Sunday, July 14, 2013

Chief Executive of Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment ...

Source: New Zealand State Services Commission ? Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Chief Executive of Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) announced : New Ministry's Chief Executive Announced

The State Services Commissioner, Iain Rennie, today announced that David Smol has been appointed inaugural Chief Executive of the new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

Mr Smol has been Acting Chief Executive of MBIE since April this year and prior to that was the Chief Executive of the former Ministry of Economic Development.? In this new role, his contract runs until June 2017?

The Government established MBIE on 1 July 2012 bringing together all the existing functions of the former Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Department of Labour, and Department of Building and Housing.

As Chief Executive, Mr Smol will continue the work of integrating the four former agencies into an efficient and effective single Ministry, maximising the synergies arising from the integration of policy, regulatory and service delivery functions.

Mr Rennie said that Mr Smol has the skills and experience to ?step up? to successfully lead the transformational change required in MBIE.

?Under David?s leadership, the former Ministry of Economic Development? has successfully provided advice on microeconomic policy development and complex regulatory issues and has improved service delivery while reducing costs,?

?He has also undertaken demanding roles which required strong leadership, change management and negotiation skills. I am confident that as Chief Executive he will ensure that MBIE provides a high level of sector leadership along with innovative policy advice and cost-effective service delivery that will support New Zealand?s economic growth,? Mr Rennie said.?

The Chief Executive of MBIE will lead approximately 3,500 staff located in offices throughout New Zealand and overseas.? MBIE has an annual expenditure of around $660 million and administers non-departmental appropriations of $4.0 billion.

Mr Smol will continue to lead the Better Public Services for Business works outlined in the Prime Minister?s Results for New Zealanders1] and play a key role in supporting the Government?s Business Growth Agenda.?

ends.

Media enquiries:? Lisa-Marie Richan, Director, Communications 021 244 1361

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David Smol was appointed Acting Chief Executive of the new Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment in April this year.?

Prior to this, Mr Smol was the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Economic Development (MED)

David joined MED in April 2003 as Deputy Secretary responsible for the Energy and Communications Branch.? The Branch provides policy advice to the Government in the areas of Energy, Telecommunications and Information Technology.? He was appointed the Ministry?s Chief Executive in 2008.?

Previously David was a director of an Oxford-based energy consulting firm, with clients in the UK and Europe, including large energy utilities and transmission companies, renewable energy generators, regulatory bodies and government departments.

From 1989-1997, David worked in New Zealand.? Initially he was an analyst and then manager in network industries at the Treasury. He was also secretary to the Trans Power Establishment Board, and spent three years at ECNZ, where he was seconded to the team that set up Contact Energy.

From 1984-1988 he worked for Conoco (UK) Limited, in upstream oil and gas.

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Source: http://livenews.co.nz/2013/07/14/chief-executive-of-ministry-of-business-innovation-and-employment-mbie-announced-new-ministryamp039s-chief-executive-announced/

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Texas Repubs pass abortion bill, Dems vow fight

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ? Republicans in the Texas Legislature passed an omnibus abortion bill that is one of the most restrictive in the nation, but Democrats vowed Saturday to fight both in the courts and the ballot box as they used the measure to rally their supporters.

More than 2,000 demonstrators filled the Capitol building in Austin to oppose the bill, and state troopers drug six out of the Senate chamber for trying to disrupt the debate. The Republican majority ultimately passed the bill unchanged just before midnight, with all but one Democrat voting against it.

"Today the Texas Legislature took its final step in our historic effort to protect life," said Gov. Rick Perry who will sign the bill into law in the next few days. "This legislation builds on the strong and unwavering commitment we have made to defend life and protect women's health."

Democrats, though, promised a fight in the courts.

"There will be a lawsuit. I promise you," Dallas Sen. Royce West said on the Senate floor, raising his right hand as if taking an oath.

Democrats offered 20 amendments to the bill, which will ban abortions after 20 weeks, require abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital and require all abortions take place in surgical centers. They ranged from exceptions for rape and incest to allowing doctors more leeway in prescribing abortion-inducing drugs. But Republicans would have none of it.

The bill is just one of many across the nation championed by anti-abortion groups set on a constitutional challenge to Roe vs Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision guaranteeing a woman's right to decide on an abortion before the fetus is viable outside the womb.

Texas falls under the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has shown a willingness to accept more stringent limits on abortions. Passing the law also pleases Christian conservatives who make up the majority of Republican primary voters.

But the measure has also sparked protests in Texas not seen in least 20 years, with thousands of abortion rights supporters flooding the Capitol to draw out normally boring committee hearings and disrupting key votes. Protesters finished a filibuster started by Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth by jeering for the last 15 minutes of the first special session, effectively killing the bill.

That's when Perry called lawmakers back for round two. But opponents said the fight is far from over and used the popular anger to register and organize Democratic voters.

"Let's make sure that tonight is not an ending point, it's a beginning point for our future, our collective futures, as we work to take this state back." Davis told 2,000 adoring supporters after the bill passed.

The Texas Republican Party, meanwhile, celebrated what they considered a major victory that makes Texas "a nationwide leader in pro-life legislation."

"As Democrats continue to talk about their dreams of turning Texas blue, passage of HB2 is proof that Texans are conservative and organized and we look forward to working with our amazing Republican leadership in the Texas Legislature as they finish the special session strong," a party statement said.

Friday's debate took place between a packed gallery of demonstrators, with anti-abortion activists wearing blue and abortion-rights supporters wearing orange. Security was tight, and state troopers reported confiscating bottles of urine and feces as they worked to prevent another attempt to stop the Republican majority from passing the proposal.

Those arrested or removed from the chamber included four women who tried to chain themselves to a railing in the gallery while singing, "All we are saying is give choice a chance." One of the women was successful in chaining herself, prompting a 10-minute recess.

Sen. Glen Hegar of Katy, the bill's Republican author, argued that all abortions, including those induced with medications, should take place in an ambulatory surgical center in case of complications.

Democrats pointed out that childbirth is more dangerous than an abortion and there have been no serious problems with women taking abortion drugs at home.

Cecile Richards, the daughter of former Gov. Anne Richards and president of Planned Parenthood, said Texas Republicans and abortion opponents won this political round ? but it could cost them down the road.

"All they have done is built a committed group of people across this state who are outraged about the treatment of women and the lengths to which this Legislature will go to take women's health care away," she said.

The dedication of those activists will be tested during the 2014 elections. Democrats have not won a statewide seat in Texas since 1994, the longest such losing streak in the nation.

___

Follow Chris Tomlinson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/cltomlinson

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/texas-repubs-pass-abortion-bill-dems-vow-fight-061400258.html

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Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/UKGolfNews/~3/xYCPYA_qY5g/golf-pga-scores-idUKISS25679020130713

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The Twitter Success of Syfy's 'Sharknado' Isn't Translating to Huge Ratings

The so-bad-it's-great "mockbuster" "Sharknado" -- which, as promised by its delightful title, is about a tornado filled with sharks that ravages Los Angeles (something we weren't warned about in "An Inconvenient Truth"), became a huge hit on Twitter as it premiered on Syfy last night. Live-tweeting/mocking/celebrating of the made-for-TV movie, which stars Tara Reid and Ian Ziering and comes from low-budget experts The Asylum, became a spontaneous phenomenon that united cinephiles, stoners, celebrities and everyone else who stumbled across the broadcast in social media delight, bumping "#sharknado" up to a trending topic.

The Twitter love did not, however, translate to identical ratings. According to the LA Times, early Nielsen numbers have "Sharknado" at an audience of just over 1 million people and only a 0.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic. In comparison,?March's Erik Estrada-led "Chupacabra vs. the Alamo" garnered a 0.3 rating for adults 18-49 -- and, unlike "Sharknado," that feature wasn't generating nearly 5,000 tweets a minute. Still, the social media success of "Sharknado" has led Syfy to schedule an encore presentation of the film for Thursday, July 18 at 7pm.

Below, some of our favorite comments from the "Sharknado" Twitter takeover.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/indieWIRENews/~3/IGJd68Pm4_0/sharknado-twitter-phenom

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Video Post: The amazing night which was Bruce Springsteen in Rome

Photo by: Niccol? Vecchia

Photo by: Niccol? Vecchia

I was on the beach staring at my children swim around in Lake Michigan as Bruce Springteen and the E Street Band played a night in Rome on July 11th. I?d brought a book with me to widdle away the time, and never had the chance to open it as setlusting on twitter quickly became my distraction of the day. As it was said when the setlist was posted yesterday, ?I swear, this happened.?

Now as I watch the videos of that night, all I keep thinking is, he sounds like Bruce of the 70?s it?s as if for one night he was reborn. I hope the spirit of that night continues for both Bruce and the band. Enjoy the vids, I sure know I did.

Kitty?s Back

Incident on 57th Street

End of Rosalita into NYC Serenade

New York City Serenade


Spirit In The Night

My Love Will Not Let You Down

Badlands

Roulette

Lucky Town

Summertime Blues

Candy?s Room

Candy?s Room/She?s The One

Brilliant Disguise

The Rising

Born In The USA

Born In The USA/Born To Run/Dancing In The Dark

Shout

Thunder Road (acoustic)

Source: http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/springsteen/2013/07/12/video-post-the-amazing-night-which-was-bruce-springsteen-in-rome/

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