Category Archives: Golden Rule

The term binge-watch was a contender for the Oxford English Dictionarys 2013 word of the year. Although it didnt win (selfie ultimatelytook the crown), this pointed to the rise of what was becoming a popular activity of watching multiple episodes of a TV show in a single sitting.

Today, millions of us including me regularly consume our favourite series in this way.

The proliferation of streaming services over recent years has made it very easy to do. Unsurprisingly, during Covid-19 lockdowns,research showsmany of us spent more time binge-watching than usual.

But can binge-watching become problematic or addictive? And if you cant tear yourself away, what can you do?

Problematic binge-watching isnt defined by the number of episodes watched (although most researchers agree its at least two in a row), or a specific number of hours spent in front of the TV or computer screen.

As with other addictive behaviours, more important is whether binge-watching is having a negative impact on other aspects of the persons life.

Over many years studying addiction, Ive argued that all addictive behaviours comprisesix core components. In relation to binge-watching, this would mean:

In my view, any person who fulfils these six components would be genuinely addicted to binge-watching. A person who only fulfils some of these may be exhibiting problematic binge-watching, but wouldnt be classed as addicted by my criteria.

Like many other behavioural addictions, such as sex addiction, work addiction and exercise addiction, binge-watching addiction is not officially recognised in any psychiatric manuals.

We also dont have accurate estimates of the prevalence of problematic binge-watching. But research into this phenomenon is growing.

A LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE

In thelatest studyon this topic, a research team in Poland surveyed 645 young adults, all of whom reported that they had watched at least two episodes of one show in a single sitting. The researchers wanted to understand some of the factors underlying problematic binge-watching.

The authors (who based their definition of problematic binge-watching partly on mycomponents model of addiction) used a questionnaire they developed in anearlier studyto assess problematic binge-watching among participants.

Questions included: How often do you neglect your duties in favour of watching series? How often do you feel sad or irritated when you cant watch the TV series? and How often do you neglect your sleep to binge-watch series?

Participants had to give answers on a six-point scale from one (never) to six (always). A score above a certain threshold was deemed indicative of problematic binge-watching.

Using a range of other scales, the researchers found that impulse control difficulties, lack of premeditation (difficulties in planning and evaluating the consequences of a given behaviour), watching to escape and forget about problems, and watching to avoid feeling lonely were among the most significant predictors of problematic binge-watching.

Using the same data, the researchers reported in anearlier studythat problematic binge-watching had a significant association with anxiety-depressive syndrome. The greater the symptoms of anxiety and depression, the more problematic a persons binge-watching was.

Other studies have reportedsimilar findings. A study ofTaiwanese adults, for example, found problematic binge-watching was associated with depression, anxiety around social interaction and loneliness.

AnAmerican studyfound the behaviour was associated with depression and attachment anxiety. Most related studies likethis onefrom Portugal have also shown escapism to be a key motivation of problematic binge-watching.

In terms of personality traits,researchhas shown that problematic binge-watching appears to be associated with low conscientiousness (characterised by being impulsive, careless and disorganised) and high neuroticism (characterised by being anxious and prone to negative emotions).

We see these types of associations in addictive behaviours more generally.

BREAKING THE HABIT

If you want to cut down on the number of episodes you watch in one sitting, my golden rule is to stop watching mid-way through an episode. Its really hard to stop watching at the end of an episode as so often the show ends with a cliff-hanger.

I also suggest setting realistic daily limits. For me, its 2.5 hours if I have work the next day, or up to five hours if I dont. And only start watching as a reward to yourself after youve done everything you need to in terms of work and social obligations.

Remember, the difference between a healthy enthusiasm and an addiction is that the former adds to your life, whereas the latter detracts from it.

If you feel binge-watching is taking over your life, you should seek a referral from your GP to see a clinical psychologist. Most addictions are symptomatic of other underlying problems. THE CONVERSATION

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mark Griffiths is director of the International Gaming Research Unit and professor of Behavioural Addiction at Nottingham Trent University.

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How to know if you binge-watch too much and what to do about it - TODAY

Youve just formed the word Dad in American Sign Language.

The way people communicate is fascinating, and its something as an editor and father of two girls I think about quite a bit.

Three years ago, I had no idea how to sign much of anything. Then, I began joining my daughter for weekly speech and physical therapy classes. We put our masks over our faces, marched into the classroom and worked on communication with Zoey, whose smile and laughs speak more beautifully than words can express.

Zoey does not talk. Ive never heard my 3-year-old daughter say Dad. She signs it, in her own way, just by pointing at her forehead.

The quick explanation is Zoey has a growth disability, and many children with Russell-Silver Syndrome struggle with speech. Her endocrinologist (growth doctor) assures us she will talk on her time, but in the meanwhile we communicate mostly through sign and expression.

My wife and I have beautiful people in our lives -- from day care providers to speech and physical therapists, family and friends -- who are encouraging and remind us of the importance of pushing ahead with Zoey.

Surrounding ourselves with support is needed in a world that has too many people who take thoughtful communication for granted.

Mitchell Republic Editor Luke Hagen.

Take, for example, a 150-word text message I got from a community member. She made sure to share a barrage of thoughts and opinions on vaccines, mandates and what she called misinformation. I never responded.

Social media comments are getting more outrageous. Ive heard the excuse that technology is polluting the world. But its not that.

We should be using these platforms for networking and sharing goodness instead of arguing.

In fact, my wife and I have found online groups for parents of children with RSS. Just the other day, a mom asked if anyone else was struggling with speech for their youngster. I spoke up. So did others, and just like that, a whoosh of knowledge and help was available.

Its easy to send questionable comments from behind a computer screen, but ask someone who deals with the general public if theyre immune from personal attacks and out-of-the-blue outrage.

My wife works in customer service and takes horrible phone calls and comments from people, people who have never met her, that leave her speechless. Why are people so mean? she asks me. The benefit of working from home, she says, is a black lab is one hug away from feeling better.

The point, though, is when did we lose sight of the Golden Rule? When did we forget that words have meaning? Has all of this grown from people living in their own world, and anything that makes them uncomfortable or challenges their viewpoint sets them off?

Especially in the news business, we realize what job we signed up for -- writing and reporting on stories that not everyone will like. You have to have thick skin, and thats that. For as long as Ive been working at this newspaper, and for as long as news stories will be written, we expect to hear from our readers. We want feedback -- we want your opinion, but make it a respectful response. Were hardly the only business that deals with all of this.

Unfortunately, we live in a time when people are willing to give feedback raw and unfiltered more than ever.

Its too bad more folks dont realize how much wisdom there is in silence. Not everything needs an immediate, thoughtless response.

What better time of year than now to reflect upon how we talk to each other?

There really is a lot of value in words. Just ask Zoey.

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Hagen: Have we forgotten that words have meaning? - The Daily Republic

(Photo : Unsplash/ Alexandr Bormotin) Text messages

The average person these days is savvy enough to spot an email scam, which is why scammers have turned to text messages. Smishing (phishing via SMS) is on the rise, but here's how you can avoid falling prey to it.

The tactics of atext message scam are virtually identical to those used in a standard email phishing scam."Phishing" is when someone acts like a representative of a legitimate business or institution to steal personal information, like your credit card details, bank account information, or social security number.

It normally starts with an email that seems legitimate. Within the body of the email, there's a link to an "official" website that's designed to trick you into giving away your login credentials, personal details, or money. The website is usually indistinguishable from the actual company's, including the branding.

Also Read: Warning: This New iPhone Scam is Hiding in Your Text Messages

"Smishing" (a portmanteau of SMS and phishing) works almost identically. The scammer sends a text message with a link to potential victims. Normally, the message invites you to verify your account details, make a payment, or claim a prize, according to How to Geek.

Crafting a phishing email that doesn't immediately raise suspicion requires some skill. The scammer has to be mindful of branding and tone and make sure the email is error-free. He also has to hope a spam filter doesn't catch the email, according to PCMag.

Here are things to keep in mind the next time you receive an unsolicited text message that invites you to click a link.

Scammers will try anything to get you to click on their link. For example, they might say you've won something. But did you enter any sort of competition? You might be notified that you have a parcel to pick up, but are you expecting anything?

Sometimes, it's a gift card for a store where you don't shop. Other times it's a final notice for a bill you've never received before. I've received messages about "prizes" from airlines I've never flown with-and how often do airlines give away prizes, anyway?

Always remember the golden rule: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Most text message scams include a link, and, usually, the URL doesn't match the company name. However, even if it does, you have no way of knowing whether it's safe or not. Some of these scams are designed to spread malware, and, sometimes, all that requires a tap (or click) on a link.

To be safe, avoid tapping links in unsolicited text messages. In August 2019, people who own iPhones were exposed to malware simply by visiting a URL in Safari due to a zero-day exploit, according to Business Insider.

While this was the first (and, as of this writing, only) exploit of its kind, it's a reminder that you should never trust a random link.

It's surprisingly easy to create a carbon copy of a website simply by downloading the page and uploading it elsewhere. Sometimes, the whole website functions as it normally would, including the "About Us" links and other unrelated content.

Related Article: Amazon AirPods Raffle Scam: Your Account and Financial Data Could be at Risk; Here's How to Avoid It

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sophie Webster

2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

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Text Message Scam, What is It and How to Spot It [2021] - Tech Times

It was a sunny day in August. The type of day when all of life is bright and carefree when we took this morning trip. Even our hearts were echoing the songs the birds were singing in praise to glorify their Creator.

We drove past fields of corn and soybeans growing as they ought at that time. Thankfully enough rain had come for the crops to look healthy. We even saw a few horses and cows soaking up the warm sunshine in green pastures.

Since we were in the tri-state region of Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota, there had to be a tractor or two in the fields to bring out that farmer in us. All seemed right and normal.

Our destination was the Herreid Military Museum in Luverne, Minn. I had been there before; but this time I was taking a friend, a WWII military veteran himself. He had served as a medic in various hospitals stateside.

While I had a general idea of where the museum was, I was thankful for the strategically placed signs to guide me directly to our destination. It is located in a building which once served as the county jail and sheriffs residence. In 2006 they moved out.

The museum itself is fairly young. Its birth can be traced directly to The War documentary Ken Burns produced. In his seven-part series, Burns focused on individual citizens in four American towns during World War II: Waterbury, Conn.; Sacramento, Calif.; Mobile, Ala.; and Luverne, Minn.

According to the Ken Burns website, 21 young men graduated from the Luverne high school in 1939. All but one served in this second world war. It would have been 100 percent participation, but the young man had a heart defect which kept him from entering World War II.

During the war years, Rock Countys population was 10,683. From that number, 1,065 served in the military. Thirty-two young men gave the ultimate sacrifice.

As you can see, Mr. Burns had good reasons for choosing Luverne to represent mid-America. The people of Luverne responded by continuing the work begun by his documentary. It is evident in this museum.

With many thanks to generous benefactors, Warren Herreid and Jeannine Rivet, the building was renovated to house the Brandenburg Gallery and the Herreid Military Museum. They felt it important to preserve the stories of Rock Countys brave men and women who had served. The movie had served as a springboard for their desire.

We began our tour with a general observance of the displays. It didnt take long for us to realize this was not your general war historical museum. Instead, it took on a more personal note. The displays featured real people from Rock County. They had actual names with parents, brothers and sisters. Some were married with children. They might even have been an outstanding sports athlete or a star farmer.

They were young men when they said their goodbyes with tears in the eyes to the people most precious to them. Mere lads, they were, with hopes and dreams of living a peaceful, productive life.

Instead, this war business had to be taken of first. There were others who were in dire need of their help, so they left their families and aspirations behind to protect freedom for us and others.

We progressed through the museum slowly because there is so much to see and absorb. Our conversations became less as we were beginning to more fully comprehend again and again what we were seeing.

It wasnt just visual. There were also oral and video histories which had been made by the Rock County Historical Society of the people who had served in the military.

We watched the documentary, The Fighter Pilots Story, that Quentin Aanenson put together with his son-in-law in the early 1990s. Mr. Aanenson produced and distributed this 90-minute documentary which includes real archive footage of the war. Aanenson talked candidly of the emotional and physical toll the war effort required from its soldiers. It is the documentary Ken Burns saw when he was doing his research on WWII.

The museum doesnt just focus on WWII. No, it begins with the Civil War because 70 percent of Rock Countys first settlers were Civil War veterans. It showcases all the wars continuing through present day freedom fighters. It appears that freedom requires constant vigilance.

The museum is all about heroes local heroes who gave of themselves so that we could enjoy pleasant days. We left the museum in a somber frame of mind with tears in our eyes. It is rather humbling to realize how much our freedom costs.

A few weeks later with the meaningful museum visit still uppermost in my mind, I was enjoying a draft horse show. There a man was wearing a t-shirt with these words: Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: Jesus Christ and the American soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

In view of this truth, how then ought we to live our lives?

The Herreid Military Museum is located at 213 E. Luverne St. in Luverne, Minn. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Sunday.

On a side note, on Oct. 22 we visited the Hospers Historical Museum in Hospers, Iowa for the first time. It was another pleasant day. We enjoyed dinner at the Boxcar Caf.

The museum is located in the basement of the Hospers Public Library. Everyone was very helpful and friendly.

The first thing we saw when we came down the elevator was their military display. Uniforms from the different military branches and wars were on mannequins. Many with names, photos and a short history of the men who wore them in service.

The display on LeRoy Poppema really caught my attention. In 1967, this Hospers native enlisted in the Viet Nam war. He was trained to be a hospital corpsman and was assigned to the Marines Corps unit. He was only 22 years old when he was killed by a mortar explosion while rendering aid to a wounded Marine.

At an early age, he valued freedom not just for himself, but for others. He expressed his views in this essay while an eighth-grade student at the Hospers Christian School:

What Freedom Means to My Parents and Me

Kings have come and kings have gone, but the desire for freedom lingers on in the hearts of every one of our countrymen. The man of this bewildered world has always treasured freedom, but has often let freedom slip from his possession.

Freedom must be broad and deep, but it cannot be absolute and unlimited. It is also limited by the rights of the community and the general public. Liberty is not a license: We do not have the right to us use our freedom irresponsibly and unfairly, to injure other individuals to destroy their freedom and rights, or to endanger the welfare of a community as a whole. An important test of this maturity and responsibility is whether the individual citizen recognizes the moral and legal responsibility which goes along with exercise of his personal rights. We are obligated to exercise every right in such a way as not to interfere with another persons exercising of the same rights.

If the bulk of Americans do not understand or abide by this essential obligation, this Golden Rule which accompanies the exercise of freedoms, the eventual penalty, could be the loss of all freedoms to all of us. Freedom means enjoyment, privileges which were hard fought for by our forefathers. With our freedom we are being able to worship God according to the dictates of our conscience. Thanks be yet to God that I have the right to worship God in the church of my liking.

I am still a respectable citizen of the state and I can be individualistic and I can still express, and I can write of my own accord that is without using slang.

In the name of decency I can use my freedom of fair trial. I am not told what to do by the government. I can choose my own course. In short, we have a responsibility to use our freedom, to form associations in such a way that this right will aid the cause of protecting and broadening all human freedom.

LeRoy Warren Poppema

Renae B. Vander Schaaf is an independent writer, author and speaker. Contact her at (605) 530-0017 or agripen@live.com.

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From My Farmhouse Kitchen: Museum visits reminded us of veterans' sacrifices - thelandonline.com

SINGAPORE - A man's visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens ended with a trip to the hospital, after a group of otters bit him in the legs, buttocks and finger.

The attack on Nov 30 left Mr Graham George Spencer with more than 20 wounds, with some requiring stitches.

It is not the first time that otters have attacked people here but animal welfare groups have said the animals are not typically aggressive and their actions could have been triggered by their perception that they were threatened.

Recounting the Nov 30 experience to The Straits Times on Thursday (Dec 9), Mr Spencer, a Singapore permanent resident, said: "I actually thought I was going to die - they were going to kill me."

The maid agency owner, who is British and in his 60s, said he was attacked at about 6.40am. He was at the end of a routine morning walk with a friend, and was approaching the Singapore Botanic Gardens' entrance near Taman Serasi.

He spotted about 20 otters crossing a dimly lit path about 4m in front of him. This was the first time he had seen otters in the park since he started his morning walks about five months ago.

The animals were moving quietly but "went crazy" after another man ran towards them. They tried to bite the runner, who avoided their attacks and moved past Mr Spencer.

"All of a sudden, they must have thought I was (the runner)," he added.

The otters targeted him, with some biting his ankles and causing him to fall face down. They zoomed in on his legs and buttocks, with one otter biting his finger.

His friend screamed and shouted at the animals, who stopped their action momentarily. The duo ran towards a nearby visitor centre with the otters giving chase for a short distance.

The centre was unattended when they arrived, with the guard manning it apparently returning from a break after about 10 minutes.

The guard provided bandages, with other park staff subsequently attending to Mr Spencer. Declining an offer to be taken to a hospital, he headed to the nearby Gleneagles Hospital with his friend.

He was given tetanus shots and oral antibiotics, and had some wounds stitched up, before being discharged on the same day.

He has returned to the hospital three times to treat his wounds and has spent about $1,200 in medical bills.

A sign warning visitors of what to do when encountering otters in the Botanic Gardens. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY

He spoke to a representative from the Singapore Botanic Gardens on Friday (Dec 3), who told him that the authorities are investigating the incident.

Mr Spencer said he wants measures to be imposed to prevent a similar attack. "You got to keep the public away from (the otters) because this will happen again."

Mr Spencer, who said he has difficulty sitting and is unable to sleep well now, had earlier made plans to celebrate Christmas with his family in Britain but is uncertain whether he is well enough to travel.

Dr Tan Puay Yok, group director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, told The Straits Times that the National Parks Board - which manages the Gardens - is aware of an otter bite incident there and is in contact with the victim.

He added that otter bites in the Gardens and other parks are rare.

Dr Tan said visitors should observe wildlife from a safe distance, and avoid feeding or approaching them, especially when there are pups as the adults can be protective over their young.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens volunteers and staff monitor the movements of the otters and educate the public on the importance of observing them from a distance and not interacting with them, he added.

Signs with information on how the public can manage encounters have been placed throughout the Gardens.

This is not the first time otter attacks have made headlines here.

Shin Min Daily News reported in May this year that a 77-year-old man was bitten in the leg in Upper Boon Keng Road near the Kallang River.

A five-year-old girl was bitten at Gardens by the Bay in 2017.

Mr Bernard Seah, a member of the Otter Working Group, believes Mr Spencer was attacked by a family of smooth-coated otters called the "Zouk family" that have frequently visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens over the last few years.

Mr Seah, who has been tracking movements of otters here since 2012, said the family, which consist of nine adults and six pups, are "the most human-tolerant otter family" in Singapore.

"In my years of documenting otters' behaviours, I have never heard of such an aggressive attack. Such attacks are not common, and are likely to happen when the adult otters feel that the safety of their pups is threatened," he added.

Ms Anbarasi Boopal, co-chief executive of Animal Concerns Research and Education Society, agreed, noting that otters are not typically aggressive.

She added that defensive behaviour is typical of other social, wild animals such as wild pigs and macaques.

"As Singapore grows into a city in nature, encounters with wild animals will soon become inevitable. So the golden rule is really to keep a safe distance from the animals," said Ms Boopal.

Mr Seah said otters "cannot differentiate between a person trying to take a photograph of them and someone trying to attack them. So it is always best to keep a distance".

He urged parents to keep watch on their children in parks and nature reserves, and not allow them to run around unsupervised.

Ms Boopal noted that while it is important to put up warning signs in parks, it boils down to the public's response.

"Otters and other wild animals cannot be trained so I encourage everyone to be mindful when coming across such wildlife. Always keep a safe distance and do not provoke them," she said.

Link:

'I actually thought I was going to die': Man who was attacked by otters at Botanic Gardens - The Straits Times

When a plaintiff serves a statement of claim, the Rules of Civil Procedure (the Rules) require that a defendant must serve a statement of defence within a prescribed time (usually 20 days), failing which the plaintiff can note the defendant in default and obtain default judgment. Default proceedings are a crucial mechanism for ensuring that defendants respond to claims and take them seriously.

The following is a situation that every plaintiff-side lawyer has been in before:

As counsel for the plaintiff, you have done everything right: you have courteously agreed to an extension and put in writing that no more extensions will be given. Counsel for the defendant did not heed your warning. Wouldnt you be completely within your rights under the Rules to note the defendant in default for failing to serve a defence in time?

So you go ahead and note the defendant in default.

According to Justice Myers in Strathmillan Financial Limited v. Teti, 2021 ONSC 7603, this isnt a grey area where there is room for professional discretion. Notwithstanding that the Rules allow for it, noting the defendant in default in these circumstances is wrong.

Strathmillan Financial Limited v. Teti

The plaintiff in this case sued the defendants for unpaid invoices.

Masters2 Decision

The plaintiff would not agree to set aside the noting in default. The defendants were required to have the noting in default set aside by a case management master, on a full motion. The master awarded $7,500 in costs against the plaintiff. The plaintiff sought leave to appeal the cost award (but not the decision to set aside the default), which is how the case came before Justice Myers.

Decision on Leave to Appeal Cost Award

An outrageous misuse of the default process under Rule 19 is how Justice Myers described the decision by plaintiffs counsel to note the defendants in default. He denied leave to appeal and ordered a further $6,000 in costs against the plaintiff.

Justice Myers went into detail regarding the responsibilities of counsel in these circumstances and what actions are, or more importantly are not, appropriate:

Advocates, and not the client, have the sole discretion to determine the accommodations to be granted to opposing counsel and litigants in all matters not directly affecting the merits of the cause or prejudicing the clients rights. Advocates should not accede to a clients demands that the advocate act in a discourteous or uncooperative manner.

Even if the client refuses the extension, absent actual prejudice, counsel must agree.

How Does This Affect How We Litigate a Case?

For starters, anyone who responds to the official looking letter described above with We will agree to X deadline, failing which we will take steps to note your client in default needs to revise their templates. The underlined words have no practical meaning and effective letter writing should not include making empty, meaningless threats. Based on Justice Myers comments, the response should say: failing which we will write to the court to request a case conference pursuant to Rule 50.13(1).

In cases where a delay creates real prejudice for the plaintiff, noting a party in default may not be as egregious. However, seeing as every plaintiffs counsel believes an action needs to be adjudicated immediately, the best course of action is likely still to request a case conference under Rules 50.13(1), but on an urgent basis.

This does create an opening for serious mischief on the part of a defendant who is participating in the action but doesnt deliver a defence. Counsel for the plaintiff is required to grant indulgences and extensions and does not have the ability to note a defendant in default. The plaintiff can request a case conference, but that request comes with its own delays before the case conference will be heard, particularly in a time where the court is backed up due to COVID-19.

Rule 57.01 sets out the factors in making a cost order and specifically provides that any conduct by a party to lengthen unnecessarily the duration of a proceeding should be considered when making a cost order. While Justice Myers determined that the demand from counsel for the plaintiff to justify why more time was needed was improper, that doesnt mean that a defendant will not be held accountable if there was in fact no justifiable excuse for the delay. In order to prevent defendants from abusing the law set out in Justice Myers decision, case management associate justices can hold defendants accountable for forcing the plaintiff to a case conference by imposing strict timelines for the action and making cost orders against defendants who make plaintiffs jump through these hoops unnecessarily.

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Treat Other Counsel How You Wish to Be Treated: The Rules Versus the Golden Rule - Lexology

Corruption is a word used nervously in the UK. Were quite happy applying it to other countries; but in Britain even critics of the status quo can be surprisingly reluctant to describe as corrupt our societys tight, often concealed circulation of power and rewards.

Partly, this is because corruption is a slippery concept. There has never been a single, fixed, universal definition, wrote Mark Knights of Warwick University in 2016. Notions about what is unfair, unjust or immoral change over time.

As a small, centralised country with a huge capital city, Britain has for centuries been run by elites with overlapping memberships and interests, and offered a wide range of services to foreigners with dubious fortunes. To attack this system as corrupt is to risk being called unworldly and experience feelings of deep frustration and futility. From the House of Lords to the City of London, the capital is lined with ancient institutions that anti-corruption campaigners have failed to cleanse.

Yet there are periods when the charge of corruption suddenly acquires potency. Having struggled for two years to find an effective way of criticising Boris Johnsons government, Labour seems finally to have discovered one. Corruption, said the partys deputy leader, Angela Rayner, on Monday, is rife right through this Conservative government. Keir Starmer, often too measured, has become just as blunt about the issue.

Johnsons response I genuinely believe that the UK is not remotely a corrupt country has been floridly unconvincing even by his standards. Most voters disagree with him. According to YouGov, 80% think there is a lot or a fair amount of corruption in British politics, and only 1% think there is none . Since the corruption controversy took off, the Tories have dropped in the polls.

The word corruption sometimes suggests something past its peak and beginning to decay. And despite their efforts to pretend otherwise, the Conservatives have been in office for a long time. But more often corruption suggests something spreading, swelling, mutating, becoming monstrous. The constant acquisition of power and resources by Johnsons Tories and their corporate allies has those qualities: from the appointment of cronies to public office to the funnelling of state funds to Tory constituencies to the awarding of government contracts to friends, relations and supporters a practice for which the Omicron variant may open up more opportunities.

Previous governments have done sleazy things, but few have done them so systematically and blatantly. When Tony Blair was prime minister, the anti-corruption group Transparency International gave the UK scores in the 80s (out of 100) in its annual index: good, but not outstanding by the groups standards. Under Johnson, the UK scores in the 70s.

Appropriately for an administration that shows contempt for parliamentary democracy, the British ruling culture that Johnsons increasingly resembles is a pre-democratic one: the once-infamous Old Corruption of the 18th and 19th centuries. Government jobs were routinely sold and public money was distributed to people with political leverage. As the state grew, expanded by wars rather than a pandemic, new functions were carried out by private companies whose ability to win contracts and extract profits far exceeded their operational effectiveness. The prime minister sat contentedly at the centre of this system. A satirical cartoon from 1740 shows Robert Walpole an Old Etonian like Johnson, who governed for more than 20 years as a giant figure stretched over ye Doors of all ye Publick Offices, waiting for supplicants to kiss his exposed buttocks.

Johnson is like an 18th-century politician, with his shamelessness, elaborate but untrustworthy rhetoric, and enrichment of favourites. And, like his style of government, at first Old Corruption seemed immune to criticism. It took a century of campaigning by radicals such as the journalist and MP William Cobbett for the system to start being dismantled.

We live in faster times now. Johnsons ascendancy has lasted little more than a 10th as long as Walpoles, and already there are signs it could be ending. The exposure of corruption may be particularly damaging for this government because Johnson has so emphatically promised to spread resources and opportunities more widely not to hand them to an even narrower circle. Setting up VIP lanes for companies with Conservative links is hardly levelling up.

Such inside-dealing is part of a bigger Tory project that predates the Johnson government. During George Osbornes period as chancellor, his grand strategy, according to his biographer Janan Ganesh, was the calculated use of [government] policy to change Britain in his partys favour. Austerity was intended to shrink one of Labours main bases of support: public sector employees. Under Johnson, patronage of certain firms is intended to create an even more Tory-friendly private sector.

The coherence and cleverness of all this should not be overstated. The Tory governments since 2010 have often been haphazard, with last-minute policies and limited capacity for longterm thinking, as the frustrated departures of more ambitious strategists such as Dominic Cummings and Steve Hilton have indicated.

Yet one of the lessons of the past 11 years is that even mediocre Tory governments can be transformative. They act as conduits for powerful forces, such as corporations wanting to run state services. The Johnson governments corruption stems as much from modern Conservatisms emptiness as its over-confidence.

Labours response to all this works as a political message. With the rectitude of a former prosecutor, Starmer promises a truly independent anti-corruption and anti-cronyism commission. A Starmer government would almost certainly be much less sleazy.

But after a reshuffle that left the shadow cabinet with few fundamental critics of our economys incestuous workings and one of them, Ed Miliband, effectively demoted any Labour anti-corruption drive feels likely to be limited. The Johnson government may end in disgrace, but Britains insiders will keep prospering.

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Boris Johnsons rule is a throwback to the 18th-century golden age of sleaze - The Guardian

By Pete Haug

Its not fair! wailed my 4-year-old grandson as his father carried him into the house. He had just thrown a rock at his sister as his father watched through the kitchen window. I didnt know you could see me!

Even from age 4, we have perceptions of justice. What, exactly, is fair? What is justice? Definitions abound. Consider this one, the principle of moral rightness. Even this begs more questions than it answers. What is moral? What is rightness?

A recent FVS column on justice called for a higher standard, one that will reflect the teachings of Christ such that they will become visible in our own life by the way we show unity and love in a world of division and violence. This principle of moral rightness is encapsulated in the Golden Rule, an ideal rarely realized, but stated variously in most religions. For example, Bahaullah wrote: And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself.

Elsewhere he wrote, Thebestbelovedof all things inMysightis Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. He goes on to suggest that justice provides inherent wisdom: By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighborVerily justice isMygift to thee and the sign ofMyloving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.

The word equity is often confused with justice. Equity implies a justice that transcends the strict letter of the law and is in keeping with what is reasonable rather than what is merely legal. This is an important distinction. Put another way, justice is the letter of the law; equity is its spirit.

Justice as practiced is complicated. The concept seems straightforward, but applying a law equitably often seems impossible, partly because of precedents. Is it just to prosecute a trespasser who cant read the No Trespassing sign? What would be an equitable application of this law?

The Bahai writings distinguish between justice and equity. Bahaullah writes: Justice and equity are twin Guardians that watch over menthe cause of the well-being of the world and the protection of the nations.

His son Abdul-Baha drives the point home: The Almighty hath not created in man the claws and teeth of ferocious animals, nay rather hath the human form been fashioned and set with the most comely attributes and adorned with the most perfect virtues. The honor of this creation and the worthiness of this garment therefore require man to have love and affinity for his own kind, nay rather, to act towards all living creatures with justice and equity.

This advice plays out in our dealings with all living things, and the non-living elements that support them. Ecosystems provide sustenance, life itself. Is it equitable toward humanity at large for some of us to degrade and damage systems that support all of us? For example, some of us create pollution and greenhouse gases that affect our entire planet. These are not easy questions to resolve, but resolve them we must if we are to avoid further consequences of our reckless behavior past, present, and future.

A standard of behavior based on justice and equity was described by Shoghi Effendi, grandson of Abdul-Baha. He calls for a rectitude of conduct, with its implications ofjustice, equity, truthfulness, honesty, fair-mindedness, reliability, and trustworthiness.

High standards indeed! Yet essential if we are to overcome division and violence. Solving these problems must both transcend and employ economic and technological solutions. It will require morality justice, and equity for all humanity, sisters and brothers sharing our planet.

Its unlikely any of us can meet all the above standards, yet we can try even knowing we wont attain them. Staying aware of such standards is a good beginning. We can bring ourselves to daily account and ask, Howd I do? And we can respond truthfully.

The most vital duty, Abdul-Baha has written, is to purify your characters, to correct your manners, and improve your conductshow forth such character and conductthat the fragrance ofholiness may be shed upon the whole world, and may quicken the dead, inasmuch as the purpose of the Manifestation of God and the dawning of the limitless lights of the Invisible is to educate the souls of men, and refine the character of every living man.

This education begins with parents prayers before the birth of each child. It continues as a child learns to speak and pray, and to love the Creator. Such love generates a spiritual sense of equity and justice in us all.

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Justice and Equity The Distinction is Important - spokanefavs.com

Froomes still remembers her first night out clubbing. It was with my best friend and her older sister and we went to Rats, which was this club in Melbourne in the CBD, she recalls. Cool, indie people would go. Youd get the photographer to take photos of you doing the peace sign or looking down at the ground.

If you havent logged quite as many hours on the dancefloor as Froomes, fear not. In the lead up to RedBull Curates: Welcome To Summer, we asked Froomes to share her expertise and offer some words of advice for those new to the brave new world of nightlife. From what to wear to how to meet new people, consider this the beginners guide to clubbing.

Dont ditch your friends

This is what Froomes considers a golden rule of clubbing: if one of your friends doesnt get in, dont let them go home alone.

I did that a few times and it's just never worth it, she says. Because clubs are great, but the whole point of it is partying with your friends and getting funny stories. Whatever happens, she says, stick with your friends and have fun.

but dont be afraid to go out alone

Thats not to say you cant hit the clubs solo you can and absolutely should, Froomes says.

Don't be afraid to go out on your own and dance by yourself because it's a really nice way to find new friends. You can meet so many good people at clubs, she says. I've met so many friends, and almost all of my exes, at clubs.

It's a great environment to meet new people, have fun and dance with them. Because I think you can find out a lot about a person and what theyre like in a social setting when you go out clubbing with them.

There are, however, rules to striking up a convo on the dancefloor.

Harassing people that clearly don't want to talk to you, and that goes for men and women, [is a no-no]. Try and read the room be open to talk to people, but don't expect them to entertain you. Put yourself out there, but if someone doesn't want to take it, just move on.

Theres also ways to communicate without opening your month. If there's somebody you want to talk to, just give them the eyes, Froomes advises.

The club is the place where you can really go the extra mile with your outfits.

Don't be afraid to dress up. Don't be afraid to be overdressed, Froomes says. It's nice to get dolled up or put your best clothes on. So I would say there's no fashion faux pas.

That includes footwear: People really bag high heels and think, oh theyre uncomfortable. If you get a really good pair of platform heels, it's so fun going out in heels.

Comedian and content creator Froomes.

Yasmin Suteja

Preparation, Froomes says, is the key to clubbing success.

You need to get a bag that is comfortable and that you can wear crossbody." As for what you should put in that bag? "Wet wipes."

Another mistake I made when I was younger was hopping between clubs thinking there's always going to be better clubs to go to, as opposed to just committing to the club youre in,

Froomes recalls. Stick it out. If you start to get bored give yourself another half an hour, another song. If you take away the expectation it can be really fun.

An added bonus: stay in one place and youll also save money on cover charge.

Once I paid $40 to skip the line somewhere and it was shithouse, she remembers. I ended up seeing my ex-boyfriend kiss another girl. So it was a very expensive way to get my heart broken.

Respect the bathroom line

Another golden rule: Never, ever cut the line to the bathroom. Its a really dog act and it will come back to bite you, Froomes says. If you need to piss really bad, everybody else needs to piss really bad as well.

Another bodily functions-related faux pas? Farting on the dancefloor, obviously.

Adhere to drink etiquette

The time will come where you bump into someone and spill their drink. Its unavoidable. As for what you should do next?

I would definitely apologise and offer to get them another drink if they want to come with me to the bar, but I'm not going to go be a sorry little bitch and go get them a drink, Froomes says. But definitely profusely apologise and use it as a bonding technique.

And if they're really sooky about it, well, that's collateral damage. That's what you get for going to a club, so get over it, wise guy.

Tick off the institutions

There are certain clubs that hold a hallowed place in the mind of ravers. You should make it your mission to experience them all.

And, um delete your Uber?

Froomes has one final piece of advice for the, uh, frugal among us.

Before you go to pre-drinks, Delete your Uber app and lie to everyone and say that you got banned from it or something so you dont have to pay for the ride there, she says. Thats a fun one.

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The unwritten rules of clubbing in Australia - Red Bull

Crowd Cow

Theres an essential question the world should ask itself about mail-order meat: Why order it?

Online meat purveyors offer more diverse, more interesting and frankly better cuts of meat than what's found at a standard grocery store. And where does the intrepid cook whose town doesnt have a proper butcher get their hands on heritage chickens? Or aged Osso Buco? Or internationally-renowned country ham and bacon? Or just a steady stream of meat to put on the table thats better than whatever is available to them? Without these companies, the answer is nowhere. These are the best places to buy meat online in 2022.

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Crowd Cow

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Crowd Cow was founded when its founders caught wind that their friends were all going in on a cow from a local ranch. They thought that this practice could be streamlined and simplified, so they created Crowd Cow, which essentially acts as crowdfunding for the purchasing of beef. Instead of calling up a dozen ranches, coordinating shipping and storing what is frankly way too much meat, Crowd Cow allows you to buy high-quality meats (its not just beef) from local ranchers at fairer prices.

Editor's Pick: Beef ($6+)

Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors

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There is little fame to be had in the world of meat production. Unless youre Pat LaFrieda, whos been called the Magician of Meat. His company supplies beef to some of the best restaurants in the country and just so happens to offer a good portion of its protein online. LaFriedas client list speaks to the quality, but if youre going to try the marquis meat purveyor of almost 100 years, youd be wise to steer toward the burger mixes, which are equal parts revolutionary and plain delicious.

Editor's Pick: Dry-Aged Burger Blend ($27)

Porter Road

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Porter Road started because chefs James Peisker and Chris Carter were annoyed with a lack of truly good meat for their newborn catering business. That frustration turned into a full-service butcher shop, which has since evolved into a sizeable online collection of beef, chicken, lamb and pork. All of Porter Roads meats are raised sans antibiotics or filler feed. Theyre also priced moderately and arrive (unfrozen) within two days of ordering. As an added bonus, the cooling foam inside the packaging can be disposed of by running it under the sink for a few seconds.

Editor's Pick: Loose Chorizo Sausage ($8)

DeBragga

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The self-proclaimed "New York's Butcher" has been around since the early 1920s, but they've relocated to Jersey City. Its meats are humanely raised and free of antibiotics and hormones. DeBragga has a seemingly endless selection of meats and cuts along, as well as meal kits, spices and cured meats.

Editor's Pick: Moulard Duck Legs ($55)

Thrive Market

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Thrive Market is basically an online grocery store. Get your meat needs, and everything to accompany it like spices and even wine. Its meat selection includes curated boxes that have all you need to induce the meat sweats.

Editor's Pick: Pasture-Raised Chicken Wings ($13)

Rastelli's

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The family-run Rastelli's offers curated meat boxes, but shopping a la carte is where the fun is at. Browse a wide selection of meat, poultry and seafood, and shop with confidence knowing that Rastelli's is bringing you only the best quality food. The butchery works with reliable farmers and fishermen, who prioritize sustainable practices and care about the food they raise as much as you care about the food you eat.

Editor's Pick: Veal Rib Chop ($45)

Holy Grail Steak

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Holy Grail Steak operates under what it calls the the Golden Rule of the Cow, which dictates that a steak only tastes as good as it was raised. This mantra led the mail-order meat outlet to become one of six retailers of certified Kobe beef, and the only official online retailer of Kobe beef, whats widely considered the most sought after meat in the world.

Editor's Pick: Kobe Japanese A5 Wagyu Strip Steak ($349)

Umamicart

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Umamicart is an online grocery store that specializes in Asian groceries. That means you can expect products that will help you make Asian dishes, like beef short ribs for Korean kalbi. Orders are shipped and delivered quickly to ensure freshness, and new products are constantly being added to the store.

Editor's Pick: Beef Short Ribs ($22)

Butcher Box

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Subscribe to a monthly box of meat with Butcher Box. Either curate your own selection with a curated box, or let the company do the picking for you, with boxes filled with poultry, beef, pork or a combination of the three. Each box can contain up to 14 pounds of meat, which could work out to about $5 a meal.

Editor's Pick: Custom Box ($149)

E3 Meat Co.

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Major league level beef brought to you by former major leaguer Adam LaRoche and his Fort Scott, Kansas cattle ranch. All beef E3 sells is antibiotic-, added hormone- and steroid-free. The red and black angus cows are permitted to roam and graze before a grain finishing, a process which adds a final bit of tasty fat to the eventual cuts. Plus, it's all processed in-house and wet-aged for nearly a month by E3's butcher team.

Editor's Pick: Beef Ribs ($60)

Bentons Country Ham

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Allan Benton was a high school guidance counselor. Now, his name is on menus at some of the best restaurants in the country. Bentons Bacon, which by sheer prestige has made itself a proper noun, is prized by chefs and pork lovers across the country. Whats available on his web store changes with regularity (peak holiday season will see less of the good stuff available as demand eclipses a limited supply), so bookmark and wait for what you want.

Editor's Pick: Hickory Smoked Country Bacon ($36)

Halal Pastures

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For those looking for halal meats, check out Halal Pastures. The farm, based out of New York with nationwide delivery, carries a wide array of meats and cuts that cater to those who eat halal.

Editor's Pick: Organic Whole Chicken ($23)

DArtagnan

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As the name might imply, DArtagnan is luxurious. Its store is filled to the brim with game birds, duck fat, foie gras, wagyu beef, lamb racks and all other things that trigger thoughts of drooling and thoughts of bank accounts past. The outlet partners with local farms and farmers with tight ethical and quality standards.

Editor's Pick: Duck Foie Gras Terrine ($56)

Snake River Farms

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Founded in 1968, Idahos Snake River Farms produces a lot of headliners American wagyu, dry-aged tomahawk steaks, huge hams among them. But the crowd-favorite is the Kurobuta pork, which is often described as the Kobe beef of pork, and Snake River Farms is one of few to carry it, much less sell it online.

Editor's Pick: Kurobuta Boneless Pork Chops ($16)

Peter Luger Butcher Shop

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Peter Luger Steakhouse may be shorter on hype and blog posts than the small plate restaurants that pepper the surrounding neighborhood, but it does not need those things. Named best steakhouse in New York since 1984, the restaurant famous for its porterhouses, sky-high prices and a prickly wait staff was good enough to earn a Michelin star in 2006. It is a destination restaurant for anyone with a taste for steaks, and nowadays a load of its house-aged beef is available online.

Editor's Pick: Peter Luger Steak Pack ($292)

Heritage Foods

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Heritage Foods ethically sources, butchers and sells a wide variety of meats turkey, chicken, beef, pork and so on. But the Brooklyn-based company is perhaps most notable for its treatment of goat through its No Goat Left Behind program, which supports farms that allow goats to mature more before heading to the abattoir. The result is a meat thats lighter than lamb and carries a naturally herbaceous flavor.

Editor's Pick: Leg of Lamb ($187)

Chop Box

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For the past 100 years, Chop Box has been shipping out high-quality meat from its New Jersey warehouse. The brand partners with farmers who engage in sustainable farming practices, and meats are butchered the same day they're shipped out.

Editor's Pick: Filet Mignon Center Cut ($23)

Harry & David

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You might know Harry & David for its gift baskets filled with snacks, but the brand recently launched its new online butcher shop. Shop from a range of meats including beef, poultry and seafood, and orders are shipped as efficiently and quickly as other gift sets.

Editor's Pick: Boneless Carving Ham ($23)

Where to Buy Wine Online

Quit whining about having to go outside to buy wine.

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The 18 Best Places to Order Meat Online in 2022 - gearpatrol.com