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The RIGHT time to buy a Cyprus Property
The RIGHT time to buy a Cyprus Property
The new Law
As of 14 July 2016, the Lands and Surveys Department (Fees and Rights) (as amended) (No 2) Law, the reduction of transfer fees of immovable property is now permanent. Buyers can obtain title deeds for their properties in Cyprus and pay:
• no transfer fees; or
• reduced transfer fees; and
• zero capital gains tax for properties purchased up to 31/12/2016
The new Law is applicable
a) when a contract of sale to purchase a property was deposited at the relevant District Land Registry Office on or before 31st December 2014;
b) even if buyers who failed to deposit their contract of sale can obtain a court order in order to deposit it at the relevant District Office;
c) where a title deed for the property has already been issued and the purchaser has fully paid the purchase price and has duly conformed with every other obligation under the contract of sale then the Land Registry Office shall transfer the title deed of the property in the name of such a purchaser albeit the existence of any mortgage or charge due to the seller;
d) where a title deed has not been issued yet, and the purchaser has duly paid the purchase price and conformed with all of his obligations under the sale of contract, then he can proceed to the transfer of the title deeds of his property in his name along with the filing of another application for the update of the title deeds that will make the issuing of separate transfer deeds even faster. This is so, irrespective of the existence any mortgage or other charge on the property.
Transfer Fees
• no transfer fees impose if VAT is paid on the purchase price of the property till 31 December 2016;
• 50% reduction in the payment of transfer fees apply for new purchases until 31 December 2016;
• additional 10% reduction, over and above of the reduction of the 50%, if the purchaser pays the transfer fees within 60 days and before 31st December 2016; and
• a payment scheme of 12 monthly instalments available.
The transfer fees are calculated on the basis, of the market value of the property as at the date of the transfer and are payable at the time of the transfer.
The rates are:
Property value
Example: a property is valued at €200.000, the transfer fees are:
• first €85.430 = €2.563
• next €85.429 = €4.271
• next €29.140 = €2.331
Total: €9.165 less 50% exemption: €4.582
Capital Gains Tax
The sale of immovable property situated in Cyprus till 31 December 2016 will incur 0% capital gains tax.
Let us assist you to buy your dream home in Cyprus contact us today click here
The RIGHT time to buy a Cyprus Property
Cyprus Property Rises 2016
Cyprus Property Rises 2016 sales in Cyprus seem to be showing signs of recovery, after March saw a significant increase, up 19% in sales compared to March 2015.
According to the island's Land Registry data, which looked at the total number of property sale contracts submitted to the Registry, the sale contracts reached 539 in March this year, compared to 452 in March 2015.
Meanwhile, the first quarter of 2016 recorded 1367 of sale contracts compared to 1098 in the corresponding quarter of 2015, recording an increase of 24%.
Significant growth in Cyprus Property Rises 2016 was also recorded in sales from foreign buyers with an almost four-fold increase in sales by foreign buyers at 157 sales this March compared to just 41 in March last year.
In Nicosia, March sale contracts recorded a small decrease of 1% reaching 82, compared to 83 in March 2015.
In Limassol, sales increased in March by an impressive 23% to 197 compared to 160 in March last year.
Larnaca also recorded a 23% rise – with 121 sales compared to 98 in March 2015.
Meanwhile, Famagusta recorded an impressive 94% spike in sales recorded in March compared to last year, although the number of sales compared to other towns was significantly less – at 33 sales in March compared to 17 in 2015 of the same month.
There was also some respite for Cyprus Property Rises 2016 in Paphos with a 13% rise, with 106 sales recorded compared to 94 in 2015.
Courtesy The Cyprus Weekly
Reasons buy Cyprus property
Foreign visitors are on the rise, comprising primarily of Europeans, with the British market dominating (accounting for approximately 40% of tourists), trailed nowadays by the Russian market at 20%, with other European markets in pursuit.
As the Mediterranean's third largest island, it is particularly attractive for vacationing families, though there are hot-spots for younger and unattached tourists as well — limited to certain towns and localities. And, being a former British colony, Cyprus has adopted many of the UK's customs, as well as legal and other procedures.
The island thus offers numerous advantages & Reasons buy Cyprus property when compared to its real estate competitors, chief of which are as follows:
• Motorists drive on the left (a concern for un-accustomed drivers)
• The legal system is akin to the UK's
• The island is the EU's second safest country and eighth most secure in the world. Serious crime is limited, even though it seems thefts might be on the rise • As an EU member, public health, domestic worker assistance for the elderly and other EU benefits and obligations apply in Cyprus
• The island claims six of the Mediterranean's top blue flag beaches and is likely to add to this number as part of ongoing infrastructure upgrades
• Two top-quality marinas are already operating in Limassol, with another under construction in Ayia Napa, expected to be completed in 2018. A fourth is planned for Paphos and a fifth for Protaras. Small fishing harbours are also placed all along the coast
• There are two international airports (Larnaca and Paphos) offering ease of access to all cities via a highway network. Travel time is 30-45 minutes from airport to urban centres
• In addition to an array of sports facilities, the island boasts five international golf courses, plus various sporting clubs of all kinds
• Cyprus enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year and, depending on weather conditions, snow over the Troodos range, with facilities for skiers
• There are several schools and universities where tuition takes place in a major European language in all towns
• For those seeking a business destination, Cyprus offers the lowest tax rate in the EU, and holds double taxation agreements with key commercial partners, including the UK, Russia and Egypt. Perks such as special tax incentives for foreign managers of offshore companies are an additional attraction.
• Distances are comparatively short, with travel between coast and mountains taking about an hour. The island also offers an attractive countryside that combines history with natural beauty.
• Citizens of non-EU states can secure a permanent residency visa by acquiring a home worth over €300,000. Non-EU residents can also acquire a Cypriot passport with an investment of €5 million and a €500,000 house purchase. Such visas and passports also cover family members, whereas in the case of group investments (i.e. a number of buyers getting together or operating through a developer), the investment amount is reduced to €2.5 million per person. This scheme compares favourably with similar schemes in other European countries, and offers a one- to two-month response period from application date. Meanwhile, after a six-year recession, local real estate is showing signs of recovery with prices rising, so it is a suitable time to invest for personal use/buy-to-let/capital gains. It's important to note that, under the prevailing incentives, the ownership transfer fee (stamp duty) is charged at 50% of the normal rate if transfer takes place in 2016 although we anticipate this may be extended.
Prices are dependent on a property's location, quality, proximity to the beach, size and plot extent. As a frame of reference, the following are price guides for primarily new properties (prices for re-sales would be lower): Villas with pool – 100m2, two-bedroom villa with a pool: €150,000-€250,000 – 125m2, three-bedroom villa with a pool: €250,000-€400,000 Apartments with facilities – 90m2, two-bedroom flat: €180,000 – 110m2, three-bedroom flat: €220,000 Offices – Newer, high-tech at €3,000 a month (rental at €15 per m2.) Older at €2,000 a month (rental at €10 per m2) The above prices do not reflect those of properties in Nicosia, where prices are between 10%-15% lower than elsewhere. Luxury/beach accommodation Beach villas: €5,000-€10,000 per m2 Beach apartments – €3,000-€4,000 per m2 Less popular/non-beach tourist areas are estimated at 25%-35% less
Finally Reasons buy Cyprus property the growing number of airlines connecting to Cyprus, together with the government's new open skies policy are also boosting the island's popularity. Meanwhile, deflation has brought down the island's cost of living index, to rank it 12th in the EU. So, for those on the hunt, it's definitely worth paying a visit to a variety of local properties, to get a first-hand look at what the island's real estate market can offer.


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The Shins Announce Reworked Album 'The Worm's Heart'
The Shins have announced a new project titled The Worm's Heart.
The album serves as an opposite version of their 2017 release, Heartworms. It features the same tracklisting in reverse order, with the slow songs re-recorded as fast songs, and fast songs re-recorded as slow ones.
The Shins "Cherry Hearts" (Flipped Version) and a new remix from @RAC are available everywhere now! https://t.co/CyhuhfRbB9 pic.twitter.com/UpRtW5UZDs— The Shins (@TheShins) October 13, 2017
The Worm's Heart is set to be released on Jan. 19. Check out the reversed tracklist below.
1. The Fear (Flipped)
2. So Now What (Flipped)
3. Heartworms (Flipped)
4. Dead Alive (Flipped)
5. Half a Million (Flipped)
6. Rubber Ballz (Flipped)
7. Mildenhall (Flipped)
8. Fantasy Island (Flipped)
9. Cherry Hearts (Flipped)
10. Painting a Hole (Flipped)
11. Name For You (Flipped)

subset: commoncrawl


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About Us
In Zermatt, just steps away from the main street and the church with a unique rooftop lounge. This is the Le Petit CHARME - INN, your Bed and Breakfast in Zermatt. The Le Petit CHARME - INN is created to welcome global travelers, whether it is their first or tenth time in Zermatt. You will truly feel at home in one of our 20 cosy rooms. The Le Petit CHARME - INN has its own Alpine style and individuality, wich makes it the ideal place for trendy, independent travelers. Located in one of Zermatt?s most vibrant areas filled with cafés, bars and restaurants. The ski lifts are in walking distance and the train station is around 7min walk away.


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by Ray Linville
Because I remember devastating Hurricane Hazel and the damage it caused in 1954, hurricanes have always scared me. When warnings begin, I stock up with water, batteries, medicine and canned goods. And then I find the nearest Waffle House.
When the power in my house had been off for hours after Hurricane Florence arrived, I was ready for hot food and off to a Waffle House I went. Fortunately, the first one I found was open.
As Kobey, my server, handed me the special "power off menu," I asked, "When did you open?"
"Oh, we never close," he said.
I expected this answer because even state-of-the-art FEMA uses a Waffle House index. The more Waffle Houses that close, the greater a storm's severity. This Southern restaurant chain has a well-deserved reputation of being the last to close (if they do) and first to open during natural disasters since first opening in 1955. In fact, Waffle House sent executives, including the board chairman and CEO, from corporate offices in Atlanta and 200 others to the Carolinas to help keep restaurants in the path of Hurricane Florence open around the clock.
Although Florence was devastating, it had not closed my nearest Waffle House that was serving
hot food, even after its backup power had failed. I ordered the most expensive item on the limited menu: an egg, sausage, hashbrown bowl for $7.60, more than a meal in itself and well worth the price, considering the conditions outside.
Everyone waiting on food sat quietly, not speaking to anyone next to them or nearby, as if almost afraid to start a conversation, much like worshippers who come in late and sit on the back pew of a church.
My food arrived 17 minutes after I had placed the order – prompt service for any restaurant, particularly one with no electrical power. In a few minutes, Kobey returned to ask, "Everything tasting good?" Hey, it was hot. It was also the best food that I'd eaten all day.
I wanted to ask Kobey about FEMA's Waffle House index but decided to keep my questions focused on food. When asked what he was out of, "Grits" was the immediate answer. "Plus we can't serve chili now because the emergency power went out. That puts it in the danger zone," he said.
"No problem," said a customer overhearing the conversation. "You're all working hard and we appreciate it."
Surprisingly, waffles can't be served – no electricity for the waffle griddle. "I'm sorry that we can't make them," Kobey said.
Hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin starts on the first of June and doesn't finish until the end of this month. We must still stay vigilant and be prepared.
As singer-songwriter Taylor Swift chants, "Just because there's a hurricane going on around you doesn't mean you have to open the window and look at it."
I agree. For me, I go to a Waffle House and look out its windows at the downpouring rain. It's the best way to endure the effects of a storm until the power comes back on – plus the food is hot too.
Ray Linville writes about local connections to Southern food, history and culture. He can be reached at email@example.com .


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The three Swedish directors Alexander Rynéus, Malla Grapengiesser and Per Bifrost has created an atmospheric and moving documentary where fables and everyday realism are mixed and anchored with humour. The cinematic film, 'Giants and The Morning After', is about responsibility, the love for a small community and the important sense of belonging, in a time where the distance between the countryside and the city are getting bigger by the day. The story is evocative and elegantly captured. The World Premiere of the film was held at CPH:DOX on March 19.
What triggered your inspiration to make the documentary?
Malla – The idea to the film started long time ago, i was brought up in this place and wanted to embrace and catch what a small community is like, what it generates, symbolise and how it expresses itself. I started to work with Per Bifrost and Alexander Rynéus 2011 and we have finished two projects together, me as producer and they as directors. As we all know, film processes takes time, with lots of discussions, lots of decisions to be made and you get know each other very well in taste, preferences, values and so on. So i felt them as perfect partners making this film together. So summer 2013 we went all to Ydre and from then on started a very crooked, squiggly creative exploring process with endless discussions about countryside, what it is and what it is not, how the countryside often is described and big issue of depopulation of the countryside. But all this mixed with nature mystic, forest scenes, fables and how to present the place and the moments in Ydre. From the beginning it has been very clear for us that the film is as much about the place as about the people.
How would you describe the work process when shooting the film?
Malla – It has been a very enjoyable experience and quite strange moments sometimes when shooting the film. Suddenly we got aware of how normal it started to become for us talking about Giant Bule and the primeval cow as they were for real! Our hunt for ordinary moments with a slight twist evoked rather suspicious comments among our characters, the most common questions was, "what are you doing", "are you here again" and they started to wonder if this was going to be a 13 hours film. As time passed Per and Alexander started to know more people in Ydre then in their home village.
Your film is one of 12 films nominated in CPH:DOXs main competition Dox:Award 2018, what are your thoughts and expectations about that?
Malla – It's for us fantastic that our film which is about a small unknown place in Sweden with focus on big life in small moments has made all it's the way to the main competition! Our big wishes is that people will enjoy the film and that there are elements of recognition about longing, belonging and the humor of life. We are so happy to be here at CPH:DOX.
Wed. 21/03, 12:00, Dagmar, Tickets


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Memorable Manitobans: Edward Parnell (1859-1922)
Baker, Mayor of Winnipeg (1921-1922).
Born at Dover, England in April 1859, he came to Canada as a boy and later opened a bakery at London, Ontario. While there he served as a London city alderman and ran for Mayor. He moved to Winnipeg and went into partnership with J. T. Speirs in the bread-making firm of Speirs-Parnell.
He and wife Mary Jane Harwood (?-?) had seven children, including Matilda Parnell (1879-?), Frederick Edward (1880-?), William Charles (1882-?), Pearl Blanche Parnell (1887-?, wife of Percy Woolner), and Charles Ernest (1890-?). He was a member of the Royal Society of St. George and the Sons of England. He was elected Chairman of the Canadian Manufacturers Association for 1918-1919 and was the President of the Winnipeg Board of Trade for 1920-1921. In November 1920 he was elected Mayor of Winnipeg, defeating S. J. Farmer. He was acclaimed to the position two years later. He served on the founding Advisory Board of the Winnipeg Foundation.
He left Winnipeg in poor health in February 1922, for a three-month leave of absence from his mayoral duties. He died at his residence in Victoria, British Columbia on 9 June 1922. He is commemorated by Parnell Avenue in Winnipeg.
See also:
Birth registrations, Ancestry.
1911 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.
"Mayor of Winnipeg dies at Victoria, B.C.," newspaper clipping dated 10 June 1922. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B7]
"Mayor Parnell passes away at Victoria," Winnipeg Tribune, 9 June 1922, page 1.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 17 March 2018


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Disk Map Analyzer was designed by users just like you, who are trying to free up valuable disk space in the easiest and fastest way possible. Basic mode offers easy 1-click cleaning. Advanced mode offers our beautiful sunburst disk map that is visually intuitive and feels natural.
We've done all the work for you. Say goodbye to the days of "low disk space". Stop wasting your precious disk space and clean up your drive with Disk Map Analyzer.
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I just got through watching a documentary on ancient Alexandria (available for instant viewing in the Netflix collection), in which viewers were spoon-fed the same old tired myth of St. Cyril of Alexandria and a supposedly anti-knowledge, anti-learning institutional Christianity (most anxious to bring about the know-nothing "Dark Ages") being responsible for the horrifically barbarous and cruel murder of the philosopher and mathematician Hypatia (d. 415). We're also blamed for the burning of the famous Alexandrian library (said to contain the sum of knowledge of the ancient world), to boot.
This sort of revisionist history drives me nuts, because I've seen it so many times. It's dishonest, it deliberately distorts what we know, and it also perpetuates itself by ignoring atrocities and scandals of non-Christian entities. The Christians always have to be the bad guys and the wascally wascal villains; the scapegoats. We're gonna see much more of this sort of thing as secularism and anti-Christian mentalities, fed by a virulent strain of anti-Christian atheism, of growing confidence and arrogance, become more influential in society. Now we have a recent anti-Catholic movie, Agora, that is perpetuating the same nonsense.
I thought that I would, in protest, and in order to get out my indignation and counter this historical hogwash, collect some resources that tell a very different story (including three articles, notably, by a fair-minded atheist):
The Perniciously Persistent Myths of Hypatia and the Great Library (David B. Hart, First Things, 4 June 2010)
The Beauty of Reasoning: A Reexamination of Hypatia of Alexandria (Bryan J. Whitfield, The Mathematics Educator, Vol. 6, No. 1)
The Dangerous Silliness of the New Movie Agora (Fr. Robert Barron; Catholic New World, 5 May 2010; see also his comments on a video)
Fr. Robert Barron on "Agora" (Mark Shea, National Catholic Register, 20 May 2010)
Agora-phobia: The True Story of Hypatia (Sandra Miesel, Ignatius Insight, 24 September 2010)
Agora: An Atheist Sets the Record Straight (Steven D. Greydanus, National Catholic Register, 28 May 2010)
"Agora" and Hypatia – Hollywood Strikes Again (Tim O'Neill [atheist], Armarium Magnum, 20 May 2009)
Hypatia and "Agora" Redux (Tim O'Neill, Armarium Magnum, 30 May 2010)
A Geologist Tries History (or "Agora" and Hypatia Yet Again) (Tim O'Neill, Armarium Magnum, 18 March 2012)
Agora and the Dangerous Silliness of Really Bad film History (Sherry Waddell, Catherine of Siena Institute, 26 May 2010)
Honey Boo Boo, Hypatia, and David Bentley Hart (Matthew Gerken, First Things, 9 January 2013)
St. Cyril of Alexandria & Hypatia (All Along the Watchtower, 2 July 2012)
"Agora" or the Manipulation of History in Movies (Rino Cammillari, Nov. 2009)
Pagan Martyrs, Murderous Monks: Agora Hits US Shores (Nathan Schneider, Religion Dispatches, 4 June 2010)
St. Cyril and Alexandria and the Murder of Hypatia (Francis Schaefer, The Catholic University Bulletin, 1902)
St. Cyril and Alexandria and the Murder of Hypatia (Reuben Parsons, 1893)
Did Saint Cyril Kill Hypatia? (Catholic Bridge)
* * * * *


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Basic Month-to-Month Rental Agreements
Rental agreements protect both the property owner and tenant. Depending on the length of time and complexity of terms, a legal rental agreement may be oral or written. A month-to-month rental agreement renews with each rental payment. Both the tenant and landlord should include the following terms in the agreement to maintain a clear understanding of their individual responsibilities.
Terms of the Agreement
Although verbal lease agreements are legally binding, a month-to-month lease should be documented if it will last for more than one year as suggested by the California Department of Consumer Affairs. A basic month-to-month lease will include the rental amount the tenant will pay and how notice will be given to each party if the agreement in terminated.
Additional Terms of he Agreement
The agreement should include the amount of notice the tenant will give the landlord if he decides to end his lease. Conversely, the agreement should include the amount of notice the landlord will give the tenant if he decides to terminate the agreement or raise the tenant's rent. In the state of California, landlords must give 30 days notice when increasing the rent by 10 percent or less and 60 days notice when increasing rent by more than 10 percent. The landlord and tenant should add any special stipulations to the agreement such as shared utility costs, pet deposits or a waiver of landlord liability of the tenant's personal property from theft or building damage.
Photo Credits
- Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images


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Chalniya is a village positioned in Burmu Block of Ranchi district in Jharkhand. Placed in rural part of Ranchi district of Jharkhand, it is one among the 77 villages of Burmu Block of Ranchi district. According to the administration register, the village number of Chalniya is 99373386. The village has 67 families.
According to Census 2011, Chalniya 's population is 318. Out of this, 144 are males while the females count 174 here. This village has 77 kids in the age bracket of 0-6 years. Among them 29 are boys and 48 are girls.
Literacy rate in Chalniya village is 42%. 136 out of total 318 population is educated here. Among males the literacy rate is 55% as 80 males out of total 144 are educated whereas female literacy ratio is 32% as 56 out of total 174 females are educated in this Village.
The dark part is that illiteracy ratio of Chalniya village is shockingly high -- 57%. Here 182 out of total 318 people are illiterate. Male illiteracy rate here is 44% as 64 males out of total 144 are uneducated. In females the illiteracy rate is 67% and 118 out of total 174 females are illiterate in this village.
The number of employed individual of Chalniya village is 122 however 196 are non-working. And out of 122 employed individual 14 peoples are completely reliant on farming.


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Top 10 Cities to Find a Job After the Military
Finding a job after the military often involves both starting a new career and choosing a new location to call home.
We hope to make the task a little less daunting by providing a list of the top cities that not only have strong job markets*, but also provide easy access to military support and services, higher education opportunities, affordable living, rich culture and entertainment options, and (in most cases) pension-friendly local tax laws.
Here's our list of the top 10 cities to find a job after the military.
1. Austin, Texas
Unemployment rate: 6.9%
Why it's so great: Consistently ranked among the best cities for finding jobs and retiring, the state capital has a reputation for being trendy and progressive and is one of the greenest cities in the country. It enjoys a very low unemployment rate, is home to the prominent University of Texas, and Fort Hood is within 60 miles. Also Texas doesn't tax federal pensions.
2. Fayetteville, N.C.
Unemployment rate: 9.3%
Why it's so great: One of two military cities named by Forbes last year as being the best for finding a job (the other is Jacksonville, N.C.) Fayetteville is home to Fort Bragg, one of the largest military complexes in the world. In addition, Fayetteville State University is conveniently within city limits and Pope Air Force Base is just to the north.
3. Jacksonville, N.C.
Unemployment rate: 8.7%
Why it's so great: Named alongside Fayetteville as one of the best cities for finding a job, Jacksonville has a strong job market and is even expanding in some areas. It's home to Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River, the largest Marine force in the world, and offers educational opportunities in the form of several colleges and universities including the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.
4. Waco, Texas
Unemployment rate: 7.5%
Why it's so great: The city is full of small to mid-sized manufacturing plants offering jobs in a variety of industries, has an affordable housing market, and is home to Bayor University for cultural and re-education opportunities. In addition Fort Hood is within 50 miles. Texas does not tax federal pensions.
5. Oklahoma City, Okla.
Unemployment rate: 6.2%
Why it's so great: The city has maintained a steady economy in recent years and is known for its vibrant and engaging downtown area. It's home to Tinker Air Force base and has a VA hospital within the city limits, plus the University of Oklahoma is nearby in Norman. However, Oklahoma does tax federal pensions.
6. College Station-Bryan, Texas
Unemployment rate: 6.2%
Why it's so great: The College Station-Bryan metro area boasts an exceptionally low unemployment rate, affordable housing and an overall stable economy. It's also home to Texas A&M University for culture, education and sports opportunities, and Fort Hood is within 90 miles. Like all Texas cities on our list, it doesn't tax federal pensions.
7. Harrisburg-Carlisle, Pa.
Unemployment rate: 7.7%
Why it's so great: The Harrisburg-Carlisle metro has largely avoided the economic ups and downs of recent years and enjoys a solid job base and low unemployment rate. The state capital is home to the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks as well as a VA medical center within 30 miles. Pennsylvania doesn't tax federal pensions.
8. San Angelo, Texas
Unemployment rate: 6.4%
Why it's so great: The city is considered a commercial, health and cultural hub for the surrounding areas and enjoys a stable economy and low unemployment rate. It's home to Goodfellow Airforce Base for high-quality military amenities and the highly acclaimed Angelo State University. As mentioned earlier, Texas does not tax federal pensions.
9. Madison, Wis.
Unemployment rate: 6.0%
Why it's so great: Boasting the lowest unemployment rate on our list, Madison is home to the culture-rich University of Wisconsin and a VA medical center. Fort McCoy, the only military base in the state, is 90 miles away in Sparta. Wisconsin does not tax federal pensions.
10. Pittsburgh, Pa.
Unemployment rate: 7.9%
Why it's so great: Pittsburgh has a rich industrial history, solid economy and affordable cost of living. It's home to both the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University as well as a VA medical center. The nearest base is 150 miles away at Carlisle Barracks. Pennsylvania does not tax federal pensions.
Related Stories from Ask Men
*Unemployment rates courtesy of bls.gov and current as of February 2011


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This is the second installment of a two-part series on the historic "right to privacy" judgment of the Supreme Court of India and will unpack its impact on other cases. Read part 1 here.
The Aadhaar case
The most obvious impact of the privacy judgment will be on the Aadhaar case, which will be heard by a bench of three judges soon. The finding of the judgment is that that privacy can be encroached upon by the state a) only by law, b) for a legitimate state interest, c) in a proportional manner.
First, most of the data was collected by the UIDAI and most Aadhaar cards were issued prior to the law passed in March 2016 for collection of such data viz., the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 ("Aadhaar Act, 2016"). The collection of personal and biometric information of individuals before March 2016 without the authorisation of law is very likely to amount to an impermissible breach of the right to privacy subsequent to the nine-judge judgment, putting the process of data collection—which is the basis of Aadhaar—under threat. If the Aadhaar Act 2016 is declared as unconstitutional on the ground that it could not have been passed as a finance bill, then data collected subsequent to the enactment will also be illegal.
Subsequent to the judgment, at best the state can carry out such intrusive exercises even with the backing of a law, only in respect to specific individuals, where there is legitimate state interest...
Second, the whole process of making Aadhaar mandatory for each and every activity of a person, such as banking, obtaining an electricity or telephone connection, school admissions, death certificates, through executive notifications that do not have the backing of any law will also likely to fall foul of the nine-judge ruling.
Third, any attempt to seed the Aadhaar number with all interactions of a person with the state, which will allow the state to have a bird's eye view of the citizen and his/her activities, will amount to profiling of the population by the state, which is not permissible under the judgment. It has been observed in the judgment:
"[I]ndividually, these information silos may seem inconsequential. In aggregation, they disclose the nature of the personality: food habits, language, health, hobbies, sexual preferences, friendships, ways of dress and political affiliation. In aggregation, information provides a picture of the being: of things which matter and those that don't, of things to be disclosed and those best hidden."
Thus, subsequent to the judgment, at best the state can carry out such intrusive exercises even with the backing of a law, only in respect to specific individuals, where there is legitimate state interest, such as a national security (say, regarding a terror suspect). Such an exercise will require warrants under the law.
Fourth, the statutorily backed linking of PAN with Aadhaar that had been approved as non-violative of Article 14 in the Binoy Visam judgment in July 2017 is now suspect again for a host of different reasons. The 1996 McDowell judgment that held that a statute cannot be struck down solely on the ground of perceived arbitrariness by the court has been expressly overruled in the triple-talaq judgment. The Binoy Visam judgment had relied upon McDowell to read Article 14 in a limited manner and now that the base of that judgment is gone, the whole analysis of on Article 14 in Binoy Visam needs revisiting. Second, in the Binoy Visam judgment the usefulness of linking PAN with Aadhaar was taken as a given by the court, even though the Union of India failed to explain as to how exactly linking of PAN with Aadhaar would improve tax compliance. Under the test envisaged in the privacy judgment, legitimate state interest will have to proven with actual material and the method adopted will also have to be shown to be proportional.
Under the test envisaged in the privacy judgment, legitimate state interest will have to proven with actual material and the method adopted will also have to be shown to be proportional.
Justice Dr. Chandrachud (endorsed by Justice Kaul) advocates the formulation of a statutory data protection regime, cautioning that the data which the state has collected:
"...has to be utilised for legitimate purposes of the state and ought not to be utilised unauthorizedly for extraneous purposes. This will ensure that the legitimate concerns of the state are duly safeguarded while, at the same time, protecting privacy concerns. Prevention and investigation of crime and protection of the revenue are among the legitimate aims of the state."
Justice Kaul adds:
"An individual has the right to control one's life while submitting personal data for various facilities and services. It is but essential that the individual knows as to what the data is being used for with the ability to correct and amend it."
The ambiguity around the identity of "enrolling agencies" appointed by the UIDAI under the Aadhaar Act, the ability of the UIDAI to engage private entities "to establish and maintain the Central Identities Data Repository[i] and to perform any other functions as may be specified by regulations", the government's insistence on the mandatory linkage between Aadhaar and every aspect of private and public life (despite the alleged basis of Aadhaar being that it is a "condition for receipt of a subsidy, benefit or service for which the expenditure is incurred from, or the receipt therefrom forms part of, the Consolidated Fund of India"[ii]) are only some of the provisions and principles that will need revisiting on the thresholds identified above.
Right to make choices
The judgment recognises that the ability to make choices is itself an aspect of the right to privacy, which in turn includes the right to choose the food and drink which one consumes. Justice Chelameswar notes:
"I do not think that anybody in this country would like to have the officers of the State intruding into their homes or private property at will or soldiers quartered in their houses without their consent. I do not think that anybody would like to be told by the State as to what they should eat or how they should dress or whom they should be associated with either in their personal, social or political life."
Those challenging the ban on consumption of beef imposed by the state of Maharashtra and the ban on alcohol imposed by state of Bihar will now be armed with brand new weapons (both these cases are currently pending in the Supreme Court).
The judgment recognises that the ability to make choices is itself an aspect of the right to privacy, which in turn includes the right to choose the food and drink which one consumes.
Justice Chandrachud's remark, "The constitutional right to the freedom of religion under Article 25 has implicit within it the ability to choose a faith and the freedom to express or not express those choices to the world" and Justice Bobde's observation that "Article 28(3) expressly recognizes the right of a student attending an educational institution recognized by the state, to be left alone. Such a student cannot be compelled to take part in any religious instruction imparted in any such institution unless his guardian has consented to it" are both independently powerful tools to counter efforts by state actors, including schools, to impose majoritarian religious and cultural practices on adults and children in various forms.
Criminalisation of homosexuality and minority rights
The judgment of Justice Chandrachud, supported by the judgment of Justice Kaul, has effectively held that Section 377 in so far as it criminalises homosexual acts between consenting adults violates their right to privacy. Justice Chandrachud observes:
"[T]he chilling effect on the exercise of the right poses a grave danger to the unhindered fulfilment of one's sexual orientation, as an element of privacy and dignity. The chilling effect is due to the danger of a human being subjected to social opprobrium or disapproval, as reflected in the punishment of crime. Hence the Koushal rationale that prosecution of a few is not an index of violation is flawed and cannot be accepted. Consequently, we disagree with the manner in which Koushal has dealt with the privacy—dignity based claims of LGBT persons on this aspect."
This reasoning will be a very strong ground in the pending curative petition in Koushal v. Naz Foundation to strike down Article 377.
(On a quick aside, Justice U C Banerjee evolved the concept of curative petitions in Rupa Ashok Hurra vs. Ashok Hurra and Anr.in 2002, by ruling that in order to prevent abuse of its process and to cure gross miscarriage of justice, the Supreme Court may reconsider its judgments, even after the rejection of a review petition, in exercise of its inherent powers.)
The acknowledgement that the right to privacy includes the right to be left alone in such places [hotels and the like] finds express favour with Justice Bobde...
Justice Chandrachud's rejection of the application of a de minimis threshold to the evaluation of fundamental rights of minorities as adopted in Koushal is an approach that is bound to equally apply to privacy rights of all minorities.
A passing remark by Justice Bobde makes for interesting reading. It is well documented that sexual minorities are often attacked on flimsy grounds of "obscenity" in a public place through the vehicle of "raids" in hotels etc. despite the fact that a hotel room does not in fact qualify as a "public place". The acknowledgement that the right to privacy includes the right to be left alone in such places finds express favour with Justice Bobde who finds:
"...a conglomeration of individuals in a space to which the rights of admission are reserved – as in a hotel or a cinema hall –must be regarded as private. Nor is the right to privacy lost when a person moves about in public. The law requires a specific authorization for search of a person even where there is suspicion."
An observation that is arguably valuable to keep handy for use against law enforcers with no appreciation of the law.
Likewise, Justice Nariman's list of examples of the right to privacy includes the right of same sex couples to marry, a powerful tool in the fight for self-determination of sexual minorities in India.
Section 375 of the IPC and the marital rape exception
It is rare to see a judgment involving the interpretation of a Constitutional right that includes feminist critiques of the majoritarian interpretations of privacy. Justice Chandrachud articulates his concern over the use of privacy as "a veneer for patriarchal domination and abuse of women." He notes:
"Patriarchal notions... are used as a shield to violate core constitutional rights of women based on gender and autonomy. As a result, gender violence is often treated as a matter of 'family honour' resulting in the victim of violence suffering twice over—the physical and mental trauma of her dignity being violated and the perception that it has cause an affront to 'honour'. Privacy must not be utilised as a cover to conceal and assert patriarchal mindsets."
The judgment goes on to say:
"(T)he intersection between one's mental integrity and privacy entitles the individual to freedom of thought, the freedom to believe in what is right, and the freedom of self-determination. When these guarantees intersect with gender, they create a private space which protects all those elements which are crucial to gender identity. The family, marriage, procreation and sexual orientation are all integral to the dignity of the individual."
The Delhi High Court is currently hearing three petitions that have been were filed against the Union of India by the RIT Foundation, the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) and marital rape victim Khusboo Saifi, which challenge the second exception to Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code, on the ground that by advocating active discrimination against married women, it violates Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21. It is fervently hoped that this decision will also play its part in paving the way for striking off this discriminatory and cruel exception.
For the moment, [the judgment] gives profound hope to all those who believe in rule of law as opposed to rule of men.
Overall, the judgment is one of the most progressive pronouncements in the last few decades. That fact that it is a unanimous decision by a bench of nine judges of the highest court means that it is bound to have far-reaching consequences. The exact impact will, of course, depend on how the judgment is applied by smaller benches of the Supreme Court and various high courts in respect of actual disputes that come before them. For the moment though, it gives profound hope to all those who believe in rule of law as opposed to rule of men.
[i] Section 10 of the Aadhaar Act.
[ii] Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act.


text: Garden Club of Cape Coral SHOPMENUMENUHomeWhat's in BloomAbout UsMissionOfficersBylawsHistoryAffiliationsPhoto ArchiveEventsEvent CalendarMarch In The ParkFashion ShowMonthly Events & ToursMonthly MeetingFlower ShowHalloween Scarecrow FestivalProjectsBlue Star MemorialRose GardenButterfly GardensCups of CheerHabitat For HumanityGarden AngelsPlant SwapPennies for PinesGet InvolvedMembershipCommitteesVolunteerNewslettersBlogPress ReleasesDonateShopAwardsMerit Scholarship AwardMarty Ward Club Service AwardDonna Conway AwardBusy Bee AwardPhoto AwardAwards ReceivedEducationMaster GardenerFun With FlowersFloral Design ClassesResourcesContactSHOPGET INVOLVED The Garden Club of Cape Coral is a fun and social group. There are many ways to get involved and we appreciate any help. Browse our website and Facebook page to learn more about the garden club. Feel free to contact us with your ideas or to volunteer your time.


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By now the glimmer has undoubtedly faded from the stuff you found under your Christmas tree and you are being primed to find suitable replacements for these two-week-old, and hopelessly out-of-date presents. So, as I generally do this time of year, I present a treasure-trove of new gadgets that will make our lives complete–until at least this time next week.
I found this list in a December 29, 2017 ("back in the day") Comparisons.org column by Dave Freeman, and it captures the spirit of what the new year will bring to all gadget lovers–of course, we should expect this list to be constantly changing as new gadgets yet undreamed of will inevitably appear on our wish lists.
First up, and appealing to our obsessions for tracking everything, is "TrackRBravo, an updated version of similar tracking devices already being marketed. Simply attach one of these coin-sized devices to all of of your favorite possessions and stop worrying about misplacing them. If it can locate missing socks in a dryer I will place my order immediately. "Even put one on your dog's collar," says the description. Although your pet might already have one of those implanted chips inserted under its skin, you might also want this extra protection. Hopefully before long we will able to implant one of these nifty little gadgets inside our skulls so we will never again worry about losing our minds.
If you are distrustful of auto mechanics, you will want to pick up "FIXD," another small device that is linked to an app. Simply insert this into your car's OBD port (if you can find this thing, which has apparently been installed on all post-1996 automobiles). This device plays into the current DIY trend that invites us to become experts on everything from medical care to plumbing. Needless to say, this gadget will not endear you to your mechanic.
My favorite item on the list is "Carbon Klean," something that promises to "magically clean glasses with carbon technology." Carbon is a popular buzzword and conjures up magical images in most people's minds. This new item promises to clean your glasses much more efficiently that those pre-moistened pads that seem to dry out once they are removed from their packaging. The real selling point is that "even NASA uses it for lens cleaning." And we know, or used to know, that NASA has ushered in the modern world, giving us everything from powdered breakfast drinks to teflon.
Two items by a company called iTAC have all sorts of potential to annoy just about anyone. The iTAC Flashlight has a LED beam that can cover an area as large as a football field, covering "thousands of feet." This flashlight is very tough. You can "drop it, drive over it, and immerse it in six feet of water" and still use it. The iTAC Tactical Pen is more than just a writing instrument. It is also a "glass breaker, knife, and flashlight" (although probably not as powerful and potentially offensive as the flashlight previously described). Can it perform all these things at once?
Because we are a surveillance society, anything that allows us to monitor (i.e. spy) has instant appeal. If you are fascinated by all those police surveillance cams that appear on reality shows and the nightly news, you will want to install the DashCam 1080 HD on your car's dash. How you might want to use this camera is the scary part. But no matter what you decide to watch, "no batteries are required, and you'll never have to worry about the battery running out while you're recording." For your home, you will want the Snap SmartCam, which allows you to "keep an eye" on your children when you're not at home–hopefully you are not planning to use this in your newborn's nursery. But, wait there's more. Not only is this a High-Definition video cam, but it also contains a handy phone charger. Why, we are not told. Maybe it also features a digital can opener and an Alexa/Siri voice assistant as well.
If you are paranoid about busting your smartphone's screen, and are tired of attaching those bubbly and largely useless screen protectors, you will want to buy "WOWFixit Blass Protector." This is a "space age" (NASA?) product called LiquidNano and when applied, "it forms an invisible, nearly impenetrable barrier that resists scratches, cracks, and even water!" Too bad it also resists touch. But it gives you such a great peace of mind.
If you are sick and tired of hearing all those car alarms going off when there is no apparently emergency, just wait until more and more people acquire the "Siren Song" personal alarm system. Apparently over 100,000 people already have one of these 130 decibel alarms that is described as "ear-piercing." My prediction is that for every potential assault that is warded off, hundreds of false alarms will put our hearing at risk.
While these gadgets seem relatively benign, although at times pretty scary, we live in a world of algorithms that make our lives much less secure. In a recent New York Times article by Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of the spellbing book THE GENE, we learn about "the dying algorithm" that may give us the ability to predict our time of death. He concludes his article with the confession that "I cannot shake some inherent discomfort with the thought that an algorithm might understand patterns of mortality better than most humans." Let's hope that some enterprising marketing genius doesn't put this power into an app or a little device that has a phone charger built into it.
Before I experience a brain freeze, I will bring this column to an end while you place your orders for some of these products.
See you next week.


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Electronic Submittals Application
The NRC has published Users' Guides for each of its Electronic Submissions Systems. They are available at the following links:
- Adjudicatory Submissions
- General Form Submissions
- Criminal History Submissions
- Electronic Generic Fundamentals Examination Registration and Operator Licensing Application Submission
The operating hours of the Help Desk have changed. The new hours are 9 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday (except for Federal holidays.)
If you have questions or comments please contact our Help Desk at 866-672-7640.
The Electronic Submittals application allows electronic transmission of information to the NRC pertaining to licensing actions, associated hearings, and other regulatory matters. The application ensures that information sent to the NRC via the Internet is secure and unaltered during transmission. For other communications with the NRC, see our Contact Us page.
The Electronic Submittals application operates 24 hours daily except when the application must be taken down for scheduled maintenance. System operators will post a notice on the Electronic Submittals home page whenever a scheduled outage is planned.
Users new to the Electronic Submittals application or in need of instructions should select the link below before accessing their applicable system:
On this page:
- Electronic Submission Systems
- Electronic Submission for Operator Licensing Applications
- Electronic Submission for Licensing Applications
Electronic Submission Systems
The Electronic Submittals application supports three separate systems. Users may access their applicable system by selecting from among the following links:
Adjudicatory submissions – Used for filings made to the Commission or Atomic Safety and Licensing Board proceedings
General submissions – Used for transmitting reports or other electronic filings to the NRC. Licensees who wish to use electronic submissions to satisfy 10 CFR Part 26 reporting requirements (Fitness for Duty) should use the General submissions portal. Before submitting FFD reports, please read the FFD reporting information at: Answers about FFD
Criminal History – Used for submitting fingerprint cards to conduct criminal history records checks between submitters and the NRC to satisfy security requirements and/or Commission Orders. For additional information, please go to the Licensee Criminal History Records Checks & Firearms Background Check Information webpage.
Electronic Submission for Operator Licensing Applications
Submitting reports for Part 55 is an integral part of the issuance of licenses to operators and senior operators of utilization facilities licensed under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.
There are two ways to submit Part 55 documents:
Electronic Submission through the Electronic Information Exchange (EIE) Part 55 Interface
This is the preferred and easiest method of reporting. Licensees complete the required forms such as Certification of Medical Examination by Facility Licensee (Form 396) and the Personal Qualification Statement (Form 398) and attach them to the Part 55 submission form which can be submitted electronically to the NRC.
Use the following below listed Part 55 Forms when making an electronic submittal through EIE. Simply complete and save as a .pdf file before attaching in EIE:
- Certification of Medical Examination by Facility Licensee
- Personal Qualification Statement – Licensee
The benefits of using this method are:
- Easy and timely,
- Better data verification,
- Secure data transfer, and
- Enhanced data evaluation by both licensees and the NRC.
Hard Copy via mail or by hand
- By mail – Sent by mail and addressed to the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation or the Director of the Office of New Reactors.
By delivery in person to the NRC's offices at 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland
For additional guidance on operator licensing application submissions, please reference the user guide or view the following interactive video clips:
- How to Request a Digital Certificate
- How to Obtain and Enroll a Digital Certificate
- How to Submit Operator Licensing Documents via EIE
Electronic Submission for Licensing Applications
These tools support the Licensing Applicants with their preparation of electronic application submissions that are composed of large numbers of documents. This is done with several components that work in conjunction with each other, both at the local Applicant site as well as internally at the NRC. For the use of these tools, it is essential that the Applicant closely coordinate their actions with their internal NRC Project Manager/Point of Contact. Close coordination is strongly recommended in preparation for the use of this electronic application submission option. It is also very likely that when downloading and installing these tools on a local workstation, the operator will be required to have "Administrator" privileges to complete these actions.
Electronic Submission Components:
- Packing Slip Wizard – is the tool used by the Applicant, locally, to prepare an electronic application submission of a Design Control Document, Early Site Permit, Operating License or other large application to the NRC. This tool generates the application submission's Packing Slip (i.e., a detailed description/manifest of the contents of the submission media).
- PSW 3.1 – Windows XP; MS Office 2007
- PSW 3.2 – Windows 7; MS Office 2007
- PSW 5.0 – Windows 7; MS Office 2010 (64 bit) – Latest version!
- Packing Slip Template– is the latest version of a complementary file used by both the Packing Slip Wizard tool (locally at the Applicant site) and the application Submission Registration Template tool (internally at the NRC). The references used by the Packing Slip Wizard and the Submission Registration Template must match precisely.
Packing Slip Template local installation instructions
- Packing Slip Wizard User's Guide – instructions for using the Wizard tool to prepare the Packing Slip that must accompany every electronic application submission.


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Hello there! I'm back online and you'll notice things are looking a little different around here – thanks for bearing with me over the last few days while I took some time out to work on a mini re-design. My last blog design overhaul was now two years ago so it was high time for a refresh and a few tweaks of the features that were becoming dated.
I won't go into too much detail about it all now, as I'm planning a seperate post to give you the low down on my lovely new logo (designed by Megan Riera) and the features that I hope will make the blog a little easier to navigate. For now, feel free to explore, bear with me if things aren't working 100% and let me know what you think!
I knew I wanted to come back online with a great post, and I've been really excited to share this particular one with you as I finally finished editing our travel video from Copenhagen (seriously I don't envy full time vloggers, editing is such a time consuming and frustrating task, hopefully I'll get better at it in time)! I'm never going to be much of a vlogger as I hate talking on camera (and writing is my love) but short creative videos like this are definitely an area I'd love to pursue more as part of this blog and so I hope this will be the first of many.
So, before I launch into a photo diary of our first day in Copenhagen, I'd love it if you gave the video a watch, and better yet subscribe to my Youtube channel and give it the thumbs up there. It took me forever and a day to choose a song to edit the video to, but I'm so glad I went with this one by Jose Gonzalez in the end as I think it's perfect for the scenes, even if I do hear it everywhere I go now! Also if you're looking for more info on this beautiful city don't forget to check out my previous post on how to tackle Copenhagen on a budget.
Day 1 in Copenhagen
Our Airbnb
We stayed in a lovely Airbnb in the Norrebro area, which was the perfect base for us – easy to get into central, not as expensive as the centre of town and full of quirky shops, cool bars and restaurants. After a bit of a mix up with our first booking we really lucked out with Sara and Klaus' place. It was beautifully furnished, really comfortable and they were easy to deal with and very friendly. They even left us out a bottle of Henricks gin and two gorgeous glasses when we arrived!
Cycling into town
Our first port of call in the morning was renting bikes and setting about finding our way into town for some food. What we didn't realise was that the Copenhagen Marathon was on that day, and so our route was diverted on various occasions and saw us navigating the streets and traffic lights more than we'd planned. It was probably the best way to get used to cycling in the city though, and meant we accidentally got to see a lot of places which we might not otherwise have ventured to. After a diversion took us off the road and through a park we found ourselves cycling along the river and stopping to cheer on the runners along the way. The weather was incredible this first day (so much so that I had to quickly swap my cashmere jumper – the forecast had said cold and rainy – for a T-shirt instead which is why you may notice some outfit irregularity in the video;-)) and wandering under the cherry blossom trees, looking out to the colourful buildings, and soaking up the sun bouncing off the bright blue water, was simply beautiful.
Brunch at Kalaset
Food was one of the first things on the agenda, and having researched a couple of a good breakfast/ brunch places we sought out Kalaset in Vesterbro for our first pitstop. It proved not too difficult to find and was in a great part of town, just on the other side of the river and not too far from the other locations we wanted to visit. I'd definitely recommend this spot if you're looking for somewhere to brunch. Not only is the interior an Instagrammers dream – colourful bunting, old vintage props, radios strung to the wall, paint crumbling chairs and colourful tables – but the food was delicious – a mixture of Danish breakfast classics, pancakes, sandwiches and organic produce all homemade – and the atmosphere was really relaxed and enjoyable.
It's undoubtadely the most touristy location in Copenhagen but I'd still say it's a must for any visit. The area is busy, and bustling but it's also beautiful. The rows of coloured buildings are lined with restaurants and bars and the harbour full of brightly coloured boats. An amble down the cobbled streets and a little too much love for a pastel pink wall ensued, but who can blame me?
As we reached the bottom of the pier at Nyhavn, we decided to hop on the boat over to Papiroen or Paper Island as it's sometimes called. We'd planned to hit the famous Copenhagen Street Food Market but seeing as our massive brunch hadn't yet worn off, we made the most of the sunshine and took an amble around Christianshavn first. If I thought Nyhavn was beautiful, Christianshavn might just have pipped it. This is where you'll find all of those gorgeous yellowy terracotta sunkissed walls, the cobbled streets and the tiny shops and cafes. We walked towards the Spiral Church in the hope of climbing one of the tallest buildings in the city and getting to take in those magnificent views on a clear sunny day, but unfortunately the winds had picked up and the tower wasn't allowing guests up that day. It was a shame, but gave us more time to take in the area, and we found a bar, got some drinks and sat outside in the sunshine until hunger once again came a calling.
The Copenhagen Street Food Market
If I had to recommend one place to eat in Copenhagen, the Street Food Market would be it. It's definitely one of the coolest areas in the city, and on a sunny day is the only place you want to be. Think a cooler and hipper version of Borough Market, which is on water and encourages outdoor lounging, eating and partying. The dock is home to a few vintage shops and bargain bins too which I was very tempted to start rummaging in but the look on GB's face told me food was more important on this occasion. The large industrial space gets the best part of the sun all day, has a view out to the Opera House and has over 35 different food and drink stalls to choose from. Just like Borough Market I found myself crippled with indecision over what to eat, and forced myself to do an entire loop of the stalls to make sure I wasn't missing anything.
The fresh fish and chips looked incredible, the deli wraps delicious, the noodles and curry house inviting, but in the end I opted for the greasiest thing I could find (sometimes it's what you want right?) in a pulled duck brioche burger and duck fat cooked chips. It was epic.
A couple of drinks and a ginormous slice of cheesecake from the dessert stalls, ate while sitting outside watching the boats go by concluded our day nicely.
Dinner and Drinks
As sunset fell, we hopped back on the short boat across the water, wandered back through Nyhavn to pick up our bikes and headed back to our apartment for a quick change before going out. Again we weren't really hungry after such a big feed so we dressed up and took ourselves to the Meatpacking District for cocktails. Despite it being a Sunday evening, the restaurants seemed to stay open and we were able to grab a few nibbles at a fish bar later on when we got peckish again.
From the blue skies to the colourful exteriors and the beauty on every corner, Copenhagen had easily won my heart within minutes of that first day. It's a truly special city.
I'll be back with some snapshots from day two in a few days!


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Project #rucksofresh: Cookie Cutter Mods
Although I already have a vision of what I want my Ruckus to look like in the end, I decided to hold off from doing a total tear down and rebuild till later so I can still enjoy riding the Ruck for the moment. I didn't want it to just sit there in pieces as I try to gather all the parts (not to mention come up with the money for the parts). So I decided I'd do some minor things here and there (while still keeping the overall picture in mind) as I gathered the parts for the Ruck. I decided to start with some typical mods (aka "cookie cutter" mods) just to freshen up the look. However, before doing so, I decided to do some maintenance since I wasn't exactly sure the last time the previous owner did so.
I began by changing the motor oil and gear oil in the GY6. Everything came out still looking fresh but I figured I might as well have changed it for some piece of mind. I also bought a new spark plug but it appeared that the original one was barely used.
Next I decided to clean up some wiring that the previous owner had just hanging around.
Not great but I was able to hide the wires for the most part. Eventually when I get around to doing the total rebuild, I'll do a "wire tuck" or "semi wire tuck". In keeping with the "maintenance" part of things, I also purchased a battery tender (or "maintainer" as this one was called) with a quick disconnect so I could install it on the Ruck and be able to charge the battery without always having to remove the battery box.
One of the first mods I made sure to get was this Fuel Tank Cover by NCY. I couldn't stand looking at that bare fuel tank. I liked that it already came in a glossy white to match(although not exactly) my brand new battery box from Partzilla.
While I was at it, I decided to add some dress-up items including a washer kit and fuel cap from Password JDM and an NCY dipstick.
Next up, came some Kijima DUT Amber turn signals from the good folks at Steady Garage. Thanks Kevin!
I wasn't a fan of the mirror that came with the Ruck, so I picked up these rectangular ones from eBay. I wasn't expecting them to be the greatest but for $16 shipped, what did I have to lose.
They actually were a good improvement from the mirror that came with the Ruck. My only gripe would be that after you adjust it, it moves due to vibration and bumps on the road. Still figuring out if there's a way I can tighten it to keep it in place.
I was going to lower the original circle headlights with this lowering bracket from Mike155cc but ended up changing my mind. It wasn't the look I was really hoping for.
To finish it up, I added a Password JDM ignition cover and some faux carbon fiber sticker to "protect" the battery box from scratches.
Done for now, at least till the next set of mods come in.
Till next time!


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PRO 9 Commemorates 24th PNP Founding Day
Police Regional Office 9 will commemorate the 24th Foundation Day of the Philippine National Police on February 9, 2015 at Camp Colonel Romeo A. Abedan, Mercedes, Zamboanga City. The Philippine National Police organization is on its 24th year of its existence as the primary law enforcement agency of the country. It is bestowed with the mission to enforce the law, prevent and control crimes, maintain peace and order and ensure public safety and internal security with the active support of the community.
The celebration will be spearheaded by the Police Regional Office 9 Chief, Police Chief Superintendent Edgar Orduña Basbas. Honorable Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, Mayor of Zamboanga City will be the guest of honor and speaker for the said occasion.
The Police Regional Office 9 will celebrate this year's PNP Foundation Day in a simple yet meaningful manner. This is for the reason that the Command is still observing the mourning period over the untimely death of the fallen 44 SAF members.
The celebration will start with the arrival honor to be accorded to the guest of honor and speaker, followed by the Command's traditional Monday Flag Raising Ceremony. It will be highlighted by the giving of awards to deserving PRO9 personnel in recognition of their hard work and sacrifices towards the attainment of the mission and assigned tasks. This will be followed by the signing of the PNP Integrity Pledge.
The PNP came into existence on January 29, 1991 by virtue of Republic Act 6975 entitled "An Act Establishing the Philippine National Police under a Reorganized Department of the Interior and Local Government and for other purposes". It mandated the abolition of the Philippine Constabulary/Integrated National Police which led to the creation of the Philippine National Police with the members of the PC/INP as its nucleus.
The PNP and Policing in the Philippines began on June 23, 1898 when the Department of Police and Internal Order was established by the Constitution of the Revolutionary Government under General Emilio Aguinaldo. On August 8, 1901, the Insular Constabulary was established and created by Commission Act No. 175 with Captain Henry T. Allen as its first Chief. It is became the forerunner of National Policing in the Philippines.
On December 1902, the Insular Constabulary was renamed into Philippine Constabulary. Since then, the national police have undergone several changes and transformation. In 1950, the Philippine Constabulary became a major command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines by virtue of Executive Order No. 389.
On August 8, 1975, the Philippine Constabulary and the Integrated National Police were merged into one organization, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 765. In 1986 after the EDSA Revolution, a new constitution was promulgated providing police force which is "national in scope and civilian in character". Hence, on January 29, 1991, Republic Act 6975 was enacted, signaling the birth of the Philippine National Police, with Police Director General Cesar Nazareno as its first chief.


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FAAST (Fire Alarm Aspiration Sensing Technology) provides extremely sensitive and accurate Very Early Warning detection and alarm, which gives facility managers precious time to take appropriate action to maintain business continuity before disaster strikes. FAAST is so precise that it can discern nuisance particulates such as dust, which reduces false alarm incidents that lead to costly downtime and unwarranted activation of connected suppression systems.
As an aspirating detector, FAAST draws air samples into its sensor through a pipe network, which allows the detector to provide accurate detection even in challenging environments such as fluctuating temperatures. Its smoke detection performance is built around its unique Dual Vision sensing technology. The sensor utilizes an extremely sensitive blue LED to provide Very Early Detection, up to 60 minutes before combustion. The sensor also uses an infrared laser to identify nuisances like dust that can cause false alarms, downtime and unwarranted activation of connected suppression systems. The detector interprets signals from both sources to provide the earliest and most accurate warning of the widest range of fires available.
For communications, FAAST provides an onboard Ethernet port for easy connection to a computer, a network, and the Internet, enabling facility managers to actively monitor and protect their environments from any Internet browser, smart phone, or mobile device. The detector can also e-mail status notifications to multiple addresses.
FAAST enables a fully customized detection strategy. The detector includes five programmable alarm levels, the most of any aspiration detector, and 10 pre-alert particulate levels, so thresholds can be set to meet specific site requirements. In addition, an Acclimate mode can automatically adjust FAAST's sensitivity within specified parameters. For example, if usage for a protected area varies, the detector will adjust itself to provide the appropriate sensitivity to suit current environmental conditions. Sensitivity levels can also be programmed based on a schedule. This precision enables facility managers to mount an appropriate response.
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Project 365 // Day 103, year 3
Not sure what's going on, but seems the last several days my shots have not been particularly crisp. Now, I'd expect a softness to most of this photo as I went with a shallow depth of field, but the orange piece of chalk in the bucked was my focal point and I expected it to be sharper.
Time for a cleaning? Something else?


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Forex Market Hours. As one major forex market closes, another one opens. According to GMT, for instance, forex trading hours move around the world like this.
Complete list of bank holidays and days off for the year of 2017 when major Stock Exchanges and Mercantile Exchanges are closed.
The hours during which forex market participants are able to buy, sell, exchange and speculate on currencies. The forex market is open 24 hours a day, five days a week.
Market hours and holidays for currencies, metals, energies, and equity index CFDs.
Everything you need to keep informed about Forex Market Hours. Check FXStreet's high quality resources. What are the major Forex market trading hours? Easily convert the major market trading hours into your own time zone. Market Hours Holidays. Operating Hours for OTC Link ATS: Monday through Friday 6: 00 A. M. to 5: 00 P. M. ET. OTC Markets Group observes the following holidays. Best Time to Trade: In the 24hour, fastpaced forex market, timing is critical and choosing the best time to trade can add to one's profit potential.
Trade currency pairs as margined forex. You can trade margin FX with City Index on either the MT4 platform or through City Indexs CFD account. This page contains the Holiday Calendar informing traders of when various markets around the world are closed for bank holidays. View at a glance the forex market hours, time zones and current status of the world's currency markets.
Forex Holidays dates (Schedule ) Calendar of Bank Holidays in Forex and Stocks. Bank holidays for 2016
PaxForex team wish you Happy Holidays. Find out Forex Holiday Trading hours: December 24, 2014 January 2, 2015 All time is referring to the Server time (GMT2)
Holiday calendar. In the table below you will find information regarding national holidays for the 2015 year in the: European Union, China, New Zealand, Australia. InstaForex company offers you information about influence of national holidays on the financial market This calendar of 2016, 2017 and 2018 Stock Market Holidays is for all major US Stock Exchanges, including the NYSE, Nasdaq, and NYSE AMEX holiday closings.
Can you improve the answer. Forex trading hours: London, New York, Tokyo, Sydney sessions. Best trading time in the Forex Market
forex market holidays 2017 forex [Help you. Forex Winners and Free Download Downlod free trading sysrems forex market holidays 2017 forex, This indicator that gives.


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The massive cleanup of a century's worth of mining pollution in Idaho's Silver Valley would be cut nearly in half under a proposal Feb. 15 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA released a plan that calls for cutting the cost of the Superfund cleanup from $1.3 billion to about $740 million. The timeframe would be cut from more than 50 years to between 20 and 30 years.
The changes are partially the result of a huge outcry from Silver Valley residents and Idaho politicians. Opponents contend much of the cleanup work is unnecessary, and federal restrictions and the stigma of a Superfund designation have stymied economic growth in the depressed region.
"We had a lot of input from local people concerned about the large scope and cost and timeframe," said Dan Opalski, director of the EPA's regional office of cleanup.
In fact, most of the nearly 7,000 public comments received by EPA about the original cleanup plan, one of the largest in the nation, called for doing less work and getting the job done faster, Opalski said. On Feb. 14, the Idaho Legislature debated and then tabled a resolution calling on EPA to finish the work in five years.
But local environmentalists are disappointed the EPA is proposing to do less work in the narrow mountain about 50 miles east of Spokane. The Coeur d'Alene River Basin is one of the nation's largest Superfund sites, with heavy metals like arsenic and lead poisoning land, streams, wildlife and humans. The wastes washed into waterways and moved downstream.
"It is unfortunate that the EPA caved in to pressure from Idaho and sliced the cleanup nearly in half," said Mike Petersen of The Lands Council. "The legacy of heavy metals contamination will continue, however, and Lake Coeur d'Alene and the Spokane River will have poorer water quality than under the original plan."
Petersen said opponents are ignoring the fact that the cleanup is bringing hundreds of jobs to the sparsely populated valley.
The EPA's original plan to clean up the upper basin was released in 2010. The agency hoped to finalize the new plan this spring and begin the work.
A lawsuit calling for the cleanup was originally brought in 1991 by the Coeur d'Alene Indian Tribe against several mining companies. Agreements have since been reached with several mining companies that had historic operations in the valley, creating a trust fund of about $800 million to pay for the work.
Much cleanup work has already occurred around Kellogg, Idaho, where the pollution was making people sick. Before that work, the Silver Valley was so saturated with pollution that it stripped the hillsides of vegetation and poisoned the blood of children, causing physical and emotional problems that continue.
Opalski said the original plan called for cleanup at 342 mine sites, but the revised plan would clean up 197 sites. He cautioned that the cutbacks mean that when the work is done, the area might not qualify to have the Superfund designation removed.
"We are calling this an interim rather than a final solution," Opalski said.
The work may be enough, or it might fall short of EPA requirements, he said.
Among the changes from the original plan, the EPA is dropping a $300 million project to install a plastic liner along portions of the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River; active mine sites would be removed from the cleanup; numerous remote mine and mill sites that were found to contain little pollution or did not pose much public risk will be removed from cleanup.


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Withdrawn Rationale:
This test method covers a non-chemical, biological procedure for assaying wood for approximate preservative content.
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee D07 on Wood, this test method was withdrawn in March 2010. This standard is being withdrawn without replacement because it is no longer used in the industry.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers a non-chemical, biological procedure for assaying wood for approximate preservative content (Note 0). It requires minimal equipment and technical proficiency. No costly equipment is needed other than a small autoclave for preparing fungal media. Since this test method does not require composite samples to ascertain preservation retentions, therefore it is used to assess retention at individual locations.Note 0
With appropriate, simple adaptation, the method can be used with other products besides wood, such as fungicidal paints and glues. The assaying is done wherever it is convenient, since aseptic precautions are not required except for maintaining a pure stock culture of the assay fungus.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are for information only.
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
|Link Here
|Link to Active (This link will always route to the current Active version of the standard.)
Citation Format
ASTM D5583-06, Standard Test Method for Detection and Estimation of Retention of Wood Preservatives by Aspergillus Bioassaying (Withdrawn 2010), ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2006, www.astm.orgBack to Top


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*French commandos seized six pirates in Somalia on Friday during a daring helicopter raid launched shortly after the bandits had released the 30-strong crew of a luxury yacht hijacked last week.
French officials said the owners of the yacht paid a ransom to obtain the freedom of the crew and as soon as it was clear that they were all safe, the commandos went into action aboard helicopters to track down the pirates.
A district commissioner in Somalia told Reuters that five local people had died in the attack, but the French military denied killing anyone in their daylight raid.


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Groat Road Bridge Rehabilitation: A Value Engineering Success Story
"Groat Road Bridge Rehabilitation: A Value Engineering Success Story"
Hussien T. Al-Battaineh, Ph.D., P.Eng., CVS
President, EHan Engineering Ltd.
Value Engineering/Analysis is "a systematic process used by a multidisciplinary team to improve the value of a project through the analysis of its functions", as defined by SAVE International. This presentation discusses the concept of value engineering, looks into its applications, and highlights the benefits of the methodology. Furthermore, the presentation demonstrates how value engineering was applied to the Groat Road Bridge Rehabilitation Project undertaken by the City of Edmonton.
This presentation was developed in partnership with Value Analysis Canada Western Group.
Speaker Bio
Hussien Al-Battaineh is an expert in infrastructure management, value engineering, risk analysis, and project management for civil engineering applications. He has been recognized for his work in these areas through a number of awards and scholarships, including the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering's Award for Governmental Leadership in Sustainable Infrastructure (2012) and the Consulting Engineers of Alberta Award of Excellence and Award of Merit (2013) for the Risk-based Infrastructure Management System (RIMS); the Joseph D. Thompson/Zurich Canada Graduate Award, (2005); the Award of Excellency, Annual Conference of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, Toronto (2005); the Province of Alberta Graduate Fellowship (2004); the NASTT North West Chapter, Graduate Student Scholarship (2004).
Dr. Al-Battaineh is the founder of EHan Engineering Ltd., a consulting company that specializes in infrastructure analysis, value engineering/analysis, and project management. He has completed risk and value analysis for major civil projects including drainage, light rail transit, highways, airports, tunnels, wastewater treatment plants, water treatment plants, buildings and bridges initiatives throughout Western Canada.
He currently holds positions with EHan Engineering Ltd. as President, Western Michigan University as an Adjunct Professor of Civil and Construction Engineering at the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and is the Value Analysis Canada Director of the Western Canada Region.
A $5 Drop-In-Fee will be added at the door for those without online registration.


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Railroads Triumphant: The Growth, Rejection, and Rebirth of a Vital American Force
Albro Martin
|About the Book
In 1789, when the First Congress met in New York City, the members traveled to the capital just as Roman senators two thousand years earlier had journeyed to Rome, by horse, at a pace of some five miles an hour. Indeed, if sea travel had improvedMoreIn 1789, when the First Congress met in New York City, the members traveled to the capital just as Roman senators two thousand years earlier had journeyed to Rome, by horse, at a pace of some five miles an hour. Indeed, if sea travel had improved dramatically since Caesars time, overland travel was still so slow, painful, and expensive that most Americans lived all but rooted to the spot, with few people settling more than a hundred miles from the ocean (a mere two percent lived west of the Appalachians). America in effect was just a thin ribbon of land by the sea, and it wasnt until the coming of the steam railroad that our nation would unfurl across the vast inland territory.In Railroads Triumphant, Albro Martin provides a fascinating history of rail transportation in America, moving well beyond the Romance of the Rails sort of narrative to give readers a real sense of the railroads importance to our country. The railroad, Martin argues, was the most fundamental innovation in American material life. It could go wherever rails could be laidand so, for the first time, farms, industries, and towns could leave natural waterways behind and locate anywhere. (As Martin points out, the railroads created small-town America just as surely as the automobile created the suburbs.) The railroad was our first major industry, and it made possible or promoted the growth of all other industries, among them coal, steel, flour milling, and commercial farming. It established such major cities as Chicago, and had a lasting impact on urban design. And it worked hand in hand with the telegraph industry to transform communication. Indeed, the railroads were the NASA of the 19th century, attracting the finest minds in finance, engineering, and law.But Martin doesnt merely catalogue the past greatness of the railroad. In closing with the episodes that led first to destructive government regulation, and then to deregulation of the railroads and the ensuing triumphant rebirth of the nations basic means of moving goods from one place to another, Railroads Triumphant offers an impassioned defense of their enduring importance to American economic life. And it is a book informed by a lifelong love of railroads, brimming with vivid descriptions of classic depots, lavish hotels in Chicago, the great railroad founders, and the famous lines. Thoughtful and colorful by turn, this insightful history illuminates the impact of the railroad on our lives.


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Dr. Richard Golden, MD, board-certified neurologist with Noran Neurological Clinic, joined both WCCO radio and WCCO TV for discussions about dementia in light of the recent story about David Cassidy's diagnosis. If you missed them, below are the news interviews.
Dr. Golden spoke with WCCO News Radio on Feb. 23rd, 2017:
Dr. Golden also spoke with WCCO News in person on Feb. 25th, 2017:
In Dr. Golden's interviews, he mentions the 10 early signs of dementia from the Alzheimer's Association. To read more, visit the Alzheimer's Association's page "Memory Loss & 10 Early Signs of Alzheimer's". He also talks about risk factors, ways to reduce your risk, and the guidelines from the Academy of Neurology when it comes to driving safety for those with dementia. For information about driving and dementia, read the AAN's "Driving With Dementia: Understanding the Safety Risks". As Dr. Golden explains, there are other conditions that can sometimes mimic symptoms of dementia that are treatable. If you have concerns about yourself or a loved one, it is always good to talk to your doctor – the sooner the issue is identified, the better the chance of making changes or starting treatment that may help.
For more information and interviews with Dr. Golden, visit his bio page:
Dr. Richard Golden, MD
If you or a loved one may be showing signs of memory loss or dementia, talk to your primary care provider or call Noran Neurological Clinic at 612.879.1500 to make an appointment with a neurologist.


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Boys score as well as or better than girls on most standardized tests, yet they are far less likely to get good grades, take advanced classes or attend college.
That's not fair.
Why does it happen?
Here's a shocking research finding for you …
According to the NY Times Opinionator, a study in The Journal of Human Resources reports that teachers factor good behavior into grades — and girls, as a rule, comport themselves far better than boys.
The study's authors … found that boys across all racial groups and in all major subject areas received lower grades than their test scores would have predicted.
The scholars attributed this "misalignment" to differences in "noncognitive skills":
- attentiveness
- persistence
- eagerness to learn
- ability to sit still
- ability to work independently.
Girls tend to develop these skills earlier and more naturally than boys.
The researchers found that teachers rated boys as less proficient even when the boys did just as well as the girls on tests.
There are some who say, well, too bad for the boys.
If they are inattentive, obstreperous and distracting to their teachers and peers, that's their problem.
After all, the ability to regulate one's impulses, delay gratification, sit still and pay close attention are the cornerstones of success in school and in the work force.
What might we do to help boys improve?
For one thing, we can follow the example of the British, the Canadians and the Australians.
They are not indulging boys' tendency to be inattentive.
Instead, they are experimenting with programs to help them become more organized, focused and engaged.
* * * * *
Ken's view: Don't blame us boys..
God should have have worked on the 7th day to fix some of the bugs in her boy-design.
It's not our fault … it's in our DNA
* * * * *
Follow on Twitter @KenHoma >> Latest Posts


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Since 1979 INTRADA ITALY has been a pioneer in bringing the best of Italian Pottery, Italian Ceramics & Italian Dinnerware to the rest of the world. With over 35 years of excellence, every handmade Italian ceramic creation we offer reflects a fresh, colorful and sunny outlook that brightens any lifestyle. Our handmade Italian collections comprise of the most exquisite Italian Home Decor, Decorative Accessories, Italian Dinnerware, Italian Ceramic Roosters and Dogs and Tabletop found throughout all the beautiful regions of Italy like Tuscany.
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Back to Top
We visualize a society based on justice, gender equity and fullness of life for
Empowerment of the Marginalized People of the society, especially the Dalits, Women
and Children through a process of awareness, organization and collective actions
for raising their socio-political, educational, economic, health status and promotion
of safe environment
A process of animation among women and men to become aware, form and organize into
groups and federations and to take actions for integrated, participatory and sustainable
A group of adolescent girls, the Nav Jyoti Kishori Sangharsh Mandal stands to harness the synergy of the girls for their better future. The prime objectives of the organisation include awareness on physiological changes in adolescence, inculcation of Social responsibility and post marital responsibility, legal awareness and Knowledge on reproductive and sexual health. The groups meet regularly every month and discuss the concerned issue. The following step is collective action for the benefit of the group and community. The examples of collective actions can be seen in girls' participating in cleaning drives or mobilising the focus group for immunization. The present strength of the Nav Jyoti Kishori Sangharsh Mandal is 3284 girls organized into 247 groups.
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This picture of me (left) with Jonathan Kauffman in a San Francisco park would have been unthinkable before May. Here's why:
The anonymous restaurant critic was an innovation of the 1960s, when consumer protection was as fashionable as giggly grass-smoking parties in suburban living rooms, and to our glassy eyes now, about as quaint.
The idea was that nobody dropping money in a restaurant should be treated like they didn't matter, so restaurant critics would pretend to be nobodies and report what happened. Mimi Sheraton was the New York Times' no-bullshit everyman; Gael Greene and Ruth Reichl wore disguises (though, come on, wouldn't a lady in sunglasses and a Carol Channing wig provoke more suspicion than she squelched?). But these days, anonymous critics stand a good chance of getting busted, either because Eater or some raging restaurant owner will out them, or else they'll win a Pulitzer and be photographed drinking Champagne from a clowny glass, or because they simply cannot spend a decade as a critic without everybody eventually getting to know their face.
Plus the demands on writers to make money means that sooner or later, tape is gonna roll—ask food and travel writer Brad A. Johnson, the one-time Angeleno critic who's about to host a TV reality show. If you're a younger writer, taking a critic's job means reverse-engineering a state of official anonymity, prorated from the time you took the gig, marked by swapping out your full-frontal avatar on Twitter for a less revealing one. These days, as Elvis Costello sang on an album called Momofuku that was somehow not about David Chang or Christina Tosi, there is no hiding place.
Village Voice critic Robert Sietsema might be the most famous of the anonymous left standing, but that hasn't stopped him from getting in front of a camera. Sietsema donned his now-shticky satanic half-mask to cook pasta in this 2010 CHOW video (left), in which he called himself one of the last anonymous restaurant critics "on the face of the Earth." That sounded sadly post-apocalyptic.
In May, Sietsema's post-apocalypse got a little lonelier, as one of American food writing's faceless holdouts outed himself. Jonathan Kauffman managed to hold on to his anonymity for more than a decade—Kauffman worked in the Village Voice Media stable as a food writer and critic for more than a decade, has a James Beard medal dangling on a wall somewhere, and like Sietsema, was one of America's last diligently anonymous critics. His final faceless gig was as critic and staff writer for SF Weekly in San Francisco, where Kauffman and I worked together (before that, I succeeded him as restaurant critic at Oakland-based East Bay Express). Anonymous no more, Kauffman's now San Francisco editor of TastingTable.com, an email newsletter with regional and national editions. He's got a fantastic San Francisco-focused food blog, too.
I invited Kauffman out recently. Over coffee, I asked him if it felt weird to finally reveal his face after more than a decade of paranoia, whether the age of anonymity is truly over, and if anybody outside the industry even cares about an old-fashioned thing like a food critic's ethics anymore.
Birdsall: So, you swapped out your generic Twitter avatar for a smiling headshot…
Kauffman: That was a strange moment.
Birdsall: Did you feel weirdly naked?
Kauffman: Exposed, yeah.
Birdsall: But did you also feel relieved not to have to hide anymore? The few times I went out to eat with you, before I took over your critic job at the [East Bay] Express, I think I inadvertently blurted out something about food writing—nothing that would ever have busted you, but I think you were really freaked out that I'd somehow exposed you.
Kauffman: (laughs) I totally was paranoid, I know! Kind of ridiculously so, and I would make fun of it myself. Sometimes I feel like that was being megalomaniacal, but other times I look at the fact that I lasted 11 years and I was never outed.
I think there's always been this tension with being anonymous. I think that anonymity made me a more fearless, honest critic. That doesn't mean it holds true for everyone—there are critics whose faces who are well known who aren't afraid to be brutally honest about a restaurant's failures (in Britain, particularly, where restaurant criticism is a blood sport). But for me, it seemed to be the condition that allowed me to write most frankly—keeping readers, instead of people in the industry, in mind.
Birdsall: But being known—even if it's just having some Facebook photos out there, and not being exactly sure if anybody in a restaurant recognizes you—couldn't that make you a more responsible critic, in a way? More likely to temper your judgments, since you'd be personally more answerable? Less likely to lob bombs at a restaurant, or deliver cheap shots while hiding behind anonymity?
Kauffman: Sure, if that's the type of person you are, and those are the kinds of checks that are going to keep you fair rather than nasty. Even in the age of Facebook, JPEGs, and critic-busting blogs, what I think is even more important than actual anonymity of the Michelin guide kind is the practice of anonymity: Making reservations and paying under other names, keeping a low profile, not attending public events, keeping personal relationships with restaurant people to a minimum. Restaurant critics often have more in common, interest wise, with industry people than the general public does. We're both insiders in one way or another. But it's easy for those shared interests to feel like alliances, which may sway reviews independently of the actual dining experience.
Birdsall: But the whole job model for a critic changed at some point in the last 10 years—didn't it?—when the restaurant critic couldn't just be this purely isolated, purely anonymous writer anymore. They also had to do food journalism, even do their own research for the restaurant review, like calling up to check the hours and staff names. There used to be paid assistants or interns to do stuff like that, but the economics changed.
Kauffman: Well, I always had to have a secondary column, a reported column—that was always part of our responsibilities. So there was a certain amount of reporting I always had to do. I just chose my stories differently so I didn't have to talk with chefs so I could try and break scoops. That just wasn't who I was.
Also, frankly, the practice of anonymity can be a marketing tool for a restaurant critic. I certainly have had numbers of people in the industry tell me that my devotion to it earned their respect. Outside the industry, well—whether anonymity has benefited me as a writer in the long run, since many general readers don't pay close attention to bylines, who knows? Guess I'll find out soon enough.
Photo of John Birdsall, left, and Jonathan Kauffman, by Chris Rochelle / CHOW.com