text:
poisonLine breaks: poi¦son
Pronunciation: /ˈpɔɪz(ə)n /
Definition of poison in English:
noun[mass noun]
1A substance that is capable of causing the illness or death of a living organism when introduced or absorbed: he killed himself with poison [count noun]: strong chemical poisons
More example sentences
- Second-hand smoke contains about 4,000 chemicals, 200 poisons, and over 40 cancer-causing compounds.
- Because of 'chemical drift' those poisons are carried by the wind into towns and cities.
- The idea of using 'friendly' bacteria to combat poisons has been around for a number of years and is already used in animals such as pigs and chickens.
archaic bane
rare toxicant
1.1 Chemistry A substance that reduces the activity of a catalyst.
1.3Something that has a destructive or corrupting influence: the late 1930s, when Nazism was spreading its poison
More example sentences
- Keynes' dream to overthrow the classical order of Adam Smith was greatly influenced by Marx's poison.
- Stupid laws contaminate those charged with enforcing them at the first level and then become exponentially more costly as their poison spreads through other layers of the economy.
- It takes no time at all for them to spread their poison and to implicate others in what they have done, if only by coverup.
malice, maliciousness, ill will, hate, malevolence, malignity, malignancy, balefulness, embitterment, embitteredness, spite, spitefulness, venom, acrimony, acrimoniousness, rancour;
bad influence, blight, bane, contagion, cancer, canker, corruption, pollution
verb[with object] Back to top
1Administer poison to (a person or animal), either deliberately or accidentally: he tried to poison his wife (as noun poisoning) symptoms of poisoning may include nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting
More example sentences
- He tried to poison us like lower animals, like the mice that pester storybook villages, the insects that fly around the heads of those that I read about.
- Towards the end, as he's dying of an undefined illness, we realize he picks up chicks by poisoning their pets but acting so super nice and stuff.
- The snake's venom poisoned the wolf and raven's blood.
administer poison to, give poison to;
1.1Adulterate or contaminate with poison: the Amazon basin is being poisoned by the mercury used by gold prospectors
More example sentences
- On the Australian mainland, they killed them by giving them poisoned food and clothing contaminated by diseases they had never before experienced.
- Scary reports are all over the media here in southern California about some nutball who poisoned some baby food.
- In June 2002, following threats that their food would be poisoned, the men were unable to eat for a period of seven days.
contaminate, put poison in, adulterate, tamper with, spike, lace, doctor
1.2 (usually as adjective poisoned) Treat (a weapon or missile) with poison in order to augment its lethal effect: poisoned arrows
More example sentences
- But this is still not all there is in combat, as you can poison your weapons or arrows to do even more damage.
- The Sultan's army was primarily light cavalry armed with crossbows that shot poisoned arrows.
- I was especially wary of them this time, now that I knew their swords were poisoned, and dodged them as they attempted to advance on me.
1.3Prove harmful or destructive to: his disgust had poisoned his attitude toward everyone
More example sentences
- And, if your opponent is indeed guilty of abusing those around him: It won't be long before he fatally poisons his campaign with destructive behavior.
- But I simply cannot remain silent and sit here and listen when a party that is trying to attain power at any cost poisons the relationship between the two peoples of this country.
- Their bitterness poisons their attitude and their outlook on life.
1.4 Chemistry (Of a substance) reduce the activity of (a catalyst).
Example sentences
- The cells worked well initially, but any traces of carbon monoxide in the hydrogen fuel quickly poisoned the catalyst.
- The catalysts are easily poisoned by lead, however, which clogs their reactive surfaces.
- And that soaks into tissue very readily, with the acid part doing its damage along the way, and the fluoride merrily poisoning enzymes and wreaking havoc.
Middle English (denoting a harmful medicinal draught): from Old French poison 'magic potion', from Latin potio(n-) 'potion', related to potare 'to drink'.
- 1
poisoner noun
- Example sentences
- Popular, because of its availability, with Victorian poisoners, arsenic also caused some spectacular accidental mass poisonings, notably the Bradford Poisoning.
- Enforcement agencies and wildlife groups have formed a special unit to track down poisoners responsible for the 'mindless killing' of red kites following their re-introduction in Yorkshire.
- Capsules derived from mussels and garlic have exceeded the legal food limit for arsenic, traditionally used by poisoners.
Definition of poison in:
- US English dictionary
- English synonyms
- US English synonyms
What do you find interesting about this word or phrase?
Comments that don't adhere to our Community Guidelines may be moderated or removed.
Get more from Oxford Dictionaries
Subscribe to remove ads and access premium resources
Most popular
Most popular in the US
Most popular in the UK
Most popular in Canada
Most popular in Australia
Most popular in Malaysia
Most popular in Pakistan
= trending
Most popular inAustralia Canada India Malaysia Pakistan Spain United Kingdom United States All
Word of the day orthoepy
Pronunciation: ôrˈTHōəpē
the correct or accepted pronunciation of words


text:
Are you tired of your requests never been played? Have you given up calling radio stations coz your call's never picked up?
Have you envied listeners who get to be on air?!?! Your wait is over. Radio 4 NOW gives you the Power.
Be a Classic Power Player! Radio 4 takes your choice of hits to a new level!
It's your chance to power the station that plays you the biggest Bollywood hits! From AB's Dekha na from Bombay to Goa to Asha Bhosle's top chart busters. You choose. We play. Your Classic Power Hits!
Connect with 89.1 Radio 4 on Facebook
To Advertise, contact at +971 4 567 04445 or +971 4 561 0445 email@example.com | ABOUT US | ADVERTISE | FAQ'S | CONTACT US
All contents © copyright 2014 Channel 4 Radio Network All rights reserved.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Welcome to the
Vagabond's Road
Last updated October 18, 2008 - and
about damn time, right?
"The Vagabond" ©1992 Aileen Rivera
Click the image to learn more about me.
Welcome, friend!
Yes, I already call you "friend". I would like
to think that we may already be friends whether we have met yet or
not. Perhaps we were friends in another life, another time,
another world. The multiverse would be a much more pleasant place
if everyone felt the same.
Don't you think?
You have come to a place that is made of imagination
and reality, fun and serious matter, dream-stuff and nightmare.
Scattered about here, you will find gateways to some of my favorite
places to visit, but you will find no "home" here as some may call
it. Feel free to wander
around yourself. After all, that's what the road is for, and I'm
to suggest some open paths as well as destinations I've discovered in
own wanderings. If you'd like further advice, look for me.
will find various ways to contact me through my portrait above.
I can help.
Most of all, enjoy yourself and have fun. Be
careful in your wanderings, though. Don't just expect someone to
be there to
help you if you have not asked. The multiverse wasn't meant to be
safe place, but it is certainly interesting out there. If you're
you just might meet new friends as I have. If you do, hang onto
Keep them as close as you can as long as you have them. You never
when or how you will lose them, and friends are the most valuable
there is.
I would love to have you come back and visit as
often as
you can. This little corner of the multiverse is as unstable
I am, and changes come often and irregularly. Be sure to let me
you like or what you'd like to see in the future. I want to hear
Step through the door to see some of the paths I
have traveled.
© 1994 Harlan Wallach
These pages were created and edited with Netscape
Composer and Microsoft Notepad at 800x600 and 1024x768 resolution.
The images seen around here have been gathered by me
from various sources. I make no claim of ownership. A few
of the images
are copyright their respective creators and/or owners. I'm not
of any problems with any of the material presented here. Contact
is available by clicking on the image of The Vagabond above.


text:
30 August
Airlie Beach Bowls Club conducts Bare Foot Bowls every Friday evening between 7.30 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. Join in with your team of four or you can be put into a team on the night. No experience is necessary as a coach will be available for beginners. A sausage sizzle will be provided after the game or you can grab an affordable meal from the bistro from 6.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
30 August
Frequency: Weekly
|Valid From
|30 Aug - 13 Dec
* Please note: These rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available costs of listed products and services. To obtain a firm price from the provider, please use the contact the operator. All prices are quoted in Australian dollars.


text:
Four connected to Unity Surgical Outpatient Center in Buena Park were convicted of tax evasion and now face charges related to what prosecutors have billed as the largest medical-fraud case in the nation.
Comments are encouraged, but you must follow our User Agreement
Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to republish your name and comment in additional Register publications without any notification or payment.


text:
Nowhere to Hide
Description: Detective Woo is investigating the mysterious 'Forty Steps' murder, along with his fellow police officers. Woo suspects the infamous Chang Sung-min of the murder, but must chase Chang to all corners of Korea for months before he can catch up with the suspect and find out the truth.
Movie summaries and listings powered by Cinema-Source
Sign up for our free email newsletters and receive the latest advice and information on all things parenting.
Enter your email address to sign up or manage your account.


text:
The United Nations Office of the Higher Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported their concerns on Friday over the outcome of both the Eric Garner and Michael Brown cases. The UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Rita Izsak, said "I am concerned by the grand juries' decisions and the ...[read more]
The Supreme Court first addressed affirmative action in the 1978 case of Bakke v. Regents of the University of California, which concerned the University of California Davis Medical School's use of quota systems for admissions. The Supreme Court held that the quota system, which allocated a ...[read more]
American history, and the development of American cultural identities, cannot adequately be explained without a thorough discussion of racial discrimination. The following is an overview some notorious, and notable, events. The Naturalization Act of 1798 required that applicants for US ...[read more]
In 1999, unarmed Amadou Diallo was shot and killed by the New York City Police Department's Street Crimes Unit. His death incited community outrage on the issue of policing and race. The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), a nonprofit legal organization devoted to defending constitutional ...[read more]
JURIST Guest Columnists Leonard M. Baynes and David L. Gregory, both of the St. John's University School of Law, discuss the anniversary of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the interplay of racial and economic justice ... This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the enactment of Title VII ...[read more]
The US Supreme Court will not hear a case regarding racial discrimination in home sales and rentals after the matter was settled out of court on Wednesday. Originally scheduled for oral argument December 4, the case of Mount Holly v. Mt. Holly Gardens Citizens in Action, Inc. presented the issue ...[read more]
Japan's Kyoto District Court on Monday ordered a group of activists to pay 12 million yen (USD $120,000) to a Korean elementary school for holding anti-Korean demonstrations that disrupted classes and frightened children. The rallies took place between December 2009 and March 2010 and were ...[read more]
A class of plaintiffs consisting of around 1,200 African-American financial advisers have reached a $160 million settlement with Merrill Lynch in a racial discrimination lawsuit, according to a plaintiffs' attorney on Wednesday. The settlement has to be approved by the Judge Robert Gettleman for ...[read more]
Public understanding of the shape and direction of affirmative action has been influenced primarily by US Supreme Court decisions. However, affirmative action litigation decided in state courts and federal courts other than the Supreme Court has also had a lasting influence on its legality and ...[read more]
On June 11, 1963, US President John F. Kennedy proposed what would become the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in a radio and television address to the American people. President Kennedy asked Congress to draft legislation to prohibit discrimination against Americans in public facilities. He also asked ...[read more]


text: hoW music sPeaks healing and hoPe By Rachel Ferguson , mm, mt-Bc, nicu-mt The Voice Box Last month we spoke at length about what music therapy is, and who it benefits… before we leave the topic of music therapy, I'd like to spend a little time on who Music Therapists are, and what differentiates us from "music volunteers." Music Therapists have earned either a bachelor's degree or equivalent, or a Master's degree in the field of music therapy. After the completion of their degree program (which includes coursework, clinical practicum, and often research), they perform a six-month clinical internship and then take a Board Certification Exam. These three criteria: college degree, clinical internship and board certification lead to the designation of Music Therapist—Board Certified, or MT-BC. If you don't see these credentials at the end of someone's name, they are not a music therapist. You see, music therapists are not just sweet guys or gals making pretty music for someone who's not feeling well. They are highly qualified therapists who are also trained musicians, and they are part of the team of service providers working to treat the client. To learn more about finding a Board Certified Music Therapist in your area, visit the website of the American Music Therapy Association, www.musictherapy.org. Finally, with the holiday season nearly upon us, I am so happy to tell you that I have found a church home/ community with which I will celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas. For the past month, I have been worshipping and singing with a wonderful choir at a local church. I look forward to sharing more about this experience with you and why it is a great fit for me, but for now, let me just say that it feels so good to sing for God's glory with a body of believers and fellow worshippers. I look forward to sharing the holidays with this incredible group, and I hope that you have a community to share your celebrations with as well. Who Music therapists really are… and Who they aren't CCM 63


text:
|brass hat
|informal (Brit) a top-ranking official, esp a military officer
|[C20: from the gold leaf decoration on the peaks of caps worn by officers of high rank]
brass hat
A high-ranking official, as in All the brass bats were invited to the sales conference. The terms big brass, top brass, and the brass all refer to high officials considered as a group. For example, John's one of the top brass in townhe's superintendent of schools. The origin of this term is disputed. Most authorities believe it originated in the late 19th-century British army, when senior officers had gold leaves on their cap brims. Another theory is that it referred to the cocked hat worn by Napoleon and his officers, which they folded and carried under the arm when indoors. In French these were called chapeaux à bras ("hats in arms"), a term the British are supposed to have anglicized as brass. By World War I brass hat referred to a high-ranking officer in Britain and America, and in World War II it was joined by the other brass phrases. After the war these terms began to be used for the top executives in business and other organizations.


text:
Award for Excellence in Scholarship
The Mansfield Campus Award for Excellence in Scholarship is intended both to recognize past accomplishment and to encourage continuingeffort in research or other appropriate scholarly activities. The recipient of this award must be a tenure-track faculty member on the OSU Mansfield campus. The award may recognize a single, clearly outstanding contribution or a body of work accomplished over a period of years.
The recipient of the award will be selected by a committee consisting of the past recipients of this award from the previous five years. The committee will be chaired by the person with the longest tenure on the committee.
The chair of the committee will solicit nominations for the award from the full-time, tenure-track faculty. Self-nominations should also be encouraged. An announcement seeking nominations should be circulated no later than April 1. Letters of nomination should discuss why the nominated work is deserving of the award, describe the nature of the work, and, if possible, offer documentation as to the quality of the work. The nominator should also provide the committee chair with a copy of the nominee's vita, as well as relevant reprints, books, etc. The deadline for accepting nominations should be no later than April 15.
In its deliberations the committee should seek additional information beyond the letter of nomination. The committee chair will contact the department chair of each nominee by letter, asking him/her to rate the quality of the nominee's scholarship relative to others in the department and on the regional campuses. Additional sources for this information might include letters from or conversation with local colleagues, departmental colleagues, the campus Dean and Associate Dean, the nominators, or the nominees. Obtaining such information, at least for finalists under consideration, is critical for the integrity of the award. Criteria that might be considered include (but are not limited to) reviews, citations, and journal or publisher reputation, as well as the committee's assessment of the general strength and quality of the effort in the context of being a regional campus faculty member. The recognized work should have been produced during employment as a faculty member at The Ohio State University at Mansfield. It is also essential that the person selected is clearly showing evidence of continuing scholarship. Individuals who came close to winning the award in a prior year should be given special consideration.
Past recipients are not eligible for nomination for five years after receiving the award. When past recipients do become eligible, preference should be given to non-recipients unless the work of a past recipient in the years since receiving the award is clearly superior to all other efforts.
The committee must select a single individual to receive the award (no ties). Announcement of the award recipient should be made by the previous year's winner at the annual Faculty Recognition Banquet or on some other appropriate occasion. The recipient of the award should be informed in advance by the committee chair. The monetary amount of the award is $1,000.
The recipient is expected to offer a colloquium related to his or her scholarly activity at some time during the following academic year. This colloquium will be sponsored by the Professional Development Committee and will be open to faculty, staff, students, and the general public.


text:
The New Jersey State Museum is a registered Professional Development Provider for the New Jersey Department of Education Professional Standards Board (#2241); Teachers' Professional Development Courses fulfill the requirements for continued certification on a credit/hour basis. Certificates will also be provided to teachers from Pennsylvania & Delaware.
Get behind the scenes access to the Museum's collections. Learn about paleontology, archaeology and other STEM topics from NJSM working scientists. Explore ways to integrate art, history and science into your common core curriculum. Collaborate with colleagues during workshops and after as part of a NJSM teacher community.
Check back often, this listing will be updated.
Growing Up WILD
Exploring Nature with Young Children
NJSM Wednesday, March 26, 2015 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Growing Up WILD is an early childhood education program that builds on children's sense of wonder about nature, and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Using a wide range of activities and experiences, Growing Up WILD provides a foundation for developing positive impressions about the natural world, as well as lifelong social and academic skills.
The Division of Fish & Wildlife in partnership with Morris County Park Commission offers professional development workshops for early childhood educators in using Growing Up WILD. The workshop fosters confidence in early childhood educators to lead outdoor explorations by providing ready-made activities, easily digestible background information, and field investigation opportunities that correlate with the activities.
Each participant gets the activity guide, which is written especially for early childhood educators of children aged 3-7. It features 27 field-tested, hands-on, nature-based activities; and includes arts & crafts, music, conservation activities, reading and math connections, and involves social, emotional and cognitive domains to help foster learning and development.
For information about the workshop, contact Liz Jackson at (908) 637-4125 or send email to firstname.lastname@example.com.
To register for the workshop, contact Kerry Scott at (609) 984-8487 or send email to firstname.lastname@example.com. Space is limited for this free workshop so sign up soon!
NGSS Professional Development Series
Presented by: Rutgers University-CMSCE
In partnership with the New Jersey State Museum
The NGSS were adopted by NJ on July 9, 2014! Get a jump start on implementing and join us for one or all workshops in this special NGSS professional development series.
Saturdays @ New Jersey State Museum (Trenton, NJ)
Overview of NGSS (FREE EVENT)
December 6, 2014 @ NJ State Museum
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Explore the core elements of NGSS and learn about the essential big changes at this NGSS overview event. The session will identify the immediate things you can do to begin implementing NGSS. Long-term Implementation models and resources will be shared.
Science & Engineering Practices: Physical Science
January 10, 2015 @ NJ State Museum
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Pique your students' curiosity and drive their studies through the actual doing of science and engineering! We will examine physical science experiments and engineering design challenges that connect the NGSS content with an understanding of what scientists and engineers do, and share ideas of how you can do these in your own classroom.
Science & Engineering Practices: Life Science
January 24, 2015 @ NJ State Museum
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
This session complements and builds on the previous session, focusing on practices that explore the life sciences. We'll tackle how scientists and engineers investigate and solve problems within these standards, and expand your repertoire of student activities and design challenges.
NGSS & Technology Integration
February 7, 2015 @ NJ State Museum
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Infusing quality STEM multimedia resources (simulations, interactives, video games, etc.) into your classroom is one easy way to further engage your students, increase their depth of understanding, and address the NGSS. Join us and explore exemplary STEM multimedia resources; learn where to find them; how to evaluate them and apply them to meet NGSS.
Best Practices for Implementing NGSS
February 28, 2015 @ NJ State Museum
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
This session will address research proven pedagogical models that best support NGSS, including Project Based Learning (PBL), Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as well as the Flipped Classroom. Taking the best elements of all and combining them to create your own personal blended model is the art of Implementing NGSS. Join us to explore these approaches and begin to develop your own pedagogical model that can effectively implement NGSS.
Reduced Rate on In-district PD: All participants will receive 10% off an in-district PD day.
If you attend entire series it is a 25% discount.
To Register: http://cmsce.rutgers.edu/
For more information: Dawna Schultz at firstname.lastname@example.com or (848) 445-3025 (office)
Next Generation Science Standards Professional Development Series Flyer


text:
LBWA–Freeze Frame
People may not think about shade structures needing winterization, but to prolong the life of the fabric, it is worth considering. These structures, normally meant to be seasonal, won't last long if left out in harsh winter conditions, even in warmer climates. Exposure to the sun, wind, and other elements all summer long can break down the fabric, and if you add in the effects of cold weather over several months, the fabric can become brittle, thin, and torn. Taking the fabric off, cleaning and drying it thoroughly, and storing it in a dry place for the winter will prolong its life. This is also a good time to mend any tears in the fabric, and clean, tighten, and lubricate the frame as well to protect it.
So what do you do in your part of the world to get ready for winter? If you have suggestions or special memories—such as northern Wisconsin's record 54 inches of snow in April—share them here at PRB.
Randy Gaddo served for 15 years as a director in municipal parks and recreation after retiring from 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He developed, wrote, administered, and presented maintenance plans as well as recreation master plans during that time. Gaddo earned his Master's in Public Administration, and now lives in Beaufort, S.C. He can be reached at (678) 350-8642 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Page 3 of 3 | Previous page
Related posts:


text:
Rally Against Debt update
Meanwhile, the Facebook page now has 830 confirmed...
Sign up, sign up, one and all!
Labels: campaigning, good deeds
Labels: campaigning, good deeds
Labels: cartoon, middle east, satire, syria, The Spine
Quite simply, with fuel prices lowered, people will buy more of it—demand increases. But Osborne is going to tax the suppliers of this good, so that they produce less of it. Is the man a complete moron?
One of the world's biggest oil companies, Norway's Statoil, has halted work on two North Sea projects because of the huge tax hit on oil fields in the Budget.
It comes after smaller companies such as Valiant Petroleum warned that they are re-evaluating new projects, since the Chancellor increased tax by 12 percentage points to more than 62pc.
There have also been reports that oil majors have withdrawn plans to sell billions of pounds in North Sea fields nearing the end of their lives, leading to fears they will be abandoned with oil still in the ground.
Statoil, the Norwegian state-controlled company, said on Tuesday it will "pause and reflect" on the future of its Mariner and Bressay fields to the south east of Shetland.
Whether this will actually lead to a decline in tax revenues overall is moot at this point: it certainly won't lead to a reduction in short term revenues. But it will definitely lead to a reduction in the amount of oil pumped up over the decades and so is quite likely to lead to a reduction in the long term tax take.
And do note that no one is trying to dodge a tax, no one is trying to pass it on. It's simply that the imposition of a tax has made previously viable activity now non-viable. We're, in that long term, poorer because of the tax.
Labels: blindingly obvious, don't say we didn't warn you, energy, staggering incompetence, thieving bastards, wild speculation
Rally Against Debt
A well mannered, polite rally for civilised people who don't wish to see their hard earned money being spent on pointless government initiatives and instead would like government spending to actually fall and our national debt to be cut.
We don't think that it's fair for us to continue borrowing money to live a lifestyle that we simply can't afford - burdening our children with unnecessary debt that they will have to pay back.
Any visits to Fortnum and Mason's by protestors will only be to marvel at their selection of quality goods and perhaps make the occasional purchase.
Bonfires will be strictly forbidden: it's out of season anyway
Trips to see Vodafone and other high street chains will result in congratulations to the company for providing jobs and growth in the UK.
This is only a planning group at the moment and all subject to change.
Offical hashtag #RallyAgainstDebt or #RAD
Labels: campaigning, fun events, general hilarity, good deeds
In most European countries school students are expected to pursue a broad and rounded range of academic subjects until the age of 16. Even in those countries such as the Netherlands where students divide between academic and vocational routes all young people are expected, whatever their ultimate destiny, to study a wide range of traditional subjects. So we will introduce a new award – the English Baccalaureate – for any student who secures good GCSE or iGCSE passes in English, mathematics, the sciences, a modern or ancient foreign language and a humanity such as history or geography. This combination of GCSEs at grades A*-C will entitle the student to a certificate recording their achievement. At the moment only around 15 per cent of students secure this basic suite of academic qualifications and fewer than four per cent of students eligible for free school meals do so57. So to encourage the take-up of this combination of subjects we will give special recognition in performance tables to those schools which are helping their pupils to attain this breadth of study.
Labels: education, low-grade bureaucratic meddling, pissing on your chips, staggering incompetence
Jones's fiction is relevant, subversive, witty and highly enjoyable, while also having a distinctly dark streak and a constant awareness of how unreliable the real world can seem. Disguises and deceptions abound. Though avoiding criminally dysfunctional families or unwanted pregnancies, her cleverly plotted and amusing adventures deal frankly with emotional clumsiness, parental neglect, jealousy between siblings and a general sense of being an outcast. Rather than a deliberately cruel stepmother, a Jones protagonist might have a real mother far more wrapped up in her own career than in the discoveries and feelings of her child. The child protagonist would realise this, but get on with the adventure anyway.
Her career began as a playwright, with three plays produced in London between 1967 and 1970; her first novel, Change- over (1970), was adult humour; since then her work has been written for younger readers. Besides the two series already mentioned, she wrote the Howl books, beginning with Howl's Moving Castle (1986; filmed in 2004 by Hayao Miyazaki), and two sequels, and the Dalemark sequence (1975-2003), dark-tinged fantasies set in that eponymous country.
Some of her best and most enjoyable books are stand-alones, in particular The Ogre Downstairs (1974), The Time of the Ghost (1981) and Fire and Hemlock (1985), each a remarkable blend of pathos and genuinely funny writing. Archer's Goon (1984), extravagantly mixing fantasy with science fiction, was serialised for television by the BBC in 1992. Her most recent novel, the light-hearted Enchanted Glass, appeared last year.
As an author she was astonishing. The most astonishing thing was the ease with which she'd do things (which may be the kind of thing that impresses other writers more than it does the public, who take it for granted that all writer are magicians.But those of us who write for a living know how hard it is to do what she did). The honest, often prickly characters, the inspired, often unlikely plots, the jaw-dropping resolutions.
(She's a wonderful author to read aloud, by the way, as I discovered when reading her books to my kids. Not only does she read aloud beautifully, but denouments which seemed baffling read alone are obvious and elegantly set up and constructed when read aloud. "Children are much more careful readers than adults," she'd say. "You don't have to repeat everything for children. You do with adults, because they aren't paying full attention.")
Rest in Peace, Diana Wynne Jones. You shone like a star. The funniest, wisest writer & the finest friend. I miss you.
I do miss her, very much. I have some wonderful friends. I have people in my life who are brilliant, and people who are colourful, and people who are absolutely wonderful, and who make the world better for their being in it. But there was only one Diana Wynne Jones, and the world was a finer one for having her in it.
When I first moved to Stourport, and thus gained easier access to the public library, my first forays into the fantasy genre was DWJ; If memory serves—Archer's Goon. I've never looked back since.
Here was an author who didn't write down to me, didn't condescend. Her plots were complicated and forced you to pay attention to what you were reading; and her characters were believable; acting and reacting in ways you could understand. She didn't ram home the differences in her worlds she simply worked them into the story in such a way that you would happily accept this situation as just that which was normal.
She took you by the hand and led you into a strange world and let you do the pointing, gaping and staring.
There's few authors who can do that, and now there's one less.
Labels: books, good deeds, good people, media, sad days
I either can't think of anything to say, or - and this weekend is an example - there's so much stupidity, idiocy, and downright mouthbreathing fuckwittery going on in Britain that it seems like some kind of Herculean labour to chronicle what I've noticed about it and vent my bulging spleen. So I don't bother. I can't hold it in today, though. Some people are just so fucking… oh, I don't know. I can't find words in the English language sufficient to describe the utter, wilful defiance of objective reality.
Take the small number of morons who took to the streets of London yesterday. I mean, where to begin? As I said about the students last year, here we have self-styled "anarchists" protesting against a reduction in the size of the state. A reduction, moreover, that isn't actually happening. If the legacy media and my own acquaintances were all I had to go on, I'd think the entire country was in the early stages of Alzheimer's.
Labels: evil, lefty fuckwits, peddlers of misery, socialism, the cuts that aren't, The Unions, thieving bastards
Google says it will delay the distribution of its newest Android source code, dubbed Honeycomb, at least for the foreseeable future. The search giant says the software, which is tailored specifically for tablet computers that compete against Apple's iPad, is not yet ready to be altered by outside programmers and customized for other devices, such as phones.
Guess we need a new definition of "open".
Labels: computing, general hilarity, mischief-making, technology
Today's budget has cost me £10,00 on the nose thank so to the collapse in share prices of our North Sea oil companies. Such companies have been doing really well of late, discovering bigger fields and eeking out a longer future for the UK as an oil producer—all the time with 50%+ of the profit going straight to the Treasury.
Yes, that's right, you're taxing the excess profits of those who supply it thus making them, and possible new entrants, less likely to go and find more, so as to increase the supply and bring prices down.
This is, you'll have to agree, fairly stupid.
What lifts is up into the realms of rampant lunacy is that the money so raised is going to be used to reduce the price of the fuel itself: that is, to increase demand.
So, our solution to prices rising because of tight supply and increasing demand is going to be further restricting supply and increasing demand.
... worth £170 a year to basic rate taxpayers. It is expected that 880,000 of the lowest-paid will be taken out of income tax altogether...
You see, we have, irritatingly, a progressive tax system. That means you pay NI on the gross before tax. Then you pay Income Tax on the taxable amount, which is the gross less the free 7Kish. Then you pay one rate on the next 20 odd thousand. If you go up into the 40% rate you only pay it on the amount you are in it by.
In other words, if you earn £1 over the threshold you would pay 40p to the taxman on that £1. Horribly confusing I know.
Anyway, the bottom line here is that not even someone earning £150,000 per year pays 52% of their income in taxes. In fact, someone on £150K (the 50% tax rate) will pay a combined amount of NI and Income Tax to the tune of £58,900, that 39% of their earnings in tax. Someone on £50K (the so-called 40% higher rate) will pay £13,910 in NI and tax, that's 27% in total.
Now don't get me wrong, I still think that is way too much. However, trying to win the argument for lower taxes on the basis of exploiting the confusing nature of a "progressive" system to make it sound much worse than it is is the wrong argument to be making because you'll be called on it.
A much sounder platform to be on is to make the case that the tax system is so utterly confusing that tax rates should be flatter, instead of this crap where you pay a percentage on the gross, then you get a pay one rate on one part, and another rate on another part, less your free part.
Here's (suitably adjusted for the new rules) what HMRC says about the scheme:[T]he tax relief on allowable R&D costs is 200 per cent – that is, for each £100 of qualifying costs, your company or organisation could have the income on which Corporation Tax is paid reduced by an additional £100 on top of the £100 spent. It also includes a payable credit in some circumstances.
That's really rather attractive: if you're paying £100k in R&D a year, and making £100k in profits even after doing so, then you've just wiped out your entire tax bill.
Almost everyone therefore expects to live to an age to collect a pension: it has become assurance instead of the original insurance**. The proposal therefore is to tie (as some other places, Denmark among them, already have done) the pension age to the average age of death. In a perfect world, to the average age of death of the previous cohort... Thus the pension becomes what it was originally, insurance against outliving your rational level of savings.
A useful byproduct of so limiting the concept is that it could become a reasonable and serious payment again. If it is something that's paid to only half of old people and paid to all only for six or seven years rather than 12 or 14, then it could be more generous, while still reducing the total cost.
Yes, this is rather bloodthirsty, but something must indeed be done about the long-term costs of rising lifespans.
2011 growth forecast downgraded from 2.1% to 1.7%
2012 forecast also down from 2.6% to 2.5%
Forecast borrowing of £146bn this year, £2.5bn lower than anticipated
Borrowing to fall to £122bn next year, dropping to £29bn by 2015-16
National debt forecast to be 60% of national income this year, rising to 71% in 2012 before falling to 69% by 2015
Despite the general impression that our new Government is cutting back on public spending – as Channel 4's Jon Snow put it, we are facing the most severe cuts since World War Two – the Budget revealed that our spending will in fact increase even faster than we were told it would last October.
In the small print of last year's spending review, Mr Osborne told us that annual spending was due to rise from £696 billion to £739 billion in four years' time. In the small print of last week's Budget, spending is projected to rise from £694 billion this year to £743.6 billion in 2014-15, an increase of some £50 billion.
Then there was Mr Osborne's claim that, to encourage small businesses, he is planning to save £350 million by scrapping unnecessary regulations. What again only emerged from other official sources was that, as usual, "deregulation" cannot include any regulations originating from the EU, although these now account for the vast majority of our regulatory burden.
The Government has set great stock by its red tape cutting approach. One in, One out is the cry. Here is the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills statement from last year,a new approach that will control and reduce the burden of regulation. A "one-in, one-out" approach, designed to change the culture of government, would make sure that new regulatory burdens on business are only brought in when reductions can be made to existing regulation.
Pretty good stuff you must agree.
Priti Patel (Witham, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department's one-in, one-out policy applies to EU regulations.
Fair Question one might have thought, what with the Government being so proud of this policy. The answer? Ah that is a little difficult,Mark Prisk (Minister of State (Business and Enterprise), Business, Innovation and Skills; Hertford and Stortford, Conservative)
At present EU measures will not be counted as INs unless a Department exceptionally imposes a measure that goes beyond the minimum requirements (i.e. if it is gold-plated, in which case the gold-plated element will be cost as an IN). Existing EU legislation can be counted as an OUT if it is repealed or revoked, or if gold-plating is removed or if a derogation that imposed costs to business is voluntarily curtailed ahead of its maximum term expiring.
So that is a No then.
Poor Priti, there she is asking the right questions, and even getting interesting answers, but what can she do with them? If she goes public the whips will crush her kittens.
Then there was Mr Osborne's claim that, to encourage small businesses, he is planning to save £350 million by scrapping unnecessary regulations. What again only emerged from other official sources was that, as usual, "deregulation" cannot include any regulations originating from the EU, although these now account for the vast majority of our regulatory burden.
Coming into force next October, for instance, will be the Agency Workers Regulations, implementing a 2008 EU directive giving temporary workers similar employment rights to full-time employees. This was fiercely resisted by our Government at the time because it will hit Britain much harder than other EU countries. The Government's own estimate of its annual cost is a staggering £1.9 billion. So, while the Chancellor boasts about saving £350 million, what he doesn't mention is that the cost of just one EU regulation which we cannot repeal will be nearly £2 billion a year.
Then there was the peculiar farce of David Cameron's trip to Brussels last Thursday, to sign up to an amendment to the EU Treaty creating a European Financial Stability Mechanism. Under this, it is estimated that we may have to stump up £5 billion to help bail out countries such as Portugal, the latest victim in the slow-motion collapse of the euro, even though we are not in the eurozone. (Weren't we meant to be given a referendum on any further amendments to that EU treaty?)
The Firstbuy scheme would see the government and house builders offer loan help for first-time buyers purchasing a newly-built home.
Buyers must save a deposit worth 5% of their property's value, with the government and housebuilders putting up 10% each through an equity loan, enabling people to qualify for 75% loan-to-value mortgage.
The equity loan would be interest-free for the first five years, with interest charged at 1.75% in year six, and at inflation plus 1% thereafter.
This would be funded by the levy on banks, Mr Osborne said. Some £210m will be spent in England, with the other £40m in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Labels: economy, EU, finance, taxes, The Change Coalition, wild speculation
The average British household has seen its real-terms income fall by £365 in the worst three-year squeeze since the early 1980s, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, dragging it down 1.6 percent since 2008. During the previous half-century, the average income had risen by 1.6 percent each year.
Against that, inflation is up to 4.4 percent, taxes are up, and are set to increase further with today's budget, as Government finances continue to spiral out of control.
This is balanced by reduced entitlements, poorer services, increased charges and public sector fees – all the while the ruling classes continue to pay themselves more and better salaries and pensions, while the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
This, it seems, it just the time to embark on a foreign adventure, to keep the minds of the plebs focused on the bread and circuses – except that most people aren't buying it. They are deeply suspicious of the cost and alarmed at the evidence that the Boy doesn't actually know what he is doing.
This is getting close to the stuff of revolution. We are not there yet, but each of these developments brings us a step further down this perilous road, from which there is no turning back once the destination is reached.
Labels: economy, musings, paranoia, The Change Coalition, violence, war
At 2pm on Monday 21st March students occupied the UCL registry, the main administrative wing of the university. We stand against all cuts and for free education.
We are occupying in solidarity with our lecturers and support staff who are taking part in the UCU strike to defend their jobs, pay and pensions. We as students are taking the direct action denied to our lecturers by anti-union legislation.
UCL management are meeting on Thursday 24th to decide whether to increase tuition fees—we call on UCL management to not raise tuition fees and to lobby against the government cuts.
Management will also discuss the restructuring and outsourcing of estates and facilities. We stand in solidarity with the staff whose jobs and wages are threatened, and continue to demand the London Living Wage.
We call for no repercussions or victimization...
... of any students or staff involved in industrial action and associated protests.
We hope that the UCU strike and the nationwide university occupations it has inspired encourage a wave of strikes, occupations and protests leading up to the March 26th national anti-cuts demonstration and beyond. We are all in this together.
We are all in this together.
Um. No we're not. You want me to pay for your education through my taxes, even though the greatest beneficiary of your education will be you.
You want something that's going to benefit you?—you pay for it.
On the substantive point it's worth observing twenty-odd years ago the student grant scheme was workable and affordable because, generally speaking, there was a pretty good chance that the recipient would pay it back in spades through taxes during his or her working life.
There are only so many people for whom university education can add value. That many jobs now require a degree is a reflection of the fact that degrees from many institutions are seen as the modern equivalent of A-levels.
The lower you set the bar for university entrance, the less likely it is that the additional students (that is, those who get in now but wouldn't have got in when entrance standards were higher) will be net (or you might prefer "nett" [I do—DK]) contributors to the public coffers.
Once the bar is lower you either have a two-tier system of funding whereby the best get tax-funded support and the lesser qualified do not, or you have the same system for everyone. Practical politics requires the same system for everyone. What you cannot have is everyone being paid by taxpayers because
- there are too many of them for it to be affordable and
- only relatively few are of the quality that will repay the gift with a profit for future generations of taxpayers.
This is all basic common sense. Unless you believe in the magic money tree, of course.
Labels: economy, education, self-parodies, tax, who fucking cares?
You will not be surprised to hear that the events in Japan have changed my view of nuclear power. You will be surprised to hear how they have changed it. As a result of the disaster at Fukushima, I am no longer nuclear-neutral. I now support the technology.
A crappy old plant with inadequate safety features was hit by a monster earthquake and a vast tsunami. The electricity supply failed, knocking out the cooling system. The reactors began to explode and melt down. The disaster exposed a familiar legacy of poor design and corner-cutting. Yet, as far as we know, no one has yet received a lethal dose of radiation.
Some greens have wildly exaggerated the dangers of radioactive pollution. For a clearer view, look at the graphic published by xkcd.com. It shows that the average total dose from the Three Mile Island disaster for someone living within 10 miles of the plant was one 625th of the maximum yearly amount permitted for US radiation workers. This, in turn, is half of the lowest one-year dose clearly linked to an increased cancer risk, which, in its turn, is one 80th of an invariably fatal exposure. I'm not proposing complacency here. I am proposing perspective.
Like others, I have called for renewable power to be used both to replace the electricity produced by fossil fuel and to expand the total supply, displacing the oil used for transport and the gas used for heating fuel. Are we also to demand that it replaces current nuclear capacity? The more work we expect renewables to do, the greater the impact on the landscape will be, and the tougher the task of public persuasion.
But expanding the grid to connect people and industry to rich, distant sources of ambient energy is also rejected by most of the greens who complained about the blog post I wrote last week in which I argued that nuclear remains safer than coal. What they want, they tell me, is something quite different: we should power down and produce our energy locally. Some have even called for the abandonment of the grid. Their bucolic vision sounds lovely, until you read the small print.
At high latitudes like ours, most small-scale ambient power production is a dead loss. Generating solar power in the UK involves a spectacular waste of scarce resources. It's hopelessly inefficient and poorly matched to the pattern of demand. Wind power in populated areas is largely worthless. This is partly because we have built our settlements in sheltered places; partly because turbulence caused by the buildings interferes with the airflow and chews up the mechanism. Micro-hydropower might work for a farmhouse in Wales, but it's not much use in Birmingham.
And how do we drive our textile mills, brick kilns, blast furnaces and electric railways – not to mention advanced industrial processes? Rooftop solar panels? The moment you consider the demands of the whole economy is the moment at which you fall out of love with local energy production. A national (or, better still, international) grid is the essential prerequisite for a largely renewable energy supply.
Some greens go even further: why waste renewable resources by turning them into electricity? Why not use them to provide energy directly? To answer this question, look at what happened in Britain before the industrial revolution.
Labels: campaigning, energy, environmentalism, misplaced optimism, nuclear
Yet in Japan, you have radiation zealots threatening to order people out of their homes, to wander, homeless and panic-stricken, through the battered countryside, to do what? All to avoid a radiation dose lower than what they would get from a ski trip.
Labels: Fukushima, radiation, relative risk
Peter Bone (Wellingborough, Conservative)
Mr Speaker, 373,000 Daily Express readers want it, 80% of Conservative Members support it, the Deputy Prime Minister would love it, and my wife demands it. The British people, Conservative supporters, the leader of the Liberal party and especially Mrs Bone cannot all be wrong. Prime Minister: may we have a referendum on whether the United Kingdom should remain in the European Union?
David Cameron (Prime Minister; Witney, Conservative)
I wish that my wife were as easy to please. I was worried about where that question was going.
I am afraid that I must disappoint my hon. Friend and Mrs Bone. I think that we are better off inside the EU but making changes to it, in the way that we are setting out.
Today a report was passed in the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Parliament which now moves up to the plenary. The report, called the the Giannakou Report after its draftswoman Marietta Giannakou... who was on the Convention which drew up the European Constitution, is titled,A Draft Report [PDF] on the application of Regulation 2004/2003 on the regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding
In it we see this,
- Points out that since 2008 European political parties have been entitled to use sums received as grants for 'financing campaigns conducted ... in the context of the elections to the European Parliament ...' (Article 8, third paragraph, of the Funding Regulation); further points out, however, that they are prohibited from using these sums for financing 'referenda campaigns'; considers that the reason for this is probably a concern that European parties and foundations could interfere in the domestic affairs of Member States; believes, however that, if European political parties are to play a political role at EU level, they should have the right to participate in such campaigns as long as the subject of the referendum has a direct link with issues concerning the European Union;
Thus they would be able to shovel taxpayers money to the pro-EU side, indeed that would be the express purpose of the change in the law.What is more this recital was amended as it went through the Committee. Amendment 95 [PDF] by one Andrew Duff, Lib Dem MEP for the Eastern Counties and federast supreme. What did the Duffer succeed in doing, well he removed this sentence,
considers that the reason for this is probably a concern that European parties and foundations could interfere in the domestic affairs of Member States
In other words he whitewashed any suggestion that the EU at one time recognised that there are some aspect of national democracy where it shouldn't interfere.
This is a direct attempt to find extra taxpayer funding for the Yes side in any forthcoming EU referendum in the UK. They are as aware of the liklihood of an In/Out referendum in the UK sooner or later and have every intention of loading the dice with taxpayer's money. As things stand the UK is affected in the sense that of the parties elected to the European Parliament and that have Political Parties at a European Level, that is the Tories, the Greens, the Labour Party and the Lib Dems are all formally partisans of an 'In'.
Think about all this. What this means is that money donated to the Lib Dem Euro political party, by someone living in France, could be used to fund a pro-European referendum campaign in the UK by washing it through the European Poltical Party. Neat eh?
In direct contravension of British electoral law, but so be it.
Labels: EU, filthy corruption, freedom (the on-going death of...), misplaced optimism, sovereignty
- The plant is safe now and will stay safe.
- Japan is looking at an INES Level 4 Accident: Nuclear accident with local consequences. That is bad for the company that owns the plant, but not for anyone else.
- Some radiation was released when the pressure vessel was vented. All radioactive isotopes from the activated steam have gone (decayed). A very small amount of Cesium was released, as well as Iodine. If you were sitting on top of the plants' chimney when they were venting, you should probably give up smoking to return to your former life expectancy. The Cesium and Iodine isotopes were carried out to the sea and will never be seen again.
- There was some limited damage to the first containment. That means that some amounts of radioactive Cesium and Iodine will also be released into the cooling water, but no Uranium or other nasty stuff (the Uranium oxide does not "dissolve" in the water). There are facilities for treating the cooling water inside the third containment. The radioactive Cesium and Iodine will be removed there and eventually stored as radioactive waste in terminal storage.
- The seawater used as cooling water will be activated to some degree. Because the control rods are fully inserted, the Uranium chain reaction is not happening. That means the "main" nuclear reaction is not happening, thus not contributing to the activation. The intermediate radioactive materials (Cesium and Iodine) are also almost gone at this stage, because the Uranium decay was stopped a long time ago. This further reduces the activation. The bottom line is that there will be some low level of activation of the seawater, which will also be removed by the treatment facilities.
- The seawater will then be replaced over time with the "normal" cooling water
- The reactor core will then be dismantled and transported to a processing facility, just like during a regular fuel change.
- Fuel rods and the entire plant will be checked for potential damage. This will take about 4-5 years.
- The safety systems on all Japanese plants will be upgraded to withstand a 9.0 earthquake and tsunami (or worse)
- I believe the most significant problem will be a prolonged power shortage. About half of Japan's nuclear reactors will probably have to be inspected, reducing the nation's power generating capacity by 15%. This will probably be covered by running gas power plants that are usually only used for peak loads to cover some of the base load as well. That will increase your electricity bill, as well as lead to potential power shortages during peak demand, in Japan.
If you want to stay informed, please forget the usual media outlets and consult the following websites:
Labels: blimey a blogger actually doing some research, energy, good deeds, MSM, paranoia
Labels: cartoon, earthquake, japan, libya, tsunami, world media
- The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for much of the benefits system, and the majority of payments are processed by the Department's agencies, Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service. The benefits system is both large and complex: there are around 30 different types of benefits and pensions, with 900 distinct rates of payment.[2] In 2009-10, some £148 billion of payments were made to 20 million people.[3]
That is one FUCK OFF "safety net"
Labels: economy, just not fucking funny, society, state funding, The Welfare State, welfare
Look at the moral atmosphere of today. Everything enjoyable, from cigarettes to sex to ambition to the profit motive, is considered depraved or sinful. Just prove that a thing makes men happy—and you've damned it. That's how far we've come. We've tied happiness to guilt. And we've got mankind by the throat. Throw your first-born into a sacrificial furnace—lie on a bed of nails—go into the desert to mortify the flesh—don't dance—don't go to the movies on Sunday—don't try to get rich—don't smoke—don't drink. It's all the same line… Kill the individual. Kill man's soul. The rest will follow automatically.
Tobacco displays in shops will be banned in England as part of a package of measures to discourage smoking.
Instead, cigarettes and other products will have to be kept under-the-counter from 2012 for large stores and 2015 for small shops, ministers have announced.
A consultation will also be launched on whether manufacturers should be forced to put cigarettes into plain packets.
As Patrick Basham and John Luik have pointed out elsewhere on spiked, the evidence that banning tobacco displays will cut smoking rates is pretty much non-existent. In fact, smoking rates have often gone up after such measures were introduced.
Indeed, the belief that making something more mysterious and more illicit is going to discourage young people from trying it demonstrates remarkable ignorance. Smoking is one of those rite-of-passage activities that allows an older child to demonstrate that they are, in fact, a grown-up. Moreover, having spent the past few years treating adults more and more like children, the government has inspired an adolescent-like 'fuck you' attitude to health campaigns from many people, where smoking becomes a tiny show of passive resistance to being constantly lectured about what to do.
In reality, the major parties are slugging it out over who can be the most illiberal. While both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats made some positive noises about rolling back the state prior to last year's General Election, in office they have been an absolute match for New Labour in terms of interfering in our private lives. You couldn't call it unexpected. When the ever-so libertarian-sounding Boris Johnson became London mayor, his first act was to ban the drinking of alcohol on London transport.
Boris, as The Nameless One points out, is now the most powerful Tory in the country and his policies are going to give some indication of what a Tory government might be like.
And Boris's very first act is to implement a policy that is more authoritarian than that of NuLabour's representative. It is a policy that involves more government interference in our daily lives (and if you think that this is the end of such policies then you are even more stupid than I thought).
While there have been some small, but welcome, shifts in policy on the vetting of those who work with children and on some specific civil liberties issues, the reality is that personal autonomy and freedom are all but disregarded in British politics today. Instead, we are all seen as 'vulnerable' in one way or another, with the state stepping in to watch over us. The effect is to exaggerate fears and to undermine constantly our sense of having the capacity to cope with problems as they arise or make decisions for ourselves.
This creates a situation where the authorities will step in to regulate and restrict everyday life on the flimsiest of pretexts. So, as Sally Davies suggests, our children need to be protected from evil tobacco manufacturers luring the young and vulnerable into a life of addiction through, err… a neatly laid-out tobacco display case.
Defending the right to sell tobacco in a particular manner is not going to send the masses to the barricades. But the implication that we are so feeble that we cannot be trusted to protect our health in the face of some coloured boxes is a very good reason to oppose this ban. It also shows that any Lib-Con pretence to being defenders of personal freedom has long since gone up in smoke.
Tories to treat you like children too
IT is not just the Labour Party who wants to treat you like a three year-old child, it has emerged.
I am a non-smoker but the government's announcement that it is to force tobacco under the counter is a most dispiriting development. After years of meddlesome interference by New Labour in the private lives of British citizens, it would appear that the Coalition's only wish is to continue down the same dreary and self-righteous road.
It makes a mockery of Cameron's recent pronouncements about the value of small government and of his pre-election promises to get government off the backs of ordinary people.
If this is the direction of travel, I for one am heading off towards the Libertarians. I hope that this profoundly wrong-headed and illiberal piece of legislation is thrown out by the Commons.
Labels: don't say we didn't warn you, drugs, freedom (the on-going death of...), The Change Coalition, total and utter bastards, totalitarianism, Who is John Galt?
The Australians who are conducting the interview are worried that perhaps an ETS is not such a good idea.
Having heard the interview you will understand why they feel this way—Duggan's performance is truly catastrophic, with our the woman from Whitehall apparently unable to quantify either the costs or the benefits of the scheme she runs. It's hilarious, toe-curling and utterly compelling.
These, ladies and gentlemen, are the Rolls Royce minds that run the UK these days.
Jill Duggan is from the European Commission's Directorate General of Climate Action. She is the EC's National Expert on Carbon Markets and Climate Change. She was head of Britain's International Emissions Trading. She is in Australia to tell us how good Europe's emission trading system is and why we should do something similar [PDF].
No one, therefore, should better know the answers to the two most basic questions about this huge scheme. The cost? The effect?.
Andrew Bolt: Can I just ask; your target is to cut Europe's emissions by 20% by 2020?
Jill Duggan: Yes.
AB: Can you tell me how much—to the nearest billions—is that going to cost Europe do you think?
JD: No, I can't tell you but I do know that the modelling shows that it's cheaper to start earlier rather than later, so it's cheaper to do it now rather than put off action.
AB: Right. You wouldn't quarrel with Professor Richard Tol—who's not a climate sceptic—but is professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute in Dublin? He values it at about $250 billion. You wouldn't quarrel with that?
JD: I probably would actually. I mean, I don't know. It's very, very difficult to quantify. You get different changes, don't you? And one of the things that's happening in Europe now is that many governments—such as the UK government and the German government—would like the targets to be tougher because they see it as a real stimulus to the economy.
AB: Right. Well you don't know but you think it isn't $250 billion.
JD: I think you could get lots of different academics coming up with lots of different figures.
AB: That's right. You don't know but that's the figure that I've got in front of me. For that investment. Or for whatever the investment is. What's your estimation of how much—because the object ultimately of course is to lower the world's temperatures—what sort of temperature reduction do you imagine from that kind of investment?
JD: Well, what we do know is that to have an evens chance of keeping temperature increases globally to 2°C—so that's increases—you've got to reduce emissions globally by 50% by 2050.
AB: Yes, I accept that, but from the $250 billion—or whatever you think the figure is—what do you think Europe can achieve with this 20% reduction in terms of cutting the world's temperature? Because that's, in fact, what's necessary. What do you think the temperature reduction will be?
JD: Well, obviously, Europe accounts for 14% of global emissions. It's 500 or 550 million people. On its own it cannot do that. That is absolutely clear.
AB: Have you got a figure in your mind? You don't know the cost. Do you know the result?
JD: I don't have a cost figure in my mind. Nor, one thing I do know, obviously, is that Europe acting alone will not solve this problem alone.
AB: So if I put a figure to you—I find it odd that you don't know the cost and you don't know the outcome—would you quarrel with this assessment: that by 2100—if you go your way and if you're successful—the world's temperatures will fall by 0.05°C? Would you agree with that?
JD: Sorry, can you just pass that by me again? You're saying that if Europe acts alone?
AB: If just Europe alone—for this massive investment—will lower the world's temperature with this 20% target (if it sustains that until the end of this century) by 0.05°C. Would you quarrel with that?
JD: Well, I think the climate science would not be that precise. Would it?
AB: Ah, no, actually it is, Jill. You see this is what I'm curious about; that you're in charge of a massive program to re-jig an economy. You don't know what it costs. And you don't know what it'll achieve.
JD: Well, I think you can look at lots of modelling which will come up with lots of different costs.
AB: Well what's your modelling? That's the one that everyone's quoting. What's your modelling?
JD: Well, ah, ah. Let me talk about what we have done in Europe and what we have seen as the benefits. In Europe, in Germany you could look at, there's over a million new jobs that have been created by tackling climate change, by putting in place climate policies. In the UK there's many hundreds of thousand of jobs.
AB: Actually, that's not right, is it? I just saw research. Did you see this? It came last week. Verso Economics saying that, for example, in Scotland the investment in green power has cost 3.7 jobs for every one green job created [BBC link inserted by me—DK]. And there are similar figures; I'm looking at Italy here, Germany, Spain. They're all the same figures.
JD: They're not all the same figures. You can pick figures to support any argument. What I'm saying is that the experience in Europe is we've done things well and we've had some things which we wish we'd done differently at the start. The impact on the economy has been that it has stimulated growth in jobs that will last. It's not been noticeable in the impact on households. Not compared to gas and oil prices and the impact that they have on households. And that we actually have governments in Europe including the UK, Germany and France who are asking for tougher targets now. Now governments aren't in the business of trying to undermine their economies. They want their economies to grow. If the UK, Germany and France did not believe that this was good for their economies and good for the planet they would not be asking for tougher targets.
AB: I wish I could believe that. We're talking about a region—Europe—that has unemployment at 10% and a growth forecast this year of 1.6%. I don't know what we could learn from Europe actually.
Paul: Where do I donate money to get this interview published? Can it be an advert? Can it be run during "An Inconvenient Truth"? Please, I'm praying, where do I give money?
Labels: abroad, catastrophic anthropogenic climate change, EU, general hilarity, is this a joke?, staggering incompetence, stupidity


text:
Dayton's Shell Game Sends Mixed Signals On Middle Class Taxes
Minnesotans beware.
Governor Mark Dayton has been very clear on where he stands with raising taxes on businesses and "the rich" – yes you.
It's much harder to figure out where Governor Dayton and the Democrats are coming from on the issue of taxes and the middle class.
They held a press conference this week touting new projections that property taxes would actually decrease in 2014. Keep your eye on those projections, by the way – they come from the same agency that predicted e-pull tabs would finance the new Vikings stadium.
So the Governor says low property taxes are a good thing for hard-working Minnesotans. We agree. But he had to raise over $2 billion in new taxes and fees, much of them on the middle class and even poor Minnesotans, to pay for lots of things including his supposed $121 million property tax reduction.
So which is it? Are higher taxes good or bad for the middle class?
Perhaps Minnesota families can use their projected property tax savings, if it ever materializes, to pay for all of the other cost increases they will experience because of the Dayton/DFL 2013 budget:
- Higher energy bills.
- Fewer choices and higher costs for childcare under forced unionization of childcare.
- Higher premiums, higher co-pays, higher prescription drug prices and even fewer hours at work because of the healthcare exchange legislation.
- New tobacco taxes.
- Higher costs to download music and other files from the Internet.
- Higher costs for car rentals.
Each day it becomes more apparent – Republicans stood against wasteful government spending and for an economic recovery that would continue producing middle class jobs, and what Mark Dayton and the Democrats really wanted was bigger government and more spending.
Yes Minnesotans, beware. Despite their spin, the Democrat's all-tax-increases budget taxes everyone. And raising taxes in one area to supposedly reduce taxes in another is more than a gimmick, it's a shell game. Make sure you are watching their other hand.


text:
Three deaths from nitrite tainted milk in China show that the country still has some way to go to clean up its dairy industry. One of the authors of a new study1 on the 2008 China melamine milk scandal explains what has gone wrong and what reforms are needed.
Researcher Liana Giorgi explained that from 2000 the Chinese dairy industry underwent rapid and unregulated development. When the melamine contamination scandal hit in 2008 Giorgi said: "Melamine was not the problem, it was the symptom."
Since then China has introduced a new legal framework on food safety and reformed the institutions involved in monitoring.
But Giorgi said the reforms do not go far enough. She said the focus is now on testing the end product and needs, instead, to be on the development of quality assurance systems. She said many dairies have not even been using the HACCP system.
Another major problem is that the authorities and even dairy processors know little about what is going on at a farming level. The dairy farming sector is made up of lots of very small farmers and, at present, dairies know little about their suppliers and there are no inspections taking place.
Giorgi said the government and dairies should work together to reform the farming sector and introduce on-site inspections.
The road to reform is unlikely to be an easy one. Giving an indication of the scale of the challenge ahead, Giorgi said: "There are fewer trained laboratory personnel in the whole of China, which is three times as big as the EU in terms of population, than in Germany alone."
1Food Policy (2011)
The China melamine milk scandal an its implications for food safety regulation
Authors: Xiaofang Pei, Annuradha Tandon, Anton Alldrick, Liana Giorgi, Wei Huang, Ruijia Yang


text:
This is their standard bearer
September 18, 2012 - John Stack
The bottom has finally been hit. Mitt Romney should either just how low he will go to get certain people to vote for him, or he's shown how truly ignorant and soulless he is. To quote :" There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what…These are people who pay no income tax." I'm not sure if there is a worse cultural warfare comment one can make. If you don't make enough money for Romney's likes, as he says, you are dependent on the government. You believe you are a victim. You believe the government must take care of you. You are so entitled; you believe the government should give you food, shelter and housing.Everything. The 150 million plus Americans who pay no income tax are just parasites. They MUST only vote for Obama, as of course poor dumb entitled people must only want to be taken care of the government. Make no mistake – this statement by Mittens was designed to elicit a feeling of hatred towards Democrats, treating poor people as leeches and to create the image of democrats/poor people as lazy do nothings. Fortunately, he's as wrong as can be. As approximately half the population identifies as democrat, and half as Republican, think of everyone you know. Are half of them a drag on the economy? Half of them must not be working, just waiting for the government to take care of them. HALF the people you know. You mother/father/grandparents – if they don't make enough to pay net positive income taxes, they are lowlife loser parasites. You grandfather who worked 50 years and is now in a nursing home, or maybe even you are taking care of him. Leech. He only wants the government to take care of him. And buy him cool stuff that he doesn't have to pay for. We all know at 75 and frail health he should be out there working 3 jobs and 80 hours a week so he isn't such a burden on society and is making enough to actually pay income taxes. Nope. 50 years of working as a miner/bus driver/nurse/carpenter to just get a $15,000 social security payment? He is a sucking democrat. Either of my grandmothers would smack Romney for his crass mean spirited diatribe. One grandmother raised 12 kids with a mostly absent husband. She had her own hairdressing shop. At any one time, probably had 7-9 or more kids at home. Probably didn't pay income taxes with that many credits. Not abject poor, but not middle class. But also not a burden on society. She didn't expect the government to give her a house, and everything else. My other grandmother lost her husband (my grandfather) at about 65. She lived on a meager income at best. But, she paid her own bills. She kept a house up until she was 90. If Mitt Romney told her she felt entitled, that she felt she was a VICTIM, she would have cracked him with a cane, if she ever had reason to use a cane. As disgusting as Romneys remarks are, the stupidity behind the remarks is even worse. He is relying on a tremendous amount – tens of millions – of these poor voters to vote for him. His base is made up of millions of these vermin who don't pay income taxes. Romney actually doesn't expect that these millions won't recognize that he is talking about THEM!! He is relying on it! Of the 10 states with the highest percentage of no income tax payers, eight went for the GOP in 2008.Also, probably the biggest reason there are more nonpayers, is because Bush – and the Republicans - actually doubled the earned income tax credit, and actually expanded the EITC to more people. For someone only making $12,000 a year , there isn't much tax to be paid in the first place ( 15% = $1,800 and that's almost completely erased just by a head of houshold deduction). Giving them an extra one or 2 thousand via EITC easily wipes away any tax liability. If there is a party responsible for this class of 'non-payers' it would be that one party identified by a large elephant. If Mittens had meant something other than what I have described, he wouldn't have said it. If he said it to excite the base, this is what we call a completely classless and sociopathic person. Mitt has hinted around to what kind of person he is, and how he feels. We now know in spades.
Article Comments
No comments posted for this article.
Post a Comment
You must first login before you can comment.
News, Blogs & Events Web
Blog Links


text:
Wed, Jan 19, 2011
The Russian government says that the investigation into the
accident last April which killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski,
his wife, and 94 others is complete. They lay the blame for the
accident on the pilot, who did not divert to an airport with better
The Voice of Russia reports that the state MAK commission
inquiry is completed, and that the the cause of the accident was
the decision on the part of the flight crew to attempt a landing at
Smolensk despite warnings from air traffic controllers about poor
visibility. They also cite the presence in the cockpit of Polish
Air Force Commander-in-Chief Andrzej Blasik, who was among those
fatally injured in the accident. The Russian investigators found
alcohol in his blood considered to be just above the limits for
drinking and driving in Europe, and said his presence on the flight
deck pressured the pilots to attempt the landing.
The Polish government has rejected the findings of the Russians.
The BBC reported recently that the Polish government holds that, if
the weather was that bad, the Russian air traffic controllers
should have closed the airport, which would have forced a diversion
to the alternate. Polish authorities have said that the Russian
report is "unacceptable." A former Polish prime minister said that
the Russians placed all the blame on the Polish crew "without any
proof," and another member of the Polish Parliament said that the
Russian air traffic controllers acted "unprofessionally."
Airborne 12.19.14: Falcon 8X Unveiled, Sporty's 172LITE, Bizarre CA AvGas Lawsuit Settled
Aero-TV: Redbird's Roger Sharp -- Pushing The Aero-Educational Envelope
Airborne 12.17.14: Evergreen Woes, Foolish Pilot Tricks, No 757 Replacement -- Yet
See All
©2014 All Rights Reserved.
© 2007 - 2014 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC


text:
Here are some of the shirts that I have been working on this weekend for my shop. I love this combination of the chevron patch and the polka dot snowflake. This is a new font that I have been working with and I really like the look of the cursive, it is a different look than the curlier font I usually use.
In addition to the robins egg blue fabrics, I also have a lavender and pink. They all 3 will look fabulous for Christmas and even after in January and February....I just love a Christmas design that we can get more wear out of - not just December!
Here is another item I have been working on. Charly, the niece of my wonderful Twitter friend Channa is going to be 5 and is having a roller skating party. Channa wanted a shirt for her and I was so excited to find this roller skate applique!
Next up is the penguin and the ornament patch!


text:
Team Sky Team Principal Sir Dave Brailsford has re-emphasised the team's Grand Tour objectives after a strong start to the season.
The team sits in a position of luxury with the ability to target the top step of the podium across all three of cycling's Grand Tours.
Chris Froome, Sir Bradley Wiggins and, after victory at Paris-Nice, Richie Porte, lead that charge – the trio having proven on multiple occasions that they are capable of targeting the biggest prizes in cycling.
Froome and Wiggins have twice finished on the same podium together following a three-week Grand Tour, first at the Vuelta a Espana in 2011 and again at the Tour de France last season.
Amid speculation around who will lead Team Sky into the Tour this summer, Brailsford has reaffirmed the team's plans, with targeting victory at the Giro d'Italia the immediate priority.
"We're in a fantastic position - we have two of the best GC riders in the world and they are both great racers with a competitive will to win," he said.
"Since the start of season, Bradley's performance plan has focused around training specifically to try and win the Giro and then ride the Tour, whilst Chris' has been focused on attempting to win the Tour.
"Now we're here - the Giro has started and Bradley has done a brilliant job of getting in the best-possible condition for his assault on the race."
On Track
While Wiggins and Team Sky's Giro squad are out hunting the maglia rosa, on Friday Froome spent the day on a recce of stage 15 of the Tour and the infamous Mont Ventoux.
The 27-year-old has enjoyed an outstanding season to date, powering to overall victories at the Tour of Oman, Criterium International and Tour de Romandie with four individual stage wins along the way. With his early-season form stronger than even Froome himself could have hoped, preparations are firmly on track.
On the decision process for this summer Brailsford added: "As always the team selection is a management decision and it will be evidence-based. However it is crucial there is clarity of purpose and for that reason we will go to the Tour with one leader.
"Taking that into consideration and given Chris' step up in performances this year, our plan, as it has been since January is to have him lead the Tour de France team.
"With over seven weeks until the Tour and the Giro to focus on, our final selection of nine won't be confirmed until after the Dauphine.
"Everyone here is 100% focused on this race and the next three weeks."


text:
Unique ID: WAW-79FBB8
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation
A copper alloy Post Medieval coin weight which is sub-square in plan and has designs on both faces. On the obverse the design is, within a circular border, a crown with XXXIII below and an 'S' below that. The reverse has a shield within a wreath. The surface has a shiny, abraded brown patina. It measures 22.21mm long, 21.96mm wide, 3.81mm thick and weighing 12.7g.
The coin weight is for a rose ryal of James I (1603 - 1625), 2nd coinage revalued (Withers P. & B.R. Lions, Ships and Angels Galata Print. Powys).
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Date from: Exactly AD 1603
Date to: Exactly AD 1625
Length: 22.21 mm
Width: 21.96 mm
Thickness: 3.81 mm
Weight: 12.7 g
Quantity: 1
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 27th May 2012 - Friday 27th July 2012
Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: Ms Angie Bolton - [ view all attributed records]
Identified by: Ms Angie Bolton - [view all attributed records]
Primary material: Copper alloy [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Manufacture method: Cast [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Completeness: Complete [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Our images can be used under a CC BY-SA licence (unless stated otherwise).
Region: West Midlands
County: Worcestershire
District: Malvern Hills
Parish: Ripple
4 Figure: SO8738
Four figure Latitude: 52.040245 Four figure longitude: -2.190941
1:25K map: SO8738
1:10K map: SO83NE
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
Method of discovery: Metal detector [scope notes]
General landuse: Cultivated land[scope notes]
Specific landuse: Character undetermined[scope notes]
Domesday data within 2 km of discovery point is surfaced via the excellent Open Domesday website.
No references cited so far.
Your comment will be checked before being posted. We also check for spam using akismet.
Friday 24th August 2012
Updated: Friday 24th August 2012


text:
Related Posts
Share This
Weezy Has Been A Bad Bad Boy
Damn Weezy you got schooled by the legend Stevie Wonder. I love Weezy's sex talk (PAUSE!) but I agree this one was a bridge too far. Damn homie!
Stevie Wonder is not happy with Lil Wayne's vulgar lyrics that reference Emmett Till, a black U.S. teen whose murder in 1955 for allegedly whistling at a white woman changed the national conversation on race and civil rights.
The R&B legend says the rapper's disturbing verse should not have made it beyond the recording studio for the world to hear.
"You can't equate that to Emmett Till," Wonder said. "You just cannot do that. … I think you got to have someone around you that – even if they are the same age or older – is wiser to say, 'Yo, that's not happening. Don't do that.'"
Wonder, who says he is a fan and friend of Lil Wayne, made the comments when asked what he thought of the controversial lyrics in an interview Thursday.
On a remix to Future's song "Karate Chop," Lil Wayne compared a rough sex act to the tortuous death of 14-year-old Till in Mississippi. Following a crude reference to rough sex, Lil Wayne indicates that he wanted to do as much damage as had been done to Till.
Till's family has asked the rapper for an apology, and Epic Records, Future's label, said the official song will not feature the vulgar words and is employing "great efforts" to pull it down.
Wonder, 62, hopes the 30-year-old Grammy winner understands the perspective of the Till family and chooses his words wisely in the future.
"Sometimes people have to put themselves in the place of people who they are talking about," Wonder said. "Imagine if that happened to your mother, brother, daughter or your son. How would you feel? Have some discernment before we say certain things. That goes for me or any other (song)writer."


text:
|Name: _________________________
|Period: ___________________
This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Summary And Analysis For Chapters 9-12.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What is written on the apron Geryon is wearing when Percy arrives at the ranch house?
(a) Never trust a skinny cook.
(b) Two choices, take it or leave it.
(c) It's what's for dinner.
(d) Kiss the chef.
2. What does Grover say he smells while they are evaluating the milkman's skeleton?
(a) Monsters.
(b) Steak.
(c) Milk.
(d) Ice Cream.
3. How long does Eurytion say he's been working for Geryon?
(a) A few days.
(b) Thousands of years.
(c) A few months.
(d) A hundred years.
4. What does Perdix say could be the key to making a body that looks human but is better?
(a) Magic and mechanics.
(b) Water from the fountain of youth.
(c) Computers.
(d) Intelligence.
5. What are the words written on the side of the septic tank where Nico and the others are planning to do their summons?
(a) Willie Makeit Portapotty.
(b) Down the Drain Flush Co.
(c) Happy Flush Disposal Co.
(d) Sewers R Us.
Short Answer Questions
1. What is the young guardian dragon doing when Percy and Annabeth arrive at the camp entrance?
2. How long does Annabeth say she's wanted to lead a quest?
3. Who hits Kampe in the chest with a pole?
4. What does the king say Icarus and his father look like with their wings attached?
5. What is Hephaestus' reaction when Annabeth says they are looking for Daedalus?
This section contains 265 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page)


text:
21 Dec 2014
Related Items
Finance and Information Services
Online Utility Payments
Utility Billing
Water Department
Quick Links
Affordable Housing
Bids & Proposals
Budget/CIP Docs
City Council
Construction in Tigard
Development Code
Emergency Mgmt/Resources
Events & Meetings
Job Opportunities
Media Releases
New to Tigard?
Parks in Tigard
Public Records
Tigard Municipal Code
Water Division
Online Services
Alarm Permits
City Services @ a Glance
Code Compliance
Job Application
Library Catalog-WCCLS
Park Shelter Rentals
Permits and Inspections
Ticket Payments
Tigard Mapping Services
Utility Payments
Water Meter Information
City Hall
> Water Meter Information
Water Meter Sales
Water meters may be purchased at the Tigard City Hall Utility Billing Counter located at 13125 SW Hall Blvd.:
Mondays: Noon–4 p.m.
Tuesdays: 8 a.m.–Noon
Download the
Purchasing Water Meters form
Checking for Leaks
Your water meter is the best detective in your home. It can tell whether you have a leak, as well as how much water various appliances are using. All you have to do is learn its language. City of Tigard water customers have meters that measure cubic feet of water used. To convert cubic feet of water into gallons multiply the number shown on your meter by 7.48.
An example: 004900 cubic feet x 7.48 = 36,652 gallons.
Water meters never reset. To find out how much water you've used in any given period, just subtract the number of cubic feet used on your last bill from the current meter reading. Looking at the meter you will see a red sweep needle. This needle turns like a second hand clock. Each time it goes around, one cubic foot of water (7.48 gallons) is used. Also the meter has a leak detection device on the face. This is a small triangle shaped dial that has no cubic feet value but will detect small flows of water through the meter.
Now, go do some checking:
Turn on the sprinkler and watch the meter dial move for 1 minute. Multiply the number of cubic feet times 60 for the quantity used per hour. Then estimate how long you usually leave the sprinkler running. This will give you an idea of how many gallons of water you use each time you sprinkle.
Wait for a member of the family to step into the shower and follow the directions above. You will know how many gallons are used for each shower.
For leak detection, turn everything off carefully so no water is being used anywhere in the house, then note the position of the meter dial. Look at the leak detection triangle for movement. Don't use any water and check the meter dial again after 20 minutes. If the triangle has not moved, you have a relatively water-tight home. If it has moved, start checking hose connections, faucets, and toilets.
If you have any further questions regarding your water meter or leaks, please contact the Utility Billing office, 503-718-2460. If you have experienced a leak you may be eligible for an adjustment to your utility account, see the section under Utility Billing titled
Credit for Leak Adjustment
Keep Water Meters Accessible
Water customers are asked to ensure there is easy access to water meters located on their property. Easy access to your water meter enables Tigard staff to read your meter, perform repairs and routine maintenance and to turn the water off in the event of a leak or other water emergency.
Many water meters throughout the water service area are obscured or are difficult to access due to overgrown vegetation, fencing, landscape walls and other obstacles. A minimum clearance of two feet is required around water meter boxes and there must be a clear, direct path from the street to the meter.
For more information contact Water Operations Supervisor
Sam Morrison
at 503-718-2600.
Now you be the meter reader!
The next time you're working in the yard, take a few minutes and check out the area around your meter.
Is it easily seen from the street?
Do you have to push shrubs or tree limbs out of the way to get to it?
Do you have to duck down or crawl to read it?
If any of these are true, our meter reader will have trouble reading your meter. Feel free to call our office for advice on maintaining your meter, 503-718-2460.
Pressure Related Problems
Occasionally you may experience a decrease or increase in the water pressure. There are many possible causes of this problem including air in the water lines, faulty plumbing fixtures, or a defective pressure regulating valve.
Air in the lines is usually associated with construction in the area or a change in your water supply, such as the meter being turned off for repairs. Symptoms of air pockets include water "spitting" out of the faucet, cloudy or milky looking water, and possibly water that appears rusty. If you experience any of these things turn at least two faucets on full blast for 5-10 minutes; it's helpful if the faucets are located at different ends of the house. This should pull the air pocket through the water lines, however, if the problem doesn't clear up call the Water Division at 503-718-2591.
If you are experiencing low pressure in one area of the home, it is probably related to a faulty plumbing fixture. For instance, if the kitchen sink works fine but the clothes washer takes a long time to fill, the problem is probably in the line to the washer or the washer itself. The same can be said of individual problems with showers, toilets, sinks, etc. If this sounds like the problem you are having, you'll want to contact a plumber or make the repair yourself.
Another common pressure problem can be attributed to a bad pressure regulator. If the pressure seems unusually low throughout the house or if your pipes tend to rattle when certain fixtures are used, you may need to repair or replace your regulator valve.
Reading the Water Meter:
Simple instructions for reading your meter can be found in the section,
Checking for Leaks
Meters are read monthly for billing purposes. We do not estimate the reads for billing unless we are physically unable to read the meter. Generally, this is limited to meters that have been blocked by vehicles or cannot be located because of excavation in the surrounding area. Consumption is measured and billed in units of one hundred cubic feet (ccf).
Each week we read approximately 2,000 meters during a three day period and we pride ourselves on maintaining an error rate of less than .1%. However, there will be times when a meter is misread. If you find that the current read on your bill does not match the read on your water meter, call our office for an adjustment, 503-718-2460.
Back to Utility Billing page...
Checking for Leaks
Keep Water Meters Accessible
Pressure Related Problems
Reading the Water Meter
Pay Your Utility Bill online
Credit for Leak Adjustment
Water Rates and Information
Utility Billing Office:
Business Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
To report water, stormwater, sewer, street or park emergencies during regular business hours, contact Public Works staff at 503-718-2591.
After-hours answering service can be reached at 503-639-1554.
City of Tigard, 13125 SW Hall Blvd, Tigard, OR 97223
Automated Phone Attendant: 503-639-4171
Additional Contact Information
Map and Directions
Location and Hours of Operation
Questions, comments, suggestions?
Fill out the feedback form


text:
I can never thank you enough for giving, Anderson such a pretty smile
-Kelli M
620 Perimeter Dr., Suite 207
Lexington, KY 40517
2517 Sir Barton Way
Suite 204 (Quest Building)
Lexington, KY 40509
617 Edgewood Dr.
Nicholasville, KY 40356
1435 S. Main St.
Paris, KY 40361
When we remove your braces, we will begin the retention stage of your treatment. All of our patients are asked to wear their retainers full-time (24/7) for the first 3-4 months after the braces are removed. We will then reduce your retainer wear according to the following schedule:
8-10 hours daily for the next 9 months, followed by nightly wear while sleeping until age 18. After reaching this age, we advise one night per week on an ongoing basis.
8-10 hours daily for the next 9 months. After one year from braces removal, we advise one night per week on an ongoing basis.
As a part of the original contract, we will continue to see you for any needed appointments over the next 18 months. After that time has passed, no further regular visits will need to be made. We are always available and happy to see you for retainer checks in the future, however, there will be a small office visit charge applied.
620 Perimeter Dr., Suite 207, Lexington, KY 40517 P: (859) 268-1190
1435 S. Main St., Paris, KY 40361 P: (859) 987-1375
2517 Sir Barton Way, Suite 204 (Quest Building), Lexington, KY 40509 P: (859) 266-8411
617 Edgewood Dr., Nicholasville, KY 40356 P: (859) 887-2297