text: December 2010 'produced for Reps, Activists and interested parties' The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) Editorial 2 Europe moves to mandate ABS and outlaw modifications… 3-4 MAG Position Statement: EU Type Approval and market surveillance 5 Transport Spending Review - latest views and announcements 6 FROM THE HOUSE – questions and answers from the House of Commons 7-8 MAG Press Releases: Is road safety a temporary issue in Devon? MAG 8-10 invited to work with County Council in South Wales. Texaco garage embraces Diesel Spills campaign; Riders Are Voters Mass Lobby. Around The Country – Wandsworth Bikes in Bus Lanes. Newcastle under 10-11 Lyme goes traffic-free. Serious Bike Accidents down by 37% in Yorkshire. DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT – latest statistical releases. 11-12 P A C T S - More Injury Crashes as Changing Clocks Increase Risk; 12-14 RoSPA - Casualty Figures Prove Road Safety is Everyone's Responsibility ROADSAFE - White Lines Save Lives Road Safety GB - Safety DVD for Commuter Riders AA - 'Ultimate' Safety Camera Developed with EC Funding Events - December to February inclusive 14-15 Contacts 16 Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you're a man, you take it. Malcolm X 1 Editorial I'm totally perplexed – further on you will see Staff work (well beyond their contracted contradictory casualty figures. hours) that was like red rag to a bull. I reminded them of the dedication and hard Whilst the Department for Transport quotes work of MAG staff and that of the officers motorcyclists K&SI as having fallen by 6% in and activists in no uncertain terms. So, if you Quarter 2 of this year, Mike Penning, during a are similarly placed, may I respectfully suggest Westminster Hall Debate, is quoted as saying you do the same. "Although we had only a 2% increase last year in motorcycle use, the motorbike death rate I'm really pleased to see the Regional Reps has increased by 4%, which is going in exactly Liaison Officers post to be co-opted onto the the opposite direction of all other motor and NC. The role couldn't be in better hands than cycling deaths". Bill Pugsley. Good on you Bill. Nich tells me the DfT's own stats tables show I'm not sure when you will receive the January a REDUCTION in rider deaths (the number 2011 Network. I'll get it to Nich before we was 4% lower, the rate per billion kilometres break for Xmas/New Year but, hopefully, Nich ridden was 5% lower). will give himself a break and enjoy that time with no MAG stuff at all. It would be nice if everyone were singing from the same hymn sheet in getting the correct Wishing you all a great Festive Season and a information out there – such differences going safe & free riding 2011. out into the public forum might not instil confidence in Government Departments! Ride free, Aine I'm going to leave Nich to do his bit on the new Draconian measures the EU would like to inflict on us riders. He's far more up together to PS: don't forget, December 31st is the closing keep you informed correctly. date for Central Office to receive your proposals for debate or nominations for Recently someone said to me 'MAG doesn't election as national officers at the 2011 Annual seem to be doing much. Knowing how hard our Group Conference – more details from Central. Acknowledgements: George Legg; Nich Brown; Ian Mutch; Rowan Publications; and anyone else I've forgotten. The below e-mail lists provide people with regular info on MAG's activities: mag-uk-info - Official press releases. Sent to magazines, on-line publications, and anyone else that wants to receive them mag-uk-network - .pdf version of Network - MAG's monthly activists' newsletter. mag-uk-activists - Information for MAG activists. Campaign information, requests for help, items of interest, etc. To subscribe to any of the MAG E-mail lists please go to:- http://www.lists.mag-uk.org/mailman/listsinfo 2 Europe moves to mandate ABS and outlaw engine / transmission modification… Type Approval means that if a manufacturer builds a bike to meet a common set of rules about safety and emissions that model of bike can be sold throughout the EU. We've been living with the effects of Type Approval (some good, some restrictive) for many years, the Commission now wants to beef-up the rules. MAG and BMF have started discussions with the UK Department for Transport about how our transport minister's representatives will negotiate and ultimately vote. The DfT have commissioned TRL to look in to the likely impacts on the UK if these measures are adopted. The Commission's proposals will almost certainly be modified as the discussions go on. As is often the case, DfT are only prepared to fight on a few issues and don't seem terribly convinced by the concerns expressed by riders' groups. This is fairly typical of the realities of negotiating the final form of EU legislation that has already been subject to a lot of discussion between the Commission and the various stakeholder groups. That cannot discourage us from asking for our interests to be strongly represented by DfT. The Commission has created terms of debate that revolve around justifying the impact on individual riders by claiming net social benefits (fewer dead and injured, a cleaner environment especially in major cities), so that anyone wanting to modify their bikes appears to be reckless with safety and/or the environment. It's going to be a rough ride, and all of us have a part to play in challenging the view of the world that says that riders cannot be trusted and that conformity trumps individuality. Immediately following this brief outline of some key points in the proposals, you will find MAG's Position Statement on the proposed changes to EU regulations covering both the design of new bikes and the supply of after-market parts and service items. But first, let's take a look at two of the main issues of concern: ABS MAG and FEMA argue that the costs faced by individual riders having to buy, service and repair ABS are likely to be high in relation to the savings in overall casualties. The Commission paid the TRL to write a report about the trends in ABS uptake by riders and the costs:benefits of different options, such as letting the market decide or making ABS compulsory for new bikes. Not all of the options have been costed, crucially the option to let the riders decide through market forces. Moreover, ABS doesn't work for all types of riding surface, and there are fears that the Commission may even outlaw the provision of an ABS bypass even though this is widely-considered essential to rider safety on loose surfaces. The burgeoning market for dual-sport and adventure bikes could be under threat. Elsewhere in the TA regs, the need to bypass road-safety features in order to achieve off-road safety is clearly recognised as the regs require tricycles and quads equipped with a diff-lock on the back axle for off- road stability are required to have the diff unlocked as default. The Commission says it has evidence that ABS on every bike could reduce rider casualties significantly (by about 20%), enough to justify the claim that mandating its use is proportional to the size of the problem, and that surveys show many riders are prepared to accept ABS as a matter of course just as car drivers already have. The Commission conducted a public consultation exercise in the winter of 2008/09. They asked about 'Obligatory fitting of advanced brake systems on powered two-wheelers'. The Commission says 29 % of all respondents were against, 24 % were neutral or had no opinion and 49 % were favourable or relatively favourable. 3 MAG has never been afraid to stick to a policy it believes is correct, just because a majority of riders do not say they support it. The question is…has motorcycle ABS been developed far enough to merit a rethink, or should the basic principle of rider choice in this matter remain the defining concern for MAG? A warning from FEMA - Brussels Threat to Trailies Dual purpose bikes could disappear from the market due to new type approval rules from Brussels, the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations has warned. If the European Commission refuses to allow an ABS turn-off switch when the technology becomes compulsory on models over 125cc in 2013, bikes will effectively become unusable on dirt or gravel because the brakes won't work. This threatens dual purpose machines such as Yamaha's Tenere and BMW's GS range, but especialy more off-road focused bikes such as Yamaha's WR250. A Yamaha source said: "Our WR250 is probably one of the best road bikes which people can use off road. Well, they are not going to be able to use it off road because they will lose control. It means having to buy a bike either solely for road use or solely for off-road use but not both." FEMA is preparing guidance for motorcyclists to write to MEPs before a European Parliament vote in spring. 'Anti-Tampering' Measures to prevent modification of the whole power train from the air filter cover through to the rear tyre are being devised. We could be looking at anything from 'do not tamper' warnings, to components designed so they can only be removed using special tools, or even components that self-destruct if removed. Until now, anti-tampering has been imposed only on mopeds to prevent young and unlicensed riders tuning mopeds beyond the learner performance limit or beyond the capabilities of the tyres, chassis, brakes, etc. Initially the Commission was talking about the need to extend anti-tampering beyond the moped 'problem' to address the similar problem with tuning 125cc PTW. This line of thinking then seems to have gone further as the Commission started to worry that with the Third Driving Licence Directive creating three classes of motorcycle licence, there may be a temptation for riders to de-restrict bikes so their performance is greater than the riders' driving licence permits them to ride. The proposal for new anti-tampering measures are designed to prevent this sort of adverse effect on bigger bikes that have been modified, but also adverse effects on the environment, such as increased fuel consumption and noise, pollutant and CO2 emissions. Logically, we can expect the Commission to apply this thinking to all future bikes. MAG and FEMA oppose in principle, but as there is little detail yet as to what the measures would be, which makes it difficult to build a detailed technical case. Any good news? No more threat of a 100bhp Power Limit New emission limits will mean motorcycles remain at the edge of low-emission personal transport. Manufacturers will have to label bikes with information about fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. 4 MAG POSISTION STATEMENT: EU Type Approval and Market Surveillance Choice of Braking Systems MAG defends the principle of informed consumer choice. ABS has been developed over many years and can give good results in favorable circumstances, but some systems do not work as well as others or in all circumstances - especially on loose surfaces. MAG does not believe the European Commission has presented convincing evidence that the perceived benefits of ABS outweigh the additional purchase and maintenance costs, or that current low-cost ABS technology can be optimized for all bikes across the full range of riding conditions. There is also concern regarding over-reliance on technological fixes to the detriment of basic riding skills. Therefore, ABS must remain an option at the point of purchase and all ABS systems must allow the rider to turn them off when needed. 'Anti-tampering' - a bureaucratic sledgehammer MAG believes riders must retain the ability to modify, maintain and repair their own vehicles. Rather than restrict the potential to improve rideability and performance through Type-Approval, other measures such as driving licencing restrictions and national construction and use regulations allow riders reasonable latitude without significant threat to safety or environmental performance. Tougher emissions limits MAG welcomes the prospect of cleaner more efficient engines that will further develop the economic and environmental benefits of motorcycling. Industry has shown that it has the resources to adapt to new emissions limits and is being given time to develop systems that are lightweight and unobtrusive. There should be sensible exemptions for individual and small scale production as well as motorcycle sport. Fuel efficiency and CO2 labeling MAG welcomes the prospect of reliable information comparing the fuel-consumption of all models of motorcycle. Apart from savings at the pump, this proposal should make it possible to reduce the cost of UK road tax (VED) for bikes that are typically cleaner than many of today's lowest-rated cars. There should be sensible exemptions for individual and small scale production as well as motorcycle sport. Durability testing Durability testing should lead to more reliable bikes, longer warranty periods and quality standards that car purchasers typically expect. There should be sensible exemptions for individual and small scale production as well as motorcycle sport. On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) MAG is opposed to mandatory OBD if there is any potential for adverse effect on rideability or consumer choice. OBD systems currently used in larger vehicles have an ability to dramatically cut power to the engine when an emissions defect is detected. Cutting power to a motorcycle engine, especially in mid-turn, has the potential to cause catastrophic loss of stability illustrating that it is not a simple matter to transpose technology from one type of vehicle to another. OBD technology can present obvious barriers to home maintenance and modification. 100bhp / 74kW Power limit The case against this arbitrary limit has been evident since the time it was first instituted. It is redundant and should be allowed no value as a bargaining chip during negotiations. Access to Repair and Maintenance Information (RMI) This information should be available, free-of-charge, to owners. Access should also be extended to independent service and repair businesses. Aftermarket parts Any future regulations for the Type-Approval of after-market parts must seek to ensure reliability and value for money without seeking to restrict the scope for modification and home maintenance. There should be sensible exemptions for individual and small scale production as well as motorcycle sport. Market surveillance Consumers must be protected from sub-standard products whilst still being allowed to make informed choices about performance and value for money. Automatic Headlamps On MAG believes control over lighting should rest with the rider so that they can adapt to changing light conditions and other factors that affect their safety. The argument that safety is best served by every vehicle displaying a headlight or running-light in all conditions is fundamentally flawed. Depending on the changing nature of the environments that bikes encounter, frontal lights can camouflage and distract attention from them, or make them conspicuous and attract attention. Motorcycle frontal lights can appear to flash as a result of riding over uneven road surfaces, which can be misinterpreted as a signal from the rider to a vehicle waiting to turn across its right of way. In our view, neither environmental nor road safety objectives are well served by permanent lighting on all vehicles. For more information contact: Nich Brown 01926 844064 email@example.com 5 Transport Spending Review – different points of view… 1. The Government Press Notice: As part of the simplification and radical devolution of local government finance, the Coalition Government will no longer be providing a specific ring-fenced grant to support road safety delivery and enforcement – including camera enforcement - at local level. This funding stream is being wrapped up into the wider local government funding settlement, and allocated by formula. These reforms will give greater autonomy and flexibility to local authorities in deciding how best to tackle their road safety problems. Additionally, the Local Sustainable Transport Fund will offer local authorities the opportunity to bid for funding for schemes offering safety as well as other local benefits. Nationally, we are reducing the resources allocated to road safety research and marketing, distributing more of the available money instead for use in local targeted initiatives. We will reduce the THINK! budget by £12m per annum by 2014/15, so we will be focusing national marketing activity on those road users which represent the highest risks to others, and for whom a marketing approach is proven to be effective. We will also be making full use of lower cost mechanisms – such as social networking and the new educational courses – to target delivery cost-effectively and working closely with commercial partners to communicate key road safety messages. This approach has already proved successful; for example, 32,000 motorcyclists have joined a THINK! BIKER Facebook page launched earlier this year. 2. PACTS and RAC Foundation say 'road safety at a cross roads': PACTS and the RAC Foundation have jointly published a new report entitled 'Tackling the Deficit: At what cost to road safety?', which is timed to coincide with the Coalition Government's Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). The report, the first of two that PACTS and the RAC Foundation are publishing, argues that cutting casualties is an example of the Big Society in action and that a policy vacuum has developed in road safety due to cuts in funding and a lack of clarity over the post 2010 strategy and targets. The report goes on to say that road safety in the UK is at a cross roads, and urgent action is needed to ensure that road deaths and casualties continue to fall beyond 2010. A key area of concern raised is the Government's move towards decentralisation, which will reduce the role of central government and increase the power of local government with regard to road safety delivery. The report argues that this could lead to a reduction in the level of ring-fencing applied to funding and spending decisions. The report concludes that while the Government understandably wishes to use the CSR as a means to reduce the budgetary deficit, this must not be at the expense of safety. 3. DfT's Business Plan for 2011-2015 tries do do more with less This plan sets out the Department for Transport's vision for a transport system that is an engine for economic growth but one that is also greener and safer and improves quality of life in our communities. It details the Department's core priorities with key actions, including start and end dates and milestones, in these priority areas. It provides details of the Department's financial situation and commitment to transparency, setting out an information strategy and detailing specific indicators that the Department will publish and regularly update. DfT want to know your views on the indicators and information strategy in our Business Plan, set out in section E on transparency. The purpose of consulting on the indicators and information strategy is to ensure that this section of the Business Plan contains the most relevant and timely information and robust indicators. The consultation on the transparency section ends on 31 January 2011. The final plan will go live in April 2011. You may wish to comment on whether DfT: • have selected the right indicators and measures and clearly explained their meaning in order to give you a helpful high-level picture on the spending and performance of the transport sector • have robust data systems in place to ensure that the information provided is accurate, timely and robust and the quality is fit for purpose. You can find more information in the statistics pages • have clearly defined a commitment to publishing data to help you judge performance and whether the data that will be published meets your needs. You can find more information under our Publication Scheme • should be mandating or encouraging the publication of extra data, or data broken down in a different way, that you would find helpful in holding the transport sector to account or making choices about transport services (subject to the collection burden) and/or • can do more to engage you in helping us to meet the commitment to transparency and to make data available in the most helpful format To give your views or to receive further information, please email or write to the Departmental Performance Management team at the Department for Transport, Great Minister House, 76 Marsham St, SW1P 4DR Check the progress of key activities outlined in the Structural Reform Plan at Section C and leave comments on this and the other sections of our Business Plan at the Number 10 transparency webpage. Download PDF Business plan 2011-2015 (PDF - 153 KB) 6 FROM THE HOUSE Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of 20 miles per hour zones in (a) towns and (b) villages. Mike Penning: Decisions about setting 20 miles per hour zones are for local authorities, who are best placed to assess all the factors in individual cases. The independent Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has published several pieces of research, including TRL Report 215: Review of traffic calming schemes in 20mph zones and TRL Report 363 Urban speed management methods. Additionally in September 2009 the Department published a review of how 20mph speed limit zones are implemented in England. It is available on our website at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme4/20mphzoneresearch.pdf In addition to the above, the Department has researched the effects of the introduction of widespread 20 mph limits in Portsmouth and published the findings on our website at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/speedmanagement/20mphPortsmouth/pdf/20mphzoneresearch.pdf John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effects on maintenance standards on the strategic road network of reductions in funding for the Highways Agency. Mike Penning [holding answer 28 October 2010]: The Highways Agency is responsible for the maintenance, repair and renewal of the Strategic Road Network (SRN) in England on behalf of the Secretary of State. The agency is undertaking a review of its routine and winter maintenance standards to ensure that it maintains the SRN in a safe and serviceable condition, while seeking to reduce costs and drive value for money from its supply chain. The review is expected to be completed by April 2011.The revised standards will be introduced into new and existing maintenance contracts as appropriate. Maintaining the SRN in a safe condition will remain a priority for the agency. Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received from motoring organisations in support of increasing the speed limit to 80 miles per hour on controlled stretches of motorway. Mike Penning: There have been no recent representations received in support of increasing the speed limit to 80 miles per hour on controlled stretches of motorway. Rebecca Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect on the number of road accidents of the introduction of daylight saving time throughout the year. Mike Penning: An update of the 1998 TRL research, published 21 April 2009, suggests that an estimated net 80 deaths and 200 serious casualties per year would be avoided if single/double summer time was adopted (based on 2003-07 casualty levels). This takes into account the possible increase in casualties in darker winter mornings as well as the greater reductions expected in the lighter evenings, when more casualties occur. More recent estimates suggest the savings may currently be slightly lower-around 70 deaths and 190 serious casualties. This is due to the recent reductions in overall casualties. Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to review MOT test fees; and if he will make a statement. Mike Penning:[holding answer 28 October 2010]: The Department for Transport does keep MOT fee levels under regular review and officials will be meeting with representatives of the MOT test trade next month where this issue will be on the agenda. The fee maxima for the various classes of MOT test were last increased on 6 April 2010. The maximum fee for a car class test increased from £54 to £54.85. The proportion of this fee that goes to VOSA to cover its costs in administering the MOT scheme increased from £2 to £2.05. Scottish Parliament - Road Safety Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reduction in crashes, injuries and deaths has been since the introduction of road safety cameras and what the estimated financial savings have been. 7 Stewart Stevenson: Road safety cameras were introduced in 1990. Reported road accidents fell by 43% between 1990 and 2009, all severity injuries fell by 45% and road fatalities fell by 60%. These reductions will be due to a number of factors (including road safety education and engineering initiatives) and not the introduction of road safety cameras alone. Had casualty levels remained the same as in 1990, it is estimated that the cost to the Scottish economy could have been around £70 million per year (in 2009 prices). Penning Supports Average Speed Cameras: In a Westminster Hall Debate recently, Mike Penning showed support for average speed cameras, tackling uninsured vehicles, and improving the driving test. He also comments on the death rate for motorcyclists. Extract from the debate: Mike Penning: I am very keen to have a national framework for educating young drivers on the dangers of driving. When I was on the Back Benches, I went to see a scheme in Cheshire called Drive to Survive. It is an excellent scheme. If my hon. Friend wants, I shall drop him a line telling him about other schemes around the country. The schemes are a bit of shock but have a little compassion; they shock young people, and not only those who have been breaking the law by showing them what they could have done to themselves and to those whom they love dearly. At the end of most courses, someone is there to tell how they lost a loved one, and to talk about sons or daughters who had been maimed or killed at the same age. I pay tribute to Mr Beatty in Scotland and Mr Kerr in England; both are to advise me from personal experience how that campaign works. We may have wonderful, big organisations, but I want people from the grass roots to work with me on how to skill up our young people. I turn to the changes to the test that were touched on earlier. They are being implemented as we speak. People, and not only young people-this is so true-are trained to pass a test and not to drive. One thing that I have asked during the six months during which I have had the honour of being a Minister is the question, "Is the test fit for purpose?" Are we training people to drive in a fit and safe way so that they can enjoy the road? That applies not only to cars and HGVs but particularly to motorbikes. Even though we have some of the safest roads in the world, our motorbike death rate is going in the wrong direction. Although we had only a 2% increase last year in motorcycle use, the motorbike death rate has increased by 4%, which is going in exactly the opposite direction of all other motor and cycling deaths. I have therefore announced a review, which is ongoing, of the motorcycle test. As my hon. Friend is aware, our undulating roads are a big problem for motorcyclists as well as car drivers. The previous Government introduced the two-part test. Part of it was to be taken off-road. That sounds eminently sensible-ish-until one realises that the only way to get to the test centre is for those learner drivers to drive on the road. It can take anything up to two or two and a half hours to reach the test centre. Then comes the off-road test, and we have had some nasty accidents there. Those who fail are sent off home to drive on the roads again. It seems to me that if we are training people to drive on the highways and byways of this country, testing them on the roads is the best way forward. The full debate can be read at: Link: http://www.publications.parlia..0110355000003 MAG PRESS RELEASES 05-11-2010 Is road safety a temporary issue in Devon? In south Devon it would appear that road safety is only a temporary issue! Signs in the county that asked drivers to check for bikers in their mirrors have been put into storage. Accident rates dropped after the signs were put up on the A380 Newton Abbot to Kingkerswell road, demonstrating that information aimed at drivers really makes a difference, as incidents with a 3rd party still accounts for the majority of motorcycle accidents. South Devon MAG believe that as the nights draw in and the weather deteriorates, it is even more important that motorists should "Think Bike". Because of this, there will be an awareness raising event in the Romany Jones layby on the A380 this Saturday 6th Nov between 11am and 1pm, highlighting the Council decision to remove the signs. The press will be there to cover the story, so go along and offer some support if you are in the area. No one wants to be a casuality- help MAG ensure everyone should "Think Bike" See South Devon MAG's facebook page for more information or contact Clive on 01803 551227. http://www.facebook.com/pages/South-Devon-MAG/124025457642374 8 04-11-2010 MAG invited to work with County Council in South Wales, to address road safety concerns. MAG's involvement at all levels of National and Local Government policy creation, was clearly demonstrated last night in Shirenewton, Monmouthshire. MAG member Greg Harrison attended a meeting originally arranged by Monmouthshire County Council to discuss motorcycle fatalities on the B4235 between Chepstow and Usk, in the county. The meeting was well attended, with a good mix of Councillors, local residents, the Police (including their Road Safety Officer), and various employees of Monmouth Council including their Traffic and Network Manager Paul Keeble, Highways Engineer, and two members of the Road Safety Team, one of whom is a biker and MAG member. The concerns from the local residents and Councillors were two-fold, concerning bikers - safety, and nuisance or anti-social behaviour. Stats were delivered first to enable everyone present gain an insight into specific areas of concern. Accident figures on the B4235 for the last 10 years are as follows: - Total incidents - 141 Fatals - 6 (4 bikers, 66.6% of total) Serious - 34 (11 bikers, 32.3% of total) Slight - 101 - (12 bikers, 11.9% of total) These figures are higher than the National average and worthy of note. Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) has conducted three speed reviews following on from resident complaints. All were conducted on stretches of road where the national speed limit (NSL) was in force, and in a non-intrusive fashion so that accurate figures could be obtained. At the first site, cars returned an average of 36mph and motorcycles 39mph, both well within the NSL. At the second site cars returned an average of 32mph and bike speeds ranged from 20 to 39mph, again all well inside the NSL. Clearly, reducing the speed limit would have no real effect at all. Figures were also given for the number of bikes using the road on weekdays (49), Saturdays (168), and Sundays (303). Whilst there is a significant increase at weekends, and particularly Sundays, there is no significant increase in average speed. Although there are a couple of sections where high speed would be possible, including one long straight, the data would seem to support the idea that high speed is not responsible for accidents, fatal or otherwise. Gwent Police have been involved in a number of initiatives including high visibility patrols, engaging the motorcycling community at places like Abergavenny bus station cafe (a very busy meeting point for bikers at weekends) and running Bikesafe events. Gwent Police ran a total of ten Bikesafe events during 2010, and it is hoped that they will run more in 2011, but funding now seems to be a serious concern. After complaints from residents about anti-social and unlawful use of motorcycles, Gwent Police ran an operation that stopped 41 motorcycles. As a result five riders were issued with Section 59 notices, two were issued with speeding tickets, and two were issued with verbal warnings for the manner of riding. A useful statistic to set against these figures is that 437 speeding tickets were issued on Sunday the 17th of October in Gwent - only 5 were issued to motorcycles, representing 1.1% of the total. This is in line with the number of bikes on the road compared to other vehicles, i.e. bikes representing approx 1% of traffic. As the meeting developed it became clear that the issues from local residents were more to do with what they perceived to be anti-social behaviour by bikers rather than speeding, although speeding was still a concern, in particular through the village of Mynydd-bach which has no footpaths for pedestrians. A Gatso camera was mentioned as a possible solution, as was an illuminating speed register sign. Further discussion and exploration revealed that much of what was called 'anti-social behaviour', actually centred around concerns of inappropriate speed and noise. The police officers present eloquently made the point that traffic noise is subjective - it can appear louder in the country where there is far less background noise than in the city, for example. They also made the point that bikers pay road tax and insurance and have no less right to use the road than anyone else. Environmental Health were also involved, and have recorded noise levels in the house of one concerned resident - this does not appear to have recorded any illegal noise levels by any road user. One of the residents present also complained that she had been surrounded by "18" bikers all itching to overtake her whilst she was travelling at an appropriate speed, but it was explained that 'appropriate' speed, within limits, often varies by vehicle type and that anti- social behaviour on the roads is by no means restricted to bikers and any examples of it by any road user should be reported to the Police. Mr Harrison, who had recently ridden the route in question, gave the meeting a mile by mile account of the route from the rider's perspective and identified what he perceived to be the danger areas and possible solutions. MCC in particular were very receptive to what he had to say, and have invited him to do a drive-through of the route with them to highlight problem areas, and discuss what signage / road markings, etc., could be introduced. This is a real demonstration of how MAG and local councils can work together to achieve change with real user group input instead of knee jerk over-reaction. The Highways Engineer at the meeting was also very keen to work with MAG on a number of issues, not least the campaign to stop diesel spills on the highway. Talks will hopefully begin soon to see Monmouthshire County Council follow the lead of the Public Services in the North East, who have been fitting MAG's "Diesel Spills Kill" stickers to all their vehicles. Additionally, both the local Council at Shirenewton and the MCC Road Safety Team have asked if MAG will work with them on road safety initiatives involving bikers in the area. As MAG continues to grow in strength and respect in South Wales, these are welcome developments indeed. 9 05-11-2010 Texaco garage embraces Diesel Spills campaign Sean Buckley and the team at Peak District MAG are in talks with a host of haulage companies and public sector organisations about the application of Diesel Spills stickers to their vehicles, but now the Sickleholme Service Station in Bamford, Derbyshire has agreed to put them on all their pumps, to remind drivers to not overfill and to ensure that their fuel caps are properly secured before they drive off. MAG welcomes the move and is delighted that the Texaco garage is setting the standard in the region, for others to follow. Action Point why not follow the example of Peak District MAG? This is good local stuff to get your teeth into and may save a Bikers life… 09-11-2010 Riders Are Voters Mass Lobby - Preliminary Report Almost 100 Riders registered to attend the Riders are Voters Mass Lobby of Parliament on 8th November. Meetings with individual MP's ran from 10am until 6pm, throughout the day. The Parliamentary Motorcycle Group had booked a two hour slot in the Boothroyd Room at Portcullis House and there was much coming and going as MP's came to meet their constituents who had made appointments to meet with them. Various MP's also dropped in and spoke to the meeting, including: Stephen Pound MP, Steven Baker MP, Sarah Newton MP and Anne Main MP (St Albans) who sponsored the event. Members of the House re-iterated the importance of us getting our message out to all politicians whether at a local or national level and applauded the work of Riders Are Voters. Riders attended from as far away as Cornwall and Edinburgh and we would like to extend our sincere thanks to everybody who made the effort to come along and meet with their MP's. **STOLEN** White Piaggio Zip 50 SP, Reg no: WA09 CDV. Stolen between 08.45H Friday 05/11/10 and 16.30 Mon 08/11/10 from the North Devon College (Petroc) Barnstaple, North Devon. Only distinguishing feature some blue plastic melted onto the exhaust. The bike also has a fitted black Givi top box (not in the photo). Please contact Louisa at MAG Central Office on 01926 844064 if you have any information. Around The Country Wandsworth Council. Drivers Alerted to Bus Lane Bikers Drivers are being urged to keep a close eye out for moped and motorbike riders when turning across bus lanes following a relaxation of the rules governing many of London's bus lanes. Transport for London has announced that it is easing the rules that have previously prevented motorcycles from using bus lanes on the capital's 'Red Route' network. The change means that bikers can lawfully use bus lanes on most major arterial roads in the capital. As a result transport chiefs are urging car and lorry drivers to take extra care when turning left or right across bus lanes. When turning left, car and lorry drivers need to be aware that a motorcycle could be travelling on their inside. And when turning right, before beginning their manoeuvre, drivers need to double check that they are not going to collide with motorcycles heading towards them in the oncoming inside lane At the same time motorcyclists are being advised to wear high-visibility reflective clothing, stick to speed limits and be conscious that vehicles may cross their path unexpectedly. The council's transport spokesman Cllr Ravi Govindia said: "All road users, including pedestrians need to be aware of this rule change. "The rules are being relaxed on red routes in order to free up road space and cut congestion, but it does mean that all road users, in particular car and lorry drivers, must take extra care when travelling across a bus lane." For more information about these changes to red route rules visit www.tfl.gov.uk/motorcyclesinbuslanes. 10 Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council - Residents Consulted on Town Centre Scheme Residents are being asked for their views on a £750,000 improvement scheme designed to give a boost to Newcastle- under-Lyme town centre. The plans, put forward by the borough council and Staffordshire County Council, involve pedestrianising Hassell Street during the day and creating a new layout for the market in the town centre. The plan would lead to Hassell Street becoming a traffic-free zone from 10am to 4pm each day. Market stalls could also be introduced in Hassell Street and larger stalls would be located by the Guildhall and in High Street. A public consultation will go ahead from 1 November to the end of December, with residents having the chance to voice their opinions face to face, online and by using leaflets. People will also be asked if they would like to have a larger market on Wednesdays and no market on Thursdays, or whether they would prefer to have a market on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Cllr. Robin Studd, borough council Cabinet member for regeneration and planning, said:" At the moment, High Street is split by traffic using Hassell Street and this causes difficulties for pedestrians who are shopping in the town. The creation of a traffic-free zone would remove this problem and turn the town centre into a streamlined, safe and pleasant shopping area for local people and visitors.'' The taxis currently using the Hassell Street rank during the day would move to new ranks in High Street and Ironmarket. Buses would use a new bus lane in Barracks Road rather than Hassell Street. Residents will be able to have their say at the following public displays: 3 December, 10am-12 noon, Newcastle Library and Friday, 10 December, 10am-2pm, Newcastle market. Leaflets with reply slips will be available from the Guildhall from 5 November or go to www.staffordshire.gov.uk/newcastlecentreplans Action Point – if you live in the N-u-L area you might want to check out whether they've thought about bike parking and bus lane access. Serious Bike Accidents Down 37 per cent in Yorkshire Humberside Police has reported a 37 per cent reduction in the number of riders being killed or seriously injured on the region's roads since the launch of a safety initiative on 2004 aimed at reducing the number of bike-related accidents. The six-year campaign, named Operation Achilles, has targeted motorcyclists with education as well as prosecution. The course is self-funded and riders can only attend one every three years. Anyone declining the offer is prosecuted. Pc Glen Dennis, casualty reduction officer, said: "Operation Achilles has been a continuing success year on year and the results speak for themselves. To attend the scene of a serious road traffic collision, words really do fail you and it is indescribable how this makes you feel." DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT - recently published Transport Statistics:- Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain: Quarterly Provisional Estimates Q2 2010, see http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/ for details. Provisional estimates show the number of fatalities in road accidents were down by 19 per cent for the twelve months ending June 2010 compared to the previous twelve months. Total casualties were down 3 per cent and killed and seriously injured casualties down by 7 per cent, compared with the previous 12 months. The number of motorcycle users reported killed or seriously injured fell by 6 per cent whilst pedestrian and car user KSI casualties fell by 8 and 9 per cent respectively. However, the total number of reported pedal cycle casualties rose by 4 per cent, and the number killed or seriously injured rose by 1 per cent. 11 Road Traffic and Congestion in Great Britain: Provisional Estimated Q3 2010, see http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/roads/congestion for details. Investigation programmes researching causes and consequences of road accidents http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/investprogroadaccidentsOutline of three accident investigation programmes, On the Spot (OTS), Co-operative Crash Investigation Study (CCIS) and Heavy Vehicle Crash Investigation Study (HVCIS) commissioned to research the causes, consequences and injuries of road accidents and enable testing for the crashworthiness of vehicles and safety features Vehicle Registration and Licensing Statistics - September 2010 http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/vehicles/licensing/ This release updates key statistics on the licensed vehicle stock and new registrations in Great Britain. There is usually no pre-release access for this statistical release. Under certain circumstances (for instance, on publication of end of year statistics) pre-release access is granted to individuals on the Vehicle Licensing Statistics list.. Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (P A C T S) 285 More Injury Crashes as Changing Clocks Increase Risk… As the clocks changed, new evidence from Road Safety Analysis (RSA) and The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) makes clear that road traffic crashes are likely to be on the increase for two weeks after. This report comes amid growing pressure to consider the effectiveness of Daylight Saving Time (DST) when previous studies have suggested that there could be significant human and financial savings from managing the change differently. The findings, which are set out in an interim report published today, have examined 6 full years of collision data supplied by the Department for Transport and show that the after the clocks 'go back' so the number of recorded injury crashes increases. The effect of DST has not been examined for a number of years and this new research highlights a number of important findings. Crashes increase when clocks change The overall effect of DST is an increase in crashes in both March and October, although the autumn change has a far greater impact. The increase in March occurs mainly in afternoons and evenings, but the larger October increase is more evenly spread across all hours of day. Pedestrians beware Road traffic crashes increase by 3.9% in the fortnight after the autumn change, and pedestrians are particularly badly affected. 41% of the additional crashes, an average of 117 each year, result in injury to pedestrians. This compares to an overall figure of 16% of crashes causing pedestrian injury. Regional variation The report also examines the effect of the change on different parts of the country, given that sunrise and sunset times vary across the nation. The most adversely affected area is a band of northern England around Lancashire, Yorkshire and Humberside, where crash rates increased by nearly 7% over both DST changes. Not just poor weather The worsening rate of road traffic crashes following the October change does not appear to be due to the weather. In fact, the percentage of crashes occurring in adverse weather conditions over the two week period following the change actually fell slightly. Commenting on the findings published today, Bruce Walton, a director of Road Safety Analysis said, "It is vital that all road users take extra care over the coming weeks. The sudden change which affects our daily lives, plunging us into darkness when we were used to some daylight for our journeys puts us at greater risk. This is especially true for those who are on foot; they are well advised to take bright clothing with them to ensure that they are visible when night falls an hour earlier." Robert Gifford, Executive Director of PACTS added, "For some time now we have been calling on Government to reconsider the current Daylight Saving arrangements. This latest evidence demonstrates again that we are placing lives at risk by the way in which we change the clocks. PACTS would support a move to Single/Double Summertime (SDST) in order to help save lives on our roads." This interim report presents some headline results. A more detailed final report is anticipated soon. 12 RoSPA Casualty Figures Prove Road Safety is Everyone's Responsibility Detailed road casualty figures for Scotland show that all road users have a part to play in improving safety, says the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2009, published today by the Scottish Government, contains information about accidents involving different types of road user, including details of the contributory factors that led to the accidents. The report puts the estimated total cost of road accidents in Scotland in 2009 at £1,274million (damage-only and injury accidents). Loss of control, travelling too fast for the conditions and failing to look properly were the most commonly-reported driver/rider factors in fatal accidents. Failing to look properly was the factor most commonly associated with pedestrians – it was attributed to 49 per cent of pedestrians involved in accidents. A total of 216 people were killed on Scotland's roads in 2009, a reduction of a fifth on the number of deaths (270) in 2008. There were 2,269 seriously injured casualties and 12,545 slightly injured casualties. Despite the welcome reduction in the overall number of road casualties, there was a disappointing rise in the number of cyclists who were injured. The increase came about because, even though cyclist deaths and serious injuries fell, the number of cyclists slightly injured rose. There was also a rise in the number of light goods vehicle users who were seriously injured - showing the need to remain focused on improving the safety of at-work drivers - and an increase in seriously injured minibus users. While the total number of motorcycle casualties continued to fall, there was a disappointing rise in the number of motorcycle user deaths (up from 34 in 2008 to 43 in 2009). The number of motorcycle user deaths was higher than the average during the past five years and also higher than the average recorded during the mid-1990s. ROADSAFE - White Lines Save Lives Better centre line markings on the UK's most dangerous roads could help save 125 deaths and serious injuries. The centre line markings on eight of out ten of the UK's most dangerous roads are so worn that one third is almost non- existent, and half of the lines fall below the minimum specifiable standard, according to report to be published later this month by the Road Safety Markings Association at its "Seeing is Surviving" conference. International research shows simple white lines can reduce crashes by 30%. The Report will show: • Road users are being killed and seriously injured on the UK's most deadly roads – often for want of the cost of a pot of paint • White lines on the UK's most dangerous roads are twice as bad as those on the overall road network • A 5-mile section of the A6135 north of Sheffield has the worst road markings in the survey with three-quarters of markings non-existent or highly worn • Spend of £2.55 per metre on centre line markings on the UK's most dangerous roads could help to save 125 deaths and serious injuries • Investment in road markings on 7 out of 10 most improved roads is already helping to save lives • On one of the worst roads – a 5-mile section of the A6135 between Ecclesfield and junction 36 of the M1 (Hoyland) – three-quarters of the markings are either barely visible or need an immediate schedule for replacement. Taking the top 10 most dangerous roads identified in the latest report (2006-2008), the RSMA assessed the quality of centre lines http://www.roadsafetyfoundation.com/downloads/RSFreportweb.pdf Conversely, of the 10 notoriously dangerous roads identified by the RSF to have improved the most, seven had undergone targeted road marking treatments, with improvements resulting in cutting fatal and serious crashes by as much as 74%. ROAD SAFETY GB – new DVD for commuter riders A new road safety DVD focusing specifically on commuter PTW riders in towns and cities has been launched in Leeds. The Commuter Survival Guide for Motorists looks at planning and positioning from an urban perspective. Filmed on location in west Yorkshire, the DVD covers a number of real world scenarios that riders commonly face. It looks at how riders can mitigate the dangers that the constantly changing urban road environment present. David Glanville, west Yorkshire PTW road safety officer, said: "Riding in town requires a different skill set to negotiating country roads. 13 "Yes, speeds in town are generally a lot lower but there are far more potential hazards and riders can't always rely on other road users to do the right thing. This resource should help riders get to and from work more safely and efficiently." The DVD is available to riders across west Yorkshire through local dealerships and accessory shops. Alternatively http://www.qualityyorkshireriders.com/commuter-intro.htm to view clips. For more information contact David Glanville on 01332 475804 or firstname.lastname@example.com AA - 'Ultimate' Safety Camera Developed with EC Funding UK roads could soon be under the surveillance of the 'ultimate' safety camera, according to a Yahoo news report. Known as ASSET (Advanced Safety and Driver Support for Essential Road Transport), the camera uses 3D technology to detect multiple driving offences at the same time. As well as speeding, ASSET can see if a driver is wearing a seatbelt, measure the distance between cars (to identify tailgating), read number plates and tax discs (to see if the driver has valid insurance and Vehicle Excise Duty). ASSET will generate instant multiple penalties for drivers, raising the possibility of an instant ban. It will be fitted to police patrol vehicles and the information will be fed back to a central police database. ASSET, developed by the VVT Technical Research Centre in Finland, has been funded to the tune of £7.1 million by the European Commission. The project began in July 2008 and testing, currently taking place in Finland, France, Germany and Austria, will be completed by December 2011. It is expected to go to market in 2013, and to cost £50,000 per camera. Edmund King, AA president, said: "Tailgating is more dangerous in most cases than speeding, so I think most motorists would welcome it, as long as it is not used as a money making machine." Full news report at:- http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/04112010/36/world-s-most-extreme-speed-camera-0 EVENTS Sunday, December 12, 2010 - Darlington and District MAG Toy Run Organiser: Darlo` MAG Riding around Darlington, collecting toys and gifts to donate to Darlington Womens Refuge. All sizes of powered 2 wheelers are welcome. All donations and a good day out will be most grateful and welcome. Assemble 1030am for 11am start, ride ends at Town Hall 2pm. Location: Meet at The Brittania, Archer Street, Darlington Web: http://www.facebook.com/darlingtonanddistrict.mag Sunday, December 19, 2010 - Taunton MAG Toy Run Organiser: Taunton MAG Meet at 13.00H at the Gardners Arms, Taunton, then to Musgrove Hospital, arriving about 15.00H to meet the children. Bring donations - any toys must be new and not gift wrapped. Location: Gardners Arms, 36 Priorswood, Taunton, TA2 7PS. Enquiries: Call Mike on: 07599 341541 Sunday, December 19, 2010 - Telford Christmas Motorcycle Run Organiser: Bugsplatz MCC - www.bugsplatzmcc.co.uk The Fun starts at 10am and the Run leaves at 12 noon. Donations are requested of £2.00 per person, which are in aid of the Hope House Hospice and Midlands Air Ambulance. Butty van on site. Prizes for best dressed bike/trike/quad. NO stunt riding please. Location: Wylie & Holland Motorcycles, Watling Street, Wellington, Telford, TF1 2NH. Enquiries: Sarah on 07723 055874 Web: http://www.telfordchristmasrun.co.uk 14 Sunday, January 9, 2011 - Mid Lincs MAG AGM Organiser: Mid Lincs MAG Annual General Meeting starting 7pm prompt. Nominations required for all the usual jobs. To our new postal address: PO Box 8, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 9AJ please. Location: The British Sugar Sports and Social Club, British Sugar Hollow Road Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP32 7BB Enquiries: Herb - Tel: 01284 724273 Web: http://Face book B.S.E Mad Cows Sunday, January 30, 2011 - Western Region MAG AGM Organiser: Western Region MAG Regional AGM hosted by Bristol MAG. Bring your Membership cards, no card, no vote! Location: The Lamb Wotton Road Iron Acton South Gloucestershire BS17 9UZ Friday, February 4, 2011 - Sunday, February 6, 2011 - The 25th Frozen Nuts Rally Organiser: Dangermouse Rally Club Same site, live band and disco. £12 pre book or £15 on the gate send cheques to: PO Box 582, Enoch House, Scotia Business Park, Stoke on Trent, ST6 4RG contact Orko on: 07960451573 or Bones: 07990500688 or Rich: 07812580337. Location: Bignall End Cricket Club, Boon Hill, Bignall End, Stoke On Trent, ST7 8LA Web: http://www.dmrc.co.uk Saturday, February 5, 2011 - Fred Hill Run Organiser: Thames Valley MAG Annual memorial run into Oxford. Depart 1200pm. Location: Depart Chieveley Services, J13 M4, 1200pm. Enquiries: Any queries, please call Rob - 07905 003585 Saturday, February 5, 2011 - Thames Valley Regional AGM Organiser: Thames Valley MAG 3pm. Follows Fred Hill Run. All members from region welcome. Please remember to bring your current MAG Membership card. No card - no vote. Location: H Cafe. Berinsfield, Oxfordshire, OX10 7LY Enquiries: Any queries, please call Rob - 07905 003585 Sunday, February 6, 2011 - Fred Hill Memorial Run Organiser: MAG Cornwall. Ride around Cornwall to remember Fred Hill, finishing at Truro War Memorial for laying of flowers and explanatory poster. Location: 10am Smokey Joes cafe near Blackwater Cornwall. Saturday, February 19, 2011 - East Anglia Regional AGM Organiser: East Anglia MAG Arrive from 14:00 for a 14:15 start Remember your Membership card - no card, no vote. Location: 11 Short Drive, Manea, Nr. March, Cambridgeshire PE15 0GF Web: http://east-anglia-region.mag-uk.org 15 CONTACTS MAG UK Central Office: MAG UK, PO Box 750, Warwick CV34 9FU Tel: 01926 844064 Fax: 01926 844065 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com General Secretary Nich Brown 0844 248 0200 firstname.lastname@example.com Campaigns Manager Paddy Tyson 0844 248 0166 firstname.lastname@example.com Accounts Dept. Julie Sperling 0844 248 0156 firstname.lastname@example.com Deputy General Secretary Louisa Smith 0844 248 0199 firstname.lastname@example.com Membership Administrator Ceri Priddle 0844 248 0199 email@example.com NATIONAL OFFICERS National Chairman/ Paul Turner 0844 248 0158 firstname.lastname@example.com Director MAG(UK) Ltd National Vice-Chairman Jolyon Lawson 0844 248 0185 email@example.com National Finance Officer Patrick Van Aalst 0844 248 0162 email@example.com Network Co-Coordinator Anne Gale 0117 957 2401 email@example.com President/The Road Editor Ian Mutch 0844 248 0157 email@example.com National Reps Liaison Officer Bill Pugsley 07812 949185 firstname.lastname@example.com National Clubs Liaison Officer Position Vacant 0844 248 0165 email@example.com Events (Shows and Stands) Neil Stevenson 0844 248 0164 firstname.lastname@example.com Director MAG (UK) Ltd Di Pugsley 0844 248 0178 email@example.com Director MAG (UK) Ltd Sheila McFarlane 0844 248 0160 firstname.lastname@example.com Director MAG (UK) Ltd Paul Turner 0844 248 0158 email@example.com Director MAG (UK) Ltd Steve Wykes 0844 248 0187 firstname.lastname@example.com Director MAG (UK) Ltd Tony Cox 0844 248 0169 email@example.com Director MAG (UK) Ltd Den Powell 0844 248 0161 email@example.com Director MAG (UK) Ltd Justine Travis 0844 248 0167 firstname.lastname@example.com Advisor to the Board Jane Chisholm 0844 248 0179 firstname.lastname@example.com MAG Sport / MAG Energy Position Vacant 0844 248 0155 email@example.com REGIONAL REPS British Independent Islands Position Vacant 0844 248 0176 email@example.com Cumbria Paul Turner 07846 676980 firstname.lastname@example.com East Anglia Selina Lavender 0844 248 0186 firstname.lastname@example.com Lincolnshire Noel Corrigan 07706 408566 email@example.com Eastern Position Vacant 01926 844064 firstname.lastname@example.com East Midlands George Shelton 0844 248 0180 email@example.com Greater London Position Vacant 0844 248 0182 firstname.lastname@example.com Herts & Essex Position Vacant 0844 248 0183 email@example.com North East Kitson Warrener 0844 248 0173 firstname.lastname@example.com Northern Ireland Position Vacant 0844 248 0171 email@example.com North Wales Rory Wilson 07914 587982 email@example.com North West Tony Cox 0844 248 0169 firstname.lastname@example.com Scotland Steve Wykes 0844 248 0187 email@example.com South East Position Vacant 0844 248 0170 firstname.lastname@example.com Southern Sheila Partridge 0844 248 0188 firstname.lastname@example.com South Wales Phil McFadden 0844 248 0177 firstname.lastname@example.com South West Ian Mill (Kato) 0844 248 0163 email@example.com Thames Valley Steve Steadman 07931 526914 firstname.lastname@example.com Western Bryan Chapman 0844 248 0172 email@example.com West Midlands Eddie Lowe 0844 248 0168 firstname.lastname@example.com Yorkshire Nicki Gage 07910 335301 firstname.lastname@example.com OTHER CONTACTS MAP Ltd Pete Walker 0844 248 0159 firstname.lastname@example.com Official MAG merchandise Neil Stevenson 0844 248 0164 email@example.com The MAG Foundation - Trustee contact Neil Stevenson 01926 844061 firstname.lastname@example.com MAG receives no revenue from the 0844 numbers listed, these are charged as a "national rate call" you can clarify the cost of a national call with your telephone provider. Please be aware that with the exception of the MAG UK Central Office Staff and ' The Road' Editor, all these people are volunteers with 'day-jobs' and may not be available to receive or return phone calls during office hours. E-mail may be a more effective form of communication. 16


text:
Frank Sinatra and Peter Lawford in Oceans Eleven.
FollowFrank Sinatra and Peter Lawford in Oceans Eleven.
Peter Lawford, Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe
The rat pack being drunk as hell, as usual.
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford
Ram Country
The Rat Pack: Peter Lawford, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra.
Classic Hollywood stars in color clips
The Rat Pack, Peter Lawford, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr & Dean Martin on the set of "Ocean's 11" photographed by Bob Willoughby, 1960.
Tony Curtis, Nat King Cole, Peter Lawford and Frank Sinatra
Where's Joey?
"The flying ashtray was an ad-lib, by the way. Which was responsible for the startled expressions you see on everybody's face."
Elizabeth Taylor and Peter Lawford (1948)
The Rat Pack
The Rat Pack
Peter Lawford, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. & Frank Sinatra
Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis Jr. and Jack Entratter in Las Vegas during the making of "Ocean's Eleven".
The Maine Summer Khakis And Sailboats Crowd.
Peter Lawford and John F. Kennedy, 1962.
"Mr President, the late Marilyn Monroe."
Peter Lawford and Ava Gardner, C.1950's

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Red Sox prospects Henry Owens, Matt Barnes strike quickly |
04.08.12 at 3:09 am ET |
The best news of the day for the Red Sox unquestionably came in the minor leagues.
In Triple-A, Aaron Cook — who is remains on call as a rotation depth option — threw a seven-inning complete game with a strong sinker/slider combination. (More on his outing here.) Prospect Alex Wilson likewise got off to a good start in Pawtucket, giving up one run on three hits and a walk in five innings while striking out seven.
Yet it was down in Single-A Greenville where the Sox received perhaps their most eye-opening performances from a group of left-handers.
Both Andrew Miller and Rich Hill commenced rehab assignments for the Single-A Drive. Hill, who is now 10 months removed from Tommy John surgery, started and tossed a perfect innings, striking out all three batters he faced on 17 pitches. He will make his next appearance on Tuesday. Miller followed in the second, and though he gave up a pair of hits and hit a batter, he struck out a pair; Miller will next pitch on Monday as he progresses towards what the Sox hope will be an entry into their bullpen in the coming weeks.
Yet Miller and Hill, in some ways, were the undercard. After all, they are big league veterans who should dominate the inexperienced hitters of the South Atlantic League. The pitcher who followed them into the game cannot make the same claim.
Left-hander Henry Owens was taken by the Sox last year in the supplemental first round of the draft with the No. 36 overall pick. He is a gangly southpaw who nonetheless shows a surprisingly advanced feel for his pitches and the athleticism to maintain his delivery.
The Sox rarely have pitchers whom they draft out of high school begin their pro careers in a full-season affiliate, instead holding them back in extended spring training to work on some aspect of their craft — delivery, five-day routine, refining a pitch…something — before sending them out to a short-season affiliate, with the Lowell Spinners being the destination of choice for the more advanced prospects.
But with Owens, the Sox felt comfortable with a more aggressive assignment, sending him straight to Greenville. At the start of spring training, the Sox debated whether the 19-year-old should remain in Fort Myers at the start of the year. Yet in games during spring training, the Huntington Beach native — listed at 6-foot-6 and 190 pounds — the debate was rendered unnecessary.
"By the end, everyone felt pretty comfortable pushing him up to Greenville," said Sox farm director Ben Crockett. "He's an advanced high school pitcher. He throws three pitches for strikes. We saw him in different settings, including towards the end of the spring, with the Salem-level (High-A) team, so we kind of pushed him a little bit. He responded. I think he's got the weapons to do it. I think that's huge. And he has the polish to do it, maybe even more than some guys who are college guys or high school guys who we've had for a little while, in terms of his ability to repeat his delivery and pound the strike zone.
"Kind of knowing his personality and the background, both from the player development side and also the scouting side, this is the type of guy that can handle it. We wanted to feel confident that he was ready to make that move. With all of those things coming together, we did."
Owens is the first Red Sox pitcher since Casey Kelly in 2009 to start his pitching career in Greenville, and Kelly was dealing with special circumstances, since he was pitching for half a season before switching over to play shortstop for the second half of the year. The Sox deemed Owens ready on his own merits (as they might have with Kelly), and in his debut on Saturday, the left-hander gave the team no reason to second-guess that decision.
The final line — three innings, five runs, five hits, two walks — does not tell the entire story.
In his first three innings (the third, fourth and fifth of the game, as Owens entered after the two major league lefties), Owens gave up neither a run nor a hit. He struck out seven of the 11 batters he faced, including a fourth inning in which he struck out the side.
Owens came back out for the sixth inning and gave up five straight hits. However, four of those were groundballs (three of them infield grounders), with just one well-struck hit (a double off the replica Green Monster at Fluor Field). By that point, the left-hander was lifted after reaching his pitch count, with the two runners he left on base coming in to score against relievers.
On Sunday, the Sox will unveil another highly touted prospect in Greenville, with 2011 first-rounder Matt Barnes (the No. 20 overall selection) taking the hill for his pro debut. Barnes, who was drafted out of UConn, showed the sort of stuff that likely would have played in High-A, but the Sox wanted to permit the right-hander to acclimate to the five-day routine of pro ball at a more comfortable level in Greenville.
The approach is the same one that the Sox took with Anthony Ranaudo one year earlier, with the LSU product making his debut in the South Atlantic League, pitching well and moving up to Salem at the end of June.
"There was definitely a debate [in assigning Barnes]," said Crockett. "His stuff was very good and he performed very well in the spring. At the end of the day, we just felt more comfortable for a guy who didn't pitch at all last year for us, and really hadn't experienced pro ball, to get him started in Greenville, similar to what we did with Ranaudo last year. We'll see what happens from there. Certainly, he's an advanced college pitcher. If he throws well, we're not necessarily planning to keep him there all year. We'll see how it goes."
In terms of stuff, Crockett saw Barnes touching 96 mph and sitting at 94 with some movement on his fastball. He also saw a solid breaking ball as well as a pitcher who showed the potential feel for a changeup, a pitch that is currently a bit harder than ideal but that does have some sink to it.
Now, the 21-year-old is ready to get his pro career underway officially, at a level that is far from the majors and yet that is currently crowded with interesting arms.
UPDATE: In his pro debut, Barnes tossed five shutout innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out nine.
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Results 1 - 4 of 4 for "u:northcountrypublicradio.org" in Gouverneur, NY
New CEO brings big vision to GardenShare w/Photo
Gardenshare, a local group working to end hunger and strengthen food security in northern New York, will welcome a new executive director at its annual harvest fundraising dinner next week. Gloria McAdam is a 30-year veteran in the fight against hunger and poverty in Hartford, Connecticut. Comment?
What actually happens after you vote? w/Photo
The answer: a lot. Last night, election officials from small towns all over St. Lawrence county delivered computer chips from voting machines to centrally located police stations. Comment?
Coming now: the future of health care in the North Country w/Photo
In December, New York's health department commissioned a thorough assessment of the North Country's health care system. Comment?
Gouverneur man, 23, imprisoned for killing baby
A 23-year-old northern New York man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for killing his girlfriend's 7-month-old baby. Comment?
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text:
The proportion of men drinking more than 21 units a week on average fell from 29% in 2000 to 23% in 2006 |
A recent survey in the UK has revealed that alcohol consumption in the country is on the decline.
The Office for National Statistics' General Lifestyle Survey (GLS) has revealed that the proportion of men drinking more than 21 units a week on average fell from 29% in 2000 to 23% in 2006. This trend is continuing, according to the report.
Between 2006 and 2009, the proportion of men drinking more than 21 units a week fell from 31% to 26%, while the proportion of women drinking more than 14 units a week fell from 20% to 18%.
Around 15,325 adults aged 16 and over were asked on how many days they drank alcohol and how much of each of six different types of drink (normal strength beer, strong beer, wine, spirits, fortified wines and alcopops) they drank on their heaviest drinking day. These amounts were converted into units of alcohol to give an estimate of the number of units the respondent consumed.
The report states that, during the 1990s, there was a slight increase in overall weekly alcohol consumption among men and a more marked one among women. However, following an increase between 1998 and 2000, there has been a decline since 2002 in the proportion of both men and women consuming alcohol.
On the average weekly measure, heavy drinking is defined as consuming over 50 units a week for men and more than 35 units a week for women. Between 2006 and 2009, the proportion of men who drank more than 50 units a week fell from 8% to 7% and the proportion of women who drink more than 35 units a week fell from 5% to 4%.
However, the report notes that the falls in average consumption are partly due to a rise in the number of people who abstained from alcohol altogether. In 2009, 85% of adults consumed alcohol and 15% of adults abstained from drinking alcohol. Abstinence was more common among women (18%) than among men (12%).
To view the full report, click here.


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High Court Hears 401(k) Case
WASHINGTON -- Supreme Court justices hearing a case of alleged retirement fund mismanagement seemed uncomfortable with barring employees from suing over certain losses to an individual's retirement account.
The high court considered arguments in a case brought by a South Carolina man who alleged his employer, DeWolff, Boberg & Associates Inc., mismanaged his 401(k) plan. He charged that requested investment changes were never made and as a result his retirement account lost $150,000.
At issue in the case is whether federal pension law, which allows lawsuits by a group of employees, prohibits a suit over an individual account loss. Legal experts believe the outcome could be an important development in retirement law because of the shift from defined pension plans to 401(k) contribution plans. The case could also affect lawsuits over individual company stock funds, like those at issue in employee losses from accounting-fraud debacles such as Enron Corp.
Justice Stephen Breyer, summing up concerns expressed by several justices, asked why it mattered if "that one diamond came from a big vault or from one little safe-deposit box with the participant's label on it." He indicated he wasn't sure he saw how federal pension law allows the group lawsuit while barring the individual case. Justices expressing similar concerns included Ruth Bader Ginsburg, David Souter, Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito.
The federal government, appearing at the arguments in favor of the plaintiff, believes the law allows employees to seek recovery of losses for individual retirement account mismanagement. The plaintiff, James LaRue, seeks to recover losses he alleges occurred because the company's plan didn't act on instructions he made in 2001 and 2002. A federal trial court and the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., ruled the case, in its initial stages, wasn't allowed under federal pension laws. (LaRue v. DeWolff, Boberg & Associates Inc.)
Write to Mark H. Anderson at firstname.lastname@example.com


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10 Top Twitter Users From Barack to Bieber
7. Taylor Swift
Twitter handle:
Joined Twitter: Dec. 6, 2008
Followers: 20,399,623
First tweet: Dec. 6, 2008. "apologizing to a very needy cat for being gone so long."
If only that poor cat knew what was to come. Swift's time on Twitter has been like a personal timeline. She's sold close to 16 million records in that span, had seven Top 10 singles, won six Grammy Awards and one particularly memorable MTV Video Music Award that introduced "I'ma let you finish" into the American lexicon.
Even without her onstage run-in with Kanye West, Swift's given her Twitter followers quite a bit to talk about. She dated Joe Jonas of bygone pop act The Jonas Brothers from July to October 2008, Twilight actor Taylor Lautner from October to December 2009, breakup song muse John Mayer from late 2009 until early 2010, actor Jake Gyllenhaal from October 2010 to February 2011 and Kennedy Family scion Conor Kennedy from July to October of this year.
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Bodybuilder Self Conscious About His Small Penis Somebody get this guy a sock for his crotch! 11/5/2014 10:52:47 AM 23,966 33
Arm Wrestling Small Guy vs Big Guy Arm Wrestling Small Guy vs Big Guy, Place your bets... 3/15/2014 12:10:26 PM 23,948 30
Guy Rides Smallest Bicycle In The World Dude ditches his full size bike for his pocket bike. 8/23/2012 12:00:00 AM 14,690 104
Box Is Too Small For Cat The cat needs a bigger box or has to lose some weight. 10/12/2010 12:00:00 AM 20,393 27
Tiny Arms This woman has tiny tiny arms like a T-Rex but she can still drive, shop,... 1/11/2008 12:00:00 AM 80,380 23
Small Snake Attempts To Eat Bigger Fish I think he bit off more than he could chew. 11/22/2014 10:15:00 AM 7,236 11
2 Small Kids Wrestling Like Pros You're watching two future pro wrestlers right here. 10/31/2014 11:42:24 AM 4,360 27


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Discussions | Replies | Latest Activity |
Hitting partner in the Reston areaI'm looking for someone to play tennis with or to hit with. My skill level is rated 3.5. I am home during the day so my availability is fle… Started by Ken Gubin |
2 |
Jul 26, 2010 Reply by Larry Yeh |
tennis this evening?3.5/4.0 player looking to hit and potentially play a match this evening around 6:30 7pm. anyone interested? Started by Eric George |
1 |
Jul 24, 2010 Reply by Ben |
tennis saturday in the morning3.5-4.0 player looking for someone to hit with or play a few sets. I am looking to play saturday morning in vienna/falls church/mclean/fair… Started by Michael Martin |
1 |
Jul 23, 2010 Reply by Kenneth Kawahara |
Sunday.. Sunday.. Sunday..looks like the weather might clear outta here early Sunday.... Leaving us with a decent afternoon... anyone interested in hitting a few ba… Started by Gary |
7 |
Jul 18, 2010 Reply by Gary Tsui |
Beginners around Fairfax?Used to play tennis in highschool and haven't played in a long time. Looking to get back in the game. Looking for someone in the area to pl… Started by Hima Suri |
5 |
Jul 17, 2010 Reply by Fahad Hoda |
Tennis partner needed.Hi guys looking for a tennis partner to play around the fairfax, herndon, reston areas.ThanksPaul Started by pau soh |
4 |
Jul 17, 2010 Reply by Fahad Hoda |
3.5 Looking for tennis player in Fairfax/ fair OaksLooking to play tennis on week nights after 6 PM.I live in the Fair Oaks area.let me know if you are interested. Thanks's Started by Domnic |
5 |
Jul 17, 2010 Reply by Fahad Hoda |
Tennis this weekendHey everybody (re: Dr. Nick) I'm looking for someone who wants to play this weekend in the Falls Ch, Arl. Vienna region. Give me a call at… Started by David Everett |
0 | Jul 17, 2010 |
Beginner Tennis in SterlingHi, I am a beginner interested in playing Tennis in the Sterling area. Email / message me if you are interested. Thanks, Rocky Started by Rocky |
0 | Jul 16, 2010 |
Beginner looking for a tennis partner to play with around the gainesville/manassas areaIm a beginner but i could keep a rally going and i could serve. It would be nice to play with someone local but if its in the 20 mile radiu… Started by Donny J |
0 | Jul 10, 2010 |
© 2015 Created by Mark / The Mayor.


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Cantina Hat - ARJHA00023
You're desperate for refreshing style. The Cantina quenches your thirst with raffia straw and a beaded band with a metal Roxy charm. Drink it up. Imported. 100% raffia.
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- Blocks sun
- Fits small
Best Uses
- Beach
I wore this hat to the beach and on a winery tour this past weekend. I love the look and style of this hat and found it packed really well. There's a bit of metal in the brim so that if it gets squished you can bend it back into shape. The only downside is that I found the hat small. I have thick curly hair, and I would have liked the hat to be a bit looser on my head.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Adjustable brim
- Perfect Fit
- Beaded Accent Could Break
Best Uses
I have a beach house in Mexico and have a number of hats at the house. This purchase was specifically for a Cabo vacation. I wanted to be a bit more stylish with a fun hat. This is just that. Stylish and fun! Love, love, love it!
- Was this a gift?:
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Displaying reviews 1-2


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Paladore - Boopets - Icepets
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Drug-resistant 'superbugs' now a global threat: WHO
Diseases like gonorrhea and tuberculosis have come more difficult, and maybe impossible, to treat.
Drug-resistant "superbugs" have now spread to every corner of the world, threatening to make diseases like gonorrhea and tuberculosis more difficult — or even impossible — to treat, according to the World Health Organization's first global survey of antibiotic resistance.
"Increasingly, governments around the world are beginning to pay attention to a problem so serious that it threatens the achievements of modern medicine," Dr. Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's assistant director-general for health security, wrote in the report's foreword.
"A post-antibiotic era — in which common infections and minor injuries can kill — far from being an apocalyptic fantasy, is instead a very real possibility for the 21st century."
The problem of drug resistance is causing alarm around the world, with high-profile public health officials warning it could lead to the "end of modern medicine as we know it." While many public health bodies have issued reports on antimicrobial resistance — including the WHO — this is the first international survey of the problem and the most comprehensive global snapshot to date, Fukuda said in a press conference Wednesday.
"Overall the picture is very clear," he said. "What we're seeing is that the capacity to treat serious infections is really becoming less in all parts of the world.
"We should anticipate to see more deaths and we should also anticipate to see higher costs."
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when a disease-causing microbe — such as a bacterium, virus, parasite or fungi — develops the ability to overcome the drugs used to kill them.
While resistance is a naturally occurring phenomenon, it has been dramatically accelerated by man-made pressures, such as the overuse of antibiotics in both people and animals. Making matters worse, the drug pipeline is also running dry — no new classes of antibiotics have been discovered since the late 1980s.
In a world without antibiotics, more people would die from common infections. Modern-day medical procedures — everything from chemotherapy and hip replacements to Caeserean sections — would also become more dangerous or even deadly.
But infectious disease experts warn we are now headed towards this reality and the WHO report says drug resistance has "reached alarming levels in many parts of the world." Common infections once easily cleared using oral antibiotics — like urinary tract infections caused by E. coli — are requiring hospital-administered injections. Untreatable gonorrhea has now been reported in 10 countries, including Canada. Drug resistance is also threatening progress made on global killers like HIV, malaria and tuberculosis.
But the report also found that many countries are failing to track antibiotic resistance. As worrisome as the WHO's findings are, they provide only an incomplete snapshot of the problem — although 114 countries provided surveillance data to the WHO, only 22 had data for all nine of the resistant bacteria identified as priorities by the WHO.
Many developing countries lack the resources to conduct good surveillance or are struggling with more pressing health concerns, such as access to basic sanitation, said Dr. Andrew Simor, the head of microbiology and infectious diseases at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
But many countries simply aren't doing enough and Canada, for one, "clearly can do a better job," he said.
"Canada's database is not quite as robust as in some of the parts of the world," Simor said. "I think the response in Canada has been weaker than it should be."
Canadian provinces have many different systems for tracking antimicrobial resistance, which makes it difficult to compare data across the country. Important drug-resistant organisms like CRE — dubbed "nightmare bacteria" by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control — are not yet notifiable, meaning provinces aren't required to report cases to the federal government.
The country's strongest surveillance system, a network of 60 hospitals, is maintained by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Simor said. But it represents less than a quarter of all acute-care facilities and does not cover long-term care homes, where many drug-resistant cases are emerging.
Simor said the PHAC is concerned about antimicrobial resistance but lacks the resources to adequately address it; Canadian spending on surveillance of antimicrobial resistance is a "pittance" compared to the United States, he said.
Health Minister Rona Ambrose was unavailable Wednesday for interviews but said in a written statement the government "is committed to working with provinces, territories, and health stakeholders to control the spread of antimicrobial resistance."
Dr. Gregory Taylor, deputy chief public health officer at the PHAC, said Canada's public health agency is "very, very concerned with antimicrobial resistance" and welcomes the WHO report.
He said the PHAC is combating drug resistance on many fronts, though he acknowledged the need for improved community surveillance and data sharing across provinces, both of which the health agency is currently looking into, he said.
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Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common in primary care patients1 and is associated with psychological distress, suicide risk, and disability. Posttraumatic stress disorder also increases risk of incident and recurrent cardiovascular events,2 possibly by reducing medication adherence.3 Prior studies showing an association between PTSD and medication nonadherence3 are limited by their use of self-report to measure adherence as PTSD can bias reporting of negative behaviors.4 We evaluated the association between PTSD and antihypertensive medication adherence using electronic monitoring in primary care patients with uncontrolled hypertension.
Nonadherence was defined as taking less than 80% of the antihypertensive regimen. Error bars represent 95% CIs.
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"Great historical explanaiton of the horrors of war"
This book is a great insight into the horrors of war both past and present. It melds the historical accounts with the modern knowledge and gives the reader better understanding of the past and present.
I enjoyed this book very much.
"A different tale of redemption."
This was an interesting story with constant surprise. Set in Africa, it shows that redemption comes in many forms
This was very different from my usual reads.
"I wish it had said something about black holes"
Maybe, I missed the point of this book, but it seemed to be more a philosophical discussion with a healthy dose of wonder tossed in for flavor.
If you were expecting learn something, don't. This book is more suited for a tabloid TV show than a learning experience.
I was looking for something exciting and insightful, but was left feeling flat.
If time travel becomes a reality, I want the time I spent with this book back.
"Never accept a job from a sociopath"
Detective Sam Spade at his best. When a beautiful sociopath hires him to help her, they both get more than they bargained for. With very colorful characters the story unfolds with a desperate search for a missing treasure.
I recommend this book.
"Wordy mental masturbation with a snarky attitude"
Pluto is a planet
Pluto is not a planet
Pluto might be a planet
Pluto might be an asteroid
Pluto might be a comet
Pluto has a moon
Pluto doesn't have a moon
Pluto is a moon
Pluto is a binary system
Pluto orbits its moon
Pluto's moon orbits Pluto
Pluto is a proto-planet
Pluto is a dog created by Disney
Pluto is Pluto is a God of death
The truth is that whether Pluto is a planet or not doesn't really matter.
By the logic of this book: if you only have one example of something, you cannot classify it. You need two of something to classify anything. Rubbish! By this logic if Jupiter was our only gas giant it would be unclassifiable.
Pluto is an excuse for snarky scientists to waste their intellect and reasoning ability.
If scientists focused as much energy on science as they do trying to tear each other down, we'd be a lot further along than we are now with our collective discovery of knowledge.
I hate snarky scientists and snarky science. But, then again scientists can't be expected to use their intelligence constructively all the time.
The book mistakenly makes a point St. Christopher no longer a saint. This is not true. While there is little known about him, St. Christopher is still a recognized saint. What was changed was that his feast day was removed from the liturgical calendar. A lot of recognized saints do not have feast days.
Had Disney not named their cartoon dog Pluto, I doubt this book would ever been written.
Also, other than the author, who ever said that Pluto or any other planet was America's favorite?
Do I care if Pluto is a planet or not. Not really.
This just gives everyone an excuse to vote funding elsewhere.
I found the book to be both condescending and snarky.
"The story of English"
As you may already know, English is unlike most of the other Germanic languages. It has a lot of influences from Old Norse which happened during the Viking raids and the invasion of the Normans. Add to this the constant influence of the other languages in British Isles, and you get a language that is a melding of many.
This book is about the linguistic roots of English.
"The book NEEDS to be updated!"
Book: The Age Spiritual Machines by Ray Kurzweil
This book was published in the year 2000 and is interesting; however, in 2015 we are way behind in the books predictions. The most interesting part of the book is the possibility merging of machines and computers with humankind.
I found the predictions to be vastly overly optimistic in their timeframe. Although, I do wish we did have the technology described.
The transcendence of death by technology is the best part of the book.
I give it thumbs up based on the descriptions of hand held devices and optical glass technology.
The book NEEDS to be updated!
"I wouldn't listen to it again"
The Satanic Verses is a book that I can say would have not been noticed had it been ignored by those who were offended by the material at the time.
Because of my lack of knowledge, I cannot really say that I understand the complete controversy. But, what I can say is that I probably wouldn't re-read the book again. The story is fiction. But, it's not that interesting to me to warrant re-reading it.
"Interesting book"
I found this book to be an interesting and complex story. At first the dramatization kinda threw me, because I'm not used to that in an audiobook. Because the plot involves a heinous threat to a child who is ill, I found the book to be disturbing.
"Viruses we survive or we don't"
The truth about viruses is that there isn't anything we can do about them. Either we survive or we do not. There are very few medications that are effective against viruses.
What would you do?
"A landmark book of its time and relevant now"
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan is a landmark book of its time, and it is still relevant for all women today. This book describes the early 20th century turning of women from vital human beings, who were fulfilled by higher education and work, into a mystique that proved to be a mix of self-suppression and repression, which eventually was supported by society at large and by women themselves.
How did women go from being over 50% of university educated people in the 1900's through 1930's to a human being who was supposed to be dedicated to others who gained her sense of self-worth and fulfillment from serving and giving up her own personhood? How did this effect the women themselves, and their family? How did it affect the age at which women married?
In the late 1950's and early 1960's, how did women, who while society was telling them that they should be happy, start breaking out of the mold of the feminine mystique.
How damaging was the illusion of the feminine mystique to women themselves, husbands, daughters, and sons? How does this affect us today?
How was this related to profit? There was a lot of profit to be made at the expense of the wellbeing of women. This is still true.
I highly recommend that everyone read this book.


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Quality through expertise-always get the diamond you pay for.
2564 King Ave W
In Front of Big Bear on King Avenue West
MON 10:00am - 5:30pm | TUE 10:00am - 5:30pm | WED 10:00am - 5:30pm | THURS 10:00am - 5:30pm | FRI 10:00am - 5:30pm | SAT closed | SUN closed |
Welcome to Van Rensselaer Jewelers!
Van Rensselaer Jewelers is a jeweler in Billings, MT and serving the entire Billings metropolitan area. We offer our customers nothing but the best in quality diamonds and gemstones. Very few people know how to determine the quality of fine diamonds and jewelry. Steve Morse and the Van Rensselaer staff are professionally certified and trained and will help you to take the mystery out of fine jewelry.
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With our expertise you will always get the diamond you are paying for. From simple to elegant, we'll help you enhance your appreciation for quality jewelry. We are Billings' most conveniently located jeweler with ample free parking.
Give us a call today! Our services are uniquely structured to offer the highest quality jewelry.
Montana's most qualified staff of experts with extensive training & experience. Certified Gemologist Appraiser (CGA) on staff, this is the highest gemology title in North America. An AGS (American Gem Society) Accredited Gem Lab to produce Certified App
Category: Antiques and Collectibles|Appraisers|Memento Services|Jewelry
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