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January 24, 2017
Coping with mixed feelings: What future for European trade policy? EU Monitor European integration It is hard to overstate the importance of trade policy for Europe. The EU28 is the largest trading bloc, the top trading partner for about 80 countries worldwide and ranks 1 st for in- and outbound investment. E U agreements to foster trade (and investment), however, have sparked mixed feelings more recently given the backlash against globalisation as well as EU- internal controversies over the power to strike such deals. Nonetheless, free trade agreements ( FTAs) are going to remain important for the years to come. Their key advantage is flexibility. The question of a post-Brexit arrangement with the UK is just one case in point. A wide-ranging network of FTAs support the Union's trade ties and forms a key element of its trade strategy. At present, the EU has 44 agreements in place with more than 60 countries across the globe. The share of EU trade covered by FTAs could soon exceed the 40% mark, with new agreements being concluded or entering into force, e.g. with Singapore, Vietnam, Canada or Japan. The EU's FTAs vary substantially, depending on partners and policy priorities. Trade agreements are about more than reducing barriers to commerce. Historically, they have served as a policy instrument to strengthen bilateral ties between partners and can also be used to promote policy principles or values. " New generation trade agreements" with new challenges : New generation trade accords go beyond traditional tariff reductions, including issues like services trade, intellectual property or investment. This reflects the rise of global value chains and multilateral disciplines in some areas being less advanced. Arguably, these issues are particularly relevant for the EU but the new type of trade accords also come with new challenges. Reconciling the European system of multi-level governance and internal sovereignty sharing with negotiating new generation FTAs remains a key issue. Yet, the EU's ability to conclude trade deals is also contingent on political support. Rising scepticism about globalisation means, that (potential) distributional effects of FTAs and their (potential) interaction with national legislation, is going to feature more prominently throughout negotiations and in the public debate. FDI dispute resolution has proved one of the most controversial points in recent trade negotiations. A more thorough reform of investment governance could help to address some of the issues with the current system. The EU and Canada have recently made the case for reform but an overhaul of the current system would require substantive global cooperation. The Trump campaign questioned the usefulness of current trade agreements. Actions following words could easily trigger a slew of legal challenges ‒ both domestic and at the WTO ‒ and cause serious economic damage. Author Patricia Wruuck +49 69 910-31832 firstname.lastname@example.com Editor Barbara Böttcher Deutsche Bank AG Deutsche Bank Research Frankfurt am Main Germany E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Fax: +49 69 910-31877 www.dbresearch.com DB Research Management Stefan Schneider January 24, 2017 Coping with mixed feelings What future for European trade policy? What future for European trade policy? 2 | January 24, 2017 EU Monitor Back in the spotlight: Trade policy Trade policy has never been uncontroversial. However, 2016 brought it back in full spotlight with (fears of) globalisation seeming to reshape politics in developed economies. Free trade agreements (FTAs) have come particularly under fire. Challenged by anti-globalisation protests and called into question in election campaigns, the future of trade accords like TTIP or NAFTA currently look uncertain. At the same time, the global trading system may well be in for a new round of trade deals, e.g. if the UK opts for restructuring its trade relationships with the EU and other countries via FTAs. As for the EU, the seesaw about CETA showed some of the issues that far- reaching trade agreements are facing. These are both legal and political, including questions such as the scope of the Union's trade policy competence, what issues trade accords can and should address, the public perception of (EU) trade negotiations and some FTAs in particular. Stable trade relations with its partners are key for an advanced economy like the EU, its consumers, and companies and FTAs can play a vital role in supporting ties. In fact, the certainty they can add is (all the more) valuable in times of high (political) uncertainty. Yet, EU trade policy risks being caught up between domestic and global challenges at the moment. The key domestic issue is ensuring support for common trade policy – both among the public and EU member states. Notably, this includes better communication of EU trade policy, its rationale, implementation and results as well as strategies to address the disruptive effects of trade (and the fears thereof). Globally, the EU has been trying to reconcile its bilateral and regional agenda with support for the multilateral trading system. The latter looks likely to be further tested in the coming years, e.g. due to looming trade disputes between key players – take for example the recent challenge of the US and the EU over methodologies for antidumping duties by China – or countries prioritizing bilateral goals over multilateral commitments. While the EU has a well-developed FTA network and agenda to fall back on, some of the most difficult issues in its FTA negotiations, e.g. the investment dispute settlement, could be easier to address – internally and externally – with a stronger multilateral framework. The EU's trade position Europe plays a key role in world trade. Altogether, the EU28 is the largest trader in goods and services. With EUR 2,388 bn it ranks 2 nd in imports (US: EUR 2,522 bn) and takes the top position for exports (EUR 2,603 bn, followed by China with EUR 2,258 bn). 1 EU total trade in goods increased by 57% from 2005 to 2015 and – albeit from a lower basis – services surged by 94%. Notwithstanding the growth in absolute volumes, the EU's share in world trade, 14.7% for trade in goods and 22.2% for trade in services in 2015 compared to 17.5% and 24.1% in 2005 respectively, slightly declined due to a mix of domestic and external factors. 2 Shares for the US are similarly lower than 2005 while China's role in world trade has clearly 1 Volumes for trade in goods and services excluding intra-EU trade, 2015. Source: European Commission, Eurostat (2016). 2 Domestic factors include demography and the effects of the financial and economic crisis. External factors include the growing importance of emerging economies in world trade, notably China which increased its trade substantially since the country entered the WTO in 2001. 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 EU exports-goods EU imports-goods EU exports-services EU imports-services The EU in global trade: Growth in interconnectedness during past decade 1 In EUR bn Sources: European Commission, Eurostat What future for European trade policy? 3 | January 24, 2017 EU Monitor increased during the past decade (14.9% trade share for trade goods, i.e. + 6 pp compared to 2005, and + 4.7 pp for trade in services bringing the share to 9.1%). Similarly, the EU28 is a key source of and destination for global investment. In 2014, it ranked first in inbound investment with a total of EUR 118.9 bn in inflows and EUR 96.1 bn in outflows (2 nd to the US which recorded outflows of EUR 253.6 bn). Foreign direct investment in the EU (2014: EUR 4.583 bn) makes up for about 26% of global FDI stocks and investment in European firms in other parts of the world (EUR 5.749 bn) amount to more than a third of global stocks. 3 The quick glimpse at trade and investment figures emphasizes the EU's global interconnectedness. As a bloc, the EU28 is the top trading partner for about 80 countries worldwide and the 2 nd most important partner for another 40. 4 A wide-reaching network of trade agreements and investment treaties that has developed over decades supports these connections. 5 The EU's trade agreements At present, the EU has 44 trade agreements in place with more than 60 countries across the globe. 6 In addition, five accords have been finalised but are not yet being applied (with East African countries, Ecuador, Singapore, Vietnam and West Africa). Trade agreements are flexible instruments and their content reflects relations with and priorities of the EU and its different partners. Basically, EU trade policy distinguishes between three types of accords 7 , i.e. i.Partnership and Cooperation Agreements – which leave customs as they are and provide a general framework for bilateral and economic relations, for example with African and Caribbean partner countries. ii.Customs Unions – which eliminate duties with the respective trading par tner and establish a joint tariff for foreign imports, for example with San Mar ino and Andorra or the Customs Union with Turkey (for trade in goods ). iii.Association Agreements, Stabilisation Agreements and (Deep and C omprehensive) Free Trade Agreements and Economic Partnerships – which remove or reduce customs tariffs in bilateral trade, for example with South Korea (FTA), Canada (deep and comprehensive FTA) or Serbi a and Albania (both with Stabilisation and Association Agreements). Trade agreements are about more than reducing barriers to trade. They are a policy instrument to strengthen bilateral ties between partners and can also be used to promote certain principles or values (e.g. environmental protection or animal health). FTAs are typically based on the idea of reciprocal liberalisation. However, Economic Partnership Agreements do not necessarily require (immediate) reciprocal market opening from partners, reflecting their history as an attempt to promote economic development through trade. Some trade accords are part of broader political agreements, e.g. association agreements. The EU's trade agreements are quite heterogeneous, reflecting characteristics of trading partners' economies, bilateral trade ties as well as their dates of negotiation and conclusion. Notably some of the older agreements are currently undergoing modernisation. 3 See European Commission, Eurostat (2016). 4 See European Commission (2015). 5 Other factors are of course the EU's geographical position and the multilateral trade system of which the EU and its member states have formed part. 6 Source: European Commission, DG trade. Dec. 2016. This includes different types of agreements. Accords with country groups are counted as one. 7 Source: European Commission http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/agreements/ FTAs: More and broader scope 3 FTAs aim to reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers (NTBs) between partners. While strengthening ties, economic integration is less advanced than in a Customs Union (also requires common external tariff) or a Common Market with free movement of capital, labour and people and (some) harmonisation of policies. During GATT (1948-1994) members notified 124 regional trade agreements (on trade in goods). Since 1995, about 400 arrangements for goods and services have been notified. WTO members currently have 19 customs unions and 238 FTAs in force (total regional trade agreements: 431). FTAs can vary considerably in terms of scope and ambition, particularly for issues beyond tariffs. Services have increasingly formed part of trade agreements and by now the majority of physical agreements cover both goods and services. In addition, FTAs have been including elements that are only partly or not covered by WTO rules. Sources: WTO (2016), Deutsche Bank Research 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 EU US CHN Total goods Total services Sources: European Commission, Deutsche Bank Research In EUR bn (2015), for EU: trade with extra EU28 Three largest traders worldwide 2 What future for European trade policy? 4 | January 24, 2017 EU Monitor Trade agreements are not all alike Trade agreements can be classified in different ways, ranging from age or partner country characteristics, the degree of market access they foster, the type of trade they cover, whether they require reciprocal market opening, and potentially also looking at more political elements they include. 8 Breadth of trade accords is easier to capture than depth. In the first case, issue areas (e.g. goods, services, intellectual property) that are typically addressed in different chapters, can serve as one proxy. 9 Depth is more elusive: Some trade agreements for instance contain provisions to somewhat open up labour or capital flows bringing it closer to a common market. Also, accords can contain provisions and set up fora for dispute settlement or establish policy dialogues in certain areas, which can be a way to foster closer cooperation. A recent distinction is between "classic" trade agreements which mainly focus on liberalisation of trade in goods and "new / 2 nd generation accords" which cover areas beyond trade in goods, such as services, intellectual property or rules for investment. While still seeking tariff reductions in some areas, a key focus is the reduction of non-tariff barriers. Basically, the 2 nd generation accords are broader and deeper, the recent agreement with Canada (CETA) being one example for this type of agreements. Agreements on trade and investment tap very different worlds While trade and investment are (ever more) closely linked, particularly through global value chains, it is worth pointing out some distinctions between agreements on trade compared to the area of investment. First, the basic goal of rules in the two areas differs. Rules for trade originally aimed at smoothing flows of goods by reducing protection at the border (thereby encouraging trade) whereas arrangements for FDI are about protecting property rights of foreigners within another country's borders (thereby attracting investment). In practice, things are more complex but the different origins still show in today's debates. Second, the degree of multilateralisation and institutionalisation is more advanced for trade. GATT and later the WTO have provided a relatively advanced multilateral framework for trade relations and have reached broad membership and coverage of global trade (by now 164 WTO members, with exchange among them accounting for more than 94% of global merchandise trade and 97% for services 10 ). The issue here has always been to reconcile bilateral and plurilateral trade deals with(in) the multilateral system. Trade agreements aim for privileged market access for the countries doing an agreement. Yet for GATT/WTO most favoured nation (MFN), i.e. that countries cannot discriminate between trading partners and that special favours granted to one need to apply for all members, is a core principle. WTO provides for exceptions from MFN for regional trade agreements provided that they meet the conditions specified in GATT and GATS. This is relevant for example for the tariff part of negotiations as the rules stipulate that "substantially all of trade" must be liberalised. 11 8 For example establishing regular policy dialogues in a particular area. 9 Beyond issue areas the approach to market opening (negative or positive list) is a factor to consider for breadth and depth. 10 Membership includes the EU and member states. Trade shares excluding intra-EU trade, 2014. Source: WTO. 11 See WTO for further information on regional trade agreements in the world trading system and Matsushita (2010) for further discussion. Do trade agreements really increase trade? 4 The short answer is "yes" on average – but not all trade agreements do so to the same extent (see e.g. Baier/Bergstrand 2007, Baier et.al 2007 and Kohl 2014). One explanation for varying impact is the heterogeneity of agreements for example in terms of design, institutional quality etc. Different characteristics of accords can also affect the credibility of commitments. Handley and Limao (2015) find that credible preferential trade agreements can increase trade even if applied barriers are already low and that agreements can play an important role in removing uncertainty about future trade policies which in turn spurs export investment. Source: Deutsche Bank Research What future for European trade policy? 5 | January 24, 2017 EU Monitor Basically, the WTO provides an institutional framework for trade in goods (incl. issues related to it), trade in services (GATS), trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) and a mechanism for dispute settlement. Agreements by WTO members need to be "WTO compatible", i.e. respecting global trade rules and disciplines, and members need to notify the organisation of new accords. Arrangements for investment have developed quite differently. There is no parallel international organisation or body of rules for investment. 12 Some aspects of investment policies are dealt with as part of multilateral trade rules (GATS for services-related, TRIPS for intellectual property and TRIMs for trade- related investment measures) but by and large investment has mostly been protected through bilateral agreements (BITs). In some cases, there are also sectoral agreements (e.g. Energy Charter Treaty) or investment provisions are part of regional and bilateral trade agreements (e.g. NAFTA or CETA). Globally, there are 2.324 BITs and another 297 treaties with investment provisions in force. 13 The EU or its member states are currently signatories to about half of the existing BITs. 14 Dealing with disputes A key issue in trade and investment agreements is the resolution of disputes in cases where commitments are (allegedly) not met. For trade, there is an established dispute settlement mechanism within the WTO. FTAs, which need to be compatible with WTO rules, can specify the WTO as designated forum to resolve disputes or agree on alternative procedures for partners, ranging from consultation mechanisms, arbitration or the establishment of standing bodies. In contrast, for investment there is no unified set of rules on investment protection and investment dispute resolution at the moment. The existing investment agreements contain rules for treatment of foreign investment 16 and provide for investors to bring disputes. Agreements typically refer to different sets of arbitration rules. Basically, the current system of Investor-State Dispute Settlement allows investors to resort to international arbitration (on the basis of different sets of rules) when they see obligations included in BITs violated. Usually, disputes are adjudicated by ad hoc tribunals of arbitrators appointed by the parties to the dispute and tribunals are disbanded afterwards. The current system of ISDS has been criticised from different sides and for various reasons. Notably, these include potential disadvantage for developing countries which potentially face claims for compensation from investors, low public trust in an ad hoc system, and increasing complexity with the spread of BITs. However, it is still pending a thorough reform. At the same time, dispute resolution for investment has become one of the most difficult issues in the public debate about 2 nd generation trade agreements like CETA in Europe (but also beyond). 2 nd generation trade agreements – what are really the issues? There are two key reasons to negotiate 2 nd generation comprehensive accords for Europe. Trade in goods and services and investment as well as issues like intellectual property have become increasingly linked, which speaks for a 12 Negotiations at the OECD on a multilateral agreement on investment did not conclude successfully in the 1990s. 13 As of Jan. 2017, Source: UNCTAD, International Investment Agreement database. 14 For investment agreements notified by EU member states see http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:C:2016:149:TOC 15 See Choi (2007). 16 Investment protection standards to some extent reflect global principles though. ISDS in brief 5 The current system of investor state dispute settlement (ISDS) in investment agreements emerged in the 1960s. Before, investment was mainly protected through "diplomatic protection", i.e. investors' home countries helped to settle disputes (the disadvantage being that private investors' problems could turn into diplomatic frictions). 15 ISDS as part of investment agreements allows investors to directly bring disputes against host states. Investment agreements typically refer to different sets of arbitration rules, e.g. ICSID (World Bank) or UNICTRAL (UN) to enforce obligations contained in BITs. Sources: Choi (2007), UNCTAD (2015), Deutsche Bank Research What future for European trade policy? 6 | January 24, 2017 EU Monitor comprehensive approach. Second, some of the issues beyond trade in goods are less covered by multilateral disciplines – either because there has not been agreement on them and/or multilateral rules have not kept pace. To that extent, FTAs can be a way to bridge some gaps but also to potentially lead by example – particularly when it comes to issues such as addressing NTBs or dispute resolution. From the EU's perspective, pursuing broad and deep trade accords make the most sense with partners of sufficient market size, already decently developed trade ties (broad product range, goods and services, mutual investment), growth prospects to increase them further and partners with more similar preferences in some of the more controversial areas (e.g. when negotiating rules to facilitate regulatory convergence or mutual recognition). However, agreements to foster trade and investment have sparked mixed feelings. Two things come together here: First is an issue over competencies to strike comprehensive trade deals. Second is anti-globalisation sentiment and public scepticism about (some) trade deals. The seesaw about CETA exemplifies both points. What is the scope of the common commercial policy (again)? The EU's common commercial policy (CCP) has evolved over the years, also to accommodate for new issues on the trade policy agenda. The Lisbon treaty (2009) strengthened the EUs powers on trade, notably on services, commercial aspects of intellectual property rights, and by bringing foreign direct investment within the CCP's scope, allowing for a more comprehensive approach to trade and investment issues. 17 Yet how far exactly the EU's competences extend is still subject to debate. This matters for the legal nature of the EU's trade accords and the approval process an agreement needs to go through. In a nutshell, if a trade accord falls under exclusive competence, it can be concluded as 'EU only' and approval can be by qualified majority. 18 If a trade accord affects areas which are exclusive competences of member states, there has to be national ratification. If a trade agreement concerns shared competences, they tend to be concluded as mixed agreements. 19 The reason for this arrangement is simply that the EU's competences over trade should parallel its internal competencies for rule-making. From a political perspective, however, mixed agreements mean a longer approval process with an uncertain outcome ‒ and the backlash against globalisation and populist challengers amplify this. New types of trade deals trigger new types of opposition The concerns that new trade agreements can raise are – just like the accords – a mix of classic and new issues. First is rising pressure on import competing industries and fears of potential job losses. Second are concerns about potential weakening of standards, e.g. on labour, health and environment, resulting in lower levels of consumer and worker protection. This often goes together with fears about trade agreements limiting the ability to regulate, an issue, which also looms large in the debate about investment dispute resolution. Third, the process of negotiating trade agreements has been criticized for its lack of transparency. The first point is about the classic (re)distributional effects of trade. The other issues are essentially about trust in government / EU / elites in general (or the lack thereof). 17 Note that the Lisbon treaty also strengthened the role of the European Parliament in trade matters. 18 The voting procedure for Council depends on the exact content of the agreement. 19 In cases of shared competence there is a choice between full national ratification or if a qualified majority (depending on content) agrees, it can be concluded as EU only. For further discussion see Peers (2016) and Puccio (2016). 45 55 threat opportunity "Globalisation is a..." Opinions about globalisation in Europe 6 Sources: Bertelsmann foundation (2016), Deutsche Bank Research Respondents in percent 0 20 40 60 80 100 vote for EU exit want more EU integration trust politicians are satisfied with democracy think country has too many foreigners in percent Very different views: Globalisation as a threat ... 7 Sources: Bertelsmann foundation (2016), Deutsche Bank Research 0 20 40 60 80 100 vote for remain in EU want more EU integration trust politicians are satisfied with democracy think country has too many foreigners in percent ... or an opportunity 8 Sources: Bertelsmann foundation (2016), Deutsche Bank Research What future for European trade policy? 7 | January 24, 2017 EU Monitor These concerns are mutually reinforcing. Also, it is this combination, which makes it very attractive for populists to oppose EU trade deals and capitalize on fears. Against this background, ratification of trade deals at national level becomes less and less certain. The worst-case scenario for EU trade policy at the moment is thus a scenario of paralysis and increasing irrelevance. Coping with mixed feelings: What future for European Trade Policy? To be clear: The combination of competency issues and rising discontent with globalisation seriously risks undermining European trade policy and ambitious FTAs as part of it. But there are several reasons not to jump to conclusions. Legal challenges can help to clarify First, the combination of a broader set of issues being negotiated in trade agreements and the broadening of competencies prompted the question how far the scope of CCP really extends. Ultimately, it's a system evolving, given new issues on trade policymakers' agenda and the EU's multi-level governance structure. The pending cases about the EU's competence to conclude the EU- Singapore free trade agreement as "EU only" as well as the legal challenges about the provisions on investment disputes exemplify this. There is no blue-print for trade policymaking in a multi-level system like the EU. A growing body of legal interpretation on these topics can provide some guidance ‒ and thereby help going forward even if rulings point out some limits of competencies or tensions between domestic constitutional rules and commitments through (EU) trade accords. For example, the application for a preliminary injunction at the German Constitutional Court in the CETA was ultimately rejected in October 2016, allowing the German government to back the agreement in the Council, but subject to conditions. 20 Bottom-line is that this might help to reduce uncertainties with respect to (provisional) application. On the EU-Singapore case, the advocate general Sharpston issued her opinion late December, arguing that the EU Singapore FTA can only be concluded jointly by the EU and the member states. While the final ruling by the ECJ is still out (likely to follow Q1 2017) the advocate general has put forward a differentiated view on the competency issue, arguing that while a wide-range of matters in the agreement are covered by the EU's external competencies, some aspects are not (exclusive). 21 The crucial point is that rather than seeing legal cases as (in)validating EU trade policy or its approach to FTA negotiations, they can on the upside provide clarification. Also the competency issue, it also emphasizes the need for carefully drafting mandates. 20 These are to ensure 1. That provisional application only applies to the parts of CETA that lie indisputably within scope, 2. Sufficient democratic legitimacy with regards to the CETA-joint committee, 3. There is a possibility to unilaterally terminate the provisional application. See German Constitutional Court, press release No.71/2016. The investment Court system will be assessed in the main proceedings. In addition, as part of the deal to back the agreement, the Belgium federal government will seek the Opinion of the European Court of Justice on the compatibility of the Investment Court System (ICS) in Chapter Eight of CETA with the Treaties. 21 See ECJ press release No.147/16. http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2016- 12/cp160147en.pdf The scope of CCP and the EU-SGP FTA 9 Negotiations for an FTA between the EU and Singapore were completed in October 2014. The agreement is still pending formal approval and ratification. It covers trade on goods, services, intellectual property rights and investment. The European Commission has asked the Court to clarify on the question which areas fall under EU-exclusive, shared or member states' competences which has implications for the conclusion of the accord ('EU only' or jointly with member states). The opinion could set a precedent with respect to the question to what extent FTA agreements can be concluded by the EU (and the EP's consent) or mixed. Thereby it would also speak to the question of member states' role and reach in the Union's external relations, the relation between the EU's legal system and external competences after Lisbon reforms and the possibility of accommodating new trade agreements with evolving EU secondary legislation. The Court's judgement is expected for spring. Sources: Puccio (2016), European Commission, Deutsche Bank Research 20 22 58 Advantages Disadvantages Don't know The uncertain majority: Germans' opinion on CETA 11 For Germany, CETA brings ... Source: ZDF Politbarometer Poll as of Oct. 28 2016. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 2007 2014 2016 Very positive Fairly positive Fairly negative Very negative DK Source: Eurobarometer, Deutsche Bank Research Associations with "free trade". Total EU Shrinking majority with positive view on trade 10 What future for European trade policy? 8 | January 24, 2017 EU Monitor Public opinion ‒ in principle and in practice Second, trade liberalisation has never been uncontroversial. But ‒ perhaps surprisingly given the current discussion about globalisation discontent ‒ public opinion is not outright hostile to free trade in principle. Public opinion in the EU tends to be fairly divided on trade issues with a slight majority in favour of openness. For example, a recent pan-European poll by Bertelsmann showed 55% with favourable views on globalisation compared to 45% seeing it as a threat. Similarly, the regular Eurobarometer survey suggests that more Europeans see globalisation positive (48%) than negative (40%) ‒ which is about the same as a decade ago (46 and 39% in 2007). 22 Associations with "free trade" are also mostly positive on average. On specific issues like trade agreements, (evidence on) public opinion is rather selective and arguably a number of other issues may come into play when judging the potential effects of individual accords (which polls most of the time do not allow to really discern). The aggregate data that there is, neither provides for strong rejection of EU trade policymaking nor strong backing. Research based on micro-level data has tended to suggest that preferences for economic openness are based on how trade affects individual levels of income. 23 However, some research also finds that perceptions of trade's effect on the economy as a whole also come into play. 24 Also, for the 2 nd generation trade agreements it is reasonable to assume that issues other than distributional effects play a more prominent role. What are the implications for European trade policy? First of all, public opinion neither provides for rejection nor enthusiastic support. Rather, it emphasizes the need to (better) communicate trade policy's rationale, implementation and results both at European and member state level. If anything, this is even more important when it comes to issues beyond traditional tariff protection. At the same time, EU trade policymakers are well-advised to take the mix of concerns about trade's distributional effects 25 and the more general sense of (economic) weakness and decline seriously. Trade is easier to blame than technology and if there is the perception that the benefits created are too small and not shared widely enough the foundations for openness ‒ something the European economy thrives on ‒ are eroding. For trade agreements this suggests that (potential) effects on jobs and also on income distribution are likely to play a bigger role when considering accords or scoping them. Having said that, the potential job effects can be hard to pinpoint. Distributional consequences and concerns about job losses need to be addressed. But this also means walking a tightrope to avoid a policy discussion (too) focused on the status quo and with little value attached to (potential) dynamic gains from trade. The distributional concerns also require policy responses beyond trade, including for instance investment in education, labour market and competition policies. Clearly, part of these measures do not provide "quick fixes" for current problems. Nevertheless, they form a nonnegligible part of a sustainable EU trade policy in the mid- to longer term. The EU's trade policy and the international context EU trade policy has pursued a two-pronged strategy during past years, increasingly seeking bilateral and regional trade agreements but supporting the multilateral trading system. Much speaks for continuity here. A recent example is the initiative by the EU and Canada to consider a more thorough reform of investment governance and possibilities for a multilateral investment court ‒ which could help to address some of the issues with the current system and 22 Eurobarometer includes an option for "don't know" (12%). Eurobarometer 86, Nov. 2016. 23 See for example Scheve/Slaughter (2001) or Mayda/Rodrik (2005). 24 See Mansfield/Mutz (2009). 25 See Peters (2016) for a more extensive discussion about income inequality. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 DE EU For Against Don't know Little love for TTIP in Germany 12 Source: Eurobarometer (2016), Deutsche Bank Research Opinion on a free trade and investment agreement between the EU and the USA Poll conducted Nov. 3.-16. 2016 GR FR IT ES HU UK PL SE NL DE R² = 0,82 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 20 40 60 80 Source: Pew Global Attitudes (2016), Deutsche Bank Research X-axis: Global economic engagement is a bad thing. Y-axis: Country is less important than it was 10 years ago. Share of respondents in %. Global economic engagement and countries' (self)perception 13 What future for European trade policy? 9 | January 24, 2017 EU Monitor facilitate consideration in trade agreements. 26 However, an overhaul of the current system would require substantive global cooperation also beyond the EU to be effective. Finally, a key question for European trade policy is beyond the domestic realm and concerns the future of the multilateral trading system. The EU stands to benefit from a rule-based multilateral trade order and so does the multilateral system from the bloc's support. From a trade perspective, Brexit not only means entering uncharted territory for the EU27 and the UK ‒ it also creates a unique and unprecedented situation for the WTO. This means that there are going to be a lot of detailed questions that need to be dealt with, including ‒ but not limited to ‒ adjustments of commitment schedules or the question how a transitionary arrangement between the UK and the EU27 would fit in with WTO rules. It is becoming increasingly clear that Brexit means leaving the Single Market and the UK Prime Minister Theresa May has announced that she would like to restructure relationships with the EU and the rest of the world through trade deals. 27 Thus, Brexit looks set to further add to the global number of FTAs in the medium term. How the global trading system is going to deal with the growing complexity remains to be seen. On the one hand, it has become increasingly clear through- out past years that growing and more heterogeneous membership of the WTO can make it difficult to reach consensus at the multilateral level (for example on services). At the same time, at some point it might be easier to work out a pluri- lateral or multilateral consensus on issues rather than having to deal with an increasingly more complex set of bilateral accords. Watch the words and the actions Both China's and the US are going to shape the future of the WTO in the next years through words and actions. China has thrived within the global trading system since joining in 2001 and this year it was president Xi making the case for free trade in Davos. To that extent, there is some overlap with the European approach that continues to emphasize openness and multilateralism. At the same time, looking beyond the rhetoric, there are issues that remain more controversial to deal with, e.g. China's treatment of foreign companies' in its domestic market or technology transfer. 28 Looking at the US, seeing actions following words would prove much more problematic for the global trading system. It could easily trigger a slew of legal challenges ‒ both domestic and at the WTO ‒ and give rise to trade wars causing serious economic damage. It is not the first time that trade (deals) have been a hot topic in US election campaigns. However, a zero-sum view of trade and disregard for multilateral rules just does not square with the core ideas underpinning the multilateral trade system. Both abrogating free trade agreements and turning away from the multilateral trading system might prove to be short-sighted and ultimately hurt the US economically and strategically. 29 So far, President Trump has marked a shift in rhetoric and communication style when it comes to trade policy. The big questions remains whether his views on trade, which run counter pro-openness republican mainstream, are going to be backed or moderated by Congress. Clearly, the former is going to be a bigger challenge for the global trading system. The US turning their back on the WTO 26 See for example the European Commission and the Canadian government co-hosting an expert discussion on the issue in Dec. 2016 and the ongoing public consultation on a multilateral reform of investment dispute resolution http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=1610 27 See Theresa May's speech delivered on Jan. 17 th 2017. 28 See for instance the recent letter by German ambassador Clauss (http://www.china.diplo.de/Vertretung/china/de/02-pol/Erklaerung-kondolenzseiten/170116- statement-s.html) 29 For further discussion of the economic and geopolitical implications see for example Noland, Hufbauer, Robinson and Moran 2016. What future for European trade policy? 10 | January 24, 2017 EU Monitor would certainly be a historic break both given the country's tradition of supporting the post World War II global trade order and for the WTO as an organisation. It would come at high costs for both and imply (re)assessing the role of the EU and China in the world trading system. Three key issues which matter for the EU, China and the US and the trading system at large are developments around China's market economy status, the use of trade defence measures and developments in the steel sector. Patricia Wruuck (firstname.lastname@example.com, +49 69 910-31832) References Baier, Scott and Jeffrey Bergstrand (2007). Do free trade agreements actually increase members' trade? Journal of International Economics, Vol. 71(1), pp. 72-95. Baier, Scott; Bergstrand, Jeffrey and Erika Vidal (2007). Free Trade Agreements in the Americas: Are the Trade Effects larger than anticipated? The World Economy, Vol. 30(9), pp. 1347-1377. Choi, Won-Mog (2008). The Present and Future of The Investor-State Dispute Settlement Paradigm. International Economic Law, Vol. 10 (3), pp. 725- 747. Court of Justice of the European Union (2016). Advocate General's opinion in procedure 2/15. Press Release No. 147/16, 21 December 2016, Luxembourg. Deutsch, Klaus Günter (2012). Looking for partners – the EU's free trade agreements in perspective. EU Monitor, Deutsche Bank Research. European Commission (2015). Trade for all. Towards a more responsible trade and investment policy. European Commission, Brussels. European Commission (2016). DG Trade Statistical Guide. June 2016. European Commission, Brussels. Handley, Kyle and Nuno Limao (2015). Trade and investment under policy uncertainty: Theory and firm evidence. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, Vol. 7(4), pp. 189-222. Kohl, Tristan (2014). Do we really know that trade agreements increase trade? Review of World Economics, pp. 150-443. Mansfield, Edward and Diana Mutz (2009). Support for free trade: Self-interest, sociotropic politics and out-group anxiety. International Organization, Vol. 63, pp. 425-57. Matsushita, Mitsuo (2010). Proliferation of free trade agreements and development perspectives. Paper prepared for Law and Development Institute inaugural conference, Sydney. Mayda, Anna Maria and Dani Rodrik (2005). Why are some people (and countries) more protectionist than others? European Economic Review, Vol. 49(6), pp. 1393-430. Noland, Marcus; Hufbauer, Gary; Robinson, Sherman and Tyler Moran (2016). Assessing Trade Agendas in the US Presidential Campaign. Peterson Institute for International Economics, Washington. Peers, Steve (2016). The EU's future trade policy starts to take shape: the Opinion on the EU-Singapore FTA. EU Law Analysis Blog, 21 December 2016. What future for European trade policy? 11 | January 24, 2017 EU Monitor Peters, Heiko (2016). Rising income inequality ‒ Do not draw the obvious conclusions. Global Economic Perspectives, Deutsche Bank Research. Puccio, Laura (2016). A guide to EU procedures for the conclusion of international trade agreements . European Parliamentary Research Services, Brussels. Scheve, Kenneth and Matthew Slaughter (2001). What determines individual trade policy preferences? Journal of International Economics, Vol. 54(2), pp. 267-92. UNCTAD (2015). World Investment Report – Reforming International Investment Governance. United Nations, Geneva. What future for European trade policy? 12 | January 24, 2017 EU Monitor Appendix Trade negotiations in the EU - an overview 14 Source: European Commission What future for European trade policy? 13 | January 24, 2017 EU Monitor EU Monitor Our publications can be accessed, free of charge, on our website www.dbresearch.com You can also register there to receive our publications regularly by E-mail. Ordering address for the print version: Deutsche Bank Research Marketing 60262 Frankfurt am Main Fax: +49 69 910-31877 E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Available faster by E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Rising income inequality: Do not draw the obvious conclusions ................................... December 7, 2016 Cash, freedom and crime: Use and impact of cash in a world going digital ................................ November 23, 2016 Think Local: What Brexit would mean for regional and cohesion policies in Europe ......... September 30, 2016 Start-ups and their financing in Europe: Out of the woods with Capital Markets Union ........ September 29, 2016 Better budgeting in Europe: What can Fiscal Councils contribute? ................................ June 7, 2016 Free market in death? Europe's new bail-in regime and its impact on bank funding ................................................ April 29, 2016 Higher EMU labour mobility at risk .............................. January 21, 2016 Promoting investment and growth: The role of development banks in Europe .............. December 23, 2015 Capital Markets Union: An ambitious goal, but few quick wins ...................... November 2, 2015 A profile of Europe's populist parties: Structures, strengths, potential ......................................... April 28, 2015 Money market funds – an economic perspective: Matching short-term investment and funding needs ..................................................... February 26, 2015 Better off on their own? Economic aspects of regional autonomy and independence movements in Europe ......................... February 6, 2015 © Copyright 2017. Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Bank Research, 60262 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. All rights reserved. When quoting please cite "Deutsche Bank Research". The above information does not constitute the provision of investment, legal or tax advice. Any views expressed reflect the current views of the author, which do not necessarily correspond to the opinions of Deutsche Bank AG or its affiliates. Opinions expressed may change without notice. Opinions expressed may differ from views set out in other documents, including research, published by Deutsche Bank. The above information is provided for informational purposes only and without any obligation, whether contractual or otherwise. No warranty or representation is made as to the correctness, completeness and accuracy of the information given or the assessments made. In Germany this information is approved and/or communicated by Deutsche Bank AG Frankfurt, licensed to carry on banking business and to provide financial services under the supervision of the European Central Bank (ECB) and the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). In the United Kingdom this information is approved and/or communicated by Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, a member of the London Stock Exchange, authorized by UK's Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and subject to limited regulation by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) (under number 150018) and by the PRA. This information is distributed in Hong Kong by Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch, in Korea by Deutsche Securities Korea Co. and in Singapore by Deutsche Bank AG, Singapore Branch. In Japan this information is approved and/or distributed by Deutsche Securities Inc. In Australia, retail clients should obtain a copy of a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) relating to any financial product referred to in this report and consider the PDS before making any decision about whether to acquire the product. ISSN Internet and E-mail: ISSN 1612-0280


text:
Craig Sager's hair is an infinite source of good luck in basketball. That could be a complete lie. Or it could be true. Who knows? It's not like that many people have tried it. Baylor, who dominated Creighton 85-55, will demonstrate if there's any truth to it after the team messed with his hair as it advanced to the Sweet 16. Perhaps the next team that gets up close and personal with Sager could tell fans what it's like to feel one of his awesome (or god-awful) ties.
RELATED: The 50 Most Badass College Basketball Teams of All Time
[via Kami Mattioli]

subset: commoncrawl


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Welcome to Clever Clogs Childcare Centre
For latest updates, news and gallery please visit our Facebook page at
Clever Clogs Childcare Centre for Children Birth to 5 years.
Register your child
at 42 Black Road Kelty
Call 07714788484
01383 832883
Care Inspectorate Report
Finally our report is available for all to see!! We have waited a long time for it to be published, this was due to the absence of our inspecting officer.
I am extremely pleased with the report and how our staff team have been recognised for the hard work and commitment they provide to our children and parents on a daily basis...
Please feel free to access it online or we have a copy available in the nursery foyer for you to have a look at too. There is also a copy of the Fife Council Partnership Inspection Report available in the foyer. This inspection took place last week and I am pleased to say reiterated all of the Care Inspectorate grades.
We gave the service these grades
Quality of care and support 5 Very Good
Quality of environment 5 Very Good
Quality of staffing 5 Very Good
Quality of management and leadership 5 Very Good
'What Happens in Clever Clogs'
Please see our Facebook page for latest updates.
Wow - we did it! Another successful float in the gala parade.
Thank you to all parents and children who took part and also a massive thanks to our amazing volunteers. So glad the rain stayed off for the parade.
Clever Clogs Childcare Centre
can officially let all parents/carers know that our application for Fife Council Partnership Funding has been accepted.
This now means that from August 2015, children can attend Clever Clogs for their government funded entitlement of pre school education and parents/carers will not be charged for the allocated times that their child would usually attend a Fife Council nursery.
Pick up/drop offs to local nurseries will now be charged as extra from August as we will then be in partnership.
Children aged 3-5 can now attend Clever Clogs for their government funded hours. We can offer 16 hours free childcare for hours/days to suit yourself. They don't need to work in with our usual session times.
Funded places Now available.
Wrap Around Care with local schools and nurseries.
Flexible daycare to suit working parents....
If you would like to discuss any of this further please speak to a member of staff. If you would like any further information, please call us on 01383 832883.
Many Thanks
News updates = Please check the nursery Noticeboard, next Newsletter, Facebook and Website for date/time.
*********FUNDED PLACES********* - Please feel free to share this post so other parents are aware that we can offer flexible funded childcare for over 3's.
We have finally received the much awaited news on our funded places with Fife Council.
Children are entitled to 15 hours 50 minutes funded education each week starting the term after reaching their third birthday. This can now take place within Clever Clogs, a Fife Council nursery or on a split placement between the two ...nurseries. We are extremely flexible with these hours and therefore children can attend Clever Clogs on varied days/hours each week (if availability allows). Instead of working in days/half day prices for our funded children we will now work in hours - £4 per hour.
E.g. * Children can attend Clever Clogs for the hours they would usually attend a Fife Council nursery and parents will not get charged.
* Children can attend us for full or half day sessions and we can use their allocated entitled hours against their fees - some children may attend 2 full days or others for whatever hours their parents/guardians require. Fife Council will fund their places and parents will only be responsible for anything over 16 hours payable at £4 per hour.
* Or Children can do a split placement between 2 different nurseries (as long as they attend each one for a minimum of 6 hours. This is to ensure children receive a quality experience where their learning can be tracked and fully supported) Some parents may have their child attend a Fife Council nursery for 2 sessions and then have them attend Clever Clogs for their further 3 sessions e.g. a day and a half or whatever may suit them.
We are very flexible and will happily discuss each child's requirements. Please note that as we are now in partnership we have introduced a pick up/drop off charge for children attending another nursery and require transport.
If you are interested and would like further information, please call the nursery on 01383 832883.
Good luck to all of our children starting primary one today. We will miss you lots but wish you all the best in your new adventure. Hope mummies, daddies and grandparents all have the tissues ready! Can't wait to see all the photos
Child centred care and education in a safe stimulating environment.
Full day sessions : 8am to 6pm - £41-50 (includes home cooked meals - breakfast, lunch and tea)
Half day sessions 8am to 1pm or 1pm to 6pm - £22-50 (includes home cooked meals)
Free "Birthday Bonus" session for children registered on full-day or half-day sessions.
Free "Holiday week" for full day or half day children.
Many thanks to the Parents Group for organising all the sessions at Crafty Tinkers where the children had great fun making their own Christmas decorations.
Regular baking and cooking activities in Clever Clogs cover many of the key aspects of children's development and learning.
Rain does not deter Clever Clogs children having fun with their friends!
What a fantastic day we all had at Kelty Gala!
Big Clogs visit the
National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh
Our climbing frame is helping to develop happy confident children, independent thinking and positive attitudes.
Visit the Gallery page to view more images of the climbing frame
More Clever Clogs images can be viewed on the gallery page link
and on the information screen within the nursery.
42 Black Road Kelty, Fife | 07714788484


text:
Journal, Day One
The fortuitous conjunctions and rhymes of reading: the incinerated goldfinches of Australian poet Robert Adamson's The Goldfinches of Baghdad (2006), and the terrible pathos of the dead goldfinch-in-a-cage near the end of Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge.
From Adamson's title poem (and here a shout-out to his publisher, Flood Editions, and their wonderful sequence of books):
A goldfinch with a slashed throat
was the subject of a masterpiece painted in the
sixteenth century on the back of a highly
polished mother-of-pearl shell—
It burns tonight in Baghdad, along with the living,
caged birds. . . .
Those who cannot speak burn along with the
articulate . . .
We sing or die, singing death
as our songs feed the flames.
The body in pain, articulate and inarticulate.
From Hardy, the moment late in the novel when Elizabeth-Jane realizes how the bird and cage had come into her home: as an overlooked wedding gift from the benighted hero, her stepfather Henchard, who via the novel's grinding machinery has been ground almost to the dust he now trudges:
"Nobody could tell her how the bird and cage had come there; though that the poor little songster had been starved to death was evident . . .
This was enough to set Elizabeth thinking, and in thinking she seized hold of the idea, at one feminine bound, that the caged bird had been brought by Henchard for her as a wedding gift and token of repentance. He had not expressed to her any regrets or excuses for what he had done in the past; but it was a part of his nature to extenuate nothing, and live on as one of his own worst accusers. She went out, looked at the cage, buried the starved little singer, and from that hour her heart softened towards the self-alienated man."
Hardy writing from a position of insistent, almost marmoreal, impassivity. The lighthearted conniver Lucetta (part French, as so often in English novels!) conveniently dies, the long suffering sober and generous Elizabeth-Jane eventually lands her beloved: this no triumph of wish-fulfillment but a resolution in a minor key.
Hardy endorsing the wisdom of expecting little.
How un-American!
And also, from a wholly other angle, how un-Blakean! "Enough! or Too much."
(William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.)
Angela Sorby remarking years ago in the offices of Chicago Review, "Before all else one has to be grateful."
The particular sine-wave of a goldfinch's flight across a field—
Up here in and around Essex, NY—a town on Lake Champlain in the "North Country," within the Adirondack Park, across the lake from Burlington VT—the air thrums with birdsong, only some of which I can identify: the silvery thrush in the adjoining woods, the phoebe screeching open the morning; the redstarts chattering intermittently, and high on the hill closer to hedges and fields the red-winged blackbirds, their wingbars flashing by.
How does it matter where you are?
Lisa Robertson's meditations on locale, weather, the political economy of place—some traces of this in her Journal entries from two weeks ago on this site, and fascinating elaborations in the Chicago Review issue dedicated to her: a poet and thinker new to me and one I hope to pursue.
Tom Pickard's delicate lyric cartography and sonography in The Dark Months of May (Flood, 2004):
where to go
where the wind
Poems tracking the fierce, windblown area called Fiend's Fell in the North Pennine Hills on the English-Scottish border—
a breeze of rowan lifts
pale curtains of cloud
where hawks stake a claim
to a drifter's sky
"Self-Abstracting Poem"
Pickard's taxonomies of wind, his birds, his plaints and rude jokes, his archaeologies of Newcastle; Robert Adamson's aviary (see above)—the avocet, cockatoo, parrot, mudlark winging through his poems.
I have a friend who never tires of announcing, "'Nature,' what's that? It's all culture!" Another who thrives in LA, exulting in the free-ways, the sprawl, the smog, the concrete, the triumph of glass, steel, signage, the paved and built late modernity—"I'd like to pave over every blade of grass!" Cf Frank O'Hara on grass.
The landscape is as made a thing as the skyscraper. A longer durée. "Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Looking at the lovely fields it is hard to think of enclosure
a grayscale of greens
held fast by hedgerows
the sheep just shorn
and cows in the clover
churches natural as trees
in a landscape longdead
hands their burls broke in
The chiseled green beauty of the Scottish Borders sculpted in part by the expulsion of small farmers, the importation of sheep. And that of the Highlands owing to an even greater devastation, the 18th C. Clearances, after the quashing of the second Jacobite rebellion in 1745: "clearances" (i.e. removal) of the now definitively dominated clan populations of the Highlands.
What was Robert Mugabe's latest monstrous project? "Operation Murambatsvina"—"Clear Away the Trash": destroying the houses of and forcibly removing the people from a shantytown outside Bulawayo.
"Beauty" as an index of alienation. To declaim on such a symptom of distance, ignorance, and privilege.
Consider Philip V. Bohlman on music:
Music is not beautiful in many cultures: there's no reason why it should be. Beauty as a condition of music is a construct of modernity, a quality of the exchange value that accrued to it when technologies in the West made it possible to reproduce music as a commodity, a product in which the object, 'beauty,' could lodge. As a quality of Western aesthetics, beauty persistently makes its appearance in writings of the eighteenth century. By the end of the nineteenth century, not least because of the intervention of Romanticism, beauty's objectified status had come to permeate aesthetic thought so pervasively that composers were forced to succumb to it or openly reject it. In the twentieth century beauty has proliferated as a component of modernity, extending beyond the West and asserting its presence in the reproductive technologies of cassette culture or export industries that globalize world musics. For Indian classical music and Javanese gamelan repertories to achieve popularity as music in the West and to gain a position in the exchange of goods between Western economies and Indian or Indonesian export systems, it has been necessary to replace function with beauty. We have turned to world music in no short measure because we are able to imagine that it contains beauty.
—from "Ontologies of Music"
Well then!
"In those cultures in which there is no need for beauty, there is also no open exchange of musical products as commodities."
I died for Beauty—but was Scarce
Adjusted in the Tomb . . .
Yet why was I was both moved and fortified to read of Elizabeth Bishop that she became extremely upset—at some otherwise unremarkable dinner—during an argument about beauty: someone there dismissing it, and she staking her all on its possibility. This anecdote I believe was in Alice Quinn's notes to her Edgar Allen Poe and the Jukebox. But I can't check—
I brought only a couple of boxes of books up here this summer, though in the house there are many, allowing for all kinds of foraging: viz. Hardy. And a book on the Etruscans. A volume of selected French poetry. And some years ago, a book on Madame de Pompadour.
Mon Francais est contemptible!
But will I hope improve.
Today's pop quiz:
A) How can we know the dancer from the dance?
B) If winter comes, can spring be far behind?
C) Did she put on his knowledge with his power?
D) Are you the leaf, the blossom, or the bole?
E) Johnny are you queer?
F) Vous-êtes écossaise?
Answers: A) When the dance is over; B) Yes; C) No; D) All of the Above; E) Yes; F) Non, je suis americaine.
Nominees for this season's cant words and phrases, excluding the obvious candidates generated by Bush & Co.: "organic," "community" (again, see Lisa Robertson's post), "sustainable," "international community" (see Shahab Ahmed's remarks last spring at the Harvard Divinity School on the contretemps re: the "Muslim cartoons" in Denmark: we should speak of the "international system," Ahmed says, not the "international community," a phantasmatic pseudo-entity).
I am becoming positively querulous and cranky!
Not a surprise.
Damn braces, bless relaxes: Blake, from The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.
The American historian and writer Dan Aaron, still going strong at 93 or so, observed some years ago that a friend of his always parsed that Blake proverb not as a curse and a blessing (i.e. Damn this, bless that) but rather as an observation:
[To] damn braces, [to] bless relaxes.
And the punctuation in my little Dover edition supports this: "Damn, braces: Bless relaxes."
One needs bracing and relaxing both.
New Agers only orient to the latter.
Critique is absolutely required.
Mind-forg'd manacles need strong tools to bust!
Marianne Moore braces: "In Distrust of Merits," "Marriage," "The Octopus."
Anne Carson too. Carson's Mimnermos, in Plainwater: the staggering no's of protest—against age, failure, night. Jamaica Kincaid: the prevalence of the syntax of negation in her work—cf Lucy: I was not that, did not want that, did not know that. I prefer not to. Ron Silliman, "Tjanting": "Not this. What then?" A stringent negation its own kind of affirmation. Louise Glück, "Mock Orange":
It is not the moon, I tell you.
It is these flowers
lighting the yard.
I hate them.
I hate them as I hate sex . . .
The oleaginous sensuality of certain poets: how to cut through? Sometimes I read Moore as a chaser. Or Horace. Or August Kleinzahler, who dances and feints and jabs his way along.
The poet is a radio. The poet is a liar. The poet is a
counterpunching radio.
—Jack Spicer, "Sporting Life"
Favorite pop lyric encountered 2006:
The sounds of the engines and the smell of the grain
We go riding on the abolition grain train
Stephen A. Douglas was a great debater
Abraham Lincoln was the Great Emancipator.
—Sufjan Stevens, "Decatur," Illinois
This album inspires hopes of a renewed civics via song. And before this, Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning. Though the intermittent dreary heroin/Brooklyn chic of the latter does weary.
And so to bed.
Maureen N. McLane grew up in upstate New York and was educated at Harvard University, Oxford University, and the University of Chicago. She is the author of five books of poetry: Some Say (FSG, 2017), Mz N: the serial: a poem-in-episodes (FSG, 2016), This Blue (FSG, 2014—Finalist for the National Book...


text:
Boehringer Ingelheim: A New World Leader in Animal Health
Thursday, April 13, 2017/ Editor -Share
- Animal Health business, following a positive 2016, is poised for strong long-term growth and industry leadership after the strategic addition of Merial
- Boehringer Ingelheim's animal health business is now the second largest company in the global animal health market
- In the Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META), Boehringer Ingelheim provides solutions that improve health in livestock, horses and poultry
United Arab Emirates – 13 April, 2017: Three months after acquiring animal health leader Merial in a strategic transaction with Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim revealed its ambition to compete for industry leadership worldwide in animal health. Boehringer Ingelheim's management recently discussed the importance of its animal health business and its long-term growth potential at a briefing event that took place in Ingelheim, Germany.
Following a positive year for the animal health business in 2016 with net sales increasing by 8.5 percent in currency adjusted terms to 1.46 billion euros, Boehringer Ingelheim finalized the acquisition of Merial on 1 January 2017. With the combination of these two leading and highly complementary businesses, animal health has been identified as a strategic long-term development priority for the company.
Joachim Hasenmaier, Head of Boehringer Ingelheim's Animal Health Business Unit and member of the Boehringer Ingelheim board of managing directors said, "Acquiring Merial immediately positions us to be increasingly competitive in a high-growth sector that is in a consolidation phase. By combining two dynamic companies that share the same long-term strategic vision, we are delivering a larger and more innovative portfolio of products and services to prevent disease and improve the health and productivity of animals around the world. We want to actively help shape the animal health industry by combining our forces, one with the power of two."
Moreover, Herbert Pohle, Boehringer Ingelheim's Head of Animal health META also noted, "Animal health is one of the key drivers to sustainable human health. In large areas across the region, the animal health sector is of strategic importance as it directly links to our daily lives and overall nutrition. We remain committed to strengthening the Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Business Unit across the region by driving market leadership, leveraging innovation and providing customer service excellence."
Pohle further added, "We will continue strengthening our relationship with our partners, and work with them to help drive best practices, and further develop problem-solving health solutions that maximize productivity."
Between now and 2030, the latest forecasts predict the animal health market will double, reaching 53 billion euros. This growth will be driven by three major trends: increasing demand for animal meat in connection with changing demographics, increasing demand and diversification in the pet market, and increasing health threats due to the spread of infectious diseases from animals (avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, etc.).
The new Boehringer Ingelheim animal health business is now the second largest company in the global animal health market, and is the top provider worldwide of parasiticides and vaccines for both production animals and pets. The combined company is now the global leader in the pets, swine, equine and veterinary public health categories, with a strong position in poultry and cattle.
"We see an important opportunity to capitalize on the evolving trends and critical needs to prevent disease and manage the health of animals worldwide," added Hasenmaier. "We intend to do so by ensuring a smooth integration of our businesses; extending our leadership in vaccination and parasite control programs, and focusing on pet care solutions. It is our ambition to develop new products and solutions that address unmet customer needs with an industry leading R&D investment up to 10%."
Pohle further pointed out to that, "Preventive vaccination is one approach to controlling any diseases. The region has applied a lot of advances in this area and our commitment is to support in the investment in a healthier and more robust animal health sector which in return would reflect in stronger communities."
The combined animal health business will in the future represent more than 25 percent of Boehringer Ingelheim's total revenue and employ more than 10,000 people. Boehringer Ingelheim expects animal health net sales to more than double in 2017 in comparison to the previous year due to the Merial integration.
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My brother, who lives in Tennessee, receives a small check each month from my employer's retirement plan. ... Is that taxable income for his state?Tennessee "Hall Income Tax" only taxes dividends and interest from out of state sources. Pension benefits and retirement plan distributions are not taxed. However, you say the check is from *your* employer's retirement plan. I'm not sure if that changes matters.Ratio
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text:
Mitchell Sanders (The Things They Carried) Mitchell Sanders is one of the main characters in Tim O'Brien's collection of short stories about foot soldiers before, during, and after the Vietnam War, first published in 1990 and titled "The Things They Carried". Mitchell is the platoon's RTO (Radio Telephone Operator) so he symbolizes intelligent communication. He is kind, truthful and generally obsessed with finding the moral behind the actions of the stories. He also fancies himself a ladies-man which is underscored by what he 'carries' around – condoms and a set of nicely laundered and pressed fatigues fitting for a special occasion (perhaps a little optimistic given their war-torn reality).
Mitchell - We cannot find any popular or well-known songs featuring the name Mitchell.
Mitchell Is Moving (Marjorie Weinman Sharmat) - Sixty years is long enough to live in one place, even for a dinosaur. When Mitchell decides to move, his best friend Margo threatens drastic measures. "Sharmat excels at bright styling; Aruego and Dewey give the endearing characters their all."--Booklist, starred review. Illustrated in three colors. Recommended for ages 3 to 7.
Mitchell's License (Hallie Durand) - Hop in for a hilarious, heartwarming ride with four-year-old Mitchell, a kid with a need for speed, a lead foot, and a very special license to drive. Mitchell was four years, one month, and five days old when he got his license. He may need a little boost getting into the driver's seat, but once he's behind the wheel, his car sure goes fast! Left turn, right turn, slow down for speed bumps - Mitchell is a pro. And he loves the way that horn sounds! There's just one problem: Mitchell and his car have a slight disagreement about what type of fuel should go into the tank...With warmth and sly wit, Hallie Durand follows a young child obsessed with all things automobile, while Tony Fucile's comical illustrations convey the well-tuned bond between an obliging father and a high-octane child. Recommended for ages 3-7.
Famous People Named Mitchell - Mitchell Boggs (baseball player); Mitchell Butler (basketball player); Mitchell Johnson (artist); Mitchell Page (baseball player); Mitchell Ryan (actor); Mitchell Wiggins (basketball player); Mitchell Baker (businesswoman/activist)
Famous People Who Named Their Son Mitchell - We cannot find any celebrities or famous people who have named their child Mitchell.
Mitchell - We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Mitchell.


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When the search engine giant Google changed their powerful search algorithms the internet experts specially who are really in touch with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) begins to run behind the new algorithms and how they want to change their websites visibility on search results from Google's updates from previous algorithms.
SEE ALSO: Effective Tips to Recover From Google Penalty
These updates have certainly proved to be challenging for internet marketers. They want to look back the important Google's search algorithm updates to handle this year smooth. This infographics could help you to know more about the important Google search algorithm updates in 2013.
Infographic Credit – www.e2msolutions.com


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Like the perfect travel shoe, finding the perfect lipstick is a daunting task. For travelers, making any makeup last all day is a feat in it of itself, but finding a lipstick that can last from the time you go through security to time you hit the beach is any jetsetter's dream. That's where one of this season's hottest beauty trends comes in: matte lipstick.
What makes a matte lip so great? The velvety finish of the product gives you a statement-making pout with some serious staying power. Like a little black dress, a matte lip is sleek, versatile and definitely deserves a permanent spot in your travel beauty bag. It can bring you from day to night in a flash and instantly refreshes your look. Another unbeatable perk: the finish won't stick to your hair or rub off easily on your clothing.
So, how do you make this look work for you? Here are a few key tips to keep in mind:
It's all about the prep.
Exfoliate and moisturize your lips before applying so dry skin and fine lines don't show through.
Line your lips first.
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Because of its staying power, precise application is key. Rub the brush directly onto the tube of lipstick and brush onto the lips starting from the edge in.
From bold reds to subtle neutrals, scroll on for a few of our favorites so you can rock this look all vacation long.


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Virgin Mobile is a cell phone service provide. The company works with Sprint to power data and other services. They offer a lower price with four basic plans for wi-fi lovers, unlimited data, talk, and text, unlimited everything or unlimited + international plans. Even with low rates, they still provide services in speeds comparable to 4G LTE. Currently, Android and Samsung Galaxy phones are compatible with Virgin mobile. The great thing about purchasing a phone through Virgin Mobile is that it comes with free activation, you can keep your phone number, there is free shipping and if you lose your phone, you can have it replaced. Learn about all the deals from Virgin Mobile. Coupons and discounts below!
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I spent hours image mapping these so you could click on anything you might be interested in, but for some reason it was acting up and not working and I lost all my work, so I have included the links below each picture instead!
Bottom Row
Black Lace Tank / Heart Print Sweater / Aztec Poncho / Striped Tank
Shoes and KBeauty Pretties
3W Clinic Pomegranate Sheet Masks / 3W Clinic Milk Sheet Masks / 3W Clinic Snail Sheet Masks
Mizon Returning Starfish Eye Cream / Mizon Blemish After Cream
Tonymoly Panda Eye Stick / Herb Day Cleansing Cloths / Etude House Tweezers (not currently available on RRS)
All in all, it was a fun shopping trip around the internets, but now I'm going to be on a no-buy for a LONG time unless I literally need something, or it's specifically for the blog! (Things being for the blog is my excuse to buy stuff! *wink)


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Faculty Activity Reports
Faculty activity reports (FARs) are the way that faculty members report on their year's activities to the Dean. The report is typically used to set faculty compensation for the subsequent academic year. At Marquette, the FAR determines annual salary increases and affects summer research stipends as well. Therefore, the FAR is my chance to state my case for some extra bucks next year.
Beyond compensation-setting, the FAR can serve other purposes. For example, the report helps the Dean's Office collect information about faculty activities for their various upstream reports to other constituencies, such as the University, accreditation bodies, press, alumni, students, prospective students, etc.
I suspect that at some schools, the FAR also serves double-duty as a report for tenure and promotion purposes. Sadly, I have no such luck–I have to separately report on my activities to our P&T committee. I can recycle some of the FAR work, but effectively I have to write a second report.
The words "faculty activity report" strikes fear into the hearts of every law professor, for good reason. I spent virtually an entire working day filling out on my FAR–a pretty heavy reporting tax. And I haven't even started on my P&T report yet.
Why so long? Our FAR request has seven major sections, most of which are not surprising (e.g., teaching, scholarship, service, goals for next year). However, collectively these seven sections consist of a total of 46 line-item questions (some of which are further composed of sub-parts). Further, these questions are written exactly how a lawyer writes interrogatories–overbroad and burdensome.
In anticipation of each year's FAR fishing expedition, throughout the year I make notes about various activities in a Word document as they occur. This way, I have captured most of my reportable activities in a single file that I can conveniently consult at the year's end. However, there always seem to be new questions every year on the FAR for data that I wasn't tracking. Further, I still need to pull information to respond to the FAR from other sources–my CV, TWEN, my website, and various other documents. At one point yesterday I had 5 different Word documents and several web pages open at the same time…and the printer was smokin'.
The product of my day's labor? My FAR will include a 12 page (3,000+ word) written narrative singing my praises and explaining how I'm an virtuous human being plus a binder of a couple dozen documents (published articles, work-in-progress articles, syllabi, exams, class handouts) totaling several hundred pages. I suspect the Dean will have as much fun reading it as I had fun preparing it.
The good news is that I'm looking forward to moving this binder off my desk so I can actually do some work that is worth reporting…right after I do my P&T report…


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Pennsylvania LPN to RN Programs
With our population growing and aging, the need for registered nurses is at the highest growth point in a very long time, if not ever. While this is an unfortunate situation to be in, as a country, there is plenty of room for you to make a better future for yourself by earning a RN degree. You can do so in one to two years depending on the level of degree you wish to earn. The growth in the career is expected to continue through 2020 at the least, so starting now will put you at the front of the pack as new students start to pursue this program. You also have an advantage by already working in the industry as a LPN.
There are under 131,000 registered nurses working the Pennsylvania which cannot currently support the population of the state. This means that many nurses have work lined up before they even graduate. They can start working as soon as they pass the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. With an average income of $65,000 a year, registered nurses also enjoy a very comfortable income that allows them to continue their growth as individuals and with experience and education, they can move up quickly. To ensure you can earn experience while going to school you need to find a way to balance your work, personal and school schedules in an effective way.
As more and more households have access to the internet, the popularity of online degree programs grows. This also means that online programs advance in their ability to be user-friendly and easy to attend regardless of a student's comfort level with computers. As you start to explore your online learning options you may find that a pure online degree is just what you want, or you may want to combine campus based courses with your online education. The key aspect that makes an online program so popular is the ability to study on your schedule. You will have specific due dates that need to be met, but as long as you submit the work by that due date, you decide when to study. You won't miss out on the college experience either. Instructors can be reached through email, a phone call or a campus visit and classroom discussion is handled through a course specific message board.
Throughout your education and your career you will want to have access to a network of individuals that shares your experience. This ensures that you are able to move forward in your career as one and make sure that legislation and other policy that may have an impact on your career is representative of what registered nurses want. The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association is a perfect fit to meet these needs. You will also find experienced nurses that can share advice with you as you start your education and career. In time you will share you own experiences and help lead the industry in the direction that is best for registered nurses, patients and the community. Full information can be found through the PSNA website.
Paying for College
While an education is key to a brighter future, it is rarely easy to pay for. The financial burden that comes with an education is heavy, but if you know where to look you will find plenty of assistance, especially since you are moving into a field that is in such a dire need of students with the skills you will learn. Your employer is a great place to start as their benefits packages often offer tuition assistance or reimbursement and future job placement. Colleges also offer unique loans, scholarships, grants and other forms of financial aid unique to students enrolled in their courses. Make sure you bring up these issues as you start to explore potential educational institutions to make sure you gain the most benefit you can.
The shortage of registered nurses is a national issue and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is doing as much as it can to ensure students have access to the education they need to make a difference in the industry. You will find loans, scholarships and loan repayment options that will make paying for an education significantly easier. The loan repayment programs are especially important as they offer a large payment towards your education debt in return for a two year commitment to a location in need of basic health care services. Your experience in this program will be highly valued by employers so start exploring your options through the HRSA website.
Finding the right school will take a significant amount of research. Online only schools are popular choices but so is a mixture of online and campus based educations. There is no perfect school for everyone, so doing the research to find the right campus for you will be key. The Pennsylvania Department of State lists a full breakdown of all registered nursing programs in the state. Keep in mind that these are state specific programs, so large national schools that offer online programs will not be listed. To help you start researching those options, a few schools have been listed with this article.


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Bijan Parsia wrote: > On 2 Oct 2007, at 12:29, Reto Bachmann-Gmür wrote: > >> Bijan Parsia wrote: >>> On 2 Oct 2007, at 09:30, Reto Bachmann-Gmür wrote: >>> [...] >>> >>> "Violating" is a bit strong. "Ignoring" is better. It's just that most >>> of the time ignoring is "compatible", in some sense, but the proof >>> comes out when you put things to the test. In RDF, given the weakness >>> of the language, the tests are easier to avoid. But, for example, no >>> owl engine treats bnodes the same as somevalues statements. >> As I already wrote, it's perfectly ok for an application to keep graph >> unlean. > > In practice, as far as I can tell, no store does *any* leaning (at > least internally) not even cheap, but incomplete, leaning. One would be http://gvs.hpl.hp.com/ . > > [...] >> In fact an API to draw graphs (like jena) > > Jena is an api to draw graphs? At least a part of the API is to construct graphs and as long as we are constructing it and touching bnodes those shouldn't be merged away. > >> may need to keep >> redundant statements because the api user may still be adding properties >> to those nodes. > > They don't do cheap leaning on parse either. The world isn't perfect; but that's not a reason to go in the opposite direction. [...] >> We all deal with existential semantics in daily life and natural >> language. > > We also deal with complex modalities, but they are a pain to explain > and hard to formalize and even harder to formalize in a useful way. > > This is a non-sequitur. granted. > >> We all deal with existential semantics in daily life and natural >> language. >> >> Sara says: "there's a cat in the garden" >> Peter says: "there's a cat in the garden" >> >> If after hearing and trusting Sara and Peter someone ask us what there >> is in the garden we would usually not say "there's a cat and a cat in >> the garden" but we would usually never have created a non-lean graph in >> our minds > [snip] > > But we also don't think that there are 4 cats in the garden, which is > what's compatible with treating that as a classic existential quantifier. we think that there's a cat in the garden, which is true even when there are 20 cats in the garden. > > This isn't going to work because really, the "a" isn't acting to > suggest an indefinite *number*, but an indefinite *individual*, i.e., > an individual that we don't have more specific information about. It's > a *demonstrative*, this is case. > > Consider: > > Bijan says: "There's a cat in the garden" > Reto looks, then says: "Hey, there's like 10 there!" > Bijan says: "Yes, but I was *speaking existentially* so what I say was > TRUE!! There was *at least one* since there were 10. Ha ha ha ha, > neener neener neener." > Reto says: "Go to hell" I probably wouldn't say so. I'd try to explain you calmly and politely that I wasn't expecting 10 cats not because that would be contradictory to what you said, but your statement may have violated the communicative principle of relevance. This may however depend on the context, if we are desperately hunting for a cat and our cat-detector beeps for the garden, your statement "there's a cat in the garden, get it!" may in fact be more appropriate than "in the garden there are, hmm, currently at least 10 cats, get one of them!". So while some lean utterances can violate the principle of relevance (as when a proper instance of the utterance could have been used instead) , non-lean utterances always violate the principle of relevance, that's why the robot that says "Fritz and a cat are in the garden, Fritz is a cat" is cheaper. [...] > > I don't think people really do want a store for semantic content. I do > think there are cases where they want redundancy eliminated or avoided > in a number of ways. But we can do that with URIs or with local names. You can't remove all redundancies when using names unless these names are assigned as unique names by a central authority and in corner cases not even then. Say your have a universe with exactly two identical spheres, there's nothing else in this universe, a b-node description of this universe would be: [a :Sphere] owl:differentFrom [a :Sphere]. Even if we get that description repeatedly our knowledge about that universe doesn't change but if each of our observer would have assigned random names to the spheres our knowledge graph would constantly grow. In this case "call IANA and ask for a name" wouldn't have worked as there isn't a mean to tell them for which of the sphere's we would like to look up the name. > > I don't want to force smushing *or* non-smushing. I just want to leave > it to the application layer. some smushing can only be done with existential variables, regardless of the layer. >> in most cases they would be happy with both, some using >> the semantic content store may use it wrong and have unexpected results >> (and post your bug report), some users of the store for non-lean graphs >> will eventually get tired of removing redundancies using ontology >> specific knowledge and heuristics and move to a semantic content store. > > I don't believe there's a market for the latter. It took me a couple of years of coding with rdf till I really had an urge for store who do this. Where adding the same graphs repeatedly doesn't change the meaning. > >> [...] >>> >>>> Or for an aggregator: >>>> whenever we aggregate the first graph we add two triples to our >>>> aggregated graph, and if I got your "sane" interpretation right >>>> eg:joesText has a new maker, which without further knowledge is not >>>> considered to ow:sameAs to any of the exitisting foaf:makerS. >>> >>> Note your language leans heavily toward the local name interpretation. >> Could it be that you missed that after 'if I got your "sane" >> interpretation right' I tried to paraphrase your position? > > Nope. > > Consider the following: > > s p o > s1 p o > _:x p o. > > I don't think _:x is "sameas" either s or s1 on any reading (absent > specific assertions or cardinality restrictions, etc.) > > However, _:x p o. is entailed by s p o (alone) and s1 p o (alone). right, did I say otherwise? > > So the existential reading is not captured by thinking in terms of > sameAs. *That's* the part that is "Thinking in individuals". I have no > problem with that, fwiw :) Every node is owl:sameAs to itself, but you would hardly use owl:sameAs with a b-node subject or object because in this case you can just drop the b-node and the owl:sameAs statement by attaching its properties to the other node. But when you aggregate eg:joesText foaf:maker [ foaf:name "jo"]. from different sources and you or the sources assign a URI the b-node, the many named nodes you'll have at the end will most likely be owl:sameAs. It is true that the graph above evaluates to true if a world where eg:joesText has been made by multiple resources with foaf:name "jo", this is also true for the graph eg:joesText foaf:maker <urn:uuid:111>. <urn:uuid:111> foaf:name "jo". (apart that no [foaf:name "jo"] may answer to <urn:uuid:111> making the graph false) >> agreed. >>> I could understand if stored generally didn't lean for efficiency >>> reasons, but they lean graphs of syntactically identicial triples. >>> s p o. >>> s p _:x. >> Not leanifying for efficiency reasons is ok, doing some leanification >> (where this can be done cheaply) is ok as well but compleate >> leanification is best when it comes to having the most compact >> expression of knowledge and thus the most valuable triples. > The bnode is *not an entity* but a variable. > > My point is that people do, in fact, treat redundant bnode triples as > carrying information. I've had long discussions on this with, e.g., > people in DAWG. I would have hoped they didn't convince you :-( > >> Or to go back to the cat(s): after being told "there's a cat in the >> garden" and "Fritz is in the garden, Fritz is a cat" a cheaper edition >> of our house-robot would summarize the situation as "Fritz and a cat are >> in the garden, Fritz is a cat" while the slightly more expensive edition >> of our RDF based robot would say "The cat Fritz is in the garden". > > Yeah, your intuitions don't seem very natural to me. I mean, this is > just saying "RDF semantics are good" in a pretty forced example. If your, Bijan's and somebody's intuition is otherwise and you think something, you think non-lean communication is not handy then Reto, somebody and I suggest you buy the thing that is a robot and is the same as the thing that is cheaper. > >> [cutting sparql-part. Summary: sparql works on lean and on-lean graphs ] >>> Plus, people just don't think of bnodes as ever redundant. I can't >>> find the email right now, but a DAWG member suggested that a pattern >>> like: >>> >>> _:x rdf:type Invoice; hasItem 4. >>> _:y rdf:type Invoice; hasItem 3. >>> >>> Would safely indicate that you had (only) two invoices. Note that this >>> *is* lean. >> if hasItem was a functional property the you could safely conclude that >> there are at least two invoices. > > Sure. And if they were URIs, the lack of UNA, would *still* make it > unsafe to conclude you had two. But that's extra/ But since 4 and 3 are literals you could safely conclude you have two. > >>>> More generally, what's your motivation to change the semantic of >>>> b-nodes, >>> Because they cause lots of problems and their semantics offer no >>> gains. For example, with existential Bnodes sparql query answering for >>> RDFS is *NP-Complete* in *DATA COMPLEXITY*. >> subgraph isomorphism is in NP even without existential variables in the >> graph. > > You don't understand my point. Think about data complexity and the > relative sizes of queries and data. Think about how much of queries > tend to be ground. I still don't. What makes a query complex is structure and number of variable in the query, not b-nodes in the graph. [...] > >>> How is having true existential semantic worth that? >> It is. Because the tension is between b-nodes and centralized >> ontological naming authorities. > > Local singular terms work just fine, even with a default UNA. What are > you missing? Think about the case of *adding* entailments. default UNA? you get even farer from your ignoring-without-violating-too-badly principle. [...] > > We can, I believe, capture all of the actual behaviors you rely on > without forcing me to deal with the equivalence of bnodes and > somevaluesfrom. I think it will better capture the way people > understand bnodes (just as I think a default UNA would better capture > how people want to work with URIs). I think it will have both better > formal computational properties and better practical ones and be more > usable. People, at least some people, at least some programmers (being non-lean again) would like to have tamper-proof bar-code on all material or abstract things (and of course, laws forbidding adding additional bar-codes ). That's not my world, I think this ugly in the cathedral and impossible in a bazaar. > > You disagree. I get it. File a bug report with SPARQL. File a bug > report with RIF. I still don't see where RIF or SPARQL forbids leanifying graphs. I hope you no longer disagree about existential b-nodes, but if you still do I'll read you proposals to revise RDF semantics. Cheers, reto -- Reto Bachmann-Gmür Talis Information Limited Book your free place now at Talis Insight 2007 www.talis.com/insight Find out more about Talis at www.talis.com Shared InovationTM Any views or personal opinions expressed within this email may not be those of Talis Information Ltd.Received on Tuesday, 2 October 2007 16:07:29 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Tuesday, 6 January 2015 20:58:15 UTC


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