text:
Monday, June 29, 2015

Bill Gates Interview: Tax, Climate and Microsoft

Microsoft co-founder and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation co-chair Bill Gates talks to FT deputy editor John Thornhill about philanthropy, tax, energy and health innovation, and Microsoft’s record. Mr Gates was in London to speak at an FT 125 event.

Ireland: Mortgage lending slowdown continued in May; 12 month total at 1979 level

We currently have a technical problem with the login of our news content management system. The software developer blames the hosting service while the latter blames the former. This is the link to the News Main Page for access to new reports up to June 27, 2015.

Ireland: The 2015 slowdown in mortgage lending continued in May and the 12-month total of just over 30,000 for new and second hand houses compares with the level in 1979.

There were 2,461 mortgage approvals per month in the three months ending (3 month moving average) May 2015, of which 2,215 were for house purchase according to the Banking and Payments Federation.

The number of mortgage approvals rose by 20.6% compared with the three months ending May 2014 and increased by 4.6% compared with the three months ending April 2015. This is the 25 the consecutive month of year-on-year growth.

Re-mortgage/top-up continued to grow on a year-on-year basis.

Some €452m in mortgages was approved per month in the three months ending may 2015. The value of mortgage approvals rose by 26.3% year-on-year and by 2.5% when compared with the three months ending April 2015. The value of house purchase mortgage approvals grew by 22.7% year-on-year to €421m.

Conall Mac Coille, chief economist at Davy, commented:

Mortgage approvals grow by 12% in year to May 2015: New data from the Banking and Payments Federation, released this morning, suggest the slowdown in mortgage lending has continued into May. There were €447m mortgage approvals for house purchase in May, up from €391m in April. However, this means mortgage approvals are only up 12% on the year compared with 56% annual growth in 2014 and 60% in Q1 2015. There were 2,347 approvals in May, up 7.4% on the year. The average loan approval in May was €190,456, down from €195,658 in Q1.

Mortgage approvals growth slows from 60% expansion in Q1: In our recent report on the Irish housing market, we forecast that mortgage lending for house purchase would expand by 22.7% to €4.5bn in 2015, up from €3.7bn in 2014 and €2.4bn in 2013. This represented a slowdown from the 55% rise in 2014.

Year-to-date, mortgage approvals have equalled €2bn, up 36% from the €1.4bn of approvals in the same period of 2014. However, the first half of 2015 comprised two very different quarters: lending growth was exceptionally strong in Q1 with approvals up 60%; in contrast, growth has slowed markedly to 12% in Q2.

Potential borrowers may have brought forward approvals into early 2015, anticipating tighter credit conditions as the new Central Bank mortgage lending rules came into force. We estimate that 28% of mortgage loans in 2014 would have breached the limits, in excess of the 15% allowed to do so. That said, half these borrowers were first-time buyers close to a 90% Loan-to-Value (LTV), who would have faced only a slightly lower LTV ratio. It will probably be H2 2015 before the impact of the rules on actual lending becomes clear.

Overall, the sharp slowdown in mortgage approvals in Q2 2015 suggests that there are downside risks to our €4.5bn forecast for mortgage lending. However, it is not yet clear if the slowdown in Q2 is temporary after an exceptionally strong Q1. Residential property market transactions were still up 33.7% in April. That said, the full impact of the limits on high LTV and Loan-to-Income (LTI) mortgages on actual lending is not yet clear."

Global Economy: Central banks' bank warns "unthinkable" reflects broader malaise; May become new normal

We currently have a technical problem with the login of our news content management system. The software developer blames the hosting service while the latter blames the former. This is the link to the News Main Page for access to new reports up to June 27, 2015.

Global Economy: The Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the oldest international financial organisation, which has a membership of 60 central banks, warned at the weekend that an unprecedented period of ultra-low interest rates mask severe weaknesses in the global economy, which risks leading to the next financial crisis.

The BIS says such low rates are only the most obvious symptom of a broader malaise, despite the progress made since the crisis. "Global economic growth may now be not far from historical averages but it remains unbalanced. Debt burdens are still high, and often growing, relative to output and incomes. The economies hit by a balance sheet recession are still struggling to return to healthy expansion. In several others, financial imbalances show signs of building up, in the form of strong credit and asset price increases, despite the absence of inflationary pressures. Monetary policy has taken on far too much of the burden of boosting output. And in the meantime, productivity growth has continued to decline."

"There is something deeply troubling when the unthinkable threatens to become routine," the BIS adds in its 85th Annual Report, released Sunday. In its main economic review of the year, the BIS calls for a shift to a longer-term focus in policymaking, with the aim of restoring sustainable and balanced growth.

The report says the global economy has been growing not far away from historical average rates. Lower oil prices have provided a welcome boost, and dollar appreciation has shifted growth momentum from stronger to weaker economies. But the global expansion remains unbalanced, debt levels and financial risks are still too high, productivity growth is too low, and the room for manoeuvre in macroeconomic policy has continued to narrow.

The most visible symptom of these tensions is that, globally, interest rates have been extraordinarily low for an exceptionally long time, against any benchmark. "In particular, the fall of sovereign bond yields into negative territory has been unprecedented and has stretched the boundaries of the unthinkable."

Understanding the underlying causes of these tensions is proving exceedingly difficult. A key reason for these tensions, argue the BIS authors, has been a failure to come to grips with how financial developments interact with output and inflation in a globalised economy. For some time now, policies have proved ineffective in preventing the build-up and collapse of hugely damaging financial imbalances. These have left long-lasting scars in the economic tissue.

The report also casts light on two underappreciated aspects of the problem. By misallocating resources, financial booms can sap productivity both as booms unfold and following the crisis they leave in their wake. And the international monetary and financial system has amplified financial imbalances by transmitting exceptionally easy monetary and financial conditions to countries that did not need them.

The US Federal Reserve is expected to become the first central bank in the rich world to raise interest rates since 2008. Wall Street analysts expects the Fed to tighten monetary policy later this year, but at present the policy makers do not even know now if that will happen, while the Bank of England would be expected to follow in 2016. The European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan are currently involved in quantitative easing programs — bond-buying that is commonly termed money printing — to boost economic activity.

The BIS report authors write:

The right response is hard to implement. The policy mix will be country- specific, but its general features are not. What is required is a triple rebalancing in national and international policy frameworks: away from illusory short-term macroeconomic fine-tuning towards medium- term strategies; away from overwhelming attention to near-term output and inflation towards a more systematic response to slower-moving financial cycles; and away from a narrow own-house-in-order doctrine to one that recognises the costly interplay of domestic-focused policies."

They add that an essential element of this rebalancing is to rely less on demand management policies and more on structural ones, so as to abandon the debt-fuelled growth model that has acted as a political and social substitute for productivity-enhancing reforms. The dividend from the oil price drop provides an opportunity that should not be missed. Monetary policy has been overburdened for far too long. It must be part of the answer but cannot be the whole answer. Otherwise, the danger is that the previously unthinkable becomes accepted as the new normal.

Monday, June 22, 2015

Greece needs to raise both exports and foreign direct investment

Angela Merkel, German chancellor, meets Alexis Tsipras, Greek prime minister, Brussels, Feb 12, 2015.

Bank runs returned to modern economies from the outbreak of the financial crisis in 2007 and about €100bn in deposits have been moved from Greek banks since 2010 with the European Central Bank offsetting the loss in liquidity by lending to Greek banks.

Remember Northern Rock — the first bank run in Britain since 1866? The panic was prompted by Bank of England's confirmation in Sept 2007 that it was in the process of saving the mortgage lender.

A decade after German hyperinflation, the accelerating collapse of the American banking system in the weeks leading up to the inauguration of the new president on March 4, 1933, also cast a long historical shadow.

In the boom years countries like Greece and Ireland appeared to be a lot richer than they were — Ireland remains poorer than Italy on a per capita basis. Greece's challenge is that it is both a very poor exporter and a poor performer in inward foreign investment.

It would likely take up to 20 years of good governance to fix the Greek economy and because there does not appear to be support in the country for exiting the euro, foreign investment in for example the tourism sector is required to compete with neighbours like Turkey to justify a price premium.

In the short to medium term, the debt burden is not a priority issue. Good governance is:

1. Zsolt Darvas of Bruegel estimated that net interest expenditure was at 2.6% in 2014 when allowing for the fact that Greece did not pay any interest on some of the bailout loans and got refunds from the ECB and national central banks;

2. Separate to the bailout, Greece receives a net 3% of GDP annually in grants and subsidies from the EU budget;

3. The IMF said last year that recovery of Greek exports has been notably weak relative to other “peripheral” euro area economies such as Portugal or Spain. Exports from Greece had grown by only about 1/3rd the growth rates of Portugal and Spain since the trough of 2009-10. Excluding tourism and oil (which comprise about 2/3rds of total exports), the recovery of exports has been even less over the same period.

4. In 2013 about 40% of Greece's goods exports were fuel as it has a lot of refining capacity but it is not a significant oil & gas producer;

5. Shipping services exports have low value added as most of the crews are from outside Greece;

6. Tourism accounts for almost a quarter of total exports compared with 18% in Portugal and 16% in Thailand — more detail here;

7. Despite creditor repayments and depositor flight, the net cash flow from Europe has been positive since 2010;

8. It is a huge challenge to change from a kleptocracy but there is evidence of improvement in tax administration and the World Bank now ranks Greece with Tunisia in its key Doing Business index for 2015 which has Greece at 61 of 189 countries — up from 109 in 2010.

9. Pensions have also been reformed and outlays were among the highest in Europe at 13.5% of GDP in 2009 and rising to 17.5% of GDP in 2012 because of the fall in output. Greece’s creditors are now seeking changes that will yield annual savings of 1% of GDP by 2016. They want health contributions to rise from 4% to 6% on average and  subsidies for early retirement cut.

10. Per capita real GDP by US state in 2014 ranged from a high of $66,160 in Alaska to a low of $31,551 in Mississippi. Per capita real GDP for the US was $49,469.

11. Actual Individual Consumption per capita, a measure of material welfare of households adjusted for price differences which is a proxy for standard of living, had an index value of 106 in the euro area in 2014 and 100 in the EU28, Germany was at 123, Italy 98, Ireland 93, Spain 90 and Greece and Portugal at 83.

Slovakia was at 74 and Robert Fico, prime minister, said earlier this year that he would only accept concrete promises from Athens that ensure it “will behave in a way that will guarantee that in 10, 15, 20 years, Greece will be able to pay [back] what they get.” The former communist said: “There is no possibility to cut debt in itself...why should the Slovakian people pay some proportion of their debt?”

12.Not only was Greece admitted to the euro system in 2001, in breach of budget rules with public debt in excess of 100% of GDP, it had run a deficit every year since 1974 (France was in the same boat from 1975).

From the start Greek data was unreliable and big revisions were regular.

Between 2001-2008, Greece’s reported budget deficits averaged 5% per year, compared to a Eurozone average of 2%, and current account deficits averaged 9% per year, compared to a Eurozone average of 1%.

Growth was above the Eurozone average thanks to spending on credit.

13. Every poor country without its own natural resources, needs a strong exporting sector as well as strong inward investment flows. In 2014 Portugal was the fourth highest recipient of Chinese investment."

Whatever may be agreed today, Greece's prosperity cannot be willed from Brussels. Debt repayments are scheduled out to 2057 and a Greece competently run would likely get debt forgiveness as repayments arise.

However, stumbling from crisis to crisis while insisting on staying in the euro system would be neither good for it or the rest of euro area.

A group called the Commission on Growth and Development that reported in 2008 and included US economists such as Michael Spence and Robert Solow, said that sustained high growth in developing economies is a recent, post-World War II phenomenon.

It said that using GDP figures, “high” is above 7% and “sustained” is over 25 years or more, that a similar picture emerges with variants. Growth at these rates produces very substantial changes in incomes and wealth: Income doubles every decade at 7%.

There are 13 such cases of sustained high growth, and nine are in Asia. These are Botswana, Brazil, China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Malta, Oman, Singapore, Taiwan (China), and Thailand.

Each and every one of these miracles had an export sector as a driver of growth and an increasing share of trade in GDP. There are no exceptions. Every growth miracle involves leveraging the demand and resources of the global economy.

This explains the rise of both the Irish and Singaporean economies since the 1960s.

It does not mean that there should be long-term dependence in supplying to global supply chains but it’s the best way to develop a modern international trading structure and Singapore in particular is focusing on developing its own indigenous sector while China’s electronics sector is still dominated by foreign-owned firms.

Despite Greece’s superior infrastructure, Romania does much better in attracting inward FDI (foreign direct investment).

Greece could become a failed state like Venezuela

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Australian comedian Jim Jefferies on America's crazy gun culture

This week a white 21-year-old man murdered nine Bible study attendees at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. It sadly will not be the last case of multiple murders in America where a mentally sick individual can so easily get access to guns.

Last year Australian comedian Jim Jefferies dissected the US gun culture for an audience in Boston (see above).

"In Australia, we had the biggest massacre on Earth," he says, referring to the 1996 Point Arthur shooting in which a 28-year-old Martin Bryant murdered 35 people and wounded 23. "The Australian government went, 'That's it, no more guns!' And we all went, 'Yeah, all right, that seems fair enough really.' Now in America you had the Sandy Hook massacre where little tiny children died, and your government went, 'Maybe we'll get rid of the big guns?' And 50 percent of you went, 'Fuck you! Don't take my guns!'"

The Washington Post reports on a new study by the Violence Policy Center, a gun control advocacy group, which shows that when guns kill people, they are overwhelmingly used for murder rather than self-defence.

In 2008-2012, guns were used in 42,419 criminal homicides and only 1,108 justifiable homicides (defined as the killing of a felon during the commission of a felony by a private citizen), according to the report — a ratio of 38 to 1.

Finfacts Blog 2012: Annual Gun Deaths: Japan 2; US 32,300

On Thursday, Jon Stewart, the presenter of the "Daily Show," the comedy news program, began with a monologue on the massacre in Charleston. His guest on Thursday was Malala Yousafzai, the 17-year-old Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Here’s a transcript of the monologue at the top of his show, which addressed race, terrorism and gun violence:

I honestly have nothing other than just sadness once again that we have to peer into the abyss of the depraved violence that we do to each other and the nexus of a just gaping racial wound that will not heal, yet we pretend doesn’t exist. And I’m confident, though, that by acknowledging it, by staring into that and seeing it for what it is, we still won’t do jack shit. Yeah. That’s us.

And that’s the part that blows my mind. I don’t want to get into the political argument of the guns and things. But what blows my mind is the disparity of response between when we think people that are foreign are going to kill us, and us killing ourselves.

If this had been what we thought was Islamic terrorism, it would fit into our — we invaded two countries and spent trillions of dollars and thousands of American lives and now fly unmanned death machines over five or six different countries, all to keep Americans safe. We got to do whatever we can. We’ll torture people. We gotta do whatever we can to keep Americans safe.

Nine people shot in a church. What about that? “Hey, what are you gonna do? Crazy is as crazy is, right?” That’s the part that I cannot, for the life of me, wrap my head around, and you know it. You know that it’s going to go down the same path. “This is a terrible tragedy.” They’re already using the nuanced language of lack of effort for this. This is a terrorist attack. This is a violent attack on the Emanuel Church in South Carolina, which is a symbol for the black community. It has stood in that part of Charleston for 100 and some years and has been attacked viciously many times, as many black churches have.

I heard someone on the news say “Tragedy has visited this church.” This wasn’t a tornado. This was a racist. This was a guy with a Rhodesia badge on his sweater. You know, so the idea that — you know, I hate to even use this pun, but this one is black and white. There’s no nuance here.

And we’re going to keep pretending like, “I don’t get it. What happened? This one guy lost his mind.” But we are steeped in that culture in this country and we refuse to recognize it, and I cannot believe how hard people are working to discount it. In South Carolina, the roads that black people drive on are named for Confederate generals who fought to keep black people from being able to drive freely on that road. That’s insanity. That’s racial wallpaper. That’s — that’shit you can’t allow that, you know.

Nine people were shot in a black church by a white guy who hated them, who wanted to start some kind of civil war. The Confederate flag flies over South Carolina, and the roads are named for Confederate generals, and the white guy’s the one who feels like his country is being taken away from him. We’re bringing it on ourselves. And that’s the thing. Al-Qaeda, all those guys, ISIS, they’re not s— compared to the damage that we can apparently do to ourselves on a regular basis.

So our guest tonight is an incredible person who suffered unspeakable violence by extremists, and her perseverance and determination through that to continue on is an incredible inspiration. And to be quite honest with you, I don’t think there’s anyone else in the world I would rather talk to tonight than Malala. So that’s what we’re going to do. And sorry about no jokes."

Friday, June 12, 2015

What happened when Portugal decriminalised drugs — Overdose deaths fell to lowest in Europe

Economist Films: For 20 years The Economist has led calls for a rethink on drug prohibition. This film looks at new approaches to drugs policy, from Portugal to Colorado. “Drugs: War or Store?” kicks off a new “Global Compass” series, examining novel approaches to policy problems.

Portugal decriminalised the use of all drugs in 2001 and according to Der Spiegel, one gram of heroin, two grams of cocaine, 25 grams of marijuana leaves or five grams of hashish are the drug quantities one can legally purchase and possess in Portugal, carrying them through the streets of Lisbon in a pants pocket, say, without fear of repercussion. MDMA — the active ingredient in ecstasy — and amphetamines — including speed and meth — can also be possessed in amounts up to one gram. That's roughly enough of each of these drugs to last 10 days.

Portugal has stopped prosecuting users but the drugs are still illegal to avoid hassle from the UN while using these drugs above the 10-day limit "is nothing more than a misdemeanor, much the same as a parking violation."

Der Spiegel says there were about 100,000 severely drug-addicted people in Portugal in the mid-1990s. Now it has one of the lowest overdose deaths in Europe and with the exception of cannabis, the demand for other illicit drugs has fallen.

Finfacts: Disastrous 44-year War on Drugs and ignoring the evidence

The European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) has its headquarters in Lisbon and it published its latest annual report this month.

3.4 % of all deaths of Europeans 15–39 years old are drug overdoses, opioids are found in 66 % of fatal overdoses while overall, "drug overdose continues to be the main cause of death among problem drug users, and over three-quarters of overdose victims are male (78 %). While it is often the deaths among the very young that generate concern, only 8 % of the overdose deaths reported in Europe in 2013 were aged under 25 years. Between 2006 and 2013, a pattern can be observed of decreasing numbers of overdose deaths among younger drug users and increasing numbers among older users. This reflects the ageing nature of Europe’s opioid-using population, who are at greatest risk of drug overdose death."

The report says for 2013, "the average mortality rate due to overdoses in Europe is estimated at 16 deaths per million population aged 15–64. Northern Europe has the highest rates.

In Portugal the use of "legal highs" — such as so-called "synthetic" marijuana, "bath salts" and the like — is lower in Portugal than in any of the other countries for which reliable data exists.

National mortality rates vary considerably and are influenced by factors such as prevalence and patterns of drug use, particularly injecting and opioid use, the characteristics of drug-using populations, the availability and purity of the drugs, reporting practices and provision of services. Rates of over 40 deaths per million were reported in seven countries, with the highest rates reported in Estonia (127 per million), Norway (70 per million) and Sweden (70 per million). Although national differences in coding and reporting practices, as well as possible under-reporting, make it difficult to compare countries, analysing trends over time within individual countries is valuable" — Ireland had a rate of 58 and the UK was at 45.

Romania was 2  and Portugal was at 3 drug overdose deaths per million citizens. The Netherlands was at 10 and the EU average was 17 per million.

In 2012, a general population survey was conducted on a sample of 5,355 inhabitants in Portugal aged 15–64.

Although cannabis remains the most frequently used illicit substance, followed by ecstasy and cocaine, the latest study indicates that the use of illicit substances in Portugal since 2007 might be on the decline (lifetime prevalence of any illicit substance among adults was 12.0 % in 2007 and 9.5 % in 2012; among young adults in 2007 it was 17.4 % and in 2012 it was 14.5 %). In 2012 about 9.4 % of 15-to 64-year-olds had ever tried cannabis, 2.7 % had used cannabis in the last 12 month and 1.7 % in the past month, compared to 2007 when cannabis use prevalence rates were reported at 11.7 %, 3.6 % and 2.4 % respectively. Ecstasy and cocaine have emerged as the second and third most prevalent illicit substances, with lifetime prevalence rates at 1.3 % and 1.2 %, and broader differentiation in prevalence rates among young adults is noted. Use of illicit substances in general is more prevalent among 15- to 34-year-olds. The latest study indicates a slight increase in recent use of LSD among all adults, and also among 15- to 34-year-olds; however, the overall prevalence of LSD remains low. All studies confirmed that males more frequently than females use illicit substances; however, there are some indications that females present higher continuity rates for cannabis, ecstasy and hallucinogenic mushrooms use than men. The latest study also examined prevalence of non-controlled new psychoactive substances. In 2012 around 0.4 % of all respondents and 0.9 % of young adults reported trying a new psychoactive substance at least once in their lifetime."

Click image to enlarge


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: text/html

WARC-Type: response

text:
Oil hovers near three-month highs, supported by low U.S. inventories, trade progress

 Oil hovers near three-month highs, supported by low U.S. inventories, trade progress

By Collin Eaton

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Oil prices hovered near the highest in three months in thin pre-Christmas trading on Thursday, buoyed by the previous day's news that U.S. crude inventories declined and as U.S.-China trade tensions continued to ease.

Brent crude futures were up 38 cents at $66.55 a barrel at 10:05 a.m. CST (1605 GMT), heading for the sixth straight day of gains.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 20 cents at $61.13 a barrel. The contract for January delivery expires later on Thursday.

Trading volume was thin, with oil headed for a third consecutive weekly rise. Prices were buoyed by China's Dec. 13 decision to cancel a plan to impose additional tariffs on U.S. imports on Dec. 15 and the Phase 1 deal between Washington and China, which has eased trade tensions.

The deal between the world's two largest economies has improved the global economic outlook, lifting prospects for higher energy demand next year and underpinning oil prices.

"The market's happy with (Dec. 15) tariffs out of the way and the trade truce, for now," said Bill Baruch, president at Blue Line Futures in Chicago.

In a further sign of thawing relations, China's finance ministry on Thursday published a new list of six U.S. products that will be exempt from tariffs starting Dec. 26.

Oil has also gained momentum from announcements about deeper output cuts by major crude producers. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-OPEC producers such as Russia agreed earlier this month to deepen production cuts by a further 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) from Jan. 1 on top of previous reductions of 1.2 million bpd.

Adding to the positive mood, weekly data from the Energy Information Administration showed U.S. crude inventories dropped 1.1 million barrels in the week to Dec. 13, while gasoline and distillates stockpiles rose.

News of President Donald Trump's impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives failed to stir the oil market.

"A resilient performance in the coming two weeks will flip the monthly technical picture unreservedly positive for next year," PVM oil market analysts said, although they said prices were still likely to be volatile.

(Additional reporting by Shadia Nasralla in LONDON and Florence Tan in SINGAPORE; Editing by Edmund Blair/Mark Potter/Jane Merriman/David Gregorio)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.

Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.

Updated Date: Dec 20, 2019 00:07:43 IST

warcinfo:
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2020-05
publisher: Common Crawl
description: Wide crawl of the web for January 2020
operator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)
hostname: ip-10-67-67-129.ec2.internal
software: Apache Nutch 1.16 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)
robots: checked via crawler-commons 1.1-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)
format: WARC File Format 1.1
conformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/


text:
Steve Carell's 'Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' First Trailer

May 8, 2014
Source: Yahoo

Alexander's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

All right, well, it's not just Steve Carell that's having a bad day since the film is actually called Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, but the young titular boy's entire family slowly begins to have the worst day of all their lives. Complete with an introduction from Carell himself, the first trailer has arrived showing off the silly and goofy family comedy that we all expected, but we're not necessarily excited for. This just isn't our brand of humor, and it really seems to be over-the-top. That doesn't mean younger kids and average families won't enjoy it, but there's just nothing special here. Watch!

The first trailer for Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day from Yahoo:

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is directed by Miguel Arteta (Cedar Rapids) and written by first-time scribe Rob Lieber. The film follows the exploits of 11-year-old Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) as he experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life—a day that begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by one calamity after another. But when Alexander finds little sympathy from his family, he soon learns that he's not alone when his brother, sister, mom and dad all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner, Megan Mullally, Jennifer Coolidge and more also star in the film which 20th Century Fox releases October 10th.

Find more posts: To Watch, Trailer

Discover more around the web:

Reader Feedback - 5 Comments

White People Problems: The Motion Picture

NicelyBuilt on May 8, 2014

Nick Sears on May 8, 2014

SkyNet300 on May 8, 2014

Had some srs giggles in de trailer. Will watch in theather.Disney have been makin sum srs good giggle movies recentley.

arthurcucumber on May 8, 2014

Poor Alexander. Maybe a trip to the Sudan would cure his bad day.

DAVIDPD on May 8, 2014

Sorry, no commenting is allowed at this time.

Alex's Top 10 - 2018
1. The Nightingale
2. Vox Lux
3. Into Spider-Verse
4. Shirkers
5. First Man
6. Old Man & Gun
7. M:I - Fallout
8. The Favourite
9. If Beale Street...
10. Blindspotting
Click Here for Thoughts

Adam's Top 10 - 2018
1. Upgrade
2. Annihilation
3. A Star is Born
4. Into Spider-Verse
5. BlacKkKlansman
6. Suspiria
7. Assass. Nation
8. Avengers: Inf. War
9. Bumblebee
10. Bad Times Royale
Click Here for Thoughts

Subscribe to our feed or daily newsletter:
Follow Alex's main profile on twitter:
For the news posts only, follow this acct:

Add FS to your Feedly updates: click here


text:
Watch: First Epic Trailer for 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2'

June 9, 2015
Source: YouTube

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2

"Snow has to pay for what he's done." It's almost time to unite and take down Panem. Turn your weapons to the Capitol. Lionsgate has debuted the first teaser trailer for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, the highly anticipated epic conclusion in The Hunger Games series. If you've been following this series closely you know what it's leading up to - all out war and a showdown at the Capitol to take out President Snow and change Panem forever. Jennifer Lawrence stars at Katniss, joined by a huge cast, including Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Liam Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Natalie Dormer and Josh Hutcherson. I can't wait. It's finally going to happen! Bring on the revolution.

Here's the first trailer for Francis Lawrence's The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, via YouTube:

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 is once again directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Peter Craig & Danny Strong. With the nation of Panem in a full scale war, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) confronts President Snow (Donald Sutherland) in the final showdown. Teamed with Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Finnick (Sam Claflin), and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) – Katniss goes off on a mission with the unit from District 13 as they risk their lives to stage an assassination attempt on President Snow who has become increasingly obsessed with destroying her. The mortal traps, enemies, and moral choices that await Katniss will challenge her more than any arena she faced before. Lionsgate will release this finale on November 20th.

Find more posts: To Watch, Trailer

Discover more around the web:

Reader Feedback - 26 Comments

I like that: A) Trailer is only minute and half B) not the entire movie is shown C) nothing seems to be given away That is all I need from a trailer and looking forward to seeing this last entry ( but please do not be like that last terrible book where I wanted everyone to die ). BTW - I don't see epic anywhere in this trailer

Tester on Jun 9, 2015

Well one huge plot point is given away. Peta ends up not wanting to kill Katniss. At the end of part 1 if I remember correctly he was still bent on killing Katniss...

ListenToVinyl on Jun 9, 2015

Thank you sir, I stand corrected and retract point C

Tester on Jun 9, 2015

yah, I guess they did that for all of the fans that love Peta and wouldn't be willing to pay to see him be a dick on camera for 2 hours

Ryan on Jun 9, 2015

Not a book reader, so I don't know how it goes down, but I assumed he'd get over that madness. Only mildly spoil-y.

Benjamin Hunter on Jun 9, 2015

Or he could be luring her in for the kill! (seriously)... With Paint! (lol joking) Don't underestimate the acting prowess of the Hutcherson!

Akirakorn on Jun 11, 2015

Epic? You mean, the fact that she has ALL of the Capitol surrounding her while she aims an arrow at President Snow? How is that not epic? Epic, like many terms used to describe movies, seems to be subjective. The entire movie is going to be an epic conclusion, the trailer shows some epic promise. But yea. I hear you. 🙂 To all your other points, yes I agree!

Alex Billington on Jun 9, 2015

I agree that the term is subjective if not overused.. but you make a good point regardless, so no need for a rebuttal.

Tester on Jun 9, 2015

I'm hoping that for this one, they didn't follow the book and Finnick lives:/

steve on Jun 9, 2015

There is no way you posted this as an oversight, so I have to surmise that you did this intentionally.

Tester on Jun 9, 2015

No kidding. Spoilery much? Don't ruin it for the non-readers

David Diaz on Jun 9, 2015

Not a spoiler if it's in a book that came out years ago

steve on Jun 9, 2015

Seriously? That's no excuse man. It's just common sense to not to spoil plot points for films based on written works. And if you are going to mention one, you put a spoiler warning. You aren't new to this site so just be courteous to the fans of the films who never read the books.

David Diaz on Jun 9, 2015

..... yes it is

Ryan on Jun 9, 2015

No it isn't. But I fixed it. Happy?

steve on Jun 9, 2015

I really do not like to name call, but U are making it extremely hard for me

Tester on Jun 9, 2015

Yes. Thank you. We can all sleep happier now. 😉

David Diaz on Jun 9, 2015

NO if you cant be arsed to read a book 5 years old thats been hyped up for 4 years, thats on you. Thats like being pissed some one spoiled season one of Walking Dead.

Brian Sleider on Jun 9, 2015

Btw, I feel the same way but about a different character. It kind of ruined the book for me.

David Diaz on Jun 9, 2015

I agree. I regretted reading the whole friggin' series after the ending. WORSE BOOK ENDING EVER. Hopefully the movie will remedy it. It'll be the one instance when the movie was better than the book LOL!

RAW_D on Jun 9, 2015

Meh! After the hot mess that was the last movie this has failed to interest me.

Huck PS on Jun 9, 2015

Natalie Dormer.

DAVIDPD on Jun 9, 2015

I watched the first three so I'll finish with this one. Wouldn't read that book for a world. For stories like these, there a movies. As for reading books, you choose something with more substance in that department ...

shiboleth on Jun 9, 2015

Honestly, with all the "young adult" crap out there I have to disagree. No sane friend of mine wanted to see the 1st one with me so I gave up and got the 1st book. There is a lot more substance and depth of character in the books than in the films, even for Katniss. Bonus is it's straightforward yet descriptive, so you can burn through the books (pun intended) in a weekend or two, without losing interest. Aside from the few cheesy bits of genetic/society hang-ups/stupidity.

Akirakorn on Jun 11, 2015

I don't have to disagree with you in order to disagree with you since I also agree with you. I read a lot of books and I have my reading interests which absolutely collide with this one. I just don't find interesting, to be honest, to loose time on this and I am glad that there are movies made from such books. On the other side, my wife has read those books and she thinks they are good. Now, our daughter is reading them before the last movie comes. So, I know they are good in some sense, and probably recommendable for many, but just not enough interesting for me. For such kind of narratives, I prefer movies ...

shiboleth on Jun 11, 2015

Who is the bad guy now?

DAVIDPD on Jun 9, 2015

Sorry, no commenting is allowed at this time.

Alex's Top 10 - 2018
1. The Nightingale
2. Vox Lux
3. Into Spider-Verse
4. Shirkers
5. First Man
6. Old Man & Gun
7. M:I - Fallout
8. The Favourite
9. If Beale Street...
10. Blindspotting
Click Here for Thoughts

Adam's Top 10 - 2018
1. Upgrade
2. Annihilation
3. A Star is Born
4. Into Spider-Verse
5. BlacKkKlansman
6. Suspiria
7. Assass. Nation
8. Avengers: Inf. War
9. Bumblebee
10. Bad Times Royale
Click Here for Thoughts

Subscribe to our feed or daily newsletter:
Follow Alex's main profile on twitter:
For the news posts only, follow this acct:

Add FS to your Feedly updates: click here


WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: application/xhtml+xml

text:
Fairmount Park 1909

This is coverage on the 1909 Fairmount Park road race in Philadelphia. The competition was for the "Founder's Week Trophy." It was organized by the Quaker City Motor Club. The inaugural race was in 1908. Iconic pioneer photographer Nathan Lazarnick attended at least one of the Fairmount Park races and a healthy collection of images can be found in the Eastman House.
The first article (attachment FairmountPark071809) is from July 18, 1909 Indianapolis Star and reports on how race organizers had raised the question to manufacturers about whether or not the much feared foreign marques should be allowed to compete. William J. Mead of Buick announced that his company fully supported the entry of the European manufacturers.
Attachment Fairmont091209 contains an article published in the Indianapolis Star on September 12, 1909. This article discusses preparations for the upcoming race to be conducted in Fairmount Park, a public park in Philadelphia. The enthusiasm of the city's social elite is emphasized.
The article predicts an attendance of some 300,000 people at the 200 mile contest. Choice vantage points went to the highest bidders at auction as the event was billed as a charitable fund raiser. Choice parking spaces, of which there were some 1,000 at appealing locations around the eight mile course, were up for grabs. About 480 of these spaces were near start-finish where the pits were located.
A grandstand contained almost 4,000 seats and 105 boxes. Again, these were available through auction. The stand was designed by Phillip H. Johnson who is described as "a well known architect." Secretary Harry Harbach of the Quaker City Motor Club announced the Benz entry of Erwin Bergdoll. Bergdoll not only owned the car but also planned to drive. The Bergdolls were a prominent family in the Philadelphia area.
The White Company's garage at 629 North Broad Street in Philadelphia was announced as the official "head garage" of the meet. The Autolight Company (not "Autolite") and Motor Supply Company agreed to donate a gold watch as an award to the driver with the "most consistent record."
Attachment FairmountNews100509 contains an article that is a very short note on practice for the event. It is from the October 5, 1909 Indianapolis News and mentions the fact that officially it was a race for charity. This was a product of what the organizers had to agree to in order to gain the cooperation of city officials.
The next article (attachment Fairmount100909) from the October 9, 1909 Indianapolis News and is a report on the race won by George Robertson in a Simplex. Robertson, who won the Vanderbilt Cup the previous year and the Lowell road race the previous month, was easily one of the top American drivers from 1908 to his career-ending crash on Long Island in 1910. Other top stars in the race were Lewis Strang (Isotta), Louis Chevrolet (Buick) and Harry Grant (ALCO).
Attachment Fairmount101009 contains an Indianapolis Star article that summarizes the race. It reports that 21 cars were in the field and provides good detail on the top finishers as follows:

The article reports that Robertson pretty much had his way with the field but was kept honest by Dingley. The Star gave a sub-head to the third place Apperson as the car was made in Kokomo, Indiana. An estimated 25,000 spectators gathered around the course, a far cry from the 300,000 projection mentioned earlier.
E.O. Haynes produced the wrong kind of excitement when he clobbered a telegraph pole in his American on lap eight at the hair pin turn near Sweet Briar. Even though he and his riding mechanic were hurled from the car neither was hurt seriously.
A closer call was produced when the Acme of driver Malin Leinau threw a tire (and I suspect this was only a tire, not a wheel) and it sailed into the grandstand to strike a boy, knocking him out cold. The boy did recover. J.F. Betz in a Simplex recorded the race's fastest lap in seven minutes, 54 seconds.

FairmountPark071809.pdf1.46 MB
Fairmount091209.pdf335.43 KB
FairmontNews100509.pdf790 KB
FairmontNews100909.pdf653.07 KB
Fairmount101009.pdf598.52 KB


text:
  • The best teams are constantly aware of who they are “being.” They know what they stand for and how they want to treat others. The "Who Are You Being?" wristband is the perfect reminder your personal commitment.

  • Displays a new FISH! practice with each click. An easy way to take note of your choices today. Sold individually. (Black ink)

  • This simple message summarizes what every student and staff member can do to contribute to a great school. Hang it in classrooms, hallways and the lunchroom to reinforce your school’s commitment to The FISH! Philosophy.
  • Clearance pricing. Limited Quantities Available.
  • Taken from the final page of FISH! the Book, these timeless words outline the actions that build a productive workplace and a fulfilling life. It helps define what living the FISH! Philosophy looks like for your team. It’s the perfect size for individual cubicles.

  • Who do you want to “be” as you go through the ups and downs of your day? Hang this powerful phrase in your workspace to help everyone stay aware of how their attitudes and actions affect others moment to moment.

  • The FISH! Philosophy has gone green! These recyclable totes fold for easy travel and are a “snap” to store. Black with the FISH! logo on the front.

  • A fun way to attract attention to the four FISH! practices.
  • Each poster displays the learning points of the film FISH! Sticks. A colorful way to keep your team’s vision alive.

  • Brightly displays the learning points of the FISH! film. Create excitement and curiosity for upcoming events and keep the commitment going after your training ends.
  • Clearance pricing. Limited Quantities Available.
  • Clearance pricing. Limited Quantities Available.
  • The more you know what makes a person’s day, the more impact your actions will have on them. Get to know your teammates and how they like to be recognized in this entertaining workshop activity based on the old TV show, Let’s Make a Deal.

  • Clearance pricing. Limited Quantities Available.
  • The perfect team-building activity for any FISH! event or meeting opener. The deck is divided into a series of corresponding cards, one for Partner A and another for Partner B. The partners follow the instructions on their particular card, one discussing a FISH! topic while the other listens, then responds. Conversation Cards help you explore what each FISH! practice looks and feels like. It’s a great way to learn about yourself, learn about each other and practice Be There.

  • Learn how the attitudes you choose have an impact on you, your colleagues and your ability to achieve common goals. A fun workshop activity that helps people understand how much control they actually have over their attitudes.
  • Clearance pricing. Limited Quantities Available.
  • We met Pete in a gift shop in California (true story). He wasn’t much of a talker, but he made us smile. We offered him a job as the official stuffed mascot of The FISH! Philosophy. Pete loves to sit on desks and computers, and wears a stylish label with the FISH! practices to help you remember them. Pete comes in a 4-pack (joined by his brother and two sisters, each of whom is also named Pete; it’s a family name).

  • We packed four each of our most popular accessories in one tote bag, all for a great value!

  • FISH! Award

    One of the best ways to keep The FISH! Philosophy alive is to celebrate each other for living it. Our new FISH! award is the perfect way to acknowledge people for putting your company’s values into action. It’s ideal for employee and leadership recogition, for outstanding teamwork or service—whatever actions you want to applaud and encourage. Each award is hand-made with bright colors and the symbol of the FISH! Philosophy—Joy the fish—is prominently featured. Made of a tough acrylic, the award is built to last, just like the philosophy. The FISH! award comes in two sizes. The smaller award is a wonderful way to recognize individual coworkers and colleagues. The larger award is perfect as a "traveling" trophy within a department or organization. It's also ideal for special events, like biannual or year-end awards ceremonies, where an individual, team, or department is recognized for exemplifying FISH! consistently. The larger award can be inscribed (at no extra charge) to personalize the award for the recipient.

Get Your Culture Score

Find out today.
Take the free Culture Checkup!

Get Started

By using this site, you consent to our use of cookies to deliver a great experience for you and analyze our traffic. OK


text:
Jan. 3 2019 09:24 AM

Why trainers need to understand PCNS dysfunction

female factor

Understanding the variables and differences of female and male biomechanics are imperative to differentiate training and programming. One of the most common variables overlooked by fitness professionals is that of the female pelvis and pelvic floor. One in three females will experience some form of pelvic floor dysfunction. (4) To provide female specific training, every movement professional needs to understand the most common forms of pelvic floor dysfunction.

Understanding the Pelvic Core Neuromuscular System (PCNS)

The female pelvis is wider, shallower and more circular than the male pelvis. The female pubic arch is wider as opposed to the v-shaped male pubic arch. The female pelvis is also oriented, to a greater extent, in an anterior tilt as compared to the male pelvis. This characteristic provides a foundational support to the female pelvic bowl organs. The female pelvic bowl organs include the bladder, the uterus and the bowels. The orientation of the female pelvis provides skeletal support to these organs, which allows for a stacking mechanism. The bladder stacks on the inner side of the pubic arch, the uterus; in most cases, stacks on top of the bladder and the sigmoid colon stacks against the uterus. These organs are also fascially-connected which provides another level of support.

The pelvic floor muscles provide muscular support to the bottom of the Pelvic Core Neuromuscular System (PCNS). The PCNS is made up of the respiratory diaphragm at the top, the abdominal muscles at the front and sides of the trunk, the back and hip muscles at the back and sides of the trunk and the very important pelvic floor muscles at the bottom. All of these muscles are fascially-connected and must work as an integrated unit to maintain continence, provide core stability/mobility and lower girdle mobility/stability. The pelvic nerves are also part of this system and when working properly provide a symphony of appropriate communication for efficient female biomechanics. In Applied Functional Science (AFS), as taught by the Gray Institute, the concept of a Kegel or an isolated pelvic floor muscle contraction is challenged. In AFS, PCNS function would include assessment of the shoulders, the thoracic spine, the hips, the subtalar joints and how intra-abdominal pressure is managed. This global assessment will then allow for a better understanding of how the local aspects of the PCNS are functioning.

Common types of PCNS dysfunction

Are you working with a female who has Pelvic Core Neuromuscular System Dysfunction? As a fitness professional, it is important to know the most common forms of female PCNS Dysfunction and the right questions to ask a client. The four most common forms of dysfunction include urinary incontinence, fecal/gas incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain. (2) Orthopedic Deficits may also be influenced by PCNS dysfunction. (1) This may include Diastasis Rectus Abdominis (DRA), anterior cruciate ligament injury, ankle sprains, hip labrum injuries and low back pain. An effective screening will include questions to reveal dysfunction.

Pelvic pain presents in a variety of forms. All of these types of PCNS Dysfunctions will impact a females’ ability to participate in exercise affirming why fitness professionals need to have an understanding of the dysfunction and implications for training. (4) Urinary Incontinence may present in a variety of forms. Stress incontinence is defined as the involuntary loss of urine with an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. This may occur with sneezing, coughing, lifting and high-impact exercise. Urge incontinence is defined as an excessive urge to urinate with a small production of urine. Urinary frequency is defined as urinating more that 8-12 times in a 24-hour period. Normal bladder emptying should occur every 2-4 hours during the day and 0-1 time at night. No amount of urinary leakage should ever be considered normal. If urinary leakage occurs, it means a breakdown in the Pelvic Core Neuromuscular System has occurred and this needs to be addressed. Fecal/gas incontinence is defined as loss of bowel control or the ability to control gas. Individual bowel patterns and motility will vary and is dependent on a number of digestive health factors. However, loss of control is never considered normal and an individual should never have to strain or feel like they cannot completely empty their bowels. Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms may include the sensation of pelvic pressure and heaviness. POP occurs when a pelvic bowl organ descends downward towards the pelvic floor or even outside of the pelvic floor openings. A cystocele is when the bladder descends and bulges into anterior vaginal wall deficits. Uterine prolapse is when the uterus descends down into the vagina. A rectocele is when the rectum bulges into posterior vaginal wall deficits and/or through the anus. (3)

Women’s health allies

To better serve the female population, attend education that provides female-specific training, utilize a screening that includes female-specific questions and join forces with health professionals that work with the female population. Research the health professionals in your region to build relationships. The following list includes health professionals who have specialized skills in working with the female population:

Women’s Health Physical Therapist: a physical therapist who has specialized education and skills in the care of the female patient. Areas of focus include pelvic floor dysfunction, pregnancy and care throughout the fourth trimester.

Gynecologist: a physician who has completed training and education in the health of the female reproductive system for health/wellness and dysfunction.

Obstetrician: a physician who has completed education and training in the management of pregnancy, labor and the fourth trimester.

Obstetrician/Gynecologist: a physician who has completed education and training to provide medical and surgical care with an expertise in pregnancy, childbirth and dysfunction of the female reproductive system. Preventative care, perinatal care, with family planning are included.

Urogynecologist: a physician that has completed specialized education and training in care of the female with pelvic floor dysfunction. This physician has completed medical school and a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology. This professional also has additional training in the evaluation and care for conditions that affect the female pelvic organs, muscles and connective tissue that support the female pelvic bowl organs.

Fellow of Applied Functional Science: a physical therapist, personal trainer, fitness professional, chiropractor, osteopath or MD who has specialized training in applied functional science with an understanding of chain reaction biomechanics. This professional will also be certified in 3DMAPS and CAFS which includes assessment, training, prevention, rehabilitation and sports performance enhancement skills.

As a fitness professional, you may be the first person that addresses this information with your client. Female-specific education is crucial to the understanding of Female Chain Reaction Biomechanics. Implementing the knowledge for your female clients will elevate the level of training and exercise prescription to better serve the female population. This is quality of life changing information.

  1. Omi Y, et al. (2018) Effect of Hip Focused Prevention Training Program for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Reduction in Female Basketball Players: A 12-year prospective intervention study. AMJ SportsMed.
  2. Bonis M, Lormand J, Walsh, C.(2018) Assessment and Alleviation of Lumbopelvic pain and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. Biomed J Sci&Tech Res 10(4)
  3. American Urogynecologic Society: 2016, Pelvic floor Dialogues. Accessed (2016). www.augs.org
  4. Morkved S, et al. Effect of pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy and after childbirth on prevention and treatment of urinary incontinence: A systematic review. BJSM 48(4), 299-310. 10.1136/bjsports-2012-091758.


text:
•   () Cart
    • Your shopping cart is empty.

China Flag Kit (Standard)

The current Chinese flag was first flown on a pole overlooking Beijing's Tiananmen Square on October 1, 1949 in a ceremony announcing the founding of the People's Republic. It was designed by Zeng Liansong. The red in this flag represents revolution. The five stars and their relationship represent the unity of the Chinese people under the Communist Party of China.

The standard China flag kit is value-priced and stylish. Complete kit contains:

  • Chinese flag made of durable and vibrant 200-Denier nylon that is bordered by gold rayon fringe and finished with a 3 in. flannel-lined pole hem with Velcro tabs;
  • 2-piece, 1-1/4 in. diameter oak pole with brass screw joint;
  • decorative gold rayon cord with tassels;
  • 7-3/4 in. shiny gold spear ornament made of high-impact styrene plastic;
  • and high-impact styrene plastic Liberty base with vacuum-plated gold finish.

Please Note: This kit is made to order. Please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery.

Shipping charges vary due to the size and weight of this kit and based on shipping destination. Therefore, shipping charges will be applied at the time of shipment. See our shipping estimator or email sales@flagandbanner.com for a shipping estimate.

US flag kit companion sizes:

  • 8 ft. pole matches standard quality US flag kit item code KUS35XN.
  • 9 ft. pole matches standard quality US flag kit item code KUS46XN.

Mobile users: to view the grid properly, use the Columns down arrow to add columns or flip your device sideways.

  • FBPP0000012304
Add to Cart Below

SKU:  Material Size Price Quantity Status
KFCHIN35S Nylon 3 ft. x 5 ft. flag / 8 ft. x 1-1/4 in. pole $353.30 In Stock, Assembled at Order
KFCHIN46S Nylon 4 ft. x 6 ft. flag / 9 ft. x 1-1/4 in. pole $396.07 In Stock, Assembled at Order

Ratings and Reviews

Ecommerce & ERP Integration by Website Pipeline


text:
Wine to go with steak – how about Argentinian Malbec

By Julia Jenkins, 17th September 2017

Wine to go with steak – how about Argentinian Malbec –

What to drink with steak? Argentina has the answer – Malbec of course!! However, that’s not the only wine grown in this major wine producing country that is great with steak as recent tastings have shown. The geographical diversity of Argentina provides a myriad of terroirs from deserts in Patagonia to high altitudes in the Andes to suit different grape varieties ensuring a rich range of wine styles are produced.

South America’s wine reputation used to be dominated by Chilean wines but now Argentina makes five times as much wine and is catching up on the export markets thus carving a strong reputation of its own. It still exports huge volumes in bulk to Russia et al with exports of superb quality wines bottles at source are rapidly increasing.

In the 1990’s and early 2000’s Argentinian wine available in the UK was mostly made from the Malbec grape that had originated in France and produced high volumes of simple juicy fruit wines. Since then the vines are planted in cooler areas to limit production and to restrain the huge heady flavours. The fruit grown now is of good quality, with great oak aging potential creating excellent wines with more subtle delicious lingering aromas and flavours. Try the wines of Tapiz from Mendoza and Fournier in the Uco Valley, part of Mendoza who produce fabulously complex wines of great quality. Companies like Nieto Senetiner also produce Malbec wines in this region starting at £10 and onwards.

The Bonarda grape is now well established and going through the same period of adolescence or growing up period. The once simple, heady richly fruity wines now are gaining some sophistication as regions in Mendoza are singled out as great for Bonarda grapes with careful aging in oak. Tapiz, once again, are producers of good examples of this wine. Cabernet Sauvignon is developing a niche for itself in the same way as seen in the Vina Cobos wines made by Paul Hobbs, wine consultant from California.

Torrontes, like Malbec, has become synonymous with Argentinian white wines and especially with more plantings on the plateau in Cafayate high in the Andes above Salta then the wines it makes are gaining in reputation. Torrontes makes wines that are very aromatic with full tropical fruit notes that are grapy and distinctive with a rounded, peachy notes that linger. Nieto Senetiner, Tapiz and Trapiche all make a range of great white wines.

Torrontes isn’t the only white grape variety producing wines of note in Argentina as vineyards at high altitude in Cafayate, or in the Uco Valley and other parts of the Andean foothills around the wine producing hub of Mendoza successfully grow other varieties. Viognier, and to a limited extent Riesling are now being planted along with the more ubiquitous Chardonnay.

As steak is to Malbec in Argentinian restaurants then emapandas especially vegetable or cheesy ones are to Torrontes, Viognier et al. Some great wine and food pairing combinations are evolving at the same rate as the diversity of wines produced.

Visit Our Shop

We welcome visitors to come and chat to us

Read More

Delicious recipes

Wines we are passionate about our wines and also about food

Read More

Trade accounts

Flagship Wines in St Albans is an award winning independent wine merchant that serves the trade as well.

Read More

Free delivery

On local deliveries

No minimum order

Order from as little as 1 bottle

Expert knowledge

Experienced wine seller

Our shop

Based in hertfordshire


text:
Quote of the Day: Hisham Melhem is the Happiest Bureau Chief Ever

I think that you’re making a very important point. And that is that the language we use matters. And what we need to understand is, is that there are extremist organizations — whether Muslim or any other faith in the past — that will use faith as a justification for violence. We cannot paint with a broad brush a faith as a consequence of the violence that is done in that faith’s name.

– Barack Obama, in his first official presidential interview with an Arabic-language station; read the entire transcript of his chat with Al-Arabiya’s bureau chief Hisham Melhem at the Huffington Post.


text:
So, whether you choose to buy or lease vehicles, you will need some type of help to finance them.

One of the largest expenses your business will see is your company’s fleet. Sourcing, acquiring, maintaining, and managing your fleet is a costly and crucial aspect of your business.

Switch To AU Site


text:
Industrial Hose Product Home

 Print this!

Dependable Anywhere. Flexaust flexible hose and ducting products are designed to meet the most demanding industrial and commercial applications in the industrial market today. The wide range of ducting products are used in applications involving air, dust, fume control, high temperature, vacuum, vapor recovery, severe service and lightweight material handling. Hose constructions include wire reinforced coated fabric hose, wire reinforced plastic hose in different wall thicknesses, hand-bendable metal ducting and all-plastic smooth interior hose.

Flexaust uses a wide array of materials including thermoplastic rubber, polyurethane, PVC, neoprene, polyester, vinyl fabric and polyethylene to manufacture a broad range of products. Lightweight flexibility makes Flexaust flex hose easy to install and use. It bends easily around obstructions, eliminating the need for expensive engineering. Flexaust products are also easy to cut, couple and connect, using supplied end finishes, cuffs, clamps and connectors. Light and portable, Flexaust duct hoses can be stored and used repeatedly.

Use the Industrial Hose Product Search to Find the Right Product »

Review All Recommended Industrial Hose Accessories »

Find Industrial Hoses by Market Application »


text:
Booking Terms and Conditions

All course bookings are provisional until a 25% deposit or full payment has been received. Once a deposit/full payment is made you will receive a booking confirmation and pre-course information via WeTransfer.

Due 14 days prior to the start date of the course, or by the date on your invoice, whichever is comes first.  A receipt and pre-course information will be then sent to you. All payment information and methods can be found on your invoice. National contracts may have different terms, please check with us if you are unsure.

Cancellation and transfers of the course by the client must be made in writing, by post or email;

The following conditions apply to standard courses (see separate section for blended courses):

More than 2 weeks notice > Full refund given

Between 2-1 weeks notice > 50% refund given

Less than 1 weeks notice > Full fee retained

Failure to attend  > Full fee retained

Late arrival resulting in failure to complete the full qualification > Full fee retained

A date transfer request of the course made by the client: A 25% administration fee is payable if less than 2 weeks prior to the course

Blended Learning courses are fully refundable until the online section is set up.  Once the online training is set up no refunds are available.  We will however try to re-arrange training as necessary.

Candidate substitution – It is acceptable to substitute suitable candidates for booked courses, if required. If you are able to notify us of the change prior to the course date, it is appreciated.

Cancellation by FlexiMed Training:

This is very unlikely, however we reserve the right to cancel at any time, if this were to occur you would receive the full booking fee within 28 days.  If a course has to be cancelled at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances we will make every attempt to contact you at the address, telephone, fax, email given to us at reservation/booking.

Contact time:

Late arrivals or absences during the course or from any session will probably mean that you will not receive the qualification certificate for which you have joined the course. Qualifications have a mandatory contact time requirement.  In all such cases the full course fee remains payable.

The cost of the certificate is included in the fees.  Typically they are received 7-10 days following the course.

  • For in-house bookings they will be delivered to the lead booking contact unless informed otherwise.

  • For individual bookings, 1-1’s and ‘open classes’, your certificates will be delivered to the address on the student registration form.

  • We are happy to re-issue lost certificates at a charge of £10 per certificate.

We ask that you/your course participants are aware of the following:

  • First Aid training is an active practical subject and can be physically demanding.  Participants are normally expected to be physically fit enough to kneel, twist, and bend over simulated casualties, to sit on the floor, to perform simulated CPR, roll, be rolled and help roll simulated casualties.

  • Please bring any medical problems to our attention when booking the course.  We will make all reasonable adjustments to account for this during our courses. We will not exclude anyone from our training but reserve the right to ensure all reasonable adjustments are in place to meet our statutory obligations. If you do not disclose information about yourself or your group at the time of booking, we reserve the right to cancel a course or your booking.

  • You should wear comfortable clothing, no shorts or low cut tops. You should also avoid wearing lipstick, lip-gloss or lip balms, as this hinders cleaning of the manikins.

Requalification courses:

For those completing The First Aid at Work Requalification course, we require a copy of your current First Aid at Work certificate at least 14 days before course commencement.

Health and Safety of venues:

Venues provided by you:

It is your responsibility to ensure that the venue that you provide for your is suitable and safe.  We retain the right to cancel a course if the venue is deemed unsafe by the tutor on the day.

First Aid Courses:
Customer service:
Latest Blogs & News
Norwich, Ipswich, Kings Lynn, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Manchester, Liverpool, London, Leicester, Derby, Southampton, Cambridge, Sheffield, Nottingham, Essex, Loughborough, Newcastle, Kent, Portsmouth, kettering, Wilshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, Salisbury, Northampton and everywhere in-between
  • Grey Facebook Icon
  • Grey Twitter Icon

All rights reserved. Registered office: Norfolk NR30 4DL. Registered in England: Company number 10052588.


text:
Mason Dixon Distillery, which opened three months ago in Gettysburg, is one of only three distilleries in York and Adams counties.

And even though 27 distilleries opened in Pennsylvania in the past three years, distilling is still a relatively new undertaking in the state.

Opening a distillery was not legal in Pennsylvania until 2012, and it's still illegal to distill at home.

"It's generally not something people have experience with," said Yianni Barakos, who co-owns Mason Dixon Distillery with his father.

Barakos took an early interest in distilling when his grandfather showed him a still he used to maintain when he worked as a coppersmith in Greece. Barakos built his first still — at 11 years of age — and later took distilling classes and apprenticed at Smooth Ambler Spirits in West Virginia.

At Mason Dixon Distillery, he is committed to distilling all spirits from scratch.

"We're not bringing in alcohol from other distilleries and trying to pass it off as our own," Barakos said, explaining that it's not the most common way start-up distilleries will function. "A lot of time they'll bring in spirits from other places as they start to get their production up and running."

Barakos offers rum and vodka-based cocktails, including the vodka-based "Lavender Lemonade," made by juicing lemons and making lavender simple syrup, with added lavender flowers steeped and strained into the mixture. The rum-based  "Not Your Mother's Margarita" is mixed with house sour mix, orange juice, bitters, and a salt rim.

Related: Small, seasonal plates on menu at Mason Dixon Distillery

"Our rum has a lot of flavor, so it works in drinks where traditionally rum wouldn't work, and this is one of them, " he said of the margarita.

Though "locally-sourced" has a loose definition, which can mean ingredients as far as 350 miles from the site, all of Barakos' raw grains used for alcohol come from within a couple miles of the distillery. Mason Dixon has 47 acres on which they grow grains in Gettysburg National Military Park, in addition to local farming by Josh Ramsberg.

Related: York distillery to open tasting room with menu

Glass doors lead from the restaurant to Barakos' on-site distilling equipment.

"I like to tell people it's our physical manifestation of our philosophical commitment to transparency," he said. "You can see everything we do."

"The room's pretty much set up left to right, start to finish," he said, explaining the distilling process.

Distilling begins at the mash cooker, which is filled up with water, heated and put into the grain mill. The mill takes whole grain, grinds it up, and produces coarse flour. The mixture is then heated and cooled to 130 degrees, at which point malted grains are added. These grains produce enzymes that will break down the starch into simple sugar. After a 1-2 hour rest period, the mixture is cooled and pumped into one of four fermenters. Once inside the fermenter, yeast is added to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide.

"Essentially the first part of our operation here is actually just making beer," Barakos said. "It's not gonna be beer as you know. It's gonna be different than beer you'd have at a brew pub."

The beer is made of raw grains instead of malted grains, contains no hops, and has a higher alcohol content.

"Perfectly drinkable," he said. "Maybe just not as palatable as one may find a beer to usually be."

The beer will sit for a couple of days before it is transferred to the still and heated. Ethanol vapor will rise up, impurities will be removed, and it will be put into a condenser, which releases cool product.

"Depending on what it is and what we're making, that will dictate what we do (next)," he said. "If we are making, you know, rum or a whiskey, it's done."

Related: Whiskey tastings are in; wine tastings so yesterday

"If we're making vodka, we're actually gonna take this distillate, bring it over to our small still, and distill it again."

Vodka must be distilled at 190 proof, and then it is mixed with reverse osmosis water — a pure water with no taste  — to bring it down to drinking strength. The pure water mixes more evenly throughout the vodka and creates the final product.

"It's not the easiest thing to pull off," Barakos said.

He plans to expand his offerings to include a clear whiskey by the end of the year, and he's in the process of barrel aging a whiskey as well.

The distillery is also a restaurant, and it provides small plate options based on a similar commitment to local ingredients, and also made from scratch.

Barakos is proud of everything that has come together to make his distillery unique, but, "at the end of the day (it's) our spirits," he said.  "Our spirits are really, really good, and we provide them in a warm, friendly social environment."

Local distilleries

Spirits of Gettysburg Distillery (on the site of Battlefield Brew Works), Gettysburg

Old Republic Distillery, York

Tattered Flag Brewery & Still Works, Middletown

Midstate Distillery, Harrisburg

Read or Share this story:


text:
Complete Your Order
Contact Us
8am - 8pm EST Monday - Friday
10am - 7pm EST Saturday
save 25% off Carpet tiles
Our shop by brands page allows our customers to identify what carpet tile manufacturer you like and to quickly view their entire collection of carpet tiles available for sale online. At, we offer Shaw, Milliken, Fanmat, and brand carpet tiles. Each brand is backed by their respective manufacturers warranty and free samples are available for most products.


text:
Halloween Wines

Halloween is always a cause for celebration at Flora Springs. After all, with one of the few remaining Napa Valley Ghost Wineries in St. Helena, we are constantly reminded that there are phantoms and spirits who walked here before us.

For the last decade we’ve paid tribute to our ghostly history by producing special Halloween wine bottles for our Wine Club and Mailing List Members, giving them exclusive access to Single Vineyard wines crafted with our Napa Valley estate-grown Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Learn more about our Wine Clubs to ensure an allocation of these limited, popular seasonal releases.

Artful Halloween Wines

It's no secret that Halloween is one of our favorite holidays. This year we're celebrating with haunting new releases.

Drink in Peace Merlot Box Set
Black Moon Magnum
Ceremony Blend

Ghost Winery Malbec

Featuring a hand-drawn etching of our historic stone cellar, the Ghost Winery Malbec evokes early Flora Springs labels in the look and typeface.

2017 Ghost Winery Malbec

All Hallows' Eve Cabernet Franc

Each year Flora Springs General Manager Nat Komes seeks inspiration from album covers, comic books, children’s book illustrations, and artists from all areas of expertise, to create a new one-of-a-kind Halloween wine label for our All Hallows’ Eve. Skeletons, witches, pumpkins and black cats have all found their way onto our estate-grown Napa Valley Cabernet Franc release. The unveiling of the new design to our loyal Wine Club Members is the highlight of Nat's year, as he truly wants to create the most exciting wine for his favorite holiday.

2016 All Hallows' Eve Cabernet Franc
2015 All Hallows' Eve Cabernet Franc
2014 All Hallows' Eve Cabernet Franc
2013 All Hallows' Eve Cabernet Franc

Historical Halloween Wines

For many years we partnered with Virginia-based artist Wes Freed, best known for his CD covers for the Drive-By Truckers. Freed created custom labels for our first five Ghost Winery bottlings, illustrating mischievous, otherworldly scenes of our estate in Napa Valley. Sourced from our family's estate vineyards, these age-worthy wines are a testament to Flora Springs’ longstanding Halloween tradition.

2012 Cabernet Franc Ghost Winery
2011 Syrah Ghost Winery
2011 Petit Verdot Ghost Winery
2009 Malbec Ghost Winery
2008 Cabernet Franc Ghost Winery

Harvest Witch

When you work at a Ghost Winery you're always looking over your shoulder. That creak in the floorboard, those murmuring voices around the cave's bend, the whoosh of air that comes out of nowhere – are they real, or imagined? It's even worse during harvest, when our winemaking team is a little on edge as they work late into the night. Who can blame them for getting a little spooked? Harvest Witch is a toast to the haunting legends and ghost tales that come to life this time of year. Is the mysterious witch on the label a force for good, or evil?  We're not sure, but we don't want to be the last one in the cellar to find out!

2013 Harvest Witch
2012 Harvest Witch

Halloween Fun

Each year we magically turn our artful labels into fun merchandise, poster art, skateboard decks, etched large formats, and collectibles. You may also enjoy an exclusive tasting of our seasonal, winery-only Halloween wines, including our limited-production Ghost Winery Malbec, stop by the decorated tasting room in St. Helena, you can't miss the giant skeletons waving as you drive up Hwy 29.

2016 Stacked Jack Cabernet Sauvignon Etched 6L
Skateboard Deck - All Hallows' Eve


text:
Investigators are looking for a suspect in a shooting that left a man dead in Cocoa on Monday evening, according to Cocoa police

The shooting occurred before 9 p.m. in the 1600 block of Flower Mound Lane off Clearlake Road, according to police.

Detectives identified 33-year-old Brichon Batichon of the Orlando area as the man found dead on a sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds, prompting multiple 911 calls around 8 p.m. Monday.

He was transported to the hospital by ambulance in critical condition and was pronounced dead at 9:31 p.m. , police said.

Cocoa police were still searching for the shooter as of Tuesday afternoon. Anyone with information should contact CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS.

More: Cocoa man charged in multiple drive-by shootings in Titusville, Mims

More: Deputies apprehend Palm Bay gunman in Merritt Island shooting

Contact Vazquez at 321-917-7491

Twitter: @tyler_vazquez

Support local journalism: To sign up for a special summer sale offer for new subscribers, visit

Read or Share this story:


text:
Flow – A State of Mental High Performance

Focus, dedication and engagement combine with clarity, efficiency and a feeling of ease and enjoyment. Being in flow is becoming one with what you are doing. Action and consciousness merge. Sense of time disappears and each task runs into a continuous stream of motion: It just works!

Flow bei Musikern

…in flow master difficult passages with great security. It’s a state without worry but still with absolute control.

Flow bei Managern

…describe flow as a feeling of great clarity, presence and persuasiveness. Thoughts come easily and spontaneously, action is powerful, efficient and direct.

Flow bei Sportlern

…call it “The Zone”:

“It’s magic! When it happens I can feel my game rise to a new level. At that level all sorts of odd things happen. Everything moves so quickly that every fake, cut and pass is surprising, and yet nothing can surprise me. It is almost as if we were playing in slow motion. There have been many times in my career when I felt moved or joyful, but these are the moments when I have chills pulsing up and down my spine.”

Bill Russell
1956-69 center of the Boston Celtics
current record holder of most NBA-Championships (11)

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Professor of Psychology and Management
Peter F. Drucker School of Management Claremont, USA

…discovered for the scientific world the experience of total absorption in an activity and explored its necessary conditions. Many of the people from different fields whom he interviewed described the sensation of these extraordinary experiences as a “continuous flowing”. This is how he came to name them flow-experiences.


text:
Okay, enough with the disclaimers.

The cast of characters:

My arms: not so much their actual physical arm-ness, more like a representation of my arms. Actually, think of a Greek chorus made up entirely of arms.

Me: You know, me.

Cobalt: The awesome body-work chick who does various wacky healing stuff with me.

The scene:

A small massage room. I am on the massage table. Cobalt is holding my arm (my real attached-to-my-body arm). Meanwhile, my symbolic arms are marching around the room, holding placards. They’re protesting.

The protest.

My arms (chanting and waving signs): No more pain! No more pain! No more pain!

Cobalt: Do your arms want to say anything today?

My arms: No more pain! No more pain! No more pain!

Me: Uh, they seem to not want any more pain.

Cobalt: Well, that seems reasonable.

Me: I guess.

Cobalt: Do they have anything they want to add to that?

My arms: No more pain! No more pain! No more pain!

The pain.

Cobalt: What kind of pain are they not wanting more of? Is it the pain that they feel right now? Is it all pain? What pain is this?

My arms: No more pain! No more pain! No more pain!

Me: Okay. They’re not being specific. They’re ignoring what I ask. In fact, they’re actually just marching around the room with placards chanting “no more pain” over and over again.

Cobalt: They’re protesting?

Me: Yup.

Cobalt: Nice!

What do I want?

Cobalt: What do you want to do?

Me: I kind of want to join them.

Cobalt: Go for it.

Me: No more pain! No more pain! No more pain!

My arms: No more pain! No more pain! No more pain!

Me: But I’m also mad at them.

Cobalt: Okay, that’s legitimate.

Me: It seems annoyingly hypocritical of them to protest pain when they’re the ones causing me pain.

My arms: No more pain! No more pain! No more pain!

Me: It’s because of them that I haven’t been able to work more than a couple hours a day since January, which has been really hard on my business. It’s because of them that I can’t write very much and I have to make Stu write my blog posts which sucks because it takes forever … and also because he’s a conceited, bigoted asshat.

Cobalt: Stu?

Me: He’s actually voice-to-text software. But he’s still an asshat. Also, he’s obsessed with Bolsheviks.

Cobalt: Wow.

I get a negotiator.

Cobalt: Well, let’s get the protesters over here so we can find out what their list of demands is, and you can tell them why you’re mad.

Me: Oh. You’re my negotiator. Thank you.

Cobalt: What are their demands?

My arms: No more pain! No more pain! No more pain!

Me: Listen, I can’t help meet your demands if you don’t tell me specifically what this no more pain thing looks like.

My arms: You need to stop going to acupuncture. And you can’t get massage if it hurts. No shots at the dentist. No more stitches!

Me: Those are all things I do to take care of myself. And the massage and the acupuncture are for you guys, so you’ll get better. I can’t stop doing healing things.

My arms: No more pain! No more pain! No more pain!

I learn something about my arms.

Cobalt: Any other demands they have?

My arms: A bodyguard.

Me: They want a bodyguard.

Cobalt: Okay. What’s this bodyguard like?

Me: He’s really big. He has a shaved head and earrings. He has enormous arms. But he’s actually very gentle. Like, you get the sense that he is a lovely person, but if the wrong person got close, he’d beat the crap out of them.

Cobalt: Nice.

Me: Oh, weird. It’s my massage therapist! It’s like … my arms want protection from pain … from the person who sometimes causes them pain?

And I learn something else.

Cobalt: You’re thinking of your arms as the source of your pain.

But maybe your arms are more like a barometer of pain. They show you when there is too much pain in your life. Maybe they’re measuring it and demonstrating it, rather than causing it.

Me: You’re right.

The negotiation begins.

Cobalt: Havi, what parts of these demands can you meet? Any of them?

Me: I am willing to take a break from acupuncture. I am willing to ask my massage therapist to only do very gentle stuff for a while. Last time we were at the dentist we asked not to have shots and it was fine … we’re done with the stitches …

Cobalt: Is there anything else you want to say?

Me: These demands are unfair.

Cobalt: What would you tell your arms about why you think this is unfair?

Me: I can’t protect you from pain! Life involves pain. How can I make promises about future pain? Plus, what if I stub my toe tomorrow?Of course there will be pain. I resent the idea that I could just decide not to have pain in my life (though I admit I also find it appealing).

My arms are appreciative.

Cobalt: And what do your arms have to say about that?

My arms: No more pain! No more pain! No more pain!

Cobalt: What else?

My arms: You can do more.

Me: What?

My arms: There are already things you do to keep out or to mitigate pain. You have people who read your email for you and moderate your blog comments. You don’t go to networking events (thank you, by the way — we appreciate that). You take steps. So why can’t you take more steps?

Me: Okay, you can have a bodyguard.

My arms: Thank you.

The agreement.

Me: Alright. I cannot promise that there will not be painful things or situations in my life. But I am willing to take steps to care for myself and to be considerate of … the things that I’m apparently really sensitive about.

My arms: Okay, then we will stop protesting.

Me: Will you stop hurting?

My arms: Cobalt is right. We don’t give you pain. We just announce how much pain there is in your system. And when we think you have been given too much, then we protest it because it’s not fair for you to be in so much pain.

Me: You’re on my side?

My arms: Hello! We’re your arms.

The party.

Cobalt: Sounds like we have a settlement.

Me: Yeah.

Cobalt: So … is there going to be a party?

Me: A no-more-pain party?

Cobalt: A party, a ribbon-cutting, a ceremony … what needs to happen to mark this new relationship?

Me: There could be a party.

My arms: Can we have it on the pirate ship? Can we? Can we?

Me: I don’t see why not. Let’s go!

Today’s comment zen.

My arms: Havi would appreciate it if you would avoid anything judge-ey or should-ey like telling her that she’s crazy or that she should really be using The Thing That Worked For You to stop her pain. Also, she has a bodyguard.

But she would be happy to talk about other aspects of this. And to laugh with you about the ridiculousness that is her arms getting to write the comment zen.

Me: That wasn’t bad, actually. Works for me.

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!


text:
General Question

ragingloli's avatar

What is your favourite scary short story that are also funny? Post it here.

Asked by ragingloli (46114points) May 11th, 2009

Tales of creature that eats children that are not loyal to Motherland are told to young comrades at bed time. As child I seek out this creature and find it in local cave outside village.

I scold creature for wasting labor as KGB does more then efficient job. Creature deported to munitions factory.
Such is life in Moscow.

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

8 Answers

ragingloli's avatar

Another one.

Walking home one night, you notice all the candles in personal shack are lit.
You finish vodka bottle as you approach your door.
House is empty, and you made sure not to feed guard dog, but candles still go out.
You check your pocket watch, small hand on 4, big hand on 1. You relise you’ll be late for unpaid community service.
At service, you find letter on floor. It’s signed to you, from you. You open the letter, confused.
Inside reads “the out for watch watch”
You look at pocket watch. big hand on 4, little hand on one. You look at note again, it appears the 4th and 1st words have swapped places.
“Watch out for the watch.”
You look at pocket watch again.

You realise watch is broken, and decide you must get it fixed. You also decide to cut back on vodka, so as to not send letters to yourself anymore.
Such is life in mother Russia.

Jude's avatar

Yesterday, I felt as though I had come across 3 trolls. It was funny, yet, scurry at the same time..

ragingloli's avatar

“Father, I had a bad dream”

You take a sip of vodka and roll over. You stare at the clocktower on Sobornaya Square it’s 3:23. “Go back to sleep, there is work tomorrow.”
“No, Father.”
The familiar warm buzz of vodka starts to sink in. You can barely make out your daughter’s pale form in the darkness. “Why is that, devochka moya?”
“Because in my dream, when I was about to go back to sleep, the thing wearing Mother’s skin sat up.”
You pause, and face your daughter and look at her intensely. The figure behind you begins to stir.

“Don’t talk that way about your brother, it is not his fault we have no money for coats. Such is life in Moscow.”

MacBean's avatar

Counting From Ten by Michael Montoure

It cracks me up, anyway…

rooeytoo's avatar

One night last week, I was on my way to bed and noticed a giant cockroach
on the wall, it looked right at me as I walked by and I thought I am not going to take that one on, it is
too bloody big! I just ignored it and went on to bed, the bedroom is way down the hall so I hoped
I would be safe. Wouldn’t you know the next night, the same thing happened that cockie
was sitting in the same spot and gave me the same cocky look as I passed by and then
when it happened the 3rd night in a row, I came to the conclusion the thing must live
in my house and at some point in time would probably visit the bedroom. I thought
I am an independent woman, I can deal with this, so I found the can of spray and
sneaked up behind it, bloody thing must have heard me coming, it turned around
and I swear it looked me in the eye! I didn’t know what to do, but I thought it had
really pushed me too far, 3 nights in a row, so I took aim and sprayed, instead of
falling dead, it leaped off the wall and tried to attack me! I ran like hell, down the
hall, finally I turned around and looked and it was sort of limping off towards the
living room, I slowly started back up the hall, it disappeared around the corner,
so I crept on up and peeked around the corner and there it was staring at me
again, but this time it took off in the opposite direction so I pursued my advantage
and went after it spraying like mad, the dogs were following close behind and
we were all wheezing and choking on the fumes from the spray, but the roach
was still going strong, looking back over its shoulder and occasionally turning
around and taking a few steps in my direction, of course each time it did that
I turned around and started to run, immediately falling and tripping over the dogs.
This went on the whole way up the other hall to the living room, advance and
spray, retreat and cough and sputter. I was really starting to feel badly about
the whole thing, why couldn’t it just die and get it over with, the staggering was
getting worse and it was slowing down but just wouldn’t give up and cark it!
By now the entire house reeks of the spray and the dogs and I could barely
breathe or see, finally it ran under a table and didn’t come out. Just to be sure
I held the can out as far away from myself as I could and sprayed until the can
was practically empty. I figured nothing could survive that. By this time though
I was once again wide awake so it was no use going to bed, but I couldn’t stay
in that end of the house because the dogs and I were all choking and coughing.
Finally we went out and sat
on the front verandah and swatted mozzies! What a night, I had such guilt
feelings, why hadn’t I just picked the thing up and tossed it outside, but no
way I was getting close enough to pick or flick that thing, It had tried to
attack me! I still feel badly though, it kept looking accusingly into my eyes the
whole time I was spraying. Next morning I told Ian the story and made him
get it out from under the table and throw it outside so once again all is calm
in our house. The only problem is, he says the season for them to come
out in force is not yet upon us! I just know all its rellies live in the walls
of my house and they will all come out to avenge their mates death as soon
as the wet starts!

Jeruba's avatar

GA, @rooeytoo, and bonus points for realism.

rooeytoo's avatar

Thank you, the cockroaches here are huge and do inspire awe and outright fear in me!

Answer this question

to answer.

This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.

Your answer will be saved while you login or join.

Have a question? Ask Fluther!

What do you know more about?
Knowledge Networking @ Fluther


text:
EFT European Flight Training

      + 1 772 466 4757

  • Facebook Social Icon

European Flight Training
3800 Saint Lucie Blvd
Fort Pierce, Florida 34946

EASA EFT European Flight Training

Copyright © 2019 European Flight Training. All rights reserved.

Flight Instructor

Classes will run daily and include training by our highly experienced team of instructors. The FIC instructor teaches the lessons and then oversees practice sessions in the classroom between fellow student instructors. The required dedicated private study time will be directed and targeted toward the essential core learning objectives and academic subjects in preparation for the end of course flight test.

The full-time course will run five days per week over a four week period, with an additional one week recommended for consolidation and final preparation towards the test. The flight instructor assessment test normally takes a full day to complete and will be taken with a Flight Instructor Examiner (FIE).The test comprises of different sections which when added together give applicants a very good opportunity to demonstrate their ability to teach both academic subjects and the essential skills for flight. It also allows you to give a broad, thorough and positive impression of yourself and your abilities. You will be assessed in several different ways: your aviation knowledge, your teaching ability, and your basic flying skills.

Our FIC Instructor is also an experienced FIE and will train you to the highest standard to ensure success, provided you put in the work and graduate the course by meeting the expected standard.

European Flight Training has a 100% first time pass record for its FI’s.

Everyone who has been recommended for test, following course completion to

a satisfactory standard,

has passed,

often with a well above average grade.

Well hopefully, a flying instructor job!

As a major flying school and college we are always on the lookout for good instructors,

so provided you are exceptional,

there may be an opportunity to join our team,

subject to certain immigration formalities.

We can also assure you that with our reputation

of delivering exceptional quality you will more than likely be able to obtain employment

in your home country when vacancies arise.

Just as in any profession, you have to compete with everybody else to get hired,

so if you are well trained, good at what you do,

enthusiastic and can sell yourself to a potential employer, they will want to hire you

just ask our past graduates!

European Flight Training started in 1999 as an aviation school offering EASA Flight Training in Florida and has developed into one of the most prestigious aviation flight schools in the United States.

European Flight Training offers, through its parent company Aviator College, an Aviation Degree Program which has specific emphasis on the pilot training aspects needed to meet the requirements of the commercial airline pilot industry.

EFT is one of the few flight schools in the USA to offer approved training for the European pilot’s license, zero through ATPL, at its approved EASA ATO number 0008.

For more information Click here


text:
Chiropractors Fargo | Getting in Touch With Your Spine

This content was written for Chiro Health and Rehab.

Do I make the best decision possible for your back in your spine needs by getting in touch with the right chiropractors Fargo today? Are you wondering what is going take to be able to make sure that you get the best job done with your back and spine and that everything goes well with you and your livelihood? Do you want to know what it might cost and what’s is the simple solution for you to get a great healthy back today? Well that decision can be very easy for me to do because he is getting contact with Cairo health and rehab to get that done. They provide that wonderful solution that I was just talking about those questions earlier so I encourage you to give them a call there submit the form on their website so that they can know that you want to your needs met.

Forgetting your needs mass, they first make sure the other great customer experience. As a customer you want be welcomed into the apartment and made sure that you don’t feel weird or feel awkward in any situation. Kind of the environment that I work in my office it’s filled with lovely people – would like to make sure that you feel in place and don’t feel weird in your environment. Sometimes the office might be a little bit threatening to the fact that you aren’t aren’t so able to really seem like you to meet the expectations, but even with that, they want to make sure that you are successful. I know this chiropractic clinic, they want to make sure that your life is successful as well and they want to find out first by giving a great customer service experience.

And they also on top of that have the knowledge and experience to be a will to give you the great expertise that you’d sire and deserved what you going into their offices. It will walk you through every difference is final step in every one of these notches to make sure that everything is straightened aligned. It’s not straight aligned, it will give you a consultation that will give you that are taking with following analysis and follow-up x-rays well to seal the proper scope. During these guys experienced the know they’re doing I would totally trust him.

So when you’re trusting them and when you’re putting in your full efforts to make sure that everything goes well, you’ll want to make sure paying a good price. And whenever you go to the chiropractors fargo first appointment, you actually do get really good price. For an examination x-ray of what’s going on, for a treatment plan for the next several months to cure you, and the ability to consult with them and see we can do to be better, it’s just $37. That’s right just for that price you get all these different things and that’s awesome deal. That’s why you got in touch with them.

So after all that, it’s good to know that there’s someone out there to support you in Cairo health and rehab. When it comes to chiropractors Fargo, they are the best at best and actually rated number one as well. So get an action to get in touch with them now.