El primer bote de laca salió de la factoría de la Chase Products Company en Broadview, Illinois, en 1948. En su fabricación se usaban polímeros utilizados también para pegar las capas de madera contrachapada, aunque su efecto en el pelo, para fortuna de los variables gustos de las mujeres en estética, no era tan duradero. La laca revolucionó la peluquería: hizo posible muchos peinados (Marilyn Monroe, además de tinte, llevaba laca) y también para disimular algún trasquilón.

The Guardian newspaper of the Communist Party of Australia:

The ferment of ideas in Europe in the half century after the French Revolution, saw the emergence of numerous theories for a society organised on socialist lines.

These included various shades of utopian, anarchist, rousseauvian and revolutionary socialism.

Comrade Vladimir Lenin first Premier of the USSR

Then, in 1848, Karl Marx and Freidrich Engels published The Manifesto of the Communist Party. Scientific socialism was born. The transition to a new era had begun.

Marx revealed and demonstrated the dialectical unity between history, science and philosophy, and that unless ideas were combined with action by the masses they would remain pipedreams.

The greatest mind to be influenced by Marx and Engels was the Russian revolutionary, Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, known as Lenin.

One hundred and eleven years ago, Minsk in Belarus was the site of the founding conference of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (Lenin’s party).

At the Second RSDLP congress in 1903, Lenin was supported by the majority (the bolsheviki) and thereafter his followers were called Bolsheviks.

In the latter part of the 19th century, intense rivalry developed between the imperialist blocs for markets, colonies and resources.

Faced with this looming war over trade, the leaders of the European parties of social democracy voiced their firm opposition to a war and their support for internationalism.

But when war came in 1914, almost all the social democratic parties voted in favour of it. Significantly, the key one that stood firm was Lenin’s Bolsheviks.

People in Moscow remembering the people who died during the revolution

The First World War was a time of carnage, but nowhere more so than on the Eastern Front, where the ill-equipped, badly led Tsarist army suffered terrible losses.

At home, the people also suffered dreadfully, while the aristocracy continued to enjoy their privileged luxurious lifestyle.

The Bolsheviks campaigned steadfastly against the imperialist war, calling for it to be turned it into a class war, under the slogan “Peace to the villages, war on the palaces”.

In February 1917, the Russian people had had enough of the war: the Tsar was overthrown, and a bourgeois government took office. But it refused to stop the war.

The Bolsheviks gained increasing support with their policy embodied in the slogan “Peace — Bread — Land”.

By November 7, 1917 (October 26 in the old calendar) Lenin judged that a revolution was not only necessary but the time was right for it to be successful.

Revolutionary soldiers and sailors supported by armed detachments of factory workers, arrested the bourgeois Provisional Government and withdrew Russia from the war.

The Bolsheviks proclaimed an end in Russia to the system of making profits from the labour of others. They declared their intention to build a socialist society.

They were immediately set upon and invaded by the armies of 14 capitalist states, but were supported by workers in many countries, and eventually defeated the counter revolution.

They had to spend a decade overcoming the worst effects of the intervention and Civil War and reforming Russia’s backward small-scale agriculture before they were able to begin the building of a modern socialist society in Russia.

But when they did, they turned a very backward agrarian country into an industrial giant, where unemployment was unknown, health care was free, which led the world in literacy and where culture was affordable to the masses.

They did it in the face of unceasing imperialist sabotage and hostility, intrigue and espionage, assassinations and armed provocations.

By astute principled diplomacy they were able to thwart imperialism’s scheme to isolate the USSR and prepare another united imperialist invasion of the land of socialism, this time using Nazi Germany as the spearhead.

Instead the imperialists fought each other, while the USSR developed its weaponry for when the war would inevitably spill over onto its territory.

When it did, it was on a scale never before seen. Hitler had 25 divisions fighting the British in North Africa — he had 250 in action against the USSR.

With great courage, tenacity and self sacrifice, the Soviet people bore the brunt of the war, and in so doing saved the world from — in Churchill’s phrase — “the brown plague” of Fascism.

That crucial victory — and all the social advances in the various socialist countries over the years that followed — were only made possible by the October Revolution.

Despite the shortages and privations in the USSR and Eastern Europe following the war, the people in those countries enjoyed a life that got steadily better — for all, not just a privileged few.

Everyone was guaranteed housing and a job; higher education was available to all free of charge; people accepted as normal that they would pitch in to help beautify their neighbourhoods once a month or even weekly.

Workers had a say in how their enterprises were run, and enterprises took responsibility for the local environment, housing, cultural and sporting facilities.

People were getting used to viewing society in a whole new way.

Nevertheless, imperialism’s propaganda and attempts at subversion never stopped and at the end of the ’80s, combined with political errors on the part of the Soviet leadership to enable counter-revolution to successfully sweep the USSR and Eastern Europe.

Triumphant capitalism rejoiced; Communism was dead, they claimed. But the capitalists were premature! Communism was, and is, anything but dead!

The International Meeting of Communist & Workers’ Parties in Minsk in 2007, brought together delegates representing 100 million Communist Party members in 58 countries.

Today 40 percent of the world’s people live in countries where the Communist Party is either the governing party or takes part in government.

Three of the former republics of the USSR — Belarus, Moldova and Kazakhstan — have now rejected capitalism in favour of going back to Communist-led governments and socialist policies.

The revolutionary drive for socialism is a scientific law-governed process; it does not go away because of a setback or two, no matter how severe. As long as there is exploitation, hunger, war and poverty in the midst of plenty, new fighters for a better world will arise, and in the course of struggle discover anew the scientific truths of Marxism-Leninism.

Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, declared in Minsk that “in the 21st Century, the world is moving to the left”.

The head of the Chinese Communist Party’s delegation to Minsk declared: “We are confident that the future belongs to socialism, that socialism will win and replace capitalism.”

The Communist Party of Vietnam also reaffirmed in Minsk that “the essence of our era remains the transition from capitalism to socialism”.

There are undoubtedly many hard struggles yet to come, but there is a world to win and the Communists have every reason to be confident the working people will definitely prevail.

http://www.cpa.org.au/garchve08/1390cult.html

(1910-1971) Escritor y sociólogo, había sido uno de los fundadores del Partido Nacionalcampesino en 1937. Entre 1948 y 1956 participó en los distintos Gobiernos húngaros. En octubre de 1956, como representante de su partido, reestructurado en ese momento, entró en el Gobierno de Imre Nagy en calidad de Ministro de Estado. Erdei formó parte de la comisión encargada de negociar la salida de los soviéticos de Hungría. Al igual que los demás miembros de la comisión, fue detenido por la KGB el 4 de noviembre en Tököl pero, a diferencia de sus compañeros de cautiverio –el general Maléter entre ellos-, fue puesto en libertad a las pocas semanas. Después de la derrota de la insurrección del otoño de 1956 ocupó diveros cargos públicos en el nuevo régimen socialista de Kádár: entre 1957 y 1971 fue designado secretario general y presidente de la Academia Húngara de las Ciencias; de 1964 a 1970 fue también secretario general del Frente Patriótico Popular, cargo que compaginó con el de miembro de la Presidencia de la República Popular de Hungría hasta su muerte en 1971.

(1894-1977) Fue el escritor más destacado durante toda la época del socialismo real en Hungría: en 1948 fue condecorado con la Orden de Kossuth, la más prestigiosa del país. Vinculado desde su juventud a la izquierda revolucionaria, en 1955 era considerado el escritor de más renombre de los intelectuales opositores al sector ortodoxo del Partido. Expulsado de éste por apoyar los debates públicos del Círculo Petöfi, durante los días de la insurrección del otoño de 1956 se convirtió en portavoz de los escritores húngaros. En 1957 fue procesado y condenado a nueve años de cárcel. Gracias a la anmistía parcial de 1960 fue puesto en libertad; a partir de ese momento, como la mayor parte de los intelectuales húngaros que permanecieron en el país, se comprometió con el régimen kádárista. Entre sus novelas destacan La frase inacabada (1937), Respuesta (1952), Niki (1955), Señor G.A. en X (1960), Amor (1963), El excomulgado (1966), Reportaje imaginado de un festival pop (1971) y, como símbolo de toda una época, la novela autobiográfica No hay juicio.

(1908-1992) Como vicesecretario general del Partido Socialdemócrata húngaro y comunista “converso”, Marosán desempeñó un importante papel en la unificación de su organización con el Partido Comunista en junio de 1948. Por sus méritos políticos llegó a ser vicesecretario general del partido unificado. Sin embargo, en 1950 cayó en desgracia y fue detenido bajo acusaciones falsas. Rehabilitado en 1956, desde un primer momento se comprometió con el Partido Socialista Obrero Húngaro de Kádár y formó parte de su Comité Central. Kádár le recompensó su apoyo al nombrarlo Ministro de Estado en su Gobierno “patriótico y revolucionario” de noviembre de 1956. Desde su Ministerio, Marosán fue uno de los principales responsables de la represión que siguió a la derrota de la insurrección. En 1962 fue destituido de todos sus cargos en el partido kádárista y tres años más tarde abandonó la organización comunista.

(1912-1989) Militante comunista desde los primeros tiempos, János Kádár dirigió el Partido Comunista en el interior de Hungría desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Al finalizar ésta entró en el Comité Central y en Politburó del Partido con el cargo de vicesecretario general. Entre 1948 y 1950 fue Ministro del Interior. Un año después fue detenido y procesado bajo acusaciones falsas. Rehabilitado en 1954, se reincorporó a la organización comunista como responsable del distrito XIII de Budapest. En julio de 1956 recuperó su puesto en el Comité Central y el Politburó del Partido. Al comenzar el Gobierno de Nagy de octubre de 1956 fue designado Ministro de Estado y el 25 de octubre el Comité Central lo nombró secretario general del Partido. El desarrollo de la revuelta y el papel del Partido en los tiempos más recientes lo llevaron el 1 de noviembre a plantear su disolución para crear uno nuevo: el Partido Socialista Obrero Húngaro (PSOH).

En su comisión gestora participaron, además del propio Kádár como presidente, Imre Nagy, Zoltán Szánto, Géza Losonczy, Ferenc Donáth, Sándor Kopácsi y el prestigioso filósofo marxista György Lukács. Al mismo tiempo, Imre Nagy nombró un nuevo Gobierno en el que aparecía Kádár, quien a su vez preparaba un Gobierno alternativo. En esfecto, el 4 de noviembre János Kádár anunció en Szolnok la creación de un Gobierno “revolucionario, obrero y campesino” encabezado por él y auspiciado por la URSS. En su primer mensaje a través de Radio Szolnok al pueblo de Hungría, Kádár anunció que había solicitado ayuda militar a los soviéticos para terminar con la insurrección. Desde el 4 de noviembre de 1956 y hasta mayo de 1988 János Kádár fue el máximo dirigente del régimen socialista de Hungría en calidad de secretario general del PSOH; desde esa fecha hasta su muerte en junio de 1989 ocupó el cargo de presidente del Partido.

Ford Woody Wagon, 1948

Colección: OLA, México

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1) O Parmera:

Em 1947, era dado como certo o primeiro tricampeonato da triste história leonoresca. Seria o terceiro título paulista em três anos, mas o Verdão entrou em campo para rasgar as vestes da meretriz, aplicando-lhe um 4 x 3 e desmanchando seus sonhos.

Campeã paulista de 48 e 49, Madame chegava ao ano santo de 1950 novamente embalada e favorita ao título; mas teria de enfrentar e bater os Homens de Verde para conquistar a glória inédita do tricampeonato, e aí não deu… Em uma partida no Pacaembu que entrou para a História como “o Jogo da Lama” (devido à emoção da peleja e à forte chuva que esmerdeou o gramado, não graças a mais uma falcatrua do emo-clube), o Alviverde conquistaria seu segundo título do ano (conquistaria mais três, fechando as Cinco Coroas do ano santo).

Já na década de 70, Madame fez tudo direitinho: tinha um ditador de presidente, árbitros que eram coniventes com o poder público, por bem ou por mal, e ainda conseguiu transferir todos seus jogos importantes para o Privadão, que fica ali na chácara da esposa de Adhemar de Barros. E assim sagrou-se bicampeã paulista, nos anos de 70 e 71. E, em 1972, o clube bem-amado fazia uma campanha impecável, e chegou ao final do certame invicto: agora vinha o tri?

Bom, acontece que participava daquela disputa uma certa Academia, que estava tinindo, e que havia anotado uma campanha ainda mais irretocável. Na hora do “vamo vê”, sobraram os dois, invictos, e os Homens de Verde jogavam pelo empate. E foi com um clássico 0 x 0 que o Palestra novamente frearia os anseios da grande cortesã, sagrando-se campeão paulista.

Pulamos para a década de 90 quando, sob a liderança de um bonequinho de marquetíngue que vendia Danete, Madame obteve êxito em 91 e 92, abocanhando mais um bi Paulista. 1993 chegava com a promessa de levar para o Jd. Leonor a primeira honra de um tricampeonato. Nesse ano, porém, as meninas sucumbiriam diante do nosso rival nas semi-finais. Mas, por um capricho histórico, no ano onde novamente o tri não viria, o Palmeiras se sagraria campeão.

Quatro vezes. No cu dela.

Aí vieram as obsessões que a nossa geração já conhece: Madame bate o pé e afirma ser tricampeã mundial, mesmo a Fifa desautorizando, mesmo que ela compute nessa soma dois jogos na neve do Japão, às 9:00 da manhã, contra times mistos da Europa em pré-temporada. Em um deles, ganhou contra o Milan, que nem campeão europeu havia sido - estava lá somente para tapar o buraco do Olympique, pois o time francês acabara de ser banido de competições internacionais justamente por se comportar nos bastidores de uma maneira à la SPFW.

Ganharam, sim, três Leonores de América. Mas não foi na sequência e foi daquele jeitinho que já nos cansamos de mostrar, eliminando à fórceps seus concorrentes indesejáveis, como o Palestra, mais recentemente, por exemplo. Um torneio que nunca mereceu destaque algum na grande mídia, até que o mais querido conquistasse o primeiro triunfo.

Porque aqui, entre os nossos, onde o futebol é escrito com F maiúsculo e onde todos desprezam essa corja imunda, não conseguiram nenhum tri, não: sempre apareceu o Palestra Itália para restabelecer a ordem das coisas, sempre que foi necessário.

Por isso fiquei feliz domingo à noite, quando olhei a tabela. Agora sei que seremos campeões.

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2) A Putana:

*Se você passou hoje pelo blogue no Palhaço Juquinha, já deve ter visto essa: o chupa-ovo deixou um post maldoso ali, tirando sarro da condição etílica de Rubens Barrichello na festa que sucedeu aquela veadagem de F1. Sim, o P.J., o mesmo garoto de recados que teve de ligar para o resgate e precaver os paramédicos para que comparecessem com litros de glicose à sede da ESPN, após entrevista com J.J. Scotch Whiskey. Mas, sobre isso, você não vai ler uma linha lá.

*Palavras de José Roberto Wright, que, não por acaso, faz um biquinho nas páginas do Boletim de Madame: “Não acho que haja dolo ou complô por parte da Comissão Nacional de Arbitragem ou dos mesmos. A maior besteira que escuto seguidamente é que os apitadores querem ajudar os clubes de São Paulo. Quanta bobagem!“

Também acho, Wright. Afinal, o único time de sampa na disputa é o Verdão, que tem sido seguidamente prejudicado. Santos e Lusa estão se afogando, o rivale nem está entre nós e aquele time genérico (por todo canto do mundo há um time de elite, que joga sujo e que todos rejeitam) poderia ter surgido em qualquer lugar onde as liberdades individuais de um povo fossem suprimidas.

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3) O cabeçudinho:

É tanta falta de cultura que nem sei se vale a pena responder a esse parasita sem talento. Diria que o comentário da leitora Mi é mais que suficiente para reduzir à insignificância o caráter do filho do camelô midiático. Mas vou deixar aqui pequenas considerações; assim, da próxima vez que ele for tentar ser mal-educado com um torcedor que lhe apresenta argumentos, pelo menos não vai passar o vexame de se mostrar um ignorante que só está onde está porque o papai tem dinheiro.

* Em primeiro lugar, se fosse realmente preciso, pegaríamos em armas, sim. Nossos antepassados fizeram isso para defender os constitucionalistas de 32, pelo simples fato de que queriam ser vistos como brasileiros, queriam ser aceitos pelo próprio povo… Entre outras coisas, não queriam ver um verme sem cultura e sem história como você vir vomitar esse tipo de merda 80 anos depois.

* Outra coisa, orlandinho: a Academia foi prejudicada, e muito. O time da ditadura militar, aquele para o qual papai te ensinou a torcer porque “é uma grande moleza”, garfou o título de 71 quando o sr. Armando Marques anulou gol legítimo de Leivinha, com medo do governador biônico que estava sentado no banco de reservas e era presidente da Boutique. Nem isso você sabe, marginal…

Vai estudar, vagabundo!

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1948-2008 - Human Rights: The land where milk and honey do flow in rivers in concern of the human rights?

By Andreas Klamm

New York / London / Berlin./3mnewswire.org/November 1, 2008. In some days the entire world will celebrate on December 10, 2008 the 60th anniversary of the proclamation of the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS by the United Nations in New York City in 1948 in the United States of America.

As a French-German journalist, broadcast journalist and author I have been for about three years on a special research which is not over yet to find the country which could be best described as the country where milk and honey do flow in rivers in concern of the promotion, granting and support of the Human Rights.

It was crystal clear from the beginning of this international research that Germany during the years of the NAZIS Holocaust from 1933 to 1945 will not match these criteria. But what about Germany 70 years after during the Reichskristall-Nacht in 1938? The Synagogues of my Jewish brothers and sisters have been burned in Germany and about 10 million people have been killed in the German concentrations camps. It was perhaps one of the worsest disasters ever which have taken place in history of the human mankind. Another 50 million people have been killed during the Second World War.

There must be a change after 70 years, am I right?

There was a chance in December 1948 when the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS have been proclaimed by the United Nations. As Germany is a part of the universe the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS are valid in Germany also.

No one man or woman would ever doubt that Germany is not a part of this universe. There have been important changes but not in all areas and in all regions of the country of Germany. Certainly in 2008 Germany is still not meeting the criteria of a land where milk and honey do flow in rivers in concern of the promotion, support and granting of elementary and fundamental human rights such as the freedom of speech, the freedom of conscience the religious liberty and other basic rights which are granted in ARTICLE 18 and ARTICLE 19 of the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS.

It is always easy if German citizen especially famous politicians like Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier and German chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel are traveling to countries far away from Germany and do express their support for human rights and their concerns about the serious violations and abuses of the human rights in other countries, which is an important duty.

As a journalist, broadcast journalist and author of several books including the book “Liberty and Peace NOW! Human Rights Reporters” I do know that it is a very difficult duty to criticize other countries in concern of the serious abuses and violations against the UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS.

However some people have been asking me. “Please, as you are French-German journalist and citizen look not to Russia, China, Asia, North Korea, Indonesia first but do us one favor and have a brief look on the situation in concern of the human rights in Germany.” My thought was “…what shall be wrong with it, if some brothers and sisters from Asia, Russia, Africa, New Zealand and the United States of America have been asking me to have a brief look on the situation about human rights cases in Germany.” ?

It was my first impression and my second impression was and is: “I am still shocked !”

Germany in the year 2008 about 70 years after the Reichskristall-Nacht in 1938 has taken place still does not qualify in the criteria of a country where milk and honey do flow in the rivers in concern of supporting, granting and promoting human rights.

On http://aitel.hist.no/~walterk/wkeim/files/de_human_rights.htm you will find more than a dozen of cases where people with all kind of different backgrounds, even believers which call themselves Jews, Muslim, Christian and members of other religious systems have to go before EUROPEAN COURTS simply to claim elementary and fundamental UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS as granted in ARTICLE 19 and ARTICLE 18.

BUT what about all these people which are oppressed and their voices have been silenced. These people do not have a single cent to pay the attorney which could help or even defend their basic human rights before the EUROPEAN COURT.

This make the situation much worse. Because these people do know very well. Their human rights are abused and violated. They do suffer even torture in a country where torture is forbidden and their voices are silenced, while other politicians and rich people do act like cheer leaders on the screen of the media and television and like to make people believe: “We are the best.” Knowing very well that Germany is in need of development in concern of granting basic human rights in this country where one of the most horrible disaster have been taking place in the years of 1933 to 1945.

My third thought after studying some of the cases of the serious abuses of the human rights in Germany was: The U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon should travel on December 10, 2008 to Germany and declare in a public speech to all citizen in this world that we might be able to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the proclamation of the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS in December in 1948 in New York City in the United States of America and that the UN Secretary-General would encourage all human beings in his public speech on this entire planet earth to participate in the PEACE PROCESS that people and their elementary basic HUMAN RIGHTS will be not violated and abused.

“The campaign reminds us that in a world still reeling from the horrors of the Second World War, the Declaration was the first global statement of what we now take for granted — the inherent dignity and equality of all human beings.”

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

“In the course of this year, unprecedented efforts must be made to ensure that every person in the world can rely on just laws for his or her protection. In advancing all human rights for all, we will move towards the greatest fulfillment of human potential, a promise which is at the heart of the Universal Declaration.”

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour

This is a fact just to celebrate that the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS have been proclaimed in 1948 is certainly not good enough. Human Rights have to be granted and human rights are elementary and fundamental basic rights of all these countries which claim to be a democracy. There is a lot of work in concern of the granting of the basic human rights which needs to be done.

All of us should take a part in this PEACE PROCESS. Promoting, the support and the granting of the human rights is perhaps one of the most important peace processes ever especially in those countries which want to go a step forward and to claim to be a democracy in this world.

Those which do know the Human Rights should support and help those which are oppressed and suffer in many cases beyond description even in 2008.

It is important to know the Universal Human Rights and it is also important to know how to claim the human rights.

Article 18

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

To read and study the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS please go to:

1. http://html.knowyourrights2008.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights/universal-declaration.html

2. http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang
/eng.htm

3. http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/navigate/alpha.htm

4. www.humanrightsreporters.wordpress.com

5. www.menschenrechtsreporter.blogspot.com

6. www.ibsliberty.wordpress.com

7. www.un.org

3mnewswire.org / Liberty and Peace NOW! Human Rights Reporters

Halloween in Aneheim, 1948

It looks like pirate costumes were just as popular 60 years ago as they are today.  And look!  How quaint (or not), there is a little girl in blackface makeup.

From the UCLA Library digital collection.

حروب مصر

 في

 الوثائق الإسرائيلية

محمد البحيري

يصدر في معرض القاهرة الدولي للكتاب

وقريبا في المكتبات

Ford Pick Up F-1, 1948

En Enero de 1948, Ford Motor Company presento su primer vehículo ” All New ” a finales de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, se trataba de la primera Ford Pick Up no basada en un sedán y que sería el primer vehículo conocido como ” Serie F ” siendo llamada F-1. Esta camioneta sería introducida al mercado como una Pick Up flexible, adaptable y de gran fuerza de trabajo en un momento de prosperidad en que la atención del mundo volvía fijarse en la producción del campo; el éxito no se hizo esperar, las primeras Pick Up de la Serie F tuvieron una apariencia destinada a convertirse en un clásico de la Postguerra. 

Esta F-1 fue presentada como un nuevo modelño de Pick Up al que llamaron ” Bonus Built “, queriendo decir que se le había agregado algo extra a su estructura. Para reforzar la robustez, el slogan publicitario del lanzamiento fue ” Construida fuerte para durar más “, hoy en día dicho slogan aún se utiliza para la actual Pick Up. Se lanzaron 8 versiones de acuerdo a la capacidad de carga.

La Bonus incluía una cabina más espaciosa y moderna, una parrilla de rejas longitudinales y anidadas que terminaba en los faros, parabrisas de una sola pieza acompañado de ” ventilas ” laterales en los vidrios de las puertas y sapicaderas cuadradas y gordas. La dirección contaba con un nuevo sistema que lo llamaban ” Out of the way ” o fuera del camino, por estar ubicado por debajo del piso de la camioneta no dejandose ver. Una nueva maquina de 6 cilindros, la robusta 236 de 95 HP y la rediseñada V-8 239 HP ( las tan deseadas y anheladas FLATHEADS ).

Pero unos años más tarde la introducción de una moderna y reducida maquina con válvulas a la cabeza ( OVERHEAD ) 6 cilindros señalaba que la época de las maquinas con válvulas laterales o chatas ( FLATHEADS ) de las Series F llegaba a su fin. Ford vendió al menos 290,000 de estas primeras Series F en el año de 1948, mucho más de lo que había vendido cualquier otro modelo desde 1929.  Entre los años de 1948 y 1950 las F-1 tuvieron cambios menores, sin embargo el primer ” Restyling ” fue en los años 50′ en donde Ford le dio a las Pick Up características más cercanas a la de los autos sedán, perfeccionandolas y en el modelo 1951 se introdujo un cambio radical en su carrocería, con una nueva parrilla, una ventana trasera más grande, interiores diseñados con un nuevo tablero de instrumentos y una nueva defensa.

Colección: OLA, México.

“You can have my dead body,

but you can never have my obedience.”

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

(2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948)

Artículo publicado por la web Club Lorem Ipsum el 13 de abril de 2007.

El final de la II Guerra Mundial trajo consigo la división del mundo entre las dos grandes cosmovisiones. En contra de lo que esperaban los occidentales más optimistas, Stalin y su régimen no habían cambiado -salvo en el incremento de su poderío- a raíz de su estrecha relación con británicos y norteamericanos durante el conflicto. La URSS mantenía su antigua aspiración de llevar a cabo la revolución comunista a escala mundial. De esta manera, a lo largo de los años 1945 y 1946, las diferencias entre los miembros de la triunfadora Gran Alianza –anglosajones y eslavos- fueron ampliándose. En 1947, como demuestran los documentos oficiales de estas potencias y las declaraciones de sus dirigentes, la brecha resultaba ya insalvable: había dado comienzo la Guerra Fría.

El “Telón de Acero”, descrito magistralmente por Winston Churchill en Fulton (Missouri), había caído sobre Europa. Sin embargo, cabe preguntarse cómo llegaron todos los países del Este a formar parte del sistema planetario que giraba en torno al gran sol del Kremlin. Es cierto que así lo habían acordado los vencedores de la II Guerra Mundial en las conferencias de Yalta y Potsdam. También es verdad que el Ejército Rojo ocupaba, con la presión que ello suponía, esos territorios. No obstante, lo más interesante de todo el proceso de sovietización de la Europa del Este no son estas cuestiones fundamentales para el triunfo comunista. Lo curioso, el aspecto en el que se va a centrar este artículo, es cómo se las ingeniaron los soviéticos para dar un ropaje de aparente legalidad a la revolución política que llevaron a cabo en esos países; cómo trataron de hacer creer al mundo –aunque en el fondo todos sabían la verdad- que eran esos pueblos los que habían escogido la senda del marxismo-leninismo.

Mientras el ejército de los soviets iba liberando la parte oriental del continente del yugo nacionalsocialista –es curioso ese fenómeno de cambiar la esclavitud parda por la roja-, desde Moscú se preparaban para transformar estos territorios en estados-satélite. Cientos de políticos y propagandista comunistas de nacionalidad húngara, polaca, checoslovaca, búlgara y rumana caminaban detrás de las divisiones rusas con la misión de organizar el partidos comunista de sus respectivos países. Sándor Márai, al hablar de ellos en ¡Tierra! ¡Tierra!, dice que llegaron demacrados y sin nada que llevarse a la boca. Sin embargo, con la ayuda de las autoridades soviéticas, lograron ocupar los principales puestos de la administración del Estado en pocas semanas. Dejaron de ser unos miserables y pasaron a disfrutar de las comodidades y lujos reservados a marqueses, empresarios y mariscales. Así, más o menos, describe el literato húngaro la llegada de estos personajes. Ahí estarían comunistas míticos como Bierut, Rákosi, Gottwald, Rajk, Pauker… políticos que en pocos meses, bajo la supervisión y auxilio de Moscú, tomaron el control de media Europa.

No obstante, resultaba evidente que, de cara a los primeros comicios de posguerra, estos misioneros del internacionalismo no iban a lograr el respaldo electoral necesario para gobernar. Por esa razón, Stalin decidió resucitar la figura del frentepopulismo para formar grandes coaliciones de izquierdas. Los Frentes Populares habían funcionado ya en el periodo anterior a la II Guerra Mundial -en especial en Francia y España-, y su finalidad principal era contener la expansión del fascismo por Europa. El Kremlin favoreció en los años treinta la consecución de esos pactos porque veía en ellos, no sólo un arma eficaz para evitar el surgimiento de nuevos hitleres, sino también porque aspiraba a instaurar el comunismo a través de ellos. En los gobiernos frentepopulistas los comunistas estaban destinados a ocupar los principales resortes del control estatal: la seguridad y la propaganda. Podían no ser numerosos, tampoco hacía falta que ocuparan muchos ministerios; tan sólo hacía era necesario que se situasen en los puestos claves. Desde esa posición de influencia los comunistas miembros del ejecutivo tendrían que ir eliminando legal o moralmente a sus rivales. Seguían la llamada “táctica del salchichón”: iban minando poco a poco a los enemigos, después a los aliados, y, finalmente, era en el propio partido donde se llevaban a cabo las purgas. Este manera de extender la revolución bolchevique se ensayó al final del periodo de Entreguerras, pero su gran éxito como modelo de actuación política llegó con el final de la II Guerra Mundial.

Entre 1945 y 1947 fueron desfilando por las cárceles y juzgados de la Europa del Este miles de personas acusadas de apoyar al fascismo. Las primeras víctimas de estos procesos fueron los políticos de la derecha, pero más tarde les llegó el turno a la izquierda moderada. A todos se les tachó de fascistas, tan sólo se salvaron los miembros de los partidos comunistas. Quedaba un pequeño paso para establecer regímenes totalitarios de partido único: su proclamación. A la altura de 1948 todos los países ocupados por el Ejército Rojo, con la excepción de Austria y Alemania, habían cumplido ese requisito. En apenas tres años el frentepopulismo había abierto a los soviéticos las puertas de la “revolución legal”. Habían eliminado toda oposición, incluso la de los antiguos aliados de la izquierda. A partir de ahí comenzaba un camino aún más tortuoso: el de las purgas internas. Entre 1948 y 1953 el pecado ya no era ser fascista, sino revisionista.

Así fue como, bajo el amparo del Ejército Rojo, se operó el cambio político al otro lado del “Telón de Acero”. Fueron necesarias la presencia militar de la URSS y la, hasta 1947, aquiescencia del mundo occidental. Sin embargo, la operación nunca hubiera llegado a ser tan perfecta sin el frentepopulismo y la “táctica del salchichón”. Gracias a estos dos elementos el comunismo construyó en estos países un edificio político que logró mantenerse durante cuarenta años en pleno corazón de Europa.

Bibliografía:

[1] Historia Universal Contemporánea II; Javier Paredes (Coord.) - Barcelona - Ariel - 2004.

[2] La guerra del mundo: los conflictos del siglo XX y el declive de occidente (1904-1953); Niall Ferguson - Barcelona - Debate - 2007.

[3] Postguerra. Una historia de Europa desde 1945; Tony Judt – Madrid – Taurus -2006.

[4] La Batalla de Budapest. Historia de la insurrección húngara de 1956; Ricardo M. Martín de la Guardia, Guillermo A. Pérez Sánchez, István Szilágyi - Madrid - Actas - 2006.

[5] ¡Tierra! ¡Tierra!; Sándor Márai - Barcelona - Salamandra - 2006.

Courtesy wikipedia (click on link for cited references):

Election of 1948

Truman was so widely expected to lose the 1948 election that the Chicago Tribune ran this incorrect headline. Truman is standing on the rear platform of the train car Ferdinand Magellan at St. Louis Union Station.

The 1948 presidential election is best remembered for Truman’s stunning come-from-behind victory. In the spring of 1948, Truman’s public approval rating stood at 36 percent, and the president was nearly universally regarded as incapable of winning the general election. The “New Deal” operatives within the party—including FDR’s son James—tried to swing the Democratic nomination to General Dwight D. Eisenhower, a wildly popular figure whose political views—and party affiliation—were totally unknown. Eisenhower emphatically refused to accept, and Truman outflanked opponents to his nomination.

At the 1948 Democratic National Convention, Truman attempted to calm turbulent domestic political waters by placing a tepid civil rights plank in the party platform; the aim was to assuage the internal conflicts between the northern and southern wings of his party. Events overtook the president’s efforts at compromise, however. A sharp address given by Mayor Hubert Humphrey of Minneapolis—as well as the local political interests of a number of urban bosses—convinced the Convention to adopt a stronger civil rights plank, which Truman approved wholeheartedly. All of Alabama’s delegates, and a portion of Mississippi’s, walked out of the convention in protest. Unfazed, Truman delivered an aggressive acceptance speech attacking the 80th Congress and promising to win the election and “make these Republicans like it.”

Within two weeks, Truman issued Executive Order 9981, racially integrating the U.S. Armed Services. Truman took considerable political risk in backing civil rights, and many seasoned Democrats were concerned that the loss of Dixiecrat support might destroy the Democratic Party. The fear seemed well justified—Strom Thurmond declared his candidacy for the presidency and led a full-scale revolt of Southern “states’ rights” proponents. This revolt on the right was matched by a revolt on the left, led by former Vice President Henry A. Wallace on the Progressive Party ticket. Immediately after its first post-FDR convention, the Democratic Party found itself disintegrating. Victory in November seemed a remote possibility indeed, with the party not simply split but divided three ways.

There followed a remarkable 21,928-mile (35,290 km) presidential odyssey, an unprecedented personal appeal to the nation. Truman and his staff crisscrossed the United States in the presidential train; his “whistlestop” tactic of giving brief speeches from the rear platform of the observation car Ferdinand Magellan came to represent the entire campaign. His combative appearances, such as those at the town square of Harrisburg, Illinois, captured the popular imagination and drew huge crowds. Six stops in Michigan drew a combined total of half a million people; a full million turned out for a New York City ticker-tape parade.

The large, mostly spontaneous gatherings at Truman’s depot events were an important sign of a critical change in momentum in the campaign—but this shift went virtually unnoticed by the national press corps, which continued reporting Republican Thomas Dewey’s apparent impending victory as a certainty. One reason for the press’ inaccurate projection was polls conducted primarily by telephone in a time when many people, including much of Truman’s populist base, did not own a telephone. This skewed the data to indicate a stronger support base for Dewey than existed, resulting in an unintended and undetected projection error that may well have contributed to the perception of Truman’s bleak chances. The three major polling organizations also stopped polling well before the November 2 election date—Roper in September, and Crossley and Gallup in October—thus failing to measure the very period when Truman appears to have surged past Dewey.

In the end, Truman held his midwestern base of progressives, won most of the Southern states despite his civil rights plank, and squeaked through with narrow victories in a few critical “battleground” states, notably Ohio, California, and Illinois. The final tally showed that the president had secured 303 electoral votes, Dewey 189, and Thurmond only 39. Henry Wallace got none. The defining image of the campaign came after Election Day, when Truman held aloft the erroneous front page of the Chicago Tribune with a huge headline proclaiming “Dewey Defeats Truman.”

peste 40000 de persoane a asistat la Marele Premiu.
“Triumful sporturilor cu motor din tara noastra este un fapt implinit”
TRAIAN MATEI, ION SPICIU, WALTER AGATON, NICULAE NICULICI, ALEXE DE VASSAL SI ALEXANDRU FRIM INVINGATORII ZILEI

Ziua de 6 iunie, sorocita MARELUI PREMIU AL REPUBLICII POPULARE ROMANE, spre care in ultimul timp au fost indreptat toate atentiile sportului romanesc, a reusit sa intreaca cele mai optime calcule constituind un triumf complet atat ca organizare cat si in ceea ce priveste calitatea curselor disputate.
O multme imensa, peste 40 000 de spectatori, cifra record in istoria motociclismului si automobilismului nostru, au venit sa ia parte la uriasa manifestatie motociclista de ieri, au umplut tribunele si intreg lungul traseului, au palpitat ca un singur om, impreuna cu concurentii care au creat un spectacol de neuitat.
*
Cursele au inceput la ora 9:30, cand au luat loc in tribuna oficiala d-nii: Dr. Petru Groza, presedintele consiliului de ministri, GH. Gheorghiu Dej, prim-vicepresedinte al Cons. de ministri Teohari Gerogescu, ministru Afacerilor Interne, GH. Vasilichi, ministrul invatamantului public, Miron Constantinescu, ministrul Minelor si Petrolului, Bucur Schiopul, ministrul Comertuui, dupa ce in prealabil toti concurentii motociclisti si automobilisti au luat plecarea in turul de “prezentare”.
*
TRAIAN MATEI
…si-a adjudecat destul de usor primul loc al categoriei, Dumitru Niculici fiind destul de departe de a doilea. Ii urmeaza in oridine Niculae Barza, care a facut o cursa frumoasa si Stefan Nicu, pe micul sau DKW de 125cmc.
ION SPICIU
…a castigat, dupa cum prevazuseram noi, cursa motocicletelor cu atas, intr-un stil categoric. Cuplul Ion Spiciu-Jean Ghisescu a dat dovada de multa virtuozitate si talent.
NICULAE NICULICI si WALTER AGATON
…au furnizat spectatorilor, in cea mai importanta proba motociclista a zilei, momente emotionante prin lupta extraordinar de stransa pe care au dus-o metru cu metru pe cele 35 ture ale parcursului.
Alergatori de super clasa, au facut amandoi o cursa spelndida, memorabila, emotionanta pana la extenuare pentru intreaga asistenta.
Rezultataul, au fost doi invingatori: Walter Agaton pentru clasa 500cmc si Niculae Niculici pentru clasa 1000cmcm, primul dispunand usor de ceilalti concurenti ai clasei superioare.
ALEXE DE VASSAL
…dupa o cursa facuta cu mult “cap”, a reusit sa iasa castigator absolut al celor doua clase de automobile, dupa ce s-a luptat toata cursa cu Petre Cristea. marele favorit, ing. Jean Calcianu, dupa ce a condus 19 ture, luand avans apreciabil, a fost silit sa abandoneze din cauz aunui defect tehnic.
Petre Cristea s-a aratat a fi un tehnician desavarsit, posedand din plin arta virajelor.

REZULTATELE TEHNICE
Motociclete
Categoria sport - clasa 250cmc.
1. Traian Matei (TWN) - 34′31″25
2. D-tru Niculici (Triumph) - 34′44″88
3. Niculae Barza (Yawa) - 35′35″14
4. Stefan Nicu (DKW 225) - 96′53″88

Categoria sport - clasa 1000cmc. atas
1. Ion Spiciu (BMW) - 22′20″10
2. Otto Pffenings (Zundapp) - 23′46″80
3. Sava Stroe (BMW) - 24′16″98

Categoria sport - clasa 500cmc.
1. Walter Agaton (BMW) - 1h08′00
2. Pandele Crasnaru (BMW)
3. Gh.Munteanu(BMW)

Categoria sport - clasa 1000cmc.
1. Niculae Niculici - 1h7′56″76
2. Alexe Gheorghiu - 1h10′31″56
3. Victor Stanescu
4. A. Hessheimer

AUTOMOBILE
1. Alexe de Vassal (BMW 2l) - 40′34″…
2. Petre Cristea (BMW) - 40′51″14
3. Alexendru Frim (Jaguar 3,5l) - 43′13″…
4. Sergiu Nadler (BMW 2l) - 43′17″…

THE BOMBAY SHOPS & ESTABLISHMENTS ACT 1948
APPLICABILITY.
n 1. The Act extends to the State of Maharashtra.
n 2. Is intended to regulate the conditions of work and employment in commercial establishments, shops, eating houses, restaurants, theatres, etc.
n 3. The Act applies to all employees (including apprentices) and also covers indirect labour, that is contract labour.

OBLIGATIONS OF THE EMPLOYER

1. Obtain a license from the authorities.
2. Display it in the premises.
3. Inform the authority of any changes.
4. Renew the license to maintain validity.
5. Opening Hours not earlier than 8.30 AM.
6. Closing hours not later 8.30 PM.
7. Working Hours: Maximum 9 hours a day and 48 hours in any week
8. Rest interval: At least 1 hour – Within 5 hours from starting time.
9. Spread-over in a CE shall not exceed 11 hours
10. Overtime at double the rate of payment for work done beyond the limits of hours of work.
11. Special provisions regarding hours of work, etc. for ‘Young persons’ (those are more than 15 years of age but are less than 17 years)
12. A paid weekly-off if employee has put in employment for 6 days.

LEAVE & HOLIDAYS

1. Leave:

a. 5 days for every 60 days worked, if the person has been employed for not less than 3 months in a year.
However, where an employee has worked not less than 240 days during a year shall be allowed leave for not less than 21 days in a year.
b. Above leave is inclusive of intervening weekly-offs and paid holidays.
c. In case of termination of service unavailed leave is to be encashed.
d. Advance of 50% of leave wages to be paid before he proceeds on approved leave.

LEAVE & HOLIDAYS
2 Holidays: January 26th, May 1st, August 15th, and October 2nd. are compulsory paid holidays under the Act.

Note: If an employee is required to work on any of these holidays he will be eligible for a compensatory holiday in addition to double the payment for the holiday on which he has worked.

IMPORTANT PROVISIONS

1. The Act brings in the applicability of:
? The Payment of Wages Act,
? Maternity Benefit Act,
? Workmen’s Compensation Act, and
· The Industrial Employment Standing Orders Act where there are more than 50 workmen.

IMPORTANT PROVISIONS

2. Notice of termination of Service: Notice of termination will be governed as under:
a. Upto 3 months of Employment: NIL.
b. More than 3 months: 14 days notice in writing (or wages in lieu thereof).
c. Employment one year or more:- at least 30 days notice in writing (or wages in lieu thereof).

IMPORTANT PROVISIONS

3. Restrictions on double employment are imposed on the employee as well as the employer.
4. Various provisions exist for maintenance of registers, records and display of notices.

THE EMPLOYEES’ STATE INSURANCE ACT & SCHEME

BENEFITS

• 1. The ESI Act,1948 provides for the following benefits to employees:
• · Sickness Benefit
• · Medical Benefit
• · Maternity Benefit
• · Disablement Benefit
• · Dependent’s Benefit
• · Rehabilitation Allowance
• · Funeral Expenses.
• 2. A Unique Multi-dimensional Contributory Social Security Scheme based on Insurance.
• 3. Coverage of employed persons as per the Act COMPULSORY .

APPLICABILITY

1. The Act is applicable to:
a. All factories.
b. Section 1(5) permits, extension of the provisions of the Act, to any other class of establishments, industrial, commercial or agricultural.
2. Although “shop” is not defined it has been held by judicial interpretation to cover an activity where goods or services are sold. No premises is necessary.
3. The Act applies to all employees drawing salary, exclusive of overtime earnings, upto Rs.10,000 per month. Rs. 25,000/- for persons with disability(Rule 50).
4. “Employee” includes:
· indirect labour (contract workers)
· trainees and apprentices other than those engaged under the Apprentices Act,1961.

CONTRIBUTIONS PAYABLE

1. Contributions based on ‘wages’.
2. Definition of ‘wages’ in Section 2(22) is very wide.
3. Contribution Rates (Rule 51):
· Employer’s Contribution: 4.75% of wages.
· Employees’ Contribution: 1.75% of wages.
Note: For payment of contributions overtime earnings are to be included.

CONTRIBUTION & BENEFIT PERIODS

1. The quantum of benefits that employees are eligible to receive during a benefit period is linked to the contributions actually paid in the respective contribution period. (Regulation 4).
2. CONTRIBUTION PERIOD BENEFIT PERIOD
1st. April to 30th. September. 1st.Jan to 30th. June
1st. October to 31st. March 1st. July to Dec. 31st.

• DUTIES OF AN EMPLOYER

The Employer must ensure to:
• 1. Register the factory/establishment. (Regulation 10B).
• 2. Complete filling the Declaration Forms the same day the employees join employment. (Regulation 11).
• 3. Submit declarations forms in Form 3 within 10 days. (Regulation 14).
• 4. Issue Temporary Identification Certificates (TIC) received from ESIC to the Insured Persons.
• 5. Assist the ESIC. (Regulation 16).
• 6. Help in issuing Identity Cards. (Regulation 17).
• 7. Issue a certificate of employment to employee who falls sick before issuance of the TIC to enable him to get treatment.
• 8. Remit the ESI contributions every month before the 21st.of the month. (Regulation 31).
• 9. Send Return of Contribution Cards within 42 days of the end of the Contribution Period. (Regulation 26). In case of Closure: 21 days.
• 10. Contractor maintains register in Form 7.
• 11. Pay 15% p.a. interest for delay/default in sending contributions. (Regn.31-A)
• 12. Pay damages, where levied, for delayed payments. (regulation 31- C).
• 13. Keep challans in proper custody. In case of contractor’s employees retain xerox of all challans. (VERY IMPORTANT).
• 14. Maintain Register of employees.
• 15. Maintain Inspection Book. (Regulation 102-A).
• 16. Arrange immediate First Aid assistance.
• 17. Maintain Accident Book. (Form 13).
• 18. Prepare and send Accident Report (Regulation 68). (Form 16).

• DUTIES OF AN EMPLOYER
IN CASE OF FATAL ACCIDENTS

In case of fatal accidents, the employer must send intimation by telegram/special messenger to:
• a. Inspector of Factories.
• b. Administrative Medical Officer, ESIC.
• c. District Magistrate.
• d. Police Station.
• e. Nearest Relative.
• f. Form 24 to Factory Inspector.
• g. Form 16 to AMO, ESIC.

• In case of fatal accidents, the employer must send intimation by telegram/special messenger to:
• a. Inspector of Factories.
• b. Administrative Medical Officer, ESIC.
• c. District Magistrate.
• d. Police Station.
• e. Nearest Relative.
• f. Form 24 to Factory Inspector.
• g. Form 16 to AMO, ESIC.
• OTHER IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF THE ACT
1. Section 53: Bars an injured employee (or his/her dependents) from claiming/receiving benefits under the Workmen’s Compensation Act or any other law, including a claim under tort.
• 2. Section 61: Bars an employee entitled to receive benefits under the ESIS from any other enactment.
• 3. Section 68: Provides that the employer will pay twice the contribution or difference in benefits received due to default in payment of contributions by him (whichever is higher).
• 4. Section 73: Prohibits the employer from dismissing, discharging or punishing an employee who is receiving sickness, disablement or maternity benefit during such period

• 5. Sections 45 to 45-I: Wide powers given to the Corporation.
• 6. Regulation 97 deals with discontinuation or reduction of benefits.
• 7. Regulation 98 states that if the service conditions of the employer permit the employer may discharge/reduce on due notice an employee:
• · Receiving TDB for 6 months or more.
• · Receiving medical treatment for 6 months or more.
• · Receiving medical treatment for infectious diseases like TB, for 18 months or more.

BENEFITS UNDER THE ESIC

1. Rule 54 gives Table of Average Daily Wages and Standard Benefit.
• 2. SICKNESS BENEFIT:
• Except first 2 days, cash benefit approx. equal to 50% wages upto 91 days – Rule 55.
• 3. EXTENDED SICKNESS BENEFIT:
• For TB, leprosy, & Mental Diseases: upto 309 days, provided he is in employment for 2 years. (By Notification).
• 4. MATERNITY BENEFIT:
• Qualifying Period of Contribution: Min. 70 days.
• 12 weeks benefit @ twice the Standard Benefit. (Rule 56)
• 5. MISCARRIAGE: Upto 6 weeks benefit. (Rule 56-A).
• 6. Medical Bonus: Rs.250.
• 7. DISABLEMENT BENEFIT:
• Excluding first 3 days, TBD @ Standard Benefit + 40% till incapacity remains. (Rule 57).
• 8. DEPENDENT’S BENEFIT: @ Standard Benefit + 40% - Rule 58.
• 9. MEDICAL BENEFIT: Medicines from panel doctor — Section 56.
• 10. FUNERAL BENEFIT: Rs.2500 – Rule 59.
• 11. MEDICAL BENEFIT (POST RETIREMENT): For self and spouse medical benefit on payment of Rs.10 per month. Or lump-sum payment. Conditions: Minimum 5 years as an Insured Person and must superannuate. (Rule 61).

BENEFITS UNDER THE ESIC
• 12. REHABILITATION ALLOWANCE: For attending to artificial limbs centre. (By Notification).
• DEBARRING OF BENEFITS: Regulation 99A debars an IP from receiving SB or TDB on any day of strike except:
• · Where he is receiving medical treatment as an indoor patient.
• · Where he is receiving extended sickness benefit.
• · Where he is receiving SB or TDB immediately before commencement of strike.
• · Where the IP has undergone vasectomy/tubectomy operation.

THE WORKMEN’S MINIMUM HOUSE-RENT ALLOWANCE ACT, 1983.
Applicability
• 1. A State enactment to provide for minimum house rent allowance to workmen employed in Maharashtra.
• 2. Applies to factories and establishments employing fifty or more workmen in the area in which it is in force by notification. Does not cover contract workmen or indirect workmen.
• 3. ‘Workman’ in this Act means workman as defined in the I.D.Act.
• 4. ‘Wages’ means basic and dearness allowance.

QUANTUM & CONDITIONS FOR PAYMENT OF HRA

1. 1. Section 4 mandates payment of HRA not less than 5% of the workman’s Basic + DA, or Rs.20, which ever is higher,
a) provided where the service is less than a month he shall be paid proportionate HRA.
b) ‘Service during the month’ includes lay-of, any kind of paid leave, including weekly offs, lockout where wages are paid, days of disablement for employment injury, maternity leave of 12 weeks for which HRA is to be paid.
2. Where more favourable terms through agreement, settlement or award are available the workmen will be eligible for such terms.

QUANTUM & CONDITIONS FOR PAYMENT OF HRA

3. Where workmen are provided residential accommodation by the employer and a deduction is made then,
a) If the amount deducted is higher than HRA, then the deduction stands reduced to the extent of the HRA under the Act and no HRA is payable. (Section 4[4] a)
b) If the amount deducted is lesser than the HRA payable under the Act, the HRA payable will stand reduced to the extent of the deduction and the balance shall be paid to the workman. (Section 4[4] b)
c) When free accommodation is provided, and no deduction is made, then no HRA is payable. (Section 5).

4. In case of non-payment of HRA application can be made to the Controlling Authority (CA). The CA after giving opportunity to the applicant and the employer can determine the HRA payable and issue directions as required.
5. In case of a dispute regarding HRA such dispute shall be deemed to be in industrial dispute under the ID Act and the provisions of such Act shall apply.
6. Section 8 read with Rule 4 provides for registers and records to be maintained and permits records already maintained by the employer to be adequate compliance.

Regards,

Pinal Mehta

Fragment Design x Nike Tennis Classic’s dropped at Dover Street Market Yesterday

FASHIONABLE OTAKU

Children say the darnedest things!

and sometimes, they are blessed with common sense far beyond their years

I hope we don’t have to resort to this…

“Free Gaza” commemorates USS Liberty sailors with a small memorial upon arriving in Gaza

They tossed Roses into the sea to honor the dead sailors

ANIS ONLINE

no explanation required…

swiped from The West

Freemasonic Israel

Except for the image caption no further explanation provided

United, WE stand;

Divided, WE fall -

Come together America!

As you read this, you will no doubt inhale and exhale a few times.  Go ahead, you can’t help yourself.  In fact, unless you’re very good at holding your breath, you have no choice in the matter.  But try this experiment:  Exhale as completely as possible.  Now slowly… slowly inhale… as slowly as possible, and don’t stop until you have to.

I tried it and I got to 60 seconds before I just couldn’t inhale anymore air.  I had to let it out.

Ironically, the US economy started “inhaling” about 60 years ago and pretty much continued expanding its lungs as much as it could—ok, with a few slight exhales—but for the most part, not.  And so now we are at a point where not only we exhale, but the world is exhaling greatly as well.

Any thing that holds air can only be inflated so much before something has to give.  Even the mighty RCA Dome that gave the Indianapolis skyline its distinction for so long had to be deflated.  And so the economies of the world deflate… and at this we are surprised?

How high can prices for consumer goods go?  How small can that food item get and stay the same price?  How many more months are consumers willing to finance a car?  And who can afford a house at a decent price? 

It’s a simple principle we all learn as a child:  What goes up, MUST come down.

We should be grateful for slow deflation rather than an absolute crash.

Here are some of my terrific tablemates at the All-Class reunion hosted by the Classes of 1948 & 1949.  What an amazing evening!  There were representatives from many different classes at this event.  Most of the people at my table in the photo were from the Class of 1945.  There was one alumni from the Class of 1924.  She was 102 and looked beautiful.  To my knowledge, she represented the oldest alumni that returned for a reunion this year. 

The Classes of 1948 & 1949 presented the NPPS Foundation gifts in the hope that they can start a fund that helps the Foundation continue the alumni newsletter.  NPPS Foundation would like to know what you think.  You can send your thoughts to dsmith@nppsd.org or comment on this blog. 

Planning for next years reunions has begun.  Please watch the Foundation website at www.nppsf.org for more information as classes decide upon their plans.  If you are a class organizer, please let the Foundation assist you.  There are many things we can do to help you.