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Eddie Obeid: power beyond the premier
During the previous NSW Labor Government, the chain of power didn't end with the premier. Quentin Dempster chronicles the history of New South Wales's Independent Commission Against Corruption and investigates the allegations that go to the heart of Labor and the role of powerbroker Eddie Obeid over the past 40 years.
"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely" - Lord Acton.
The New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), now with added resources (forensic accountants, covert surveillance and telephone intercept analysts), is laying out an evidentiary trail in a public investigation into the relationship between the former state parliamentary Labor Party powerbroker Eddie Obeid and former minister Ian Macdonald.
"It's like a Russian show trial," one prominent barrister privately observed to me on the opening day of Operation Jasper. Targets of the ICAC were made to run the gauntlet of assembled media cameras in Castlereagh and Pitt streets, Sydney, while inside, their reputations were destroyed by counsel assisting, Geoffrey Watson SC, and the whole thing packaged and sensationalised for the evening TV news.
TV cameras are permitted to record the counsel's opening address but nothing else. All the allegations, including Mr Watson's headline-grabbing 'Rum Corp' comparison with the alleged corruption under investigation, could be broadcast. A rebuttal opening address was not permitted from counsel representing those under investigation.
Is it fair?
Not according to the standards usually applied to individuals charged and on trial.
But the ICAC was established in 1988 expressly because of public distress about corruption in the highest places, including the police force itself.
The ICAC's inquisitorial methodology is set down in the ICAC Act 1988, and its rulings and procedural fairness are justiciable before the Supreme Court of NSW. The ICAC is a standing 'royal commission' with coercive powers to secretly record conversations by warrant, to search premises, seize documents and bank accounts, waive legal professional privilege or client confidentiality, and command attendance.
Witnesses do not have the right to remain silent (as in criminal investigations) but evidence they give can be taken 'on objection', meaning it cannot be used against them in any other legal proceedings. As a consequence, when the evidentiary trail gets sticky, recollection of detail by witnesses can often go amiss: "I don't recall."
The ICAC's effectiveness in its task over the past 24 years has been mixed. It declined to investigate 74 matters listed by its originators - then Liberal premier Nick Greiner and his advisor Gary Sturgess - into the Wran era of NSW Labor politics right back to the 'near-murderous' bashing of Peter Baldwin by party thugs in 1980.
Instead, it went on to expose National Party slush funding practices 'conducive to corruption' and the sale of confidential government information, among other good work.
The ICAC came into bitter contention in 1992 when it consumed its creator. In the so-called Terry Metherell affair, its adverse finding against Nick Greiner (he'd appointed the dissident ex-Liberal backbencher to a government job to create a politically beneficial bearpit vacancy) caused the end of Greiner's premiership. (A Supreme Court ruling that the ICAC had exceeded its jurisdiction and that its report was wrong in law came too late. In a minority government at the time, Greiner had to resign when confronted with a declared loss of confidence by crossbench independents.)
Bob Carr publicly stated that he wanted to retain the ICAC because of its public mandate, and remarked privately, 'It keeps my party's criminal faction in check.'
The ICAC made some progress on police corruption in its early years but the separate Wood Royal Commission from 1995 did the heavy lifting, establishing through audacious and highly effective covert surveillance over more than a year that police corruption was endemic.
As a result, oversight of the police was taken away from the ICAC and a new external body, the Police Integrity Commission, was established.
There was a concerted push within the ALP to abolish the ICAC before that party's return to government in 1995 but then leader Bob Carr publicly stated that he wanted to retain it because of its public mandate, and remarked privately, 'It keeps my party's criminal faction in check.'
Over the 16 years of Labor in government in NSW (1995 to 2011), the ICAC exposed low-level corruption in government agencies like the RTA and local government. One minister, Brian Langton, quit after an adverse ruling concerning minor travel voucher irregularities. It named and shamed some other ministers over staffing, expenses and related rorts. It found insufficient evidence of corruption involving Paul Gibson, the then Labor member for Blacktown, after an examination of his relationship with the organised criminal Louis Bayeh. The ICAC suffered a rebuke from the Supreme Court over the Gibson case when then commissioner Barry O'Keeffe was found to have an apprehended bias against Gibson.
The ICAC exonerated Bob Carr in a 2005 inquiry into his office's alleged preferential treatment of Frank Lowy's Westfield in a dispute with bulky goods warehouse rival Nabil Gazal. Carr had departed the premiership some weeks before enjoying this exoneration.
In December 2011, the ICAC delivered a corrupt conduct finding against former Labor minister Tony Kelly over the signing and backdating of a letter relating to the sale of the Currawong site at Sydney's Pittwater. The ALP administrative committee terminated Kelly's party membership. The Director of Public Prosecutions is considering a criminal prosecution.
Also in December 2011, the ALP suspended the party membership of former minister Ian Macdonald after an ICAC inquiry into Macdonald's alleged receipt of benefits from property tycoon Ron Medich, including the offered services of Tiffanie, a prostitute. Mr Macdonald, for 22 years a member of the Upper House and of Labor's 'hard left' faction, resigned from Parliament in June 2010 after a public scandal involving his acceptance of travel upgrades to Dubai. He has denied any impropriety.
The ICAC's most significant headway into major corruption was the Wollongong 'dirty sexy money' property scandals of 2008 where, through covert surveillance and the courage of its protected disclosure informants, it exposed a 'table of knowledge' operating outside a kebab shop where the facetious agenda was to 'advance Wollongong into tomorrow'.
But to the consternation of observers, the ICAC failed to follow the Wollongong corruption into Macquarie Street and the Planning Department itself, instead running what looked like an unnecessary inquiry to clear the Planning Department of innuendo contained in a conversation taped by the financier of last resort, Michael McGurk, who had been murdered in the driveway of his Cremorne home in 2009.
Famously, the ubiquitous Labor power broker Graham Richardson, then a $5,000-a-month registered lobbyist for property developer Ron Medich (in bitter dispute with McGurk, a business associate), expressed to Channel Nine's Laurie Oakes (6 September 2009) his doubts that police would ever find McGurk's murderer, such was the list of enemies McGurk had created.
But after a 13-month Homicide Squad investigation, Richardson's own client, Ron Medich, one of the NSW ALP's biggest 'donor developers', was charged with McGurk's murder and now awaits trial.
Graham Richardson has since found work as a Sky News political commentator and columnist for The Australian. More on Richo shortly.
Morris Iemma and Nathan Rees, under oath, truthfully had to acknowledge that when it came down to it, Eddie Obeid had more power than they did.
At the current ICAC hearings two former premiers, Morris Iemma and Nathan Rees, under oath on November 13, 2012, truthfully had to acknowledge that when it came down to it, Eddie Obeid had more power than they did. They explained that the Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi Terrigals sub-faction or 'fraction' dominated the SPLP's formal Centre Unity or Right faction and, through a convention of binding votes to maintain discipline, effectively influenced the entire caucus.
Iemma explained that when he could not get his preferred ministerial reshuffle accepted by the Terrigals in 2009, his position as premier was untenable and he resigned. Rees told how he had sought and won ALP state conference approval to choose his own ministry, but in then using that power immediately to sack Joe Tripodi and Ian Macdonald from his ministry, he enraged the Terrigals and was soon ousted as leader in favour of Kristina Keneally.
Even though Frank Sartor, a candidate for party leadership to replace Nathan Rees, had the support of the ALP's Sussex Street head office against the Obeid/Tripodi Terrigals, the Terrigals won through their 25 to 23 dominance of Centre Unity and hence the entire SLPL full caucus when it was joined by the Left faction. Macdonald rejoined the Keneally Cabinet until his resignation from the ministry and parliament shortly after.
ICAC commissioner David Ipp QC called the two premiers to help him understand the context of Eddie Obeid's power within the SPLP and the relationships which developed over the years as a consequence of that power.
While Iemma said he had had a close working relationship with Obeid, even acknowledging Obeid attended his home and/or his office two to three times a week during his premiership, the subversion, or diversion, or dominance of the Australian Labor Party parliamentary wing by powerful forces through the binding vote convention exposed through this ICAC inquiry may confirm the old maxim that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The ICAC is investigating allegations counsel assisting has made that Ian Macdonald breached his oath of office as a minister of the Crown to give confidential information and take administrative actions on lucrative mining leases to benefit Eddie Obeid, his extended family and business associates beyond the wildest dreams of avarice ($100 million for Obeid interests alleged in evidence so far).
The investigation has embroiled some of this state's most prominent businessmen, in the publicly listed White Energy and investors in Cascade Coal, an entity which won mining tenements through expressions of interest invited by Macdonald's department: Travers Duncan, Brian Flannery, John Kinghorn, John McGuigan, John Atkinson, Richard Poole and Greg Jones.
The ICAC is investigating allegations that Ian Macdonald gave confidential information and took administrative actions on lucrative mining leases to benefit Eddie Obeid beyond the wildest dreams of avarice.
The ICAC has to determine if there has been corrupt conduct and if so, if there is sufficient evidence to recommend that the DPP consider criminal prosecutions.
Significantly, counsel assisting, Geoffrey Watson SC, has said:
I have already spoken of the financial benefits which have or could be acquired by the Obeid family and by the seven investors in Cascade Coal. In the case of Ian Macdonald it is a little different - we will adduce evidence that had the transaction between Cascade Coal and White Energy proceeded (White Energy to acquire Cascade Coal for $500 million), Ian Macdonald would have received a substantial payment.
Note this: the ICAC says it can produce evidence that Ian Macdonald would have received a substantial payment. We are now waiting for the substantiation of that statement. Macdonald, Obeid and the businessmen all deny any impropriety.
The enormity of the corruption alleged, it is fair to say, has gobsmacked the polity of New South Wales.
In the past two weeks, the ICAC has started to confront the business witnesses with audio recordings from the commission's now substantial holdings of telephone intercepts. Perjury or lying to the ICAC is a criminal offence.
The relationship between Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald is intriguing. Geoffrey Watson SC told the ICAC:
There is another motive apart from money - power. Politics is about power. Many want it; few have it. Circles of influence develop. A favour is done; it requires reciprocation. Patronage is conferred; a dependency develops. All of this is normal and only takes on a malign character if bad people hold the power and use it for bad purposes. That happened here. A relationship of patronage and dependence had grown between Mr Obeid and Mr Macdonald. When Mr Macdonald was vulnerable, Mr Obeid exercised his considerable power to aid Mr Macdonald. As I said, a favour is done; it requires reciprocation.
Eddie Obeid, now 69, quit as a member of the NSW Legislative Council in May 2011 after his party had suffered a 16.9 per cent primary vote swing at the March 2011 state election. It was the worst result in both vote share (25.6 per cent) and seats (20) since 1904. There were many identified factors in the party's defeat: too long in office, ministerial self-indulgence, scandal and infidelity, the asset-stripping sale of electricity assets. But fundamental to the party's decline from its dominance of NSW politics was the destruction of trust with its traditional support base, which started with the Wollongong property corruption in 2008.
Here's hoping Graham Richardson can throw some journalistic sunshine on the role of Eddie Obeid inside the Australian Labor Party over the past 40 years.
Eddie Obeid's power broking within the ALP started with his pre-selection to the upper house in 1991. According to investigative journalist Marian Wilkinson's book The Fixer, Obeid was recruited into the ALP by then NSW branch secretary Graham Richardson from 1972. At the time Obeid was an established businessman and publisher of the Arabic newspaper El Telegraph.
Wilkinson reported that Obeid became an effective advisor to Richardson on organising politically within ethnic communities in NSW and across Australia. Originally Obeid himself had made overtures to the ALP organisation to try to resolve a dispute with Marrickville Council over El Telegraph's presses running after hours.
The personal relationship between Richardson and Obeid developed strongly over 20 years, with Wilkinson reporting that Richardson introduced Obeid to his most important business friend, the stock broker Rene Rivkin. Wilkinson also reported that in the early 1990s, Obeid, by then an MLC, had been unable to join Rivkin's consortium of investors in the printing company Offset Alpine, later destroyed by fire.
Eddie Obeid has been reported by the Sydney Morning Herald to have been one of the wealthiest members of parliament, with multiple properties and investments and a fatherly interest in the extensive business interests of his nine children.
As the ICAC now investigates the Obeid-Macdonald relationship, here's hoping Graham Richardson can throw some journalistic sunshine on the role of Eddie Obeid inside the Australian Labor Party over the past 40 years. Suggested headline: "Exclusive. Richo: How I made Eddie Obeid into powerbroker numero uno."
We will all switch on to Sky News or pick up The Australian to hear and see all about it. Surely the editors of these media outlets should be coaxing their star contributor to get cracking on this exclusive.
Quentin Dempster presents 7.30 NSW on ABC1. View his full profile here.
Topics: states-and-territories, corruption
First posted
Comments (53)
Comments for this story are closed.
14 Dec 2012 1:29:46pm
New South Wales Labor has had a corrupt element for a very long time, and the Carr quote provided here is worth framing, even thought it reeks of hypocricy.
14 Dec 2012 3:15:20pm
I for one hope that the courts put the cleaners through the Obied's and some of the other detritus that pollutes the Labor Party. But Dennis the Liberal party is polluted by many evil people. Some sit in the Parliament now. Regardless of what is found they pale into insignificance compared to the Askin Liberal Government which was essentially a criminal organisation.
14 Dec 2012 5:27:16pm
The ICAC is presenting the evidence that demostrates criminnality within Labor ranks. Your claim that the LKiberals are worse is nothing but hot air without similar evidence.
I suspect it is just a distraction born of desperation. Labor has no defence left other than false accusation directed at the Liberals.
14 Dec 2012 6:35:02pm
Tony, Askin organised crime, he ran most of Sydney's brothels. The Askin government is recognised as the most corrupt collectively in Australia's history. Sorry you're ignorant of that.
I'd like to see the likes of those before ICAC presently spending time at her majesties pleasure.
Now my local member is presently involved with a very shady land deal in the local area, its common knowledge yet because Labor is still a bit on the nose in NSW its not as prominent. But in time it will be. Perhaps you could look behind the recent suicide attempt by a prominent Liberal. There the ones in the public domain. I can tell you of plenty of others behind the scenes. Not that the loyal foot soldiers of the Liberal party would know. They're deliberately sheltered.
14 Dec 2012 6:35:18pm
The observation that the Askin government was essentially a criminal organisation is correct.
The Special Branch & Consorting Squad were used as political police to remove or otherwise silence political opposition. The Breaking and Entering Squad was basically what the name said, they broke, entered and stole.
You could do anything in NSW under Askin's rule provided you had the cash for the right hands.
We;ve never seen anything to equal it, but of course, the O'Farrell government has power for the moment so ... watch this space.
14 Dec 2012 4:49:34pm
Look at the Federal Liberals.
I notice that no mention has been made on the Drum today about the case where
"Mr Slipper applied to have these proceedings dismissed as an abuse of the process of the Court.
Mr Slipper contended that Mr Ashby?s predominant purpose in bringing the proceedings against him, in combination with
Karen Doane (another member of Mr Slipper?s staff),
the Hon Malcolm Brough (who was seeking to contest Mr Slipper?s seat for the LNP at the next federal election),
Steve Lewis (a journalist, employed by one of News Limited?s subsidiaries as the national political correspondent for the Daily Telegraph),
Anthony McClellan (a media consultant engaged by Mr Ashby)
and Mr Ashby?s lawyers, Michael Harmer and his firm, Harmers
was, in effect, to inflict damage on Mr Slipper?s reputation and political career in order to assist the LNP and Mr Brough and, so, to advance Mr Ashby?s and Ms Doane?s prospects of advancement or preferment by the LNP."
"Even though I have not found that the combination was as wide as Mr Slipper alleged in his points of claim, the evidence established that there was a combination involving Mr Ashby, Ms Doane and Mr Brough of that kind. Mr Ashby acted in combination with Ms Doane and Mr Brough when commencing the proceedings in order to advance the interests of the LNP and Mr Brough. Mr Ashby and Ms Doane set out to use the proceedings as part of their means to enhance or promote their prospects of advancement or preferment by the LNP, including by using Mr Brough to assist them in doing so. And the evidence also established that the proceedings were an abuse of the process of the Court for the reasons I have given."
The above quotes are directly copied from the Federal Court judgment transcript as can be verified with the supplied link, the ABC has no excuse to censor the judgement of a judge of the Federal Court of Australia.
The federal Liberals are in far more trouble than anyone in NSW, & it's spread to the Qld LNP too.
Everyone gave up on NSW years ago.
14 Dec 2012 5:30:53pm
Really? A court decision that is under appeal and may yet be overturned but even if it stands it claims nothing more than an opportunistic attempt to gain advantage from what the Federal Government, in its payout to Ashby, has admitted.
You compare that with the corruption in NSW? You are clutching at straws!
14 Dec 2012 6:29:10pm
The LNP have claimed the right to make decisions on matters even before they get to court.
You use the possibility of an appeal to claim that a Judgement in a court case is of no relevance?
Govt made payout to Ashby as it was the cheaper option.
To avoid making the payout it would have required a civil action - as has now been explained by Brandis.
You are making false claims as to the meaning of a settlement.
Panda is making a true claim as to the meaning of a court judgement.
Tony - you are just plain wrong.
14 Dec 2012 5:34:48pm
Panda it is hilarious that you believe the Federal Libs are worse than Obeid. That qualifies you as part of Labor's problem my friend.
14 Dec 2012 6:37:18pm
Yes I guess it is hard to believe that regime change by manipulating the court system and by denying the basis of our legal and parliamentary systems is bad.
Seems fine to mislead the people, lie to the people, cry loudly as to someone's character when a matter is before the courts, then use the excuse of ebing before the courts only when it no longer is before the court and you have been found to be part of a plot.
Yes - what Obeid has allegedly (I use the term not as a defence of him) done is very very bad - but you can't really compare the two situations.
Labour has had a problem with certain members - no qrgument there.
LNP federally has problems with certain members - and Brandis, Abbott & Hockey have all ducked responsibility with a false claim.
LNP continues to repeat the same thing they did with Gretch by running false allegations against people till the polls go their way. They take this action from the top and with their key people participating in the trashing of the parliament for their politicial gain.
If you think that it is OK or worth comparing for some point scoring then fine.
2 wrongs don't make a right - just a right-wing.
14 Dec 2012 5:36:06pm
It is funny how the Laborites on here have to moderate a commentary on a Labor probllem with claims that the Libs are just as bad, or worse, yet is I respond to another article which plays to your prejudices and mention Labor, I am rounded upon regarding relevance.
NSW Labor has long been the dirtiest section of Labor, and far worse than anyone else, including the racist Greens or One Nation.
14 Dec 2012 5:37:45pm
Actually, there was an article on the Drum yesterday about the Fed Court's Slipper decision that attracted many hundreds of comments. I can't see it anymore, however, so it might have slipped down the ladder or it might have been removed due to the comments or something of the sort.
14 Dec 2012 5:38:04pm
I am really intrigued by the fact that Mr. Slipper has two of his own employees actively working against him.
Perhaps his judgment of people is less than perfect ? Perhaps his own actions towards his own staff are less than satisfactory ? Perhaps by indulging in such adolescent behaviours with his own employee Ashby is a very serious error of judgment ? Perhaps he himself habours some deep faults which now come to the surface and bit him in the face ?
Arthur 1 :
14 Dec 2012 5:44:23pm
More should be revealed if this misguided young man has to pay the cost of this exercise.
14 Dec 2012 6:07:26pm
"The federal Liberals are in far more trouble than anyone in NSW...."
I think you might be on your own with that one panda.
If you want a real scandal just tune into all things ALP/union.
The main thing we heard today on the ABC was the PM carping on again about the leader of the opposition suggesting he was trying to make political mileage out of sexual discrimination. Sound familiar? Sexism misogyny blah blah blah.
For gods sake.
14 Dec 2012 6:34:52pm
Really "panda", I don't read it that way at all and Slipper and Ashby are victims of his own sleaze in any case. Gee Labor was quick to take him under their wing once it was obvious the Liberals had gotten rid of him, then it seems to be part of their political composition in doing shady and backyard deals. And of course the union influence in influence within their ranks is so squeaky clean isn't it (not). But then all the die hard Labor nutcases out there will challenge this of course !
Hank Moody:
14 Dec 2012 1:36:30pm
The NSW right faction needs to go. It's the only way the party will begin to heal. Every bad decision and scandal seems to be linked to them.
I've supported the ALP my whole life but haven't been able to vote for them in a long time and won't until this cancer is removed.
14 Dec 2012 2:17:47pm
Their own fault.
This is what happens when you accept all the people the Liberal Party rejects membership to.
So many of them are rejected libs - just people who couldn't make it on their chosen side of politics so they change teams for the job.
14 Dec 2012 4:32:46pm
Agreed Hank. The right wing thugs of Sussex Street dragged the Labor party to the right and into the gutter.
Rees could have saved some face for the Labor party but the power hungry mongrels on the right were in for themselves, not the party or the public.
The Labor party should distance themselves as far as possible from Richo. Why they didn't stop him from poisoning the party int the first place is anyone's guess.
As a result of the right wing of Labor we get the insanely right wing of the Liberals instead. Way to go Labor.
14 Dec 2012 5:04:57pm
Totally agree Hank, none of them have anything to offer the ALP I want(?) to support.
The thing I fear is O'Farrell is going wreck the state too, as both parties are far too Sydney-centric and only seem to deal with a select handful from the top end of town.
One way to stop these little groups looking after themselves and their greasy mates might be to take away quite a few state responsibilities and give local councils more power and access to funds. That way the big end of town would have to deal far more at a grass-root level and the community would be more aware and engaged.
14 Dec 2012 1:53:39pm
The corruption in the ALP and its donor unions is endemic. WA Inc, ICAC, HSU and the AWU scandal are probably just the tip of the iceberg.
14 Dec 2012 2:26:42pm
So be it for investigating corrupt politions.
More time & thought needs to be given to the questioning & investigating of all senior & middle management bureaucrats in deals like this.
Pollies come & go while departmental heads, advisors & lobbiests remain sitting pretty.
More support for mandatory whistle blowers in ALL State & Federal departments.
14 Dec 2012 2:42:25pm
I am having much difficulties in understanding the web of entangled power relationships, corruption, and above all. mateship !
So how an Arabic newspaper publisher ended up having so much control of the NSW government ? I guess wolves always hunt in packs. A lone wolf does not count for much, but when united with some other hungry wolves, it becomes a powerful force to reckon with.
Can we draw a parallel with the Murdoch press and its explicit and implicit power and control over governments ? I believe it all started when politicians asked for helps from some little known characters, in this case the Obeid chap. He was able to curry favour with the ethic communities and hence boost the ALP chance of staying in power. However, favours are reciprocating. So the entanglement snowballed to such a state that now "the tail wags the dog" ! How sad ...
In some ways, it also reminds me of the Godfather movie. The ever so helpful and obliging Godfather would give you loan, sort out personal grievances, teach your enemy a lesson, etc. Did he do it because he is a damn nice chap ? Did he do it because he likes you ? Did he do it as a community service ? No. The reality is, there is a price attached, and it is expected to be paid back, not now, not next month, but it will be paid... sometime later...
The trouble is, it is the NSW state itself and the tax payers who are paying, in terms of political instability and financially !
14 Dec 2012 6:08:11pm
to see the Murdoch press and its explicit and implicit power and control over governments read Neil Chenowith's article in the Financial Review:
"A secret unit within Rupert Murdoch?s News Corporation promoted a wave of high-tech piracy in Australia that damaged Austar, Optus and Foxtel at a time when News was moving to take control of the Australian pay TV industry.
The piracy cost the Australian pay TV companies up to $50 million a year and helped cripple the finances of Austar, which Foxtel is now in the process of acquiring."
"A four-year investigation by The Australian Financial Review has revealed a global trail of corporate dirty tricks directed against competitors by a secretive group of former policemen and intelligence officers within News Corp known as Operational Security."
"The issue is particularly sensitive because Operational Security, which is headed by Reuven Hasak, a former deputy director of the Israeli domestic secret service, Shin Bet, operates in an area which historically has had close supervision by the Office of the Chairman, Rupert Murdoch."
Hugo Furst:
14 Dec 2012 2:42:50pm
This whole scenario disgusts me. The relationships between developers and government are evident every time there is a corruption scandal.
It is no surprise that most of Australia's wealthy people made their money from property development - it's easy to make money there if you have no ethics, morals, scruples or respect for the law.
Ordinary members of the community are treated with contempt while ministers and senior public servants grovel at the feet, accepting piddling bribes from scum like Obeid who then make fortunes.
I grew up in Joh's Qld. The kind of corruption outlines here is way beyond anything that happened in Queensland. A corrupt police force is one thing, and deals in brown paper bags are nothing when you look at the amounts of money being made by these crooks.
Only someone like Quentine Dempster could do an investigation like this. ABC, give him some support and let Chris Masters help.
14 Dec 2012 5:35:11pm
Got to agree. It is soooo fashionable to point the finger at Joh and claim that was a dark era in Qld. Ministers went to jail for what were minor travel expense deficiencies.
In contrast the Beattie era saw one Labor minister go to jail for blackmailing the premier no less and another is still in jail for corruption.
The contrast is stark but it suits Labor to cry "Oh, look over there! Remember Joh......"
14 Dec 2012 3:00:28pm
And we wonder why ordinary Australians take delight in "the tall poppy syndrome" These political crooks of course have to be dragged bitting, kicking and scratching into admitting any wrong. The few that are well and truely exposed for what they are still end up smiling by way of a legal system where money talks. The WA Labor Party is another prime example where crooks ruled (and probably still do) but of course few manage to be prosecuted because of the twists and turns their highly paid lawyers come up with. By far, the Labor party seems to breed more of this than any other. Why is that?
14 Dec 2012 4:51:08pm
Perhaps Labor breed more of their own than any other because so many get their start and ethics from the various unions that comprise the make up of the ALP, 13% of the population belong to one yet they manage to have over 70% of federal Labor, they learn young how to use and manipulate the system for their benefit alone.
Arthur 1 :
14 Dec 2012 5:46:17pm
And your answer to the problem is?
14 Dec 2012 5:58:32pm
Trying to be fair a big factor is the length of time a government has in office. Longer terms result in relationships growing between the well off who want something and politicians like barnacles on a boat that has been in the water too long. Askin was genuinely bad during at least parts of his ten years. I can only imagine the earlier Labor administrations would have had their own rorts as well.
Labor seems to be the natural government for NSW. It has dominated since 1930 with Renshaw and all enjoying 24 years, Wran and successors 12 years and Carr and his lot 16 years. In contrast Askin/Lewis got 11 years and Greiner/Fahey 7. So it is not surprising that unhealthy practices grew under Labor. Whether other factors were in play I leave to your good judgment.
14 Dec 2012 6:47:44pm
Agh yes Sir Robert, an honourable he wasn't ! and when politicians become dictators they think they are above all else. Perhaps the cocktail set pages in our daily rags might give some insight into who is kissing up to who and winning political favour. Some of the industry deals in the West might ring alarm bells and especially some of the self interested nothing projects that seem to mysteriously get priority over the health, transport and State housing needs.
14 Dec 2012 6:07:14pm
"By far, the Labor party seems to breed more of this than any other. Why is that?"
Factions and maaaates!
14 Dec 2012 3:22:08pm
The Jasper hearing only verifies what the public have suspected for years, politicians lie and cheat. The line "Whatever it takes" justifies any action. My father died at war protecting Australia and this is how these idiots show respect to those who sacrificed their lives.
14 Dec 2012 3:26:08pm
Am I wrong, or is this the first article on ICAC that has made the front page of the ABC website?
14 Dec 2012 6:03:19pm
Not sure, but you need to keep in mind that ICAC is about corruption in NSW and this is a national website. Also, while a lot of the cases they deal with are important, they're not exactly earth-shattering. It's often low-level corruption at a grass roots level by one or two people (council employee gives favourable tender approval to works/development).
14 Dec 2012 3:31:58pm
" Politics is about power. Many want it, Few have it. Circles of influence develop. A favour is given; it requires reciprocation.Patronage is conferred; a dependency is formed. ALL of THIS is NORMAL- and only takes on a malign character if bad people have the power and use it for bad purposes"
The sad truth is that all of that IS normal and because that is normal so is the malign character which follows precisley because bad or weak people engage in the favours-reciprocation-patronage and dependency in the first place.
So we have the Askin corruption in N.S.W-the Bolte in Victoria- Peterson in Qld- WA Inc in Western Australia, HSU- AWU- God knows how many under Labor in N.S.W.- the 1987 share crash- the Asian crisis-the dot,com collapse- the Slipper LNP inspired conspiracy and the dozey of them all- the GFC.
So what we get are one inquiry after another- quantivitve easing-a few of the badies are put behind bars- many innocent victims are left shatterred and the system goes on!!
Did the ASX change after WA Inc?- did the shams stop? Did hedge funds become any less manipulative? If anything its worse.-there is a lot more money flying around the world seeking favours and such like.
I well recall being hauled over the coals because I would not support what I consider unethical decisions at Board level- you try and go against the crowd and see how you go- but if we want the Change we NEED- it is precisely what we all have to do.
14 Dec 2012 3:33:12pm
It is unfortunate if the 'corruption' that ICAC can investigate and make findings on is still only the kind involving duress on, or providing inducements to, public servants.
Unless the legislation has widened its brief, the exercise of discretion by a Minister can be 'corrupt' in the lay person's understanding of the word, but proceed with impunity. See Temby's ICAC Report on the North Coast land deals where a Minister gave the right to a tenderer to build on Crown Land even though there were higher tenders offered. Evidence showed the successful tenderer had made donations to the National Party. The MP who accepted the donation continued as the local member for years. The Party Treasurer was exonerated and became a member of the Upper House for decades.
Few people have the funds to seek judicial review of decisions made by Ministers or local government councillors. As well, in most instances the evidence of donations and benefits is hard for others not directly involved to find.
So any kind of corruption that can be revealed should be. And there should be something like proceeds of crime legislation to remove assets from those who have personally gained by their influence or position. That might discourage others, but I fear it is widespread. As a local from Greece once said: "It is harder in Australia to find out who to bribe."
14 Dec 2012 6:11:58pm
Couldn't agree with you more Citizen, I deplore the every increasing right of Ministers to have powers of discretion when it comes to making decisions about resource use and expenditure. They argue they need "flexibility" and then proceed to abuse it. Ministers shoudl restrict themselves to formulating policy and oversighting it's implementation by the Public Service.
That way those poor underpaid public servants can get on the gravy train!
14 Dec 2012 3:46:30pm
we can only hope that some of these people end up in prison.
ruddback spider:
14 Dec 2012 4:20:00pm
regardless of whether they are a politician, bureaucrat or businessperson.
14 Dec 2012 5:55:32pm
Some may well end up in prison as some did with WA Inc and Qld but nothing will change-the system is corrupt.
14 Dec 2012 4:24:02pm
No one party is immune, remember JOH and the hung jury ?.
14 Dec 2012 4:33:33pm
And will all those finally found to be in receipt of financial return due to this amazing mega-corruption be properly dealt with under the 'proceeds of crime' laws? Will their property be seized, their financial resources frozen etc. pending a Court decision- or does that only happen to hapless, tiny people like David Hicks?
Arthur 1 :
14 Dec 2012 4:55:54pm
Politicians can take some of the blame here,but don't let the businessmen off the hook.
This is a story on how lots of the rich have made their fortunes,not all of them but a bloody lot.
This is story that should strike fear into our hearts,at the amazing rails run Packer's companies are being given regarding the Bangaroo hotel development.
This is also a story that should stop this ridiculous idolizing of the rich that we persist with.
This story should also make us wary of accepting the words of businessmen,who seek to change the way that we the majority live and work,change being the word used so that our rich can live without having their sleep interrupted by unions,or even Fair Work Australia.
This is a story that should make our politicians,have tw0 witnesses ,and video records,at every meeting they have with businessmen,and I mean both sides of politicians,especially the PM and Opposition leader,not just the ones that are here now,either.
If all the meetings had of been videod by the opposition,and the government,while meeting with miners,everybodies dearly beloved Rudd would still be here,and Turnbull also.
If all you rusted on voters of either side want to see some fairness,good policy,decent government,start pushing for videod conversations,videod offices at work,after all I think police stations now use videoos,from when the door opens.
Tell our pollies,that if they get tough with running the country we,the voters will stand with them,this debacle must tell the most one eyed supporter of any party that the time has come to show some strength,and treat these businessmen as ordinary constituents,in fact the time has almost gone,much longer and the pollies will be completely done.with no way out.
14 Dec 2012 6:27:00pm
"This is story that should strike fear into our hearts,at the amazing rails run Packer's companies are being given regarding the Bangaroo hotel development."
One of the last bits of real-estate on the Harbour and a freakin' casino is the best use these folks can come up with for utilising it? To make it even worse it's going to be so high-end that you can only get get in if your one of Jamie's mates with a few million to drop on the tables.
Trouble is, both the Government and Labor think it's a good idea 'coz they can score some $$$ out of the deal, even if that means taking a piece of prime land from the overwhelming majority so a handful can become more obscenely rich.
Jamie said he is grateful for what Sydney has given is family. Sure got a funny way of showing it.
14 Dec 2012 5:01:08pm
This type of alleged corruption seems endemic to any government that holds power for too long particularly when leaders change these backroom bullies seize their opportunity. Unfortunately its probably true that we are seeing the tip of the iceberg here. There have been other 'deals' done between these infividuals and businessmen in the past and the peices just seem to be fitting in to place to form an ugly picture of a bacchanalian banquet to which we were not invited - except when it came time to pay the cheque.
14 Dec 2012 5:13:07pm
Isn't it just possible that the canny switch of Judge Rare's decision is the result of some undercover too-ing and fro-ing? So a political influence takes away all guilt from the sexual harassment claims and Slipper comes out smelling like roses.
Labor corruption goes so-o-o much deeper.
14 Dec 2012 5:35:41pm
Nifty Nev jumped ship when the heat was starting to be applied.
Carr and Egan did likewise.
Hopefully ICAC's current investigations into Obeid et al will be like peeling an onion.
NSW Labor needs a right Royal Commision going back decades.
Askin had nothing compared to this lot.
And while they're at it, they might like to add Sartor and the Toastrack, and McDonald/Cochrane and V8's at Homebush to the list
14 Dec 2012 5:36:46pm
Just reading Sally Ferguson, 'The Stories That Changed Australia: 50 years of Four Corners' and from this and Quentin Dempster's not-to-be missed reports, learn at least two things, that we need investigative journalists of this calibre and corruption and relationships that corrupt have not been confined to any one political party's watch.
Arthur 1 :
14 Dec 2012 5:42:33pm
As I have already said.Do not solely place the blame on the Pollies.In the crime of burglary,it is said that if no one buys the proceeds of the burglarymthen there would be very little burglary.
If some of our much vaunted businessmen didn't pay the pollies,then there wouldn't be much corruption,by either side of politics.
Arthur 1 :
14 Dec 2012 5:50:34pm
Arthur 1 :
14 Dec 2012 4:55:54pm
Politicians can take some of the blame here,but don't let the businessmen off the hook.
This is a story on how lots of the rich have made their fortunes,not all of them but a bloody lot.
This is story that should strike fear into our hearts,at the amazing rails run Packer's companies are being given regarding the Bangaroo hotel development.
This is also a story that should stop this ridiculous idolizing of the rich that we persist with.
This story should also make us wary of accepting the words of businessmen,who seek to change the way that we the majority live and work,change being the word used so that our rich can live without having their sleep interrupted by unions,or even Fair Work Australia.
This is a story that should make our politicians,have tw0 witnesses ,and video records,at every meeting they have with businessmen,and I mean both sides of politicians,especially the PM and Opposition leader,not just the ones that are here now,either.
If all the meetings had of been videod by the opposition,and the government,while meeting with miners,everybodies dearly beloved Rudd would still be here,and Turnbull also.
If all you rusted on voters of either side want to see some fairness,good policy,decent government,start pushing for videod conversations,videod offices at work,after all I think police stations now use videoos,from when the door opens.
Tell our pollies,that if they get tough with running the country we,the voters will stand with them,this debacle must tell the most one eyed supporter of any party that the time has come to show some strength,and treat these businessmen as ordinary constituents,in fact the time has almost gone,much longer and the pollies will be completely done.with no way out.
Reply Alert moderator
14 Dec 2012 6:01:35pm
So after administering such a corrupt party at state level Bob Carr gets called on to represent Australia to the world as foreign minister.
Labor certainly looks after its mates
14 Dec 2012 6:02:22pm
Clearly Bob Carr's strategy of keeping ICAC to keep the ALP's unsavoury types in line didn't work out to well.
But I don't think ICAC is fair, sure it has all these extra powers and the privilages of a standing Royal Commission, but the accussed deserve a right of reply and the right to face their accusers. While it's investigative powers need to be cladestine, the presentation of evidence should be transparent and public.
If absolute power corrupts, how can we be sure of ICAC?
Comments for this story are closed.


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Investing in Rehab Technology: Evidence Based Decision Making
Watch the Presentation
Fill out the form to receive the link via email.
During this webinar, Candy Tefertiller will share the current state of the evidence surrounding the use of advanced technologies in neurologic rehabilitation. At the conclusion of the webinar, participants will be able to discuss a variety of technologies currently utilized in neurologic rehabilitation and their potential benefits and limitations. This webinar examines various perspectives of medical professionals, patients, and payors, when implementing rehabilitation technology in neurologic rehabilitation.
About the Speaker
Candy Tefertiller, PT, DPT, NCS, is the Director of Physical Therapy. Candy received a B.S in Biology from Mount Olive College in 1997 and a Master's in Physical Therapy from East Carolina University in 2000. Candy has been working in the field of neurological rehabilitation since 2000 and received an assistive technology practitioner (ATP) certification in 2005 and became a certified neurological clinical specialist (NCS) in 2007. Candy then received a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Rocky Mountain Health Care University in 2008. She has been involved in numerous research projects and has focused much of her career on interventions and program development promoting recovery after neurologic injury or disease. Candy is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Neurologic Section.

subset: commoncrawl


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Travelling over the Christmas holidays can prove a real headache when ticket prices go north, temperatures go south and you go nowhere. Luckily, you enjoy rights under European legislation when your flight is delayed or cancelled. However, there is always room for improvement. On 17 December the Parliament's transport committee voted in favour of strengthening these rights. Read on to find out what the current situation is and how it could change.
If your flight arrives more than three hours late, you are entitled to compensation, depending on the distance of the flight:
Current situation
MEPs' proposal
1,500 or fewer km - €250
2,500 or fewer km - €300
more than 1,500 km - €400
6,000 km or fewer - €400
more than 3,500 km - €600
more than 6,000 km - €600
Currently, if your flight is delayed for more than five hours, you have the right to have your ticket reimbursed and be flown back to where you originally started your journey. If your flight is delayed by more than two to four hours (depending on the flight's distance), you are entitled to refreshments, meals, communication such as a free phone call and if necessary an overnight stay.
If passengers are stranded in a plane on the tarmac for more than five hours, they have the right to disembark. MEPs want to already give them this right after three hours. They also want airlines to set up contact points at airports where staff could inform and help delayed passengers. Extraordinary circumstances, which would exempt airlines from giving air passengers the help and support they are normally entitled to, should be limited to clearly defined events that are outside the airline's control, such as bad weather.
MEPs will now talk with member states to finalise the rules. The Parliament is expected to vote on the final version during a plenary session in February 2014.
To learn more about the new measures to strengthen air passenger rights, click on the link for the press release on the right.


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Fender creates guitar in honour of former Deep Purple member.
Fans of 'Smoke On The water' can now unleash their inner rock star with a Fender guitar designed in honour of Richie Blackmore and the black 1968 Stratocater on which he played the now-iconic G-minor riff, imitated by generations of guitarists since.
The new Fender model comes with an exclusive tribute decal on the back of the headstock, certificate of authenticity and an orange-lined, black textured vinyl case with the Fender "amp" logo.
You can view a trailer for the instrument below.
Will you guys be buying it? Has Blackmore's 'Smoke On the Water' riff inspired any guitarists out there?


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Bloomington-Normal Jaycees Bloomington-Normal Jaycees
Here's a sample of our volunteer opportunities:VIEW AS
Mission Statement
The mission of the Bloomington-Normal Jaycees is to foster personal and professional development of young adults in the Bloomington-Normal community, encourage community service awareness and advocate for the needs of the community.
The Bloomington-Normal Jaycees are a non-profit, community organization and is a chapter of the United States Junior Chamber International. The Bloomington-Normal Jaycees are actively recruiting young men and women who want to make a difference in the community.
Through leadership and focused continuous improvement of oneself, the Bloomington-Normal Jaycees offer men and women in the age range of 18 - 39 the tools needed to build the bridges of success in the areas of individual development and community development. We offer professional and social opportunities that are unique to our age group.
Monthly business meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month. All members and potential members are encouraged to attend. The Bloomington-Normal Jaycees value the importance of networking and developing friendships, to that end social activities are also planned throughout the year.
This information
Might be out of date
Do you work for this organization?
Request administrator status and update its information!


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The Black Olive, a Greek/Mediterranean restaurant, will move into this location in the building at 250 S. Clinton St. late next week. The space, with an entrance and awning at 204 W. Fayette St., was formerly occupied by Pascale Wine Bar & Restaurant.
(Don Cazentre | firstname.lastname@example.com)
The Black Olive, a Mediterranean/Greek restaurant in downtown Syracuse, will close its current location when service ends at 2 a.m. Sunday in preparation for its opening later next week in a larger space around the corner.
The Black Olive will likely open in the building at 250 S. Clinton St. sometime between Wednesday and Friday, said owner Basillios Koumanidis. That space had been occupied by Pascale Wine Bar & Restaurant until it moved to Fayetteville in 2010.
Black Olive has been in its current location at 316 S. Clinton St. for four years.
The new space, at 7,500 square feet, is much larger than the existing Black Olive space. Seating is expected to increase from the current 43 to more than 150.
Though the building address is on South Clinton Street, the main entrance is at 204 W. Fayette St.
Renovations are complete, and Koumanidis is waiting for health inspectors, who are currently busy at the New York State Fair, to give the place the all-clear.
Koumanidis plans to add a bakery/pastry shop, offering specialties like baklava, but that probably won't happen for a few more months.
The Black Olive move is one of many recent changes to the Armory Square/downtown dining scene.
Work is progressing on plans for Small Plates, a new restaurant that is taking the space formerly occupied by PJ's Pub & Grille at 116 Walton St. in Armory Square. It is expected to open in September.
Ray Clark has begun renovation on the former Wise Guys Comedy Club and Bistro location at South Salina and East Washington streets, which he will open as the new location for Clark's Ale House before the end of the year.
The former Parisa Restaurant at 317 Montgomery St., meanwhile, is on track to reopen in September as The Three One Seven, a modern American fusion restaurant.


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LabSi is the laboratory of experimental economics of the University of Siena.
Its main purpose is to contribute to the understanding of economic behavior by promoting laboratory activities among economists and social scientists.
It is also aimed at creating research training opportunties through seminars, workshops, grants and connections with other experimental laboratories.
LabSi is a research unit of the
that was jointly founded in 2007 by the Universities of Firenze, Napoli II, Salerno and Siena to promote common initiatives in the field of experimental economics, which requires the interaction and the collaboration among researchers of different areas of expertise and specialization.


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Can social media make your company smarter?
You've started a fan page for your company on Facebook. You've attracted a few followers on Twitter. You've got a presence on Foursquare, and you've started offering deals to customers through Groupon. Seems you've got that whole social media thing figured out.
Or do you? While social media presents, first and foremost, a cheap marketing and advertising option to help businesses generate leads and drive up revenue, some experts insist it's about more than just setting up a few profiles and then moving on.
"Social technologies are to me holistic technologies, a lot like PCs or the Internet," said Scott Klososky, a social media business consultant who's releasing three new books on the subject this year. "I tell clients that they need to be using social tools as much internally as they do externally, as much to cut costs as they do to drive revenue."
Klososky, whose clients range from managers at Fortune 500 companies to entrepreneurs, encourages businesses to integrate different social technology tools into their day-to-day operations in a couple of different ways.
One method Klososky suggests to managers is encouraging employees to build personalized "rivers of information" that push specialized, real-time information about their industry or expertise to them by way of social technology tools such as RSS readers, Twitter and Digg. A fairly simple idea one might argue, but a practice that many companies underestimate, said Klososky.
"That's raising the IQ of the organization. That's one of the big things that costs nothing, but is reaping huge rewards," he said.
Klososky also spurs his clients to tap into crowdsourcing, an increasingly popular business model where entrepreneurs go directly to customers in search of new ideas and content. Kolososky put the practice to the test himself by crowdsourcing his forthcoming book "Enterprise Social Technologies" almost in its entirety, from the cover design and online publicity down to some of the content itself.
Social media also has the potential to alter the way businesses manage customer relations. Problem is, many companies see it strictly as a broadcasting tool and not as a means to improving the experience of customers.
"Treating social media as a one-way communication channel is an approach that's doomed to fail," writes Mashable's Leah Betancourt. "Check in with your fans and followers by asking for feedback, responding to questions and comments, and being personable to build relationships with customers."
There are indications that entrepreneurs may be catching on. More small businesses in the U.S. now recognize the value of social media for improving the customer experience, according to a new survey from Ad-ology Research.
Of course, social media does come with its own set of hazards. Employees with no discretion can say things about customers or the company they work for and beam it out for millions of people to see in an instant, Klososky noted. They can also spend hours on their personal profiles instead of working, he said.
If all that sounds a little daunting and risky, Klososky insisted social media practices are worth learning. "Leaders have to become much more technology aware. I don't mean they have to learn how to be on Facebook. What I mean is they need to learn the concepts behind why technology is critical, how to make good decisions on technology, how to build digital plumbing," he said.
(Image credit: An undated image of the human brain taken through scanning technology. REUTERS/Sage Center for the Study of the Mind, University of California, Santa Barbara/Handout)
We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/
[…] to this, yeah. And this part in particular seems like a serious no-brainer. One method Klososky suggests to […]
[…] See on blogs.reuters.com […]


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PR Pros are a Bunch of Organized, Well-Read Masochists
Working in high tech PR is not for the faint of heart. Things move at lightning speed and just when you think you know something for certain, then – poof! – innovation happens and turns everything you thought you knew on its head. How can you succeed in a profession that can swallow you up faster than quicksand?
I asked a few of my colleagues the one thing they do each day that has helped them be successful. Here are their responses:
- "I start my day by reading about our industry and trends and then applying that to our agency's clients and new business development purposes. Without reading and staying current, it is impossible to proactively guide our clients and our business."
- "I treat my inbox as a to-do list. Anything that isn't an action item, or has already been handled, gets filed away by quarter. It's a technique I learned from a former colleague, and it helps me stay organized."
- "Read. I can't emphasize enough how important reading has been to my success. My mother is a librarian and I grew up inside libraries. That taught me a tremendous respect for the power of news – and of stories. Reading for an hour each day not only centers me in the here and now in terms of what's going on in the world, but it allows me to come up with new ways to consider client stories and provides new questions about how their visions mesh with trends. Let's face it, it would be awfully hard to write pitches and to craft messaging if you weren't grounded in what everyone was (and wasn't) talking about. It also gives you a tremendous appreciation for the importance of strong impact statements. That's particularly important in tech when folks can play up speeds and feeds first and the human element second."
- "I remind myself of my goals, how much work I've already put into them and where I want to eventually be. This gives me confidence to keep pushing on when I feel frustrated and it motivates me to keep going."
- "I double (and sometimes triple) check my work. In PR, things move quickly and everyone is expected to make mistakes; however, you can't keep making the same mistakes over and over again. You will start to lose the trust of your colleagues and clients. But if everyone just takes a few minutes to double check their work, they will not only catch mistakes, large and small, but they will start to show pride of ownership in what they're doing."
- "My daily productivity depends on me having a clear picture of my assignments and deadlines. I start each day by making a list of what I need to get done that day – and just that day. I have another list for the overall week and anything beyond that so I don't forget things, but I focus best when looking at one day's activities. And checking things off the list – finishing projects and meeting deadlines – makes me feel successful."
- "I make sure to read up on what my most important media contacts have written or tweeted about."
- "Every day I make sure to prioritize my to-do list. In PR, priorities can rapidly change from one day to the next, so I make sure that each day I'm going through my tasks to re-evaluate what needs to get done most urgently based on the latest information I have from my colleagues and clients. Sometimes you wake up to an urgent email that means you table everything you had planned on doing that day. Being in PR means being agile, responsive and being able to tackle any challenge, no matter how impossible it may seem."
- "The one thing I do every day that makes me successful is come to work with an open mind. In public relations you are constantly presented with new situations, new learning opportunities and new tools/methods for solving challenges. I have found that in this profession it is best to never think you have learned or know it all, and instead keep your mind open to new perspectives and approaches. Not only will your clients thank you but so will your career."
It is clear from my colleagues' responses that it is imperative that you be organized, stay on top of your to-do list and are current on the news and trends in order to succeed in PR. I couldn't agree more. These shared traits are what have helped McGrath/Power develop lasting and meaningful relationships with our clients for more than three decades. That, and the fact that we wake up every day with insatiable curiosity and a fire that propels us forward in our pursuit for excellence.
Sometimes I wonder if we are just a bunch of masochists addicted to the challenge of constant motion. Are we thrill seekers or at the very least, adrenaline junkies? Perhaps all of the above. Whatever we are, we are fearless. And I wouldn't want it any other way.


text:
The Hidden Doors Manual has been expanded into 5 Parts.
It tells the reader how to build or buy a Hidden Door that will last the test of time without wasting their hard earned money and time and the room behind it becomes their safe room! The Safe Room can be a Panic Room to protect the family in case of a home break-in, a Vault for valuables or one can hide a Safe!
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This company also builds the Wardrobe (above) which is much less expensive. Who they are & much more is revealed in Part 1
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HiddenDoors.Net * All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: This product is intended for protecting people and valuables. It is not intended for any illegal purposes and we bear no responsibility for any such misuse. Thank you.


text:
4. Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight began singing at age four, and at just seven years old had her first taste of fame when she won Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour TV show contest in 1952. The next year, she, her sister Brenda, her brother Merald, and cousins Eleanor and William Guest formed a musical group called the Pips—named after her cousin, James "Pip" Woods.
Image courtesy of Gladys Knight
Brenda and Eleanor were eventually replaced with cousin Edward Patten and friend Langston George, and the group went on their first national tour when Gladys was 11 years old. In 1966, Gladys Knight & the Pips signed with Motown Records, where despite Knight's powerful voice and the Pips' smooth vocals and impressive dance moves, they were still considered a second-class act. They soon exceeded expectations, however, with the release of several hit singles, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Friendship Train," and "I Don't Want to Do Wrong."
The act signed with Buddah Records in 1973 and achieved a new level of success with the R&B chart-topper and Grammy-winning "Midnight Train to Georgia," as well as "I've Got to Use My Imagination," and "You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me."
The Pips retired in 1988, and Knight has enjoyed a successful solo career ever since.
In 1976, Knight made her acting debut as the lead in the film Pipe Dreams, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year–Actress. In 2003, she had a small role in the hit movie Hollywood Homicide, starring Harrison Ford. She was also featured in Tyler Perry's film I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009).
In addition to film roles, Knight guest-starred on several television series, including The Jeffersons, A Different World, Benson, Living Single, The Jamie Foxx Show, and New York Undercover. She also made a number of television cameo appearances on shows such as 30 Rock and Las Vegas.
Knight joined the Church in 1997, years after her son and daughter were baptized. She told LDS Living, "My son Jimmy and his wife were the first to join the Church, after his best friend shared his testimony. Then my daughter, Kenya, joined the Church. I watched their lives grow, and to see how my grandchildren were being raised and what they knew really impressed me."
She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995, and Gladys Knight & the Pips were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
Learn more about Gladys Knight's conversion story, as well as her thoughts on race and religion.
And don't forget to check out her one-of-a-kind CTR ring!


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Current Collaborative Projects
Check out some of the work your day school colleagues are currently engaging in.
The Jewish Day School Collaborative brings teachers together from across the country to reflect on their work, improve their practice and enhance the Judaics experience for every student.
Simply - YOU. Your initiatives, your priorities, your goals are the catalyst for the projects that are created.
"The Collaborative provided our teachers with not only a forum to discuss differentiation but an opportunity to hear from other teachers and other schools with regards to their goals."
Find out how you and your school can get involved to make a difference in your students' Judaics experience.
Take a look at some of the exciting resources educators in the Collaborative have created for their students.
Check out some of the work your day school colleagues are currently engaging in.
Here are just some examples of the exciting work being done now in Judaics classrooms across the country.
We want to hear from you about your passions, interests and initiatives. Click here to tell us about you and your school and the Collaboratives you want to join.


text:
Slim profile. Doesn't require 2 USB ports.
Can't write Blu-ray discs. Included Y-cable is too short.
Bottom Line
With portability and solid performance on its side, the HP bd530s is a good portable DVD burner that could have been great if it was capable of writing to Blu-ray discs or offered the additional features found in comparably priced drives.
The once-standard internal optical drive is fast becoming the latest casualty in the unending pursuit of smaller gadgets. The HP bd530s ($149.99 direct) attempts to bridge the gap between past and present, allowing you to enjoy that new ultrabook of yours without forsaking your Blu-rays (and those DVDs you sentimentally hold on to). It's a simple, straightforward portable optical drive that can read Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs. However, unlike either the Samsung SE-506AB External Slim Blu-ray Re-Writer ($149.99 direct, 4 stars) or the Pioneer BDR-XD04 ($149.99 direct, 4 stars), both Editors' Choice winning portable optical drives, the HP bd530s cannot record to standard Blu-ray or BDXL discs. It also pales in comparison to the breadth of features offered by the latter, and is consequently a good drive that could have been great.
Similar Products
Design and Features
Like the Samsung SE-506AB , the bd530s utilizes a tray-loading design. Since the tray pops out of the drive's front, it's primarily suitable for horizontal orientation. At 1 by 5.75 by 6 inches (HWD), it's a smidge thicker and wider than the Pioneer BDR-XD04 and the Samsung, though the .68 pound bd530s is not as heavy as the latter. Either way, it's difficult to imagine the bd530s being much of a nuisance in your backpack or laptop bag.
The drive's two-tone grey-black plastic finish is attractively subdued and suitably inconspicuous. The top of the drive sports a primarily sleek grey finish that's abutted by a thin sliver of rubberized black running along the upper right corner. As is often the case with portable optical drives, a USB Y-cable is included for plugging into the micro-USB port on the rear of the drive. Since the bd530s is bus-powered, there's no need for an extra AC adapter. While the thirty six inch primary strand of the Y-cable is generously sized, the ancillary strand is a paltry sixteen inches long, which may not be long enough to reach a USB port on the other side of a laptop. While it's worth noting, this is an admittedly minor gripe that hardly constitutes an egregious.
Like other portable optical drives from HP, the bd530s comes with CyberLink software suite. In this case, it's CyberLink BD Solution, which features the usual suspects (Power2Go, LabelPrint, and so on) along with some additional features that support Blu-ray playback. The software is simple and straightforward to use, though it bears noting that neither the software nor the HP bd530s are Mac-compatible, so Mac users, be warned: unless you're familiar with Boot Camp (or a similar multi-boot utility), your best bet is the Samsung SE-506AB External Slim Blu-ray Re-Writer, which works with both Windows and Mac.
During testing, the bd530s emitted a minimal amount of audible noise, save for the whirring of the disc. Moreover, four rubber feet on the drive's underside adequately absorbed a good amount of the accompanying vibration. Consequently, the drive did not disturb me during DVD and Blu-ray playback or while burning DVDs, a fact made all the more impressive considering that the drive was only a few inches away from me and I tend to be oversensitive when it comes to noise. The drive also stayed cool to the touch during playback and burning, never exceeding 86 degrees Fahrenheit (as measured via Fluke IR thermometer). As an added plus, I was able to fully test the bd530s while using only one USB port (thereby eliminating the Y-cable conundrum). HP advertises read and write speeds of 24x (CD) and 8x (DVD), and testing revealed that reading and writing media with the bd530s was a smooth, painless endeavor.
All said, the HP bd530s does what it purports to do, and does it with aplomb. It's a simple and straightforward portable optical drive that allows users to enjoy their newer, smaller gadgets without having to banish their DVDs and Blu-rays to obscurity. However, as far as features and versatility are concerned, it ultimately pales in comparison to the Samsung SE-506AB External Slim Blu-ray Re-Writer, which, in addition to writing to Blu-ray and BDXL formats, is also compatible with both Windows and Mac and even sports AV connectivity, all while carrying the same price tag as the HP bd530s. For these reasons, it remains our Editors' Choice for portable optical drives and continues to reign as the drive to beat.
Compare the HP bd530s with several other DVD burners side by side.
More DVD burner reviews:
Rosewill USB 3.0 External Slim Aluminum 6x Blu-ray Writer Model RDED-12001
Samsung SE-218BB Ultrathin Optical Disc Drive
Plextor PlexEasy DVD
Lite-On eNAU708
Plextor External Blu-ray PX-LB950UE


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Based in West Delhi, India, we STERLING SURGICAL SALES have developed ourselves as notable and reliable organization engaged in offering a vast gamut of Hospital & Medical Supplies. We are a prominent manufacturer of Orthotic Products, Orthotic Splint, Orthotic Braces and Rehab Aids. Producing our ambit with best-in-class range of initials and latest upgraded technologies, our firm has been known as the dominant and well expertize quality product producers in the market. Apart from the same, we are an exporter of Orthosis Splint and Orthosis Brace and supplier of Orthopedic Products, Orthopaedic Support Products and Rehabilitation Product. We have managed to attract a large clientele towards our firm who maintain their immense trust with us. Above all, we are providing world-class services as a service provider that includes Customized Orthotic products & Prosthetic and Orthotic Consultancy.
AFO & Foot Splints (Orthopaedic Splints):
Finger Splints:
Hand Splints:
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Back & Lumbar Support:
Cervical Pillow & Hydro Collator Moist Pack:
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For those of you who missed it Wednesday night, here's A Fine Frenzy performing "Come On, Come Out" on The Late Show with David Letterman!
For our past review of A Fine Frenzy, click HERE. And for more of Ms. Alison Sudol, tune on Monday night when she performs AGAIN on Last Call with Carson Daly on NBC.


text: Home/ Why Godalming?/ Successful/ Ofsted report Ofsted Report Godalming College was graded outstanding in all categories in its 2008 Ofsted report. Effectiveness of provision – OUTSTANDING Capacity to improve – OUTSTANDING Achievement and standards – OUTSTANDING Quality of Provision – OUTSTANDING Leadership and Management – OUTSTANDING Equality of Opportunity - OUTSTANDING And we have made many improvements since then! "Students achieve very high standards of work in their lessons and thoroughly enjoy their studies. They benefit from a wide range of enrichment activities and are highly successful in competitive sports competitions and in music and drama." Ofsted Ofsted report


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I thank the Lord every single day that I have such a loving family. While we may not talk or e-mail every day, I know we pray for each other daily. It honestly seems like the more scattered out we are, the closer we embrace one another, and the more we support one another in our individual pursuits. My original brainstorm in sharing this photo–which will probably be our Christmas card picture–was to let it speak for itself, which I've clearly failed to do! So I'll stop here and just say thanks to my family for all their continued support, and I hope I can continue to be the brother, brother-in-law, and son that God has called me to be.
Happy Memorial Day Weekend to everyone!


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Here I am, at five-ish in the morning, trying to rush out an article which is supposed to be due yesterday. I am exhausted. Since Kenan was about 5.5 months old, the hours of nap he takes each day has reduced drastically. I cannot no longer find blocks of two, three hours at any one time to do my work. I once thought those early days of seemingly endless diaper-changing and breastfeeding will be the toughest, I am obviously wrong.
As he grows older, he is demanding more time and energy from me. He is now on semi-solids and it takes much more time to prepare his meals and feed him than just simply letting him latch and breastfeed.
I am really desperate for a solution. I definitely don't want to sacrifice my career, because I really LOVE what I do. In fact, there's so much more I wish I can do. But at this rate it goes, I might have to drastically reduce the amount of work I take on, or I might fall ill from only sleeping three, four hours a day and have to stop working anyway.
It's a scenario I dread. Before I find the solution, I guess I will just have to grit my teeth and press on.
It's been my choice to be a WAHM, I had thought that it would be the best I can do for my child and for my career. I don't think that decision has been totally wrong, just that perhaps it doesn't fit the career of a writer just as well as compared to some other work that I can do from home. Honestly, I am not sure.
Once I've finished this assignment, I'll go google and see how other WAHMs cope. But before I do that, I shall go catch up on some sleep. I really need my beauty sleep. These days, I don't even dare look at myself in the mirror for I dread seeing the dark undereye rings and discover how haggard I might have become. People marvel at how fast I've lost weight after giving birth. Trying doing what I do and I guarantee that you will bounce back to your original size just as quickly. Go ahead, try it.
Anyway, I've ranted enough, better get back to work before my son wakes up crying for milk again.


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I'd like to start a new meetup for people in Sheffield who make and work with content. It's something I've had in mind for years. Over the last 15 months, through my work for Sheffield Digital, I've watched the city's meetup scene thrive and grow. But there are no meetups about content.
And so I think it's time that changed. I know that Sheffield is full of great content writers, designers and strategists. They are in agencies, businesses, government departments and both universities. We also have a whole host of freelancers – like me – who create and manage content for all of the above.
Sheffield certainly has the content talent. But as far as I know, there is no regular place for us to come together, meet new people, share our brilliant ideas and develop some sort of secret handshake.
Introducing Sheffield Content Club
So I am going to do something about it.
I'm starting a new meetup called Sheffield Content Club. It already has its own Twitter account, which I would encourage you to follow. But more importantly, I've put together a landing page and sign-up form. If you'd like to see Sheffield Content Club become a real-life thing, please subscribe to the mailing list and let me know.
For now, it's a way for me to gauge interest in the meetup and let you know when the first event will be. But in the future, I would like to send out interesting content-related news, info and opportunities.
As I write this post, there are already 30+ people signed up. That's very encouraging. But my own network only goes so far and I'd really like to see people sharing the link around.
The best meetups are those that build and turn into a thriving community. The more we can all get the word out, the more likely we are to pack a room and get Sheffield Content Club off to a flyer.
But wait! Who is this meetup for?
I thought you might ask that. Content is such a vague term. When I started out, working in content almost always meant being a copywriter. It was mostly about words. But as you know, that's not been the case for ages.
We have content strategists, content designers and content producers. Some people use words. Some people use images. Some use audio and video. And then there are those who help make sure content is right for its audience and enters the world on time and to budget.
All of these people work in content. And many do all of those things.
I think a Sheffield Content Club should be a broad church. And so at this point, all I say is this: if you feel like you make or work in content, you are more than welcome.
What will it be like?
The truth is, I don't know yet and I am very open to ideas (see below). I do think we will have speakers. I reckon a little show and tell is always nice. And of course, there will be plenty of time for drinks, nibbles and tip-top chit-chat.
Basically, if people can leave having learned something and had a good time, then we will be on to a winner. I've run events before and have a good idea of what works. At the moment though, my focus is on testing the water to see if people are interested.
Things that you can do
We're just getting started and I'm happy to lead the way, but I don't expect to do all this alone. I would specifically like to hear from you with suggestions for venues, sponsors and speakers. As it will be a content meetup, I'd also like to document events and make them publicly available, either through video or audio (ideally both). Ideas around that would be welcome too.
Please send all of your thoughts and secret information to me via the email address carefully positioned at the end of this list of actions:
- Sign up to the Sheffield Content Club mailing list
- Follow Sheffield Content Club on Twitter
- Send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com
And I think that's it for now. Thank you to those of you who have shown an interest already and, fingers crossed, I'll have more to share with you soon.


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Bitquence Expands Founding Team with Former Blackrock Executive
August 15th, 2017 – Bitquence announced today that it has made a major addition to its management team, appointing Stephen Corliss as Chief Global Strategist.
Stephen Corliss is a highly-experienced financial executive with a long track record in building, leading and scaling successful businesses across Europe, Asia & Americas. He will oversee global corporate strategy and company expansion including development, communications and execution of all corporate strategic initiatives. In this newly created role, Bitquence successfully unifies its financial strategy with business / product development and implementation. He will be based in the company's U.S. offices.
Mr. Corliss joins Bitquence after a long successful career at leading Wall Street firms including Blackrock, UBS, Merrill Lynch and State Street. During his time as COO at Blackrock, he designed, built and oversaw the firm's global sell-side execution business, including establishing and operating nearly a dozen regulated broker dealers located across the U.S., Europe and Asia, to deliver seamless trade execution and product distribution of global Equities, Fixed Income, Mutual and Exchange Traded Funds (ETF's) worldwide. He also managed all related external regulatory relationships with the SEC, FINRA, Federal Reserve, FCA (U.K.), MAS (Singapore), SFC (Hong Kong), ASIC (Australia), and others. Stephen was instrumental in the company's transformation of its sell-side activities from an analogue to a digital business involving revenues in excess of $225 Million and $350 billion in global trading volume annually.
Upon leaving Blackrock, Stephen has been deeply involved in the global crypto and decentralization communities since 2013 working to do his part in ensuring its long-term viability and sustainability by balancing his substantial financial and regulatory acumen with digital innovation. Over the course of his career, Corliss held influential roles at UBS, BOA-Merrill Lynch and State Street, each of which allowed him to develop expert level understanding and knowledge of global financial services covering sectors from Asset Management, Investment Banking, Brokerage, Custody to Regional Banking involving both Institutional and Retail Investors.
Stephen Corliss said: "I am honored and excited to join such a remarkably intelligent, enthusiastic, and talented team to help Bitquence deliver a truly transformative platform to meet the needs of our global community members and customers. With Bitquence building one of the most advanced crypto investment technology platforms, my arrival comes at a pivotal point with the existence of substantial momentum coming from their successful Token Sale. I'm looking forward to working with such a highly skilled forward-thinking team, and supportive community members, to release the vast benefits that will be realized from growing this innovative platform"
Mr. Corliss will report to Bitquence CEO and Co-Founder, Shingo Lavine, who created the new CGS role in recognition of all the major strategic initiatives involving platform, product and service design and its high correlation with global financial services structures, regulation and compliance.
Commenting on this new hire, Shingo Lavine, CEO and Co-Founder of Bitquence said: "Stephen Corliss will be an invaluable asset to the Bitquence team by assisting in the execution of an ambitious global vision. His deep financial, strategic and regulatory experience will allow Bitquence to reach and protect consumers in jurisdictions all around the world."
This article was originally published on: The Official Bitquence Blog on


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Keys to consider in buying taps
Numerous more seasoned homes and some new ones have little bathrooms. Some new developments even have at least two littler bathrooms in a similar house, which are little contrasted with the ace shower space. So guarantee that you take sufficient estimation of the space accessible before purchasing taps or any bathroom item for its remodel. Introducing bathroom taps in bathrooms are the most ideal approaches to place life in any redesigning outline. Bathroom taps are a fundamental piece of any Bathroom redesign contingent upon the size. The bigger a shower space is the more taps it will require while the littler the shower space, the littler the tap ought to be. Use no less than two huge taps in an expansive bathroom, while in a little space, utilize small scale bathroom taps as an ideal answer for making both style and space. Platform taps and taps are a fundamental piece of any bathroom outline; they flavor up the look and add a feeling of value to the bathroom.
On the off chance that you are an expert fashioner or you have a smart thought of bathroom outlining, at that point simply ahead and begin acquiring things. Purchase shower items that will enhance your shower space and not things that will block it. There are fundamental things that make up a bathroom redesign, and they incorporate a brand new can, basin, lefroy brooks tap, shower and more. These bathroom items, if orchestrated appropriately in their different positions will in a split second add shimmer to the space, and it will be a decent begins for all the more redesigning. Guarantee that you make space for developments in your redesigns. You can browse the many styles of taps accessible in the market or online to decrease space utilization. You can either purchase a platform tap, which is stunning and classy for rebuilding or purchase corner taps, which are produced using clay, or stainless steel materials, and are likewise extremely valuable for any home remodel.
There is a wide gathering of moderate taps to browse in the market or on the web. Guarantee to pick the style that speaks to your taste, and bathroom space. Likewise, guarantee to purchase each vital shower item required for renovating your home before running all insane with frill. Frill are awesome in any bathroom rebuilding however introduce them after you have completed with the primary shower items like; toilets, basins, taps, taps, showers, showers, tubs, and more.


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Enjoying Time with Aging Parents
Create a Schedule That Incorporates Fun Into Your Aging Parent's Week
We all get busy and it can be hard to squeeze in fun activities when you work, have a family and are a caregiver for an aging parent. Unfortunately, social isolation can lead to depression in the elderly. While making sure your parent has fun doesn't feel like it should be high on your priority list, it is important.
When I was a kid, every Saturday, my mom would pack up me and my two younger brothers and pick up my grandmother to take her to lunch. As my grandmother got older, we adjusted our trips to incorporate restaurants that had wheelchair access. We never missed a Saturday visit and while I always looked forward to the visits, at the time, I didn't understand how important it was to my grandmother.
Life has changed a bit since I was a kid. There are more distractions, we work longer hours and life just seems to get in the way. So how can you prevent social isolation without becoming the primary source of entertainment?
Activities You Can Do With Aging Parents
One thing that my mom and her siblings did to ensure my grandmother always had company was set up a schedule for visits. My family had Saturdays, one aunt had Sundays and my uncle had Wednesday since he lived closest to her. Three times a week, she had her children and grandchildren visiting her and possibly taking her out.
Do you have local sibling who you can coordinate with so that no one adult child carries all of the responsibility? If you are already providing care, you are probably visiting your parent to check in or grocery shop or manage household duties. Can you carve out one afternoon where you just do something fun together so that it isn't all work all the time?
Maybe your budget doesn't allow for a weekly lunch date. How about a picnic at the park or a trip to the library? Maybe you grocery shop together instead of doing it for them. Most seniors love going to the store. It is great people watching and they feel more productive. I had a client who loved to go to the ocean. We pushed her wheelchair on the sidewalk and she sat for an hour just watching the waves crash.
If they are wheelchair bound and you can't transport them in a wheelchair, consider researching transportation options near you that you can use with your parent. As part of the Americans with Disabilities Act, all public transportation must provide a transportation option for the elderly or disabled. If you Google wheelchair transportation option with your city, you should find an option for your family. The application process may take time, but once you're set up, you can schedule a ride to take your parent shopping or to lunch.
If you or a sibling are long distance, you can still schedule a virtual lunch date with an aging parent. Set up a time when your family can gather in front of the iPad or computer and dine together virtually. I knew a family who did this nightly so their mom wouldn't eat dinner alone.
Social Activities with Friends
If your parent has friends nearby, perhaps you can coordinate a regular get-together for them. As our parents age, they or their friends may have transportation challenges that limit their ability to get together. Can you schedule rides for them? Do you know someone who would be able to take them to each other? I knew a family that scheduled a bimonthly lunch date for their mom with her friends. They booked the transportation so that everyone could make it.
Unfortunately, one of the downsides of getting older is losing our friends due to age, illness or death. If your parent doesn't have many local friends left, can you help connect them with new friends? Their library and senior center are great starting points, as well as a local YMCA or gym. If they are taking a class, they'll have the added benefit of sharpening their mind and connecting with like-minded people.
While it may seem like a minor issue, loneliness can cause physical and mental problems in seniors. Helping your parent create a social calendar isn't just a nice thing to do, it is important to their well-being.


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Do you like science fiction? 🙂 Even if you don't, I'm sure you thought about or heard at least once some scientific predictions about the future of our world and next generations. On November 9, 2007, the Art-talkers trained their imagination and tried to guess what changes are expected in the world, for example, in 200 years, i.e., in the year 2207. This training was designed according to the ATM project of the "Discussion Leader" manual conducted by Olga Pogoryelova. On the meeting, we agreed that, probably, the most important things which the human civilization is worried about are: people's appearance and abilities (including health, mental and physical abilities); science (e.g., achievements in medicine, electronics, transport, etc); and nature (ecology, natural resources, food, clothes). As we are the Art-Talkers, we also tried to guess what changes are expected in the creative arts 🙂 Our predictions were based on science fiction movies and predictions of scientists we heard or read in the mass media.
Olga Pogorelova, Art-Talkers TM Club


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If you want to feel like you're getting a lot for your money then look no further than the NEC MultiSync EA294WMi 29in wide-aspect IPS LCD panel with LED backlight. At a shade under 10kg, it's also arm-strainingly heavy but the advantage of the hulking great back panel is that it's festooned with interfaces alongside the power supply.
There are sockets for DisplayPort, two DVI-D (one dual- link), HDMI/MHL, an analogue D-Sub VGA and a one-up, four-down USB hub.
The key features of the NEC panel is its handsome 2560 x 1080 resolution in a 21:9 aspect ratio, a 29in super widescreen.
It certainly gives plenty of space to run multiple apps alongside each other, even if it won't win any style awards with its thick frame and chunky bevel.
With a very wide display you can run multiple apps at once with ease on the NEC
Power-saving tricks include a sensor that put the panel into standby when it detects there's no-one present. On standard consumption it draws typically 28W and on Eco Mode, a mere 18W. An ambient light sensor dynamically changes the brightness to suit the environment. The Eco mode is accessed through the on-screen menu (OSM), the controls of which are easy-to-use through touch-sensitive elements around the bottom right edge.
Looking at the screen with a pure black there was no appreciable light leak, while a white screen showed little darkening in the corners. The screen uniformity test showed the outsides of the display to be slightly brighter than the middle, except for the bottom left corner, with a maximum difference of 3.8% at 100% brightness and slightly more, 5.7% at 50% brightness.
Colour uniformity was very good, the biggest discrepency coming at 83% Brightness, along the top third with the middle showing a Delta-E of 4.9. Everything else was much lower. Colour accuracy overall gave an average Delta-E of 1.84 with the problem area being dark cyan colours at 4.72. Colour coverage results showed a slightly disappointing 99% sRGB coverage, 76% NTSC and 82% Adobe RGB. In the brightness test the panel could reach a high 365 cd/m2. Contrast ratio is advertised at 1000:1. In our tests, at 50% brightness it was 610:1 and at 100% a reasonable 680:1.


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Travelling for days, I still can't conceive my goal;
Desert sands press their way through my soul,
Outer forces veer me off track.
I try to move forward, but only go back.
If I drop my foot, it sifts
-------------------------through the
If I push with my body, winds just turn me around.
I force my way through putrid weather,
My hands in front of me, together,
And the only sound I hear is wind
Blazing its shrill tune through my head
As if I were a seashell and it a kid,
Hearing music through something long dead.
As millions of specks, yellow, red, black, gold,
Hack through the air, I start to erode.
Each memory takes a small part of me,
Grinding me down, never setting me free,
Until I'm not lost, yet not wanting to be found,
Now I'm but a piece of dust, slowly sinking to the ground.