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PopeWatch: The General Who Wants to Win Without Fighting
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
PopeWatch has commented on how Pope Francis seems very reluctant to champion Church teaching under attack by elites throughout the West. Sandro Magister at his blog Chiesa in a post entitled Bergoglio, the General Who Wants to Win without Fighting, explains why this is the case:
ROME, March 10, 2014 – Víctor Manuel Fernández is the first Argentine to be made a bishop by Jorge Mario Bergoglio, two months after his election as pope.
He was and continues to be the rector of the Universidad Católica Argentina, a role he took on after the then-archbishop of Buenos Aires overcame the hostility of a formidable group of opponents outside and inside the Church.
But for years he has also been Bergoglio's most trusted collaborator in the writing of his major texts, from the Aparecida document in 2007 to the 2013 "Evangelii Gaudium," the action plan of the current pontificate.
The book-interview "Il progetto di Francesco. Dove vuole portare la Chiesa" – recently released in Italy – in which Fernández explains and comments on the papal program is therefore a good guide for understanding it more thoroughly.
There is a passage in the book in which Fernández refers to the metamorphosis that Bergoglio went through before and after his election as pope:
"When he was archbishop he was gradually withdrawing and preferred not to appear in public very much. Moreover, there were too many campaigns of persecution orchestrated by some very conservative sectors of the Church, and I believe that this worried him a great deal. Now that he has become pope, with the new gift that the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon him, he has abandoned those fears and has allowed his best features to emerge. This has renewed his enthusiasm and his energy."
In another passage Fernández explains the reserve of the then-archbishop of Buenos Aires:
"There were sectors that were putting a strong emphasis on doctrinal certainty, on the honor of the Church and its self-preservation, and that felt that they were represented by a few ecclesial authorities. The sectors that had a plan even slightly different from these latter, like Cardinal Bergoglio and many others, were very respectful of these choices, or at the very least met them with silence."
Fernández does not say any more. But to find out more about that tormented period of Bergoglio's life there is another book, released a few months ago in Argentina and Italy, written by the vaticanista Elisabetta Piqué, who is the best informed and most reliable biographer of the current pope: "Francesco, vita e rivoluzione".
On the side opposed to Bergoglio were the prominent Vatican cardinals Angelo Sodano and Leonardo Sandri, the latter being of Argentine nationality. While in Buenos Aires the ranks of the opposition were led by the nuncio Adriano Bernardini, in office from 2003 to 2011, with the many bishops he managed to get appointed, almost always in contrast with the guidelines and expectations of the then-cardinal of Buenos Aires.
On February 22, 2011, the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Bernardini delivered a homily that was interpreted by almost everyone as a harangue in defense of Benedict XVI but in reality was a concerted attack on Bergoglio.
The nuncio placed under accusation those priests, religious, and above all those bishops who were keeping a "low profile" and leaving the pope alone in the public battle in defense of the truth.
"We have to acknowledge," he said, "that there has increased year after year, among theologians and religious, among sisters and bishops, the group of those who are convinced that belonging to the Church does not entail the recognition of and adherence to an objective doctrine."
Because this was exactly the fault charged against Bergoglio: that of not opposing the secularist offensive, of not defending Church teaching on "nonnegotiable" principles.
And to some extent this was the case. The then-archbishop of Buenos Aires could not bear the "obsessive rigidity" of certain churchmen on questions of sexual morality. "He was convinced," writes Elisabetta Piqué, " that the worst thing would be to insist and seek out conflict on these issues."
There was one episode that exemplifies Bergoglio's approach:
"In 2010, at the height of the episcopate's battle of to block the legalization of marriage between persons of the same sex in Argentina, there emerged the idea of holding a prayer vigil [in front of parliament]. Esteban Pittaro, of the 'Università Australe of Opus Dei, sent an e-mail to the chancery of Buenos Aires, telling them about the event. The following day he saw that he had missed a phone call and realized that it was a number of the archdiocese. Esteban called back and Bergoglio answered in person. 'It seems like a wonderful thing to me that you should pray. But the fact that you want to spend all night in the plaza . . . It will be cold, go home, pray at home, as a family!" the cardinal told him. 'He supported the march, but he was right to discourage the vigil, because the following day there were demonstrations in fa for of homosexual marriage. And he wanted to avoid the contrast,' Pittaro recounts."
If these are the precedents, it comes as no surprise that Bergoglio, as pope, should dictate this same line of conduct for the whole Church.
It is the line of conduct that "Evangelii Gaudium" has laid bare to the world. and that the book-interview of Bishop Fernández makes even more explicit, with the showy confidence of one who demonstrates that he thoroughly understands the pope's thinking.
For example, on the following points.
"NONNEGOTIABLE" PRINCIPLES
Pope Francis is not naive. He is asking us to immerse ourselves in the context of today's culture in a very realistic way. He is inviting us to recognize that the rapidity of communication and the selection of content proposed by the media present a new challenge for us. [. . .] When the Church talks too much about philosophical questions or about the natural law, it is presumably doing so in order to be able to dialogue on moral issues with the nonbelieving world. Nonetheless, in doing this, on the one hand we do not convince anyone with the philosophical arguments of other times, and on the other we lose the opportunity to proclaim the beauty of Jesus Christ, to "make hearts burn." So those philosophical arguments do not change anyone's life. Instead, if it can be managed to make hearts burn, or at least to show what there is that is attractive in the Gospel, then persons will be more willing to converse and to reflect also with regard to a response concerning morality. [. . .]
For example, it does not do much good to speak out against sexual marriage, because people tend to see us as if we were resentful, cruel, persons who have little sympathy or even exaggerate. It is another matter when we speak of the beauty of marriage and of the harmony that is created in the difference resulting from the covenant between a man and a woman, and in this positive context it emerges, almost without having to point it out, how inadequate it is to use the same term and to call "marriage" the union of two homosexual persons. [. . .]
There are two factors that are driving the pope to ask us not to speak "always" and "only" about certain moral principles: in order not to wear others out, overloading them and obtaining an effect of rejection, and above all in order not to destroy the harmony of our message.
Go here to read the rest. The Church is under attack constantly today, and her enemies throughout the West spit on her teachings and pass legislation to hem her in, subjecting believing Catholics to discrimination and legal penalties, in ever increasing attempts to force them to betray the teachings of the Church. At the head of the Church now we have a Pope who has a strategy of simply ignoring the attacks, while seeking to not talk much about Church teaching that is under attack, in order to emphasize a simple proclamation of Jesus Christ, sans the hard sayings of Christ. PopeWatch believes that God is using this papacy for His purposes, as He uses all papacies, but what that purpose may be is definitely viewed in a glass, darkly, by PopeWatch at the present time. As history reveals, God can use popes to teach negative, as well as positive, lessons. PopeWatch hopes that a positive lesson will be taught by God with this papacy, but fears very much that a negative lesson is in the offing. We shall see.
Tuesday, March 11, AD 2014
Perhaps, Pope Francis is taking a leaf out of St Peter's book.
According to C H Dodd's analysis of Acts, St Peter's preaching followed a pattern that always included one or more of just six topics:
1.	The Age of Fulfilment has dawned, the "latter days" foretold by the prophets.
2.	This has taken place through the birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
3.	By virtue of the resurrection, Jesus has been exalted at the right hand of God as Messianic head of the new Israel.
4.	The Holy Spirit in the church is the sign of Christ's present power and glory.
5.	The Messianic Age will reach its consummation in the return of Christ.
6.	An appeal is made for repentance with the offer of forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, and salvation.
If people are moved to faith ("Faith comes from hearing" (Rom 10:17)), the rest follows, for scripture also says, "the just shall live by faith" (Rom 1:17)
When the Church talks too much about philosophical questions or about the natural law, it is presumably doing so in order to be able to dialogue on moral issues with the nonbelieving world."
Alas, as Miss Anscombe pointed out in her 1958 paper, Modern Moral Philosophy, "In present-day philosophy an explanation is required how an unjust man is a bad man, or an unjust action a bad one; to give such an explanation belongs to ethics; but it cannot even be begun until we are equipped with a sound philosophy of psychology. For the proof that an unjust man is a bad man would require a positive account of justice as a "virtue." This part of the subject-matter of ethics, is however, completely closed to us until we have an account of what type of characteristic a virtue is – a problem, not of ethics, but of conceptual analysis – and how it relates to the actions in which it is instanced: a matter which I think Aristotle did not succeed in really making clear." Fifty years on, we are no nearer solving that particular problem, as anyone familiar with moral philosophy today will recognize.
T. Shaw
Always place the mission first.
Never accept defeat.
Never quit.
This rule sets some apart. It is, to many, as alien as the promises of Christ and His Gospel.
Suppose the Pope doesn't care to lead. Or, maybe it's a diversity of tactics.
The Holy Spirit will guide.
Last, but not least: Never leave a fallen comrade.
Steve Phoenix
This commentary by Sandro Magister with input from Bp. Victor Manuel Fernandez' book confirms a sentiment I had about P. Francis: he thinks that any "fighting" for a cause is misguided ("the Church does not need crusaders") and is actually damaging—this all the more amazing because of all the progress we have made in 35 or so years on the pro-life issue!
P F appears to want to be "on the sidelines" in a fight (Bp. Fernandez implies this was the Nuncio Bernardini's sharp criticism of him and Bergoglio's non-support of P. Benedict) and it was illustrated just as sharply when Bergoglio wouldnt show up at a pro-marriage demonstration in front of the Argentine parliament building (story above). His appearance alone would have created a swell of support for legislators who were hemmed in by the political opposition.
Now it appears PF is willing to let Card. Kasper take over the reins on the potentially explosive issue of divorce and re-marriage (it really is "marriage and re-marriage") and even tho Card. Muller has spoken out in defense of the traditional teaching of Catholic marriage, there is no certainty he (Muller) will fight for that and no evidence that PF will support Muller if he does. The best analysis I have seen in my opinion on this matter is a letter by Fr. Brian Harrison, OS of St. Louis, MO, posted in St. Louis Catholic blogspot (linked by Rorate Caeli).
Letter of Fr. Brian Harrison to Dr. Robert Moynihan (Inside the Vatican, Feb. 2014)
Dear Dr. Moynihan,
In your latest Letter from Rome, commenting on the new appointments to the College of Cardinals, you report rather nonchalantly that "[Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig] Müller is also known for having said that the Church's position on admitting to divorced and remarried Catholics to the sacrament of Communion is not something that can or will be changed. But other German Church leaders, including Cardinal Walter Kasper, have recently gone on record saying the teaching may and will be changed."
Your brief, matter-of-fact report on this controversy reminds me of the tip of an iceberg. It alludes to, but does not reveal the immensity of, a massive, looming threat that bids fair to pierce, penetrate and rend in twain Peter's barque – already tossing perilously amid stormy and icy seas. The shocking magnitude of the doctrinal and pastoral crisis lurking beneath this politely-worded dispute between scholarly German prelates can scarcely be overstated. For what is at stake here is fidelity to a teaching of Jesus Christ that directly and profoundly affects the lives of hundreds of millions of Catholics: the indissolubility of marriage.
The German bishops have devised a pastoral plan to admit divorced and remarried Catholics to Communion, whether or not a Church tribunal has granted a decree of nullity of their first marriage. Cardinal-elect Müller, as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has not only published a strong article in L'Osservatore Romano reaffirming the perennial Catholic doctrine confirmed by John Paul II in Familiaris Consortio; he has also written officially to the German Bishops' Conference telling them to rectify their heterodox pastoral plan. But the bishops, led by their conference president and by Cardinal Kasper, are openly defying the head of the CDF, and predicting that the existing doctrine and discipline will soon be changed!
Think of the appalling ramifications of this. If German Catholics don't need decrees of nullity, neither will any Catholics anywhere. Won't the world's Catholic marriage tribunals then become basically irrelevant? (Will they eventually just close down?) And won't this reversal of bimillennial Catholic doctrine mean that the Protestants and Orthodox, who have allowed divorce and remarriage for century after century, have been more docile to the Holy Spirit on this issue than the true Church of Christ? Indeed, how credible, now, will be her claim to be the true Church? On what other controverted issues, perhaps, has the Catholic Church been wrong, and the separated brethren right?
And what of Jesus' teaching that those who remarry after divorce commit adultery? Admitting them to Communion without a commitment to continence will lead logically to one of three faith-breaking conclusions: (a) our Lord was mistaken in calling this relationship adulterous – in which case He can scarcely have been the Son of God; (b) adultery is not intrinsically and gravely sinful – in which case the Church's universal and ordinary magisterium has always been wrong; or (c) Communion can be given to some who are living in objectively grave sin – in which case not only has the magisterium also erred monumentally by always teaching the opposite, but the way will also be opened to Communion for fornicators, practicing homosexuals, pederasts, and who knows who else? (And, please, spare us the sophistry that Jesus' teaching was correct "in his own historical and cultural context", but that since about Martin Luther's time that has all changed.)
Let us make no mistake: Satan is right now shaking the Church to her very foundations over this divorce issue. If anything, the confusion is becoming even graver than that over contraception between 1965 and 1968, when Paul VI's seeming vacillation allowed Catholics round the world to anticipate a reversal of perennial Church teaching. If the present Successor of Peter now keeps silent about divorce and remarriage, thereby tacitly telling the Church and the world that the teaching of Jesus Christ will be up for open debate at a forthcoming Synod of Bishops, one fears a terrible price will soon have to be paid.
Fr. Brian W. Harrison, O.S.
The part of Fr. Harrison's letter that particularly struck home like a churchbell gong at midnight:
Dale Price
I think Fr. Harrison's letter is dead-on. And the consequences of a change that functionally denies indissolubility will be catastrophic.
Wednesday, March 12, AD 2014
Recognising the indissolubility of marriage does not resolve the question of how the fact of a marriage is to be proved.
There is a world of difference between these two propositions: (1) A and B are married and (2) the court "found and hereby find that the said A has failed to instruct facts and circumstances relevant to infer marriage betwixt her and the said B." There is no logical contradiction between (1) and (2).
There are inevitably cases where the truth cannot be established and there, as Paulus says, "si id non apparat, non ius deficit, sed probatio" – If it does not appear, the fault is not with the law, but with the proof [D 26.2.30]
Whether the rules of procedure and evidence in consistorial cases need to be reviewed, I leave to the wisdom of the Holy See.
I think I understand your position (the need for juridical evaluation to decide marital validity/nullity), MPS, and agree: but the German bishops' conference and Kasper himself have ben the ones who have floated an idea where marriage tribunals will cease to effectively operate, and decisions will be made by a priest alone apparently without a review process.
In the Feb. 20th consistory address by Kasper, he mentioned at least the possibility of bishops being able to entrust the entire process to an individual priest (I have not found the official text still yet to be available: dont hold your breath, about that appearing soon. Now, just yesterday (3/11/14), Kasper was in full retreat in an interview synopsized @ the Vatican Radio site (see:
http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/03/11/card._kasper_proposes_midway_of_'rigorism'_and_'laxism'_for_family/in2-780513
This is why Fr. Brian Harrison, OS, asks the question, "Will tribunals cease to exist?" Kasper and the sideline-style Paul VI-type present pontiff have created a situation in immense flux and with an expectation of great change. Kasper has been quite petulant that his address was released at all to the general public. Sandro Magister notes this at his blog Settimo Cielo 3/10/14 (Magister Kasper fa il bis. O si fa come dico, o niente sinodo": "Kasper makes an encore appearance, or: "Do as I say or no synod at all." My translation). Magister notes that Kasper sounded vexed in a 3/1/13 followup interview, annoyed that his comments were released, and then saying, ":. 'The synod on the family will produce a change, or you might as well not even call it.' (again my translation.) I see this as pushing a forced change on a weak pontiff who might not act to re-instate the clear traditional Catholic teaching of marriage. Muller cant be the only voice in this matter.
Well, Herr Kasper (which I am sure it has been pointed out in colloquial German means "joker", "clown"), be careful what you push for. Maybe people really are listening.
Botolph
Not to sound contrary, but I do not see Pope Francis as 'weak". I do not see him even like Pope Paul VI who seemed to hesitate at crucial moments in a Hamlet-esque manner. I see Pope Francis as having a certain vision of the direction the Church needs to go in- a vision fundamentally given in the few days leading up to the Conclave one year ago, in which all the Cardinals heard addresses concerning what the fundamental needs of the Church were and where we needed to go from that point on.
Pope Francis is orthodox. The teaching of Christ on the indissolubility of marriage will be preserved. It is important to remember however that right within Christ's teaching on the indissolubility of marriage in Saint Matthew's Gospel, there is an 'exception clause'. That exception clause needs to be carefully studied etc but it reveals within Christ's own teaching and that of the Apostolic Church that the Doctrinal and Pastoral dimensions cannot be divided. Jesus excoriates the hardness of heart that had watered down the teaching to its diminutive form in the Book of Deuteronomy. In an earlier teaching he made clear in His teaching on the 6th commandment that His disciples would realize just how deep a dimension lust is in peoples' lives and that it gave no excuses for obfuscating the meaning of marriage or conjugal charity. However, as we see with the woman caught in adultery, while holding to the truth of the teaching on marriage, neither did He condemn (and agree to having her stoned). He desired in mercy to separate sinners from their sin.
As to the style of Pope Francis, I am convinced of two things. He had Cardinal Mueller make his doctrinal statements on marriage. He wanted the theological foundations to be there as the Church prepares for the two synods on marriage. At the same time he wanted those who are seeking a 'pastoral solution' to also have a hearing-that was Cardinal Kaspar. Now the Cardinals at least have both sides of the argument. They go back home reflect, pray, study about this themselves and prepare for the two Synods themselves.
In the end truth and charity (mercy) will be and remain united as they ought.
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This is a very nice porcelain variety that originally came from a German Mennonite colony in Ontario. In recent years it has become the garlic of choice for several commercial growers near Toronto. Good size bulbs with 4-6 cloves per bulb.


The Hotel was walking distance of the Duomo and other famous sites. Staff was very friendly and helpful with local info and maps. Shopping there was great at the Mercato Centrale. - Staff 100% friendly and helpful. Very central location.
Erg vriendelijk personeel. En wij hadden het geluk de bovenste kamer te krijgen, met een riant dakterras. - Het hotel ligt centraal, op loopafstand van alle bezienswaardigheden. Het geheel was verouderd, maar wel schoon.
Goed hotel voor een goede prijs - We hadden een grote kamer die uitgaf op de achterkant. Er was een goede douche en we hebben geen last gehad van lawaai.
the location is a big plus. its very close to santa maria novella station, and duomo and all other tourist attractions. there are small grocery stores nearby too. As well as restaurants. Another thing that made me so happy was the whole place is very clean, everyday they made our room spotless. they also provide wifi in the public area which was ... wat mensen zeggen » working perfectly. the owner made us feel at home, she was very warm. Ready to help us with everything that we needed. even before we arrived, she com - The owner is a very nice lady, very welcoming. Hotel location is quite central on the popular via faenza with walking distance to the train station and the main touristic attractions. Rooms are really clean and new.
this place is in a great location, close to the main train station and all the sights. owner was very helpful on sight and train info, he is a really lovely guy. very cheap too - the staff were very friendly and helpful. The location was excellent, very central.
I really like the location of the hotel, it is almost at the center of the city and close to the train station. the guy in charge of the hotel was very helpful and kind. he let us know about the attractions of the city showing them on the city map and drawing routes for us. besides he suggested a good restaurant and a nice wine shop. the decora... wat mensen zeggen » tion is another plus. - The receptionist was so helpful, friendly, the location is just amazing, almost everything to see in Florence is walking distance. The whole place was super clean, I wondered how they keep it that way. wi-fi works so well, there is a commune computer as well. also they allow you to drop the bags off at the lobby and come back later, after you check out.
Uitstekend personeel - centraal gelegen. prijs kwaliteit verhouding, eenvoudig maar voor een kort verblijf prima hotel.
Great location only a block from the train station (which also has the cheap purple bike hire scheme - on the left exit of front train station for 10 euro). Walking distance to everything, but bike hire allowed us to go everywhere quick! Forget the hike and get on the bike! The hotel was built around 1700, so older than anything in Australia, so i... wat mensen zeggen » f course not as modern, but quiet enough, we had our own bathroom and balcony, and value for money. The managers were friendly and provided heaps of g - A lovely, quiet room. Shared toilet. In room shower and sink was a nice surprise since we thought we would have a shared bathroom. Nice owners. Very convenient. Close to the train station. Great little sidewalk restaurants on the same street. Easy walking to the museums and piazzas. A delightful stay.
Vriendelijkheid eigenaar - It's a really nice little hotel in a quiet and safe neighborhood. Very nice and helpful staff, free parking on the street in front of the hotel (in Florence parking is a nightmare, and for free it's hard to find parking at all). Easy to reach the city center by bus or train. Clean rooms and bathrooms. - Large room with sh... wat mensen zeggen » ared bathroom and free parking right outside. Only a 10 minute walk to the Rifredi railway station for regular trains to central Florence The hotel is part of the first floor of a modern, well maintained building. Very good value for money.
Erg rustige buurt in hartje centrum. Erg grote fijne kamers. En een gezellige ruimte voor het ontbijt. En dit voor een erg goede prijs - simpel, maar heel prettig hotel. hele aardige mensen, zodat je je op je gemak voelt.
My stay at Hotel Masaccio was very nice experience. The staff was friendly and it was a quite atmosphere. It is Budget-friendly. There is a food store that is 5 minutes away from the hotel. And there is also a Wash-and-Dry if you need to wash or dry your clothes. Thanks Alessandro for the pleasant stay! - I love the location since it is ve... wat mensen zeggen » ry accessible by bus and just near the top tourist destinations. My room was so elegant I honestly feel like a Princess because of the paintings.


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As people who tune in regularly to the blog may be aware, the main site for Amnesty International was completely redesigned last year and launched on Dec 10th human rights day.
Since then, and with the advantages the underlying Drupal, CiviCRM, and Alfresco core technologies have given us (though we've had quite a few problems with alfresco since launching), we've been able to do quite a bit more than we were ever capable of doing before with the old platform and made some fundamental gains with the site.
But like everything, new technologies and capabilities mean a bit of learning and some of the things we tried didn't work exactly as planned, and some initial assumptions about the way the site would be used and our audience didn't turn out as we expected.
So, the web team and our excellent tech partners, CivicActions have been working hard on making improvements particularly in the areas of layout design, information architecture, usability, landing pages (one thing we found is that the main landing page is not necessarily the only landing page due to google's near pervasive ability to have people jump to places in the site from search results) and improvements to impact both searchability, cross linking and ultimately SEO to make thing easier for our constituents and the people we are trying to reach to find. There are also a few technical improvements on the end to make things run faster and more reliably.
It's a big piece of work and a lot of sweat and negotiated has gone into the improvements and carefully thought-out trade-offs.
A big, big hand to the web team and our partners for some great work done and getting it up and out the door.
Would love to hear (constructive) comments back. We'll be doing a big usability push and working on some persona-based design work in the coming months to carve out the future direction of the site and its focus.


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Luxury Private Half-Day Grand Teton National Park Tour
Grand Teton National Park is one of the most scenic national parks in the world, with the magnificent Teton Range being the center of attention. The jagged mountains rise an impressive 7,000 vertical feet above the Town of Jackson. As the youngest mountain range in the Rocky Mountains, very little erosion has taken place which allows for such an amazing landscape. Experience the Grand Teton National Park with your professional guide at dawn or dusk for the best opportunity to see moose, elk, bison, wolves, bears, bald eagles and more. Your guide will suggest frequent stops along the tour for incredible photo opportunities, hopefully capturing a breathtaking sunrise or sunset. Tours can be customized based on your specific interests focusing on wildlife and scenery to the history, geology, thermal activity, ecology, photography and more.
There's a special beauty to Grand Teton National Park in the snowy silence of winter, free of the summertime crowds. On this Grand Teton day trip from Jackson Hole, a guide helps you search for bison and bighorn sheep, and you could also see moose, coyotes, eagles, or even wolves. In addition, visit the National Museum of Wildlife Art as well as the National Elk Refuge, where you ride past herds of powerful elk on a comfortable, horse-drawn sleigh.
Grand Teton National Park - Sunset Guided Tour from Jackson Hole
This 5-hour tour gives you the best shot at viewing Grand Teton National Park's wildlife at sunset. With the guidance of your host, find the best spots for seeing animals such as bears, antelope, eagles, and pronghorn. National Park entrance fees, dinner, and round-trip transportation from Teton Village and Jackson Hole hotels are included.
Horseback Riding in the Bridger-Teton National Forest
Explore Bridger-Teton National Forest on a horseback-riding tour from Moran, about 35 miles (56 km) from Jackson. Take in views of the Teton Range and Grand Teton National Park as you ride up into groves of Aspen trees.
Enjoy a full-day exploring Yellowstone National Park on a small-group guided tour from the comfort of an enclosed, air-conditioned vehicle. Stops include Old Faithful, the Lower Falls of Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and several opportunities to observe the diverse wildlife of these national parks. Riding along with a naturalist guide, you'll spend the morning searching for bears, wolves, elk, moose, and bison, and continue the tour at famous Yellowstone landmarks. Your professional guide will explain the park's history, ecology and geology throughout the day. Since this small group tour has an 11-person maximum, you're ensured a personalized Yellowstone experience.
Explore the highlights of Grand Teton National Park on a half-day tour from Jackson or Teton Village. Travel along the Gros Ventre River to the Mormon Row Historic District, Moose Junction, and other places where wildlife roam. Use the provided spotting scope and field glasses to get a close look at animals like moose, elk, and eagles, and learn about Wyoming's wildlife and history. Choose from a morning or afternoon departure for your tour led by an naturalist guide, or upgrade to make yours a private tour.
13-Mile Scenic Raft Trip on Jackson Hole's Snake River
On this relaxing rafting trip from Jackson Hole, drift down a scenic section of Wyoming's wildlife-laden Snake River, where moose, deer, river otters and eagles can all be seen from your raft. Be sure to bring your camera to photograph any wildlife that appears on the banks, and also capture the stunning landscape extending out from the Tetons. For even greater views of the jagged mountains, upgrade to a longer trip with snacks that goes a little bit farther downstream. The upgrade trip allows you to raft the Snake River without even getting wet.
Tour the lower loop of Yellowstone National Park with an expert guide on this all-day tour. Visit popular sites like Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Lake Yellowstone, and more. Stop for an included lunch and many photo ops throughout the day. As you travel through the park, keep your eyes open for bears, elk, and bison that are commonly spotted in the area.
On this Grand Teton day trip from Jackson Hole, experience one of America's most astounding landscapes from the comfort of a coach vehicle. In between views of the jagged Teton Range and a visit to the shores of Jenny Lake, you'll learn the geology and history of the Tetons from your knowledgeable local guide. You'll also visit Menor's Ferry and Chapel of the Transfiguration — both are on the US National Register of Historic Places. Bonus: You could even spot moose, beavers, or eagles on a guided walk.
Grand Teton National Park - Full-Day Guided Tour from Jackson Hole
Spend an 8-hour day taking in the spectacular scenery and wildlife of Grand Teton National Park. Travel to the highlights of the park with your guide, including the barns on Mormon Row, Oxbow Bend, Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake. Keep your camera handy for wildlife sightings of species such as grizzly and black bears, elk, deer, bison, pronghorn antelope, coyote, fox, eagle and osprey. Use of binoculars for easy wildlife spotting, breakfast, lunch and round-trip transportation from Jackson area lodging are included.
Yellowstone National Park Group Tour
Head to Yellowstone National Park on a day trip from Jackson Hole for the chance to see the highlights of one of the most popular parks in the United States. With a guide, you'll explore the lower loop of the park to see attractions such as Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful, Fountain Paint Pots, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, plus check out a few off-the-beaten-path locations. Lunch is included. This tour operator is an authorized permittee of the National Park Service.
Big King All Activities Pass - Winter
The Big King Pass throws relentless winter fun at you all day and into the night at Snow King Mountain. Hurtle down the mountain with a childlike grin on a snow tube. Careen around sharp corners and over steep dives on the Cowboy Coaster.And, of course, rip it up on skis or snowboards as long as you want. For over 80 years Snow King Mountain has connected the generations through accessible outdoor adventures suitable for people of all ages and abilities. Located only 6 blocks from the Jackson Town Square, a visit to the "town hill" is the easiest, most affordable way to have a full day of fun. The all-inclusive Big King Pass lets traveller experience all the winter attractions at their own pace.
All-Day Private Tour of Grand Teton National Park
Spend a full day exploring the natural wonders of Grand Teton National Park on a private tour, without any of the guesswork or navigating. The huge park can be overwhelming for first-time visitors, but a private driver and guide shows you all the highlights like Oxbow Bend, Jackson Lake Lodge, Signal Mountain, Mormon Row, and much more. Plus, maximize your chances of seeing wildlife like bears, elk, and bison along the way.
What are the best Tickets & Passes in Jackson Hole?
The best Tickets & Passes in Jackson Hole according to Viator travelers are:
What Tickets & Passes in Jackson Hole are taking additional safety precautions?
These Jackson Hole experiences are providing additional COVID-19 safety measures:
What Tickets & Passes in Jackson Hole are good for avoiding crowds?
These hidden gems in Jackson Hole may have limited interaction with crowds:
More Tours in Jackson Hole
Grand Targhee Ski Resort Tours & Tickets
Jackson Town Square (George Washington Memorial Park) Tours & Tickets
Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum Tours & Tickets
Things to do near Jackson Hole
Recommended for Jackson Hole
Day Trips from Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole to Grand Teton National Park
Jackson Hole to Jenny Lake Trail
Jackson Hole to Old Faithful Geyser
Jackson Hole to Montana
Jackson Hole to Yellowstone National Park
Jackson Hole to West Yellowstone

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Afetr prestigious orchestras and great conductors that come in succession during Teatro Grande Seasons (such as Claudio Abbado and Mozatr Orchestra, Saint Petersburg Phylarmonic with Yuri Temirkanov, and Daniel Harding, Myung-whun Chung and Riccardo Chailly with Filarmonica della Scala), on December 19th at 9 p.m. the Great Venue will host the extraordinary concert. The Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia Orchestra will be back on the stage of Teatro Grande, with Sir Antonio Pappano as orchestra leader and the famous violinist Janine Jansen.
A great opportunity to see and listen to some of the most important artists of the world.
Tickets sale on line: teatrogrande.it and vivaticket.it, every UBI Banco di Brescia branch and at the Teatro Grande ticket office from May 19th 2016. Presale for TeatroGrandeCard owners (just at the ticket office) from May 12th to 18th 2016.


text:
The Sportsman Restaurant Review Blog
Posted on Thursday, 18th June 2009
Baked oyster with gooseberry granite
I found it mildly amusing to read what had been written on the 'location tab' of The Sportsman's website, a one Michelin starred gastropub situated in Kent. It goes something like this:
"A common theme in many write-ups and reviews is that The Sportsman is remote, bleak and a bit of a dump. Equally, many regulars find this point of view shocking as they love to arrive early, go for a walk on the beach and then have lunch or dinner."
I suppose the view of the former group was not easily dispelled for me, seeing as the day of our visit was a rainy, bleak day in June. Who would have believed it was summer?! And the long journey from London (a tube ride to Victoria Station, a 1½ hour train ride to Faversham, and taxi from Faversham to The Sportsman) further confirmed the assertion of remoteness.
But I wasn't interested in its surroundings. Growing up in Australia provided me with a different perspective on beaches anyway, and many years in London has also taught me to be prepared for dreary, wet, summer days. And as my biggest priority is always the food, why grumble about the location?
Despite what may have been written about the location, the whitewashed gastropub holds the secret to a charming interior. It's light and airy, and the look is colonial. The bar dominates the centre of the restaurant, with large wooden tables dotted around it. The feel of the place is easy and relaxed.
The man behind The Sportsman is Stephen Harris, an ex-City worker. Eating his way around some of the more expensive restaurants in London made him realise that certain people might be put off by both the cost and formality of fine dining. And thus, he opened The Sportsman in 1999, where the philosophy behind it was that the food would match the quality and standards of the best restaurants, but which would also be accessible to all with its reasonable pricing and relaxed ambience.
We came for the tasting menu which is very reasonably priced at £55. First up was an amuse bouche of baked oyster with gooseberry granite. This was delicious – the oyster was meaty and succulent, and the delicate, cold sweetness of the gooseberry provided a lovely contrast to the savoury oyster.
More amuse bouches followed of pork scratchings, to be dipped in wholegrain mustard, and pickled herring. The pork scratchings were crunchy and wonderfully salty on the outside and slightly soft at the centre. So good were they that we asked for second helpings. The pickled herring was pleasant.
Pork scratchings & pickled herrings
A soup course called 'Rockpool' was next. This consisted of a broth made from the bones of a turbot which had come in the day before, oysters, clams, crab, samphire and hand picked herbs. Tasting of the sea, this dish was exquisite, and perhaps one of the finest I have had this year. The seafood was fresh and flavoursome. The broth was light on the palate while maintaining a real depth of flavour. It was also very complex, occasionally yielding to very slight, almost undetectable bursts of aniseed (liquorice and star anise) and lemon verbena.
A crab risotto was resoundingly delicious. Fresh crab was perched on top of the risotto, which had been cooked from a stock made from the brown crab meat. There was no end of flavour to this dish which lingered on the palate after each bite.
Crab risotto
A little story accompanies the Seasalter ham (cured December 2007) that we had next. Back in 2004, The Sportsman was looking for ways to make use of the entire pig without letting any part of it go to waste. And the result was this home cured ham. Buried in salt for two weeks, it is then hung for a year and a half. The result is a flavoursome ham with a slightly chewy, less fatty texture than that of Parma ham.
Seasalter ham
From the same turbot, the bones of which had been used for the 'Rockpool', a small taster bowl of smoked turbot roe (the gastropub called it turbot-masalata) was presented to us before the fish course. Like a good taramasalata, the roe was light and springy, and the delicate smokiness further accentuated the roe.
Turbot-masalata
To the turbot itself, which had been braised in vin jaune and was accompanied by smoked pork. The turbot was meaty and tender, and the smokiness of the succulent pork provided a lovely contrast to the fish. The vin jaune (yellow wine) had been used to create an excellent light, creamy sauce that elevated the flavour of the turbot.
Turbot braised in vin jaune with smoked pork
The main was a roast rack of milk-fed Monkshill farm lamb. Monkshill farm is located adjacent to The Sportsman, and supplies most of their meat. The Sportsman often visit the animals and feed them leftovers from the restaurant, thereby having a close hand in the rearing of the livestock that is supplied to them. The rack, which cut like soft butter was incredibly tender, with a milky flavour permeating the meat. The dish also came with a slow cooked shoulder, which was also very tender, and flavoursome beans picked from the garden and cabbage from a nearby farm. There was also a little side plate of lamb belly, deep fried with a delicious, thick, crunchy layer of bread crumbs and served with an aromatic sweet mint sauce.
Roast rack of milk-fed lamb
Deep fried lamb belly
Breads had been all home baked and included focaccia, which had a crunchy, oily crust with fresh rosemary; buttermilk soda bread, which was quite moist and had a slight lingering sweetness to it; and some tasty sourdough. Butter is churned at the gastropub using milk from Jersey cows reared locally, and the salt used at The Sportsman is also made by the gastropub.
Homemade bread & home churned butter
Desserts came in the form of two rounds of little mini-tasters, with the first set being in the form of elderflowers. An elderflower posset was creamy and light, and an elderflower iced lolly dipped in cake mix worked well in complementing each other, with the cold, sweet, sharpness of the lolly juxtaposed by the denser cake mix. There was also fried elderflower which was pleasantly sweet, although I found the batter too thick, leaving this dessert tasting more of batter than elderflower.
Elderflower posset
Elderflower iced lolly & fried elderflower
The next set included a rhubarb sorbet, a chocolate mousse, a gooseberry posset and a raspberry tart. All were pleasant, although the pastry of the tart was perhaps not as firm or buttery as it should have been. This was also the case with the pastry on the extra lemon tart (£6.95) that we had ordered off the à la carte menu in an act of high gluttony.
Second mini assortment
Lemon tart
For wines, we brought our own, for which a £5 cover charge is levied on each bottle. On the service – here the staff don't fuss over you in a stuffy-kind of way. Rather it's more about delivery with a smile and lots of warmth, and being as accommodating as they can be in every way possible. We ran them ragged with the volume of the refills of bread that we requested, and still, it was brought with a smile every time. To summarise, it was lovely and relaxed. And the food, well that was something else. Ok, I didn't think that all the desserts were as remarkable as the mains, and the pastry could have been better. But there were some stunning dishes such as the 'Rockpool', and overall, I could find hardly find fault with anything I ate amongst the savoury courses.
And who could begrudge The Sportman's philosophy of using quality, local ingredients, and cooking it with great care, passion and love. You learn all this when you talk to Stephen, who will tell you that the veg is from the farm up the road, the herbs are grown out back, the meat is from next door, and so on. Food is treated with respect, and nothing is left to go waste, and like the service, it's unfussy. There are no great garnishes or accompaniments, no high gimmicks, just the natural flavours of the ingredients being allowed to sing through. And in both its simplicity and complexity, this was perhaps one of the loveliness meals I have had in a long time, not to mention one of the best value.
So do go. It's worth it, irrespective of whatever journey one might have to make to get there. And don't worry about whatever has been written about the location, for a special treat truly awaits.
Price range – £28 to £36 for 3 courses. £55 for a tasting menu. Excludes drinks and service.
The Sportsman at:
Faversham Road
Seasalter Whitstable
Kent CT5 4BP
Web: http://www.thesportsmanseasalter.co.uk/
The Delaunay
Flesh and Buns
Michael Nadra Chiswick
11 Responses to "The Sportsman"
Natasha - 5 Star Foodie Says...
Sounds like they need a new pastry chef to match the superb level of their savory courses! The dishes look spectacular!
Gourmet Chick Says...
I really want to go there. I love how they have tried to make the most of all their produce (to the extent of making their own ham) and fantastic that you can byo as well!
'A Girl Has to Eat' Says...
Hi Natasha, You're right, the desserts didn't quite match the spectactular quality of the savoury courses, but did really very good.
Hi Gourmet Chick, I think you will really enjoy it. It's a rather special place.
gen.u.ine.ness Says...
I am so excited… I have got sportsman booked after returning from Bau… exciting times ahead. Meal next week?? (I'm good on Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th)
Gen.u.ine.ness, you will ike the Sportsman!
Lizzie Says...
I want to go here so badly. I have friends who come from Whitstable and we've been once already this year, but alas, it's not really in our budgets. Perhaps a birthday treat…
Lizzie, It will definitely make a good birthday treat!
Gastropub Girl Says...
Sounds delicious – and the staff sound great. Thanks for the recommendation. Have heard such good things about the Sportsman, really glad you enjoyed it, must make that trip sometime soon…..I've got friends who own a lovely little local pub called The Three Mariners in Oare, near Faversham, so no excuse really….
ChuckEats Says...
I had a very similar meal to yours and, yes, it was near perfect. I rather enjoyed my desserts (which were also similar to yours) – which doesn't happen too often. Great review.
Hi ChuckEats, I'm so glad to hear you had a similar experience. I think I would find it hard to beat the meal I had at The Sportsman.
ChuckEats blog » The Sportsman (Seasalter, UK) - Give a Man A Few Miles Says...
[…] better.3 Felix Hirsch, A Summer of Innocence (sadly, the summer and/or innocence is over), and A Girl Has to Eat had similar meals. The Ulterior Epicure and Food Snob, the anti-Twitter, had a winter meal for […]


Santa Louisa is still reeling from the lethal rampage of the demon Envy, one of the Seven Deadly Sins released from Hell by black magic. The fiendish entity was finally trapped, but when more bodies bearing satanic marks surface in Los Angeles, demon hunter Moira O'Donnell fears the terror has only just begun. Racing to L.A., Moira discovers that the City of Angels is fast becoming the demon Lust's decadent playground. She suspects another coven is at work, aided indirectly by her diabolical mother, the powerful witch Fiona. But when Moira's unwanted psychic powers intensify, she fears her connection to the underworld is putting everyone she cares about in grave danger. As supernatural war erupts, Moira and smoldering, seductive Rafe Cooper are caught in the crossfire. Cornered by mortal and unearthly enemies, they must master all their own powers to survive—and to understand if the intensely passionate feelings that bind them are Lust's demon magic or true desire.


text:
Q: Replace more than one thing in a string I'm trying to make some kind of secret code language for kids with an online translator.
However, I stumbled upon a problem. I replace the letters of the word from A to Z. But if I have a word like "hi" and I replace the letter 'h' with an 'i', the code will see "ii" when it arrives at the 'h'. Naturally, it will replace both i's with the connected letter. Is there a way I can stop this from happening?
Code example:
var tekst, tevertalen;

tevertalen = prompt("Geef je boodschap in: ",'Default');

...
tekst = tekst.replace("P","S");
tekst = tekst.replace("Q","T");
tekst = tekst.replace("R","A");
...

Thanks in advance!

A: Iterate over the string character-by-character and use a lookup table:
var mapping = {
    'P': 'S',
    'Q': 'T',
    'R': 'A',
    ...
};

var encoded = '';
var plaintext = 'HI';

for (var i = 0; i < plaintext.length; i++) {
    encoded += mapping[plaintext.charAt(i)];
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: How to send SMTP request and read response with php curl? I'm trying to send smtp request to my smtp server installed in freebsd and read the successful or fail response?
This is my code :
$url = '192.168.1.227:25/';
    $user = 'admin';
    $pass = '123';

    $params = array(
        'User'      => $user,
        'passwor'   => $pass,
        'to'        => 'example1@example.com',
        'subject'   => 'test',
        'html'      => 'body',
        'text'      => 'text',
        'from'      => 'example2@example.com',
      );

    $session = curl_init($url);
    curl_setopt ($session, CURLOPT_POST, true);
    curl_setopt ($session, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, $params);
    curl_setopt($session, CURLOPT_HEADER, 1);
    curl_setopt($session, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
    $response = curl_exec($session);
    $info = curl_getinfo($session);
    curl_close($session);
    echo $response;
    print_r($info);

A: cURL is not the right tool for this. Although it does support simple SMTP connections, it's generally not designed for more advanced use cases.
cURL is designed for HTTP, where you usually have one request with a bunch of parameters (the HTTP request headers) and one response.¹
SMTP communication however goes more like "ping-pong". To implement a SMTP client, you would have to work on raw TCP sockets: Write a SMTP command on the socket, read/process the response, write the next command, and so on.
Also, SMTP, as it's currently implemented, has got a lot of quirks and weird side aspects across servers and clients. For example, the PHP/cURL-based approach would not be able to support greylisting, unless you would manage your own queue for temporarily rejected mail.
Unless you have a good reason to do so (and a lot of time, as well as high frustration tolerance), you should use a client library like Swiftmailer together with a real MTA for outgoing mail.
If, on the other hand, you're just curious to play with a raw connection to a mail server, use a tool like netcat from the command line and work through a howto of such a scenario.
..
¹ if you leave keep-alive etc. aside for a moment.


text:
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Profile November 10, 2020
In addition to her service on the Palm Desert City Council, Jan Harnik serves on the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) Transportation Committee and the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission.
Additionally, she is a member of the board of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), serving on the Regional Council, Transportation Committee, Executive Administration Committee, and as Chair of SCAG's Legislative/Communications and Membership Committee.
Jan also serves on the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) as Second Vice Chair and RCTC's Executive Committee as well as with the Executive Committee of the Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau.
She is chair of the executive board for the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP), the McCallum Theatre's Board of Trustees, and is co-president of the Girlfriend Factor – an organization dedicated to helping disadvantaged women re-enter the work force/education system.
She is past president of the Palm Desert High School Foundation, a non-profit corporation supporting academic excellence at Palm Desert High School. She worked with the organization from 2002 until 2012 helping to spearhead multi-year efforts to raise funds and to distribute resources to support and improve students' academic performance.
Recognizing the value of volunteerism and the increased quality of life it brings to our community, Jan is dedicated to volunteering and encouraging others to do so. She believes that volunteering has helped make Palm Desert the wonderful place that it is and that the community's willingness and commitment to giving back supports an even brighter future.
"We don't love our community because it is great," Jan says. "Our community is great because we love it."
Jan moved to the Coachella Valley in 1977. She and husband Brian have raised five children, all of whom attended Palm Desert High School and since have graduated from U.C. Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton, U.C. Riverside, U.C. Davis, and Cal Poly Pomona.
Jan is also a member of Palm Desert Noon Rotary Club and the Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce. In the private sector, Jan works as the manager of a professional office building. Her hobbies include early morning work-outs, hiking desert hillsides, nutrition and cooking, and gardening.
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I was very happy with your work in marketing and selling my property, you clearly outlined the steps involved at the beginning, kept me updated on a regular basis during the negotiations, and helped to secure the buyer quickly. It was also a pleasure to deal with you as you have been very responsive and helpful to my queries. I was also impressed that you sent me a complete list detailing buyer feedback following the inspections.
All in all I would be happy to recommend you to prospective sellers.


This Difficult Breathing Drops by Professional Formulas works very well, I won't be without it. I have used it for acute symptoms and just for normal allergy or food congestion.
Difficult Breathing Drops 2 oz. may also help support overall respiratory health while potentially bolstering immunity.
Active Ingredients: Equal parts of Lung 6X' Plantago major 6X' Thoracic vertebrae 6X' Silicea 8X' Conium maculatum 9X' Antimonium tartaricum 12X' Argentum nitricum 12X' Cactus grandiflorus 12X' Cimicifuga racemosa 12X' Diaphragm 12X' Moschus 12X' Belladonna 30X' Cuprum metallicum 30X' Mezereum 30X' Rhus toxicodendron 30X' Hyoscyamus niger 200X' Stramonium 200X.
Difficult Breathing Drops by Professional Formulas seems to work so I will continue to repurchase. Take as directed. Worth trying.
Effectiveness and price for the amount.


The Ridge House is situated on the western edge of a 25 acre property on the Blackall Range near Montville, QLD. A north / south ridge line with commanding views over the property to the north and east and the Baroon Pocket Dam to the west was selected for siting the building. This acknowledgment of context and topography was ultimately pursued in the planning of the building and the orientation of internal spaces.
The brief called for a large program and a desire for the building to maximise the sites amenity and views whilst reflecting the clients respective cultural aesthetics - the couple being from a rural property in western Queensland and the mountains of Colorado. The solution is realised through two pavilions that slide against each other and one slightly skewed against the other in plan. The materiality of the house is expressed through rammed earth, galvanised sheet metal, hardwood and glass.


text:
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Learning Technologies Summer Forum: Microlearning, Our Thoughts
We had a great time at the Learning Technologies Summer Forum (LTSF), Kensington Olympia yesterday. The day was jam packed with a busy conference schedule, over 30 seminars and an exhibition. We showcased our new app minds-i, custom eLearning and Quizcom, we also ran our ever popular unicorn competition, where one lucky winner got to take home a giant unicorn! Here's the lucky winner with her prize:
There was so much to choose from during the day we were spoilt for choice and it was great to have some fantastic conversations about all things learning. Here are the key themes we identified which had everyone talking:
Brain science and learning theory
Personalisation and customisation
The future of the LMS and future trends
Measuring success for learners
We thought we'd delve a little deeper into one of the most popular topics microlearning and give our thoughts.
What is microlearning?
Microlearning is a way of teaching and delivering content in small, bite size chunks. The term microlearning has been discussed for a long time in learning and development circles. However, in 2017 we should be thinking about microlearning v2, where self-directed learning can be accessed anywhere, anytime and on any device. This type of training is also the perfect place to include social learning, serious games and reward.
How long is microlearning?
Anything less than 3 minutes is typically considered microlearning.
Why is microlearning trending (again)?
Microlearning isn't a new idea, we've always been receptive to learning new information in small chunks. This type of learning is easily digestible and much more palatable than spending hours or even days in a formal environment learning the same topic. It also may be more appropriate for certain topics to be accessible this way, for example point of need videos where someone needs to understand something very specific and right away.
If we look at our modern day lives, microlearning can be seen all around us and technology has helped to enable this type of information delivery even further. If you want to know how to do just about anything, a how-to video will be easily accessible online, from fixing a leaky radiator, to making your own DIY cloud light there's a host of information available. This video on how to separate an egg yolk has had over 18.5 million views. This way of accessing information is ingrained into everyday lives, it's available anywhere, at anytime, often just in time and through any device. It doesn't matter if you're cooking in the kitchen or out walking the dog, as long as you have either a mobile or tablet with you you've got a wealth of information at the touch of your fingertips.
When we then reflect back on how learning has been taught both in work and at school, this has traditionally been delivered through classroom based learning or long eLearning modules (sometimes up to 60 minutes in duration-eek). Therefore when we think about how people are accessing information and learning in their personal lives, why would we want to offer the polar opposite to how people now want to learn in their personal lives? Why would we want to keep pushing training to them in a format they aren't use to? All of a sudden training feels like a chore. Wouldn't it be a much better learning environment if learners actually wanted to learn?
What does microlearning look like in the workplace?
Small, bite size chunks of information, delivered through multiple platforms but crucially accessible on mobiles. Microlearning doesn't have to be just videos, it can also be infographics, peer-to-peer, documents, quizzes, games, web articles, interactive lessons to name a few. It can also be delivered through multiple platforms such as mobile, tablets, LMS, intranet sites and many more. A popular way to offer microlearning is through the use of apps, this can either be done through a quiz where the learner answers a series of questions and is awarded points (think Who Wants To Be A Millionaire but without the big cash prize!), or through a learner self directed app where learners can opt to explore and choose the content they want to view (the pull model).
Is it just for millennials?
The simple answer to this question is, no! There has been a lot of talk about microlearning being created because millennials have such short attention spans that they can't concentrate on anything longer than a 2 minute video, this just simply isn't true. Microlearning is for everyone, let's think back to our DIY example where there are plenty of Gen X, Baby Boomers and older who actively watch and make these DIY videos.
What we have seen over recent years is the rise in the use of videos and social media platforms, now fully integrated into people's lives. At our recent client forum we talked about 'mobile moments' and how mobile learning needs to fit into people's lives in a way they are already familiar with. When we think about social media platforms the majority of content shared is limited in terms of word count or length, especially when you look at Snapchat or Twitter where these sites specialise in bite size social media sharing. We can take these lifestyle observations back to the workplace and apply this theory to our learning offerings, but please remember the demographic for microlearning = any age.
What are your thoughts about microlearning? Are you using it effectively within your organisation? As we mentioned above, one of the other key themes from the Learning Technologies Summer Forum was around the measures of success for learners. We will be running a blog series shortly, 'Lessons from Marketers' where we will explore key similarities between marketing and training, including ROI.
With over 10 years' experience in the Financial Services industry, Lucy has a varied background…
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text:
The Anarchist Vote
Column by Mark Davis, posted on January 13, 2008
Exclusive to STR
The beatings will continue until morale improves. ~ Unknown
The Ron Paul for President Campaign has been the cause of much discussion among anarchists as to whether we should all jump on the bandwagon. The exposure of ideas we all hold dear during his campaign pertaining to the elimination of state agencies and policies, especially central banks, has reached a larger audience than any other source to my knowledge. The education of a willfully ignorant if not brainwashed populace has grown by leaps and bounds. As I have previously written, I am glad that Ron Paul is running and I hope that he wins the election. Further, I think he is a genuine, honest man of principle and appreciate his efforts to educate people on the evils of the United States Imperial Federal Government. But in the end I can't vote for him on principle.
The arguments used by the anarchists come minarchists (actually ministatists is more appropriate) to tempt the rest of us primarily include the relativist fallacy, appeals to fear and appeals to authority. The almost cult-like following that somehow has come to believe in the ability of a special man to turn decades of experience with obvious facts and sound logic on its head must raise an eyebrow or two among principled anarchists. I refuse to fall prey to exceptionalism, sacrifice my principles to fear or follow others who did. Still I can use the campaign as a useful tool to educate diehard mega-statists on the evils of the state and move ministatists toward a better understanding of self-government with a clear conscience. That is, I am not required to personally commit an immoral act in order to educate the masses.
Individuals who ritually absolve their immoral acts in the illusion of collective pragmatism greatly outnumber those who take the Non-Aggression Principle to heart. If every anarchist in these United States succumbed to this pressure to sell out, registered with the Republican Party and voted for Congressman Paul, it would not influence the outcome one iota. It would, however, set back the freedom movement decades.
Targeting diehard statists with a strategy of revealing economic and historic truths that have seemed heretofore mysterious if not repugnant to their miseducated, dogmatic belief in a corrupt system is all to the good. However, inspiring hope in this process that signals submission to tyranny in those who have heretofore rejected participating in that process is counterproductive to resisting the forces of tyranny. I still hold out hope that a President Paul administration will come about as the ultimate learning experience for statists of all stripes even though his principal desire is to save the system he loves so much. I also fear that too many will be inspired with false hope and get sucked back into the system.
I sympathize with and respect those anarchists whom oppose the Paul for President Campaign completely because they recognize this career politician's stated purpose of saving the United States Imperial Federal Government from collapse. But do not fear that he will accomplish this task and start the process all over again; it is way too late for that. Think Gorbachev. This purist opposition is healthy, as it keeps the true ideal of self-government alive. I hope that we can all avoid unnecessary and counterproductive animosity after the election, win or lose, because we will need to organize our efforts in the waning days of the empire and after the collapse due to bankruptcy. We certainly don't want another state to replace this obsolete one, much less end up with an American Putin coming to power.
The arguments attempting to convince anarchists to vote for Congressman Paul using appeals to authority (or the "Hey! even Murray Rothbard voted" argument) don't need rebuttal for most readers, but I would like to address the argument that mixes exceptionalism (or the way lesser of two evils argument) with an appeal to fear. This is supposed to be the show stopper. This argument infers that even if you believe that voting is an act of violence, and it is, and unless you are a pacifist, voting for Congressman Paul is an act of self-defense that any sensible person interested in survival must do.
The analogy used to deliver this coup d'tat to anarchist principles and relegate them to fungible commodities to be compromised in the crucible of situational ethics generally goes as follows. In this "life-boat" situation, you and your mates are the subjects of tyranny (slaves, serfs, taxpayers, prisoners, et al), and the brutal tyrant (master, lord, tax collector, warden, et al) using violence to force submission to his dictates makes you and your mates an offer that you can't refuse: He offers to let you (the group of subjects) vote in a democratic election for someone to directly supervise your activities with the choice of candidates being between a cruel taskmaster who beats you all the time and a kind custodian who offers little more than gentle persuasion. Of course, real freedom is off the table, and if you don't do as you're told, the cruel taskmaster will be called back in.
I have elaborated the analogy somewhat to point out its weakness. Typically it is presented as simply an offer to choose between getting beaten mercilessly and not getting beaten much at all. What rational human being wouldn't prefer getting beaten as little as possible? I like this analogy because it reveals how voting is an act of submission: When you no longer resist tyranny, but agree to submit to the threat or use of force and do as you are told, when you no longer question the higher authority because you are allowed to choose your supervisor. In the process you condemn your offspring and future generations to be subjects of this authority establishing an institution of tyranny that eventually is accepted unquestioningly, perhaps even celebrated.
The elite who exploit you no longer need to resort to the physical violence that is counter-productive. Increasing violence undermines productivity, and it must eventually escalate to the point where you revolt. If civil disobedience does not result in disengagement and freedom, then either the master beats you to death or you kill him in self-defense. Each way, the system collapses and the exploitation that was the original purpose of beating you into submission is no longer possible. Therefore, the offer to stop beating you if you submit peacefully was always the goal. The naked exploitation is impossible to hide in a master-slave relationship where violence is used. But clothing it in a process that offers an apparent choice of master-agents usually does the trick. The violence is always implied, it is just hidden behind a façade of respectability.
This choice to participate in legitimizing institutional tyranny is also different than accepting food, water, clothing, shelter or a place to walk from your master. These items are required to exist. I do not advocate suicide as a strategy of resistance. Voting is a choice that is not required for you to continue living. You could argue that it is an act of cowardice though (uncle, uncle, I submit to be your slave, please don't hurt me anymore!)
I also don't see how Paul and his followers can rail against Hamiltonian policies while at the same time supporting his blueprint for implementing them. When Hamilton, Jay and Madison wrote the Federalist Papers in support of the Constitution, they were vigorously opposed in what is known as the Anti-Federalist Papers. Guess who turned out to be correct about the dangers of centralized power, taxes and standing armies? So if you believe that the Constitution is how we should organize our government, then you are a Hamiltonian. This contradiction appears lost on many.
The Constitution is the greatest document ever created for the purpose of restraining state power. It unfortunately also still serves the purpose of creating and legitimizing state power. Oh, and it failed, miserably; because alas, that is the nature of the beast. In case you didn't notice, the revered Constitution resulted in the largest, most expensive, most powerful central state in the history of the world, with standing armies straddling the globe in the insane quest of being "The World's Policeman" with a Central Bank to match. So if the greatest, most liberty-loving geniuses in the history of the world could not construct a "social contract" that would not be abused, is it really possible to do? Do you think that starting over with Hamilton's pet plan will turn out any differently for our children? And ministatists chide anarchists for not being realistic.
The political campaign for Congressman Paul's bid to wear the ring of Presidential power can lead to a large number of people waking up to the folly and immorality of the political process itself, or it can suck millions into the endless loop of justifying the institution that perpetuates their slavery. We can use this opportunity to shine the beacon of freedom that is self-government to those who look this way even if they don't have the courage to leave the herd. And let's prepare for the next step in the evolution of social organization beyond statism. But let's not surrender the high ground to expedience and fear mongering.
Columns on STR: 65
Mark Davis is a husband, father and real estate analyst/investor enjoying the freedoms we still have in Longwood, Florida.
Signs of Autumn
The Imperative of Counter-Cultural Anarchism
State of Deceit
Who's Your Daddy?
We Are the Neutered Bourgeois


I love marketing for restaurants/food establishment on the Internet. There are so many places to list your business it's amazing, and the listings are heavily used be potential customers. There are a lot of listings that need to be claimed because most of them are auto generated. So you'll find a listing for your business but it's not complete or sometimes not correct.
Owners of restaurants and delis and caterers sometimes get a little paranoid about having their business listed all over because they are afraid of bad reviews, But the problem with that approach is that you're going to get reviews whether you take ownership of your listing and create listings or not because the listings get automatically generated anyways, even Facebook, Google Maps, yelp, trip advisor and foursquare, complete with reviews! So it's best to claim a listing that way you can at least make your listing look good and respond to any bad reviews or attempt to remove them or get them removed. That itself is very difficult however. Sometimes the review can be challenged.
Or you can make it right with the customer and ask them to revise or delete their review.


We are taking another trip! This time we will be visiting Texas and New Mexico! This will be so much fun! Wait until you see all we have planned! Starting today you will see my new Lugz boots and get to see everywhere they go. We actually started the trip on Sunday as my husband was preaching at a friends church in Kansas. Then today we head in to Oklahoma and then Texas.
Now, these really comfortable Swagger boots ($64.99) will be taking me all over the place. We will be visiting book stores (used of course), 2 zoos, an aquarium, an arboretum and a few really great places to eat. And my Lugz will be going with me.
So here is something we are going to do during this giveaway, when you see a picture of my Lugz in another review I will give you an extra entry here for spotting them. You will have to leave a comment and be specific about where you saw them. No vague comment and please be honest, no copying someone else. Now there is a well known fast food restaurant in the background of this picture. If you can tell where my Lugz are be sure to use the last entry and tell me. If no one is able to tell I will leave a hint this evening.
Now for a little bit about my new boots. Technically they are for men, but I really like them! They are seriously one of the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. I can't wait to see if they still feel this way after a day of hiking through the zoo. I have a feeling that they won't let me down. We have a friend who wears a pair of their boots for work, and he says they are the best.
Do any of my neighbors own a pair of Lugz? What do you think? Leave a comment and share your opinion.
I will be adding Lugz updates throughout the trip, so keep your eyes open! Oh, and be sure to "Like" Lugz on Facebook and then "follow" them on Twitter!
The Swagger SR men's boot is a update on a classic, taking you from work to play while keeping you comfortable all day.
Well be sure to check in and see where we have been! I think you will enjoy the updates and pictures! One neighbor will receive a pair of Lugz Swagger boots.
Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a pair of Lugz for review purposes. All quotes in red are taken from the sponsor's website or email. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
I like the base camp boots in black.
The Savoy (Slip Resistant) EEE would probably work well.
I like the Wisp boots!
I liked the Tambora Boots. The black/cream is the one I would want to wear!
I like the Drifter Fur Women's.
I saw the Lugz on this post- The Lugz are on the Move!
The Brigade Fold look like perfect hiking boots!
I like the striper military in red!
I saw lugs at McDonalds!
I like the Notts Men's shoe in black.
My favorite pair is the DRIFTER FUR WOMEN'S. Thank you!
I love their Zen Lo boots in black!
CHUKKA in chocolate/light brown would be my favorite but hubby wears boots just like you reviewed.
Love the infant drifters! Thanks for the chance to enter.
I like the Drifter Fur Women's boots.
I would get the Coastal in the red/black for my son for Christmas.


text:
Prada AW13
Prada AW13. It's the first Prada collection I've really liked in a long time, mostly because of the nod to the fabulous Forties and a woman's silhouette. It's also the first Prada campaign to feature a black model in almost twenty years. Biracial model, Malaika Firth, stars alongside 90s supermodel, Christy Turlington whose 90s supermodel colleague, Naomi Campbell was the last black model in a Prada campaign – in 1994. I love that Prada isn't just mixing races in the AW13 campaign, but mixing ages too: Firth is 18, while Turlington is 44. This kind of acceptance is long overdue and I think it's especially important for brands like Prada – with such massive influencing power – to set a good example to the world of fashion and beauty, and beyond. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a plus size model next season.
age, aw13, beauty, beauty ideal, Christy Turlington, ideal beauty, malaika firth, mixed race, naomi campbell, plus size, Prada, supermodel


text:
RAF Air/Sea Rescue - A Top Secret D Day Mission
For a select few, serving in the RAF Air Sea Rescue Service, D Day found them undertaking an important, top secret task which would improve the chances of survival of thousands of servicemen . It was so secret, the crews did not fully understand the nature of their work until they were in position off the Normandy beaches.
In March 1944, five RAF skippers were selected from the British Isles Air Sea Rescue Service for a Combined Operation on D-Day. The skippers were given a freehand to pick their crews from any unit they wished. My skipper, Flying Officer (F/O) W E Probert, was one of the five chosen. I had served with him as a wireless operator / mechanic for some time.
F/O Bill Probert had risen from the ranks and was highly respected by all who served with him. He was a man of few words, who led by example. We came from No 48 Air Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit (ASRMCU) at Tenby, as did another Skipper, F/O Ambler.
The two crews were given new Thornycroft High Speed Launches, which had their armament upgraded for the operation. The three .303 machine guns, located in their manual turrets, were replaced aft by a 20mm Oerlikon. The tops of the port and starboard turrets were removed and .5 Browning machine guns were installed.
Our duties at Mount Batten, from March until June 1944, were those of any Air/Sea Rescue unit but with the addition of frequent gunnery exercises in the English Channel. We were on duty 24 hours a day, for 4 days running, living onboard in cramped conditions, except for meals ashore. The fifth day we had off duty.
[Photo; the author, veteran Clifford N Burkett.]
Such was the secrecy, that we were not given any details of our D Day mission. Two days before D Day, a white star was painted on the foredeck by the deckhands and immediately covered for security reasons. A white star was painted on all aircraft, vehicles, vessels, tanks etc. so any vehicle, aircraft or vessel without a star, was treated as the enemy. The Skippers, Wireless Operators and Cox'ns met in a hanger, guarded by the RAF Regiment with fixed bayonets. The purpose was to provide a minimal briefing to the coxswains and wireless operators, who were given new wireless frequencies and call signs. Only the Skippers were given more information.
Our HSL was numbered 2655, F/O Ambler's was 2653 and the others were 2512 & 2513. The fifth, on the day, was "up the slip for repair". The choice of the launch class was a disappointment to those of us, who had previously served on the faster and superior HSLs built by the British Power Boat Company at Hythe. However, speed was not the only characteristic needed for the operation. Thorneycrofts were slightly bigger and able to accommodate more aircrew/para survivors.
En Route to Normandy
We assembled at RAF Mount Batten, No. 43 ASRMCU, Plymouth, where we were joined by 3 other selected RAF High Speed Launch (HSL) crews. From there, our 4 serviceable HSLs dropped their moorings at 3.30 pm on the afternoon before D Day, with extra dinghies lashed on decks.
[Google Earth map.]
We were joined by 3 RN Motor Gun Boats (MGBs) from Devonport, while we were still in Plymouth Sound. D Day had been postponed for 24 hours because of bad weather. Unfortunately, most of the troops had already spent an uncomfortable 24 hours on board their craft.
After sailing out through the Plymouth Hoe boom, we saw a number of landing craft tossing about at anchor in Cawsand Bay. "Poor bloody infantry" sprung to mind, for they still had to cross the Channel in rough weather, disembark, wade ashore and fight their way off the beaches early the next morning.
Part way across the Channel by a circuitous route, all but one of the MGBs left us. We arrived off the coast of Normandy at 11 pm. Half an hour later, the RAF launches and the RN MGB, switched on their search lights, which seemed an odd thing to do in hostile waters. However, it soon became clear that the first part of our first mission was to act as light beacons to guide in the USA 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, comprising 5,000 men, to be dropped behind the Omaha & Utah beaches.
With 5 launches, any losses due to enemy action or breakdown would be compensated for and the additional fire power of the extra craft would provide added defence against anticipated E Boat attacks. Around midnight, we witnessed the huge bombardment of the coastal defences by the Allied Air Forces. While it lasted, the coastline was a wall of flame as far as we could see, such was the intensity of the exploding bombs.
We maintained station all night but, because of tidal drift, had to sail back 2 or more hundred yards every 20 minutes or so, in order to maintain our exact position. The noise the 5 vessels made when restarting their engines each time, was deafening and we worried that the enemy would be alerted. We would have been a poor match for the German E boats, which we knew regularly patrolled the whole of the Normandy coast every night. Fresh in our minds was the death and destruction they had wreaked only a few weeks earlier, when over 700 USA soldiers and sailors were lost off Slapton Sands during a training exercise called Operation Tiger.
We expected to be fired at from the sea or the shore at any time but, thankfully, this did not happen. I was on wireless telegraphy (W/T) watch, 2 hours on and 2 hours off. I still have my W/T log book with all times recorded. When not on W/T watch, I was on deck, even although we had to keep watch on two radios, (W/T & VHF). I had fitted up a Standard Beam Approach "mixer" box in the wireless cabin. It was an unofficial arrangement approved by the Skipper. With the mixer box, the signals from the two receivers could be fed into one operator's earphones, but could also be separated, as required.
[Photo; The interior of a High Speed Launch based at Dover, Kent, showing the navigation officer in the foreground working out his course, watched by the Master. © IWM (CH 2498).]
We were on strict "W/T silence", so as not to give our position away to the enemy and if messages came in on either receiver, the Operator on watch could recall the other one if required. Another advantage of this arrangement was that it allowed one of the W/Operators to accompany F/O Probert on the `bridge' to man the signalling lamp.
Shortly after the bombardment of the enemy's coastal defences, aircraft carrying 'paras' and others towing gliders, flew directly over us. In my periods on deck, I witnessed 17 such formations fly overhead. In his turns, Bob Bell, the other wireless operator, saw similar numbers. It was an inspirational sight, as they flew in formations of up to 50 aircraft, with all navigation lights on. We marvelled at the skill of the pilots in keeping such tight formations.
At 0530 am, before the beach landings began, we switched our lights off and the Royal Navy MGB left us for other duties. We sailed round to the western side of the Cherbourg Peninsula, where I received coded W/T messages instructing us to search among the Channel Isles for a Wellington bomber and a fighter aircraft. They had apparently ditched in that area the day before. We split into two pairs and searched between and around Jersey and Guernsey but after many fruitless hours searching, we returned to Plymouth because we were running dangerously short of fuel.
The Germans were, by now, well aware of our presence since, a Ju 88 from Jersey, flew overhead but thankfully ignored us. We had been at sea for over 30 hours sustained only by one can of self heating soup and adrenalin. The deck crew of 4 had manned the two Browning machine guns and the Oerlikon, for the whole time. Their eyes were strained, red and sore from the constant lookout they kept and by the sea. As we moved out of the immediate danger area, exhaustion overtook them in particular, although we were all very tired.
Most of the 5,000 airborne troops we guided to their `drop zones' landed safely, although a number were scattered. There were, of course, many losses but the survivors later joined up with their comrades, as planned, who landed on Omaha and Utah beaches. We learned, several years later, that the fighter aircraft we had searched for was found on the seabed with the body of its Canadian pilot still on board. His widow requested that he be left there, in the aircraft, as his grave. To my knowledge, no trace of the Wellington was ever found.
The day following our return to RAF Mount Batten, we learned that not a single Allied aircraft had come down in our area during the time we were at sea. Had any ditched, our orders were to stay on station.
[Photo; Oblique aerial photograph taken during the rescue by an RAF high speed launch of the crew of a US Navy Consolidated Liberator on the day after they were shot down by Junkers Ju 88s in the Bay of Biscay. A 67-ft Thornycroft High Speed Launch, HSL 2641, approaches the dinghies containing the survivors. © IWM (C 4159).]
Some years later, at one of our reunions, we learned that captured German records had disclosed that the regular nightly patrols of E boats along the Normandy coast were cancelled for that night by the German Navy Officer Commanding at Cherbourg, because " the weather is too bad for the enemy to invade tonight!" The Germans had underestimated our seamanship in the rough sea conditions. Our unit's mission could not have gone better and was a triumph of meticulous planning and training.
I attended the 64th anniversary of D Day in June 2010 with the Normandy Veteran's Association. It was a typically British occasion, restrained and well run with speeches of thanks and remembrance by local Mayors. The French presented us with badges of Remembrance, the "Normandie Memoire". Several widows, wearing their husband's decorations, accompanied us and many of those present, both men and women, wore badges bearing a photograph of the Queen. This, apparently, because of the French Government's snub at not inviting Her Majesty to the commemorations. However, locally we received a very warm welcome from the people of Normandy. It was a bitter/sweet occasion. On the one hand, it brought back memories of school friends and RAF comrades, who gave their lives and on the other, I was glad I had been able to honour their memory and sacrifice.
The memory of those who served in the RAFVR in the various fast rescue craft is immortalised in the especially commissioned painting "Combined Operations - A Normandy Beachhead". A rescue craft can be seen plying the waters off a Normandy beach in search of any service personnel in the water. See the painting here.
We are indebted to Clifford N Burkett for this account and for the photograph of HSL 2655, on which he served. The photo was taken a few days before D Day during a gunnery exercise. Clifford served in the RAF Volunteer Reserve for 5 years, three of which were in the Air Sea Rescue Service. Sadly, Cliff passed away in August 2013.


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German Chancellor Angela Merkel's race to save automaker Opel — and the jobs of its 25,000 employees in Germany — is beginning to look like a high-speed pileup that could cost her at the polls.
To get talks with Opel owners General Motors back on track, Merkel is reportedly ready to abandon her previous plan to force GM to sell a controlling stake in its European business to a consortium of Canadian-Austrian car-parts maker Magna International and Russia's Sberbank. According to the German tabloid Bild, the German government has told GM's chief negotiator, John Smith, that Berlin will consider GM's preferred investor, the Belgian industrial group RHJI, as long as it teams up with a partner from the automotive industry.
The German government has been negotiating with GM over Opel since March. The U.S. automaker wants Germany to provide state guarantees for Opel of up to $6.4 billion. In return, the Germans wanted GM to agree to sell a 55% stake in Opel to the Magna-Sberbank consortium. At first GM seemed to be playing ball. It spun off Opel into a trust to protect the Rüsselsheim-based manufacturer from GM's Chapter 11 proceedings in the U.S.
But in May, talks stalled and Merkel declared the entire GM-Opel mess to be "chefsache," or a matter for the boss. After lengthy and tense talks, GM negotiators finally seemed to agree to the German plan.
Over the past few days, though, everything has come undone again. GM's management, which now includes U.S. government appointees after Washington's massive bailout of the Detroit firm, is split. Some on the board want GM to sell its European operations and focus on the U.S. market. And GM cannot use money from U.S. taxpayers to restructure Opel.
But GM's chairman, Ed Whitacre, isn't convinced that a sale is in the company's best interests. He still sees GM as a global manufacturer and is determined to retake the No. 1 spot from rival Toyota. To do so, GM needs a European manufacturing base. At the very least, GM wants to avoid creating a new competitor by providing the dowry for a tie-up among Magna, Sberbank and Opel. So on Aug. 21, the GM board rejected Merkel's plan and sent point man Smith back to Berlin.
Merkel has tried, and failed, to get President Barack Obama to intervene. Her rival for the chancellery, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Foreign Minister in the grand coalition government that joins Merkel's Christian Democrats and his Social Democrats, called Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, urging her to get involved. But the message from Washington is that it's up to GM to make its own investment decisions.
GM is now exploring other options, including the possibility of raising money from other European sources. According to a report in the Times of London, U.K. business secretary Peter Mandelson is offering GM some $800 million if GM could guarantee the 5,500 jobs at its Vauxhall unit. Last week, Mandelson slammed the Germans for trying to buy protection for their car workers at the expense of GM employees in the U.K., Spain and elsewhere in Europe.