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Though Frank Mir's opponent changed for UFC 146, his sponsor didn't. He is still sponsored by the UFC, like Jon Jones. They gave him a walkout shirt that's low-key and collegiate-looking.
Plus, it has pretty stars and I'm a sucker for pretty stars. Buy it for $29.95.
Note: Junior dos Santos' walkout shirt for this weekend was not online, but you can buy this wall hanging depicting the champ, so ... win.
Miller Motorsports Park in the US took the role of high altitude track off South Africa's Kyalami, providing racing against a backdrop of spectacular mountains with the thinner air sapping power off the bikes like no other track on the calendar.
The race is held on Monday, instead of the usual Sunday, to give the US fans three days of Memorial Day holiday weekend packed with AMA Pro and World Superbike races. The World Supersport championship doesn't race this weekend.
For the last three years, whoever did the double at Miller won the title, and last year that was Carlos Checa who has been quick throughout qualifying. Max Biaggi and Tom Sykes, the men leading the championship, did not fare as well today, with Biaggi only managing four laps in the morning's waterlogged free practice session and Sykes crashing halfway through the windy qualifying session in the afternoon. Jakub Smrz was fastest when it was wet and fastest again when it was dry, showing us, as he does almost every weekend, that the man can qualify. Biaggi did make up for his poor morning session with a decent fourth place, ahead of the Ducatis of Davide Giugliano and Sylvain Guintoli, but behind Marco Melandri's BMW.
THE detective in charge of investigating last year's riots has warned the public never to get involved in such large-scale disorder.
DCI Will White spearheaded Avon and Somerset police's quest to bring as many people as possible to justice following the violence that erupted on two nights in April.
As the last active prosecution stemming from the disorder last August concluded yesterday, Mr White told the Post it had been one of his most intense investigations during his 17 years with the force.
"It is certainly one of the biggest investigations I've worked on," he said. "It was a huge investigation, mainly centred around the extensive CCTV footage that was available.
"The first disorder lasted eight hours and the second was not much shorter than that, so we had all of that footage to go through from a number of different cameras in the area.
"The main issue was identifying the people involved. But thanks to the support of the public, the media and the city council cameras, we were able to bring many of those offenders to justice.
"As a police force, we are very much there to ensure people have the right to peacefully protest but we will act when things become unlawful.
"During last year's disorder, people got involved in reckless criminal activity that caused significant harm to the people, properties and businesses in the Stokes Croft area."
In the days following the April riots more than 50 officers were involved in the investigation. Numerous CCTV images of people suspected of disorder, violence, vandalism and looting of the Tesco Express on Cheltenham Road were published by the Post.
Almost 140 people were arrested and questioned by police, with half of those being charged or cautioned.
Mr White said: "These convictions show that if people choose to get involved in this kind of disorder, they will be dealt with robustly by the police and the courts.
"People may think it's a victimless crime but it is the people who live, work and have businesses nearby that have to live with the consequences of their actions.
"What happened last August was an aberration. Stokes Croft and Cheltenham Road are not normally like that. It certainly feels to me that things have got back to normal there."
Mr White insists that there are not many suspects his team have failed to catch up with yet.
He said: "There are a handful of people who have gone to ground, but we still intend to catch up with them and they will be dealt with accordingly."
The lowering of the block means that an extension will have to be built at the Kennington Road end to accommodate ten apartments. The other two homes will be included in the main block.
The council's planning officers recommended approval for the revised plans.
They said it would be a finely balanced decision but councillors should give their consent.
They also recommended approval for the original scheme, which did not get planning permission. Not everyone will be happy with tonight's decision.
Many parents at Ashley Down primary school believe the new block would still overshadow the playground despite the lower height.
But the planning officers say in their report to councillors that: "Given the limited times of the shadowing cast over the school, this proposal would not be sufficient grounds to cause unacceptable harm to the users of the school and should not be a reason to refuse this application."
A pressure group called Howzat which has been fighting the plans said that little has changed since the previous scheme was refused.
They claimed the changes are insufficient for the council to grant planning permission.
But the planning officers say in their report: "Whilst it is considered that this revised scheme would still cause harm to the setting of the Conservation Area and listed buildings, it is judged to be a better scheme overall than the previous one and would have slightly less harm then previously identified."
They conclude: "On the basis of the viability case, it is (still) considered that, on balance, greater weight should be given to the needs of the cricket club than the objections made to this proposal."
Tom Richardson, the club's chief executive, has insisted they were committed to the current ground in Nevil Road and would only consider moving to Filton Airfield as a last resort.
ONE of the parts of the hiring process that often causes anxiety for the jobseeker is the question of references. There is usually uncertainty over whether they will be taken, who can give them and what can be said.
We asked our legal advisor – employment lawyer Philip Landau – some of the questions that most concern our readers. Here's what Philip had to say.
Does your employer have to give you a reference?
If you want to leave your job you'll probably want a reference. It is good practice for your employer to provide a reference, but they are not legally obliged to do so, except in some regulated industries like financial services.
Assuming you do get a reference, what will be in it?
Almost 75 per cent of references that I have seen are factual – namely your name, dates of employment, and job title. Sometimes, the reason for dismissal is included.
It is unlikely that any negative inference will be drawn from such a limited reference, especially as many employers adopt this practice. It does mean though that you may not be able to rely on a full and glowing reference to encourage a new employer to offer you a new job.
You can try and negotiate for a full reference and some employers may well give this anyway. If your employer does give you a reference, they are under a legal duty to make sure they are accurate and not misleading to your future employer. This means that if, for example, you were disciplined when you worked for the employer who is giving you a reference, this may form part of the reference.
Can I see a copy of my reference?
Once you start working for a new employer you can ask them for a copy of any reference that they have been given from your previous employers. This is a right that you have under the Data Protection Act, but your old employers are not obliged to provide a copy.
What are the practical pitfalls I need to be aware of?
If you have had long periods of absences due to illness, you will not want this reflected on your reference, so it is best to find out what your employer's policy is on the provision of references and ensure that sickness records are not included.
You also need to make sure that your employer is setting out your correct job title in the reference. I have seen many instances where this is not accurately reflected.
You may not be happy for the reason for your termination of employment to be stated on the reference – for example if you were made redundant or as a result of a performance review. It is best that this is addressed before or at the time of your departure and where a direct relationship still exists between you and your employer.
Finally you need to make sure you are aware of who your new employer needs to apply to for your reference. This is usually the HR department, but not every company has one and it is always better to get an individual name to pass on.
Jobsite have partnered with specialist employment law solicitor Philip Landau, to bring you expert advice on your rights in all key areas of your working life. As a Jobsite user you are also entitled to receive a free initial consultation on all employment law issues from Philip.
Philip can help with a number of legal problems; perhaps you feel your employer isn't following their legal responsibilities, you believe you have been dismissed unfairly or you are unsure about clauses in your contract. Once he knows your specific situation he can let you know what your rights are and what action you can take.
Philip is a solicitor and partner, specialising in employment law, in the London legal firm Landau Zeffertt Weir.
The information and any commentary on the law on jobsite.co.uk is provided free of charge for information purposes only. Every reasonable effort is made to make the information and commentary accurate and up to date, but no responsibility for its accuracy and correctness, or for any consequences of relying upon it, is assumed by either Jobsite or Landau Zeffertt Weir. You are strongly advised to obtain specific, personal advice from a solicitor about your case.
For more careers advice, visit jobsite.co.uk.