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Roker Report's Michael Graham looks back on 5 years since Niall Quinn's second coming at Sunderland AFC on his 'magic carpet' and asks 'Are We There Yet?'...
Cast your minds back to a sunny August Saturday afternoon in 2006. At the Stadium of Light, the game between Sunderland, managed by Niall Quinn, and Plymouth Argyle was meandering towards an uninspiring draw that would have granted the home side their first point of an uninspiring season in front of an entirely uninspired crowd of fewer than 25,000. It wasn’t to be, though, as the most innocuous of long punts up field from Plymouth sailed straight over the head of the hapless Danny Collins and Nick Chadwick waltzed through to pinch the winner. What followed was an all too familiar mass-sigh of resignation and acceptance from the stands. All in all it was a scene to perfectly sum up the club that Niall Quinn had walked back into. There was no manager, the previous chairman couldn’t wait to get away, the few drops of quality there was in the squad, such as Julio Arca, were packing their bags believing in a brighter future for themselves at places like Middlesboro, and the supporters had all but abandoned hope. In short, no one had enough hunger and belief left to swim against the current of the downward spiral the club had got itself into.
Indeed, it appeared Quinn himself may have underestimated the sheer strength of the oppressive apathy which engulfed the club. Having finally completed the takeover after a protracted and excruciating process, the Drumaville consortium "could not have been more ambitious" in their search for a manager, but failed to find a suitable manager of good repute who was prepared to risk that reputation on Sunderland at that time. Perhaps it was a humbling blow to the naturally enthusiastic Quinn, and one for which he was not prepared. But the new Sunderland chairman met his first test with what was to become trademark patience, resolve, and pragmatism where many would reach for the panic button. There were to be no settling for a name from the ‘B’ list, and Quinn took on the job himself for an indeterminate spell while realities were accepted and practical solutions devised. "My role and the first hurdle we've got to clear, is to stop the rot, turn the corner and make the club attractive for a top-class manager" was the message delivered to fans when Quinn addressed the press for the first time as Sunderland’s manager.
A month later, having failed to inspire the team to play the club out of its apathy, it was shook clean out of it by a force of nature. Roy Keane had never been tested in management. He brought with him no experience or extensive list of contacts. What the Keane appointment did do, however, right from the moment the story broke at half time of a live sky midweek Football broadcast from the Premier league, was instantly make Sunderland relevant again in the eyes of the wider football audience and exponentially raised the profile of the club. The football media descended on Wearside and, following a spate of deadline day arrivals and two away wins in a week, 10,000 was added to the gate for the next home match. What Keane lacked in experience, he more than made up for in unpredictability, sheer will power, and an ability to instil belief back into the club. Sunderland were interesting again. Keane had dragged the club kicking and screaming on his back out of its apathy. The first hurdle had been overcome.
With promotion and Premier League survival the following season secured, Quinn still wasn’t satisfied. His pragmatism came to the fore once again and fresh investment was sought. When Ellis Short showed an interest in being the man to provide it, Quinn described it as a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity for the club. Keane was happy to spend the fresh investment, but seemed rather less inclined to be held accountable for the manner of that spending. A bearded hissy-fit ensued and, with the club languishing in the relegation zone, Keane walked. In a caretaker capacity, Ricky Sbragia stabilized the club’s league position with two wins but, despite Sunderland once again having become an attractive proposition for managers and a previous top managerial target in Sam Allardyce openly and publically coveting the job, Quinn was about to make what many believe history will remember as his defining play. Ricky Sbragia was entrusted with securing the club’s Premier League status and with it, in all likelihood, Ellis Short’s commitment to the club. Survival was ensured on the final day of the season by virtue of results elsewhere. Sbragia’s departure was revealed directly after the match, and the following weak Quinn announced the "fantastic news to herald a new era at Sunderland" that Ellis Short had completed his takeover of the club, hailing him as the man to "provide what has been the missing ingredient in Sunderland’s make-up, namely the financial muscle to compete at the highest level". Whilst negotiating to take control of the club, Quinn famously compared the package the Drumaville Consortium could put together to a good poker hand. In the 2008/9 season, when his cards failed him, Quinn bluffed his way to an almost incomprehensively massive victory for the club through expert brinksmanship and sheer bravery. His finest hour, and the moment he cut through the sentimentality to PROVE, unequivocally, that he had the walk to go with his talk.
Now, almost 5 years on from Quinn’s second coming and seizure of responsibility for the club’s performance, Sunderland are reaping the benefits of his leadership, sitting proudly in the Premier League’s upper echelons, producing some attractive, dynamic football, and boasting a young and vibrant squad. When Quinn breezed back into the club in 2006, when no noteworthy manager would risk their reputation on it, it was ludicrous to believe that within 5 years a current Champions League and Serie A winner, or a stand-out player from a recent World Cup, would be willing to bet his reputation on Sunderland. When arguably the best manager in the world, Jose Mourinho, was putting together a team he thought could win him some of the biggest and most prestigious prizes in European football, he went out and got Sulley Muntari. That player now plays for Sunderland.
Whether Quinn expected such rapid progress or even believed it possible that day he rolled himself out to the media as the reluctant manager is something only he could answer. Regardless, it has been a quite remarkable turnaround. Tellingly, however, the rapid development has been achieved in conjuncture with strengthening the financial foundations of the club, not, as is so often the case, at the expense of them. Last year, Ellis Short capitalised his loans to the club, removing their presence from the club’s balance sheet and allowing the club to pay off some bank debt, prompting Steve Walton, Sunderland’s chief executive, to describe a "really strong and powerful picture going forward".
Quinn could certainly be forgiven for allowing himself a pat on the back and considering his initial objectives for the club spectacularly achieved. Is this the apex of Quinn’s ambitions? It would appear not. His rant regarding the fans who chose to watch home matches in the pub rather than at the Stadium of Light may have been ill-advised and a mischievous headline-writer’s dream, but they can most certainly be attributed to a man whose hunger and passion for the job of developing the club further is more ravenous than ever. Indeed, when David Milliband was appointed non-executive vice-chairman earlier this month, he revealed how Quinn wooed him by "talking about his vision for the club". Expectations must, of course, be managed but if his previous standards of leadership can be maintained then the mere presence of such an idea for further development of the club is cause for great optimism. The waters we are seemingly seeking to traverse from here are choppy, and sirens in the form of a suggestion that great prestige is tantalizingly within reach has claimed many a club in this position. Could there be, however, a more trusted hand on the rudder?

domain: sports


Had similar issue, was the battery. The battery was showing 11.8v and it wasn't enough to throw the starter, had no effect on lights. Try a boost charger if you have one. for boost put it on 10 amp, but don't leave it on this for long and don't charge it on this. If it starts when boosted its the most likely the battery.


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Bibi Jagir Kaur, the first woman to be elected SGPC president more than 20 years ago, has made a comeback. A look at her chequered career and what her election means to the SAD.
Bibi Jagir Kaur, 66, holds bachelor’s degrees in science and education and worked as a teacher. In 1987, she quit her job after she was appointed head of the Dera of Baba Prem Singh Murale Wale. The Dera has a significant following in Kapurthala district’s Bholath constituency – which Kaur later represented in the state assembly – mainly among the Lubana community to which she belongs.
Winning first election
Kaur’s position as Dera head helped her in joining the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) before the 1997 assembly elections in Punjab. The then party chief Parkash Singh Badal decided to field her from Bholath against Sukhpal Singh Khaira, son of firebrand Akali politician and former minister Sukhjinder Singh. Khaira, a Congress candidate, lost by a big margin. Kaur’s victory helped the first-time MLA gain a cabinet berth in the government. She won the same seat again in 2002 and 2012.
First woman SGPC president
Kaur’s meteoric rise came two years later amid a political tussle between the then Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra and SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal. The rift saw Badal sacking Tohra, who was SGPC chief for nearly 26 years, in March 1999 and replacing him with a 44-year-old Kaur, making her the first-ever woman president of the Sikh body. Her elevation helped by her Dera background, Kaur remained on the post until November 2000, and again from September 2004 to November 2005. Kaur’s aggressive posturing established her position in Punjab’s “panthik” politics in no time. 📣 Express Explained is now on Telegram
Also in Explained | The 100-year journey of SGPC, ‘mother of SAD’
Tussle with Akal Takht
However, Kaur’s election as SGPC chief saw the Sikh community divided over the Nanakshahi calendar, with the Akal Takht Jathedar Puran Singh and Bibi Jagir Kaur representing the two camps. While the SGPC celebrated Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary on January 5, 2000, the Akal Takht observed it two years later, on January 14, 2002.
The battlelines between Kaur and Singh were drawn, with many expecting she would use her authority to remove the Jathedar from the post. Preempting such a move, Singh issued an ‘edict’ on January 25, 2000 to excommunicate Kaur from the community and ordered her to appear before the Akal Takht.
As her rivals sensed an opportunity to topple her, a combative Kaur finally succeeded in getting Singh removed as the Akal Takht Jathedar.
Standing for rights of women ‘ragis’
There is an unwritten convention that women don’t perform kirtan at the Golden Temple. While the community had been debating the issue for long, Kaur favoured breaking the convention and allowing women to sing.
As SGPC president, Kaur issued an advertisement in newspapers asking Sikh women who could sing gurbani hymns to contact the body. However, no Sikh woman reportedly responded to the advertisement, with many of them publicly opposing any tampering with the traditions.
Death of her daughter
Kaur’s early success in politics was soon overshadowed by the murder of her daughter in 2002. In an ironic development for the first SGPC woman president who stood for women’s rights, Kaur was accused of killing her daughter in 2000. Many said it was a case of honour killing ordered by Kaur, who in March 2012 was convicted by a CBI court for abduction and murder, and jailed for five years.
The conviction was a setback to Kaur’s image and political career. She lost the SGPC presidentship, while the SAD also didn’t offer her any major post, retaining her as president of the party’s women’s wing. The Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted her of all charges in December 2018.
Don’t miss from Explained | Who is Deep Sidhu, and why is he getting attention in the farmers’ protests?
Row over Sikh Code of Conduct
There has been a section within the Sikh community that wants some changes in the Sikh Code of Conduct (Sikh Rehat Maryada) adopted by the Akal Takht. But Kaur has openly opposed any changes, an issue that caused friction during her first tenure as SGPC president.
Kaur also played an important role when the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev was celebrated last year. Her stand on the Sikh Code of Conduct during the event resulted in a tussle with former Union minister and the most powerful woman leader in SAD, Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Kaur is reported to have stood her ground, forcing Harsimrat to step back.
The SGPC is facing a leadership crisis in its 100th year. Last year, the lack of leadership within the Sikh body got exposed when 328 ‘birs’ of the Guru Granth Sahib were reported to be missing. A series of U-turns were taken by the SGPC on the issue, resulting in criticism of president Gobind Singh Longowal.
Observers say Kaur not only brings experience to the Sikh body, but also her authoritative attitude, which they expect will streamline the SGPC administration. Also, in an election year for SGPC which is celebrating its 100th year of foundation, Kaur at the helm is perhaps the best bet.
📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

domain: news


The Organic Farming Unit is one of the youngest sections within the Department of Agriculture. It was set up in October 2003, after recommendations by two Italian experts on Organic Farming, Dr Damiano Petruzzella and Dr Vincenzo Verrastro, from the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari. They were commissioned to carry out a study on the situation and future of Organic Farming in Malta, through a Framework contract within the 2002 National Program for Malta.
One of the outcomes of this study was the Organic Faming Unit itself. Its task was to organise the Maltese organic farming sector and promote the subject. Below is a list of some of the tasks of the organic farming unit:
To promote and increase awareness of organic farming in the Maltese Islands.
To create a set-up where organic farming can become feasible. Introduce legislation which will allow certification in the Maltese Islands for the first time.
To deal with the European Commission, in particular fulfilments expected by the community regulation 2092/91.
To supervise the inspection and certification bodies.
Controlling importation of organic products from third countries.
To grow an experimental plot of land with organic products


Falr dashboard template built with Bootstrap 4.0, HTML5 and CSS3. Falr helps you create your next Bootstrap project faster than before. It has more than 6 dashboard layouts, it’s easy to customize and developer friendly. It works on all major web browsers, desktop, iPhone, iPad, tablet and all other smartphone devices. It can be used to create a SAAS based interface, admin panel dashboard, accounting software, project management, e-commerce backends, CMS, CRM, ERP or whatever you want to build on the web. It is designed for modern applications that support HTML/jQuery integration.
6+ dashboard layouts
Light and dark versions
Stunning user interface design
and what is worth to mention: We update new content like WordPress themes, plugins and PHP scripts every day. But remember that you should never use these items on a commercial website. All content posted here is for development and testing purposes only. We are not responsible for any damage, use it yourself risk! Highly recommend to buy Falr – Bootstrap HTML Administration Dashboard Template From The site of the original developer (dan_fisher). Thank you.


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There are occasions when Landlord/Tenant disputes make their way and play out in the New York State Supreme Court, rather than in the various Civil and Housing Courts of the City of New York. Sometimes circumstances require that legal action be pursued simultaneously in both forums. There are a variety of circumstances in which the Supreme Court is a desirable, or in certain instances a necessary forum within which to pursue, protect and determine the rights of the Landlord. There may be circumstances where the tenant is interpreting his or her written lease agreement, or governing provisions of Law, in a manner which the Landlord believes to be clearly incorrect. That remedy is available to the Landlord. Perhaps, an action for Declaratory Judgment is what is required. This action to declare the rights of the parties can only be pursued in the Supreme Court. The Civil Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction to entertain such lawsuits. What if a Tenant proposes to undertake, or actually begins alteration which may damage the premises or interfere with the rights of adjoining Tenants? What is the Landlord to do? The answer may be to start an action in Supreme Court seeking both a permanent injunction to prevent the Tenant from ultimately performing those alterations, and a preliminary injunction to stop the tenant from proceeding while the case works its way through the Court system, thereby preserving the status quo until the Court ultimately rules on the dispute. We have the experience and know-how to handle such situations. We also are equipped to deal with Supreme Court actions instituted by a Tenant against the Landlord, for example, in response to the service of a Notice to Cure by the Landlord alleging a lease violation. Under what circumstances is a Tenant then entitled to attempt to obtain an injunction from the Supreme Court preventing the Landlord from pursuing its Holdover proceeding in Civil Court? The entitlement to what is commonly known as a “Yellowstone Injunction” will depend on a number of factors including whether or not the period for curing an alleged default by the Tenant has already expired, and whether or not the Tenant has the wherewithal to cure such an alleged default, short of moving from the rented premises. Such Yellowstone Injunctions are only properly brought by a commercial Tenant in Supreme Court, not by a residential Tenant. The distinction is important and has to do with various technicalities including the ability of a residential Tenant to seek and obtain full and complete relief in the Civil Court. Sounds confusing? It can be, and that is why we are equipped to navigate the complexities of such litigation.
There are other instances when it is necessary to proceed in Supreme Court to represent the interests of the Landlord. In the context of an administrative proceeding involving a rent regulated Tenant, a determination made by the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) which adversely affects the interest of the Landlord, can be challenged within certain proscribed time periods in Supreme Court in what is known as an Article 78 proceeding. The Article 78 proceeding is often brought by a Landlord to annul the final determination of the Administrative Agency. Experience in handling such Article 78 proceedings, both in the nature of an affirmative challenge to the Administrative Agency determination and when appropriate, to defend such a determination if challenged by a Tenant, is important. We are available to advance the Landlord’s interests and either oppose or support, as the case may require, action taken by the DHCR at the Administrative Agency level. The Article 78 proceeding will then ultimately result in a determination by Supreme Court as to whether or not the decision of the DHCR, which is the subject matter of the appeal, was rationally based or arbitrary and capricious. The decision of the Supreme Court in this Article 78 proceeding is also subject to further appeal to the New York State Appellate Division, and if warranted and permitted to the New York State Court of Appeals.

domain: law


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Description - Matrix Graphix by Vincenzo Sguera
This is a superb collection of 250 free-to-use graphics in a variety of themes. It includes a Windows and Mac compatible DVD. Created with unrivalled care, passion, and dedication, this superb new volume from Arkivia Books provides graphic designers, artists, stylists, and anyone in need of artistic inspiration with 250 free-to-use - inc. commercially - and easy-to-manipulate designs. "Matrix Graphix 1" presents a unique collection of cutting edge designs that draw inspiration from a variety of themes - Music & Sound, Dreams of Cinema, Fashion & Style, Horror & Fantasy, Love & Sex, and Urban & Natural. This volume includes a free Windows- and Mac-compatible DVD featuring all of the designs in 100 per cent size and ready to reproduce vector files - allowing lines and colours to be modified at will.
Buy Matrix Graphix by Vincenzo Sguera from Australia's Online Independent Bookstore, Boomerang Books.
(310mm x 240mm x 18mm)
Publisher: Arkivia Books
Country of Publication:
Book Reviews - Matrix Graphix by Vincenzo Sguera
Author Biography - Vincenzo Sguera
Vincenzo Sguera, the former chief designer for Benetton, has been at the cutting edge of the art and design world for more than 30 years.

domain: library


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Abstract: This article takes as its starting point the recent spate of unrest in rural China over government takings of rural, agricultural land. Though the popular and scholarly press has paid a great deal of attention to this issue, few analyses have explored in depth the institutional and legal framework surrounding it. This piece first attempts such an exploration and concludes that the underlying issues have as much to do with China's national land use regulatory system as they do with the behavior of local governments that seize privately-farmed land for other uses. In fact, it is more productive to see this as a regulatory takings issue than an eminent domain issue. With that analysis in mind, the article proceeds to explain why commonly-presented proposals for solving the rural takings problem are inadequate and then offers a novel solution based on the regulatory takings analysis: granting individual farmers transferrable, monetizable land development rights that will be separable from the land use rights that are the basis of the current rural land ownership regime.
(ProQuest: ... denotes non-US-ASCII text omitted.)
In June of 2006, hundreds of Chinese farmers in the village of Sanzhou, Guangdong Province, armed with clubs and bottles of acid, held government officials and businesspeople hostage inside a newly-constructed apartment building for almost twenty-four hours.1 Earlier that year, police armed with electric batons clashed with over 1000 farmers wielding pitchforks outside the village of Panlong, also in Guangdong Province. 2 The clash may have been responsible for the death of a thirteen-year-old girl, and as many as sixty people were wounded in the struggle.3 Just over a month before that, in nearby Dongzhou village, at least three and as many as thirty people were killed when police fired on a group of villagers who had lobbed fireworks and possibly homemade bombs at police. The Dongzhou incident was the deadliest use of force by Chinese security personnel against Chinese citizens since the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989.4
These incidents are part of a minor epidemic of unrest that has gripped rural China in recent years. What unites them, besides their sensationalism, is the nature of the conflicts that inspired them. In each incident, farmers were protesting decisions by local government officials over the use of village land. "[E]nvironmental, property rights, and land-use issues" have been the single largest source of civil unrest in China in recent years, and disputes involving rural land have, as the above episodes indicate, been especially incendiary. 5 This is not a phenomenon unique to wealthy Guangdong Province; protests also erupted over the use of rural land in Huaxi, Zhejing Province in 2006;6 Hanyuan, Sichuan Province in 2004;7 Jinyuan, Zhejiang Province in 2003; 8 and numerous other locales.
The farmers in Sanzhou were protesting the seizure of 750 acres of agricultural land by the village government. That land had been sold to a developer who built the apartment building where the incident took place; the farmers claimed that the compensation paid for the land taken was inadequate.9 The protesters in Panlong resented both the seizure of village farmland for lease to a foreign investor and the level of compensation offered.10 The catalyst for the disturbance in Dongzhou was the construction of a coal-fired power plant. Villagers were upset over the prospect of air pollution and plans to fill in a local body of water. Also, like their counterparts in Sanzhou and Panlong, they were angered by the seizure of farmland for the project and asserted that the compensation offered was too low.11
One Western journalist has wondered if the incidents might represent "the birth of a revolution."12 This is surely hyperbole, but there remains little doubt that how to manage rural land is one of the most pressing issues facing the Chinese government today. …

domain: politics


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Murmure Snack – Kids always demanded potato chips or popcorn whenever we went for an outing. I wanted to give them something yummy which would make them forget chips etc. Once we went for a long drive and this Murmure snack or murhi was a big hit.
These are very easy to prepare, very light, healthy and tasty. These take only ten minutes to prepare, have a long shelf life and are low in fat. These are also a perfect snack to carry with you while traveling. No need to buy unhealthy chips, snacks or chocolates for kids when you are traveling. They are also a perfect accompaniment to evening Tea when you don’t want to munch on something unhealthy (As you can see from my cups of tea 😉 )
Murmure are used in many other recipes like bhelpuri, jhal murhi or chikkis.
We usually make them with peanuts but this time as I had some chana at home we added that also to the murhi.
Preparation time: 5 minutes
cooking time: 10 minutes
250 grams murmure or puffed rice
200 grams of peanuts
100 grams chana (Bengal gram)
3 tbsp oil
¼ tsp mustard seeds or rai
½ tsp turmeric powder ( Haldi)
salt to taste (I have used 1 tsp)
½ tsp red chili powder
½ tsp pudina/mint powder (optional)
To make Puffed Rice/ Murmure Snack
Heat oil in a big wok. First, add the peanuts and sauté them for 2-3 minutes. Take them out when they are done. Now fry chane for 3-4 minutes in the same oil. Take them out and mix with the peanuts. Add red chili powder to the nuts. Keep them aside.
Now add some mustard seeds to the oil. Once they start crackling add turmeric powder and immediately add puffed rice or murmure. Mix well so that murmure are uniformly coated with yellow color from turmeric. Add salt and keep on mixing. After 2-3 minutes murmure should be done. They will be crunchy. Add peanuts and chana to them and mix well. Take off the heat.
Sprinkle Pudina powder over murmure and mix.
you should Store Puffed Rice/ Murmure Snack in an airtight container after they have cooled down completely. These have a long shelf life. In my kitchen, you can always find one jar full of these yummy treats.

domain: food


At Prospect Auto Supply, we ship what our customers need: quality products, aggressive prices, and educated people. Particularly, for high quality and match, persist with acknowledged manufacturers when buying brake system elements and digital parts like sensors, actuators, modules and relays. Lack of components from Japan prompted Common Motors Co. to briefly shut down a Louisiana manufacturing facility that makes pickup vehicles. And yet, like an enormous doing a high dive into a bucket of water, the auto trade is racing to capture a market that, in the United States at least, is minuscule and never expected to explode anytime quickly.
Additionally, there are particular occasions of yr where auto components stores will low cost common substitute components you could stockpile at dwelling for later use. Other than the 2 gorillas Amazon and eBay, Sears may be very up-and-coming for promoting auto components.
Right here one will be capable of see various presents as many on-line stores share their profit vary with their shoppers in order that they get a good quantity of sale even if these shops compromise a share of their revenue. Mechanics – and Jay Leno – have been using 3D printers to make alternative auto components for years. Nonetheless, for those who do not wish to purchase a scan instrument or code reader now, verify together with your local auto components store. Store around by telephone and on-line for the very best offers and compare guarantee policies on repairs.
We have now simplified website contemplating the complicated nature of product in order that our customer shouldn’t have trouble to discover a tons in website to seek out parts for his or her cherished car. You need not fear to get excellent fit aftermarket parts for your automobile or truck or different automobile regardless of of whatever may be its make/ mannequin. It is rather simple to purchase aftermarket elements Acura as well as of other makes out there. I might have very fast broadband and be linked to several of the wonderful on-line programs that offer prompt technical help and help. China’s auto sector, which is the world’s largest and dominated by overseas manufacturers, has been under specific scrutiny amid accusations by state media that global automobile and parts makers are overcharging clients. Usually these components are of equal high quality to the unique part fitted to your vehicle.
There was a time when folks had been fond of getting tattoos on different components of their physique, but now more and more people are going for removing tattoos from their physique. Many of the challenges of promoting components on-line are the same as every other product category, however there are some particular issues to handle. I used some wire strippers to remove the plastic sheath from some previous auto wire to fit the new pin.


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Massive Disneyland Attraction Database
A secret view of Art Linkletter's Faux Coaster when it's not shrounded in fog
Art Linkletter's Faux Coaster
January 5, 1961
Avg. queue length:
This rollercoaster -- the most tedious in Disneyland -- is too intense for toons of all national origins.
- If this is your first visit to Disneyland, you won't want to ride this attraction repeatedly.
Policies and Alerts
- Minimum height 44".
- Maximum height 49".
- Maximum IQ 110.
- During any storms, this attraction may melt.
- This attraction closes at a moment's notice.
- Strollers and this attraction do not mix.
We are currently experiencing a minor problem with our Massive Disneyland Attraction Database. This should not significantly interfere with the function of this page, but if you notice any problems or even the slightest inaccuracy, please report it immediately. Thank you for your large donation.

domain: travel


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Shares of Malaysia lottery operators have fallen today after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a reduction in special lottery draws next year.
As reported by Malay Mail, there will be just eight special lottery draws over the course of 2023 as the government bids to carry out its duties transparently without heavily relying on what Anwar describes as “wang haram” (forbidden money).
It’s a reversal of a policy rolled out by the previous government, who raised the number of special draws in a calendar year to 22 in an attempt to raise vital funds during the pandemic.
The decision from then-Perikatan Nasional (PN) Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin sparked protests from both within his own government and from opposition lawmakers, including the Democratic Action Party (DAP).
Speaking at a special Cabinet meeting in Putrajaya on Monday, Anwar said: “To do this for example, in my first day as Finance Minister, I have ordered the cancellation of the decision made earlier this year by the Cabinet that comprised Bersatu and PAS that the special lottery draw can be increased to 22 from just eight days.
“I have ordered that the special lottery draw be maintained at the previous rate of eight days starting January 1, 2023.”
The news has already had a significant impact on the lottery market in Malaysia, with MarketWatch reporting shares of Malaysia lottery operators have dropped.
Magnum Berhad shares closed 5.1% lower at $0.30 and Sports Toto Berhad declined 4.2% to end at $0.37.


ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the PM on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan on Saturday claimed that the opposition parties are confused on the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) call of sit-in.
She said the government accepts the right of peaceful protest, but no one would be allowed to create chaos with the help of militia.
“The law will take due course of action in this regard,” added the SAPM.
Firdous said the provincial governments have chalked out their strategies for Azadi March and the decision to put Mualana Fazl under house arrest has to be taken by the provincial governments.
Commenting on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting, Firdous said that the opponents’s steps failed to place Pakistan on the black list.
In a tweet shared on her official Twitter account, she asked Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to be careful and “take a look at your wrongdoings.”
“Calm down a bit and think why has Bhutto not remained alive in Larkana,” she stated, adding that public meetings organised by government resources do not reflect public sentiments.
“Your stance fell through by the public’s power of vote […] our institutions guarantee our pride, defence and security,” she said.
“Which of your masters are getting pleasure from your irresponsible statements?” she asked, adding: “If you had cared about the state, then you wouldn’t have played a film of irresponsible statements.”
“All you care about is the corruption of your father and paternal aunt,” she said.


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Tauran Darrica has been retired from the Valreus Sky Guard for four years following the Battle of the Broken Wings that resulted in the death of his dragon. Now, all Tauran wants to do is spend his days forgetting the past and gambling his way to an unsteady income.
So when his old general from the Sky Guard hunts Tauran down to request his help with staving off the increasingly aggressive wild dragon population, Tauran refuses. But a fire ruins his rented room and leaves him without a place to stay, and Tauran finds himself on the road to Valreus, after all.
Tauran is determined to stay as far away from dragons as he can get, but a starry-eyed young man from Sharoani, land of the wild dragons, might just ruin his plans.
Kalai Ro-Ani has spent his life watching the stars, knowing he could never reach them.
With his wild dragon Arrow, he sets out for the city of Valreus in the hope of building himself a better future than he could have stuck at the foot of the Kel Visal dragon temples.
But nobody told Kalai that only the Sky Guard is allowed to own dragons, so when Arrow kills a guard in Kalai’s defense, it looks like his adventure might be over before it can begin. But a chance encounter at the old Valreus archive offers Kalai the future he’d been hoping for. In the span of a single day, he has a home, a job, and a purpose.
In Valreus, something much bigger falls into his lap – along with a tall and striking Valrean man with a rather strange disposition.
A new, LGBT+ fantasy story from Zaya Feli, featuring dragons, aerial battles and epic journeys through dangerous wilderness.
Release Date: Ebook: August 24th | Print: TBD
Length: Ebook: 189,000 words
Warnings: mentions of symptoms of depression and PTSD. Medicine addiction and withdrawal.
From the author, Zaya Feli:
The overarching theme is about how healing is possible despite severe damage. That some things may not be fixable, and that simply learning to persevere and find support and happiness where it exists can be enough.
It took Tauran two days to work up the courage to enter the guard grounds.
He knew he was being a coward. That this new place, these new recruits, and the Ground Guard had nothing to do with what had happened at the Solar Tower.
But Tauran’s nerves weren’t so easily convinced.
When he approached the steel gates, he was happy he’d skipped breakfast. He grabbed the string and rang the bell a little too hard.
The hatch in the door opened, and a thankfully unfamiliar face appeared.
“Tauran Darrica,” Tauran said, “here at General Falka’s request.”
The doors swung open with a groan.
And then he was inside.
The atmosphere was such a stark contrast to the gloom brewing in Tauran that he had to pause and take a moment to adjust. It was as if Tauran’s memory of the guard had frozen in the time after the Battle of the Broken Wings, that stunned period full of fear and sorrow and rage.
But in the four years since Tauran had last been surrounded by the guard, it had recovered.
Young recruits ran past him shoulder to shoulder on their way to the first lesson of the day. A pair of older men, captains, judging by their uniforms, sat bent over a table, spending their break playing a game of Isutagi. At a table behind them, a woman with her sleeves rolled up past her elbows focused all her attention on the pistol she was cleaning. Black and copper uniforms dominated the outdoor space. The Ground Guard had always outnumbered the Sky Guard, but the difference seemed even more stark, now.
A brief glimpse of silver caught Tauran’s eye here and there. Messengers, or perhaps weather specialists, on their way to delivering flight reports and air pressure charts.
Tauran took a deep breath of the air inside the grounds and found it didn’t sting as much as he’d feared.
This book (all 764 amazing pages) kept me reading until a ridiculous time in the early hours of the morning to finish. It’s been a while since I was so engrossed in a story. It kept me glued.
Fantasy at its best, and a new to me author I’m thrilled to discover has a backlist.
Two men. One a washed up permanently damaged ex Dragon rider who’s own Dragon died in a terrible war, and one a young innocent-ish geek who happens to have his own wild dragon currently hidden because in their world, dragons are so rare only properly trained riders are allowed to keep them.
The world building is amazing, the relationship between them and their dragons are wonderful, but this isn’t just a sweet romance.
There is evil, betrayal, enemies where you least expect, a wild dragon egg about to hatch, and problems that seem insurmountable. And not everything is black and white. Expect surprises and plot twists.
This will appeal to fans of Mercedes Lackey, Megann Derr, and C.S. Pacat
Five “Dragon’s teeth” (Sounds better than stars)
Zaya Feli grew up in various small towns in eastern Denmark where she spent most of her childhood and youth daydreaming about strange and incredible fantasy worlds. In 2018, she moved to northern Denmark with her pet snake, Helix, to work as a web developer, and is now dedicating all her free time turning the fantasy worlds inside her head into words and illustrations on the page.
An avid sci fi and fantasy fan since childhood, she also has a deep love for history, archery, nature, language and art.
Zaya Feli released her debut novel, Stag’s Run, in November 2016, and has since released four more full length novels and a short story. Her favourite genres are fantasy and sci-fi with a sprinkle of romance.


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Maximise the value of cash collection on a timely basis in accordance with invoice due dates
Account reconciliation, mainly medium to large accounts with unclear payments
Regular reporting on various metrics including cash received, account adjustments, Customer Claims
Manage the Customer Claims Process with regular calls with Collections, Local Country and Operations Teams
Identify and resolve delinquent / overdue amounts country ledgers
Manage relationship with 3rd party collection agencies
Minimise risk of bad debt by taking appropriate action against slow payers and delinquent accounts
Identify and report any issue that may affect timely cash collection.
This is a fixes contract position.
Minimum of 2 years’ credit control and collections experience
Experience of best practice collection activities
Collection systems and process
Languages - English & German essential
Excellent verbal & written communication skills; good interpersonal skills at all levels
Rigorous attention to detail and the basics of credit collections and risk control
A strong systems person with the ability to address the credit and collections needs.
Computer literate with knowledge of Windows and Microsoft based programs including Office, Outlook and in particular Excel.
Some knowledge of mainframe / CRM / Finance systems such as SAP / JDE / Netsuite ideal.
Commercially aware of the importance of customer retention while maximising cash collection.

domain: finance


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Meet my friend Amelia.
You might already know her from her amazingly awesome website, Tales Of A Mountain Mama. If you don’t I’m happy to introduce you to her.
But what you probably don’t know about her is that she’s the mother of (almost) 5, some of the secrets of living in Yellowstone National Park, and the fact that she hated outdoor adventure as a child.
Today our conversation is special because we talk a lot about traveling throughout Wyoming and Montana.
You can find Amelia at Tales of a Mountain Mama and all over social media and I hope that you enjoy our conversation.
- 3:50 Shout out to the Outdoor Mom Academy and 365 Mile Challenge!
- 7:20 On wildlife in her backyard and teaching children to respect nature.
- 12:30 On visiting the amazing places around your own home and finding local hidden gems.
- 16:10 Affordable weekend destinations in Montana.
- 18:00 Alaska!
- 21:00 “I hated the outdoors as a kid.”
- 26:20 On raising tough but girly daughters.
- Yellowstone National Park
- Glacier National Park
- Grand Teton National Park/ Jenny Lake
- Virginina City / Nevada City Montana
- Helena Montana. Read about Amelia’s recent trip to Helena here.
- Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Alaska
- Hatcher Pass, Alaska
- Chilkoot Trail, Alaska
Event Mentioned: The Man Gulch Fire
Today’s show is sponsored by Audible. If I’m not listening to a podcast, I’m listening to an audiobook.
I devour audiobooks while I drive my car to and from interesting hiking destinations, clean my house, fix dinner, do the dishes, fold laundry and workout. There are so many good books that I want to read and I feel a lot more productive when I can multi-task by listening as I work.

domain: geography


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With only one business day left to sign up for basic income in Lindsay, many families don’t realize that young adults living at home can apply for basic income – even if parental income is high.
With only four days to go to sign up for the Ontario Basic Income Pilot, a Provincial spokesperson says recipients of basic income shouldn’t feel there will be a hassle in returning to their previous program, such as Ontario Works or disability.
Groceries, a winter coat, a truck for the family business. These might not seem like luxuries to those of us who can afford them, but they are for the people who live on a low income in our communities.
What would otherwise be a necessity becomes a luxury when you have a hard time making ends meet every month. And the difference between a luxury and a necessity for people living on low income is as simple as having a little extra cushion each month – the kind that a basic income can provide.
“I was always worried. Am I going to have a job tomorrow?”
You can physically see the frustration and anger as Joe recalls to me his combined seven years of working between two of Lindsay’s largest manufacturing employers, Armada Toolworks and Holsag Canada, three of them as a temp worker.
Ask anyone involved in front-line health care in Lindsay, and they will tell you the same thing: opioid overdoses in our area are rising at an alarming rate. There aren’t necessarily more people using drugs, authorities say, but those who do are endangered by a drug supply poisoned with fentanyl and its derivatives.
In keeping with the goal to improve community access to safe, affordable housing, the City of Kawartha Lakes and the County of Haliburton are pleased to open registration for four programs on April 1.
By April 16, about 2,000 Lindsay residents will be on the Ontario Basic Income Pilot – will you be one of them?
That’s the cut-off date the Province is imposing on any new basic income sign-ups. Those sign-ups have been happening every week for months now, held alternately at Celebrations and the Lindsay branch of Kawartha Lakes Public Library.
As Inspector Mark Mitchell gets set to become Kawartha Lakes Police Service’s newest chief, he says it’s important to consider the broad factors of community wellness when it comes to policing.
The Kawartha Lakes Police Services Board just announced that Mitchell will succeed current Chief John Hagarty in August, who is set to retire then.
I was talking about the basic income guarantee to a couple of friends and one of them commented on how the fundraising done for local agencies such as the food bank, the school nutrition program, or the heat bank brings the community together. She was right; events that raise money for important causes do foster community.
In the three cities in Ontario where basic income is being tested – which includes Lindsay – there are still about 1,200 open spots for lower income people.
If you’re working or own your own business but just not earning enough, or if you’re on Ontario Works or disability, you might be eligible.


1. Adopting the backlight technology in the LCD production of JVTIA temperature measurement sensor , the researchers try to make the screen generate little or no flicker. It has good sealing performance, ensuring electrical safety
2. The product enjoys a growing reputation in the market and has great development prospects. Avoiding static sparking that may result in fire, the product provides ultra safety
3. When comparing to the traditional appliances, nearly all of the customers agree that this product is way more effective in cutting electricity bills. The product can be installed in refrigeration equipment, water purifier, and environmental protection device
1. Imported advanced machine are equipped to guarantee the bulk production of thermal sensor .
2. Shanghai Jiutian Automation Equipment Co., Ltd has entered a benign development track of sustained profitability and rapid growth under the business principles of temperature measurement sensor . Get price!


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BSU readies for guns on campus July 1
BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) -- It's Spring Break, a downtime at Boise State University.
But behind the tranquil scenes, BSU administrators are getting ready for July First, when the guns on campus bill takes effect.
The College of Western Idaho in Nampa is forming a task force to study the implementation of the new law as well.
"I think everybody's working to make sure campuses stay just as safe as they are today," said Greg Hahn, BSU communications director. "That's the intention at Boise State."
The new law allows retired police officers and those with enhanced permits to carry concealed weapons on campus.
Boise State has been consulting with a national campus safety firm. The university also has the expertise of its own campus security chief, a former FBI and Homeland Security agent, as well as the Boise Police Department.
"The big things we do know, is we will continue to ban open-carry weapons everywhere," said Hahn. "And our response to report of a gun on campus is going to be the same, it has to be...that swift, immediate response by police."
Concealed weapons will not be allowed in places seating a thousand or more such as Bronco Stadium and Taco Bell Arena.
And Idaho already has a firm ban on carrying weapons -- permit or not -- under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
In fact, this new law stengthens this provision by mandating that anyone caught violating the alcohol and drug component of law on a college campus will have their concealed carry permit revoked for three years."
But are metal detectors in the future at BSU's big venues?
Officials say that's yet to be determined.


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Children with severe drug-resistant epilepsy will be the first in Queensland to be treated with medicinal cannabis.
Health Minister Cameron Dick revealed on Wednesday that the trial is likely to occur at Brisbane's Lady Cilento Children's Hospital in 2016.
In a letter tabled in Parliament, Mr Dick said Queensland planned to partner in an interstate clinical trial.
"[It is] an opportunity to show medicinal cannabis can be a safe and effective addition to existing treatments," he wrote in the letter.
"As more information becomes available, I will be better placed to consider what is in the best interests of all Queenslanders, including the need for legislative change."
Australian Medical Association Queensland president Dr Chris Zappala welcomed the trial and said it must be rigorous.
"It's important we proceed cautiously and carefully to begin with and that means appropriately constructing the trials and putting the appropriate safeguards in place," he said.
"For example medicinal marijuana needs to be provided on a script, under medical supervision [and] appropriately dispensed."
Dr Zappala said there were still questions about the benefits of medicinal cannabis.
"What dose works best?" he asked.
"Where the potential risks might lie, particularly in terms of long-term risks?
"We don't have that long-term data and we do know that there are risks associated with marijuana."
He said some doctors were uneasy about the potential risks.
"If there's a benefit I think you'll find that everyone's in favour of that," he said.
"Let's get the trials done and it might need to be more than one.
"Evidence is increasing, it's promising, but it hasn't reached that threshold yet where we can make general recommendations to patients around using these products."
Mr Dick revealed details of the trial in response to an e-petition signed by 1,474 people, calling on the Government to make provisions for patients and carers to lawfully cultivate and produce their own cannabis and oils.
The Federal Government announced on Saturday plans to legalise the growing of cannabis for medical purposes.

domain: medical


GstarCAD 2024 has significantly enhanced its Dynamic Input tools.
Why Dynamic Input is so important?
Dynamic Input is a very important and useful feature that helps CAD users to get feedback on their actions. When Dynamic Input is turned on, the Dynamic Input will display information near the cursor where users input value and users will get quick access to commands and system variables that dynamically update and are relevant to your current activity.
Enhanced Dynamic Input in GstarCAD 2024
Dynamic Input system is upgraded in GstarCAD 2024 by adding Dimension Input, Vertical Dynamic Prompts list, and separating Pointer Input boxes to provide an easier-to-use experience for design professionals and improve design efficiency.
* Independent Pointer Input Boxes
Pointer Input boxes for length, angle coordinates, etc. are now displayed independently in GstarCAD 2024, making it more convenient for users to input different values by simply switching between the boxes using the TAB key.
* Dynamic Dimension Input
When creating and editing objects in GstarCAD 2024, data such as length, angle, radius, etc., are displayed in the form of dimensions, which dynamically change as the mouse cursor is moved. With the help of the independent Pointer Input boxes, users are now able to input dimension data and execute design operations more efficiently.
* Vertical Dynamic Prompts List
Dynamic Prompts List is now displayed vertically by default in GstarCAD 2024, which allows users to see all the prompts at once, simplifying drawing operations. The horizontal prompts list could still be activated by using the system variable DYNLISTSTYLE.


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DIY Dog Food Station with Storage: DIY Dog Food Station with Storage underneath! Here is a free plan for you. - Tap the pin for the most adorable pawtastic fur baby apparel! You'll love the dog clothes and cat clothes!
Unique dog-sized trailers made from environmentally-friendly materials, including recyclable aluminum, plywood and plastic. Pet trailer can even have a lighted interior, wireless speakers, and an adorable personalized license plate.
If there is a shack or shed in the backyard, transform it into a dog room! Great for when I& out of town and have to have friends or neighbors pet sit! I don& think they would mind coming into a room like this!
Pallet Dog House – Step by Step Plan - Your Free source for Pallet Projects, Pallet ideas and Pallet Furniture - Tap the pin for the most adorable pawtastic fur baby apparel! You'll love the dog clothes and cat clothes!

domain: pet


Never have done that before myself, so not sure. Been to Great Adventure a number of times, but by car. My guess would be to take PATCO from Center City into Jersey. At that point there may be a NJ Transit bus that will hook you up there.
You should post this on SSP's Northeast section. There are a ton more Philly forumers over there, much better chance of getting the info you're looking for.
Here is what I got from the official website of Six Flags Great Adventure on how to get there by mass transit.
NJ TRANSIT offers bus service to the park from New York City, Newark, Camden and Philadelphia, PA. Local bus service is also available on the #307, 308 309, and 318 bus lines from Trenton, Freehold, Toms River, New Egypt, Plumstead Township, Lakewood, and Asbury Park, NJ. For a current operating schedule, call (800) 772-2222 in New Jersey. Outside of New Jersey, call (800) 626-7433 or (800) 772-2287 (TAT).
A forum community dedicated to skyscrapers, towers, highrises, construction, and city planning enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about structures, styles, reviews, scale, transportation, skylines, architecture, and more!


4 days ago Cynthia Lufkin and other recent notable deaths around the world. Leah Remini
speaks with Did you know this celebrity is a Scientologist?
Usa news today
Get the latest celebrity news and today's entertainment news on
Includes blogs, news, and community conversations about Celebrity Deaths
Ray Manzarek, most known as a founding member of the '60s rock band The
Celebrity Deaths: 2012's Fallen Stars LATEST GALLERY. Jamie Foxx, 2013
BET Awards. 2013 BET Awards: Arrivals Baby Shower Gift Guide. Most Read News today india


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Bicycle Car Door Accident
While riding her bicycle down the bike lane of North Carolina Avenue in the District of Columbia, the 28 year old female bicyclist briefly observed an automobile passing her on her left. After passing her the driver parked his car on the right side of the street next to the bike lane then, without looking in his mirrors, opened his door directly in her path of travel causing her to crash into the door. The biker, a federal employee living in Arlington, sustained a hand laceration in the web of her right hand requiring sutures, as well as a shoulder strain. No physical therapy was ordered by the treating orthopedic surgeon. The case setted for $15,000.00.


Unless a woman’s health is endangered, abortion is illegal in the state of Victoria. The government is about to change that. But everyone don’t agree. Last week pro-life and pro-choice organizations demonstrated outside parliament to convince the government of considering their opinions.
On their website Pro-life Victoria encourage people to contact MPs and . The organizations also list a few arguments why abortion shouldn’t be legalized.
Pro-life mean that the government only want to redefine abortion from an act of crime to a “health procedure”.”What is healthy about killing small babies and ruining their mother’s lives?”.
Dr Chris Bayly and colleagues writes in the Age about the procedure of an abortion and what legalizing it would mean to women.
A woman go through medical, physical and social consultation depending on her own condition before having an abortion. So it has been, and so will it continue being.
Legalizing it wouldn’t make abortion easier. But it would fasten the process, which means that the abortion can be made at an early stage. Although the routine of getting at least two medical opinions if the abortion is to be made after 24 weeks will remain. Sometimes will that be required even earlier in the pregnancy.
Dr Bayly says that women too often have abortions later than they need because of false information from anti-choice practitioners. As abortion can be emotionally demanding even for professionals Dr Bayly points out the importance of the part of the Bill that says women should be offered consultations with an objective health professional.
“The Women’s Hospital provides abortion service because the clinical evidence is clear that it is important for women’s health and well-being.”
Pro-Life Victoria questions what’s healthy about killing small babies and ruin their mothers’ lives. As been pointed out above an abortion is emotional and difficult to go through for everyone involved. Although in some situations that is the last resort. Why should women that’s taken the decision of having an abortion be punished even harder? Isn’t it difficult enough to know that taking care of the baby one is carrying isn’t an option?
The world is full of orphans in need of a carer. Why not focus on giving children that have already been born a descent life, instead of making life miserable for them who have chosen not to give birth to a baby they can’t take care of – and actually have the option to do so. Women in the third world usually don’t have this option. Let us start with caring about humanes that have already been brought into this world.


Mass Flow Controlled(MFC):
The Mass Flow Controller uses a hot wire anemometer to maintain a steady flow rate throughout the sampling period. The hot wire anemometer is inserted into the flow channel and detects changes in thermal mass to increase or decrease the motor speed.
Volumetric Flow Controlled(VFC): The VFC controller is a critical orifice with a predetermined hole diameter. The critical orifice is calibrated in a NIST traceable lab to determine the volumetric flow rate. The motor runs wide open and as air passes through the critical orifice,the sampler runs at a predetermined flow rate.
PLUS Technology (MFC): The PLUS technology MFC uses ambient temperature, ambient pressure, and a hot wire anemometer to maintain the set flow rate. This is the most accurate flow controller available. It also features and auto calibration function and digital timer.
PLUS Technology (VFC): The Plus Technology volumetric flow controller uses a combination of the critical orifice and the PLUS controller to calculate the ambient flow rate. The system uses the temperature, barometric pressure, and orifice pressure to calculate and record the ambient flow rate. The system also includes a digital timer.


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Beautiful night shot, excellent lighting! LIKE!!!
mi piace...tanti saluti, Guto.
thank you for viewing my photos and comments
Congratulations for this splendid shot! Best regards from Germany, Stefan L
thank you ofenhocker
Very nice photo! Like & Ys!
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Photo taken in Al Jubail Saudi Arabia
Misplaced? Suggest new location

domain: artistic


text:
Gossip is an American indie rock band. They started in 1999 in Olympia, Washington as The Gossip. The main singer is Beth Ditto. Brace Paine is the guitarist and Hannah Blilie is the drummer. The band became popular with their third album Standing in the Way of Control (2006). Three singles were released from the album. The first single, "Standing in the Way of Control", reached number seven in the UK Singles Chart. Gossip's fourth album Music for Men was released in 2009 by Columbia Records. Their 2009 single "Heavy Cross" reached number two in Germany's chart.
Other websites[change | change source]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche - musicline.de". Archived from the original on 2014-02-09. Retrieved 2013-12-02.


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Louglee8081 got their new banner ad by running a design contest:
Help Create our "Infamous" SIlverback Gorilla- JVH Performance
Check out Louglee8081's Banner ad contest…
We are an athletic performance center catered towards getting youth to college/pro athletes ready for their sport.
What's your vision?
* 1st time using this service so not sure if I posted in right section* I've attached an image of are "mascot" (Silverback Gorilla) ... I'm looking for a design of him to put up for all our videos that we use as advertising, promoting. Ideally I'm open to creativity. I know I want possibly full body,powerful and realistically muscular nothing too crazy. Just know I don't want anything cartoonish. My thoughts: a) Silverback in jungle somehow, incorporate our name into it, VICTORY is our slogan so that has to be in there... b) Gorilla standing looking powerful, possibly just outlining of his figure Open to artistic interpetations...
We work with predominately high school, college males so the and have a "hardcore" following...
Every design category has flexible pricing for all budgets. Banner ad starts at €49.
Full copyright with production-ready files for digital and/or print.
It all began with a design brief.
A quick, interactive guide helped them understand their design style and captured exactly what they needed in their banner ad.
Designers across the globe delivered design magic.
Louglee8081 collaborated with designers to refine their ideas
When design entries come in, you can rate them so designers know what you’re looking for in your logo design.
99designs has great collaboration tools so you can pinpoint and capture your ideas
And then… they selected a winner!
Along the way, they met lots of talented designers…
We think contests are a super fun way to get design.
Recently completed contests:
this is radio programming in News- traffic-weather-sports. New rebranding and name. Looking for a 2022 version....Classi
Stonework, masonry, roofing, insulated concrete forming (ICF)
We sell houses below market value to end buyers. This logo will be used to brand and market the website in order to driv


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Infinity—Ariadna: Foxtrot Ranger
Miniatures are supplied unpainted and assembly may be required.
Are there errors or omissions in this product information? Got corrections? Let us know at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Product Reviews (0)
"Freeform Class Selection", or "A random idea I had a little while ago",
Dreamscarred Press Introduces: Akashic Mysteries,
Will not run a game with Pageant of the Peacock,
Could Darth Maul be raised?,
a few rules questions,
First Session Help Please,
DnD Next, like it or hate it.,
What should I make changes to this paladin?,
Blistering Invective Questions,

domain: hobby


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BMCC signs agreement with Southern Oregon University for Early Childhood Education program
Blue Mountain Community College has signed an articulation agreement with Southern Oregon University in Ashland to allow Early Childhood Education program students to seamlessly transfer to complete a Bachelor’s degree.
Students who earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) from BMCC will now be able to transfer that degree and general education requirements to Southern Oregon University, where they will be able to continue their online studies to pursue a Bachelor’s degree. This will allow students to transfer from BMCC to SOU directly as juniors and be eligible to begin the Early Childhood Development coursework with no loss of credits.
“This new partnership gives our students the opportunity to transfer without obstacles to continue their pursuit of a career in early childhood education,” said Dawn Kennison-Kerrigan, the ECE Program Coordinator for BMCC. “This ultimately saves students time and money since all of their credits will seamlessly transfer to SOU in junior status.”
In addition, Kennison-Kerrigan said the partnerships will enhance BMCC’s relationships with both Head Start and the Oregon Coalition of Childhood Development (OCCD) the two colleges work together to help Head Start and OCCD employees achieve their educational goals.


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Come and join us for our special summer series with engaging activities for parents and young children to do together.
We offer Arts and Crafts, Story time, Games, Music and Movement. FREE!!
Where: 40 Matthews Street, Suite 107, Goshen
When: Wednesday July 31, 2019
Wednesday August 7, 14, 21, 28, 2019
Spaces Limited! Register Today
firstname.lastname@example.org (845)294-4012 X224


As a freelance writer, I’ve written hundreds of articles or poems that have never graced anyone else’s PC screen but my own. I revisited one I wrote in 2014 right after Malaysia Airlines #17 was shot out of the sky and crashed over eastern Ukraine. All 283 passengers and 15 crew were killed. Sanctions ensued. And acrimony and finger-pointing. Then Time magazine printed an article that stopped my eyes on their page. After which I delved into Russian-American foreign relations. I tried to place this article with an editor; she thought it a quality piece but not right for their venue. A freelance writer often cannot find a place for all their words, especially in the early years. I’ve given up trying to place this one, sharing it here so it doesn’t disappear.
Hate of America is “spoon-fed to Russians along with mother’s milk.” This assessment came from editor-in-chief of Russia’s only independent news channel in 2014 after President Obama authorized sanctions against Russia for their illegal annexation of Crimea and provocations in Ukraine. When I read this in Time magazine, I had a déjà vu moment. On Sept. 11, 2001, I wondered, Why do they hate us so much?
There are few experts (alive and unbiased) able to explicate historical events that have led to present day Russian-American relations. This essay is not meant to be an exhaustive summary of those relations. However, as a student of life and an American, I endeavor to go beneath the surface of what I see. I normally avoid talking politics because it invariably leads to hot collars. But I’m sharing research on Russian-American relations here, with the goal of widening the aperture through which we view the world stage. The world is a kaleidoscope; it’s crucial that we not be color-blind.
Charles Bohlen wrote a 220,000-word tome, A Witness to World History. Bohlen had a close-up view of history from 1929 to 1969 as a specialist in Russian Foreign Affairs. He headed three embassies during that time –in Paris, Manila, and Moscow (the latter opened in 1934 after President Franklin Roosevelt extended diplomatic recognition to the Soviet Union). Bohlen’s book is one of a few main sources for the following summary of key issues.
Communism/Federation/Managed Democracy versus Capitalism/Democracy
The Russian Revolution of 1905 was a rebellion by the working class against the ruling Czars and minority of rich elitists of that period. Sound familiar? Marie Antoinette’s fabled phrase, “Let them eat cake,” referred to the starving masses of the poor in France. Vladimir Lenin led the Russian Revolution, founded the Russian Communist Party, and was the architect of the Soviet state, one of 15 SSRs (Soviet Socialist Republics) which formed the USSR. The Soviet state being the largest, it wielded power out of Moscow.
Under Communism, the government controls property and major industries. Although Lenin was viewed as a champion of the common worker, his vision of a socialist utopia involved imprisonment of political enemies, large-scale famine, and liquidation of the peasantry. Under Lenin and his successor, Joseph Stalin, “The Purge” (arrests, execution, or forced exile of perceived enemies of the state), as well as starvation and forced relocation (think: Trail of Tears and the Cherokee) resulted in an estimated 30-60 million lost lives.
Capitalism and Democracy organizes society around individual rights and a free market; with citizen participation (directly or indirectly) in proposal and creation of laws. Capitalism, while promoting individual rights, also breeds greed; as you will note in the subsequent summary about the war machine of WW II and the greed of American car companies. Both Communism and Capitalism have their pros and cons. Americans believe in freedom and democracy. But there are hundreds of thousands of American citizens living in squalor, starving or malnourished, denied equal opportunities. And let’s not forget that the formation of America’s democracy was borne of genocide (First Nations peoples) and its economic system was built on slavery (Africans brought here against their will and forced to work for no pay).
Geography and Climate
Russia is the northernmost large and populous country in the world. Its second-largest city lies at latitude 60o ‑‑the latitude of the southern tip of Greenland. Russia’s topography consists of mountains, deserts, vast forests, and no barriers against the onslaught of Arctic air. Winters in Russia are long, dark and bitterly cold; resulting in a short growing season, which makes it impossible to grown enough food to feed its population. (Note: Ukraine, with its rich soil and agrarian lifestyle, declared its independence when the USSR broke apart in 1991.) The United States’ climate is conducive to long growing seasons; and is able to take advantage of great expanses of land suitable for farming.
Russia’s vast oil and gas resources are relied upon by Europe. This continues to be a factor in the stabilization (or end) of the E.U. as we know it – a union of 28 countries awarded the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize for keeping a mass of 503 million people in relative harmony. Anti-E.U. sentiments have been building for years, with richer nations unhappy about supporting poorer nations; and some view the arrangement as “a meddling by outsiders” in their national affairs. On the other hand, the U.S. Department of Energy stated (pre-Trump era) that the U.S. could be energy independent by about 2040. Clearly, continued investment in renewable forms of energy (wind, solar) are crucial to energy-independence.
The industrial revolution reached the U.S. in the 1800s, bringing with it changes, good and bad. Considering the focus of this article, let’s consider the dark side of America’s technology. Documents in the National Archives indicate that Ford and General Motors continued to do business with the Nazi regime rather than divest themselves of their German assets. Automakers have been implicated in playing a key role in Hitler’s invasion of Russia during WW II. Documents in German and American archives show that both auto companies converted their German plants to military production – including production of parts for the Wunderbomber, a key weapon in the German air force ‑‑ and relied on forced labor at their German plants.
On forced labor at German auto plants: Elsa Iwanowa brought a class action suit against Ford Motor Company in 1998. Iwanowa was 16 years old when she was abducted from her home in the southern Russian city of Rostov by German soldiers in 1942 with hundreds of other young women who were forced to work at a Ford plant in Germany. Although the auto makers deny culpability, documents show that their American parent companies continued to do business with the Nazi regime, defending their strategy because their German operations were highly profitable.
Americans can access just about any type of media anywhere in the world. Not so for Russians. Just ask the members of the punk-rock band Pussy Riot; band members were jailed after their 2012 anti-Putin performance. After almost 2 years in jail, they were released when they became internationally famous – and in advance of February’s Winter Olympics in Sochi (2014). Russia’s media outlets are tightly controlled by the government. Russian citizens hear and see what the government wants them to. They do not see pictures of corpses after a Malaysian airliner was shot from the sky, corpses lying in wheat fields or in the bedroom of a Ukrainian home after crashing through its roof (as shown in Time’s article, “In Russia, Crime without Punishment” http://time.com/3028057/in-russia-crime-without-punishment/ ).
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has a public had an approval rating of 86% in 2014; a clear indication that the Russian majority desired a strong leader, someone in sharp contrast to the Yeltsin years filled with what some called chaotic freedom, lawlessness and too much interference from the West – specifically the “American menace.” Though Putin’s approval rating has dropped about 20 percentage points, he is “trusted” more than other Russian politicians, according to a Reuters article in early 2019.
According to Russians, Americans make them look bad at every opportunity. From Tom Clancy’s 1984 Hunt for Red October to the 1986 film, Top Gun, Russians are depicted as the bad guys. And let’s throw in one of the Rocky movies for good measure; the one where the steroid-hyped boxer kills the American superstar boxer, Apollo. In need of a bad guy for a movie or television show? Just add a Russian.
Proud American: Menace or Hero?
I am proud to be an American. I also recognize that America has messed up in some grossly egregious ways.
How one views being an American depends upon where you stand. In countries where Americans are the first on the scene after tsunamis or earthquakes, we are heroes. In countries where American-made weapons are used against its loved ones, we are the bad guys.
Individualism reigns among Americans. But collectively, we are viewed as one.


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Today, when the digital currencies became truly popular and successful, people question the possibility of making them real methods of payment. So far, more and more world banks show the signs of crisis. EU has been in a severy financial crisis since 2007–2008. It is actively looking for new ways of saving its financial and monetary systems. Some European countries are more in favour of digital currencies and the other countries are more conservative in this sense. Recently Italian government officially formalized the rescue of two medium-sized banks — Banco Popolaredi Vicenza and Veneto Banca — both of them were on the verge of bankruptcy, as those banks did not manage to find an investor on the markets to help them.
Such situations force investors across Europe to question the security of the banking system. Specific attributes of the unprecedented rescue of Cyprus banks in 2013 led to a significant increase in Bitcoin’s price, as investors sought safe havens and access to liquidity.


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Watch some of Madison's most talented aerialists perform!
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- Times: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Admission: Free


May 18, 2013
Flood ebbs, Northeast picks up after epic storm
New York City and the sodden Northeast began an arduous journey back to normal on Wednesday after mammoth storm Sandy killed at least 64 people in a rampage that swamped coastal cities and cut power to millions.
Financial markets reopened with the New York Stock Exchange running on generator power after the first weather-related two-day closure since an 1888 blizzard. Packed buses took commuters to work with New York's subway system halted after seawater flooded its tunnels.
US President Barack Obama, who has halted campaigning with the election six days away, set aside political differences with New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie for a helicopter tour of the devastated coast, where they saw flooded and sand-swept neighborhoods and burning homes.
"The entire country's been watching. Everyone knows how hard Jersey has been hit," Obama told residents at an evacuation shelter in the town of Brigantine.
"We're not going to tolerate any red tape. We're not going to tolerate any bureaucracy," he said of the relief effort.
Sandy crashed ashore with 80 mile-per-hour (130-kph) winds on Monday as a rare hybrid superstorm after merging with another system. It was the largest storm by area to hit the United States in generations, after killing 69 people as a hurricane in the Caribbean.
Sandy was likely to rank as one of the costliest storms in US history. One disaster-modeling firm said Sandy may have caused up to $15 billion in insured losses.
About 6 million homes and businesses in 15 US states remained without power on Wednesday, down from a high of nearly 8.5 million, which surpassed the record 8.4 million customers who went dark from last year's Hurricane Irene.
While markets reopened, floodwaters receded and residents went back to work by car, bicycle and bus in New York, the country's most populous city suffered some setbacks. Damage forced evacuation of Bellevue Hospital, known for psychiatric and emergency care.
Five hundred patients were being moved, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. Evacuations of four other hospitals and 17 chronic care facilities had already been ordered.
An evacuation order for 375,000 New Yorkers in low-lying areas remained in effect. With subways down, the mayor said cars must have at least three passengers to enter Manhattan.
Across the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey, water that reached chest high on Monday was knee high on Wednesday morning.
"I thought it was the end. I kept telling my sons to pray," said Marcelina Rosario, 47, who was trapped in the second floor of her Hoboken apartment. "Everything happened so fast. The water started coming up, the refrigerator was floating."
In Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, a few hundred people strolled the storm-shattered boardwalk on Wednesday, stepping around piles of broken boards, sand and debris as crews used heavy equipment to clear 2 feet of sand from nearby streets.
More than half of all the gas stations in the New York City area and New Jersey were closed due to power outages and depleted fuel supplies, frustrating attempts to restore normal life, industry officials said.
Tempers flared and horns blared in a line of some 30 cars at a Getty service station in Gowanus in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. "I don't have any lights and need this gasoline for my generator," said Abdul Rahim Anwar as he put two full jerry cans into his trunk.
The New York area's John F. Kennedy and Newark airports reopened after thousands of flights had been canceled, leaving travelers stuck for days. LaGuardia, a third major airport, was scheduled to reopen on Thursday.
Limited New York subway service was due to start on Thursday, four days after the system, with daily traffic of about 5.5 million people, shut down.
Brooklynite Matthew Gessler went to Breezy Point, the New York neighborhood where fire destroyed 111 homes, to inspect damage to his mother's house, and was disturbed by what he saw.
"Where the fire happened, you could honestly take that picture and say it was somewhere in the Middle East, like in Afghanistan, and no one would doubt you at all," said Gessler, 35. "There were houses that just got picked up and washed away. So you'd be walking down the street and there'd be a house in the middle of the street."
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said more than a dozen people had been charged with theft and looting in connection with the storm for targeting businesses in the badly flooded Far Rockaway neighborhood of the New York City borough.


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After delays and much anticipation, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune was released last week. The film had very good reviews, particularly praising the epic scale and cinematography, and with the next part already given the go-ahead clearly a respectable box office success. There is talk of Dune being the next big franchise, making billions of dollars and becoming a pop-cultural touchstone like Star Wars or the Marvel movies. The next big franchise is almost the Holy Grail of Hollywood and any number have been thrust forward: Maze Runner, Divergent, The Golden Compass, Dark Universe, only to fail to capture the public imagination.
What Is Dune?
Dune is a series of sci-fi novels by Frank Herbert and continued by his son Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson after Frank Herbert’s death. Dune is often cited as the best-selling science-fiction book of all time. There have been various adaptations of these books, most famously David Lynch’s 1984 version of Dune, loved by some, mocked by many and generally considered a failure. Frank Herbert wrote six books and with the first book already split into two films, there is potential for a lot more movies.
Denis Villeneuve and Franchises
This version of Dune was directed by Denis Villeneuve who is one of the best filmmakers working today. My first experience of his work was Sicario which is quite simply one of the best thrillers ever made. A later film, Arrival, is one of the best films ever made; a sci-fi film capable of making you break down in tears by the quiet tragedy of its story. Villeneuve has also been very critical of Marvel films, referring to them as “cut and paste” films for following a formula. Villeneuve doesn’t seem to think all the MCU films are bad but rather the way they are made is not how good films are made. It’s hard to imagine Villeneuve wanting to embark on a sprawling franchise and be some kind of Kevin Feige figure for Dune. The film was made by Legendary Entertainment who are certainly no stranger to making franchises having released Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, the Jurassic World films and more, and would presumably want to maximise profit – but at the same time, they hired Denis Villeneuve.
A Different Kind of Franchise
If we imagine that it is the intention to make Dune into a hugely successful franchise it would be a franchise like no other. Many have noted that Star Wars seemed to take a lot of inspiration from the Dune book series but the tone of the recent film and Star Wars are very different. Dune is a type of sci-fi that we don’t see too often, demanding a lot from the audience, not spoon-feeding them information or “Basil Expositioning” everything. In a major battle in the film, more time is spent on creating spectacular scenes of exploding spaceships than making it look cool. The characters in Dune don’t make quips or have amusing robot sidekicks, they discuss the use of power and who should wield it. It is also a film that has no problem with the oddities of the original work that many other filmmakers would have taken the edges of – such as as the bizarre Baron Harkonnen, a man of huge proportions who also floats around when he feels like it or submerges himself in black tar.
Will a Dune Franchise Work?
I don’t think so. That’s not a comment on the quality of the film or the source material but rather it’s not suited to a franchise. It’s dense, weird and currently helmed by a filmmaker who seems to be opposed to the very idea. There may be several films made but there are three Godfather films but that is not a franchise, it is a story told across numerous films. As a fan of films, I am not looking for more franchises and I am certainly not looking to shackle interesting films to the boulder of franchise expectations. I love Star Wars, I have enjoyed many Marvel films but I am desperate for big-budget films that aren’t franchises, that don’t have to fit into a twenty-two film plotline, that aren’t operating on “phases”, that can be a single film or a couple of films, and that, essentially be the end of it. To go back to The Godfather films – they made three films with one of the most talented directors ever and a superb cast weighed down by Oscars, and even then, one of the three films is not well-regarded. The brilliance of Jaws, Terminator 1 and 2, Alien and Aliens, is marred by the insistence of sequel after sequel that gets worse in quality. Denis Villeneuve also directed Blade Runner:2049, the sequel to the sci-fi classic Blade Runner. Around 35 years passed between those two films and the second being made only when there was a film worth making. Dune does not feel like someone trying to start a franchise but just trying to make the best film they can.


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Santorum and Big Government Conservatism
For several years now, I have been going on and on about the continuing growth of the religious right in conservative circles. My antipathy to theocratic conservatism had been at fever pitch long before I wrote my essay,"Caught Up in the Rapture," which, with its sister essay,"Bush Wins!," predicted a Bush victory a good six months prior to the 2004 election.
In this context, a recent Jonathan Rauch essay,"America's Anti-Reagan isn't Hilary Clinton. It's Rick Santorum," has been making the rounds all over the blogosphere; it's a dissection of Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum's anti-libertarian philosophy.
What one will not find in Rauch's essay, however, are two words:"Bush" and"Iraq." In my view, Santorum's new book, It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good, is only the newest manifestation of a religious conservative movement, whose titular head is George W. Bush. Whereas the religious conservatives wish to remake the culture and politics of this country, the neoconservatives wish to remake the culture and politics of the Middle East. Together, these tendencies make for one very potent anti-libertarian, anti-individualist politics.
What hope does a religiously based conservative administration have to inspire secular, liberal democracies in the Middle East when it is at war with both secularism and liberalism at home?
I discuss these themes in greater depth at Notablog.
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It's official: We're wishing for a trip to Iceland after peeping Beyoncé's latest Tumblr pics.
The 33-year-old singer, daughter Blue Ivy and hubby Jay Z recently traveled to Iceland in honor of the rapper's 45th birthday, which he celebrated on Dec. 5, and in true Queen Bey fashion, the hitmaker took to her Tumblr page to give fans a peek into the trio's latest vacation.
Our first thought? We should have snuck ourselves into one of the Carter family suitcases...
The "Bow Down" beauty shared a slew of scenic shots of the Nordic country in addition to posting adorable pics with her hubby and daughter, who all enjoyed a fun-filled helicopter ride.
In fact, Jay Z is beaming a bigger smile than we've ever seen, appearing blissfully happy as he rings in the big 4-5 with his loved ones.
Images of empty champagne bottles covered in snow as well as snaps of a fancy sushi dinner prove that the family had a wonderful time—enjoying the beauty of Iceland in their typical high-rolling fashion.
When the couple wasn't bundled up for the snowy weather, they took a dip in the pool at the luxurious Trophy Lodge resort, and, unsurprisingly, Bey looks as flawless as ever as she shows off her bangin' bod in a series of bikini pics (don't you just love her fierce pose?!).
There's also an aww-worthy image where the songstress is presenting her hubby with a cake as he grins from ear to ear.
The gorgeous family has since returned to NYC, where, presumably, they will spend Christmas together.
Bey and Jay most recently stepped out for a romantic date night in the Big Apple, appearing all smiles as they enjoyed a quiet night out as a couple.
Merry Christmas to the Carters!

domain: entertainment


In January 2013, David Cameron finally promised an “in” or “out” referendum on the membership of Great Britain within the European Union, after years of scepticism about the relationship between Britain and the other European nations. While the speech was intended to calm Europeans leaders’ nerves, it also aimed to appease the British public with their current hostile sentiment towards Europe, especially with consideration to immigration. As Cameron stated, while British might “have the character of an island nation – independent, forthright, passionate in defence of our sovereignty”, he also added that he was “not a British isolationist” aiming to retreat Britain from participating in the regional European forum. While Cameron openly stated his opposition to Britain exiting the EU, he nevertheless understood the implications of Britain leaving would not be as catastrophic as the Labour Party would suggest. While much speculation about this “choice” has occurred over the years following World War II, it remains uncertain as to whether the decision will have to be made and if it does, whom would Britain choose.
From the very beginning of the conception of the European Union, Britain has not been a key advocate of such an association. In the 1950s, Britain did not join Germany, France, Italy and the Benelux countries’ plan to form a single market including coal and steel. By 1970, however, Britain’s relative economic power had radically declined. Meanwhile, European countries that were aiming to rebuild Europe into a military, political and economic community appealed to Britain not to retreat into an imperial economic and political laager. As Monnet stated, Britain could have been “a nucleus around which a European community might be formed.” However, Britain was convinced that the American ‘special relationship’ should be more greatly valued. The continued attempt to replace lost power with influence and maintain an executive position within the “three circles”, as Churchill described, ultimately failed; twenty years after the adoption of Churchill’s vision, “Britain, by not choosing one path or another, has been gradually forced to let down all three.” It became apparent that Britain should become increasingly Europe-orientated, which occurred throughout 1970s and 1980s.
History suggests that Britain will have to choose between a European and an Atlantic future as aiming to be part of both “circles” proved difficult and ineffective. This was especially with the 2003 invasion of Iraq, through which the British government lost much of their international credibility for supporting the USA. Arguably, Blair’s standing in the EU never fully recovered from the fall out of the war couple with their decision not to hold a referendum on joining the euro. After this immense foreign policy failure, Britain aimed to distance themselves from their ‘special relationship’ with little long-term success. Fundamentally, in terms of hard security, the British remain irrevocably tied to the USA, as “Britain is dependent on America for its nuclear deterrent, possession of which is considered a prerequisite for the maintenance of Britain’s permanent seat on the UN Security Council.” Britain’s limbo between the two continents throughout history has postponed the need for them to choose: a choice, which may have to be made in 2017 when the referendum has been promised.
As the Financial Times reported, while “emotion draws Britain west across the Atlantic… hard calculation as often pulls it back to Europe.” The danger lies with the British sceptics whose “romanticism is eclipsing realism” wanting Britain to split from the Union. Additionally, the fundamental problem with Europe, as it stands, is the euro. As David Miliband stated, “the creation of the Euro remains the biggest threat to global economic stability because of its struggling currency union.” Of course the current economic fragility, which is being seen in the Eurozone, is being further hampered by the austerity measures currently being enacted. As it stands, there needs to be a centre-left vision for the future of Europe, which would acknowledge the democratic deficit and aim to reform the union for long-lasting, effective change. The choice that Britain will aim to make is still contentious as currently, it looks increasingly possible that the “in” or “out” referendum that Cameron promised for 2017 could allow Britain to exit the EU therefore allowing Britain’s influential position within the international forum to decline further. As politicians aim to balance domestic popularity with their international commitments, the choice between Europe and the USA remains uncertain. Strategically, it remains sensible for Britain to maintain their involvement with the EU but if 2017 does see the split of Britain from the EU, the ramifications would be profound.
The fundamental problem persuading the British against remaining within the EU is due to the fact that “the euro-zone crisis has exposed the lack of dynamism in much of Europe entirely.” Britons now associate the EU with uncontrolled immigration from Eastern European countries and therefore, a British exit seems ever more possible. The short-term benefits for Britain would be seen, especially economically as London would regain and ferment it’s status as a global financial hub. However, without the shield of single-market rules, London could lose out to rival EU centres and the membership of the EU customs union remains beneficial for UK firms who export to the EU. Idealistically Britain would want to have the same status as Switzerland, but most likely Britain would receive the title of an “outsider with limited access to the single market, almost no influence and few allies.” Therefore, in conclusion, UK foreign policy would be greatly hindered by a choice regarding its foreign policy’s future, and therefore while British idealism pull it towards the “American dream”, realistically, UK needs to maintain a strong presence within the EU. The British idealism will be the cause of their downfall as if the British in hope of stronger Anglo-American relations, would forgo their European connection, thus reducing their economic and diplomatic attraction to all emerging economies especially China and India. The fundamental mistake would be to imagine that Britain could put itself at the centre of an array of global networks if it leaves behind existing alliances.
 BBC Website, David Cameron Speech: UK and the EU, 23rd January 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21170265 (Last Accessed: 14.04.2014)
 Ibid, BBC website, 23rd January 2013
 The Economist, “Britain and Europe: Making the Break”, 8th December 2012
 Strange, Susan, “Sterling and British Foreign Policy: A Political View”, International Affairs, Vol. 47, No. 2, April 1971
 Palmer, John; op cit, p83.
 The “Three Circles”, coined by Churchill, showed Britain to be in the intersection of United Europe, the Empire-Commonwealth and the US & the Anglophone world.
 Calleo, David; “Britain’s Future”, London, Hodder & Slughton, 1969, p185.
 Hood, F.; “Atlantic Dreams and European Realities: British Foreign Policy after Iraq”, European Integration, Vol. 30, No. 1, 183-197, March 2008, p195
 Stephens, Phillip, “British foreign policy should be realist”,
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/edf5a3d6-0261-11e2-b41f-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2QSCE1WZl (Last Accessed: 14.04.2014)
 Stephens, Phillip; Ibid.
 Miliband, David; Ibid.
 The Economist, Ibid.
 The Economist, Ibid.


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domain: economics