What's going on guys got Kyle here relating sports cards, and we are ripping 2023 tops chrome jumbo eight box full case number 22 random team style Did a random eyes for the break show you guys results at Jonathan are the Tigers down to keyhound keyhound with the twins race Good luck here guys. Let's see what we got Tops chrome jumbo finest filled up next still working on spots for tops chrome sapphire. Alrighty guys. Good luck box one Let's see what we got Josh. We're taking a spot in legacy taking two spots. That is Jordan Walker rookie Got a Austin Riley First auto is a 499 refractor auto Matt Walner twins And Kyle Tucker refractor. Hey, good luck. Good luck. It's Masatake Yoshida Ruiz Aaron judge on the insert There's a prism Vladdy and refractor Nolan Gorman rookie John Gray Correa Purple this is purple mini diamond a 299 Matt Chapman For the blue jades got a jitter downs prism rookie and Riley green refractor rookie to 399 We've got a fuchsia Michael Stefanik angels Jose Ramirez and refractor Mookie Jonathan India Riley green rookie Casas on the rookie throwback. There's a James Alton prism rookie and Eggy Rosario refractor rookie wall the Chuck orange It is orange auto gonna be Brewer Hicklin rookie for the Royals there the orange wave auto to 25 Brewer Hicklin and Togglia rookie refractor Corbin Carroll rookie count Mitchell Bayo Garcia This is Jeremy Pena future stars. We've got Titans Adley-Ruchman and Goldie refractor gunner rookie For the oaths future stars Hunter green There's a prism Sean Murphy Tyler O'Neill refractor Go Harris rookie Casas rookie Chris Morel on the throwback and first auto is Matthew Libertor Or a rookie auto not a first auto think a bowman here a rookie auto Cardinals Matthew Libertor and David VR refractor rookie Roshan's there's a Volpe rookie even small Coloss Nicoladolo Game of Reno on the throwback rookie got a Kershaw refractor prism and Aranda rookie refractor Kyle Tucker Pascettino Bubba Thompson This one is Technicolor Aaron judge Prism rookie is Francisco Alvarez for the Mets and Mike. Yes one in Sosa James Outman rookie Technicolor trout Acunia and Javi Baez. Yeah, that's the other ones the non regular Cal Mitchell Bayo Garcia Cedric Mullins Paraza So game arena throwback rookie d-backs prism of Al Tubei Charlie Blackman Coloss Lodolo Jerry there's MJ Melendez the 350 fuchsia speckle Got Michaels to fan itch prism and Jazz Chisholm refractor Not a Chisholm prism Still can't get one von Grissom. There's Francisco Alvarez Jeter Downs There's a Chris Morel throwback and purple Otto is gonna be Freddie Furman to 250 for the Royals Royals got a couple autos already. Shane McClanahan. There's Adley Rushman Michael Harris Yeah, I already start with some models for sure Bubba Thompson It's a goat There's a goat Oswald Paraza and gold is gonna be out of the 50 for the Orioles you snail Diaz You snail Diaz the 50 On the true gold rookie Otto and Brandy Crawford refractor Tristan Casas Gunner There's green 299 of Luis Castillo Greenway Cunha and Louisa Riaz James Outman and judge This is refractor Randy Rosa Rainer prism and rookie Hunter Brown There's a Adley Rushman future stars Titans Scherzer and refractor JP Crawford. What's going on Harold? Are we doing? How you doing today, sir? Doing good over here Spencer Torkelson on the future stars got a Michael Harris prism rookie and out Thomas It is more difficult than Platinum now got my hands moving man Ruiz to rang Lynette Sosa There's a Peter Lonzo got a prism not oh in India What day got Jay Ram on the throwback and Otto is Matthew Libertor another library Libertor Otto base Otto there for the Cardinals Massey Gray, Masataka Seah, there's Casas Shea Langlears There's Gunner Guys Shea Langlears Technicolor This one is the Grom prism and refractor Diaz Got a Technicolor Acunia Titans Rushman refractor Chris sale Fox 3 Hey, thank you, uh and or Adam taking a spot in tops Chrome Sapphire appreciate you Scott taking a spot National Treasures picking the Lions Harris rookie Edwin Diaz Cal Mitchell Rosa this one is Riley Green on the throwback and Otto is gonna be Shea Langlears rookie Otto 8s Brandon Crawford Randy taking an anti-spot Volpe Corbin Carroll Xander there's a game a reno on the prism rookie And Velasquez refractor rookie. There's Adley Brandon Lau Aqua Lobba 199. Hey, what's up, Edward? How you doing today, sir? Soto and Crawford Nolan Jones Kyle Tucker Dorman Pena. There's a Reese Hoskins green green way to 99 Phillies Ruiz prism and Eloy How's everyone doing today? Everybody's having a good Thursday night here throwback Austin Riley. We've got Otto rookie Otto Carlos Perez White Sox Schwabber Josh Young rookie See ya Future stars as say a Suzuki Jose Ramirez and Castillo Yoshida Vlad Guerrero. We've got a prism rookie Miguel Vargas Dodgers and India Logan Ohapi Oscar Gonzalez Tristan Cosas on the throwback rookie got Mookie Betts prism and JD Martinez Hey, thank you Edward taking some spots for tonight Appreciate you sir. Future stars Francisco for the Mets Bryce Terrain prism Alexis Diaz Josh Young on the throwback rookie This is Francisco nice one here for the Mets to 150 on the blue lava auto Nice hit there Mets will Magnus for you nice Francisco and The over Pagaro on the refractor rookie. There we go Mets nice hit Very nice one there Francisco prep 80. There's a Technicolor judge Harper Tay Oscar We can do it. We can do it in your Diaz red Michael Grove Nate Eaton. He said it's cut There's many Machado Technicolor got a prism rookie Masataka and Tyler Freeman refractor box for Gunner rookie Austin Riley throwback first auto is will Benson Guardians and Starling Marta like full set Harold I don't believe so There's a Rhonda rookie Taglia Jones VR Casas rookie base There's a Varshota 125 on the blue sonar blue Jace Ramirez Raffi. Yeah, I don't believe so Harold. I don't believe so. I Don't think they sell full sets anymore Ziko Tobar Judge on the throwback got a prism rainy Rosaraina refractor Ortiz There's Fernando Tates on the negative Charlie back Blackman prism and Thomas James Outman Dodgers. There's a Casas throwback rookie Prism of basketino and Ramon Loreanna Francisco Alvarez rookie Ramirez. We got a rookie Otto Cal Mitchell Pirates and Lou Bob Josh Smith, there's a future stars hunter green. We got prism Yachty and George Springer Spencer steer There's also rookie tags in two locations on these doesn't make it very easy Jeremy Payne your future stars add the ruchman rookie. I got a look at both corners of every card I just know the person but There's a morale throwback cubs This one is Brewer heckling the 299 second auto brewer here for the Royals on the purple speckle the 299 Austin Riley refractor for Raza rookie. So Jacob You doing today, sir. Shea Langley is Technicolor rookie Coonia and Arias. I got Donnie with me today. Yeah, I'm here gave a rainbow throwback Got prism Altuve and Josh Bell You hear Jacob Technicolor is Soto Got a Crawford prism and Jazz Chisholm refractor not a Chisholm prism Oh No, a different different tone, I'm sure Yeah, that is that is what Donnie looks like Jacob making my own That it that is that is Donnie. Yep. What's up Larry? How we doing? How we doing? So I'm grabbing an almanac spot Alrighty, let's start memorizing the print run here. Louise Castillo. We've got Chris sale prism And refractor a nice one there Yoshi red sox Hey, same here Larry same here. I was gonna ask Jacob whether you win breaker mat or sorter mat, but either way I'm offended either way There's P. Alonso. Here's our auto gonna be Ryan Nelson a 499 D-backs on the rookie refractor auto and Joey Vado Yeah, it happens Sam. It happens Your hand slips over that that almanac spot. I Know how it happens Prado Duran Tl Hall This one is green not a nice one there to 99 Notto for the cards Scherzer and Fujinami refractor rookie. Hey, thank you Daniel taking a spot in top chrome sapphire Six spots in tops chrome sapphire. Thank you Daniel We're down to under 10 now. I believe down to six down to six guys coming up after a full case of finest next Paraza, there's a Paraza refractor Prism about Thomas and brace to ring refractor rookie. Oh, no, it'll be for tomorrow Larry. I'm off tomorrow Um Sam will be in the morning and then for us will be at night There's a masataka base rookie There's a blue Teosca Hernandez the 150 Mariners Spencer steer rookie refractor or prism and bobby wit refractor Bobby's been on fire There's a Miguel Cabrera and to 250. This one is purple auto kin wall the chuck ace Oakland John gray refractor Appreciate that guys down to six on tops chrome full case 20 or 10 boxes fret baby rookie 2022 kin wall the chuck Perez Tyler Freeman this one is Riley green future stars Kershaw and Yvonne Herrera refractor Dolo future stars is gunner Joe musgrove prism refractor Garcia Ray's didn't do anything so Feel that Jordan grossians. I heard something about a natto maybe get moved before the deadline, but that didn't happen That would have been something Nolan Gorman rookie Ziko tovar rocky throwback. There's a chism prism. Hey, there we go We've done it Chisholm prism finally Jazz Chisholm for the marlins and michael massie refractor rookie. It's the little things guys little things I've been looking for that for a month now Kyle's more excited about pulling that out than my god Ali Rutschman rookie Seriously, man. It's the fanatic. I've been looking for that one. It's a michael Harris rookie Pascatino bobba thompson Paul goldschmidt throwback this one is auto Hayden was nesky rookie auto cups And estuary ruiz a's refractor I'm down. I have to now I guess I might have to grade it though. I don't know if there's going to be one out there anyone's grading the prism chisms lindore There is second color of trey trey turner. There's a prism cabrion Hayes and miggy Juan soto technicolor Uh, and josh young nice one there prism rookie or refractor rookie Rangers now pulling jordan walker I'm down for jordan walker I'm down Thank you, william taking a spot in top scrum sapphire down to five guys chris taking a spot in nt and select mixer number two sab taking a uh almanac for sunday um derrick taking a select an um nt mixer and clayton taking a select an nt mixer Appreciate that guys filling up nicely tonight go harris rookie gay marino Vargas Cavali, there's one soto on the um ultra violet all-star short print Nice one there padre sick-looking card there the short print one soto ultra violet all-stars Got a refractor mcman degrom Nolan gorman and blue this one is the 150 angels on the rookie auto michael stafanik The true blue to 150 and edwin ds There's an adley base Riley green There's matt Chapman number two two ninety nine on the purple uh mini diamond blue jades tim anderson refractor and painia masataka There's a josh young rangers on the throwback and purple speckled a two ninety nine this one's jason alexander george castanza there purple speckle garret colt fujinami marty ryan there's ethan small numbers three ninety nine rookie brew crew yordan and wander Is he available in fantasy? I feel like adley shouldn't be available right are you talking about like daily fantasy? So I feel like any league adley would not be available in future stars mj melendez titans brice harper and refractor gorman rookie cardinals josh young rookie George spinger throwback. There's a prism of trevor story And michael harris refractor rookie That's when they're braves And they'll work it a year last year And you thank you mark taking us or max max taking a spot spot and um sapphire down to four now Down to four appreciate you guys nick proddo and zahlez Future stars alex thomas there's a prism canon smith and verlander Oh, you will so here's your boys There's some cubs That's that's progress toke. That's progress not saying to burn it. That's a good progress Got prism cj abrams and adley nice one there refractor rookie adley clutchman mag that enhat base On it on it toke Mark vinto's got a rightly green throwback rookie and this one is louis liberato rookie padres And stafanik refractor rookie. He sure is man He is not a uh, definitely not a cardinals fan. That's for sure bright baby rookie wall the chuck Tyler freeman. There's a technicolor bow nailer Uh, there's a mani machado prism and refractor torque He can take a chair. It's back Yeah, that guy's had a tough year for sure. Velasquez garret michael. There's jordan walker base Assad Cal Stowers, there's a price harper technicolor Juan soto refractor of rasmussen Alrighty guys two more two more of this one is tops jumbo full case number 22 random teams box seven He was part of that, uh The world series team though, wasn't he? 2017 cubs Contreras Everybody wants bellinger now, man. Everybody wants cody b That was not the case last year. Oh, there's vargas. We've got a, um patch there. That is dirty That is alex bregman on the patch their game used for the astros Looks like he got some clay on there Nice one there stroze on the game used, um bregman patch red socks throwback And rafi Oh, was it 2016 starling marty My year's confused Yeah, he probably will toky probably will Volpe there's corbin carol Brett baby red and green Got an orange There's mookie this way It is orange wave rookie. It's gonna be shea langleers for the ace He's doing nice to 25 there on the orange wave Edmund Diaz prism And refractor of lindore throwback young There's auto drew waters rookie out of there for the royals tailor ward Salvatore taking a spot in chrome Nt spot for jacob. We've got harper with the nt and select spot And benjamin with a couple teams of nt p yt grabbing some packers michael harris rookie Pooja nami max mire alex call There's goldie number to 350 for the cardinals fuchsia speckle And refractor gorman cardinals pack there. Oh, it's oak Hey, benzo brist man raise legend Raise legend benzo brist There's grossians chris morrell on the cubs throwback And auto this one's jared young for the cubs rookie Face out i'm not numbered austin riley Barnett all adley clutchman rookie orials josh young rookie we've got a xander and prism cj abrams pete lanza refractor Yeah, that's a good one. Um for sure That is a good one michael harris. So uh, he won nl rookie the year last year solid prospect I guess rookie now oscar gonzalez. There's spencer torkelson future stars max fread on the prism torkelson What's up mickey? How we doing costless rookie base gunner hinderson rookie base Adley rushman future stars akunya and refractor joe ryan riley homer. Let's go blade Let's go I saw him hit a run yesterday, and then he had three straight strikeouts drew waters rookie ray So judge throwback we've got prism george springer And refractor loriano masataka. I don't know. Is it today chris? Ruiz Brace her rang We got we got football today Call stowers There's a auto it's gonna be louise liberado for the Padres there to 299 purple speckler rookie jake mccarthy refractor josh smith james outman Technicolor machado got a prism rookie michael harris Brace cattel marty Jake probably took a home with him I Used to new england about to start let's go chris deferred. Thank you for letting us know I'm down for some football jordan walker base Javier Assad It's a judge technicolor Titans jram and refractor quant Oh, we're even the eagle saturday nice. What time jacob the birds versus the birds Fox eight I was about to say you versus sam on saturday night, then The eagles ravens, huh Got a little uh breaking table divided It's not a house I just another game use patch this time at salvatore pares going to the royals there The game use patch Game arena d-backs throwback god gunner on the prism rookie And confordo prism or refractor football We got morrell on the throwback cubs Um, this one is auto will benson rookie out of their guardians brandon lau Okay, eric thomas ryan andrew edward taking some spots candler Appreciate you guys This one is michael massy gold wave rookie number 250 Royals there Got a simian prism Refractor byron buxton Hey, I you know who's got my vote blake. Come on. You know who's got my vote I'm on team riley bret Beatty rookie Ethan small There's green to 99 nice one there christ morrell for the cubs True green to 99 Refractor julio. You got your forest you're watching Carnassium close pares. This one's pita lanzo and auto is rookie auto jonathan aranda Shane beaver refractor rolling gorman. We've got riley green rookie for the tigers This one is scherzer and logan. Oh hoppy refractor rookie I don't even know why we're maggin. Uh toke at this point Talk about the morrell everything anything cubs Jordan grocians. There's a vulpie pascatino Judge there's a prism lamehue and refractor yordon. Oh should see uh That's you for the first time. Oh, yeah, nico collins michael taglia future stars gunner Gerard incarnacion prism Refractor oscar gonzalez rookie Not at all spencer me either me either Even to my high school. I'm definitely not biased because of that reason grissom. There's a francisco alvarez I am definitely not biased Shintaro fujinami There's a paraza throwback got a prism shape langleers brian reynolds All right guessing on cj strad's uh passing percentage. I'm gonna say No, he's starting tonight. Oh man football is back. Come on Percentage. Yeah Yeah, probably something like they might just start mouth some easy stuff though. They might do some dunks There's a josh young rookie shape langleers technicolor Salvador perez prism Viento's rookie refractor. Yeah, I'm gonna be here saturday. Yeah For me and sam we'll find it. We will ridicule each other all day Guardians j ran this one is purple speckle the 299 matthew batten padres on the rookie auto and chris brian Technicolor of a cunha. There's an adley rushman titans and casillanos on the back All righty there guys that'll do it for um tops chrome full case number 22 random team stop Do a quick hit recap here. We'll get going on finest. It's got p yt next We have a ronda base rookie Will Benson base rookie jared young cubs Drew waters royals liberato for the padres. We got wes newski for the cubs got cow mitchell Pirates rookie auto will Benson again Carlos perez shea langleers liberator liberator Um, it's a 499. We got refractor rookie autos Ryan nelson dbacks um walner. This is uh purple the 299 matthew batten We've got purple 250. Well the chuck that one is pretty firm to 250 299 jason alexander louise liberato brewer hicklin Um to 150 michael stafanik. We have gold use the lds to 50 um brewers or sorry orials We have brewer hicklin number 25 their royals and we had francisco alvarez. Nice one there blue lava number 250 On the rookie auto right you guys that'll do it for tops chrome jumbo full case number 22 got some finest coming next And we are getting close


Yeah, if this show can maybe stop making me feel so many emotions, that would be great. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to this channel. My name is JackTheBusRationalB. We have episodes 504 and 505 of our One Piece Reaction Series 2 day! And on the last two, we were, like I said, very heavy in terms of the emotion. Sabo dead. I'm like 50-50 on whether he's actually dead or not because, yeah, the ship got blasted and, and yeah, it seems like his character is a big building block for Ace and Luffy. I just don't know, man. It just seems like his character was introduced and just thrown away. Just for the sake of them, it's possible. Who knows anymore? I question everything in this show at this point. We're gonna hop into it, see what more there is to cover in this backstory. I'm at the point where I think it may be kind of over because I feel like it's served its purpose, but we'll see. We'll hop into it. If you're new to the channel, drop us up and let's get started. Oh, we are still here, right? This is the dragon. This is that dragon ship. Oh, pause. Everybody pause. Wait. Indie's blue. Gigantic... Oh, Ivan. They're talking about Ivan! Wait. Oh, so they... So dragon went to the island where... Okay, that is Zoro and, uh, I forgot her name, man. Bro, dragon just be everywhere, I guess! He's such an intriguing character, man. You get hurt? He's watching the ceremony. It's dangerous. Ivan's quite flashy. Faltigo. Is that where they're like, base of operations are? Mmm, an island named Drop, seemingly important. Faltigo, something for the wall. Oh, my God. Is Great Terminal just, like, starting over? They're just dumping all their junk again? Oh, man. Dude. This repeats itself. They're starting their training. Ah, he's getting better. He's aiming it well. Look at this kid. Oh, never mind. The fact that this straw hat has not been destroyed is just impressive. This kid is a maniac. Okay, pump the brakes here, buddy. Just wait until you see second gear. What? What? Are they imagining it? Oh, my God. That is so depressing. There's no way you just faked me out. That is, that is, that is mean. That is cheap. That is evil. That is despicable. Oh, my God. Are you happy with yourself emotionally connected these characters? Oh. Just throw a piece of paper. I hear by the sounds that an independent country. Oh, another note. Me is kingdom. Lube is kingdom. Oh, my God. That's so cute. They're such youthful spirits. We live in harmony. The three kingdoms. Oh, my God. War is going to break out. You can't help, but you know, it's adorable, man. They're kids and the training continues. God damn, that's a big bear. Yeah, you got to get stronger, Luffy. Yeah. Even if that includes getting eaten. Oh, big dodge. It's like an Elden Ring Boss, bro. Roll, Luffy. Uh, uh, do you just get like severely injured? Is it like a wake up call that they're just not even anywhere near ready enough to be alone in the dawn's kingdom? Makino, please. Well, well, hurry up. We're saying I thought the dawn was going to turn them away, but she cares about them too much. What? Why? Why? A little bit deeper. Damn. Well, the show wouldn't have existed. You've been fighting with three people. Not together. He feels guilt. It's not a big deal. Yeah. I knew it, but it's no good. It was like Sabo balanced all three of them out together. Makino-chan, I know. Well, our friend died. Oh, yeah. Go meet with shanks. She's so intrigued by his youthful youthful spirit. Or they just went stealing from the kingdom. This is bold. We're stealing after stealing. We're starting to develop a little bit more. Yeah, I mean, maybe Sabo's character was straight up just a building block. It knocked sense into Luffy and Ace how just cruel the world is. It's so sad that all this is happening without him now, though. They were a strong trio. My God. That's looking a little bit more like Luffy's fit. It's coming along. Just made names for themselves as a duo. So maybe that's why this whole... My God, that is terrifying. This whole time, it's been just them as the two brothers because, I mean, yeah, Sabo was a big part of their story, but he was just killed out of the picture super soon, like much sooner than I thought whenever it was starting to tell this story. Ah, I garb. Oh, they're getting old. Seven years. Damn, man. Sabo for real dead, then, bro. Ain't no way. It's just a waste. A waste, I tell you. Ace is 17 now. Does he set off? Be careful. Oh, man. Oh, man. It didn't have to be like this. I would say that I'm surprised this story wasn't before he died, but all the lines about him promising that he won't die on him just hit so much deeper. That's still so bonkers, man. He's Roger's son. I gotta forget everything I've ever learned. A wide open sea. Oh, Garby pissed. So that's why in all the flashbacks it always has been, yeah, just Luffy and Ace because they lost Sabo before they even were at that age to leave. Oh, birds leaving the nest to dawn. I think that she's like celebrating. Oh, no. This is going to be so sad. Such a simple phrase, but she was already on like teetering on the edge. Now, are we close to a point where Luffy leaves? Three more years. Oh my God, he's the ghost of Sabo. Oh, he's getting stronger. The first successful gum gum pistol. You months. Okay. Oh my gosh. Luffy's kingdom is insane. He's already made his name already in a couple months. Three years later. God damn. Oh, shoot. The Luffy we know. It's the other chick leaving the nest. We come back here one day. Oh, we know how much they all cared about them. They know she's on the edge. Oh, you crying? He's so clueless. Oh, we know so much more now. Wait, wait. Oh, oh my God. We finally get the origin. No shot. No way. That's the barrel. This is incredible. He said this is what I want to start with. Let's say who's Ace. I guess because he was kind of like secretly with the bandits and whatnot. Oh, the two birds watching over him Sabo and Ace. Oh my God. This ship destroys his ship and he ends up in the Luffy. He is so lucky. He didn't just drown. So lucky. Oh, no. Is it going to punch it? That's the same one. No way. It was his first initiation into the sea. Oh, this is a big moment. Dang, man. Oh, he's strong enough now. It was like a trial. I love this kid. And they're all watching him set sail. Him revving his arm. At least 10. How many do we have now? I can console the wall. Chopper, Usab, Zoro. Oh, looking a bit. Feels good, man. So the barrel. Oh, back to the present. Oh, shoot. I wraps it. And now we know why I hurt that much more. Jibanyu, words of wisdom, man. He's not strong enough. I knew it. Like I said, that's the building blocks of this backstories. Ace and Luffy realizing they were too weak to save Sabo. And now we're at a point where I said we knew the impact of that head on them. And now all these years later, he's still not strong enough even to save Ace. 505, let's go. That was some, that was really cool, man. Just seeing the origin of everything. How many crew with Chopper, Usab, Zoro, Luffy, Nami, Sanji, Robin, Frankie, Rook. So at least 10, we need one more to fulfill his, his minimum requirements. Oh, is it showing like Garp by kind of putting some people in their places after all this? Oh, Dadan. Oh, oh man. He's going to talk with her. I knew this would destroy her. Everything that's happened. He's all bandaged up. That's a good question, ma'am. They're running rampant.  Garp is here to save the day. Yeah, Whitebeard protected so many islands, so many places. They've just caused so much disruption in the world. Security of it. Ah, he's kind of pulling what Whitebeard did. Saying like, yeah, if you mess with anyone here, like you will be put in your place. Bandits! I knew that Dadan wouldn't take this all well. Knowing what happened. Oh, she's going to be pissed with Garp. Oh, damn. It was like her son. But we know how much it, it broke him. He knows he has to take this. This is so sad. He just hides it better. She knows. She doesn't even have to be there to know. She knows who Luffy is. She doesn't need to stop making me feel emotions. Taught of manners. That's what she taught them. So when they rob that guy, stole from that store, she, they think that, they think them. Aww. Aww. What was that dragonfly doing? This is so wholesome. Ha ha ha ha! Boo! What? I never even thought about it like this. What is your name? Nice to meet you. Ha ha ha ha! A prop saloopy for giving that one a shot. Whom? Oh my god. Oh my god. Garp's face, man. That's just so rough. Garp can't follow her. He has no idea. Okay. So you had a general idea. Combine them. Dude, shout out law though. My god. Dude, I do feel bad for Garp though. Like, he's such a, like, he's stuck, man. That's so rough, and he has to keep this face on too in front of everybody. I wish he could hear. The second half of the Grand Lynn. The New World! Oh shoot! Shang's. Oh, and Mark. Oh my god. Oh my god. What happens to the Whitebeard pirates? Do they form together? So the emperors, like, I just, I pictured emperors, like, working together because, but they were enemies. Of course, Sengoku was right. How do you not respect Whitebeard? Like, to diminish anything that he's done? They know that's all said and done when Shang's showed up. Even Shang's just knows. You had to remember he did see that perspective of Roger. Yeah. He knows exactly what he would have done in that circumstance. It's part of it. God damn. Shang's just exudes power, man. Oh yes, trust me. Oh my god. I knew as soon as the Don made it out of the backstory live and I was like, that is one million percent who we're going to first once we get back to the present to see how she's reacting to all of this. Now we know. Back to Luffy. Now what? Mark's taking his crush for each one out. It's the stages of grief. Jinbei knows he just need, he needs Luffy just to let him, let him get it out. Yeah, we're choosing what he did. Damn. He would take it. Oh no, you would not take it. Oh no, stop, man. He just grabbed it. Oh shoot. Luffy, Luffy was just like on his death bed not too long ago. He's in disastrous shape. Jinbei is right. Dude, their reunion in alabaster means so much more now too. Why was he relieved? Because he realized Luffy was strong now? He's fighting it. Still lying. What is this? Is he having like a panic attack? That's what it feels like. It's like all closing in on him. Well, those are the beads from his necklace. Yeah, it just feels like he's just being closed on. Damn. His friends somewhere. I don't think he's even thought about it like that. Got to him. Like I said, I don't think he's even thought about everyone at all the other straw hats up until this moment. He's just been so obliterated by this. Oh my God. A little tab. Nakama. I know he said no. Has it been three days? Brother is way worse than that. They're so far apart. What he saw. That's why he was relieved. Not that Luffy was strong, but because he had people. Oh my God. That even if he lost Ace, it wouldn't matter. Oh, the show is so cruel, man. It is so cruel. Oh, man. I think that it's all fine. It's just not. It's like that. Tentral Pascal me where he's like oh God. Damn. It's just like everything that's happened has happened, but the way they frame it is just. Oh, I even was misled. I thought that he was relieved that Luffy was strong, but it wasn't that. Yeah, Luffy is John stronger, but it is the people he has around them. It was at that moment in alabaster that Ace realized that something could happen to him and it wouldn't even matter. Yeah, it would pay in Luffy, but he wouldn't be alone anymore. There's all this backstory, all this everything. It's been this entire saga is just its peak, man, it really is. I'm looking at it through rose-colored lenses right now because it's still fresh, but we're having flashbacks of stuff during the war and everything just, it was firing on all cylinders and it still is. You guys still have like 10 or 11 or 12 episodes left in this saga, but my goodness. Guys, that's been it for episodes 504 and 505 of our One Piece Watch. Do drop us up on the channel if you're new and I'll catch you guys in the next one. Peace, peace.


What makes for a strong relationship, durable, resilient in the face of challenges and exigencies, the ups and downs, the vicissitudes, the cycles of life? How do good marriages, good relationships, survive the storm and sometimes the perfect storm of crisis, catastrophes and problems? This is the topic of today's video. Listen, guys and gaits, I never claimed to have invented narcissism. That honour belongs to Heavlock Ellis, not even to Freud. Similarly, I wasn't the first to come up with complex trauma or complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Again, that honour goes to Judith Ehrman in 1992. But I was the first to apply CPTSD in 1995 to abusive relationships.  Similarly, shared fantasy was first described by Sander in 1989. It's not my invention, it's not my discovery. And yet, I'm the first person, first scholar to apply shared fantasy to narcissistic abuse and to abusive relationships. In general, Sander's original paper in 1989 does not mention narcissism, let alone narcissistic abuse, which I coined around that period. So, that's just to set the record straight. Even when you dislike someone, you have to remain loyal to the truth. I'm delighted to say. And who am I? My name is Saint-Bachni and I'm the author of Malignance of Love, Narcissism Research. I'm a former visiting professor of psychology and currently on the faculty of CIAPS, Commonwealth Institute for Advanced Professional Studies and from shared fantasy to relationships. Some relationships are durable, they survive, they're long for the wrong reasons. Reasons of a shared fantasy. Sharing in a fantastic space, in a power course, a kind of cult. Similarly, relationships that are constructed on dependency are unhealthy relationships. Even when they survive for decades. Relationships that are founded on the mutual exchange of pain and hurt sad or masochistic relationships. So, it is not true to say that all long-term relationships, relationships which display longevity, survival value and resilience, it's not true to say that all these relationships are therefore healthy. Some long-term relationships are healthy and they are the topic of today's video. Is a good relationship a shared fantasy? No, it's not. Is it a form of co-dependency? Absolutely not. Do the parties merge and fuse? That's pathological. Do they hurt each other on a regular basis? That's probably borderline. No, none of these is a healthy kind of relationship. The indicators of a good marriage include many psychological elements and many functional, operational elements. I'm going to try to cover all of them in this video. First of all, it is true that partners in a healthy, surviving, resilient, strong relationship. These kind of partners usually share what is known as ego ideal. They share a vision as to the nature of their relationship. Their relationship is like a third entity. They are the two partners and then there's a relationship. It's equivalent of a child. And so, they share a vision about their relationship. Now, mind you, they don't have to agree on everything. They don't have to agree even on values. But they do have to agree on what is known as ego ideal or shared ego ideal. They do have to agree about the nature, the future, the momentum, the energy of the relationship, the character of the relationship. They have to agree on this. If they disagree, if there is a mismatch of expectations, the relationship is unlikely to survive. Another strong indicator of a strong relationship is continued sexuality. When sex ceases within a relationship, it's usually a major indicator of major problems in the relationship, some dysfunctions, hidden or overt. Sexuality is like a thermometer or a barometer. It signifies the level of health or the level of dysfunction of the relationship. Next thing is putting a greater premium, a larger emphasis on the newly formed, dyad or couple or family than on previous relationships, including the family of origin. In other words, the relationship must be the most important thing in the partner's lives, not career, not even their children, not the family of origins, not their friends, not their neighbors. The relationship is the number one priority, the number one goal, the number one purpose and the number one source of meaning in the lives of the partners. It is above everything else. The loyalty is to the relationship. If this requirement is not met, if the relationship is just one of many other relationships, if career or some other things, considerations are more important than the relationship, the relationship is unlikely to survive. Now, most of the literature on strength and resilience in relationships deals with marriage because it originated the literature, not marriage, the literature originated in the 1990s when I was basically starting my work as well. But marriage today is no longer a social institution, it's a lifestyle choice, one of many. So we might as well speak about relationships rather than marriage. Today people customize their relationships. Relationships are tailor made and it's a good thing that people are able to negotiate the parameters and boundaries and expectations and drive that underlie the relationship. This is a good thing, this negotiating process, this bargaining process. The mother of the field of strong marriages or strong relationships is Judith Wallerstein. Judith Wallerstein, W-A-L-L-E-R-S-T-I-E-N. E-I-N, I'm sorry. So Judith Wallerstein. Judith Wallerstein wrote a book in 1995 titled The Good Marriage. It is still an amazing piece of work. It is still very valid and applicable. Even in today's turbulent chaotic dating scene when relationships are fuzzy and unclear, when there's an intimacy cloud, people drag with them previous relationships into the current relationship. Even in this very difficult environment, very difficult circumstances, her teachings still hold. She was at the time in 1995 a renowned therapist and a family researcher and as I said she published the book The Good Marriage. At the time and even today there was a death, there was almost no literature on strong marriages or strong relationships. No one asked the question how and why does love last or is the strength of a relationship, the durability of a relationship, the expiry date of a relationship, do they all depend on love at all? Do they have anything? Do these characteristics of strong relationships, do they have anything to do with love or maybe something else? Common interest for example. Our long-term relationships which survive and thrive and endure are these relationships actually transactional. We have of course a vast body of literature about matchmaking in non-western cultures where marriages last forever and not because divorce is not an option, divorce is always an option. There's no country in the world today which does not allow for divorce. It's not because divorce is not an option, it's because common interests lead to attachment and attachment leads to bonding and due time to love of the partner. And these common interests are financial, children, the common children, relationships with families of origin, within the clan or within the tribe or within the society in which the dyad, the couple, is embedded. So nothing is clear cut. There's no magic bullet or formula. It all depends on so many things but regrettably there's almost no literature. There are no studies which link critical features such as love, such as attachment, such as bonding, such as having children or not having children, such as celibacy versus active sexuality. There are no studies linking these elements, these dimensions to the longevity and the flourishing of long-term relationships. And it's a sad thing, a sad testament to our reluctance to delve deep into these treacherous waters. Anyhow, Watterstein selected 50 couples for her study. All these couples were considered to have had happy marriages. They had at least one child and they'd been married at least nine years. These, of course, are arbitrary cut-offs but they're as good as any. Throughout the book, Watterstein uses interview data to illustrate all kinds of critical points and she tries to provide an insider's view into successful marriages through the mouths and the eyes and the gaze of the partners involved. So she's like a fly on the wall, she observes these couples or these diads and she lets them speak for themselves. So it's a collection of interviews actually. The interviews are analytically embedded so she analyzes the interviews using clinical data and clinical expertise. It's a fascinating read. So the book discusses four types of successful marriages. So remember marriage, relationship, the same. Four types of successful marriages in nine tasks which couples must perform in order to establish a strong and happy relationship. It's like a recipe. So the four types of marriages are these, the romantic marriage. So this is a lasting, passionately sexual relationship. The members of the couple often share a sense that they were destined to be together. You know the famous twin flame soulmate VS? That's the derivative of this. The bonding and the attachment and the binding is probably sexual. Sex is a strong superglue, strong and easy. So the sex is holding these couples together. Exciting, sensual memories of the first meeting, courtship, retained the glow over the years and become a kind of constituent, a continuing part of the bond between the members of the couple.  It's good enough a foundation it seems. The second type of long-lasting, resilient marriage is the rescue marriage. Now, just to be clear, every good couple, every good marriage, every good diet provides sacor. Sacor, comfort, advice, the healing of past trauma and past unhappiness and so on. It's a safe space, a kind of replica of the maternal secure base. So in a way, every diet or every couple is essentially a rescue mission of some kind. But in a rescue type diet or a rescue type couple, this is emphasized. This is emphasized. The partners' early experiences are usually very traumatic and the partners try to make up for it, try to help each other out of the trauma. The two members of the couple are the walking wounded. They are injured, they're bleeding if you wish. They begin their lives together as a joint attempt at healing. It's like a hospital setting in a way. And the healing, though, the curing that takes place during this marriage is the central theme of the marriage. The two members of the couple focus on trauma, focus on pain, emphasize hurt, try to solve and assuage each other's pain and each other's agony and anguish. Be there for each other, serve as a shoulder to cry on, a listening post and so on and so forth. The emphasis is on rescue, save, fix and heal. Of course, this can easily deteriorate into a pathology where one of the partners, or both of them, are playing the rescue, healer, savior, fixer role, which is definitely a pathological role. Okay, the next type of long-lasting marriage is the companionate marriage, marriage of companionship. The most common type of companionate marriage is usually among young people. Young people start off as companions, especially today, friends with benefits and so on and so forth and love often evolve into pseudo-romantic, intimate couples and diads. It's as if love is equated with habit, love is habituated, love is just something you do on a regular basis, the same way you brush your teeth, and equally as exciting and dramatic and arousing. The companionate marriage reflects or relationship, reflects social changes over the past 60 years. At the core there is friendship, equality, partnership. The value system is that of essentially equity and equality and therefore the companionate marriage is an extension of the feminist movement, actually. The companionate marriage assumes that both parties should gravitate towards the middle, the female side if it is a heterosexual couple, the female side should become more male, more masculine and the male side should become more feminine. This was known as the gender revolution at the time and it became the staunch revolution because women became more masculine, men did not become more feminine despite all aspersions to the contrary. Anyhow, the companionate marriage is an attempt to balance the demands of the outside world, the workplace, your job, other friends, your family of origin, your church, your club, you name it, to balance these demands with the demands of home, hearth and family. So it's a very, it's a kind of transactional marriage. And so we are, as you see, we are becoming increasingly more transactional with each type of marriage. We start with a basic primitive long-lasting marriage, which is the romantic marriage, founded on sex and lust and passion and desire. Then we transition to the rescue marriage, which begins to sound a bit transactional. You help me out of my trauma, I'll help you out of your trauma. Then we go into the companionate marriage or the companionate relationship, friends with benefit essentially, which is pretty transactional and we end up with a traditional marriage or traditional relationship, which is actually totally transactional. At the core of a traditional dyad, there's a clear division of roles and responsibilities. You take care of the home and family. I take care of money. I will be the primary wage earner. By the way, this does not align intersectionally with gender roles. Today about 45% depending on the country, but about half of all primary breadwinners or wage earners are women. So it doesn't have to do with your gender or your genitalia. It's about the division of roles within the family. And this kind of dyad or this kind of couple or family, they regard their lives as a book. A book with chapters, the time before marriage, the marriage, having children, children are young, so raising children, child rearing, and then children get older, they leave the nest, so there's an empty nest, and so on and so forth, and then return to work, some new undertaking. So this chapter is like a series of episodes in a mini-series. And this is the conception of the traditional marriage. It's inexorable. It moves through its spaces in a way that is predictable and cannot be stopped, unstoppable. Wallerstein suggested that there are nine tasks in a good marriage. Number one, to separate emotionally from the family of one's childhood, the family of origin. So as to fully invest in the new relationship in the marriage, while redefining the lines of connection with both families, the current one and the family of origin. So this balancing act between where you came from and where you're going to, where you're going to is your couple with someone else, your new family. Number two, to build togetherness by creating intimacy that supports it, while carving each partner's autonomy. This is especially true in the very beginning, in midlife and in retirement. So the task is not to merge, to not merge, to not fuse, to not enmesh, to not engulf, to not consume each other, to not subsume oneself in a bigger two-headed organism. This is sick. This is called dependency and worse. The task is to maintain your personal autonomy, your agency, your self-efficacy, your independence, even as you create intimacy. So it's like a Venn diagram, you know, the two circles, they have something in the middle, in common, that's something in the middle, in common is the relationship. But each of the partners retain a life that is somewhat separate from the relationship and they bring experiences from that life, from these lives into the relationship. They enrich their relationship with their independent autonomous experiences. The next task is to embrace the role of parents, to absorb the impact of a newborn and then the terrible twos and then adolescent. Being a parent is an onerous and a daunting role. It's not easy, it's possibly the most demanding and the most likely to fail undertaking in one's life. And how do you balance this with the demands and requirements of the couple? The couple needs privacy, if only to have sex. The couple needs time alone, the couple needs, the couple is another child, is an entity of its own. So how do you balance the new entrants, the new dramatic entrants, the babies? How do you balance this with the relationship? How do you not sacrifice the relationship? How do you not destroy the diet? How do you not overlook, neglect and abandon the togetherness when you have children? That's task number three. Task number four, to confront and to master. Crisis in life, which are ineluctable, they're inevitable. There's no life without losses, without crisis, without pain. So how to master them, these? How to glide through crisis? Not unaffected, because crisis, pain, loss, these are engines of personal growth. They're important. They provide reality testing and more. So you're not supposed to ignore crisis or pretend they don't exist or deny them, so on. No, but how do you manage them? How do you maintain the strength of the bond in the face of adversity? That's task number four. Task number five is to create a safe haven for the expression of differences, anger, conflict, various communication protocols. So when you're not happy with your spouse, maybe you take a break of half an hour. You don't explode. You don't erupt. You don't verbally abuse or physically abuse. You just say, excuse me, I'm in a bad place. I need to go to another room for half an hour. That's protocol. That's a communication protocol. Another communication protocol. You never emphasize the other party. You never say, you are guilty. You made me do it. You are horrible. You talk about yourself. You say, it made me feel bad. This hurt me. So it's another form of communication protocol where the emphasis is on yourself and your own experience of the crisis or the debate or the argument or the fight.  Task number six is to establish a rich, pleasurable, and even experimental sexual relationship. And to protect the sexual relationship from the incursions of the outside, of the workplace, of family or other family, of your own children, of social demands, and so on.  You must separate a place and a time for it. You must nurture it and maintain it or it dies. It's a use it or lose it proposition. Couples which are sexless anywhere between 20 and 40% of couples are. They have lost the glue that holds them together. Never mind how much they lie to themselves that all everything else is okay. It's just the sex. The sex is just everything. If the sex is gone, there's a good reason to reconsider the diet of the couple. As simple as that, it's an indication of severe dysfunction at the very core of the relationship. And Wallerstein agrees with this. Task number seven is to use laughter and humor to keep things in perspective and to avoid boredom by sharing fun interests and friends. This is more crucial than you know. Number eight is to provide nurturance and comfort to each other, satisfying each other's needs for dependency without creating co-dependency and offering continuing encouragement and support without becoming a lifeline. Now, there's again a delicate balancing act, but it definitely can be done.  You encourage your partner to be autonomous and independent to act on his or her own to be agentic. And finally, number nine is to keep alive the love, the early romantic idealized images of falling in love, not idealization in the bent pathological sense of the word, not idealization that is removed from your love object that has little to do with your true love object, with the external object, but idealization in the sense that you see the good sides in your partner, the lovable parts of your partner. And in this sense, you regard your love as ideal. You accept each other, you forgive each other, you realize and amplify each other's lovable good sides. So this is falling in love time and again. Reality is harsh, it tries to intrude and impinge and infringe on your love. Sober, reality tries to sober you up. Time, through change and transformation, tries to destroy whatever it is that you have. But don't let it, because time passes. Reality changes, your partner is always there. And her essence is pretty fixed after age 21 or 25. She is who she is, he is who he is. And if you fell in love with that person, if you truly regarded that person at any point as lovable, don't lose this, don't lose this. This is not the glue that holds your relationship together, this is your relationship. Good luck in this very difficult world.


The Jello Program starring Jack Benny with Mary Livingston, Phil Harris, Dennis Day, and yours truly, Don Wilson. The orchestra opens a program with brown eyes. Why are you so close to my nose? When it comes to bright vivid beauty, ladies and gentlemen, there are two sights that are mighty hard to beat. One is a garden of spring flowers bursting into color with daffodils, tulips, and primroses. And the other is a big shimmering mold of Jello and any of its six delicious flavors, strawberry, raspberry, cherry, orange, lemon, or lime.  There's bright golden lemon, rosy pink strawberry, clear green lime, ruby red cherry, sunny orange, and crimson raspberry. The cheeriest, most charming colors that ever delighted the eye or tempted the taste. And flavor, hmm, say, there's just nothing more delicious than the flavor of Jello. A delightful flavor is refreshing as the juicy ripe fruit itself. So enjoy Jello real soon. Let's say the strawberry, raspberry, or cherry flavors. All three have a new improved flavor obtained by using a natural flavor base artificially enhanced. And the result is a grand distinctive goodness better than ever. Try a rich glistening mold of Jello tomorrow. Where are you so close to my nose, played by the orchestra? And now, ladies and gentlemen, we bring you one of Hollywood's most versatile movie stars whose new picture has just gone into production. An actor whose roles extend from leading man in Love Thy Neighbor to leading lady in Charlie's Aunt, Jack Benny. Thank you. Jell-O again. This is Jack Benny talking. And Don, you were a little confused in your introduction. You see, in the picture I'm making now, Charlie's Aunt, I'm really a man. I merely masquerade as a woman. Oh, I see. Well, that's a rather difficult assignment, isn't it, Jack? Oh, it is, Tiz. You see, Don, the picture takes place around 1890. And I never realized how uncomfortable women's dresses were in those days. Boy, they had more contraptions. Leg of mutton sleeves, tight collars, seven petticoats. Yes, they were pretty complicated. By the way, Jack, does your dress have a bustle on it? A bustle? I think so, Don. It can't be me. But I don't mind that, Don. The thing I really object to is that darn corset I have to wear. So tight and hot and always sticking in my ribs. You know, mine does that, too. Oh, ho! So I finally got it out of you.  Well, the little woman thought it was a good idea. It helps my figure and takes an inch off my stomach. An inch? Yes.  Anyway, wear it in good health. But getting back to my costume, Don, I... Oh, hello, Mary. Hello, Jack. What are you talking about? Corsets. Well, that's me out. I mean the corset I wear in my picture. And, Don, Don, listen. There's one thing I found out about women's clothes in those days. Listen to me, Mary. I want to go over and talk to Don. Okay, boy. Don. Don, you'll never believe it. What is it, Jack? Long pants. No kidding, Don. The ones I wear go clear down to my ankles. But I'll tell you something about my costume, Don. I look cute as the dickens in it. I wear a black dress, a lace shawl, and a wig with long gray curls. So do they go down to your ankles, too? Mary, I'm playing a woman, not a French poodle. If you could bark, I'd bet on you. Well, stop. I look very attractive in that outfit. And you know, Don, it's amazing how I pool everybody around the studio. They think I'm really a woman.  No, nobody but you. Now, get this, Don. I was walking around the lot the other day, all dressed up in my costume, and Jack Oakey pulled alongside of me in his car and said, How about going out for a spin, babe?  No. Well, anyway, I thought I'd ribbon a little so I got in the car and we drove off. No kidding. He really fell for it. What happened, Jack? I walked home from Santa Monica. You know, I'll either have to get another picture or roller skates. It's terrible. By the way, Jack, is Charlie Zand a Paramount picture? No, Don. I'm making this one for 20th Century Fox. You see, I'm signed at three different studios now. Paramount, Fox, and Warner Brothers. Well, that's odd. Why should three studios want you? They don't. They toss them around like a hot potato. They do nothing at the kind. Now, you were at the studio, Mary, and you know very well that when I walked into Mr. Zand's office the other day, he gave me a wonderful reception. Some reception. He said, I'm busy. See me later. He said, I'm busy. Please, see me later. He's a swell guy. Believe me. Oh, hello, Dennis. Hello, Mr. Benny. Happy Mother's Day. Dennis, this is Mother's Day, but that was meant for a rib. I don't like it. Oh, I wasn't ribbing, Mr. Benny.  Oh. Gee, you've taken care of me. You've always inspired me, and you've encouraged me in my work. Well...  Oh, forget it, Dennis. I'm glad to do it. Nothing at all. I'm keeping track, Bob. Right. Keep track. I'm only doing it for your own good. When summer comes along, you'll be able to take a little trip somewhere. You know, we'll be off the air in three more weeks. Oh, yeah. Say, Mr. Benny, where are you going on your vacation this summer? Jack Oki is taking him to Honolulu. Don't be silly. I haven't decided yet, Dennis, but I may go... Hiya, Jackson. Oh, hello, Phil. I'm sure sorry I missed that big banquet NBC gave you, but I was playing that night in Pasadena. Well, we missed you, too, Phil. Yeah, Phil, we certainly had a wonderful time. Well, I tried to get out of my engagement, but the manager said, OK, so fast, I went right into a number. I don't blame you, but you sure missed a swell party. You know, I look pretty nifty in my full dress suit. Say, Phil, you should have been there when Jack was introduced. Boy, was he embarrassed. Well, accidents will happen to you. What was it, Mary? When Jack took a bow, his shirt flew up and shoved a cigar right down his throat. Well, that's nothing to laugh at. I could hardly go on with my speech. That was nothing to laugh at either. I did all right, sister. Anyway, it was a grand testimonial, and I appreciated it. Hey, Jackson, did you hear the wonderful tribute Fred Allen gave you last Wednesday? Tribute? Certainly I heard it. But what do you mean tribute? He did your biology, didn't he? That's biography. Biology is with the bees. Allen was supposed to eulogize me for 60 minutes, and he practically ignored me. And after all I've done for that guy. What have you ever done for Allen? What have I? Did you hear that, Mary? When Allen first broke in a show business, who gave him a friendly pat on the back? You did. Yeah, who gave him advice? You did. Who gave him money when he needed it? You did? Yes, I did. And that shows you how grateful Allen is. Well, that's all you can expect from that guy. Phil, how about a band number so I can get good and mad? Okay, Jackson, we're going to play it. Never mind, play it. Who cares? I'm going to get even with Oakie, too.  I'll take it. Hello? Hello, Mr. Penny, this is Rochester. Oh, what do you want? Well, due to conditions beyond my control, I'll be unable to pick you up this evening. You can't pick me up. Why not? Well, I was on my way to the studio and the match well broke down. I think the heat got it. The heat? Well, there must be a leak in the radiator. Steve, you can find it. Find it? I can't even duck it. Rochester, I don't want to have to take a cab home. Now, where are you calling from? Just a second. Where are we, Mabel? Mabel, what is this? Rochester, where are you? I'm calling from the Central Avenue. Our ribs will tickle you. Barbecue pit. Well, let me ask you something. What are you doing on Central Avenue with a girl when you're supposed to pick me up? If you could see Mabel, you'd forgive me, boss. She's TNT from Tennessee. I imagine. She's really... What's that, honey? Correction, boss. Mabel's name is Magnolia. I don't care what her name is.  But, boss... You're not afraid to get a little grease on your hands, are you? I don't think so. I just tucked away seven plates of ribs. Well, I'm not going to argue with you, Rochester. Get over here right away. Goodbye. Goodbye. Oh, say, boss... Now what? That was a nice gold watch they gave you at the band quit the other night. Yes, it's beautiful. What are you going to do with your old watch? Oh, I don't know. I guess I'll give it to you. Thanks. You can keep it, Magnolia. What? That boy doesn't waste any time playing. Ladies and gentlemen, the National Broadcasting Company is taking over the world. The National Broadcasting Company is taking over the remainder of this evening's jello shawl for a special program which they have prepared. May I now introduce to you my good friend, Ken Carpenter. Thanks, Don. Ladies and gentlemen, last Friday night NBC had a special program dedicated to Jack Benny's 10th anniversary on the air. For that particular occasion, a musical tribute to Jack had been prepared, but due to a limitation of time, we were unable to include this in the broadcast. However, we feel that you, Jack Benny's listeners, would like to hear this salutation. If Jack and the rest of the cast will take seats in the audience, we will proceed with the life of Jack Benny in music. Okay, let's go. 47 years ago, Waukegan, Illinois, was a little-known settlement boasting a few scattered stores, one of which was owned by one Meyer Benny. There was much excitement around Mr. Benny's store the day we start our story, easily explained by the cries of the news boys on the neighboring streets. Extra! Extra! A message from the store! Mr. Benny found a baby boy when he came home from work. He's proudly handing out cigars and boasting he will be the father of a president in 1983. The father of a president in 1980. As Jack remembers only too well, his father's predominant characteristic was strictness. He was the sort of a man who regarded the raising of a youngster as stern, stern business. On the occasion of bringing his first report card home from school, we find Jack approaching his father with considerable alarm.  Jack, my boy! I am sure my heart will overflow with joy. Flow with joy! What's this? English C. Algebra D. History D. Geography F. He draws his maps in the treble cleft. Scholarship floor, department floor. Scholarship floor, department floor. I just can't do a thing with him. He won't study, won't work. I can't make him concentrate. He'll be the death of me, a bad influence, thinks of music all the time. Music floor, scholarship floor, department floor. What's this? Music, eh? Yes, Jack's main interest as a child was the violin. He hated to practice, but he loved to play, especially with his devoted grandmother for an audience. She would sit for hours in the cold parlor alone on the row of chairs that was supposed to represent the audience, while her grandson played shoal for her. He played comedian. Who was that, lady? I said he was, there was no lady. Magician. Now watch me very closely.  Dancer. Dislike for practice, Jack soon attained sufficient skill to play in the junior orchestra of Waukegan, and occasionally in a real-for-sure dance orchestra in one of the neighboring towns. Then, suddenly, out of a clear blue sky, the bolt fell. Jack was expelled from high school for spending his afternoons in a Vogueville theater. He wowed our hero. The burdens of school were too much for poor Jack. He much preferred to hang around the Parisian theater, worshipping the ingenue and wondering what they paid her. He got a job as doorman so he could watch the stars emerging from this wondrous place and help them to their cars. He got in the orchestra after a bit and played violin with a ball. In the orchestra pit, Jack reveled in the imposing array of stars of that year. The Marx Brothers, Marilyn Miller, Joe Foote, Chick-Sale, all the big-time acts played there. When the theater closed some months later, the leader of the orchestra, Cora Salisbury, asked Jack to join her in a violin and piano act. He consented, and a new act was born. From Grand Opera to Ragtime, Jack Benny's apprenticeship was served in musty old theaters with a few worn pieces of scenery, a two-piece orchestra in the pit, cramped dressing room in the cellar, rats that ate the grease paint right off the shelves, but he loved it.  There was nothing for him to do but to go to work in his father's store. He waited on the customers with his mind a million miles away. Some pink and white suspenders, please, my brother needs a pair. Gosh, Eva Tangway, he's singing I Don't Care. Have you any black silk socks of size 11, please? Jolton was sensational singing Mammy on his knees. Selling men's apparel only filled young Jack with loathing. He wanted to be next to closing instead of next to clothing. Disatisfied as a salesman, Jack began to look around for a new partner. Friends told him of a great piano player in Chicago when they formed an act. Benny and Woods, ten minutes of syncopation. The act went so well that by the third season, they received an offer from one of New York's biggest agents. He not only agreed to handle them in New York, but proceeded to book them immediately into that mecca of all vaudevillians, the palace. York, York, York, York, York, York, York, York, York, York. Now every act that's ever been from Jack and Bill to Chick-a-Pin has always wanted to be in the palace. Though there are wow and kankake and getter rays and salary, their ultimate goal will always be the palace. We'll kill them in the palace. We'll slay them in the palace. We'll wow them in the palace. We'll lay them in the aisles. They'll love us in the palace. They'll cheer us in the palace. For to be second raiders, never to reach the big time. Violinist Jack Benny was one of these. He would never succeed. While it was after Jack joined the Navy that he discovered himself to be a comedian, there's nothing mysterious about it. He appeared in the Great Lakes Review and the author Dave Wolfe gave him a few lines to speak and people laughed at him, that was all. When the war ended, Jack went back to Bournville but as a single this time emphasizing comedy and using the violin just to fill out the act. Not long after that, Jack fell in love. He was wandering around the May Company in Los Angeles one day in search of a new. I beg your pardon, but where can I find men's suit? Four aisles over and three aisles down. Well, thank you. Oh, by the way, what do you sell? I sell ladies' hosiery and things. Oh, yes, I just remember that's what I need, some ladies' hosiery and things for my sister. Really? Can I help you in your selection? Definitely, here and when I buy my suit and whenever I need anything else. That's fine, that's just fine. Guess what her name was, guess what her name was. My name was Mary Marks that day that Benny bought his suit but now I'm Mary Livingston and Mrs. Benny DeBoost. Her name is Mary Livingston and Mrs. Benny DeBoost. As Mrs. Jack Benny, Mary tried hard to forget the comfortable security she'd given up for a portable existence in hotels and trains but she was pretty unhappy the first year, packing, unpacking, checking in, checking out. Whenever Jack would play a town that Mary thought was swell, she'd find a nice apartment and fix it up real well and just when she'd begin to think that they were there to stay, Jack would get a boating 1,500 miles away one day he got an offer to do a Broadway show. That's for me, said Mary, just say the word, let's go. We'll get a nice apartment near Central Park and then we'll hope and trust and pray we'll never have to move again. So Jack assumed the starring role in Carol's vanities and they were sitting pretty as pretty as you pleased but just when they had signed a lease and paid the bills they owed, the vanities closed its New York run and went out on the road. Oh, Jack turned the radio as a solution to his problem. He auditioned and auditioned and auditioned to no avail. Finally, the New York columnist Ed Sullivan invited Jack to make a guest appearance on his program. Far cry from his familiar Jalow again, these are the first words that Jack Benny ever uttered on the air. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Jack Benny talking. There will be a slight pause while you say, who cares? You know Ed, I just got in from Hollywood but I'm going back in a couple of weeks. I'm going to be in a new picture with Greta Garville. They sent me the story last week and it's a very novel idea. When the picture first opens, I'm found dead in the bathroom. It's sort of a mystery picture. I'm found in the bathtub on Wednesday night. It wasn't long before Jack had his first sponsor, Canada Drive, and that was the start of a career almost unsurpassed in radio. He had swell help at first from writer Harry Kahn, but in recent years, his authors have been Bill Morrow and Ed Beloy. And let us not forget Harry Baldwin, Jack's faithful secretary who's been with him ever since his early days in radio. Most of America listens on Sunday nights to hear the familiar strains of... J.E.L. Hello to you. J.E.L. Hello to you. You'll hear this old familiar sound on every Sunday night. When Jack Vanney comes around to make your Sabbath bride. J.E.L. Hello to you. Means half an hour of fun, that's new. He'll tell you how he killed a matter Wednesday matinee. Complain about the awful salaries that he has to take. No matter what he talks about, you're glad to hear him say, J.E.L. Hello to you. We must have music, so play, Bill.  He murders the English language and he panics all the day. He plays the kind of music a jitterbug acclaims. And then he found out long ago you simply can't embarrass Bill Harris. We must have a singer, so sing. Danny, your fans are many, so sing, Danny. He's as irish as a chilele. Yeah, chilele. And he hits a high C daily. Yeah, daily. Whatever Jack puts on a play, the boy that plays the menace is Dennis. We must have an announcer, so sell Don. Do it well, Don. Give him Don. He weighs a cool 265, and Danny loves to kid him. It must have been those six delicious flavors that unbid him. But when they need a man to push the Maxwell up the hill, son, it's Wilson. We must have a comedian, so here's Mary. Mary, Mary, quite contrary. She reads the most outrageous poems that you have ever heard. And when she isn't doing that, she's giving Jack the bird. The one who has Jack Benny on the verge of Harry carry is Mary. We must have a butler, so bring on Rochester. I'm coming, boy. Bring on Rochester. He's a dusky devil, but on the level, he's really a wonderful yes man. His main concern is he'd like to learn what happened to the gas man. There's always a crowd around him asking for all the grass. Jack can marry to all the work, and he gets all the lass. The folks back in Waukegan there's a sort of testimonial. Planet a tree for Jack one day in Manor ceremonial. Now this may quite a hit with Jack, and proudly he would boast, but the poor tree died. Fred Allen says it's because the sap was on the coast. J-E-L-Hello to you. J-E-L-Hello to you. When Jack does his programs away from home, you may have heard him say just before signing off? Good night, Joe. Joe is his baby girl, and Jack carries her picture and brags about her just like any proud father. And so on his 10th anniversary in radio, we pay tribute to a man who has consistently topped the list of radio comedians. A man who has made the world laugh and laughs at the world. A man who still remembers the friends he made on the way up. Comedian, star maker, and good fellow. Jack Benny. Jack Benny. Jack Benny. Jack Benny. To NBC and you, Ken Carpenter, and to Gordon Jenkins for a swell job of directing, and thanks to all the others who participated. Really was a thrill, and I got a big kick out of it. I'm sure my cast did, too. Here's a dessert, ladies and gentlemen, a really swell dessert that will please the eye and tease the taste. It's a grand springtime delight called jello cubes with strawberries, and what a rich, enjoyable treat it is. Full of tempting, tantalizing flavor, and one of the most colorful desserts you've ever seen. It's easy to make, too. Simply prepare one package of orange jello as you usually do. Turn into a shallow pan and chill until firm. Next, cut into small cubes and arrange in sherbet glasses with sweetened sliced strawberries. Then serve, either plain or with cream, and watch the whole family smile approval. For beguiling flavor, for sheer attractiveness, and for easy, inexpensive preparation, this new dessert hits a new high. So try it soon.  This is the last number of the 30-second program in the current jello series, and we'll be with you again next Sunday night at the same time. This has been a pretty hectic week for me, ladies and gentlemen. I have so many people to thank, I don't know where to begin. However, I would like to express my gratitude to those who appeared on the NBC program Friday night. Claudette Colbert, Herbert Marshall, The Quiz Kids, Eddie Cantor, Ed Sullivan, Oli Olson, Ed Thorgeson, and Aloys Heverella. Thanks a million. Well, Mary, I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home. Where's my hat? I threw it away. It doesn't fit you anymore. Oh, yes. Good night, folks. Hey, for the services of Gordon Jenkins this evening. Everybody loves a grand dessert and featured on many dinner tables these days are jello. Wait a minute, Frank Bingman. Are jello? Don't you mean is jello? Well, you didn't let me finish. What I was going to say was featured on many dinner tables these days are jello puddings. Jello, you know, is a delicious gelatin dessert and jello puddings are rich, luscious puddings as smooth as cream and simply unrivaled from mellow melt-in-the-mouth flavor. So whenever you order jello puddings, in all three flavors, chocolate, vanilla and butterscotch, jello puddings are really swell. This is the National Broadcasting Company.


Gwennodd, i ni gyd yn gwybod i'r ddefnyddio'r gweithio iawn i ddefnyddio'r syniadau a unigol dyfa am y beth sydd yn spookf yn ei gael.  Simon McIntosh, WS Collector for the Writers to the Signate Dependence and Duty Fund, and Christine O'Neill, partner of Brody's LLP. Ms Docherty, I understand you have a short opening statement to make on behalf of the promoters. Thank you very much and thank you for the opportunity to allow us to answer questions at any points which the committee has about the bill. I appreciate that you've received briefing information, but I thought it would be helpful if I was to add some explanation as to who we are, as in the organisations we represent. As you've mentioned, I'm Caroline Docherty. I'm deputy keeper to the Signate. That means that I'm effectively the president of the society known as the Society of Writers to Her Majesty's Signate, known as the WS Society. In that capacity, I chair the board of trustees of the WS Dependence and Duty Fund. As you've mentioned, Simon McIntosh is Collector, in other words, administrator of that fund. First, what is our writer to the signate? Originally, writers to the signate were exactly that. They were those who were able to write and were particularly trusted and undertook work on behalf of the Crown. The first recorded use of the signate, in other words, the seal of the king, was in 1369. In 1532, when James V established the system that we know today and the Court of Session came into being, writers to the signate were included as members of the College of Justice. Eventually, those trusted clerks became what are now solicitors and the WS Society is the professional body for writers to the signate. In fact, we are probably the oldest professional body in the world, which is quite a distinction for a relatively small group of Scottish lawyers. What is the relevance of this history today? With the introduction of the Law Society of Scotland in 1949, the regulatory role that the WS Society had ceased. We had to develop our modern purposes, ensuring that the society has relevance that will allow us to continue into the future by being of interest to young lawyers. I believe that we have been successful in doing that. The WS Society continues to grow. We are now a society of around 1,000 lawyers. Over 100 new writers to the signate have been welcomed in the last three years. They reflect the make-up of the Solicitor profession in Scotland now more generally in terms of gender and ethnic background. The society now includes student members, affiliate members, as well as writers to the signate, and therefore includes all age ranges from law students to our most senior retired member, who is over 100 years old. What does the society do? We provide legal training, support in the form of library services, both electronically and traditional paper format. We also provide research and drafting services for our members and our other lawyers. The Society owns the iconic signate library on Parliament Square, and maintenance of that building and its historic and valuable treasures has become an important part of our purposes. In recent years, we have opened up the building more generally to the public. Colonnades is an award-winning destination for afternoon tea, and we are building a series of cultural events open to the public, lectures, discussions, exhibitions and performances called new enlightenment. All of that, combined with the history that I have referred to, the fact that becoming a WS still requires taking an oath before an officer of state, the keeper of the signate, currently Lord Mackay of Clash Fern. That makes the society attractive to some lawyers, those who are interested in what we represent and the focus on high standards in legal services, which we promote through our purposes. Finally, I have explained what writers to the signate and the WS society are, so that brings me briefly to the separate and distinct body, which is the subject of this bill, the WS dependence and utility fund. Historically, the WS society looked after writers to the signate and their widows, who might have fallen on hard times by ad hoc charitable donations. In 1803, that was formalised when the original WS widows fund was started up. All WS at that time, of course, were men. That was to provide benefits to the widows of deceased writers to the signate. Over the years, the fund was changed so that it was widened to provide support for orphans and other dependents as well, and then later to take account of the fact that women were becoming writers to the signate from 1976, and then more recently to provide benefits for the civil partners of deceased contributors to the fund. Until 1989, membership of the WS society brought with it membership of the dependence and utility fund, and it was seen as one of the benefits of being a writer to the signate that you contributed to this fund. However, in 1989, in large part due to changes in the tax regime, which meant that the fund would become a less attractive proposition for new members contributing to it, the fund was closed to new members at that point. Since that date, membership of the WS society has continued to grow, as I mentioned, but those who have become WS since that date are not contributors to the fund. Equally, not all of the contributors remain writers to the signate, some have resigned their commission, so the two bodies are separate in that respect. Clearly, while the society's membership is growing, the contributors to the fund are inevitably ageing. There are now no contributors to the fund who are younger than their early 50s, and the oldest is over 100. The trustee's aim is to ensure that the funds held by the dependence and utility fund are administered in such a way that annuities, annual payments, will continue to be made to the widows and widowers of the contributors to the fund until the death of the last of them. That has to be done in a way that represents fairness between the generations, so that the last surviving widows or widowers do not receive a disproportionate payment. That is an explanation that I hope has been helpful in providing some background, and we are happy to answer questions. Thank you. If I could now move on to questions, I would like to just say that, in addition to the 141 annuitants, how many potential annuitants are there? Do you have a rough idea? There are present 538 contributors. Most of those will have a surviving spouse, but not all of them, so there are over 500 potential annuitants. How long is it estimated that the fund will pay annuities? In a way, the life of the fund depends on the life of contributors and when the last contributor dies leaving a surviving spouse. We have some projections from actuaries that suggest that it could be well into the 2040s anyway. Then, when the last annuitant is identified, it is a question of how long he or she survives their spouse. What would happen if any residual moneys in the fund, after all the dependence have died? I think that, due to the purpose or the aim that I mentioned that the fund has, that that will not happen, so that the trustees will have to find a strategy that means that that will not happen. The most likely end game for the fund is that, at some point in the future, a product will be bought from an insurance company using the remaining funds. It is putting it simplistically, but that would then provide annuities for the remaining annuitants to avoid what you have just described. Okay, thank you. Could I now ask Tom to come in, if you have some questions? Thank you, convener, and good morning, panel. I just wonder if you could perhaps expand and unpack some of the reasons for the decision to close the fund to new contributors in 1989. I think that none of us were directly involved at that point, but as Caroline Doherty has said, there were changes to the tax regime in 1988, particularly to the taxation of personal pensions and the introduction of the new personal pensions regime, which made for anybody new joining the scheme it rather less attractive to save in this way. The then contributors decided to close the fund to new contributors at that point, but, as I understand it, it was to do with changes to the tax regime under the 1988 Income and Cooperation Taxes Act. Thank you, and good morning. I wanted to ask for a bit more information about the definition of a naturally, because section 1.1 of the bill would modernise the definition of a naturally. Actuary is a fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries in Scotland, or a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries. I understand that those two organisations merged in 2011, and that is reflected in the proposed definition. I just wonder if you could explain in a bit more detail whether the existing definition has caused any difficulties since those two organisations merged, and if any views have been sought from either the institute or the faculty on your proposals? I think that it is fair to say that there have been no difficulties, and it is more from our tidying up exercise, recognising that that change that you have mentioned has taken place. We wanted to tidy up the wording to reflect that new organisation, rather than it being because of any difficulties. Just to add to that my advice to the promoters would be that, as a matter of law, the change to the definition would not be required, and that if there was ever any difficulty around the existing definition, a court would interpret it to include the new definition post-merger. A court would take a pragmatic and sensible approach to the old definition, but, as Caroline has indicated, it is a tidying up exercise. I should say that I have spoken informally to the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries about the change, and, in due course, if the bill proceeds to the next stage, they have suggested that they might wish to see a further additional concept of something that would be called a fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, which will be their new title going forward, and therefore there would be a further degree of future proofing achieved by the bill. So, anything that was changed in this bill would completely match whatever the Faculty of Institute decided to do. In general terms, I would like to ask whether the role and function of the collector, what happens with that and how onerous is it? As Caroline said in her introduction, I am the administrator of the fund. That involves liaising closely with the deputy keeper as chair of the trustees and with the six other trustees. I have to maintain good relationships with the collectors and annuitants through regular communications with them and dealing with their phone calls and emails. More specifically, in dealing with the contributors, I need to collect their annual contributions. I have to keep them informed about developments in the fund, for example, the latest actuarial report, which we had a couple of years ago and meetings to do with that. I have to give them notice of the annual general meeting and any other general meetings that are invited to and any informal consultations that the trustees are carrying out. I have to deal with their general inquiries and get notification from them of deaths and marriages, for example. That is really dealing with the contributors and on the annuitant side, twice a year, I pay out the annuity to them and I get their correspondence or if an annuitant dies, I hear from their family and the annuity comes to an end and broadly keep them informed of any developments to do with the fund as well. That is the external side of it. Internally, I keep the fund records, I deal with the banking arrangements, we collect income from the fund managers to fund the annuity payments, we prepare the accounts within my office, we prepare the accounts for the fund each year, have them audited, have them approved by the trustees and sent to the contributors, we also deal with the tax compliance, UK tax compliance, and we also seek tax repayments from other countries under double tax treaty arrangements. That is the compliance side. We are also dealing with the fund managers and receiving reports from them of their transactions that go into our records for the accounts. We deal with the actuary and get their advice and distribute that to the trustees. We are dealing with the auditor of the fund as well so that we deal in the normal way with any audit queries they have and have the accounts finalised. We deal with data protection act registration for the fund and deal with the trustees' meetings. We arrange them, prepare the papers for them, prepare the minutes and deal with follow-up and so on. It is a very broad administration function for the fund. Tom Arthur, would you like to come in at this stage? I think that this brings us nicely to the substantive element of the bill, which is the role of the collector, essentially, or who collector can be. Let me begin by asking. I made reference to all of the changes that occurred in 1989 regarding some of the consequences that would fall with the diminishing pool of contributors. I appreciate one perhaps not at the time, but were there any effects and potentialities anticipated at that time as regards to who could possibly be a collector in the future as a consequence of a diminishing pool? No. I think that it is clear that consideration was not given to it at that time. It was just something that, I suppose, in 1989, it seemed, if it was thought about at all, that it seemed so far in the future. It is simply a reactive element of the changes that occurred in 1988 in addressing an immediate concern as opposed to future proofing, as this bill seeks to do. Absolutely. I think that is clear. I think that in terms of the journey towards introducing this bill, was consideration given to any other courses of action such as reopening the fund or such like? No. I think that— Or even changing the eligibility criteria. I think that it is very much a case that we are where we are. Leaving aside reasons as to why it would remain not tax-efficient to open it up, we have always taken the view that the fund is as it is. There is no push for any other strategy for it. There is no other alternative, given that the current act says that the collector has to be a writer to the circuit, then the only alternative, given what I have explained about the ages, is that we remove the requirement. Finally, I am just very conscious of the rich and long-standing traditions and heritage. I noticed at the end that the collector still has to be an individual and not a company of an organisation. What was the reasoning behind that decision? I think that, again, because—By the way, this came out of feedback that we sought from the current contributors—they felt that the fund is unique and that, as such, because of its origins, they would like to feel that there was always a person responsible, rather than an organisation being appointed. They felt that it was important that that aspect be continued, that there was an element of personal responsibility. They like the feeling that they have always had, which is that there is one person, they know who it is, that they can phone if they feel they need to. I find that interesting because, although the decision to close in 1993 was very much based on efficiencies around tax and so on, that decision has made it perhaps more subjective, if I could say in the motive reasons, but no. If I could just add one point about 1989 and the change that was made and providing for the change that is now being anticipated, I think that one distinction, just to be aware of, is that the closing of the fund was something that was open to the trustees at that time to do in terms of the regulations that they are allowed to make under the current act. It was something that was wholly within the control of the trustees, had they wanted at that stage to make the change that is now being sought, legislation would have been required, so there would have been an extra step, so it would not have been something that they could have done in quite the same way as the closing of the fund was done. Was one just a reflection and a question to Simon Mackintosh. Given the range of obligations that you have within the role, would you, of your opinion, be a professional organisation, would that provide greater flexibility and greater support when one individual could within the role of collector, or do you think that the role of collector is one that can be carried out to require to a level by an individual? I personally do not do all of those things myself. For example, the preparation of the accounts, for example, I rely on professional colleagues within my firm to do that, but the contributors were quite clear that they did want to have an individual there, although they recognise that a number of the functions required the support of a professional firm or professional organisation, and they wish to continue with an individual overall responsible to them as contributors and to the inheritance for the the running of the fund, but they recognise and expect that there will be professional backup, and indeed my predecessor and in fact all my predecessors have been solicitors in private practice with the backup of a profession of their firm behind them. It might be worth just making a supplementary point about late 1980s, early 1990s. In 1994, the actuarial report shows that there were over 800 contributors, and at that point 20 plus years ago they would not have been thinking about running out of potential collectors on that sort of number of contributors, and in the mid 1990s the trustees did commission a report from their then actuaries about various possibilities, including potentially reopening of the fund to new entrants, and they were advised very firmly against that, and they were also advised against merging with another fund or winding up in the near future, and the decision taken then, based on the advice, was to continue, and they thought for 20 plus years, and we are now roughly at the 20 plus year point, and the eventual wind-up date, excuse me, is rather further out than they thought in the mid 1990s, but those possibilities were canvassed at that point. Okay, thank you. Can I bring in Mary Fee at this point? Can I just ask a brief follow-up question from the answer that you gave my colleague Tom Arthur? When you said that they were advised against opening up or merging, was there a specific or particular reason or set of reasons why that advice was given? I can read from the report that the trustees received from Watson Wyatt in July 1996, and on the first possibility of reopening the fund to new entrants, they advised against, for the following principal reasons, first of all, that new entrants would have to go into part 2 of the fund, which would be a tax inefficient way of saving, and it's difficult to see what could be provided through the fund that could not as easily and probably more cheaply be provided through the mechanism of personal pensions, and secondly that contributions would need to rise substantially if the existing fund wasn't to subsidise such new contributors. On merger, they said that it would be difficult to see why the trustees or managers of another fund would be prepared to merge with this fund, i.e. the WS fund, without extracting a significant price in the form of a share of surplus. Very helpful, thank you. Thank you. Out of interest in relation to the election and oversight of the collector, has any thought been given to the updating the regulations following the passage of the bill? Yes, we considered updating the regulations. It is something we have done relatively recently, and I think inevitably there is a possibility that we will need to update the regulations that something obviously we can do within the regular programme of meetings and the annual general meeting of the contributors and so on. If there is need to do that, we would. I am going to go back now to Mary Fee. Can I just continue on the point of the diminishing pool of contributors? It is my understanding that the collector and the elected trustees must be contributors, and they must be elected by the fund's contributors. Is that pool diminishes? How will that be done? I suppose that eventually you will get to a point that there will be a handful of people, or potentially no one. How will that be managed? It is not the case that the trustees have to be contributors. Until recently, as a matter of policy, all of the trustees were contributors, but we now have one trustee who is not. He has a particular area of expertise that we wanted to rely on. He is a solicitor and he is a writer to the signet. The trustees will be able to continue because there is not that requirement that they be contributors. The issue arises only in relation to the collector. That has been helpful. The contributors elect a collector or a trustee. What will happen if you get to the point where there are no contributors? When there are no contributors, we are into the territory then of what I had mentioned before. At that point, there is some strategy. At the moment, we assume—who knows what might happen in intervening years in terms of products that are available—that annuities will have been bought for future annuities. The products will be there in place to pay out, but there will be no need necessarily for the body of trustees. The trustees are responsible for ensuring that the purpose of paying annuities to all potential annuities is continued. As I said, they will ensure that there is a strategy and that it will probably be buying a product to ensure that that happens. To ensure that that happens. You spoke earlier on about future proofing and making sure that the bill future-proofed everything. I presume that at some point you would be looking for, say, five years ahead, ten years ahead, you would plan so that you would know as the pool diminished that you would have to make alternative arrangements? Exactly. That is something within the control of the trustees themselves. The body of trustees is always very conscious that, at any point, it is looking five years, as you say, ten years and longer ahead and looking at the various possible options for the fund. I appreciate that that is already stated in the promoter's memorandum, but just so that we have it on record, could you please give me your reasons why the legislation is required to achieve the bills to objectives? Yes. The legislation is required to achieve the objectives because there is no other means by which the requirement that the collector be a contributor can be altered. It requires an amendment to effectively primary legislation. I would just like to ask you, were there any opposing views voiced by the contributors at the AGM? But the proposal to remove that to comments? No, there were no opposing views. That is lovely. Thank you. I do not know any further questions. I would just like to thank you for coming along today and answering the questions so efficiently. If we would just like to now move the session into private, thank you.


And if you are dissatisfied with your life, then ask yourself, what is your life a metaphor for? It may well be that your life is a metaphor for the life you really want to be living.  Live the real thing. Don't live the shadow version of what you want to do. Do it because the clock is ticking, time's running out and it's never too late. They say, but it can get more complicated the later you leave it to do some things. So if you're in a shadow career, a shadows of what you really want to do, come out of the shadows and step up and get on stage as it were and be the singer. Instead of be the guy or the woman all the time watching the singer thinking, I wish that was me. It can be start today.


While H2 evolution from water may represent a renewable energy source, there is a strong need to improve catalytic efficiencies while maximising materials utilisation. Here, authors examine single-atom PT on nickel-based heterostructures as highly active electric catalysts for alkaline H2 evolution. This article was authored by Kai Lingjou, Zelen Wang, Chong Baohan, and others.