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1. Plead my cause, O Jehovah! As the enemies of David not only avowedly sought to take away his life, but also troubled him by calumny and misrepresentation, he pleads for the redress of both these grievances. In the first place, by appealing to God for his aid in defense of his cause, he intimates, that he has to do with wicked and maligning men. In the second place, by urging him to take up arms, he shows that he was grievously oppressed. It was a very dishonorable thing, that this holy man, alike eminent for his beneficence and inoffensiveness towards all men, and who by his courtesy and meekness had merited, both in public and private, the esteem and favor of all, was not permitted to escape the reproach and calumny of wicked men; but it is important for us to know this, and it sets before us a very profitable example. If even David did not escape the malice of wicked men, it ought not to seem wonderful or strange to us, if they blame and bite at us. The injuries they inflict upon us may be grievous and painful, but there is incomparable consolation presented to us in this consideration, that God himself interposes for our protection and defense against false accusations. Though calumniators, then, should arise, and tear us, as it were, to pieces, by falsely charging us with crimes, we need not be disturbed, so long as God undertakes to plead our cause against them. There can be no doubt, that in the second clause of the verse David implores God to resist the armed violence of his enemies. The amount of the whole is, that being falsely accused and cruelly persecuted, and finding no help at the hands of men, the Prophet commits the preservation of his life and his reputation to God.
2. Take the shield. These words certainly cannot be applied, in the strict and proper sense, to God, who has no need of the spear or buckler: for by the breath of his mouth alone, or merely with his nod, he is able to overthrow all his enemies. But although such figures at first sight appear rude, yet the Holy Ghost employs them in accommodation to the weakness of our understanding, for the purpose of impressing more effectually upon our minds the conviction that God is present to aid us. When troubles and dangers arise, when terrors assail us on every side, when even death presents itself to our view, it is difficult to realize the secret and invisible power of God, which is able to deliver us from all anxiety and fear; for our understandings, which are gross and earthly, tend downward to the earth. That our faith, therefore, may ascend by degrees to the heavenly power of God, he is here introduced armed, after the manner of men, with sword and shield. In the same way, also, when he is in another place termed |a man of war,| it is doubtless in adaptation to the imperfection of our present state, because our minds, from their limited capacity, could in no other way comprehend the extent of that infinite power, which contains in itself every form of help, and has no need of aid from any other quarter. This, therefore, is a prayer that God, by the exercise of his secret and intrinsic power, would show that he alone is able to encounter the whole strength and forces of the ungodly. Some suppose that the Hebrew word tsnh, tsinnah, here used, means a dart, or some other kind of weapon; but as we have already seen, in the fifth psalm, that it properly signifies a buckler, I see no reason why it should be differently interpreted in this place. Nor is there any thing at all inconsistent in connecting here, as is often done in other places, the buckler and the shield. If the expression here employed had been designed to signify a dart, or a similar weapon, it would have been more natural to connect it with the spear, of which mention is made in the following verse. David, then, first makes mention of defensive armor, praying that God would sustain and repel the assaults of the enemy. The Hebrew word ryq, rik, which signifies to unsheath, or make bare, I take simply to mean, to draw out, or bring forth. The Hebrew word sgvr, segor, which I have translated to oppose, literally signifies to shut or to close. But as David's meaning is, that God, by setting himself as a wall or rampart, would prevent his enemies from approaching him, it appears to me that I have faithfully translated it. At the same time, if any should prefer the translation to shut, or close the way, or to impede it by some obstacle, the meaning; is substantially the same. The opinion of those who contend that it is a noun, is not at all probable.
3. Say to my soul. Some expound these words thus: Declare to me by secret inspiration; and others, Make me to feel indeed that my salvation is in thy hand. In my opinion, David desires to have it thoroughly fixed in his mind, and to be fully persuaded that God is the author of his salvation. This he was unable, from the present aspect of things, to ascertain and determine; for such is the insensibility and dulness of our natures, that God often delivers us whilst we sleep and are ignorant of it. Accordingly, he makes use of a very forcible manner of expression, in praying that God would grant him a lively sense of his favor, so that being armed with this buckler, he might sustain every conflict, and surmount every opposing obstacle; as if he had said, Lord, whatever may arise to discourage me, confirm me in this persuasion, that my salvation is assuredly in thee; and although temptations drive me hither and thither, recall my thoughts to thee in such a manner, as that my hope of salvation may rise superior to all the dangers to which I shall be exposed; nay, more, that I may become as infallibly certain as if thou hadst said it, that through thy favor I shall be saved.


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News in Brief
Alabama Board Overhauls Tests for High School Graduation
The Alabama board of education has approved an overhaul of the state's testing plan that will replace the high school graduation exam with end-of-course tests. All high school juniors will be required to take the ACT college-entrance test, with the state picking up the cost.
State Superintendent of Education Joe Morton said the changes will provide a better assessment of students' progress, and will increase instruction time by reducing the number of days that students spend taking tests.
The school board approved the changes unanimously last week. They will be phased in over several years. The high school graduation exam will be eliminated for students entering the 9th grade in the 2011-12 school year.
Vol. 29, Issue 03, Page 4Published in Print: September 16, 2009, as Alabama Board Overhauls Tests for High School Graduation
We encourage lively debate, but please be respectful of others. Profanity and personal attacks are prohibited. By commenting, you are agreeing to abide by our user agreement.
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subset: commoncrawl


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A volvulus is a twist of the intestine around the axis of its blood supply. In the case of a sigmoid volvulus, the twist occurs in the sigmoid mesentery at its base. Sigmoid volvulus is the most common type of volvulus of the colon. Less common are caecal volvulus and volvulus of the transverse colon. It presents most commonly in patients who are less mobile, bed bound and institutionalized, usually with a background of chronic constipation.[1][2][3][4][5]
In order for a volvulus to occur, the bowel needs to be able to twist around a narrow-based mesentery. This occurs mostly in less mobile patients with a history of chronic constipation, where the sigmoid colon becomes chronically distended and redundant.
Sigmoid volvulus is more common in Africa, as the food intake is of high fiber and the base of the sigmoid mesentery in the African population is narrow compared with other ethnic groups, leading to an anatomical situation that makes the population more susceptible to developing a sigmoid volvulus.
Volvulus is a classical example of a large bowel closed loop obstruction. If inflow and outflow of the colon are both obstructed, the obstructed bowel will continue to distend, due to a large amount of gas forming bacteria trapped inside. This will eventually lead to a perforation of the obstructed segment.
While the colon is obstructed and distending, there is impaired blood supply, leading to ischemia, as well as bacterial translocation of the gut flora. Usually, the venous outflow is compromised first, increasing congestion even further, until arterial supply stops. The colonic mucosa is most susceptible to ischaemic insult, leading to an impaired barrier and translocation of bacteria, until the ischemia affects muscular and serosa, leading to necrosis and perforation.
Sigmoid volvulus can become a recurrent situation, and in those patients treated conservatively, the base of mesentery will eventually become fibrotic and the bowel chronically distended.
Patients presenting with volvulus are usually of an older age group with potential other comorbidities, often have reduced mobility or are bed bound and commonly get referred from residential and nursing homes. A history of chronic constipation is common. The symptoms usually leading to acute hospital admission are a loss of appetite and reduced oral intake, increasing abdominal distension, and cessation of bowel output. Patients complain of discomfort due to the significant distension, but are rarely in pain, unless ischemia and/or a perforation have occurred. They can, however, have respiratory compromise due to the splinting of the diaphragm that is a result of the colonic distension.
Patients may present with sigmoid volvulus as a recurrent problem if they have been treated with conservative measures in the past. A recurrent episode of volvulus needs to be taken a seriously as a first presentation and requires the same attention to history and physical examination as a patient presenting with volvulus for the first time.
Examination of the abdomen reveals significant distension, a generalized tympanitic percussion note and potentially guarding and rebound over areas of ischemia or impending perforation. If a perforation has already occurred, the patient will be grossly peritonitic. Digital rectal examination reveals an empty and often capacious rectum.
The patient should have the standard blood work (full blood count and renal function tests), to aid in resuscitation and assess the kidney function for a potential CT scan with contrast. Plain abdominal radiographs will show the classical coffee bean or kidney bean sign, and often dilatation of the proximal colon. Depending on the duration of symptoms, the proximal colon can decompress into the distal small bowel, as long as the ileocaecal valve is incompetent. CT scan shows the characteristic "whirl" appearance of the twisted mesentery, as well as the distended loop of sigmoid colon with an air-fluid level. Free air on either the abdominal radiograph or the CT scan indicates a more serious bowel perforation and requires immediate action.[6][7][8][9]
A CT scan is recommended to establish the diagnosis and distinguish the etiology from other causes of large bowel obstruction, such as a malignant tumor. This is especially the case if the patients present with symptoms for the first time and have not had any previous colonic investigations such as a colonoscopy.
Before any surgical intervention, the patient needs to be adequately resuscitated with intravenous fluids, and electrolyte imbalances should be corrected. A nasogastric tube can aid proximal decompression. Decompression of the sigmoid volvulus should be attempted with a soft rectal flatus tube by the bedside, ideally feeding the tube under direct vision through a rigid sigmoidoscope. Flexible Sigmoidoscopy with gentle insufflation is indicated if the bedside decompression fails or if there are concerns about the viability of the bowel wall, as the mucosa can be inspected during the sigmoidoscopy and areas of mucosal ischemia will become obvious.[10][11][12]
Those patients who cannot be decompressed or who have progressed to compromised viability of the colon will need surgical intervention. The surgery of choice is a sigmoid colectomy with either a primary anastomosis or an end colostomy, depending on findings during the surgery and the individual patients' physiological reserves.
A patient presenting with bowel perforation will require aggressive resuscitation and an immediate laparotomy to control the fecal contamination and remove the perforated segment of bowel.
Patients presenting with recurrent episodes of sigmoid volvulus that can be decompressed should have an informed discussion about the benefits and risks of an elective resection of the sigmoid to prevent further episodes of volvulus leading to emergency admission to hospital. In the elective situation, a sigmoid colectomy can usually be performed with a primary anastomosis instead of an end colostomy, unless the patient has significant comorbidities.
Bedside decompression with a flatus tube should only be carried out by experienced physicians, and under no circumstance against resistance, as there is a risk of inadvertent iatrogenic perforation. The safest method to decompress the sigmoid colon is under direct vision with rigid or flexible sigmoidoscopy.
A successful decompression will immediately result in the evacuation of liquid and gas per rectum with subsequent resolution of the abdominal distension, resulting in a soft abdomen.
This resolution can be documented on a repeat abdominal radiograph.
It is important to assess the patient for sustained resolution once the flatus tube has been removed and the patient is started on oral intake, to avoid the volvulus recur before the patient is even discharged.
The diagnosis and management of sigmoid volvulus is with an interprofessional team that consists of a surgeon gastroenterologist, primary care provider, nurse practitioner, and an internist. The initial treatment is decompression with a flexible endoscope but because of recurrence, surgery is recommended. Most of the patients are old and frail with several comorbidities. Hence, great caution should be used in recommending aggressive treatments. The outcomes for healthy patients after surgery are excellent. [13][14](Level V)
|Tejera Hernández AA,Betancort Rivera N,Pérez Alonso E,Hernández Hernández JR, Sigmoid volvulus due to Chagas disease. Emergencias : revista de la Sociedad Espanola de Medicina de Emergencias. 2018 Dic; [PubMed PMID: 30638352]
|Sahu KK,Sherif AA,Lopez CA, Omega sign: Radiological appearance of sigmoid volvulus. Journal of medical imaging and radiation oncology. 2019 Feb; [PubMed PMID: 30628190]
|Ishibashi R,Niikura R,Obana N,Fukuda S,Tsuboi M,Aoki T,Yoshida S,Yamada A,Hirata Y,Koike K, Prediction of the Clinical Outcomes of Sigmoid Volvulus by Abdominal X-Ray: AXIS Classification System. Gastroenterology research and practice. 2018; [PubMed PMID: 30581464]
|Atamanalp SS, Comments on Contemporary Management of Sigmoid Volvulus. Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. 2018 Nov 21; [PubMed PMID: 30465185]
|Bauman ZM,Evans CH, Volvulus. The Surgical clinics of North America. 2018 Oct; [PubMed PMID: 30243456]
|Mba EL,Obiano SK,Mshelia NM, Compound volvulus: a case report and literature review. Journal of surgical case reports. 2018 Nov; [PubMed PMID: 30443321]
|Carmo L,Amaral M,Trindade E,Henriques-Coelho T,Pinho-Sousa J, Sigmoid Volvulus in Children: Diagnosis and Therapeutic Challenge. GE Portuguese journal of gastroenterology. 2018 Sep; [PubMed PMID: 30320166]
|Motsumi MJ,Tlhomelang O, Synchronous volvulus of the sigmoid and transverse colon in a 26-year-old male. Journal of surgical case reports. 2018 Nov; [PubMed PMID: 30443313]
|Xiang H,Han J,Ridley WE,Ridley LJ, Horseshoe sign: Sigmoid volvulus. Journal of medical imaging and radiation oncology. 2018 Oct; [PubMed PMID: 30309120]
|Frank L,Moran A,Beaton C, Use of percutaneous endoscopic colostomy (PEC) to treat sigmoid volvulus: a systematic review. Endoscopy international open. 2016 Jul; [PubMed PMID: 27556086]
|Echenique Elizondo M,Amondaraín Arratíbel JA, Colonic volvulus. Revista espanola de enfermedades digestivas : organo oficial de la Sociedad Espanola de Patologia Digestiva. 2002 Apr; [PubMed PMID: 12185931]
|Garfinkle R,Morin N,Ghitulescu G,Vasilevsky CA,Boutros M, From Endoscopic Detorsion to Sigmoid Colectomy-The Art of Managing Patients with Sigmoid Volvulus: A Survey of the Members of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. The American surgeon. 2018 Sep 1; [PubMed PMID: 30268187]
|Quénéhervé L,Dagouat C,Le Rhun M,Perez-Cuadrado Robles E,Duchalais E,Bruley des Varannes S,Touchefeu Y,Chapelle N,Coron E, Outcomes of first-line endoscopic management for patients with sigmoid volvulus. Digestive and liver disease : official journal of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver. 2018 Oct 11; [PubMed PMID: 30377062]
|Dolejs SC,Guzman MJ,Fajardo AD,Holcomb BK,Robb BW,Waters JA, Contemporary Management of Sigmoid Volvulus. Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. 2018 Aug; [PubMed PMID: 29569006]


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Weighing only 12.6 lbs. with 5.5 ft.-lbs. of impact energy, the TE 500-AVR features a step-less hammering regulator that delivers optimal breaking performance in masonry and concrete.
- Built-in Active Vibration Reduction (AVR) system with fully decoupled handle
- Active Cooling System keeps the motor, electronics and hammering mechanism cooler
- Constant on switch for ease of use during long periods of use
- Side handle offers full radial and axial adjustments to provide a secure grip in a variety of positions
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Fill out the form below to request more information about TE 500-AVR Demolition Hammer


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Product Description
Our Nostalgia:
Pinafore dresses, apron dresses for little beauties…always bring back us back to the by gone days where our mother used to dress us in one. So we had to make a pinafore dress! We love layers and ruffles, so we combined the two elements and put an overlay layer as the "apron" of this pinafore dress and named it Creme Brûlée. We designed it with the beautiful Southern belles in mind.


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|Transparent alternatives of the Sushi Block, using our book Quilts du Jour.
|Three values of blue. Light and medium intersect to make dark.
|Again three values, of violet.
Here light intersects with dark to make a medium.
|Three values of blue on a floral background.
Here light "arms" intersect with a medium large rectangle to create a dark.
|Here we see green in three values.
The large rectangle and the plaid intersection are pretty close in value.
The background is a dark green. The plaid forms the intersection, drawing upon the light and dark greens on either side.
|Three values in an analogous color scheme, one of them being the stripe. Medium "arms" plus a light large rectangle create the dark (stripe) intersection.
|Doesn't it look like the green is drawing across the blue?
(The picture doesn't do it justice.)
|Dark brown background grounds the cheerful orange units. The dark red-orange "arms" cross the lighter orange rectangles. A higher contrast stripe of oranges and brown, plus aqua and yellow forms the intersection.
|This "stripe" is fun! It has a bit more teal and more of an analogous navy background than is reflected in this photo.
I love that the layout of the blocks reiterates the line in the stripe itself!
|So hard to tell in this picture, but the background is a light butter yellow that helps to make the stripe more believable. The repetition of four blocks will be helpful too!
Making Lemonade from Sushi (?)! Follow the light orange horizontal line through the darker rectangles. Their intersection is the medium print. Great monochromatic transparency achieved!
Thanks again to the Piecemakers Quilt Guild and to our students!
Till Tuesday...


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Allen Doppelt
Allen Doppelt joined the Gray, Whitley team in 2017 as Counsel to further add to our expertise in advising not-for-profit corporations and governmental organizations. Allen has 30 years' experience providing legal services to various Ministries of the Ontario government, including the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services (now the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services). He was instrumental in drafting the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, the Securities Transfer Act and the Personal Property Security Act, and in implementing major changes to the Business Corporations Act and the other company law statutes. He also has extensive experience in developing and drafting a variety of other statutes.
Allen has a wealth of experience in preparing, negotiating and advising on procurement contracts for government, in particular information technology (IT) and consulting contracts. He has also regularly advised the Ontario government on copyright and trade-mark issues. Allen has provided advice to the Ministry on various administrative authorities, including the Technical Standards and Safety Authority, and is experienced in preparing and reviewing administrative agreements.
Allen has significant experience in the area of administrative law, especially with respect to administrative tribunals. He has acted as an adjudicator (in name objection disputes and corporate cancellations) and has issued reasons for judgment. Allen has advised on procedural and evidentiary issues related to tribunals.
Areas of Practice
- 70% Not for Profit Corporations
- 10% Corporate Commercial
- 20% Government Procurement
Bar Admissions
- Ontario, 1977
- Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- University of Toronto, Toronto
- Honours: With Honors
- Chair, Corporate Law Committee, Ontario Bar Association, 2012 - 2016
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Canadian Bar Association, Member
Past Employment Positions
- Ministry of Consumer Services, Ontario, Senior Counsel, 1990 - 2011
- Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Services, Counsel, 1981 - 1989
- English


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Malarkey Roofing Products, in collaboration with 3M, announces the inclusion of 3M Smog-reducing granules to the Highlander NEX laminated architectural roofing shingle line.
"The Highlander NEX roofing shingle is one of our most innovative and advanced products. Throughout our history, we've sought to produce quality roofing products specialized to perform in specific environments. Highlander NEX delivers without being unnecessarily overbuilt," said Jim Fagan, Chief Executive Officer and President of Malarkey Roofing Products.
According to the company, Highlander NEX is already made with the innovative NEX polymer modified asphalt (previously referred to as Nexgen) and solar reflective granules. With the inclusion of 3M Smog-reducing granules, Highlander NEX is the most sustainably manufactured asphalt roofing shingle in the industry, the company states.
"Sustainability is at the core of our product design," said Fagan. "We strive to include innovative technologies that improve our environment in all aspects of our operations. Granules that help transform smog gases from the air are certainly in line with that mission."
Recently launched by the 3M Industrial Mineral Products Division, 3M Smog-reducing Granules help to remove smog pollution (nitrogen oxides or NOx) using roofing shingles. Integrated throughout a shingle's surface, 3M's roofing granules are designed with a specialized photocatalytic coating applied to the base mineral. The specialized coating on the granule is activated by the sun's UV rays, while blending inconspicuously into various shingle color combinations.
As shown in the video, when sunlight hits the shingles containing the smog-reducing granules, radicals are generated and transform nitrogen oxide gases into water-soluble ions improving air quality. This smart solution for pollution mitigation can help communities contribute toward their NOx emission reduction efforts.
The Highlander NEX shingle additionally features Cool roofing granules by 3M. These granules reflect solar rays to cool the roof and home, and can help reduce energy costs. Highlander NEX introductory color offerings will include Weathered Wood, Natural Wood, Heather, Silverwood and Sienna Blend.
For more information, visit www.malarkeyroofing.com.


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Why Does The Illuminati Eye Infest Christian Churches?
Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
During a visit to a breathtaking, beautiful and ornate Christian cathedral in Lucerne, Switzerland last week, I was taken aback by the sight of something that seemed completely out of context and out of place – a baleful and evil-looking Illuminati eye staring out over a representation of the crucified Jesus. Why do similar depictions infest Christian churches the world over?
The Church of St. Leodegar, popularly called the Hofkirche, in the bustling town of Lucerne in northern Switzerland, was originally built in 735 and the present structure was erected in 1633 in the late Renaissance style. The cathedral's distinctive twin needles were part of the original structure.
The church is opulently decorated with awe-inspiring golden statues and vibrant paintings depicting stories from the bible.
But when one reaches the front of the church and looks up at a statue of the crucified Jesus, looming over it in a window near the roof is a depiction of a single eye inside a pyramid with yellow and orange sun rays emanating from behind.
This occult symbol is completely not inkeeping with the rest of the style of the church and the cathedral's literature makes no mention of why it was placed there or what its significance is supposed to be.
CLICK IMAGE FOR ENLARGEMENT. The eye can be seen in the background above the Swiss flag.
CLICK IMAGE FOR ENLARGEMENT. Close up of the eye.
Here's another example of the depiction of the eye in the pyramid that Steve Watson photographed while visiting Piazza del Popolo in Rome this past June.
The video below showcases the Illuminati eye as seen in dozens of churches and cathedrals around the world. The author attributes the eye to a representation of Dajjal or "The Impostor-Christ," an evil figure in Islamic eschatology who will supposedly return as a false prophet before Judgment Day. According to one description, "It is said that he will have one eye damaged and the other will be working."
According to Wikipedia, "The belief is based around the events prior to the Day of Judgment around the Second Coming of The Christ, when ad-Dajjal who is blind in his right eye, shall gather an army of those he has deceived and lead them in a war against Jesus, who shall be accompanied by an army of the righteous."
If that is so then why on earth do we see the eye placed above the crucified Jesus in the Lucerne cathedral and in hundreds of other Christian churches around the world?
The eye in the pyramid has been adopted by many different esoteric entities throughout history, including the eye of Osiris in Egypt, and the All-Seeing Eye in Freemasonry. It also famously appears on the back of the U.S. dollar bill. Henry Wallace, who was instrumental in having the seal placed on the dollar bill in 1935, had deep occult connections
As this website documents, the eye in the pyramid can be seen in the corporate logos of companies such as AOL, CBS and also appears in the window of many Starbucks coffee outlets.
As the Illuminati Conspiracy Archive details, occultists have long expressed pride in the symbol and cherished its signifiance, which denotes top down control by an elite harboring secret knowledge.
"Our beautiful seal is an expression of Freemasonry, an expression of occult ideas," wrote H.S. Wyckoff in a piece for the Rosicrucian Magazine entitled The Great American Seal.
The Bavarian Illuminati, founded by Adam Weishaupt in 1776, also adopted the eye in the pyramid as their motif, which begs the question, why does a symbol that was used by an occult organization who stated their goal was to destroy organized religion appear in Christian churches across the world?
As Texe Marrs writes, "In his classic textbook, Memoirs Illustrating the History of Jacobinism, describing the Illuminist plot in France, Abbe Barruel affirms that, "The grand object of this conspiracy was to overturn every altar where Christ was adored." Theirs, Barruel wrote, was an "unrelenting hatred for Christ and kings."
So if the Illuminati, symbolized by the eye in the pyramid, wanted to "overturn every altar where Christ was adored," then why does their motif still appear above the depiction of Christ's crucifixion in Lucerne, as well as in Christian churches throughout Europe and America?


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Court rejects Franken petition for election certificate
Minnesota's Supreme Court on Friday blocked Democrat Al Franken's petition for an election certificate that would put him in the U.S. Senate without waiting for a lawsuit to run its course.
The decision means Minnesota's second Senate seat will remain empty until the lawsuit and possible appeals in state court are complete. Republican Norm Coleman's lawsuit challenging Franken's recount lead is at the end of its sixth week, and both sides expect it to last at least a few more weeks.
After a state board certified recount results showing Franken 225 votes ahead, he sued to force Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie to sign an election certificate. Franken argued that federal law stipulates each state will have two senators when the Senate convenes, and that law trumped a state law that blocks such certificates while lawsuits are pending.
But the state Supreme Court disagreed. In their ruling Friday, the justices said states aren't required to issue such certificates by the date that Congress convenes.
The justices wrote in their unsigned opinion that "if the Senate believes delay in seating the second Senator from Minnesota adversely affects the Senate, it has the authority to remedy the situation and needs no certificate of election from the Governor to do so."
Coleman's team hailed the ruling for giving the state courts space to sort out Coleman's lawsuit.
"This wise ruling will ensure that Harry Reid, Al Franken and Chuck Schumer cannot short-circuit Minnesota law in their partisan power play," Coleman adviser Ben Ginsberg said, referring to two Democratic leaders in the Senate.
Franken's campaign had no immediate comment to the ruling, which came down just as the court hearing the Coleman election lawsuit began hearing critical motions of its own.
The court was listening to oral arguments on a Franken motion to dismiss the lawsuit and a Coleman motion to declare a key recount rule illegal. The rule in question is at the heart of a Coleman claim that some people got two votes because both a damaged and replacement ballot for them were counted.
Meanwhile, attorneys for Norm Coleman argued that their legal case is still valid and that about 1,725 rejected absentee ballots should be opened and counted.
Franken attorney Marc Elias told the panel that the Coleman lawyers have proved at most, that a few dozen ballots should be opened and counted--far less than the 225 needed to surpass Franken's lead after the recount.
Elias went down a summary that checked off how Coleman's side introduced ballots that lacked key information such as whether the voter or witness was registered in Minnesota. After his calculations, he said there are maybe a few dozen ballots at issue.
"They have called more than 50 witnesses, they have introduced hundreds and hundreds of documents, thousands of pages and yet despite all of those witnesses and other evidence, they rested their case without having proved little more than a handful of absentee ballots that were improperly rejected," Elias said.
Coleman attorney Jim Langdon told the panel that Elias' numbers are simply wrong. He said Coleman's side has presented compelling evidence that thousands of Minnesota voters have been disenfranchised and as a matter of constitutional law and state election laws, their votes should be counted. Langdon told the panel that the Coleman side disagrees with Elias' numbers.
"We think that they have left out substantial chunks of the evidence," Langdon said. "I'm sure inadvertently, a lot of paper has come in in this case and a lot has come in at the very end of our case."
Langdon said there are at least two major roadblocks that stand in the way of the panel determining how many votes were legally cast. One is the panel's ruling on Feb. 13. In that ruling, Coleman attorneys claim the panel created a conflict by making illegal some ballots that the state canvassing board approved and counted.
The other roadblock, says Langdon, is that the secretary of state' office hasn't finished updating its voter registration database, which also accounts for why some of the ballots appear to be invalid when they may not be.
"The door is not closed; there is not conclusive evidence one way or another for any of the voters," he said. "Until the secretary of state does what it's told both parties and the court, which is to give us and the court a CD [containg updated voter information] that it will certify that's as complete as it's going to get."
In rebuttal, Marc Elias said it's too late for that evidence because Coleman's side rested its case. He said the Coleman camp could have proven that voters were registered.
"They had any number ways to prove it including the statewide voter registration system, including call witnesses, including calling voters and they chose not to avail themselves of that and that was a strategic decision they made during their case," Elias said.
If the three-judge panel denies Franken's request to dismiss the case, Franken attorneys say they have at least about two more weeks of testimony. A ruling on the motion to dismiss isn't expected until next week.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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Carla Chaim
Untitled, 2014
Unique piece
32 x 26 cm
Certificate of authenticity included
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Carla Chaim, living ad working in Sao Paulo, approeaches everyday issues through her production of drawings, video and installations. She Works in the field of experience, in the allowance of coincedence, the unexpected and accidental. Despite from this, through pre-established rules or using the control of her body movements in her drawings, she works with the notion of control too.
Carla has participated in many art residencies as well as in many group exhibitions, and in 2014 she had her first solo show in Lisbon. Her work is part of very important private collections such as the Ella Fontanals-Cisneros and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brazil.
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The other day a young producer was concerned because he had difficulty obtaining his operating loan for yearly operations. He stated that the lender performed financial shock tests that raised concerns about his financial status. Let's examine some of the financial shock tests that are top of mind with your lender, and particularly the regulators that provide oversight on agricultural loans.
Cash Flow Tests
As you project your cash flow, conduct a simple financial shock test by decreasing revenue projections by 10%, holding expenses and interest rates constant. If you do not have crop insurance or a risk management plan in place, increase the revenue shock to 20%.
Next, increase input costs by 10% and 20%, holding revenue and interest rates constant. This case demonstrates what could happen given the occasional replanting or a sudden rise in feed costs. Many producers are developing input purchase plans to reduce volatility in this area.
Finally, shock test interest rates by increasing them by 1%, 2% and 3% on variable rate loans, holding revenue and input costs constant. By shocking revenue, input costs and interest rates you can plan for these potential scenarios by thinking through actions to take to protect cash flow if these scenarios play out.
Additional Stress Tests
Another shock test that lenders often conduct is calculating breakeven metrics on the most prominent commodities or products produced on the farm or ranch. Peak performing producers often conduct enterprise analysis by calculating breakeven metrics.
Let's go to the balance sheet. With sky high land values, many lenders shock test real estate assets at up to a 50% decline in value, while still maintaining sufficient collateral positions. Other lenders are limiting loan exposure on land purchases to 50% of value.
Another element lenders are stressing is sufficient working capital to revenue, which is current assets minus current liabilities divided by revenue. This is a secondary backup in case there is a hiccup in profits or cash flow. A recommended metric is 20-25% working capital to revenue.
The next time we will take stress testing to another level behind-the-scenes at your lending institution.
Editor's note: Dave Kohl, Corn & Soybean Digest trends editor, is an ag economist specializing in business management and ag finance. He recently retired from Virginia Tech, but continues to conduct applied research and travel extensively in the U.S. and Canada, teaching ag and banking seminars and speaking to producer and agribusiness groups. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Short Story by: tahir139
Reads: 785 | Likes: 0 | Shelves: 0 | Comments: 3
Esmeralda was the only daughter of a poor peasant woman yet she was so beautiful that the word of her beauty spread throughout the kingdom. Quite often young men would gather to get a glimpse of her. Poets and bard spun tales and poetry about her innocence and her beauty. Now though her beauty was none to find within the kingdom but her heart was hard like stone and she was intensely proud. She would spend hours in front of her mirror peering at herself.
Now it so happened that an angel in the garb of an old man came to her house. He had pushed his way towards Esmeralda and asked her for a glass of water telling her that he was very thirsty. And Esmeralda who was rude and hardhearted without an ounce of remorse had told him to be off. She had also cursed and swore at him. This was hardly the first time that such a thing had happened. She had done so many times with so many different people. Even her poor old parents had borne the brunt of her insolence. She did talked back to them and been pretty rude with them as well.
Meanwhile the Prince after hearing about her beauty had decided to go out into the city and have a glimpse of Esmeralda. However a command had been passed by the Creator to punish Esmeralda for her wickedness. When Esmeralda had slept, her skin became coarse and wrinkled. Her beautiful blonde hair that fell straight on her shoulders became white and quite sparse. You could see her receding hairline and Esmeralda had been transformed into an old woman. Her bones became weak and brittle. Her clear blue eyes became a dull grey. So when Esmeralda woke the next morning, she felt tired and lethargic. There was an intense pain in her bones. It was with great difficulty that she managed to stand up straight. She had looked into the mirror placed at the dressing table. And to her horror, she saw a very old and weak woman staring back at her. She had let out a scream that had bought her parents to her room. And even they had been shocked and surprised to find a very old woman clad in Esmeraldas clothes. They were sure that they knew her but could not place her. It was not till Esmeralda had cried out and let them know who she was that they recognized her. But they could not fathom how their daughter had aged so much in the course of a day.
Then they heard a thundering knock on the front door to their straw hut. Standing at the door was a tall handsome man accompanied by the royal guards. They introduced him as the Prince. Esmeraldas parents had been shocked to find him at their abode. When he asked to be taken to Esmeralda, they took him to the room where she sat on her bed. But what the Prince saw was a very old woman and not a pretty young woman.
"What joke is this?" asked the Prince, "Where is your daughter?"
"This is she, Your Highness! We ourselves are at a loss to describe what event transpired during the night that has turned Esmeralda so old in the span of a night. It may be that she is cursed sire" they said.
"Let Esmeralda speak" said the Prince whose name was Harold.
Esmeralda had then raised her head slowly untowards the Prince and uttered "Your Highness, I had been so vain and proud; proud that I was so beautiful and yet my heart knew no compassion; it only knew arrogance and it was harder than stone. On so many occasions, I have hurt people through my words and actions. It maybe hence a just punishment from the Creator."
There were tears in Esmeralda's eyes as she said this. And Prince Harold had looked away and rode back to the palace. Soon the story about Esmeralda became famous not only in that kingdom but also in neighboring nations. Now people from near and far came to hear from Esmeralda her tale. Esmeralda had since then repented and turned to God praying for His forgiveness and mercy. Her hard heart had become replaced by a caring and compassionate one.
Most of her time was spent in praying or in teaching young children and adults the importance of humility, of contributing to charity and society and to respect ones elders.
Then God had mercy on her and He ordered for her youth to be restored to her. And when Esmeralda woke up one day, she was pleasantly surprised to learn that she was young and beautiful again. Only now her heart knew what compassion and mercy was. Her parents and the people of the kingdom hailed it as a miracle.
To this day, the story of Esmeralda is used by parents to teach them that God does not look to beauty alone, He looks for the compassion and mercy in peoples hearts.
Submitted: January 26, 2013
© Copyright 2020 tahir139. All rights reserved.
Add Your Comments:
I like the moral and it reminded me of fables I used to read. Good job.Fri, February 8th, 2013 4:06pm


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How To Grow Hydrangeas
Featuring dark, broad leaves and globes of clustered flowers ranging in color from pink to blue, hydrangeas are a distinctive and eye-catching addition to any Atlanta landscape. Learning how to grow hydrangeas will improve the beauty of your plants.
How to Plant Hydrangeas
Plant hydrangeas in the spring or fall, choosing an area of your lawn that gets sun in the morning but shade in the afternoon. Dig a hole as deep as the roots of your plant, and 2 to 3 times as wide. Set your plant in the hole and fill it half full with dirt. Water, and let the water absorb. Once the water drains, fill the hole with soil. Finish by watering the new plant thoroughly.
While the basics of planting every hydrangea is about the same, each type is grouped in to four larger categories, and each has their own special growing, care, and pruning needs.
Types of Hydrangeas
There are hundreds of types of hydrangea shrubs, and all of them are very diverse. Different types will thrive in different growing zones, depending on their hardiness. Fortunately, all types of hydrangeas like the Atlanta area's growing conditions! With the right care, any hydrangea will make a great addition to your landscape.
Hydrangea Macrophylla: "Bigleaf" hydrangeas need partial shade, which means about 6 hours of direct sun, preferably in the morning. Afternoon shade will help your plant's leaves from drooping.
Fertilize in March, May, and July with 8-8-8 or 10-10-10. You'll need to make sure the soil stays moist. Using mulch will help retain moisture. These hydrangeas are color-changers. If you want blue blossoms, use acid-forming fertilizer. If you want pink blooms, use an alkaline-based fertilizer.
'Bigleaf' hydrangeas generally bloom in June and July in Atlanta. If you cut the blooms at the end of their cycle, that will encourage more blooms.
Prune 'Bigleaf' hydrangeas before August 1st, as new buds grow during late summer. If you prune during the spring, you might remove potential blossoms!
Hydrangea Arborescens: 'Smooth' hydrangeas are native to the Southeast, with large, white flowers. They are fond of moist soil and partial shade, and are very effective under tree landscaping. Fertilize in late winter with 10-10-10, and add mulch for moisture retention and root protection.
'Smooth' hydrangeas are new wood bloomers, which means that blossoms form on new growth as opposed to the prior year's growth. As such, prune these hydrangeas during late winter before the new year's growth begins. Remove the oldest stems and tip prune the youngest shoots for best growth. To restrict size, cut the whole plant to 12" in height.
Expect blooms in June and July. These plants can bloom a second time in August or September if the old flowers are removed after blooming.
Hydrangea Paniculata: 'Panicle types', or 'Tree hydrangeas', as they are nicknamed, are Northeast natives, but are hardy in the Atlanta area. Unlike most other hydrangeas, 'Panicle' hydrangeas need more sun than their cousins. They prefer moist, loamy soil in sun or partial shade. Fertilize in April and June with 10-10-10.
'Panicle' hydrangeas are new wood bloomers, and need to be pruned in late winter. They are nicknamed 'tree' hydrangeas because with careful pruning, they can grow to resemble trees!
Most 'Panicle' hydrangeas are late bloomers, with blossoms in late summer or even in early September. The blooms generally start white and turn pink as the season progresses.
Other Varieties:
Hydrangea Quercifolia: 'Oakleaf' hydrangeas are Southern natives, and are fond of moist, semi-shaded areas. The foliage is very striking more so than the flowers on these shrubs. During the fall, the leaves turn deep red and bronze. During the winter, the bark peels in an eye-catching way. Fertilize with 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 in spring and summer.
'Oakleaf' hydrangeas are old wood bloomers, so prune around the beginning of August or when the blooms begin to fade. The new buds will form at the end of the summer, so do not prune during the winter. You can, however, trim to promote growth.
Hydrangea Petiolaris: 'Climbing' hydrangeas are great for Atlanta ground cover, since they can grow 60-80'. These are very ivy-like, and must be planted against masonry walls or trellises. Plant in a moist, semi-shaded area with well-drained soil. Too much shade will reduce the number of blooms, although the foliage itself won't be affected. Fertilize in spring with 10-10-10.
'Climbing' hydrangeas are old wood bloomers. Prune this variety only to keep it contained.
How to Dry Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are not only beautiful on the bush, they are gorgeous in any flower display. However, unlike other flowers, they are a little harder to dry. The trick is the timing more so than the method!
You can easily dry them by hanging them upside down, or leaving them in an inch of water and waiting for them to dry. While it's tempting to cut the blooms at their peak, doing so will result in wilted blooms. The trick is to wait until the blooms have started drying on the plant. You'll need to experiment with your individual shrub, but with a little patience, you can preserve these attractive flowers for the winter!


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Research News
Prof. Nangia Started A gold Medal in the memory of Late Mrs. Uma Devaguptapu for the Women Topper in MBA at University of Hyderabad
A Medal in the memory of Late Mrs. Uma Devaguptapu
has been instituted for the Women Topper in MBA General Course at the School of Management Studies. Late Mrs. Uma Devaguptapu was associated with Signode as its Director –HR.
CSIR- National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Pune has come up with an Anti-TB cocrystal drug having improved stability. The research work by Prof A K Nangia and the team at the CSIR-NCL and the School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad has cleared the way for the development of a stable formulation of 4-FDC (4 drugs fixed-dose combination) for TB.
A study by Prof Nangia led team has reported a new cocrystal of FDC of TB drug to address these issues in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The team including Suryanarayana Cherukuvada, Devarapaga Maddileti, Swapna Battini, and M K Chaitanya Mannava, studied the cause for the instability of the four-FDC drug chemical structures and discovered pharmaceutically stable cocrystal by applying Crystal Engineering principles to improve the stability, so that the drug inhibits the cross-reaction between Isoniazid and Rifampicin, and thereby overcomes the formation of inactive by-products. The pharmaceutical cocrystals of INH (INH-Caffeic acid and INH-Vanillic acid) were used to improve the stability of 4-drug FDC. The team showed that the pharmaceutically stable cocrystal of INH is able to improve the stability greater than 5-fold compared to the current 4-FDC drugs. The coformer additives which stabilise the formulation are pharmaceutically accepted excipients. Stability studies were carried out under accelerated conditions of 40°C temperature and 75 per cent relative humidity. The first time improvement of stability of anti-TB 4-FDC drugs using cocrystals of INH in a fixed dose formulation was reported. Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne infectious disease caused by a species of pathogenic bacteria Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. It is one of the top ten leading causes of death worldwide.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in 2015, an estimated 10.4 million people developed TB and 1.8 million died from the disease including 0.4 million deaths among HIV-positive people.
WHO has recommended Rifampicin (RIF), Isoniazid (INH), Pyrazinamide (PZA), and Ethambutol dihydrochloride (EDH) drugs for the treatment of TB. The use of a fixed-dose combination (2-drug, 3-drug and 4-drug FDCs) for the treatment for tuberculosis was recommended in 1994 by WHO and International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD). In 1999 the 4-drug FDC tablet was included in the WHO Model List of Essential Drugs that comprises these four drugs. The 4-FDC tablets had quality and stability issues, including poor bioavailability of rifampicin and instability during storage; this raised serious concerns on the utility of this FDC. It was essential to address the quality and stability issues.
In March 2018, a summit intended to review the progress of efforts to eradicate TB took place in Delhi named the END TB Summit 2018. On the occasion, prime minister of India called for "greater focus on financing and political will to end TB by 2030". He stressed that all forces must come together from private and public sectors and the civil society to fight this battle. All must join hands to overcome TB. The key components to combat TB are confirmative diagnosis, early initiation of Anti TB treatment and preventing the development of multi drug resistance. "Research & Development" is a key partner component on the battle against TB.
It was stated that Inventions of Anti-TB- Drugs and improvement of Drug quality are the major areas to explore.
Prof Nangia said, "Stable cocrystal drug with longer shelf life will improve the prospects of transport logistics and inventory management of TB drugs". In the next phase, longer-term stability data on 4-FDC will be validated with suitable excipients and polymeric additives to develop the tablet formulation in fast-track translation.
Section editor of Acta Crystallographica Section B
Wrriten by Prof. Desiraju: It's a pleasure to record the appointment of Prof. Ashwini Kumar Nangia, Director, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune as a main editor of Acta Crystallographica Section B. Prof. Nangia heads one of the largest labs in the CSIR family and brings a great deal of experience in crystallography, crystal engineering and organic chemistry. He is very well known within IUCr and is also a member of its Commission on Structural Chemistry. Acta Cryst B is rapidly growing in stature and impact. I recollect that one of my own papers (1989) in this journal was a personal turning point for me. Acta B is a journal by the experts, for the experts and of the experts. with Prof. C. Malla Reddy of IISER Kolkata, who is a section editor of the same journal, I hope that many good papers in India (quality and quantity both required) start showing up in this important journal of structural chemistry and crystal engineering. My best wishes to both these talented chemists.
Twenty-Fourth Congress and General Assembly of the International Union of Crystallography
India will host the 24th Congress & General Assembly of the International Union of Crystallography 2017 from 21 – 28 August 2017. We extend a warm welcome to all crystallographers from across the world!
A cutting edge program with plenaries, keynotes, microsymposia and posters, commercial exhibits, satellite meetings, workshops and official meetings of the IUCr is planned. This will be a state of the art international meeting set in the unique ambience of India.
Hyderabad is a modern city of 9 million people that has gained prominence as an important software and pharmaceutical centre. Its iconic symbol is the Charminar or four minarets, which draws its inspiration from the tetragonal crystal system. It is the central motif in our logo for IUCr 2017.
Hyderabad International Airport has a wide range of connections through hubs in the Gulf, South East Asia and Europe. Of course, one can also fly in through Delhi, Mumbai or just about any major airport in India. The Congress venue, Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) is on par with the best Congress destinations around the world and equipped with the finest technological, communication, digital and audio-visual tools.
We are sure that IUCr 2017 will be an experience to remember for everyone.
FDA to Reclassify Pharmaceutical Co-Crystals
As part of an effort to clarify and help advance the development of pharmaceutical co-crystals, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday released revised draft guidance providing information on the appropriate classification of co-crystal solid-state forms, the data that should be submitted to support the classification and the regulatory implications of such a classification.
"Co-crystals are crystalline materials composed of two or more different molecules, typically drug and co-crystal formers ('coformers'), in the same crystal lattice. Pharmaceutical co-crystals have opened up opportunities for engineering solid-state forms beyond conventional solid-state forms of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), such as salts and polymorphs," FDA explains. "Co-crystals can be tailored to enhance drug product bioavailability and stability and to enhance the processability of APIs during drug product manufacture. Another advantage of co-crystals is that they generate a diverse array of solid-state forms for APIs that lack ionizable functional groups, which is a prerequisite for salt formation."
The new draft revises a previous guidance for industry, "Regulatory Classification of Pharmaceutical Co-Crystals" issued in April 2013, which classifies co-crystals as a drug product intermediate (or as an in-process material).
"This classification has contributed to uncertainty regarding the interpretation of the guidance because in a commercial setting, co-crystals are typically manufactured in drug substance facilities, yet when classified as a drug product intermediate, additional current good manufacturing practice requirements apply," FDA says. "Therefore, the guidance has not been conducive to the development of co-crystals. In response to this and other feedback from stakeholders, FDA has reconsidered the appropriate classification of co-crystals."
The short guidance also explains that co-crystals differ from salts and polymorphs, and are more similar to solvates, "in that both contain more than one component in the lattice. From a physical chemistry perspective, co-crystals can be viewed as a special case of solvates and hydrates, wherein the second component, the coformer, is nonvolatile. Therefore, co-crystals are classified as a special case of solvates in which the second component is nonvolatile.
"For NDAs and ANDAs containing or claiming to contain a co-crystal form, applicants should submit appropriate data that support the following:
FDA adds that from a regulatory perspective, drugs designed to contain a new co-crystal are considered analogous to a new polymorph of the API.
"A co-crystal that is composed of two or more APIs (with or without additional inactive coformers) will be treated as a fixed-dose combination product and not a new API. If you are using a material that the Agency previously considered to be a co-crystal, you may continue to do so," FDA says.
Ashwini Nangia becomes Director of CSIR-National Chemical Lab, Pune
University of Hyderabad Chemistry professor Ashwini Nangia on Wednesday 24th Feb, 2016 has been appointed as the Director of theCSIR-National Chemical Laboratory in Pune. CSIR-NCL is a science and knowledge based research, development and consulting organisation.
It is internationally known for its excellence in scientific research in chemistry and chemical engineering as well as for its outstanding track record of industrial research involving partnerships with industry from concept to commercialization.


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The political foundations for the EU's partnership with the Kyrgyz Republic were established in the 1999 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). The agreement aimed at strengthening the links between the Kyrgyz Republic and the EU.
Taking into account development of bilateral relations and emerging of new areas of interaction, the EU and the Kyrgyz Republic negotiated the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), which was initialed in July 2019. It is expected to be signed in 2020.
The Kyrgyz Republic is also a partner in the European Union and Central Asia: New opportunities for a strong partnership strategy adopted in May 2019.


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PLANO, TX -- The picture seems simple, at first look. But, could an image of Marilyn Monroe and Albert Einstein reveal some insight about your sight?
Well, chances are, if you see Monroe in the image, then you might want to get your eyes checked!
The picture is actually a hybrid; a blurry image of Monroe is behind an outline of Einstein. A picture creating a buzz online reminds us of the "is this dress black and blue or gold and white."
Local optometrist, Albert Pang, says the face you see, all depends on how your eyes focus on an image.
"Naturally when you have 20/20 vision you pick up detail, and the detail overrides the blue," says Pang. "However, if you have poor eyesight you see the blurry image of Marilyn Monroe."
Keep in mind, the eye doc says your vision also depends on the size of the picture.
Okay, so this picture isn`t a definite way to measure your eye site. But, if you're the only one in the room seeing Marilyn Monroe. It Might not be a bad idea to pay a visit to the optometrist.


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Boudoir photography is a tasteful way to add sexually suggestive photos to your online galleries for client viewing. The style implies nudity, while still maintaining a level of class, elegance and sophistication. Escorts benefit from this type of photography as the pictures suggest what clients might expect from an encounter with them. Continue reading
Tag: bedroom
11 essential furniture items for an escort's incall
While you can pretty much run on the fly to your outcall appointments, as long as you have a "go-to" bag full of basic necessities, it takes much more than that to adequately equip an upscale, functional incall bedroom for clients. In addition to all of the supplies you have to provide for your clients (such as lube and condoms), you must also present a comfortable, mood-appropriate environment to get cozy in. Continue reading
12 tips for creating a sexy escort boudoir that clients will want to return to
When you invite clients to your incall, some of them don't know what to expect from a session with an escort. As they enter your bedroom, you want them to be swept off to a different world, leaving behind reality for an hour, two or, with any luck, more. Continue reading


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It's that time of year! The air is crisp, pumpkin has made its way into every type of food and beverage, and the grocery stores are filling up with giant frozen turkeys. Thanksgiving is coming and I can't wait. All that time with family, all those complicated dishes, all that potential to go wrong – it makes for some great stories, and I want to read about it!
Please send me your submissions for a Thanksgiving-themed mini memoir. Fill out this form and paste your story in the comment field (don't worry only I can read what you post). I'll let you know if I'll be publishing it after a few days. Remember, a mini memoir should be short, 500-1500 words, it doesn't need to recount your entire life – just an interesting/funny/ bizarre/ or profound moment in your life.
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- Happy November! (lifeinthe150.wordpress.com)


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Our Classic Hip Chest Pack hauls and organizes everything you need on the water with maximum versatility.
For shallow flats or small streams it sits comfortably on the hips; when things get a little more extreme, deploy the elastic neck strap and keep it on your chest. In either position, the Hip Chest's main compartment with multiple interior organizing pockets keeps fly boxes, leaders, floatant, tools and other essentials within easy reach.
Two large exterior stretch mesh pockets add to the storage capacity, and the magnetized hemostat holder and retractor bar keep frequently used accessories handy. The pack outer is made from tough, 840-denier 100% ballistic nylon, the interior is polyester and the back and sides are light polyester air mesh; all have a polyurethane coating and a DWR (durable water repellent) finish. The front buckle is adjustable for a custom fit.


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MONTREAL - Tom Mulcair wasn't ready to endorse a Quebec effort to set up an international-aid program when asked Thursday about the province's plans to set up its own version of the Canadian International Development Agency.
That provincial agency is part of the Parti Quebecois effort at so-called "sovereigntist governance" to winnow powers away from Ottawa. The government has launched a study of the project, and appears poised to demand that Ottawa hand the province its share of the federal aid budget.
Mulcair acknowledged the frustration that some might feel with the development policies of the Harper government. But he didn't express support for the PQ effort.
"It's easy to understand how some provinces, realizing how far we've gone away from our work in terms of international solidarity, want to try to fill that void themselves," the federal Opposition leader said after a foreign-policy speech on Thursday.
"My goal is not to see that done individually but to have it done by a Canadian government for and behalf of all Canadians."
In his speech, Mulcair painted a bleak picture of federal efforts internationally that he said contrasted vividly from the honest-broker role of Canada in years past.
Where the Canadian government had been focused on spreading peace, social justice and prosperity in the past, he said that under the federal Conservatives were now more preoccupied with advancing partisan interests.
His complaints were similar to those expressed on Wednesday by Quebec International Relations Minister Jean-Francois Lisee.
Lisee announced in Quebec City that the provincial government is looking at how to set up it own version of the Canadian International Development Agency, saying the federal incarnation no longer reflects Quebec values under the Tories.
Lisee said federal aid programs had become tainted by the priorities of the federal Conservative party, as the Harper government increasingly wants to pair aid efforts with mining projects abroad.
On Thursday, Mulcair said the government had to better reflect Canadian values.
"My first hope would be that the Canada the Conservatives project onto the world stage would begin to resemble Canadians," Mulcair said after a speech to the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations.
"We've always been an open, caring, respectful people playing a very important role on the world stage. The Canada that Stephen Harper is projecting onto the world stage is unrecognizable to the world and unrecognizable to ourselves."
But pressed on whether he agreed with the efforts of Premier Pauline Marois' government, Mulcair was less specific.
"I'm in agreement with Canadians from one ocean to the other who want to work towards a vision for a progressive nation," he said. "My work as a leader of the NDP and leader of the official Opposition is to replace Stephen Harper with a government that is reflective of those values."
The Prime Minister's Office has already rejected the Quebec initiative, saying that foreign policy is an area of federal jurisdiction under the Constitution.
But questions that touch on Quebec nationalism are more politically sensitive for Mulcair. His NDP caucus comprises nearly five-dozen Quebec MPs, many of whom were elected in ridings that were longtime Bloc Quebecois fortresses.
He has been mostly careful to avoid delving into issues that could pit his Quebec supporters against voters in the rest of the country.


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We drive the digital transformation of dealerships with the only end-to-end platform. It gives your employees the tools they need to satisfy customers while driving higher revenue and profits.
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Probability distribution
simulator &
statistical analysis
''Statistic analysis software'' and ''simulate probability distribution sample software'' are not high technology software office and to facilitate statistic analysis and data simulations so we combine
1. partial 'probability distribution transformation software'
2. simulate ''probability distribution sample software''
3. ''statistic analysis software''
as one software and named 'probability distribution simulator and statistic analysis software' product and offer free download service until December 31, 2015. Creating Code Company offer free downloading service on 'simple booklet and statistic textbook partial content' for users self-learning usage until December 31, 2015. If you would like to know the functions and operating details, please refer to 'statistic textbook (combine and demonstrate statistic software and theory)' and ' detailed descriptive operating booklet' for users' operating, paper publishing and teaching. However, the textbook's price (please refer the textbook purchasing webpage for details), the textbook purchasers own the output result of software business usage (natural person only, not legal person, excluding book published and lecture notes) and free using software right at least 5 years (including updated version). The free downloading software which is not a trail but a completed version which offer multidimensional data simulate and statistical analysis. This software can analyze in high speed, and operate easily with powerful analyze function which is a superior statistic software and people understanding for. The free downloading time commences from March 31, 2014 until December 31, 2015.
Free download the function introduction of 'probability simulator and ''Statistic analysis software'' is no longer high technology software, Creating Code Company provide free download for users to experience high technology software so we add up 'cloud computing', 'artificial intelligence' and 'cloud data processing'.
1cloud data
Creating Code Company consider within 30,000,000 numerous data could not be named ''cloud data'' and so called more than 30,000,000 numerous data are cloud data. This software can analyze 30,000,000 numerous data which exceeds current statistic analysis software.
2cloud computing
It merely takes 25 seconds to calculate simulate normal distribution value and takes 30 seconds to sorting this data ordinary (random produced numbers). It only takes 15 seconds to simulate regression analysis sample data which has 50 variances and 100,000 data and merely takes 4 seconds to calculate 50x50 reverse matrices.
Note 1:Each normal distribution calculate by cosine function and sine function
Note 2:Using one thread on Laptop i7-3630QM
Note 3:This simulation is not Monte Carlo method or numerical analysis method
3To utilize the software and other programs at the same time
they will not affect each other and the software does not control computer system.
4The software can process statistic analysis repetitively by data input.
If users does not have data, they can utilize simulator sample data to process statistic analysis. It can assist self-learning and understanding by simulate different condition.
5Provide a method to confirm 'probability simulator and statistic analysis software' is accurate
and users capable to do self-confirming the statistic analysis method is accurate or not.
6Provide data mining analysis function and method
'Probability distribution simulator and statistic analysis software' functions as following:
1. Probability distribution section
|basic probability distribution has 30 continuous probability distribution and 6 discontinuous probability distribution available.
|It provide various input methods to confirm random variance relations and proper probability distribution which has 'independent and same distribution', 'independent different distribution', 'Bayesian probability distribution' and 'excepted value vector and variance covariance matrix' and so on.
|To appear first 3 random variance marginal probability distribution and joint probability distribution and to utilize 2D graphic, 3D graphic to demonstrate marginal probability distribution and 2 random variance joint probability distribution. It also can set random variance range to acquire the setting range probability and conditional marginal probability distribution and conditional joint probability distribution.
|To calculate probability distribution coefficients
|To output probability distribution graphic and probability simulator data (optional size)
2. Data generator section
To output ''probability distribution section'' sample data and use it as statistic analysis software data
3. Statistic analysis software function explanations
|Bayesian Theorem capable to process layer 8th probability
|One sample (including frequency distribution) test hypothesis of one population average mean and variance: population is normal distribution has OC curve and test function and test value graphic illustrated and sampling distribution as background.
|Two sample (independent or correlation) if population is normal distribution, the test and interval estimation of two population average mean and variances
|experiment design (variances analysis)
one-way AVONA, one-way AVONA re-sampling, two-way AVONA, two-way re-sampling, Latin square and three-way AVONA. AVONA analysis, 3 basic assumptions test and multiple comparison methods and graphics. Simultaneously,
(i)one-way AVONA transform into partial one-way AVONA analysis
(ii) one-way AVONA re-sampling transform into one-way AVONA analysis
(iii)two-way AVONA transform into one-way AVONA analysis (iv)two-way AVONA re-sampling transform into one-way AVONA analysis and interaction as one-way AVONA
(v)Latin square transform into three-way AVONA analysis
(vi)three-way AVONA transform into two-way AVONA re-sampling analysis
it can select error distribution of one-way AVONA, two-way AVONA and two-way AVONA re-sampling has 10 probability distribution as simulator produced sample data. If input data directly can utilize 'goodness of fit test' to confirm error population probability distribution. It can find the critical value depend on error probability distribution produced test statistic sampling distribution (utilize probability distribution simulator).
|Regression analysis (including multiple regression analysis) simple regression analysis and multiple regression analysis with more details stepwise analysis and new developed curve-linear analysis. AVONA analysis and 3 basic assumptions test and regression coefficient test and graphics are included
|One population proportion
|Two population proportion divided to independent or correlation and invert repeated and invert unrepeated
|Independent test
|Homogenous test
|Goodness of fit test, Pearson Chi-square method, LR test, pp plot, Q Q plot, Kolmogorov- Smirnov method and curve-fitting to acquire probability distribution estimate line and estimate line of value. Here are optional 20 continuous population probability distribution and 7 discontinuous probability distribution and offer graphic illustrated also process a series of test from provided distribution. It has intelligent method it capable to find out certain population probability distribution parameter to explain this sample to replace point estimation. Whether discontinuous data or continuous curve-fitting data, they both can utilize sample to establish own probability distribution estimate line, value estimate line, data and mathematical equations.
|Multi-variance analysis is not a traditional method which adopts multi-variances to choose one as dependent variance and other variance as independent variance to acquire regression straight line (regression straight line to establish line model from independent variance as one / two, ..... all variance,) To understand variance relations via line model and to establish estimation, comparison and correlation and to utilize the method do further research on 'mining data'. To utilize 'expected value vector and covariance matrix' input method to simulate sample data of certain analysis method or 'Bayesian probability distribution' input method to simulate sample data. For instance, 10 variances produceregression straight lines.
|Two correlation population correlation coefficient test
|Multi-variance is an equal test (experiment design and regression analysis 2nd basic assumption) but experiment design and regression analysis are different test statistic. Meanwhile, experiment design differs from model design has different test statistic
|Random test (experiment design and regression analysis 3rd basic assumption)
|Durbin Watson test (only test automated correlation equal to zero) regression analysis 3rd basic assumption
Users can be self-evaluated due to this software self-test method
1. Probability distribution section
To know probability distribution simulator result is accurate by comparing produced probability distribution coefficient. For example, normal distribution
2. data generator section
Probability distribution section is accurate and data generator is accurate as well.
3. statistic analysis software section
To utilize 'probability distribution and data generator' to acquire numerous simulate millions of sample data. According to the law of large numbers, sample calculated coefficient is closed to population distribution coefficient. Users can set probability distribution and parameter and sample size to test by following methods, an responsible company's software is capable offer testing method to confirm analysis function accuracy. Utilize probability distribution simulator to acquire tremendous sample data and utilize statistic analysis to understand sample result and population distribution relation and difference to confirm this software accuracy.
Descriptive statistics
Test and interval estimation of one population average mean and standard deviation
2.1. Known population variance, test and interval estimation of one population average mean
2.2. Unknown population variance, test and interval estimation of one population average mean
2.3. Known population average mean, test and interval estimation of one population average mean
2.4. Unknown population average mean, test and interval estimation of one population average mean
2.5. Population probability distribution goodness of fit test
To confirm 'test and interval estimation of one population average mean and standard deviation and goodness of fit test' calculation are accurate.
3. Multiple regression has 4 variances with straight line model without co-linearity
X1 is Normal(mu=10.000000,sigma*sigma=1.000000),
X2 is Normal(mu=10.000000,sigma*sigma=100.000000),
X3 is Normal(mu=-20.000000,sigma*sigma=25.000000),
X4 is Normal(mu=-20.000000,sigma*sigma=16.000000),
X5 is Normal(mu=H1,sigma*sigma=1.000000),
X1,X2,X3,X4,X5 pairs samples and sample size=5000000.
The linear model estimated line by the simulated sample data.
One straight line analysis
Here required residual which means total residual equal to zero and residual multiply independent variance equal to zero as well. The software has powerful performance to calculate tremendous number and capable to provide accurate calculation result. Users can do self-learning, tutoring, researching, analyzing, prospecting, comparing, decision-making and it is a free software without any charge so people should be appreciate and popularize the software.


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AB podcasts
Listen to our podcasts on a raft of technical and topical issues
Unfavourable comparison
Robert Bruce contrasts business and government responses to the pandemic
Silver linings
Robert Bruce sees all sorts of changes to benefit business and society that could be ushered in in the wake of the pandemic
Supporting clients
Heather Smith FCCA talks about meeting with and supporting clients during the pandemic
The benefits of a sabbatical
Robert Bruce talks about enforced sabbaticals at professional services firms
Tools to help run your practice remotely
Heather Smith FCCA suggests some tools that can help you to continue running your accounting practice remotely
Time to take stock
Robert Bruce draws long-term lessons from Covid-19
Working remotely
Heather Smith FCCA offers some practical considerations for working remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic
The digital practitioner
Digital practitioner Heather Smith FCCA considers the benefits of mentoring
Order in audit
Robert Bruce looks at the implications of Brydon's recommendations for audit
The digital practitioner
Digital practitioner Heather Smith FCCA talks about new careers and modern accounting practices
Community spirit
Robert Bruce talks about how the growing trend in 'participatory budgeting' is empowering local communities
Digital nomad practitioner
Heather Smith is a digital practitioner who runs her business from her handbag. In this podcast she explains what it means to be a modern accountant embracing the digital nomad lifestyle
Ongoing concern
Robert Bruce gives his view of the FRC's audit/going concern announcement
Ethical conundrum
Robert Bruce's take on arts sponsorship and business
Taxing legacies
Robert Bruce looks at simplifying inheritance tax
A decade on
Hear Robert Bruce's reflections on what we've learned since the financial crisis
Climate change paradox
Robert Bruce points out once the practical issues around climate action have been recognised they'll be easier to manage
The audit market revamp
Robert Bruce looks at the likely unintended consequences of the proposals to reform the audit market
Understanding how tax works
Robert Bruce looks at the general lack of understanding about personal tax
Presenting budget information
Ramesh Ruben Louis talks about the comparable basis requirement for the purpose of presenting budget information
Rethinking tax
Hear Robert Bruce's podcast about moving to a greener tax system
Economy booster
Robert Bruce looks at the UK accountancy profession's contribution to GDP
Trust is a must
The challenge of restoring the fast-waning trust in public institutions
Robert Bruce looks at Brexit, ethics and the political process
Leading edge
Robert Bruce talks about the qualities of leadership
Exchange transactions
Ramesh Ruben Louis runs through MPSAS 9 on accounting for revenue from exchange transactions in the public sector
Outcome orientated
Robert Bruce says it's time to move forward the debate about a Big Four split-up
Artistic licence
Robert Bruce talks about balancing science and arts interests
Funny money
Robert Bruce gets to grips with cryptocurrencies
Sporting metaphors
Robert Bruce talks about trust and transparency in sport as in business
At your service
Ramesh Ruben Louis explains service concession arrangements under the MPERS framework
How may I direct your call
Robert Bruce reflects on the Public Accounts Committees' report on HMRC customer-satisfaction measures
Fessing up
Robert Burce talks about the Financial Reporting council's mea culpa over HBOS
Trust is a must
The challenge of restoring the fast-waning trust in public institutions
Board games
Robert Bruce talks about the pitfalls of presenting electronic financial information to the board
Good work
Robert Bruce finds that the Taylor Review of modern working practices clears up some of the received wisdom
Construction contracts
Ramesh Ruben Louis considers one of the key areas of revenue recognition - accounting for construction contracts
Taxman talk
Robert Bruce takes a look at HMRC's priorities
Take CARE
Ramesh Ruben Louis considers the new CARE approach - Comprehend, Apply and Report - in the Malaysia Code of Corporate Governance
Pitch invasion
Robert Bruce offers his views on recent HMRC scrutiny of football's tax affairs
Robert Bruce suggests that the jargon used by business isn't helpful
Cadbury 25 years on
Robert Bruce gives his views on the limitations of the Cadbury Code
Goodbye Mary-Jo
Robert Bruce's tribute to departing SEC chair Mary Jo White
The complexity conundrum
Robert Bruce on searching for the Holy Grail of simplifying accounting complexity
Challenges in accounting for bearer plants
Ramesh Ruben Louis talks about the amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 41 relating to bearer plants such as grape vines, rubber trees and oil palms
The quiet revolution taking place in auditor and corporate reporting
Robert Bruce on the quiet revolution taking place in auditor and corporate reporting
Key audit matters
Ramesh Ruben Louis talks about the features of one of the key areas of revision to the auditors' report – Key Audit Matters – for periods ending on or after 15 December 2016
The Cadbury code
Robert Bruce looks back at the history of the Cadbury Code
The changing shape of the profession
Robert Bruce looks at the changes that are having an impact on the role of the accountant
Accounting for assets in the public sector - impairment of assets
Ramesh Ruben Louis' technical podcast on accounting for the impairment of assets in the public sector
The effect of regulation
Robert Bruce looks the effectiveness of principles over rules in improving corporate culture
MPERS - part one
Ramesh Ruben Louis' technical podcast on preparing to transition to Malaysia's Private Entity Reporting Standard (MPERS)
MPERS - part two
Ramesh Ruben Louis continues his short series on Malaysia's Private Entity Reporting Standard (MPERS). This podcast is on PPE transition exemptions.
MPERS - part three
Ramesh Ruben Louis talks about the 2015 amendments to MPERS
Taxation and tinkering politicians
Robert Bruce delves deeper into the complexity of tax
The EU's dim view
Robert Bruce looks back at the EU's historical view of the accountancy profession
Ramesh Ruben Louis talks about revenue recognition
Auditor qualities
Robert Bruce talks about auditing being about understanding and not about the numbers
Corporate culture and boards according to the FRC
FRC's report on corporate culture is timely, with BHS in the spotlight. Robert Bruce asks in this context how to tame the corporate rogue


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Get off your ass! If you're feeling kind of bummed that you're not having all the fun, come on, get up get active. This quirky little musical number campaign also has a gif component - called "Gif Off Your Ass", naturally, where people can share their mood of the moment taken from the ad. My mood is breadsticks.
Executive Creative Director at Ogilvy & Mather Cape Town, Tseliso Rangaka, explains how the campaign came about to AdFlip:
"The client [Virgin Active] basically wanted us to motivate people to get active and lead a healthy active lifestyle – and do that in the Virgin tonality. It was in the context of starting a new year with New Year's resolutions that get dropped off halfway through the year, sometimes earlier."
Ad agency: Ogilvy & Mather Cape Town


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English Bacon
by TournesolKate • Sat 06 Oct 2012 19:17
Anybody know if you can get English bacon around here? Otherwise, does anybody know of a good equivalent?
I live in Ahun.
I live in Ahun.
- TournesolKate
- 142
- Oct 2008
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GardaWorld Federal Services
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26 July 2018, 10:10
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Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 2
GardaWorld Federal Services
I'm looking for some information regarding GardaWorld. I have been offered a position in Afghanistan and I was wondering what the operational climate looks like over there. I know GardaWorld has been around for a while now and fairly established but I would like to hear from some gentleman with first hand experience.
Whats the attitude of most people working there current and former? What does the base utilities look like, are they pretty well established for contractor personnel? What is the shape of the equipment and what are the rules regarding bringing your own PPE?
Thanks in advance I am new to the contracting world and I am looking for any and all information that might help me.
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Coalfalls Accommodation
Searching for Hotels Near Coalfalls (Queensland) or Coalfalls accommodation? Coalfalls is located in Queensland, near areas such as Woodend, Sadliers Crossing, Brassall, West Ipswich and One Mile. Other nearby locations include Ipswich, North Ipswich, Leichhardt, Wulkuraka and Basin Pocket. There are plenty of hotel accommodation options near Coalfalls, including the 4.5 star rated Oaks Aspire Apartments Ipswich (Australia) (1 West Street Woodend) approx 5 mins from Coalfalls, the Metro International Ipswich (Australia), the Villa Modica Ipswich (Australia) or the Country Comfort Ipswich (Australia), 8 mins by car. Browse these and other accommodation options below.
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16 June 2016
Article by Joseph.Champion, National Assembly for Wales Research Service
Darllenwch yr erthygl yma yn Gymraeg | View this post in Welsh
The new Welsh Government will take over as the franchising authority in time to appoint the next Wales and Borders rail operator in 2018. What are the main issues that need to be addressed?
Powers to award the next Wales and Borders rail franchise are due to be devolved to Wales from 2017. This means that the new Welsh Government will be able to procure the next operator for the largest rail franchise in Wales.
The Wales and Border franchise
The current Wales and Borders franchise will be operated by Arriva Trains Wales until 2018 (with an option to extend the current franchise for a short time if needed).
The previous Welsh Government ran a consultation in early 2016, Setting the Direction for Wales and Borders Rail. This called for views on the expectations for the service, and the specifications the future Wales and Border operator should meet. The document said that more detailed proposals would be developed based on the consultation's outcome and wider engagement with the railway industry and the public.
The length of the next franchise is not yet clear, and there are mixed views on the right duration. A UK Government review has questioned the benefit of long franchises in incentivising investment and reducing risk, and cautioned against franchises of more than 15 years without break clauses. In contrast, the majority of respondents to the Fourth Assembly's Enterprise and Business Committee's inquiry into the Future of the Wales and Borders Rail Franchise thought that longer franchises would encourage greater investment.
There is also uncertainty about the future shape of the Wales and Border franchise. The UK Government has said that it will review cross-border services and that those primarily serving English markets are likely to be transferred to English franchises. This has caused concern because of the potential impact on passengers, who may have to change trains at the border. There are also concerns about the franchise's affordability if the financially viable cross-border services are removed.
The UK Government's Department for Transport told the Enterprise and Business Committee in September 2015 that the Welsh Government would not suffer financially as a result of any franchise remapping. How English services are defined is also unclear, as is the mechanism for compensating the Welsh Government for any losses arising from removing services from the franchise.
These uncertainties will need to be clarified quickly to address public concerns and to enable the new Welsh Government to move forward in procuring the new franchise.
Rail franchises with Welsh services
Aside from the Wales and Border franchise, three other franchises have services in Wales:
– South Wales to London and the south coast of England, operated by Great Western Railway;
– Holyhead to Birmingham or London, operated by Virgin Trains; and
– Cardiff to the English Midlands, operated by CrossCountry Trains.
Rail passenger traffic in Wales
In 2014-15, there were 29.3 million passenger journeys across all four rail franchises in Wales – 9.4 million more than in 2004-5. This growth is expected to continue, with Network Rail forecasting that commuter traffic into the Cardiff City Region will increase by 68% by 2023. The new Welsh Government will have to ensure that the next operator is able to deal with this increase in demand.
The Metro
The shape of the Welsh franchise will be influenced by the South Wales Metro project. The Metro is the previous Welsh Government's project to 'provide faster, more frequent and joined-up services using trains, buses and light rail.' There is hope that by 2030 the Metro will support 7,000 jobs and contribute an additional £4bn to the economy.
Phase 1 of the Metro project included a range of road and rail improvements, including: extending the rail line to Ebbw Vale town centre and building a new station; enhancing capacity on the Maesteg rail line; and a new rail station at Pye Corner, Newport.
Phase 1 cost approximately £75 million and, as of 2016, its constituent projects are already complete or in progress. Phase 2 is scheduled for completion by 2023 and is estimated to cost about £500-600 million. It will focus on 'modernising the core Valley Lines and the wider South Wales rail network', particularly through electrification. It is still unclear whether heavy or light rail will be used on the Valley Lines. This decision will have an effect on the scale and scope of Phase 3, which will go beyond 2023.
The previous Welsh Government considered whether, as part of the Metro, the Valley Lines could be managed as a concession by a private company as part of the Wales and Borders franchise. It also discussed an innovative approach, whereby the Valleys Lines infrastructure could also be specified and operated by a concessionaire.
Rolling stock
The rolling stock used in the current Wales and Border franchise is widely considered to be poor and will require significant investment. By January 2020, rolling stock will also need to comply with new rules on disability access. In 2013, 73% of Wales and Border rolling stock would not have complied.
There are several options to secure better rolling stock, including purchasing new or refurbished stock, upgrading current stock, or leasing stock from private companies. The previous Welsh Government said that it wanted the bidding process for the next franchise to set out a rolling stock strategy.
It can take considerable time to secure rolling stock, with some indicating that the process should start four years before the stock is needed. Quick decisions will therefore be necessary.
Transport for Wales
In 2014, the previous Welsh Government created a not-for-dividend company called Transport for Wales. In February 2016, Edwina Hart, the then Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, said that she expected the company to 'act like Transport for London'.
Transport for Wales will be the over-arching strategic body for transport, offering concessions to companies wishing to deliver transport services, including rail, and leading on franchise procurement. It is expected to lead on the procurement of the next Welsh rail franchise and for the Valley Line concession.
Key Sources:
- Enterprise and Business Committee, 24 February Meeting transcript (2015)
- Enterprise and Business Committee, Future of the Wales and Borders Rail Franchise report (2013)
- Office of Rail and Road, Regional Rail Usage (Passenger Journeys), 2014-15 Annual Statistical Release (2016)
- Welsh Government, Setting the Direction for Wales and Borders Rail Consultation Document (2016)
- Welsh Government, South Wales Metro webpage (2016)
- UK Government, The Brown review of the rail franchising programme (2013)
- UK Government, Powers for a purpose: Towards a lasting devolution settlement for Wales (2015)