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Venue: Siri Fort Sports Complex in New Delhi, India
Tournament days: May 18– May 25, 2014
Watch Full Replays
Live Games Schedule:
Updates (June 5,2014): Added an interview with the Malaysia Thomas Cup team (with English subtitles)
Live Updates: BadmntonPlanet.com just added video for Thomas Cup Final - Lee Chong Wei vs Kenichi Tago.HD video for the game of Liew Daren vs Takuma Ueda is now available.
Live Updates: Malaysia put up a fight, but ultimately fell to the Japan 2-3
Be sure to tune in for live coverage of 2014 Thomas Cup Final: Malaysia vs Japan, Sunday, May 25, 2014 at 5:30:00 PM (Malaysia time)
*If the Thomas Cup Final is tied at 2-2, you'll need to refresh your browser in order to watch the 5th game between Daren Liew (Malaysia) vs Takuma Ueda (Japan)
DAY 6 - SF: Malaysia defeated Indonesia (3-0), Japan defeated China (3-0)
DAY 6 - SF: China vs Japan, 12:00 PM, May 23, India time.
DAY 6 - SF: Malaysia vs Indonesia, 6:00 PM, May 23, India time.
DAY 6 - Check out BadmintonPlanet.com Extra that features: QF-Malaysia vs Denmark, Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong vs Kim Sa Rang/Kim Ji Jung, China vs Taiwan, Goh Soon Huat vs Soo Hwang Jong
DAY 5 - QF: China vs Thailand, 12:00 PM, May 22, India time.
DAY 4 - Group A: Indonesia vs Thailand, 9:00 AM, May 21, India time.
DAY 4 - Group B: Japan vs Denmark, 7:00 PM, May 21, India time.
DAY 3 - Group A: Thailand vs Singapore, 9:00 AM, May 20, India time.
DAY 2 - Group A: Indonesia vs Singapore, 9:00 AM, May 19, India time.
DAY 1 - Group B: Denmark vs Hong Kong , 9:00 AM, May 18, India time.
DAY 1 - Group C: Malaysia vs India, 2:00 PM, May 18, India time.
*Please scroll up and down the playlists to find the correct live Thomas Cup Match


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Our Service
We have renowned manufactures involved in a wide range of GPON. In order to assure the quality of our range, we manufacture this product utilizing high grade materials, which we procure from certified vendors. Ever since inception, the company is committed not only to sell its products but also to penetrate the market with the right and winning approach. Moreover, we also provide superior packaging for these products. In this regard our after sales services are also appreciated by clients.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Anthony Kiedis and Helena Vestergaard met last year, and have been together since at least February of this year. The Red hot Chili Pepper has been seen with the Australian model all over the world. And they have not been shy about showing their affection for each other. But on Sunday, at a Lakers … [Read more...]


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ObamaCare's Magical Premium Tax
The Department of Health and Human Services has announced it will unilaterally impose a (legally questionable) 3.5-percent premium tax on health plans purchased through the ObamaCare Exchanges it operates.
According to The New York Times, an HHS spokeswoman "predicted that insurers would not raise prices" in response to the tax.
If that's the case, why not make it 35 percent?


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Photo Gallery
23 Extreme V Hull
7 Photos
25 Extreme V Hull
6 Photos
100mph Club
17 Photos
24 Photos
13 Photos
2900 Sports Deck
17 Photos
Warrior V Hull
6 Photos
2800 Sports Party Deck
26 Photos
28 ft deckboat
3 Photos
3100 Cataraman
25 Photos
3100 modifications
5 Photos
Customer Boats 1
18 Photos
Customer Boats 2
26 Photos
Sport Deck Boats & Offshore Powerboats
Sport performance family boats are powerful machines with nimble and graceful movement across the water. Although pictures don't give the full effect of how fun and amazing these boats are; check out these galleries for a better visual of what we can produce. Each one of these custom crafted performance boats have the ability to provide hours of gratification for families, friends and anyone else looking to get out and do something fun. Whether it's hitting the open water at full speed, or floating along with a group of friends on a party boat, we have something enjoyable for everyone. Check out the 100 MPH club. A group of customers whose American Offshore ® boats have hit the century mark across the country. From competition to pure curiosity thewater is one of the few remaining places where a person can satisfy a lust for speed. We like to think our work is a piece of art especially when it comes to our V Hull Boats. The V hulls come with custom painted exteriors displaying an array of color and graphics to turn heads and impress everyone on the water. Beautifully designed and very spacious interiors with quality construction are certain to exceed the expectation of any seasoned performance boater. Not only do they look good, but the handling is undeniable. The V bottom was designed for performance with a variable degree bottom, four lifting strakes and delta pad letting it run smooth and stable in rough water. Look at the rest of our galleries for more evidence of American Offshore® perfection. Room and comfort for all while cruising the water with the tach maxed out! If you have any questions about a V Hull boat,or Catamaran please feel free to contact us today!


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Dig! is a completely unreliable documentary about two rock bands who were around in the late 1990s -the Dandy Warhols and the Brian Jonestown Massacre. You do not have to be fans of these bands to find this movie entertaining. I didn't believe for a second that what I was watching was anything more than some amateur footage of two bands with a clumsy narrative about success, art, commerce and "selling out" (one of the really quaint concepts that shows you how different things are now) grafted on, but it's worthwhile because it's a film with some genuine characters – goofballs, sleazy good time Charlies, and actually some really good music. Part of the charm of these bands is how little they had in common with the music scene at the time.
I present a recap:Continue Reading


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Location: Virtual
From: 10:00 am - 11:00am
Families with Children ages 0-5 • Open to All • No RSVP Required
Shabbat Central, formerly known as Tot Shabbat, provides a warm, exciting, and accessible Shabbat experience for your entire family. Geared to families of children from birth to age five, Shabbat Central is led by an experienced musician and children's service leader along with members of the Family Engagement department and Early Childhood Department staff. Children and families gather together for song, prayer, movement, stories, and fun. Following the service, a light meal is served.
Your tax-deductible contribution to our Annual Yom Kippur Appeal will provide for Central's exceptional educational, community, and spiritual programs and help enrich the Jewish experience of our members and the community-at-large.


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Ramblin Wreck Hits The Road To El Paso | News
Title (Max 100 Characters)
ATLANTA, Ga. - Georgia Tech aerospace engineering major Mike MacMillan of Marietta is coming to the end of a high profile position on the football field. But he's never made a tackle or caught a pass for the Jackets.
MacMillan is the driver of the Ramblin' Reck, the 1930 model A Ford sport coupe that has been driven out in front of the team for every home game since 1961. Drivers are elected by the Reck Club, and hold that position for one year. MacMillan's stint ends after the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
He and three fellow club members left Tuesday evening, hauling the car 1406 miles to El Paso. The truck pulling the hauler is one of the gifts from the class of 1984 when they celebrated their 25th anniversary. The car was not taken to some recent bowl appearances on the west coast, but was at the 2004 NCAA Final Four in San Antonio.
The club raises money for expenses by taking the car to weddings and other events, and is also responsible for maintenance of the car.


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Conceptlicht Gmbh-Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center Outdoor Lighting
At Design Interviews
Interview with Conceptlicht GmbH : Frank Scott: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?. Conceptlicht GmbH : Lighting design is perception design. As light itself is invisible, we can only perceive reflections, which is the illumination of surfaces with different levels of brightness. Illuminated areas gain a visual significance and appear more meaningful than darker ones. For a convincing lighting design, it is important to only highlight those architectural elements that are crucial for understanding the space and really are meaningful. Accidentally illuminating nearby areas, too, would mean to attach an unjustified importance to them. However, if the hierarchy of light does not match the actual hierarchy of elements, the perception of space is distorted, making light appear as a foreign substance, artificial and unreasonable. .Frank Scott: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?. Conceptlicht GmbH : The main goal was to create a magic light atmosphere, without allowing a destructive look behind the scenes. The lighting design should appear as natural and logic as possible, allowing an undisturbed experience of space. It is the light that shall be seen, not the luminaires. Nevertheless, the crucial point is to enhance the architecture by light, not to superimpose it. .Frank Scott: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?. Conceptlicht GmbH : The development and realization of the lighting design concept happened simultaneously to the development and realization of the architectural building concept. Both designs influenced each other, starting in 2007 and finishing in 2011. .Frank Scott: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?. Conceptlicht GmbH : The design concept was not developed referring to any other design or effect. Rather, it was the logic consequence of fulfilling our main idea: lighting according to the hierarchy of meanings. However, as mentioned, the creation of the architecture influenced the lighting design and vice versa. So the project was evolved in a strong cooperation with the architects of Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center: gmp Architekten. .Frank Scott: Who is the target customer for his design?. Conceptlicht GmbH : Being a design project, there is no customer or consumer in the traditional sense, of course. However, having in mind that the lighting design will have an impact on different people, the needs of all possible users were considered. User-friendliness was one of the highest goals of the design, be it for "active" users like sportspeople and visitors, "passive" users like the drivers that cross by the sports center and catch it from the corner of their eyes, and even for technicians that are charged with the maintenance of the lighting system. .Frank Scott: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?. Conceptlicht GmbH : The main outstanding characteristic of the Shenzhen Universiade Spots Center lighting design is the high level of sophistication in its details. There is no look behind the scenes, no glare, no revealing of single light sources. What is the point of a magnificent effect from distance if all magic will be gone as soon as you see it at close range? The details matter. Thus, the focus on users is a high aim. No matter from which angle seen, the LED light sources are never visible. Glare does not arise, not even from the inside of the crystal shell. Many of the luminaires of the light concept were custom-made, created in a way that their beam angles match the geometry of the architecture. There are no accidental LED light cones drawing attention to their actual position. .Frank Scott: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?. Conceptlicht GmbH : As we are an interdisciplinary lighting design office, our designers have different backgrounds like architecture, interior design, electrical engineering and scenography. Thus, the technical knowledge is already in our house, so that we also develop complete lighting systems, including even the calculation of reflector coordinates. In Shenzhen, we developed the concept and final design. The realization and installation of luminaires was done by Chinese Grandar Light Art & Technology Co. Ltd. .Frank Scott: What is the role of technology in this particular design?. Conceptlicht GmbH : Generally, the development of custom-made luminaires tailored to the needs of architecture is not compulsory linked to new technology. The downlights for the exterior lighting of the Universiade building complex are designed with metal halide lamps in combination with sensibly constructed reflectors. So this is a specially tailored light system independent from new technology, which we could also have realized twenty years before. Even the façade lighting of the crystalline shapes could – if it had to be - be realized with fluorescent lamps and appropriate reflectors. However, the possibility of using LED is a great advantage. Due to its size, lifetime and easy combination with lenses, LED makes the project easier, cheaper, faster, more efficient and more precise. But still, LED alone is not the solution. The LED systems of today have to be planned as carefully as former light sources. .Frank Scott: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?. Conceptlicht GmbH : The main challenge of the project was to persuade the client not to economize on the details, as they are the essential key to the magic of the space. After a lot of comparative sampling between sophisticated systems and cheaper simplified systems, we luckily managed to convince him. In the end, he even spent more money than expected by realizing the LED modules in RGB colour, though they were originally planned to be white. .Frank Scott: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?. Conceptlicht GmbH : The most interesting lessons that we drew from this foreign project was that principles which we deemed universal turned out to be more regional than expected. This way, for instance, plan symbols in China sometimes had different meanings than in Europe and thus created some confusion between different planning offices. .
Conceptlicht Gmbh-Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center Outdoor Lighting Images:
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text: XLD Requested Features List 2008-09-09 03:35:18 It has been astonishing to witness the rapid development of this incredible piece of software. The responsiveness and quickness of the developer tmkk to incorporate new features into XLD has made this a true user driven application. tmkk's obvious passion and dedication to his project is evident in the extraordinary gift he has given the Mac community in XLD. To help better organize the vast amount of information being posted I will try to maintain and update a list of new feature suggestions. If a HA member decides to suggest and post a new a feature it would make sense to post it in one location. Once again thank you tmkk for this monumental achievement in Mac software development.After reading this thread please check the XLD Master Thread List for other important XLD threads. Click here to view the Mac CD Ripper Comparison Chart to familiarize yourself with XLD's feature base. Feature Suggestions Allow album art to be automatically saved to output folder as a jpg instead of being embedded in output file(s).I will implement this, but priority is low.Quote from tmkk XLD developerI would love to be able to convert whole folders and nested subfolders of audio files. Currently, you have to drop the audio files themselves on the application.I will implement this feature.Quote from tmkk XLD developerAbility save 10 ripping presets based on the selections of the four preference tabs, this feature would include different drive models used on a system. Example Preset 1 SONY DVD RW DW-D150A would recall the four preference tabs assigned to it. Preset 2 HP 7500 Plus would recall the four preference tabs assigned to it. Preset 3 HP 7500 Plus would recall the four preference tabs assigned to it. In this feature a drive should have the ability for several preset settings base what is selected in th four preference tabs for instance in our example Preset 2 may have FLAC with CDParanoia with log report. ect. while Preset 3 has selected Lame MP3 without CDParanoia with no log report ect.Automatic detection of the "Read sample offset correction values"... Unlike Windows, Macs are built with very controled hardware and it would not be difficult to build a database of CD/DVD drive offsets for different models of Mac drives...Add ability to READ noncompliant cue sheets... Currently they can be generated during ripping (and that's GREAT!), but it would be nice if we could read them too...These features are added (or already in) my working list. The upper one has higher priority (or easy to implement).Quote from tmkk XLD developerAn option to choose to rip by sector number and/or duration, à la cdparanoia III 9.8. Say you want to rip only the first 1:02 seconds of a track... That sort of thing.Option for it to automagically query its databases for metadata, rather than having to be told to go look.These features will be implemented (priority is low).Quote from tmkk XLD developerAdd option to automatically save a M3U file, for the folks who need them.Add option to "Always ask" in the Output Directory preferences...MacMelo contacted tmkk about these features and tmkk told him these will be implemented as soon as other more important ones are done.Completed Addition of Suggestions and Development ExplanationsXLD now always saves a logfile in the same directory as ripped filesFeatures added to XLD Version 20080925:Previous versions of XLD didn't, but would it be possible to copy over ALL tags when transcoding from one format to another? Even non-standard ones?...Or at least the tags that iTunes can/will append to files it recognises (e.g. ALBUMSORTORDER, ITUNESCOMPILATION, etc.)ALL is impossible, because the way to store the entry of metadata item in MP4 metadata and ID3 tag (4 bytes binary) differs from the way in ape tag and vorbiscomment (unlimited(?) length text). If you want me to do this, please list the all tags that should be supported by XLD.Quote from tmkk XLD developerAlso, since the option exists to have XLD add the file to the itunes library, there's no need to have a 2nd copy of the file. This occurs when itunes copies the file when adding to its library and then the file created by XLD is left over. It would be nice to have an option to automatically delete the second copy of the file that XLD creates if you have itunes set to copy files into the library.I think this option is a little dangerous, because adding to the library sometimes fails due to simultaneous access during multi-threaded conversion (and iTunes does not support the all formats from XLD).Quote from tmkk XLD developerGive us an option to automatically not use CD Paranoia when there is an AccurateRip DB entry present. In other words it shoudl function how DBPA CD Ripper does... Rip in burst mode first, then if there is a mismatch switch over to secure ripping. Right now with my current drive I am seeing a rip speed of less than 2.0xTo add that option is easy, but it's complicated to implement a feature to switch automatically to another mode. I may implement, but it will take a long time. Until then, please do manually.Quote from tmkk XLD developerEliminiate the multiple windows. Having 3 windows open just to start ripping, edit metadata and monitor progress is rather annoying.Currently I have no plan to change the interface.Quote from tmkk XLD developerAdd the ability when using simultaneous codec conversion to choose the type of output for each format selected such as how the CD is to be ripped( Include pregap, Exclude pregap or Save as a single file +cue) while having independent control of the Format of filename. An example would be to rip a CD with the 1st format as FLAC file, selecting a single file +cue, with Format of filename output as %A/%T/%f/%T. The 2nd format as an AAC file, selecting to Include pregap, with the Format of filename output as %A/%T/%f/%n %t. Both formats should have the ability to share common folders in Format of filename.The current architecture of XLD doesn't allow to do this. If this is to be implemented, it will be the distant future.Quote from tmkk XLD developerPlace all of the AccurateRip results at the bottom of the log report instead of underneath each track listing similar to EAC. This would allow quick review of AccurateRip results!I'll consider if there are many requests about this.Quote from tmkk XLD developerIndicate the setting of the "Strength of cache defeating ability" feature in the log reportIndicate which version of CD Paranoia was used during ripping in the log reportIn the application window place reminder after "Exclude pregap from the output" button that you loose the ability to compare your selected tracks to the AccurateRip data base.Logical output folder creation based on searched metadata. Example main folder=Artist, sub folder 1=Album, sub folder 2=codec typeSimultaneous Multiple Codec Conversions Example FLAC and AAC being converted at the same time to be saved in different folders labeled by the type of codec outputtedAdd the cache analysis option to run on XLDFeature added to XLD Version 20080916Added ability to switch between using both CD Paranoia II and III.Feature added to XLD Version 20080914 (90.0)Update the CD Paranoia mode to the latest stable released version of III 10.2Added "Check all items" and "Uncheck all items" in the context menu of the tracFeature added to XLD Version 20080913 (89.0)A "compare WAV" feature like EAC.I can't find a clear reason to implement this feature in XLD. XLD is an audio converter software. Quote from tmkk XLD developerAutomatic album art downloading feature now can be disabled from CDDB menuAbility to load album art work when Gracenote tags are used without changing the Gracenote tags. Just disable all Query Items under CDDB menu except Cover ArtAdded option to modify a size of padding section in FLAC encoderAdded save button in Log windowFeatures added to XLD Version 20080912 (88.0)Fixing the "detect pregap" hangup on CD Extra discs on G5 (and maybe G4) machines.Problem fixed in XLD Version 20080910CD Writer with write offset possibly using cdr toolsEdit FLAC Metadata without reconverting the whole FLAC fileXLD is not a CD writer or tag editor, but a audio converter. The priority to implement this feature is quite low. Quote from tmkk XLD develperIncorporate AccurateRip submissions, so that XLD users can help the AccurateRip database to grow...It would not be possible to submit to AR without the use of AccurateRip.dll, there are many 'attacks' on the database where rouge data is submitted (sometimes even doc files mangled into AR results), deliberate attempts to pollute the database, so we will not be opening up the submission details. Quote from Spoon accurate developerRegarding some of the latest features (checking existing rips against AccurateRip; offset correction of existing rips), I may be missing something, but it seems to me that a cue file is needed to use both functions. If that's so, it would be nice if we could do it even without a cue, just by dragging the FLACs to a queue window, or something like that... If I misunderstood, I apologiza... I haven't fully explored these features yet...AccurateRip querying can't be performed without the whole length of the disc, so it is not possible with a separated track file itself. Quote from tmkk XLD developerNewly Suggested FeaturesAdd to log the peak level for each track (EAC log does).Apparently CDs from different pressings, even though from the same master, can have different CRCs. They would have the same peak levels so that info in the log could aid verification.Add the ability to search albumartexchange.com for album art. This site has higher resolution album art images that have been cleaned up. The Album Art Exchange database of album art seems to growing at a rapid pace. I think this would a great asset to add to XLD allowing the user to get retrieve more consistent quality album art. Ability to switch to Gracenote info if you already used freedb.Although the Gracenote feature is fairly idiot proof once you know to have iTunes open, I'm stuck with a lot of freedb tags in XLD that I can't seem to replace with the much better Gracenote offerings.It would be nice if XLD would save downloaded/modified metadata to its OWN database for retrieval later. As it stands, if XLD hangs during a rip, and has to be shut down, any modifications made to downloaded metadata have too be re-entered... which is time-consuming.The ability to cancel or skip the pregap detection when mounting a disc would be nice. Maybe having the option to detect the pre-gap AFTER editing metadata, etc.When transcoding individual files have XLD respect the Format of filename structure.Make user definable offsets part of the auto offset function. I just got a drive that isn't included, and I really miss the nice brainless quality of the auto setting.I'd like to suggest a "total track" field among the tags, so that when importing to audio players it will detail, for example, "Track 5 of 17." i've also found that although there is a "disc total" field, the setting does not save correctly (at least in lame mp3.) if you have the time, would you please solve this?Ability to use customized switches under a selected format(FLAC, WavPack, Lame, Ect.)Place the format section drop down menu in XLD's main application window(the window with decode button) to help avoid the chance of having selected the wrong format from the previous encoding session.That is confusing many people into believing that AR is "suggesting" that changes are required. Several people have written to me asking me why the log is "suggesting" they change the offsets.I think it would be much less confusing (and much more accurate) if the log were reworded to read as 'List of alternate offset correction values'.A good one button "cancel" option that will get out of the endless hang situation, Also just to easily cancel a rip you just started with some wrong settings.My external drive also disappears in the hang situations, and needs to be disconnected or restarted to show up again - if that can be fixed.Above feature suggestions are awaiting answers on status. Latest XLD Version 20080926 (93.3)XLD release notes Last Edit: 2008-10-11 15:24:10 by macman4hire


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- slightlyrighty (1,818) Says:
April 29th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
I'd love him to nationalise the Kaimoana industry, just so we can use the slogan "PAUA TO THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!"
Friday, April 29, 2011
Comment of the Week
The Thing About The Bush..........
Adolf and the Cook are busy establishing lawns and a vegie garden while figuring out what to keep and what to 'garage sale' as we go from a bloody big house to a small but comfortable place on a quarter acre.
42 km from the city centre and three minutes from the nearest farm supplies business.
The train trip to the city centre takes 55 minutes and costs each way, wait for it, $1.20 so you're nuts to take a car.
Yesterday Adolf wandered about a couple of garden centres looking for fertiliser. Ammonium sulphate along with some high NPK with trace elements. The prices were just too high at $25 for 5 kg of ammonium sulphate and $35 or so for 10kg of some fancy 'organic' crap that looked and smelt like blood and bone with a bit of urea chucked in.
So, it was off to the farm supplies joint for a $40kg bag of Nitrophoska Blue $80 and a 20kg bag of ammonium sulphate $40.
That will last about a year. It's no wonder they grow good wine grapes in the Barossa. The soil here is pretty bony and after five weeks digging and scraping I found my first worm yesterday. In honour of the day's events it was named Hillary Calvert. Anyway, Hillary was shovelled up with a bit of soil and placed in the half full compost bin where she can multiply hermaphroditically (a polite way of screwing yourself) to her heart's content for a few weeks.
Do you know, they actually sell packets of live worms in garden shops!!! I kid you not.
- Will we see for the first time ever, a party leader taken to court by the Securities Commission?
- Will a certain Mr Huljich appear miraculously on the ACT party list?
- After carefully considering the new ACT leader's skills and strengths will PM Key, after the election, offer him the Ministry of Women's Affairs?
- Will Dr Brash find he's come along a little late to the party when he sees National's campaign manifesto for November 2011?
- If he wants to be Finance Minister, won't he need at least 45% of the party vote?
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Move over NASA
That's the equivalent of about 900 return trips to the moon.
Or 2.5 trips per day.
At least it is all related to running our economy in an efficient manner, great value for money and vital to our economic well being.
MMP is the bastard political system inflicted on Germany by the allies post WW2 designed to make it virtually impossible for no one Party to govern alone. Right now NZ is stuck with it and forget the stellar polling enjoyed by National. National needs political allies if it is to govern in the medium to long term.
Labour has the Greens and NZ First as natural allies. The Maori Party is undergoing its own inner turmoil and cannot be counted on as a natural ally of the Centre Right. It is unlikely the Dunne Party will survive the election and even if it were to make it over the line it would remain a one seat wonder with its vote available for purchase by the highest bidder.
So all that National is left with is ACT. I am not privy to our internal polling but the advice I have from several sources is that right now ACT is mired in the 1-2% margin of error stuff. Their Leader is not polling well in Epsom, particularly among female voters, and without Epsom ACT is out of Parliament.
It has to be remembered too that in both 2006 (under Brash) and in 2009 (under Key) National sent a deliberate nudge nudge wink wink to its supporters to support ACT with their electorate vote.
A large part of politics is about perception and right now the perception is that ACT is damaged goods.
Enter Don Brash. From where I sit I have to say my assessment is that if he were to go with his own Right Wing Party (as he has threatened to do) he would bury ACT. The problem for ACT, in deeding him the leadership, is that while Brash sits squarely with the Douglas/Richardson economic faction, he is a social conservative. It is a moot point how that would play out on their declared liberal/libertarian tradition.
For all his good points Brash remains politically naive. A case in point is his championing of John Banks for Epsom. JB is a political Peter Pan and yesterdays man who managed to wrest defeat from the jaws of victory. Is he to be the bright new face of ACT going forward and is Brash saying he would prefer Banks over Boscowan as an ACT nominee for cabinet? (because you can be as sure a god made little apples, Banks wouldn't be going to parliament to sit on the back benches.
So there are risks for ACT and while Brash would certainly bleed off right wing voters from National he would also change brand ACT and move it way from its liberal tradition.
But to end where I started. National needs allies and right now I doubt whether ACT as it currently stands, and certainly in the face of a Brash lead alternative party, will be in parliament post November. So on balance, and unlike my good friend Adolf, the Veteran supports the bid by the Brashites to take-over ACT risks et al.
Mbama Mourns
Tragedy has struck the White House.
Hubert J. "Hub" Schlafly Jr has died, aged 91.
He invented the teleprompter.
Could It Possibly Be.......
In the event Dr Bumblefoot's assault is repulsed on Saturday, I could not have imagined stronger encouragement for ACT to have Rodney move over graciously and allow John Bascowan to lead the party.
John Key has given him his lifeline.
Prime Minister John Key says that Rodney Hide would keep his ministerial portfolios if Don Brash rolled Mr Hide as leader of the Act Party.
Adolf reads that as 'would keep his ministerial portfolios if anybody rolled Mr Hide as leader of the Act Party."
The door has been opened for an orderly succession after the coup is repulsed.
As far as Don's Party goes - well it will attract the extremists from the right and, who knows, it may well serve at least one useful purpose. It will bleed off a whole lot of votes which otherwise might have gone the way of Winston Peters and could well turn out be the major factoir in keeping the most despicable politician ever, out of office.
So, what happens to Brash and Banks if ACT goes into the election with John Bascowan as leader, standing in Tamaki; Rodney Hide No 2 on the list and withdrawing from the electoral race; with National mounting a vigorous campaign in Epsom with its own strong candidate?
Does anybody seriously think the astute voters of Epsom will back a party of right wing ideologues and reject their own party of steady as she goes, carefully measured and sure progress?
I don't think so.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Dr Bumblefoot - The Sequel
Benefactor 1 - John Banks.
Banks has the money to fund the polls and the PR campaign and is politically ambitious. He always has been. I doubt Banks wants to return to parliament, but he could be a good party president for a party led by Brash. As party president he would be instrumental in choosing candidates, raising funds and setting the policy. The funds come easy to Banks. Even though he is a Bumblefoot, Brash will attract candidates, as will Banks. Adolf is certain that Banks will "find" hard line ultra Christian conservative Colin Craig as a top-shelf candidate. You see, for Banks it removes Craig nicely from Auckland, allowing Banks to run for the mayoralty in 2013 uncontested.
But it's the policy that current Actoids should be wary of. Banks is a hard-line social conservative so Act's liberal vision is demolished. Makes it hard for the likes of Heather Roy to campaign for a ultra social conservative party methinks.
Benefactor 2 - Heather Roy
Next-to-useless even with her army uniform on behind a full frontal creeping artillery barrage, Roy's disgraceful performance as a disloyal deputy to Hide was unlikely to be rewarded in the slightest come list selection time. She might have made top 15 on a good day. But top 15 now might squeeze her in to parliament if Brash's bravado is to be believed. Of course she might bat her eyelashes at the men and put her lipstick on in the vain hope of persuading even the most hard line board member to vote for her. So she might rate top 10 if she's lucky.
Adolf's spies are informed that the PR man for Brash is also the PR man for Stephen Franks. Readers will remember when Roy was put in her place by the Act party last year that Franks was by her side, spinning like a top. Franks also loathes Hide from way back apparently. Adolf is informed also that Roy has loyal acolytes in the Act on Campus crowd and these members have been sending virtually identical emails to Act board members yesterday urging them to accept Brash as leader. Adolf asks who scripted these emails? Yes, dear readers, Heather Roy's dirty mits are all over this. She was gone under a Hide led Act, but can see a glimmer of hope under a Brash-led Act.
It appears Rodney Hide did suggest a few scenarios to Brash. But it seems Dr Bumblefoot is not only a bumbling buffoon, he might be able to read an abacus, but he cannot comprehend English. A suggestion is not an offer. Hide was in no position to offer anything as the Act board makes the decisions on candidates, not the leader. Then the Bumbling Buffoon, Dr Bumblefoot, writes Hide a letter in a threatening tone as if he intends to leak it if Hide doesn't cave in.
That is blackmail.
But the best is left for the end.
If you want to become a leader of a party then you have to join it. Then you subject yourself to the list selection process and enter parliament. Then you go about becoming leader. Act is no different here from Adolf's National. But it seems Dr Bumblefoot believes these rules do not apply to him; he would rather conduct a hostile takeover without joining; and without going through the candidate process.
Someone should remind Dopey Don of the slogan he so enthusiastically preaches to the country - what's it called? Oh yes, One Law For All.
Well folks, there's one law for ACT party members but not for Dr Donald Brash, it seems.
He's above the rules.
ACT may well have a problem, but Dr Bumblefoot is not the solution.
He's just an additional problem, worse than the current problem.
Dr Bumblefoot's Last Stand
If ever there was needed a reason for the ACT Party to reject this latest nonsense out of hand, here it is:-
Dr Brash has commissioned a nationwide poll to gauge the level of support for him as leader of Act versus Act under incumbent leader Rodney Hide.
He expects the results next week, after the Act board meeting.
How could anyone have any confidence in a self professed 'leader' who is too dim witted to commission a poll in time for the results to be of any use? Surely he might have organized his damned poll to give a result BEFORE the ACT board meeting?
And have all the people in ACT forgotten Dr Brash's appalling handling of the the Exclusive Brethren debacle? Have they forgotten it was a debacle created by his bungled handling of the media?
When Dr Brash was National Party leader, Adolf defended him like hell in public and cringed every day as Brash stuffed up his media image and his political delivery. He was a walking disaster.
Perhaps, dear friends in ACT you have forgotten what it is you are wishing for?
Here's a timely reminder.
Dr Dork walking the plank.
And here are a few more reminders of political reality.
- Do you idiots REALLY want to see the left go ape shit with joy as they reprise all the lies put forth by that ratbag Hagar?
- Do you REALLY want a party leader who is too dumb to keep his private e-mails private?
- Do you remember that appalling picture of an inept Brash trying to squeeze into a too small racing car for a photo op? Any one with any brains would have seen the trap and avoided it. But not Dopey Don.
- Do you really want the baggage of John Banks? Another yesterday's man who couldn't win the unloseable Auckland mayoral election?
- Why are you so keen to bring back all these well performed losers?
I have thought for sometime that he has had his day. He could have avoided all this nonsense and damage by arranging to quietly relinquish the leadership and have John Bascowan installed in good time for the upcoming election.
It is my guess many senior figures in the National Party will be watching the manner in which Dr Brash is carrying out his 'negotiations' with ACT and will be saying to themselves 'Thank you but no thanks. This is not the sort of fellow who can be part of today's team. He'd be almost be as bad as Winston."
Monday, April 25, 2011
Belated ANZAC Day special
Punk rock changed our lives. But before that we were hippies - the Sandy Denny version of this is the definitive one, but this one has photos more suited to ANZAC Day.
As ever on this day, those of us who haven't had the govt of the time round us up and ship us off to play kill-or-be-killed are thinking about those who did have that worst-case-scenario happen to them.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Of ACT and Labour
1. I reckoned at New Year that ACT would have to seriously reinvent themselves for this election. Having a leadership "debate" in the Sunday papers isn't exactly what I had anticipated. ACT's fundamental problem is that they present a very disjointed face to mainstream voters. Sure 1-2% understand what they are saying but the rest do not understand the nuances of being a classical liberal- whatever the heck that really means to the man on the street. To this end Rodney Hide is guilty of failing to sell a clear ACT vision. One suspects that he really has just been well played by John Key.
Is Don Brash the answer? No, just as Roger Douglas wasn't the answer last time. Like end of career All Blacks, they may know the game inside out but their legs can't keep up. Selectors are generally ruthless. The smart ones become coaches or commentators.
My preference would be John Boscawen. His greatest strengths are hard work, intelligence and being unencumbered by inflated ego. There is a place for an intelligent party offering sound policies far removed from the socialist economic claptrap that voters have had rammed down their throats for the last few decades.
Can ACT deliver a platform that treats voters as intelligent individuals who are well capable of running their affairs with minimal government intervention? I would like to think that our society still possesses the ability and commonsense to find this solution. Our future actually depends on it. Or one day we may find that we are incapable of paying the interest bill that our current politicians are racking up.
A country where the government deems things too big to fail is also a country that encourages poor choices and poorer management on an even larger scale. We will eventually pay for this foolishness one way or another.
2. Phil Goff has done a brilliant job in bringing Labour to its knees. Their true true colours have finally been revealed. Below is the final version of their logo for the election. To give Phil his credit it takes a very peculiar skill to make going downhill look like hard work.
Well Done Sir, Bloody Well Done
Read all of it.
The stand out line:
It's election year. Every politician who deserves it is getting a good kicking.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Sympathy or Perversity?
They've had one of their state MPs arrested for, among other things, possession of child pornography.
Interestingly, all names are suppressed under a state law enacted some thirty five years ago wherein all names of all characters in any 'sex' related offending are suppressed until either a guilty plea or verdict has been entered.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
If He Was White.........
I don't think so.
Can you imagine some gangling skinny big eared corn seed red headed hick lawyer from Idaho with a teleprompter under each arm getting the same adulation from the Antique Media as did this gangling skinny big eared black hack lawyer plucked from the back streets of Chicago?
I don't think so.
As each day goes by, more and more evidence of the vacuum which exists between his ears becomes available.
Today he gave the most extraordinarily ignorant answer to a TV reporter who asked him 'Mr President, why are you so unpopular in Texas?'
Obama looked like a possum in the headlights for a few seconds and then mumbled something like "Well, Texas has always been a Republican state, you know, for historical reasons."
Never mind that LBJ was a Texan Democrat and never mind that Texas was solidly Democrat during the Civil War and for long thereafter, in fact right through to 1972.
America needed a president and they voted for a symbol.
Unfortunately they got a cymbal. Shiny exterior, lots of noise, nothing inside, no substance.
The media had to manufacture George W Bush's gaffes. Today all they have to do is wait at the end of the presidential assembly line and pick them up off the floor. Ready made.
Labour BeLittled
All that is left is a 'gaggle' of amateurish incompetents, none of whom appears to have a clue about real politics. It is a strange mix of Monty Pythonesque Clouseau-like characters snooping around looking for dirt on John Key, dullard ex shop stewards, exuberantly useless fourth form pranksters and fully depreciated political matrons whose busts and bums have fallen along with their party's poll ratings.
In all this there are two sources of great sport:-
- What will their next dumbarse stupid trick be? God knows.
Laurel and Hardy look like scholarly sages compared with this lot.
So, what on earth will they do next? I'm at a loss to imagine anything that would top their recent performance. It's almost got to the stage that if one of their MPs was caught having his or her way with a Hansard steno behind the Speaker's chair, nobody would blink.
- What will the next batch of opinion polls do for what's left of Labour?
Of course it will not happen because there is no Head Master or Head Prefect anymore.
They are both in New York.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Nuff said
Adolf chips in with the comment of the decade from side show bob over at Kiwiblog.
It is the caption for Barnsley's wonderful picture.
- side show bob (3,105) Says:
April 20th, 2011 at 9:13 am
Taking a helicopter would have to be a bloody site easier than sitting on a broomstick.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Some observations from afar and not so afar. A political truism. When the Opposition starts framing the political debate then the Government is in deep stuk. So it is here with the Carbon Tax debate. The Opposition is making all the running and the Government is going south in the polls having just achieved their worst result in sixteen years. Gillard must be beside herself seeing a major Labour aligned Union threatening to pull the plug if just one Union job in the mining industry is lost ... and this from a Prime Minister who campaigned on the promise of 'No Carbon Tax by any Government that I lead'.
And to compound Gillard's problems Kevin Rudd has now opened up a 10% lead over her in the preferred PM stakes.
And I must say it brings joy to the heart to see the Greens, having nailed Gillard to the wall over the Carbon Tax, wrecked by dissension over the NSW Greens decision to support the Greens controlled Marikville City Council in its decision to institute a Council boycott of all Israeli goods as a show of solidarity for the Palestinian cause.
With the Federal Greens Leader Bob Brown labelling the decision as unwise it was fascinating to watch the NSW Greens Senator elect tie herself in knots attempting to argue the decision should not be seen as anti Israel but rather pro Palestine.
Local Government does not have a mandate to make foreign policy decisions. That is the preserve of central Government.
The fleeting news over here was the comment that if the Aust Labor Party had problems then that was nothing compared to the state of the Labour Party in NZ. The 30% lead by National over Labour comes at no surprise so I won't comment on that. But the results achieved by the minor parties do deserve comment.
ACT. I note with some satisfaction that their result, if repeated, and provided they win Epsom, will see them with a minimum of two seats post the election. That is good news. National needs responsible allies and ACT, less the Douglas faction, is just such a Party.
Winston First. Isn't it great that with the slump by Labour their voters have resisted the temptation to go with Winston. Goes to prove that some erstwhile Labour votes are exhibiting a modicum of sense. Psycho Milt will be disappointed.
The Maori Party. The Maori Party has problems. The Hone fuelled grievance and handout mode that exists in Maoridom may well see the Maori Party become bit players going forward and Labour come through the middle in the Maori seats. Sad because Labour has treated their members as pet poodles and voting fodder. Maori had their big chance under MMP and they may have blown it.
Two parties that won't be there post the election are United Future and the Progressives. Parliament will be the better for that. Wasted spaces.
The Greens ... nuff said
The Impossible Acheived
Incredibly, Mbama's juvenile answer to this disaster is to campaign for more borrowing, more spending and more taxing.
Isn't it amazing how this all sounds so familiar as tax and spend Goff heads for the political brick wall?
Adolf looks forward to November 2011 and November 2012 with eager anticipation.
If S & P drop the US back to AA+ or worse, then the GOP could put up any one of its half dozen dead dog's dongers and it would win.
Career guidance for soon to be ex-mp's.
I came across this job today and despite the lack of formal qualifications most of them are behaving like space cadets anyway.
Any thoughts on other potential roles for the soon be unemployed?
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Twenty Seven Percent
That's what he scored in School Certificate maths when he sat the exam in 1962. His father, an extremely good mathematician and ex RNZAF navigator, was less than impressed. Adolf dropped maths and went on to gain UE in a far more useless subject at which he excelled, French.
While working full time as a farm hand, Adolf enrolled in the Correspondence School class for School Cert maths. Exam time fell in the midst of hay making and there was no time for study during the month prior. So, a rush trip thirty miles into Rotorua, a three hour examination completed in 45 minutes and this time a 78% pass. (You see, at school I had missed one of the fundamnetals of algebra and just never caught up. But at my own speed, everything was fine)
Phil Goff won't get a second chance from Correspondence School.
Today his party recorded 27% in the TV3/Reid poll - or so reports David Farrar at Kiwiblog. TV3 do not yet have the poll and it's detail or commentary up on their website.
Yep, that's the one Helen Clark reckoned was always right. So much for all the smug ill informed talk from the professional commentariat about Labour and Goff escaping Darren Hughes' advances unscathed.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Lazarus walks - well, Lazarus or a zombie, it's hard to tell
NZ First leader Winston Peters held an audience of more than 300 of over-50s enthralled with jokes and passionate swipes at the Government as he hit the comeback trail in Horowhenua.
It seems there is an Opposition after all, it's just outside Parliament. Peters had this to say:
The Government's true colours were shown last week when Finance Minister Bill English boasted about the low wages in this country being an attraction for overseas investors, he said.
"The only people this Government looks after are those on the top of the pile – they are creaming it ... [while] taxpayer dollars get siphoned off in billions to save failing businesses.
"This Government gives huge tax cuts to the rich and increases taxes on food and the necessaries of life for families..."
That's a very accurate description of the govt - exactly the kind of thing the Opposition should be putting out there. Perhaps Goff could get around to something similar if his colleagues didn't kick off a voter-repelling media circus every time he gets up to speak. But they do, so expect NZ First to be back in Parliament this year.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Let Them Pay
They are all rich pricks by Cullens standards, so let them pay for the damn channel.
Hell, they've got Nat Radio, Concert Radio, The NZSO and now they want another TV channel funded by way of 'other people's money.'
And He Wonders Why?
I wrote to my current electorate MP setting out my concerns and, as is typical of the arrogance of the current government, I did not receive even the courtesy of a reply.
Maybe he did not deserve a reply.
A very astute electorate MP, methinks. Much more important business to deal with these days.
Loons From Labour
Mr English cited the 30% difference in wages as one of the incentives. In the eyes of the Loons from the Left this was tantamount to treason. I don't intend to to give these loons any more oxygen but perhaps they might learn a few facts of commercial life.
First, when Adolf's then employer set up a joint venture with a Victorian manufacturer in 1987 to open up a market in Australia, it very quickly became evident that it was more economic to manufacture in New Zealand and export to Australia than it was to manufacture in Melbourne. The reasons were exactly the same reasons as apply today and to which Mr English referred.
Lower wages in New Zealand and dramatically higher 'on costs' in Australia.
Nothing really has changed. Oh and by the way, care to remember which party was in power in NZ during the mid eighties?
Today, an Australian manufacturer paying $100.00 wages in Australia has on costs of +5% superannuation and 5% payroll tax, in addition to the ACC and Kiwisaver costs applying in NZ. With the exchange rate hovering around 75% it's not hard to see the attraction.
The real wage bill in Australia is actually $110.00 Aust currency.
He can employ the same labour in NZ for $100.00 NZ currency so his real cost is only A$75.00 and he has the big bonus of automatically gaining access to the Chinese market. (Rat Fucker Rudd never quite got around to organising a Chinese FTA. They don't like being called names by a smarmy sawn off lying little runt.)
But that's before we adjust the rate again by the 30% wage differential So in fact he pays only A$52.00 to buy the same quality labour which in Melbourne or Sydney would cost him $110.
The loons from Labour don't seem to really that these are new jobs for New Zealanders. The Australian employers can afford to pay a premium and select only the very best of the work force. That means some more of Mat McCarten's dead shit supporters might actually find themselves filling entry level jobs as they get kicked off the dole.
In plain English that even Labour's Loons might understand, it all means MORE JOBS and HIGHER WAGES
Thus it was with very great interest that Adolf noted this gem from today's Transtasman report.
You see, Aussie businessmen are ten times brighter than NZ Labour Party drones who only now are waking up to market reality and are desperate to paint something really good for NZ as really bad.
".......there is some evidence Aust companies are moving to take
advantage of the FTA by starting up subsidiaries in NZ to exploit the freer market access which Aust does not yet enjoy."
The latter should be taken out by the Navy and tossed overboard somewhere off East Cape, along with their idiot friends the Greens.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Labour's 'Truthers' - Updated
Give that man a DB. Give him a whole bloody carton of DB!
Damien O'Connor, that is. Well done.
His "self-serving unionists and a gaggle of gays" will be remembered for all time and ranks right up there on Adolf's list, along with John Tamihere's 'plotting scheming frontbums.'
Come to think of it, he does look a bit like Crocodile Dundee.
Meanwhile David Farrar has gone off in a huff.
Update: Adolf had a sneak preview of the confidential, closed doors, 'in committee' Labour caucus meeting. And here's Damien O'Connor's apology - word for word:-
Fuck youse all!
Would Jesus Make The Cut?
Suddenly there it was. Just the right headline for a grumpy older agribusiness exponent.
So I read on and on and on and sent off an application. Here it is.
Dear Sir/Madame/It
I reacted enthusiastically to the sight of your advertisement's headline on 'Seek.'
"Manager - Agribusiness Banking"
What an excellent headline.
However, as I read on and on and ooooooon I grew tired such was the length, eloquence and prescriptiveness of the job description. Hell, if you people were Presbyterians, Jesus Christ himself wouldn't have made the cut for an interview.
To assist you in future I have redrafted your advert, for which service on this occasion I will not require a fee.
"Manager - Agribusiness Banking"
A reputable banking institution requires an experienced rural account manager who can effectively and profitably bring to a close non performing delinquent farm loan files.
To apply, press button "A" and attach your CV.
There you are! It's easy if you just try.
Oh by the way. If you seriously want to interest me in a two year contract it might be an idea to give some indication of the remuneration attached to said contract.
Best wishes
Sunday, April 10, 2011
McCully, Call Canberra
At last the the Liberal Party in Australia has woken up.
Spokesman Julie Bishop has this to say.
and later
Ms Bishop says China is moving into areas where Australia and New Zealand are leaving gaps.
"We must focus on our region - and our region includes Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands - and I believe that we are losing influence there," she said.
"We have to think very hard as to whether that's in our national interests and the interests of our region."
Straight out of No Minister and Gotcha.
The Deputy Opposition Leader has also called for a new approach to Fiji.
She says while the Government should not condone the country's military regime, it was clear the current approach had failed.
"It's some years since we imposed sanctions and we have to ask - are they being counterproductive," she said.
"Are we actually achieving a return to democratic rule. I don't believe we are."
You'd think if three years ago, a couple of right wing bloggers could have seen this coming, somebody, anybody in the halls of Australasian foreign affairs might have had the brains to say something to their masters.
Apparently not.
Time to wake up, McCully.
Dredging Sludge
In a disgraceful hatchet job on the Guv.
Here's the headline
Governor-General's $3.5m bill prompts inquiry call
...but buried deep down in the text where few ever read we find
The total cost from the budget of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet shows the Governor-General and maintenance of Government Houses in Auckland and Wellington cost about $3.5 million.
So most of the cost is actually for R & M on, not one, but an unspecified number of gummint houses.
Are these idiots at the junk journo Herald really trying to suggest the Guv himself decides when to nail down a bit of loose roofing iron?
Shit oh dear, if you wrapped your fish and chips in this putrid paper you'd die of ptomaine poisoning.
Here's a beauty from Donald Trump.
I have great respect for Ms. Collins in that she has survived so long with so little talent.
Has anyone noticed the tide turning on the issue of Obama's citizenship?
Just like the tide finally turned on the fabricated nonsense which is 'global warming?'
I doubt he'll see the next election.
Oh, the humanity
While I was there I snapped a photo of the shoppers waiting to have decision-making regarding what they can do with their computing equipment taken out of their hands by Apple Inc:
Friday, April 8, 2011
Well Might They Keep Their Heads Down
The ratings agencies.
Hard on the heels of their failure to notice even the most egregious deficiencies in the management of the nation's finance companies, with glowing ratings published almost up to the day of receivership, we have the remarkable example of AMI.
This from the company website. Note well the date the rating was issued.
Insurance ratingsAMI Insurance Limited has an A.M. Best Company Inc. rating of A- (Excellent) effective 23 March, 2011.
For those who don't know, this rating of A- Excellent is the highest possible rating which can be given to a moderate sized company. So you can see, the good people from A.M.Best came in and did their due diligence, failed to notice the absence of adequate reinsurance, failed to notice the unhealthy concentration of risk and failed to notice the inadequacy of premium income. They just issued a 'top of the wozza' certification to a dog of a company and pocketed their fat fee. Of course the purpose of the rating is to convince an unknowing public that all is well.
Now fast forward to a company with which Adolf has considerable close experience.
Fidelity Life ------ A.M. Best rating A- Excellent
AMI is a fire and general company while Fidelity is a life and investment company. The difference between the two is chalk and cheese. Fidelity has a board of directors with both broad business and specialist life insurance experience. The company is replete with reinsurance cover on all risks and in my experience operates actuarially an extremely conservative strategy. (I'm sure they regularly 'war game' an unprecedented disaster where say 150,000 people, including all Fidelity's HO staff, are killed on one day in the Auckland CBD and Fidelity's own HQ is flattened. Who will keep the business running and where s all the money to come from?)
I'd say CEO Milton Jennings must be wondering where he can go to get a more reliable ratings agency. He might well ask the good people from A.M.Best why he should pay them good money for a junk rating certificate which tells his clients that Fidelity Life is no better managed than AMI.
Then there are some questions for the Insurance Council which, a couple of days ago, piously declared that AMI was operating within ALL the prudential limits set by the Council.
Well what a bloody waste of space is the Insurance Council.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
AMI Debacle
When the word came out last week of AMI's difficulties, my immediate thought was "Why should anyone be surprised?"
You see, AMI had a reputation for being one of the 'cheapest' house contents and car insurers in the market. Now one finds out how they managed that. They tried to cheat the system.
Essentially, they took on too much risk themselves by taking a minimal reinsurance position, using the reinsurance cost savings to subsidise lower premiums . Further, they made the cardinal error of 'being too big in one market' namely, Christchurch.
Their management ought to be shot.
They took a huge actuarial gamble and they lost the bet big time.
I believe the gummint has acted correctly in giving policy holders some limited reassurance vis a vis current claims but if the company is unable to recapitalise itself in the short to medium term, it should be allowed to fold and its book to be sold to a more prudent insurer. (It remains to be seen how long it take Labour's fiscal genius Cunliffe to shout from the rooftops that the gummint should have let the policy holders carry the can. Cunliffe has demonstrated he knows nothing about buying and selling finance companies and as far as I'm aware, he knows less about insurance.)
I sincerely hope the directors have issued an instruction that for the time being, no new policies will be sold. There seems to be no public comment on this.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Redbaiter and the infamous Cdr Laub will need to find another target for their vitriol.
In the meantime can I thank the many of you who have responded reminding me that New Zealand consists, in the main, of decent and balanced people and that Redbaiter and Laub represent the idiot fringe.
I commend to you all the documentary 'Victor 3 - Baptism by Fire'. It screens on MTV at 8.30 pm on ANZAC Day. I am too involved in the production to give a truly dispassionate view of its worth. The Director describes it as 'compulsive and compelling viewing. Look and see. Young New Zealanders at their very best.
I Thought It Might Have Taken A Bit Longer
Just two weeks to the day and the game appears to be on.
The Maori Party will review the non-aggression pact it made with its former member and Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira, after continued criticism by him of the party.
Party president Pem Bird said the party had received complaints by some members claiming Mr Harawira had broken the agreement, which states: "It is agreed that we will focus on the issues rather than the personalities, and will not speak disparagingly of each other."
Yesterday on National Radio Mr Harawira said that one of the frequent criticisms he hears about Maori Party MPs is that their constituents"never see their MPs any more".
Harawira, his ratbag hapu and followers are a disgraceful blot on Maoridom and the New Zealand political landscape and the sooner they are despatched to the swamps of Awanui where they belong, the better.
The search will be on for a top quality candidate. I'd be looking for capable people with names like Cherrington, Henare, Pomare, Whiu or Davis. Non starters would include names like Mutu, Harawira, Piripi and Peters.
Adolf is a little out of touch with who's who in Northland these days but people need to remember the electorate takes in a great swathe of metropolitan Auckland as well as the nether regions of the north.
Anybody got any suggestions?
Interesting times.
Monday, April 4, 2011
No! It Can't Be True
Yes it can.
Have a look at the names of the authors for this piece.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The Veteran and Mrs Veteran are off to Perth shortly he has have been invited to lay a wreath on behalf of the substantial Perth resident Kiwi veteran community who parade as a national contingent in the Perth ANZAC Day march.
I was gobsmacked to learn that the West Australian RSL President, one Bill Gaynor (who apparently is not a 'returned' serviceman) has, for years, refused to accord the NZ Contingent the status it deserves.
This year they are 131st out of 156 in the ANZAC Day order of march, just behind the Boy Scouts or suchlike.
It is a studied insult to New Zealand by an 'Australian' who does not understand the meaning of ANZAC. In other States and in New Zealand we always take pains to honour our OZ colleagues on this day of shared heritage.
But as I said, they're a weird mob. Perhaps it's something to do with the water in WA. I'll stick to beer.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Barack Hussein Bush
For the life of me I haven't the faintest clue why:-
- Obama decided to go for Libya, when more people are being slaughtered in Syria by Assad.
- Obama failed to consult his Congress and gain approval for what essentially is an invasion of a sovereign foreign state.
- He is crowing about an 'international effort' when only fourteen nations are involved - compared with forty or so in 2003 - an effort derided by him at the time.
- Before the game in Libya has even reached half time, he's pulled the US strike aircraft out.
- There appear to be no clear objectives apart from ensuring Gaddafi remains in power.
Has there ever been a worse dumbarse POTUS?
Friday, April 1, 2011
He (they) is risen.
Paul Henry and Phil Rudd all in the same day. It is a sign I tell ya.
Rudd is allowed to continue his career and the kiwi broadcasting equivalent of Chuck Norris is back on the air in July replacing the ginga plant whisperer with a hint of TV work as well. The only thing that could make this more awesome is if Henry replaces Campbell and has AC/DC playing on his first night on TV3 at 7 pm.
All is good tonight.
Cupid stunt needs a thesaurus
Firstly, let me say that while the ipad2 is the single most awesome bit of kit EVER.. It is not blogger friendly.(hence the clunky links) Going to have to go back to a laptop as the urge to be a hater increases as the election gets closer.
Anyway. The asshat that wrote the story needs to understand what a victim is. Clearly people squashed in earthquakes qualify but gang affiliated crim scum Maori fuck wits.... Not so much.
You be the judge. Click through and marvel at the 12 year old anonymous stuff writers efforts.
Note to Steve Jobs;
Hey mate, I know you are barely hanging on but can we please have a USB port and mouse option for ipad3?
Thanks buddy.


text:
SKF AMPEP self-lubricating spherical plain bearings
AMPEP self-lubricating spherical plain bearings are excellent solutions when bearing pressures are high, movement slow and maintenance is difficult or even impossible. They provide a low coefficient of friction combined with low wear rates, achieved with the use of woven polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and glass liners.
Benefits include:
- Low friction and wear, minimal stick slip
- Low life cycle cost
- Excellent for oscillatory applications
- Virtually maintenance-free, self lubricating
- Wide operating temperature range, from –50 up to +200 °C


text:
BENEFITING: God's Love We Deliver
ORGANIZER: Jase
EVENT: Big Love Weekend 2015
Jason Patrick wrote -
BIG LOVE WEEKEND begins with a Wellness Day on Saturday, February 28, 2015. The Wellness Day is a mini-festival held at The Waterfront. It will feature an inspirational talk by Gabby Bernstein; yoga with Elena Brower and Guillaume Brun; an Inten-sati class with Patricia Moreno; a #DOGPOUND workout with Kirk Myers Fitness; an exquisite puja ceremony; and two Wellness Panels with leaders and experts in the fields of Health and Wellness.
On Sunday, March 1, 2015, we celebrate our fundraising efforts and personal transformation at the wellness day with an epic party. The event will be a lavish display of appreciation for gifting us with your presence and selfless service fundraising. There will be gourmet food, artisanal cocktails, live performances, dancing and celebrity appearances.
All proceeds (including registration fees) go directly to God's Love We Deliver. God's Love We Deliver is the New York metropolitan area's leading provider of life-sustaining meals and nutritional counseling for people living with over 200 diagnosed severe illnesses. Meals are tailored for individual clients, cooked, and delivered to them, their families, and caregivers free of charge for over 29 years, without ever having a waiting list.


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Is there a poset P with a unique least element, such that every element is covered by finitely many other elements of P (and P is locally finite -- actually, per David Speyer's example, let's say that it satisfies the descending chain condition), and P has countably infinite automorphism group?
The question is motivated by extensions of Sperner's theorem and the LYM inequality to infinite posets. In particular I'm interested in whether you can extend Bollobas' (I believe) probabilistic proof of LYM to the infinite setting in general -- you can for some specific posets. But a prerequisite for a direct extension is for the automorphism group of the poset to be compact, and at the very least we want it to have some nice topological properties. So a poset with countably infinite automorphism group would be a very interesting case.


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The dramatic surge in U.S. shale oil production could more than triple the current American output of shale oil to five million barrels a day by 2017, which would likely make the United States the No. 1 oil producer in the world, according to a new study by a researcher at Harvard Kennedy School.
Leonardo Maugeri, a former oil industry executive from Italy who is a fellow at the Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, studied the performance of 4,000 American shale oil wells and the work of about 100 companies involved in shale oil production.
In a paper titled "The Shale Oil Boom: A U.S. Phenomenon," Maugeri wrote that the unique characteristics of shale oil production are ideal for the United States — and unlikely to be mirrored elsewhere in the world. These factors include the availability of drilling rigs, and the entrepreneurial nature of the American exploration and production industry, both critical for the thousands of wells required for shale oil exploitation.
Maugeri said the number of American shale oil wells in North Dakota and Texas could soar from the current 10,000 to more than 100,000 working wells by 2030. He said steady improvements in technology and cost would continue to drive industry growth in the shale oil fields in the Dakotas and Texas.
Maugeri, author of a 2012 report forecasting rapid growth of global oil production and belying the notion that oil output has "peaked," argues in his new paper that the boom in U.S. shale oil production is central to the overall U.S. oil surge. If oil prices remain close to today's levels, total U.S. production of all forms of oil could grow from 11.3 million barrels per day to 16 million by 2017.
A key distinction between shale oil production and conventional oil wells is the intensity of drilling required to extract shale oil. Maugeri said this drilling intensity required for shale oil will limit production in densely populated areas, especially in Europe. He noted that the Bakken-Three Forks region in North Dakota required 90 new wells per month to maintain production of 770,000 barrels per day. Shale oil wells reach peak output almost immediately but quickly decline, so new wells are constantly needed.
Only the U.S. oil industry is capable of such drilling intensity, he wrote. In 2012, the U.S. completed 45,468 oil and gas wells and brought online 28,354 of them, compared with 3,921 wells completed in the rest of the world. The United States holds more than 60 percent of global drilling rigs, and 95 percent of American rigs can perform horizontal drilling, which along with hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"), is necessary to exploit shale oil.
Maugeri also emphasized the contrast between financing shale oil wells vs. wells for conventional oil. Shale oil wells cost far less to drill and bring online, which makes it easier to increase drilling when oil prices are high, but also easier to rapidly scale back production when prices drop.
Maugeri is a Roy Family Fellow in the Belfer Center's Environment and Natural Resources Program, and works with the Geopolitics of Energy Project. Support from the Roy Family Fellowship made the study possible. Previously Maugeri was a senior executive with Eni, the Italian oil conglomerate. He left Eni in 2011. He is the author of four books on energy and oil.


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Attila falls easily into that ever special catagory of film that you Never Forget.
I had heard talk of no.2 and the film leads us to become assured that no.2 will not be
far off.
Does anyone know something about the No.2 Attila film? For all I know its already here and I just missed it!
I never got to see Attila on tv so I bought it. It is absolutely one of my favorite movies the whole cast is great. It is one movie you can watch over and over because you see some you may have missed just like Gamer is one with such fast action.
I look forward to the release of Robert Burns Gerry is perfectfor the part.
WOW……..can't believe I missed this one on T.V.!! I'll be looking for this one to buy on DVD very soon! Once again, Gerard Butler never ceases to entertain us with his broad spectrum of talent!!!
Hello from Bulgaria. I am definitely going to see this movie when I go back to London next month. My personal reasons to be so interested in this TV production from the moment I saw the title, include not only the fact that GB is one of my favorite actors, but also the actual Attila the Hun origins, which are considered by some researchers to be Bulgarian.
This is one of my Gerry favs.!!! Yvonne nailed it in her comments!!!! This is an epic where you can really get a feeling for the actors. The cast is well fantastic! My entire family has watched this one over and over again! This is how I got my mother and sister-in-law hooked on Gerry! But, the movie itself was very powerful in that they didn't just show Attila as we all think of him…a blood thirsty hun, hungry for power etc… You actually got to understand the man that was Attila! I don't think anyone else could have done a better job!!! Gerard Butler has the absolute depth of character to pull off a movie like this!! And if you own it, the behind the scenes stuff is amazing. I always wonder after watching a movie what it was like to make? It's so nice to see that they took the time and effort to get it right. Plus it's got alot of cute footage of Gerry just being Gerry!!! Which we all love!
This is my first Favorite Action/Historical movie that Gerard has made. It was also the first movie I saw with Gerard in it. Technically it is the second because I saw Mrs Brown before I saw Attila but I watched Mrs. Brown because of Judi Dench and Billy Conolly, but I had forgotten Gerard was in it. That is until I saw Attila, I knew I had seen him before but I couldn't remember where until I re-watched Mrs. Brown. I initially watched Attila because I wanted to see a movie about Attila the Hun and the movie had two of my favorite actors, Powers Booth and Tim Curry, in it. I saw Powers Booth in a movie about Jim Jones and have been a fan ever since and Tim Curry I saw in The Shadow and in Legend. I became a fan of Gerard from watching this movie. When I looked this film up on the internet I was surprised to learn this was only his second film. I thought his performance was very good and given the fact that this was only the beginning of his professional acting career makes his performance even more remarkable. It was in this movie that I first saw his profound potential and thought that this is what his friend Stephen Berkhoff saw in the energetic and enthusiastic young man who hit him up for an audition. I really like this movie even though it is a made for TV production and it plays a little fast and loose with historical fact, it is quite good and very watchable. I enjoyed it immensely.
This is what true epic movies are made of – filled with history, action, drama, intrigue, treachery, deception and love. Gerard excelled himself here as the powerful, enigmatic, fearless warrior and King Attila, who also showed compassion, love and respect to his closest friends and his one and only love N'Kara. Gerard is larger than life in this movie and he is Attila! Did we expect anything else from this amazing actor.
Mrs G.xx
Whither Gerry is the Phantom, Attila, or a Professor of Science ("Nim's Island"), you are apart of his world on the screen. His boyish charm, wit, humor, fine eyes, manly features, and intelligence keep you mesmerized. You feel what he feels, and that is powerful. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Gerry puts just enough of himself into a character so that we see them as human, not just power hungry and untouchable.
Honestly, could Butler be any friggin HOTTER????? Good God!
"Attila" I have looked more recently.The good film and fine game of actors! Well and Gerry!!! "Gerry, bravo!!!!
Attila is actually the very first movie that I saw with Gerry and I remember thinking how gorgeous he was and I wanted to see more of his movies. I've followed his career ever since. He is without a doubt a brilliant actor and very very mesmerizing. I can't get enough of Gerry!!!!
I couldn't get over his portrayal of Attila. Powers Boothe has always had a commanding screen presence and I think anyone but Gerard Butler would have been diminished by it. Admitedly I did see Attila after Phantom.
I was floored when I saw Phantom of the Opera the first time. I will be a fan for a long time.
i suppose this was gerrys first big film and it shown us of things to come in his acting ability. when i first watched it i must admit when i saw him in that nappy concoction when he went into the bath i was in hysterics, but i suppose it was true to the times. i liked the clothes he wore, except for the dress in rome, and thought he looked very sexy, especially back in his tribe when his shirt was opened down to his waist. i thought he played attila brilliantly and it showed us that playing an epic character like this was to show us him at his best, because then later on came beowulf, leonides, phantom. of whom he played them brilliantly also. its a long 3 hour epic but very enjoyable and thoroughly recommended.
i thoug it was one the best epic series i have seen in a long time;and that gerard butler is my#1 actor of all times ,he is so intense on screen and very sexy and handsome i just love his accent,keep up the great work gerard.
Though a little bit too gore for my tastes, I did enjoy the history lesson brush up, And The Kiss between Atilla and the princess was a rewind and repeat event….
The first time I watched this movie I was floored by the performance of Gerard Butler he is quite Mesmerizing on screen, the camera loves him and he has held my attention ever since, I Love This Movie, have it on dvd and I swear I have it memorized. After I watched this movie i knew I would be following his career for a long time.


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On 27 May 2008 a number of Kingston citizens concerned about the deterioration of the Lower Burial Ground of St. Paul's Churchyard in the heart of the city gathered and decided to establish a non-profit corporation to be known as The Lower Burial Ground Restoration Society.
Since then, they have repaired the burial ground, and was able to repair the wall which surrounds it.
You can view the work that has been done by going to http://www.uelac.org/Kingston/lower.html


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My favour that has become a nightmare! Customers daughter has (had) an X61 about 6 months old. She managed to stand on the laptop (something on the top shelf I suppose). Anyway it was immediately evident that the LCD panel was broken and I offered to replace it for her (after my recommendation to replace rather than repair was declined) along with a warning that there may be more items than just the LCD that end up needing to be replaced, and would probably anul the warranty.
1. LCD panel was purchased and installed and working fine, unfortunately a few of the indicator lights on the inverter were not.
2. I ordered a new LCD cable and inverter to be sure that the second procedure would cure the lights and any other issues. At this point the backlight suddenly stopped working. I guessed that this was probably the inverter since I already had issues with some indicator lights.
3.The new parts arrive and are installed, indicator lights are now all OK but the backlight is still dead.
- No power coming from the inverter so unlikely that there is a problem with the (new) LCD panel
- Reset BIOS incase it had become confused during the surgery
- Lid close switch is working correctly
- plugs/connections all checked
- tested to make sure that was not set to external monitor (Fn F7)
4. Logic leads me to painfully conclude that the problem must lie on the mainboard. (Computer repair rule 1 - the most likely problem will always be the worst possible). The cost of a mainboard is going to push the parts cost to more than the cost of a new laptop so I am really, really hoping that some most kind benevolent person can prove me wrong. I am still at a loss as to why the backlight stopped working. I subsequently tried reinstalling the original inverter and all indicator lights are OK which says to me that the LCD cable was actually the culprit. Could the original inverter have developed a fault that buckled the motherboard?
Any light (pun not intentional) on the subject would be most welcome. Despite my recommendations and warnings I will still look a right idiot and could potentially loose my best customer through this. Any recomendations on swift and painless suicide may also be welcome!
Perhaps the question is whether anyone has had board level experience with the backlight circuitry on the mainboard?
Welcome to the forum!
I'm going to say that you have an excellent train of thoughts, although I doubt that this statement is helping you a lot right now.
Here's the thing: yes, the original inverter could've damaged the planar. Now, what happens if you connect the machine to an external LCD? If it doesn't display, case closed, you have a motherboard problem. If it does...you have a 50% chance that the new inverter is defective.
I'm pretty interested in your findings for my own selfish reasons...if it turns out to be the planar, I'd be looking for a blown fuse first.
The best of luck and keep us posted.
Hi George. Hearty thanks for the interest. The display side of the laptop is working as expected. External monitor works and it is also evident under appropriate light that the laptop display is working - its just the backlight that is faulty. (big word that "just").
I have confirmed that I am not getting any power from the output of the inverter (at the output plug). I have also just had a quick look at the original inverter and noted that a resistance measurement accross the pins of the transformer yields values ranging from very high to nothing at all. Also, there is a three leg SMD device that looks like it may be performing the switching for the primary that I would love to test. I need to see if I can lift a code and identify the rascal. I think I may well haul out the oscilloscope and do a bit more work on the inverter. I guess the hypothesis is that the original inverter was faulty and either it has damaged something further back; or the new inverter is also defective (which seems a bit of a long shot). I wonder what sort of signals emanate from the motherboard? Possibly various frequencies that fire the previously mentioned device depending on the required voltage? Thinking aloud here, but maybe I should be looking for waveforms around the primary circuitry.
I will let you know how I get on. The fuse that you mention sounds like it may well be my final destination. I hope you dont mind if I pick your brains as to the location of the device. I am a reasonable dabler at board level repairs but I imagine it will take some time and a bit of thrashing about to locate. Forums are wonderful; how did we manage without them?
Many thanks again for the advice.
I've never seen a X61T open for surgery, so I really can't help you there, but...
You may want to take a couple of pictures once you open it up, and post the links both here and on http://forum.thinkpads.com
I've given up on repairs of this nature years ago due to health reasons, but can still think in a straight line...or at least believe so...:smileywink:
Anyway, if I were to play with that ThinkPad, I'd compare resistances and such between the old inverter and the new one...just in case. I'd also try to find out more-if at all possible-about the initial "stepping on" accident.
That's about all I have for now, except for keeping my fingers crossed, please keep us posted.
An update. Finally managed to get around to chasing up on a potential fuse problem. Opened the beast up and located a bad tooth within a few minutes. The track from the fuse leads to the LCD cable connector so I am mildly confident that the problem may be solved.
Next challenge is to identify the suspect. In scratching around it seems as though Little Fuse (brand) are used on the Lenovo boards. Their website though has a myriad of fuses and it is going to take me some time to identify it using their website. It is labelled P if that rings bells with anybody. I have images that I will post if I can find a resident url for them somewhere.
I am not too concerned with identification as I intend outsourcing the replacement job to one of the many electronics manafacturers around here. I have neither the tools nor facilities (certainly also a bit thin on the faculties) to go down to this size job. They will no doubt be well equiped to ID the fuse quite easily.
I think I managd to identify the fuse. Looks like it is going to be a 3amp from this series of fuses.
Now to find someone who stocks these or an equivalent somewhere nearby.
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Can you provide me the details on how to diagnose this issue?
I recently just bought a new LCD for my laptop (X61S w/ ultralight). last time I checked the broken LCD light up (but was messed up). This was months ago and the laptop has mostly just been sitting ever since, I did use it once or twice once I had removed the old screen.
I went to put the new screen in and it seems to turn on but does not light up, neither does the old screen so it is unlikely it is a bad CCFL. I want to determin if the inverter is bad, or if the problem exists before the inverter. (no power at the plug where the screen plugs into the inverter, but the inverters LED's DO light up).
I located F2 but could not detect any current flowing across it.
Not sure where to go from here so any help is appreciated. I have turned on email notifications.
Hi Justin,
It was a while back, but will try and get the old head into memory recall mode. There are a bunch of things that can go wrong. Probably not the inverter - the lights that you see have nothing to do with the inverter circuitry - they relate status of hard drives, power etc, and are fed by different circuitry. It is far more likely that the inverter is not being supplied with power from the main unit. Be careful checking the output of the inverter - it is probably around 600V when healthy - and also very vulnerable. If you must check the inverter, rather tackle the supply side (heavier circuitry to the left)
Some basics (forgive me if this sounds really obvious). Make sure that your graphics are being directed to the LCD screen and not the external connector (changed with the Fn button and key(s) along the top of the keyboard if I remember correctly). Do you get graphics if you connect an external monitor? If you do not have an external monitor available, you should be able to make out that there is some output to the LCD panel if you look carefully in the right light. If you are not getting any graphics output, than your problem may have nothing to do with the LCD panel at all. If this is the case I would probably start by taking to the board (switched off) with a multimemter and testing continuity of the fuses in that part of the board (there are quite a few if you look carefully).
If you are not getting any voltage on either leg of the fuse, and the above is not true, then the problem must lie further back in the circuitry - and "rest of the fuses check" applies. When you say you are trying to measure voltage on the fuse...check that you are using a valid reference for the negative (assuming that the voltage on the fuse is +ve). The backlight may have its own independant power supply. Best way to check the fuse is a continuity test (Ohms - should be zero or very close to it) accross the fuse with power switched off.
If we assume that the fuse and graphics engine is OK and there is in fact not a problem with the main board; the other strong possibility is that the connector cable between the unit and the panel is faulty (the plastic strip thingy with tracks). I have cured problems twice in the past by replacing these and in neither case was it at all obvious that the connector was a goner. Gut feel is that this is the most likely reason given that you said it was working. They do not seem to take kindly to being worked on.
Good luck and let us know how you get on. I am in New Zealand by the way, so replies may not be immediate!
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Kevin, thanks for the reply. There is indeed a signal going to the screen as I can see the windows and bios screens, but they are not illuminated by the backlight, so they are pretty unusable.
I'm not sure what the fuses look like, I didn't see anything that looks like a typical fuse. Are these fuses soldered to the mainboard? I did identify something that said F2 next to the ribon cable but it looked more like an SMT capacitor. I'm Not an electrical engineer, I know only some of the basics. Also if there is no voltage coming out of the inverter where exactly should I try to get a reading from next? is there a place I can test without taking apart the base of the laptop? The inverter is pretty sealed up in some kinda plastic thing so I don't think I can easily get to components on it.
I'm not sure how to unplug the ribon cable from the mainboard or from the power inverter. It was easy to unplug the LCD but I was afraid to mess with the rest of it. I'm thinking to buy a new ribbon and power inverter, since if neither of these fix the problem it would not be worth replacing both the main board $320, and LCD $215 since I can just get a new laptop for that much.
The one LCD is indeed bad, but it used to at least light up, the other LCD is brand new (Finally found an ultralight panel for $215 instead of $430) Lenovo charges way to much for a 12.1" LCD....
I put it all back together last night so as to avoid losing parts. Spent hours working on this, and now a couple hundred dollars as well. It sounds like my best bet would be to find out if the ribbon cable is bad or the inverter. I need to get on the ball though because I only have a few days where I can still return the new LCD (it's worthless to me if the Mainboard is bad).
The old LCD is bad because I spilled a drink on it, it still worked but looked terrible on the portion that got liquid in it.
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Squash, chicken & couscous one-pot
Nutrition and extra info
- Freezable
- Healthy
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal283
- fat3g
- saturates1g
- carbs42g
- sugars16g
- fibre6g
- protein25g
- salt0.53g
- 2 tbsp harissa paste
- 1 tsp each ground cumin and ground coriander
An aromatic spice native to eastern Mediteranean countries and Upper Egypt. This warm,…
- 2 red onions, halved and cut into thin wedges
- 2 skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks
- 1 small butternut squash, cut into 1cm chunks (no need to peel)
- 2 x 400g cans tomatoes
A member of the nightshade family (along with aubergines, peppers and chillies), tomatoes are in…
- zest and juice 2 lemons
Oval in shape with a pronouced bulge on one end, lemons are one of the most versatile…
- 200g cherry tomato, halved
- 140g couscous
Consisting of many tiny granules made from steamed and dried durum wheat, couscous has become a…
- small bunch coriander, roughly chopped
Heat a large non-stick casserole dish or pan on the hob. Add the harissa, spices and onions, stir and cook gently for 10 mins until soft. Add chicken and brown for 5-10 mins. Add squash, stirring to combine, and a splash of water if it starts to stick. Cook for 5 mins more.
Tip canned tomatoes into the pan with ½ can of water, cover and simmer for 20-30 mins. Add the lemon zest and juice, cherry tomatoes, couscous and seasoning. Cover and turn off the heat. Leave on the hob for 10 mins, then stir through the coriander and serve.


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Zakir Hussain celebrates daughter's wedding at Indigo and Tote, Mumbai
Celebrity News - Jan 4, 2011
Zakir Hussain's daughter Anisa Qureshi's got married to Taylor Phillips and the entire music industry turned up to bless the couple. The functions included a pre-wedding party at Indigo, Colaba where they hosted a beautiful quawali evening. This was followed by a wedding reception at Tote, Mahalakshmi on 30th December.
Anisha, a UCLA graduate who is into film-making wore a gorgeous Anamika Khanna lehenga for the wedding reception. The guests included Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Sivamani, Rahul Bose, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Pankaj Udhas, Jagjit Singh, Shankar Mahadevan, Roop Kumar Rathod, Sonali Rathod, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant.
Zakir Hussain is married to Antonia Minnecola, a Kathak dancer and teacher, who is also his manager. Anisa Qureshi is their elder daughter, their younger daughter Isabella is studying dance in Manhattan.
Zakir Hussain and Antonia Minnecola with their daughter and son-in-law


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Static Dots Minky Light Flow Day Pads Set of 2
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For every pad sold Tree Hugger Cloth Pads® will plant one tree on your behalf.


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We provide the latest in proven therapeutic methods for increased levels of happiness and engagement for all members.
Programs such as Laughter Yoga, Tai-chi, Creative Aging, and Purposeful Exercise are just a few of the ways we seek to bring enjoyable and meaningful activities to our programs.
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The midrange LSZ Cruise pontoon boat offers the luxurious design and rigid structure you expect from an Avalon. There are three layouts to choose from: Cruise, Cruise II, and Cruise Rear Bench. All interiors include a spacious sundeck and retro style for a fun driving experience. Passengers aboard the LSZ will enjoy comfortable lounge arms with flip up storage compartments.


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View this 2011 Toyota 4Runner SUV Limited for sale at Cavender Toyota in San Antonio
*Picture may not represent actual vehicle. Price varies based on Trim Levels and Options.�Physically verify Trim Level and equipment before making purchase decision.�See Dealer for in-stock inventory & actual selling price. Dealer added options extra. All prices plus tax, title & license. Special finance�with approved credit. MSRP includes delivery, processing, and handling fees. Dealer doc fee $150.00 not included in price. Prices may be different outside of each advertised period and do not necessarily reflect cash price at any other time.