in the oven.
Combine the blueberries and raspberries in a large mixing bowl. In a small mixing bowl, combine ½ cup of granulated sugar, the cornstarch, cinnamon, vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Pour this onto the berries and mix gently to blend. (Taste and use a little more sugar, depending on the sweetness of the berries.) Set aside.
Lightly flour your work surface. Remove the larger piece of dough from the refrigerator and transfer to the work surface. Dust the top of the dough with flour. Remove the rolling pin from the freezer and begin to roll out the dough, slowly pushing from the center out, turning the dough as you roll so that it is uniform. Roll into a disk about 12 inches in diameter and ⅛ inch thick. Carefully place the disk onto a 9-inch pie plate. Press the dough down onto the bottom and sides of the pan. Trim any excess dough hanging off the edge to ½ inch.
Pour the berries and any accumulated juices into the pie crust. Cut the remain¬ing 1½ tablespoons of butter into thin slivers and dot the top of the filling. Sprinkle a thin coating of flour on top.
Remove the second piece of dough from the refrigerator and roll it into a disk 13 to 14 inches in diameter and ⅛ inch thick. Drape this disk over the berry filling. Working around the rim, pinch the upper and lower crusts together with your fingers or crimp with a fork.
Brush a thin coating of milk over the top and edges of the pie and sprinkle the coarse sugar on top. Cut 4 to 6 slits in the center of the dough.
Place the pie onto the preheated baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and bake until the crust is deep golden brown and the juices are bubbling, 30 to 40 minutes; if the edges are getting too brown, cover them with foil. Cool on a wire cooling rack and serve at room temperature.
Excerpted from THE POLLAN FAMILY TABLE by Corky, Lori, Dana, and Tracy Pollan. Copyright © 2014 by Old Harvest Way, LLC. Excerpted with permission by Scribner, a Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.


text:
Black Afgano by Nasomatto
Top Notes: Cannabis, Green Notes
Heart Notes: Resins, Wood Notes, Coffee, Tobacco
Base notes: Incense, Oud
Gender: Unisex
Item location : US
Black Afgano Cologne by Nasomatto, Launched in 2016, Black Afgano is a warm and woodsy men's fragrance created by Alessandro Gualtieri. This calming and thoughtful scent begins with soft and earthy green top notes, and travels into a masculine blend of coffee and tobacco. Smoky base notes of incense and oud (or agarwood) smooth out the finish of this intoxicating, long-lasting and textured fragrance. Aspiring to capture the pleasure of a fleeting moment, this cologne stirs the senses much in the spirit of the effects of Hashish.
Nasomatto is a Dutch niche house founded in 2007. Manufactured out of Amsterdam, this perfume house excels in the creative process of crafting fragrances. Inspired by the freedom, uniqueness and chance of combing different scents, Nasomatto has released several fragrances that have risen in popularity across the globe. Through utilizing intriguing notes and distinct packaging with eccentric shapes, this house out of the Netherlands offers a truly unique fragrance experience
This product is original, authentic name brand.


text:
Home Excursions Mixed tours Sightseeing in Odessa + Catacombs in Nerubaysk
Visit Odessa's attractions including Deribasovskaya Street, Gogol, Maritime and Zhvanetskogo boulevards, numerous squares, and Catholic and Ekaterinenskoy stories by taking the "For all Odessa" tour. You will learn how Armand Emmanuel de Sophia Vinero dyu Plessi Septimania,, Count de Chinon, 5th Duke of Richelieu became just Duke in Odessa, and why Odessa's people loved him so much. You will visit and learn about the Potemkin Stairs and hear the story about the heroic uprising on the battleship «Potemkin», as well as the creation of the epopee by Sergei Eisenstein on the very staircase. And what is Odessa without its most important "Wonder of the World" - the magnificent Opera House? This too you will see.
Odessa Catacombs is one of the most significant parts of the history of our city. "Due to complete lack of building material for the construction of the city", the first Odessans showed ingenuity and perseverance in extracting the limestone from underneath the city. The result: on the surface appeared a beautiful city, and underground appeared mysterious and intricate mazes! Odessa Catacombs is a grand system of underground quarries, partly linked together in a vast and amazing maze. The Odessa Catacombs acquired recognition and worldwide fame thanks to their absolutely fantastic size, whose total length is estimated by experts at 2,500 kilometers, leaving far behind the catacombs of world cities like Paris and Rome.


text:
Considering the problem of rising water, this project put forward opening the reflection on the urban life confronted to these new climatic parameters.
This floating town is anchored in Maldives and try to give a revival as much as a survival solution. Historical islands become anchor, physical and cultural, for floating housing linked to a new urban life. From housing to airport or public place, this project describe each town essential part for a new departure in Malé, Maldives' capital.
This utopian project gathers my studies knowledges in naval architecture, urban design, material economy, structure, ecological awakeness, geopolitical problematic, …
To explore these issues, the project develops : a urban masterplan, a neighborhood type, a collective house, a model of floating town houses, an individual house, an airport, a sunken park …
Thibaud BRONCHART
Thesis project 2014
Presented to Jacques Rougerie Contest 2014


text:
My name is Sandra Ford. I became involved with the BPP
through Jeff Ford who was the captain of the Portland
Chapter of the BPP (later on I would marry him and have
children by him). My first involvement was working to
establish a Free Health Clinic in Portland in 1969. We
started organizing and found a location for the clinic, then
started calling doctors and nurses to volunteer. It took us
about a year before the clinic was ready to open. We named
it Fred Hampton Free Health Clinic. The clinic was staffed
by Party members and volunteers and was badly needed and
embraced by the Portland community.
Before we opened the clinic, we started a Breakfast for
School Children Program at Highland school. The breakfast
program was open 5 days a week. We collected donations from
surrounding businesses, merchandise as well as cash
donations. We served between 100-150 kids a day. The
children helped us with the mornings also, they cleaned
tables and dumped trash and other helpful things to show
their love.
After the clinic was open for a while we started working on
setting up a Free Dental Clinic. We found an office as well
as a person who taught at the Dental College and we got
volunteers from there. The dentist's equipment was hard to
get, very specialized. We finally got the needed equipment
and opened up, and the clinic is still there today (2004),
run by OSU (Oregon State University). It's name is now
Cleve Allen Dentist Clinic, named after a brother who was
shot and later came to work at the clinic everyday for years
until he died.
Our Medical Clinic did Sickle Cell Anemia testing at schools
and community affairs and we taught a Health class at the
community college. The class was about health issues like
high blood pressure, high blood sugar, diet and exercise,
the things that people need to know about. This was a free
class in which 20-30 people attended weekly. We had a nice
connection with the people who lived in the area surrounding
the clinic. We provided health care for them and we would
even write letters for them about the service they weren't
getting from local hospitals. Manuel Hospital was opposed
to the clinic and even went as far as to steal the property
the clinic was on forcing the clinic to relocate. A Black
doctor was retiring and let us have his spot. We moved into
a better location. The original location was at Vancouver
and Russell Street and the new one was on Williams and
Since I helped open up the clinic, I had many roles. I
aided doctors, helped them with female patients, went out
and asked for volunteers and did scheduling, cleaned the
clinic and ordered supplies. Through this experience I
developed an interest in health care, went to school and
then returned as a practitioner at the clinic. I
occasionally worked as a dental assistant. We were
especially concerned about making things nice. This was a
free clinic, but we made it a clean, nice place to come to.
We got a lot of harassment. One day the cops came by and
said, "Kent, the next Panther clinic will be named after
you." Most of the clinics were memorial clinics. They
would call on the phone and say, "Were gonna get you."
I stayed in the Party until the late seventies, but I've
always been an activist. I was in the youth group of the
NAACP when I was 15 and have participated in many boycotts
and marches. After I left the Party, I got some more
training and later worked in a Community Mental Health
Clinic for several years.
My son is Patrice Lumumba Ford. He is 33 years old and was
arrested Oct. 4th by the FBI. He is being held in Portland
with six other brothers, all Muslims. Their charges are
traveling out of the country to aid the Taliban, money
laundering because he sent his friend $500, and a weapons
charge although the weapon he had was legally bought. The
government is spending a lot on this trial. We believe they
were singled out because they went to China, trying to get
to Afghanistan to work for the Red Crescent, which is like
the Red Cross except it is a Muslim organization.
The government used that as an excuse to pounce on them. We
believe this is a political move by Bush to keep people
fearful, especially afraid of Muslims, take their minds off
the economy and the erosion of civil rights and to help him
get reelected. (They recently worked out a plea bargain.)
By Sandra Ford


text:
March 1, 2020 If the Bible isn't a science book or an instruction manual, then what is it? What do people mean when they say the Bible is inspired? When Rachel Held Evans found herself asking these questions, she began a quest to better understand what the Bible is and how it is meant to be read. What she discovered changed her—and it has changed others who have engaged her writings too!
Read the sermon here.


text:
Buy-a-Brick/Fund-a-Family Campaign
Pave the Way to Success for Determined Single Moms and their Children!
- Your paver will be placed on the Supportive Community Family Patio
- Honor your mom, friend, family member, school, sports team or group
- Commemorate your help to end poverty
- Show your support as a community-minded business
Custom Brick Examples
You may purchase your brick now on this site by scrolling down and filling out the electronic order form.
You may download the order form here, print, and mail in with a check or with your credit card information to Liz Dorn | 126 Woodlake Drive, SE | Rochester, MN 55901
Brick donations in excess of construction will support programming launch.


text:
ScienTurfic's Eco-Turf is a blend of 3-5 varieties of hybrid bluegrass specially grown for the Colorado. Eco-Turf is a thick dense turf that is adapted for drought and cold tolerance and also tolerates high traffic areas. Eco-Turf maintains a deep green color and has a leaf texture that is fine to medium.
In consultation with seed growers and universities, Eco-Turf Sod was developed as a proprietary mix of bluegrass varieties.
Eco-Turf is a proprietary blend of the newest hybrid grasses specially blended to be drought tolerant.
Once established, Eco-Turf can better endure drought conditions with only minimal amounts of water to keep the rhizomes and crown alive.
Unlike other grasses which can die out, Eco-Turf will adapt to drought stresses and heat by going dormant until more favorable growing conditions return.
One of the biggest advantages of Eco-Turf is its extensive rooting and rhizomatous structure.
Rhizomes are underground roots that allow the plant to repair itself quickly and survive through prolonged periods of stress.
They also allow it to knit and present a dense and plentiful turf.
As the region's environmentally-friendly turf grass blend, Eco-Turf provides many benefits to the environment.


text:
by Lexi Myer
My husband always tells me that I start getting in the "Christmas Spirit" a little too early, but I am one that loves Christmas crafting! If you have been in any kind of craft store in the last couple of months, it is no surprise to you that getting some of the Christmas projects done takes a long time! As much as I love spending a lot of time meticulously creating crafts and gifts for the season, I now have a baby that distracts me from all of that. So, this year, I will be doing faster DIY decorations and gifts that still bring a homey feel, but take a third of the time.
DIY Oversized Snowflakes: http://www.makinghomebase.com/popsicle-stick-snowflakes/
What you will need: Popsicle sticks, a hot glue gun, and spray paint (whatever color you want your snowflakes to be!)
How to make it: You can either search the web for a snowflake or create your own! You will just want to hot glue the sticks together, and make sure you start in the middle. Once you get your desired snowflake, remove all of the wild glue strings that are floating around. Then, spray paint it with your choice of color (make sure that you do this in a well ventilated area) and let dry! There you have it. Hello inexpensive, easy wall art!
Snowman Door: http://thecreativestamperspot.blogspot.com/2012/12/pins-to-creation-post-snowman-door.html
What you will need: 4 sheets of black scrapbook paper, 1 sheet of orange scrapbook paper, 3 sheets of scrapbook paper to make the scarf, and some double sided tape!
How to make it: Cut out 2 large circles and 9 smaller circles from the black scrapbook paper, a triangle (the nose) from the orange scrapbook paper, and strips of your scrapbook paper (thin enough to fit between your door knob and dead bolt) plus a couple of extra strips for the part of the scarf that will hang down. Next, you will need to tape the pieces to your door like you wish! You can go to the website for ideas of how to put it on there.
Christmas Picture Frame Wreath:
What you will need: An old picture frame (11×14), red spray paint, 3 ornaments, 1/8-inch-wide white ribbon, 1-inch-wide green decorative Christmas ribbon, and a hot glue gun.
How to make it: Take off back part of frame so only the base of the frame remains and spray paint it red. After that dries, loop thin white ribbon through the top notch in each Christmas ornament at desired length. Equally spread the three ornaments in the frame and hot glue the ribbon securely to the top, back of the frame. Lastly, tie the decorative ribbon in a large bow and hot glue in the middle of the front of the frame.
I hope that you are able to enjoy the holidays with your family and have some fun homemade decorations in your home!
About Lexi Myer
St. Louis Cardinals fan, Mom of one daughter, and Insurance Agent!
Direct Phone – 913-754-3836
Lexi started at MAX in June of 2016, and has 2 years of experience in the insurance industry. Lexi enjoys spending time with her husband, newborn baby girl, and Chihuahua/Beagle mix Ted. Lexi and her family are big St. Louis Cardinals baseball fans and travel to see them whenever they can. She also works with students of the University of Kansas (KU) as her husband is a campus pastor there.


text:
Our caregivers are the heart of Phoenix! This position will give you the opportunity to make one on one connections with our clients and provide them with exceptional care!
A day in the life of our caregivers includes: Assisting our clients with activities of daily living. This can include: lifting/transferring, bathing/personal care, and basic housekeeping. Voted Missouri s Best Home Care and Hospice Company we are proud to say that we are on nine years and going strong! We would love to show you what Phoenix is all about!
Benefits include but are not limited to:
Questions: Call or text a recruiter at 855-###-#### Come SOAR with Phoenix!


text:
Perhaps it's the almost perfect weather. Maybe it's having all the University of Texas students back in town. And maybe it's just because Austin loves to party.
But October tends to have one of the city's best lineups of events of the year. From Austin City Limits Music Festival to Oktoberfest and Halloween events, Central Texas is rocking with all kinds of events — even an Ironman competition.
So, grab your calendar and lock in a few great weekends. Whether you want to try the best barbeque in Texas or want to meet famous screenwriters, you'll almost certainly find something intriguing for yourself — and the whole family.
Let's check it out.
October 1
Now that the kids are settled into the school routine and the sun goes down a little earlier, it might be the right time to buy a few new books. And the Texas Teen Book Festival is packed with them, along with chances to meet authors, get books signed and hear interesting discussions on teen writing.
When: It starts with a Friday night viewing of "The Outsiders" at 7 p.m. The rest of the festival starts at 10:15 a.m. and runs all day.
Where: St. Edward's University, 3001 S Congress Ave. Book sales at the Alumni Gym
More information
October 7-9
It's weekend number 2 at Austin City Limits Music Festival. The lineup includes Radiohead, Kendrick Lamar and Mumford & Sons — along with about 100 other performers.
When: All weekend
Where: Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd.
More information
October 13-16
German heritage runs strong in the Austin area — as do a hunger for tasty sausages and a thirst for good beer. Banger's Oktoberfest is one of a couple Oktoberfest celebrations in Austin this fall. The Rainey Street establishment will be offering plenty of sausage dishes, beers and live music over the course of four wild days and nights.
When: It kicks off at 5 p.m. Thursday and runs all weekend. See website for concert and event timing.
Where: Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden, 79 Rainey St
More information
October 13-20
Austin is home to actors like Matthew McConaughey and directors like Richard Linklater. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Austin has become a major destination for filmmaking. And the Austin Film Festival is one of the top showcases of what the city has to offer, with special emphasis on screenwriters and other behind-the-scenes innovators. This year's festival features Comedy Central President Kent Alterman, Bridesmaids and "Ghostbusters" Director Paul Feig and Shane Black, who wrote and directed Iron Man 3, Lethal Weapon and Last Action Hero.
When: Various times
Where: Various locations
More information
October 15
You don't have to wait for Dia de los Muertos (Nov. 1) to celebrate. The Dia de los Muertos Music Festival features some of the best Latin and Texas music around, along with plenty of snacks, drinks and cultural performances. This year's music headliner is Ozomatli, but you can also catch Metalachi (Metallica + mariachi) and Tiarra Girls.
When: 3-10 p.m.
Where: Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia Street
More information
October 21-23
No speeding tickets to worry about at Circuit of the Americas. Formula 1 drivers will be pushing their state-of-the-art cars to maximum speeds during three days of racing that includes a ton of other fun activities and a headline concert by Taylor Swift.
When: All weekend long
Where: Circuit of the Americas, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd
More information
October 22
You might have already gotten a taste of the Oktoberfest spirit. Now it's time for AustOberfest. The festival, now in its fourth year, features an amazing lineup of sausage from some of the area's best meat experts. It also fits with Scholz Garten's 150th anniversary, and if you venture inside, you'll find the city's oldest bowling alley and have a chance to roll with long-time club members.
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Scholz Garten, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd
More information
October 23
It's a spooky time of year. And it's not just about masks and yard decorations. The Austin Symphony Orchestra is putting on a special Halloween children's concert. So bring the little goblins and princesses down for a night of spirited music.
When: 3 p.m.
Where: The Long Center, 701 W Riverside Dr
More information
October 30
Not everything has to be scary this time of year. Take barbeque, for example. And you can get as much of that as you can handle at the Texas Monthly BBQ Festival. Taste the very best in a side-by-side setting where you can really decide what your favorite brisket in Central Texas really is. Come hungry.
When: 1:30-4 p.m.
Where: The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive
More information
October 30
What's the polar opposite of that BBQ festival listed above? An Ironman race. Show your strength and stamina — or watch other people sweat it out — at the Ironman race, which is part of a worldwide series of races. The swimming is at Decker Lake and biking goes through the farmland of East Austin and ends inside Ludeke Arena. If you want to give it a shot, know that you'll need to be able to bike 30 miles, run for an hour and easily swim 1,500 yards.
When: The race starts at 7 a.m.
Where: Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Ln
More information
October 31
Happy Halloween! Have fun trick or treating, and be safe.


text:
For as long as I can resmember, I've always been captured by the raw power of tattoos. After spending the past 7 years soaking up as much as possible from the amazing people here at Live Free, I continue to learn every day. I enjoy every style of tattooing and I'm anxious to make your tattoo ideas a reality. I'm excited to take on any and every new project, and I look forward to making a fine tuned design from all of your ideas!
I strive to give each client a unique and fulfilling experience, carefully tailored to their individual needs and ideas. I try my best to be versatile. I supply my clients with tattoos that will make them happy both immediately, and for years to come. I am a forever student of tattooing. I will consistently push the boundaries of my work, and try to create a comfortable environment for everyone that would like to endure the gratifying process of receiving a tattoo.


text:
|3.15 with keep_encoding: _parse_start_tag fails parsing attributes
Download (untitled) / with headers
text/plain 599b
text/plain 599b
Hi, I've found that in latest stable version (3.15, pervious version I've successfully tested was 3.09), the attributes of a node were deleted when keep_encoding option is set and there were several space characters between tag name and first attribute. Ex: <tag att="value"> gives $gi='tag' and @atts=() (2 spaces after tagname) whereas <tag att="value"> gives $gi='tag' and @atts=() (1 space after tagname) The suspected "bug" is line 1345 of Twig.pm : if( $string=~ s{^<\s*($REG_NAME)[\s>/]}{}s) should be if( $string=~ s{^<\s*($REG_NAME)(?:\s*|[>/])}{}s) Hope it helps Gerald Sedrati-Dinet


text:
In order to serve you better, you can now reach us for all membership-related enquiries by calling us directly on +603 9221-8855.
Effective from 1 September 2020, MATTA Headquarters will be operating from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Thursday until further notice.
MATTA has temporarily restructured the administration of its Headquarters and Chapter offices in light of the many challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic
MATTA led by Deputy President, Haji Mohd Akil Bin Mohd Yusof together with several Exco Members had attended a Focus Group Discussion with the Minister of Finance, YB Senator Tengku Dato' Sri Zafrul Bin Tengku Abdul Aziz on 22 July 2020.
MATTA urges the Government to extend the loan moratorium to a further six months for the tourism industry, in recognition that the industry is one of the significant job providers and important economy contributors to the country.
MATTA is calling for Government initiatives to resuscitate the tourism industry by developing and implementing health accreditation that can guarantee health and safety standards to boost confidence on tourism facilities for both locals and tourists.