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Thursday, May 06, 2021 @ 09:54 AM ATTENTION: Major social media outlets are finding ways to block the conservative/evangelical viewpoint. Click here for daily electronic delivery of The Stand's Daily Digest - the day's top blogs from AFA.
Hannah Meador The Stand Writer MORE
There is something about powerful conservative women that sends chills down my spine. A few of these women, such as Amy Coney Barrett, Candace Owens, and Phyllis Schlafly, have been at the forefront of the conservative women's movement for years. However, it wasn't until recently that I learned of another inspiring woman who fought against the left's darkness – Mrs. Judith Reisman.
Judith was born in 1935 to communist parents. As she aged, she believed many of the left's lies and was a liberal, but not for long. Soon, she became every leftist's and feminist's worst nightmare. Reisman stood up and fought a good fight against the pornography empire, and many feared her.
Dr. Reisman passed away earlier last month, but she is a victor for so many reasons. She's mainly remembered for her work against her number one foe, Alfred Kinsey. Kinsey was a "sexologist," and his career was focused on studying sexual behavior in both men and women.
Kinsey's goal was quite simple, focus on sex and praise everything that comes with it. In 1948, Kinsey's study, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, spread like wildfire. Time magazine compared its selling to that of Gone with the Wind. His goal was to glorify, praise, and normalize sex in every possible facet. However, his methods of research were unsettling to Mrs. Reisman, and she exposed him.
In her 1990's book, Kinsey, Sex, and Fraud, Reisman exposed Kinsey for his greatest crime: the sexual abuse of young children. After his book had been released, Reisman discovered that sexual abuse was inflicted on 317 boys as young as two months and up to 15 years old as part of his testing methodology which was included in his research.
Two. Months. Old.
In 1948, sexologists were raping babies in the name of "science." Can you imagine how much worse things are getting in today's world? On digital screens everywhere, there is sex. Why? Because it sells, and people buy.
Today, the average porn exposure is 10-years-old, and top porn sites rank higher than Netflix when it comes to clicks. Surprised? We shouldn't be. When Judith made her claim against Kinsey and chose to help bring justice to those children, her world changed. While her conservative beliefs may have caused her to be an outcast from some circles, it opened her eyes to how dangerous pornographic sex was for those participating in it.
She discovered the effects of "erototoxins" otherwise known as the chemicals that flood the brain when pornography is viewed. Her studies proved that these toxins could rewire one's brain and cause many negative issues related to sex and relationships.
But after unearthing such terrible things, Reisman continued to fight. Instead of sitting by the wayside, she became a voice for the children, men, and women affected by porn. She was so vital in the fight against porn that she and other Christians, such as AFA founder Don Wildmon, were successful in banning Playboy magazines in 7-eleven and other convenient stores.
But she did it with class and grace.
She refused to let evil win, and instead, defeated multi-millionaires. Today, I can't help but wonder what the world would look like if we had more women like Judith. If we had more women willing to get their hands dirty, research, fight, and uncover even more of the dark things happening to children.
Reisman sparked an anti-pornography movement that led to President Reagan conducting the Messe Commission on Pornography, bringing justice to children who were abused, and bringing awareness of the actual effects of pornography on the brain. Why does it have to stop with her?
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:8-9).
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Photo by Josh McDonald Wallace Lady Miners Sarah Johnson, Maggie Howard, Catie Sheppard and Jaden House were all named to the North Star All-League team.
WALLACE — A quartet of Lady Miners nabbed North Star All-League awards after guiding the Miners through a long, fun season.
Seniors Maggie Howard and Catie Sheppard, along with junior Sarah Johnson and freshman Jaden House, were all the recipients and it couldn't have happened to a more in sync group of ball players.
The underclass(wo)men spoke highly of their departing teammates, who displayed leadership throughout the season while also keeping the season fun even when the team was struggling.
Howard waxed sentimental as she discussed the parts of being a Lady Miner basketball player that she is going to miss the most.
Johnson and House are now looking at very prominent leadership roles for the future Miner squads and despite a few nerves, they appear to be ready.
House bloomed as a freshman and her scoring load is only going to get bigger with the departure of Howard and Sheppard.
Unanimously the girls had two highlights from this season that they'll hold onto forever.
Late in the season House hit a game-winning free throw to beat Genesis Prep on the road and then the barn burner overtime loss to Lakeside (on Lakeside's senior night no less).
With the passing of the torch, a new generation of Lady Miners looks set for next season.


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State Census 2011
Chandra Nagar - Jodhpur
Chandra Nagar Population - Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Chandra Nagar is a large village located in Phalodi Tehsil of Jodhpur district, Rajasthan with total 375 families residing. The Chandra Nagar village has population of 2421 of which 1286 are males while 1135 are females as per Population Census 2011.
In Chandra Nagar village population of children with age 0-6 is 483 which makes up 19.95 % of total population of village. Average Sex Ratio of Chandra Nagar village is 883 which is lower than Rajasthan state average of 928. Child Sex Ratio for the Chandra Nagar as per census is 872, lower than Rajasthan average of 888.
Chandra Nagar village has lower literacy rate compared to Rajasthan. In 2011, literacy rate of Chandra Nagar village was 59.18 % compared to 66.11 % of Rajasthan. In Chandra Nagar Male literacy stands at 77.43 % while female literacy rate was 38.57 %.
As per constitution of India and Panchyati Raaj Act, Chandra Nagar village is administrated by Sarpanch (Head of Village) who is elected representative of village. Our website, don't have information about schools and hospital in Chandra Nagar village.
Chandra Nagar Data
Total No. of Houses 375 - -
Population 2,421 1,286 1,135
Child (0-6) 483 258 225
Schedule Caste 578 313 265
Schedule Tribe 0 0 0
Literacy 59.18 % 77.43 % 38.57 %
Total Workers 1,257 617 640
Main Worker 1,057 - -
Marginal Worker 200 8 192
Caste Factor
Schedule Caste (SC) constitutes 23.87 % of total population in Chandra Nagar village. The village Chandra Nagar currently doesn't have any Schedule Tribe (ST) population.
In Chandra Nagar village out of total population, 1257 were engaged in work activities. 84.09 % of workers describe their work as Main Work (Employment or Earning more than 6 Months) while 15.91 % were involved in Marginal activity providing livelihood for less than 6 months. Of 1257 workers engaged in Main Work, 865 were cultivators (owner or co-owner) while 134 were Agricultural labourer.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


It's the start of a new CYO track season (as of Sunday, March 1st). Good Luck to everyone!
Below is the almost the exact same post from last year about the meet set up. Remember you have to download the new meet every year! (especially this year, because we have a new event!) I have already updated all the age groups and set the "age-up" date accordingly, and added the 4x200. Make sure to read the note from the Arch Coordinator about the meet set up. It is vital that everyone follow the procedures correctly when using the meet set up, it can be rather finicky.
The 2009 Track Packet is also available under the Links. It is a .pdf file. Information about the Penn Relays qualifying and other events is available in the packet.
NOTICE: Region / Area Commissioners are reminded that NO ONE may assign a new team number into the system other than myself. If you have a new parish team in your region that is not on the team list in Meet Manager, please email me to request one. Thank you.
All commissioners & coaches are reminded that they must use the Archdiocesan Track & Field meet set-up supplied (Hy-Tek Meet Manager version 1.2L or 2.0 only) . There can not be any changes at all (under ANY circumstances) to Parish/School names, ID numbers, team abbreviations, event numbers, event names, divisions, or "age-up date" (division DOB marker - 12/31/08). At this time, all known parishes/schools competing have been entered into the meet. The only information that should be adjusted are the number of lanes and lane preferences. If you have questions about this, please contact us before making changes.
All entries/qualifiers from Area Champs to Archdiocesan Champs must be submitted AND usable without correction by us by Tuesday, May 19th, at 5:00pm or your Area runners will not run at champs. This includes the names of all relay runners (including alternates). If qualifying relays are submitted without participants names, they will automatically be disqualified from the meet. Area A, C & E commissioners, please remind your Region commissioners that relay names must be submitted from the Region to Area Champs.


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Home / Melatonin and Sleep
Eric Suni
Alex Dimitriu
What Is Melatonin?
Can Melatonin Supplements Improve Sleep?
What Are the Side Effects of Melatonin?
What is the Appropriate Dosage of Melatonin?
How to Choose Melatonin Supplements
Our medical review team has recently evaluated this page to ensure accuracy. We will continue to monitor and revise this article as new literature is published on melatonin.
Melatonin, often referred to as the sleep hormone, is a central part of the body's sleep-wake cycle. Its production increases with evening darkness, promoting healthy sleep and helping to orient our circadian rhythm.
The body naturally produces melatonin, but researchers and the public have increasingly taken an interest in external sources of it, such as liquids or capsules, as a way to address sleep difficulties. In the United States, melatonin is sold as a dietary supplement, and a 2012 survey by the National Institutes of Health found it to be one of the most commonly used supplements among both adults and children.
Studies have found that melatonin can improve sleep in certain cases, but it isn't for everyone. It is important to be aware of and carefully consider melatonin's potential benefits and downsides. People who want to use melatonin supplement should also be aware of issues related to dosage and the quality of supplements.
Melatonin is a natural hormone that is produced by the pineal gland in the brain and then released into the bloodstream. Darkness prompts the pineal gland to start producing melatonin while light causes that production to stop. As a result, melatonin helps regulate circadian rhythm and synchronize our sleep-wake cycle with night and day. In doing so, it facilitates a transition to sleep and promotes consistent, quality rest.
Melatonin created within the body is known as endogenous melatonin, but the hormone can also be produced externally. Exogenous melatonin is normally made synthetically in a laboratory and, as a dietary supplement, is most often sold as a pill, capsule, chewable, or liquid.
It is well-established that melatonin produced by the body plays a fundamental role in getting quality sleep, so it's natural to consider whether melatonin supplements can be used to address sleeping difficulties.
Research to date has shown that melatonin supplements may be useful in certain situations for both adults and children.
Melatonin in Adults
In adults, research studies have found the clearest potential benefits from melatonin are for people who have sleeping problems related to Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder (DSWPD) and jet lag.
DSWPD is a circadian rhythm disorder in which a person's sleep schedule is shifted later, often by a matter of hours. For people with this "night owl" schedule, it can be hard to get enough sleep if they have obligations, such as work or school, that force them to wake up early in the morning. Studies have indicated that low doses of melatonin taken before the desired bedtime can help people with DSWPD adjust their sleep cycle forward.
Jet lag can occur when a person travels rapidly across multiple time zones, such as on an intercontinental flight, because their body's internal clock becomes misaligned with the local day-night cycle. Evidence from small research studies points to melatonin supplements as potentially helping to reset the sleep-wake cycle and improve sleep in people with jet lag.
Shift workers — people who work during the night — often struggle with sleep difficulties related to a misaligned circadian rhythm. Studies of melatonin in shift workers have had inconclusive results, although some people report a benefit.
There is debate about whether melatonin is beneficial in otherwise healthy adults who have insomnia, a persistent condition marked by trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. The existing research is not conclusive. Some experts reviewing it find some evidence in favor of melatonin while organizations like the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) have concluded that there is not sufficient scientific support for melatonin in reducing insomnia.
For most adults, melatonin has few notable side effects, so even when its benefits may not be clearly established, some people with sleeping problems may be inclined to try it. The best practice is to consult a doctor and have an in-depth conversation about the benefits and risks before taking melatonin.
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Melatonin in Children
Melatonin may be helpful in children with sleeping problems, but experts generally agree that more research is needed to understand its optimal use in young people.
Several research studies have indicated that melatonin may help children with sleeping difficulties fall asleep more quickly. It may also improve their total sleep time. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that melatonin may be beneficial as a short-term tool to help children adjust to a healthier sleep schedule and establish good sleep habits.
Evidence from small studies has indicated that melatonin may be especially useful in children with certain conditions including epilepsy and some neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Almost all reviews of the existing science acknowledge that additional research will be needed to clarify key issues about the use of melatonin in children including the optimal dosage and duration of use as well the risks of long-term side effects.
Because of the uncertainties the remain regarding melatonin's use by children, the AAP recommends that parents work closely with their child's doctor before administering melatonin supplements.
Additional Steps to Improve Sleep
People with sleeping problems can benefit from taking steps to develop healthy sleep habits. Even if melatonin offers relief, improving their sleep routines and environment (through the best mattress and bedding) — known collectively as sleep hygiene — can promote durable sleep quality improvement.
Talking with a doctor about melatonin and sleeping problems can also help reveal whether a person has an underlying sleep disorder. For example, raising poor sleep issues or excessive sleepiness may uncover a problem like sleep apnea. Melatonin isn't a therapy for sleep apnea, but in this scenario, working with the doctor can lead to more appropriate and effective treatments.
Short-term use of melatonin has relatively few side effects and is well-tolerated by the majority of people who take it. The most commonly reported side effects are daytime drowsiness, headaches, and dizziness, but these are experienced by only a small percentage of people who take melatonin.
In children, the reported side effects of short-term use are similar as in adults. Some children may experience agitation or an increased risk of bedwetting when using melatonin.
For both children and adults, talking with a doctor before taking melatonin can help prevent possible allergic reactions or harmful interactions with other medications. People taking anti-epilepsy and blood thinning medications, in particular, should ask their physician about potential drug interactions.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends against melatonin use in people with dementia, and there is little research about its safety in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
There is also very little data about the long-term effects of melatonin supplements in children or adults. There is some concern that sustained use of melatonin could affect the onset of puberty in children, but research so far is inconclusive. Because the long-term effects are unknown, people should maintain an ongoing conversation with their doctor about using melatonin and the quality of their sleep and overall health.
There is no consensus about the optimal dosage of melatonin although most experts advise to avoid extremely high dosages. In studies, dosages range from .1 to 12 milligrams (mg). A typical dose in supplements is between one and three milligrams, but whether this is appropriate for any specific person depends on factors like their age and sleeping problems. You may find melatonin in dosages of micrograms (mcg), 1000 mcg is equivalent to 1 mg.
Some people experience daytime sleepiness when using melatonin as a sleep aid. If you experience this, it could be that your dosage is too high. It's advisable to start with the lowest dosage possible and work your way up gradually under the supervision of your doctor.
The AAP advises against dosages above 3-6 mg for children and states that many young people respond to small doses of .5 to 1 mg. Some studies have found benefits to lower doses in adults as well.
Oral supplements can bring the levels of melatonin in the blood to levels much higher than is normally produced by the body. For example, dosages between 1-10 mg can raise melatonin concentrations to anywhere from 3 to 60 times typical levels. For this reason, people taking melatonin should use caution before ingesting high doses.
Melatonin is sold in the U.S. as a dietary supplement and not as a medication. This is a vital distinction because it means that melatonin products are not closely regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A wide range of brands with varying formulations and dosages are available over-the-counter in groceries and drugs stores, but there are important quality differences to look out for. A study that reviewed 31 melatonin supplements found major inaccuracies in dosage information; 71% of the tested products were not within 10% of their listed dosage. An incorrect dose of melatonin can have meaningful consequences including a higher risk of side effects and reduced supplement effectiveness.
Some products labeled as only containing melatonin contained impurities or other compounds, such as serotonin, that can pose health risks. Melatonin is often combined with magnesium, valerian root, or other natural sleep aids in supplements, which may further affect the accuracy of dosages and labeling.
Buyers of supplements should take care when shopping and remember that labels like "natural," "certified," and "verified" are not standardized or regulated. Although not a guarantee of safety, certification from organizations like US Pharmacopeia (USP), ConsumerLab.com, or the NSF International Dietary Supplement program can offer confirmation that products have been tested for contaminants or mislabeling.
About Our Editorial Team
Eric Suni has over a decade of experience as a science writer and was previously an information specialist for the National Cancer Institute.
Dr. Dimitriu is the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine. He is board-certified in psychiatry as well as sleep medicine.
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Black, L. I., Clarke, T. C., Barnes, P. M., Stussman, B. J., & Nahin, R. L. (2015). Use of complementary health approaches among children aged 4-17 years in the United States: National Health Interview Survey, 2007-2012. National health statistics reports, (78), 1–19.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25671583/
Boafo, A., Greenham, S., Alenezi, S., Robillard, R., Pajer, K., Tavakoli, P., & De Koninck, J. (2019). Could long-term administration of melatonin to prepubertal children affect timing of puberty? A clinician's perspective. Nature and science of sleep, 11, 1–10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4334454/
Costello, R. B., Lentino, C. V., Boyd, C. C., O'Connell, M. L., Crawford, C. C., Sprengel, M. L., & Deuster, P. A. (2014). The effectiveness of melatonin for promoting healthy sleep: a rapid evidence assessment of the literature. Nutrition journal, 13, 106. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-13-106
Erland, L. A., & Saxena, P. K. (2017). Melatonin Natural Health Products and Supplements: Presence of Serotonin and Significant Variability of Melatonin Content. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 13(2), 275–281.https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6462
Esparham, A. (2020, January 2). American Academy of Pediatrics: Melatonin and Children's Sleep. Retrieved June 25, 2020. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/Melatonin-and-Childrens-Sleep.aspx
Grigg-Damberger, M. M., & Ianakieva, D. (2017). Poor Quality Control of Over-the-Counter Melatonin: What They Say Is Often Not What You Get. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 13(2), 163–165.https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6434
Jain, S. V., Horn, P. S., Simakajornboon, N., Beebe, D. W., Holland, K., Byars, A. W., & Glauser, T. A. (2015). Melatonin improves sleep in children with epilepsy: a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Sleep medicine, 16(5), 637–644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2015.01.005
Masters, A., Pandi-Perumal, S. R., Seixas, A., Girardin, J. L., & McFarlane, S. I. (2014). Melatonin, the Hormone of Darkness: From Sleep Promotion to Ebola Treatment. Brain disorders & therapy, 4(1), 1000151.https://doi.org/10.4172/2168-975X.1000151
Matheson, E., & Hainer, B. L. (2017). Insomnia: Pharmacologic Therapy. American family physician, 96(1), 29–35.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31982807/
McDonagh, M. S., Holmes, R., & Hsu, F. (2019). Pharmacologic Treatments for Sleep Disorders in Children: A Systematic Review. Journal of child neurology, 34(5), 237–247. https://doi.org/10.1177/0883073818821030
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). (2019, January). Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Retrieved June 25, 2020. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/using-dietary-supplements-wisely
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Rajaratnam, S. M., Middleton, B., Stone, B. M., Arendt, J., & Dijk, D. J. (2004). Melatonin advances the circadian timing of EEG sleep and directly facilitates sleep without altering its duration in extended sleep opportunities in humans. The Journal of physiology, 561(Pt 1), 339–351.https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2004.073742
Rossignol, D. A., & Frye, R. E. (2014). Melatonin in autism spectrum disorders. Current clinical pharmacology, 9(4), 326–334.https://doi.org/10.2174/15748847113086660072
Sateia, M. J., Buysse, D. J., Krystal, A. D., Neubauer, D. N., & Heald, J. L. (2017). Clinical Practice Guideline for the Pharmacologic Treatment of Chronic Insomnia in Adults: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 13(2), 307–349. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6470
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Wei, S., Smits, M. G., Tang, X., Kuang, L., Meng, H., Ni, S., Xiao, M., & Zhou, X. (2020). Efficacy and safety of melatonin for sleep onset insomnia in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Sleep medicine, 68, 1–8. https://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/ODS_Frequently_Asked_Questions.aspx#Ingredients
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How to Use Medications Safely
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REM Sleep Deprivation and Migraines
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Light and Sleep
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The Sleep Foundation editorial team is dedicated to providing content that meets the highest standards for accuracy and objectivity. Our editors and medical experts rigorously evaluate every article and guide to ensure the information is factual, up-to-date, and free of bias.
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PA budget gives new funds for drug treatment … if it's enacted
by Jeffrey Benzing July 5, 2016 February 21, 2018
There might be good news for those who care about drug treatment money.
In the budget bill approved by the state Legislature — but not yet fully adopted as the final state budget — the commonwealth is giving $45.5 million to assist local drug treatment agencies in funding that passes through the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs [DDAP].
While shy of the $46.2 million proposed by Gov. Tom Wolf, it's an increase over the fiscal year 2015-16 budget appropriation of $44.7 million, which also represented the first significant funding increase in many years.
As PublicSource reported last month, drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania have risen for many years, including over a period when drug treatment funding was either cut or stagnant.
Pennsylvania is among the states hardest hit by an opioid overdose epidemic. Gary Tennis, secretary of DDAP, has pointed out a clear link between deaths and funding cuts for treatment.
"If drug and alcohol funds are cut because we can't balance a budget with new revenues, we will make an already tragic time in our history even worse," he said in February soon after Wolf released his budget proposal.
At that point, the state had yet to even approve the prior budget, which should have already been in force for many months.
The fiscal year 2016-17 budget also includes $2.1 million for DDAP's general operations. That's the largest chunk of state funding in the agency's history.
When the department was launched, it was given $466,000 for operations, even though the estimated yearly cost of starting a stand-alone department was $2.1 million.
Operations funds jumped to $1.87 million in fiscal year 2015-16. Despite that boost, the department has still been strapped for cash to the point where numerous staff vacancies have been chronically unfilled.
"The overwork is a little bit of a vicious circle," Tennis told PublicSource recently, explaining that not having adequate staff has hurt the department's work.
Staff is asked to take on more work with fewer resources, and Tennis said, there hasn't even been an employee who can focus on writing grants to bring in more money from outside of the state.
The department gets roughly $10 million in federal funds for operations and $71 million that goes to local drug treatment.
A previous version of this fiscal year's budget approved by House lawmakers was more generous to the department.
It would have given $2.6 million to DDAP for operations, and while money for local drug treatment wouldn't have increased, the budget booked a separate $5 million for emergency treatment.
Meanwhile, Wolf has touted an additional $34 million to be directed toward opioid treatment for 11,250 new individuals through the Department of Human Services.
Only part of that money exists, however.
According to Jeffrey Sheridan, the governor's spokesperson, $15 million in state funds will be dedicated toward that treatment. An additional $5.4 million in federal money will also be used.
State lawmakers have called for an emergency session this fall, which will focus on the opioid epidemic.
For now, the question is if the budget bill will actually be enacted. While lawmakers have approved it, there is no deal on how to pay for it.
Reach Jeffrey Benzing at 412-515-0062 or at jbenzing@publicsource.org. Follow him on Twitter @jabenzing.
Tagged: Campaign finance, Drug abuse and rehabilitation


Tom Cross' campaign for Illinois State Treasurer continues to power on with his latest newspaper endorsement: The Kendall County Record.
"We endorse Cross in this election based on his impressive record over the past 20 years as a state representative serving northeastern Kendall County. A Yorkville High School graduate and Oswego resident who went on to become the Republican House Minority Leader, Cross helped secure millions of dollars in state funding for a myriad of local public works projects over the past two decades. Those funds helped local school districts pay for new schools, for widened highways... Cross has also been responsive to the concerns of his constituents."


The Oglethorpe baseball team swept a doubleheader from the visiting Sewanee Tigers Saturday afternoon in Tennessee, allowing them to take two of three from the Tigers for the series. The Stormy Petrels fell behind 6-2 in the third inning of Game 1, but outscored Sewanee 10-1 over the remainder of the contest and 24-2 over the remainder of the afternoon for a pair of huge SAA victories. The wins improved the Petrels to 11-11 overall and 3-6 in conference play.
In Game 1, Oglethorpe jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Sophomore first baseman Andrew Mink singled to lead off the frame and junior second baseman Matt Motz doubled to put runners at second and third. An RBI groundout from junior third baseman Connor Crooke put the Petrels ahead 1-0 and sophomore shortstop Sam Held followed with a run-scoring groundout of his own, giving the Petrels a 2-0 edge. The Tigers, though, answered with six runs in the third inning, getting a pair of 3-run homers in the frame, and led 6-2 going into the fourth inning.
The Petrels began to fight back in the fifth inning, though. Junior center fielder Jarvis Miller was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then was advanced to second with a single from senior right fielder Brandon Fish. The two advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch, then junior catcher Adrian Celata doubled to score both. Celata was picked off after that, but Mink mitigated the damage from that somewhat by launching a home run to draw the Petrels to within a run, 6-5.
The Petrels continued their comeback in the sixth. They loaded the bases with a pair of hit batsmen and a walk, then Fish came to the plate and doubled into the left-center gap, driving in a pair of runs and giving Oglethorpe a 7-6 lead. They extended that advantage in the seventh on back-to-back home runs from Motz and Crooke, giving themselves a 9-6 edge. A 2-run Mink home run in the eighth extended the Oglethorpe lead to 11-6 and a Celata sacrifice fly in the ninth pushed the Oglethorpe lead to 12-6. The Tigers got a single run back in the ninth, but the Petrels cruised to the 12-7 victory, in the end.
Junior right-hander Matt Davis earned his fourth victory of the season, allowing 6 runs on 7 hits over 6 innings. Senior right-hander Sam Traxler earned his second save of the season by throwing the final three innings, allowing a single run on 3 hits.
In Game 2, the Petrels jumped all over the Tigers early. They scored three runs in the first and six in the fourth. They got a pair of home runs to start the game, with junior catcher Bobby Rezac and Celata both going deep. In the fourth, Oglethorpe scored four runs on Sewanee errors, then saw Fish launch a 2-run bomb to give the team a 9-0 lead. Sewanee brought a run back in the fourth, but the Petrels continued to pour it on. They added a single run on another Fish home run in the sixth, then put up four more tallies in the seventh, three on a double by Rezac and a home run by Celata.
For the game, the Petrels launched five home runs, Celata and Fish both smacking a pair. Rezac drove in 4 runs and Held went 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored.
On the mound, sophomore right-hander Caleb Feibus picked up his second victory of the season, allowing just a run and hit over 4 innings of the 7-inning ball game, striking out 3 in the process.
"I was proud of our resilience today," said Oglethorpe head coach Dan Giordano. "We bounced back from a tough loss yesterday, then fell behind early in Game 1 today. Obviously, we swung the bats extremely well this weekend, and we made pitches when we had to. We've got a lot of baseball in front of us, so we'll keep working to improve."
The Petrels return home next week, as they'll host Huntingdon Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Anderson Field, then will host Piedmont Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the same venue. The Petrels will then host Centre in a 3-game SAA series Saturday and Sunday.


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Kacey Musgraves Has Sharp Words for Fan Who Challenges Her
Wendy Hermanson Published: February 18, 2018
Kacey Musgraves has had it with male fans who try to domineer her—either physically or verbally.
On Feb. 18, Musgraves posted a video on social media complaining about a fan who crossed the line while she walked through the audience after a show. In the video, a man can clearly be seen clutching hold of her arm. Musgraves reacted sharply by crying out, "Ow! Stop that," and wrestling him off.
"ASSHAT ALERT: this guy grabbed onto me hard, shook my arm, and wouldn't let me go," Musgraves captioned the clip. "Guess I'm gonna have to start carrying a rolled up newspaper out there with me."
A male fan on Twitter responded to the video with the comment: "Grow up Kacey, it was for a split second."
Musgraves wasted no time and pulled no punches reacting to this criticism, blasting the fan. "I come up & hit your balls w/ a sharp ice pick - you fine with it tho it's for a 'split second'?" she fumed. "You chastise + complain about me calling out a man who physically domineered me. PLEASE unfollow me and PLEASE seek immediate counseling for your chauvinistic rape-culture mentality."
The fan replied "It happens all the time at concerts."
Musgraves again shot back: "My god. But really tho. Whoever you are - you're seriously mentally imbalanced. Just because something "happens all the time" doesn't mean it's ok. You shouldn't have to learn basic life stuff like this from the internet."
Many of Musgraves' other fans rushed to her defense, saying "thank you" for speaking out on the matter. "I admire your strength," said one.
Musgraves is prepping to share Golden Hour with the world, marking her third major-label studio album and first release since 2015's Pageant Material. She's already dropped a few songs for fans to get a taste, with more promised in the next several days.
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Last week's announcement by state Sen. Jennifer Wexton that she will oppose Rep. Barbara Comstock for Virginia's 10th congressional district seat has put an even brighter spotlight on the second term incumbent and the performance of Congress as a whole.
The seat was moved from "Lean R" to "Toss Up" by the Cook Political Index, and may end up as the most hotly contested House race in the nation next year, and a referendum on congressional leadership.
We like elected public servants who say what they believe, back it up with facts, work constructively to advance those beliefs, and hold themselves publicly accountable. We may disagree on substance and merits, but that's an approach we expect from everyone who serves in federal, state and local government.
Sadly, it's getting increasingly lost as the new year wears on, at least in Washington, D.C.
There's still a lot of bluster coming out of the White House, too often without facts to back it up. Yes, those nagging things called facts; things that can be documented not simply asserted. In part because of this approach to governance, there is little to show in the first 100 days when it comes to advancement of new policies and programs. Executive Orders don't count. They're easy, every president does them, and they require no real engagement with other stakeholders.
A big part of the problem is the failure of Congress. The majority cannot discipline itself to emerge with consensus positions on health care, international affairs, trade, immigration and more. At least not yet, and that doesn't help the White House move anything of consequence forward, or gain the public's confidence.
What's also disconcerting is the lack of accountability. We're treated every day to name-calling, finger-pointing, ducking of hard questions, and rhetorical parries that distract from substantive discussion. Everything except accountability from Democrats and Republicans who were elected to get something done.
Democrats in congress don't get a pass on this. The leadership does not feel compelled to offer its own ideas, and some are acting like jeering observers, eating popcorn and watching the dysfunction.
Public confidence in the new Administration is low, and the swamp of incumbent-protection politics and partisanship does not appear to be draining.
In Loudoun, epicenter of Virginia's 10th congressional district, Rep. Comstock has been chastised by Democrats for not holding a town hall meeting – a face-to-face engagement with constituents. Sure, there will be organized protesters at such a meeting. But why not do it anyhow, face them and move on, just as other Republicans have done across the nation. By not engaging, the matter of accountability only looms larger.
Democrats in Virginia are understandably buoyed by all of this. Their candidates for Governor are winning the head-to-head match ups with their Republican counterparts, and national Democrats are crowing about Wexton's announcement.
We say all this not on the basis of partisanship, but rather as message to those who hold the keys to the power of the federal government. They happen to be Republicans now, and they should be more mindful that the great majority of Americans who went to the polls last year — including those on the left and right – wanted change, regardless of their choice for president.
They wanted more political courage, integrity and accountability. They wanted fearless problem-solvers to represent them in Washington and get something done. It's why Donald Trump won, and why Bernie Sanders battled Hillary Clinton so effectively.
We don't doubt that Rep. Comstock is a smart, capable legislator. We urge her to engage more, and with specificity.
We don't doubt that Sen. Wexton is smart and capable too. We also want to see her engage with substance and specificity, not mere partisan rhetoric, as her campaign for the nomination of her party unfolds.
We urge both, along with the other Democrats in the race, to speak directly and regularly on the issues before the Congress and the nation. Not just with consultant-scripted press releases from their campaigns and national organizations, but in person.
To meet with citizens and the press across the district, in open, un-orchestrated forums. To listen to what people have to say, and have an open mind. To offer their own views, back them up with facts, and face the critics. That's the sort of dialogue that America needs more of these days.
The race for the 10th district congressional seat should be a good test of who is more committed to swamp draining — perhaps an exemplar for the nation too.


Beaded jewelry and earrings are always a great compliment to any outfit. With this beautiful earring pair from Sisters Paula & Jan you can match a great outfit with great jewelry.
Each earrings pair made by Sisters Paula and Jan reflect the best in quality and selection.
When the Studio of Fire and Spirit crafts new jewelry, the beauty is their variety and unique style for each new piece. With these earrings, Marilyn Rausch features her talent and design abilities with each pair; no two are ever alike. Please note that the image shown is a sample of the basic style/arrangement of her earrings: hooks, beads, chain maille on the bottom.
Dimensions: Approximately 1.5" long; please call 866-996-2947 for questions or for images of current inventory.
The Miss Darcie Collection encompasses everything it is to be a stylish angel. Fierce and confident, this collection walks the fine line of being playful yet classy, just like an angel should be. She's a dreamer, a doer, a thinker. She sees the possibility everywhere. Crystal Attribute Earrings are crafted of 18K Gold Plate and crystal. These beautiful earrings have a French hook earwire with a 1" drop length. Please choose a color in the Selection Box to the right.
Look great with these beautiful earrings or matching necklace. Each one is made from alpaca (nickel) silver set with wing motifs and glass gems. Each piece is sold seperately so don't be afraid to mix and match!
Fashionable earrings are hard to find, especially ones that are handmade and unique gifts. With these earrings from the Studio of Fire and Spirit by Marilyn Rausch, P.A., you'll look great every time you wear her earrings. Because they're handmade originals, no two are ever alike.
Please note the image shown presents samples of styles. Each earring pair is sold separately; no two are ever alike.
Dimensions: vary up to 1"
PJ's for the Soul, by Sisters Paula Domiano and Jan Craven, S.P. have always offered the most unique beaded jewelry. Whether it's bracelets, necklaces, or earrings, their jewelry is nothing like anything you've ever seen before. If you want to stand out, PJ's makes jewelry that speaks to your soul.
Dangle jeweled earrings can add a refined accent to any look, so why not model jewelry with a soul from Sisters Paula and Jan.
Gold earrings always give an image of a regal look. With these earrings from Sisters Paula & Jan you're sure to turn heads.
Each of these gorgeous earrings is made from Ground coconut shells made into a resin and affixed to wood. Then they're polished to a shine with a geometric pattern inlaid which is slightly different on each one.
Handmade jewelry is nice, but especially nice when it's a part of a market-based approach to poverty relief through fair trade. Alpaca silver and bronze are used in this set. Never heard of Alpaca metals before? It's means they're made from melted down scrap metals with no particular consistency.
Each item is made into a highly textured maple leaf with metal accent details. Necklace comes on thick, leather cord with adjustable lobster clasp closure. Made in Perú.
Handmade from the PJ's for the Soul jewelry collection by Sister Paula Damiano, and Sister Jan Craven, S.P.
Handmade with bronze wire spirals holding a smooth Peruvian Turquoise teardrop, these earrings are sure to compliment your look at any time and any occasion. Each shiny agate stone in each of these lively drop earrings is hand polished for intense shine and are a part of a market based approach to fair trade.
Designed exclusively for Serrv by Jamie Hayes.
White brass earrings are cast in an ornamental fan design, then accented with bezel-set lapis stone for a touch of rich color.
These Linden Leaf earrings were specially made for Linden Leaf Gifts and are not available elsewhere! These earrings showcase the dainty veins and stem and have a lustrious Rhodium finish.
Abalone is set in alpaca silver to create an art deco design for these one-of-a-kind earrings.
Made from bright alpaca silver, these exquisite leaf earrings are inset with eye-catching abalone shell details. The shells help to highlight natural swirls of iridescent color that change in the light. Each one comes on a sterling silver hook and is handmade through the fair trade movement in Taxco el Viejo, Mexico.
Natural tones and patterns vary.
Handmade earrings from bright alpaca (nickel) silver with a vine looking design. Each of these earrings are inset with eye-catching abalone shell details. The shells are highlighting natural swirls of iridescent color that change in the light and feature sterling silver hooks.


Insights is a pilot project at AmCham China that captures valuable information from selective events and dives into the core issues relevant to the foreign business community in China.
Many foreign companies in China still find it puzzling to comply with the evolving CSL. The conference on May 18, 2018 provided guidance to AmCham China members on navigating through the ever-changing and ambiguous nature of the CSL.
Although China has now established a relatively comprehensive regulatory regime for cybersecurity following passage of the CSL on November 7, 2016, many foreign companies in China still find it challenging to comply with the CSL and its evolving implementation guidelines.


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Alex Morgan tops off an American invasion that has helped take WSL to another level
US co-captain is the latest World Cup victor tempted by the English game's riches but it could spell trouble for American administrators
By Katie Whyatt, Women's Football Reporter 12 September 2020 • 5:25pm
Morgan is the most high profile signing of the league's nine-year history Credit: REUTERS
Two-time World Cup winner Alex Morgan has signed for Spurs Women until the end of the season in the most high-profile deal in Women's Super League history. There are, of course, many ways to gauge significance: her compatriots Tobin Heath and Christen Press, at Manchester United for the next season, have the potential to help Casey Stoney's side reach the Champions League and break up a top three who have consisted entirely of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City for as long as anyone can remember.
Were they to do so, they would doubtless be the most impactful signings of this window. But Morgan is certainly the most high profile of the league's nine-year history. As if to emphasise the point, she has more Instagram followers – 9.1 million – than the official Spurs men's account, which boasts 8.5 million.
Morgan, 31, is the latest US women's national team player to move to England, the highlight of a flurry that began with World Cup winners Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle signing year-long contracts at Manchester City.
Rose Lavelle is another US World Cup winner to journey across the pond Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Other players from the National Women's Soccer League – the highest division of women's football in the US – have opted for loan spells: Wales midfielder and Champions League winner Jess Fishlock has joined Reading; England forward Rachel Daly has gone to West Ham; North Carolina Courage's Denise O'Sullivan has chosen Brighton.
The WSL has spent the past few months hoovering up talent from across the world – three-time Champions League winner Lucy Bronze has joined City and Chelsea made Wolfsburg's Pernille Harder the most expensive women's footballer ever – but nowhere is a pattern more obvious than in the deluge of American players.
That so many European players have made the English league their destination of choice certainly reflects the growing strength and appeal of the WSL. But there is a widespread acceptance, among both English and American clubs, that the arrival of American talent must be viewed in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, and what it would have meant for those players to remain in one of the few places hit harder than England.
The NWSL was the first team sport to return in the US but it has only been able to provide its players with abridged competitions, at best: the swiftly completed Challenge Cup tournament lasted less than a month and the forthcoming NWSL Fall Series will span seven weeks. America's national team players – in terms of minutes – would be under-served domestically in a season that will determine selection for the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.
"I've had a number of people who are in influential positions who've told me if there was no pandemic and the NWSL was having a standard season, the players who have gone over to England might not have gone," said Jonathan Tannenwald, a football reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer who specialises in women's football.
San Mewis has already been getting to grips with life in the WSL Credit: GETTY IMAGES
"Because some players' salaries are paid by the US Soccer Federation, there's a provision in the women team's collective bargaining agreement that limits the number of players who can be out of the country at any given time. They relaxed the rule because of the pandemic.
"The working presumption is that these players will come back to the United States after next year's Olympics, and I think they will at some point. The question that I have is: if the money gets good enough in Europe, and the players see that the training environment, the facilities and the level are better than what they have in the NWSL, are they going to want to stay? That's where the NWSL's going to have a real fight on its hands."
From a marketing perspective, a fleet of World Cup winners turning up in the final week of the transfer window provides the WSL with a selling point that few other leagues can rival and the feeling, from those in the game, is that the global branding potential of those world-class players must be exploited for the good of the whole English league. Television rights for the WSL have been sold across the globe: 85 million American homes will have access to matches this season. If these American players are passing ships, marketing departments need to act now.
A warm welcome to London, @alexmorgan13!
📸📍 𝙇𝙚𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙚#WelcomeAlex ⚪ #COYS pic.twitter.com/1j6U0PrZ8J
— Tottenham Hotspur Women (@SpursWomen) September 12, 2020
"US Soccer benefits from having players at Manchester United, and vice versa," Tannenwald said. "It's the competition for the foreign talent where the NWSL could be in real trouble.
"The fear over here is going in a lot of different directions. One is that the American players like it so much over there that they want to stay longer-term, and they end up going to fight with US Soccer about the clause in the bargaining agreement that requires them to play over here.
"The other part of it is the big European clubs spending big money on international players. The NWSL has got enough money to run a very good league, but it can't compete with that right now. Everyone knows Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea. The American clubs, as popular as they are over here, don't have that brand yet in the same way. Getting the international players is straight-up competition and I'm not sure the NWSL could win that right now."
FA Women's Super League,
USA Football Team
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Leicester City's Luke Thomas emerges as surprise candidate for England's World Cup plans
By Matt Law 21 Jan 2022, 2:50pm
Victor Lindelof to miss Manchester United's clash with West Ham after 'traumatic' break-in at family home
By Mike McGrath 21 Jan 2022, 2:09pm
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Jamie Carragher 21 Jan 2022, 11:30am


Electronic communication is a rapidly developing field as a result of modern time's reliance on the Internet, mobile phones, broadband, and wireless network. The communication engineering programme aims to develop engineers who will work at the cutting edge of the communication industry with emphasis on technologies for mobile and broadband communication. The Bachelor of Telecommunication Engineering with Honours programme develops engineers who design, implement, and manage transmission systems for a wide range of telecommunication application such as networking security, signal processing, high-frequency circuits, mobile communication, web technologies, wireless and satellite communication systems.
Graduates will find career opportunities in a wide range of sectors, including communications, media & entertainment, aerospace, power, instrumentation & control, software engineering/IT computing, consumer & industrial electronics/microelectronics, hardware manufacturing, public utilities, scientific, medical and educational institutions, amongst others. Job scopes may include developing solutions to problems using new or existing technologies, mobile radio network engineering, RF test/product engineering, radio technology development, application & product design, research & development, test & verification, inspection and maintenance, marketing, sales & service, management/supervision of engineering projects & operations, setting up networks & equipment, systems installation & testing, and project consultancy, amongst others.
Estimated Total Fees: (RM) 41,300 (Malaysian Student), RM60,900 (International Student).
Graduates are competent in the practice of Electronics Engineering.
Graduates are engaged in lifelong learning and professional development.
Graduates are committed to professionalism in engineering practices and contribute to the society.
The programme outcomes are statements that describe what students are expected to know and be able to perform or attain by the time of graduation in relation to the skills, knowledge and behaviour that students acquire through the Electronics degree programme. All engineering programmes in the faculty have adopted the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) approach in their teaching and learning methodology in accordance to the EAC accreditation requirements.
Knowledge - Ability to acquire and apply knowledge of electronic engineering to the solution of complex engineering problems.
Problem Analysis - Ability to perform complex electronic engineering problem analysis through identification, formulation, research and critical analysis through systematic approach.
Design/Development of Solutions - Ability to utilise systems approach to evaluate performance and design solutions for complex problems in electronic engineering systems.
Investigating - Acquire in‐depth technical competence to conduct investigation into complex problems using research based knowledge and research methods to obtain valid conclusions.
Modern Tool Usage - Ability to create, select and apply modern tools, appropriate techniques and resources to complex electronic engineering activities, with an understanding of the limitations.
Engineer and Society - Understand the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities of a professional Electronic engineer.
Environment and Sustainability - Understand the needs and principles of sustainable development and the social/environmental impact of engineering solutions.
Ethics - Understand the professional and ethical responsibilities of Electronic engineers and the commitment to them.
Communication - Ability to communicate effectively on complex engineering activities in both oral and written means with people of technical and non-technical background.
Individual and Team Work - Able to function effectively as an individual and in a group with the capacity to be a leader or manager.
Life Long Learning - Recognise that Electronic engineering is a fast revolving field requiring the need for life-long learning and possessing/acquiring the capacity to do so.
Project Management and Finance - Understand project management principles and issues that are required to deliver successful engineering projects in multidisciplinary environment.


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Actually, it might be more accurate to ask if you have a negative attitude or mindset.
Do you find yourself thinking more negative thoughts than positive ones?
If this sounds or looks like you, I've got a few suggestions for you.
Obviously you want to change your attitude from a negative one to a positive one. And if you want some more information on that, be sure to check out my article at ADDitude Magazine's website.
Changing your mindset starts by noticing when you are thinking negative thoughts and then stop and reword what you were thinking.
Did you know that the part of your brain that controls things like the fight or flight response, emotions, emotional behavior, and motivation also believes everything you tell it?
It takes what you say and think about yourself at face value. It accepts it as truth even if it isn't.
What have you been telling your brain?
That you're fat? Or dumb? Or clumsy, ugly, incompetent?
Let's say you tell yourself that you're fat.
So when you try to go on a diet, your fight or flight response kicks in and does everything in it's power to make you eat, because you are fat and you need the food. It will even begin to store fat as a defense mechanism.
You need to learn to change your thinking fast!
Now of course you can do this yourself for free, and there's nothing wrong with that.
But there area also all sorts of apps and websites out there that can help you achieve that positive mindset in a more reliable and efficient way.
Thinkup is an app for the iPhone that allows you to record yourself saying positive things – they even give some great suggestions – and then listen to them as often as you want. They say that the sound of your own voice is the most powerful one for you. I have tried this one and I like it a lot. You can record up to 5 affirmations for free; for up to 15, the price is $3.99.
Happify is a website and app (for iOS) with games and activities designed to make you happier. It was put together with the help of scientists and expert in their field and it is free. I tried this one and frankly it just confused me, but you may like it. It has gotten great reviews.
Smiling Mind is an app for either iOS or Android and it is free although they do suggest a donation. It says that it is "…a modern meditation for young people" and that it will promote clarity, calm, and contentment. I did the trial version and liked it, but the app was developed in Australia, so you need to decide whether or not the accent will bother you.
Unique Daily Affirmations is an app for both operating systems that lets you view positive affirmations any time you want. You can choose a new one each time or use the same one for a while. You can even add your own. There is a free and paid version. This is not one that I have tried, but the reviews look good.
Having a positive mind set is so much more important than you realize. Try it and watch your life change for the better.


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Q: django query parameter with space I have a URL that takes query parameters that might have spaces in them. I know it looks pretty simple, but my regex is not working for me.
Here's my URL pattern definition:
url(
    r'^item_info_details_view/(?P<itemno>[\w \/&-]+)/$',
    'purchasing.views.item_info_details_view'),

The itemno could be a phrase such as FAX MODEM which contains a space.
However, when I pass such a parameter to it, the URL in my browser is
http://localhost/item_info_details_view/FAX%20MODEM/

And displays this debugging info:
Using the URLconf defined in urls, Django tried these URL patterns, in this order:
^$
The current URL, item_info/FAX MODEM/, didn't match any of these.

A: The problem doesn't seem to be the space, but the fact that you've got "item_info_details_view" in the urlconf but "item_info" in the actual URL.
(As written by @daniel-roseman)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Our Christmas Savers Club is open to anyone living or working within Warwickshire. It will be of interest to people who like to save for Christmas and are distrustful of unregulated Christmas Clubs.
Money saved in Credit Unions is similar to banks and building societies in that it is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
We provide easy savings schemes for all sorts of needs, including Christmas, and we also provide affordable loans with no early repayment penalties. Because Credit Unions are owned and controlled by their members, they only exist to serve their needs.
People can start saving at any time to make sure they have enough money for expensive events and they can then choose where and when to buy the goods they need.
All that is necessary is to join the Credit Union and start saving regularly, either in cash or by standing order. Members who find they need a little more than they have saved when it comes to the big event can take out a loan to cover the extra.
So here's a suggestion - start saving a regular amount, then come Christmas (or whatever event you're saving for) take out a loan such that your regular payments remain exactly the same! That way you won't even notice the difference and by next Christmas you could be in a much better position, thanks to the Credit Union.


text:
Rod Hoare tells how he became a stud Murray Grey breeder at Binda.
HomeRod Hoare tells how he became a stud Murray Grey breeder at Binda.
By Rod Hoare
"My parents bought a farm at Wilton near Picton NSW in the late 1950's. Originally my father, Harry Hoare, and his manager decided to breed commercial Aberdeen Angus but Herefords were much easier to obtain so that is what we bred. All went pretty well until we bought a lovely line of 12 unjoined heifers in the 1960's at which time I was doing my Veterinary Science degree. These heifers calved one November with disastrous results – I was in the middle of my annual examinations, away from the farm and unable to help. I think all of the heifers had calving difficulties. Seven calves died and we had to cull 5 of the heifers following calving paralysis, caesareans, embryotomies and infertility.
In hindsight we had a bull with big shoulders, it was a good season, and the heifers calved late and in fat condition. These factors produced massive calves and a predictable outcome.
While our Herefords were pretty quiet there were some other problems. Some of the cows were not great milkers and we had a couple of eye cancer cases. (In those days Herefords rarely had pigment around the eye.) To reduce the risk of dystocia I bought a stud Angus bull. The bull had been halter broken and shown but he was a cranky animal. Early days I put a halter on him for some reason and tied him up. He would swing around and try to kick. Stand near his shoulder and he tried to kick with a front foot! One year he went down with Ephemeral Fever. I brought him a bucket of water and a low bowl for him to drink out of. He could not stand but charged me on his knees and knocked the bucket over. I brought another bucket and he did the same again. I told him to get better on his own.
But to give the Angus bull his due, we had no more calving problems. The calves were small and were born easily – many of the calves were no bigger than my black kelpie dog. But the Angus calves introduced another series of problems. They were much flightier than our Herefords and they could KICK! Yarding the herd became very much more difficult. We used to get the whole family and some friends down on the weekends that we wanted to yard the cattle. Handling the cattle was not a pleasant experience and frayed tempers were not uncommon. Marking calves became a very risky business. Xylazine (Rompun) had just come on the market and one year, when we left marking a bit late, I sedated a race full of Angus bull calves so that I could castrate them with minimal risk. Unfortunately I had a calf with his head in the head bail and he drowned in his own saliva before I realised what was happening. That is a risk with xylazine and one learns by experience.
We bought some Angus and Angus cross females and in a few years the herd was predominantly black. The Angus heifers were coming of breeding age and a change of bull was required. My then father-in-law suggested that we swap bulls – our Angus for his commercial Murray Grey. At that stage I did not know much about Murray Greys but the first grey calves had me convinced. They had all the advantages of Angus – easy calving, good milkers, great carcase, no cancer eye but they were quiet and did not kick. In 40 years of marking our Murray Grey calves I have not been kicked once.
In 1972 my wife and I bought the old Hordern property, Wilton Park, with its magnificent stables which we set about restoring.
In 1975 it became time for a new bull. There was a Murray Grey sale at Moss Vale but it unfortunately clashed with a Saturday game of cricket. My ex-wife, who had a keen eye, said that she would go to the sale to purchase a bull When I got home from cricket there were 4 stud cows with calves in the yards. "Where is the bull?" I asked. "By the time the bulls came up I had run out of money!" was the reply.
The purchase of a stud bull followed shortly after and the Wilton Park Murray Grey stud was established. Up to that stage our cattle were run jointly between my parents, my wife and me but my wife and I were doing most of the management. After my father retired in 1976 and built a new house on the farm, he became much more involved in the daily management. Twenty years after buying a farm he at last got full benefit from it. The cows gave him great pleasure. The paddocks looked pristine – never a thistle to be seen. The cattle went from strength to strength as we selected better bulls and culled the poorer producers. The cows were quiet, small framed, early maturing, good milkers and suited the Camden market demand for vealers at that time.
Dad never worried much about the registration of the cattle or things like that. But he knew all the cows.
By the early 1990's my marriage had broken down and my wife retained the Wilton Park property. In 1995 my new partner and I bought a smaller property, Westmorland, near Picton. The cows stayed on the family farm, Shingle Hill. My parents were ageing and finding life on the farm more difficult so Helena and I bought their share of the cattle and leased Shingle Hill.
Harry Hoare with his Murray Grey cows at Shingle Hill.
Dad loved his cows so much that he never really wanted to part with any. The new owners took a more realistic approach to genetic progress and quickly sold a truckload of geriatric and less productive females plus the bull. Dad was more than a bit sad to see them go. We retained about 30 nice heifers.
We thought the cows could do with a lift in size to improve our market flexibility so we bought a large frame bull by Orcadia Park Knight Rider. Joined to the 30 heifers we had to pull three very large calves – all had hiplock. With all heifers having calved we thought we would have an easier time next year but another, different, three had to be pulled the next year. Ninety per cent of the calves were of average size and were passed without difficulty – 10% of the calves were very big. Although we did not lose any of these calves we had to be vigilant and check 100% twice a day which was a pain when we were working. It was not as bad as the Hereford debacle of the 1960's but made us appreciate the normally trouble free calvings we had enjoyed in the intervening years.
Faced with the prospect of my parents selling the farm and moving to a retirement unit, in 2001 we bought an unimproved property at Binda which we called Cadfor after my mother's birthplace in Wales. For four hectic years we ran three properties while working full time. The horses were at Westmorland and the cattle were split between Shingle Hill and Cadfor. On Saturdays Helena taught riding at Westmorland while I did what was needed at Shingle Hill. On Saturday nights we drove down to Binda and slept in a shed or a caravan. In winter the inside temperature was only 2 degrees warmer than outside. We decided that we would need a warm solar passive house. On Sundays we worked on improving Cadfor – erecting yards, plumbing, fencing and planting trees.
To reflect the change of stud principals and change of location, Cadfor Murray Greys was established and the cattle transferred from Wilton Park Murray Greys. The cattle were entered on Breedplan and the herd made steady progress as we culled based on calf growth rates to weaning. We are still vigilant watching cows when calving and will yard them to assist if there is no progress in about 30 minutes. Thankfully there have been few such occasions. One year we had a couple of breech presentations for some reason and the local veterinary practice recorded a similar finding in the district.
In 2004 I retired from the Department of Agriculture, we built our house at Cadfor, sold Westmorland and moved to Binda in 2005. Apart from a stint fighting Equine Influenza in 2007, I have been working on the farm and with the cattle and getting much satisfaction from my life in 'retirement'. With Cadfor having a lifetime supply of thistles for me to control, I may be morphing into my father.
Helena got a transfer to the Department at Goulburn and was busy doing field work with farmers. She resigned from the Department in 2009 and now teaches riding at Cadfor. Her experiences in nutrition and pasture research have proved of great value to working with the cattle and our farming endeavours.
Shingle Hill was sold in 2006 and my parents moved to Carrington Retirement Village. Dad never lost interest in farming or the cattle. Whenever there was rain around he would ring to ask how much rain we had received. He got much pleasure and pride in watching Cadfor develop and seeing the progress that his Murray Grey herd had made."
Harry Hoare died in April 2011 aged 97. This is a tribute to him. Thanks Dad. Harry Hoare's obituary here.
Pasture Update March 2019
Update on colours of Murray Grey cattle
Cadfor Show Results
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1486 Binda Rd, Binda NSW 2583, Australia
rod@cadfor.com.au
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A public register of child sex offenders will do more harm than good
By Greg Barns
April 4, 2019 — 11.35pm
If politicians are looking for a sure fire vote winner then anything that punishes people convicted of sex offences does the trick. So there is likely to be little resistance to Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton's budget announcement of $7.8 million to establish a National Public Register of Child Sex Offenders.
Dutton is proposing that this register would allow all Australians to see names, aliases and photographs of sex offenders, as well as their date of birth, physical description and the "general location and nature" of their crimes.
International evidence suggests a public sex offender register can lead to vigilantism. Credit:Shutterstock
This initiative might be popular but international research shows that it is likely to lead to vigilantism, have no impact on rates of offending and in fact could increase the risk of reoffending by those on the register. Most importantly, it offers no real assistance or support to people who are the victims of sex crimes.
While it is still unknown which offenders will be subject to this national regime and whether the territories and states will co-operate with its establishment, we do know that making a sex offenders register public is a giant leap from the current position in Australia. Currently in most jurisdictions, sex offender registers are highly restricted in terms of public access. Even in Western Australia, where there is some public access, the sort of information that is available is restricted in terms of types of offences and their location.
In contrast to Australia, the United States has had public registers in most states for over two decades. The results tell us that there is no benefit to the community in such "naming and shaming". In fact, communities where registered sex offenders live can suffer as a result of the public having that information.
A 2011 paper by JJ Prescott of the University of Michigan and Jonah Rockoff of Columbia University, published in the Journal of Law and Economics, analysed previous research that "shows there is evidence that these laws create financial and psychological costs for the neighbours of registered sex offenders". This includes "declines in property value for households living close to registered offenders" and the authors noted that previous research shows there is little evidence "that notification alleviates the concerns of the community members who have been made aware of an offender's presence".
There is also the alarming increase in vigilantism and harassment that goes with public registers. They are a recipe for vigilantism, violence and potential loss of life as individuals try to unlawfully take justice into their own hands, and this has been seen in the US.
A recent paper from Connecticut and New York based researchers Michelle Cubellis, Douglas Evans and Adam Fera points to acts of vigilantism against registered offenders and the fact that 10 per cent of the vigilante events they examined involved the wrong individual. In other words, because of inaccurate information or misidentification of individuals, innocent citizens have been physically and verbally attacked by vigilantes. This research concludes that "the stigmatisation that convicted sex offenders experience is so pervasive that it extends even to individuals suspected of having committed a sexual offence". Is this the sort of situation we want to import to Australia?
But, perhaps most importantly, it is the fact that public sex offender registers do not reduce offending and, in fact, might lead to offenders reoffending. In May 2018 the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) published a paper which analysed and drew conclusions from the vast body of US public register impact research. The paper noted that US research shows "that convicted sex offenders are more likely to reoffend when their personal and offending information is made public due to the psychological and financial costs on offenders".
The AIC also wrote that "research has found that being placed on a public sex offender registry can result in exclusion from neighbourhood or residence, job loss, anxiety and other psychological problems, all of which are counterproductive in terms of reducing reoffending". It seems proponents of a public register like Dutton have not bothered to read their own agency's work.
We also need to remember that the vast majority of child sexual abuse perpetrators are known to the victim. As the AIC notes, Australian Bureau of Statistics work from 2016 shows that "83 per cent of child victims of sexual assault aged 0–14 years are assaulted by someone they know".
The AIC rightly states that "policy responses to sexual offending need to be carefully considered and must be based on strong theoretical foundations, supported by evidence". A public sex offender register will be expensive, is likely to be as counter-productive as its US counterparts and will not achieve Dutton's professed aim, which is to keep children safe.
Greg Barns is a criminal justice spokesman for the Australian Lawyers Alliance and a barrister.


In schools, impact, along with Ofsted, is probably one of the most commonly used words. But impact has always been a difficult word when you're trying to show the benefit of reading.
We all know that the more you read the more fluent you become, which in turn leads not only to increased literacy skills but also to improved attainment in all subjects. But, it seems, proof and evidence of this impact has eluded the reading profession for many years. This may be the reason why school libraries have been on the decline, with schools favouring to focus their energies on areas that can display this elusive impact.
At Monk's Walk School, Hertfordshire, we've worked on this area, knowing there must be some way a library can show the impact it has on literacy development. If this value and impact can be seen, not only does this move a library alongside other departments in a school but it may also go some way to holding back the decline of this vital resource.
We decided that for too long the library had been a department doing its own thing and that we needed to learn from other departments and the way they went about collecting and analysing data - to show impact.
We began by collecting KS2 data, SEND (special educational needs and development) info and anything else that would give us a better understanding of our year 7 students. But it wasn't just this hard data that was collected. We realised that with reading there were some really important factors; factors that could only come from soft data of interviews and opinions.
So, we devised a year 7 survey that would give us a better understanding of attitudes, and other factors, that could influence reading attainment. These surveys were completed during a 12-week program in the first term, working with students to instill a love of reading. Students completed raps to music, made book trailers and adverts and took part in other fun activities.
Once we had collated the surveys we looked at these alongside the other data we already have, including CATs (cognitive ability test) scores. From this we could start to judge whether we felt the students were at risk. This could be through weak literacy skills, KS2 or CATs scores but also, importantly, those students that have a poor attitude towards reading.
Being a reading professional, I know that if a student has a poor attitude to reading they will do very little of it. And there will be a point when the student will plateau and their chronological age will catch up and surpass their reading age. So having a negative attitude to reading becomes just as important as having poor CATs or KS2 results.
All the data we acquired appeared on a spreadsheet. For those students that we judged to need the most amount of help, we produced a literacy equivalent of an individual education plan (IEP). We use this with the form tutor, English teacher and parents to highlight certain strategies that can be used to help the student make the required progress.
Types of intervention and ideas range from the use of iPads, Kindles and other electronic devices to the use of blogs, guided reading, literacy leaders and the teaching of specific reading skills.
Using a Kindle, for example, is great for weaker readers who may have trouble reading a book with a double page spread - even if they are not dyslexic. If you watch a weaker reader read their eyes tend to wander off the sentence or even the paragraph. This is the same with a word they have noticed at the bottom of the page which they are worrying about. They either skip it or don't concentrate in anticipation for a word they know they will struggle with. This inhibits fluency as well as comprehension but with the Kindle being able to enlarge the text lowers the chances of this happening and so helps to increase fluency and comprehension and of course, confidence.
To be able to really show the impact these interventions have we need to continually collect data to evidence and track the improvements they have had.
Last year our tracking showed that at the beginning of the year 37% of students had a poor attitude to reading. Through our intervention program all of these students' attitudes had improved, with just under half going on to have an extremely positive attitude.
Our tracking has also produced specific reports for students eligible for free school meals and other important groups meaning not only is the library having a positive impact on these students but other departments are able to use our data in their planning and preparation.
Adam Lancaster is the associate assistant headteacher at Monk's Walk School in Welwyn Garden City. He has worked in school libraries for many years and has recently been announced as the School Library Association School Librarian of 2012.


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Global Threats: From Terrorism to Hunger
On March 13th, Launchpad UT at SXSW held a panel discussion entitled "Global Threats: From Terrorism to Hunger" at ACL Live. The panel, moderated by Robert Chesney, included our own co-director, Catherine Weaver along with Stephen Slick and William Inboden. Stephen Slick, former CIA officer, currently leads the U.S Intelligence Studies Project at UT while William Inboden is Executive Director at the Clements Center for National Security. Moderator Robert Chesney is the Director of the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law.
UT President Gregory Fenves kicking off the panel discussion. Photo cred: UT Austin.
The conversation was dynamic and touched upon several threats to our global threats. While the discussion centered upon making predictions of what threatens us in the future, Will Inboden began with a countering caveat – we are typically bad at making predictions. He referenced Professor Norman Angel's The Great Illusion written in 1910 that argued we have reached an age where war is futile and states therefore won't fight. Angel was not a lone wolf in believing this; many preached this alongside him. Unfortunately, just five years later the bloodiest and deadliest war that mankind ever witnessed broke out. The moral of the story? Predictions aren't always right.
His point in sharing this with us was not to belittle the topic of the conversation but rather to reinforce that we must do less predicting and more preparing. With that in mind, he presented three categories of states which must be on our radar in order to be adequately prepared. Policy makers should think about these three categories and be prepare to respond to each.
Strong States: This category includes countries such as Russia and China that have incredible land masses, large economies – your traditional great powers that have potential to disrupt the status quo or distribution of power and resources.
Weak States: Here you will find Libya, Syria, and Iraq. These states are characterized by fragile or poor governance, a lack of monopoly over force, and tend to serve as vehicles for terrorism, civil wars, or other dangerous pathologies.
Malignant States: The North Korea and Iran of the world – countries whose governments are strong enough to secure their borders and acquire a monopoly of force but lack economic influence. Despite this unbalance, they do have the means to create regional instability through unpredictable behavior.
Kate Weaver then shifted the conversation from your typical associations of global security, (terrorism, war, intelligence) to a topic whose connection to insecurity and conflict is often overlooked – food security. Food security is determined by a person's access and availability to nutrition. As many as 795 million people across the world suffer from food insecurity. This comes downs to 1 in 9 globally, and heightens to 1 in 4 in Sub-Saharan Africa, disproportionately targeting children. In countries of conflict like the Central African Republic or Syria, food is a weapon on war and starvation is the cruel infliction of pain. And the United States is not immune. We at home face the issue of hunger with 1 in 7 of our citizens qualifying as food insecure. In addition to this direct within-our-own-borders effect, we are impacted by other countries food security as well – especially those which we have geopolitical concerns over such as Ira, Liberia, Afghanistan. If we believe that "hunger anwhere threatens peace everywhere" the state of food security in the world is no doubt concern for global stability in the future.
So learning from Inboden, how do we prepare for this? Food security is an issue that can not be solved by aid alone (Sorry, Jeffery Sachs) While SDG#2 may call for the end of rural hunger by 2030, the issue can not be approached in policy isolation as it exists within a web of social constructions that will help or hinder its eradication. It must be integrated into poverty alleviation approach holistically.
And so, Kate left us with three bits of food for thought.
Harness the power of bioengineering mechanisms.
Mobilize political will on the issue of food security as the issue is not a natural disaster but a man-made phenomenon. We need to reach consensuses on trade that will open markets and increase access.
Take preventative steps that will build resiliency in food insecure countries to combat exogenous shocks when they occur.
Photo cred: UT Austin
Next, the conversation turned to Stephen Slick and cyber-threats. Each year Jim Klapper appears before the defense intelligence community and gives a briefing of what threats are ahead. According to Slick, in our recent technological age, cyber-threats are always at the top of list. For most of us, the internet provides a platform for communication, research, knowledge, amusement (or for most of us students…procrastination) but for the Untied States government, the internet has the potential to be a breeding ground for insecurity. We can define this threat in two ways; strategic and tactical.
Strategic: Our intellectual property, national security secrets, and business plans need to be protected from state and non-state actors. Russia, Iran, North Korean, and China should continue to be watched closely.
Tactical: The digital age presents us with great challenges regarding the practices of our CIA agents abroad. Technological advancements such as face recognition, fingerprints, the prospect of DNA passports make recruiting and maintaining aliases increasingly difficult. The "digital dust" we leave behind leaves a trail to follow which may just blow an agent's cover.
In addition to strategy and tactics, the ability to sift through the massive amounts of data and find accurate and timely information to share with policy-makers is becoming increasingly more difficult. The U.S faced criticism after the Arab Spring due to our inability to predict the uprising despite ample signs on social media in hindsight. As the crisis in Syria unfolds, anyone with a smart phone is a potential censor. This is major sea change in the traditional tactics of information collection and the U.S will continue to adapt.
The panel provided us with an hour filled discussion on the the global threats that lie ahead. But fear not, it is not all bad news. While technological advancements may present a threat, they also provide tremendous opportunity. It is our job to continue to harness these changes for use and productivity whether it be for agriculture or counter-terrorism.
Deirdre Appel is Co-Program Manager of IPD and a Masters student in International Development Policy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs.
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Determining the New Orleans Saints' core players moving forward
By Brian Pavek
Aug 13, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Javorius Allen (37) carries the ball as New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Tyeler Davison (95) defends during the second quarter in a preseason NFL football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
DT Tyeler Davison:
Davison is another example of a player who has shown flashes, and who could become a difference maker for this team. But while the possibility exists for him to become a starter along the defensive line and consistent contributor, the tape he has put out so far this year has only given us flashes. Davison's floor is probably at the John Jenkins level, acceptable, but not above average. His ceiling is probably closer to a player like Nick Fairely (not comparing them as individual players) in that he could be occasionally disruptive, but also inconsistent in his production.
There is absolutely NO reason that Davison shouldn't make the roster next year, and he should be given every opportunity to develop and prove that he belongs in the team's long-term vision. However, it would also be most prudent for the Saints to assume that he will not become a dominating interior presence that the team so desperately needs and instead look to add additional talent on the interior. My honest vision of the best case for Davison is that the Saints draft a real 'destroyer in the middle' that they have missed for so long. This would allow Davison not to be the catalyst, which I don't think he can be, but the complement to one. Davison, as the other interior linemen, could be a VERY effective player for the Saints. His raw power and effort when complemented by someone who actually draws attention (and can dominate 1 vs. 1 when Davison does) can be a great asset for the team.
I view Davison to be in the 'third tier' of young players on this roster. Not a core player, not a fringe guy (like Kikaha), but a solid piece that if complimented by the right players, can be a solid contributor for the team. That isn't an attack on Davison in any way either. Great teams are often defined by their ability to not only bring in stars and difference makers, but players who do the 'dirty work' and fill their role. Remember something Saints fans — Scott Shanle has a Super Bowl ring for a reason. Role players are always important.
Next: Damian Swann