Martin Cid's Blog: Martin Cid Magazine, page 1057

Any Given Wednesday with Bill Simmons debuts June 22

ANY GIVEN WEDNESDAY WITH BILL SIMMONS, WEEKLY TALK SHOW SPANNING POP CULTURE AND SPORTS, DEBUTS JUNE 22, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO; GUESTS INCLUDE BEN AFFLECK AND CHARLES BARKLEY

ANY GIVEN WEDNESDAY WITH BILL SIMMONS, a weekly talk show hosted by one of the most influential figures in contemporary sports media, kicks off its 20-show seasonWEDNESDAY, JUNE 22 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), followed by other new editions subsequent Wednesdays at the same time,exclusively on HBO.

Spanning pop culture and touching on everything from sports and entertainment to arts and technology, the show will feature intimate conversations with compelling guests each week, while also including field segments and Simmons’ signature commentary on current events. Guests on the first show include actor Ben Affleck and NBA commentator and hall of famer Charles Barkley.

Other HBO playdates: June 23 (1:15 p.m., midnight), 24 (9:00 a.m., 3:05 a.m.) and 26 (9:15 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: June 22 (11:00 p.m.), 23 (8:50 a.m.), 25 (11:30 a.m.), 27 (2:30 a.m.) and 28 (11:45 p.m.)

ANY GIVEN WEDNESDAY WITH BILL SIMMONS will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO and HBO On Demand, as well as other affiliate portals.

The show is part of a major exclusive multi-year, multi-platform agreement with HBO that was announced in 2015. Making HBO Simmons’ exclusive television home, the deal provides for a comprehensive partnership on a variety of platforms between the network and Simmons, the founding editor of Grantland.com and the creator of the new content site The Ringer.

Sunday Poetry with Jenean C. Gilstrap. A Midnight Clear in Kansas

A MIDNIGHT CLEAR IN KANSAS

it was the year 1959

that inglorious november

on the high plains of Kansas

when death came calling

upon a midnight clear

driven by greed

and stories of hidden cash

it rode in on whitewall tires

and fins of chrome

rollin’ down the cold gravel road

that became a shortcut to hell

shafts of wheat and wind breaker trees

stood silent centurions

over the sleeping farm house

where father mother son and daughter

in innocence lay

as smith and hitchcock

made their murderous way

the dreams of a kind and gentle farmer

bled out through a slashed throat and shot to the head

then room by room

single shot by single shot

shattered prayers and faces alike

as lucifer left his mark

in the beds of the innocents

white linens washed

in the blood of these lambs

the clutter family now laid to rest in their sunday best

each splintered head wrapped in swaddling cloths

the messengers of death ran but could not hide

their dastardly deeds took their toll

twelve pieces of silver times four

paid the passage to murder row

superficial tokens of two worlds converging

good versus evil acted out in cold blood

that midnight clear november

in Kansas

~

.

.

~ inspired by the novel “In Cold Blood”

By Truman Capote ~

artwork courtesy of

jenean c gilstrap

Mayflex Introduces New Channel Assist Services

Mayflex Channel Assist

June 2016, Mayflex the distributor of Converged IP Solutions has introduced a number of new offerings to its Channel Assistportfolio. These new services include pre-staging – IP devices, configured cabinets (including an on-site build service), pre-terminated copper cabling and pre-terminated fibre cabling.

Mayflex Channel Assist is a range of professional services available across the UK. These are services that are only provided to trade partners to complement existing skills and enable a broader range of solutions and services to be offered to installer clients with reduced risks and costs.

Richard Cann, Technical Services Manager at Mayflex commented, “We fully appreciate that time is a precious commodity for our installation partners. Having a trusted partner that can deliver fully tested, readymade or ready configured and pre-assembled solutions helps take off that pressure. Our range of Channel Assist services are carried out by our team of specialists who are located in our Birmingham headquarters and can also be carried out on site, by our team, (for the configured cabinet on site build service).

Richard continued, “By providing installers with pre-tested, pre-qualified products, we are helping them to deploy products faster and help them to reduce their costs by removing the need to invest in specialist equipment, site costs and management costs. Risk of any issues arising can also be significantly reduced or even removed by utilising our services.”

The Mayflex team of skilled specialists have the capability to produce bespoke copper and fibre assemblies, including breakout/mini breakout assemblies, harness/switch links, a variety of

pre-terminated solutions, MTP configurations to name but a few of the options available. Pre-configuration includes loading software and applications and pre-loading IP addresses.

Full details of each service can be found on the Mayflex website www.mayflex.com

Charity slams Britain for rabbit neglect

1 of 680,000 rabbits kept alone in UK

A leading rabbit welfare charity has hit out at our claim to be a nation of pet lovers suggesting there is an “acceptable neglect” of rabbits in the UK.

In the run up to this year’s Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW), Rae Todd from the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) says thousands of “pet rabbits have become “nothing more than garden ghosts” after suffering cruel neglect at the hands of their owners.”

“We think we’re a nation of pet lovers but we’re not,” she says. “It’s about time we dropped that label and aimed at being a nation of good pet owners.”

According to RWAF figures some 67,000 rabbits are dumped in rescue centres, either due to regretted impulse purchases, the cost of vaccination and neutering or behavioural issues, and end up leading lonely lives.

“When we see a solitary rabbit in a hutch in our neighbour’s garden, most of us don’t bat an eye lid. It has become an acceptable neglect,” adds Rae. “Even though it’s been scientifically proven that it’s cruel to keep rabbits in this way, they have become nothing more than discarded fluffy toys.”

This year’s Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW), which runs from June 18 to 26, aims to highlight the issue of companionship for rabbits, tasking the 57 per cent of rabbit owners who own single rabbits to find a suitable friend at rescue centres – and to take advantage of free rabbit health checks at their local vet.

Todd believes there’s “no excuse” for not getting the correct rabbit housing and food for rabbits.

“People are not being intentionally cruel to rabbits but they’re not doing the proper research before they buy them. Today, it’s so easy to get information on proper rabbit welfare – it’s all over the internet – and yet more than half of all rabbit owners are still buying tiny hutches without runs and feeding their rabbits a muesli diet with no hay. They keep their rabbits on their own for hours, sometimes days at a time, and when their pet becomes aggressive and unhappy they give them away. It’s a vicious cycle of neglect. We’re urging people to find out more about what’s involved in caring for pet rabbits and if it’s seems like too much responsibility, then don’t take them on – it’s as simple as that. ”

To find out more about RWAF and proper rabbit care go to www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk orwww.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk

Children of the swinging 60’s married for love and still keep the flame burning 40 years later

 

Happy ever after for over 50’s

Over two thirds of the over 50’s are in happy marriages with a third of them having been together for an enduring 41-50 years, says new research from over 50’s portal Silversurfers.com.

Most of them made the right choice first time with 70% married once with just under 1 in 4 proving second time is lucky.

So what can they teach the younger generation about a happy marriage? It’s not all a bed of roses and for almost 80% the most important factor in staying together is supporting each other through the tough times. Honesty and trust prove to be the bedrock of a successful partnership (64%) but it’s appreciating the lighter side with lots of laughs and fun together holding 68% together.

1 in 4 married people over 50 keep the flame alive with great sex, but it’s being in love that sustains just under half of the group.

It seems that independence is the key for some, with 10% saying that not spending too much time together and 41% certain that having their own interests different from their partner keeps life interesting.

For those who didn’t last the course a third say that someone in the marriage met someone else while 11% admit to being incompatible from the start.

Top ten secrets of a happy marriage

1. Support in tough times 79%

2. Lots of laughs and fun together 68%

3. Total honesty & trust 64%

4. Being able to confide in each other 56%

5. Being in love 47%

6. Having your own and different interests 41%

7. Make sure you have lots of variety in life 30%

8. Shared interests 28%

9. Great sex 19%

10.Not spending too much time together 10%

Are “Silverdaters” finding love on line?

Online dating proves a hit with the over 50’s; although only a small proportion have tried it (12%), of those who have 56% met their partner in cyberspace. Unfortunately a third found that it was misleading saying that everyone lied on their profiles.

Martin Lock CEO Silversurfers, said: “It’s encouraging to see that the institution of marriage is enduring and that most people of the older generation have long and happy marriages. There’s clearly no one secret to it, a combination of things keep marriages alive, but support, friendship and lots of laughter seem to be the food of love!”

Silversurfers is the leading independent portal for the over 50’s in the UK; with fantastic articles, regular barometer surveys and exciting promotions and offers.

Aqua Park Rutland opens this summer for just 8 weeks

Aqua Park Rutland opens for 8 weeks

 

A super-soaking immersive experience is set to be served up to outdoor activity fans thanks to the launch of Aqua Park Rutland – the UK’s biggest inflatable Aquaglide Aqua Park operating at Rutland Water this Summer.

Launching on Saturday 9th July and live for just eight weeks until the 4th September, the park features 16 fun obstacles to climb, jump, crawl, chute, launch, slide and splash.

Tickets cost £15 and advanced booking is essential, offering a 55-minute experience to tackle the awesome obstacles, balance beams, climbing walls, trampolines and blast bags. Designed for a super-soaking good time, with the emphasis on splashings of fun for all, the course features obstacles such as Cyclone, the colossal Revolution, Jungle Jim and the Summit Express which promises to deliver a really splashy landing.

As an active attraction, visitors to Aqua Park Rutland need to be ready for the physical challenge and must be aged 6+ and over 1.1m in height and able to swim 50m in a buoyancy vest to take part. Buoyancy vests are provided and wetsuits are available to hire additionally for £5.

Created and designed by Midlands sports activity management specialists Sports Booker Operations Limited, Aqua Park Rutland has been built in close consultation with Anglian Water who own and operate Rutland Water. As one of the Midlands most popular outdoor destinations Aqua Park Rutland has been designed to complement and add further excitement to Rutland Water’s existing outdoor activity offer which includes kayaking, cycling, windsurfing, climbing and sailing.

Richard Drinkwater, Co-Founder of Aqua Park Rutland comments: “We know the British Summer can’t promise to be a sizzler, but whether rain or shine we can promise Aqua Park Rutland will serve up an awesome experience! We’ve already had a massive response from the local community in Rutland and across Leicestershire and we’re already experiencing high demand for tickets.”

Aqua Park Rutland official opens on Saturday 9th July, but due to the high interest already received visitors are encouraged to pre-book at www.aquaparkrutland.co.uk to avoid disappointment

South Tyneside Council takes to the air to police planning permissions with Bluesky aerial photomaps

Bluesky aerial image – South Tyneside

Leicestershire, 15 June 2016 – South Tyneside Council is using the latest aerial survey data from Bluesky to update essential Council records and inform decision making. By comparing the new photography with previous imagery, officers are even able to identify potential breaches of planning permission and land encroachment.

Flown in 2015 and delivered to the Council in early 2016, the Bluesky high resolution aerial photography is being deployed to specialist users in Planning and Highways, for example, within the Council’s desktop Geographical Information System (GIS) and, using standard web browser technology, across the organisation via the Council’s intranet. Plans are also in place to update the Council’s community website, giving residents and businesses in the area access to the Bluesky imagery.

South Tyneside Council is a long term user of aerial photography, and has worked with Bluesky for many years to ensure officers within the Council have access to the most up to date, high quality and accurate images available. “Unfortunately, due to budget restraints, we had not been able to update our aerial photography for several years,” commented Andrew Tracey, Performance and Information Officer at South Tyneside Council. “So when funds became available in 2015, we were very keen to see what was on offer. We reviewed a number of options, but concluded the Bluesky 2015 survey was the most up to date and cost effective solution.”

The Bluesky data is already being used across a number of strategic departments, including Planning, Highways and Asset Management. Users within Planning compare different ages of Bluesky imagery to identify suspected breaches of planning control, including developments that do not have the required planning permission as well as those that have failed to comply with conditions or limitations of granted permission. The Bluesky imagery can also be used as evidence when considering possible enforcement action.

The different ages of Bluesky imagery also help the Council identify and resolve boundary disputes where residents or businesses may have encroached on Council land, while other applications of the Bluesky data include use by Officers to identify and record features not referenced on traditional map layers, such as street furniture, road markings, street lights, trees and other Council assets.

“The Bluesky imagery is easy to use and easy to interpret, making it a valuable resource for users across the organisation,” continued Andrew Tracey. “By comparing different ages of imagery, Officers can easily identify changes – permitted or not – and take the necessary action based on the evidence before them. They can also identify ground features not available from other sources due to the currency and quality of the photography. This helps improve the efficiency and quality of decision making and helps decrease costs by reducing the need for site visits.”high

Torsten Brose joins Magenta Technology as Business Development Director for private hire sector

Torsten Brose joins Magenta Technology

London, 15 June 2016: Torsten Brose, an experienced business development and operations professional, has joined Magenta Technology, the company behind the innovative Echo scheduling and dispatch solution for private hire and taxi operators. Brose, who takes on the position of Business Development Director, has more than twenty years’ experience, having held senior positions with both ground transport and private hire service operators and solution providers. Most recently Brose held the position of Operations Director at Climatecars, prior to the company’s acquisition by Addison Lee, before working as a commercial consultant managing short term projects for logistics and transportation companies.

“Torsten brings with him a unique skill set and experience portfolio, having had two parallel but complementary and extremely successful career paths,” commented Anton Dmitriev, CEO of Magenta Technology. “Having worked in both the supplier and service side of the industry, Torsten can approach any situation with a comprehensive and holistic understanding of potential challenges and possible solutions, managing any gap between expectations and deliverables.”

Operationally Brose has worked with prestigious and global ground transportation brands such as TBR Global, a £20 million turnover company, and Brunel, which operates in 480 cities across 75 countries. Brose has completed business review and reorganisation projects, been instrumental in progression from company start up to acquisition and, while working with Climatecars, Fraser Eagle and Chauffeurcar Services, managed multi-million pound contracts with brands such as Emirates Airlines, BMI Regional and Etihad Airways.

“I am delighted to be working with a premium product like Echo. In fact, during my time in the operations side of the industry, I would have given anything for a solution as advanced as Echo to resolve numerous scheduling and customer handling issues,” added Brose.

Brose also brings to his role at Magenta experience with the solutions side of the industry, having held the position of Business Development Manager with Catalina Software, a provider of chauffeur, courier and logistics solutions.

“This is an interesting time to be joining Magenta as the company enters the next stage of its growth, and there are a number of exciting new innovations being launched to market which will take Echo even further ahead of the competition,” Brose concluded.

EMDR Therapy Bonds Father and Son Models with Life Changing Results

Remco and Aad Van Der Linden 1

With Father’s Day fast approaching, it’s natural for sons and fathers to focus on the quality of their relationship. This is no different for the most high profile models with a reputation for confidently promoting world famous brands internationally.

London-living, Dutch-born Remco Van Der Linden, aged 42, represented by Europe’s leading model agency MOT, signed up to a life of modelling in 2000 and spends much time travelling the world on high profile assignments for brands including Jaguar Cars, Fat Face, M&S, the German retailers Kaufhof and Ulla, and the Italian designer Castella d’Oro.

Remco recently introduced his 72-year-old father, Aad Van Der Linden, to the agency and they’ve completed a joint assignment for Japanese photographic company Tamron with astounding results.

Contrary to appearances, Remco has only recently gained a close relationship with his father who has been coached using Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy to overcome a life-changing event that occurred for Aad which placed tension between the father and son.

Thirty years ago, 42-year-old Aad was haunted by a road traffic accident that made life exceedingly difficult for him, and, though he was not to blame, he was left with feelings of guilt.

Two years ago, a mutual friend suggested that Aad begin a course in EMDR to help him overcome his trauma and after just eight sessions of treatment, Aad is now at peace with himself and able to enjoy life to the full.

The pair have now completed a number of photoshoots and many more are planned for the future thanks to their new-found connection. Remco is starting to spread the message of EMDR and the success it has accomplished with varying groups of people.

Mike Illes, Director of MOT Models, said “This time around Father’s Day is a reminder of the importance of maintaining strong bonds with those closest to us. We are proud to support Remco and his father’s mission to help others overcome psychological blocks through the effective therapy of EMDR. I am blessed because I work with inspiring people with incredible stories, and this one is exceptionally moving.”

EMDR is a psychotherapy discipline using eye movement to help people process different feelings when remembering an experience, making them feel alleviated and confident. Typically, it is an eight stage process that can take up to ninety minutes per session, with high success rates including helping combat veterans to overcome Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The process was discovered by Dr Francine Shapiro and developed through the late eighties, she realised that eye movement appeared to decrease the negative emotion associated with her own distressing memories.

It has become an increasingly popular therapy option in the United States and recognised by the World Health Organisation as an effective treatment for PTSD. EMDR is also an approved practice by The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom, as well as the NHS with organisations such asThe London Psychiatry Centre now offering EMDR it as one of their therapy sessions.

Remco Van Der Linden believes this therapy could help numerous people on a vast scale, having an incredible effect on his father after a thirty-year period.

The photos published by London-based MOT Models show the strong connection now shared with Remco and his father. They hope to inspire others to try EMDR to give back livelihoods to those who have also suffered traumatic events and retain healthy relationships with the revolutionary therapy.

For more information please see the EMDR Association UK and Ireland websitewww.emdrassociation.org.uk. It’s important to use an accredited therapist for EMDR and a list of them can be found on the website.

Links:

Remco Van Der Linden: http://www.motmodel.com/Detail.aspx?model_id=2645

Aad Van Der Linden: http://www.motmodel.com/Detail.aspx?model_id=7612&curpage=0&…

EMDR: http://www.emdrassociation.org.uk/home/index.htm

MOT Models: http://www.motmodel.com/

Dr Francine Shapiro: http://www.emdr.com/history-of-emdr/

NICE: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg26/chapter/1-Guidance#the…

NHS: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Post-traumatic-stress-disorder/…

London Psychiatry Centre: http://www.psychiatrycentre.co.uk/our-services/supportive-th…

Sébastien Loeb Earns Handsome Second Place In The Peugeot 208 WRX

Sébastien Loeb 2nd in FIA Round 3

Sébastien Loeb’s excellent weekend at Mettet, Belgium, concluded with the Frenchman earning Team Peugeot Hansen’s first podium finish of the season at Round 3 of the 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship.

o Sébastien Loeb provided further evidence of his all-round skills by claiming his first qualifying heat victory in the FIA World Rallycross Championship on Saturday. He was third after the heats phase before going on to secure second place both in his semi-final and in the final on Sunday afternoon.

o Team Peugeot Hansen leaves Belgium with the weekend’s biggest points haul to climb to third spot in the Teams’ standings, just six points short of second place. In the Drivers’ standings, Sébastien Loeb is fourth, four points shy of the provisional podium, while Timmy Hansen secured fourth place in his semi-final to appear in 12th position in the championship.

o The weekend’s third qualifying heat saw Davy Jeanney hurt his shoulder, a reoccurrence of the injury he sustained last season in Argentina. He still succeeded in lining up for the fourth heat, however, and he qualified for the semi-final stage when he was hit by another car through the opening turn.

o Mettet was also hosting the opening round of this year’s European Rallycross Championship. Seventeen-year old Kevin Hansen celebrated his debut in the best fashion possible by winning the final in his Peugeot Hansen Academy PEUGEOT 208 WRX.

QUOTE, UNQUOTE…

Kenneth Hansen (Team Principal)

“Globally, it was a good weekend for the team. Sébastien hit the ground running and it’s a shame Timmy had a jump start in his semi-final, otherwise he would have reached the final as well. We showed that we’re competitive, and Kevin’s first race in the European Championship was superb. He drove intelligently and won his debut event. That’s fantastic!”

Sébastien Loeb (PEUGEOT 208 WRX #9, Team Peugeot Hansen)

“It was a pretty good weekend for me. It’s nice to have scored my first podium finish in rallycross and the main thing is that I was competitive throughout the event. I felt comfortable in free practice in this car at this track. I’m beginning to find my marks and I was helped by a positive draw. My starts were good and I succeeded in making the most of them, although it will still need some work before I can start chasing Ekström. He’s been fast everywhere so far. At least we were in the fight here in Belgium. We now need to produce a similar performance at Lydden Hill.”

Kevin Hansen (PEUGEOT 208 WRX #71, Peugeot Hansen Academy)

“I was thrilled to win the final on my European Rallycross Championship debut! My weekend didn’t get off to the best of starts when I had a big smash at the start of the first qualifying heat. After that, though, I showed good speed and felt confident. I just needed to get a head start over my rivals. I managed to do that in the final and that helped me to go on and win.”

METTET – FINAL POSITIONS

1, Mattias Ekström (EKS, Audi S1)

2, Sebastien Loeb (Team Peugeot Hansen, Peugeot 208 WRX)

3, Petter Solberg (Peter Solberg World RX Team, Citroën DS3)

4, Anton Marklund (Volkswagen RX Sweden, Volkswagen Polo)

5, François Duval (Ford Fiesta, Olsberg MSE)

6, Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen RX Sweden, Volkswagen Polo),

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER THREE ROUNDS

FIA World Rallycross Championship – Drivers

1, Mattias Ekström (EKS, Audi S1), 78 pts

2, Petter Solberg (Peter Solberg World RX Team, Citroën DS3), 73 pts

3, Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen RX Sweden, Volkswagen Polo), 58 pts

4, Sebastien Loeb (Team Peugeot Hansen, PEUGEOT 208 WRX), 54 pts

5, Toomas Heikkinen (EKS, Audi S1), 46 pts

6, Robin Larsson (Robin Larsson, Audi A1), 34 pts

7, Kevin Eriksson (Olsberg MSE, Ford Fiesta ST), 32 pts

8, Janis Baumanis (World RX Team Austria, Ford Fiesta), 31 pts

9, Andreas Bakkerud (Hoonigan Racing Division, Ford Focus RS), 36 points

10, Davy Jeanney (Peugeot-Hansen Academy, PEUGEOT 208 WRX), 28 pts

11, Anton Marklund (Volkswagen RX Sweden, Volkswagen Polo)

12, Timmy Hansen (Team Peugeot Hansen, PEUGEOT 208 WRX), 23 pts

FIA World Rallycross Championship – Teams

1, EKS, 124 pts

2, Volkswagen RX Sweden, 83 pts

3, Team Peugeot Hansen, 77 pts