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Richard Breslow, former fund manager who currently writes for Bloomberg, starts of the week with a recap of how traders are reacting to the so-called key pain trades, and refuse to accept a shift in sentiment when it comes to the "dovish yet hawkish" Fed or the "hawkish yet dovish" ECB.
The Pain Trades Are Giving People Headaches
There does come a point when we just can’t seem to resist playing with our heads. It’s bad enough when others try to do it to you. But psyching oneself out is no way to make a living. Especially when you trade for a living.
- This week we’re going to be treated to meeting minutes from both the Fed and the ECB. On top of that, enough central bank speeches to more than fill in the time between economic releases. The interesting thing is that traders seem to have already decided what they plan to take away from these events, skipping the part where we actually hear what the officials have to say.
- The Fed has been hiking. Their speeches have been consistently optimistic on the traction that’s been achieved toward reaching their mandate. And more, rather than less, portraying a board on the same page. Yet the pain trade keeps traders reacting much more to any perceived dovishness.
- The price action from New York Fed President Dudley’s no “great urgency” to hike comments was almost laughable. He didn’t retract “a couple” more 2017 hikes, which isn’t even priced in. How does a market searching for any clues on the timing of balance sheet normalization allow itself to indulge in such an over-reaction?
- The Fed’s $4 trillion in holdings represents one of two things. They keep reinvesting and have plenty of room to get the funds rate up, even if the yield curve stays flatter than you’d expect. Or, they start letting it roll off and you will witness de facto tightening that will shake buyers of the 10-year at 2.40% to their core. The former keeps confusing traders because it always looks like 10-year bond yields are sending out warning messages.
- Meanwhile, despite European inflation numbers that left something to be desired, people are in desperate search for some clue as to ECB snugging, tapering, anything, please. After all, a lot of numbers have been better. Haven’t they? It’s not that the ECB is behind the curve, it’s the curse of negative rate insanity. Somehow, it just seems unlikely that President Draghi will choose this week to channel his inner- Trichet when he delivers his two speeches.
- We already know the ECB has reduced its PSPP monthly target starting today. Just don’t expect them to double-up and hint its duration will be cut short.
- On Friday we get non-farm payrolls. Another good number is forecast. Although I suspect secretly people are wondering about payback from last month’s beat. This number has a lot of flexibility to the down-side without derailing the Fed, but I wonder if a miss will get an outsized reaction, as everything not overtly hawkish seems to get.


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Every time I hear about this movie,
I begin to think that it might actually be really cool. First there was a wicked
trailer on Yahoo movies found
here, and now this cool-ass poster.
I'm not sure what it is about some posters that make me want to see a movie, or why every semester I dish out tons of cash on buying new ones at the university poster sale, but whatever the case may be, this poster makes me want to see NUMBER 23.
For those of you first hearing about
this film, it stars Jim Carrey as a man who finds a book entitled 'The Number
23', and as he reads this book he realizes that it's about his life. What's
worse is that the book speaks of a horrible murder that will occur, but hasn't
taken place yet.
The film's being directed by Joel "I destroyed the Batman franchise until Christopher Nolan saved it" Schumacher and will be released on February 23.

domain: artistic


text:
A.V. Max Burgundy python embossed leather cuff
Trendy and chic are two of many words that describe Amy Vennema's AV Max jewelry line. Make sure to add her designs to your collection now. Fashion jewelry. Python embossed leather over brass cuff. Slip on with open back. 2'' Wide. 2⅜'' In diameter. 6½'' Circumference. All measurements are approximate.
- Like it to get in stock alerts

domain: design


Previous story: MHA seeks report from Punjab govt on Moga molestation case Next story: Triangle Shoppers to See Lower Prices on Thousands... ...http://www.apnnews.com/2015/04/30/centre-approves-key-amendments-to-anti-graft-law/
Bringing corruption into the heinous crime category, the Union Cabinet today approved official amendments to an anti-graft legislation enhancing... ...http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/cabinet-okays-strong-anticorruption-act/894215
New Delhi: A Parliamentary panel has slammed the government over non-implementation of Lokpal and Whistleblowers Protection Act and asked it to... ...http://www.firstpost.com/india/parliament-panel-slams-modi-govt-not-implementing-lokpal-2217312.html
Siva later shook hands with the senior members in the House, thanking them for supporting him in the bill's passage. (Source: PTI photo) A private... ...http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/rajya-sabha-passes-private-bill-to-protect-the-rights-of-transgenders/
The Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) expulsion of rebel leaders Prashant Bhusan, Yogendra Yadav, Anand Kumar and Ajit Jha for anti-party activities is just... ...http://m.hindustantimes.com/newdelhi/advantage-kejriwal-once-in-aap-s-core-group-several-leaders-out-in-cold-today/article1-1339440.aspx
u are god's messenger,...


text:
Governor Kim’s staff has created a one-page document for Iowa felons seeking the governor’s approval of the application to get their voting rights restored.
Felon Voting articles on Democracy Chronicles
Felony disenfranchisement, determined separately by each state, is the practice of prohibiting people from voting based on the fact that they have been convicted of a criminal offence. Felon voting rights remain a controversial reform among many. Also see our section on American democracy and our Voter Access articles.
“Restore the Vote Coalition” in a press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol, push for legislation to allow felons vote after serving time in prison.
NAACP won ruling that allows their federal lawsuit challenging State of Connecticut’s discriminatory practice known as “prison gerrymandering” to proceed.
After years of fighting for change, effort to restore voting rights of thousands of Louisiana’s convicted felons will officially go into effect next week.
Two Republican lawmakers, with the backing of the ACLU, are setting out to make it simpler for people with felony convictions to regain their right to vote.
Legislation to restore the voting rights of convicted felons once they are no longer behind bars cleared its first test in the Minnesota House Wednesday.
It’s deadline day at the state capitol – and there’s a last-minute push to restore voting rights for felons here in Mississippi.
The Democratic Party’s H.R. 1 “The People’s Act” is a bill designed to tackle what many see as lingering and corrosive problems in American democracy.
“Let’s open the doors to our democracy even wider,” Governor Phil Murphy recently said in a speech backing a move towards a more liberalized system.
Hillsborough and Pinellas counties processed a combined 872 applications to register to vote on the first day Amendment 4 expanded voting rights access.

domain: sociology


text:
The sterilization of human, animal, and synthetic tissue products is an ever-expanding and very specialized market segment. Until recently, most tissue products were aseptically processed in the local tissue recovery site; however, tissue banks and tissue manufacturers have begun seeking terminal sterilization for their products due to increased regulatory scrutiny as well as the desire for cleaner and safer products.
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Contact our team of experts to find out more about our Global Contract Sterilization, Testing and Validation Services.

domain: medical


text:
Drogheda, Irish Droichead Átha (“Bridge of the Ford”), urban district and seaport on the southern border of County Louth, Ireland. Drogheda lies along the River Boyne about 4 miles (6.5 km) from its mouth. Drogheda was a stronghold and trading post of the Norsemen in the 8th–11th century and of the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. Two towns grew up, one on either side of the river; they received separate incorporation in 1228 but were combined by charter in 1412. In the reign of Edward III it was a staple town (by royal fiat, a trade and export centre), and several medieval parliaments met there. In 1649 it fell to Oliver Cromwell, and its defenders and a number of its inhabitants were massacred. It ceased to be a parliamentary borough in 1885 and a county of itself in 1898.
The remains of the ancient fortifications comprise the St. Lawrence Gate and the West Gate. Other remains are the tower of a Dominican friary (founded 1224) and the arch of an Augustinian abbey (founded 1206). In St. Peter’s Church, a shrine contains the embalmed head of the archbishop of Armagh, St. Oliver Plunket, who was martyred in London in 1681. The district’s industry includes linen and cotton mills, coach-building works, flour mills and sawmills, a brewery, a large cement works, and the manufacture of pipes, fats, soaps, medical equipment, and agricultural machinery. Drogheda is the centre for salmon fishing on the River Boyne, and agricultural produce and coal are traded by sea. Pop. (2006) 28,973; (2011) 30,393.

domain: history


The White House is demanding a stimulus deal within the next 48 hours. This after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told members in a closed lunch he instructed the White House not to strike a deal with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) ahead of the election.
Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) speaks with AURN about the back and forth on the stimulus package.
Click ▶ to listen to April Ryan’s White House Report for the full story:
214,000 Americans are dead because of a pandemic you mismanaged.— Congressmember Bass (@RepKarenBass) October 11, 2020
Hundreds of thousands of businesses are closed.
Millions are unemployed.
Keep my name out of your mouth. Get back to work. https://t.co/ro5ZX64Pz3


text:
CBS (Sun., Nov. 6, 9 p.m. ET)
Old TV series never die these days. They just return as TV movies. Now it’s C&L’s chance to go where everyone from the Six Million Dollar Man to Gilligan has gone before. After six years, Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly revive their roles as buddy cops, with mixed results. The chemistry between Gless and Daly is still there (see story, page 130). But the contrived plot, which has Gless’s Cagney investigating stolen guns, is uninvolving. It’s only there to reunite Cagney with Lacey, who has retired from the force. Whenever the movie turns from Gless and Daly’s interplay to the actual story, it becomes as routine as, say, Jake and the Fatman: They’re Back!

domain: entertainment


Siliguri, 07th April: Ahead of the assembly polls in Darjeeling district, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yogi Adityanath arrived on his first visit to the Darjeeling region.
After addressing a public meeting in Jalpaiguri earlier today, CM Yogi Adityanath reached Siliguri where he was warmly welcomed by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista. The BJP leader will be holding his first public address in Kurseong’s Montivet Ground this afternoon. Later, he will be leaving for Kaliaganj for electioneering.
— Raju Bista (@RajuBistaBJP) April 7, 2021
“I have the pleasure of welcoming the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on his maiden visit to Darjeeling region. His presence will encourage our Alliance partners and the BJP karyakartas in seeking votes for our candidates across Darjeeling hills, Terai, and Dooars.’, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista tweeted.


text:
Forbidden from entering into the Kingdom of Heaven, the wicked enter hell through a burning staircase that without a back step. In Hell, the author prophesies damning darkness and the horrid smell of rotting flesh as imps oversee the infinite chamber. "Hell, like the universe," Nathaniel writes, "is infinite. There is no end to forever."
|Publisher:||Nathaniel Christian IV|
|File size:||1 MB|
|Age Range:||18 Years|
About the Author
Born in Washington, D.C., Nathaniel began journaling early throughout his teenage years, soon discovering his passion for writing. By the time he was twenty-two, the undergraduate student worked as a freelance writer while embarking on a brief stint in sports journalism [boxing] before becoming a self-published author. Thus far, Nathaniel has self-published eight short story titles under the non-fiction and creative fiction genre and has one novel currently in the works. In 2016, Nathaniel self-published Stroke of Luck, a short, tear-jerking e-Book about his wife's battle to overcome a cryptogenic ischemic stroke. The book was widely praised and went viral through social media, eventually earning the newlywed couple a segment on WJLAs Good Morning Washington, News Channel 8. Since the exposure, Nathaniel and his wife, together, volunteer their free time to speak publicly about their story, hoping to raise awareness of the onset of stroke in young adults. Away from writing, Nathaniel enjoys reading, sports, photography and fitness.


text:
Upscale bar &
live music venue
Shenanigans Kitchen & Cocktails is a Fun upscale bar & live music venue located in the heart of Metairie. Open 7 days a week from 11 am till late-night, Shenanigans offers nightly drink and food specials including steak night every Tuesday.
With a full-service kitchen, bar, and a wide selection of beers, you are sure to feel at home. Featuring high definition TVs & big screen projectors to watch sporting events in addition to darts, pool tables, and gaming, Shenanigans is the place to be for the best food, drinks, music, and entertainment.


text:
The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) offers a specialized program combining college-preparatory academic instruction and conservatory-style training in the visual and performing arts. Founded in 1985, the tuition-free public school is run by the Los Angeles County Office of Education in partnership with, and on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA).
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text:
Gaynor Coleing (Payroll)
Born in Gibraltar, Gaynor joined Grant Thornton in 2006 and is the senior payroll advisor at Grant Thornton (Gibraltar) Limited.
Gaynor currently provides payroll services to approximately forty companies which vary from small start-up businesses to large international companies. She deals with all matters involving employment and employee tax and has a vast array of experience dealing with the payroll and all related matters for High Executive Possessing Specialist Skills (HEPSS) individuals.
Gaynor liaises directly with the company’s point of contact whereby strict confidentiality is always maintained and continually ensures that all reporting requirements such as monthly PAYE or annual returns are dealt with in an effective and timely manner.
Gaynor ensures that she is constantly up to date with changing tax and employment legislation to always be able to accommodate complex payroll adjustments and deductions such as pension, holiday, bonuses, sick pay, maternity etc.

domain: finance


text:
The elephant in the room that will be present at all pre-election debates
Last night I attended an event organised by our local Transition group, Transition Town Tooting, where local people were able to meet and chat to parliamentary candidates for the upcoming general election. The Conservatives, Labour, the LibDems and the Greens were represented. UKIP were invited but didn’t turn up, and so they were ’empty chaired’. However, there was a giant ‘elephant in the room’ that more than made up for the empty chair. I’ll explain the nature of the elephant below.
The evening started with a presentation by Transition members, and unsurprisingly, it had a Transition theme. We were shown a chart of the number of planet earths that would be required for the whole world to have the same level of consumption as various countries. It’s what’s known as a country’s ecological footprint. For the US it was five, for the UK, four; for China, one; and for India, 0.4. In other words, if the whole world wanted the same level of consumption as the US, we would need five planets.
Then the elephant made its first appearance. The whole world DOES want the same level of consumption as the US, and they are going full throttle to try to achieve it. So it’s clear that if China, India, Africa and Latin America are going to increase their levels of consumption, then the US and Europe need to drastically reduce their consumption, because we only have one planet. It only takes a moment’s reflection to realise that that isn’t going to happen. And the reason it’s not going to happen is economic growth. Every single country, rich or poor, is going flat out for economic growth.
Now, some people at this point might say that economic growth is possible as long as it doesn’t cause material growth – then we can stay within the ‘one-planet’ limit. Here are four logical steps to explain why that’s impossible.
- We can’t have material growth forever – it has to stop at some point. (I don’t think anyone’s really disagreeing with this). As the world’s ecological footprint is already more than one planet, that means that the time to stop is now, if we don’t want nature to seriously hurt us.
- Economic growth always increases spending power. If it doesn’t, it’s not economic growth, it’s something else – like devaluation of the currency. (some people struggle with this one, but think about it – GDP is measured in terms of money, so as long as the currency isn’t devalued, then economic growth is going to mean that people have more money to spend. The opposite is true too – in economic recession, people have less money to spend).
- The increase in spending power can’t be ring-fenced, and restricted to non-material goods. If people have more money, they buy more cars, TVs, clothes, foreign holidays, second homes etc. (this is obvious, surely; it became clear to me when I saw an interview with footballer Andrey Shevchenko, and he explained that he had nine Ferraris. I’m sure he would have had ninety if he’d had more money).
- So if an increase in spending power means material growth, and economic growth means greater spending power, but we can’t have more material growth, then the logical conclusion is that we can’t continue to have economic growth. Instead, we have to stabilise globally, then redistribute so that we can all have decent lives.
My point is not that I don’t think we should have constant economic growth, it’s that it’s physically impossible to continue trying to achieve perpetual growth without damaging ourselves, and ultimately, if we don’t stop, making ourselves extinct. I hope that logic is clear, because if it isn’t, the rest of this blog isn’t going to make much sense to you.
After the initial presentations, we huddled on tables with the candidates to talk about the kind of future we’d like to see for Tooting. The first table I was on contained the Tory candidate, Dan. I’ve known him for a while, and had some good discussions with him. I think he’s a good guy (I know, I know, but he is). He’s said to me in private that he’s in favour of the free market, but not in favour of multinational corporations dominating it. He’d prefer to see local economies dominated by independent, local businesses. He stated it again in public that evening. So I believe him, and on that point, we’re in complete agreement – a free market full of independent businesses seems infinitely better to me than a market rigged for corporate benefit (how can bank bail-outs be anything at all to do with a free market?). The problem for me is that he’s a member of an extremely pro-corporate party, and the growth and competition that is inherent within our economic system ensures that the global economy (and therefore ultimately, local economies) are dominated by corporations. It’s unavoidable within a capitalist system – and not only that, but the system encourages independent businesses to grow so that given time, they can become giant corporations too. Capitalism has no brakes. The High Streets and shopping centres in wealthier parts of London, and all over the country, are dominated by multinational chains, and as long as we have a corporate-dominated system, that is exactly what is coming to Tooting.
Lower house prices were on the wish list too, but again, there is zero chance of this within the current system. Affordable houses and independent shops getting a larger slice of the economy are things that are only achievable if we replace this economic system with one that doesn’t have to constantly grow. During the breaks, I put that point to several members of the public in attendance, and to my surprise, they all agreed. It’s a pity that politicians don’t.
Next I chatted to Esther, the Green candidate. As you’d expect, she was lovely, but even she said that we could only have growth ‘if it was sustainable’. But growth is the opposite of sustainable, as I explained above. She said that sustainable growth had been achieved in Canada, for example. I pointed out that Canada has an eco-footprint of around five planets and growing, but we didn’t have time to continue the discussion.
Phil, the LibDem candidate said nothing I can remember, and the Fleur, the Labour councillor standing in for Sadiq Khan, busy with Westminster duties, was a machine when it came to ripping into the Tories. Conservative Dan didn’t rise to the bait. He said that we should be talking about and voting for individuals, which is fair enough – and if he left a party committed to eternal growth and stood as an independent, I’d consider it.
But in the end, I found myself looking at a panel of parliamentary candidates, all of whom seemed to believe in the elephant of perpetual economic growth, the quest for which in the end will wipe out any local gains that groups like Transition manage to bring about. I felt slightly depressed at the absurdity of it, but optimistic that several people I spoke to recognised it as an absurdity. The candidates were genuine people, I think – but the problem is not people, it’s our economic system.
The views expressed in our blog are those of the author and not necessarily lowimpact.org's
1screenbeetle March 19th, 2015
I’m surprised by the Green Party candidate’s stance on growth. I am maybe a bit out of touch but for years the Green Party’s official stance was very much against economic growth of any kind. As well as being the view of everyone I knew in the party, I’m pretty sure that having zero growth or less was echoed throughout the Green Party’s official policy statements. I’ll have another read but I think she may be out of step with her own party.
It would be worth contacting Esther to clarify her position.
2Elisabeth Winkler March 19th, 2015
I believe the Green Party has addressed the elephant:
Green Party policystates:
“All human economic activity and social and cultural wellbeing are dependent upon the integrity of self-sustaining, self-managing natural systems.
Continually increasing resource extraction, industrial throughput and waste production is entirely incompatible with ecological sustainability.
Green economic policy must therefore promote the emergence of an economic system which recognises the limits of, and is compatible with, both the natural systems of the planet and the aspirations of the whole of humanity.
3Elisabeth Winkler March 19th, 2015
Indeed, Peter! See http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/ec.html
4Dave Darby March 19th, 2015
Agreed, the Green Party’s policies are light years ahead of the other parties, but having looked through their policies, nowhere does it say that zero growth is the aim. ‘an economic system which recognises the limits of, and is compatible with, both the natural systems of the planet and the aspirations of the whole of humanity’ can be interpreted in just the way that Esther interpreted it.
I told her that I was going to vote Green anyway, because a) it’s a statement that people care about green issues, and b) as I said, their policies are light years ahead of other parties.
I also said to her (and she agreed) that it wouldn’t really be possible for the Greens to make big changes in one country if they gained power, because if, for example, they stabilised the economy in the UK, then within a capitalist world, it would scare off investors and cause a major economic downturn, which would mean that they’d lose the next election to a party that would chase growth again.
Maybe that’s why they’re not coming right out and saying zero growth – because they know that it’s not possible to do that in one country.
I keep saying this, but we can’t vote in a sustainable system in one country. Change has to be global and systemic.
5Elisabeth Winkler March 20th, 2015
I think “zero growth” can sound scary to some people because it sounds like zero food, zero jobs etc.
I think we need to show that zero growth is something flourishing, growing, thriving…
…and that sustainable, green, low-impact living actually means more food, more jobs and more stability.
For instance community owned- renewable energy is good for the planet, gets people out of fuel poverty, and creates more jobs.
6Elisabeth Winkler March 20th, 2015
Another question: how would you define “zero growth”?
7screenbeetle March 20th, 2015
I couldn’t find a headline commitment – so to speak – to zero growth but there are references to it on their website. Under their Economy Policy -> Objectives section there is this sentence:
EC201 To this end, the Citizens’ Income (see EC730) will allow the current dependence on economic growth to cease, and allow zero or negative growth to be feasible without individual hardship should this be necessary on the grounds of sustainability. (see PB104-106)
8Peter Richardson March 20th, 2015
The Green Party policy is pretty clear on this, and is pretty good in my view (and worlds ahead of any other party):
“PB105 We cannot go on indefinitely exploiting and wasting the natural resources of a finite world. If humans continue to promote policies which require the unlimited consumption of raw materials, it will lead not to more riches, even for the few, but poverty for all.
PB106 The pursuit of economic growth as a force driving over-exploitation of the Earth must cease to be an automatic aim of human societies. We should instead aim to develop sustainable economies, which improve well-being focused on human values rather than consumerism. Traditional measures of economic activity, such as GDP, should be replaced by new indicators that measure progress towards this aim.”
Economic growth is almost always associated with an increasing carbon footprint, but isn’t necessarily so. Imagine a hypothetical society based entirely on recycling, and re-use, planet friendly agriculture, and crafts made from sustainable raw materials. Your next door neighbour has twins, followed by another set of twins, meaning that as they grow up the total amount of economic activity in the country increases. In this hypothetical world, the increase in economic activity is the right sort of ‘safe’ economic activity, so it isn’t a problem.
So although in the current system, economic growth is likely to mean unsustainable growth, it doesn’t automatically follow in all scenarios. Consequently I can see why Green candidates might prefer to say that the party is committed to stopping ” pursuit of economic growth as a force driving over-exploitation of the Earth” rather than saying that the party is committed to ‘zero growth’. It’s a fine distinction, but the distinction is there and is a valid one.
As a shorthand, amongst those who actually understand how GDP is measured (e.g. you get burgled or crash your car, and that increases GDP, but represents a reduction in your quality of life), zero or negative growth is a reasonable term to use, but to the general population, who have been brainwashed to think growth must be good, it would be frightening to start saying we must have zero or negative growth…. and better to say that the only sort of growth we’d be in favour of would be (truly) sustainable growth.
9Elisabeth Winkler March 20th, 2015
Truly sustainable growth – I like!
10Peter Richardson March 20th, 2015
But actually, we must move the focus away from economic growth, which is irrelevant. The two measures we need to monitor, and focus the attention of the electorate on, are
1) how much are we wrecking our life support system (the earth)
2) is human happiness and wellbeing increasing, or decreasing.
11Paul Jennings March 20th, 2015
Steady state economics would seem to be a better or more positive label than zero growth, but as Edward Abbey said “growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” Put in that light I’m not opposed to the use of the phrase zero growth.
I actually think that it’s about time people got scared; in fact if you’re not scared (and angry) you’re probably not paying attention.
One of my problems with Green Party politics is that Greens have to play the political game: they mustn’t scare people; they mustn’t use language that is considered beyond the politically acceptable; they mustn’t point out that a vote one way or another is very unlikely to make any difference, because to do any of these things would perhaps reduce the chances of their election, and they still believe, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that if they are present in great enough numbers in the legislatures of the world they will be able to bring about meaningful reform.
I don’t believe it.
As it happens, I also don’t subscribe to the Transition notion that together all people of goodwill can kick-start some kind of transforming process that will resolve very real differences of interest at the heart of our society.
I’d have been well out of place at that meeting the other night.
Anyway, back to economic growth. We are not allowed to talk about equality of outcomes. We are allowed to spout platitudes about equality of opportunity, as if setting off from the same starting line in a race of life and death is somehow fair, but we are not allowed to say that only an equality of outcomes is genuinely just, the sort of equality that one would expect to find in a society that endeavoured first to meet everyone’s needs.
The aspirations of the vast majority of humans seem quite modest to me: a roof, appropriate clothing, food on the table, friends and family around us. The world did not have to be as it is today in order for all of those things to be achieved, and moreover achieved with enough time to spare that we should not want for leisure or the time to develop a proper conception of citizenship, one which would bear no comparison to the role of the voter.
In the absence of real equality we are offered growth; we are offered the race to ever improving material conditions as if that might be the truest measure of the good life. There’s bread and circuses for most of us; extraordinary wealth for the tiny minority, more wealth than anyone should have (Ask a politician to say that). Economic growth then serves the ruling class, that has never been clearer.
Dave, I agree that the economic system is the problem, but the economic system is supported, as economic systems have always been, by an intricate ideological scaffolding. The scaffolding comprises the educational system, the mass media and of course, liberal politics. It is within the milieu of liberal politics that we are supposed to politely discuss how the pie will be cut, but it’s not really like that is it? We don’t decide anything about the pie; the pie is not ours and even a Parliament full of Green MPs would not change that one iota.
12Elisabeth Winkler March 20th, 2015
“Hope is the fuel of progress and fear is the prison in which you put yourself” said the late Tony Benn.
Human beings need hope to move forward otherwise we can become paralysed by fear.
Right now the green surge in the UK gives me hope – as does what has happened in Iceland, and in Greece with Syriza.
I do not want to undermine the green shoots of a movement before it has had a chance to take root.
13Paul Jennings March 20th, 2015
Hmmm, It seems to me that in order for hope to be well founded it needs to be based on intellectual honesty.
I believe that fear of ecological catastrophe is actually quite a rational position to hold, but it’s not my language which is circumscribed by fear, it’s the language of those whose politics uses only the vocabulary prescribed by their masters.
If I am going to hope for anything, it will not be for politicians to deliver something that is not in their power to deliver. Syriza, Podemos and the Greens channel discontent and the desire for change into parliamentary politics; they could be using their energies in other ways.
14Peter Richardson March 20th, 2015
“We don’t decide anything about the pie; the pie is not ours and even a Parliament full of Green MPs would not change that one iota.”
You might as well say that the current composition of our parliament has no effect on out health system, food system, military system. So you would be happy with a parliament full of fascists… that wouldn’t worry you?
I know that parliament isn’t the only powerful force in the UK (there are the corporations, the media, the military, other powerful nations and economies, the thinking element of the population and the less-thinking element of the population, etc) but parliament still has a lot of power, I believe.
As we have a parliament, I want to see Greens in it. Think what an impact just one Green MP, Caroline Lucas, has had on the political atmosphere of the UK. Imagine 400 like her! I agree with Elisabeth, I think there is hope, and for me, the colour of hope is Green.
Not that we should put all of our faith in the political system, of course. It’s up to all of us to take things in the right direction, do what needs doing, and try to stop the stuff that shouldn’t be happening. One extra way of doing that is supporting the green movement in the political system, while we also tend our gardens and polytunnels, make our placards, organise our boycotts, set up community organisations and ethical businesses, and try to educate and inspire people towards a better way of living.
15Dave Darby March 20th, 2015
Definitely. Low-impact, small-scale, independent businesses employ more people.
16Dave Darby March 20th, 2015
17Dave Darby March 20th, 2015
It’s an oxymoron. Well, if you mean economic growth it’s an oxymoron. Growth in ideas, experience, art, love, spirituality, beauty – bring it on.
18Dave Darby March 20th, 2015
Fairy nuff. I’d propose that zero global growth is necessary now, as the current global human eco footprint is more than one planet.
19Dave Darby March 20th, 2015
Peter – do you agree that the current mass extinction event we’re in has been caused by human activity?
20Dave Darby March 20th, 2015
That’s like sitting on the Titanic saying that focusing on the iceberg is irrelevant. The human economy is the cause of the extinction event we find ourselves in, and it won’t stop until the global economy is stabilised.
21Dave Darby March 20th, 2015
Yes, I have no problem using less scary terms.
Steady-state economics = ‘look at that beautiful big white thing. Maybe we should steer away from it a bit so that we don’t damage it.’
Zero growth = ‘it’s a fucking iceberg!’
22Paul Jennings March 20th, 2015
No, no hyperbole. We live in a society with unprecedented levels of state control. The fascist regimes of the Twentieth Century could have only dreamed of the surveillance and ideological penetration enjoyed by the modern state. On top of that protest of any sort is becoming much harder and whilst we do not see genocide in our country, our genocides are exported. The murder we export, the destruction we send abroad, supports our access to cheap bread and to circuses.
From where I stand on the political compass, Peter, we already have a Parliament full of fascists. Dismiss that as more hyperbole if you wish, but I am not one for bandying empty rhetoric.
I disagree with your position because it is demonstrable that it has failed. We could be having this discussion about the future of the Labour Movement in 1880 – although clearly we would be in the much preferable position of doing so face-to-face and over a pint of beer. Reform is a broken reed and Parliament is worse than powerless, it is part of the ideological support system for global capitalism.
Frankly, I haven’t noticed the impact of Caroline Lucas, but I know she is the darling of the Green Surge. In Greece the people who voted for Syriza are already discovering the limits of political power and the same would be true here, and probably much more violent were there to be any threat of a Green Government.
I am not saying that there is no hope, Peter. What I am saying is that it is not to be found in the Green Surge. The onions I’ve planted this week will play a more positive role in the world than all of the politicians, ballots and votes cast in 2015 put together; that might seem quite a lot of pressure to heap on the shoulders of my little onions, but really all they need do is grow away and send down their roots and make their little contribution to a few people’s dinner tables and they’ll already have been more effective than our Parliamentary representatives.
23Dave Darby March 20th, 2015
And yes, I’ve had that argument with Transition members, who think that a critical mass of good people doing good things will be reached, and that all our problems will be solved, within this current system. But at the same time, the juggernaut of capitalism and economic growth is trundling along, undoing all the good that they do. I give the example of Green & Blacks, Ben & Jerry’s and the Body Shop. They were supposed to be about a new way of doing business. They started making money, and capitalism swallowed them. They now belong to Cadbury’s, Unilever and L’Oreal respectively. Capitalists are happy for us to pootle about doing our little things (things that are very valuable, by the way), but anything that looks like it might challenge their power will be bought or crushed. The only thing that can change that situation is an entirely different system. It’s coming – nothing lasts forever (Francis Fukuyama is completely wrong), and so the faster it comes the better.
24Dave Darby March 20th, 2015
Yes, the entire Lowimpact.org website expresses hope I think (and hope).
And I hope and believe that we can bring about systemic change.
25Dave Darby March 20th, 2015
Peter – I wouldn’t say that governments can’t change anything at all – of course they can. They could stop the privatisation of the NHS for a start.
But…… (and I’d really like to know what you think about this)
Imagine the Green party form the government. They would form the government of one country.
Do you see that the kind of policies we’d like to see would scare off international investors?
In the context of global capitalism, that would mean mass unemployment and recession.
Then they’d lose the next election to a party that would reverse all their policies.
I don’t agree with Paul that they couldn’t do anything – they could, but ultimately, in my tired analogy, we’d still be headed for the iceberg.
We have to bite the bullet and admit that we can’t steer away from the iceberg under the current system of capitalism and liberal democracy. Ecology is degrading fast, and as long as we have a cancerous economic system that can’t be tamed via parliamentary democracy, it will continue to do so until it’s game over. Paul’s right that scary things have to be talked about openly, even if they’re scary. We have to man up. Sorry, person up.
26Dave Darby March 20th, 2015
And as for the growth thing – I’ll keep saying this until someone shows me it’s wrong.
1. we can’t have material growth forever, and it should stop now
2. an increase in spending power causes more material growth, because it can’t be ring-fenced around non-material things
3. economic growth increases spending power (or it’s not economic growth)
4. therefore, economic growth can’t continue forever, and it should stop now
27Dave Darby March 20th, 2015
UK politicians aren’t fascists Paul. But parliament is corporate-controlled – directly and indirectly. It’s not really where the power is – power is ultimately where the money is. But why am I teaching my grandmother to suck eggs?
But I disagree that individuals are fascists – it’s the system, not people.
28screenbeetle March 20th, 2015
Two conflicting ways of thinking here. Everyone’s ends are arguably in line but the means are very different.
On the one hand there seems to be the classic Green Party view that effective environmental change can happen within the current political system – Light / Bright Green thinking if you will. On the other hand is the view that nothing short of radical systemic change will come close – used to be called Deep Green thinking but that’s possibly a bit soft given the above. More eco anarchism maybe ?
A pragmatic question to ask is; can the former approach lead to the latter? Major systemic change can’t happen without hitting a point of critical mass. How close are we to that critical mass at the moment? Arguably not very. I’ve heard the argument that a revolutionary tipping point can come pretty quickly if a movement can create the right buzz, and then capture the momentum. If that’s your position then it’s reasonable to try and create the buzz and capture the momentum. But it’s worth asking what social climate best helps create that momentum? Would a greater degree of awareness of environmental issues help? How about a greater degree of mainstream awareness? Or are we excluding the mainstream?
Whether you reject or agree with the Green Party they are bringing attention to the issues. Way more attention than if they didn’t exist.
All interesting stuff.
29Elisabeth Winkler March 20th, 2015
Growing onions is vital!
But I do feel it is important not to dismiss Parliamentary representatives, however limited their powers may be.
People who vote tend to be Conservative and Ukip voters.
If you don’t vote, you allow Conservative and Ukip to win.
30Dave Darby March 20th, 2015
I’d agree with that. I think that systemic change is essential, but the Green Party could increase awareness and buy us time.
It only takes an hour of my time to vote every five years, so I’ll vote Green, in the full awareness that a change of government is not enough, and my god, I’d rather live in a country with Caroline Lucas as PM rather than the knob we’ve got.
31Paul Jennings March 20th, 2015
If only to avoid – already too late perhaps – fulfilling the prediction of Godwin’s Law, I am going to refrain from discussing fascism and fascists any further here. ? I shall only mention Stafford Beer’s aphorism, “the purpose of the system is what it does”…….. not what it says it does.
32Paul Jennings March 20th, 2015
The thing is, Elisabeth, that for me this is about more than just the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of voting as a means towards social change. I mean to say that I do consider it utterly pointless, but I am also a principled abstainer. This is a massive topic. Shall I just say that I am interested in democracy in every workplace and in every community and the forthcoming General Election has nothing to do with anything in any shape or form recognisable as democracy.
Even putting aside my long-standing commitment to abstention, and even if for one second I allowed myself to believe that my choice of MP could slow or alter the catastrophic course upon which corporate capitalism has set us, that would only matter if I was one of the small number of voters in a marginal constituency where the result of the election will be determined. Somewhat ashamedly I admit, that I have been considering voting Plaid in May just to try to turf out the Tory, Simon Hart MP, but actually Labour were second in the last election in this constituency and I would not vote Labour if the alternative was walking through the gates of Hell; also the Green Party of Wales has for some reason decided to stand a candidate (I do not understand why and think that it’s stupid) and so the “non-Establishment” vote will be split.
Every well meaning, environmentally conscious voter who turns out in May – on my birthday as it happens – and votes Green here will reduce the chance of Plaid winning. Plaid Cymru voters will not desert their party for the Green Party.
It is not my not voting that will allow the Conservative to win; in this constituency, unless people swing to Labour and elect an MP in all likelihood as useless for society and the eco-sphere as the Tory, the Tory has already won.
As I say, I have other reasons for not voting: I do not want to lend legitimacy to a system that is exploitative and murderous to its core; I do not wish to impose my “choice” of Government on you or on anyone else, and I do not want to lend credence to the risible idea that we live in a democratic society. But, even leaving all that aside, whether I vote or not just makes no difference at all and I consider it much more profitable to encourage people to think about what a really democratic and ecological society might look like than to play the political equivalent of fantasy football with the Green Party or anyone else……..Left Unity springs to mind……….. even the name of that one is a dead give away!
33Paul Jennings March 20th, 2015
Clearly I screwed up that reply…………… because it’s popped up above at 29 instead of below!! Cobblers!!
34Dave Darby March 20th, 2015
‘the forthcoming General Election has nothing to do with anything in any shape or form recognisable as democracy’
Exactly – because it’s not where the real, raw power to make things happen is. They just get bullied or hoodwinked or bribed or ignored, and they can’t touch the corporate agenda. If they do, they’re finished.
My biggest cause for optimism is what happened with CFCs. Scientists managed to demonstrate to the corporates that we’d all be dead really soon if they didn’t stop manufacturing them. So they stopped. Maybe the same can happen with ecological damage – although it’s more complicated. They may stop if it’s absolutely clear they they’re going to die very soon if they don’t. But even if they do bring production into harmony with nature, we’ve then got the problem of democracy to address.
35paul57wood Paul Wood March 20th, 2015
I will vote Green in May because if we have to put up with the current political system the Greens are the only party that will try and bring about a fairer society and will do something about our current race to ecological destruction. I certainly agree we have to do something about monied corporations controlling our lives for their own ends but I don’t think enough people are aware of the impact these giant money making machines have on our existence and even if they did sudden change would be too much for them to contemplate, very few people really like change. I think we have to play “The Game” for a while and during that time the influence of the Greens (even in only a small number of MPs) may bring about a new look at how we should be living to save our planet and our sanity and then bring about the changes to “The System”. If the UK could do it then perhaps others globally may follow, I do feel that there is a world wide climate of the “Common Man/Person” starting to realise what is happening and that if we all pull together we can do something about it, we are just not there in numbers yet. Let’s hope we get there in time.
36Dave Darby March 21st, 2015
Very well said. I particularly agree that more and more people are getting that there’s something seriously wrong, but you’re right, a big problem is that people don’t like change.
37Dave Darby March 23rd, 2015
Just received an email from Dan Watkins, the Conservative candidate above, who said that technology and innovation will improve efficiency, which will reduce the amount of a resource for the same work done.
Here’s my answer to Dan:
It’s not just resource use – it’s the combination of resource use and waste that Meadows et al called ‘throughput’. Your idea doesn’t work for two reasons.
First, it’s never happened before – throughput (and therefore ecological damage) has been growing steadily each year for 200 years, because although you’re right that technology improves efficiency, the slight reduction in throughput that could have been achieved in a stable economy is completely reversed because of economic growth.
And secondly, it doesn’t work because of the Jevons paradox – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox. Check the link, but basically, any technological improvement that increases the efficiency of the use of a particular resource, will increase the use of that resource, because it becomes more financially and technologically viable to use it. The classic example is James Watt’s steam engine. It was invented to reduce the use of coal, because it did the same work as the Newcomen engine with a fraction of the amount of coal. But of course, after the invention of the steam engine, coal use exploded because everybody started using steam engines.
Your idea only works in a stable economy, not a growing one.
Dan, I don’t think that politicians generally understand the concept of throughput, or the Jevons paradox, or the limits to growth, so at this point I think that politicians should apply the precautionary principle, because if I’m right (and I am, imho), then the consequence of continuing to attempt to achieve constant economic growth won’t be trivial – it could mean extinction. We have to stop and reassess, rather than continue to steer the Titanic towards the iceberg.
Dan – you’re very welcome to come on here to show me where you think I’ve gone wrong.
38Elisabeth Winkler March 23rd, 2015
Plaid Cymru, Scottish National Party and the Green Party are all anti-austerity, progressive and low-impact parties. Hurrah for them all (and a few other smaller ones).
Splitting the left vote is always a problem. Which is why I both wish red/green parties would work more together, and I favour proportional representation.
I understand being a principled abstainer for all the reasons you cite. Paul. However, this position – shared by many rightfully angry citizens – also increases the risk of voting-in by default pro-austerity Conservatives or racist Ukip (because people who vote tend to vote Conservative or Ukip). So this does worry me.
39Dave Darby March 23rd, 2015
I feel another blog coming on. What can and can’t governments change.
40Dan Watkins March 27th, 2015
Great event with TTT last week and thanks for generating this post-event discussion.
My main response to your 4 points would be a single one… Over time, the prices of resources (metals, energy, etc) are going up and up – this is creating incentive for companies to innovate to dramatically improve efficiency. And technology and innovation combine to make often quite dramatic changes in resource efficiency. It is possible that in 20 years time cars could run on 10% of the fuel they used to. If the same happens in all aspects of the economy, the world COULD sustain itself.
Put another way, if the world population doubles before peaking (which it could well do), but resource intensiveness drops from 100% to 10%, we would reduce the world’s resource consumption by 80%, which would be sustainable.
These are example numbers given for effect, but you see my point – it is theoretically possible to create a sustainable world even with significant economic growth (although not simple to achieve, hence we need to do more than just rely on technology, so there is need for TTT and many other sustainability groups to also take action).
I’ve not come across the Jevons Paradox before, but it’s an interesting theory. However, as the last line of the Wikipedia entry alludes to, if you have green taxes or government-set environmental standards in place (e.g max amount of CO2 produced per car) then you can retain the consumption reduction improvements from the technological innovation. On green taxes, it’s worth reading some of the policy suggestions that my Conservative colleague Zac Goldsmith MP has written of in this regard. I would suggest that the next Government do detailed research into the option of replacing some existing taxes on jobs/endeavour with carbon-based taxes, as this could allow us to improve sustainability without harming employment.
Food for thought…
41Dave Darby March 28th, 2015
Hi Dan – thanks for replying. I’m very impressed with your persistence.
Everything but your last paragraph above I’ve already covered in my post above.
Your last paragraph:
I mean it’s a really good attempt, but it still doesn’t address the logic – trying to achieve infinite growth on a finite planet is like trying to achieve perpetual motion. On paper, it might look as though it’s possible, but in reality, it’s not.
What you write looks reasonable (and I agree about shifting taxes from work to carbon), but if you dig into it, it falls apart.
Where will the money go from taxes? It won’t be lost to the economy, it will be invested or spent on something else.
And as I pointed out, as long as the economy keeps growing, spending power will increase and that can’t be ring-fenced away from material ‘stuff’ – and if that’s the case (and it really is, as long as you use logic and you’re honest with yourself) you know, surely, that material growth can’t continue forever. And therefore economic growth can’t continue forever. This is the logic that no-one on this thread has addressed, let alone challenged.
And environmental standards (on CO2 emissions per car) mean nothing when people like Andrey Shevchenko has 9 Ferraris (and so would many others if they had the money). In the same way, standards on homes mean nothing when people have 2 or more homes when they can afford it.
9 Ferraris with superb environmental performance are far more damaging to the environment than one old banger.
I know that you think that technological innovation can reduce resource use and waste slightly faster than economic growth increases them – but Dan, that’s a fantasy. It doesn’t happen like that – never has, never will. That’s why ecology is declining so badly – that’s the mantra that’s caused it, and will continue to do so.
I’m not having a go at you personally, and I take my hat off to you for getting stuck into this debate. I’d say your view is typical of virtually every MP in the commons, with the (probable?) exception of Caroline Lucas. It’s me who’s ideas are marginal – but they’re logical, and I think that the minority who see that is growing. I talk to a lot of people who get it, and find it completely self-evident. But that might be the circles I move in. I hope the number of people who get it reaches critical mass so that we can change direction before it’s too late.
Peace and love
42Dan Watkins April 6th, 2015
Dave – one more quick response, and that’ll be it from me for a month…
The green taxes would be spent on the same things that employment taxes are spent on today ie public services. The net impact would be stimulate consumption of lower carbon products at the expense of higher carbon ones – a good thing.
When it comes to technology, it’s a case of never say never – it could achieve the positive outcome I’m suggesting. But equally it might not do enough, quickly enough, so the bottom-up action that TTT and many, many others are doing to improve sustainability is crucial too. The chances are that both will be needed.
43Dave Darby April 6th, 2015
Why a month? Is something happening? ?
Dan, you know I love Transition – but look at Tooting, one of the most active groups in the UK. Tooting’s population is around 300,000 and there are about 15 active Transition members. It’s good stuff, but it’s hardly scratching the surface. Everything they do is wiped out by the consumerist juggernaut, constantly generating more production and consumption. We have to stabilise our economy within nature’s limits – and as you saw from the presentation that evening, globally our footprint is already more than one earth – which is why we’re in a mass extinction event. We need to get back within a one-planet footprint globally, and that actually means economic shrinkage, rather than just stability. If we don’t live within nature’s limits, nature will just get rid of us. We can’t win in a battle with nature – and as long as growth is pushing us outside nature’s limits, technology is no solution.
I know you can’t come out and support a steady-state economy – your core support would abandon you and you’d stand very little chance of being elected. But if humanity survives the coming ecological cataclysm, people will look back and wonder why we used to believe that we could achieve perpetual economic growth on a finite planet. It’s absurdity right up there with witch-burning, mercury cures and flat-earthers.
Hopefully more people will start to see the absurdity of the suicidal quest for perpetual growth before it’s too late.
44Elisabeth Winkler April 7th, 2015
You talk about Transition Tooting’s small amount of active Transition members
– then follow with “Everything they do is wiped out by the consumerist juggernaut, constantly generating more production and consumption.”
This strikes me as a very defeatist approach! That is like giving up before you start.
Listen, as we all know, it is hard it is to be in the Cassandra role of trying to warn people, who do not want to listen, about a coming disaster.
Your comment sounds as if you are saying: “if Transition Tooting adopted a steady-state economy, it could reverse the coming economic cataclysm.”
Is that fair?
Firstly, I don’t know if some Transition Tooting members support a steady-state economy or not.
Secondly, instead bashing allies with “I’m right, listen to me” I think we should be looking for ways to unite and organise.
Thirdly, for the purposes of other visitors it would be good to explain in a line what is a steady-state economy.
PS I know you appreciate debate so I am boldly commenting thus knowing we will still be mates even if we don’t agree! E
45Dave Darby April 7th, 2015
‘This strikes me as a very defeatist approach! That is like giving up before you start.’
Not at all. Exactly the opposite in fact. What I’m saying is that we’re losing heavily – we’re (when I say ‘we’ I mean Lowimpact, Transition, the co-operative movement, Permaculture etc. etc.) doing lots of great things, which could form the basis of a different kind of society – but at the moment, it isn’t troubling the established order. We can only do that if we start talking about systemic change – which is what I’m advocating.
‘it is hard it is to be in the Cassandra role of trying to warn people, who do not want to listen, about a coming disaster’
And yet, if you’re on the Titanic, and you can see the iceberg, you just have to try to alert people about it. Luckily, seismic changes have always been brought about by a tiny minority, so we don’t have to reach everyone.
‘Your comment sounds as if you are saying: “if Transition Tooting adopted a steady-state economy, it could reverse the coming economic cataclysm.”
No – a steady-state economy could only be applied at the national level, not in Tooting! And Transition groups are not in positions to adopt any kind of economy. This is a much bigger discussion, but actually, a steady-state economy could possibly only be applied globally, because under the current system, any government trying it unilaterally would be bankrupted. Again, we’re back to systemic change.
‘Firstly, I don’t know if some Transition Tooting members support a steady-state economy or not.’
Some do, some don’t – it’s not a Transition position locally or nationally.
‘bashing allies with “I’m right, listen to me” ‘
I’m not bashing (as I include Lowimpact in the list) – just pointing out the iceberg (and you definitely can’t stop doing that once you’ve seen it)
‘I think we should be looking for ways to unite and organise’
which is 100% what I’m trying to do.
‘for the purposes of other visitors it would be good to explain in a line what is a steady-state economy.’
‘I know you appreciate debate so I am boldly commenting thus knowing we will still be mates even if we don’t agree!’
Of course – but I hope the above at least made sense?
46Elisabeth Winkler April 9th, 2015
I really like: “Luckily, seismic changes have always been brought about by a tiny minority, so we don’t have to reach everyone.”
That is a hopeful and workable thought.
Steady State Economics sounds like…sanity! I welcome the idea of collective decision-making at a global level to work out how not to trash the planet while ensuring everyone lives peaceful lives.
I imagine a global council working out, as you say:
“…how much ecological impact is sustainable, then ensuring that we stay below that level with (tradeable) resource depletion quotas (for each resource) and a ‘maximum wealth’ policy.”
I think there is some mileage in unpacking Steady State Economics. For instance I wonder what “(tradeable) resource depletion quotas (for each resource)” might look like on a practical level? I’d love an example to help me better understand.
All good stuff, I think we have been debating style – not content – and…Power to the peaceful! Elisabeth
47Dave Darby April 9th, 2015
Hi Elisabeth – tradeable resource quotas is Herman Daly’s idea – he outlined it in his book ‘Steady-state Economics’ – an oldie now, but a classic. He was a senior economist in the World Bank (surprisingly!) – see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Daly.
For me, he blotted his copybook by also advocating child quotas for women, to keep the population down. I do think that there’s a problem with the size of the human population, but quotas has quite a totalitarian vibe. Don’t know what the answer is though.

domain: politics


text:
On Tuesday night, the Gardendale City Council passed and approved Resolution 2022-026 which, among other 2022 budget changes, approved the spending of $303,390.30 from the account with funds collected from the 5-mill ad valorem tax approved by Gardendale voters in 2013 to fund a Gardendale School System.
While the attempt at separation failed, the tax has remained in place and now has approximately 2.85 million dollars in the account that is kept separate from other accounts at the City of Gardendale.
The spending approved through this specific resolution, 2022-026, will be used for improvements from everything from playground equipment to parking lot restriping.
Gardendale Elementary School makes up the majority of the 303k, with 283k for new playground equipment.
Below is a listing of how the City of Gardendale will allocate spend to Gardendale High School, Gardendale Elementary School and Snow Rogers Elementary. This is taken from the “Exhibit A” to the resolution passed.
A copy of the resolution and exhibit “A” was supplied, upon request, to The Gardendale News by the City.
Gardendale High School
FBLA Trip to Mobile for State Competition – $620.00
Choral Microphones – $1200.00
Light Boxes for Art Class – $408.30
Total – $2,228.30
Gardendale Elementary School
Robotics Team Trip to World Championship in Dallas Texas – $5180.00
Playground Equipment – $283,000.00
Total – $288,180.00
Snow Rogers Elementary
Safety Surfacing Engineered Wood Fiber for Playground – $8,492.00
300 yards of Zoysia Sod for Courtyard – $1990.00
Parking Lot Restriping in the Front of School – $2500.00
Total – $12,982.00
Total Request: $303,390.30

domain: news


text:
LIVE: Augmented presents Kerri Chandler @ Gorilla
WORDS BY SAM KERSHAW
Kerri Chandler has been one of house music’s originators since the early nineties. That term originator gets bound around a little too flippantly these days but this is not one of those occasions. From his native New Jersey roots and a backdrop of soul, disco, and garage from his late great father who was also a DJ, Chandler has established himself as a true selector in every sense of the word. As an ambassador of the 4/4 beat, his sets champion a bold plethora of styles, genres and decades.
The most exciting thing about tonight is that Chandler is playing all night long to 600 people in a modest venue under the railway tracks of Whitworth Street West. To give this a little context, tomorrow night he will curate and headline his own show at the Printworks – a 5,000 capacity venue on the banks of Canada Water in London.
Tonight, he kicks off the first hour with some neo-soul and US vocal house followed by some mid-tempo chug, as the crowd bob and weave into their stride. Once he’s found his feet, we a treated to an up-tempo gospel-infused cut of Sister Sledge’s ‘Lost in Music’ and Uptown Funk Empire’s ‘You’ve Got To Have Freedom’. There is a slight lull in proceedings as he gets bogged down with the jazz piano and the atmosphere falls a tad flat. However, redemption is served via the broken beats of some New York garage and a heavy dose of meaty tech house. The latter incorporates the vocal from Loleatta Holloway’s ‘Love Sensation’, sending the crowd into a fever pitch.
The current musical climate is littered with amazing DJ’s come producers – Four Tet, Ben UFO, Floating Points – to name but a few, but Kerri Chandler feels like the engine room on the roster. There’s no effects unit, no all singing all dancing lighting rig, projector screens, lasers et al. It’s six hours of straight up, soulful house, disco and garage on two turntables and it has the clientele in Gorilla eating out of the palm of his hand.
For the pessimists that think that house music all sounds the same, they should let Kerri Chandler take them on a journey. It will make them take a step back and realise it’s time to have a quiet word with themselves.


Rugby World Cup organisers say it is too early and inappropriate to speculate on whether the Christchurch earthquake will mean the city will lose its matches later this year.[image:1305:half:right]
The shallow 6.3-magnitude quake struck at 12.51pm on Tuesday, 10km south-east of the central city, causing many deaths and widespread devastation.
Christchurch is scheduled to host seven games including England and Australia's openers and two of the quarter-finals.
Rugby World Cup 2011 spokesperson Mike Jaspers says any assessment must wait until after rescue and recovery efforts have been completed.
[Radio New Zealand]'s sports department says, given accommodation for the tournament was already tight before the quake it's likely there will be implications.
Engineers were inspecting the city's AMI stadium on Wednesday afternoon. The company that manages the stadium says the results will be released on Thursday.
Prime Minister John Key says he hopes the matches can go ahead in Christchurch as they'd be a boost for the city as it rebuilds.
Crusaders match may be postponed
A decision on whether the Crusaders Super rugby match against the Hurricanes goes ahead won't be made until Thursday.
The Canterbury Rugby Union says players will meet on Wednesday night to discuss whether to travel to Wellington for the game.


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Aquaculture is a growing industry around the world, and as it is developing, new techniques are emerging. Farming fish in ponds is by far the most widespread technique used, but fish farming in cages is gradually becoming more and more popular. This method is known as cage aquaculture.
Several different types of cage designs are used for farming fish. The four main types of fish cages are fixed, floating, submersible, and submerged. Within these types, there are various designs. Some cages have flexible netting, while others have rigid netting.
Cage aquaculture uses very basic technology, so the start-up costs are much lower than pond aquaculture. In this article, we discuss the various types of cages used in aquaculture and the factors to consider when choosing a cage design.
What Are Different Types Of Cages Used For Fish Farming?
Cage aquaculture uses four main types of fish cages:
- Fixed cages
- Floating cages
- Submersible cages
- Submerged cages
Within these four categories, there are variations in cage design. Fixed cages are relatively standard, but floating cages vary in size, shape, and design. Fish cages can have either flexible or rigid netting.
The suitability of each cage design depends on the aquaculture site – the water depth, flow conditions, and the environmental setting (river, canal, lake, reservoir, sea). The species of fish being farmed is also a key consideration, as various species have different feeding habits, general behavior, and stocking densities.
1. Fixed Cages Used In Aquaculture
Fixed cages consist of a net bag suspended from posts in the flow of a stream, river, canal, lake, or reservoir. These cages are generally used in shallow bodies of water, with depths of 3 to 10 feet. The bottom of the net bag does not touch the bottom of the water body.
This type of fish cage is very basic and inexpensive to build. Fixed cages are commonly used in small-scale aquaculture, but their use for more extensive, commercial aquaculture is restricted.
2. Floating Cages Used In Aquaculture
Floating cages consist of a frame that floats on the surface of the water. Net bags are suspended from the floating frame so that their bottoms do not touch the ground. These cages are generally used in deeper bodies of water, with depths greater than 16 feet.
The floating frame functions as a walkway so that the nets can be maintained, and the fish can easily be observed and managed.
Floating cages come in a wide range of designs, varying in size and shape. Different designs are developed to be suitable for various conditions in open bodies of water.
3. Submersible Cages For Aquaculture
Submersible cages are a variation of floating cages with either rigid or flexible netting. The buoyancy of plastic floats is variable so that the fish cage can be moved to different depths in the water column. These types of fish cages are often used in marine environments.
4. Submerged Cages For Aquaculture
Submerged cages consist of a solid, rigid frame, wherein a net bag is fitted. The entire cage is submerged underwater, and fish do not have access to the water surface.
This type of cage is not commonly used for aquaculture because they are only suitable for fish without swim bladders and fish with closed swim bladders. Fish with open swim bladders, like salmon and trout, need to access the water's surface to refill their swim bladders and maintain their buoyancy.
Fish Cages With Flexible Netting Versus Cages With Rigid Netting
The primary purposes of the netting used in fish cages are to keep the fish in, keep predators out, and allow water to flow freely through the cage. Two types of netting can be used to serve these functions – flexible or rigid.
Flexible netting for fish cages is most often made of nylon. It is inexpensive and can easily be cleaned and treated with chemicals to prevent biofouling. Biofouling is the build-up of algae and microorganisms on the netting. It reduces the free flow of water through the cage, so it impacts water quality.
Rigid netting used for fish cages is either galvanized or plastic-coated steel mesh or hard plastic, which is more expensive. This type of netting is mostly used in submersible cages. Biofouling is also a problem with rigid netting, and it is more difficult to clean and treat this type of netting. Still, rigid netting has a longer lifespan than flexible nylon netting.
Norweigian-designed Donut Cages For Fish Culture
Norway is a world leader in developing new technology for cage aquaculture, especially for salmon. Norway is the number one producer of farmed salmon in the world.
Salmon farms make use of nearshore areas and fjords along the coastline. Aquaculture in marine environments comes with some challenging issues. Waste management, disease, sea lice, and fish escapes are persistent problems.
To address these issues, a marine contracting firm in Norway, the OPD Group, has designed giant fish cages in the shape of donuts. They look more like structures that belong in outer space than in the ocean!
The donut cages are massive, holding almost 780,000 cubic feet of water. They are 180 feet wide and weigh about 370 metric tons.
These cages create a more closed, controlled environment for the fish. The water temperature inside the cage can be regulated, the water inside the cage can be oxygenated, and fishes’ metabolic waste can be collected and processed in a bioreactor.
The permeability of the netting can be adjusted. When a disease breaks out, the donut cage can isolate the problem by making the net impermeable. This also helps if there is an oil spill nearby.
These donut cages aim to make aquaculture more environmentally sustainable and cost-efficient. In addition, donut cages are much better for the health of the fish.
Fish Farming In Converted Cargo Ships
To farm fish in more exposed marine environments, and to overcome issues like sea lice and fish escapes, retired cargo ships are being converted into fish farms. Like the donut cages, this type of cage culture is intended for high-value fish like salmon.
Repurposing old cargo ships is good for the environment, as a containment vessel does not have to be constructed from scratch. It also brings down the investment cost of setting up such an aquaculture operation.
The tanks of a cargo ship are removed, and in their place, fish cages are installed. The six tanks each have a capacity of almost 23 million cubic feet, giving these vessels the ability to produce nearly a million fish!
As the ship moves slowly, water flows through the cages, helping to maintain good water quality. These aquaculture vessels remain relatively close to the shore so that they can be supplied with onshore electrical power. In addition, they do not run on oil, making food production more environmentally friendly.
Farming Fish In Self-Propelled Cages
AquaPod Net Pens are another innovation in aquaculture technology. These large, spherical cages are automated and self-propelled, making them suitable to deploy in the open ocean. They range between 30 and 90 feet in diameter.
The Aquapods are designed to be fully or partially submerged, and their rigid structure makes them robust enough to handle strong currents. They remain their shape and structure in rough, open sea conditions.
These fish cages are made from triangular panels, similar to a geodesic dome. The frames of the panels are made from high-density polyethylene, and they are covered with vinyl-coated, galvanized steel wire mesh.
Aquapods are modular, so panels can be replaced with ones that have specialized functions, like feeding, fish transfer, size grading, harvesting, or panels that hold scientific instrumentation. They can easily be taken apart, making maintenance relatively easy.
The Aquapods have flotation devices that are pneumatically controlled, giving them the ability to be rotated or moved up or down in the water column.
How To Choose The Cage Design When Starting A Fish Farm?
There are so many types of cages that are suitable for fish farming. Choosing the right type of cage when starting up an aquaculture operation can mean the difference between success and failure.
So, how does one choose the cage design most suitable for a particular fish farm?
The first major factor to consider is whether the fish farm is going to be in a freshwater or marine environment. Next, consider the species of fish that will be farmed and the scale of the aquaculture operation.
For small to medium-scale fish farms in landlocked water bodies, fixed cages (for water depths of 3 to 10 feet) or floating cages (for water depths of over 16 feet) are the best options. They are relatively cheap to set up, and the scale of the operation can easily be expanded.
In coastal marine environments, floating, submersible, or submerged fish cages are suitable. The type of cage depends on the species of fish being farmed.
Fish with swim bladders, like tilapia and salmon need access to the surface of the water. Therefore, floating or submersible cages are required for these species.
Most fish that do not have swim bladders are marine species, like mackerel, cobia, and flounder. These fish can thus be farmed in fully submerged or submersible cages in nearshore environments.
The next critical factor to consider is budget. How much investment capital is there for the initial setup of the aquaculture operation?
Fish cages with flexible nylon netting are the most affordable to procure and the easiest to maintain, especially with floating cages. Cages with rigid metal or plastic netting are pricier and more difficult to maintain (especially submerged cages).
To clean biofouling from submerged cages, divers must be employed to do maintenance on the netting underwater. This is far more costly than hauling the netting up after the cage has been harvested and cleaning the netting above the water.
Advantages Of Farming Fish In Cages Vs In Ponds
The growing popularity of cage aquaculture is due to its many advantages over fish farming in ponds:
- Building cages for fish is quicker, simpler, and less costly than constructing ponds.
- The initial start-up investment required to produce one unit of fish meat is only 30 to 40% of the investment needed for conventional pond aquaculture.
- Cage aquaculture utilizes natural bodies of water, so it does not take up valuable space on land that can be used for other purposes.
- The location and size of cages can easily be changed, so the aquaculture operation can expand more easily.
- Cage culture can be implemented in a wider range of environments than pond aquaculture – canals, natural or artificial lakes, reservoirs, backwaters, and rivers.
- It is easier and quicker to harvest fish in cages.
- Farming fish in cages makes it easier to ensure a steady supply to meet market demands.
- Fish raised in ponds need to be moved into deeper ponds for winter. This is not an issue in cage aquaculture, making this form of fish farming less labor-intensive.
- Due to the high stocking rates, farmed fish are susceptible to diseases. Farming fish in cages rather than ponds allows for easier monitoring of fish’s health, so interventions can happen more quickly.
- Cage aquaculture can be used for sport fishing, as well as for producing fish for meat.
Cage aquaculture is an industry that will see a lot of growth in the coming decades. It is an efficient way to produce healthy, lean protein to meet the demands of our growing human population. There are many different cage designs in aquaculture, suitable for a range of environments, fish species, and scales of production.
The four main types of cages for aquaculture are fixed cages, floating cages, submersible cages, and submerged cages. Within these categories are a wide range of shapes, designs, and technologies ranging from rudimentary to digital. Choosing a type of cage for a particular aquaculture operation is easy if the nature and scale of the farm are established, and the species of fish are known.

domain: biology


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Welcome to Plenty: Skyhearth
The first chapter of our story.
The objective here is simple. You are here to kill as many birds as you can with your bow and your HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. There are prizes to be won, leaderboards and achievements, and upcoming virtual reality archery tournaments. And sometimes, things aren't always as they seem.
Beat the high scores of your friends and the devs at Tiny Lions for fame and fortune! Our archery mechanic is simple and intuitive. Unlock mysteries and discover secrets in Skyhearth, the first glimpse into the larger world of Plenty and, perhaps, other worlds as well.Our Goal
Plenty is an evolving gameplay experience, featuring virtual reality, traditional PC content, and alternate reality content. Plenty: Skyhearth is the first chapter of the VR content that Plenty offers. We will be updating frequently to implement other mechanics and traditional PC functionality.
EditoresTiny Lions Inc.


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By means of IANS
NEW DELHI: India’s April-November budgetary fiscal deficit has reached 46.2 in step with cent of the FY22 goal.
As in step with the knowledge furnished by means of the Controller Common of Accounts (CGA), the fiscal deficit — the variation between income and expenditure — for the April-November 2021-22 duration stood at Rs 695,614 crore, or 46.2 in step with cent of the price range estimates (BE).
The FY22 deficit has been pegged at Rs 15.06 lakh crore.
But even so, the CGA knowledge confirmed that the fiscal deficit all over the corresponding months of the former fiscal was once 135.1 in step with cent of that yr’s goal.
The Central govt’s overall expenditure stood at Rs 2,074,607 crore (62.7 in step with cent of BE) whilst overall receipts have been Rs 1,378,993 crore (69.8 in step with cent of BE).
ICRA’s Leader Economist Aditi Nayar stated: “The GoI’s fiscal deficit compressed to simply underneath Rs 7 trillion in April-November 2021 from Rs 10.8 trillion in April-November 2020, with incremental revenues proceeding to sharply outpace expenditure.
“Even though the fiscal deficit upto November 2021 stood at handiest 46 in step with cent of the price range estimate (BE) for the total yr, the fading hopes of the disinvestment goal being met, portend a deficit of Rs 16.5-17 trillion in FY2022, overshooting the budgeted goal.”
Nayar additionally stated that whilst gross tax revenues displayed a strong enlargement of 18 in step with cent within the month of November 2021, the upper free up of central tax devolution to the states curtailed the web tax revenues, and thereby enlarged the fiscal deficit for that month.
India Rankings & Analysis’s Leader Economist Devendra Kumar Pant stated: “In spite of excise responsibility cuts on petrol and diesel in November 2021, gross tax income grew 18.2 in step with cent YoY.”
“In FY22 (April-November) gross tax income grew 50.3 in step with cent. Tax assortment enlargement will decelerate in the remainder of FY22 because of prime certain enlargement from October 2020 and regardless of prime inflation moderation in nominal GDP enlargement.”


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PISCAS – Scientific School
12-16 July 2021
The ‘Coastal Spatial Planning and Aquaculture Sustainable Development‘ (hereinafter PISCAS) Scientific School 2021 is organized by IMC Foundation in collaboration with IAS and ISMAR CNR. The main objectives of PISCAS concern several aspects related to Integrated Coastal Management and Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in the context of the Integrated Maritime Policy and its relationship to Blue Growth. Notably, the School will be aimed at defining the best methods and tools to achieve the development and growth of aquaculture through coordinated spatial planning. Given that an effective MSP process calls for different competences, this Scientific School is intended to offer a learning opportunity to researchers, scientist and students involved different scientific field, as well as to technical and human resources from public administration.
The School will be structured in both theoretical and practical parts and will encourage the exchange of experiences and knowledge among experts and participants.
The School will take place from 12 to 16 July 2021 in hybrid form.
General knowledge on several MSP and aquaculture site-selection aspects will be delivered:
- Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP), definition of MSP and its objectives, description of the process;
- Maritime Spatial Planning Tools and Data Management;
- Applications of agricultural-scale models in aquaculture zoning and site-selection.
A workshop will be held on July 15 2021 and will be address to PA, companies, students, and citizens, with the involvement of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Department of Agriculture and Agro-Pastoral Reform) of the Sardinia Region.
In addition to the teachers engaged in PISCAS, national and international experts from the aquaculture sector, in particular shellfish farming, and from the Fisheries Service will be involved during the workshop.
Participation Maximum attendance is 20 students both in presence and remote form. The lectures will also be open to other students, as auditors, up to a maximum of 35 people.
Participation Fee: Participation is free.
Travel: Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements and payments to get to the venue.
Application: If you are interested in participating in PISCAS Scientific School 2021, please fill in the application form until June 6th 2021. The application form must be completed, together with your CV and a copy of a valid identity document.
All applications will be evaluated after the application deadline. By the end of June 18th 2021, participants will receive a notification of acceptance.
FONDAZIONE IMC – INTERNATIONAL MARINE CENTREThe IMC is a research institution whose main objective is to promote scientific research aimed at the proper management of bio-resources and the Mediterranean marine environment. The IMC role in regional research system aims at bringing scientific and technological solutions in support of sustainable production systems that employ in their processes marine and coastal resources, and at the same time the stimulus of initiatives that can generate wealth and prosperity through the conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems. IMC also makes international scouting of technologies and good practices relevant to local production systems for technology transfer. In this context, IMC develops research focusing on sustainable aquaculture methods and studies on the reproduction of fish and invertebrates aimed at producing and restocking for the increase in productivity of lagoons and coastal areas. www.fondazioneimc.it IN COLLABORATION with ISMAR-CNR is based in Venice. ISMAR conducts research in the Mediterranean, oceanic and polar regions, focusing on the evolution of the oceans and their continental margins, submarine volcanoes, faults and slides and their potential impacts on land; influence of climate change on ocean circulation, acidification, biogeochemical cycles and marine productivity and on natural and anthropogenic factors that affect economically and socially on coastal systems from prehistoric times to industrial times. ISMAR has a recognized competence in supporting and promoting observation activities for monitoring the climate, the environment and the oceans, based on the integration of different types of observation techniques (in situ, remote sensing, satellite). The experience that makes ISMAR the national leader in marine geological cartography, geological and environmental risk assessment, long-term oceanographic time series collection, and interoperable management of marine data, oceanographic modelling for maritime spatial planning and the development of a marine economy based on the ecosystem represents the added value compared to the educational offer of the Scientific School The specific contribution to the school is linked to the teaching offered by ISMAR researchers. IAS-CNR IAS-CNR is an Institute of 100 people distributed in 5 Sections (Rome, Genoa, Oristano, Palermo, Capo Granitola) with headquarters in Rome. IAS conducts research in following sectors: 1) anthropogenic impacts on the marine ecosystem, 2) cycles biogeochemicals and dynamics of traditional and emerging contaminants, 3) chemical-physical and biological interactions between technologies and the environment marine (corrosion, biodeterioration), 4) effects of global changes on open sea, coastal and lagoon ecosystems, 5) oceanography operational for the management of environmental risk and emergencies from pollution, 6) marine ecology and ecological modeling aimed at conservation of marine ecosystems, 7) development of methodologies for habitat improvement (transplantation and restocking) 8) applications of telemetry and bioacoustics for the study of marine and marine ecosystems transition. Research groups operate in the IAS CNR of Oristano experience in operational oceanography aimed at evaluating the environmental risk (modeling and experimental), in the ecology of marine and lagoon environments and in the interoperable management of databases environmental.
Scientific committee/ Organizing committeeDr. Stefano Guerzoni Dr. Andrea Barbanti Dr. Maura Baroli
|July 12||July 13||July 14||July 15||July 16|
|9:00||Welcome and introduction An overview on AZAs selection in the Mediterranean Sea||Use of remote sensing and oceanography data for aquaculture site-selection||Information, data and tools to support planning and decision making||Decision support tools||Practical session: case studies and lessons from European and international MSP projects and plans Maritime and coastal planning in Emilia Romagna|
|11:00||Indicators for the evaluation of aquaculture-environment interactions||Use of farm-scale models in combination with GIS for aquaculture site selection||MSP Knowledge||Maritime Use conflicts (MUC): tools for Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA)|
|12:00||Integrated models for simulating the functioning and environmental interactions of marine aquaculture farms||Examples of applications in the Mediterranean area: of fish and shellfish farms)||Management and sharing of geospatial information|
|Lunch Break 13:00-14:00|
|14:00||Practical session: growth of seabass and seabream modeling using remote temperature data time series||Practical session: Integrating farm-scale models results into a multi-criteria analysis spatial framework using R.||Alignment of Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and MSP||Workshop Coastal Spatial Planning and Aquaculture Sustainable Development|
|15:00 – 18:00||Practical session: modeling the emission and deposition of the sea bass / sea bream in different hydrodynamic conditions with the FiCIM model||Practical session: simulation of a participatory mapping session with interested stakeholders||ICZM-MSP in the context of the integrated maritime policy Coastal and maritime uses and MSP Methodology and key contents of a maritime territorial plan|

domain: geography


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Category: Saving and Investing
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- DescriptionEnter a strange new world where being a witch gets really boring, and where ghostly Blobbers inhabit the Forest of Air. We meet Joe, a seemingly rmal boy, who joins the witch Hilda Harris on a search for the Free Magic Zone - where she can get some free, (and hopefully) useful magic. Their adventure takes many twists and turns, from castles in Wales to the terrifying Torrents of Brac. Hilda and Joe meet Blobbers good and bad, help dragons with toothache and even manage to foil the Evil Croaker.
- Author BiographyFrances Cross has published a number of books for children. Now a retired grandmother, she lives in South Africa, trying to decide whether to take up bowls, dark wizardry or just to continue writing for children.
- Author(s)Frances Cross
- PublisherRansom Publishing
- Date of Publication01/04/2006
- SubjectChildren's Fiction
- Series TitleBlobber Trilogy
- Series Part/Volume Numberbk. 1
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- ImprintRansom Publishing
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domain: literature


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- Artist influence
- Why Make Art?
- Art Influence
- 30 most influential designers of all time
- Master Artists and Designers You Should Know
All artists and designers are influenced by the creative work of others. It is important to surround yourself with not only work that you admire but also with the work that is recognized as being of high quality,ground-breaking or historically significant by reputable sources (galleries, museums, awards, publications, client lists, etc.).
Freshman Seminar Assignment:
For this assignment you need the following on your website;
- Description in your own words how the work of another artist/designer affects/influences you artistically.
- You might mention that person’s style, technique or the feelings that are created by viewing their work.
- Supply images of their work
- Your work does not need to necessarily look like theirs
- Supply a hyperlink to their website or other site where the artist/designer’s work can be viewed further.


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Whether you are a fan of lottery games or you simply like to watch the game on TV, there are a few things you need to know before you pick up a ticket. This article will provide you with an overview of the lottery, including the different ways you can play and the tax implications for winning.
Across the globe, lottery activities are growing in popularity. It’s not only fun entertainment, but it’s also a major source of tax revenue for governments. The report provides an overview of the lottery industry and details factors affecting growth.
In the United States, lotteries were a popular way to spend money in the past. It was believed that the money raised would help finance major government projects. The funds were used for road construction, bridges, and schools. The Chinese Han Dynasty recorded lottery slips dating back to 205 BC.
In the 16th century, lottery slips were used to raise funds for state-sponsored projects. During the 17th century, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts raised money through lottery to finance an expedition against Canada.
Whether you’re a seasoned lottery enthusiast or a neophyte, there’s a lot to be said about the draws of the lottery. Whether you’re playing a local or a multi-national lottery, you want to make sure you’re taking the proper steps to win. There are some tips to keep in mind, though, as you plan your next lottery game.
The number of draws of the lottery is increasing. In fact, if you’re playing a multi-circulation lottery, you can participate in multiple draws at once. This means you can buy more tickets, and increase your chances of winning.
Taking home a winning prize in the lottery is no small feat. There are several steps to follow in order to claim your prize and make sure that you’re not left out in the cold.
First, you need to decide whether you’re going to take home the cash or part of it in the form of an annuity. You’ll also need to consider the tax consequences of taking home part of the prize. In some cases, you’ll be taxed as a gift recipient, and in others, you’ll be liable for income tax on the full prize.
Getting a lottery win can be a life-changing experience. However, if you’re going to be receiving a large sum of money, you may need to pay some taxes on the winnings. There are several ways to minimize the tax liability. If you are unsure of what to do, it’s a good idea to consult a tax professional. They can provide you with the guidance you need to save money on your taxes and manage your new wealth.
Lottery winnings are subject to federal and state income taxes. Some states have separate tax brackets for residents and non-residents. Other states require a percentage of the winnings to be withheld.