View allAll Photos Tagged question
The Tick: Luny Bin #2: To The Rescue! (or "Friday Ad Nauseum")
This was the second of the Luny Bin series if you don't count the preview. It is larger than most comics at 40 pages The ultimate Tick saga with answers to many long-running questions about "the man(?)" known as The Tick! NECP Staff: Bob Polio; NECP Staff: George Suarez; Backup Story: Tak Toyoshima; Backup Story: Gabe Crate; Backup Story: Marc Silva; Concept: Ben Edlund; Creator: Eli Stone eli5stone.wix.com/5stone#!portfolio/c1han; NECP Staff: Dave Snyder
Why you are staring at me? #double #espresso #staring #question #coffee #cafe #kaffe #kohv #kahvi
15 Likes on Instagram
I found this informational sign at Bryant Park and discovered it was written specifically for me! It talks all about the buildings surrounding the park. There was only one logical thing for me to do. I had to walk around the park and take a picture of every building!
And just for fun: I put notes over each building section of this image, both with the text (so you can actually read it) and with links to the pictures I took of the buildings in question (which otherwise appear in order when clicking on through this photo set).
I saw this kid running around aiming his toy gun at everyone
and everything including the clouds in the sky.
I held the camera to my face for a few seconds
following his every move.
Then he turned around and aimed his toy gun
at his Father just like this,
and I knew this was the
"decisive moment".
By the time I pulled the camera away from my face
to chimp the shot
he was off and running
and pointing it at other things
all the while
saying
"pow pow pow".
Question Mark. Aus der Serie „Satzzeichen“ 2014
Rotierende Skulptur aus Lianen Findling, fluoriszierendes Klebeband, schwarze Totenkopf Büchse und Schwarz Licht
Skulptur, Objekt, Video, Installation, Fotografie
Markus Wintersberger 2014
Mother's day (May 8th) 2011 my brother asked his girlfriend of 18 years and mother of his 2 daughters to marry him.
(She said yes)
Leica M, 50mm Summilux.
Carrying his rolled sleeping bag, he told me "you're asking too many questions".
Being friendly, not prying. :-)
How to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
STIs are infections transmitted through sexual contact. STIs are quite common and spread quickly. Some STIs are treatable and curable, whereas others are not. You can take steps to protect your health by understanding the facts.
- How do sexually transmitted infections (STIs) spread?
Anyone who has sexual contact with another person is at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Some STIs have elicit symptoms, while others do not. Through touch with skin, genitals, mouth, rectum, or body fluids, a person with a STI might spread it to others. Contact through vaginal intercourse, anal sex, or oral sex is included. Your health can be harmed even if there are no symptoms.
- What are the symptoms of an STI?
Symptoms might range from slight discomfort and vaginal discharge to severe pain. Symptoms usually appear after the infection has been present for some time. In most situations, early treatment can prevent long-term health consequences.
- What causes STIs?
Infections with bacteria or viruses produce STIs. Antibiotics are used to treat STIs caused by bacteria. STIs produced by viruses are incurable, although their symptoms can be managed. Tests can be performed to determine infection even if there are no symptoms.
forherhealthwomen.com/sexually-transmitted-infection-prev...
Script:
U.P. Breaking News: K. I. Sawyer Latest KC-135 Emergency Landing/Raising Safety Concerns
The following exclusive information was not reported yet by Upper Peninsula TV stations and other media.
Many safety questions remain and a military plane is officially grounded after an emergency in the skies over Marquette County, Michigan on Tues. July 8, 2014
The emergency landing of a KC-135 refueling tanker is the latest in a series of similar hydraulic incidents involving the aging fleet of Milwaukee's 128th Air Refueling Wing, Upper Peninsula Breaking News has learned.
Veteran Investigative Reporter Greg Peterson has the story:
upperpeninsulabreakingnews.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/u-p-b...
-----
Essentially a flying gas station – this Air National Guard KC-135 is grounded – following an emergency that has happened at least 5 times in the past two years to KC 135 refueling tankers from the 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee.
That's right – at least 5 times in the past two years – a KC-135 from the 128th has developed hydraulic problems resulting in emergency landings at airports around the Midwest.
The tankers are all about 50 years old.
In fact in June 2013, a reporter for Milwaukee Television station WISN TV-12 investigated a rash of KC-135 emergency landings after hydraulic warning.
Upper Peninsula Breaking News called the 128th's public affairs office to verify this important safety problem.
With overcast skies, the three-member crew of this KC-135 declared a hydraulic emergency:
Chief Don Hutchens, Forsyth Township Volunteer Fire Department:
Emergency officials from across Marquette County responded to the plane's call for help – fearing it might crash while landing – which would have been catastrophic.
The KC -135 was among several planes from the 128th Refueling Wing that have been practicing touch and goes on K.I. Sawyer's long runways.
Now the Marquette County Airport, the once vibrant K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base was a Strategic Air Command base – constantly on alert - with bomber crews ready to fly in moments.
This reporter has had the pleasure of riding on two KC-135 Refueling Tankers – as show in this photo when I worked at WLUC TV-6 in Marquette.
We refueled F-16 Jets over Lake Huron.
Then this reporter became one of only a handful of civilians to ride aboard a B-52 Bomber – this while I did features stories for the Mining Journal newspaper.
I was given this official coin of the Sawyer bomber wing and a patch – after as 12-hour flight that included Fourth of July Parades and an airshow in Grand Rapids.
This reporter hopes the officials at Milwaukee's 128th Air Refueling Wing get to the bottom of this hydraulic issues before there is a tragedy – as the large number of emergencies on this flying gas station is scary to all involved.
Greg Peterson, Upper Peninsula Breaking News
Milwaukee's 128th Air Refueling Wing
Public Affairs Office
414-944-8715
128 HQ/Public Affairs
mailto:128HQ.PublicAffairs@ang.af.mil
Milwaukee's 128th Air Refueling Wing on Facebook
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/128th_Air_Refueling_Wing
Forsyth Township Volunteer Fire Department; Forsyth Township Police department
www.forsythtwpmi.org/FT%20POLICE%20DEPT.htm
Local News Coverage
abc10up.com/air-national-guard-plane-makes-emergency-land...
www.upmatters.com/story/d/story/news/15079/3fYz_NNJ0kmTs-...
www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=1067608
WISN TV-12 Investigation in June 2013:
Emergency landing prompts questions about KC-135 safety
Hydraulic problems lead to 4th in-flight emergency
June 19, 2013
www.wisn.com/news/south-east-wisconsin/milwaukee/emergenc...
www.wisn.com/news/south-east-wisconsin/milwaukee/emergenc...
www.wisn.com/news/south-east-wisconsin/milwaukee/emergenc...
Military plane makes emergency landing in Indiana
www.wisn.com/news/south-east-wisconsin/milwaukee/Military...
A plane from Milwaukee's 128th Air Refueling Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard is grounded and undergoing repairs after an in-flight emergency Tuesday.
For the fourth time in two months a KC-135 from Milwaukee makes an emergency landing, this time in Indiana.
The flight crew lost control of the hydraulic system and made an emergency landing in Indiana.
It's the fourth in-flight emergency in recent weeks involving four KC-135 refueling tankers.
Each of the planes is about 50 years old, which has some wondering if the aging aircraft are as safe as they should be.
Upper Peninsula Breaking News
U.P. Breaking News
Gmail:
UpperPeninsulaBreakingNews@gmail.com
Wordpress:
upperpeninsulabreakingnews.wordpress.com
youtube:
www.youtube.com/UPBreakingNews
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tocLjvEslBA
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/UpperPeninsulaBreakingNews
Twitter:
Greg Peterson
@UPBreakingNews
flickr
The scam works like this:
A person, usually woman, begins corresponding with a stranger online. Let's call the first person Myrtle Crumpet. The stranger claims to be a "UN Doctor" or "UN Peacekeeper" from the USA (or Canada) and is working in Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen or some other hotspot. They have a very Western-sounding name: Dr. Michael Smith. Captain William Jones. Myrtle really likes Dr. Smith or Captain Jones - whatever. The pictures he shares show that he is very handsome. He's single, or divorced. He tells her that he's not allowed to use video chat, for security reasons, he can communicate only with text. He also can't make a video and share it with her for security reasons or because his camera is broken. He's being very brave wherever he is - he might even have started a little NGO on the side, to help local people outside of his job. But he's so lonely, and he tells Myrtle that her messages give him hope, and he may even say he's falling in love with her. But he needs a few thousand dollars to take an "emergency" vacation, because the UN is late with his paycheck and he can't pay the fee right now. Or he needs a few thousand dollars to help a very sick child, and there is a rich donor who is going to help, but that rich donor is just a bit tied up now. He asks Myrtle if she could wire the money - he will ABSOLUTELY pay it back. And he may even have a text message or voice-only conference call with her to marry her, and send her certifications that Dr. SMith or Captain Jones and Myrtle are now husband and wife, and he will fly to her SOON, just as soon as she sends that money!
But this man isn't real. He's a scammer. He is not a doctor nor a captain, he's not in Iraq or Syria or wherever he claims to be, he's not with the UN, and he and Myrtle are NOT married. He's spun this tale in order to get her to send him money - money she will never, ever see again.
Above is a screen capture of questions on Quora from people trying to find out if the person they are corresponding with that says he's a doctor in Syria or a UN Peace Keeper in Iraq is real. It shows just how pervasive this scam is. Also see my related photos - images sent to me by a woman in the Philippines who was almost taken in by such a scammer. She's in the Philippines. She found me on Quora, because I am constantly answering questions there to try to keep people from being taken in.
Question Mark. Aus der Serie „Satzzeichen“ 2014
Rotierende Skulptur aus Lianen Findling, fluoriszierendes Klebeband, schwarze Totenkopf Büchse und Schwarz Licht
Skulptur, Objekt, Video, Installation, Fotografie
Markus Wintersberger 2014
Question asked by Cornie Huizenga, Secretary General SLoCaT Partnership during the Side Event: Enabling Change: The German Partnership for Sustainable Mobility, taking place during the 2014 Annual Summit of the International Transport Forum “Transport for a Changing World” on 22 May 2014 in Leipzig, Germany.
Part of the lovely Art Deco De La Warr Pavillion, I thought this view of the spiral staircase made it look like a large question mark. Taken with a Canon EOS 300D. Ref: D169-049
question: a tout le monde: set me free or a tout le monde original version.
credit:
tacticalusmc-idea
shockwave;grip and magazine
Русский Сурт-fire selector
just woitek: sight parts
comment
DSRSG Moustapha Soumura interacted with children in a session questions and answers in Plan B at UNMISS Tomping at the occussion the Day of the African Child under the theme “protecting the rights of children in conflict and Crisis situation”
A children’s Baraza, designed to empower children and make their voices heard, was the key highlight of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan – UNMISS Radio Miraya’ station events to commemorate the Day of the African Child in South Sudan.
The occasion broadcast live from the UN Mission compound in Tomping – Juba, drew Students from St Thomas Nursery and Primary School, Comboni Secondary school, Juba Diocesan Model secondary school and Juba Christian Center Model Primary school.
Question Mark. Aus der Serie „Satzzeichen“ 2014
Rotierende Skulptur aus Lianen Findling, fluoriszierendes Klebeband, schwarze Totenkopf Büchse und Schwarz Licht
Skulptur, Objekt, Video, Installation, Fotografie
Markus Wintersberger 2014
I often feel like the one on the left, especially when it comes to putting together an Ikea dresser.
The Concept:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy & paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.
The Questions:
1. What is your first name? Rachel
2. What is your favorite food? Homemade Pasta
3. What high school did you go to? Colchester Christian Academy
4. What is your favorite color? Lilac
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Darren Hayes
6. Favorite drink? Whiskey
7. Dream vacation? Ancient Egypt
8. Favorite dessert? Dark Chocolate
9. What you want to be when you grow up? Mother & Artist
10. What do you love most in life? God & People
11. One Word to describe you: Curious
12. Your Flickr name: SeaOrchid
----------------------------
1. Rachel, 2. Homemade Pasta, 3. St Botolphs, Colchester, 4. For Sam, 5. Darren Hayes - Insatiable, 6. Whiskey Sour, 7. Idyllic, 8. Dark Chocolate, Raspberry Cake & Chocolate-Ginger Mousse, 9. Mother Earth - Unknown Artist, 10. `169 | High.., 11. Stay away from me weirdo !!, 12. Saying Goodbye
Created with fd's Flickr Toys.
Most people know this, but: photos are not mine, of course. Meant for tribute/inspiration/linkage purposes only.
Male Agapostemon's almost all have this same pattern, Metallicy green on the head and thorax and then striped yellow and black on the abdomen. Females uniformly don't have yellow anywhere. Why is good question as this male yellowness syndrome runs throughout the bee kingdom, cutting across families. Thistle Droege did the photoshoping and Wayne Boo the photography.
~~~~~~~~~~{{{{{{0}}}}}}~~~~~~~~~~
All photographs are public domain, feel free to download and use as you wish.
Photography Information: Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200
The murmuring of bees has ceased;
But murmuring of some
Posterior, prophetic,
Has simultaneous come,--
The lower metres of the year,
When nature's laugh is done,--
The Revelations of the book
Whose Genesis is June.
-Emily Dickinson
Want some Useful Links to the Techniques We Use? Well now here you go Citizen:
Basic USGSBIML set up:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-_yvIsucOY
USGSBIML Photoshopping Technique: Note that we now have added using the burn tool at 50% opacity set to shadows to clean up the halos that bleed into the black background from "hot" color sections of the picture.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdmx_8zqvN4
PDF of Basic USGSBIML Photography Set Up:
ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/er/md/laurel/Droege/How%20to%20Take%20MacroPhotographs%20of%20Insects%20BIML%20Lab2.pdf
Google Hangout Demonstration of Techniques:
plus.google.com/events/c5569losvskrv2nu606ltof8odo
or
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c15neFttoU
Excellent Technical Form on Stacking:
Contact information:
Sam Droege
sdroege@usgs.gov
301 497 5840
The Birth of Venus: Sony A7 R RAW Photos of Pretty, Tall Blond Bikini Swimsuit Model Goddess! Carl Zeiss Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T* Lens & Lightroom 5.3
45surf Hero's Odyssey Mythology Photography! & 45surf Hero's Odyssey Mythology Fine Art! :)
New Instagram! instagram.com/45surf
New Instagram!
instagram.com/johnnyrangermccoy
New blog celebrating my philosophy of photography with tips, insights, and tutorials!
Ask me any questions! :)
Sony A7R RAW Photos of Pretty Blonde Bikini Swimsuit Model Goddess! Carl Zeiss Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T* Lens! Lightroom 5.3 ! Pretty Hazel Eyes & Silky Blonde Hair!
And here're a couple of HD video movies I shot of the goddess with the 4K Sony:
Enjoy! Be sure to watch in the full 1080P HD!
The epic goddess was tall, thin, fit, tan, and in wonderful shape (as you can see).
Follow me on facebook!
www.facebook.com/45surfAchillesOdysseyMythology
Epic Goddess Straight Out of Hero's Odyssey Mythology! Pretty Model! :) Tall, thin, fit and beautiful!
Welcome to your epic hero's odyssey! The beautiful 45surf goddess sisters hath called ye to adventure, beckoning ye to read deeply Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, whence ye shall learn of yer own exalted artistic path guided by Hero's Odyssey Mythology. I wouldn't be saying it if it hadn't happened to me.
New 500px!
500px.com/herosodysseymythology
Pretty Swimsuit Bikini Model Goddess! :)
She was a beauty--a gold 45 goddess for sure! A Gold 45 Goddess exalts the archetypal form of Athena--the Greek Goddess of wisdom, warfare, strategy, heroic endeavour, handicrafts and reason. A Gold 45 Goddess guards the beauty of dx4/dt=ic and embodies 45SURF's motto "Virtus, Honoris, et Actio Pro Veritas, Amor, et Bellus, (Strength, Honor, and Action for Truth, Love, and Beauty," and she stands ready to inspire and guide you along your epic, heroic journey into art and mythology. It is Athena who descends to call Telemachus to Adventure in the first book of Homer's Odyssey--to man up, find news of his true father Odysseus, and rid his home of the false suitors, and too, it is Athena who descends in the first book of Homer's Iliad, to calm the Rage of Achilles who is about to draw his sword so as to slay his commander who just seized Achilles' prize, thusly robbing Achilles of his Honor--the higher prize Achilles fought for. And now Athena descends once again, assuming the form of a Gold 45 Goddess, to inspire you along your epic journey of heroic endeavour.
Modeling the Gold 45 Revolver Gold'N'Virtue swimsuit. :)
A laid-back,classic, socal lifestyle shoot!
May the 45surf goddesses inspire you along am artistic journey of your own making!
All the best on your Epic, Homeric, Heroic Odyssey into the Art of Photography from Johnny Ranger McCoy!
All 45surf Hero's Odyssey Mythology Photography is shot in the honor of Dynamic Dimensions Theory's First Law and equation: The fourth dimension is expanding relative to the three spatial dimensions at the rate of c: dx4/dt=ic.
All the best on your Epic Hero's Odyssey from Johny Ranger McCoy!
Sony A7R RAW Photos of Pretty, Tall Blond Bikini Swimsuit Model Goddess in Laguna Beach! Victoria Beach! Carl Zeiss Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T* Lens & Lightroom 5.3Sony A7R RAW Photos of Pretty, Tall Blond Bikini Swimsuit Model Goddess in Laguna Beach! Victoria Beach! Carl Zeiss Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T* Lens & Lightroom 5.3
Fine art swimsuit model, ballerina, and ballet photography!
The Birth of Venus: Sony A7 R RAW Photos of Pretty, Tall Blond Bikini Swimsuit Model Goddess! Carl Zeiss Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T* Lens & Lightroom 5.3
45surf Hero's Odyssey Mythology Photography! & 45surf Hero's Odyssey Mythology Fine Art! :)
New Instagram! instagram.com/45surf
New Instagram!
instagram.com/johnnyrangermccoy
New blog celebrating my philosophy of photography with tips, insights, and tutorials!
Ask me any questions! :)
Sony A7R RAW Photos of Pretty Blonde Bikini Swimsuit Model Goddess! Carl Zeiss Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T* Lens! Lightroom 5.3 ! Pretty Hazel Eyes & Silky Blonde Hair!
And here're a couple of HD video movies I shot of the goddess with the 4K Sony:
Enjoy! Be sure to watch in the full 1080P HD!
The epic goddess was tall, thin, fit, tan, and in wonderful shape (as you can see).
Follow me on facebook!
www.facebook.com/45surfAchillesOdysseyMythology
Epic Goddess Straight Out of Hero's Odyssey Mythology! Pretty Model! :) Tall, thin, fit and beautiful!
Welcome to your epic hero's odyssey! The beautiful 45surf goddess sisters hath called ye to adventure, beckoning ye to read deeply Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, whence ye shall learn of yer own exalted artistic path guided by Hero's Odyssey Mythology. I wouldn't be saying it if it hadn't happened to me.
New 500px!
500px.com/herosodysseymythology
Pretty Swimsuit Bikini Model Goddess! :)
She was a beauty--a gold 45 goddess for sure! A Gold 45 Goddess exalts the archetypal form of Athena--the Greek Goddess of wisdom, warfare, strategy, heroic endeavour, handicrafts and reason. A Gold 45 Goddess guards the beauty of dx4/dt=ic and embodies 45SURF's motto "Virtus, Honoris, et Actio Pro Veritas, Amor, et Bellus, (Strength, Honor, and Action for Truth, Love, and Beauty," and she stands ready to inspire and guide you along your epic, heroic journey into art and mythology. It is Athena who descends to call Telemachus to Adventure in the first book of Homer's Odyssey--to man up, find news of his true father Odysseus, and rid his home of the false suitors, and too, it is Athena who descends in the first book of Homer's Iliad, to calm the Rage of Achilles who is about to draw his sword so as to slay his commander who just seized Achilles' prize, thusly robbing Achilles of his Honor--the higher prize Achilles fought for. And now Athena descends once again, assuming the form of a Gold 45 Goddess, to inspire you along your epic journey of heroic endeavour.
Modeling the Gold 45 Revolver Gold'N'Virtue swimsuit. :)
A laid-back,classic, socal lifestyle shoot!
May the 45surf goddesses inspire you along am artistic journey of your own making!
All the best on your Epic, Homeric, Heroic Odyssey into the Art of Photography from Johnny Ranger McCoy!
All 45surf Hero's Odyssey Mythology Photography is shot in the honor of Dynamic Dimensions Theory's First Law and equation: The fourth dimension is expanding relative to the three spatial dimensions at the rate of c: dx4/dt=ic.
All the best on your Epic Hero's Odyssey from Johny Ranger McCoy!
Sony A7R RAW Photos of Pretty, Tall Blond Bikini Swimsuit Model Goddess in Laguna Beach! Victoria Beach! Carl Zeiss Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T* Lens & Lightroom 5.3Sony A7R RAW Photos of Pretty, Tall Blond Bikini Swimsuit Model Goddess in Laguna Beach! Victoria Beach! Carl Zeiss Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T* Lens & Lightroom 5.3
Fine art swimsuit model, ballerina, and ballet photography!
My question for this guy is, "Why? Why are you sitting outside tonight in Glasgow? It is absolutely freezing sir! You are a brave man."
I went to our local news agent to get some Diet Coke and they had left the door open. To give you an idea of how cold it is, when I got home (only a minutes walk away) the Diet Pepsi I got (56p cheaper than Diet Coke) was chilled to perfection, and this was straight off shelf of the shop. I feel sorry for the person working there.
Freelensing with an old 38-76 mm.
Follow me on Facebook ✓ || Instagram ✓ || Wordpress ✓ || Youtube ✓ || Join COPY NOW and EARN 15GB+5GB of free extra space! ✓
-
For any questions, contact me!
Copyright © Kevin Cooper Photoline NUJ: Seamus McKee (BBC Radio Ulster) opened the conference and give context to the debate as chairperson of Business Rates Conference 2016 which took place on Tuesday, 12 January 2016 in Riddel Hall at Queen's University Belfast. Speakers included: Richard Johnston - Associate Director, NI Centre for Economic Policy, UU; David Sterling - Permanent Secretary, Department of Finance & Personnel; Stephen Kelly, Chief Executive, Manufacturing NI; Aodhán Connolly, Director, NI Retail Consortium, Seamus McAleavey â Chief Executive, NICVA, Derek McCallan â Chief Executive, NILGA, Followed by a panel discussion with David Sterling â DFP, Stephen Kelly â Manufacturing NI, Aodhán Connolly â NI Retail Consortium, Seamus McAleavey â NICVA, Derek McCallan â NILGA. After a short break the discussion continued with A system that it is fit for purpose: the practicalities involved: Brian McClure â Head of Rating Policy Division, Department of Finance & Personnel, Funding local services: a new system for securing businesses contributions: Martin McTague â Chairman, Local Government Committee, Federation of Small Businesses, Getting it right: the UK and international perspective:
David Magor OBE - Chief Executive, Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation. Finishing the final panel discussion was with: Brian McClure â Department of Finance & Personnel, Martin McTague â FSB and David Magor â IRRV. Seamus McKee, Chairperson of the conference made some concluding remarks before breaking for lunch. Business Rates Conference 2016, which was part of the Chambré Public Affairs âEye on the Hillâ series of policy events, provided participants with a unique insight into an important programme of reform. The conference offered context and analysis from the Minister, senior officials, sector leaders and noted experts, the conference is perfectly timed to inform responses to the consultation, which closes a fortnight later. On 26 October 2015, Finance Minister Arlene Foster launched a public consultation on a wide-ranging Review of Northern Ireland's Non-Domestic Rating System. The consultation asks questions that touch upon every sector in Northern Ireland, giving respondents the chance to provide imaginative suggestions to improve how revenue is raised locally. Key questions include whether the 100% exemption for charities should be maintained, and how the system could be changed to better suit the demands of local business. Because of the Departmentâs willingness to engage creatively with the business community and other stakeholders, this consultation represents a rare opportunity to influence major change. Business rating is a vital form of taxation, raising some £592m of revenue for regional and local Government in Northern Ireland. However, it is also a significant expense for the businesses that are the lifeblood of the local economy, and can act as a particular disincentive to smaller enterprises who want to invest and expand. At the other end of the spectrum, charities in Northern Ireland benefit significantly from the current rating system, enjoying a 100% rates exemption.