10 months agoMan City defender Fabian Delph: Back to the drawing board
About the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say Man City defender Fabian Delph: Back to the drawing boardby Paul Vegas10 months agoSend to a friendShare the loveManchester City defender Fabian Delph says they must not dwell on defeat to Crystal Palace.The result leaves City four points before leaders Liverpool.”Obviously the result is a setback. We have lost but we are only looking at ourselves game to game,” said Delph.”We had a few chances which we have put away in the past, but fair play to Crystal Palace – they were stubborn and organised.”It’s hard to analyse and we will go back to the drawing board and look at it. We started slowly and the ball wasn’t zipping about.” 
India Today Web Desk New DelhiMay 5, 2019UPDATED: May 5, 2019 14:54 IST AILET 2019 analysisAILET 2019 was conducted on 5th May. Just like 2018, students who felt a sigh of relief after giving the Symbiosis Law paper a day before felt the shock of their life. The paper was not only lengthy but difficult as well, in general.AILET had a total of 150 questions to be attempted in 90 minutes. Negative marking didn’t help much to the cause, given the level of the AILET 2019 paper.EnglishEnglish section was decidedly lengthy. Depending on how good the student is in English, varying versions of opinion are bound to be floated around for this section.A quick glance of the paper reveals the following.Type of Question No of Questions Difficulty LevelReading Comprehension (1 passage) 8 ModerateSynonyms 3 Moderate to DifficultParts of Speech 2 Moderate to DifficultSentence Correction 10 Easy to ModerateFigures of Speech 6 Easy to DifficultCloze Passage 6 Easy35 Easy to ModerateThe key thing in English is the time allotment for the section. Cloze Passage with 6 questions and Sentence Correction with 10 questions could have been done in 10 minutes. Two words out of three asked in synonyms were easy. The Figures of Speech had usual suspects like Metaphor, Pun, Epigram along with Metonymy and Oxymoron. The Parts of Speech questions were relatively difficult and so was Reading Comprehension Passage. However, the questions for the RC were quite straight forward had one spent time on the questions, they would have felt the RC to be easy or easy to moderate.Overall the section despite being easy and anyone who attempted around 30 odd questions and gets around 22 + right, would have done a good attempt.advertisementGeneral KnowledgeThis section would not have intimidated students much like other sections and who are more comfortable with current affairs. With almost 33 questions based on recent news/developments this section seemed to be easy but some of the questions needed complete clarity of concepts. There were 8 questions based on Geography, 3 on science and technology, 6 on Banking and Economics, 2 on Awards, 2 on Sports. Questions like Best Film Award in Oscar, or Bharat Ratna were the easiest one. Also, few of the questions were comprehensive in nature. Someone who regularly follows newspaper and Manthan would have felt comfortable. A score of 20-22-20 would be considered good for this section.Legal AptitudeQuite like 2018, the legal reasoning section was again lengthy. 13 questions based on Facts- Principle ran into 8.25 pages! Not only was it lengthy but was also difficult. With 2 sets of five principles followed by 3 questions each and another set of 3 principle followed by three questions, not only made the section lengthy but difficult too. Each set had multiple concepts-based principle, as if the person who set this section wanted to test the knowledge of entire chapter. There were just two questions on Reason-Assertion followed by 20 questions of legal knowledge. The knowledge section was mostly current affairs with 10 questions based on recent judgements, amendments, acts and bills. A score of 18-20 will be a good one for this section.Logical ReasoningUnlike the AILET 2018 paper, this year the paper was a bit of a surprise with almost no puzzles except one on Selection based on Logical Connectives (If then).The usual types of questions (Course of Action, Syllogisms, Cause and Effect, Inferences) that are given in the AILET paper were very much abundant. These were not difficult but in such types of questions, students tend to get more mistakes.The paper was lengthy due to the fact that there were 8 individual questions, though easy, from the Analytical Reasoning area (Arrangements, Direction Sense, Clocks, Blood Relations) along with 5 questions on Critical Reasoning.Type of Question No of Questions Difficulty LevelPuzzle (Shoppers Stop) 7 Moderate to DifficultCourse of Action 3 Easy to ModerateSyllogisms 2 EasyAnalogies 3 Easy to ModerateCause and Effect 2 Easy to ModerateInference (DT, PT, PF) 5 ModerateIndividual Qns (Direction Sense, Blood Relations, Clocks, Arrangements) 8 EasyCritical Reasoning 5 Moderate35 ModerateMathematicsMath is a universally feared subject and hence many students tend to skip the same in the exam. However, if one gives about 10 minutes to this section in AILET, there were easy pickings of about 5 to 7 questions. Couple of questions on Averages, Profit and Loss and Pipers and Cisterns were lengthy. However, the questions on Number Systems, Venn Diagrams, Time Speed and Distance and even Mensuration were not difficult to solve. A total of 7 questions in Arithmetic out of the 10 would have been welcome by many students.AILET 2019 was similar in composition to that of AILET 2018. The paper was lengthy by AILET standards (and similar to that of the last year’s paper).advertisementStudents who have prepared with LST (CL) would have found GK to be a cakewalk as almost all questions were from Manthan and Masterstroke. Many students who came out of the exam hall have said that the Mocks were similar in difficulty level to the actual AILET paper and were therefore not surprised with the lengthy yet doable paper.LST expects the cut-off for AILET to be in the range of 75-77.Disclaimer: All information on cut-offs, analysis, answer key, and scores are based on independent analysis and evaluation made by Career Launcher. We do not take responsibility for any decision that might be taken, based on this information.Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from Post your comment Do You Like This Story? Awesome! Now share the story Too bad. Tell us what you didn’t like in the comments Tags :Follow ailetFollow AILET 2019 AILET 2019 Analysis: Students find paper lengthy and difficultAILET had a total of 150 questions to be attempted in 90 minutes. Negative marking didn’t help much to the cause, given the level of the AILET 2019 paper.advertisement
Story Highlights Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday afternoon (July 24) engaged Jamaican and Caribbean nationals living in Namibia as part of his official visit to the southern African state.The Prime Minister addressed the Diaspora in keeping with his mission to update and discuss matters involving the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and by extension, Jamaica.Prime Minister Holness noted that a large part of the Jamaican population lives outside of the island and his duty as Prime Minister and Chairman of CARICOM is to connect with all.“Wherever I go, I make it a point of duty to meet with the Jamaican Diaspora but not just the Jamaican Diaspora because we are Caribbean people (AND) coincidentally, I am now Chairman of CARICOM for the next six months or so and I’m very happy to see my Caribbean brothers and sisters here coming out to support me,” said Prime Minister Holness.The Prime Minister said he recognizes the strong solidarity and support between Namibia and Jamaica. He said he is also thankful for the support of the Caribbean Diaspora.“The truth is we are all one. The motto of Jamaica is out of many one people. It is a lesson that I believe the rest of the world could learn. After our independence our founding fathers and leaders at the time, insisted upon this Jamaica being out of many one people and that was reinforced,” said the Prime Minister.According to Prime Minister Holness, by virtue of its central position in the Caribbean, Jamaica has always been a place of refuge and a launching pad for many. He welcomed all to visit Jamaica.In the meantime, Prime Minister Holness touted, national hero, the Rt Excellent Dr. Marcus Garvey as a true Diaspora man who used knowledge and his political independence to become a catalyst for change for those of African descent across the world.The Government of Namibia on Monday (July 23) named a street in honour of Jamaica’s first national hero, Dr. Marcus Garvey.Prime Minister Holness is today scheduled to travel to South Africa to participate in the BRICS plus summit with other Heads of State and Governments of BRICS grouping as well as the UN Secretary General.BRICS is the acronym for the group of countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. “Wherever I go, I make it a point of duty to meet with the Jamaican Diaspora but not just the Jamaican Diaspora because we are Caribbean people (AND) coincidentally, I am now Chairman of CARICOM for the next six months or so and I’m very happy to see my Caribbean brothers and sisters here coming out to support me,” said Prime Minister Holness. Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday afternoon (July 24) engaged Jamaican and Caribbean nationals living in Namibia as part of his official visit to the southern African state. The Prime Minister addressed the Diaspora in keeping with his mission to update and discuss matters involving the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and by extension, Jamaica.
zoom A Nasdaq-listed dry bulk shipping company Pangaea Logistics Solutions has entered into a five-year Contract of Affreightment (COA) for the transportation of two million tons of steel-related products, with an undisclosed client.The first shipment is scheduled to commence in 2016 and the contract will provide a minimum of 570 cargo days for duration of the contract.The COA is expected to generate approximately USD 20 million over its term. The performing vessels will be loading in the Gulf of Mexico and discharging in Central America.”We are extremely pleased to announce this accretive COA at a time where broader market fundamentals are still facing significant headwinds,” said Ed Coll, Chief Executive Officer of Pangaea Logistics Solutions.
This year, the ride will make six stops, including Las Vegas and Denver, before arriving in Sturgis for the weeklong rally and its festivities. During the rally, the veterans will partake in the ultimate Sturgis experience, which includes riding as special guests during the Buffalo Chip’s Freedom Celebration Ride.
Sponsorship and support for Veterans Charity Ride is provided this year by Indian Motorcycle, Monster Energy, Champion Sidecars, Lexus, Liberty Sport, Nordic Components, Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys, Sturgis Buffalo Chip, Cycle Gear, WASPcam, Branigan Communications, WhiteHeart Foundation and Resurgence Jeans. For more information about Veterans Charity Ride, click here. Comedian and host of Jay Leno’s Garage, Jay Leno, will serve as honorary chairman for Veterans Charity Ride and its new year-round motorcycle therapy program.Leno first became involved with the organization during its inaugural ride last year when he hosted veterans at his garage in Los Angeles. The Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis kicked off again on Saturday, July 30. Leno, a longtime motorcycle enthusiast, will support the veterans as they ride from Los Angeles to the 76th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. The ride provides motorcycle therapy to veterans as an outlet for post-traumatic stress (PTS) and other challenges associated with assimilation back to civilian life.
“This is the second year I’ll be supporting the Veterans Charity Ride, and I’ve already learned so much from interacting with these courageous men and women,” said Leno. “I’m very thankful to be part of such a worthwhile and life-changing event with heroes who share my passion for cars and motorcycles.”
In addition to Leno, actor Mark Wahlberg, another motorcycle enthusiast, has shared his support for Veterans Charity Ride. This year, Wahlberg created a personal greeting video, as well as a series of videos, announcing his support of the program and showing his gratitude to veterans for their service.
”I’m so inspired by the brave men and women I’ve met through Veterans Charity Ride, and it has been an incredible experience to work alongside them on such a great cause,” said Wahlberg.Joining the veterans for the launch at LA. City Fire Station #77, 9224 Sunland Blvd, Sun Valley CA 91352 on Saturday was Danny Trejo, iconic actor, motorcycle enthusiast and veteran supporter.
”I am honored to be at the launch of the Veterans Charity Ride. These veterans have given so much to this country, and I am happy to support them as they take off for this life-changing ride,” said Trejo.
Founded by veteran Army paratrooper Dave Frey and Emmy-award-winning director Robert Manciero, Veterans Charity Ride, along with main sponsor Indian Motorcycle, treats veterans to the ride of a lifetime. During the 1,776-mile ride through the western United States, the participating wounded and amputee veterans not only ride together but also come together to share their experiences with one another. The ride ultimately serves as a mechanism for them to begin to heal, de-stress and find emotional balance through the brotherhood of riding. Recently designated as a 501c3 nonprofit organization, Veterans Charity Ride will broaden its commitment to veterans with year-round support as an outlet for their stress, and create a way for them to bond with other veterans.
”As a veteran, I’ve used riding motorcycles as a way to alleviate stress for years. Many veterans, especially today’s younger veterans, suffer from PTS and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and they need a positive outlet to help them cope,” said Dave Frey, founder of Veterans Charity Ride. “Motorcyclists will tell you that riding isn’t just a hobby; it’s an experience that deeply impacts you. I realized that motorcycle therapy could be that positive experience for veterans.” 
Several veterans who have suffered traumatic amputations will also participate in the ride. They will ride Indian Motorcycles with sidecars donated by Champion Sidecar. The sidecars the iconic journey to Sturgis possible for riding enthusiasts who can no longer operate traditional motorcycles without modification, including veteran Marine Sean Carroll, who will join the ride for a second year as a mentor.
RAIL USERS trying to pay for their tickets with the new €5 note could be in bother, according to an association representing rail travellers.Rail Users Ireland says neither the Luas operator Veolia, nor Iarnród Éireann, have updated their ticket machines to be able to accept the €5 note which was introduced to circulation last week.The body says its members have tested the new €5 note at several machines, but have had no success in finding a machine that accepts the new ones.It said that while this was not a problem in all circumstances – because some stations often had manned counters where staff could sell a ticket to a passenger – it was problematic in circumstances where staff were not present to accept the note.It added that if a passenger was in possession of enough cash to buy a ticket, but their banknote was not accepted at a machine, they were left with a dilemma about whether to board the train and hope to explain their circumstances to a ticket inspector.“Rail Users Ireland has no confidence that ticket checking staff will show appropriate discretion where a passenger through no fault of their own was unable to purchase a ticket as a result of rejection of the new 5 euro note,” the body said in a statement.The new notes are the same width as the previous ones, at 120 millimetres, but are slightly taller than the earlier generation: the new note is 71 millimetres tall, while the previous ones were only 62 millimetres in height.The notes came into circulation two weeks ago, but both the new and old €5 notes will be considered legal tender for the foreseeable future.Read: This is the new €5 banknote which enters circulation today
http://jrnl.ie/3113003 47 Comments Image: Eamonn Farrell Share81 Tweet Email Thursday 1 Dec 2016, 10:10 AM Request for navy to be drafted in to settle Inis Mór ferry dispute The ferry service is “an essential link to the mainland and is used by people travelling to work and school among other reasons”. 14,295 Views Image: Eamonn Farrell Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article Short URL SINN FÉIN HAVE requested that members of the Irish Navy to be called in to solve a dispute between a private ferry service and residents of the western island of Inis Mór.Spokesperson for Sinn Féin Aengus Ó Snodaigh has written to the Department for Defence asking that a temporary ferry service run by the Irish Navy be brought in “until a more permanent solution is found”.Ferry services to Inis Mór stopped for the entirety of winter yesterday evening, and won’t return until 17 March 2017.As a result, islanders are concerned that the ferry withdrawal could leave them stranded this winter. The only alternative transport available is a plane service, which is much more expensive and less frequent than the cancelled ferry service.Inis Mór differs from the other Aran Islands as there is only one private ferry service, while other islands have an alternative government-manned route.Ó Snodaigh says that “life on the island will be greatly affected if an alternative operator is not found quickly” and that the service is “an essential link to the mainland and is used by people travelling to and from work and school and for many other reasons”.‘Unsustainable’Speaking on Morning Ireland this morning, a spokesperson for Island Ferries Teoranta said that the company did make a profit last year, but that they made a loss during the winter months, making the service unsustainable.However, he could not give an exact number of profits they made last year.Island Ferries has been deadlocked in dispute with Galway Council over levies introduced in 2011 on passengers travelling to and from the island.In a statement, the ferry service said had sought the abolition of a €5 per passenger charge on islanders who are permanent residents, as a well as a reduction in the current per passenger charges on the ferry (80 cent).The ferry operator said that it was “most surprising and disappointing” that these proposals had not yet been considered by Galway County Council.A council meeting will take place later today to try and find a solution to the dispute.Read: Inis Mór islanders fear being left stranded as last ferry service due to run this eveningRead: Stena ferry finally docks at Fishguard after being stranded at sea overnight Dec 1st 2016, 10:10 AM By Gráinne Ní Aodha
Marée noire : BP mise sur un nouvel entonnoirÉtats-Unis – Le groupe BP a retiré samedi un entonnoir posé sur le puits de pétrole à l’origine de la marée noire qui s’étend dans le golfe du Mexique depuis le mois d’avril. La compagnie pétrolière entend remplacer cet entonnoir par un dôme plus grand et plus performant, censé pouvoir piéger la totalité du brut.Après avoir retiré samedi le premier dôme, les ingénieurs BP ont commencé dimanche l’installation d’un entonnoir capable de récupérer quelque 80.000 barils par jour, soit l’intégralité du brut qui fuit actuellement dans le golfe du Mexique. L’ancien entonnoir ne récupérait que 25.000 barils par jour environ.À lire aussiMarée noire : un oléoduc déverse des litres de pétrole dans une rivière d’AmazonieLa mise en place de ce nouveau dôme devrait être achevée dans les quatre à sept prochains jours. Toutefois, BP tient à avertir que “ce nouvel entonnoir n’a jamais été mis en place à ces profondeurs (1.500 mètres, ndlr) ou dans de telles conditions. Il n’y a aucune espèce de garantie que l’installation de l’entonnoir soit un succès ou que nous respections les délais annoncés”.Alors que quelque 400 navires pompent en ce moment le brut qui s’échappe désormais librement,BP a également raccordé un nouveau bateau de pompage, le Helix Producer, qui devait être pleinement opérationnel dimanche. Entre 2,9 et 4,9 millions de barils de pétrole se seraient déversés dans le golfe du Mexique depuis le naufrage de la plateforme Deepwater Horizon le 20 avril dernier. BP espère parvenir à endiguer totalement la fuite d’ici la mi-août, grâce aux puits de dérivation du pétrole actuellement en cours de forage.Le 12 juillet 2010 à 10:33 • Emmanuel Perrin
Obésité : le Brésil autorise un médicament suspendu en EuropeMardi, le Brésil a autorisé la mise sur le marché d’un médicament à base de sibutramine. Utilisée comme traitement d’appoint contre l’obésité nutritionnelle, cette molécule a été suspendue en 2010 en Europe en raison d’effets secondaires. Produit par les laboratoires Abbott depuis 1997, la sibutramine est un médicament indiqué comme traitement d’appoint de l’obésité nutritionnelle. Mais depuis quelques années, celui-ci est sujet à controverse suite à des décès survenus en Europe et aux Etats-Unis. Or, si la molécule se révèle plutôt efficace pour diminuer le poids des personnes traitées, de nombreux effets secondaires ont également été identifiés parmi lesquels : insomnie, hypertension artérielle, céphalées, ou encore palpitations. En février 2010, l’Agence européenne du médicament a ainsi suspendu l’autorisation de mise sur le marché du médicament, estimant la balance bénéfice/risque pas assez favorable. À lire aussiUn lion retrouve la liberté après avoir vécu en cage pendant 13 ans (Vidéo)Au Brésil, en revanche, les autorités sanitaires ont simplement songé à retirer la sibutramine du marché mais ont finalement décidé de la maintenir. En effet, mardi, l’Agence nationale de vigilance sanitaire (Anvisa) a approuvé la commercialisation du médicament, en indiquant néanmoins qu’elle ordonnait le retrait du marché de tous les traitements contre le surpoids à base d’amphétamine. “L’usage de la sibutramine est permis pour le traitement de l’obésité uniquement si le patient présente un surpoids extrême et ne souffre pas de problèmes cardiaques”, souligne ainsi le directeur de l’organisme Dirceu Barbano cité par l’agence Brasil. Pour expliquer cette décision contraire à celles des autorités sanitaires, le directeur de l’Anvisa explique que “des recherches ont montré que la sibutramine aide à perdre du poids et qu’il est possible de minimiser les préjudices sur la santé” identifiés jusqu’ici. Par ailleurs, il précise tout de même que le médicament restera sous surveillance sanitaire. Le 5 octobre 2011 à 12:18 • Maxime Lambert
L’application Slice regroupe tous vos achats en ligneÀ chaque achat en ligne, vous recevez un mail de facturation. Problème : cela fait beaucoup de mails. La nouvelle application iPhone, nommée Slice, les détecte, les regroupe et en synthétise l’information. Une unique carte localisant chacun des trois colis que doivent vous être livrés, c’est le genre de fonctionnalité magique qu’offre Slice. Il fallait autrefois se connecter sur le site de la poste, de colissimo, d’ebay ou autre livreur, séparément, à force de logins et mot de passe. À lire aussiFacebook Messenger 2.0 disponibleSlice prend ce qu’il fait dans vos mails et va chercher le colis pour vous. Il affiche sur la carte de contenu détaillé du colis, et son origine. Une notification vous avertit sur le téléphone quand le colis est arrivé.Il suffit de se connecter, et Slice épluche votre compte Gmail ou Yahoo! Mail. Le logiciel a été conçu par un grand nom de l’informatique, Eric Schmidt, ex-CEO de Google… Paradoxal, puisqu’elle n’est disponible que sur ordinateur et… iPhone !Pour le voir en action, regardez donc cette petite vidéo de démonstration. Lancé en mai, Slice a été téléchargé 4 millions de fois. Son seul concurrent est une application nommée Lemon… qui, elle, est également disponible sur Android et Windows Phone !Le 20 novembre 2011 à 18:00 • Maxime Lambert
Los Merengues lost against Girona today but for the team’s players, there’s still hope of getting the La Liga title.Goals by Christian Stuani and Portu gave Girona a 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga tournament.Casemiro scored for Los Blancos first, but then the team let Girona scored twice without any answer.And after the game, Alvaro Odrizola said his team will not give up their title hopes up.“Madrid never gives up, we are alive,” Odrizola told Spanish media outlet Marca.“It’s a difficult moment, we do not have to make excuses, we have lost a battle but not the war, we were able to finish the match in the first half, but we did not do it, it’s a hard blow for everyone, but Madrid never gives up. We are alive in all competitions.”“The first goal was good and we had chances to make it 2-0, Girona has been very good, we have to give it its merit, we are going to turn this around, now we have to do self-criticism and analyzing the mistakes,” he continued.
La Liga Betting: Match-day 4 Stuart Heath – September 14, 2019 Despite it being very early into La Liga season, both Barcelona and Real Madrid have had unprecedented starts to their campaigns. With this in…“We are annoyed because we came from a really good dynamic, we have to work more than ever, it is not an excess of confidence because in Madrid every game is a final, we all have to talk and see what mistakes we made.”“We do not take it for granted, they have gone further distances, it’s possible because Madrid has shown it on other occasions,” he said about the team’s chances for getting the title.“We cannot be considered dead,” Lucas Vazquez added.“The first half was very good from the team, perhaps the worst the moment was when we did not score the second goal because we left the game open and in the second half we were not at the same level and we paid for it.”💬 Solari: “We will continue to fight for all three titles.” #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/aBDRr9Dfdc— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 17, 2019
Labour politician and member of Parliament for Birkenhead Frank Field (pictured) has recommended that Deliveroo establishes a guaranteed minimum payment for its riders when they make their services available to the organisation, rather than continue with the existing pay per delivery model.The proposal follows Field’s five-week inquiry, which launched on 18 June 2018. The inquiry gathered evidence from Deliveroo riders in order to better understand the living standards of individuals working as part of the gig economy. It also explored whether there is a need for additional safeguards for these types of workers.Field’s resulting paper, Delivering justice: a report on the pay and working conditions of Deliveroo riders, published in July 2018, suggests that Deliveroo implements a guaranteed minimum payment for its riders when they make their services available to the organisation. This is to ensure that riders who are logged in to the Deliveroo app and are available for work do not earn less than the national living wage if they are unable to complete delivery orders due to a lack of demand. The recommendation seeks to establish a floor, not a ceiling, for riders’ earnings.Currently, the majority of Deliveroo riders are paid per delivery rather than on an hourly basis. Prior to this pay model being implemented, some riders did receive guaranteed hourly rates of pay that were then topped up with pay linked to the number of meals they delivered per hour. The report states that guaranteed hourly rates are now used in a limited number of areas for riders who are logged in to work and available to accept all eligible orders, however this is often a time limited offer or used as a temporary means to attract new riders into certain areas.The report finds that Deliveroo riders’ hourly earnings can range between £0 to £17 an hour, with average earnings approximately between £5 an hour and £12 an hour. It calculates that riders working for Deliveroo therefore need to complete at least two deliveries an hour in order to earn the equivalent of the national living wage, although its findings also confirm that this is not always possible, due to reasons such as too many riders compared to the number of orders.The document, also contributed to by Andrew Forsey, further recommends that Deliveroo should commit to offering a form of worker status to riders who have built up a service record over a certain period of time and who want greater stability and certainty from their work. It further suggests that the director of Labour Market Enforcement should investigate sectors offering platform-based jobs and report on the various pay levels for different worker groups. This investigation should also look to the reality of the self-employed status, and the validity of organisations’ use of that classification.A Deliveroo spokesperson explained that the organisation is proud to “offer flexible well-paid work where riders on average earn well over £10 an hour”, above the national living wage.He said: “In the modern economy people want to fit their work around their lives, not the other way round. This is why working with Deliveroo is so popular as it gives riders total flexibility. Riders choose how much they want to work and when, and are very clear they want to protect the flexibility that self-employment provides.“Deliveroo believes more can be done to increase the security for riders while protecting their ability to be their own bosses, which is why we have introduced free, market-leading insurance for all, covering riders in case anything goes wrong.“But we want to go further, and have called on the government to update employment rules to end the trade-off between flexibility and security and enable platforms to offer riders even more benefits without putting their employment status at risk.”Field’s report additionally recommends that fines imposed by agencies acting for the director of Labour Market Enforcement should be put back into building a common workforce, to take a proactive approach to protecting workers’ rights. This would include increasing the number of random checks.A further proposal outlined in the document is that employment law should be reformed to require organisations to prove beyond doubt that it meets certain criteria showing that its workforce is self-employed.Field said: “The self-employed status and part-time nature of much gig economy work has given the labour market a flexibility that is still relatively new. Some of those workers who are keen to seize this opportunity view it as a short-term option while they develop their longer term earning power; setting up their own business, starting on an artistic career and the like.“But for an unknown number of workers these imposed self-employment opportunities are all there is on offer, even though their need is for stable work for at least the level of the national living wage. It is this group that we are concerned about in this report and have been in each previous report we have published on the gig economy. The reform programme we outline will, I hope, be picked up by Deliveroo and the government as a means of both protecting this group while preserving the flexibility that so many riders have said they value.”
For several years now, publication printers have been aggressively branching out to offer a full array of services to magazine companies.They’ve always offered various prepress and post-press services, but in the last decade, these services have significantly expanded and now it’s common for printers to offer not just digital editions but also Web development, content management systems, XML repositories and workflow-management tools.Now some printers taking the next steps in a transformation from old-industry giants into nimble technology companies by offering these and other services as applications, accessible to publishers through the Internet. In this report, we’ll look at some of the emerging technology solutions offered by printers, all clustered around a single concept: ASP hosting. This phrase—application service provider hosting—means that a printer hosts one or more software applications for its customers over the Web.The ASP approach is common in many industries and for many functions. Basically, it means all data and applications are hosted, maintained and upgraded at a service-provider’s facility, rather than the customer’s site. Data is accessed via a secure online connection customized for the customer. There is no discernible difference for the user between an ASP system or an in-house technology approach. The advantage to the customer of the ASP is that they no longer need to buy their own servers, hosting room, security systems, back-up equipment and associated gear. Also, an ASP generally offers the customer the option of subscription, as opposed to making major investments in software and hardware.Before I start, the strongest recommendation I can offer is that no matter what the circumstances, there needs to be a proven ROI for the publisher if it’s going to go down the road to an ASP solution. Otherwise, don’t bother. Also important: The printer has to be able to provide the service in a format that can be maintained and certainly used—even in the event that the publisher switches printers. In other words, maintain your flexibility and make sure your data and systems can be transferred.Here are a few examples of cloud-computing, from printer to publisher, magazine-industry style.Ad-Sales SupportVirtually every magazine and magazine-related Web business is searching for additional intelligence for its sales efforts, and America’s Horse, published by American Quarter Horse Association, is one of them. But unlike many others, America’s Horse has an additional weapon. The magazine uses the services of MagazineRadar, an advertising-research and intelligence firm, to track where ads are being placed in its market and in related markets with similar demographics. MagazineRadar has a partnership with Brown Printing to provide the service, which is available to members of the America’s Horse sales team via the Web. “We can perform very specific searches and create reports to see what competitors a potential new advertiser utilizes, says Gary Conway, business development account executive at the magazine. “Magazine Radar also uses our user profile to find advertisers who have historically placed ads targeting similar demographics and ultimately suggests great new leads.”Job Planning and TrackingSoftware providers that serve the magazine industry have long been challenged to find a technology solution that can manage—and integrate—the print-manufacturing process, encompassing a whole host of departments and processes. They’ve also been thwarted at every turn. The vision is to have one system that tracks advertising, starting with sales efforts through to confirmed insertions, through the production department and materials processing, through invoicing, billing and accounts receivable. Such a system would touch on three publishing-company departments, at least. But who would run it? Who would be responsible? Because of the technology issues and the cross-jurisdictional nature of the concept, it hasn’t taken off.But some vendors are moving in this direction, and providing an ASP-based approach to systems that handle job planning and tracking. The characteristics of an ASP-based system should include:• A process that enables the publisher to create and quickly update an issue map, or imposition.• Unlimited capabilities for planning the most complex of magazines, including geographic and demographic splits, while allowing the user to see the map from all perspectives: Overall; by geo/demo content and signatures; page splits; special sections; ad sections; and so forth.• An ability to display the map in various forms, including press impositions for addressing inline conflicts and the ladder perspective for saddle-stitched magazines, as well as other customizable views.• A robust conflict-alert system.• Cost-tracking functionality based on imported price schedules from the printer that would assure optimal makeup from the standpoint of both correct placement and lowest production costs. This functionality should include on-the-fly “what if?” options for a variety of scenarios.• A production schedule module. This would include multiple issues and multiple magazines, no matter the frequency.Small-to-medium size publishing operations might ask why they need such a tool—it seems like overkill. And in an industry where the vast majority of companies are smaller, entrepreneurial outfits used to seat-of-the-pants but practical approaches, that makes sense. But when you fully understand the benefits and reach of the software, software that allows for booking and then tracking ads, for editorial and circulation, you will change your mind.Also, these programs allow map creation in less than an hour, and at the same time enable map viewing in multiple formats, while also being able to see the cost of the issue as you map. Among offerings in this area, Dataplan’s JournalSuite is the only software that is printer-independent for ASP job hosting.Hosting of Online DatabasesSome printers are offering services that allow the outsourced hosting of their data (one printer offering online database hosting is Fry Communications). Sales information, along with extensive ad tracking and production data, are among the databases printers now host. In an ASP-based sales-data program, everything from file handling to proof cycles are automated. Some systems even send a soft-proof to the advertiser as soon as a page is completed. Pagination is also completely automated and can be easily edited. An accounts-receivable module is available for the billing of all placed ads. ASP Hosting of Digital EditionsAs one of several printers that offer digital production/management related software, Publishers Press offers e-Pub Xpress, which enables publishers to log in to an ASP-based program to create digital editions as well as e-mail programs. It even can host the customer’s Web site. In the last few years, printers have leveraged their natural position as the publisher’s most important supplier into a variety of new services, with ASP solutions among the fastest growing. Bert N. Langford is an independent consultant specializing in magazine production and publishing technology: visit his website at www.pubresource.com. Contact Bert via email at Bert@pubresource.com or by calling at 1-314-458-8863.
WILMINGTON, MA — A representative from State Senator Bruce Tarr’s Office will be at the Wilmington Senior Center (15 School Street) on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, from 11am to noon, to answer any questions or concerns you may have. No appointment is necessary, just stop by for a quick visit.(NOTE: The above information is from the Wilmington Senior Center’s Newsletter.)Like Wilmington Apple on Facebook. Follow Wilmington Apple on Twitter. Follow Wilmington Apple on Instagram. Subscribe to Wilmington Apple’s daily email newsletter HERE. Got a comment, question, photo, press release, or news tip? Email wilmingtonapple@gmail.com.Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:Like Loading… RelatedState Senator Bruce Tarr’s Office To Hold Office Hours In Wilmington On September 18In “Government”Tarr, Robertson & Gordon Secure $30,000 In State Funding For Wilmington Senior Center ImprovementsIn “Government”State Senator Bruce Tarr’s Bill Honors World War II Era Cadet NursesIn “Government”
Getty Images Facebook, Google and Amazon may start facing more heat from US regulators.The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday announced the creation of a new Technology Task Force, which will look into competition in the US tech industry, including past and future mergers, as well as anticompetitive practices. The task force will take enforcement action when necessary, including potentially forcing tech giants to break up past mergers or spin off parts of their businesses to encourage competition, the FTC said.”The role of technology in the economy and in our lives grows more important every day,” FTC Chairman Joe Simons said in a statement. “It makes sense for us to closely examine technology markets to ensure consumers benefit from free and fair competition.” FTC wants a task force to take on tech’s bad behavior Share your voice Now playing: Watch this: Comments Google FTC Tech Industry Politics 1:36 The new task force comes during a backlash against tech giants like Google parent Alphabet, Facebook and Amazon, which have all grown rapidly and expanded into a variety of markets. That fast growth has raised concerns that these companies are now suppressing competition and using past mergers to maintain their market dominance, such as Facebook’s previous purchases of Instagram and WhatsApp, and Google’s acquisition of online advertising platforms AdMob and DoubleClick.The task force also follows congressional hearings with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, which both looked into those companies’ business practices and management of user data.”Given the increasing ‘techlash,’ especially from the anti-monopoly left that sees large firms of any kind as suspect, it is not surprising that the FTC took this step,” said Rob Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation think tank. He added that he hoped the FTC won’t be “swayed by populist furor,” and instead focus on objective analysis of the tech sector.The task force will include about 17 FTC lawyers who have expertise in areas including online advertising, social networking, mobile operating systems and apps, and platform businesses.”I’m hoping the new @FTC tech platform task force finds the courage to re-consider some of the anti-competitive tech mergers of the last 10 years,” tweeted Tim Wu, a Columbia professor who’s written about competition issues in the tech industry. “Tech is in need of a genuine shakeup.”The new initiative also got support from the Retail Industry Leaders Association, whose members include many traditional retailers like Walmart and Best Buy who’ve struggled to compete against Amazon. In a statement, Nicholas Ahrens, a vice president for the trade group, said his organization backs the task force’s work “to bring needed scrutiny to the relatively few technology platforms that control a growing share of modern commerce.”First published at 1:35 p.m. PT.Updated at 2:19 p.m. PT: Adds comment from retail trade group. 2 Tags