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The Chancellor said the Budget was focused on the "post-Covid" era.
He told MPs: "Today's Budget does not draw a line under Covid, we have challenging months ahead.
"And let me encourage everyone eligible to get their booster jabs right away. But today's Budget does begin the work of preparing for a new economy post-Covid.
"The Prime Minister's economy of higher wages, higher skills, and rising productivity. Of strong public services, vibrant communities and safer streets. An economy fit for a new age of optimism.
"Where the only limit to our potential is the effort we are prepared to put in and the sacrifices we are prepared to make."
20:33 , Lily Waddell
This ends our extensive coverage of the Budget today.
‘More must be done to support the globally significant independent music sector'
17:22 , Gareth Richman
Paul Pacifico, chief executive of the trade body Association of Independent Music, said the tax relief extension in the Budget was “encouraging” but called for a music industry specific scheme.
He said: “It’s encouraging to see the Government recognise the serious blow Covid dealt to the UK’s music industry in today’s Budget, discounting business rates for music and other hospitality venues and for premises improvements and green tech use as well as increasing tax reliefs for orchestras.
“However, more must be done to support the globally significant independent music sector to ensure a viable future for diverse music, creators and entrepreneurs. One key proposal is a tax relief scheme for music, like those successfully implemented in other creative industries such as film and games.
“This cost-effective measure could provide our sector with the boost it needs, attracting inward investment and creating a ripple effect across the wider music ecosystem. We urge Government to include music in such schemes at the next opportunity.”
Sadiq Khan: A ‘disappointing Budget’
17:20 , Gareth Richman
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has branded the budget as “disappointing” saying it takes London “for granted”. He said it “failed to deliver the support and investment London and the rest of the country desperately needs to recover from the pandemic”.
This is a disappointing Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review that takes the capital for granted and fails to deliver the support and investment London, and the rest of the country, desperately needs to recover from the pandemic.
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/843H6ibmeT
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) October 27, 2021
Toasting a successful budget?
17:10 , Gareth Richman
A picture show Boris Johnsonand Rishi Sunak raising a pint at a brewery in Bermondsey, south London this afternoon after delivering the budget.
Jenrick : ‘Grow the economy rather than than raise taxes’
17:07 , Matt Watts
Conservative former cabinet minister Robert Jenrick said that while he welcomes Rishi Sunak’s Budget, he believes his focus should be on “growing the economy” rather than “seeing taxes rise”.
He told the House: “There is a huge amount within the Chancellor’s announcement today to be applauded, I commend him and the Treasury team and I wish them well.
“I do think their focus now needs to be on growing the economy and making the UK the most competitive place it possibly can be rather than seeing taxes rise, expenditure increase and risking the private sector not being able to flourish and build that optimistic vision that the Chancellor laid out.”
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) condemned the Chancellor’s decision to slash the surcharge for bankers, saying: “How can it be that NHS and care workers are facing a £900 million tax hike while banks are, as he (Rishi Sunak) said, been given a £900 million tax cut?
“No doubt bankers will be toasting their tax cut and the Chancellor’s decision to reduce the bankers’ surcharges with cheaper bubbly tonight. It’s clear this Chancellor’s priorities are not the priorities of the British people.”
Arts and culture sector welcomes extension of tax relief
15:55 , Daniel Keane
The arts and culture sector has welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement of a tax relief extension in the Budget.
Rishi Sunak said tax relief for theatres, orchestras, museums and galleries will be extended for two years, to March 2024, in order to help them rally after months of closures and lost revenue.
Julian Bird, chief executive of Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, said the tax break will “provide producers and investors with greater confidence in developing our world-leading theatre and drive the cultural recovery from the pandemic”.
Mr Bird added the “welcome news that core funding for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Local Authorities is set to increase will reassure the venues and performing arts companies up and down the country that rely on their support in delivering culture to their local communities”.
Treasury select committee chairman welcomes Budget but says ‘devil in detail'
15:37 , Laura Sharman
The chairman of the Treasury Select Committee said he “broadly” welcomes the Budget but said the “devil will be in the detail”.
Mel Stride, a Conservative MP, said the Chancellor has done a “pretty remarkable job” to support work throughout the pandemic.
However, he warned he now has an “even tougher job” to deliver growth and the government’s priorities while making sure the public finances are on a sustainable trajectory.
“I think it is fair to say my right honourable friend did a pretty remarkable job to support the jobs market and to support jobs,” he said.
“Not without criticism from my committee, but overall, a remarkable job.”
Theresa May on the Budget
15:31 , Laura Sharman
Former prime minister Theresa May appeared to make a thinly-veiled dig at the Chancellor for briefing the media ahead of the Budget.
“It is good news the Chancellor has felt able to announce, albeit over a number of days publicly rather than today to this House, a number of areas of increased spending on issues like infrastructure, the NHS and science,” she said.
“I agree that today we must start to build the new economy post-Covid and we are on the verge of what could be an economy fit for the new age of optimism.”
The Conservative MP for Maidenhead insisted she has always been optimistic by what can be achieved by the British people.
However, she noted: “The brighter future won’t be built simply by telling people it will be there. A new economy needs sure foundations and optimism needs to be backed by practical delivery.”
Ms May also questioned the government on the announcement it will introduce new fiscal rules, saying: “I may have misheard or misunderstood.
“I think he (Rishi Sunak) said that new fiscal rules will be met in the third year of every forecast period but the forecast period rolls forward every year, which suggests to me we are never going to reach the fiscal rules, that they are just going to be rolled forward every year.”
Two-year delay to £22bn funding for ‘sciences superpower’, reveals Chancellor
15:14 , Laura Sharman
The UK’s world-leading tech and life sciences sector is facing a two-year delay to funding worth £22 billion.
Disappointing figures on household growth “deep in the bowels” of Budget report
15:10 , Laura Sharman
Disappointing figures lie “deep in the bowels” of the OBR document, experts have said.
.@PJTheEconomist on #politicslive:
‘Deep in the bowels’ of the OBR document are ‘very disappointing’ figures on growth for households' disposable incomes, with ‘the expectation for household growth for the next five years’ looking ‘pretty stagnant’ at 0.8% per year.#Budget2021 pic.twitter.com/fFOFf304g4
— Institute for Fiscal Studies (@TheIFS) October 27, 2021
Autumn Budget is “missed opportunity” for London’s housing crisis, say experts
15:04 , Laura Sharman
Experts criticised the Autumn Budget as “underwhelming” and a “missed opportunity” to tackle the ever-growing affordable housing crisis in London.
Read more here.
Hospitality chief working hard to protect punters from surging transport costs
14:54 , Laura Sharman
A hospitality boss said said his team is unsure whether the Chancellor’s beer duty cut will offset the surging transportation and production costs companies are facing following his Budget speech today.
Sandy Jarvis, managing director of small London pubco, The Culpeper Family Hospitality Group, said the the rates relief will “certainly help”.
But he cautioned that his team is unsure whether the beer duty cut will offset these other costs.
“We’re working hard to not have to pass on any costs to our customers,” he added.
Chancellor’s statement “more about prosecco than pensions”, says wealth expert
14:49 , Laura Sharman
“Buoyed by better than expected economic forecasts, the Chancellor’s statement was more about prosecco than pensions,” said Nick Ritchie, director at RBC Wealth Management.
“Private investors will breathe a sigh of relief that feared increases to capital gains tax and a reduction in pension tax relief haven’t materialised.
“But while paying less for sparkling wine will be welcome news for many, the freezing of income tax thresholds and increase in national insurance announced earlier this year means household incomes continue to be eroded in real terms.”
Business and union reacton to the Budget...
14:41 , Laura Sharman
A union leader has attacked the Budget as a “confidence trick”, while business groups were also less than enthusiastic about the Chancellor’s announcements.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers’ union Aslef, said: “It’s a confidence trick, because it’s not new money - or even a new announcement.
“It’s just a rehash of money that has already been promised, and already allocated, dressed up to make the Chancellor look good.
“On the eve of Cop26, cuts to air passenger duty send out all the wrong signals.”
Kitty Ussher, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, said the crucial test was whether the Budget gave business the confidence to invest.
“The Chancellor’s business rates and R&D tax credit reforms are welcome, but with hefty hikes in other taxation on the horizon that may not be enough to convince business leaders to press go on their plans for growth, she said.”
Shadow Chancellor on climate
14:37 , Laura Sharman
Rachel Reeves accused the Chancellor of failing to tackle the “huge issue” that is “adapting to climate change”.
She said failure to act will mean public sector debt “to explode later” according to the Office for Budget Responsability.
“It is nearly 300% of GDP,” she added.
She told MPs: “Adapting to climate change presents opportunities, more jobs, lower bills and cleaner air. But only if we act now and if we act at scale.
“The only way to be a prudent and responsible Chancellor is to be a green Chancellor, to invest in a transition to a zero carbon economy and give British businesses a head start in the industry of the future.”
Instead, Ms Reeves insisted home owners are left to face the cost of insulation on their own, and industries like steel and hydrogen are “in a global race but without the support they need”.
Health Secretary thanks Chancellor for backing the NHS
14:31 , Laura Sharman
Sajid Javid expressed his gratitude to the Chancellor for prioritising the UK’s recovery and health reform in his Budget delivery speech.
“Today’s Budget sends a clear message - recovery and reform of health & care an absolute priority,” the Health Secretary said on Twitter.
“Thank you to (Rishi Sunak) for backing our plans to tackle the backlog, fix social care and keep the UK at the forefront of research and development.”
Budget fails to lead on climate crisis, says Ed Miliband
14:24 , Laura Sharman
Labour’s shadow business and energy secretary Ed Miliband said the Chancellor has failed on both the cost of living crisis and the climate crisis in his Autumn Budget.
“No green recovery, no plan to save families £400 on bills, no plan for green steel,” he tweeted.
“Working people will pay the price of Tory climate delay.”
Reeves on tax and government cronyism
14:17 , Laura Sharman
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves described the government as “a by-word for waste, cronyism and vanity projects” addressing issues of tax in her response to the Autumn Budget.
“Taxes on those with the broadest shoulders, those who earn their income from stocks and shares and dividends and property portfolios, they’ve been left barely - untouched,” she said.
Chancellor “out of touch” and “out of ideas” says Reeves
14:13 , Laura Sharman
Responding further to Rishi Sunak’s Budget delivery, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said families were “struggling with rising gas and electricity bills, with rising prices of petrol at the pump and with rising food prices.”
Of her Conservative counterpart, she said: “He’s out of touch, he’s out of ideas and he’s left working people out of pocket.”
Shadow Chancellor on Brexit
14:12 , Laura Sharman
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves told MPs the UK economy is set to be permanently weaker with exporters facing more barriers than their European competitors post-Brexit.
“British exporters facing more barriers than their European competitors because of the deal that this Government did is not good for our economy,” she said.
“If this were a plan it would be economic sabotage.”
Chancellor on air passenger duty rates
14:03 , Laura Sharman
Rishi’s new business rates to support recovering companies
14:02 , Laura Sharman
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has moved to give more business rates support to firms, many of which have been hammered by the pandemic.
Firms hoping for drastic reforms were left waiting, but Sunak did use the Budget to update on a number of measures.
Read them here.
Importance of early years spending
14:00 , Laura Sharman
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves responded to the Chancellor’s words on the importance of early years spending, saying the government cut Sure Start programmes.
“The Chancellor says today that he’s realised what a difference early years spending makes,” she said.
“I would just say to the Chancellor has he ever heard of the Sure Start programme that this Government has cut?”
Rachel Reeves challenges Rishi Sunak on his Budget delivery
13:56 , Laura Sharman
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves responds to Budget speech
13:55 , Laura Sharman
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the UK boasts faster growth because it is lagging behind in its recovery on the global stage.
"As well as having the highest death toll in Europe, Britain has suffered the worst economic hit of any major economy,” she told the House.
“The Chancellor now boasts that we are growing faster than others but that is because we fell the furthest.”
Ms Reeves said while the US and others have already seen their economy bounce back to pre-Covid levels, the UK has not.
“Our economy is set to be permanently weaker,” she added.
Rishi Sunak sums up
13:48 , Sarah Harvey
The Chancellor summed up his budget as “investment in infrastructure, innovation and skills” and a pay rise for over 2 million people”.
He ended by saying: “A £2bn tax cut for the lowest paid. This Budget helps with the cost of living. This Budget levels up to a higher-wage, higher-skill, higher-productivity economy. This Budget builds a stronger economy for the British people.”
He made no apology for record tax rise during pandemic.
“Last year, the state grew to be over half the size of the total economy. Taxes are rising to their highest level as a percentage of GDP since the 1950s.
“I don’t like it but I cannot apologise for it. It is a result of the unprecedented crisis we faced and the extraordinary action we took in response.”
Universal Credit shake up
13:40 , Sarah Harvey
The Chancellor announces changes to benefits for working people. Currently for every extra £1 someone earns, their Universal Credit is reduced by 63p. This will be cut to 55p.
Cheers! Investors quick to cheer the changes to alcohol duties
13:35 , Sarah Harvey
Shares in Wetherspoon shot up 5.07%, closely followed by All Bar One pub owner Mitchells & Butlers up 4.38%. Young’s was also up 1%.
Scotch Whisky Association CEO, Karen Betts, said: “The industry is delighted that spirits duty has been frozen for the fifth budget in succession. Freezing duty is a win-win – it enables the industry to continue to invest in jobs and growth and it delivers more revenue for the Treasury. The Chancellor deserves huge credit for resisting the temptation to raise tax on the Scotch Whisky industry at a time when we are still recovering from the impacts of the pandemic and US tariffs.
“By freezing duty, the Chancellor given welcome relief to all distillers, but especially in Scotland where 92% of all UK spirits are produced or bottled. It is confirmation that the UK government backs one of Scotland’s most important industries and will take action to protect jobs, investment and exports, and bolster the recovery in hospitality and tourism.
“The reform of alcohol taxation is the next step in ensuring that Scotch Whisky is treated fairly in the UK. Despite the duty freeze, spirits are still taxed more than beer, wine and cider. Alcohol taxation urgently needs to be reformed to be fit for the 21st century, linking tax rates with alcohol content and allowing all categories of alcohol to compete on a level playing field.”
Suank on the minimum wage
13:34 , Sarah Harvey
This was one of the many bits of the Budget that was briefed before today but Sunak confirms the minimum wage will rise 6.6 per cent to £9.50 next year. “For a full time worker, that’s a pay rise worth over £1,000”, he says.
You can read more on this here.
Sunak on fuel
13:32 , Sarah Harvey
“With fuel prices at the highest level in 8 years I’m not prepared to add to the squeeze on families and small businesses,” the Chancellor says.
“So I can confirm today: the planned rise in fuel duty will be cancelled. That’s a saving over the next five years of nearly £8billion. Compared to pre-2010 plans, today’s freeze means the average tank of fuel will cost around £15 less per car; £30 less for vans; £130 less for HGVs. After 12 consecutive years of frozen rates, the average car driver will now save a total of £1,900.”
Read more: Shares in Barclays hit as Sunak makes move on bank tax rates
13:29 , Sarah Harvey
Sunak on business rates
13:27 , Sarah Harvey
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has moved to give more business rates support to firms, many of which have been hammered by the pandemic.
He used the Budget to update on a number of measures. They include: introducing a new revaluation cycle that will be delivered from 2023; a new investment relief to encourage businesses to adopt green technologies like solar panels.
There will be a new ‘business rates improvement relief’. From 2023, firms will be able to make property improvements, and, for 12 months, pay no extra business rates.
Sunak added: “I’m announcing today, for one year, a new 50% business rates discount for businesses in the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors. Pubs, music venues, cinemas, restaurants, hotels, theatres, gyms.”
Any eligible company can claim a discount on their bills of 50%, up to a maximum of £110,000. Sunak said that is a business tax cut worth almost £1.7 billion.
The government had earlier this year been consulting on plans that would see revaluations of non-domestic properties take place every three years instead of the current system of five.
High street tenants have long complained about the tax, which is linked to the underlying value of a property, but currently based on values from April 2015.
Sunak on alcohol duties
13:25 , Sarah Harvey
New system that imposes higher rates on stronger drinks will be introduced to end era of “cheap high strength drinks”.
“Today we are taking advantage of leaving the EU to announce the most radical simplification of alcohol duties for over 140 years.
“We are taking five steps today to create a system that is simpler, fairer and healthier.
“First, to radically simplify the system we are slashing the number of main duty rates from 15 to just six.
“Our new system will be designed around a common sense principle - the stronger the drink, the higher the rate.”
Prosecco is set to get cheaper as Sunak announces end to the premium on low strength sparkling wines, which was 28 per cent higher than still wines.
Sunak on Tonnage Tax
13:22 , Sarah Harvey
Companies will be rewarded for adopting the UK’s merchant shipping flag, the Red Ensign.
“Now that we’ve left the EU, today we start reforming our tonnage tax regime to make it simpler and more competitive and we’re also making it fairer for UK taxpayers.
“Our tonnage tax will for the first time ever reward companies for adopting the UK merchant shipping flag the Red Ensign.”
The Chancellor joked: “I’m sure the opposition will be delighted that red flags are still flying somewhere in this country, even if they are all at sea.”
Sunak on education
13:21 , Sarah Harvey
As well as investing in infrastructure and innovation, it is “crucial” the government invests in “providing a world-class education to all our people”, he says.
“We’re increasing skills spending, over the Parliament by £3.8billion - an increase of 42 per cent per cent. We’re expanding T Levels. Building Institutes of Technology. Rolling out the Prime Minister’s lifetime skills guarantee.”
Read more: No hit to housebuilder shares on property developer tax latest
13:20 , Sarah Harvey
Our business team has the latest on the property developer tax, below:
Read more: Rishi Sunak’s housing measures from new homes to cladding removal
13:19 , Sarah Harvey
Our property team has all the updates on housing in one place, below:
Sunak on innovation
13:11 , Sarah Harvey
The government will invest more in innovation, the Chancellor says.
“By the end of this parliament spending on Research and Development will be £20billion a year - a 50 per cent increase. And that is in addition tax relief,” he says.
Research and development spending will be 1.1 per cent of GDP, while the average for other comparable countries is just 0.7 per cent, he says.
Warm words for the UK’s tech and lifes sciences are backed with a pledge to increase spending on R&D to create a “science superpower”.
But perhaps more important could be moves to relax regulatory charge cap for the big pensions schemes which could unlock some of the £2.2 trillion currently off-limits to higher-risk, less liquid start-ups.
The new £1.4bn Global Britain Investment Fund will support “transformative economic activity, in our world-leading sectors”, says Sunak. Let’s see.
Sunak on devolved administrations
13:10 , Sarah Harvey
Devolved administrations will be given the "largest block grants" since 1998, according to the Chancellor.
Rishi Sunak said, through the Barnett formula, the UK Government's decisions would increase Scottish Government funding "in each year by an average of £4.6 billion, Welsh Government funding by £2.5 billion, and £1.6 billion for the Northern Ireland Executive".
The Chancellor told MPs: "This delivers, in real terms, the largest block grants for the devolved administrations since the devolution settlements of 1998."
Sunak on transport funding
13:09 , Sarah Harvey
The Chancellor said £2.6 billion is committed via a "long-term pipeline" for more than 50 local road upgrades while more than £5 billion is being committed to local roads maintenance.
He told MPs: "Enough to fill one million more potholes a year."
Mr Sunak said funding for buses, cycling and walking totals more than £5 billion adding: "The Prime Minister promised an infrastructure revolution - this Budget delivers an infrastructure revolution."
Pictured: Rishi Sunak delivers his Budget in the House of Commons
13:00 , Sarah Harvey
Sunak on Culture
13:00 , Sarah Harvey
Tax relief for museums and galleries will be extended for two years to March 2024. Tax relief for theatres, orchestras, museums and galleries will be doubled until April 2023 before returning to the normal rate in April 2024.
Sunak on Crime
12:59 , Sarah Harvey
The Government aims to recruit 20,000 new police officers. There will also be an extra £2.2billion for the courts, prisons and probation services.
This includes £0.5billion to reduce courts backlogs and funding for programmes to tackle “neighbourhood crime, reoffending, County Lines, violence against women and girls, victims’ services, and improved responses to rape cases”.
Read more: UK economy to return to pre-pandemic size by end of the year, says Rishi Sunak
12:58 , Sarah Harvey
12:56 , Sarah Harvey
There will be a £640million a year investment to tackle rough sleeping and homelessness, the Chancellor says. This is an “85 per cent increase in funding compared to 2019”.
12:55 , Sarah Harvey
The Chancellor has confirmed £5 billion to remove unsafe cladding from the highest risk buildings. That will be partly funded by the Residential Property Developers Tax, which Sunak said will be levied on developers with profits over £25 million at a rate of 4 per cent.
In February the tax was first mentioned as part of the government’s wider plan to bring an end to unsafe cladding. Numerous flat owners are facing huge bills for fire-safety improvements after the tragic Grenfell blaze in 2017. You can read our piece from February here
Mary-Anne Bowring, group managing director at property management consultancy Ringley Group, said: “A blanket tax on developers is fairer than leaving leaseholders to shoulder the burden but it is still a blunt instrument to use to fix the cladding crisis.”
Cory Askew, Chestertons’ Head of Sales, says on the government’s plans to address the cladding scandal: “We applaud the Chancellor’s decision to put £5billion towards the removal of unsafe cladding; a vital step towards resolving the cladding crisis in our country.
“There are a large number of property owners who are unable to sell due to their home being deemed un-mortgageable. We expected the government to coordinate a solution to this crisis in order to give affected owners hope that they won’t remain in limbo any longer.”
12:54 , Sarah Harvey
Rishi Sunak promises the “largest health capital budget” since 2010.
There will be “record investment in health R&D, including better new-born screening as campaigned for by the Member for Cities of London and Westminster, “ he says.
“40 new hospitals. 70 hospital upgrades. More operating theatres to tackle the backlog. And 100 community diagnostic centres.”
Sunak on Conservatives: Party of public services
12:52 , Laura Sharman
The Chancellor announced a real terms rise in overall spending for "every single department" with public sector net investment at the highest sustained level for nearly half a century.
"If anybody still doubts it, today's budget confirms the Conservatives are the real party of public services," he told MPs.
New fiscal rules
12:52 , Sarah Harvey
The Chancellor says he’s setting out new fiscal rules.
“Borrowing as a percentage of GDP is forecast to fall in every single year. From 7.9 per cent this year to 3.3 per cent next year,” he says.
“We will meet our fiscal rules with a margin to protect ourselves against economic risks. That is the responsible decision at a time of increasing global economic uncertainty when our public finances are twice as sensitive to changes in interest rates as they were before the pandemic.”
Sunak on Growth
12:45 , Sarah Harvey
The Chancellor says the economy to set to return to its pre-Covid level at the turn of the year. This earlier than was forecast - March.
"Growth this year is revised up from 4% to 6.5%. The OBR then expect the economy to grow by 6% in 2022, and 2.1%, 1.3% and 1.6% over the next three years.
"In July last year, at the height of the pandemic, unemployment was expected to peak at 12%. Today, the OBR expect unemployment to peak at 5.2%.
"That means over 2 million fewer people out of work than previously feared."
Our business desk has the full details on this here.
12:43 , Sarah Harvey
The Chancellor warns inflation is “likely to rise further”, saying the Office for Budget for Responsibility expects inflation to average 4 per cent next year.
Rishi backs the Bank of England to keep inflation under control. “They have a strong record in doing so,” he says.
Douglas Grant, director of commercial finance firm Conister, says: “If the Office for Budget Responsibility’s inflation forecast of 4 per cent over the next year materialises, this will lead to both raw material and labour cost rises which will have to be passed on to the consumer. Otherwise, this will have a negative impact on firms’ working capital, something which is already scarce due to disrupted supply chains and the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Rishi Sunak is here for the Budget
12:42 , Sarah Harvey
He says on the economy the Budget “delivers a stronger economy for the British people: Stronger growth, with the UK recovering faster than our major competitors.” He says the Budget will deliver an “economy fit for a new age of optimism.”
As Rishi starts speaking, odds on length of his speech from Ladbrokes. It’s 5-6 for under 52 minutes, and 5-6 for over that. Last year’s speech took 50 minutes.
Prime Minister invited to enjoy “carbon neutral cheese toastie” during PMQs
12:37 , Laura Sharman
Boris Johnson was invited to sample the world’s first carbon neutral cheddar cheese sandwich to mark National Cheese Toastie Day in Parliament.
Speaking at the Commons, David Warburton invited the Prime Minister to commit to trying the toastie produced within his constituency of Somerton and Frome.
“Glorious Somerset is the home of cheddar cheese,” Mr Warburton said.
“With the news that Wyke Farms in my constituency is now producing what I think is the world’s first entirely carbon neutral cheddar cheese, did my Right Honourable Friend know that eating cheddar from Somerset can reduce your cheese consumption of carbon footprint by 55 per cent?
“Will my Right Honourable Friend support our vital dairy industry by committing to enjoying a carbon neutral cheese toastie today?”
David Warburton hails “National Cheese Toastie Day” during PMQs
12:26 , Laura Sharman
David Warburton used his time at Prime Minister’s Questions to remind MPs that today is National Cheese Toastie Day.
“As the whole House will know, today is National Cheese Toastie Day. It’s a fact,” the Somerton MP said.
“A massive 4.3 billion toasties were consumed last year, they are the nation’s favourite snack.
12:21 , Laura Sharman
“It is of course correct that Cop 26 is both unbelievably important for our planet but also very difficult and it’s in the balance.”
Johnson: COP26 is “unbelievably important for our planet”
12:20 , Laura Sharman
Cop26 is “both unbelievably important for our planet but also very difficult and it’s in the balance”, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.
Standing in for Sir Keir Starmer after he tested positive for Covid-19, shadow business secretary Ed Miliband joked: “Just like the old days... I just want to reassure both sides of the House it’s one time only that I’m back.
“We all need the vital Cop26 summit in Glasgow to deliver next week because failing to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees will have devastating consequences for our planet and that is shared across this House.
“Does the Prime Minister agree that to keep that goal of 1.5 degrees alive we need to roughly halve global emissions in this decisive decade?”
PM confirms UK is not cutting £11.6bn climate change fund
12:19 , Laura Sharman
Boris Johnson said the UK will not cut spending in its £11.6bn commitment to helping developing countries to tackle climate change.
“We haven’t cut that. We have not cut that. We are keeping that investment.
“We remain absolutely committed to the “11.6bn that were invested to tackle climate change around the world. That is absolutely rock solid.”
The Prime Minister added that the UK is “working flat out” to ensure it reaches the £100bn target from the whole of the world.
“We have a way to go, whether we will get there or not. I cannot say. It is in the balance but the challenge is there,” he added.
Ed Miliband urges PM not to “shift goal post” in climate emergency
12:13 , Laura Sharman
Ed Miliband urged the prime minister not to “shift the goal post” when it comes to emissions reductions targets.
“It is easy to make promises for 30 years time. It is much more difficult to act now,” he told MPs during Prime Minister’s Questions today.
“Please do not shift the goal post when it comes to Glasgow. It is about the emergency we face this decade. Please keep the focus on 2030, not 2050 and beyond.”
Ed Miliband to stand in for Keir Starmer self isolating with Covid
12:10 , Laura Sharman
Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband is standing in for Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions after the Labour leader tested positive for Covid-19.
Sir Keir will also miss the Budget speech later this afternoon.
On Tuesday, the House of Commons ordered for everyone except MPs to wear face coverings while on the parliamentary estate due to rising infections.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab were among those Conservative MPs wearing masks in the Commons chamber, although Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg was not.
Mask-wearing on the Tory benches was mixed during Prime Minister’s Questions.
Sir Keir Starmer to miss Budget speech after testing positive for Covid
12:06 , Laura Sharman
Sir Keir Starmer has tested positive for Covid-19 and will not be doing PrimeMinister’s Questions or responding to the Budget, Labour has said.
Boris Johnson has arrived in Parliament for PMQs
12:04 , Laura Sharman
Boris Johnson has arrived in Parliament for PMQs.
Post-Brexit freedoms will deliver tax reforms
12:00 , Laura Sharman
Rishi Sunak has pledged to use post-Brexit freedoms to deviate from EU rules to “deliver substantive reform of our tax system”.
He stated that the Budget prepares for a new economy post-Covid and that it is a Budget that “will take the opportunities leaving the EU has afforded us to deliver substantive reform of our tax system.”
A Downing Street spokesperson added: “The Chancellor described how the levelling up agenda would be the golden thread that runs through this Spending Review and Budget, delivering on our promises to spread opportunity across our country.”
Chancellor reveals the “three building blocks” of the Budget
11:56 , Laura Sharman
Rishi Sunak told Cabinet ministers the three building blocks of the Budget are strong public services, infrastructure innovation and skills, and support for working families.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Chancellor outlined his plans for the Budget and Spending Review that will deliver a stronger economy for the British people, promoting high skills, high productivity and higher wages.”
Mr Sunak emphasised that there would be strong investment in all three including £6 billion to help clear NHS backlogs and £3 billion investment in skills.
Pictured: Rishi leaves Downing St
11:22 , Daniel Keane
Rishi Sunak has been pictured leaving 11 Downing Street before delivering his Budget to the House of Commons.
The Chancellor will use his Budget to set out plans for a post-coronavirus economy, boosted by better-than-expected forecasts but against a backdrop of a rising cost of living.
Chief Secretary says agoraphobia means he will not feature in pre-Budget photo
11:09 , Daniel Keane
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has announced he will not feature in the traditional pre-Budget photograph with the Chancellor as he is agoraphobic.
Simon Clarke tweeted that his condition “prevents me being comfortable in some open spaces” and so as a result would not take part in the shots outside No 11 Downing Street.
The Treasury ministerial team is ritually photographed together outside the famous black door while the Chancellor holds up their Budget red box before the Commons fiscal speech.
Really looking forward to explaining the Budget and SR alongside the Chancellor. I won’t be outside for the photos in Downing Street as I live with agoraphobia - which prevents me being comfortable in some open spaces - but will be busy in Parliament and out in the country 1/ pic.twitter.com/k7ifCgI7QO
— Simon Clarke MP (@SimonClarkeMP) October 27, 2021
Forecasting group says OBR will hike GDP prediction
10:54 , Daniel Keane
The EY Item Club, an economic forecasting group, believes the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will hike its gross domestic product (GDP) forecast for 2021 to growth of 7 per cent from the 4 per cent forecast at the last fiscal statement in March.
It also predicts the OBR will slash its estimate for how much the pandemic has scarred the economy to as low as 1 per cent.
This could boost the Government’s fiscal position by £25 billion a year by 2025.
The Times said the GDP growth figures, matched with “favourable” employment figures, could give the Chancellor another £20 billion to £30 billion extra to spend.
Hopes for Universal Credit and public sector pay
10:33 , Laura Sharman
Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said he hopes Rishi Sunak will reverse universal credit cuts and guarantee public sector workers “a real pay rise” above inflation rate in his Budget speech today.
Skepticism over Chancellor’s message of optimism
10:31 , Laura Sharman
John McDonnell has expressed skepticism over the Chancellor’s message of optimism ahead of his Budget speech today.
The former Labour Shadow Chancellor raised doubts over Rishi Sunak’s ability to bring optimism while “disappointing so many.”
“People out there are suffering. The chancellor has put out this slogan today about optimism,” he told Sky News.
“I don’t think people who have just had their Universal Credit cut are going to feel particularly optimistic with inflation rising and energy prices rising.”
He continued: “Even the announcement of lifting the pay freeze was spoilt when they said we are lifting the pay freeze but you are not guaranteed that...
“This idea that suddenly you can bring about optimism when you are disappointing so many people, I think is going to come back and the Chancellor is going to have to think again.”
Calls for immediate action following end of £20 Universal Credit boost
10:09 , Laura Sharman
Labour continued calls for Chancellor Rishi Sunak to set out an immediate plan to support families through the winter when he delivers his Budget.
“It is the biggest cut to social security we have seen since the welfare state was created,” she told Sky News.
“For many families it is all they have ever known. A lot of families started receiving Universal Credit because of the pandemic. It is a massive hit to families’ incomes.
“We want to see immediate action to deal with the cost-of-living crisis facing families as we are entering a pretty tough winter for lots of people, but also businesses too.
“We have had a lot of smoke and mirrors going into this Budget, and it’s all very good and well the government promising things, but if that doesn’t lead to people feeling that extra support in their pocket, that will be the real test for the government.”
The Budget on NHS backlog
10:05 , Laura Sharman
The NHS backlog will take longer to clear without extra funding for social care in this week’s Budget, bodies representing councils and healthcare groups have warned.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak will use his Budget on Wednesday to commit a further £5.9 billion in capital funding to help sort the crisis created by the pandemic.
It comes on top of £12 billion announced last month, but Sajid Javid said it is “impossible to know” how well the issue will be tackled in the coming years.
Dominic Raab and Priti Patel arrive for Cabinet meeting
09:48 , Laura Sharman
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab and Home Secretary Priti Patel have arrived in Downing Street.
Mr Raab was pictured wearing his blazer slung over his shoulder as he made his way to the weekly Cabinet meeting ahead of Rishi Sunak’s Budget delivery.
Ms Patel appeared to be in high spirits carrying a smile and a folder under her arm.
Cabinet arrives ahead of Budget presentation
09:39 , Laura Sharman
Cabinet members were seen arriving in Downing Street for their weekly meeting before the Budget is delivered on Wednesday.
Later this morning, Chancellor Rishi Sunak will head to the House of Commons to present his Autumn Budget and spending review.
Chief Whip Mark Spencer, Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg and Attorney General Suella Braverman were pictured en route to the meeting.
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss were also seen arriving.
Keir Starmer: The Budget must help working people
09:29 , Laura Sharman
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said the Budget must take the pressure off working people.
“With costs growing and inflation rising, Labour would cut VAT on domestic energy bills immediately for six months,” he tweeted.
“Unlike the Tories, we wouldn’t hike taxes on working people and we’d ensure online giants pay their fair share.”
“New age of optimism” anticipated for today’s Budget
08:30 , Laura Sharman
Rishi Sunak will hail a “new age of optimism” in his Budget amid predictions he will have more money than expected to spend due to a fast bounce-back from Covid.
Rishi Sunak wears £95 designer flipflops with socks to pre-Budget meeting
08:09 , Laura Sharman
The Chancellor was pictured wearing a pair of £95 Italian sliders ahead of today’s Budget.
Another photo showed his customary “pre-game Twix and can of Sprite” on his desk by the Budget red box.
Rishi Sunak's pre-Budget pictures have dropped, including one of him wearing £95 sliders with socks pic.twitter.com/jatoWrXes0
— Eleanor Langford (@eleanormia) October 26, 2021
Budget must help those on low incomes through the winter, says Jenrick
08:01 , Laura Sharman
The chancellor must help those on low incomes through the winter in today’s Budget, urged Robert Jenrick.
“He is also going to have to think carefully about those people on the most modest incomes and how he can help them through a difficult period where we are seeing inflation rising, higher energy prices and so on,” he added.
MP says we will all be better off from the new Budget
07:58 , Laura Sharman
The former treasury minister said we are all going to be better off from The Budget, with experts predicting that the economy has substantially grown.
Robert Jenrick told Sky News: “Therefore we are borrowing much less as a country and that gives some more room for the chancellor to invest in the future of public services which we all depend on like the NHS.”
Rishi may have more to spend as country rebounds better than expected
07:51 , Laura Sharman
Rishi Sunak is thought to have more to spend in the Autumn 2021 Budget as the country has rebounded better than expected from the pandemic.
What does business want from Rishi’s Autumn Budget 2021?
07:47 , Laura Sharman
Chancellor Rishi Sunak will deliver the government’s latest budget at 12.30pm in Parliament today.
More support loans, business rate reforms and more funding for skills training are among the wish list.
Reversing the rise in corporation tax plus VAT and other tax cuts is also desirable.

domain: news


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Luxury ap. Bonaria are only 300m from the beach and only a 1000m from the UNESCO protected town of Trogir. It offers free Wi-Fi , elegantly designed rooms, wonderful view, children playing corner by the pool and fully equipped kitchen. Come & enjoy.
House is surrounded by a green forest, very peaceful, away from the traffic and noise, just 300m away from the beach, 1km away from the center of Trogir, 300m from the shop, restaurant and coffee shop…

domain: travel


The Amazon Echo is an 'always listening' smart speaker utillising Amazons Alexa Amazon Services (AVS).
The device is vulnerable to a physical attack that allows an attacker to gain root access to the underlying Linux operating system.
An attacker with physical access could deliver malware onto the device which would grant them persistent remote access and the ability to stream live microphone without altering the functionality of the device or leaving physical evidence of tampering.
Such a vulnerability raises a number of privacy concerns about 'always listening' devices which is important to customers and their trust relations with Amazon.
This vulnerability is due to two hardware design choices of the Amazon Echo:
The exposed debug pads are easily accessible on the base of the Amazon Echo exposing both UART and connections for an external SD Card. The hardware is configured such that the device will attempt to boot first from this exposed SD Card before the internal memory.
The SD Card pads on the 2017 edition of the Amazon Echo have been disabled preventing the device from being booted externally.
As this is a hardware fix 2015 and 2016 devices will remain vulnerable.
"Customer trust is very important to us. To help ensure the latest safeguards are in place, as a general rule, we recommend customers purchase Amazon devices from Amazon or a trusted retailer and that they keep their software up-to-date." - Amazon
Please refer to the attached advisory and complementary blog post.
Issue reported to Amazon Security
Amazon responded with confirmation of the issue
MWR queried Amazon on the issue status
MWR found new devices are not vulnerable
Amazon Lab126 contacted MWR about the vulnerability and to release dates
Public disclosure of vulnerability and technical blog post


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A Childhood Dream Come True!!
I had the awesome experience of playing April O’Neil for the latest Keith Apicary music video, T.M.N.T.S.O.N.G! Above are some of the pics from the shoot as well as photos from the video premiere night at Keith’s Meltdown Comics show. Cowabunga, dude!

domain: artistic


Sorry, this product has been sold and is no longer available. We have used machines arriving weekly so please call us to be first to hear about the very latest stock.
Casolin 4 sided Planer / Moulder in next excellent condition.
|Pre styraightening Table||2500mm|
|Rise and fall of the infeed table||10mm|
|Lateral adjustment of RH guide cutting edge||10mm|
|Min working Width with 125mm Tool||15mm|
|Max working Width with 125mm Tool||230mm|
|Min working height using 125mm Tool||8mm|
|Max working height with 125mm Tool||120mm|
Send Your Enquiry


10. Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONE
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign. Affairs whether he has received any intimation that the Chinese Nationalist Government are preparing to exercise their rights of tariff autonomy as from let January, 1929, and that a new tariff schedule has been prepared whether His Majesty's Government will support the enforcement of the new sehedule; and whether they are in consultation with any other of the treaty Powers on the subject?
§ 8. Mr. DUCKWORTH
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can make any statement as to the progress of negotiations for recognition of the Nationalist government of China by this country and as to the question of the interim tariff?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN
I have received no intimation that the Chinese Government are preparing to exercise tariff autonomy on the 1st January. As the negotiations with the Chinese Government in regard to the conclusion of a treaty dealing with tariff matters are still in progress, I regret that I cannot add anything to the statements on this question made in this House on the 14th and 28th November. As regards consultation with other Powers, I would refer to the reply I returned on this subject on the 28th November.


Introducing Sania Marie Mitali Leggings: Wearable Art That Leaves a Lasting Impression. These comfortable leggings are a masterpiece of design, with a beautiful pattern resembling a painter's brushstrokes. Express your individuality, turn heads, and steal the show with Sania Marie Mitali Leggings, where fashion meets creativity in a fusion of style and comfort.
Poetry in the Design
A piece of art that glides across the room and leaves a lasting memory.
Made with stretchy material, these responsive leggings allow for flexibility.
- 4-Way Stretch, Moves with You
- Custom Design by Sania Marie
- UPF 50+
• Moisture Wicking
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• 82% polyester, 18% spandex - smooth, comfortable microfiber yarn
If you like a looser fit, consider sizing up.
View our size guide chart to find your correct size.
Machine wash with like colors.
• Machine wash cold
• Do not bleach
• Do not dry clean
• Do not iron
• Do not tumble dry
Free shipping in 2-7 business days from order confirmation. Shipping status can be verified at any time by using the tracking number provided via e-mail. You can also access this information within MyAccount. For more information on our free shipping and delivery policy.
Enjoy easy returns on your order. You may return the products purchased within 30 days of delivery. For more information about our return policy.


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The Detroit City Council will review and discuss banning recreational marijuana businesses during its meeting on September 22, 2019. The City Council will review a report from the Law Department and determine whether to move forward with a public hearing on the matter.
If adopted, Detroit would be an outlier. Other large cities such as Ann Arbor, Lansing, East Lansing, Muskegon, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Battle Creek, and others opted into recreational marijuana. However, these cities have delayed the acceptance of applications until the state starts to accept applications or some other future time.
Detroit enacted its medical marijuana ordinance in March 2018. The city currently has 75 medical marijuana facilities that serve 673,104 residents. The city stopped accepting applications for provisioning centers in October 2018.
Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency has identified Detroit as a city that meets the Social Equity Program criteria for recreational marijuana businesses. Qualifying cities must have over 30% of its population below the federal poverty level. Under the Social Equity Program, qualifying participants may receive financial aid and help with the application. The regulator is holding an educational meeting for Detroit residents on September 23, 2019.
Partners in the Social Equity Program will help qualifying participants complete the social equity and recreational facility applications. The state will also provide a discounted application fee. A social equity applicant must, however, retain majority ownership in the business.
Detroit could be implementing a temporary ban on recreational marijuana until the Social Equity Program is fully implemented. Social equity participants may be shut out of the processes for cities that open application windows before the program is fully implemented. The cities that qualify for the Social Equity Program should consider this issue prior to adopting final ordinances.

domain: economics


The flare-ups seen to the east of downtown Santa Barbara and the Riviera are being monitored and do not currently pose a threat, county fire officials said in a statement issued 7:30 p.m. Monday evening as flames licked distant ridge lines above the city.
“The fire is feeding on unburned fuels within the current parameter,” the statement reads. “Expect to see similar conditions throughout the night. Firefighters anticipate this fire behavior. Fire is more visible at night and appears closer than it is. Firefighters continue to remain in place providing structure defense in the affected area.”
Evacuation zones — both voluntary and mandatory — remain the same.


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Moon Knight Keychain: Add Some Superhero Style to Your Keys
Moon Knight keychain for sale! Add some superhero style to your keys with this detailed and high-quality plastic keychain.
This 3D printed keychain features the iconic Marvel character, Moon Knight, in his classic white and black costume.
Perfect for any Marvel fan or collector, this keychain is a must-have accessory.
Order now and show off your love for Moon Knight wherever you go!


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Crystal Dynamics – the developers behind one of the best- and fastest-selling video games of recent history; the multi-award-winning video game – Tomb Raider. This video game also reincarnated the iconic female protagonist, Lara Croft. Take that, Nathan Drake! Nah, just kidding. I’m a huge huge fan of both games. Now that we got that out of the way, let’s get back to the news. Crystal Dynamics recently posted in their Tumblr account that they just upgraded their workplace, gearing up for better games in the future. Here are some of the details. Sit back and let us take a peek at the new home of Crystal Dynamics.
Crystal Dynamics: A New Home
Scot Amos, co-studio head of Crystal Dynamics, revealed that they have new facilities and rooms for their developers or employees to work and play around. He said in the post that,
“After months of planning, building, and some very late nights for the construction crew, we’ve just moved into our glorious new state-of-the-art studio!”, he continued, “We have some great new amenities, from hydraulic desks for everyone to adjust as they like, to black-out shades and light absorption paint for those darkness-loving developers.”
I don’t know about you guys, but, I’m digging those black-out shades.
Aside from the “performance boosting” environment, he also stated that they added an on-site Motion Capture stage. Now, that is a great investment to make more award-winning video games.
About on-site Motion Capture stage
He stated, “We’ve expanded to six fully equipped soundproof audio rooms too,” continued Amos. “With the growth of our team, we’ve also increased our studio meeting area and naturally outfitted it with tons of next-gen 4K screens, as well as dedicated console and PC gaming stations next to the huge new kitchen. Lastly, we’ve added two specialty rooms for optimal development efficiency: a photogrammetry capture space and our very own, on-site, fully equipped Motion Capture stage!”.
For those readers out there who don’t know what this means: the new photogrammetry capture space gives the artists and animators the ability to create ultra-realistic expressions and textures. Various video games are already using photogrammetry. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter and Uncharted 4 are just someone the games that used this to produce highly detailed textures.
Photogrammetry capture space
Ron Rosenberg, co-studio head of Crystal Dynamics, also stated that, “The new studio will help Crystal Dynamics take our work to the next level,” he continued, “Crystal Dynamics’ new studio is nearly double the size in order to make room for all the new positions we’re hiring over the next year.”
You heard that right. For those aspiring game developers, artists, designers, and others out there who are looking to work in the game industry, they are hiring in various areas. You can check their website here.
Here are other photos included in their post. Enjoy!
Like to play guitar?
Do you know what this one means?
Like This One like I do?
Also, here is the trailer for The Avenger project they released:
So how about that. What do you think about Crystal Dynamics’ new headquarters? Do you believe that these upgrades will further help them produce more award-winning games in the future? Leave your comments down below and let’s have a discussion.

domain: design


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*** UPDATE 0630UT 13 September: Overnight, some UK aurora watchers caught sight of some northern lights. Reports from Northumberland, N Norfolk, and those parts of Scotland not shrouded in fog. Now it’s night time in N America, activity rates have dropped off but it’s worth keeping an eye on Spaceweather.com for the Kp index to get back up to storm level (5+), as well as the NOAA Spaceweather Now page for the Bz component to turn S. Both of these have to happen in order for a good aurora display.***
Stargazers in the northern UK should look out for northern lights tonight and tomorrow, Friday 12 and Saturday 13 September 2014.
Two large solar eruptions blasted material off the Sun on 9 and 10 September, and that material has been hurtling through space for the last couple of days. The first batch of it hit our atmosphere in the small hours of this morning, resulting in some moderate northern lights displays seen from North America. The second batch has arrived this afternoon, and could possibly trigger a dramatic display of northern lights overnight and tomorrow night.
If you’ve never seen the northern lights (aurora borealis) before then this is an ideal opportunity to catch them. It’s unlikely that this display will be as good as the once-in-20-year display we saw back in February this year, but you never know. It’s hard to predict these things until they actually happen.
If you want to see the northern lights there are a few things you can do to increase your chances:
1. Find an observing site with a clear northern horizon
2. Get away from light pollution; put towns and cities behind you to the south (i.e. head to the northern edge of your town or city, preferably further)
3. Be patient. Aurorae can be faint and indistinct at first, and you need to let your eyes dark adapt to see them properly
Last night, Thursday 27 February 2014, the UK was treated to one of the best displays of Northern Lights in the past twenty years. Twitter erupted with excitement, and then pictures, which my good friend @VirtualAstro and myself @darkskyman RT-ed and commented on throughout the evening.
Below is just a sample of some of the best images that came in last night, but before that let’s look at why this aurora display was so good.
Two days previously a large sunspot on the surface of the Sun erupted with a huge X-class flare, rated at X4.9, the strongest of the year so far. This flare blasted off material from the Sun’s surface in what’s known as a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME). We knew that this material wasn’t aimed straight at us, but last night, two days after the eruption, it sideswiped the Earth, getting caught in our magnetic field and funnelled to the north and south poles.
It just so happened that the angle of the impact, and the timing, was perfect for evening skywatchers across the UK, and with largely clear skies across the country reports started coming in around 7pm that we might be about to see storm level activity. In the end it was rated as G2 (moderate) but the position of the auroral oval meant that even this moderate storm produced some of the best views of aurorae in the UK that I can remember.
Don’t be downhearted if you missed it; there’s a chance (55% according to NOAA) that we might see more tonight as we move through the wake of the CME. It’s unlikely to be as good as last night’s show, but still worth a look.
I tweeted the best way to see the aurora:
Then images started coming in!
This from @garethpaxton in Central Scotland (a pic of the viewfinder of his camera):
Then this beautiful one from Jim Hunter Images in East Lothian:
From @ross1772 in Newmill, Scotland
Dave @makapala uploaded a bunch of images taken from Fife to his Flickr account:
Mark Tait @marktait78 got this amazing image from Aberdeenshire, showing the verticality of the aurora:
England also got some of the action with the aurora stretching as far south as Uttoxeter, in this image by @RichardH082:
And Whitby (from @whitbyglenn)
From Ravenscar (from @andy_exton)
And NE England (via @Astro_Matt27)
Northern Ireland got in on the action too, as this amazing image from Paul Martin shows:
But of course the best of it was in the north of Scotland, such as this stunning image from Innes Mackay in Lewis:
At 0028GMT on 7 March a giant X-class solar flare blasted material off the Sun and sent it hurtling towards the Earth. To be specific it was a X5.4-class flare, the most powerful we’ve seen in 5 years. That material is due to hit some time this morning (UK time) 8 March and could result in increased aurora activity as well as potentially disrupting communications systems and power transmission. A similar storm in 1989 knocked out the power grid in northern Canada, resulting in a black out for over 6 million people.
Here’s a graphic of the storm as it heads our way, courtesy of NASA (click on graphic for animation):
Keep up-to-date with activity via Spaceweather.com
While visiting Orkney (a group of islands to the north of Scotland) earlier this month I heard people talking time and again about The Merry Dancers. Amazingly this is the name that locals give for an astronomical phenomenon all too rarely seen in the south of the UK, but on display regularly above Orkney – the Northern Lights.
I was struck by how dark the skies are in Orkney. Indeed that was the purpose of my trip – to begin working with island communities there so that they can become Dark Sky Places under the International Dark-skies Association programme.
But what also struck me was how connected people there are with the night sky, a connection that is all but lost in most of the rest of light-polluted UK.
I did several talks to public audiences while in Orkney – in Kirkwall, in North Ronaldsay, and in Stronsay – and at each of these talks the locals were full of questions, and I got a chance to speak to many of them afterwards, and it was during these conversations that I got the sense that here were communities still living under a dark night sky, who knew its changing face under the waxing and waning moon, and knew too the marvels that were visible overhead each night.
But time and again I was told about how amazing the “merry dancers” were in Orkney. I had never heard of them before and initially I was confused, as they were being brought up in the context of astronomy and the night sky, but very quickly I came to realise that the Merry Dancers is the name given to the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, by Orcadians.
These are people so in touch with their night sky that they had a pet name for an astronomical phenomenon, and everyone knew them by that name!
The origin of the name is a bit obscure, but in gaelic the Northern Lights are known as Na Fir-Chlis. In Gaelic “Na” is the definite article, while “fir” is the plural of “fair”, meaning man, or one. “Chlis” means quick, lively, or nimble.
So Na Fir-Chlis can be translated as “the nimble ones” or “the lively ones”, which is a suitable name for the Northern Lights. Legend has is that these “nimble ones” were inclined to violence, as in the proverb
When the mirrie dancers play, they are like to slay.
And this gives a clue as to the origin of the phrase “merry dancers”, as they are referred to by many people in Orkney today. It is, in fact, probably a mis-pronouncing of the word “mirrie” which means shimmering, a very suitable description of the Northern Lights.
Thus from Na Fir-Chlis, the nimble / lively ones, we have the sense of motion, of “dancers”, while the description as shimmering, or “merrie”, completes the name, properly The Mirrie Dancers.
That “mirrie” sounds very similar, especially in the Orcadian tongue, to the English “merry” leads to them being called The Merry Dancers, with connotations of happiness, but the name more properly describes their shimmering nature, and as legend has it, they are often far from happy, fighting in the sky and staining the morning moss blood-red!

domain: geography


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Sherlock Holmes Museum review
If you're nuts enough to visit Madame Tussauds then you might end up doing the Sherlock Holmes Museum on the same day, because tourists love a bit of Sherlock Holmes. Fish and chips and a cup of tea, catch a black cab down Baker Street, and then spend an hour walking round Sherlock Holmes' house. What could be more British than that?
The first thing you need to do is have your photo taken with the Victorian copper outside the door. He's got a wooden puff pipe and deer stalker hat by his side if you fancy dressing up as Sherlock. At the very least it will help you pass a bit of time because it can sometimes take you 10-20 minutes just to get through the door. It's quite small and pokey inside so they keep everyone waiting on the doorstep until it's thinned out a bit.
When the Victorian copper finally lets you through the door you'll head straight upstairs to Sherlock's study where he sat with Dr Watson. Everything looks exactly like it's described in the books: they've got his comfy armchair by the fireside, bookshelves overstuffed with papers and case notes falling out all over the place, a cabinet full of dusty old bottles on the wall, and a china tea set on delicate little dollies.
There's another fireplace in the lounge with glowing coals in it. And that's also where you'll find some of the objects from the novels: they've got the severed thumb of Victor Hatherley, for example, the amputated ears of Mary Browner, the spooky voodoo doll from Mr Garcia's, his pipe (of course), his magnifying glass and French medal, and a revolver stuffed inside a Bible. They all seem rather real when you're standing here staring at them in his room, and I'm sure a lot of people believe Sherlock to be real.
Upstairs you'll find some waxwork models of characters acting out the climatic scenes: Lady Eva Blackwell is shooting Milverton at point blank range; Lady Carfax is propped up in a coffin (and looking rather too happy for a corpse). If you're a big Holmes fan then you'll probably love it, but most of the models will go straight over your head if you're not familiar with the books.
One of the best things about this place is how free and easy they are with the exhibits. If you want to sit in his fireside seat and stick his deerstalker hat on your head then you can do.The only real criticism I can make of the place is that it's too full of people. They let too many people in at once and you're forever shuffling two steps here and three steps there to let someone out the door. Somebody is always taking a photo, and then someone else will want a selfie with his hat so you have to wait for them before it's your turn... but you still can't move because someone is posing for a photo with his pipe and expects everyone else to wait. That's exactly what it's like inside. It's like Clapham Junction.
PS: There's a good gift shop downstairs if you're looking for some London souvenirs. You can buy Sherlock's pipe and deerstalker hat and all sorts of cheesy memorabilia.
I’ve been here before…
|Events in May|
|Events in June|
|Events in July|


Tag: Music Week
Since debuting at #28 on the Beatport Top 100 charts, “No Beef” has quickly climbed to #1. This is the first time Steve Aoki has made it to #1 and will be the first Dim Mak artist to accomplish the feat. Details after the jump.
This is a demo store for testing purposes — no orders shall be fulfilled.


On May 14-15 in Nikolaev there takes place conference following the results of implementation of the "Reduction of Distribution of HIV and Diseases Which Are Transferred Sexually Youth Environments in the Chosen Regions of Ukraine" project which passed in Ukraine in 2007 - 2009.
As reports a press - regional state administration service, during a round table it was defined that considerable results are reached in the following areas of work:
- level of pro-knowledge of youth about risks of HIV/AIDS raised;
- the relation of heads of all levels of the power to the solution of the questions connected with a problem of HIV/AIDS changed;
- there is a partnership between all sectors which take part in the answer for HIV/AIDS epidemic;
- social maintenance of families which the HIV problem - infections mentioned is carried out;
- the plans of action at local level in response to HIV epidemic are developed.
The chief of the Regional center of social services for a family, children and youth Svetlana Yankovskaya told that the major achievements are creation of a mobile office for voluntary consultation and testing for HIV - an infection, emergence of broad social advertizing in area and the regional center.
The deputy governor Vladimir Lusta emphasized that is very important that today society started perceiving HIV not only as a medical problem, and, first of all, the social. After completion of conference ways of further continuation of the project or forces of donors, or at the expense of the budget will be outlined.


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Mamy's Hug by Ahmad El-Massry
Aww! A loving dog with kittens all over it! These kittens feel safe! Cute!!
I love the little face.
There are dogs in this world who are always concerned about everything. They get so stuck with being concerned, they end up in the most ridiculous situations
Uncredited… Cat / Bird. °
You go, Undercover Kitten. You go.
Soo cute and adorable,just like human being,they know how to pose in front of a camera,very photogenic :D
Munchkin Cat; I would love to own one of these along with a wiener dog to match! ;D
cute baby kitten
Cat and friend

domain: pet


text:
Cooking Time: PT8H
Cooking Method: slow cooker
Category: pot roast, entree
Cuisine Type: Portuguese
Servings: 10 servings
Related: dbPedia entity
- 1 large yellow onion, thin slices, 1 28 oz can whole tomatoes, 1 dark beer (preferably a Stout), 1 tbsp Beef Bouillion, 1 small jar Spanish green olives, 5 to 8 pound bison roast (either round or chuck)
- Place bison roast in the bottom of a slow cooker and then combine all other ingredients over the top and around the sides.
- Pour water in the cooker until the roast is covered a 1" above the top.
- Set the slow cooker on low temperature and let it cook for at least 8 hours but up to 24 hours.
- Serve with roasted carrots, potatoes or a great piece of artisan bread.
- (The leftovers are some of the best part so make sure you cook enough to have some the next couple days)
Table of Contents > Recipe and Essay California Living
Jo Lynn Marie Haas was born on March 21, 1948 in Shasta County, California. Although she and her family didn't stay in Shasta County, they always lived in California, and the sun and mild climate set the tone for her experience and beliefs about food for the rest of her life. She grew up in a close family of six, with her parents and three younger brothers. Although both of her parents worked, they still managed to place a lot of importance on time spent with family, especially time that revolved around food. When she was ten, she remembered her parents, who were Seventh Day Adventists, deciding that their entire family was going to become vegetarians. Although she would remember missing fresh seafood and chicken, her family ate mostly vegetarian food before, with an emphasis on fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, so the official switch off of meat really didn't faze anyone in her family. She remembers weekly trips to the local fruit and vegetable stands fondly. Every Saturday, her siblings and she would pile into the back of their family's station wagon and spend the day visiting the different road stands that were her parents' favorites, gathering all the fresh fruits and vegetables for the next week's meals. Her favorite type of food growing up was almost any kind of fresh citrus and in particular, the fresh citrus from the lemon and tangerine trees/shrubs in their backyard. A fresh piece of orange was only ten steps outside their back door. To this day, citrus remains her favorite flavor, and she has carried on her parents' tradition by having her own Meyer Lemon bush at her current house in Charleston, South Carolina.
Another vivid memory for her was the holidays and the huge variety of Danish style cookies that her mother, grandmother, and eventually she made each year. Every year, for most of her childhood, she recalls that her family would make it a goal to learn one new Christmas carol and bake one new type of cookie. To this day, she still hasn't had a better Christmas pudding than the one she learned how to make with her mother when she was fourteen years old. However, although, her family focused a lot of their attention around food, it wasn't always for self-consumption. Her father had a family medical practice in Southern California and a fair number of his patients were impoverished Hispanic families. She recalls fondly how her mother would pack up the leftovers of their family's meals each morning and send them off with her dad in order to provide some badly needed nutrition to his patients, especially the children. This giving spirit is what led her to her career in the medical field and guided her through life as a selfless individual who gives a lot to others and whom I am proud to say is my mother.

domain: food


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29 Dec 2013 08:05
I'm not sure exactly how I feel about the pom but the idea seems very strong. This is completely my opinion, but it might be better if the emotion behind the poem was exposed more by changing up the spacing and format of the poem as well as changing the pace using long and short words for the rhythm you want.
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A new study has just started investigating the “the effect of a pheromone collar on puppy development”.


By Alison DaSilva, Executive Vice President, Cone Communications
As we look back on the past 365 days, there’s no denying we live in tumultuous times. 2017 was rife with political and social divide, unrelenting extreme weather and disasters, unconscionable violence and global strife in many forms. To most, the outlook may be bleak.
Our research confirmed a growing sense of unease. Conducted in early 2017, we found that 67 percent of Americans believe progress on social and environmental issues will be slowed in the absence of government regulation.
But rather than a negative, we believe this presents not only a major opportunity, but also a mandate for companies. In fact, nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of Americans are hopeful business will take the lead to drive critical social and environmental change. In the past year, we’ve seen companies take this challenge and run – with compelling campaigns standing up for social justice issues, companies tackling disaster relief in new and effective ways and organizations sparking conversations on sometimes uncomfortable topics. We believe we will look back at 2017 not as the year of inaction, but the moment business took the plunge – going all in on comprehensive and compelling corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
As the year draws to a close, Cone Communications, evaluated a year's worth of CSR trends to bring you the top 10 trends of 2017:
- Standing Up for Social Injustices: It’s safe to say companies vocally supporting social justice issues was the biggest trend of 2017 with companies of all sizes standing up for oftentimes divisive topics. IBM supported “Dreamers” in the U.S. threatened by the repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program by first issuing a tweet of support, then following up with a dedicated section of its website sharing stories of its own employees who benefited from the DACA program and provide critical value to IBM through the work they do every day.
- Creating Value by Closing the Loop: While closing the loop is nothing new for veteran CSR companies, what is new is how companies are bringing shoppers into the fold with consumer-facing activations. Vodka company 42Below collected used lemons from bars across Australia and New Zealand, transforming waste into soap through a proprietary process, then installed the soap in participating bars free of charge with signage about the initiative. Meanwhile, Timberland* built upon its ongoing work in Haiti to transform plastic bottles collected from the streets of the island country into fabric that is used in shoes, t-shirts and bags through a partnership with Certified B Corporation Thread.
- Bold Stunts to Take a Stand: In 2017 we saw many companies raise awareness – and eyebrows – with bold stunts for critical or underrepresented issues. KIND Snacks brought to life just how much sugar American children eat every five minutes by dumping 45,485 pounds of sugar right in the middle of Times Square in New York City. UNICEF also took to the streets of New York driving around 27 empty buses during the U.N. General Assembly to drive awareness for the lack of education in war zones. Burger King shocked fans by taking its iconic King mascot to the barber – shaving his full beard and mustache for Movember.
- Opening Eyes and Sparking Conversations: In these complex times, it can be difficult to have honest and safe conversations around hot button topics. Heineken created an equal playing field by inviting two strangers with opposing viewpoints to build a bar together. Then, at the end of the video, Heineken reveals their differences but asks if they’d like to have a conversation to learn more over a beer. Meanwhile, Vicks sparked a dialogue on the rights of transgender individuals in India through a powerful ad sharing the story of Gayatri who was adopted by her transgender “mummy,” showing “motherhood has no gender.” Google armed individuals to have their own educated conversations on the crisis in Syria through an interactive website.
- Cross-Company Collaboration: Many of today’s pressing issues are simply too complex to solve alone. Here, we’ve seen traction of companies – and competitors – partnering to advance whole-scale change. Danone and Nestle joined forces to form the Natur’ALL Bottle Alliance with research company Origin Materials, with a goal to commercialize a 100 percent bio-based and recyclable PET bottle. P&G and Whirlpool partnered to create a comprehensive disaster relief solution on the ground after a series of earthquakes in Italy, with P&G providing detergent while Whirlpool provided the washing machines, dryers and irons in 10 mobile laundry containers.
- Activism Spurs Results: With trending hashtag campaigns and marches on the street, individual activism gained traction like never before in 2017. As a result, many companies found themselves under the microscope, forcing operational changes and greater transparency. Uber was the focus of criticism earlier this year for a number of reasons, including allegations of workplace sexual harassment. As a result, Uber released its first ever Diversity Report, acknowledging its shortfalls and the road ahead. Nike found itself the target of a Georgetown student campaign around unfair labor practices. After months of discussions, Georgetown and Nike negotiated a new licensing agreement, conceding to allow the Worker Rights Consortium to access Nike factories.
- Industries Leading on Key Issues: Acknowledging the power of strength in numbers, companies in specific industries have begun to band together to accelerate progress on shared issues. The food and beverage industry has aggressively tackled transparency in 2017, with major players like Hershey, Panera and Giant arming consumers with additional information. The outdoor industry has raised the rallying cry to support America’s parks and major players in the advertising world have committed to “banishing stereotypical portrayals of gender” in ads as part of the global Unstereotype Alliance.
- Cause Shifts to Broader Purpose: Notably absent from the CSR landscape this year was the focus on moment-in-time activations. Although Breast Cancer Awareness Month was once par for the course for many brands; in 2017, it was barely a blip on the cause marketer’s radar. So too with back to school campaigns.
- Women’s Equality and Empowerment Goes Viral: What started with January’s 2.6 million-person global Woman’s March, only continued to grow in momentum on International Women’s Day and massive support for the #MeToo movement. Brands joined the conversation as well, with REI creating a 360-degree campaign in support of women in the outdoors with “Force of Nature.” For International Women’s Day, United Colors of Benetton tackled gender inequalities in India with the #UnitedbyHalf campaign, reinforcing that no gender is a better or worse half and that “every person deserves their share of what life has to offer.”
- Companies Leverage Unique Assets for Disaster Relief: From Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, to widespread forest fire devastation in California, the strength and pace of natural disasters in the U.S. seemed unrelenting. Recognizing the urgent need for support, companies immediately opened their purse strings donating more than $383 million for relief, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Others rightly looked to solutions aligning with their core competencies. As the largest airline in Puerto Rico, JetBlue launched the multifaceted 100x35JetBlue effort which included airlifting supplies to the island while capping one-way airfare at $135 with waived bag fees, plus seats on relief flights for emergency personnel and relief workers. Electric car company Tesla worked with local government officials to restore power to San Juan’s Hospital del Niño in addition to deploying six new battery projects on the islands of Vieques and Culebra as part of an ongoing effort. Meanwhile, car sharing company Turo offered free access to Turo cars for those affected by the North Bay wildfires.
As we enter 2018, we look forward to seeing more companies go all-in on CSR – leading with values while proving the business case for addressing critical issues.
As executive vice president and leader of Cone's award-winning Corporate Social Responsibility practice, Alison’s expertise spans strategic planning and goal setting, reporting, social impact, employee engagement, public/private partnerships, stakeholder engagement and sustainability communications. She is also leads Cone’s groundbreaking CSR Research & Insights, tracking and identifying trends to keep clients on the leading edge within the rapidly evolving space.
Image credit: Cone Communications


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Gemstone Jewellery: Sapphire Rings, Amethyst Pendants & More
Discover the allure of gemstone jewellery at SK Jewellery. Explore a mesmerising selection of breathtaking sapphire rings, elegant amethyst pendants, and captivating coloured gemstone pieces that add a touch of brilliance to any outfit.
Add Effortless Elegance to any Outfit
As a leading jeweller in Singapore, SK Jewellery is dedicated to bringing you only the best gemstone selections to adorn your outfits with. From sensual and confident reds to elegant and timeless blues, our gemstone jewellery instantly elevates any look to its full potential.
Indulge in the enchanting beauty of sapphire rings, available in various designs, from classic solitaires to intricate halo settings. Adorn yourself with the splendour of amethyst earrings or embrace the charm of a sapphire diamond pendant. Delight in the subtle details of rings crowned with carefully cut citrine, garnet, or topaz stones per your liking.
Captivate hearts and make an unforgettable statement with SK Jewellery. Our designs effortlessly blend traditional silhouettes with modern-day aesthetics, resulting in timeless pieces with an unreliable allure. Whether a 21st birthday gift for a loved one or a Valentine’s Day present for your sweetheart, we invite you to explore our extensive jewellery collections and find the perfect fit for any occasion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gemstone Jewellery
Green gem jewellery can vary in price depending on the type and quality of the gemstone. Emeralds and some varieties of tourmaline and peridot are among the more expensive green gemstones due to their rarity and unique colour. However, there are also affordable options like green amethyst and green topaz that offer elegance without breaking the bank. We also carry green agate bracelets, accentuated with dreamy pearls and gold accents.
Rare sapphire colours often include vibrant blues and rich velvety purples. SK Jewellery’s range of sapphire rings, pendants, and necklaces display stunning stones ranging from a rich galaxy blue to a dazzling hortensia pink.
Amethyst is an excellent choice for a ring as it ranks 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it relatively durable for everyday wear. However, it is essential to care for the gemstone properly to preserve its brilliance and prevent scratches. Regular cleaning and avoiding exposure to harsh chemicals will help maintain its beauty for years to come.


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Download Thot Shit Mp3 by Megan Thee Stallion
American rapper, singer, and songwriter, Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, known professionally as Megan Thee Stallion is coming soon with a new single “Thot Shit” on June 11. At the end of April, Megan Thee Stallion took to Twitter to allude to the fact that she was taking a break, tweeting that she’d be back when it was time. It didn’t end up being much of a break, because she’s since appeared on a Lil Baby song and on Khaled’s album too.
After taking a short break from music, rapper Megan Thee Stallion returns with her hot new single, ‘Thot Sh*t’. This week, the Htown Hottie shared the news with fans, as well as the cover art for her new song too.The track is an introduction to her alter ego, Tina Snow, which Meg revealed through social media, teasing her comeback with a clip and a caption that read “IM BACK HOTTIES🔥 ADDRESS ME AS MS SNOW❄.” Although her latest photoshoot in a nurse-like uniform is raising some eyebrows, the 26-year-old has never been one to shy away from showing off her figure – or her sexually explicit lyrics!
Along with the release of new music, Megan recently shared that she will be launching a Roc Nation scholarship, providing a four-year full tuition to one lucky student. Megan Thee Stallion is originally from Houston, Texas, she first garnered attention when videos of her freestyling became popular on social media platforms such as Instagram. She also released her studio debut Good News last fall. Since then, she’s collaborated with Ariana Grande and Doja Cat (“34+35”), Bobby Sessions (“I’m a King”), Maroon 5 (“Beautiful Mistakes”), and Lil Baby (“On Me”).
Listen & Download Thot Shit Mp3 by Megan Thee Stallion Below:


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Comfort and convenience are the hallmarks of the Great Lakes Foot and Ankle Specialists office operations. To ensure your convenience, below is the information you need about our hours, location, appointment scheduling, insurances accepted and billing.
Great Lakes Foot and Ankle Specialists
10161 East Pickwick Court Suite E
Traverse City, MI 49684
Phone# (231) 935-8800
Fax# (231) 935-8801
*Please look at our Contact Us page for office phone hours.
|Monday:||8:00 AM - 5:00 PM|
|Tuesday:||8:00 AM - 5:00 PM|
|Wednesday:||8:00 AM - 5:00 PM|
|Thursday:||8:00 AM - 5:00 PM|
We know you have many choices when choosing a Podiatrist in the Traverse City area, so we have made requesting an appointment a simple process via our website. If, for any reason, you cannot keep a scheduled appointment or will be delayed, please call as soon as possible at 231-935-8800 .
Our office accepts a variety of HMOs, PPOs, and other health plans. Please call our office to verify the acceptance of your insurance carrier.
We accept cash, checks, credit cards, and health insurance payments.
The American Board of Foot and Ankle has two levels of certification. Many podiatrists are certified in Foot Surgery only. Dr. Jeff Szczepanski, DPM, FACFAS has the highest level offered- both Foot Surgery and Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery. This requires additional surgical residency training, submission of advanced surgical cases and passing additional written and oral certification testing. This allows him to provide the most advanced care possible with his Foot & Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Certification. He is active in training other doctors nationally in these advanced surgical skills, specifically Endoscopic/Arthroscopic Surgery which decreases recovery times.
Some of the in office conveniences we offer are:
- Digital X-Ray taken onsite
- Electronic Health Records- eClinical Works
- Minimal incision surgical techniques
- Cosmetic surgical considerations
- Friendly, accommodating staff
- Prompt scheduling, same day appointments available for emergencies
- Certified Medical Assistants
- Fully computerized and electronic insurance claim submission for patient convenience
- Fully computerized electronic medical records (EMR) system; which has been proven to decrease medical errors
- Fully computerized prescription system that faxes prescriptions directly to pharmacies; this program cross checks a national database for drug interactions for patient safety

domain: medical


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The new owner of the New Denver Civic Theatre is most likely to be the old owner, Richard Bernstein.
Bernstein, who lost the Civic to the Bank of Evergreen when he fell $100,000 behind on rent and his landlord went into bankruptcy, is busy putting together a team to buy the theater at 721 Santa Fe Drive, he said Monday.
Bernstein saw our Sunday column right here, in which local activist and Civic supporter Paul Fiorino expressed the hope that a consortium of local arts groups will step up and by the theater, keeping it out of the hands of condo-builders.
Not so fast, says Bernstein. Read more…


text: This is a Bronze Age round barrow, but its name comes from its being used as a place of execution in 1736. Michael Morey (or Moorey) was a woodsman who murdered his own grandson for the sake of some money the boy had inherited, and then tried to disguise the death as an accident by carrying the corpse back to his cottage and setting fire to it. He was hanged on the Hump, and his decaying corpse was gibbeted there for many years; some say that when the remains were at last taken down they were buried in the barrow. His ghost is said to ride round it three times at midnight, calling out ‘Michael Morey’s Hump’ in wailing tones. A nearby pub, the Hare and Hounds, still (2003) displays a beam said to be from this gibbet, and a skull said to be Michael Morey’s.

domain: history


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recently, an article entitled “giving up the traditional lard, leading to the deterioration of the health of the Chinese people” is hot in the circle of friends of the elderly. Excerpts from Xiaojiu:
, The article
mentioned that there are many dietary remedies for pork, such as “urination is blocked, use one kilogram of fat pork, two liters of water, boil three times, and drink it immediately”, and then “women’s gynecological inflammation, leucorrhea and stench, with 60 ml lard, 100 ml wine, and boiling for a meal”. Are these lard diet prescriptions really effective? Is
lard “miraculous effect” true or false?
national famous traditional Chinese medicine Chen Yi said that these may be some folk tested prescriptions, but there are no such prescriptions in China’s regular Chinese medicine books, which indicates that the effect of these folk prescriptions for treating diseases with lard has not been confirmed. If lard is used rashly, it may cause other diseases.
means that lard can also be used as medicine according to the theory of food homology of traditional Chinese medicine, but how to use it and what effect it has not been confirmed scientifically. Moreover, the dietary structure of the former and the present people is different, and the effect of lard is no longer so obvious. Therefore, these folk prescriptions for curing diseases with lard should not be tried, but should be treated through regular channels.
the advantages and disadvantages of eating lard, you should know that
for the older generation, lard is an indispensable part of the kitchen. The dish fried with lard tastes more delicious. But why is vegetable oil widely used now? Is it that people dislike homemade lard troublesome, or is it harmful to human body to eat lard for a long time?
so why did people in the past prefer lard? First, because of the poor economic conditions and low living standards, lard is already the best thing ordinary families can use for cooking. Second, due to the lack of food and clothing, many people were malnourished. The high calorie of lard is good for the weak body. Therefore, from the point of view of nutrition, lard can provide the body with the necessary heat, fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins, and constitute the body tissues. As a protective component of the body, lard plays a role in regulating body temperature and keeping water. In addition, traditional Chinese medicine believes that lard can nourish the spleen and stomach and promote digestion. Lard is smooth and greasy. It can moisten the intestines and relieve constipation.
with the improvement of living standards and the change of dietary structure, people began to use vegetable oil gradually. The reason is that lard has adverse effects on cardiovascular system.
lard is a kind of high calorie food, which can increase appetite and cause obesity. Moreover, the content of saturated fatty acids in lard is more than 40%, and it also contains about 93mg / 100g cholesterol. Long term consumption will increase the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Other studies have shown that lard can inhibit the growth of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in the intestine, which can promote human development and improve the body’s immunity. How should we choose
lard and vegetable oil? Compared with lard,
are more widely used in vegetable oils such as corn oil, peanut oil and olive oil. Most of the essential fatty acids needed by human body are unsaturated fatty acids, and vegetable oil contains more unsaturated fatty acids, which can reduce blood lipid, improve blood circulation, inhibit platelet aggregation, inhibit atherosclerotic plaque and thrombosis, and play a role in preventing cardiovascular diseases.
although there are few people who eat lard, some restaurants still use lard in order to make the food more delicious and attract consumers. In fact, there is nothing wrong with lard, but don’t eat more. According to the dietary guidelines for Chinese residents, the daily intake of fat is 25-30g.
in addition, lard is best to eat with vegetable oil, mainly vegetable oil, supplemented by animal oil, so that more comprehensive nutrition. If lard is added to the fried dishes, the oil consumption of other dishes should be reduced accordingly.
nowadays, people’s dietary structure has changed. We should believe in science and eat lard reasonably. For some claims that lard diet can cure disease, don’t believe it, otherwise it is easy to eat bad stomach, there is a risk of “three high”.
 Wangchuan abandons traditional lard, leading to deterioration of Chinese health expert: unreliable and too one-sided “. Qianjiang Evening News. 2014-07-30”
“ lard and vegetable oil” mix “or can resist obesity. Xinhuanet. 2017-11-10”
“ vegetable oil carcinogenesis? The truth is that the official account of the oil consumption is true. “2015-11-13”
is not authorized by the authorisation of the author. It is forbidden to scan the above two-dimensional code by reprinting
, and paying attention to the “39 Health Net” public address, to answer the health problems you encounter, that is, experts have free answers for you.


As drone usage increases both commercially and recreationally so does the infiltration of criminals and their nefarious purposes, reports commercialdroneprofessional.com. Therefore, INTERPOL have created a document under the heading Framework for Responding to a Drone Incident – For First Responders and Digital Forensics Practitioners.
Jürgen Stock, Interpol’s Secretary General, explained, “Drones are becoming less expensive while the technology behind them continues to develop rapidly. Therefore, we are seeing an increase in their use not only recreationally and commercially but also for criminal purposes.”
He continued, “Inevitably, this has given rise to serious challenges for the law enforcement community globally. Drones have become a permanent fixture in the current policing operating environment, and one that can only grow in scale and impact in the future.”
Stock pointed out, “However, many law enforcement officers still lack awareness and understanding of drone technologies. Drones pose a significant threat to public safety and security if abused. It is therefore crucial that officers are equipped with the necessary knowledge and training to respond to drone incidents safely and effectively.”
On the document itself, Stock went on, “INTERPOL engages with drone experts drawn from law enforcement, the private sector and academia across the world. This network was the driving force behind the creation of its inception.
“This document is designed as a reference tool for law enforcement worldwide and illustrates INTERPOL’s continuous efforts to promote innovation and enhance best practices among our member countries. This framework is part of our on-going commitment to making the world a safer place, and I would like to thank everyone who contributed to it.”
After the launch, commercialdroneprofessional.com spoke with Jamie Allan, CEO of Allan Panthera, a commercial and business growth consultancy firm, specialising in drones.
To the question ‘How can large organisations positively influence smaller firms in deploying drones, Allan replied, “For INTERPOL to be seen as a leading and effective authority, they need to provide the best guidance and resources. With this framework, some of the world’s foremost experts in the relevant fields were sought to contribute to and peer review it. So for a variety of international police and security bodies, this is an invaluable tool.
He continued, “Consequently, for smaller operations, this document becomes the gold standard from which they can adapt to their individual needs. And it’s free! Additionally, it helps smaller operators with their incident planning because if they use this as a guide of what law enforcement will do responding to a drone incident, it subsequently allows you to prepare for that in terms of what to expect if you’re involved in any way.”
Allan, a police officer and contributor to the framework for INTERPOL, went on to comment on how vital it is for the organisation to be proactive when it comes to an emerging technology like drones.
He explained, “It is critical. Contrary to some beliefs held, organisations like INTERPOL have no interest in collecting personal data or ‘snooping’ on people with drones. Consequently, their mission for proactively advancing the use of drone technology amongst their member states is to assist and enhance the capability of law enforcement to use drones for good, whether that be countering the rise in the criminal use of drones, or helping police forces with the adoption and integration of the new technology into their service delivery models as a valuable tool for day to day operationally effective policing, such as searching for missing persons.”
Concluding, “At the end of the day, INTERPOL can be a very powerful guiding light for others, much like any other global body which by its nature leads from the front.”
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