Category Archives: Sealand

If 23&Me has yet to reveal a long-lost royal relative, there are plenty of sites that promise to make you a Russian tsarina, a German count, or an Irish lord all for a mere $10.

For a bit more, you can upgrade a loved one or your entire family, a popular gift for the Downton Abbey fan who has everything except noble blood.

Or, you could join Ed Sheeran and become a baron of Sealand a WWII defense platform just off the coast of England. For $45, youll get a deed and documents about Sealand, and the ability to connect with fellow Sealand barons around the world.

Our titles offer you the chance to be a part of the Sealands story and adventure, which is totally unique, says Prince Liam Bates, the grandson of the pirate radio broadcaster who declared Sealand a nation in 1967.

The business of nobility titles some more legit than others is proliferating, with dozens of sites hawking titles, and deals everywhere you turn.

The Hustle set out to learn more about the business. And in our attempted journey from peasant to noble, we uncovered a bizarre world of colorful characters and hard-to-spot scams.

British peerage dates back to the feudal system when someone could gain a title (baron, viscount, earl, marquess, duke) by blood, marriage, or from the crown.

Today, most sites claiming to sell you one of these titles use the honorific lord or lady.

An ad on Groupon to become the tsar or tsarina of Marinovka, a small forest in Russia (Groupon)

However, British peerage cant be bought or sold. Neither can chivalric order titles like knight or dame, or baronetcies, which are hereditary.

Nobility from other countries is often equally, if not more, meaningless. (Russian nobility, for example, hasnt been acknowledged since the Bolshevik revolution.)

Usually, all a buyer really gets is a fancy certificate that bestows upon them a meaningless title and perhaps a few keepsakes.

Some services also come with a deed poll, which, in the UK, lets you change your first name to Lord or Lady. But Brits can already do that for free, like the UK man who changed his name to Mark I Love Spam Benson and got married at the Spam Museum in Minnesota.

In the US, it costs ~$150-$450 to change your name. But if you ask nicely, maybe your friends will call you Lord Dave of Culver City or Lady Jennifer of Bowling Green.

Bonafide British noble Richard Bridgeman, the 7th Earl of Bradford, is the operator of the site Fake Titles, which warns people of title scams.

He told The Hustle he started the site after someone paid to become Lord Newport, which is actually Richards sons title. This led him to discover one scam after another in an industry he estimates to be worth millions of pounds.

Richard doesnt care about protecting his own title and will happily explain real ways to buy them, but seems to find it offensive that people can profit off what is essentially nothing.

The whole thing is ludicrous and should be stamped on, he told us.

Despite his warnings, people continue to buy fake titles while others, like Sealand, successfully use the ruse to fund projects.

Scottish Barony titles are the only real titles on the market. Michael Yellowlees, partner and head of rural services at Scottish law firm Lindsays, told The Hustle theyre very rare and currently run between US ~$120k-$130k or even more for Lordships, Earldoms, and Marquisates.

Baronies can be sold, transferred, or bequeathed (which is most common), and because of their rarity, they have retained their value despite various economic downturns, Yellowlees said.

German noble titles can also be had for a hefty sum via adoption. Per Bloomberg, it costs about ~$100k to become a baron and $975k or more to be a prince. Of course, Germanys monarchy is long gone and nobility comes with no legal perks.

Stuff that isnt real, like recreated lordships of the manor that died out many years ago, reverted to the crown, and thus, Richard said, no longer exist.

One man shelled out $2.8k for a likely non-existent manor, per British tabloid The Sunday Mercury. Another paid $20k to become a German prince, then hired a private investigator who appeared to uncover a many-layered fraud.

The author spent $10 for this certificate declaring her the tsarina of a Russian forest. Nobility hasnt been recognized in Russia since 1917. (Juliet Bennett Rylah)

Manorial lordships, which date back centuries and refer to not a lord, but the lord of a manor or rural estate. Because lordships can be split from their associated land, most dont come with any.

When the Manor House in Horton, Gower went up for sale for $1m+ in 2017, an attorney who specializes in medieval manorial rights told the BBC it was the second time in 40 years that hed seen a lordship come with property.

A handful may come with other privileges, like mining or fishing rights. The Lord or Lady of Horton has rights to any wreckage within the manors coastal boundaries.

A man once bought several lordships in Wales, then tried to charge his neighbors to cross the verges in front of their homes like he was playing Monopoly. (It didnt work.)

In 2001, Charles Dixon-Spains wife, Sadie Dixon-Spain, bought him one square foot of land in Scotland. They were relocating from England, and the gift was a promise to each other that soon, wed own a few more square feet, he told The Hustle via email.

Dixon-Spain soon learned his plot was in an inaccessible field in Argyll and that the company that sold it wasnt even based in Scotland.

A couples package to become Lord and Lady at Dunans Castle is $29 on Groupon (plus shipping). It includes a certificate, information about the castle and area, a map, and visitors guide. (Groupon)

These schemes are billed as Scottish Lairdships, and there are several sites that hawk them through Groupon and social media ads. They come with a small souvenir plot of land and purport to make you the lord or lady of it.

They cost as little as $50 and Ice Cube has one, but it doesnt make you lord of anything.

A year after Dixon-Spain received his souvenir plot, the couple came upon the ruins of Dunans Castle, a wrecked 19th-century mock castle and an 18th-century home in Glendaruel.

Back in 1999, Lord and Lady Marr bought Dunans Castle and ran it as a hotel, offering among other activities a juice cleanse retreat. In less than 2 years, it was gutted by a fire.

And it turned out Lord and Lady Marr were actually Robert and Ewa Lucas-Gardiner. Ewa had you guessed it bought the titles online years prior.

The Dixon-Spains bought Dunans in 2003 for ~$320k and finished renovating the smaller Dunans House in 2009, where they now live.

The ruins of Dunans Castle (David Solman)

But it turns out restoring a burned-out castle is expensive about $5.6m to $9.9m before taxes. Because thats more than its value, Dixon-Spain said they cant borrow funds.

So, in 2010, they established The Scottish Laird Project, which sells decorative titles and plots to finance the castles return to glory. Once finished, it will become a tourist attraction and events space, and its nobles can even vacation there.

If the whole thing sounds a bit theatrical, the Dixon-Spains are versed in that, too. Sadie also runs the Walking Theatre Company, an interactive theater troupe that has performed all over the world, including at Dunans.

The plot-of-land game isnt exclusive to Scotland.

Jack Daniels Tennessee Squire Association formed in 1956 when demand for its whiskey was higher than the distillery could meet.

An employee proposed that fans who wrote in about the shortage would get a plot of the Lynchburg distillery, thus making them part-owner and Squire.

Today, new Squires must be nominated and enjoy perks like free parking at the distillery, gifts, and events.

The website Elite Titles which bills itself as a title change service suggests that by going from Mrs. to Viscountess, youll experience life as a VIP or celebrity with free hotel and airline upgrades.

A nobility title in Dartmouth, Devon goes for ~$1.4k on Elite Titles (Elite Titles)

Richard said that in his 73 years as an actual noble, this has never happened to him.

You will find people with titles are not overbearing and trying to claim things that theyre not entitled to, whereas people who bought fake titles try to claim everything, Richard told us.

Yellowlees, the property lawyer from Lindsays, said in his experience with baronies, its predominantly been for social status, an interest in heraldry (referring to coats of arms, crests, etc.), or to connect with Scottish ancestry.

I acted for one American gentleman who acquired the barony of the area in Scotland where his family originated from in the 17th century before emigrating to the States, Yellowlees told us.

For others, its for fun, a quirky gift, or as a joke. One man told The Hustle he bought a couples package one Christmas so he could call his wife mlady and leave family events early by dramatically accusing them of being usurpers.

A lord or lady title in the Principality of Sealand can be had for $45 (Sealandgov.org)

For Dunans nobles, the novelty and restoration appear to be the draw. So far, Dunans Castle has:

Over the next 5 years, the Dixon-Spains plan to invest significantly more in building upgrades, hoping that lords and ladies may be able to stay overnight sometime in 2024.

For now, Dunans offers its nobles glamping in a small cottage, priced at ~$126/night, and tours of the grounds.

Like naming a star, buying nobility isnt possible unless you have a lot of money. Done with transparency, the model could work as a fundraiser, though.

But if you get caught scamming, the Earl of Bradford will expose you on his website and youll deserve it.

More:

The big business of nobility titles - The Hustle

FEW EFFORTS TO DERAIL THE WU TRAIN City Councilor Michelle Wu has been in the Boston mayors race longer than any other candidate. She repeatedly tops polls and is one of only two hopefuls with more than $1 million in the bank.

Yet her rivals routinely target another leading candidate Acting Mayor Kim Janey.

City Councilor Andrea Campbell has challenged Janey on several issues from policing reform to the opioid crisis at Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue. Campbell was the only councilor to vote against both the city and school operating budgets put forward by the administration. And she criticized Janey for celebrating 100 days as acting mayor when she should be "governing."

City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George contrasts with Janey in other ways. As Janey clashed with councilors over the city's budgets, Essaibi George worked to help pass them. Now Essaibi George is building relationships with potential city councilors by inviting the 17 at-large candidates to her home to share their platforms with voters.

"To be successful in the work of serving the people of Boston you have to build relationships," Essaibi George told me. And Janey "is not doing a good enough job of building relationships."

Wu jabbed Janey for announcing a Children's and Youth Cabinet similar to one she proposed months prior. She also joined Campbell, Essaibi George and the majority of the council in voting to give themselves the ability to strip Janeys power as acting mayor.

Yet Wus received little incoming flak. Former city economic development chief John Barros laid the groundwork to challenge Wu for supporting rent control at a development forum last week, but didnt fully take his own bait, and neither did anyone else.

Here are possible reasons why: Janey, as acting mayor, is an easy target. There's also a perception among Boston political watchers that the path to securing one of the top two spots to advance from September's preliminary goes through Janey, in part because Wu's got a sizable base built from years of running successfully citywide.

Should she make it to the final, Wu would have work to do to win over Black voters or those most worried about crime and public safety, depending on which other candidate makes the cut, Suffolk University Political Research Center Director David Paleologos said.

Wu led among Asian American voters and progressives in last month's Suffolk/Boston Globe poll of the mayors race, but trailed, for instance, among Black voters, with just 7% support compared to 42% for Janey and 18% for Campbell.

For now, Wu says shes trying to stop the race from becoming "a blood sport." She told me she wants to draw distinctions through her interactions with voters, as opposed to "a conversation that is just played out over TV ads or over headlines."

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tom Mountain is officially out as vice chair of the MassGOP, but hes still on the state committee, according to party members.

The MassGOP Executive Committee accepted Mountains resignation at a meeting last night. Mountain wasnt there, per an attendee, and didnt respond to a request for comment.

The full state committee intends to hold an election for his successor at its next meeting in September. One person who says he wont be running: Norfolk state Rep. Shawn Dooley, who narrowly lost his challenge to Lyons as chair back in January. Read more from the Boston Heralds Erin Tiernan.

TODAY Gov. Charlie Baker testifies before the legislature (virtually, since he's in Aspen) at 11 a.m. on his ideas for spending $2.9 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funding as lawmakers kick off hearings on doling out the state governments more than $5 billion in federal aid. Secretary of Administration and Finance Mike Heffernan also testifies. Sen. Ed Markey and colleagues hold a press conference in D.C. to push for a Civilian Climate Corps at 9 a.m. The PFAS Interagency Task Force led by state Rep. Kate Hogan and state Sen. Julian Cyr meets at 10 a.m. State Sen. Adam Hinds chairs a Senate Committee on Reimagining Massachusetts Post-Pandemic Resiliency hearing on health disparities, labor and matters specific to metro Boston at 11 a.m. State Sen. Eric Lesser and state Rep. Josh Cutler chair the second Future of Work Commission meeting, featuring former Gov. Deval Patrick and Baker administration officials at 11 a.m., live on Lessers Facebook page.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: [emailprotected]

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Massachusetts reports 717 new COVID cases over the weekend as seven-day average of positive tests ticks above 1%, by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: Massachusetts health officials reported 717 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, according to the latest daily data. Officials also reported 4 new COVID fatalities, bringing the death toll from the pandemic up to 17,659. Mondays new infections include totals reported on Saturday and Sunday. The seven-day average of positive tests is now 1.02% amid a continued rise in infections across Massachusetts."

Baker releases spending plan for $186m in ARPA funds, by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday announced that he will spend $186 million in federal COVID relief funding with a focus on health care and workforce training. the Legislature gave Baker $200 million to spend unilaterally, but lawmakers moved the rest of the $5.3 billion in direct government aid to a segregated fund, where they could control legislatively how the money is spent. Lawmakers have said they want to spend several months gathering input on how to spend the money, while Baker has urged quicker action. In addition to spending the $200 million allotted to his administration, Baker has made a proposal for how to spend another $2.9 billion."

Massachusetts House tees up sports betting legalization bill as lawmakers pitch in-stadium wagers, by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: Sports betting legalization is finally on deck in Massachusetts where it could generate an estimated $70 million in annual tax revenue and lawmakers teeing up amendments that would allow wagering inside stadiums. State representatives are preparing to debate a 38-page rewrite of a bill ... that would legalize betting on professional and college sports for people 21 and older. It includes wagering on esports, video games and car racing but does not yet include language about in-stadium betting. That debate is set for Thursday.

More from MassLive.coms Steph Solis: The committee also approved Sen. Eric Lessers bill, S.269, with several other accompanied proposals to the Senate. The Longmeadow Democrats bill does not legalize college sports betting and proposes different licensing fees.

"Permanent Mail-In Voting Bill Clears Committee Hurdle," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service (paywall): "With the Legislature expected this week to extend voting-by-mail through mid-December, a more comprehensive election reform bill filed by Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem advanced out of committee Monday and Democratic leaders are eyeing action in the Senate as soon as the fall. Creem, a Newton Democrat, filed legislation (S 459) this session that would not only make mail-in voting a permanent option for all voters in Massachusetts before every election, but also legalize same-day voter registration, expand early in-person voting, and improve access to voting for eligible incarcerated residents."

Massachusetts commission meets to discuss redesign of official seal and motto of the Commonwealth, October deadline considered to be unrealistic, by Tristan Smith, MassLive.com: Six months after a commission was created to review the seal and motto of Massachusetts, the group is missing members and doesnt expect to meet the Oct. 1 deadline to file its report."

Top pediatricians recommend masks in school this fall, even for vaccinated children, by Kay Lazar and Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: A top pediatricians group is calling for everyone older than age 2 to wear masks in school this fall, even if they have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation contradicts federal guidelines and drew immediate rebukes from some parents, while a teachers union leader and some academics praised the idea.

Boston University coronavirus vaccine mandate: Faculty and staff could be placed on leave if not vaxxed, by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: Boston University on Monday announced that its requiring all university employees and affiliates to be vaccinated by Sept. 2. If faculty and staff members dont get the jab, they could be on the sidelines this fall, BUs president warned. This announcement comes in the wake of Boston College saying its requiring students, faculty and staff to receive a COVID vaccine prior to the start of the fall semester.

Provincetown issues advisory due to spike in COVID cases, by Michaela Chesin, Provincetown Banner: Provincetown's advisory encourages residents, local businesses and visitors to get tested and stay home if experiencing symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, and to wear masks indoors when social distancing cant be achieved.

Janey Commissioned A Report Into BPD's Handling Of Patrick Rose. Where Is It? by Zoe Mathews, GBH News: More than a month after acting Mayor Kim Janeys deadline for a review into Boston Polices handling of Patrick M. Rose Sr. a former officer and one-time head of the patrolman's union accused of sexually abusing children during his tenure on the force no formal report has been issued. While the city said that the report is complete, weeks have passed since Janeys deadline for Office of Police Accountability and Transparency, or OPAT, director Stephanie Everett to deliver the plan. It has yet to be made public.

Study from Northeastern links violent crime surges in Boston neighborhoods to Airbnb vacation rentals, by Meghan Ottolini, Boston Herald: The peer-reviewed study looked at Airbnb housing data in Boston from 2011 to 2018, data from Northeastern, and 911 dispatches from that same time period. Northeastern professors examined violent and nonviolent crime reports, and found that violent crime tended to rise about a year or two after an increase in Airbnbs.

FBI: More declassified files on Boston mobster James Whitey Bulger on the way, by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: The FBI told the Herald more declassified files on slain Southie mobster James Whitey Bulger are on the way following the release of the first batch of 300 pages from the agency Vault."

In a crowded Boston mayoral race, Annissa Essaibi George charts a different course, by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: In a crowded campaign in which multiple candidates are pitching themselves as the most progressive option, [City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George] has carved her own, more moderate path, most notably when it comes to policing. She shrugs at the centrist label affixed to her by some local political observers. I dont really care. She instead defines herself as a realist, an outlook honed on the streets of Dorchester, where as the daughter of immigrants she grew up and has lived her whole life, and in the classrooms of East Boston, where she taught for 13 years before representing the city as an at-large city councilor. She pushes back on critics who say that she wouldnt, if elected, tackle the problems plaguing the Boston Police Department.

Eight years after last open mayors race, little outcry over super PACs, by Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter: The super PAC backing Acting Mayor Kim Janey is swinging into action, pulling in nearly half a million dollars while focusing on canvassing efforts. The super PAC, supported by the hospitality workers union known as UNITE HERE Local 26, received $420,000 in donations from New York affiliates, according to a recent campaign finance filing. The outside group has spent some of that money on pro-Janey flyers while deploying canvassers. The other super PAC in the race, going by the name Better Boston, is supporting Andrea Campbell, the District 4 councillor. Compared with the 2013 mayoral race, which saw some candidates attempt to curb outside spending, the outcry this time around is far more muted among the contenders.

Building boomed under Marty Walsh. But what about Bostons next mayor? by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: Boston saw a historic building boom during the seven years that former mayor Marty Walsh, a former construction union leader, occupied City Hall. while the field largely agrees on the need for development to address the areas housing shortage, some are pushing for a shift from Walshs more development-friendly approach in order to prioritize residents who are increasingly struggling to afford the high costs of living in Boston.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Julia Mejia has been endorsed by UFCW Local 1445, Jamaica Plain Progressives, and the Massachusetts Womens Political Caucus PAC in her Boston City Council at-large reelection bid, per her campaign. Local 1445 political director Gabriel Camacho called Mejia a fearless advocate for the interests of our members - fighting for better wages, more workforce protections, and dignity for frontline workers.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Rep. Jay Livingstone has endorsed Ruthzee Louijeune for Boston City Council at-large, per her campaign. Ruthzee is an amazing community advocate who will prioritize equity and progressive values. Ive been impressed by her record of accomplishment fighting for working class families, and I know that she will be an effective voice for her constituents, Livingstone, who represents the 8th Suffolk District, said in a statement.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Bridget Nee-Walsh has earned the endorsement of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen Local 3 in her campaign for Boston City Council at-large, per her campaign. Bridget Nee-Walsh has been a union Ironworker for 15 years, and on the City Council, she will be a champion for working-class families, Local 3 business agent Chuck Russo said in a statement.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront has scheduled its Boston mayoral forum for 4:30 p.m. July 29 at the Simons Theatre at the New England Aquarium, with Boston Globe columnist and associate editor Shirley Leung and El Mundo Boston president and CEO Alberto Vasallo III co-moderating.

Lowell Election Commission adopts Common Cause roadmap proposal on voting locations, by Alana Melanson, Lowell Sun: The Election Commission voted last Thursday to adopt a 'roadmap' proposal by Common Cause Massachusetts that would bring at least two polling locations to each of the citys eight new districts for this years election, but how that would be carried out remains in question."

Kickoff events, endorsements abound in Lawrence mayor's race, by Jill Harmacinski, Eagle-Tribune: The race for Lawrence mayor is well underway. Mayor Kendrys Vasquez, Brian DePena, William Lantigua, Vilma Martinez-Dominguez, Doris Rodriguez and Raul Diaz have all pulled papers to run.

All-women Planning Board in Deerfield looks beyond history, focuses on job, by Chris Larabee, Daily Hampshire Gazette: Analee Wulfkuhle spent years sitting in on town meetings knitting clothes for her grandchildren while listening to discussions about ways to improve Deerfield. Then in 2020, Wulfkuhles grandchildren were attending her swearing-in ceremony as the towns newest Planning Board member. Wulfkuhle, a 12-year Deerfield resident, is now chairwoman of the first-ever all-women Planning Board in Deerfield.

Heavy rain causes sewage overflows into Merrimack River, by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: The Greater Lawrence Sanitary District which treats sewage from Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, North Andover, Dracut and Salem, New Hampshire has released about 30 million gallons of stormwater and sewage into the river so far this month, according to the Merrimack River Watershed Council, which monitors the discharges. Thats about half of what the system usually releases into the river in a given year, the group said.

Push for Peabody 'peaker' plant to resume, by Erin Nolan, Salem News: The organization which would own and operate a proposed 55-megawatt fossil fuel-fired peaker plant in the city is planning to resume its efforts to build the plant on July 29, according to a communication filed with the Department of Public Utilities by the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company on Thursday. ... the organization feels it has adequately addressed the environmental and health concerns of residents and public officials which prompted the pause in the first place.

"Ben & Jerrys says it will stop sales in occupied Palestinian territory," by Brian MacQuarrie and Christina Prignano, Boston Globe: "Ben & Jerrys announced Monday it will no longer allow its ice cream to be sold in 'occupied Palestinian territory' following a wave of online criticism from activists who said the companys sales in the West Bank and East Jerusalem run afoul of its social justice mission."

Customers behaving badly: Cape Cod visitors urged to 'pack their patience', by Denise Coffey, Cape Cod Times: A sign greeting customers at the front door of Dennis Village Mercantile reads Masks optional. Kindness required."

Post-COVID, Fall River sees uptick in funerals, delayed memorials, by Charles Winokoor, Herald News: Local funeral directors, clergy and restaurant owners say theyve been busy keeping pace with pent-up demand from families and friends who forwent memorial services and celebrations of life, when COVID-19 state restrictions imposed strict limits on the number of people who could assemble indoors for social gatherings.

TRANSITIONS Anthony S. Fiotto joins law firm Morrison & Foerster as the Boston office's litigation head. Danielle Fulfs, a former senior legislative assistant to Assistant House Speaker Rep. Katherine Clark, is now legislative director for Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to corporation counsel and former state Rep. Eugene OFlaherty, Krista Zalatores, Mass. native and POLITICO New York City editor David Giambusso, and Judge Patti B. Saris, who is 70.

Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause youre promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: [emailprotected].

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Few efforts to derail WU TRAIN BAKER lays out federal COVID relief spending plan Where is JANEY'S REPORT on PATRICK ROSE? - Politico

NEW DELHI: Fevicol maker Pidilite Industries Ltd. on Thursday announced the appointment of Sudhanshu Vats as the companys deputy managing director, effective 1 September.

Vats, an alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad and NIT Kurukshetra, has spent over three decades in the industry working in organisations such as Unilever, Castrol, Viacom18, and more recently, EPL (formerly known as Essel Propack).

Vats was formerly the managing director and Group CEO of Viacom18 Media Private Limited. In his last role, he was managing director and CEO of EPL Limited - a speciality packaging and manufacturing company.

Pidlite sells adhesives, sealants, waterproofing solutions and construction chemicals to arts and crafts, industrial resins, polymers. The BSE-listed company has three in-house R&D centres in India and five technical research and innovation centres in Singapore, Thailand, Brazil, Dubai and the US.

Its brands include Fevicol, Fevikwik, M-Seal, and Dr. Fixit.

I am delighted to welcome Sudhanshu to Pidilite. His varied experience and passion and energy for building a sustainable growth business will be an important asset in building the Pidilite of the future," said Bharat Puri, Managing Director of Pidilite.

Vats started his career with Hindustan Unilever Ltd., and spent about two decades years in various sales and marketing and general management roles serving as vice president for laundry business (South Asia) and Global Head for Radiant.

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Pidlite Industries appoints Sudhanshu Vats as deputy managing director - Mint

JACKSON, Mich. Andrew Jackson and his horse wont last much longer on Jacksons official seal.

It is 2021 and as a city we can make a decision as to how we can best represent our city," Public Information Officer Aaron Dimick said. "A lot of things happen in a city in 200 years and a lot of things happened since we last elected the seal 84 years ago, so its up to us in 2021 to determine what are the values of our city and how should we reflect that in our imagery."

Andrew Jackson and his horse wont last much longer on Jacksons official seal.

When the city was founded in 1829, officials named it Jacksonopolis after Andrew Jackson, who was president at the time. It later became Jacksonburg and, finally, Jackson. The image on the seal, which has been in place since 1937, is based on an Andrew Jackson statue in Washington, D.C.

A lot of people are wondering why replace the representation of Andrew Jackson. Were aware that as we have discussions about racial equity and how we best represent historical figures theres a lot of discussions about how we should be portraying them in public spaces, Dimick said.

When the city was founded in 1829, officials named it Jacksonopolis after Andrew Jackson

Jackson owned slaves and he signed the Indian Removal Act, which forced more than 46,000 Native Americans off of their ancestral lands. City officials say its time to leave Americas seventh president in the past and develop something more modern.We know that he is someone who is a slaveholder. We know that he is someone who was instrumental in the removal of Native Americans so we want something that is more specific to the city of Jackson, Michigan, and does a better job of representing our entire community, Dimick said.

City Council voted unanimously in July 2020 to have the Public Arts Commission start the process of redesigning the seal. They have now put out a request for proposals and are working with a design company to make it happen.

The city of Jackson, Michigan does not have any direct connection to Andrew Jackson. We dont have any connection to that statue it is not like someone from Jackson created it. We want something thats more specific to Jackson. Were a community that is very proud of our rich history. Were very proud of our forward momentum so we feel like someone in the community can come up with a better design than what is currently on there, Dimick said.

Maurice Imhoff from the Jackson Historical Society, said in a statement that he doesn't object to changing the seal.

City officials say its time to leave Americas seventh president in the past and develop something more modern.

"I believe we can learn from history and change for the better," he said. "We should not be stubborn and say, 'It's history, don't change it.' That is a middle school-like mindset."

Andrew Jackson, he said, "had nothing to do with our city, why should he represent it?...I do not think this is an attempt to erase our history. It's a step to embrace who we are and where we came from, which simply isn't Andrew Jackson."

There are specifications for the new seal. It has to be circular, say "City of Jackson" and "1829" on the seal. The Public Arts Commission wants something modern that reflects the diversity and inclusiveness of the community according to Dimick.

Specifications for the new seal

After that, its really up to the creative people in our community to come up with something," he said.

The deadline to submit proposals is Thursday, July 15. The new official seal could debut as early as September.

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City of Jackson is set to replace its seal, and it's saying goodbye to Andrew Jackson and his horse - WSYM-TV

(WFRV) You pull into a parking lot or go through a drive-thru and you probably dont even think about it. According to Asphalt Seal and Repair, More than 90 percent of parking areas in the U.S are surfaced with asphalt pavement.

A staggering number that up until right now you probably never even thought about.

Enter Tyler Hanson of Asphalt Seal and Repair.

The hardest aspect for me is beating the heat and for me, sealer burn. I usually cover up shirt long sleeves, pants and put this over my face with sunglasses on.

On a typical day, these guys are patching, seal coating, crack sealing, or even line stripping. On this particular job, this crew is coating the pavement of a business parking lot to help extend its lifetime.

Working on the asphalt is tough, but the heat really makes it tougher. The air temperature was 90 degrees that day and, on the pavement, it was over 115 degrees.

Brandon King, another Asphalt Repairman, says I guess a good warning line is, the second you stop sweating, start drinking water.

Jobs can get a little messy and hydration is a must, and summertime showers and storms can sometimes delay some of the work.

But when the weather holds up and they can complete a project, theres always a sense of pride, in a job well done.

Im a little perfectionist, I get to drive past and Im one of those guys when I point outoh I did that placeI did that parking lot, emphasizes King.

Hanson states, I think we are doing more places than anyone else in the community just hitting households and any local shops and any big businesses.

Air temperatures near 90 with ground temperatures well over a hundred degrees keep Brandon and Tyler day in and day out in the running for the title of

Were asphalt repairmen, and we have the toughest summer job Brandon King and Tyler Hanson.

Continued here:

Toughest Summer Job: Repairing asphalt in the heat - WeAreGreenBay.com

Q: One trip to the bathroom during a night out at a pub inevitably leads to another and another and another. Is breaking the seala real thing?

A: Lets start with a basic fact when it comes to drinking: What goes in eventually comes out.

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So when youre tipping back glasses of your favorite adult beverage well, you can only hold in so much. Your bodys reservoir is a pear-sized bladder, after all, not a 5-gallon bucket. Eventually, you have to empty.

The question, though, is when? This is where the myth about a biological barrier known as the seal enters the discussion.

The legendary seal is celebrated as a water-tight cap that locks down your bladder. When fully intact, it keeps you from heading to the bathroom to pee. (This ensures that you never miss any fun.)

So what happens when you break that so-called seal and answer natures call? Well, youve now opened the floodgates and can expect to spend the rest of the night making tracks to the restroom.

In the neon glow of a weekend night, the logic behind this theory seems pretty solid. It doesnt hold up quite as well under closer (and sober) examination.

Drinking mass quantities of any liquid will inevitably send you to the bathroom, but beer, booze and wine amplify the effect. The reason? Alcohol is a diuretic, which in the simplest of terms increases the production of urine.

Breaking it down more, alcohol suppresses the release of an antidiuretic hormone (ADH) called vasopressin. This ADH tells your kidneys to absorb guzzled fluids and distribute to the rest of your body.

But when your brain slows down ADH production during happy hour, the drinks passing by your lips take a more direct route to your bladder. Your bladder only holds about 300 to 400 milliliters of fluid, which is roughly 12 ounces.

It doesnt take long to exceed your bladders capacity. Pressure builds at this point, resulting in the urge to pee. Alcohol also can irritate your bladder, increasing the feeling that you need to tinkle.

So why does it seem like your first bathroom break opens the door to so many return trips? Thats just your body catching up with all the drinks youve tipped back during the evening. (Remember the formula: Fluid in = fluid out.)

Holding back on bathroom visits isnt a good idea, either. Repeatedly preventing the natural flow of things can lead to broader issues, such as urinary tract infections.

If you want to go to the bathroom less during a night out, theres only one proven way to reduce your trips: drink less. Otherwise, listen to your body and empty your tank before any awkward dancing starts.

Because, to be clear, there is no seal that youre protecting.

Urologist Petar Bajic, MD

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Is Breaking the Seal a Real Thing When Drinking Alcohol? - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

In the height of summer, strawberries ripen quickly, and often go soft and unpalatable. At this stage, before they turn mouldy, they are perfect for fermenting, not least because these are signs that the process has already begun. Lacto-fermented berries keep in the fridge for at least a month and are delicious on pancakes, waffles, granola or as a condiment for savoury dishes. To make them, pack ripe berries into a clean jar and stir in a tablespoon of raw honey for every 100g fruit. Top with a little water to cover, seal and leave at room temperature and out of direct sunlight for one to two days, stirring three times a day, until the fruit starts to bubble and turns effervescent. Blend or leave whole, then seal and store in the fridge.

Kvass is another great way to preserve fruit. This ancient Baltic beverage is traditionally made with bread and sometimes flavoured with berries, apples and raisins. My simplified, gluten-free version makes a delightful fizzy drink thats similar to kombucha or water kefir.

Unlike kombucha and water kefir, no special ingredients are required to make this kvass; all you need is a little time and patience. Strawberries make a wonderfully pink kvass, but any soft fruit, or combination of fruits, will also work. Because of the high yeast content in fruit, mould can form on the surface while youre making this, so, prevent this from happening, and to aid fermentation, agitate and renew the surface by stirring it vigorously a few times every day.

Chlorine can inhibit fermentation, so, if possible, dechlorinate the water by pouring it into a wide-mouthed jar up to 24 hours ahead of making your kvass. After fermentation, the mushy fruit solids strained from the liquid can be saved and enjoyed as a puree on porridge, pancakes or waffles.

Enjoy this spritzy and nutritious drink as it is or over ice with a wedge of lime and sprig of mint for extra aroma.

Makes 1 cup

Strawberries or other berries tbsp honey or maple syrup, per 100g fruit1 pinch sea salt, per 100g fruit250ml water, per 100g fruit

To serve (optional)Ice, a lime wedge and/or a mint sprig

Multiply the quantity of honey, salt and water depending on how many berries you have to use up.

Put everything in a suitably sized clean jar or jars, then seal, shake and put out of direct sunlight, and leave to ferment, stirring the mix vigorously two or three times a day. After several days, when the berries look cooked and the mixture has turned darker and effervescent, strain into bottles and seal. Leave for two more days, until the kvass becomes more bubbly (fermentation times will vary depending on your room temperature). Prevent the bottles becoming too carbonated (and so at risk of exploding), by opening them every day and letting any excess gas escape. Once ready, consume or store in the fridge.

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How to turn past-their-best summer berries into a refreshing drink recipe - The Guardian

On Saturday, CNNs Jim Acosta did a segment about ex-president Donald Trumps schedule of appearances, including his speech scheduled for tomorrow at CPAC Texas, over a banner that said Trump is pretending hes still president.

Hide the flags, said Acosta to begin his remarks, as he showed clips of Trump hugging the American flag at previous CPAC appearances. Before continuing he reacted to his own clips saying So disturbing.

Now the same man who gripped the Stars and Stripes wont let go of something else: the idea that hes still president, said Acosta. Describing the scene of Trumps presser earlier this week, Acosta said it looks like some kind of POTUS Potemkin village with Trump as pretender in chief.

Acosta went over a number of Trumps recent appearances before returning to focus on Trumps CPAC speech tomorrow. He showed a clip of himself with ACUs Matt Schlapp to emphasize that the CPAC crowd doesnt believe the election was fairly won but Joe Biden, and then professionally added makes my brain hurt after watching the clip. I too often feel like my brain hurts after watching an Acosta clip.

After the clip of his interview, Acosta brought up a remark he made on his eponymous show a few weeks ago. A couple of weeks ago I compared Trumps comeback tour to the circus, full of sideshow acts and clowns. I later got an email from an expert on the circus industry, he said. This person pointed out that comparison actually was not fair. Because unlike the chaos of Trump world, a circus is carefully composed and organized.

Thats a great point, said Acosta. Comparing Trump to a clown is most definitely an insult to clowns. Hes more like one of those mask-hating customers at the grocery store. Youve seen them. A Karen, or whatever the name would be in Trumps case. You can almost hear him saying, I want to talk to the manager about the election, I want to talk to the manager of Twitter or Facebook.'

And the American people are kind of like the store manager. They have to explain, well sir, you lied about the election, you incited an insurrection. Youre going to have to leave the store or were calling security,' Acosta concluded. Please take your fake White House seal, and go play president somewhere else.'

Watch the clip above, via CNN.

Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com

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Acosta on Trump Appearing at CPAC: 'Take Your Fake White House Seal and Go Play President Somewhere Else - Mediaite

With the Fourth of July behind us, there is still plenty of summer left. If youre in need of some ideas to keep the kids busy, EMCL is the place for you.

We are constantly adding new titles weekly to our collections. We have books, e-books, DVDs, CD-books, magazines, launchpads (for kids and adults) and Story Time activity bags, for starters.

If you havent heard, we also have mobile hotspots, Xcel Energy power meters, a wide variety of cake pans, childrens puppets, craft bags and Colorado State Park backpacks available for check out.

We have just added the following board games to be checked out for three weeks: Jenga, Connect 4 and Trouble.

If you decide to visit us, we have a variety of other items that can be checked out, but they must stay on the library grounds. These include: sports balls, ball hop, checkers, chess pieces, sewing machines, phone chargers and laptops.

If the kids get antsy, we have a lovely childrens playground to run off some of that extra energy.

You can also take a Story Walk with them as well. The Story Walk begins at the front left hand entrance of the library and the story takes you around the library park and finishes by the childrens playground.

So, we hope we have piqued your interest and we would love to see you come and visit us soon.

Mark your calendars tentatively for the Community Barb-a-que located here at the library parking lot. The Brush Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the event on Tuesday, July 27, beginning at 5 p.m. There will be live music, food and drinks provided by our local businesses and there will be no charge for this event. Feel free to bring lawn chairs or blankets, as there will be limited seating. If you have further questions please call the Brush Chamber office at 970-842-2666.

Please stop in and join the gang for Story Time every Wednesday and Friday beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays and 10:15 a.m. on Fridays. Christy and Tammy have wonderful stories, songs and crafts ready for our 3- to 5-year-olds. Younger children may join as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

Come join us on Wednesday, July 14, at 3 p.m. for our Summer Reading program. This week Kristine Keegan will be showing us techniques to use for decorating cupcakes and cookies. Then everyone will get a chance to utilize those skills on their own creations.

CampNaNoWriMo will meet again this Thursday, July 15, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. This month Megan is focusing this time period on dedicated writing. Please stop in if youre interested in joining our writing group or wondering what the group is about.

Our Tween & Teen Book and Movie Club will be getting together on Friday, July 16, at 2:00 p.m. This week our group will be challenging their skills by playing Book Trivia. We hope you come and join us. Teens going into the sixth through 12th grades may participate.

Genealogy will meet on Monday, July 19, at 6 p.m. This month the group will focus on researching your World War II ancestors, as well as on the home front and post-war years.

On Tuesday, July 27, at 6 p.m. our Shelf Indulgence adult reading book club will meet to share their ideas on this months read, entitled Year of Yes, by Shonda Rhimes.

This weeks staff pick is by two popular authors who have once again collaborated to make a fast-paced thriller you wont be able to put down. The Presidents Daughter was written by Bill Clinton and James Patterson. Here is a synopsis of their latest novel:

Matthew Keating, a one-time Navy SEAL and a past president has always defended his family as staunchly as he has his country. Now those defenses are under attack. A madman abducts Keatings teenage daughter, Melanie turning every parents deepest fear into a matter of national security. As the world watches in real time, Keating embarks on a one-man special-ops mission that tests his strengths: as a leader, a warrior, and a father.

This weekly article is written by staff at the East Morgan County Library in Brush.

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East Morgan County Library News: Collection is full of items of all kinds for check out - Fort Morgan Times

Donald C. Pritchett grew up in Sanford but moved to DeLand with his fiance in 2017. Coming from a family where almost everyone had served in the military, Donald knew at an early age that he was going to join the Army one day.

My dad was in the Army, his dad was a Navy SEAL, and his dad was a Marine Corps veteran that was in World War II, Pritchett. My entire family enlisted, so it just seemed like the right thing to do.

While in the Army, Donald Pritchett traveled all over the world and learned to keep an open mind. He also learned that no matter where you go, you can always make a new friend.

When I was stationed in Afghanistan, I realized that a lot of people go over there expecting to meet a lot of bad people, Pritchett said. But thats not true; when I was there, I met some of the nicest people Ive ever known.

Pritchett highly recommends joining the service to young people today, citing it as a great place to start out, learn some core values and skills, and meet people that youll be friends with for the rest of your life.

Now, Pritchett runs a publication, Neighbors of South DeLand and Victoria Park, and loves living in DeLand. The more I learned about the neighborhood, and the more people I got to meet, made me really enjoy living here, and Ill probably never leave, he said.

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'Wherever you go, you can make a friend' | Hometown Heroes 2021 | beacononlinenews.com - The West Volusia Beacon