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The United Kingdom’s politicians have missed many opportunities created by new Internet phenomena such as social networking, according to various research papers in recent times. In spite of this, could it now be time for Members of Parliament and electoral candidates to harness the capabilities of new media, particularly in relation to meaningful engagement with constituents?
Giving the people the information THEY want
It seems that the time has come for government to embrace the power of the online medium. In July 2008, we see the launch of an exciting new website at the domain showusabetterway.com
The UK Government has offered a prize of £20,000 for the best community generated idea that uses information held by the country, to better serve the people. Only one week after launching to the public, a staggering 150 conscientious ideas have come forward from the well-meaning public. These ideas are not just from software developers, but from citizens from all walks of life.
The best of these ideas will be taken into development by a professional team, funded by the government, in order to advance the services provided to the public by the government.
Inspire Inform Involve
Other government focussed communities have sprung up over the years that aim to improve society through the use of collaborative tools. TakingITGlobal.org provides a portal for young people to find inspiration, access information and get involved in improving their local and global communities.
“As social networking sites have taken off, TakingITGlobal provides a critical niche for youth who really want to make change happen. It is the place for youth to organize change and create a sense of community. TIG is needed now more than ever as a beacon for social change.”
Anurag Nigam, Member, Sand Hill Angels
With over 170,000 members, this community is surely one to be reckoned with.
It is our society after all
Some of the true pioneers of community engagement with government using the Internet include the talented and proactive bunch at mysociety.org. They have been able to help the government take notice of the need to use once-experimental media, for the benefit of real-world engagement with constituents.
Some of their notable examples include FixMyStreet, HearFromYourMP, NotApathetic, PledgeBank, TheyWorkForYou, and the most famous e-Petitions functionality as utilised on the Number 10 Downing Street website.
So what about the future?
It is very interesting to watch and learn from the various governments of the international community as they embrace the various aspects of social media and online engagement. Barack Obama has clearly seen the benefit of building a campaign around such tools. One thing seems certain: The UK Government is starting to see the online opportunity and to cautiously embrace it.


Realising ideas for efficient work processes
The search and finding for the best, future-oriented solution has accompanied us from the beginning. It is the challenges and desires that, by cooperation with farmers, create innovative ideas. In order to manage the daily job in barns and achieve success, we are continuously working with our customers and business partners.
SPS controlling for effective manure removal
An easy-to-use SPS technique controls the work, either automatically or manually. All the required parameters e.g. running time or corridor length can be programmed. This will include anti-freeze protection, discharge claps and cattle drive functions and a monitoring function of power reducing which controls the wear of drive wheels, steel chain and corner wheels.
Over-path-bridge for discharge shaft
Developed for long corridors, in which a manure hole can be placed in the middle. Combined with flexible separation bars, the platform above manure holes enhances movability and safe work processes. The animals can cross the manure hole at ease, without having to change direction. For waste or manure removal, the platform lifts itself up and sets back in position afterwards – A clean solution


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This is a personal piece. Please be trigger aware when reading.
Just lately things have been really tough for me. I have found living extremely difficult and getting through each day is a challenge. Part of my coping strategies has been self harm. Now I have always been open about the fact that I self harm on this blog and with mental health professionals, but I have noticed I am not just harming consciously. There has been a lot of unconscious self harm going on. I therefore thought I would explore this topic about ways I unconsciously self harm to raise awareness. These methods I do not condone and I would never want to tip share so will not go into a lot of detail. Please be careful when reading the following post.
A major way I have been unconsciously self harming is to make myself physically unwell. I have physical health conditions that can be exacerbated. Unconsciously this is what I have been doing by not taking proper care of myself. When depression strikes this is an easy thing to do as you can neglect your physical health in a number of ways unintentionally. This is part of what has happened to me but I have also pushed myself to limits I know I can’t deal with.
Another part of not looking after myself physically has been not taking pain medication so I feel the pain of an injury I have at the moment. This is self harm as I am causing myself pain even though I am unconsciously doing this. I’m also possibly exacerbating the injury by not taking the doctor’s advice.
Another unconscious method of self harm for me is hair pulling (or trichotillomania). I know a lot of people do this consciously but for me it is an unconscious action and I suddenly find myself with a bald patch or missing eyelashes. It is self harm as it causes pain and also, for me, embarrassment which makes me feel worse. I will try to do a fuller blog post on this topic in the future.
The final way I unconsciously self harm is to skin pick (or dermatillomania). I do this without thinking and pull away skin from my arms, chest and face. Quite often I make it bleed and am left feeling sore and even scarring myself. I know some people do this as conscious self harm but for me it is mostly unconscious and I have no idea to what extent I am doing it.
So those are some of the ways I unconsciously self harm. They are things I do without consciously thinking about the damage I may cause myself. They are things I slip into when things are particularly bad. If you find yourself unconsciously (or consciously) self harming there are things you can do to help. Being aware of it is the first step. Then there are alternatives you can try. They may not work straight away. For more information on self harm check out the Mind website.
Pictures from Pinterest

domain: psychology


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The Effects of Sit-Ups
Since grade school, you've been taught that if you want a strong, flat abdomen, all you need are situps. Situps, though, are not an effective way to lose belly fat or tone your midsection. You need a combination of diet, cardio and stabilization and rotation abdominal exercises to reach those goals. It turns out that situps' effects are minimally positive and mostly negative.
Thigh and Hip Activation
One muscle used during the situp is your rectus abdominis, which is the front sheath of your abdominal muscles. The problem is that this muscle doesn't act alone. When you perform the classic situp with your knees bent, your rectus femoris at the front of your thighs and the muscles of the hip flexors, which attach this muscle to your abdomen, also work extra hard. Over time, this can lead to tight, shortened quad and hip flexor muscles, which pull on your back. In turn, this can potentially cause back pain when these tight muscles pull on the muscles of your lower spine.
The classic situp has you place your hands behind your head to support the cervical spine. If you pull the head to help you get your upper shoulders off the floor, you risk injuring the muscles and connective tissue of the neck. If you don't place your hands behind your head, holding your head up without that support can lead to neck strain.
Potential Disc Problems
Situps require you to repeatedly flex your lower spine. For some people, this repeated flexion puts too much compressive force on the spine and can lead to a bulging or herniated disc. If you combine daily situp practice with a job in which you spend much of your day seated, or if you combine it with numerous other exercises like crunches and toe touches that also involve flexion, you are at risk of this injury.
Ab Muscle Imbalance
Situps may help you strengthen your ab muscles somewhat, but they are limited in their scope. The abdominal region is made up of multiple, interweaving muscles that should all be targeted to achieve optimal strength. Situps only target the superficial rectus abdominis and use the obliques for assistance. If you choose to only train with situps, your abdominal muscles will be imbalanced because you aren't thoroughly activating the internal and external obliques or the transverse abdominis. Other exercises -- including full-body, compound exercises such as squats and deadlifts along with rotation and stabilization movements such as medicine ball twists and planks -- are better choices when it comes to balanced abdominal conditioning.
- Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research: Abdominal and Hip Flexor Muscle Activity During 2 Minutes of Sit-Ups and Curl-Ups
- Physical Therapy: Electromyographic Analysis of Traditional and Nontraditional Abdominal Exercises: Implications for Rehabilitation and Training
- University of New Mexico: SuperAbs Resource Manual
- Move Well Chiropractic: Can Sit-Ups Really Hurt You?
Andrea Cespedes is a professionally trained chef who has focused studies in nutrition. With more than 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, she coaches cycling and running and teaches Pilates and yoga. She is an American Council on Exercise-certified personal trainer, RYT-200 and has degrees from Princeton and Columbia University.

domain: health


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The tech industry has become integrated into the ordinary business world and so much that many have their own codes embedded in their office software. These codes not only keep the directors, shareholders and employees connected, but they give limited companies a chance to stay connected with their clients at all times.
Depending on the company’s business model, software technology can help with the company’s performance, improving data capture, internal connectivity, profitability metrics and file storage. Most companies rely on a password-protected cloud to upload all their files and documents. It has vastly improved the directors’ abilities to run meetings, approach new investors, and keep track of the staff.
The most common technology to be used in limited companies at the moment is Voice Over IP Phones, desk phones, headsets, and more. Voice over Internet Protocol has become a modern way for businesses to connect with their customers and future potential clients instantly. It is a way of using the internet for instant messaging, video calls, emails and voice calls that uses the internet instead of a standard telephone line. It saves businesses thousands while they can still perform daily tasks without interruption. The most common example is a Whatsapp or Skype service where the only thing required is an internet connection with the telephone service provider. It works for remotely based staff who need to connect to clients and the office and use social media and online platforms as part of their company or clients’ services. On the other hand, if you want an established local and long-distance calling, International VoIP Trunking has a pivotal role for your business.
Accounting at the click of a button
Using a cloud service to store all the financial information of a company or person can save time and money when setting up accounts or setting up businesses. Connecting an accountant or HMRC to the information they need to process your registration or returns makes it easier to follow a paper trail for all your financials. If you have been working as a sole trader and have made enough connections in the industry to start a limited company, having documented information will make the process easier. You need to send your files and forms online to the HMRC to register for free company formation, and all the paperwork needs to be 100% correct to avoid rejection of your applications. Technology software within a new limited company will create that much-needed paper trail. A steady email, name registration and address can all be availed to the directors and shareholders. When the company invests in a cloud service, they make it easy for anyone on the panel to be informed of decisions, sales and purchases without waiting for long email replies or phone calls.
Technology software in a limited company is vital and will be an asset if set up during the registration process. A part of the registration with The Company’s house is an online referral for them to contact the directors or shareholders when they have filed returns or registered any additional information. Investing in a program that benefits the company is easy. It can be customised according to the needs of each company. All the directors need to do is sit down and agree to one that makes communication more accessible and keeps the company functioning effortlessly.

domain: finance


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Five-Minute Coach Supervision Clinics
Develop your practice through our supervision clinics for those practising or trained in the Five-Minute Coach.
Reflect and learn with like-minded others, gaining valuable insights into your practice. Working in small online groups for one hour you'll:
- bring any concerns about using the framework
- discuss your coachee’s reactions to the process
- explore your confidence in using the model
- present any challenges you are finding with the approach
- reflect on your feelings and reactions when coaches don’t respond as you hoped
- gather insights into what to do when the unexpected happens.
or £115 for three sessions booked in advance
For further information, including clinic dates,
please enquire below:
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text:
Search ianracey's books
Random books from ianracey's library
French Concession: A Novel by Xiao Bai
Stalin: A Biography by Robert Service
Goth Opera (Doctor Who: Missing Adventures) by Paul Cornell
Starting Out in the Evening by Brian Morton
The Golden Bowl by Henry James
Doctor Who and the Ribos Operation by Ian Marter
I Love You Because...: Featuring the Soul Kidz by Marsha Feltingoff
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Tagshistorical fiction (394), science fiction (376), fiction (British Isles) (245), Doctor Who (224), British history (195), fiction (United States) (181), American history (175), box 28A (172), biography (164), military history (159) — see all tags
About meI'm a lover of words, storytelling and learning, but chiefly of cloyingly pretentious opening sentences. I come originally from Yorkshire and have lived in Connecticut, Florida and the Chesapeake Bay area. I'm a stay at home dad and the author of an alternate history spy thriller.
About my libraryMy library is full of history, both fiction and nonfiction. I'm most interested in the ancient world, the Byzantine Empire, Venice, Shanghai, all periods of British history, and world history during the imperialist period of, roughly, 1800-1950; lately I've also been learning a lot about the Cold War. If I see a biography of a political or military figure I don't already have a biography of, I'll probably buy it.
Real nameIan C. Racey
Account typepublic, lifetime
Member sinceJun 16, 2008
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domain: literature


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Cost of living in Cartagena, Spain compared to Zvishavane District, Zimbabwe
WARNING! This comparison is based on only a few data points. At this point it is only a guess. It is based on 15 prices entered by less than 5 different people.
These prices were last updated on October 03, 2016. Exchange rate: 1.061 USD / EUR
Do you live in Zvishavane District? We need your help!
What do you think about this comparison?
Cost of living in Cartagena (Spain) is 7% more expensive than in Zvishavane District (Zimbabwe)
For example, you would need at least $3,205 (€3,020) in Cartagena to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with $3,000 in Zvishavane District.
Recent Prices Added
- Monthly rate for domestic cleaning help in Hyderabad costs ₨9 (1 minute ago)
- Monthly rent - 45 m2 furnished studio in expensive area in Groningen costs €700 (3 minutes ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Dubai costs Dirham 15 (4 minutes ago)
- Hourly rate for domestic cleaning help in Hyderabad costs ₨400 (11 minutes ago)
- Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new in Heidelberg costs €32,000 (13 minutes ago)
- One-way ticket in public transport in St. Louis, Missouri costs $2.50 (34 minutes ago)

domain: travel


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CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Residents of a downtown public housing complex are being moved to area hotels until city building inspectors can determine the level of damage a fire caused Monday.
MOBILE USERS: Click here for additional photos.
Fire officials say the fire was reported on the 10th floor of Joseph Floyd Manor on Mount Pleasant Street Monday afternoon.
First responders encountered heavy smoke on that floor, according to Charleston Fire spokesman Ryan Kunitzer. A fire sprinkler head controlled a fire in one of the apartments and fire personnel assisted multiple residents off of that floor.
One occupant was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries, Kunitzer said.
Several floors of the building have suffered some degree of water damage and city building officials determined the structure to be uninhabitable until a full assessment of the structure is complete, he said.
In the meantime, public safety personnel, the Red Cross, the City Housing Authority and CARTA were assisting residents with moving to hotels.
There is no word on a cause of the fire.

domain: news


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Atlantis Adventure Hack Match 3 is Match 5 Update on Tuesday, August 05, 2014. Update to Atlantis Adventure V.10. This cheat work to make matching 3 gems will score and generate special gem as matching 4 gems normally and to make unlimited movement.
Atlantis Adventure :
The game is the same as diamond dash game, we have to combine 3 or more crystals that have the same color. The game offers 5 types of levels, colorful graphics and a fascinating world, full of secrets. Connect crystals in combinations to trigger unique effects! Only you can unravel the secrets of Atlantis!
Play Atlantis Adventure on facebook : https://apps.facebook.com/atlantisadventure/
Update Hack :
Atlantis Adventure Hack Match 3 is Match 5 or Match 3 is Match 4, Update on Sunday, August 17, 2014. Update to Atlantis Adventure V.11
Tools Required :
- Cheat Engine :
- Atlantis Adventure V.11 (Free Download, No Password and No Survey)
- Your Browser
Steps to use Atlantis Adventure Hack Macth :
- Download and install Cheat Engine (do not open) then downoad atlantis adventures ct file.
- Log in to your facebook account then play Atlantis Adventure Game (do not click anything)
- Open Cheat Engine, select process browser then load or open atlantis adventures ct file.
- Tick all small box.
- After that..Let’s Play
- Video Tutorials :

domain: entertainment


text: This willow basket is filled with classic and tasty new snacks from Seattle including chocolates from Fran’s Chocolates, Seattle Chocolates, &/or Theo Organic Chocolate, Chukar Cherries Apple Crisps, Seattle Spiced Nuts from Troubadour Baker, Jonboy Caramels, and Dry Sodas. The medium includes more goodies, such as Biringer’s Marionberry Tea Cookies, Pop! Gourmet Popcorn, Miss Marjorie’s Plantain Chips, and organic energy bars from Bumble Bar . The large is in a bigger basket and also includes La Panzanella Croccantini (artisan Italian crackers), Portlock’s wild-caught Smoked Salmon, and Chukar Cherries dried cherries & nuts. During the hot summer months, we substitute the chocolates in this gift with other Seattle items, unless you select airmail for shipment or local Seattle delivery. For gifts being hand-delivered in Seattle or picked up from our gift studio, we can include local beer, hard cider, or wine – just let us know in the “Order Notes” upon ordering.

domain: food


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In an attempt to unblock creativity, I am still trying to get clarity on the subtle ways that my thoughts get highjacked. Sometimes I feel like a sponge that absorbs thought forms that are floating around in the space above me. I used to think that all those thoughts belonged to me and maybe they do, but sometimes, if I am open and not grounded in an intent to stay centered and stay in control of me, then I feel vulnerable to subtle negative thought forms. It is a daily commitment to maintain awareness to be free of the grip of the parasite. For 14 years I have been aware of "the parasite" when I studied the Toltec wisdom in a dreaming group led by one of the first apprentices of Don Miguel Ruiz. I was introduced to "the parasite" that feeds off my own negative thought forms. This was a powerful group of about 10 to 15 participants and we delved deeply into the Toltec teachings. This particular teaching, about the parasite, was intense. We brougt the parasite into the light to examine it. The parasite lives and thrives in the darkness, in the dark corners of our subconscious mind and controls us in ways that we are not aware of. The discovering of the parasite became very real to me. Yes, it got scary. It felt it like a genuine force that lived in the space around me and I could sense the desperate grip it had on me, as its host. It needed me to feed it negative thought forms to survive. Every living thing needs food. So in my attempt to unblock creativity, I realize that in creating negative thought forms to feed the parasite I am still creating. I just don't want to create food for the parasite anymore, so by not creating negativity I am allowing my natual creative energy that I heart centered, to open and be free!! If it is true that we are Creators by nature, then I have the choice to create what I want to create. So by being aware and by bringing the parasite into the light and examining it, I can be free of it. I cannot declare war on it because it will win. It knows me intimately and it knows how to fight me. My only choice is to respect it as a worthy opponent and bring in the LIGHT OF AWARENESS...
I also studied with Lynn Andrews in her 4 year school, The Lynn Andrews Center for Sacred Arts and Training. In her teachings of the Sisterhood of the Shields, there is a Mayan elder named Jaguar Woman. Here is a teaching from her book "Jaguar Woman"
"Every thought we think in our lifetime has a life of its own and has a will to live and survive. This is particularly true when our thoughts are unresolved. Thoughts are like people. They have to be buried properly. If a thought is negative or unresolved, it lurks around us for us to finish what we started and bury it in the right way, make it complete. When our thoughts are contradictory and have no clarity, we create a universe of thought forms that live off our energy. And why not? We are their mother in a strange way".
Lynn V. Andrews

domain: artistic


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It Isn’t It/Scherzo (1922)
This rarely mentioned work, written in 1922, showcases a variety of Cowell’s tone clusters and other innovations. The score can be found in two locations: the New York Public Library (NYPL), which has a copy of the holograph score and in the Parisian magazine, transition, which first published the work in 1936. 1
transition was founded by Eugene (1894-1952) and Marie Jolas (1893-1987), patrons of the arts (Eugene was a poet, and Marie a one-time music student) and parents of the composer Betsy Jolas (b. 1926). The journal ran from 1927 to 1938 and published works by Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, including the first excerpts from Finnegan's Wake, and art by Picasso and Miro among others. 2
The manuscript bears the name, It Isn't It but the version in transition bears the title Scherzo. 3 The publication of Scherzo, in the Fall issue of transition in 1936, coincided with Cowell’s arrest and incarceration at San Quentin. Perhaps we can cite this as a reason for the work’s lack of recognition. Although I find the piece charming and a good demonstration of Cowell's cluster usage, others disagree. Michael Hicks notes, "Cowell apparently learned that he could create whole works simply by transposing his basic cluster techniques into disparate registers and then juxtaposing them with more conventional passage work...[H]e tended to give such new works offhand titles, drawn from casual speech or jargon: It Isn't It, Conservative Estimate, Well? and Seven and One Fourth Pounds.” 4 In a review of a recital Cowell gave in Amsterdam in 1929, the author wrote, “Mr. Cowell of course played only his own compositions with the attractive names “Advertisement,” “Exultation,” “It Isn’t it.” The latter seemed to me the only one which was properly chosen.” 5
Cowell uses many of his trademark clusters in It Isn't It but does little to explain the performance practice in the score. The only clue is contained in the handwritten footnote on the first page:
Ex. 1) It Isn’t It p. 1 (p. 141 in transition)
"*Solid lines indicate that all chromatic tones between the two outer limits given are to be played simultaneously. Owing to the size of such tone clusters, the flat of the hand or the entire forearm may be used to play them."
For other markings, such as the "X" or "+," first seen over the clusters in m. 4, Cowell gives no explanations. Many of his published piano collections include an "Explanation of Symbols" page including the edition published by Breitkopf and Haertel in 1922. 6 Perhaps Cowell assumed that those interested in his music could reference that edition, which states, "The symbols X and + indicate the use of the fist. When playing in this manner, the wrist should be relaxed, with the fist half-opened, not clenched tightly. The tone quality produced by the fists is different from that produced by the fingers. If desired, the melody tones may be brought out with the knuckles of the little finger in the playing of clusters." 7
The RH notes in m. 20 are difficult to read (Ex. 2) and I have interpreted them as follows (Ex. 3):
Ex. 2) It Isn’t It, m. 20 (both staves are in treble clef)
Ex. 3) It Isn’t It, m. 20
In mm. 19-20, RH, first beat: When playing the cluster, position your fingers so that you can catch the subsequent chord. Take special care to make the entire chord sound, as it is easy to accent one part of the hand or the other, just as with forearm clusters.
In m. 58, RH, there is a puzzling marking: a natural sign coupled with an “o” or “D”. It is difficult to see, but the RH notes in mm. 58-61 have diamond heads.
Ex. 4) It Isn’t It, m. 58
The diamond heads are meant to mimic a string harmonic marking and have come to signify the following technique: The performer silently depresses the keys so that the written pitches will not be heard. Instead, as a result of the depressed keys, the performer will bring out the overtones of the given pitches. This notation is adapted from the notation of harmonics for string instruments, already standard practice for over a century. It is misleading as the pianist is not producing harmonics on the keyboard strings, but is producing overtone pitches. Harmonics are produced by touching the string at a prescribed length, thereby shortening the string and producing a different pitch when the key is depressed. It is a different piano technique requiring the use of the inside of the piano. Cowell used this technique notably in his piece, Sinister Resonance.
In mm. 58, LH, Cowell asks the pianist to hold over the notes B-C-E-G from the cluster in the previous measure, even though the previous cluster does not include this B. It is easiest to just include the B in the LH cluster of m. 57 so that it may carry over to the next measure. One could also choose to silently depress the B in m. 58 as the other notes of the cluster from m. 57 are released (of course, excluding the C, E and G). Further, in m. 58 it is not really possible to hold the LH chord for three beats. You must let go of it in order to play the RH chord in m. 58. Also, the LH quarter rest is not possible.
Just as the piece starts in a flourish, be sure not to ritard at the end.
Approximate tempi suggestions:
Poco Piu Mosso
1. The following website, http://www.optosbooks.com/cpCommerce/product.php?p=1611, lists the other entries in this transition issue:
-Cover by Joan Miró (1893-1983), the Spanish surrealist
-The opening chapter of Franz Kafka’s “Metamorphosis”
-Two works Dylan Thomas: Poem and the short story “The Mouse and the Woman”
-Two plates by Laszlo Moholy-Nagy (Rho-Transparent 50 and Fotogramme)
-Works by Piet Mondrian, Cesar Domela, Constantin Brancusi, Paul Klee, and Henri
-Photographs by M.A Root, Matthew B. Brady, Francis Bruguiere, and Henri Cartier-
-A study of the Dada movement by Hugo Ball
-An exchange of essays about painting and reality, written by Louis Aragon, Fernand
Léger and Le Corbusier
-Stills from Paul Strand’s film “Redes”
-A study by Siegfried Giedion of the pioneering ferro-concrete bridges by Swiss
engineer Robert Maillart.
2. For more information on the journal transition see Dougald McMillan, transition: the history of a literary era, 1927-1938 (New York: G. Braziller, 1976), and Alice Neumann, “transition,” Little Magazines and Modernism, http://www.davidson.edu/academic/english/Little_Magazines/transition/facts_figures.htm

domain: library


There will be no change in leadership on Albemarle’s Economic Development Authority. Donald Long will remain the chair, George Ray will stay the vice chair, and David Shreve gets to keep being treasurer.
The group met virtually yesterday and heard from Economic Development Director Roger Johnson about what his office will be up to this year. In the first part of the year, COVID remains a threat to business as usual and Johnson said help will be available from economic development.
“We would expect there would continue to be COVID prophylactics, particularly when you think about some of the things that we have done historically,” Johnson said. “It includes things like the LIFT grant, microloan programs, Safe Places and Safe Spaces.”
The quasi-government entity charged with marketing the region to tourists has updated their website. The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau launched an refreshed version last week of visitcharlottesville.org. The designer is a firm called Tempest as we learn in a press release.
“In addition to better serving visitors and industry partners, the new website will also reduce costs for the CACVB, in anticipation of a significant budget decrease projected for Fiscal Year 2023,” reads the release. “The reduction in budget for the upcoming fiscal year is a direct result of decreased transient occupancy tax collection from local lodging properties, due to the impacts of COVID-19.”
The window closes tomorrow at 4 p.m. for firms who are interested in assisting the city of Charlottesville with interim management services until a new top official is appointed. The RFP issued on December 3 requires a firm to provide someone with at least ten years of municipal management experience to run the city on an interim basis. Two addendums to the proposal were made Friday. (read the proposal)
This process is not without precedent in Virginia. The Town of Amherst hired the Berkley Group in 2017 to hire a former Pulaski County administrator to serve as interim manager. Peter Huber served for five months as part of the Berkley Group’s Executive Transition Assistance program. Huber is now serving in a similar position in Alleghany County according to his LinkedIn profile. According to Berkley’s website, they’ve provided this service in dozens of Virginia localities, from the town of Abingdon to the town of Windsor.
Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment comes from the December 13, 2021 edition of the program. To ensure this research can be sustained, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon.
A proposed rezoning requested by Greystar Development for about 36 acres of land off of Old Ivy Road will be slightly smaller than the 525 units requested in the first application, but it will still be fairly substantial.
“Our current plan is to have about 490 units,” said Valerie Long, an attorney with Williams Mullen. “We’re still under 20 dwelling units per acre so well within the range that’s permitted.
The Places29-Hydraulic Community Advisory Committee got a first look at the Old Ivy Residences project, which is currently not scheduled for a public hearing before the Planning Commission. (watch the meeting)
Charlottesville City Council has introduced Marc Woolley as the next interim city manager. Woolley recently resigned as Business Administrator in Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania. The city has U.S. Census 2020 population of 50,099. Deputy City Manager Ashley Marshall and Sam Sanders will remain in place.
“Together with the assistance of staff, Sam, Ashley, and Council, I will be focusing on some key issues currently before Charlottesville,” Woolley said. “Mainly the budget and the completion of the Comprehensive Plan.”
An Albemarle County start-up that seeks to create an artificial sweetener for the mass market will set up shop at the former regional headquarters of the State Farm insurance company.
Governor Ralph Northam was on hand to announce that the firm Bonumose will partner with the Hershey Company to research and develop reduced or zero sugar chocolate.
“This is a $28 million investment that Bonumose is putting forth in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Northam said.
If our collective efforts to guard the health of the Rivanna River were graded, we’re doing about average. The Rivanna Conservation Alliance has presented their first Rivanna River Report Card by sifting through five years of data from the 50 monitoring sites they have throughout the watershed to look for the presence of E. coli bacteria.
“A stream’s biological health is measured by catching, identifying, and counting the different small organisms that live in it,” reads the report card.
The RCA has been monitoring water quality since 2003 when part of it was known as StreamWatch. Monitoring sites closer to developed areas tend to register as poor or fair.
Charlottesville Area Transit is in the midst of studying how it might increase its service into northern Albemarle County. The northernmost stop for CAT has for many years been at the Wal-Mart on U.S. 29.
(This article was originally part of the August 11, 2021 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. Sign up today!)
At the same time, Albemarle County and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission are doing the exact same work as part of a study partially funded by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.
Boris Palchik is a transit planning project manager with Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning, a firm hired to help conduct the work. The other consultant is Michael Baker International. Palchik ran a meeting on July 26 that sought to get initial feedback for the study.
“It’s really a feasibility study and implementation plan for expanding transit service in both population and employment centers in Albemarle County,” Palchik said.
Council also held its first public hearing on City Manager Chip Boyles’ recommended $190.7 million budget for Fiscal Year 22. Before that, Boyles said revenue projections for next year are up slightly.
“This amount is being recommended to increase by $1,260,307 to a total of $191,950,146, still less than a one percent change,” Boyles said.
The next time you walk, bike, or drive along Fontaine Avenue in Albemarle County, think about possible futures. Much of the land is owned by the University of Virginia or its real estate foundation. The road itself is one of Albemarle’s Entrance Corridors, and as such is under design guidelines of the Architectural Review Board.
“The majority of the land is either owned or controlled by the University,” said Fred Missel, director of design and development at the University of Virginia Foundation. “Some land, primarily Foxhaven Farm, Morey Creek, Observatory Hill, are all being held for long-term needs of the University.


Norwich City have no new major injury doubts ahead of Saturday’s encounter at Carrow Road against Millwall.
Daniel Farke said he is glad that for the first time in a few weeks he has no new injury scares and most players available for selection.
The City boss said Todd Cantwell is available to play after missing the Canaries' last few games due to a hamstring injury.
Farke said: “Todd is much better now as he been able to train with us for the last few days. He was not able to train at the start of the week, and may not be ready for the starting line-up, but he’s available tomorrow.”
Farke was also given a slight injury scare at the start of the week after both Timm Klose and Mario Vrancic picked up knocks.
“Timm Klose had a knock on his ankle and it was pretty swollen, but he has been able to train the last two days with us," he said. “He’s better now than he was at the start of the week, so he isn’t a major doubt, but we have a little concern for him.
“Mario Vrancic had a problem with his calf which is understandable as he played two games in a short period for the first time in several weeks.”
Marco Stiepermann has had a full week’s training after recovering from tonsillitis.
Farke said: “Marco was able to train; it was good for him to have a week to recover after missing the last few games with tonsillitis.”
Farke also gave a positive update on the progress of both long-term absences Grant Hanley and Kenny McLean, who have missing since before the last international break.
“Grant is back in training, he may have been a topic if Timm Klose had been unavailable for the game, but we now know we don’t have to risk him. It’s good to have Grant back.
“Kenny McLean has started to do some running on the pitches; he’s started to do some change of direction with the coaches. He won’t return to team training during the international break, but we hope to have him back pretty soon after.”


COUNCIL OFBrussels, 18 October 2011
THE EUROPEAN UNION
15640/11 ADD 13
AGRI 701 AGRIFIN 94 AGRIORG 184 CODEC 1701 AGRISTR 61
from: Secretary-General of the European Commission, signed by Mr Jordi AYET PUIGARNAU, Director
date of receipt: 17 October 2011
to: Mr Uwe CORSEPIUS, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union
No. Cion doc.: SEC(2011) 1153 final
Subject: Commission Staff Working Paper Impact Assessment Common Agricultural Policy towards 2020 Annex 7: Research and Innovation
Brussels, 12.10.2011 SEC(2011) 1153 final
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER
Common Agricultural Policy towards 2020
Table of content [[note: 1.]]STATE OF PLAY OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN THE EU ................... 4
1.1. The importance of research and innovation in the agricultural sector............... 4
1.2. Agricultural research in the EU and in the Member States and
coordination with Member States...................................................................... 4
EU support to research in agriculture under FP 7................................ 4
1.2.2. Agricultural research in EU Member States ........................................ 5
1.2.3. Coordination with Member States in developing the European
Research Area...................................................................................... 6
1.3. Current policy measures of the Common Agricultural Policy
influencing research and innovation in agriculture ........................................... 7
1.3.1. Farm Advisory System ........................................................................ 7
1.3.2. Rural development measures promoting knowledge and
innovation ............................................................................................ 8
1.4. Current links between the CAP and the EU research policy
implemented within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research
(FP 7) 9 [[note: 2.]]ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES ............................................................... 10
2.1. Delivery of current CAP instruments .............................................................. 10
2.1.1. Implementation of the Farm Advisory System (FAS) ....................... 10
2.1.2. Implementation of Rural Development measures focussing on
3.2.2. Potential impact ................................................................................. 19
3.3. The CAP does not cover farm advice and innovation ..................................... 19
3.3.1. Policy measures ................................................................................. 19
3.3.2. Potential impact ................................................................................. 19
List of abbreviations
AKIS Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System
CAP Common Agricultural Policy
EIP-A European Innovation Partnership in Agriculture
ENRD European Network for Rural Development
ETP European Technology Platform
EU European Union
FAS Farm Advisory System
FP 7 Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development
GAEC Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions
GDP Gross Domestic Product
ICT Information and Communication Technologies
1. STATE OF PLAY OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN THE EU
1.1. - The importance of research and innovation in the agricultural sector
The significant role that research plays in agricultural development has been highlighted in various publications. There is a large body of evidence which shows that a substantial part of agricultural productivity growth which took place in the last 50 years was generated by investments in agricultural research and development (e.g. IFPRI, 2000; Alston, 2010).
Research is only one part of what is currently called the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS). The AKIS encompasses the education, the advisory services and the farmers and more and more other stakeholders are considered as part of it as well including the upstream and downstream industry, cooperatives and farmer organisations and NGOs. Among all these actors, the advisory services play an important role in influencing farmers' behaviour and are an important interface for transferring research knowledge to the farm sector. Advisory services have been reformed in many EU Member States in the course of the last two decades with most often a reduced public involvement and budgetary support, leading to the emergence of new actors (e.g. through privatisation). This restructuring has sometimes led to a fragmentation of advisory services through the multiplication of service providers with various ambitions.
1.2. - Agricultural research in the EU and in the Member States and coordination with Member States
1.2.1. EU support to research in agriculture under FP 7
The CAP does not finance research programmes. EU scientific research is supported through the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development (often referred to as FP 7). Agriculture is covered within FP 7 through the "Food, agriculture and biotechnology" thematic priority, specifically devoted to the technological challenges facing European agriculture. It concerns farm-management policies, food safety and rural development with the following three main activities:
· Nanotechnologies and New Technologies for agricultural and food applications
European technology platforms (ETPs) were set up in 2004 as industry-led stakeholder forums with the aim of defining medium to long-term research and technological objectives and developing roadmaps to achieve them. Several technology platforms have been established in the framework of FP 7 in the area of agriculture and forestry:
· Agriculture Engineering and Technologies ManuFuture subplatform
· ETPGAH: ETP for global animal health
· European bio-fuels technology platform
· European Technology Platform for sustainable chemistry
· FABRE: sustainable farm animal breeding and reproduction technology platform
· Plants for the future
· Food for life
· Forest based sector technology platform
· There is also TPOrganics, which is a technology platform for organic research,
although it is not yet recognised formally as an ETP.
In 2006-2008 (2009 for TPOrganics) these technology platforms have delivered strategic research agendas towards 2025 and also published detailed action plans for research programmes in the first years of implementation. These strategic documents have been utilised in the programming of FP 7 research in agriculture and food and have an important role to play in the programming of the forthcoming Common Strategic Framework for Research and Innovation in their specific technical areas.
1.2.2. Agricultural research in EU Member States
Research and development in agriculture takes place in most Member States. It is financed from public and private sources. However, it is not possible to draw a complete picture of the overall effort since there are no data on private investments. Eurostat provides data only for public spending
On average in 2007-2009, Member State public expenses on agricultural research amount to 2.3% of the gross value added (GVA, an economic aggregate close to the GDP) of the agricultural sector for the EU-27, with 2.5% in the case of the EU-15 and 1.0% for the
1.2.3. Coordination with Member States in developing the European
Coordination of Member State agricultural research is of major importance since more than 90% of research spending is managed by the Member States
3.Currently, this is
assured by the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR), mostly composed of Member State agriculture ministries
4.The SCAR has played in recent years an
outstanding role in the efforts of coordination of Member State agricultural research and in tackling important issues in the field of agricultural research and related areas (such as the functioning of AKIS). As a complement to the SCAR, the European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD)
5 aims at coordinating the investments
of the European Communities and of the Member States in the specific field of Agricultural Research for Development (i.e. agricultural research meant to assist less advanced countries in achieving the Millenium Development Goals).
There have been a number of SCAR initiatives and working groups that have made SCAR a reference point in agricultural research and a governance model often referred to in broader research circles.
· The Joint Programming Initiative (JPI): the joint programming of research activities
between Member States is a major recent instrument in the European Research Area (ERA) policy. Two of the first initiatives relate directly to agriculture: "Agriculture, food security and climate change"; and "A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life". The Commission has adopted recommendations for Member States to pursue these initiatives, which will become the object of significant collaborative agricultural research efforts in the EU;
· "Foresight" and "Horizon Scanning" exercises on agricultural issues, which provide a
broader and longer-term outlook on the challenges facing the EU agricultural sector6.
· A SCAR collaborative work on AKIS set up in early 2010.
1.3. - Current policy measures of the Common Agricultural Policy influencing research and innovation in agriculture
Although the CAP does not deal directly with agricultural research issues several elements of the policy affect some parts of the AKIS. This concerns in particular the Farm Advisory System (FAS) and several rural development measures on knowledge and information dissemination and on cooperation for innovation. This annex does not provide an analysis of the impact of measures such as investment or business development of Rural Development which may have an impact on innovation processes
The CAP does not support directly research projects with however a notable exception in the fruit and vegetable sector: in the single Common Market Organisation (sCMO), the so-called Producer Organisations (POs) can have research projects co-financed by the CAP within the so-called Operational Programmes
Article 68 of Council Regulation 73/2009 on direct payments allows Member States to provide support to farmers for specific purposes, including: improving the quality of agricultural products, improving the marketing of agricultural products, practicing enhanced animal welfare standards and specific agricultural activities entailing additional agri-environmental benefits. Several Member States have utilised the possibilities under Article 68 to support innovative practices at farm level (e.g. on precision farming).
Before entering into specific policy measures it is important not to overlook the overall impact of the CAP on innovation. Indeed, some measures have a direct impact on AKIS and on innovation, but other measures influence indirectly the capacity of operators to innovate. Research suggests that the CAP as a whole would have a positive effect on the adoption of new technologies by farmers (see in particular CAP-IRE
Rural Development Policy (see below). The advisory activity covers at least the Statutory Management Requirements (SMR) and the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC). The deadline for setting up a national FAS was 1 January 2007, the start-up period lasted until 2009 due to time necessary for practical implementation of the national legal FAS provisions, e.g. the procedure for certifying advisory bodies and mobilising rural development support. The European Commission reported on the implementation of the FAS in the Member States in November 2010
1.3.2. Rural development measures promoting knowledge and innovation
Several measures of the Rural Development policy provide support to knowledge, advisory services and innovation, directly or indirectly: this concerns especially measures of Axis 1 and also Leader and the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD).
Axis 1 measures:
· Measure 111 on vocational training and information actions.
· Measure 114 on the use of advisory services by farmers and forest holders. The
support is provided in order to help farmers to meet costs arising from the use of advisory services for the improvement of the overall performance of their holding. As a minimum the advisory service should cover the SMR and GAEC of cross- compliance and occupational safety standards based on Community legislation. Support is limited to 80% of eligible cost per advisory service with a maximum eligible amount of 1 500 per complete advisory service.
· Measure 115 on the setting up of farm management, farm relief and farm advisory
services, as well as of forestry advisory services. Support is provided to cover the costs of setting up and is degressive over a maximum period of five years from setting up.
· Measure 124 on cooperation for the development of new products, processes and
technologies in the agriculture and food sector and in the forestry sector. The support is provided to promote cooperation between primary producers in agriculture and forestry, the processing industry and/or third parties. The cooperation has to involve at least two actors of which at least one is either a primary producer or belongs to the processing industry.
Leader (Axis four of the rural development policy) and the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) are also included in the analysis: Leader contributes to the emergence of innovations, in particular social innovation, at the local level. The ENRD facilitates the flow of information and knowledge.
Leader started as a Community initiative about 20 years ago and was integrated in the Rural Development policy in the current programming period. Leader works in a bottom- up approach and supports local and integrated development strategies.
European etwork for Rural Development
The ENRD was established in the current programming period to create a network among EU rural development actors. The objectives are to disseminate information and good practices on various aspects of rural development. The ENRD has established thematic working groups (e.g. linkages between agriculture and the wider rural economy; public goods and public intervention) and has established a sub-committee targeting Leader. The ENRD also provides analysis of Rural Development programmes and organises events and seminars on specific issues of relevance for the development and implementation of the rural development policy.
1.4. - Current links between the CAP and the EU research policy implemented within the Seventh Framework Programme for Research
There are currently no formal links between the implementation of the CAP and the implementation of agricultural research within FP 7. Agricultural research used to be managed under the CAP until 1999. The European Commission was assisted in this activity by the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR). In 2000 agricultural research was transferred into the umbrella of the Framework Research Programme (FP 6). Secretariat and management of SCAR was maintained in the CAP administration although the Committee no longer played the role of a Programme Committee. It was decided in 2004 to bring SCAR under the management of the Research Programme as from 2005. Although Commission services dealing with the CAP have no longer had responsibility on agricultural research from 2000, links have been maintained with research. An important tool of research programming and follow up is the AGRI-RTD research network, an informal inter-service group composed of DG AGRI staff with research needs for policy development and DG RTD staff of project officers responsible for agricultural research. It serves to submit project proposals submitted to the annual work programmes and to organise the involvement of DG AGRI in ongoing projects. Yet, these informal annual inputs are far from constituting a consolidated and comprehensive approach to research from the side of the CAP.
2. ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES
2.1. - Delivery of current CAP instruments
2.1.1. Implementation of the Farm Advisory System (FAS)
As the FAS was established quite recently and became fully operational in most Member States in 2008 only, it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions on its implementation. In these early years, the number of farmers having received FAS advice is rather limited in the EU as a whole: 4.8% of farmers receiving direct payments were given one-to-one advice in 2008 in the 20 Member States where information was available. In the Member States / regions where the FAS has been implemented since 2007 or earlier, the outreach stood at around 5-10% with a maximum rate of 20% in some Member States where the FAS is implemented since 2005. The main beneficiaries of the FAS have been large farms
11, already familiar with using advisory services.
Obviously, the outreach of the FAS will grow with the number of years of implementation and the coverage should reach higher levels.
In 14 Member States, the FAS focused strictly on cross-compliance whereas in the remaining Member States the advice embraces broader issues, such as the competitiveness of the holding, the environmental impact of farming practices and support for the implementation of rural development measures (e.g. agri-environmental measures). Yet, it is difficult at this stage to assess the role that FAS may have played in these areas going beyond cross-compliance. In some Member States, the existing advisory services have been used for this purpose. In this case, a broader approach has been applied, including the economic performance of the holdings.
For a large number of Member States, the FAS does not address comprehensively the various needs of farmers, except cross-compliance. Most often, these needs are covered by the existing advisory services. Yet, the FAS can be used in a much wider perspective than just taking care of cross-compliance as the example of Flanders in Belgium shows where a 'whole farm' advice system approach was adopted.
the Farm Advisory System12, the Commission also highlighted that the FAS should cover
issues going beyond cross-compliance.
In order to establish exchanges on technical aspects between Member States on these issues, the Joint Research Centre
13 has organised several workshops with national experts
from the Member States. The last one took place in Warsaw in February 2011 with 116 delegates from 19 Member States.
2.1.2. Implementation of Rural Development measures focussing on
knowledge and innovation
Among Axis 1 measures (vocational training and information; use of advisory services;
cooperation for the development of new products), it is measure 111 on vocational training and information actions which bears the largest outreach, with 233 000 trained participants in the period 2007-2009, with a total public support (EU and Member States) of 142.3 mio. Most active Member States are Lithuania (approximately 79 000 farmers trained), Belgium (48 000 farmers trained), France (26 000), Finland (21 000), the Czech Republic (16 700) and Germany and Spain (both at about 14 500). However, at the level of the EU and of most Member States, the outreach represents a marginal share of the total number of producers.
The measure 114 on the use of advisory services was planned in 20 Member States, covering 1.1 mio farmers for a total budget of 870.5 mio for 2007-2013. Yet only 1.9%
(16.9 mio) have been spent in 2007-2009 with an outreach of 32 200 farmers supported: Hungary (around 11 200 producers), Spain (8 200), Italy (5 700), Germany (4 000), the Czech Republic (1 100) and the Netherlands (900).
The measure 115 supporting the setting up of management, relief and advisory services was planned by seven Member States, with four Member States (Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain) clearly focusing on the FAS. In the period 2007-2009, only 205 projects have been supported, of which 176 concerning the setting up of advisory services to agriculture or forestry (of which 146 in Spain) for a total public support of 2.5 mio. A total amount of 172.9 mio was earmarked for this measure for 2007-2013, which means that only 1.4% has been spent in the first three years.
The measure 124 (cooperation for the development of new products) is programmed in 14 Member States with a total allocated budget for 2007-2013 of 349.2 mio. This measure has provided support to 356 projects during 2007-2009 (of which 44% implemented in Austria) for a total public support of 17.7 mio (average public support per project: 49 700), i.e. 5% of the foreseen budget. This slow uptake, with a clear exception in few Member States, stems probably partly from the fact that this measure was new for rural development programmes
14.This is a potentially very useful measure
for the adoption of innovations in agriculture and rural areas as it takes account of the collective dimension which is often necessary to the innovative process. The potential effectiveness of this measure is high whereas its implementation costs are relatively low.
It was recommended (University of Gloucertershire, Countryside and Community Research Group, 2008) that this measure should be best developed as part of an overall development strategy of research and innovation. Measure 124 containing forestry-related actions has also been programmed in 41 national or regional programmes.
The rather low level of use of measures 114, 115 and 124 could be partly attributed to the fact that they are recent measures in the rural development policy. In addition, it is not sure that they have been granted important visibility in the Member States. The fact that Austria was able to have the measure 124 implemented in a sizeable number of projects reflects that implementation is also conditional upon co-financing budgets and the interest displayed by the Member States, influencing the role granted to the measure in the rural development programmes.
2.1.3. Implementation of Leader
An assessment of Leader is provided in the annex dealing with Rural Development to which the reader is referred. Only specific aspects are discussed here. The Leader approach has long proven its high value for delivering local development strategies. Its inclusion in Rural Development programmes as from 2007, often referred as "mainstreaming" has allowed it to extend further (more than doubling the number of local action groups in comparison with Leader + of the period 2000-2006). Yet, the mainstreaming has also led in some Member States to a reduced flexibility for implementation by the Local Action Groups (LAGs). This often perceived too strong interference of Member State bureaucracy is reported to have hindered the bottom-up approach and would have reduced the innovative capacity of the projects.
2.2. - Challenges ahead regarding research and innovation
There is a large body of publications which calls for a renewed impetus for research in agriculture in order to make the sector better able to cope with long-term challenges
These challenges include catering at world level for the food needs of a growing population, with more resource-efficient and environmentally sustainable practices imposed by the increase in resource scarcities (water, energy, soil depletion, etc.), taking into account the needs to mitigate and adapt to climate change. These challenges are fully reflected in the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
lists among major challenges climate change, resource efficiency and environmentally- friendly production methods and land management. It is among the objectives of the flagship initiative Innovation Union
17 to foster innovation in order to better grasp these
The scope of necessary research for agriculture and forestry to meet these challenges in the long term is fundamentally different from the one that was developed to support the so-called Green Revolution. It is indeed no longer sufficient to focus on productivity increase. Research has now to address a much broader range of issues. The necessity to cope with complex issues such as maintaining or increasing the productivity and, at the same time, maintaining eco-system services delivery (such as biodiversity), implies to support pluralistic scientific approaches reflecting this complexity. No single avenue will be sufficient. Hence, required innovations will not just be technological, they will also have to be non-technological (e.g. agro-ecological innovations), social and organisational. These innovations will have to respond simultaneously to several objectives (e.g. food security, biomass production, environment preservation) and should help to minimize the trade-offs between reaching these objectives.
Innovations are often defined as the successful implementation of new ideas. Hence, it is not only the scientific research area which is involved, it is the whole complex of interactions between science, knowledge systems (including advisory services), producers and other stakeholders (e.g. NGOs) and markets which is at stake. Evaluations of research programmes in agriculture often report that the research sphere is not sufficiently connected to the implementation level. Therefore, interesting research results do not always find their way to potential users and the users face sometimes difficulties to have new challenges grasped by the research community.
in the world, including the EU. Restructuring and privatisation under public budget constraints have profoundly changed the landscape of advisory services in many EU Member States leading to a fragmentation of advisory services with the multiplication of extension organisations.
In some instances, this has limited their capacity to deliver to the whole range of commercial farms, including the small ones (Labarthe, Laurent, 2009), or their capacity to deliver advice on public goods such as agri-environment (see Nigel et al. 2002;
University of Gloucertershire, Countryside and Community Research Group (2008), Klerkx et al. 2006) and their involvement in back-office activities (construction of knowledge, e.g. field experiments, etc.). It appears that, at a time when farmers are faced with multiple challenges (environmental norms, increased technicality of production processes, necessity to cope with climate change, business management, etc.) which require large amounts of knowledge, they sometimes have access to a more narrow scope of knowledge of sometimes lower quality
18 (see in particular Labarthe, Laurent, 2006). In
the absence of a comprehensive approach regarding the role and the objectives of advisory services to agriculture, there is a risk that the trade-offs between various objectives (e.g. maintain or increasing productivity together with eco-system services) and time horizons (short-term objectives regarding income and longer-term objectives regarding sustainability) will not be properly taken care of by the advisory services.
There is a growing consensus that innovation in agriculture encompasses a plurality of approaches: the traditional linear process with knowledge flowing from research to farmers ('science push') through advisory services is no longer considered as the most appropriate approach although in some instances it bears fruit. Innovation is also more and more viewed as the outcome of collaborative networks where information is exchanged and a process of learning takes place (Knickel et al. 2008, results of FP 6 research project In-sight
19). Hall (2007) supports that innovation is rarely triggered by
agricultural research and, instead, is most often a response of entrepreneurs to new and changing market opportunities. In this context, a critical role for public authorities is to support the emergence of a plurality of innovation systems and to provide a conducive environment and support to innovation networks and collective approaches gathering producers and other stakeholders on specific issues requiring innovation. In this context, it is considered that the provision of research and agricultural advisory services should be pluralistic with mixed funding and undertaken by both public and private parties (Klerkx, Leeuwis, 2009). Public involvement and funding is particularly important in those areas (e.g. public goods) which do not attract the interest of the private sector.
The expenses in agricultural research of FP 7 represent less than 10% of the expenses of the Member States. Given the limitations of EU research budget, the question of the purposes and targeting of EU investments in research is a major one. The present impact assessment is not the place for a thorough analysis on this but one could well argue for a concentration around themes and targets which would maximise the capacity of EU research programmes to deliver on public goods.
The necessity to rethink the whole complex of the AKIS has been embraced by the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) which set up in 2009 a collaborative working group on the issue. As part of this work, a review of national AKIS in Member States shows in particular that national AKIS are often fragmented and not sufficiently responsive towards changes and to new societal concerns and demands (Dockès et al., 2011). Moreover, many recent publications and reports insist on the importance for countries to invest in agricultural research but also in advisory services (see reports of the SCAR foresight or of the United Kingdom foresight).
In view of the fact that many of the norms and regulations that are implemented in the farm sector are generated by EU policies and that policies to better cope with the challenges the sector face (such as climate change) are also for most in the realm of EU policies, it would appear most effective that, although resting on approaches and tools decided at national level, the capacity of AKIS to deliver on EU priorities be supported and coordinated at the EU level. This would ensure that, with a variety of approaches, all farmers in the EU have access to adequate advisory services (in terms of issues covered, in terms of quality of the advice provided, etc.). An important aspect which should not be overlooked is also the technical capacity of the advisors who have to cover a larger array of issues than some decades ago (capacity to provide integrated advice solutions on cross- cutting issues, capacity on technical issues and on approaches, e.g. participatory approach).
3. HOW COULD THE CAP SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION
European Innovation Partnership "Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability" (EIP-A) aiming at fostering innovation, coherence of policies indeed calls for a coordination of the relevant research with the major objectives of the CAP and with the EIP-A.
3.1. - Status quo scenario
3.1.1. Policy measures
Under this scenario no additional initiative for enhancing innovation is taken at the EU level. The existing FAS instrument and current measures under Rural Development are kept unchanged. Advisory services through the FAS still focus on cross-compliance issues and do not take on board other EU objectives (actions targeted towards innovation, biodiversity, etc.).
3.1.2. Potential impact
Given that the obligation to establish a national FAS is recent and the related advisory bodies have only been certified in the last years, the outreach of the FAS would certainly increase, though to perhaps modest levels. In any case, results in terms of knowledge dissemination and innovation adoption would most certainly fall far short of the challenges if not just for lack of a coherent framework for the use of available measures. Farmers would lack knowledge and research support to cope with the new challenges. Post FP 7 European research programming would not be connected to the problems of the farmers and rural entrepreneurs to the necessary extent. Moreover, in the absence of an emphasis on innovation-related measures and on the promotion of higher use, the effective impact of these measures would remain low. The support under rural development for the use of advisory services by farmers and for the delivery of the AKIS across Member States would be maintained, thus affecting the capacity of the agriculture sector to cope with the new challenges.
3.2. - EU incentives enhancing actions targeted towards innovation and agricultural knowledge exchange in the agri-food sector and reinforced links with the Framework Research and Innovation Programme
FAS ensures that farmers have at their disposal advice reflecting the specific situation of the farm. The minimum scope of the FAS is enlarged to climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity, the protection of water and actions targeted towards innovation. Rural development measures supporting the FAS are strengthened (see below). The FAS also provides information to farmers on the European Innovation Partnership and contributes to disseminate at the farm level innovations developed within the EIP.
A coordination of FAS is established at the EU level, with in particular the view to gain at EU level from the strengths and positive experiences of the different Member States: a regular exchange of experiences and best practices in the Member States related to organisation, certification, monitoring and evaluation of advisory services is organised. The FAS advisory bodies are linked with the whole AKIS system, including other advisory bodies, and research and education institutions, both at national and EU level. In particular, discussion on the improvement of the organisation of advice provision and the availability of adequate advisory tools in the Member States is promoted, e.g. concerning minimum qualification and regular training of advisors, the organisation of regular feedback provision from farming practice to researchers and authorities and vice versa. This regular discussion should cover the implementation of the FAS and the relation of the FAS to the whole AKIS. This coordination may lead when needs arise to suggestions for amendments to the EU legislation (FAS, Rural Development programmes, etc.).
Agriculture European Innovation Partnership
In view of closing the gap between the vast range of innovative research results, on the one side, and the availability of innovative approaches applicable to farming practice, on the other, an European Innovation Partnership Agriculture "Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability" (EIP-A) is set up aiming at an EU agricultural sector that 'produces more with less', thereby overcoming the existing development path of enhancing productivity at the expense of the environment and natural resources. Currently new approaches take too long to reach the ground and the practical needs on the ground are not sufficiently communicated to the scientific community. This EIP-A will ensure a faster exchange of knowledge from research to "practical" farming and provide feedback on practical needs to science via operational groups.
Rural development measures supporting knowledge transfer, advisory services, cooperation for innovation
Measures related to knowledge transfer and advisory services are made more coherent and visible. In addition, measures are granted a larger scope. The new measure on knowledge transfer and vocational training covers courses, seminars, information sessions or workshops and technical, economic or research dissemination. Support to exchange programmes for farmers and to demonstration projects is introduced.
In the case of support for advisory services, the scope goes beyond cross-compliance issues and is aligned to the areas foreseen in the minimum scope of the FAS, however with enough flexibility for the farmer to decide on his exact need for advice. Other matters of relevance to the farm which contribute to achieving EU priorities, such as economic profitability, business development, environmental aspects, etc. can be advised upon. In order to contribute to increase the outreach, support covers 100% of the cost (up to the ceiling of 1 500 per advice). Support is also provided for the training of advisors.
The measure on cooperation for the development of innovative products, processes and technologies, which has great potential in steering collective actions towards innovation, is reinforced considerably taking on board, for instance, support to pilot projects and support to the creation of cooperation networks and clusters and for the establishment of their activities.
The measures are meant to finance the use of advisory services for various purposes (FAS or other types of uses) and to finance some of the activities to be carried out as part of the European Innovation Partnership in agriculture (see 3.2.4 below).
Leader programmes recover enough flexibility so as to be able to implement better innovative strategies. Whilst the aforementioned EIP has its primary focus on innovation along the supply chain, Leader addresses the wider context of local development strategies.
view a coordinated approach is necessary with the EU Common Strategic Framework for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020: 1) appropriate coordination on research programming and priority establishment in the areas of agriculture, forestry, food and the broader bio-economy area; and 2) development of tools better tailored for innovation in agriculture (e.g. flexible research projects; support to innovation brokers / innovation centres
3.2.2. Potential impact
Reinforcement of the FAS and of the support to farmers for the use of advice increases significantly the number of producers taking advantage of advisory services on a broad range of issues. The setting up of the European Innovation Partnership fosters the involvement of stakeholders (researchers, advisors, agri-business and farmers) in innovation processes contributing to achieving EU goals of sustainable agricultural production. In particular, farmers would be in a better position to adopt intelligent solutions which are generated by research (for instance the European Joint Programming initiative on "Food, Agriculture and Climate Change". The streamlining of Rural Development measures dealing with the AKIS, their enlarged scope and increased visibility within a coherent policy towards innovation lead towards a much higher uptake of the various measures in comparison with what has taken place in the 2007-2013 financial perspectives.
The Agriculture EIP and the creation of an innovation network ensure better flows of information between the stakeholders increasing not only the use of research results by producers but also allowing research programmes to better take the needs of the stakeholders into consideration. The EIP network and the inclusion of actions targeted towards innovation among the services to be provided by the FAS ensure that Member States and concerned national institutions adopt a proactive approach towards innovation. Hence the risk that the EIP gains ground primarily in those Member States and regions where network-based AKIS are already established and producers and other stakeholders are the most proactive (e.g. more organised sector, etc.) is minimised. Exchange of experiences and good practices among Member States promote better delivery of the AKIS in the various Member States on EU priorities.
mitigation of climate change as the initiatives and supply of AKIS services from the private sector will most likely fall short of the farm sector demand for the provision of public goods. In particular, the farming sector of Member States where the development of the AKIS is not a priority, or is strictly resource-constrained, is at a strong disadvantage in comparison with other Member States.
Recently completed research (see the Policy Brief of the research project CAP-IRE) indicates that a more radical scenario of abolition of the CAP would entail a lower number of farms adopting innovation.
ADE, ADAS, AGROTEC (2009), Evaluation of the implementation of the FAS, Brussels, available at:
Alston J. (2010), The benefits from agricultural research and development, innovation, and productivity growth, OECD Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Working Papers, N°31, OECD
Alston J. et al. (2000), A meta-analysis of rates of return to agricultural R&D, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington
Bartolini F., Latruffe L., Viaggi D., Assessing the effect of the CAP on farm innovation adoption. An analysis in two French regions
CAP-IRE Policy Brief (2011), available at: http://www.cap-ire.eu
Dockès A., Tisenkopf, T., Bock B. (2011), SCAR Collaborative Working Group 'Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems', WP 1: reflection paper on AKIS
European Commission (2010), Communication from the Commission, Europe 2020 a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth (COM(2010) 2020 final).
European Commission (2010), Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative Innovation Union (COM(2010) 546 final)
European Commission (2010), Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of the Farm Advisory System as defined in Articles 12 and 13 of Council Regulation (EC) 73/2009 (COM(2010) 665 final)
Freibeauer A., Mathijs E. et al. (2011), Sustainable food consumption and production in a resource constrained world, third SCAR foresight exercise, Brussels
Government Office for Science (2011), The future of food and farming: challenges and choices for global sustainability, Final project report, London
Labarthe P., Laurent C. (2006), Privatisation du conseil et évolution de la qualité des preuves produites pour les agriculteurs
Labarthe P., Moumouni I. (2008), Privatisation of extension and collective procedures for the production of knowledge. Lessons from a comparison between South and North, paper presented at 8
th European IFSA symposium, 6-10 July 2008, Clermond-Ferrand
Labarthe P., Laurent C. (2009), Transformations of agricultural extension services in the
EU: towards a lack of adequate knowledge for small-scale farms, paper presented at the 111 EAAE-IAAE seminar "Small farms: decline or persistence, University of Kent 26-27 June 2009
Nagel U., Heiden K., Siebert R. (2002), Public goods and privatised extension the rocky road towards agro-environmental extension. In Rivera, W., Zijp, W. (ed.), Contracting for agricultural extension. International case studies and emerging practices. Cambridge (USA): CABI publishing
University of Gloucertershire, Countryside and Community Research Group (2008), Review of Rural Development Instruments, final report, Brussels, available at:


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Akshay Kumar's next film titled 'Kesari' is based on the historic Battle of Saragarhi and Khiladi will be essaying the role of Havildar Ishar Singh, who was a part of an army of 21 Sikhs which fought against 10,000 Afghans.
Now on the auspicious occasion of Lohri the 'Gold' actor shared a monochrome still from the film that includes all his 20 co-actors which are his troop members from the film. Sharing the picture via his official Instagram handle Akshay wrote, "Dushman de saahmne jad tak soormeyaan diyaan hikkaan tanndiyaan rehangiyaan, Iss dharti te lohriyaan manndiyaan rehangiyaan!! 36th Sikh Regiment di Saragarhi tukdi vallon sabnu Lohri diyaan bahut bahut vadhaayian! " The poster looks like as if it's from that era.
The film also stars Parineeti Chopra as the female lead. Earlier Akki had shared the official poster of the film announcing the release date and wrote, "On #SaragarhiDay, here's the first look of #KESARI - our humble tribute to the martyrs of Saragarhi! Aaj meri pagdi bhi Kesari...Jo bahega mera woh lahu bhi Kesari... Aur mera jawaab bhi Kesari."
Kesari is helmed by Anurag Singh and produced by Karan Johar under his home banner Dharma Productions and is slated to release on March 21, 2019.


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Here we are, a long time coming but, this is the end, and it has been a long and fascinating journey to reach this point. It’s always a bittersweet feeling when such a long and involved project comes to an end. But all things must end, and so must my journey into the War of 1812. At least I can say that I’ve done more than just scratching the surface of the conflict that would go on to define the relations between Canada, England, and the United States still today. When I first started the project way back in March 2012, I had no idea how big it was going to be. And sure as it moved along it suffered from scope creep, but I was able to reign it in.
The Canadian National War of 1812 Monument outside the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, Ontario
Pacemaker Crown Graphic – Schneider-Krueznack Symmar-S 1:5.6/210 – Ilford HP5+ @ ASA-400 – PMK Pyro (1+2+100) 12:30 @ 20C
This project has taken me far and wide, I’ve learned a lot more than I was expecting and found a conflict far more complicated than the one I was presented with when I first learned about the War of 1812 in Grade 8. I went from knowing only about Isaac Brock, Laura Secord, the battle of Queenston Heights, and the burning of Washington DC. Now I know of battles out in Wisconsin, to a British Major-General to died fighting in the war. I learned how the events of Europe’s Napoleonic Wars directly influenced the fighting in North America. I heard of legends dispelled myth and patriotism and learned how this small footnote conflict has directly affected how Canada, the US, and Great Britan interact today. And if anything had been only slightly different, how it could directly affect our history today.
And now you probably want to know who won the war, because in war there always has to be a winner and a loser. And in that sense, you would be right. But the truth is far more complicated than that. As the old phrase says, history is written by the victors. And in this war, three groups claimed victory. The British, the Americans, and now the Canadians. So of course, it depends on who you ask. So let’s break it down. This was a war that the British did not care too much about, the American threat at the time was so minor that London kept on advising Prevost to fight a defensive war, and only after Napoleon was on the run did they start to pour on the pressure. However, the British can claim victory as they repulsed the American invasion and kept them confined to small corners of the colony. The Americans can claim victory for the same reason, but we can also say they lost the war as they failed to achieve their objective, that was the removal of British influence in North America. The Canadians can claim victory for the same reasons as the British can, but in reality, only one battle was won solely by Canadian troops, the Battle of the Chateauguay. So in all this mess, did anyone win? Well not really, both sides barely avoided not losing. Neither side many any significant gains to have anything to hold over the other during treaty negotiations. So when the treaty was finally signed, it was peace with honour and a big giant reset button was pressed. There is one group that completely lost the war, the first nations of both countries; that is still very clear.
The Forged Peace Memorial in Amherstburg, Ontario dedicated to the peace between the USA, England, and Canada
Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 – Kodak Tri-X 400 (400TX) @ ASA-200 – Kodak HC-110 Dil. E 6:30 @ 20C
Of course, if you’ve been following along with this project from the very beginning you know I’ve pumped out a lot of material over the process of these four years. And while being able to access a lot of the material online is great, even online material dies over time. So since 2013 I’ve been working hard to compile everything into book form and I’m happy to announce that the book is now done! I’ve taken four years of work, a little over 600 images captured, many blog posts all boiled down into 152 pages. And you can pick up a copy over at my bookstore on Blurb.com!
The monument to the Rush Baggot Agreement at Fort Niagara, a key piece to the border shared between the Canada and the USA
Hasselblad 500c – Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm 1:2.8 – Rollei RPX 25 @ ASA-25 – Blazinal (1+25) 6:00 @ 20C
So my dear readers, thank you for coming along on this journey, and I hope I’ve inspired even one of you to explore some aspect of history that you may not know much about.

domain: history


text: Animated PowerPoint (20 slides) that may be used as a comprehensive teaching tool for Chemical Bonding. Grade 11 CAPS-based. Effectively enhances teaching and learning in the classroom. Includes Lewis diagrams, Cooper notation, electronegativity and bond types (pure covalent, polar covalent and ionic), molecular shapes and VSEPR theory, as well as bond energy and bond length. Slides are provided where relevant diagrams can be added.

domain: chemistry


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Bergen County freeholder visits Old Tappan school
OLD TAPPAN – Bergen County Freeholder Thomas Sullivan visited the Charles DeWolf Middle School Nov. 1 to talk to seventh- and eighth-graders about county government and the duties of a freeholder.
"Much like a municipality where you have a Mayor and Council, the Freeholder Board has a county executive and seven chosen freeholders," Sullivan said to a crowd of students in the school's auditorium. "We are the legislative branch for Bergen County."
Sullivan added the Freeholder Board is "not a full-time position" because in 1987, the county government was changed from a "freeholder board of government" to an "executive board of government."
"Which means now our county executive runs the day-to-day and [freeholders] pass the resolutions and the ordinances," he said.
Some of the responsibilities of the county – "through tax dollars" – include funding parks, education, taking care of veterans' services, mental health services, county roads and the county jail, he told the students.
Sullivan emphasized the county's involvement and priority with mental health, noting that the freeholder board decided that mental health is a "pressing issue."
"In the county, we want to be stigma-free," he said. "Which means that we don't want to be offensive to anyone that has an issue."
One of the subsets of mental health involves chemical dependencies like heroin addiction.
"Heroin is a killer – these are the things you guys have got to be careful about," Sullivan said. "I look out at the crowd and I see a lot of wonderful boys and girls here and you guys at a young age have to put it in your head – don't even try it."
With the stigma-free approach to mental health and addiction, Sullivan said, it "makes you stop and pause, and put yourself in that person's shoes."
"We on the freeholder board, we fund a program that makes sure that anyone that needs help, could get help," he said.
The students had the opportunity to ask the freeholder some questions. One student asked how local county government can help New Jersey become a better place.
"That's really what we try to do every single day," Sullivan said. Some of these tasks include open space referendums and creating programs and events in the county for health and overall wellness, he said.
Another student asked about how municipalities are addressed at freeholder meetings.
"Certainly if there's an issue in a municipality and that municipality comes forward and asks for our help, we will help them," Sullivan responded. "What we do mostly is on a county level, but we have to think about the 70 towns in Bergen County. So what we do, we try to have the best solution to put forward that will affect all the towns in the county."
Seventh-grade social studies teacher Matt Capilli, who organized the event, said the students are currently learning about government and civics in class and he thought "what better way to cover government than to have an elected official come in?"
"I hope it inspires them to be a part of the process," Capilli said, adding whenever the presidential election comes up there is always more conversation about government.
When deciding what kind of government official could come in and speak to the students, Capilli said the freeholder board and the county "is still somewhat mysterious to a lot of kids."
"When we talk about government – that's really what the founding fathers fought for, those town hall meetings," he said. "I feel like that's the most reachable form of government it really impacts them on a day to day basis more than any other form of government."


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Soiltac Safety Data Sheet
PRODUCT NAME SOILTAC® Soil Stabilizer & Dust Control Agent
CHEMICAL FAMILY Synthetic Copolymer Dispersion
SYNONYMS/OTHER MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION Soiltac is a formulated, high molecular weight, engineered, prime synthetic copolymer dispersion.
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