It is good news for the New Zealand economy that Moody’s Investors’ Service has affirmed our Aaa rating but we shouldn’t let the Government now waste it, National’s Finance spokesperson Amy Adams says.
“The recent international credit rating agency report praises the strength of an economy built up under nine years of a National Government.
“In Moody’s own words: it notes how New Zealand’s fiscal metrics ‘improved swiftly in the aftermath of the 2008 recession and the 2011 Canterbury earthquake; they continued to improve through the downturn in commodity prices from 2014-2016 and the Kaikoura earthquake in late 2016.’
“That New Zealand survived both economic and natural challenges and was still able to emerge stronger is testament to National’s stable hand in Government
“Moody’s also praised National’s debt reduction, pointing out that ‘the central government's gross debt fell to 26.5 per cent of GDP in 2017 from a recent peak at 31.3 per cent in 2012.’
“Economists have already cut their forecasts for Government surpluses in coming years because of the likelihood the Government will need more revenue than it expects to fund its wasteful and largely unquantified spending plans.
“National built up strong economic foundations for New Zealand which are now at risk of being torn down, undoing all the good words Moody’s have today praised.
“The Government’s employment policy will undermine the strength of New Zealand’s labour force and make it less flexible at a time when great change is being demanded of employers in a global market.
“It has already dampened enthusiasm for New Zealand as an export destination, turning away the vast investment appetite of global capital right now.
“It also decided to impose a fuel tax just as global crude prices were rising, hitting Kiwis at the petrol pump and its ban on oil and gas exploration ensures New Zealand will be a net importer of fossil fuels products, with all the cost that implies, for the foreseeable future.
“It is far easier to spend wealth than create it. National wants all New Zealanders to have the opportunity to accumulate wealth.
“Low-quality spending such as we’ve seen from this Government with its working groups, slush funds and massive but unsuccessful student bribe shows how quickly gains can be eroded.”
Today’s GDP figures illustrate the fallacy of the Government’s claim they won’t rely on population growth to underpin economic growth as GDP per capita came in well below headline GDP growth, National Finance Spokesperson Amy Adams says.
“GDP per capita was just 0.7 per cent for the year. This is significantly below the 1.6 per cent per capita New Zealand has averaged since 2012.
“In order to close the after wage gap with Australia - as we had been doing since 2008 - we need to be growing faster on a per person basis. Instead, New Zealand is now falling further behind.
“The Government inherited an economy that was growing strongly. Every one per cent lower growth means fewer opportunities for New Zealanders and around $800 million a year less revenue to pay for public services.
“With strong terms of trade and international growth rates, the Government has nobody to blame for the lower GDP growth but itself.
“Despite the quarterly results exceeding the Reserve Bank forecasts, these forecasts were already significantly lower than what was expected of the economy before the Government came into office last year.
“As the June quarter numbers released today don’t pick up the recent sharp drop in consumer confidence and business own activity indicators, GDP results for the second half of the year will be a better indication of just how much this Government is constraining our economy.”
“Economic growth needs stable, sound and pro-growth economic policies. The current Government doesn’t seem to realise that. Instead, it has implemented a range of growth-limiting policies such as increasing costs, banning oil and gas, banning foreign investment, introducing union-friendly labour reforms and not ruling out a higher tax burden for New Zealanders.
“A strong and growing the economy is the critical first step in improving the wellbeing and living standards of New Zealanders. Without solid growth we will fall further behind other countries such as Australia.”
Today’s report from the Tax Working Group will do little to reduce fears that more taxes are going to be imposed on New Zealand households and businesses, National’s Finance spokesperson Amy Adams says.
“Despite being given the opportunity to do so, the Government has refused to confirm its tax plans will be fiscally neutral. But this supposed review of the tax system shouldn’t be used as a stalking horse for higher taxes.
“Costs of living are already going up through higher petrol prices and rents, and outstripped wage growth in the last quarter. New Zealand families and small businesses deserve to know if this Government is softening us up for more taxes like a Capital Gains Tax.
“National welcomes the TWG ruling out a land tax or a wealth tax and not tampering with GST but is deeply concerned that the group clearly plans to bring in a Capital Gains Tax.
“The report is a missed opportunity to consider better ways to have the tax system incentivise savings and investment, lift productivity and help small businesses to grow.
“It isn’t good enough for the Government to say any recommendations it takes up won’t come into force until 2021. Taxes already take more of our income than in almost any country outside of Europe, amounting to $50,000 a year on average per household. And the tax take is already set to double by 2032 even before new taxes are added.
“Rather than working out ways to take more money from New Zealanders, the better approach would be to stop the low-quality and untargeted spending we are seeing all too often.
“National believes New Zealanders should be able to keep more of what they earn. The tax system should encourage productive investment and savings, not penalise those who try to get ahead.
“In typical Labour style, this is a Government that clearly thinks it knows how to spend your money better than you do.”
The Government’s anti-growth policies are not only hurting business confidence but are also affecting business decisions such as hiring fewer workers, National’s Finance spokesperson Amy Adams says.
“Grant Robertson has tried to brush aside negative economic indicators or downplay them as a side-effect of an economy ‘in transition’. Insulated in the Beehive, he prefers to ignore the impact this Government’s policies are having in the real world.
“In the services sector, hiring intentions have now contracted for three straight months. Or to put it another way, employment in a sector that accounts for two-thirds of the economy is stalling. That’s the longest run of contractions since January 2011.
“Falling business confidence will be a factor but business owners are also coping with rising labour costs such as a higher minimum wage and the uncertainty created by this Government’s plans to meddle with employment law that doesn’t need fixing.
“The services PSI series comes just days after the PMI showed employment in manufacturing shrank for the third month in four in August. Businesses aren’t just gloomy, they’re acting on that sentiment by creating fewer new jobs and holding off on investment. That, in turn, makes it harder for ordinary New Zealanders to get ahead.
“This Government built its fiscal plans around optimistic growth forecasts that will be thwarted by its own anti-growth policies. That’s a symptom of a naïve administration that lacks the real-world experience to prudently oversee the New Zealand economy.”
NZIER’s latest consensus forecasts show yet another decline in New Zealand’s economic outlook, National’s Finance Spokesperson Amy Adams says.
“Economists and analysts have cut their forecasts for economic growth and wages for the next two years, and slashed their estimates for Government surpluses for the next three years. The only things rising are the cost of living and unemployment. It is an ugly combination.
“This is deeply concerning for the New Zealand economy at a time when most of our comparator countries, like the US and Australia, are speeding up.
The Government may quibble about business confidence surveys that don’t suit its spin but the NZIER’s consensus forecasts compile the views of the Reserve Bank, the Treasury, ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank, the NZIER and Westpac.
“Given Grant Robertson is so keen to use the consensus forecasts as evidence of the economy running along smoothly, hopefully these results will be a wake-up call that the Government’s anti-growth policies are hurting the economy.
“The latest manufacturing numbers out this morning have added further downside risk to the next set of GDP figures.
“When growth is lower than it otherwise would be, that means New Zealanders are less prosperous because wages are lower and jobs are fewer.
“The Government can’t ban oil and gas exploration, reduce labour market flexibility, increase union powers, ban foreign investment, and create high levels of uncertainty with more than 150 working groups, including the prospect of more taxes via the tax working group, without there being a significant downward effect on the economy.
“We need pro-growth policies that continue to close the gap in after-tax wages with New Zealand and Australia. Growing the economy is the best way to improve the living standards and wellbeing of New Zealanders, not redistributing what we already have.
“Growth doesn’t happen by itself. It needs good economic policy that encourages businesses to grow, hire new staff and invest in new machinery and equipment. It is time the Coalition Government stopped putting ideology ahead of the economic wellbeing of New Zealanders.
Indications today that the Tax Working Group may be set to reject a Capital Gains Tax shows even a handpicked working group won’t go along with the ideology of this Government, National’s Finance Spokesperson Amy Adams says.
“Before the election the Government talked a big game about a Capital Gains Tax, which is essentially a tax on Mums and Dads who have worked hard all their lives to set aside enough to put into a house or a retirement fund.
“It now seems the Tax Working Group may be going to say what we’ve been saying all along. This tax is unnecessary and harmful. If you want more houses then you get the settings right so that more houses are built, you don’t impose further taxes on property ownership and investment.
“Tax settings are a huge factor in deciding whether businesses invest, or hire new workers. Once again businesses have been left in the dark and that’s one of the reasons business confidence has fallen so low.
“Today’s revelation still leaves considerable uncertainty as the Government is still able to implement a Capital Gains Tax, despite any recommendation by the Tax Working Group.
“Families and businesses are facing years of uncertainty with a working group whose sole purpose was to give Grant Robertson the cover to introduce a Capital Gains Tax. It’s looking like it won’t even do that – but the uncertainty of future tax settings remains.”
Finance Minister Grant Robertson is desperate to downplay signs this Government is hurting the economy but he’s been shown up by Australia, where per-capita growth is running three times faster, National’s Finance spokesperson Amy Adams says.
“Mr Robertson has poured scorn on any economic indicators that don’t suit the Government’s narrative. If business confidence was booming he would be claiming the credit rather than trying to discredit the surveys and what they do tell us.
“Australia’s per-capita GDP grew 1.8 per cent in the past year compared with just 0.6 per cent in New Zealand based on the most recent figures.
“Kiwis proudly hold their own on the sports field against our trans-Tasman rivals but when it comes to economic management, this Government is clearly not match-fit. It has dropped the ball and eroded many of the gains made under National.
“From 2012 until National left office last year, GDP per capita outgrew Australia’s every single quarter. That has ended under this Government. Real after-tax wages grew by 18 per cent under National compared to just 8 per cent in Australia.
“These are the sorts of indicators that drive decisions by many New Zealanders on where they want to live. Under National, migration across the Tasman turned around from a net outflow of 30,000 in 2008 to a net inflow in 2017.
“That has reversed in 2018. So far this year, a net 2000 people have headed for Australia in search of a better life. They haven’t waited for the Government to deliver on feel-good promises we can’t afford and policies that hurt growth and employment, and drive up costs.
“This Government lacks the real-world experience to fully understand how its beltway theories hurt businesses and ordinary Kiwis. By contrast, National believes in sensible, consistent economic policies that encourage growth and give everyone an opportunity to get ahead.”
After months and months of insisting the Government’s core debt target was inviolable, a pledge repeated by the Prime Minister just last week, Grant Robertson has now admitted it’s more of a hope than a promise, says National’s Finance spokesperson Amy Adams.
“It is a key admission from Mr Robertson – not because of how much they may miss the debt target by but because this Government made getting core Crown debt down to 20 per cent of GDP by 2022 a key measure of their credibility as economic managers.
“On Q+A yesterday Mr Robertson claimed that even if the Government doesn’t meet the debt target he would consider that ‘we would have still done a good job’.
“No Mr Robertson, you would not have. The fact is that for the Government to have any credibility as economic managers then at the very minimum they must stick to the targets they set for themselves and insisted they would adhere to.
“His comments are directly at odds with the message the Prime Minister gave business leaders in a much-hyped speech last week aimed at easing deep concern and uncertainty about the direction of this Government and the ensuing slump in business confidence.
“The Prime Minister said the budget rules are ‘not a nice to have’ but were ‘a firm guide’ for managing the economy. And in her own ‘read my lips’ moment, she said while there had been calls to borrow or spend more, ‘We won’t’.
“But Mr Robertson is saying ‘We will’ by making it clear that missing the target would still be OK by him.
Just today Mr Robertson also confirmed that Government borrowing costs will be higher as a result of hiding some debt within Housing NZ.
“Conflicting messages are symptomatic of this coalition and part of the reason why business uncertainty is rife. It also speaks to this Government’s lack of credentials as economic managers, which has seen growth and job creation slow, and the cost of living rise.
“New Zealand needs to reduce debt in economic good times so that we’re able to cope when a shock happens. Instead we’ve seen some $6 billion of debt hidden off the Crown’s core balance sheet, a move the Treasury says could harm our reputation as a borrower, and increasingly clear messages that the core Crown debt target is likely to be missed.
“National believes a growing economy helps all Kiwis – creating more jobs, higher incomes and more revenue to pay for the things this country needs. Instead we have a Government intent of eroding the strong economic buffer inherited from National.”
An independent report released today by TDB Advisory shows that the Mixed Ownership Model introduced under the previous National Government has been an overwhelming success, National’s Finance spokesperson Amy Adams says.
“The Mixed Ownership process successfully generated $4.7 billion for public infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and broadband and TDB’s findings highlight the wider issue with the Government’s ideological opposition to private sector involvement in funding new assets.
“The partial sell-down of Genesis, Meridian and Mercury began in 2013 and had three simple objectives: to lower Government debt; to increase investment opportunities for ‘mum and dad’ investors and to improve the financial performance of each company.
“TDB’s study shows all of these objectives have been achieved.
“The most striking finding is that despite electricity prices being flat-to-falling over the period of the Mixed Ownership Model, shareholder returns have increased by 69 per cent and the Government has received higher dividends despite owning a lower share of each company.
“The report also shows that opposition to the Mixed Ownership Model was misplaced. It didn’t lead to higher electricity prices. And it didn’t result in a drop-off in renewable energy generation, which has increased over the period.
“The current Government has an irrational opposition to the private sector. Labour’s ideological resistance to Private-Public Partnerships to build public assets means a number of important projects are failing to get off the ground.
“The Government shouldn’t shut itself off from ideas such as Private-Public Partnerships or Mixed Ownership purely on ideological grounds. Evidence, not ideology, should drive good policy.
The latest migration figures show Kiwis are voting with their feet with more people leaving for Australia in the past year than arrived in the previous three, says National Finance spokeswomen Amy Adams says.
“So far in 2018 there has been a net outflow of more than 2,300 people to Australia, which more than unwinds the net inflow of 1,600 people achieved in the last term of the previous National Government.
“When National came into office in 2008 there were more than 30,000 people leaving for Australia every year. We worked hard to turn this around by closing the after-tax wage gap by $50 a week and achieving six years of consecutively superior GDP per capita growth.
“A pretty simple measure of a country’s attractiveness is how many people choose to live and work there. Unfortunately it seems the tide is now turning.
“It shows how quickly bad economic policies and uncertainty can undo years of hard work. People go where they have the best opportunity to get ahead. Clearly, more people now see that those opportunities lie in Australia not New Zealand.
“And what is worse, the most agile and free to move are often the best and brightest.
“The Government should be concerned that more people are now packing their bags and heading over the Tasman. We need to continue to try to close the wage gap with Australia. Unfortunately nothing this Government is doing is aimed at growing the pie.


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New Delhi, Feb 25 (UNI) In a Pre-Budget Memorandum 2008 to Finance Minister P Chidambaram, the All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) has called for a change in various financial parameters like excise duty on Multi Axle Vehicle's (MAV) be reduced to 5 per cent, rollback of FBT from the sector and CENVAT credit at par with the travel companies.
In a letter to the Finance Ministry AITWA Secretary Ramesh Gulati said ''Excise duty on MAV be reduced to five per cent from existing level. The use of MAV's must be encouraged because they are fuel efficient and cause least damage to Roads.'' Stating that the road transport industry is not a cash rich industry and cannot match the IT or other industries in salary structure of the employees, the association has called for an exemption from FBT provisions.
The transport companies should also get CENVAT credit at par with the travel companies.
The association said at present the last date for depositing Service-Tax collected by the Transporters is 5th day of the month. ''This is creating problem for the Transporters having multi location branches. Therefore, it is requested to change this date to 15th day of the month.'' The statement said the present scheme of National Permit is breeding corruption and the body suggested a uniform amount of Rs 12,000 per year be collected from those vehicles applying for National Permit for entire country.
''This will provide seamless movement like Railways. The detention of trucks is causing great national loss in terms of inventory carrying cost and wastage of fuel,'' AITWA said.
UNI PBB BJR ND1950

domain: news


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Ronaldo scored his first goal since returning to soccer more than a year after knee surgery, sending Corinthians to a 1-1 tie Sunday against Palmeiras in the Sao Paulo state championship.
His header came off a corner kick three minutes into injury time, beating his defender on the far post. He ran toward Corinthians' fans behind the goal and jumped onto a fence to celebrate. He was mobbed by his teammates and surrounded by reporters and photographers.
Fans joined Ronaldo on the other side of the fence, partially bringing it down. The game was stopped for a couple of minutes as police cleared the area, but nobody appeared injured.
"I couldn't contain my emotions. It was a unique moment," Ronaldo said. "I feel I own perfection in these moments. When I'm in front of the goal, this is what I know how to do best."
The 32-year-old great is a three-time FIFA player of the year whose 15 World Cup goals are a record. He ruptured a tendon in his left knee while with AC Milan during an Italian league game in February 2008. It was the third serious knee injury of his career.
Ronaldo played 28 minutes against Itumbiara in the Brazilian Cup on Wednesday, his first match in more than a year. On Sunday, he entered the game in the 63rd minute and struck the crossbar with a powerful shot from the top of the penalty area in the 78th minute.
Ronaldo nearly set up a goal in the 87th, beating a defender on the flank before making a cross into the area for defender Andre Santos' missed header.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Bill… Thank you for the interview and also for sharing with your readers that I garden in my bikini. I laughed. When you have a large and busy family, and you’re a pilot writing a novel, you learn to multi-task. Sometimes that means to enjoy the sunshine ‘guilt free’ it is in the garden working. The neighbors seem to enjoy it.
This question crossed my mind the moment I met you. With two master’s degrees and many opportunities, what took you into the world of an airline pilot?
Actually, the pilot career came first. And mine was an unusual start based on a challenge. When I was 9 years-old my girlfriends and I were playing the game called careers. The career choices were to become a stewardess, nurse, school teacher or librarian. All my girlfriends landed on the ‘stewardess’ spot, but not me. I said, “I don’t care, I’m going to be the pilot anyway.” One of my girl friends enlightened me that I could not be a pilot because ‘girls’ couldn’t fly planes, her dad was a pilot. That was the challenge I needed, and from that moment forward, I had made my career choice. The masters followed with the thirst for education, and writing… it has been part of my soul for a very long time. But like many I said, “one day I am going to write a novel.”
You’ve had an outstanding career flying mostly Boeing aircraft, including 747 and 757. Now you’re finishing training on Airbus A330 for Delta. You’re in the middle of a very impressive career. There has to be conflicts between flying, writing, and family life. How have you handled the stress?
The stress of life and to how to handle it…I’m thinking of a title for a best seller. I’m not sure in the early years I handled it all that well. I just operated at full speed, and sacrificed my health in the process, mostly due to the lack of sleep. Even if we don’t feel stress, long term stress will impact the physical body.
Today I am older, and hopefully wiser, and I take proactive measures to do it all, and work to eliminate the stress. Not only do I exercise daily, but I make a point to sleep, and get massages regularly. One thing about being busy… if you love what you’re doing, the only stress you feel is from the things left undone…that you don’t want to do. Schedule 2 hours a day to work on the things that need to be done, and then spend the rest of the day feeling guilt free at your computer writing! Or… if you have the means, hire someone to do them for you. I now have a housekeeper clean my house the day before I get home…A well earned gift for working hard. This frees up my time to write, or study.
When conflicts arise, I just prioritize. Sometimes that is harder to do than other times. But everything always works out.
I agree. We need to prioritize each day, making time for exercise, rest, and the other key elements of our lives.
The idea for Flight for Control was inspired by recent airline crashes that have occurred over the previous two years, the current economic stress, and the resulting cutbacks at all the airlines. As you know there is a great deal of stress occurring in the world today, and pilots are not exempt. I wondered: What would it take to push a pilot to their limits? What is that limit? What if someone in the TSA had their own agenda? What if terrorists took control of our planes via the flight crews?
As far as typecasting my characters… you could say that many of my characters have personalities that I have met, or worked with, in real life. Not that I created a character out of a particular person, but have adopted traits, a voice, and some portion of their personality. And more importantly… which character am I? Writers, create multiple characters in your story and keep the readers guessing.
What have been some of your toughest writing stumbling blocks, the areas you’ve had the most difficulty grasping, and how did you conquer them?
My greatest obstacle has been to find the time and money to attend a writers retreat, or conference. But once I finally made that commitment and attended the Hawaii writers’ retreat and the ensuing conference, I realized that without the retreat and conference, I doubt my novel would go farther than my living room. To all aspiring writers… there is so much to learn. The retreats assist you in honing your skills, and the retreats teach you how to move your novel from your computer to the bookshelf. My first retreat was with William Bernhardt, an incredible teacher, and I was provided an incredible foundation.
I started out as a blank slate. I thought earning masters degrees and writing training programs gave me the ability to write a novel…. Wrong. Honestly, there is nothing I haven’t grasped. There is a lot I didn’t know and still need to learn, but I think the willingness to listen and be open to advice makes all the difference between success and failure.
The question on the minds of every unpublished author is: How do you find an agent? Can you share your game plan with us?
My game plan is this… write my novel, rewrite, edit, and reedit until there is absolutely nothing I can do to improve it, and then I will attend the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Conference in Seattle, July 22- 25th and pitch it ‘live’ to agents. I was told in Hawaii by an agent from New York, “It’s all about how you write it.” I will also follow Heather’s advice on the ‘how to.’ Heather has been sharing her journey of ‘writing to publication’ on her personal blog http://heathermccorkle.blogspot.com/ Heather now has an agent and will be pitching to editors in New York next month. She has a ton of information to share with all.
Life is about continual improvement and growth. To bring life to our novels we must adapt that philosophy, and never give up. Do what ever it takes. You can believe that I will never give up on this journey. I have far too many novels and stories that need to get out, and they will.
Social networking is a must for new authors. You’ve managed to establish a blog, twitter account, Facebook, and other networking connections. How difficult were these networking tools to create, and how hard are they to maintain?
They were not difficult at all to set up. The most difficult part is jumping in that pool, but once you’ve committed, then you find out how much fun it is, and yes… how time consuming too. Time is the greatest issue. But I have met so many wonderful people on twitter and Facebook. I wish I had more time to talk to them. I met another pilot/author, who was Flight to Success’ featured Fabulous Flyer on May 14th, Nate Carriker. http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com/ Many of my Friday Flyers are via twitter.
During my conference last summer, I also met three wonderful ladies and we began a blog together: http://scribesisters.blogspot.com/ Jule, Linda, Heather and I have come together to share our journeys and experiences. Sometimes we have a theme, other times we discuss whatever comes to mind, but we always have something for other writers, like ourselves, to connect with. A combined blog really helps on the time commitment, one day a week is very doable.
Since I have been in a five week, very intensive training program learning the A330, I had to put my novel on a shelf to simmer. That was very challenging because I have lived with it for four months. However, I did not want to lose touch with my ‘right’ brain so I created a blog that would connect writing with my training. The response has been overwhelming. And fun. Yes… a ton of work. And this blog is how I studied. And if you’re so inclined to earn an A330 type rating… you too can read and pass the training.
Is there another novel coming after Flight for Control? And, is there anything you’d like to share with our readers about your writing adventure so far?
Yes, there are many more novels to come! I have two more aviation thrillers in the works, followed by a series, similar to Stephanie Plum’s, but with a female airline pilot and her humorous adventures. Shifting gears a bit, I also have a Young Adult novel, Twist of Faith, ready for a major rewrite.
I have found a new home within the writing community. The opportunity to meet fellow writers, work with authors such as William Bernhardt, and watch my novel grow, is an opportunity of a lifetime. Bill, your support to your fellow writers like myself, is so much appreciated.
A message to your writers, don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot make it. Dedication, hard work, and commitment… you will get there, just don’t ever give up. One day at a time and in no time you will have your novel complete.
Thanks for sharing with us, Karlene. I highly recommend looking at the http://scribesisters.blogspot.com/. The concept works at so many levels. I also thank you for your willingness to be open and share from the heart. I’m sure will see each other at conferences over the years, share a cocktail, and autograph each others’ books. Success to you and friendly skies.

domain: literature


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Yes, that’s right! I’m taking a break from my tuxedo jacket. In my quest to be chic, I realized I wanted my trench in time for the Netherlands in May. So, I’ve started the Burberry trench coat! I don’t know that it will be done in time given my upcoming travel and work schedule, but a girl should try. The patterm is #128 from the January 2008 Burda. Note that this pattern does not call for the epualletes. I’m tight on fabric so I may not be able to add them.
After two days of rabidly pawing through my stash, I’ve gathered my supplies in one place:
The raincoating material is from Michael’s. Denver Fabrics had some too. I have to admit I now have this material in three colorways! And, I have plans for every single piece.
Red and black buttons from eBay. They are ginormous.
Burberry quilted warmer from Guss Woolens. It pickes up the burgundy stripes of the inside.
Black leather covered buckles courtesy of Lindsay T. They look fantastic against the red.
Matching striped lining I picked up at Jomar almost three years ago. This will be for the sleeves and the underside of some of the bulkier / thicker pieces.
I’m flying fast and loose here and not making a muslin. I added an extra inch in width to each sleeve for safety.
I also made a 1.5 inch FBA. My first time in a raglan pattern. It will have a bodice dart at the side seam. I know there are ways of rotating out the dart, but for using fabric that won’t ease well, I’m find with a side bust dart.
The coat will be unlined in the bodice, lined in the sleeves and have a button out warmer. I do still need to draft the warmer pattern and get that cut out. I’m not too worried. I have a general idea. I’m thinking cap sleeve raglan (enough to cover the shoulder pads).
I’m super busy this upcoming weekend so I plan to do all the binding next weekend. Once it’s all bound, I’m hoping to take it with me to my parents place in Tampa and get the main construction done in mid-April while I’m there for a quick visit.
Tomorrow, I’ll tell you all about my dinner tonight with some sewists / bloggers visiting Baltimore!
We have eerily similar Burda thinking. I’ve always loved this coat too. If it wasn’t stuck at the bottom of a storage unit in a town I no longer live in I’d suggest a sew-together! I bought my first Burda off of Ebay today – like you say – you discontinue Burda at your peril. It’s always a year later when you realize some dowdy line-drawing suddenly looks like the bees kneess.
I’m rooting for you and your trench!
I really planned to have it together by the time I came out to Santa Fe! If you ever need a Burda, let me know. You are half of my Patrones collection!
Oh how I want a red coat. You know you can do it in two weeks. Buy ready made food, don’t do any housework and try not to sleep too much. You’ll be fine!
I know! I’ve been cooking every weekend and it’s definitely been a time suck!
See, and I always thought that UFOs came from the same place as babies.
I second Carol’s idea – quit housework altogether and just sew the jacket! You wouldn’t believe how much time you can save just by investing in some paper plates and microwave dinners!
Good luck! All the raw ingredients look fantastic!
I don’t think it’s necessarily a UFO in the making, or more than temporarily, we all know you’ll both finish it and have the end result be gorgeous :-).
But I am a bit worried about you, after seeing what reasonable and pretty and -useful- things the slapdash sewist’s been cranking out. You’re going to be traveling, it’s not exactly like you’re going to have the washer access that you’re used to at home. When you’re biking hard every day, you kind of need a couple changes of clothes every day too. And right now the weather report looks good, but who knows how long it’ll last? If it turns to rain (or snow, we’re not totally out of the woods on that score) you won’t be able to really dry biking clothes even if you handwash them every day. And this isn’t China, clothes in Europe are much more expensive than what you’re used to, not to mention the countryside isn’t exactly well supplied with sports clothes.
Are you sure you couldn’t be convinced to crank out a couple of technical tops before you dive into the probably-not-finishable trench? Just one more pair of rain-appropriate pants? It’ll hardly take a couple hours, and your trench won’t be any more unfinished by the time you leave :-).
I just need to make rain pants from a TNT pajama pattern and some turtlenecks. The material for my tops are from Canada and with my mom (she took them when we went to Montreal). So, I’ll just crank them out the week I leave.
You’ve chosen excellent fabric, buttons and belts. The ingredients for perfection! I can’t wait to see this on you.
Good luck! You always make such nice coats.
Heh – I have a raincoat on the drawing board too, but I have some shirts to make for my husband and son and some sunsuits to make for my grandson before I get back to sewing for ME. Are you going to make the lining zip (or button) out?
I think I’m going to do a button out lining. It seems a bit easier alteration wise than a zipper. That being said, I have the zippers and not the buttons, so anything could happen.
*drools on keyboard*
Your coat! She will be magnificent!
I am so thrilled for you! I can’t wait until I see you modeling her for us!
Yep, you could rotate out that dart but I think that only looks good and falls well if the FBA is below an inch. IMO a sew dart looks very tailored, well, because it is as you can sew the dart to the exact size you want it on each side, whereas a rotated out dart doesn’t have the shaping option. It looks higher-end with a dart and a gorgeous coat like that should have all the bells and whistles!
I agree! I think it’s too hard to rotate out larger darts.
Awesome! I looooove a trench. Have fun in Tampa (where I have recently transplanted to). Good thing you’re not coming down now as the weather is atrocious with T-storms and tornado warnings.
Oh great! I’ll be there for a weekend in mid April. I did see on the news this morning that it’s very rainy, etc.
You are crazy, but I love it. Good luck!!!
I’m thrilled to see you starting this project. After picking up zipper, buttons, buckles, etc. in NYC last month, I’ve been slowly working on pattern alterations/design changes.
The one thing I haven’t found is binding for the zip-out liner. What are you planning to use?
As for that pattern, I haven’t figured out the button placement markings. I know some are for the right front, some are for the left front, and some should be for the interior. I just haven’t figured out Burda’s markings and will probably just do what I think is right!
Ah, yes! If I had any sense I would have muslined. But, I generally know how Burda fits me and I tried on a 38 of the same jacket two years ago. I’m making a 40 this time with an FBA. I’m hoping that will allow room for the warmer. If not, machts nichts! Leslie who made this coat used Hug Snug to bind the coat, http://sewtrue.com/Store/Hug-Snug-Rayon-Seam-Binding-P518.html I bought mine from Sew True as they were offering free shipping one weekend and I also needed shoulder pads.
I do not understand the buttons placement at all! I thought it looked funny on the pattern too. I’ve never seen them like that on BWOF. I’m not altering the facing for the warmer. But, I am going to add an extra inch or so to the edges of the warmer. I tried on real Burberrry last weekend. They are luxurious!
Did Leslie make a removable liner? That’s what I’m trying to figure out how to bind. I was thinking that Hug Snug wouldn’t get around the layers properly, but I may be totally wrong on that. Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll definitely do a sample.
No, she just used hug snug on the coat edges itself. But, I plan to also use it on my liner.
That’s going to be awesome! I’ve been lusting after a red trench myself. I have no clue when I would even be able to get around to a project that detailed. So I’ll live vicariously through you!
Oo… it’s going to be fabulous! I hope you finish it on time for your trip!
I just love reading your blog…
[…] I’m totally scatterbrained these days about my sewing. I’m in the midst of two UFOs and still trying to do some last minute sewing for the Netherlands (just two weeks away)! One of the UFOs is a red Burberry trench coat. When we last talked, I had it all cut out. […]
Comments are closed.

domain: hobby


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Things haven’t been looking good for HTC. The company had high hopes with the launch of the HTC One, which was later followed-up by the One max and One mini. But HTC still posted a quarterly loss for Q3 2013. That wasn’t all that surprising given the previous years history, however it doesn’t look like things are going to be improving during the fourth quarter.
In fact, HTC has recently warned that Q4 revenue could fall as much as 15 percent as compared to the previous quarter. This is not only another drop from Q3, but it also takes HTC below analyst estimates. According to a Reuters report, HTC has estimated that fourth-quarter revenue would fall somewhere between T$40 billion to T$45 billion.
As for those analyst estimates, those had HTC at T$46 billion. In comparison, HTC reported revenue of T$47.1 billion in the previous quarter and T$60 billion last year. HTC also reported that revenue dropped 13 percent in October from the same month a year earlier. To this point, it looks like HTC is going to be switching strategy.
HTC company financial chief Chialin Chang touched on how HTC would be looking towards increasing volume and decreasing prices moving forward. This in hope, to get them back to a profit.
“We’re looking at broader products in this quarter…we aim for higher volume into 2014 that will give better profitability,” company financial chief Chialin Chang
Otherwise, in a bit of a follow-up to the earlier reports about HTC closing some factories, there was talk of outsourcing. Reuters is reporting that HTC has plans to “outsource some manufacturing to other firms and split its design and manufacturing arms.” That part of course, goes to HTC making an attempt at cutting costs and keeping operating expenses low. Or in other words, trying to inch out a profit.


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Thousands of people who work both in Estonia and Finland pay social insurance taxes to both states which can cause problems in payment of state benefits, LETA/Public Broadcasting reports.
The golden rule is that employers have to pay taxes for the employee to just one state – the one where a person works more.
The majority of Estonians work in Finland in construction sphere but there are also a lot of medical workers and customer service staff. According to Finnish data, around 57,000 Estonians have accumulated pensions in Finland. These people may not receive the pensions and compensations if social tax has been paid for them at the same time in Estonia too.
Finnish Pension Board international affairs specialist Marjaana Lundqvist said that according to European Union laws, a person can have social insurance only in one state. "This is the main rule and has to be fulfilled. If a person works and pays taxes in two states, then it has to be determined which country is the right one. This has to be ascertained even after the fact."
Many Estonians work a part of the time in Estonia, a part in Finland. This concerns people like medical workers who have some shifts in one and some in the other state. An employee has to ascertain which country's social insurance he benefits from before starting to work.
According to Finnish data, hundreds of double insurance situations are currently under investigation.

domain: politics


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Schneiderman Secures Foreclosure Funding
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced his office will fund $1 million in foreclosure prevention services to aid New Yorkers struggling through the foreclosure crisis. The Attorney General today issued a Request for Applications (RFA) seeking bids from non-profit legal services and legal aid organizations to provide direct legal services to homeowners in foreclosure or at imminent risk of foreclosure.
“As our state faces another tight budget year, we must be creative and aggressive in our efforts to support working families who are struggling to stay in their homes,” said Schneiderman. “This funding will provide thousands of New Yorkers with the legal expertise they desperately need to defend their rights and avoid falling prey to unscrupulous mortgage servicers or foreclosure mill law firms filing fabricated or robosigned documents. My office will continue to use every tool available to us to protect homeowners and all vulnerable New Yorkers.”
Statewide, an average of 1 in 10 mortgages is at risk of foreclosure. The approximate number of individuals living in homes that are either in foreclosure or at risk of foreclosure (based on typical household size for each distressed mortgage) exceeds the populations of Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse combined.
While foreclosures come at a high cost for families and communities, preventing foreclosures through legal assistance is a bargain for taxpayers. The Empire Justice Center projects that if foreclosures of currently distressed properties continue unabated, they will cost local governments in New York State more than $5 billion. However, for every foreclosure averted, through legal assistance or other measures, counties would save an average of $186,695 in direct and indirect costs.
Schneiderman has made it a top priority of his administration to hold accountable those whose misconduct led to the collapse of the housing market – and to provide significant relief to homeowners.
The last round of federal stimulus funding for the New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Foreclosure Prevention Services Program ran out on December 31, 2011, and the state has not fully made up the shortfall. The Attorney General’s funding will allow critical services that would otherwise be lost to continue across the state.
The $1 million allocation will be funded by unspent dollars from a 2006 settlement between the Attorney General’s Office and Ameriquest Mortgage, Co. The investigation found that Ameriquest engaged in predatory and illegal lending practices to sell and refinance mortgages, including misrepresenting and failing to disclose loan terms, charging excessive loan origination fees, and inflating appraisals to qualify borrowers for loans. The settlement required Ameriquest to pay the participating states $295 million in restitution, roughly $22 million of which went to New York and its homeowners.
Given the urgency of the foreclosure crisis, Schneiderman has directed an expedited RFA process, which could result in awards for funding in as soon as eight weeks.
Good government groups, housing or- ganizations, community leaders, and clergy members from across the state today praised Schneiderman’s decisive action.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Attorney General for supporting the Foreclosure Prevention Services Program,” said Mark Ladov, Counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program. “This program has a strong track record of improving outcomes for working families at risk of losing their homes, and is a critical investment in New York State’s economic recovery. Attorney General Schneiderman’s intervention helps ensure that this vital work will continue. We look forward to working with the Attorney General to aid struggling families and address New York’s foreclosure crisis.”
“Homeowners across this state are struggling in these tough economic times. We owe a debt of gratitude for Attorney General Schneiderman’s bold action that will give the working families in our community a fighting chance,” said Darius G. Pridgen, Senior Pastor of the True Bethel Baptist Church and member of the Buffalo Common Council.
“By allocating resources for foreclosure prevention services, the Attorney General has once again stood up for those who need our help the most.”
The guidelines for applying and the application will be posted in the New York State Contract Reporter, www.nyscr.org and will also be available on the Attorney General’s website,www.ag.ny.gov/bureaus/budget_ fiscal/procurement.html.

domain: law


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Ed came out and announced that Steve's wife Carolyn went into labor so Steve had to fly up to be with her. This is the show that ensued...
Never is Enough
Who Needs Sleep
Tyler's Banter "Not Steven Page"
When Doves Cry
Vortex Burger Banter
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
One Week (Tyler singing Steve's part with Rob "Tiny" Menegoni on drums and Tim Blunt (guitar tech) on guitar also.)
Old Apartment (With audience members singing)
$1,000,000 (The Audience was given lyrics sheets for Steve's part.)

domain: artistic


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These 7 before-and-after pics of Shani actress Juh Yuvraj Singh and Hazel Keech marriage: If it was your fantasy to see the hot actress in a bodycon corset here is your dream come true. These 10 moments from Aamir K Fashion hits and misses o
She used to rehearse dialogues and sometimes even accompanied her father to the sets of his movies.
Add to that, her killer smile and you have got yourself a lethal combination. No one can define hotness, the way Shraddha Kapoor does. She used to rehearse dialogues and sometimes even accompanied her father to the sets of his movies. This gorgeous actress known for her charm is looking extremely hot and sexy and we are definitely waiting for her next movie outing. The sizzling actor with a cute face is blessed with a soulful and a melodious voice. On the personal front, she was rumored to be dating Aditya Roy Kapur, her Aashiqui 2 co-star, but time and again Shraddha has refuted the rumors saying that she is dating only her career.

domain: celebrity


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FILE - Chairperson of El Ghad Party Moussa Mostafa Moussa in a press conference after running for Presidential election, on Monday, 29 January 2018- Egypt Today/Hussein Tallal
CAIRO – 9 March 2018: The presidential candidate Moussa Mostafa Moussa said on Friday that the “Country” concept has never been understood by the previous rulers of Egypt, that is why they focused on roles that lay far from their authentic mission, according to statement issued from his official campaign.
Although the private sector has a vital role in presenting medical services as the state is incapable of providing medical services to all citizens, its role has to be limited to providing the service without determining the price of it, Moussa explained.
“The country’s government is not allowed also to withdraw from the educational area, leaving it all to private sector,” Moussa said, adding that the private sector should be banned from dealing with students in finance issues, otherwise, the state should be the only authority that set the prices of educational services; the state should observe and follow the quality of these services.
Likewise, Moussa stated that it is not justified that the country withdrew completely from the employment sector under the pretext of Market freedom. The country should encourage and extend investments. It should play the mediator role between the employees and the private companies.
Moussa announced his intention to run after all other potential candidates bowed out, except for former Military Chief of Staff Samy Anan, who was kept out of the race by the armed forces, which released a statement regarding his disqualification. Moussa submitted his documents to the National Election Authority (NEA) hours before closing the candidacy door.
Moussa has stressed his respect and support for President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi in every chance, saying that he appreciates what he has presented to the nation during his first term in office.


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July 25, 2019
It’s worthwhile investing in a slow cooker for those one-pot wonders. A slow cooker can be an essential tool in the kitchen, especially on those winter nights when you arrive home and the last thing you want to do is cook and clean up. It is as simple as preparing all the ingredients, add them to the slow cooker, let simmer for several hours and voila, done! The appliance itself is a heatproof ceramic pot inserted into a metal outer casing. Low, even heat from the side allows for a simmer which creates tender, delicious meals such as stews, soups, curries and casseroles.
Tips for using a slow cooker:
Moroccan Beef Casserole
Step 1: Place oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Cook one-third of the beef, turning for 3 mins or until browned all over. Transfer to the bowl of a 20-cup (5L) capacity slow cooker. Repeat with remaining beef.
Step 2: Add the onion, ginger, cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, tomato, stock, and sweet potato to the beef in the slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 hours, on low for 6 hours, or until beef is tender.
Step 3: Spoon the beef mixture into serving bowls. Sprinkle with fetta, almonds and coriander and sliced lime wedge, add steamed broccoli for added fibre, vitamins and minerals
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chilli
Step 1: Combine tomatoes, beans, sweet potatoes, broth, onion, bell peppers, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, pepper, salt, and garlic in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low until the vegetables are tender, which will be about 6 hours.
Step 2: Serve into bowls and stir in coriander, chilli and lime juice to serve as desired
Ratatouille with Lentils
Step 1: In a slow cooker, combine lentils, undrained tomatoes, eggplant, onions, squash, zucchini, bell pepper, water and black pepper. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 9 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 to 4½ hours. Add fresh herbs and serve.
Vegetable Minestrone soup (Suitable while on Be Rapid – 2 vegetable serves)
Step 1: Combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic, green beans, tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, ¼ teaspoon salt, and pepper in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
Step 2: Stir in zucchini, and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt. Cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve immediately. Can freeze extra serves for another day, for a quick meal when hungry.
Register your interest before July 14th for $50 off!*

domain: food


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Vinland was the site of a Viking settlement which is estimated to have existed around 1,000 CE. The precise location of Vinland is a topic of dispute and debate, thanks to sketchy supporting evidence and inconclusive archaeological research, but it is believed to have been located somewhere along the northern coastal region of North America, perhaps around Newfoundland. If Vinland really did exist and Vikings settled there, it would be the oldest European settlement in North America by far, discovered and settled 500 years before Columbus sailed to the Americas.
Numerous Norse sagas and stories talk about Vinland, describing the area and the failed settlement there. According to legend, the site was discovered by Leif Eiriksson, one of the great Viking explorers, on one of his journeys out into the Atlantic. A settlement was briefly established there, but it ultimately failed due to encounters with the native community, which did not welcome the settlers.
The name Vinland has been a topic of some discussion. Some historians believe that it translates as “Vine Land,” a reference to grapevines discovered growing in the area. However, it could also mean “Plain Land,” suggesting ample pasturing for animals. Grapevines do grow wild in some parts of North America, as do berries which could be used to produce wine, so supporters of the Vine Land theory suggest that the land was simply named for its most notable feature.
However, the name could also have been a sort of early advertising ploy, designed to get people to settle in Vinland to establish a firm Viking foothold in the New World. “Greenland,” for example, was anything but, suggesting that this ploy had been used before. The name might also have been a joke, or a confused translation perpetuated by authors who wrote about Vinland without ever having seen it.
In the 1960s, evidence of a Viking settlement was uncovered at L'Anse Aux Meadows, a site in Newfoundland, and artifacts from the site seem to support the concept of an 11th century settlement. At around the same time, a “Vinland Map” surfaced. The Vinland Map has been a topic of controversy. Although it purports to date to the 15th century, the map may have been doctored of tampered with; the ink used, for example, seems to date to the 1920s, and the map was treated with chemicals which would not have been available in the 15th century. Many historians now believe that the Vinland Map is a fake, although Vinland itself may have been quite real.


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Hi, my family (4 adult members) are visiting Japan this coming June. We are flying to Tokyo NRT, stay in Tokyo-5 days, Hakone-1 day, Kyoto-3 days, Kobe-2 days, and fly back to San Francisco from Osaka Kansai Airport. Total is 12 days. Which one costs less -14 day pass or one way ticket for each city? Thanks!
For your trip it would be cheaper to just buy normal tickets. As the total amount of rail travel is not that much and the only long trip is Tokyo - Kansai.
Hope this helps,
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text:
New York: Harper and Row, 1982. First Edition. 214pp. Octavo [21 cm] 1/4 blue cloth over blue boards. Near fine/Near fine. Item #2017
Signed by the author on the title page. This is the fifth published novel by Hillerman in the Leaphorn and Chee series. Jim Chee mystery set in the eastern Hopi and adjacent Navajo reservations in Arizona. Hieb A7a.


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Farouk Shami is well on his way to fulfilling his campaign promise to spend $10 million of his own money seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Through the end of December, Shami had personally loaned his campaign $5.4 million, according to reports — one and two — filed at the Texas Ethics Commission.
Shami’s main obstacle to the nomination is former Houston Mayor Bill White, who is getting the party establishment behind his campaign.
White is a late starter in the race, having been running for U.S. Senate until it became obvious U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison was not going to resign for her own race for governor.
White’s campaign report through the end of December is a nod to financial recycling. The 28-day fundraising tally of $6.2 million “collected” that White’s campaign was touting last week included more than $3.1 million from his federal Senate race account and a transfer of $550,000 from his city of Houston mayoral political account. But in the end, he had almost $5.5 million in cash, and it spends the same as new money.
Over on the Republican side of the gubernatorial contest, former Wharton County GOP chair Debra Medina raised $191,005 through the end of last year, and spent $163,496 on her David vs. Goliath campaign.
The Goliaths in the race, Hutchison and incumbent Gov. Rick Perry, each had healthy fundraising totals.
Perry raised $7.1 million to Hutchison’s $6.1 million. She ended the year with more money in the bank: $12.3 million to his $11.6 million.
However, her burn rate is far higher than Perry’s. Hutchison had a financial advantage of almost $3 million in cash over Perry at the end of July, but that had dwindled to an advantage of about $700,000 by the end of the year. The difference was that Hutchison had spent $6.3 million in the second half of 2009 to Perry’s $4.7 million.
Hutchison’s report showed a $60,000 from her federal Senate campaign committee. Her two top donors at $100,000 each were Valero Energy Chairman William Greehey of San Antonio and computer magnate H. Ross Perot of Dallas.
Spoting Perry’s top donors was a little difficult in his report, but the accumulated value of Houston homebuilder Bob (no relation) Perry’s contributions came to $200,000. Dallas investor T. Boone Pickens gave Perry $100,000.


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CECIMO PRESS RELEASE: Unleashing the potential of Additive Manufacturing to fight COVID-19 – CECIMO Recommendations to policymakers
The current COVID-19 outbreak is causing severe shortages of essential medical equipment, particularly in those countries with the most significant number of patients.
The additive manufacturing sector can provide immediate solutions for hospitals experiencing an emergency shortage of critical pieces of equipment.
With the recent “call to action”, CECIMO, the European association for Additive Manufacturing, has been in direct contact with companies who have offered to help in this time of need. However, many of them have pointed out that various regulatory requirements could potentially block their contribution.
“I believe that the additive manufacturing sector could provide immediate solutions to sustain the effort of hospital workers in the middle of this emergency. However, it is in the best interest of all to clarify the regulatory issues in order to move forward quickly and in a way that is not going to delay immediate actions", says Filip Geerts, CECIMO Director General.
Therefore, we call upon policymakers to address the following issues:
- Use government’s official channels to communicate any requests to print parts, upload a list of essential supplies and provide the necessary files for printing to those companies who request them.
- Temporarily waive the Medical Device and Product Liability Directive requirements that would hamper AM companies’ response to the extraordinary demand of equipment by healthcare sector.
- Provide temporary authorization to use patents of essential supplies and services without the consent of patent holders.
- Cooperate closely with the customs authorities to accelerate the approval procedures for imports/ exports of essential supplies and/or 3D Printing Hardware and ensure free flow of essential supplies and/or 3D Printing Hardware within the EU’s internal market.
- Include the AM sector in the list of the essential value chains that should continue its activities during the lockdown period.
- Enable a quicker and smoother access to the market of new essential medical and protection equipment, by providing temporary access to certification, in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Furthermore, we encourage policymakers to:
- Develop and approve a fast reprogramming of the European structural funds in line with what the was recently approved by the European Parliament. This action should aim to improve the provisioning of the health sector in general and, those sectors such as the AM, especially involved in supplying hospitals and other health institutions.
- Prioritize the scale-up of the European manufacturers’ capabilities addressing pressing issues such as shortage of components or equipment.


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About Dr. A K Vaish
Dr. A K Vaish is a consultant General Physician in Indira Nagar, Lucknow. He is currently practicing at Shekhar Hospital Pvt. Ltd., in Indira Nagar, Lucknow. Dr. A K Vaish is a qualified General Physician in Indira Nagar.
As a General Physician, his area of expertise includes General Practitioner, General doctor, MD, General Medicine, Internal Medicine, emergency doctor etc.
Patients from all around Indira Nagar and entire Lucknow come to Dr. A K Vaish with lots of hopes and the doctor ensures that the patients are satisfied with the treatment, with his experience and the techniques he uses as a General Physician. You can book an online appointment for Dr. A K Vaish, General Physician in Indira Nagar on www.lazoi.com

domain: medical


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A DAY TO REMEMBER Releases Brand New Single 'Miracle'July 21, 2022
A DAY TO REMEMBER has unveiled a brand new single titled "Miracle", which is available on all streaming platforms and accompanied by a cinematic and emotionally charged music video. The song marks the band's first new music since their critically acclaimed 2021 album, "You're Welcome".
Earlier this summer, A DAY TO REMEMBER concluded a string of sold-out tour dates and festival appearances throughout Europe. Next week, they'll embark on an epic run of new North American tour dates featuring special guests THE USED, THE GHOST INSIDE (on select dates),BEARTOOTH, BAD OMENS, MOVEMENTS and MAGNOLIA PARK. "Just Some Shows" and "Just Some More Shows" will kick off July 27 in Baltimore, Maryland and traverse the country through a performance on October 28 in Irvine, California.
Earlier this year, A DAY TO REMEMBER reignited their single "Re-Entry" with a new version featuring Mark Hoppus of BLINK-182. Consequence Of Sound noted, "Having Hoppus on the track is a perfect fit, since BLINK-182 was a significant inspiration for the song." It also received plugs from NME, Rock Sound, and more.
"Re-Entry" originally appeared on "You're Welcome". Available on all streaming platforms, the LP is largely produced by Colin "DOC" Brittain and the band's own Jeremy McKinnon. The 14-track collection represents another major step forward for the acclaimed quintet, and is highlighted by singles "Brick Wall", "Degenerates", "Resentment", "Mindreader" and the No. 1 Active Rock hit single "Everything We Need".
Last year, A DAY TO REMEMBER unveiled its first-ever acoustic livestream event, "A Day To Remember: Live At The Audio Compound". After premiering the stream on their official YouTube channel, the band surprised audiences everywhere by releasing the career-spanning nine-song performance as an acoustic live album, "Live At The Audio Compound", which is available now on all DSPs.
Since its formation in 2003, A DAY TO REMEMBER quietly emerged as arguably the biggest underground band in the world. The Florida group affirmed this status by achieving one platinum album, one gold album, one platinum single, and four gold singles. Not to mention, each full-length record ascended to No. 1 on the Billboard Rock, Indie, and/or Alternative charts with 2016's "Bad Vibrations" bowing at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. They've put up unprecedented numbers for a rock act in the 21st century, generating 850 million Spotify streams, 500 million YouTube views, and sales of three million-plus units. They've also packed arenas on continental tours and attracted a worldwide audience consisting of millions. Additionally, A DAY TO REMEMBER successfully launched their own Self Help Festival in 2014, which continues going strong. Plus, everyone from Marshmello to PIERCE THE VEIL has sought them out for collaborations. All of which explains why Rolling Stone called them "An Artist You Need To Know."
A DAY TO REMEMBER is: Jeremy McKinnon (vocals),Alex Shelnutt (drums),Kevin Skaff (guitar, vocals) and Neil Westfall (guitar, vocals).
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text: Strike Force Heroes 2 hacked opens a new brutal war for you! Are you ready to join this action and shooting game to experience more challenges? Your main mission here is to seize the opponent base by utilizing your shooting skill and other good tactics. You must make your way through all obstacles and try your best to finish your missions. The enemies may get harder to destroy, but with all your strategies, you will surely defeat them. Alright, let's join the game now and show off your skills!

domain: game


It’s like my adult baby blanket lol. Love the size, lightweight. Comfortable lightweight blanket. Heavy enough to give that comfortable secure snuggle feeling.
Makes a great coverlet. It’s super soft and contours to your body so nicely. Cotton is soft and washes well.
It is not soft, is not at all what you think is in the picture. It's very lightweight. The blanket has an overwhelming chemical smell that gets worse after putting it through a dryer cycle.
Ad is very misleading. It is annoying to dig out this blanket and remake the bed each time. Quality and service disappointing.
The quality of the leather is really, really cheap. The placement of the buckle means there is little room for adjustment if you take it to a place to pierce more holes in the straps. Even more disappointing is that the straps are made in such a way t... Read More


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February 11, 2014
The First Moon Landing
On June 20th, 1969, Apollo 11 made history by being the first ever successful lunar landing ever. It took many years to accomplish this landmark in history. It was many people’s dreams, but very few thought it could ever become a reality.
In October, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first satellite, named Sputnik, to be hurled into orbit around the Earth. Sputnik was actually about the size of a beach ball, and sent pointless signals back to earth, but it had a huge affect on people around the world. It was a shiny steel ball about 23 inches across with four antennas the were behind it. Russian engineers wanted to make sure that people around the globe could not only see, but also hear it. Sputnik was polished so that it would reflect light that could be seen even from 175 miles away. It sent out signals that could be picked up by any radio operator all over the world. The reaction in the U.S. and around the world was pure awe, and some even felt a bit of fear. All of a sudden, there was an "enemy satellite" visibly shooting across the sky of the U.S. At the time, no one knew what it might be able to do. What U.S. government leaders did know, was that if the Soviet Union had rockets that were big enough to launch a satellite, they had rockets big enough to launch missiles, and possibly even atomic bombs, on the U.S. The "space race" between the Soviet Union and the United States was on. But our first attempts at catching up ended in massive failures; most ending in explosions. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was created in 1958 to bring competing military space programs into a single, huge effort. Before long, they developed the rockets, built the space capsules and satellites and hired people to become space men. The long term effects of the space race on the United States mostly was shown in the way the space race changed the educational system and the imaginations of the people. Not long after Sputnik, both the public, and the government, began calling for a greater emphasis on maths and sciences in the schools of the country. Governments put in more money to fund, and the educational system responded. Students began to take more and more math and science courses.
The Soviet Union shocked the world on November 3, 1957, with the launch of the second Sputnik mission. On board the rocket was a little dog, Laika, who was the first animal to orbit Earth. Laika was not the first animal in space, but rather the first to make an orbit. In the early days of rocket science, nobody knew what the possible effects of the weightless nature of speech would have on animals or humans. Animals, for the most part, dogs, monkeys and chimps, were used to test the safety and possibility of shooting a living animal into space, and bringing it back with no harm done. Laika was a young, mostly-Siberian husky, who was a stray from the streets of Moscow. Soviets...

domain: history


Bishop John on Purity
March 11, 2014 Length: 14:49
Today Dr. Rossi interviews Bishop John (Abdalah) of the Antiochian Archdiocese on the subject of purity.
"I love listening to podcasts on Ancient Faith Radio. Every morning before I start school, I listen to the Saint of the Day and The Path. I also enjoy listening to Readings from under the Grapevine podcasts with my younger siblings. AFR is one of my favorite websites."


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The Republican party is certain that U.S. elections are rife with voter fraud. How are they so sure of that? Apparently because Republican operatives are the source of most of it.
This past Tuesday, Adam Ward of Bassett County Virginia pleaded guilty to 36 counts of voter fraud and perjury in connection with an attempt to help Newt Gingrich reach the number of signatures required to appear on last year’s Virginia presidential primary ballot. Ward collected over 11,000 signatures on behalf of Gingrich, over 4,000 of which, according to investigators, could not be verified. According to RawStory, the Virginia campaign of Texas governor Rick Perry faced a similar dilemma, with almost half the 11,900 signatures collected on his behalf failing verification.


MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 4, 2017) - vArmour, the leading data center and cloud security company, today announced that Michael Chertoff has joined its Advisory Board. As the former United States Secretary of Homeland Security, and the co-founder and current executive chairman of The Chertoff Group, Michael brings decades of experience in global security analysis and mitigation to vArmour. His appointment will support vArmour's global expansion efforts and concentrated focus on large government and private sector organizations.
"As an internationally-recognized thought leader and expert on global security solutions, Michael will be instrumental in vArmour's continued expansion with his key insights into US and international governments," said Tim Eades, CEO at vArmour. "We appreciate his time and effort in joining our Advisory Board, as vArmour continues to set the pace for innovative and infrastructure-agnostic security solutions in today's fast-changing security landscape."
"IT is undergoing a major cloud transformation, commoditizing infrastructure and transitioning from physical product deployments in favor of cloud-native distributed software solutions to increase agility and operational efficiency," said Chertoff. "vArmour is one of the few data center and cloud security companies that understands how to deliver protection for workloads across multi-cloud heterogeneous environments. I'm looking forward to collaborating with vArmour to ensure their continued path towards success."
From 2005 to 2009, as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff led the country in blocking would-be terrorists. Before heading up the Department of Homeland Security, Mr. Chertoff served as a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Earlier, during more than a decade as a federal prosecutor, he investigated and prosecuted cases of political corruption, organized crime, corporate fraud and terrorism -- including the investigation of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. At Chertoff Group, Mr. Chertoff provides high-level strategic counsel to corporate and government leaders on a broad range of security issues, from risk identification and prevention to preparedness, response and recovery.
In addition to his role at Chertoff Group, Mr. Chertoff is also senior counsel at Covington & Burling LLP, and a member of the firm's White Collar Defense and Investigations practice group.
Mr. Chertoff is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Law School.
vArmour, the data center and cloud security company, delivers a distributed platform with integrated security services including software-based segmentation, micro-segmentation, application-aware monitoring, and cyber deception to help organizations protect critical applications and workloads. Based in Mountain View, CA, the company was founded in 2011 and is backed by top investors including Highland Capital Partners, Menlo Ventures, Columbus Nova Technology Partners, Work-Bench Ventures, Allegis Capital, Redline Capital, and Telstra. The vArmour DSS Distributed Security System is deployed across the world's largest banks, telecom service providers, government agencies, healthcare providers, and retailers. Partnering with companies including AWS, Cisco, HPE and VMware, vArmour builds security into modern infrastructures with a simple and scalable approach that drives unparalleled agility and operational efficiency. Learn more at www.varmour.com.


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Sorrow in Christian Homes
by J. R. Miller
"Men die, but sorrow never dies;
The corroding years divide in vain,
And the wide world is knit with ties
Of common brotherhood in pain."
Sooner or later, sorrow comes to every home. No conditions of wealth or culture or social standing, or even of religion, can exclude it. When two young people come from the marriage-altar, and set up their new home, it seems to them that its joy never can be disturbed, that grief can never reach their hearts in that charmed spot. For a few years, perhaps, their fond dream remains unbroken. The flowers bloom into still softer beauty and richer fragrance; the music continues light and joyous, with no minor chords; the circle is unbroken; child-lives grow up in the tender atmosphere, blessing the home with their love and lovableness; the household life flows on softly and smoothly, like a river, gathering in breadth and depth as it flows. In other homes, all about, there are sorrows,bereavements,but amid these desolations of the dreams of other households, this one remains untouched, like an oasis in the desert; but not forever does the exemption continue. There comes a day when the strange messenger of sorrow stands at the door, nor waits for bidding and welcome, but enters, and lays his withering hand on some sweet flower.
The first experience of grief is very sore: its suddenness and strangeness add to its terribleness. What seemed so impossible yesterday, has become a fearful reality to-day. The dear one whom we held so securely, as we thought that we never could lose her, is gone now, and answers no more to our call. It seems to us that we never can be comforted, that we never can enjoy life again, since the one who made for us so much of the gladness of life has been taken away. The time of the first sorrow is to every life a most critical point, a time of great danger. The way is new and untried, one over which the feet have never passed before. At no other point, therefore, is wise and loving guidance more needed. Many lives are wrecked on the hidden reefs and the low, dangerous rocks that skirt the shores of sorrow's sea. Many persons find in grief an enemy only, to whom they refuse to be reconciled, and with whom they contend in fierce strife, receiving only injury and harm to themselves in the unavailing conflict. An impression prevails, that sorrow is in itself a blessing in its influence, that it always makes purer and holier and better the lives that it touches; but this is not true. Sorrow has in itself no cleansing efficacy, as some suppose, by which it removes from sinful lives their blemishes and stains. The same fire which refines the gold destroys the flowers. Sorrow is a fire, which in God's hand is designed to purify the lives of his people, but which, unblessed, produces only desolation. It depends on the relation of the sufferer to Christ, as friend or enemy, and on the reception given to grief, whether it leave good or ill where it enters; but in a Christian home, where the love of Christ dwells and holds sway, Sorrow should always leave a benediction. It should be received as God's own messenger; and we should welcome it, and listen for the divine message it bears.
For God's angels do not always come to us, as we are apt to imagine them coming, in radiant dress, with smiling face and gentle voice. Thus artists paint them in their pictures. Thus we fancy them in their ministries. We think of them as possessing rare and wondrous loveliness; and so, no doubt, they do as they appear before God, and serve in his presence. There is no unloveliness in any angel-face in heaven. No angel has features of sternness; but, as these celestial messengers come to earth on their ministries, they appear ofttimes in forms that appal, and fill the trembling heart with terror and alarm. Yet ofttimes it is when they come in these very forms that they bring their sweet messages and their best blessings.
"All God's angels come to us disguised,
Sorrow and sickness, poverty and death,
One after another lift their frowning masks,
And we behold the seraph's face beneath,
All radiant with the glory and the calm
Of having looked upon the face of God."
Wherever God's messenger of sorrow is thus received in a Christian home, with welcome even amid tears and pain, it will leave a blessing of peace, and will make the home sweeter, tenderer, heavenlier. We speak of love as the atmosphere in which the home reaches its best development in the direction of happiness, as in summer warmth the flowers unfold their rarest beauty and sweetest fragrance; but really no home ever attains its highest blessedness and joy, and its fullest richness of life, until in some way sorrow enters its door. Even the home love, like certain autumn fruits, does not ripen into its sweetest tenderness until the frosts of trial have touched it. When a green log of wood is laid on the andirons, on a winter evening, and the fire begins to play about the log, a wierd, plaintive music comes from the wood. A poet would tell you, that, while the tree stood in the forest, the birds sat amid its branches, and sang there, and that the notes of their songs hid away in the tree. Then he would tell you that the music you now hear from the log as it burns, is this bird-minstrelsy, which has remained imprisoned in the wood until brought out by the hot flames. The poet's thought is only fancy, but it well illustrates a truth concerning the life of a Christian home, which is worth pondering and remembering. In the sunny days of joy, the bird-notes of gladness are sung all about us, and sink away into our hearts, and hide there. The lessons, the influences, the tender impressions, the peace, and the beautiful things of quiet, happy, prosperous years, fall upon our lives, as the sunbeams and rain-showers fall upon the fields and the long autumn and winter and early spring, and seem to be lost. There appears but little to show for so much absorption of brightness and blessing. Our lives do not appear to yield the measure of joy they should yield. Then the flames of trial are kindled; and, in the heat of suffering, the long-gathering and long-slumbering music is set free, and flows out. Many of the world's best things have been born of affliction. The sweetest songs ever sung on earth have been called out by suffering. The richest blessings that we enjoy have come to us out of the fire. The good things we inherit from the past are the purchase of suffering and sacrifice. Our redemption comes from Gethsemane and Calvary. We get heaven through Christ's tears and blood. Whatever is richest and most valuable in life anywhere has been in the fire. Our love for one another may be strong and true in the sunny days, but it never reaches its holiest and fullest expression until pain has touched our hearts, and called out the hidden treasures of affliction. Even the love of a mother for her child, deep and pure as it is, never reaches its full wondrousness of devotion and sacrifice until the child suffers, and the mother bends over it in yearning and solicitude. The same is true of all the home loves: the best and divinest qualities in them come out only in the fires. The household that has endured sorrow in the true spirit of love and faith, emerges from it undestroyed, untarnished, with purer, tenderer affections, with less of passion, of selfishness, and of earthliness. When husband and wife stand together beside the dead child, they are drawn to each other as never before: their common grief is sacramental. Children that remain are dearer to parents after one has been taken. Brothers and sisters grow more thoughtful and patient in their mutual intercourse when the home circle has been broken. There is in an empty chair in a Christian home a wondrous power to soften the asperities of nature, and refine all the affections and feelings. The cloud of grief that hangs over a household, like the summer cloud above the fields and gardens, leaves blessings.
Is it raining, little flower?
Be glad of rain.
Too much sun would wither thee.
'Twill shine again.
The sky is very black, 'tis true,
But just behind it shines the blue.
Art thou weary, tender heart?
Be glad of pain;
In sorrow sweetest things will grow
As flowers in rain.
God watches, and thou wilt have sun
When clouds their perfect work have done."
But how may we make sure of the benedictions that sorrow brings? Even the gospel is the savor of death to those who reject it; and sorrow, though it be God's evangel, ofttimes comes and goes away again, leaving no heavenly gift. How must we treat this dark-robed messenger, if we would receive the heavenly blessings it bears in its hands? We must welcome it, even in our trembling and tears, as sent from God. We must believe that it comes from our Father, and that, coming from him, it is a messenger of love to us, bearing a true blessing for us, though it be a loss or a pain. We must ask for the message which God has sent us in the affliction, and listen to it as we would to a message of gladness. It has some mission to us, or some gift from heaven. Some golden fruit lies hidden in the rough husk. Some bit of gold in us God designs to be set free from its dross by this fire. There is some radiant height beyond this dark valley, to which he wants to lead us. Christ himself accepted and endured with loving submission the bitter sorrow of his cross, because he saw the joy set before him and waiting beyond the sorrow. In the same way, we should accept our griefs, because they are but the shaded gateways to peace and blessedness. If we cannot get through the gateways, we cannot get the radiant joys that wait beyond. Not to be able to take from our Father's hand the seed of pain, is to miss the fruits of blessing which can grow from no other sowing. If we are wise, we will give sorrow as cordial a welcome as joy; for it is from the same loving hand, and brings gifts as good and golden.
We must remember, that it is in the home where Christ himself dwells, that sorrow unlocks its heavenly treasures. A Christless home receives none of them. Those who shut their doors on Christ, shut out all blessedness, and, when the lamps of earthly joy go out, are left in utter darkness. A wise forethought will make sure of the hopes and comforts of a personal interest in Christ, and of having him as guest in the sunny days, that, when the shadow of night falls, the stars of bright hope may shine out.
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