breaking news from the world of ideas
by Katherine Dee
Tuesday, 31
Why are there so few female mass shooters?
New data shows that 96% of spree killers are men
Men commit the majority of mass shootings in the United States. We know that. But the extent to which male shooters outnumber female perpetrators is nonetheless surprising. The Violence Project, a nonpartisan research group that tracks American mass shooting data as far back as 1966, finds that men are responsible for 98% of all mass shootings. Statistics released last week by the US Secret Service, which cover the more broadly defined 'mass attack', 25% of which don't include a firearm, puts that number at 96%, which is still staggering.
There have been 55 mass shootings in the US so far this year. Of those, 38 have resulted in at least one fatality. This month, separate shooting sprees in the Californian cities of Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay killed 12 (including the perpetrator) and seven people, respectively. Both shooters were aged over 65, and therefore a deviation from the enduring cultural image, burnished by Columbine and its copycats, of the disaffected young man who turns to violent retribution. ... Continue reading
by Tom McTague
Stop blaming Brexit for bad growth
Commentators were quick to leap on the IMF's latest report
Almost seven years on from the EU referendum and our tedious, unending national row over Brexit continues unabated, each side just as bad as they were during the campaign itself. Today's gloomy report from the IMF is just the latest shot of vodka sustaining this now slurring debate, which has somehow never quite found a way to sober up long after everyone else has got up from the table and gone to bed.
Britain will have the worst economic growth in the developed world this year, according to the IMF, contracting by 0.9% while much of the rest of Europe pulls away. To many, it's all Brexit's fault, of course. Is anything not? ... Continue reading
by Alan Wager
Nigel Farage could be the big winner from Bregret
A growing disillusion among Leave voters works in his favour
When Nigel Farage decided to rechristen the Brexit Party as Reform UK in January 2021, many people saw this as a rare error from a canny political strategist and campaigner. In one sweep, his nascent party appeared to lose its branding, its raison d'être and — in March 2021 — its leader, when Farage himself stepped down.
That decision does not look so foolish today. Polling from Focaldata for UnHerd this week, the most detailed since 2019, shows how most of the country now believes it was wrong to leave the EU. Based on the findings, we see that 'Bregret' has risen faster among older voters and in many of the poorer areas that voted to leave in 2016. Perhaps more interesting, though, is the large minority, 29%, of Reform UK supporters now saying that Britain was wrong to leave the EU. ... Continue reading
by James Billot
HerdWatch
Giorgia Meloni's latest cheerleader: The Economist
The publication's initial fears about the leader never materialised
'Italy's populist Right looks menacing,' read The Economist's header as she rose to prominence in 2021. According to the publication back then, Giorgia Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia's 'extreme' party wanted to:
Revive the glories of Benito Mussolini's Italy. Though committed to parliamentary means, the Brothers' programme is profoundly nativist. To repel migrants, it favours a naval blockade. To obviate the need for immigrant labour in the future, it offers "the mightiest plan in the history of Italy for support of the family and the birth rate".
- The Economist
Fast-forward to this week, 100 days into Meloni's premiership, and The Economist's fears have not materialised. Instead, it now says that her party's rise in the polls (from 26% in September to nearly 30% today), suggest that 'few governments [have] approached the end [of this milestone] in such good shape as Giorgia Meloni's Right-wing coalition.'
The publication can hardly get enough of her: ... Continue reading
by UnHerd Staff
Monday, 30
Peter Hitchens: the Covid censors are moving on to Ukraine
The journalist warns that the Government is extending its surveillance
Peter Hitchens was one of this country's most ardent and vocal critics of the Government's lockdown policies during the Covid pandemic. On Twitter, his Mail on Sunday column and in various interviews (including UnHerd), he relentlessly questioned No10's decision to implement lockdowns, which he argued would do little to prevent the spread of the virus.
What he did not expect, however, was to feature in the Government's very own weekly 'anti-disinformation report' from as early as June 2020. According to a new report by Big Brother Watch, the journalist and author was one of several figures to have been surveilled by the Government over his anti-lockdown opinions. ... Continue reading
by Victoria Smith
Why I don't trust Sturgeon's U-turn on trans prisoners
Her decision is about optics, not female safety
Scottish Justice Secretary Keith Brown has announced that there shall be no trans prisoners with convictions for violence against women transferred to the female prison estate, with an urgent review to be conducted into future policy.
Shortly thereafter, Brown offered his profuse apologies to the feminists demonised by Nicola Sturgeon and the female prisoners who had to share space with violent offenders such as Katy Dolatowski. Only kidding. The feminists are still bigots and the female prisoners are still irrelevant.
This decision is not about female safety. After all, the very idea that male people, not just "predators", pose a threat to women hasn't even been acknowledged. It is about optics. ... Continue reading
by Philip Pilkington
How bad will the global housing market crash be?
The metrics are eerily similar to 2008
Since the last global property bubble in 2006-07 and the financial crisis that resulted from it, central banks have held interest rates close to zero. While few have paid attention, this has led to a reflation of many of the same property bubbles that caused the disaster to begin with. A perusal of the excellent global house price index published by The Economist shows that, since 2008, most housing markets around the world are either registering record valuations or are close to previous records.
Inflation-adjusted house prices across the Western world are reaching their previous peaks, but with interest rates climbing that looks set to change. Over the Atlantic, American house prices have been falling as Canada endures its first annual decline in over a decade. In Europe, British house prices have been falling for four months while the former governor of the Swedish central bank is warning that his country faces a "day of reckoning". ... Continue reading
by Oliver Bateman
Donald Trump kicks off campaign with realist line on Russia
The ex-president's dovish stance is a challenge to the bipartisan consensus
"FIRST COME THE TANKS, THEN COME THE NUKES." Donald Trump's post last week on Truth Social was a characteristically forceful piece of rhetoric, suggesting that escalation in Ukraine could precipitate world war. As his campaign to regain the U.S. presidency took him through New Hampshire and South Carolina — two key battlegrounds in the 2024 Republican primary to secure the party's nomination — Trump positioned himself as peacemaker. He reminded prospective voters that his "personality kept us out of war" and pledged that he could secure a peace deal "in 24 hours" that would end the Russian invasion. ... Continue reading
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Mary Harrington
Aris Roussinos
Yuan Yi Zhu
Louise Perry
Oliver Bateman
Izabella Kaminska
Freddie Sayers
Joan Smith
Thomas Fazi
Ralph Schoellhammer
Peter Franklin
James Billot
William Nattrass
Philip Pilkington
Flo Read
Rob Lownie


Antec VPF Series 650W PSU Review
Antec's VPF650 is a budget PSU made by Delta Electronics to achieve high-performance-per-dollar. In the US, the VPF units are sold under the EarthWatts Green series.
By Aris Mpitziopoulos 22 August 2015
Pros, Cons And Final Verdict
Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: Packaging, Contents, Exterior And Cabling
Page 3: A Look Inside And Component Analysis
Page 4: Load Regulation, Hold-Up Time And Inrush Current
Page 5: Efficiency, Temperature And Noise
Page 6: Cross-Load Tests And Infrared Images
Page 9: Performance, Performance Per Dollar And Noise Ratings
Page 10: Pros, Cons And Final Verdict
Usually, Delta's implementations come at a stiff price since the company is considered one of the best and most expensive. Fortunately, Antec (currently the only company that works with Delta in the manufacturing of desktop PSUs) manages to make a good deal, leading to the release of its budget-oriented VPF line. To lower the VPF series' price, Antec didn't offer any modular cables and even abandoned cable sleeving. However, no compromises were made inside the PSU, where high-quality Japanese capacitors are used for increased reliability. It is very uncommon to find such good capacitors, including polymer ones, in an inexpensive unit. On top of that, the platform features DC-DC converters for generating the minor rails, allowing it to easily meet Intel's tough requirements for Haswell compatibility.
The VPF650 achieved good performance, but we would have liked to see higher efficiency readings throughout its entire operating range. However, in sections that matter the most for the health of the components that it will power, including ripple suppression and performance in turn-on transients, the PSU fared well—not only compared to the budget competition, but also against much more expensive products.
As far as the not-so-good points of this design are concerned, our most worrying findings were the inrush current readings. Delta should look into this problem and probably use a proper NTC thermistor to suppress large inrush currents that can damage switches, relays and other components. In addition, no metal oxide varistor was used in the EMI/transient filtering stage. This inexpensive component can save not only the PSU, but the whole system in the case of voltage spikes. This is why we always recommend using the VPF650 (as well as any PSU that doesn't feature an MOV or a TVS diode) along with a surge protector, in case you cannot afford an uninterruptible power supply.
In the U.S., you won't find the VPF series under this name. Instead, the PSUs are available under the updated EarthWatts Green line (Antec replaced its old EarthWatts Green line with the new VPF units). This can be confusing for some users, and in our opinion, Antec should have kept the same naming scheme in all regions. In addition, the VPF units sold in Europe cost much less than the EarthWatts Green units in the U.S. The opposite is usually true for most hardware components. In our opinion, Antec should lower the prices of the new EarthWatts Green family in order to make them more appealing to mainstream buyers and facilitate an even higher performance-per-dollar ratio.
To wrap up, the Antec VPF650 PSU—along with its U.S. counterpart, the EA-650—offers solid reliability and good performance levels at a low price. However, there is room for improvement. Delta, the VPF series' OEM, can provide a slight efficiency boost, adding an MOV and proper inrush current protection to the platform, in turn creating an exceptional product.
MORE: How We Test Power SuppliesMORE:
Who's Who In Power Supplies, 2014: Brands Vs. ManufacturersMORE:
Power Supplies in the Forums
Aris Mpitziopoulos is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware, covering Power Supplies.
Follow us on Twitter @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.
Today's best Antec VPF650 deals
For more information visit their website
Current page: Pros, Cons And Final Verdict
Prev Page Performance, Performance Per Dollar And Noise Ratings
iam2thecrowe 23 August 2015 03:43
I do like Antec PSU's, their range is very solid. Good write up. Good value PSU.
CTurbo 24 August 2015 05:09
I hope Delta is not going to get out of the consumer psu business completely. They've been one of my go-to oems for years. Top notch reliability.
Onus 27 August 2015 21:26
Antec has been one of my go-to standards for years as well. Though it has been surpassed in efficiency, I may need to put my SG-650 in my will because of its anticipated durability.
2Be_or_Not2Be 28 August 2015 14:21
When the author says "... Delta no longer has an interest in this market..." - what market is he talking about? I seem to recall that quite a few of my Dell servers had Delta OEM PSUs, and I think a number of Dell desktops had custom Delta PSUs as well. So is it only the consumer market that they don't want to supply anymore?
probably. There is now too much competition in the consumer psu market for it to be really profitable for some companies. It would make sense if a company only wanted to do anything other than generic PC ATX psu's, because they can charge a lot more for it.
Aris_Mp 30 August 2015 19:31
Yeap Delta is away from consumer market. They mostly make OEM PSUs now. As far as I know only Antec has a contract with them for desktop PSUs.


INSEAD LaunchPad @ Station F: innovation and entrepreneurship in action
The spirit of entrepreneurship is embedded in INSEAD's culture. In fact, 53 percent of alumni engage in entrepreneurial ventures during their careers. INSEAD recently solidified this commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship through a highly anticipated partnership with STATION F, the world's biggest start-up campus.
The initiative fulfils INSEAD's twin desires to engage with the thriving Paris entrepreneurial community and nurture the next wave of INSEAD start-ups. A key feature of the partnership is the INSEAD LaunchPad, a hub with 30-plus desks for alumni ventures located on the STATION F campus.
The partnership strengthens INSEAD's entrepreneurial culture, which has propelled it to a leading position among global business schools, says Peter Zemsky, Deputy Dean and Dean of Innovation. "We have a set of alumni who are world leaders in global entrepreneurship," he explains. "This partnership is a great way for us to bring those insights to entrepreneurs and companies in Paris, while raising our visibility."
The partnership supports INSEAD's belief that global organisations have a responsibility to engage on a local level. STATION F contributes to the development of Paris as a leading global centre for entrepreneurship by offering an "entrepreneurial ecosystem" where start-ups can access all the services, support and resources they need under one roof.
The 34,000-square-meter space, which opened in June 2017, houses more than 1,000 start-ups and 30 international start-up programmes, with a prototype TechShop, event spaces, a post office, a 1,000 seat restaurant and a café. On-site corporate partners include Facebook, Microsoft, LVMH and BNP Paribas.
Entrepreneurs have access to VC firms and other funding sources, as well as advice and support for navigating laws and regulations. The idea is to cultivate a creative, collaborative atmosphere where businesses have access to everything they need to launch successfully.
"Many within the INSEAD community have been asking for such an initiative", says Nancy Hsieh, Executive Director of the Rudolf and Valeria Maag INSEAD Centre for Entrepreneurship. "The combination of the two strong brands gives alumni start-ups a leg up. When they tell investors or potential clients that they're based within the INSEAD LaunchPad at STATION F, it's opening a lot of doors to them."
LaunchPad is open by application to INSEAD alumni founders of early stage start-ups close to or beyond the MVP stage. It currently houses 11 start-ups. Alumni also can attend Master Classes, participate in the speaker series or support INSEAD entrepreneurs by mentoring or investing in the start-ups.
Ventures that have a social impact angle are encouraged at the LaunchPad, motivating entrepreneurs to keep INSEAD's mission of using business as a force for good at heart. "We firmly believe that global entrepreneurship and business creation can have a tremendous positive impact on society," says Zemsky.
Bringing philosophical principles to business practices with INSEAD's new programme, "Integrating Performance and Progress"
In 2017, INSEAD launched the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Centre for the Study of Wealth Inequality, established in recognition of the Stone's generous gift to the school
A class apart: nine awards in 2018 makes a very strong case for INSEAD


Great Replica Rolex Watches With Swiss Movement, Shoping Rolex Replica Tips – good replica watches us, swiss rolex replicas outlet
Intruduction Of The Hottest Replica Cartier Tank
August 3, 2014 August 3, 2014 Cheryl
"tank" is a name applied to many cartier fake watches, and it's widely known by watch fans. but no records can confirm where the name came from. most people agree it actually does refer to military tanks. it is an amusing reality that mechanized warfare lent a name to genteel luxury watch making.
many of us think maybe the name is for the "tank" shape, other people say that the watch is supposed to look like tank treads. others say the shape is less important than the fact that it was a french way of honoring american tanks that helped secure victory in world war i, however, there is also others argue that it doesn't. it is a fascinating little mystery and one that i enjoy as it shows even huge brands like cartier had humble beginnings. wherever the tank name came from, it is here to last – and is a cornerstone of cartier watch making.
in 2012, the tank family gets a new member– the "english tank." this old chap is built like a tank as well – at least in this larger size for us burly men. initially available only in 18k white gold, it is a strong reminder that elegance doesn't have to be puny. there are smaller versions available as well. this "large model" tank anglaise is 36.2mm wide and 47mm tall. the case is not too thick at 9.82mm.
for the new replcica tank, it's a sort of hybrid between the tank francaise and the ballon bleu, which means the sides of the case are richly rounded making it feel thicker, and the crown is placed in the middle of a very thick bezel. this offers a flush look on the sides of the watch. the complex crown is cool looking and contains a large sapphire crystal cabochon. i like how the crown is not too small and combines both angular and organic design elements.
put it on the wrist, the case is comfortable and as always, the bracelet is top-notch in construction and design. thank you cartier for not letting the bracelet fall by the wayside like so many other brands who just throw straps on their replica watches. the dial design is hardly surprising, nor hardly a let down. it offers the look cartier lovers want. here the signature cartier dial is silvered with blued steel hands and some central decor. the case seems like it could handle more than the 30 meters of rated water resistance, which means a basic level of water resistant, but it cannot be put into water nor be washed. if you have special demand on this, please consult our customer service online for help.. the mixture of brushed and polished areas on the case is very becoming of the design.
inside the watch is an automatic movement, it is a simple three hand with the date. an eta would have worked, but cartier wanted the tank anglaise to have a bit more oomph. You can see the movement via the exhibition caseback.
while the design of the replica watch is hardly revolutionary and it is certainly evolutionary. it gives tank fans a new item to lust after and lets cartier continue their love affair with the product family by adding new products. the french, americans, and now english each have a cartier tank design to call their own.
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Great strides made as Debswana turns 50
By Lawrence Paganga
Diamong mining giant, Debswana Mining Company has announced that it has availed over P68 million in developing various communities across the country in the last five years.
The investment in the local communities is on top of other milestone achievements that the mining company has been engaged in 50 years after the Botswana Government and De Beers went into partnership that led to the creation of Debswana. In 1969, Botswana was one of the least developed countries in Africa facing a number of challenges, but the creation of the Debswana Diamond Mining Company has seen the southern African country attaining an upper middle income status.
"Debswana has spent more than P68 million in the past five years on programmes in the fields of education, the environment, small business development, arts and culture, health, and sports development," Albert Milton, the managing director of Debswana, said.

"Schools and other facilities in the mining areas built by Debswana are used by local people as well as employees. Teachers from the mines' private schools help with the Government Schools Development Programme," he added.

The partnership between De Beers and the Botswana Government has been praised globally as a leading example of a successful public-private partnership.
Last week, the mining company held several events to celebrate the achievements that it has made in realising such a milestone success in a space of 50 years when the mining partnership was signed. The events were held at Debswana's mines in Jwaneng and Orapa towns, and the company's head office in Gaborone, where the keynote speaker was President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
It is clear from what Milton said that revenue collected from collected from diamond production has been to good use – which is rare in other African countries where such investments breed massive corruption – in improving health service and diversifying the economy. Milton said the new chapter in Botswana's economic history had resulted in Botswana's value of rough diamonds rising annually from P11 billion to more than P55 billion.
The government has also seen to it that the health sector in the country is developed and as a result, no-one in Botswana travels more than 29km to the nearest health facility while the doctor to patient ratio one doctor to an average of 3 300 patients compared to 1967 when it was one doctor was for every 50 000 patients.
Debswana also operates two hospitals near its Orapa and Jwaneng mines, which serve an average of 150 000 people per year. In 2001, Debswana became the first company in the world to offer free anti-retroviral therapy to its employees and their spouses living with HIV/AIDS. In 2008, this facility was extended to children.
"The work that we do extends to future generations. Over the years, Debswana has turned the hopes and dreams of the communities within which we operate into reality. We have contributed to national and community initiatives in the areas of health, education, sports, biodiversity and community development," said Milton.
When Botswana achieved its independence in 1966, only 4.8km of roads were tarred, but now part of the revenue from diamonds has been channelled to the tarring of thousands of kilometres of roads and the roads safe to use.
 The company is now the largest private sector employer in Botswana after the government with more than 5 500 employees and at least 6 000 contractors. The multiplier effect of all these employees, added to social investments, has seen a great impact on the country's business sector.

"We are committed to continue unlocking the value of Botswana's precious natural resource to create true value for the lives of Batswana," Milton said.
 For this rare success story to grow and for Botswana to advance, President Masisi said he wants a long-term sales pact with De Beers when the current 10 year deal ends next year. The president also wants the great strides made increased by having more diamonds processed locally instead of being exported as rough gems.
Civil servants removed from declaration Bill
Cabinet threatens to scrap P570m Constituency Fund
Ketumile Ramatiti
While there is no hard-and-fast rule in politics, former Molepolole North Member of Parliament, Mohamed Khan says populism acts in the body politic have forced him to quit active partisan politics. He brands this ancient ascription of politics as fake and says it lowers the moral compass of the society.
Khan who finally tasted political victory in the 2014 elections after numerous failed attempts, has decided to leave the 'dirty game', and on his way out he characteristically lashed at the current political leaders; including his own party president, Advocate Duma Boko. "I arrived at this decision because I have noticed that there are no genuine politics and politicians. The current leaders, Boko and President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi are fake politicians who are just practicing populist politics to feed their egos," he said.
Game Mokoba
Former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) parliamentary hopeful, Lawrence Ookeditse has rejected the idea of taking up a crucial role in the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) Central Committee following his arrival in the party this week. According to sources close to development, BPF power brokers are coaxing Ookeditse to take up the secretary general position, left vacant by death of Roseline Panzirah-Matshome in November 2020.
Ookeditse's arrival at BPF is projected to cause conflicts, as some believe they are being overlooked, in favour of a new arrival. The former ruling party strategist has however ruled out the possibility of serving in the party central committee as secretary general, and committed that he will turn down the overture if availed to him by party leadership.
Ookeditse, nevertheless, has indicated that if offered another opportunity to serve in a different capacity, he will gladly accept. "I still need to learn the party, how it functions and all its structures; I must be guided, but given any responsibility I will serve the party as long as it is not the SG position."
"I joined the BPF with a clear conscious, to further advance my voice and the interests of the constituents of Nata/Gweta which I believe the BDP is no longer capable to execute." Ookeditse speaks of abject poverty in his constituency and prevalent unemployment among the youth, issues he hopes his new home will prioritise.
He dismissed further allegations that he resigned from the BDP because he was not rewarded for his efforts towards the 2019 general elections. After losing in the BDP primaries in 2018, Ookeditse said, he was offered a job in government but declined to take the post due to his political ambitions. Ookeditse stated that he rejected the offer because, working for government clashed with his political journey.
He insists there are many activists who are more deserving than him; he could have chosen to take up the opportunity that was before him but his conscious for the entire populace's wellbeing held him back. Ookeditse said there many people in the party who also contributed towards party success, asserting that he only left the BDP because he was concerned about the greater good of the majority not individualism purposes.
According to observers, Ookeditse has been enticed by the prospects of contesting Nata/Gweta constituency in the 2024 general election, following the party's impressive performance in the last general elections. Nata/Gweta which is a traditional BDP stronghold saw its numbers shrinking to a margin of 1568. BDP represented by Polson Majaga garnered 4754, while BPF which had fielded Joe Linga received 3186 with UDC coming a distant with 1442 votes.
There are reports that Linga will pave way for Ookeditse to contest the constituency in 2024 and the latter is upbeat about the prospects of being elected to parliament. Despite Ookeditse dismissing reports that he is eying the secretary general position, insiders argue that the position will be availed to him nevertheless.
Alternative favourite for the position is Vuyo Notha who is the party Deputy Secretary General. Notha has since assumed duties of the secretariat office on the interim basis. BPF politburo is expected to meet on 25th of January 2020, where the vacancy will be filled.
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) big wigs have decided to cancel a retreat with the party legislators this weekend owing to increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases. The meeting was billed for this weekend at a place that was to be confirmed, however a communique from the party this past Tuesday reversed the highly anticipated meeting.
"We received a communication this week that the meeting will not go as planned because of rapid spread of Covid-19," one member of the party Central Committee confirmed to this publication.
The gathering was to follow the first of its kind held late last year at party Treasurer Satar Dada's place.


Launch of the New University
Welcome Address By The Premier Of The Northern Cape, Ms Sylvia Lucas At The Launch Of The New University
Minister of Higher Education, Mr. Blade Nzimande
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Tina Joemat-Petterson
Minister of Transport, Ms Dipuo Peters
Members of the Executive Council
DGs and Officials
The day has come. It is the start of a dream come true for all the people of the Northern Cape and beyond. Today I am testimony to the realization of the long awaited university- a learning institution right here on the soil of the Northern Cape. I Sylvia Lucas not only in my capacity as the Premier of this great province, but also a child and parent have the immense pleasure to welcome each and everyone present here today to this auspicious occasion. And when I say auspicious I truly mean it. It is a very special day in the history of the province. We gather to celebrate an important occasion for the people of the province and the future of the province.
It would have seemed inconceivable to people a few years ago when we actively started to plan and solicit funding for our very own university. And today we bear witness to that impossibility becoming reality. There's an energy here that can't be denied. It is the energy that comes from acting on ideals.
Many a great leader has asserted that a nation that does not invest in its youth and its human resources - does not have a future! Today is testimony of Governments' commitment to invest in our young people- the leaders of tomorrow and the future.
The Northern Cape is rising. There is no question that we are on the move. The establishment of a university affords our children the opportunity to be the masters of their own destiny. You get to decide what kind of future you want.
More than 60 percent of South Africans are under the age of 35. Young people will determine the fate of this province and this country. Ours must be a society in which every child matters and their talents are nurtured to enable them to become the best that they can be.
Today, we are also celebrating for another important reason - In the course of the overall development of our country and province, the shared and common goals of all of us require a common approach and 'battle'. We are grateful that we have had committed partners in the realization of this project in some of South Africa's leading business entities. Our country and province need more of these types of partners to achieve our desired goals of a growing and prosperous South Africa.
The seeds of a future prosperous Northern Cape Province have been laid and will certainly develop scores of leaders and quality leadership in the socio-economic spheres for both civil society and business. The seeds for such a future are the investments we make in the educational opportunities of our people to secure the future of children and future generations!
We are grateful to be in a position today, to celebrate the launch of an institution of higher education in the Northern Cape. We earnestly believe that the founding of this institution will aid our search for wisdom and the information-laden intelligence that has become an indispensable part of the twenty-first century.
We hope that through this institution we can develop the skills and knowledge that are particular to the needs of the people of the Northern Cape and those of our country at large.
This landmark achievement has been made possible by a number of people and players. At this point let me thank those who have been the catalysts, including the many other important backroom players, continuously contributing towards the realization of this dream. Many have played various roles and to them we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude.
The new management and leadership of the institute - thanks to you too for the brave stance you took and support you lent towards the project. The departmental and other specialist people who provided advise and assisted with the shaping of the project - you too deserve mention.
Indeed, this project speaks to the fact that we as government are on course in respect of our desired goal of achieving a measure of equilibrium and a more than modest success rate in our human resource enrichment strategy.
The results of the matriculants in the past few years have also given us more reason to believe in the potential and reality of the project. That we are confronted with the challenge of matching the demands of the economy with our human capacity, are aptly demonstrated by skewed human and economic developments found.
The overall thrust of our strategy for human resources development speaks particularly of the question of educating our people so that they are equipped to ably and confidently participate in the socio-economic development of our province and country and by so doing help us all work towards the creation of 'A Better Life For All!
The founding of this reservoir of learning, wisdom and intelligence demonstrates the commitment of our government in creating an environment and infrastructure that is geared towards the fulfilment of the creative and artistic potential of our people.
This, in our view, is the sharp end of the spear by which we will puncture the veil of ignorance and poverty.
Ladies and gentlemen, the launch of this institution signifies the process of reconstruction and development that our country has embarked upon. It also embodies the transformation of our education system into a united, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist entity. It signifies an education system whose sole purpose would be to meet the learning needs of our citizens and the needs of our society and economy as a whole.
There is indeed no turning back!
The launch of this Institute of Higher Education in the Northern Cape is an exciting challenge and provides a unique opportunity for us to develop the intellectual capacity of our people to meet the high-level of human resource needs of the new millennium. In a nutshell to help them contribute to the functioning of modern industrial society.
I am sure that you will agree with me that this momentous achievement represents a victory for the people of the Northern Cape and will have a tremendous impact on our communities.
We are also hopeful that this institution's founding heralds much more progress and development and the maturation of our province as a centre of excellence and human achievement.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this institute will be well positioned to offer opportunities for the people of our province to create an economically and intellectually prosperous society. It will truly contribute to the social, economic and political challenge that faces our country and province in particular.
There is no doubt that we have turned the corner and are forging an education institution that will be accessible to all that will instil the values of democracy and equality, and improve our quality of life.
In order for us to meet the challenges of the new millennium, it is critical for us to have in place a modern, quality higher education system that will provide advanced skills and scientific knowledge to us.
For us to reach those desired levels of progress and modernisation we need to constantly expand our pool of skilled labour and to simultaneously also attract both domestic and foreign investment.
Programme Director, the Northern Cape Provincial Government is dedicated to the belief that equal educational opportunity and a strong higher education system are essential cornerstones of a democratic society and has the potential to contribute to the quality of life of all South Africans.
As we forge ahead positively through new territory, I am optimistic that the Institute for Higher Education is indeed well placed to meet the challenges of the rapid global economy.
With these few words I cannot express our excitement and gratitude to all role players who made this day possible. On behalf of the people of the Northern Cape I bid you all a warm welcome and trust that you will be a constant companion of the people of the Northern Cape as we embark on this exiting new journey.


Superdrug customers stockpiling 'game changing' £4.49 product which clears skin 'overnight'
The product has garnered rave reviews on Superdrug's website
Jess Flaherty
Dan HaygarthReporter
Superdrug's own skincare range has been praised as a "game changer" (Image: Simon Jacobs/Superdrug)
Customers are stockpiling a Superdrug skin product which reviewers have lauded a "game-changer" as it clears their skin "overnight".
The high street beauty retailer's Naturally Radiant Glycolic Tonic has proved a hit with shoppers who say it's the "best they've ever used."
The toner, which is on sale for £4.49 but costs £9.99 at full price, promises to "refine pores, moisturise the skin's surface and smooth fine lines, providing a brighter, healthier and more youthful complexion."
The product is described as: "Naturally Radiant Glycolic Tonic is formulated with a unique energising complex and infused with Kiwi Fruit and Mulberry extracts. Highly concentrated in Glycolic Acid, a powerful Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA), reports the Liverpool Echo.
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"The refreshing tonic also refines pores, moisturises the skin's surface and smoothes fine lines, providing a brighter, healthier and more youthful complexion."
Shoppers are impressed - on Superdrug's website, the lauded product has racked up more than 250 five star reviews.
One reviewer commented: "I've repurchased this about three times now. Honestly one of the best toners I've used. Really helped with reducing scarring and pigmentation for me personally. It really brightens your complexion and doesn't dry you out. Love It!!"
Another said: "I have tried glycolic acid toners from The Ordinary and Pixi but this one is my favourite. Love the Naturally Radiant range. Fingers crossed it never gets discontinued!"
A very happy customer titled their review "game-changer" and said: "I don't even have to wear foundation! I've tried hundreds of creams and products and spent hundreds of pounds on high-end brands over the years but these are by far the best results I've ever had.
"I won't be using anything else! If you are considering purchasing, [definitely] give it a go! You won't be disappointed."
A shopper said: "Struggles with acne so much tried every skin peel every product but wow this is the only thing that has worked every night and morning has made my skin 1000x better couldn't recommend enough."
Asda issues product recalls of Milkybar, seafood and Pedigree dog foods over concerns
I visited Sainsbury's during lockdown and it was a Covid-secure fortress
Another added: "I bought this for the first time about a year ago and I've used it ever since. Amazing value for money, it works literally overnight if I get blemishes or bad skin. Love the whole range."
Another shopper posted: "I swear by this stuff! Use it as directed and you can't go wrong.", while another customer said that the product has " transformed" their skin.


Husbands (1970)
John Cassavetes | 2hr 18min
There is nothing terribly special about the three middle-aged men at the centre of Husbands, and we can tell that somewhere deep in their subconsciouses, they recognise that. To bring this existential self-awareness to the surface may be crippling though, and besides, watching them dance around their insecurities for two and a half hours reveals far more about their lonely, desperate characters than any grand reckoning might have. If Richard Linklater was to shift the focus of his hangout films to a much older age bracket and turn his trademark idealism to pessimism, then perhaps the result would look something like this. At the same time though, it is impossible to imagine him centring characters as disturbingly boorish as those which John Cassavetes creates here, or aiming to create an experience that is as unpleasant as it is thoughtfully stimulating.
As is typical of his realist style, Cassavetes is not beholden to any plot convention or character development that might turn this into a more traditional drama, so any time such an advancement does take place in the film, it often feels purely incidental. By the time they touch down in London just past the halfway point, we have already spent enough time with them in bars, pools, and bathrooms to know that this sudden change of pace isn't going to fix their deep-seated fears of inadequacy and mortality. Just as the film's title suggests, wives are largely absent from this portrait of indulgent, toxic masculinity, leaving these emotionally inept men to seek out their own feeble solutions to the bitterness and grief that plagues their minds.
Cassavetes' is more likely let his camera wander naturally around environments, but he still finds the time to stage these thoughtful compositions, pressing the environment in on his characters.
The film's inciting incident lands in the opening minutes with the realisation that this group of three was once a group of four, framing everything they do from this point on as some indirect sublimation of their mourning, and trying to convince themselves that they have plenty of years in front of them. The only glimpse we get of their lives before the death of their friend, Stuart, comes through a montage of still photos at a public pool. While their children and wives splash around, they strike manly poses for the camera, putting on a front that is immediately undermined by the sharp cut to Stuart's funeral. Rather than using the time to sort through their feelings around this tragedy though, Gus, Harry, and Archie would rather complain about all the pomp and circumstance, holding onto the air of manliness that they can't let slip away.
"People get symbolic over death. They get very formal, and it's really ridiculous. Because it's probably the most humiliating thing in the world."
A montage of photos at a swimming pool preceding Stuart's death opening the film, flashing through images of performative masculinity.
Though the camera follows the funeral proceedings from afar, Cassavetes' telephoto lens zooms in close to the bereaved faces in the crowd, positioning us as intimate but totally invisible observers. It is an intrusive perspective that persists through much of Husbands, and one which demonstrates Cassavetes' absolute commitment to the primal realism of the piece, naturally letting his actors' bodies obstruct frames as they move around, and consequently immersing us even further into each scene. His goal here in stripping everything in Husbands back to a bare, minimalist style feels like a precursor to Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg's Dogme 95 movement in the 1990s, with natural lighting, handheld camerawork, and location shooting dominating the film's chosen aesthetic, and thereby giving weight to the purely naturalistic performances by the main trio of actors.
Excellent use of a telephoto lens observing the mourners at Stuart's funeral in close-up.
Peter Falk, Ben Gazzara, and Cassavetes himself take on the roles of the three friends at the centre with organic ease, and while many of their lines weren't quite ad-libbed on camera, it is not surprising to learn that most of them were written into the screenplay from improvised rehearsals. Robert Altman might have been the director who would solidify himself as the master of overlapping dialogue, but Cassavetes' control of such aural chaos is admirable here, using it to underscore the recurring conflicts between the men, as well as the textures of an indifferent world that keeps moving independent of their existences.
After a period of time running through New York streets, skinny dipping, and revealing their sheer lack of coordination in a clumsy game of basketball, these men congregate at the local bar where Cassavetes submits us to a scene lasting over half an hour, watching their drunken singing gradually develop a sadistic edge. Around them, pitch black walls envelop them in a stifling depression, and Cassavetes populates his mise-en-scène with half-empty jugs and glasses of beer, telling the story of their night up to this point.
The bar scene lasts for almost forty minutes, as Cassavetes immerses us into its uncomfortable, drunken atmosphere.
If listening to their piggish behaviour for so long is a wearying experience, then the discomfort only intensifies when they escape into the bar's equally dark bathroom and start retching, forcing us to stick with them through every ugly facet of their lives. With perhaps the most confined space of the film comes a slight shift in Cassavetes visual direction as well, swapping out the telephoto for a wider-angle lens, and sitting the camera right behind the toilet as they uncomfortably heave into it.
The telephoto lens is gone when we move into the bathroom, as the camera now sits behind the toilet to uncomfortably press up against the actors' faces.
Husbands can't be described as punishing in the same way one might associate that descriptor with Gaspar Noe or von Trier, but by lingering on scenes like these for longer than what's comfortable, it does exhaust its viewers in a similar way. Gazzara especially works to alienate his character more than anyone else, as the abuse that erupts from Harry within his own home reveals the logical conclusion of what sort of man we have surmised him to be. The fountain of red and yellow flowers pouring from a vase in his dining room only adds a meagre touch of colour to an otherwise cheerless scene, which sees him push his wife to her knees and force out a reluctant "I love you." That he despises his own family this much speaks a lot to the unresolved anger he clearly doesn't know how to deal with, and in this moment, Harry fully reveals himself as the most damaged of all three men.
"I hate that house. I only live there because of a woman. You know, the legs, the breasts, the mouth."
A meagre splash of colour in Harry's home life barely distracts us from the misery that exists inside these walls.
Very simple blocking with Cassavetes sitting on the lawn and Falk standing on the driveway in this long shot, but the barren minimalism is a purposeful and impactful choice.
With each attempt to reclaim their youth leaving them unfulfilled, an impromptu trip to London becomes a last resort, though even in its flashy casinos there is still no glamour to be found. Dialogue continues to roll out like aimless, verbal anarchy, and the awkwardness only amplifies when they each take a different woman up to their hotel room. With Cassavetes' long takes often comes handsomely staged compositions of his actors, and one of his greatest unfolds here with Gazzara lying along the bottom of the frame in the foreground, while the camera pans between his five other companions clumsily interacting behind him. As they split off into pairs, their insecurities become more evident than ever. Gus is rash and overbearing in his attempts to initiate sex with his terrified partner. Archie panics the moment his woman even kisses him. It is disappointing that Harry's scene is so short in comparison to theirs, because his brief conversation reveals a guilt and helplessness that he has never let surface up to this point.
"I feel so goddamned disloyal. I feel like my – my heart is breaking."
The camera pans left to right and back again in the London hotel room, lingering in the awkwardness of these interactions.
The precise angle of the door catching Falk's reflection in the background, emphasising the loneliness.
An inspired close-up with this oblique angle coming from above – complete melancholy.
The rain pouring down on London's streets the next day becomes a perfect backdrop to the melancholy resolutions each man settles on. Where Gus and Archie accept that there is no exciting life for them outside their families, Harry has sunk completely into the delusion of his youth, deciding to stay behind in London and continue in his pursuit of women. His separation from the group thus formally marks Husbands with a pair of poignant bookends, leaving the remaining men crushingly isolated. "What's he gonna do without us?" Archie yells to Gus as they both head home, but the question applies in the other direction as well, leaving each husband to wonder what their respective futures look like without their truest companions – not that they would ever admit to such vulnerability.
Cassavetes making the most of a rainy day to shoot the depressing 'morning after'.
These are messy characters, and while it would be fair to say that they are largely responsible for their own misery, it is evidently the culture of unbearable machismo they have collectively built among themselves which has become their main obstacle to happiness. Somewhere along the way, their friend's death is lost among the crass humour and toxic aggression of their exploits, and for as long as that grief remains repressed, it will just keep eating away at their minds and egos, all the way to their not-too-distant graves.
A bleak, hopeless ending as two men return to their families without their companion, wondering how any of them will get by without each other.
Husbands is currently available to rent or buy on iTunes and YouTube.
Posted on November 23, 2022 November 18, 2022 Author SceneByGreenCategories 1970, 1970s, Film Review
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Old Bank Building at Six Corners Could Become Grocery, Gym and Starbucks
By Heather Cherone |&nbspMarch 3, 2015 5:45am
@HeatherCherone
The former Bank of America building at 4901 W. Irving Park Road has been vacant since 2011. It was recently sold for $2.9 million, and the new owner plans to tear down the building and build a new grocery store.
DNAinfo/Heather Cherone
PORTAGE PARK — A long-vacant bank building would be transformed into a grocery store and gym under a plan unveiled by Ald. John Arena (45th) that would save a historic theater and create space for nonprofit arts organizations.
The first floor of the former Bank of America building at 4901 W. Irving Park Road would become a grocery store and the first Retro Fitness gym in Chicago, Arena said.
A 300-seat theater on the second floor, which was once home to the Northwest Chicago Film Society, would be restored, and offices for medical services and nonprofit arts groups created, Arena said.
The new proposal for the 50,000-square-foot building would pull the high-profile property in the Six Corners Shopping District out of the limbo it has been mired for nearly two years. Retro Fitness has signed a lease for the property, Arena said.
A city-commissioned master plan envisions a three-to-four story mixed-use development on the former bank property, as well as restaurants along the side streets away from Irving Park Road.
The Lakota Group
Heather Cherone discusses the timing of the announcement:
The project would need $2.5 million from the Portage Park Tax Increment Financing District "in order to preserve the theater for community and non-profit use," Arena said.
Aldi grocery stores has signed a letter of intent, but not a lease, to open in the renovated building, which has been vacant since 2011, said Arena, who faces an April 7 runoff against Chicago Police Lt. John Garrido to retain his seat on the Chicago City Council.
Coffee giant Starbucks also signed a letter of intent, but not a lease, to open near Irving Park Road and Lamon Avenue near the former bank building on the western edge of Six Corners in an area that would allow a drive-thru to be built, Arena said.
The Wisconsin-based "Butter Burger" and custard chain Culver's is also interested in opening a location near the renovated bank building, which has been vacant since 2011, Arena said.
A meeting to discuss the plan is set for 6:30 p.m. March 11 at Las Tablas, 4920 W. Irving Park Road.
Owen Brugh, Arena's chief of staff, said the alderman supports the project, which requires a zoning change because the building's 260-space parking lot is erroneously zoned residential. The lot also must comply with city laws requiring landscaping around surface parking, Brugh added.
"We think it is a good plan," Brugh said. "It was a long hard road to get to this point. We look forward to a vibrant discussion."
Mike Bousis, who bought the building and several adjacent properties in April 2013 for $2.9 million, had planned to tear the massive building down and build a new location for his chain of Cermak Fresh Market stores.
But Arena asked Bousis to reconsider those plans and renovate the building in order to save the theater that became famous on the far Northwest Side because of its incongruous location inside a bank branch. Movies were shown there from 1971 to 2010.
The discussion over the fate of the property became tense at times, with Bousis threatening to tear down the building and wait until after the 2015 aldermanic election to apply for a zoning change. Arena beat Garrido in 2011 by 30 votes.
But Bousis agreed to consider changing his plans in order to save the theater at the alderman's request. He did not return a phone message Monday.
Arena said it made sense to try to save an existing theater in an area that he has been working to revitalize by turning it into an arts and culture mecca that would draw people — and their wallets — from all over the city and suburbs with the promise of a show and dinner.
The proposal "falls into the mission" of the Six Corners Master Plan, Arena said.
Efforts to revitalize the area around Irving Park Road and Cicero and Milwaukee avenues, which was once Chicago's premier shopping district outside the Loop, hinge on the redevelopment of the former bank building, according to the master plan.
That plan, approved in 2013, said the building, which covers half a city block between Lamon and Lavergne avenues, should be used to anchor the redevelopment of the western edge of the Six Corners district.
The master plan envisioned a three- or four-story, mixed-use development on the former bank property, as well as restaurants along the side streets away from Irving Park.
In addition, the master plan envisioned eight townhomes on the site of the smaller parking lot south of Dakin, in keeping with the land's residential zoning designation as well as the nearby homes. A small neighborhood park or playlot serving the families located south of Irving Park would also be appropriate for this area, according to the master plan.
No homes or apartments are proposed under the current plan.
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Nick Clegg: Bar the gates. No summer holiday before the overhaul
Warm words and rhetoric are easy. We must seize the mood and enact a radical programme of reform within 100 days
Wed 27 May 2009 16.30 EDT First published on Wed 27 May 2009 16.30 EDT
Finally the dam has broken, and everyone is talking about changing Britain's political system. For decades reformers have been thwarted by Westminster inertia. But the MPs' expenses scandal has overturned old certainties and made change possible.
This moment must be seized by all who want a different kind of politics. Warm words, rhetoric and consideration are not enough; indeed, they are a guarantee that little will happen. So let us bar the gates of Westminster and stop MPs leaving for their summer holidays until this crisis has been sorted out, and every nook and cranny of our political system has been reformed.
Today I'm setting out a plan of action to get all the changes we need delivered in just 100 days – making it possible for MPs to be sacked by constituents, abolishing the House of Lords, getting corrupt money out of politics and changing the electoral system to give everyone a voice. People will say it isn't possible – parliament can't act that quickly. I say the innate conservatism that marks out our political establishment is part of the problem. Let's stop all this self-congratulatory hype about the mother of parliaments and get on with improving it.
Momentum will ebb away unless we act quickly. Delay would be a victory for those who want to confine change to the bare minimum – the two establishment parties who will talk up reform long enough for the storm to pass, then kick it into the long grass for good.
David Cameron's proposals set out in the Guardian on Tuesday were a masterful example of well-judged rhetoric free of substance and conviction. Open-source software, new select committee chairs and legislative text messages will not rescue British democracy. They are designed, I fear, to provide verbal cover for maintaining the status quo.
Real political change is about taking power from those who have hoarded it for themselves, and distributing it to others. So change will only be possible if the vested interests that have benefited from the way things are accept that they can no longer preside over an institutional stitch-up. For generations the Labour and Conservative parties have colluded to keep out competition. They are like a corporate duopoly, setting the rules of the game to maintain dominance. And just like in economics, it's ordinary people who suffer: taken for granted, and deprived of the ability to make different choices to those imposed upon them.
That is why what Cameron did not say is more revealing than what he did. No mention of the murky business of party funding. No mention of the scandal of an unelected second chamber. The rejection of any change to an electoral system that hands power to governments on a fraction of the vote. Without these changes, British politics will continue to be a game of pass the parcel between two old parties, while the rest of the country switches off,
So instead of long-term consideration of the possibility of tinkering, let us have 100 days of real action: swift, decisive and confident. It really is possible. The details of a reformed system of party funding have already been thrashed out between the parties, months ago. Sir Hayden Phillips secured outline agreement to ban donations of more than £50,000, limit spending to £100m over a parliament and shake up union contributions. The reason it wasn't adopted was because the Conservatives walked out, keen to protect donations from tax exiles such as Lord Ashcroft. But there is no reason not to return to what was all but agreed, and enforce it. The political parties and elections bill, now before parliament, could be amended and adopted within weeks.
Similarly, on House of Lords reform, the principles of a fully elected chamber have already been exhaustively debated and adopted by MPs. As in any bicameral system, peers should be elected on a different constituency basis and electoral cycle to MPs. Details could be decided on and introduced in the constitutional renewal bill being promoted in the House of Lords by Paul Tyler.
And then there's electoral reform. The ideal solution would be an Irish-style single transferable vote system in which voters elect the person, not the party. But even alternative vote plus – as first advocated by Roy Jenkins in 1998 and now backed by Alan Johnson – would ensure most MPs have a personal constituency link with their voters, as already occurs in Germany and Scotland. Labour made a promise more than a decade ago to hold a referendum on the Jenkins proposals. If the government won't call a general election, let us have this referendum in early September, as the culmination of 100 days of reform.
Together, over the next 100 days, we could achieve nothing less than the total reinvention of British politics. These months could become a great moment in British political history, rather than a shabby footnote to a shameful month of scandal. Let us seize, not squander, the opportunity for change.
MPs' expenses


Home > People > Clergy > Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Lentz
Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Lentz
glentz@fumcpensacola.com
Pastor Geoffrey is our new Senior Pastor. He was born and raised in Pensacola and attended First Church as a child. The Lentzes were also a part of this church family when Geoffrey was first appointed here after graduating from seminary. During that appointment, Geoffrey had the opportunity to work under and learn from our two previous Senior Pastors, Dr. Roberts and Dr. Wachob, both of whom he counts as mentors.
Dr. Lentz is a graduate of Pine Forest High School and the University of West Florida. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from UWF, a Masters of Divinity from Duke University, and a Doctorate in Ministry from Drew University. He has been a pastor in the United Methodist Church for 17 years. His first appointment after Duke was here at First Church where he served as our Associate then Executive Pastor (2005–2012). In 2013, Geoffrey was called to serve as the Senior Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Port St. Joe, FL (2013–2022). Pastor Geoffrey is involved with and supportive of the work of our Annual Conference. He serves on various boards, including the Board of Ordained Ministry, and is committed to our conference partnership with the Church in Tanzania. Geoffrey is married to Liz and they have two children, Luke and Eliza.
Rev. Brandon Bures
Rev. Emily Kincaid
Rev. Dr. Rick Branch
Lisa Bond
Jennifer Piver
Denise VanAtta
Eric Penley
Mici Kuba
Lacey Adair
Heidi Branch
Libby Hargrave
Liz Noyes
Ginger Raines
Kelsey Seager
Kyle Hall
Sarah Head
Karen Varnson
Michele Stevenson
Marty Cebula


You are here: Home > Our Charity > BHS News & Media > Dead? Or Dead Slow?: New statistics reveal threat on Britain's roads for horse riders
Dead? Or Dead Slow?: New statistics reveal threat on Britain's roads for horse riders
british horse society
dead slow think 15
Over 60% of incidents involving horses on the roads happen between 10am and 3pm, with accidents most commonly occurring in June, new statistics from The British Horse Society (BHS) reveal**.
The statistics are disclosed as the charity today (24 March 2016) announces the launch of a campaign urging drivers to slow down to 15mph when they meet a horse and rider on the road.
In the five years since the launch of its horse accidents website, over 2,000* reports of road incidents involving horses have been reported to the charity. Of these, 36 caused rider deaths, and 181 resulted in a horse dying from their injuries or being put to sleep.
75% of accidents happened because the vehicle passed the horse without allowing enough space, while over a quarter of respondents said that they also had to deal with driver road rage during the incident.
The majority of these incidents happened on a minor road and in a rural area. Nearly half of the horses involved were used to riding on the roads more than once a week.
Since the launch of the BHS horse accidents website in November 2010:
90% of respondents were female
1,799 of respondents were involved in an accident in England, 146 in Wales, 115 in Scotland, and 10 in Northern Ireland.
The counties with the highest number of accident reports are Essex, with 155 reported road accidents; Kent, with 89 reported road accidents; and Lancashire, with 81 reported road accidents.
The launch of the campaign, Dead Slow, follows a number of high profile petitions calling for greater protection for horse and rider on the roads following the injury of horse carriage master Mark Evans and the death of his horse Wil, who was hit by a car in Wales last month as he pulled a funeral cortege.
Lee Hackett, BHS Director of Policy, said: "We are asking drivers to slow down to 15mph when they see a horse on the road. A lot of people aren't sure how to safely pass a horse when driving, and so we have produced a video showing exactly how it should be done.
It's worth remembering that these statistics are just the accidents reported to us, there will be countless others. Almost everyone who rides horses can recount a story about a time they had a near miss on the roads.
We are campaigning for legislative change, but that can take a long time. That is why we are asking for this instant change in behaviour from drivers.
The British Horse Society has produced a video demonstrating how to safely pass a horse on the road. The charity will also be asking equestrians to ensure that they thank any drivers who pass them responsibly.
Kevin Clinton, Head of Road Safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: "Horses are large, powerful animals and they can easily panic and bolt if startled. This is dangerous for the horse, the rider and other road users. All drivers should be aware that they may come across horse riders at any time, especially in rural areas. If you see one, slow right down as you approach and pass it slowly and smoothly, without revving your engine or sounding your horn. If there's not room to pass it safely, wait until there is."
Horse accidents can be reported to the BHS via the website: www.horseaccidents.org.uk
Video, pictures and infographic available to download.
All statistics date from November 2010 to 1 March 2016.
* 2,070 incidents reported in five years
** 1,158 accidents happened between 10am and 3pm (of the 1,796 where time was disclosed)
** 211 accidents happened in June
As the largest equestrian charity in the UK, The British Horse Society is dedicated to equine welfare, protecting bridleways and footpaths in the countryside, safety for horse and riders, and education. The Society's thriving and active community of staff and volunteers is committed to improving the lives of horses everywhere and last year made 3,000 interventions to help horses in need.
The British Horse Society and road safety
The British Horse Society works closely with Government and local authorities, cycling groups and commercial transport firms to educate and change driver behaviour. Working tirelessly to ensure that all equestrians have access to riding outdoors without having to negotiate traffic on the roads, a key focus of the Society is the protection off road routes.
The BHS encourages horse riders to wear hi-viz gear at all times on the road. Even in bright sunlight it can be hard for a driver to see a horse.


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Home : Orissa
Orissa State
Orissa is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April 1936 as a province in India, and consists, predominantly of Oriya speakers 1 April is therefore celebrated as Utkal Divas (Orissa Day).
Orissa is the ninth largest state by area in India, and the eleventh largest by population. Odiya is the official and most widely spoken language. Orissa has a relatively unindented coastline (about 480 km long ) and lacks good ports, except for the deepwater facility at Paradip. The narrow, level coastal strip, including the Mahanadi River delta supports the bulk of the population. The interior of the state is mountainous and sparsely populated. Deomali at 1672 m is the highest point of the state.
Orissa is subject to intense cyclones. The most intense one, in October 1999, Tropical Cyclone 05B caused severe damage and some 10,000 deaths. Orissa is home to the Hirakud Dam, the longest earthen dam in the world. Orissa has several popular tourist destinations. Puri, with the Jagannath temple near the sea (famous for Rath Yatra or the Car Festival), and Konark, with the Sun Temple, are visited by thousands of tourists every year. The Jagannath Temple of Puri, The Sun Temple of Konark, The Lingaraja Temple of Bhubaneshwar and the Barabati Fort of Cuttack are important in the archaeological history of India.
History :
Orissa has a history spanning a period of over 3,000 years. The history of Orissa is in many ways atypical from that of the northern plains, and many of the common generalizations that are made about Indian history do not seem to apply to the Odia region. The name Odia originated from Odra or Udra tribes that inhabited the central belt ( Angul, Dhenkanal,Nayagarh ) of modern Orissa. Orissa has also been the home of the Kalinga, Utkal and [Kosal} that played a particularly prominent role in the region's history, and one of the earliest references to the ancient Kalingas appears in the writings of Vedic chroniclers. In the 6th century BCE, Vedic Sutrakara Baudhayana mentions Kalinga as being beyond the Vedic fold, indicating that Brahminical influences had not yet touched the land. Unlike some other parts of India, tribal customs and traditions played a significant role in shaping political structures and cultural practices right up to the 15th century, when Brahminical influences triumphed over competing traditions and caste differentiation began to inhibit social mobility and erode what had survived of the ancient republican tradition.
A major turning point in world history took place in Orissa. The Kalinga War that led emperor Ashoka to embrace non-violence and the teachings of Buddha was fought here in 261 BC. Ashoka's military campaign against Kalinga was one of the bloodiest in Mauryan history on account of the fearless and heroic resistance offered by the Kalingas to the mighty armies of the expanding Mauryan empire. Perhaps on account of their unexpected bravery, emperor Ashoka was compelled to issue two edicts specifically calling for a just and benign administration in Kalinga. Later on, Ashoka was instrumental in spreading Buddhist philosophy all over Asia.
In the third century BCE, Kalinga flourished as a powerful kingdom under the Jaina king, Kharavela. He ruled all the way down south to include parts of the Tamil country. He built the superb monastic caves at Udayagiri and Khandagiri. Subsequently, the kingdom was ruled under various monarchs, such as Samudragupta and Sasanka. It also was a part of Harsha's empire. In 795 AD, the king Yayati Kesari I of Kesari or Soma dynasty united Kalinga, Kosala and Utkala into a single empire. He is also supposed to have built the first Jagannath Temple at Puri, although the current structure of the temple is entirely different and was built by Kings Choda Gangadeva and Ananga Bhimadeva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty in the 12th century. The famous Lingaraja temple in Bhubaneshwar was started by Keshari dynasty king Yayati Keshari III and completed by his son Lalatendu Keshari in the 10th century. King Narasimha Dev is reputed to have built the magnificent Sun Temple at Konark. Although now largely in ruins, the temple may have once rivaled the Taj Mahal in splendour.
The Mughals conquered Orissa in 1576. The last Hindu Emperor of Orissa, Gajapati Mukunda Deva, was defeated and was killed in the battle of Gohiratikiri. The Mughals divided Orissa into two parts, Garjat and Mughalbandi. The coastal plain of Orissa from Medinipur to Rajahmundry came under Mughalbandi rule, which was broadly divided into six parts as Jaleshwar Sarkar, Bhadrakh Sarkar, Cuttack Sarkar, Chicacole (Srikakulam) Sarkar, Kalinga Dandapat and Rajamundry Sarkar or Godavari Province. The Garjat areas of Orissa's Central, Northern, Western and Southern hilly areas were ruled independently by the Hindu kings. These Hindu kings were paying their tribute to the Mughal Subahdar of Orissa who was residing at Cuttack. The Nizam of Hyderabad occupied the area between Rajahmundry to Srikakulam in 16th century. The remaining parts of Orissa, including the Mughalbandi and Garjat areas, were subsequently ceded to the Marathas in 1751.
Geography And Climate :
Bhubaneshwar is the capital of Orissa. It is famed for its magnificent temples, numbering around a thousand. Cuttack, the former capital of Orissa, is 22 km from Bhubaneshwar. With the rapid expansion of two cities and better road connectivity, the two cities are now almost conjoined and considered as twin cities. The city of Puri is about 60 kilometers from Bhubaneshwar and lies on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Puri is considered a holy city and the abode of the deity Lord Jagannath. It is one of the Char Dhams (Four holy places) of Hinduism. The world-famous "car festival" (rath yatra) is celebrated every year in the Hindu month of Ashadha (Mid June to Mid July) in Puri.
The Chota Nagpur plateau occupies the western and northern portions of the state, while along the coast are fertile alluvial plains and the valleys of the Mahanadi, Brahmani, and Baitarani rivers, which fall into the Bay of Bengal. These alluvial plains are home to intensive rice cultivation. The Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI),Asia's largest rice research Institute is situated along the bank of Mahanadi in Cuttack. One of the major nesting ground for the Olive Ridley sea turtles can be found in the Beaches of Orissa; in Devi, Gahirmatha and Rushikulya, which are known to be the nesting sites for the L. olivacea Indian Ocean population. In 2007, around 130,000 turtles nested on the beaches of Gahirmatha. The shore line also acts as their mating site & have attracted various scientific communities for research & studies.
Although most of Orissa's forest cover has been denuded lately, one of the greatest attractions of Orissa is its still vast expanses of unspoiled natural landscape that offer a protected yet natural habitat to the state's incredible wildlife. There are many wildlife sanctuaries in Orissa. The Simlipal National Park Tiger Reserve is a huge expanse of lush green forest with waterfalls, inhabited by tigers, elephants, and other wildlife. The Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary has been protecting estuarine crocodiles since 1975.
Chilka Lake, a brackish water coastal lake on the Bay of Bengal, south of the mouth of the Mahanadi River, is the largest coastal lake in India and the second largest in the world.It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent. It is protected by the Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary, which harbors over 160 migratory and resident species of birds. Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea and other remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Central and southeast Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas come here. It also has the small area of Satpada which is a safe sanctuary for the lesser known & endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins. The highest mountain peak in the state is Deomali (1672 m), which is situated in Koraput district in southern Orissa. It is also the tallest peak of the Eastern Ghats. It is part of the Chandragiri-Pottangi mountain system. Location: 18°40'3"N 82°58'59"E.
Tourism :
The landscape of Orissa is dotted with a large number of temples. The temples of Orissa conform to the Indo Aryan Nagara style of architecture, with distinctive features specific to this region. The best known of these are the Lingaraja temple at Bhubaneshwar, Jagannath Temple at Puri and the Sun Temple at Konark. The temples of Orissa exhibit a majestic grandeur. An Odia temple (deula) usually consists of a sanctum, one or several front porches (jagamohana) usually with pyramidal roofs, a dancing hall (nata mandir) and a hall of offerings (bhog mandir).
The Lingaraj temple at Bhubaneshwar boasts of a 150 foot high deul while the Jagannath Temple at Puri is about 200 feet high and it dominates the skyline of the town. Only a portion of the Sun Temple at Konark, the largest of the temples of the Golden triangle exists today, and it is still staggering in size. It stands out as a masterpiece in Orissa architecture. Orissa is also well known as a Buddhist and Jain pilgrimage destination. North-east of Cuttack, about 100 km from Bhubaneshwar, there are Buddhist relics and ruins at the three hilltop complexes of Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, which still bear witness to Buddhism's fruitful tryst with this region until well into the 13th century.
Orissa's varying topography – from the wooded Eastern Ghats to the fertile river basin – has proven ideal for evolution of compact and unique ecosystems. Thereby creating such treasure troves of flora and fauna that even seem inviting to many migratory species of birds and reptiles. Bhitar Kanika National Park is famous for its second largest mangrove ecosystem. The bird sanctuary in Chilika (Asia's biggest brackish water lake) and the tiger reserve and waterfalls in Simlipal National Park are integral part of any eco tours in Orissa, arranged by Tourism of Orissa.
The Gharial Sanctuary at Tikarpada and the Olive Ridley Sea Turtles in Gahirmatha turtle sanctuary also feature on the list of avid nature watchers. The city wildlife sanctuaries of Chandaka and Nandan Kanan are a must visit for the lessons they teach is conservation and revitalization of species from the brink of extinction.
Orissa is blessed with around 500 km long coastline and has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Chilika, Asia's largest brackish water lake, not only provides a haven for millions of birds, but is also one of the few places in India where one can view dolphins. The lush green forest cover of Orissa plays host to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including the famed Royal Bengal Tiger. Amidst the picturesque hills and valleys nestle a number of breathtaking waterfalls and rivulets that attract visitors from all over. Orissa beaches include Puri, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Chandipur, Ramachandi Beach, Balighai Beach, Astarang Beach, Paradeep Beach. If you visit India you must visit the famous Shiva Temple near Dhenkanal.
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Charlie Hernández & the League of Shadows
Book #1 of Charlie Hernández
By Ryan Calejo
"This is a perfect pick for kids who love Rick Riordan's many series, particularly for those eager for mythologies beyond Greek and Roman stories." —Booklist (starred review)
"A winner for all kids, but it will be especially beloved by Latinx and Hispanic families." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The Lightning Thief meets the Story Thieves series in this middle grade fantasy inspired by Hispanic folklore, legends, and myths from the Iberian Peninsula and Central and South America.
Charlie Hernández has always been proud of his Latin American heritage. He loves the culture, the art, and especially the myths. Thanks to his abuela's stories, Charlie possesses an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the monsters and ghouls who have spent the last five hundred years haunting the imaginations of children all across the Iberian Peninsula, as well as Central and South America. And even though his grandmother sometimes hinted that the tales might be more than mere myth, Charlie's always been a pragmatist. Even barely out of diapers, he knew the stories were just make-believe—nothing more than intricately woven fables meant to keep little kids from misbehaving.
But when Charlie begins to experience freaky bodily manifestations—ones all too similar to those described by his grandma in his favorite legend—he is suddenly swept up in a world where the mythical beings he's spent his entire life hearing about seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Hispanic folklore and into his life. And even stranger, they seem to know more about him than he knows about himself.
Soon, Charlie finds himself in the middle of an ancient battle between La Liga, a secret society of legendary mythological beings sworn to protect the Land of the Living, and La Mano Negra (a.k.a. the Black Hand), a cabal of evil spirits determined to rule mankind. With only the help of his lifelong crush, Violet Rey, and his grandmother's stories to guide him, Charlie must navigate a world where monsters and brujas rule and things he couldn't possibly imagine go bump in the night. That is, if he has any hope of discovering what's happening to him and saving his missing parents (oh, and maybe even the world).
No pressure, muchacho.
Charlie Hernández & the League of Shadows CHAPTER ONE
Myths, my abuela used to say, are truths long forgotten by the world.
Which is probably why she collected them the way some people collect stamps. Or mugs with pictures of kittens on them. She gathered tales of enormous, horned, snakelike sea creatures, of two-headed vampire dogs with glowing red eyes, of terrifying man-eating ghouls that stalk the night, searching for naughty children to kidnap.
The myths came from all over the Spanish-speaking world. From Madrid to Quito. Mexico City to Buenos Aires. Most of them were hundreds of years old, almost as old as the cultures that had inspired them. Some had spread quickly around the globe, spread like wildfire. Others never even left the tiny rural towns where they'd first been told.
All her life my grandma had been obsessed with Hispanic mythology, with all the legends and stories and folklore, and had spent years teaching them to me.
When I was little we used to hang out in the kitchen on lazy Saturday afternoons, me in my Power Rangers pj's and chancletas, my abuela telling her favorite tales from memory, making the epic battles and ghoulish monsters come to life with every gesture of her brown and wrinkled hands.
Afterward, she would quiz me on what I'd heard; we played this little game, sort of like Pictionary, where she'd draw a quick sketch of one of the characters, and I would have to guess who—or, in most cases, what—it was. If I got four in a row, she'd let me eat leche condensada right out of the can, which might've been the only thing I enjoyed more than listening to her stories.
At the time I thought it was all just for fun, a cool little game between the two of us. But I should've known better; my abuela hated party games.
Photograph (c) Ryan Calejo
Ryan Calejo is the author of the Charlie Hernández series. He was born and raised in south Florida, where he graduated from the University of Miami with a BA. He teaches swimming to elementary school students, chess to middle school students, and writing to high school students. Having been born into a family of immigrants and growing up in the so-called "Capital of Latin America," Ryan knows the importance of diversity in our communities and is passionate about writing books that children of all ethnicities can relate to.
Publisher: Aladdin (October 23, 2018)
Lexile ® 780L
Age 12 and Up
Lexile ® 691 - 790
Children's Fiction > Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic
Children's Fiction > People & Places > United States > Hispanic & Latino
"Filled with action with fast-paced chapters, Calejo's novel is sure to draw in readers and introduce them to the magic, beauty, and history of Hispanic myths and legends (many of which are elaborated on further in a glossary for those unfamiliar with the stories). This is a perfect pick for kids who love Rick Riordan's many series, particularly for those eager for mythologies beyond Greek and Roman stories."
– Booklist *STARRED REVIEW*
"He's not the "chosen one"—but the bad guys think he is. Mexican-born, American-raised Charlie Hernández just grew horns. And feathers. It's inconvenient. All of a sudden, all the Hispanic (both Latin American and Iberian) myths he learned from his abuela leave the world of legend and reveal themselves in Miami—and everyone, good and bad, seems to be after Charlie. A winner for all kids, but it will be especially beloved by Latinx and Hispanic families who may recognize some of the characters."
– Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW
This magical adventure brings the Hispanic mythologies . . . to life . . . "the detailed attention to various Hispanic folkloric and mythological traditions is accessible to readers new to the legends as well as old hands, and this multicultural story proves to be a satisfying read for anyone interested in fantasy action."
– BCCB, October 2018
"The story is fast paced and jam-packed with many encounters with mythological creatures loosely based on folklore from around the Spanish-speaking world. The glossary at the end is helpful with a description and country of origin for each mythological being. VERDICT A great start to a new series that will be devoured by fantasy fans who enjoy action with ample doses of mythological inspirations."
– School Library Journal, January 2019
Texas Bluebonnet Award 2020-2021
International Latino Book Awards: 2nd Place in Best Youth Chapter Fiction Book, English
Sunshine State Young Readers Award 2020-2021 List for Grades 6-8
Florida Book Awards 2018 Gold Medalist for Older Children's Literature
Kentucky Bluegrass Award Master List
Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (IN)
Volunteer State Book Award Nominee (TN)
Bank Street Children's Book Award
Sunshine State Young Readers' Award List (FL)
Texas Bluebonnet Master List
Florida Book Award Gold Medal, Children's
Lectio Book Award Finalist (TX)
Just One More Page Recommendation List
Book Cover Image (jpg): Charlie Hernández & the League of Shadows
Hardcover 9781534426580
Author Photo (jpg): Ryan Calejo
More books from this author: Ryan Calejo
More books in this series: Charlie Hernández


Microbiology and Immunology 3500B
BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE
A trans-disciplinary approach to examine the introduction, spread and ecological impact of infectious diseases; the underlying biological and social determinants of infectious diseases with an emphasis on the effects of environment and socio-economic status; lessons learned from global pandemics; treatment/prevention of infectious diseases and challenges with implementation in under-resourced communities.
Prerequisite(s): Microbiology and Immunology 2500A/B.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours.
Breadth: CATEGORY C i
Subject Code: MICROIMM
Modules/Programs 9
Faculty of Science | Biology | MAJOR IN ECOSYSTEM HEALTH
Faculty of Science/Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry; including BMSc and Neuroscience | Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) | HONORS BMSc INTERDISCIPLINARY MEDICAL SCIENCES/HBA
Faculty of Science/Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry; including BMSc and Neuroscience | Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) | HONORS SPECIALIZATION IN INTERDISCIPLINARY MEDICAL SCIENCES (IMS)
Faculty of Science/Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry; including BMSc and Neuroscience | Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) | MAJOR IN INTERDISCIPLINARY MEDICAL SCIENCES (IMS)
Faculty of Science/Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry; including BMSc and Neuroscience | Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) | SPECIALIZATION IN INTERDISCIPLINARY MEDICAL SCIENCES (IMS)
Faculty of Science/Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry; including BMSc and Neuroscience | Medical Sciences | MAJOR IN MEDICAL SCIENCES
Faculty of Science/Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry; including BMSc and Neuroscience | Medical Sciences | MINOR IN MEDICAL SCIENCES
Faculty of Science/Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry; including BMSc and Neuroscience | Microbiology and Immunology | MINOR IN MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
Richard Ivey School Of Business | HBA Combined Programs | HBA/HONORS BMSc INTERDISCIPLINARY MEDICAL SCIENCES
Privacy and Disclosure of Personal Information


Employment services aren't working. ACOSS calls for major reform.
In a major submission to the government's review of employment services, ACOSS is calling for fundamental reform of Australia's employment services as the jobactive system is currently failing both employers and people looking for paid work due to inadequate investment and an over-emphasis on social security compliance.
"ACOSS has welcomed, and is contributing to, the government's review of employment services, informed by feedback from service users and an Expert Advisory Panel," says Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO of ACOSS.
''People searching for their first job, those who have been made redundant, are carrying an injury, or have experienced a major life upheaval like a relationship breakdown, are not getting the support they need from jobactive employment services and the appallingly low Newstart payment."
"The jobactive program is more about enforcing Newstart requirements than helping people compete in a tough labour market where there is only one job available for every 8 people who are unemployed or underemployed. As a result, two thirds of people on Newstart are languishing on Newstart Allowance for 12 months or more.
"Newstart benefit requirements – such as the requirement to apply for 20 jobs per month – are rigidly enforced by jobactive providers even in areas where there are few jobs available. People have to repeatedly approach the same employers for work, while employers are losing trust in the system because they receive too many job applications.
'Most people tell us that dealing with jobactive provokes anxiety, with a constant fear of being cut off from their social security support.
"People using jobactive and previous employment service programs are not getting the help they really need, such as career guidance, a referral to a job, meaningful training, or properly-paid work experience in a regular job. This helps explain the rise in people unemployed long-term over the last two decades.
"Australia spends well under half the OECD average on employment assistance," says Peter Davidson, ACOSS Senior Adviser.
"Each person looking for paid work gets on average only $1,000-2,000 worth of job search assistance and training out of $1.3 billion spent annually.
"With average caseloads of 150 and more, a highly competitive provider market, and 40% of jobactive consultants leaving or losing their own jobs each year, it's not possible for employment service providers to offer a quality service.
"Intense competition among providers also gets in the way of the cooperative work with other providers, employers and local community services, all of which is needed in regions with high unemployment.
"Jobactive needs to be fundamentally changed. We need to design a new system which will get behind people locked out of paid employment, and create a real sense of hope and opportunity.
"Reducing unemployment is a shared responsibility, not just an individual one. The current model of employment services are leaving people behind.
"Newstart must also be increased. At less than $40 per day to cover all essentials, it's near impossible to look for work if you're struggling to keep a home and you're hungry."
Backgrounder:
ACOSS Proposals for reform of Australia's employment services
A 'Charter of Rights and Expectations' for users of employment services including a right for people to choose and change their employment service provider, services and activity requirements that improve each person's prospects of paid employment, accessible and culturally appropriate services; and a right to privacy of personal information.
The 20 jobs a month job search requirement should be reduced for individuals or regions where employment prospects are well below-average.
People who are close to securing employment would receive a mostly 'self-help' service, taking greater control over their job search using an online employment services platform.
In light of recent experience with 'robodebt', the online platform should not be used to automate decision-making on activity requirements and compliance.
The online platform should be backed up by employment advisors at Centrelink, to simplify the system and offer help for those who cannot manage or afford an online service.
People who are entering the paid workforce for the first time, returning after caring for a child or family member with a disability, or over 40 years old who need to reset their careers would also receive a career counselling and support service.
People unemployed long-term and those facing a high risk of long-term unemployment would receive a more intensive service from non-government employment service providers
More resources would be provided to this service to reduce caseloads.
Providers would have access to an investment fund, topped up each year for people unemployed long-term, to finance intensive services and activities to improve people's skills and employment prospects, including properly-paid work experience with wage subsidies, vocational and other skills training, and mentoring with local employers.
The ineffective Work for the Dole program should be replaced by properly-paid work experience in regular employment settings.
A minority of people with complex needs (including many people with mental illness or who are homeless), would receive coordinated help from local agencies (including employment services, health and other community services) in a local partnerships service.
For the minority of regions with very high and entrenched unemployment, a community employment development service would be provided. This would be operated by consortia of employment services, employers, local government, and local community services (in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, a community controlled organisation)
There would be more certainty of funding to stabilise employment services and reduce staff turnover, but they would be required to achieve benchmark employment outcomes.
An independent statutory licensing body (similar to the new NDIS 'quality and safeguards commission') would be established to ensure that all providers meet minimum quality standards in their service to both unemployed people and employers; including treating people with respect, and the skills and qualifications of front-line staff.
Enough talk on electricity, governments must walk the walk and guarantee lower prices
ACOSS welcomes move to scrap final 'zombie' measure