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Astonomer Phil Plait, creator of the skeptics site Bad Astronomy, has a post up in Discover Magazine attacking an article by Robert Bryce in the Wall Street Journal which shows as so often how badly out of their depth many skeptics quickly become when they stumble into the quagmire of the climate change issue.
Plait begins by referring to Bryce as of "the far-right think-tank Manhattan Institute".
That is worth a double-take and alarm-bells- far-right?? In conventional parlance, the "far-right" is a term reserved for neo-Nazis and fascists. This most certainly does not apply to the Manhattan Institute, which might better be described as "libertarian". By opening with this egregious error Plait sets out his stall as taking a political stance on the issues he examines- while hiding behind science and skepticism.
Plait calls the article "one of the most head-asplodey antiscience climate change denial pieces I have seen in a while- and I've seen a few" ignoring that Bryce's piece clearly identifies itself as being, not about climate science per se, but concerning what he sees as "five obvious truths about the climate-change issue."
This is what usually happens when so-called "warmists" or those who accept unquestioningly the consensus view of climate change, namely that this is the most pressing issue facing us and we must respond immediately with drastic CO2 cuts and international treaties if we are to save the planet and humanity- examine the climate change issue- science and policy and politics are confused, and claims are made to the effect that, since in their view "the science is settled", so must be the policy response.
Plait goes on to say the article is "almost a textbook case in logical fallacy", an attempt to "smear the reality" of climate change, but then skips the first four points of Bryce's article- ie. the bulk of it- because in these Bryce "doesn't actually deal with science and makes points that aren't all that salient to the issue".
But as already made clear, the issue Bryce is addressing is much broader than just the science, and since this is a topic that is indisputably highly politicized- underlined by Plait's opening salvo of the "far-right" connection- the issues Bryce raises appear to be extremely pertinent to any understanding of climate change:
-1) despite Al Gore's notorious film winning an Oscar, and sharing the Nobel Peace Prize with the IPCC in 2007, and despite the international convention in Copenhagen in 2009, carbon emissions just keep rising:
Carbon-dioxide emissions are growing because people around the world understand the essentiality of electricity to modernity. And for many countries, the cheapest way to produce electrons is by burning coal.
This is not a smear designed to obscure the reality of climate change, but a very salient fact exposing the failure of climate change activists to address issues of poverty and global development.
2) Regardless of whether it's getting hotter or colder— or both— we are going to need to produce a lot more energy in order to remain productive and comfortable.
Now, how exactly we are to do this- or even if it is possible- is a very different issue, perhaps more pertinent to Peak Oil than climate change- but again, it is an obvious point that activists really need to take on board- rather than merely repeating the usual platitudes about how scary climate change is, I would urge activists to get real about how scary not having enough energy to keep warm or cool is as well.
Bryce's third point is that you can't just keep pointing the finger at Big Bad Gas Guzzling America- because of massive and rapid increases in energy consumption in China and India, which is helping those countries to lift millions out of poverty,
over the past decade, U.S. carbon dioxide emissions—about 6.1 billion tons per year—could have gone to zero and yet global emissions still would have gone up.
Again, this is clearly a pretty important and amazing statistic which really needs to be engaged with if people are serious about a realistic climate policy.
Bryce's fourth point is about increases in efficiency- this is actually his weakest point, because while certainly true that we should work to increase efficiency in appliances and power generation, the evidence seems to support Jeavons' Paradox, which means that increased efficiency tends to lead over-all to increased energy consumption as we find more useful things to do with the energy savings. So this is not really a point about climate change but about energy use.
But it is Bryce's fifth point- about science– that really gets the Bad Astronomer's goat:
The science is not settled, not by a long shot. Last month, scientists at CERN, the prestigious high-energy physics lab in Switzerland, reported that neutrinos might—repeat, might—travel faster than the speed of light. If serious scientists can question Einstein's theory of relativity, then there must be room for debate about the workings and complexities of the Earth's atmosphere.
Plait responds:
And he's wrong anyway: even if the neutrino story turns out to be true, it doesn't prove Einstein was wrong. At worst, Einstein's formulation of relativity would turn out to be incomplete, just as Newton's was before him. Not wrong, just needs a bit of tweaking to cover circumstances unknown when the idea was first thought of. Relativity was a pretty big tweak to Newtonian mechanics, but it didn't prove Newton wrong. Claims like that show a profound lack of understanding of how science works.
But this is clearly a response to the "climate science is settled" meme which Plait- with his repeated use of the toxic phrase "climate deniers" has apparently bought into unquestioningly. Bryce is not saying, or even implying, that this proves anything- just that, in science, skepticism is the key, skepticism is the process to be adhered to and respected- in climate science just as in well-established fields such as Relativity.
It is shameful that Plait abuses this principle with his parroting of the extremely unhelpful "denier" charge.
Now I don't actually think that CERN and neutrinos make for a particularly good example, since it would appear to me as a complete layman when it comes to physics that the most likely explanation is simply that there is an error in the measurement (last time I tried to measure the speed of a neutrino I was way out).
However, in climate change, science has constantly been pressed into the service of forcing through a particular policy response- of completely unrealistic carbon cuts- under the banner of science that must not and cannot be questioned– that there is a consensus– and that anyone who questions any aspect of this at all is a denier.
So it seems reasonable enough to compare the state of climate science with the far, far more solid case of Relativity. Are the CERN researchers being jumped on as being Relativity deniers? Could it possibly be, Mr. Bad Atronomer, that the reason for this is that there is no current highly politicized issue concerning the finer details of Relativity (apart from possibly the issue of how much more funding to throw at the LHC)? What would the correct policy response be to discovering that neutrinos might travel faster than light, given that this would open the possibility for time-travel? Maybe we would be compelled by the consensus scientists to travel back in time and prevent our ancestors from discovering fire!
Most climate skeptics- including Bryce- are not "deniers" in the sense of "denying" the scientific method as do homeopaths (with whom @SLSingh, from whose tweet I picked up this story, is fond of lumping in with what he calls the "climate numpties") or even "denying" that the evidence suggests the earth is indeed warming- they are skeptical about the politicization of this science, and about the proposed policy responses which, as Bryce shows above, are all but irrelevant at this stage.
Let's accept that man-made CO2 is contributing to global warming- there still remain plenty of questions:
do we know by how much? do we know what the effects will be? do we know if the feed-backs will be positive or negative? do we know what, if anything, we should do about it?
do we know for sure if drastic cutting of CO2 emissions will actually be of benefit given the huge cost to human development that they would entail?
-and should we really be expected to trust the IPCC whose leader apparently told us in 2007 that we would all be doomed if we didn't have effective action to reduce CO2 emissions in place by 2012?
Bryce concludes by pointing to a study that suggests that the benefits of moving to cleaner fuels could be cancelled out by losing the particle pollution (eg from coal) that help cool the planet through the so-called "global dimming" effect- just one of many variables and unknowns in the still young (much younger than Relativity), still evolving and still highly unsettled science of climate change.
On the "traditional" but soft skeptics topics such as fake moon-landings and UFOs, I'm sure Bad Astronomer is doing a good job- but when it comes to climate science, he is just being a Bad Skeptic. I really wish that he, and other "celebratory" skeptics like Simon Singh would make an effort to understand the difference between science and policy- and in so doing desist from giving skepticism a bad name. Thank-you.


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As much as we'd love to see Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds in a movie about the hilariously boring exploits of the Rhode Island Police Department, that's not what RIPD is about. The movie's acronym is actually short for Rest in Peace Department: an undead law enforcement agency that dispatches stubborn souls lingering on Earth. Reynold's plays a young cop who dies in the line of duty and works for the RIPD while he searches for his killer.
Based on this trailer, RIPD looks a lot like Men In Black, but with dead people instead of aliens. It's not fair to judge a film based on two minutes of footage, but it's nearly impossible to watch this trailer and not think of Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith. That being said, however, even if it is an uninspired knockoff, we're willing to watch any movie where Jeff Bridges plays a hillbilly.
RIPD hits theaters June 28th.


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History of Albania
|History of Albania
|Middle Ages
|Ottoman domination
|Birth of Albania
|Between wars
|World War II
|Communism and later
This article briefly outlines each period of History of Albania only; details are presented in separate articles (see the links in the box and below).
Table of contents
The Origin of the Albanians
Main article: Origin of Albanians
A number of scholars consider that the Albanians are direct descendants of an Illyrian tribe that was named "Albanoi" that was located in present day Albania. Many other scholars dispute this. See Origin of Albanians.
Those who support the Illyrian-Albanian continuity theory maintain that all the Illyrian tribes except the Albanians disappeared during the Dark Ages under the waves of migrating barbarians. A forbidding mountain homeland and resilient tribal society enabled the Albanians to survive into modern times with their identity and their Indo-European language intact.
The name Albania is said by these scholars to be derived from the name of an Illyrian tribe called the Arber, or Arbereshë, and later Albanoi, that lived near Durrës.
Ancient Illyria
Main article: Illyria
The Illyrians were Indo-European tribesmen who appeared in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula about 1000 B.C., a period coinciding with the end of the Bronze Age and beginning of the Iron Age. They inhabited much of the area for at least the next millennium. Archaeologists associate the Illyrians with the Hallstatt culture, an Iron Age people noted for production of iron and bronze swords with winged-shaped handles and for domestication of horses. The Illyrians occupied lands extending from the Danube, Sava, and Morava rivers to the Adriatic Sea and the Sar Mountains. At various times, groups of Illyrians migrated over land and sea into Italy, such as the Messapians and Iapyges.
The Illyrians carried on commerce and warfare with their neighbors: Macedonians, Greeks, Paionians, Thracians, and other peoples. The ancient Macedonians may have had an Illyrian (as well as a Thracian) element, but their ruling class adopted Greek culture and language. The Illyrians also mingled with the Thracians, another ancient people with adjoining lands on the east. In the south and along the Adriatic Sea coast, the Illyrians were heavily influenced by the Greeks, who founded trading colonies there. The present-day city of Durrës evolved from a Greek colony known as Epidamnos (earlier, known as Dyrrhachion), which was founded at the end of the seventh century B.C. Another famous Greek colony, Apollonia, arose between Durrës and the port city of Vlorë.
The Illyrians produced and traded cattle, horses, agricultural goods, and wares fashioned from locally mined copper and iron. Feuds and warfare were constant facts of life for the Illyrian tribes, and Illyrian pirates plagued shipping on the Adriatic Sea. Councils of elders chose the chieftains who headed each of the numerous Illyrian tribes. From time to time, local chieftains extended their rule over other tribes and formed short-lived kingdoms. During the fifth century B.C., a well-developed Illyrian population center existed as far north as the upper Sava River valley in what is now Slovenia. Illyrian friezes discovered near the present-day Slovenian city of Ljubljana depict ritual sacrifices, feasts, battles, sporting events, and other activities.
The Illyrian kingdom of Bardhyllus became a formidable local power in the fourth century B.C. In 358 B.C., however, Macedonia's Phillip II, father of Alexander the Great, defeated the Illyrians and assumed control of their territory as far as Lake Ohrid. Alexander himself routed the forces of the Illyrian chieftain Clitus in 335 B.C., and Illyrian tribal leaders and soldiers accompanied Alexander on his conquest of Persia. After Alexander's death in 323 B.C., independent Illyrian kingdoms again arose. In 312 B.C., King Glaucius expelled the Greeks from Durrës. By the end of the third century, an Illyrian kingdom based near what is now the Albanian city of Shkodër controlled parts of northern Albania, Montenegro, and Hercegovina. Under Queen Teuta, Illyrians attacked Roman merchant vessels plying the Adriatic Sea and gave Rome an excuse to invade the Balkans.
The Roman Period
In the Illyrian Wars of 229 and 219 B.C., Rome overran the Illyrian settlements in the Neretva River valley. The Romans made new gains in 168 B.C., and Roman forces captured Illyria's King Gentius at Shkodër, which they called Scodra, and brought him to Rome in 165 B.C. A century later, Julius Caesar and his rival Pompey fought their decisive battle near Durrës (Dyrrachium). Rome finally subjugated recalcitrant Illyrian tribes in the western Balkans dwing the region of Emperor Tiberius in A.D. 9. The Romans divided the lands that make up present-day Albania among the provinces of Macedonia, Dalmatia, and Epirus.
For about four centuries, Roman rule brought the Illyrian-populated lands economic and cultural advancement and ended most of the enervating clashes among local tribes. The Illyrian mountain clansmen retained local authority but pledged allegiance to the emperor and acknowledged the authority of his envoys. During a yearly holiday honoring the Caesars, the Illyrian mountaineers swore loyalty to the emperor and reaffirmed their political rights. A form of this tradition, known as the kuvend, has survived to the present day in northern Albania.
The Romans established numerous military camps and colonies and completely latinized the coastal cities. They also oversaw the construction of aqueducts and roads, including the Via Egnatia, a famous military highway and trade route that led from Durrës through the Shkumbin River valley to Macedonia and Byzantium. Copper, asphalt, and silver were extracted from the mountains. The main exports were wine, cheese, oil, and fish from Lake Scutari and Lake Ohrid. Imports included tools, metalware, luxury goods, and other manufactured articles. Apollonia became a cultural center, and Julius Caesar himself sent his nephew, later the Emperor Augustus, to study there.
Illyrians distinguished themselves as warriors in the Roman legions and made up a significant portion of the Praetorian Guard. Several of the Roman emperors were of Illyrian origin, including Diocletian (284–305), who saved the empire from disintegration by introducing institutional reforms, and Constantine the Great (324–37)--who accepted Christianity and transferred the empire's capital from Rome to Byzantium, which he called Constantinople.
The Coming of Christianity
Christianity came to the Illyrian-populated lands in the first century A.D. Saint Paul wrote that he preached in the Roman province of Illyricum, and legend holds that he visited Durrës. When the Roman Empire was divided into eastern and western halves in A.D. 395, the lands that now make up Albania were administered by the Eastern Empire but were ecclesiastically dependent on Rome. In A.D. 732, however, a Byzantine emperor, Leo the Isaurian, subordinated the area to the patriarchate of Constantinople. For centuries thereafter, the Albanian lands became an arena for the ecclesiastical struggle between Rome and Constantinople. Most Albanians living in the mountainous north became Roman Catholic, while in the southern and central regions, the majority became Orthodox.
Ottoman domination
Main article: Albanian lands under Ottoman domination
Ottoman supremacy in the Balkan region began in 1385 but was briefly interrupted in the 15th century, when an Albanian warrior known as Gjerg Kastrioti(Skanderbeg) allied with some Albanian chiefs and fought-off Turkish rule from 1443-1478. Upon the Ottomans' return, a large number of Albanians fled to Italy, Greece and Egypt and many of the Albanians who remained (about two-thirds of the Albanian population), converted to the Islamic faith. Many Albanians won fame and fortune as soldiers, administrators, and merchants in far-flung parts of the empire. As the centuries passed, however, Ottoman rulers lost the capacity to command the loyalty of local pashas, who governed districts on the empire's fringes. Soon pressures created by emerging national movements among the empire's farrago of peoples threatened to shatter the empire itself. The Ottoman rulers of the nineteenth century struggled in vain to shore up central authority, introducing reforms aimed at harnessing unruly pashas and checking the spread of nationalist ideas.
Main article: National awakening and the birth of Albania
At the end of the 19th century, efforts by the Turks to suppress Albanian nationalism failed. Albanians had created The Prizren League held in what is now Kosova, attempting to unify Albanian territory and established the current-day Albanian alphabet in Monastir, which is now Bitola, FYROMacedonia. The Albanians waged their War of Independence from 1908 to the summer of 1912, during which they soundly defeated the Young Turks and won autonomy. Following the conclusion of the First Balkan War, which commenced in Autumn 1912, Albanians issued the Vlorë Proclamation of November 28, 1912, declaring independence after losing half their population and half their land to Montenegro, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece. The truncated Albania was internationally recognized as an independent state in 1913.
Main article: Albania between wars
Albania's territorial integrity was confirmed at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, after U.S. President Woodrow Wilson dismissed a plan by the European powers (England, France, Italy) to divide Albania amongst its neighbors.
With the complete collapse of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires after World War I, the Albanians looked to Italy for protection against predators. After 1925, however, Benito Mussolini sought to dominate Albania. In 1928 Albania became a kingdom under Zog I, the conservative Muslim clan chief and former prime minister, but Zog failed to stave off Italian ascendancy in Albanian internal affairs. In 1939 Mussolini's troops occupied Albania, overthrew Zog, and annexed the country.
World War II
Main article: Albania during World War II
Albanian communists and nationalists fought each other as well as the occupying Italian and German forces during World War II, and with Yugoslav and Allied assistance the communists triumphed.
Communist era
Main article: Communist and post-Communist Albania
Following the Second World War, in which both Italy and Germany occupied Albania, communism became the prevailing political ideology within Albania and remained an influential part of its culture for the next 50 years.
Communist strongmen Enver Hoxha and Mehmet Shehu eliminated their rivals inside the communist party and liquidated anticommunist opposition. Concentrating primarily on maintaining their grip on power, they reorganized the country's economy along strict Stalinist lines, turning first to Yugoslavia, then to the Soviet Union, and later to the People's Republic of China for support. In pursuit of their goals, the communists repressed the Albanian people, subjecting them to isolation, propaganda, and brutal police measures. When Communist China opened up to the West in the 1970s, Albania's rulers turned away from Beijing and implemented a policy of strict autarky, or self-sufficiency, that brought their nation economic ruin. The government ordered the abolishment of all previous classes of society. The rich farmers and merchants were called the "exploiting class" and were liquidated in "the name of people". All mosques and churches were destroyed, changed into museums or used for other non-religious purposes and any kind of religious ritual or ideology was declared illegal. People's personal possessions were eliminated and cooperatives were created. The number of political prisoners steadily grew.
Transition to Democracy
Hoxha died in 1985 and Ramiz Alia took his place. He tried to follow his footsteps, but the changes had already started and the fall of communism throughout south central Europe led to widespread changes within Albanian society. Mikhail Gorbachev had appeared in the Soviet Union with new policies (Glasnost and perestroika). The totalitarian regime was pressured by the US and Europe and the hate of its own people. After Nicolae Ceauşescu (the communist leader of Romania) was executed in a revolution, Alia knew he would be next if changes were not made. He signed the Helsinki Agreement (which was signed by other countries in 1975) that respected some human rights. He also allowed pluralism, and even though his party won the election of 1991 it was clear that the change would not be stopped.Pursuant to a 1991 interim basic law, Albanians ratified a constitution in 1998, establishing a democratic system of government based upon the rule of law and guaranteeing the protection of fundamental human rights. The communists managed to retain control of the government in the first round of elections under the new constitution, but fell two months later during a general strike. A committee of "national salvation" took over but also collapsed in half a year. In 1992 Communists were trumped by the Democratic Party in national elections. The change from dictatorship to democracy had many challenges. The Democratic party had to implement the reforms it had promised, but they were either too slow or didn't solve the problems, so the people were disappointed from their hopes for fast prosperity. In the general elections of June 1996 the Democratic Party tried to win an absolute majority and manipulated the results. This government collapsed in 1997 in the wake of the additional collapse of pyramid schemes, which caused anarchy and rebellion throughout the country. This caused a socialist government to return to power in the early elections of 1997.
Recent Events
Since 1997 Albania has been oriented towards the West, was accepted in the Council of Europe and has requested membership in NATO. The workforce of Albania has continued to emmigrate to Greece, Italy, Europe and North America. Corruption in the government is becoming more and more obvious. The political leadership has not fulfilled the people's hope for a short and not too painful transition.
- 2003 U.S. Department of State Background Note of Albania
- Library of Congress Country Study of Albania
- Oxford Encyclopedic World Atlas 5th Edition, Ed. Keith Lyle, Copyright 2000, Printed in Spain
Related articles
- Albania in the Middle Ages
- Timeline of Albanian history to 1993
- Timeline of Albanian history from 1994
- History of the Balkans
- History of Europe
- History of present-day nations and states
External links
- Collection of materials about the history of Albania (mostly in Albanian, partly in English)
- Comprehensive history of Albania before 1912 (in Albanian)
- High Albania book by Edith Durham about her travels in northern Albania in the early 1900s.
Categories: Albanian history | History of Europe


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Seintology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. Seintology teaches that people are mean, superficial, greedy and they lack of empathy. The motto of Seintology is created by Julia-Loius Dreyfuss as "no hugging, no learning"
Since I watched the entire Seinfeld series, I feel like a member of seintology
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Capcom and Dontnod Entertainment's upcoming game Remember Me will get a new trailer later this week. It will feature a character named Kid Xmas; he runs 'Channel Fear', a hacking channel that airs everyday at 9pm (in the game's world, Neo-Paris). We aren't sure if he's a friend or foe, it could go either way. He looks somewhat menacing in the picture below, but he runs a 'hacking' channel, so he could be a potential ally.
We'll forgive you for not following this game — it hasn't received a ton of attention, but it looks promising. Here's some gameplay footage from last September. Remember Me is due out sometime this year for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.


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Welcome to St Charles Borromeo
Welcome to St Charles Borromeo
St Charles Borromeo Catholic Primary School has been founded for the education of Catholic children in the Parish of Christ the Prince of Peace, Weybridge and it is the policy of the Governors of the school always to maintain its Catholic character in accordance with the Diocesan Trust Deed.
Our Mission Statement
We will grow in our Catholic faith by praying and worshipping together.
We will work hard so that we can learn and be the best that we can be.
We will work together in our families, school, and parish and with those both near and far to make our world a better place for us all.
We will follow the example of Jesus and his teachings in all that we say and do..
'Grow, Learn, Work, Follow'
St Charles School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
Our Designated Safeguarding Leads are Mr Stephen Holt, Mrs Lorraine Flower and Mrs Kathryn Bray (from September 2016)
Our child protection policy can be viewed on this website (please click here to link to policies area of web site) or a paper copy is available on request from the school office.
To link to our latest School Prospectus please click here
To link to our Admissions information please click here
To view / download our latest school newsletter please click here
This page was last updated on 21/07/2016 17:57:14


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020 8401 3000
Please join us for an afternoon tea and to learn how we are "Caring for Croydon Together" as part of our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 7 September 2016 from 4.30pm until 6.30pm.
The Trust has launched a new clinic to tackle iron deficiency anaemia, a condition thought to affect around 20,000 people in Croydon.
Today we have provided almost 500 ice lollies and extra water, as part of a range of measures to ensure that our patients are kept as comfortable as possible on the hottest day of the year.
While most of us enjoy the warm sunshine, extreme heat can be a real health risk.
Croydon Urgent Care Alliance1 – a new team made up of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, Croydon GP Collaborative and AT Medics – has been chosen by Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group as the preferred bidder to run a new network of urgent care services across the borough from April 2017.
Trust has been recognised for the second year running for its commitment to empowering staff to make improvements to patient care.
The nursing recruitment day held at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust last weekend has been a big hit, with 13 new nurses being interviewed and offered employment on the day!
A new group has been set up in Croydon to provide support and advice to the families of children with cancer.
A pioneering health visiting service which delivers vital support and care to frail, elderly people in Croydon is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
We are delighted so many residents joined us for our Big Conversation event and told us how they want to be involved in improving services at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust.
Cutting-edge research into common conditions, including cancer, inherited heart conditions and lung disease has been highlighted at Croydon Health Services' Annual Research and Development Day.
The first black president of the Royal College of Nursing visited Croydon Health Services NHS Trust this week (May 11) as part of the organisation's International Nurses' Day celebrations.
Pupils from a local infant school and nursery have donated their favourite books to children having treatment at Croydon University Hospital to "cheer them up and help them get better".
An 86-year-old volunteer who has spent 13 years helping patients, an inspiring physiotherapist who delivers exceptional care and two nurses who have worked for more than 40 years at Croydon University Hospital were among those honoured tonight (Thurs) by former footballer and well-known BBC pundit Mark Bright.
The Nutrition Support Team at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust has been shortlisted for a prestigious British Medical Journal (BMJ) award for improving the understanding and use of intravenous feeding at the Trust.
On 19 April John Goulston, Chief Executive of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, is opening the doors to talk to patients and the community about their care. Joined by our Medical Director, Dr Nnenna Osuji, and our Director of Nursing, Michael Fanning, members of the public are invited to come along and share their experiences.
We are reassuring patients and local residents that robust plans have once again been put in place to maintain safe care during the expected industrial action by junior doctors, beginning on 9 March 2016.
Resolved – Water interruption at Croydon University Hospital
Date of issue: 03 March 2016, 16:30
Earlier this morning, a contractor on site at Croydon University Hospital accidentally hit a water pipe.
On 8 January, the Mayor of Croydon visited CUH for the official opening of the new Neil Hawkins Lifeblood Suite.
Be part of the conversation - Listening into Action
Tuesday 2 February 2016, 17:00 – 19:00, Oasis Restaurant, Croydon University Hospital.
On Tuesday 12 January 2016, junior doctors across the country are expected to go on strike in an on-going dispute with the government over proposed changes their employment contracts.
Doctors at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust in south London have opened a pioneering new unit to offer patients rapid access to specialist hospital treatment – without having to wait in line at Accident & Emergency (A&E).
Stars from the Fairfield Halls Christmas pantomime visited our children's wards to spread smiles and deliver presents.
The Croydon Advertiser are once again doing their Toys for Joy appeal, for children needing to spend time in hospital over the Christmas period. Characters from the Cinderella pantomime at Fairfield Halls will be presenting the gifts to our patients this year.
Patients and families on our Rupert Bear children's ward and our Special Care Baby Unit had some special visitors this week as Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak and team mates visited to provide some Christmas cheer and hand out presents.
Croydon Council and Croydon Health Services NHS Trust are inviting residents, organisations and groups interested in community health services in Croydon to submit their views on new partnership agreements between the two organisations.
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust staff won two awards last week at the Health Innovation Network & Health Education South London annual awards for their innovative approaches to improving care in the NHS.
"We are very pleased that the junior doctors and the Health Secretary have agreed to come together to talk about improving seven day care in the NHS and avoid the scheduled industrial action."
On 1 December, junior doctors across the country are expected to go on strike in an on-going dispute with the government over proposed changes to working contracts.
The UK Sikh Healthcare Chaplaincy Group has organised a day of prayer at Croydon University Hospital on Saturday 21 November 2015 to promote links between the NHS and the Sikh community.
Four nursing teams from Croydon Health Services reached the final stages of the national Nursing Times awards, which were held in central London last night (Thursday 12 November) – the most number of finalists from any Trust in the UK.
On Sunday morning (8 November 2015), the Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centre (including out of hours GP care) at Croydon University Hospital moved homes temporarily for 18 months. Access to both services is now via the hospital's Woodcroft Road entrance.
From 8 November 2015, patients arriving on foot for the Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centre at Croydon University Hospital (CUH) will need to use the Woodcroft Road entrance. Blue-light ambulances will arrive via London Road.
My name is Carl Sedge and I came to Croydon four months ago as a new Emergency Department (ED) matron. The reason I came to Croydon was because of the new ED being built. I've been an ED nurse for nearly 20 years, and to be involved in such a dynamic change is very exciting.
The 'Children's Hospital at Home' (CHAH) Team operated by Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, which provides a range of high quality nursing care to children and young people across Croydon both at home and at school, is celebrating its 20 year anniversary this year. A number of teams within the service were cited as providing 'outstanding' care in the Trust's recent Care Quality Commission inspection report.
The 'Croydon Conversations' programme gives Trust patients and local Croydon residents the opportunity to meet individually with the most senior staff at the Trust and raise issues with them directly and have questions answered. There is no need to book an appointment – just drop in.
At 6am on Sunday 8 November, the Emergency Department (ED) and Urgent Care Centre (UCC) at Croydon University Hospital will move from its current location on Mayday Road to the other side of the hospital. The major move will allow work to begin to build Croydon's new £21.25m Emergency Department (Accident & Emergency).
Overall, the Trust has been rated as "requires improvement" and is determined to make continued progress.
The expert 'peer review' of the midwifery leadership of the maternity department at Croydon Health Services has found that our 'Supervisors of Midwives' (SoMs) provide 'excellent care' to the women who choose to deliver here at Croydon. This leadership, they found, demonstrated that SOMs worked to a 'high standard', encouraged 'good team working' and that they 'worked extremely hard' to improve women's experience of the service.
Listening into Action (LiA) is the approach that we use to empower staff and drive improvements in patient care and experience.
Organ donation can make a real difference to many lives, but without the agreement of a donor's family, these donations cannot take place. This year Croydon Health Services staff are backing the 'Seven Days to Say Yes I Donate' National Transplant Week (7-13 September 2015) campaign, which aims to break down organ donation barriers and taboos.
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust has appointed a Director of Quality Assurance and Governance to maintain the improvements that the organisation has made to its services and lead further change.
All welcome at our Annual General Meeting
04 August 2016
Please join us for an afternoon tea and t...
Tell us what it's like
in your shoes


text:
Frist Decides Against '08 Presidential Bid
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee said he has put aside plans to run for the White House in 2008, and instead will return to medicine and the health-care field that helped launch his political career 12 years ago.
That leaves a Republican void in the South, and underscores the absence of any major center-to-right Southern figure in the Republican Party's presidential field thus far. Virginia Sen. George Allen was primed to fill this void, but lost his seat in November's elections. Among the remaining contenders, Arizona Sen. John McCain, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, all are outsiders to the region and each could face problems reaching out to the Christian conservative voters who have been such a force behind President Bush.
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee could try to fill this void. Within the Senate, the man who could most gain from Mr. Frist's departure is his colleague, Sen. Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican with strong ties to social conservatives and will soon make an announcement about his presidential intentions. But Mr. Brownback lacks the fundraising appeal of Mr. Frist and risks being more easily typecast as a product of the far right.
In an interview, Frist said he wanted a "sabbatical from public life," suggesting he could very well return to politics in the future. But the 54-year-old heart surgeon-turned-politician said he needs time now to reconnect with himself before plunging into the presidential race. "Starting fund-raising for a presidential race in January really doesn't leave time to re-energize and be myself, a self stripped away a little by being majority leader. I really do need to re-energize in terms of who Bill Frist is," he said.
"It's a tough decision that I thought a lot about but in the final analysis, for right now, it doesn't feel right inside," Frist said. "There's that little bit of hesitation, and I'm afraid that hesitation will come across as a lack of passion." –David Rogers


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Menchie's Rolls Out Cinnayumm Bun LTO Flavor [1]
Read More About
Menchie's, North America's largest self-serve frozen yogurt franchise, rings in the holidays with a festive flavor, Cinnayumm Bun. Guests can begin celebrations early with the flavor along with a new holiday spoon, cup, and free photobook beginning on November 1.
Every month, Menchie's introduces a new, limited-time featured flavor to offer something extra special for guests. This month's yogurt flavor, Cinnayumm Bun, available until November 30, is made with a dough batter blended with cream cheese frosting and sweet cinnamon drizzle. The fall flavor is sure to remind fans of fresh-baked cinnamon rolls just like mom used to make.
Menchie's continues to spread the joy with a holiday-inspired red spoon in which the Menchie mascot dons a Santa hat and holds a candy cane. Along with the spoon, guests can also swirl their yogurt into a holiday cup.
As a special gift to guests, Menchie's is also offering a free photobook from the company Groovebook. The smartphone application turns personal photos into a keepsake to share with friends and family. To receive this exclusive offer, fans simply need to download the app and enter the code "MENCHIES" when ordering. The free Groovebook, as well as the holiday spoon and cup, are available through the end of the year.
"We love to make our guests smile, and this holiday season is the perfect opportunity for us to do just that. Our spoons are a signature part of the Menchie's experience so we are thrilled to unveil our very first holiday spoon for a limited-time," says Karla Bendel, vice president of marketing and R&D at Menchie's Group Inc. "We hope fans of all ages will try creative holiday combinations with Cinnayumm Bun and enjoy the photobook, as our special gift to guests."


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Only 6 people in NH have bought dental insurance in four weeks of Obamacare
After almost four weeks, six people have purchased dental insurance on the new federal insurance marketplace in New Hampshire, according to Northeast Delta Dental.
Post a comment
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text:
On 2006-03-27 06:37 CEST, Season BubbleGirl - BubbleGirl.net wrote:
> I have severe allergies and so use my desktop computer through a glass
> panel. At the moment I need someone to turn it on for me. However, I'd
> like to buy a part for my PC so I can turn it on with a remote or
> something similar instead. Can this be done? Our regular TV remotes work
> through the glass panel so something INFA-RED could work also.
You can buy a remote controlled power socket. Here in Germany they are
available in electronic stores or do-it-yourself stores; sometimes
even in supermarkets. They are usually working with radio signals.
Then you have to check if you PC has an configuration option in the
BIOS settings which is named "Boot On Power Return" or similar.
If you switch on your PC with the remote control it would not be
necessary to push the built-in power switch, it will just boot when
you turn on the power by remote control.
> What prices do they start at? Where can I get them?
Usually about 30 Euros.


text:
Clean air takes centre stage at Sarajevo Film Festival 17/08/2016 00:00:00
Skywriting our future - Opening Statement by UN Environment Deputy Chief Ibrahim Thiaw at the Third Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol 22/07/2016 00:00:00
Honourable Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen
Thinking about the future of UNEP also relates to the future of your Ministries and the environmental portfolio in your countries.
We have come a long way since the environmental agenda was frequently characterized as "the preoccupation of the few at expense of the many" or "the luxury of the rich at the expense of the poor". Rio+20 recognized unequivocally that the growing volatility of our economies and markets is increasingly linked to environmental change and the depletion of our natural resources. That poverty is not only a product of history and inequity within and among nations but also 'man - made' and exacerbated by the development choices we make - which all too often impact on the livelihoods of the poor by diminishing their resource base and the natural capital on which they depend.
However, this at times costly and painful journey of learning also has significant implications for the "environmental agenda" of the future. Environmental policy, which is not rooted in and cognizant of the political economy of our societies and thus the economic policy and development discourse of our respective nations, will be at risk of being marginalized and ignored.
We cannot continue to "save the planet", one species, one ecosystem, one policy, one issue, one law, one treaty at a time. Our challenge at the beginning of the 21st century has become a systemic one.
Environment Ministers have a mandate to protect the environment but increasingly their success in doing so will be predicated on their capacity to offer environmental solutions which create jobs, expand access to energy, address food security, reduce poverty and enhance livelihoods. Transition strategies towards a low carbon economy or more sustainable agriculture or fisheries sectors must speak to the complexity of economic policy choices, perceived trade - offs between short - term and long - term objectives and social equity considerations - both intra - and inter - generational.
The challenge of achieving not just incremental progress but transformative changes that can deliver absolute reductions in CO2, a halt to the loss of biodiversity, or a reversal of land degradation and the loss of arable land represents an unprecedented challenge ? both to environment ministries and societies in general.
The magnitude of the challenge you face - as Ministers responsible for the Environment - and by extension UNEP and the global environmental agenda is daunting. It is for this reason that we must continuously review, rethink, and refocus the environmental agenda and narrative to reflect the realities we confront today, building on UNEP's mandate and capacities.
The full copy of the policy statement can be dowloaded from http://www.unep.org/GC/GC27/Docs/ED_POLICY_STATEMENT_2013.pdf


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"The Warriors are better with Stephen Curry" may be the truism to end all truisms. But dismissing Sunday's 98-104 loss to the Indiana Pacers as purely the result of Curry's absence ignores a valuable glimpse into the Warriors' weaknesses. Without Curry, there's more stress placed on every aspect of the Warriors' game — offense, defense and even Kerr's rotations. How and why the team strained without Curry will remain meaningful, even when Curry returns.
Andrew Bogut
Role Reversal (Warriors 110, Spurs 99)
Stephen Curry got mad — then he got even. In the first quarter and a half against the Spurs, Curry faced the usual swarming, grabbing, harassing defense Gregg Popovich has always deployed against him. The refs let the Spurs' physical play go largely unchecked, but at the other end blew a few questionable whistles against the Warriors. Down 41-42 with 5 minutes left in the half, Curry finally hit his breaking point. After being called for a touch foul on Tony Parker, Curry went ballistic. Face red, fists pumping and mouth jawing, Curry basically demanded that the refs give him a technical. They obliged him, and gave one to his coach too for good measure. That moment of raw emotion may have cost the Warriors two points, but it ended up costing the Spurs the game. Continue Reading
Stephen Curry's Casual Brilliance (Warriors 128, Mavs 114)
All you need to know about Stephen Curry's 51-point outburst in the Warriors' 128-114 comeback win against the Dallas Mavericks was captured in Steve Kerr's response to one of Curry's shots. In a great bit of camera work, you see Kerr — one of the NBA's all-time best long-range shooters — pacing the sideline. He stops as Curry pulls up for the shot, his eyes grow a tiny bit wider, he leans back ever so slightly, and then he just starts shaking his head. He turns around and walks away, head still swinging. As a basketball fan, it's a privilege to watch the jaw-dropping performances Curry has been providing on a nearly nightly basis this season. Even when measured against Curry's own best work, this show for the Oracle crowd was pretty special.
Study Hall (Warriors 114, Celtics 111)
After the Warriors' not-particularly-pretty 114-111 win over the Boston Celtics, Stephen Curry talked about "the challenge of not getting bored with winning." It was an honest and fair postscript. Do anything 13 out of 14 times (Warriors wins since Christmas), 21 out of 22 times (Warriors wins at home), or 36 out of 42 times (I still pause and marvel after typing that record), and it's bound to become a little routine. You can't blow up NBA records or expose wannabe contenders every night. But for Warriors fans, I doubt the thrill of even these mundane wins has worn off. It took the Warriors the entirety of the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons to collect 36 wins, and almost all of them were far uglier than what fans witnessed Sunday night against the Celtics. There's a beauty to even the Warriors' ugliest games this season, as we watch Steve Kerr and his team tinker, test and evolve.
Complete (Warriors 131, Rockets 106)
Kierkegaard once observed that "Everything resolves itself in contradiction." There was a time when Warriors fans talked about how their high-scoring, fast-playing team was stylistically incapable of playing lock-down defense. The same fans then watched coaches attempt to bolster the Warriors' famously weak defense by slowing the game down and bulking it up. Now, nearly half-way through Steve Kerr's inaugural season, we have a Warriors team that simultaneously leads the league in fast-break points and defensive efficiency, and that uses its big men to create more scoring opportunities for its smaller players. What to make of all these basketball contradictions? Maybe nothing. Or maybe the best team in the NBA.
Inevitable (Warriors 104, Heat 89)
On Wednesday night against the Miami Heat, the Warriors' bench scored 41 points, Andrew Bogut was perfect from the line (4-4) despite intentional fouling, and Andre Iguodala was assertive on offense (4-5 for 9 points). It's as if Steve Kerr and his staff are now treating these games as to-do lists, scratching off previous weaknesses each time a new opponent comes to town. Despite a relatively disjointed game, the Warriors held the lead for the final 43:56 and won by 15. With 8 straight wins overall, 15 straight wins at home and 13 straight wins over the Eastern Conference, the Warriors aren't just playing with confidence, they're playing with a sense of inevitability.
Enjoy the Show (Warriors 116, Jazz 105)
In the NBA, you have teams that get by on raw talent, teams that thrive thanks to flawless execution, and teams that win because they play as a cohesive, unselfish whole. And then you have the Warriors, who sit atop the NBA standings because they combine all three qualities. Tuesday's road win against the Utah Jazz wasn't the prettiest or most dominant game the Warriors have played this season, but the deciding 44-point third quarter was a pretty good snapshot of what they've become. When the Warriors lock into these moments, they reduce everyone to wide-eyed spectators — including their opponents.
You Can't Go Home Again (Warriors 112, Cavs 94)
On Friday night, Mark Jackson was back in Oracle Arena — and back displaying questionable basketball judgment. While Jackson mused behind the microphone that "a rim protector is overrated in this league," Steve Kerr rebutted the argument with his rotation. In a physical and sometimes sloppy game, the Warriors finally gained some intensity and separation in the second half thanks to Andrew Bogut and Draymond Green's defensive control of the paint, and all-around help from an unexpected source, Justin Holiday. It wasn't particularly pretty, but it was a win in the type of game that Jackson's Warriors lost more times than they should have. Jackson deserves credit for plenty of things during his Warriors' tenure — as he reminded his national TV audience — but the effective use of Bogut and an efficiently adaptable rotation are not among them.
Not Nice (Warriors 117, Pacers 102)
On Christmas night, Draymond Green called the Warriors "nice." Since then, they have been anything but. After two frustrating losses at the hands of the Los Angeles teams over the Christmas holiday, the Warriors have been demoralizing their opponents. They're not just winning, they're disposing of teams in particularly gutting ways. Against the Pacers — a team that prides itself on its defense and physicality — the Warriors got Klay Thompson open look after open look in the second half, on his way to 40 points on 14-25 shooting, and met every elbow and shove with one of their own. What started off looking like a sloppy let-down game ended as a technical deconstruction, punctuated with Draymond Green finding Marreese Speights on a celebratory alley-oop. It was an ideal play to encapsulate the Warriors' second half dominance — perfectly executed and physically crushing. In the aftermath, Speights ran down the court raising the roof. Or was he signaling that the Warriors are still raising their elite-team ceiling?
Survival Plan (Warriors 102, Wolves 86)
We train for disasters so we're prepared when real ones strike. Before there's a fire, we mark safe exits. Before there's an earthquake, we reinforce our buildings. On Monday night against the lowly Timberwolves, the Warriors had their version of a disaster drill. Andrew Bogut checked himself out less than three minutes into the contest, then gingerly jogged back into the locker room. He returned shortly thereafter — and says that his "knee irritation" is nothing serious — but the Warriors suddenly faced the reality of life without their defensive centerpiece and offensive enabler. The results were not pretty but, as in Chicago, Kerr and his staff made adjustments and solutions emerged. The Warriors don't want to imagine a long stretch without Bogut, but they're working on a survival plan should they ever face it.


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Vegetable and spices are necessary in our kitchen. They play a vital part in our diet and nutrition. Now, you can even make your own beauty regimen out of those veggies and spices in your kitchen.
Shaping up through the proper diet goes along with having a smoother and healthier looking skin.
Bio Magic Touch Facial Massager
Eternity 2 Puzzle with the $2million prize


text:
MARSTON - Every individual who walks the survivors lap in Friday's New Madrid County American Cancer Society's Relay for Life has a story to tell. They can talk about their success in battling cancer and its impact on their lives.
Those who know him will tell you that there is no one braver or more determined in that battle than Jeremy Ferguson. After making the lap last year in his power wheelchair, Ferguson will take part in that survivor's lap for the first time Friday on his own two feet.
It is a real victory, said his wife, Christy Ferguson.
"Last year he didn't have the stamina or strength," added Mrs. Ferguson. "This year he is completely different, he is healthy and we knew we should get a team together."
Joining her in cheering Ferguson on through the lap will be Jeremy's Super Friends, a team of 17 family and friends who have backed the Marston resident's recovery efforts. They and many others will take part in the Relay for Life Friday and Saturday at the New Madrid County Central High School track.
In 1999, Ferguson began to suffer from blurred vision and headaches. The headaches, his wife recalled, increased in frequency and severity, causing dizziness.
The first diagnosis was an ear infection but when the headaches increased until he could no longer stand on his own, the couple went to the emergency room at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. A CAT scan, then an MRI showed a tumor on Ferguson's brain.
"That is when your world stops," said Mrs. Ferguson, who was joined at the hospital by Ferguson's parents, James and Mary Ferguson. The tumor was large enough to cause encephalitis, or a build-up of fluid on his brain.
From Southeast, doctors arranged for the him to be moved to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis for a series of tests and surgery. During surgery the doctors discovered a tumor so large it was completely blocking the flow of cerebral spinal fluid.
Heavy bleeding began as the surgeon removed the tumor. Over the eight hours of surgery, Ferguson would receive 19 units of blood.
"It was a complete shock to have a surgery nurse come to us in the waiting room to say that Jeremy was bleeding badly and the doctor was doing all he could to save him. Then the surgeon came to tell us that the bleeding had stopped, but Jeremy may not make it through the night," recalled Mrs. Ferguson.
While Ferguson made it through the night, there was still more bad news.
The tumor was cancerous. Doctors explained it was Medullablastoma, a recurring tumor primarily found in children.
The massive blood loss during surgery had damaged Ferguson's body. His immune system was depleted leaving him susceptible to infections and pneumonia and parts of his brain were damaged, impacting his speech, swallowing, coordination, body temperature and heart rate. Also more tumors were found on his spinal cord.
According to Mrs. Ferguson, her husband's prognosis was six months to a year to live. If he did survive doctors weren't sure what his quality of life would be like. "After that point, you just go on your prayers instead of a medical prognosis."
As his health began to return, Ferguson underwent radiation treatments in St. Louis for seven weeks. He transferred to St. Francis Rehab Center where he began physical, occupational and speech therapy while going through his first round of chemotherapy.
By mid-December 1999, Ferguson was allowed to go home.
The next year was filled with chemo treatments, doctor's appointments and in-home therapy. Mrs. Ferguson credits her husband's strong will and love of his family with enabling him to endure those days. And, she adds, there were a lot of prayers.
In February 2000, he was declared cancer free. Then there was the removal of the feeding tube, the return of his abilities such as swallowing, speech, handwriting - all monumental events for his family.
"We all knew that he was a fighter," said Mrs. Ferguson. " But he has gone above and beyond what anyone thought he could."
Now, she and others have joined the fight by taking part in the Relay for Life. According to local Relay for Life Chairman Ed Thomason there will be 35 teams and 600 residents participating.
There remain a few hurdles for Ferguson. As he works on his therapy he talks about when he will return to his job with the Pemiscot-Dunklin Electric Co-Op or when he can again serve as a volunteer fireman for Marston and as a member of the New Madrid County Civil Defense.
But first there is that survivor's lap he intends to make. It will be an emotional moment, said Mrs. Ferguson.
"Last year I was just swelling with pride to see him go around in his power chair, I just can't imagine," she said, with a hint of tears as she spoke. "For him to be there and to be fighting for others it just says exactly what he is. He is a fighter first who won't give up and is ready to extend himself for other people."
The public is invited to watch the survivor's lap and other events throughout the evening at the high school track. Activities begin at 4:30 p.m. Friday with the walk under way at 7 p.m. and continuing until 7 a.m. Saturday.


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Why don't airport scanners pick up glasses or zips?
QuestionWhen you go through the metal detector at airports, you have to take your belt off, but not my glasses, or any zips. Why is that?
Matt, Leatherhead
** Definitive **
Name: John, Dorking
Qualification: Security machine operator at Gatwick Airport
Answer: The detector can be set at different levels to detect different densities of metal. So it's set at a level that doesn't pick up small zips and fillings. A handheld detector would pick up zips. Also, the belt buckle makes it more difficult to be patted down.
Do you agree? Add your answer in the box below.


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Focus Stocks
Stocks Gain to One-Month High amid Fed Hopes
Published on Tuesday, 19 June 2012 18:54 Written by Christopher Lynn
New York, June 19th (TradersHuddle.com) – Stocks jumped to a one-month high as participants hoped that the Fed would act to prop up the sluggish U.S. economy, following its two-day meeting. European woes remained in focus as the G20 leaders focused their discussions on the debt crisis in the euro zone and as Spanish bond yields eased below 7%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 95.51 points or 0.75%. The S&P 500 index jumped 13.20 points, or 0.98%, while the NASDAQ rallied 34.43 points, or 1.19%.
The market started in positive ground amid a mixed performance in overseas markets, as hopes that the Fed will spring into action by probably extending operation twist increased risk appetite. Participants hoped that the central bank would provide further stimulus to the struggling U.S. economy, while the pressure on Spanish yields eased following a mildly successful short-term debt auction and as G20 leaders meeting in Mexico focused on the European debt crisis.
In economic news, the Commerce Department said housing starts fell 4.8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 708,000. The April number was revised higher to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 744,000. New construction rose 28.5% last month from May 2011.
The stimulus hopes came after the string of disappointing data in the U.S. economy, which points to sluggish growth and as the Fed started it two-day meeting today. The strength was broad based and the positive tone remained throughout the session, however, stocks closed off their highs of the session after reports from a German official saying that there are no plans to use EU's bailout funds to buy troubled debt of the euro zone periphery.
Most sectors closed higher, with economic sensitive sectors like materials, financials, energy, and industrials logged the biggest gains, while defensive sectors like staples and utilities fell. In the materials sector, United States Steel (NYSE: X) surged to the top of the S&P 500, as shares rallied 9.5% to $20.15 amid talk of further stimulus in the world's largest economy.
Also in the sector, CF Industries (NYSE: CF) rallied more than 5% to $180.86 after Topeka Capital initiated coverage on the stock with a Buy rating.
Financials received an edged in the session, as big money banks rallied amid encouraging building permits data and after the Federal Housing Finance Agency said it plans to help banks avoid being forced to buy back mortgages amid concern lenders are tightening standards even for the most creditworthy buyers. Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) jumped to the top of the Dow Jones Industrial average, as the stock gained 4.51% to $8.11, breaking above its calculated resistance at $7.90 and closing above $8 per share. According to reports, BofA is having talks with Julius Baer Group to sell its international wealth management business for about $2 billion.
Rivals Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) gained 1.54% to $32.96, while JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM) jumped 2.2% to $35.38 as CEO Jamie Dimon testified once again in Capitol Hill, saying that he complied with disclosure rules warning investors about changes that contributed to the bank's massive trading loss of at least $2 billion.
Discover Financial (NYSE: DFS) was able to post a gain along with the broader market even after the credit-card issuer reported earnings that fell more than 10%.
In the energy sector, crude oil prices settled above $84 per barrel, while natural gas slumped, giving up some of the big gains from the prior session. Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) gained 1.7%, while Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB) added 0.92% on news that it won a service contract from Mexico's Pemex, the country's state-run oil company.
In the industrials sector, FedEx (NYSE: FDX) jumped 2.8% to $91.01 after the delivery Company reported earnings and provided an outlook for the quarter and fiscal 2013 that missed expectations. The stock initially printed in negative territory but bounced from the lows after participants digested the figures and the company also pledge significant cost reductions.
In the consumer discretionary sector, homebuilders extended their recent rally, as PulteGroup (NYSE: PHM) rallied 3%. Goodyear Tire (NYSE: GT) led the sector higher, as shares rallied more than 5%, while JC Penny (NYSE: JCP) plunged to the bottom of the S&P 500 on news that its President Michael Francis will be leaving the company immediately, with CEO Ron Johnson assuming the direct responsibility of the company's marketing and merchandising functions.
Among tech, Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), the information management software provider, rallied 3% to $27.96 after the company beat earnings expectations on record quarterly results and announced a $10 billion share repurchase program.
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) gained 2.9% to $30.70, posting the second biggest gain in the blue chip index as the company unveiled its latest entry into the hardware segment, a new windows based tablet computer. Microsoft unveiled to models of its tablet, named Surfaced, in a bid to try to replicate Apple's success and compete against the iPad juggernaut. NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) surged nearly 7% on news that the chipmaker will supply its Tegra processor for the consumer edition of the tablet, which will likely be more popular thanks to its lower price point. Meanwhile, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) gained 0.28% to $587.41, closing just below calculated resistance at $588.50.
Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) had another positive day, with shares closing near $32 per share after Susquehanna reiterated its Positive rating. In after hours, Facebook announced changes to improve its payment systems, launching an option of subscription payments for apps. The new overhaul to its payment systems is designed to drive more spending and will allow developers to price items in local currencies, or games virtual currencies, instead of using its credits.
Elsewhere in the earnings front, Walgreen (NYSE: WAG) tumbled 5.9% to $30.09, as participants punished the shares after the company missed revenues expectations and announced that it will spend $6.7 billion to buy a 45% stake on international pharmacy chain Alliance Boots.
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text:
In article <firstname.lastname@example.com>, JF Mezei wrote:
> Does the pen actually cause "permanent" danage to the screen surface, or
> can the later be restored with some magic product ?
I don't know if the pen causes permanent damage /of necessity/ ,
but as I understand it, the touch-screen is a (internally complex)
transparent plastic sheet glued onto the front plate of the screen
assembly, and it is at least theoretically replaceable.
I have seen "screen protection sheets" available for Palms, and I
think also for Psions, but you'll have to check the sizes carefully.
They're comparable with thick cling film, and I think they adhere by the
same static process and can be replaced simply.
Aidan Karley, FGS
Aberdeen, Scotland,
Location: +57d10' , -02d09' (sub-tropical Aberdeen), 0.021233
Written at Mon, 12 Dec 2005 12:14 GMT


text:
Control System Engineer
- Lancaster, Lancashire
- Up to £33415 + Comprehensive Benefits
Provide ICA maintenance and engineering support to the Water & Wastewater Production
- Recruiter: United Utilities
Signal Processing Engineer
- Steyning, West Sussex
- Competitive Salary
We are looking for a Signal Processing Engineer to support the R&D process on active loudspeaker products.
- Recruiter: B&W Group
Principal Mechanical & Electrical Engineer
- Leicestershire
- Grade G: £36,672 - £46,414 per annum
Join the Projects Team to develop and manage medium to large projects on the university estate.
- Recruiter: De Montfort University
Advanced Commissioning Engineer
- Nottinghamshire, Nottingham, England
- £46000 - £57000 per year
National Grid is at the heart of energy in the UK. The electricity we provide gets the nation to work, powers schools and lights everyone's way home. Our energy network connects the nation, so it's essential that it's continually evolving, advancing and i
- Recruiter: National Grid
Electrical Design Engineer
- Yatton, Bristol
- Competitive salary plus excellent benefits
We are looking for an electrical designer to join our engineering design team.
- Recruiter: Oxford Instruments
Skilled Electrical Fitter
- Bolton
- Competitive Salary & Benefits
What?s the opportunity? The Electrical Fitter will carry out manufacturing and test tasks within the electrical department in accordance with product certification procedures, defined workmanship ...
- Recruiter: MBDA
Electrical Manufacturing Technician
- Stevenage
- Competitive Salary & Benefits
What?s the opportunity? As a qualified craftsman with experience in electrical manufacturing, the Manufacturing Technician will report to a Team Leader, receiving day to day ...
- Recruiter: MBDA
Consultant Engineer (Electrical Power)
- Cumbria, Barrow-In-Furness, England
- Negotiable
Consultant Engineer (Electrical Power) Would you like to play a key role in providing technical direction to the design of power systems on the Successor class submarines, which will replace the current Trident-equipped Vanguard class, currently in servic
- Recruiter: BAE Systems
- City of Bristol
- C. £31,729 per annum plus supplements, benefits and overtime
You're a good team worker with a strong technical capacity – so bring your talents to a new role with one of the area's leading employers.
- Recruiter: The Bristol Port Company
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Towing icebergs to drought zones
There is nothing more valuable than water, yet much of the world is short of it. Could the answer be as simple as towing a icebergs to the drought-stricken tropics?
It's an idea that seems both impossibly simple and simply impossible. You tow the enormous ready-packed masses of the world's most precious commodity to the places in the world where it is most desperately needed. But surely it's an impossible mission – towing an iceberg?
Well, the idea of harnessing icebergs to produce fresh water is not a new one, and one man now thinks he is ready to put the theory into practice.
It was in 1970 that, after reading about an attempt to tow a small iceberg with a boat, Saudi prince Mohamed al Faisal began to muse on the possibility of transporting icebergs to desert regions. Keen to find solutions to the fresh water shortages in his region he joined forces with French polar explorer Paul-Emile Victor and Victor's graduate friend Georges Mougin and founded Iceberg Transport International.
Mougin was installed as technical director, and his first task was to demonstrate the feasibility – technical, ecological, practical and financial – of harnessing and transporting by far the biggest object ever hauled.
Mougin spent the 1970s and early 1980s modelling his ideas on a typical tabular iceberg weighing almost seven million tonnes. A tabular iceberg is stable and of regular shape, and presents minimum risk of fracturing or rolling over. For this purpose he would need to risk up to €10m equivalent.
One pressing concern was how the iceberg'could be prevented from melting, as well as what type of traction system was most suitable. Moreover, how could they make the transportation efficient, in order to consume the least amount of fuel without increasing the risk of the iceberg melting more quickly? These issues proved a major block on the proposal, and for years Mougin's dream foundered. He was convinced, however, that modern technology would prevail to refine and corroborate the concepts and the systems that he had devised for the project.
The project on ice
Jump forward to the end of the last decade and the plan was rekindled but with Mougin running the project himself – Victor having passed away three years earlier and the interest of the Saudi prince having waned. The rebirth was driven by progress made in meteorology and oceanography, particularly in terms of satellite data.
With forecasts now available in real time for all of the world's oceans, it was now possible to provide detailed information for each section of ocean in terms of temperature, salinity, currents and eddy. This information made it possible to predict oceanographic and meteorological conditions and enable towing operations to be optimised.
Advances in materials too now made sophisticated fibres reasonably affordable. Mougin's revised plan would employ a non-woven geotextile to minimise the melting of the target iceberg. A skirt made up of several ultra-long strips of geotextile, would envelop the immersed part of the iceberg and insulate it from the seawater.
Once skirted, the iceberg would be captured using a large net fabrication before being pulled by a tug. According to Mougin, one tug with 130 tonne traction would be enough. The most efficient solution for transporting icebergs – from both a financial and an ecological perspective would be to harness natural resources of the wind, waves and currents.
Virtualised pilot project
Mougin and the team chose the Canary Islands as the destination for the purposes of their pilot project. This region suffers from fresh-water shortages and already uses desalination plants, making it a suitable site for testing the iceberg solution.
Currents and prevailing winds make the waters to the east of Newfoundland the ideal location for selecting and capturing the iceberg before towing it away. For the last three decades, tugs have been re-directing icebergs that otherwise would have been on course to hit oil production platforms.
The main thrusts of the pilot project were decided: a tabular iceberg weighing around seven million tonnes, a tug with a traction force of 130 tonnes, and a race against time, before the iceberg melted travelling between Newfoundland and the Canaries.
It was at a 2009 screening of 'Khufu Revealed' – a documentary about Jean-Pierre Houdin's theory on the construction of the Kheops pyramid – that Georges Mougin met Mehdi Tayoubi of Dassault Systémes and discovered the potential of its 3D technologies.
3D techniques had made it possible to simulate the construction of an Egyptian pyramid, which simulated every detail of the project including labour, materials, processes and era-specific restrictions. 3D and virtual worlds can be used to test all aspects of a project and anticipate any issues before embarking on the real thing.
With the benefit of computer technology realised, the pilot project's budget requirements melted from €10m to an almost negligible amount. The ecological and human risks were also eradicated and, most importantly, the flexibility of 3D technology meant that the operation and logistics could be repeated as often as necessary.
Parameters that could be adjusted included the number of tugs required, the quality of the anti-melting system, the steering strategy to be used for different currents and any possible combination of oceanographic and meteorological conditions.
Mougin, his team and Dassault Systémes using scientific 3D simulation tools, assessed the technical feasibility of the project by tackling two major challenges.
The first was predicting how the iceberg would melt during its journey. To what extent would Mougin's protection system be effective and how would the convoy's travelling speed affect the rate of melting? Was there an optimum travelling speed? What ice mass would remain on arrival in the Canaries? What final shape would the iceberg be?
Secondly, the team needed to ascertain if it was possible to tow an iceberg from Newfoundland to the Canary Islands. How many tugs would be needed? How powerful would they need to be? How much fuel would they consume over how much time? Which route should they follow? What time of year? What should the steering strategy be?
As a safety and risk management precaution, the team also decided to simulate scenarios allowing them to analyse the consequences should an iceberg fracture to the point of breaking up completely. Using Dassault Systémes 3D simulation technology the team developed a digital iceberg weighing 7 million tonnes, measuring 163m deep, 236m long and 189m wide. Each simulation would build in all meteorological and oceanographic data actually recorded – with the help of satellites, balloons and other data capture systems.
Weight loss
Predicting the melt rate of an iceberg involves factoring in complex physical phenomena straddling a number of scientific disciplines. Using 3D simulation tools, it is now possible to model these phenomena with great accuracy. The first stage consists of simulating the interactions between the iceberg, protected by the skirt, and the environments through which it will travel.
Using thermal simulation the team observed how an iceberg behaves when it is melting. The simulations confirmed the need for an anti-melting system.
Using the software the team developed an integrated drift model, designed to consolidate all criteria involved in the iceberg transportation. The data set incorporated meteorological and oceanographic data with physical phenomena and characteristics of the iceberg's behaviour in various environmental conditions.
The team could enter the GPS coordinates corresponding to the start location for the iceberg off Newfoundland and the end destination (the Canary Islands) and develop optimised departure dates for the convoy.
Within the 3D simulation system it is possible to observe what happens at any instant, and analyse causes and effects produced by the changing parameters and circumstances. It can be seen, for example, that the power of one or even several tugs would not always be capable of withstanding the currents, rendering the convoy unsteerable.
After a series of simulations the team drew its initial conclusions. It decided that it would be possible to steer an iceberg weighing several million tonnes for thousands of kilometres with just one standard tug. In the Canaries example, the journey could be completed in 141 days.
With an effective anti-melting system it would be possible to minimise the extent to which the iceberg melts. In the Canaries example, the iceberg would lose an average of 38 per cent of its mass. Using several tugs over the entire journey makes very little difference to the overall journey time, and only serves to increase fuel consumption.
It is, the team concluded, pointless trying fight natural forces; they are too overpowering. The simulations highlighted the need to transport the iceberg at a speed of around one knot (1.8km/hr).
Icebergs can shatter without warning, as a result of the natural flaws that are embedded during their formation, as well as through environmental assaults such as temperature and erosion by sea currents and waves. Digital simulation has made it possible to accurately assess the physical risks and develop appropriate responses associated with the break-up of this large mass of ice while under tow.
Ice innovations
The innovations of Mougin and his team go far beyond the essential principles of the insulating cushion of water and assisted drift. For each major stage of the project (such as capturing the iceberg, transporting it and harvesting it on arrival at its destination), they have created a series of innovative technical systems designed to enhance its financial and technical viability while minimising ecological costs.
A sky sail (or giant kite), aims to use wind power to assist convoy progress while reducing fuel consumption. There's also an 'iceberg-cutting wire', designed to exploit the vast source of energy that is an iceberg, in line with the principles of OTEC (ocean thermal energy conversion).
There are no longer any major obstacles to understanding iceberg transportation for use as fresh water. Powerful simulation technologies combined with accurate knowledge about sea currents and other ocean and weather data have enabled complete and accurate study of the technical challenges without needing to invest in pilot projects or expensive, and unrealistic physical prototypes.
The integrated drift model demonstrates that the project is technically feasible and allows replay of the entire journey in less than two minutes – as many times as required. At the same time, the 3D virtual world recreated around the iceberg gives engineers the ability to place themselves at the heart of a realistic immersive experience that facilitates technical reviews and better informed decision-making, while also enabling anyone to enjoy an experience that is both interactive and educational.
For Mougin and his team, the next stage is to travel to the site itself and start full-scale operational trials. They still need to find a financial partner in order for the project to materialise.
Georges Mougin, ice-dream man
Born in St Malo, France, Mougin grew up in a Newfoundland cod fishing community, where his father managed the local maintenance workshops for the boats. The youngest engineer in his year, he graduated from Arts et Métiers in 1944, and in 1945 helped to refloat ships grounded in the port of St Malo by the hostilities.
In 1947, with the help of a Danish naval architect, he coordinated work to transform a US surplus ship into a polar vessel that became the Commandant Charcot. It was at this time that he met Paul-Emilie Victor, beginning a friendship that would last 50'years, as well as members of the French polar expeditions organisation (EPF), and developed a fascination with Antarctica.
Mougin then developed self-propelled vessels for rivers in West Africa, where he was responsible for their installation. He even managed the operation of some of these vessels. In his role as director of the family business that became a shipyard in 1955, he oversaw the construction of around 40 ships up until'1963.
In 1964, he was the Polynesian director of an industrial architecture firm that built nuclear missile bases, including one in Mururoa. From 1967 to 1974 in the United States, he focused on peaceful applications of nuclear explosions, before becoming the manager of a Thomson subsidiary based in New York and Los Angeles, where he was in charge of prospective studies.
Upon his return to France, he founded ITI (Iceberg Transport International) with Saudi prince Mohamed al Faisal. Between 1975 and 1981, this company established the feasibility conditions for transporting and using tabular icebergs from Antarctica. In 1982, through his own personal company, Biostructures, a spin-off from an American company, he got involved in various projects, including the entrance hall at the Cit' des Sciences de la Villette and also developed a windbreak fencing system that was used by Eurotunnel, stadiums and projects in the UK, Germany and Brazil.
With satellite data resulting in the provision of ocean forecasting services,'coupled with the availability of maritime resources developed for the off-shore oil industry, Georges Mougin has been working since 2003 to revive the idea of harvesting icebergs. The trial transportation of a small tabular iceberg from Greenland within the northern hemisphere, less expensive than a similar exercise conducted in the southern hemisphere for a large tabular iceberg, has become the preferred option.
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I am sometimes frustrated, deeply angered and saddened by white people's persistent, smug, hypocritical finger-pointing at black people's sexual behavior. In their self-righteous attempt to judge black "out-of-wedlock'' births, some of these same people conveniently overlook the half-million-plus white babies aborted annually in our country. I am sure that many of these babies were conceived out of wedlock!
I'm beginning to wonder if NBC and "Jeopardy" are giving Mr. Jennings the answer for the ratings. If not he has to be one of the most knowledgeable people in the world. Not the most intelligent, just the most knowledgeable. There is a difference between being intelligent and being knowledgeable isn't there?
The person who wrote about the biscuits and gravy in Sikeston, Hardee's in Sikeston makes the best biscuits and gravy between St. Louis and Memphis. You can even make a meal on biscuits and jelly. We drive all the way from Portageville just for the good meal.
This is in response to the person looking for good biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Try Phil's Market three miles north of Miner on H Highway. They have many other breakfast items too.
I read the article Sunday about cleaning up the city of Sikeston. I have no problem with what you said. I am a concerned citizen of Sikeston and we need to keep our city clean. You mentioned the 1-cent sales tax and I would like to add something to this. The loud noise and dogs and cats running loose in this city should be included too. If dogs are going around and tearing into the trash, using animal waste in the streets and yards, this should be included. People mow their yards and blow grass and leaves into the streets and the wind blows it across the yard onto your neighbor's property.
I read where someone wanted to thank the bank for Walgreens coming to town. I am certainly thankful for that but I wish there was some way we could get a Schnuck's store in Sikeston.
This is about the Nov. 4 obituary for Andrew Tyler. First of all, I pray that the Lord will bless and heal the family's hearts so they can adjust to this little boy's death. The obituary in the paper was written so beautifully. I have never seen an obituary worded that particular way and want to thank whoever wrote it. It really touched my heart.
Andrew Tyler's obituary was written by his family.
On the court records for the Sikeston City Court, do you just publish names that are convicted or do you also publish the ones who are found innocent?
By law we are only permitted to publish names of people who are charged or convicted of a crime or traffic incident. For example: If John Doe was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and had a trial date set, his name would appear in the paper. If, however, he is found innocent or his case is dismissed, that information is not published.
Hat's off to the Sikeston Street Department for the work they are doing cleaning up leaves, sweeping the streets and removing road hazard items. I appreciate the work they're doing.


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Wells Fargo's shares soared 5.1 percent higher Thursday after analysts upgraded the bank's stock. The upgrades came a day after Wells announced profits that beat Wall Street's expectations. San Francisco-based Wells Fargo rose $1.33 to close at $27.39. FBR Capital Markets and Rochdale Securities raised their ratings on the bank. And Fitch reaffirmed its outlook of "stable" for Wells Fargo. On Wednesday, Wells reported per-share profits of 55 cents. Analysts had predicted 48 cents in profits.
Another solar energy company is struggling. Newark-based DayStar Technologies Inc. reports in a regulatory filing that its landlord has terminated its lease for its executive offices and principal manufacturing center in Newark. The landlord notified DayStar that it has received a court-ordered judgment to seize possession of the premises. The SEC filing shows that DayStar's primary offices are located at 7333 and 7373 Gateway Blvd. in Newark. DayStar makes solar modules to convert sunlight into electricity. In May, DayStar disclosed that it would be delisted from the Nasdaq market. The regulatory filing didn't make it clear where DayStar would relocate if it loses its lease. A few weeks ago, Fremont-based Solyndra Inc.
Mountain View-based Google Inc. increased its spending on lobbying by 50 percent as the U.S. Federal Communications Commission began looking at ways to regulate Internet access. Google spent $2.7 million on lobbying activities in the first six months of 2010, compared with $1.8 million in the same year-ago period.
Newark-based Socket Mobile Inc. lost $575,000 on sales of $3.7 million for its second quarter of 2010. The red ink, though, was less than prior quarters. In the year-ago quarter, the maker of handheld computers and peripherals lost $945,000. Sales fell 2.6 percent.
Real Estate
San Ramon-based Giga-tronics Inc. decided to extend a lease for five years on its 47,000-square-foot corporate headquarters. Broker: Jones Lang LaSalle.
Lafayette-based California Bank of Commerce reversed a prior-year loss and posted a profit of $227,000 for its second quarter. The year before, the bank lost $694,000.
Compiled from staff and wire reports.
Got Bay Area business news? Reach Drew Voros at 925-943-8099 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Liverpool Message Board
A Yahoo! User Mar 6, 2010 04:18 Flag
Alex Macliesh
The Birmingham manager is being touted as a replacement for Rafa in the summer. What do you think? He made birmingham into a good team, he isnt as expensive as other managers and he doesnt need a huge budget? opinions?Sort: Newest | Oldest | Most Replied Expand all replies
LFC_Armchair_Supporter LFC_Armchair_Supporter Mar 6, 2010 22:16 Flag
Seems to me Scottish managers seem to encourge a bit of grit and bite to their style of management. Dagliesh, Alex Fergibum and McLeish.. .. we need the fighting mentality to win games and scrape wins if need be.. The winning mentality is what we need back at LFC and none of this ... a draw is good enough, shit.. We've drawn way too many times in this season and previous seasons.. when they should've been wins.. if Al McLeish can do that then lets get him..
EL NINO...Anyone is acceptable to me so long as it isnt Benitez for yet another season of agony !
No effing way. If I was going to choose another EPL manager it would have to be Roy Hodgson, he has after all coached Inter, and worked miracles at Fulham as well, and is genuinely humble guy.
- 2 Replies to Loki
Kenny 7 Suarez Kenny 7 Suarez Mar 6, 2010 17:22 Flag
The EPL manager I would accept is MON, a tw@t but a bloody good manager, if not hime then an ex EPL manager Mourinhio.
A Yahoo! User Mar 6, 2010 08:01 Flag
Agree with you there loki and he can bring hangelaand with him and maybe bring christopher buchtman back as well.
Kenny 7 Suarez Kenny 7 Suarez Mar 6, 2010 07:11 Flag
Jesus H no way, we are Liverpool we should be courting world proven managers not mediocre.
A Yahoo! User Mar 6, 2010 06:44 Flag
i get what you saying and it isnt my opinion, but i mean we could use someone who has a clue how to play in EPL and can do transfers, and doesnt have a 20 million release clause. we could get Mata with that money! or Kjaer and Turan together
A Yahoo! User Mar 6, 2010 06:33 Flag
It's okay performing with Birmingham but we are talking LIVERPOOL FC here, no thanks from me.
A Yahoo! User Mar 6, 2010 04:23 Flag
There is an endless list of managers who had a good season. No intent to diminish Macliesh accomplishment, but Liverpool deserves much more than that.
- 1 Reply to A Yahoo! User
A Yahoo! User Mar 6, 2010 05:02 Flag
No thanks.


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April 20, 2006: The scenario can't be more perplexing. Two teams with 15 members each travel all the way to the Gulf. Support staff in tow and 100-odd journalists following like hungry greyhounds. Even the President of one of the participating nations can't resist the temptation of joining the circus, not to mention lesser leaders from the rival country and Bollywood starlets. All this for two insignificant matches.
The cricket that was played at Abu
Dhabi was hardly of the type that sets stadiums on fire. Okay, India had a plus in Venugopal Rao's innings that saved the blushes but little else was gained. Isn't just ridiculous that a series between two major cricketing powers involve
just two matches? Doesn't it reek of a hurry to organise, an unnecessary eagerness to accommodate a venue?
What goes against such a tournament even more is that the host country is nowhere in the cricket map. It is interesting to think how far the Sheikhs understood the game, which is becoming complicated even for old-time loyalists with concepts like power play. Of course, they have enough other distractions to keep them going including that ultimate eye candy, Mallika Sherawat. Wonder why nobody thought of her as a cricket anchor yet.
It is a bit like organizing a Spanish bull fight or a WWF contest in Mumbai. What the viewers get out of watching such a contest is a voyeuristic pleasure. Of course, while the expats will go on a nostalgic trip, the
Sheikhs will ogle at this new kind of leisure
activity. And, the perfect setting for a new Dawood Ibrahim to emerge. God forbid.
The tamasha aspect is just a bit too obvious, ODI status notwithstanding. And it comes at a time when there is a debate on whether there is too much cricket being played by various countries. It is a debate that has been on for a few years. Sunil Gavaskar has added a new perspective saying that 'hard grind' is part of the challenge of playing for the country.
With so much money at stake, cricketers will hardly complain when they have to play day in and day out. And they know that if they play long enough, they will sooner or later achieve enough milestones in their career.
But problem comes when they go through a bad patch. They will have little time to correct technical mistakes or regain confidence by playing less talented opposition at home. A string of low scores will expose a batsman just the way it has been for Mohammed Kaif and it can't be different for bowlers when they go wicketless match after match.
One solution is to try out new cricketers for less important matches but this can sometimes wreak havoc with team combinations. The other issue is, when you try a new player and he does well, how can you not give him a chance again? For instance, how can you keep out Venugopal
Rao for the next match and play Kaif?
It was part of the Dalmiya vision that cricket should go to different parts of the world and this was the reason for the India-Pak circus pitching tents in Sharjah, Canada and Singapore in the past. While some believe that too much of a good thing will kill the golden goose called cricket, Dalmiya believed that you could clone a series of golden geese. His successors may be trying to do their best to put him behind the bars, but they also share his revenue model.
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