New Delhi: Two-wheeler majors Hero MotoCorp, HMSI, Bajaj Auto and Suzuki Motorcycle are offering discounts of up to Rs 22,000 on BS-III models to liquidate stocks, a day after the Supreme Court banned sale and registration of such vehicles from April 1.
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), which had initially offered a flat discount of Rs 10,000 on its BS-III scooters and motorcycles increased it to Rs 22,000 later in the day.
The company said it is offering cash back offer of Rs 22,000 on its BS-III scooters and motorcycles models Activa 3G (priced Rs 50,290), Dream Yuga (Rs 51,741), CB Shine (Rs 55,799 to Rs 61,283) and CD 110DX (Rs 47,202 to Rs 47,494).
Market leader Hero MotoCorp offered discounts of up to Rs 12,500 on its BS-III two-wheelers.According to dealers, the company is offering rebate of Rs 12,500 on its scooters, Rs 7,500 on premium bikes and Rs 5,000 on entry level mass market motorcycles.
The models on which discounts are offered include scooters Duet (priced Rs 49,480) and Maestro Edge (Rs 51,030), motorcycles Glamour (Rs 59,755) and Splendor 125 (Rs 55,575).
Another two-wheeler maker Suzuki Motorcycle India also announced offers on its Let's scooter and Gixxer motorcycle.
On the scooter, Let's priced (Rs 47,272 to Rs 53,766), the company offered a discount of Rs 4,000 plus a free helmet, while on Gixxer (Rs 77,452 to Rs 90,421) the benefit is up to Rs 5,000 with exchange benefits of up to Rs 2,000. All prices are ex-showroom Delhi.
Bajaj Auto also offered discounts and free insurance on its different models, starting from the entry level Platina to Pulsar RS200 in the range of Rs 3,000 to Rs 12,000 along with free insurance.
"If there are any unsold inventory left, we have the possibility to export as we are a big exporter to around 70 countries across the world," Bajaj Auto President (Business Development & Assurance) S Ravikumar told PTI.
The companies said the offer will be valid till stocks last or up to March 31.
"These are unheard of discounts ever in the two-wheeler industry," Federation of Automobile Dealers (FADA) past president and Director-International Affairs Nikunj Sanghi said.
When asked about what actions were dealers taking following the apex court verdict, he said: "Our energy is focused on selling as much stock as possible before the deadline. Our people are calling up potential customers informing them about the offers."
He said the dealership community was hoping for some relief from the court in the form of more time to sell their stocks but with that not happening, the focus has shifted to liquidating the stocks.
Afterwards, it will have to be discussed with the manufacturers what to do with the unsold inventories, if at all any are left, he added.
On the commercial vehicles front, Ashok Leyland said it wasn't offering discounts on any of its vehicles.
"Our products are in good demand and we will not be offering any price discounts," a company spokesperson said.
Mahindra & Mahindra said it is working on various options to work within the framework provided by the court order.
It is "even trying to liquidate as much of the company's and its dealers' BS III inventory as possible by March 31, 2017 and will make every attempt to minimise the one time impact of this order on the company's financials", without sharing details of the steps.
Comments from Tata Motors could not be obtained.
Observing on Wednesday that health of the people is "far, far more important" than the commercial interests of the manufacturers, the Supreme Court said that automobile firms have declined to take "sufficient pro-active steps" despite being fully aware that they would be required to manufacture only BS-IV compliant vehicles from April 1, 2017.


text:
Chad Richards
Dallas Comedy House
"The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Sketch Shows" by Chad Richards
It was the beginning of a new term and my six Sketch 3 classmates and I were waiting in the Dallas Comedy House (DCH) lobby for the class to start. There was a table with nametags out for us. On top of the bar were stacks of Unlimited Power and Awaken the Giant Within with a sign indicating they were for sale. We were trying to figure out what was going to happen next when we heard a booming voice come over the P.A.
"ARE YOU READY TO SKETCH?!"
We were confused.
"ARE. YOU. READY?!" The voice repeated.
We heard movement above us. Suddenly, noted motivational speaker, business guru, and life coach Tony Robbins rappelled from the rafters and met us on the floor.
"ARE. YOU. READY?!" He exclaimed again. His headset microphone shook as he emphatically pointed at each one of us. We looked at each other, began a slow clap, and knew we were ready. We followed the spray-tanned genius into Tharp theater, where he presented us with a life-changing lesson: "The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Sketch Shows." I am now humbled and honored to present these lessons on to you.
Take Things to Extremes
The smallest kernel of an idea can turn into the most delicious piece of sketch popcorn. In general, I'm a pretty reserved person. Pushing things to the extreme is something I struggle with in improv and when I'm writing. But when you can really commit to a sketch and get to those extremes, it's magical. Push the people you're writing with to get there.
Find Fun Takes on Common Things
Everyone wants their comedy and writing to be relatable. Everyone also wants to come up with the most original and creative idea ever put on stage. Let the latter come from the former. Relatable things are relatable because they happen every day. Relieve yourself of the pressure to come up with grand ideas by looking at the day-to-day from a new angle.
This is something you hear over and over from instructors and performers at DCH, but sketch is where this has really clicked for me. Our Level 2 and Level 3 sketch shows have started with a very rah-rah opener. That energy and enthusiasm carry over for the rest of our shows. I can see it in my cast mates' performances, and I can feel it in my own.
Weird Works
When someone pitches an idea that's a little strange, find the fun elements and run toward it with your arms wide open. It may very well turn into one of your favorite sketches if you embrace it with the right attitude.
Be Aware of Your Resources
DCH performers are more than just hilarious comedy brains. Sometimes, they have an intricate knowledge of a particular topic. Sometimes, they are prop masters. Sometimes, they're willing to buy lots of wigs and costumes to help the jokes land. Use your full toolbox when you're writing and planning your sketch show.
Have a Pudgy Guy Take His Shirt Off
No need to mess with a classic. A pudgy guy without his shirt on is vulnerable, yet whimsical. That's really what good writing is all about.
Enjoy the Process
Putting on a sketch show is a lot of work. There has been lots of writing, rewriting, rehearsing, and memorizing. I have caught myself feeling the work weighing on me. Thankfully, my cast mates; Jonda, our teacher; and Cody, our TA; have been there for me to bring back the fun and silliness every step of the way.
I'm not sure how Tony Robbins made some of those of points so personal to me, but I suppose that's just part of his wonder. Thanks to Tony Robbins, and all of our teachers and TAs, for guiding my classmates and me through this program. We can't wait to perform Frisky Business three more times. We would love for you to come see it.
Chad Richards is a graduate of the DCH improv program and is currently graduating from the sketch program. In his free time, he likes to tell people that he likes writing. He performs with Sunglow and The Big Short. Frisky Business runs July 12 at 7:30 p.m. and July 13 and 14 at 7 p.m.
(Photos by Jason Hensel)
Tagged: humor, sketch, shows
Shashana Pearson-Hormillosa
"Fall in Love with 'A Brief, Endless Love—a Sketch Comedy Revue' by Matt Lyle" By Shashana Pearson-Hormillosa
I almost didn't make it to Dallas Comedy House for opening night of A Brief, Endless Love, the latest work by award-winning playwright, Matt Lyle. The Texas sky had opened, dumping several inches of summer rain across the city, but I decided to buck up and venture out anyway.
During my 15-minute commute, I saw at least four accidents, even more emergency vehicles en route to other accidents, and—inexplicably—a man standing on the side of the street dressed only in a zipped-up, hip-length raincoat and wellies while holding an umbrella. That is to say, the man was not wearing any pants. I wondered if this was an omen; thought maybe this was a sign for the oddities of things to come, concerned that this would be the highlight of the night. But, I am pleased to report that it was not. In fact, the night only got better from there—much better.
A Brief, Endless Love fires on all cylinders. Its touching real-life perspective creates poetry in comedy, and leaves you laughing until you cry.
"I grew up basically an only child. It was just me and my dad," said writer Matt Lyle, who also wrote Hello, Human Female and The Boxer to much acclaim. "I'm married now, and I have a child, and life is full of love, but nothing can pull at me like the search for love. I've always looked at everything I've written from that very real human place."
That essence of humanity is embodied in his ensemble cast of seasoned performers, most of whom Matt has known and worked with for years—he's even married to one of them. Steph Garrett, Kim Lyle, Jeff Swearingen, and Jeremy Whiteker bring to life the joy found in every dark corner and depict the loneliness found in each scene with a lightness of life that makes them instantly endearing.
From the mad scientist answering an ad on Match.com to parents questioning their preteen's professions of love by describing—in very real terms—what goes into real love to the Stanley Sisters, which features Dot (my favorite character of the bunch, artfully portrayed by Steph Garrett), I could not imagine better players in these role or better performances by these players. And that's for good cause. While a cast typically writes its own sketch shows, Matt Lyle already had much of the material for A Brief, Endless Love and then cast and honed that material to the strengths of the performers. What results is a cohesive, hilarious ensemble that will keep you on the edge of your seat and laughing from your belly.
Fortunately for us, belly laughs will not be in short supply. Matt Lyle likes to write—a lot. Writing is his creative outlet, which juxtaposes nicely against his IT job at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. He imbues his characters with such refined and unexpected comedic relief that it inspires performers and writers alike to embrace their own humanity and push themselves farther. With luck, we'll have many more opportunities to see his take on the human condition.
"Always start with the most recognizable, true-to-life thing and go from there," he said.
And fortunately for us, that is something Matt Lyle is damn good at it.
A Brief, Endless Love runs at the Dallas Comedy House every Friday & Saturday night at 9 p.m. now through June 24. You should go—like me—come hell or high water.
Shashana Pearson-Hormillosa is a current student at DCH. She spends her days wrangling children, avoiding housework, and hustling for acting or writing gigs. One day she'll make her life easier by changing her name to Shashana O'Shanahan.
(Top image: Matt Lyle. Middle image: Shashana Pearson-Hormillosa)
Tagged: sketch, comedy, reviews
"Comedy Debut: How to Get Started in the Funny Business" by Shashana Pearson-Hormillosa
So you want to try your hand at comedy, but don't know where to start? Here are five steps to take to get you to the laughs.
1) Go see shows.To find the style of comedy that suits you the most—improv, stand-up, sketch, or a combination—you first have to see the varying types and styles. Fortunately for you, Dallas Comedy House (DCH) has all three types on rotation from Tuesday through Saturday each week. Check out the DCH monthly calendar to find something you'd like to see.
Bonus: Free shows happen weekly, too! Check out the free King of the Mountain show on Wednesday nights and the free Improv Playground on Thursday nights.
2) Go to a free Jam or Open Mic.Now that you've seen a few shows, you're probably thinking, "Hey! I can do that! That looks easy and oh-so fun!" Well give it a go at a Tuesday night Jam. Improv Jams are come as you are, do as you do. They require no sign up and everyone can participate, from the passerby off the street to the seasoned performer. Open Mics require a bit more forethought: You must sign up by midnight the Sunday before and you must have three-to-five minutes of prepared material. Both are a great way to practice what you've got.
3) Take a free class.What, more free stuff? Yes! (We don't want you to be held back from your dreams.) DCH offers a free improv class on the last Wednesday of each month. You don't have to sign up, and you don't have to know what you're doing. You just have to show up and be willing to have fun.
4) Take more classes and learn to write your own material.After you've narrowed your focus to the style of comedy that you prefer, it's time to get really focused and dedicate yourself to learning the craft. New courses begin monthly, including the upcoming Summer Improv Intensive for adults and Summer Camp for Kids. Classes meet weekly and culminate in a showcase of student work. Internships and scholarships are available to those who qualify. Courses include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
Improv: Learn how to get out of your head, think at the height of your intelligence, to listen, and to trust. Improv is a great way to improve your performance, your relationships, and your life.
Stand-up & Storytelling: Everyone has a story to tell. These classes will help you fine-tune your story in an easy-to-relay format fit for performance. Stand-up classes will help you write and polish a five-to-10 minute set, while storytelling helps you write and perform your personal narrative.
Sketch writing: These courses will show you how to take a character and build a story around them. Courses start with crafting for the stage and then, ultimately, for the screen. Prerequisites are required for all classes.
5) Perform, perform, perform! Each course culminates in a performance of some kind. These performances are gentle introductions in a safe environment to being on stage and putting your material out there. Take advantage of these opportunities to challenge yourself to be bolder each time you step out. Beyond the class showcases, DCH also offers several other opportunities to perform, from submitting a show to auditioning for King of the Mountain or being in an Ewing Troupe (DCH's own improv method).
There are plenty of ways to hone your comedy skills, in and outside of the classroom. The very first step for all of them: Just show up.
(Top photo credit: David Allison. Bottom photo credit: Ryan Robins)
Tagged: comedians, comedy, comedy classes, Comedy shows dallas, community, Dallas, dallas comedy, dallas comedy classes, dallas comedy clubs, Dallas Comedy House, Deep Ellum, fun things to do in dallas, funny, humor, improv, improv classes dallas, improvisation, Shashana Pearson-Hormillosa, sketch, stand-up, storytelling
Jamé McCraw
"The Wit of Serafinowicz" by Jamé McCraw
English actor and writer Peter Serafinowicz might be most recognized from films and guest appearances on British TV for almost 20 years. An emphasis is nearly always placed on his character's height, physical features, and vocal traits. He is an irritable roommate in Sean of the Dead and Tim's ex-girlfriend's new beau, who the protagonist just can't quite measure up to, in Spaced.
In 2002, he and his writing partner, Robert Popper, created the satire series Look Around You, which was lovingly styled as an homage to schoolroom educational videos of the late 1970s and early 1980s. A seven-episode sketch series called The Peter Serafinowicz Show aired in 2007 showcasing the actor's adept impersonations and absurdist characters in a carefully curated realm of commercially recognizable parodies. He was recently cast in a reboot of Ben Edlund's series, The Tick.
Sassy Trump videos, a pet project of Serafinowicz, have been trending since last summer. The president's exact words are repeated verbatim in an effeminate snarl that is dubbed over originally televised footage. He has been making and editing short video projects for years.
What follows is a list of my favorite bits of comedy, but I recommend further exploration.
Brian Butterfield Karaoke Bar Brian Butterfield is a portly, bumbling man who always manages to promote one failure or another. I like this for the sheer joy of seeing this character harmonize with himself while singing ABBA and Queen.
Basil Fawlty Impersonator Chat A late-nite chat service where you can be berated by a wound-up misanthrope without reservations.
Who Would Like To Win £100 This black-and-white WWII-era game show parody is slowly paced. Perry Rogers croons about suicide while the contestant "telegrams a friend" for help. The show is cut short by an air-raid.
Buy It Channel A QVC parody where the hosts (Serafinowicz and Catherine Sheppard) face unusual difficulties and are brutally honest about the quality of their products. In one instance, they go so far as to suggest the Sapharina ring, which costs much less to produce than they are selling it for, and resembles "a discarded boiled sweet in a nest of broken glass."
Paul McCartney "I'll Kill" Peter Serafinowicz has several sketches where he takes on the role of each of The Beatles and does song parodies, as well. In this morbid re-imagining of "I Will" Paul offers to murder for his new love admitting to her, "Although I'll be in prison, I'll be thinking of your kissing."
Acting Masterclass with Michael Caine Did you know that sausages look like cigars on camera and vice versa? The Acting Masterclass series of videos feature lessons from Kevin Spacey, Ralph Fiennes, and Al Pacino, as well.
Markets of Britain A marketplace where you can buy discarded weapons from an old murderer and giant pencils.
Jamé McCraw is a current student at DCH and performs with Watermelon. She enjoys watching squirrels through the windows of her little old house while holding hands with her cat, Stanley.
Tagged: comedians, comedy, comedy classes, Comedy shows dallas, community, Dallas, dallas comedy, dallas comedy classes, dallas comedy clubs, Dallas Comedy House, Deep Ellum, fun things to do in dallas, funny, humor, improv, improv classes dallas, improvisation, Jamé McCraw, Peter Serafinowicz, sketch, video
Shawn Mayer
"DCH Snapshots Presents: 2017 Dallas Comedy Festival" by Shawn Mayer
DCH Snapshots DCF 2017
DCH Snapshots is a webcomic where Shawn Mayer watches improv shows and then draws what he remembers. Please click the images to enlarge them.
Shawn Mayer is a DCH graduate who performs with the troupes Wiki Tiki Tabby and Sunglow. He plays euphonium in a polka band, is an avid lover of Patrick McGoohan, and avoids social interaction by pretending to read notifications on his phone.
Tagged: comedians, comedy, comedy classes, Comedy shows dallas, comic, community, Dallas, dallas comedy, dallas comedy classes, dallas comedy clubs, Dallas Comedy Festival, Dallas Comedy House, Deep Ellum, fun things to do in dallas, funny, humor, improv, improv classes dallas, improvisation, Shawn Mayer, sketch, stand-up
Ghost Watcher
DCF2017: How to Prepare for the Dallas Comedy Festival
It's Go Time! Dallas Comedy Festival 2017 is here. For those who have attended in the past, you know what this means: Jello shots, comedy from around the country, long-lost friends reconnect, every form of comedy known to man, and did I mention Jello shots!?!? For those who have never attended before and are thinking, "Wow, this looks incredible, where do I start?," here are some tips to get you ready for #2017DCF
Make a plan. Improv comedy is always made up on the spot. At least that is what they tell me at the beginning of each show. But you will need a plan for what shows you are going to see this week. Grab a schedule and map out your week. Nerds rule at this type of festival. If you bring a highlighter and a loose leaf notebook, you will receive head nods and looks of admiration from fellow festival goers.
Always go support out-of-town performers. They drove to Dallas, or took a bus, or maybe a boat to get to the festival to show you their funny. Let them know we appreciate their effort and show them that Texans are known for three things – Hospitality, BBQ, and big cowboy hats. (Note to self: Open up a Texas BBQ place that strives to have the best hospitality and serves all of its food in plates shaped like cowboy hats. Big cowboy hats. If anyone steals that idea, please credit the Ghost Watcher.)
Add some variety to your night. One of the great things about the DCF is that it will showcase improv, stand-up, song, Shakespeare, and sketch comedy. To make any night complete, make sure and check out one of each. It is like eating the perfect meal with apps, main course, and desserts, but in a mix-and-match order. You will not be disappointed.
Three stages! You may be saying to yourself "What!?!? Three Stages?!?! How in the hell does that work? I thought there were only two stages." The amazing crew at the Dallas Comedy House has built a new stage in the Training Center just to the west of the main entrance. It is not a secret entrance that requires a handshake with a wink-wink, tip the doorman type of Dallas thing. It is a regular, welcome to the funny, entrance. Did I mention it has a bar? Well, it does. I have heard from good authority that it will be serving the coldest beer in the history of the training center bar.
This is a special week, always one of my favorites. A week to just let loose and have fun. Enjoy the 2017 Dallas Comedy Festival and make sure you buy Jello shots for everyone. Even me.
Ghost Watcher is a regular, DCH audience member.
(Photo: Jason Hensel)
Tagged: comedians, comedy, comedy classes, Comedy shows dallas, community, Dallas, dallas comedy, dallas comedy classes, dallas comedy clubs, Dallas Comedy Festival, Dallas Comedy House, Deep Ellum, fun things to do in dallas, funny, humor, improv, improv classes dallas, improvisation, sketch, stand-up

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Category: collections management
Out and about or Hub contributor training
August 17, 2011 / Lisa
Every year we provide our contributors and potential contributors with free training on how to use our EAD editor software.
The days are great fun and we really enjoy the chance to meet archivists from around the UK and find out what they are working on.
The EAD editor has been developed so that archivists can create online descriptions of their collections without having to know EAD. It's intuitive and user friendly and allows contributors to easily add collection level and multi-level descriptions to the Hub. Users can also enhance their descriptions by adding digital archival objects – images, documents and sound files.
Our training days are a mixture of presentation, demonstration and practical hands on. We (The training team consists of Jane, Beth and myself) tend to start by talking a little about Hub news and developments to set the scene for the day and then we move onto why the Hub uses EAD and why using standards is important for interoperability and means that more 'stuff' can be done with the data. We go from here on to a hands-on session that demonstrates how to create a basic record. We cover also cover adding lower level components and images and we show contributors how to add index terms to their descriptions. (Something that we heartily endorse! We LOVE standards and indexing!).
We always like to tailor our training to the users, and encourage users to bring along their own descriptions for the hands-on sessions. Some users manage to submit their first descriptions to the Hub by the end of the training session!
This year we have done training in Manchester and London, for the Lifeshare project team in Sheffield and for the Oxford colleges. We are also hoping (if we get enough take up) to run courses in Glasgow and Cardiff this year. (6th Sept at Glasgow Caledonian, Cardiff date TBC. Email archiveshub@mimas.ac.uk to book a place)
So far this year three new contributors have joined the Hub as a result of training: Middle East Centre Archive, St Antony's College, Oxford; Salford City Archive and the Taylor Institute, Oxford. We've also enabled four of our existing contributors to start updating their collections on the Hub: National Fairground Archive, the Co-operative Archive, St John's College, Oxford and the V&A.
We have been given some great feedback this year and 100% of our attendees agreed/strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the content and teaching style of the course.
Some our feedback:
A very good introductory session to working with the EAD editor for the Archives Hub. I have not used the Archives Hub for a long time so an excellent refresher course.
This was a fantastic workshop – excellently designed resources, Lisa and Jane were really helpful (and patient!). The hands-on aspect was really useful: I now feel quite confident about creating EAD records for the Hub, and even more confident that the Hub team are on hand with online help
The hands on experience and being able to ask questions of the course leaders as things happened was really useful. Being able to work on something relevant to me was also a bonus.
Excellent presentation and delivery. I came along with a theoretical but not a practical knowledge of the Archives Hub and its workings, and the training session was pitched perfectly and was completely relevant to my job. Many thanks.
The Hub team train archivists how to use the EAD editor, archive students about EAD and Social media and research students in how to use the Hub to search for primary source materials. You can find our list of training that we provide on our training pages: http://archiveshub.ac.uk/trainingmodules/ . We're always happy to hear from people who are interested in training – do let us know!
Arrive in Wonder, Leave in Wisdom!
June 9, 2011 / Jane Stevenson
Roll Up Roll Up for Open Cuture!
I arrived at the Open Culture conference just in time to grab a cup of tea and dash along to hear Malcolm Howitt's talk on Axiell. He focussed on Axiell Arena,
software, a new content management option. It provides for a more interactive experience, complete with tag cloud and the ability to add comments. It looked pretty good, very much in line with where things are going in terms of these kinds of websites. However, from our point of view as an aggregator what we are keen to see is an API to the data to enable others to engage with it more flexibly, something that has yet to happen on CALM. Maybe this raises the whole issue of the challenge of open data to commercial suppliers – it does rather appear to threaten their business model, and I can see that this would be of concern to them.
The second presentation I saw was from Deep Visuals on ViziQuest, 'a new way to explore digital collections'. They used natural language processing to extract the concepts from the text. So the system uses existing metadata in order to enable semantic browsing. The idea is to provide a different kind of search experience, where the user can meander through a collection of images. You can flip over image to find metadata about the image, which is quite neat.
Deep Visuals have worked with the Scott Poloar Research Institute, one of the Hub contributors, and there are some wonderful images of expeditions. For some images, the archivist has recorded an audio and there are also some film clips – I saw a great clip on board a ship bound for the arctic. Currently the software is only available for users within the institute, but it may be made available through the website. You can see a small demo here: http://www.deepvisuals.com/Demo/. In addition, ViziQuest have taken some expedition diaries and recorded some audio with actors.
The morning was rounded off with a talk about Culture Grid. The importance of Culture Grid being part of national and international initiatives was emphasised, and there was reference to RDTF (now UKDiscovery) and the whole HE agenda, which was good to hear.
Currently Culture Grid contains about 1.65 million item records, mostly referring to images. There are also about 10,000 collection records and 8,000 institution records. We were told that 'Cuture Grid site and search is not a destination in itself.' This slightly surprised me, as I did think that this was one of its purposes, albeit only one and maybe not the primary one.
I was impressed by the way Culture Grid is positioning itself as a means to facilitate the use of data by others. Culture Grid has APIs and we were told that a growing range of users do take advantage of this. They are also getting very involved in developer days as a means to encourage innovation. I think this is something archives should engage with, otherwise we will get left behind in the innovative exploration of how to make the most of our data.
Whilst I am very much in agreement with the aims of opening up data, I am not entirely convinced by the Culture Grid website. It does appear to prioritise digital materials – it works much better where there are images. The links back to resources often don't work. I did a search for 'victorian theatre' and first of all the default search was 'images only', excluding 'collections' and non-images based materials. Then, two of the first four links to resources I clicked on got an internal server error. I found at least six links that didn't work on the first two pages of results. Obviously this is not Culture Grid's fault, but it is certainly a problem. I also wonder about how intuitive it is, with resource links going to so many different types of websites, and at so many different levels of granularity. Quite often you don't go straight to the resource: one of the links I clicked on from an item went to the Coventry Council homepage, another went to the 'how do I?' page of the University of Hull. I asked about the broken links and didn't feel that the reply was entirely convincing – I think it should be addressed more comprehensively. I think if the Hub was to contribute descriptions to Culture Grid one of my main concerns would be around updating descriptions. I'm also not sure about the need to create additional metadata. I can't quite get the reasoning behind the Culture Grid metadata, and the way that the link on the title goes to the 'resource' (the website of the contributor), but the 'view details' link goes to the Culture Grid metadata, which generally provides a cut down version of the description.
The afternoon was dedicated to Spectrum, something I know only a little about other than that it is widely used as a framework by museums in their collections care. Spectrum is, we were told, used in about 7,000 institutions across Europe. Nick Poole, the CEO of the Collections Trust, emphasised that Spectrum should be a collaborative venture, so everyone needs to engage in it. Yet maybe it has become so embedded that people don't think about it enough. The new Spectrum 4 is seen as providing an opportunity to re-engage the community.
There was an interesting take on Spectrum by the first speaker as a means to actually put people off starting museums…but he was making the important point that a standard can show people what is involved – and that it is a non-trivial task to look after museum collections. I got the impression that Spectrum has been a way to get curators on board with the idea of standards and pulling together to work more professionally and consistently.
Alex Dawson spoke about the latest edition of Spectrum in her capacity as one of the co-editors. Spectrum is a consensus about collections management procedures, about consistency, accountability and a common vocabulary. It is not supposed to be prescriptive; it is the 'what' more than the 'how'. It has 21 procedures describing collections management activities, of which 8 are considered primary. We were told that the link to accreditation was very important in the history of spectrum, and other milestones have included the introduction of rights management procedures, establishing a clear link between procedures and policy and greater recognition of the importance of the knowledge held within museums (through Spectrum Knowledge).
There has been an acknowledgement that Spectrum started to become more cumbersome and information could get buried within this very large entity, it was also starting to get out of date in certain areas. I can see how Spectrum 4.0 is an improvement on this because it contains clear flow diagrams that bring out the processes much more obviously and shows related procedures. It also separates out the procedural and information requirements. The advisory content has been stripped out (and put into online Spectrum Advice) in order to concentrate on procedural steps through flow diagrams.
The consultation on Spectrum 4 was opened up via a wiki: http://standards.collectionslink.org.uk/index.php/Collections_Link_Standards_wiki
The main day of the conference included some really great talks. Bill Thompson from the BBC was one highlight. He talked about 'A Killer App for Culture', starting with musings on the meaning of 'culture'. He talked about digital minds in this generation, which may change the answers that we come up with and may change the meaning of words. Shifting word sense can present us with challenges when we are in the business of data and information. He made the point convincingly that the world is NOT digital, as we often state; it is reassuringly still organic. But digital DATA is everywhere. It is an age in which we experience a digital culture, and maybe the ways that we do this are actually having an effect on the way that we think. Bill cited the book 'Proust and the Squid' by Maryanne Wolf which I would also throroughly recommend. Wolf looks at the way that learning to read impacts on the ways that we think.
Matthew Cock from the British Museum and Andrew Caspari from the BBC presented on A History of the World in 100 Objects. We were told how this initiative gradually increased in scale to become enjoyed by millions of people across the world. It was a very collaborative venture between the BBC and British Museum. There were over 2.5 million visits to the site, often around 40,000 in a week when the programme was not on air. It was interesting to hear that the mobile presence was seen as secondary at the time, but probably should have been prioritised more. 'Permanent availability portable and for free' was absolutely key said Andrew Caspari.
It was an initiative that really brought museums together – maybe not surprising with such a high profile initiative. The project was about sharing and a different kind of partnership defined by mutual benefit, and most importantly, it was about closing the gap between public engagement and collection research. It obviously really touched people's imaginations and they felt a sense of being part of something. It does seem like a very successful combination of good fun, entertainment and learning. However, we were told that there were issues. Maybe the digital capacity of museums was overestimated and longer lead in times were required than the BBC provided. Also, the upload to the site needed to be simpler.
Cock and Caspari referred to the way the idea spread, with things like 'A history of the world in 100 sheds'. Should you be worried that this might trivialize the process, or should you be pleased that it caught on, stirred imaginations and controversy and debate?
David Fleming of National Museums Liverpool followed with an equally absorbing talk about museums and human rights. He said museums should be more aware that they are constructs of the society they are in. They should mirror society. They should give up on the idea of being neutral and engage in issues. He is involved in the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool, and this is a campaigning museum. Should others follow suit? It makes museums an active part of society – both historical and contemporary. Fleming felt that a visit to the museum should stir people and make them want to get involved.
He gave a number of examples of museums where human rights are at the heart of the matter, including:
District Six in South Africa: http://www.districtsix.co.za – very much a campaigning museum that does not talk about collections so much as stories and lives, using emotion to engage people.
The Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide Victims in Cambodia, a building that was once Pol Pot's secret prison. The photographs on this site are hugely affecting and harrowing. Just seemingly ordinary portrait shots of prisoners, but with an extraordinary power to them.
The Lithuanian Museum of Genocide Victims . This is a museum where visitors can get a very realistic experience of what it was like to live under the Soviet regime. Apparently this experience, using actors as Soviet guards, has led to some visitors passing out, but the older generation are passionate to ensure that their children understand what it was like at this time.
We moved on to a panel session on Hacking in Arts & Culture was of particular interest to me. Linda Ellis from Black Country Museums gave a very positive assessment of how the experience of a hack day had been for them. She referred to the value of nurturing new relationships with developers, and took us through some of the ideas that were created. You can read a bit more about this and about putting on a hack day on Dan Slee's blog: https://danslee.wordpress.com/tag/black-country-museums/
What we need now is a Culture Hack day that focuses on archival data – this may be more challenging because the focus is text not images, but it could give us some great new perspectives on our data. According to Rachel Coldicutt, a digital consultant, we need beanbags, beer, pizza, good spirit and maybe a few prizes to hand out….. Doesn't seem too hard. ….oh, and some developers of course :-)
Some final thoughts around a project at the New Walsall Art Gallery: Neil Lebeter told us that the idea was to make the voice of the artist key. In this case, Bob and Roberta Smith. The project centered around the Jacob Epstein archive and found ways to bring the archive alive through art – you can see some interesting video clips about this process on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/newartgallerywalsall.
I found Open Culture was billed as a conference meeting the needs of museums, libraries and archives, but I do think it was essentially a museums conference with a nod to archives and maybe a slight nod to libraries. This is not to criticise the conference, which was very well presented, and there really were some great speakers, but maybe it points to the challenges of bringing together the three domains? In the end, they are different domains with different needs and interests as well as areas of mutual interest. Clearly there is overlap, and there absolutely should be collaboration, but maybe there should also be an acknowledgement that we are also different communities, and we have some differing requirements and perspectives.
All for one and one for all: the management of cultural collections
Collections Management: A Practical Guide, by the Collections Trust
PAS 197 has recently been published as a new standard, sponsored by the Collections Trust and developed by the BSI. At this week's meeting of the Archives and Records Association' Data Standards Group we heard more about the involvement of archivists in the development of the standard. This came about originally following a talk at the DSG by Nick Poole of the Collections Trust; there was a feeling that it was important to ensure the standard met the requirements of archives as well as museums and libraries. Susan Snell (Archivist at the Library of Freemasonry) and Teresa Doherty (Collections Manager at The Women's Library) put themselves forward to work on a standard for collections management that would be truly cross-domain, and look to fulfill the MLA ideal of one standard for all three sectors.
Essentially, what we needed was a standard that said what we do with materials in our care. The Collections Trust approached the British Standards Institute (BSI) to develop a publicly available specification (PAS) that would provide a broad overview of how heritage collections should be managed. Susan and Teresa only became involved after a number of meetings, but from the presentation that they gave, we were in no doubt that they made their voices heard very successfully. Dr Norman James ( TNA) and Christopher Marsend (V&A) was also there representing our profession.
PAS 197 sets out clearly how you manage an archive and how and why archives are different from other collections. It gives a broad overview of how the collections should be managed and lists the key standards. Susan and Teresa explained to us the way that the different contexts within which we work can create barriers. For example, the museum fraternity talk about 'objects', which is not appropriate for archives ('item' was used instead in PAS 197, as the best compromise). There was a danger that the standard would not lead to cross-sectoral compatibility if these issues were not addressed, but it needed to be a consensus document.
Teresa emphasised that PAS 197 is not aimed at the average archivist or curator or librarian; it is aimed at senior managers, or at helping us to deal more effectively with senior managers, funders and other similar stakeholders. It codifies our best practice for our boards and financial advisers. It sets out what needs to be resourced.
Teresa pointed out a diagram within the standard that summarises the four main areas of work:
i) Developing collections – acquisitions and disposals
ii) Information procedures – catalogues, indeces, survey lists, accessions registers, etc.
iii) Access
iv) Care and conservation
This may seem straightforward to us, but it needs to be spelt out. We should have policies, procedures and documentation for these areas, and resources directed to each area. Teresa and Susan pointed out that the scale should be suitable for the repository. A very small repository may just need one document with four paragraphs addressing each area of collections management. Also, it is a generic model, so it can apply to cross-domain collections. The four areas map to what is required for accredication for musuems and TNA self-assessment. The area that is not addressed in PAS is governance, which is also part of accreditation. This is addressed by other BSI standards.
Susan took us through a diagram that sets out processing collections and clarifies terminology – pre-accession, accession, appraisal, cataloguing, deaccessioning/disposal. So, for example, accession in archives is the same as acquisition in the museum and library world, and appraisal only happens in the archival world.
Susan and Teresa felt that working with the BSI was very productive. They were very professional and gave a neutral perspective, looking to ensure a balanced approach so that all voices were heard. They also told us that we should be pleased with ourselves as a profession, as we lead the way in terms of the development of useful standards to help us do our work more effectively – see the appendix of the standard for proof of this!
We were informed that there is a move for archives to get accreditaion by 2012, to take over the TNA self-assessment scheme. There may be issues around scalability here, but hopefully, if the accredication procedure is guided by PAS 197, it will be achievable for very small collections. Cross-domain accreditation may encourage institutions that are primarily museums or libraries to ensure that their archives are well cared for, catalogued to the appropriate standards and accessible for use.
The Collections Trust have now produced Collections Management: a practical guide (by Susanna Hillhouse, priced at £29.99).
If you are interested in getting a copy of PAS 197, being a BSI standard, it is a little expensive, at about £56. But, it sounds like it may be well worth having. Thumbs up to Susan and Teresa for helping to ensure that this key standard is relevant for archives as well as museums and libraries.


We have a special challenge for you this week!
I decided to use both the sketch and the inspiration photo.
I'm a huge fan of neutrals paired with gold and the pop of green in the inspiration photo is just striking, so I knew I had to pull those things into my design. What do you think of the Mojito flower embossed with gold? Different, but I think I love it. That's the great thing about stamping, you can be creative and try things that you wouldn't normally see in nature. I dressed up my card with the fabulous Pretty Pink Posh sequins in Metallic Gold and a touch of Brown Twine.
Make sure you check out the CAS(E) this sketch! blog to see how the rest of the team was inspired!!! Then head to Fusion and see what their amazing team did with the challenge.
Of course I'm loving those tags!!! Really pretty card Maureen!!!
Oh, this is so pretty, Maureen! Perfect take on the inspiration photo & the sketch!
Maureen what a beautiful take on the inspiration!
Really stunning card, Maureen! I love that you chose Mojito on your flower...it looks so pretty with gold, and your tags are just beautiful! Loving your chevron background, too!
Love your off-set tags ... such a gorgeous Fusion Design.
Super beautiful card! I can clearly see the inspiration from the photo on your card, so good!
Well, I think a mojito flower embossed in gold is absolutely fabulous! I would never have thought to use that combination, but it is absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful beautiful card!
I love that you pulled in the bit of green. It really sets off this card. GORGEOUS!
that touch of color is perfect on this card and I am loving all the texture! Thanks for playing at Fusion!
Oh adore this Maureen, super pretty!!


Tagaris Winery and Taverna Tagris: The perfect pairing of fine Washington wine and Mediterranean cuisine in Richland, Washington, the heart of Washington's wine country.
looking the Patio Kouzina and 33-foot fountain. The Estate Room exudes a comfortable-fine dining atmosphere making it the ideal location to host your next private event. Adjacent to our covered patio The Areté Room boasts brilliant style and elegance to wow up your guests on any occasion.
Please check with us to inquire about extended hours.


Mancine Summer Tan leaves your skin looking very natural. No orange streaks, not a strong smell. Tinted lotion so you can see your application immediately.
Mancine Summer tan self tanning mousse bronzer is the healthiest way to develop a natural looking tan without exposing your skin to the harmful sun.
Mancine Summer Tan is Australia's leading retail tinted formula tans.
Mancine pre- tanning body polish is packed with walnut shell, lemon, lime, cedarwood and geranium.
Mancine Summer Tan remover has a refreshing citrus scent.


In Leesburg, GA, auto loans have become harder to get. We place your application with loan providers who can grant car loans to consumers in Leesburg, GA. Applying for your Georgia car loan is a breeze, and often, there is zero down payment required.
The vast majority of auto loan providers require that you make no less than $1500 income per month, and your total monthly debt, inclusive of your car loan, should not surpass 50% of your income. In Leesburg, Georgia, this equates to $1,921, on average.
Opt for Buy Here Pay Here Loans.
For your average Leesburg car owner, this means $691-$768 monthly. Spending more than 18-20% will endanger your financial future. Getting a car loan for a used car is preferable, at least typically. New cars and trucks drop in value too soon to be a smart investment.
It is essential to plan the right way for your car loan in Leesburg, GA. After all, you wouldn't want to decrease your credit score even more. So please do not devote over 15% of your income monthly toward paying back your bad credit car loan.
$192: 5% for fuel, routine maintenance, etc.
Besides that, it's best to provide a significant down payment if you can. Sure, we can help you track down Georgia car financing with no down payment, but such loans come with a greater risk of becoming upside down.
Although a bankruptcy stays on your credit file for seven years, a good number of lenders will grant car loans after just 24 months. Bad credit car loans can be a fantastic way to improve your credit history if you've filed for bankruptcy.
In Leesburg, GA, buy here pay here financing has become a whole lot more widespread.
You'll find that at buy here pay here dealerships, referred to as no credit check or in house financing dealerships, the dealership won't count on 3rd party finance companies to provide car loans. To paraphrase, these establishments offer in house financing automobile financing to Georgia residents who have poor credit.
You need to explore any GA buy here pay here car lot online. You'll want to track down somebody who has obtained a car or truck from them before. Find out whether or not they had a good experience.


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The Good, Bad and Ugly of WSU's win at Cal
Nice to celebrate an FBS win!
By PJ Kendall@Deathby105 Oct 3, 2021, 8:41am PDT
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Good morning from sunny Newport News, Virginia! And a fine morning it is, as we're able to write about how the Washington State Cougars took a lead and never gave it back. Even better that it took place on the road against a California Golden Bears team that has seemingly toyed with the psyche of WSU fans for several years now. There always seems to be weird stuff that happens - usually at WSU's expense - when these two teams get together, but the tables were turned a bit on Saturday.
Truth be told, for all the crap that seems to happen when the Cougs face the Bears, the last eight games in the series are even at 4-4. Yes, I'm well aware that it could easily be 6-2 in favor of our Cougars. But whatever, WSU is 1-0 against Cal in 2021, and that is what we shall concentrate on here. And why not? It's our first chance to talk about a win over an FBS team. Let's get to it.
I'd really like to start with the defense here, but there was a catch on Saturday that you only see five or so times in your life, so we're leading with Calvin Jackson, Jr.
Yes he did! Calvin Jackson Jr. with the 1-handed grab!
Pac-12 Networks | #Pac12FB
https://t.co/xgaiEYgt5A#GoCougs | @PrimetimeCeej | #SCTop10 https://t.co/mi21Rxlq9I pic.twitter.com/CBOJG3VPh6
— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) October 2, 2021
A couple things here - First, the ref isn't even looking at Jackson's feet. Now, I'm no official, but it seems to me that watching to see whether the foot is in bounds would come before determining whether the player maintained control of the ball. Second, the vitality of that play is increased when you realize that it took place on third down. If Jackson doesn't come down with that, WSU is probably looking at three points instead of seven, which would have made for a lot more stress later in the game.
Ok, now to that salty defense. Things looked a tad dicey after Cal took its first possession 79 yards on only seven plays, mashing through WSU's defense along the way. Over the game's final 52 minutes, the Cal offense would gain 194 total yards, and average a measly 3.4 yards-per-play. Now I know Cal isn't exactly the 2017 Oklahoma Sooners on offense, but it's damn impressive to hold a conference opponent to that paltry number.
For some decent context, as bad as some Cal offenses have been over the past seasons, the Bears hadn't scored fewer than seven points in a game since 1997, until Saturday.
No second half el foldo! The Cougs went into halftime with a lead, and even though there were a couple tense moments, the game was never really in serious doubt after WSU went up 21-6. That, friends, is a welcome change.
Key among the reasons why Cal never seriously threatened came on two Bears possessions that spanned the third and fourth quarters, when WSU stopped them on downs twice in a row. Both of those fourth down stops were actually the result of what happened on third down. On the first one, Cal had 3rd-and-1 at the WSU 26, and ran a sweep that Caleb Ford-Dement blew up, causing 4th-and-3. Garbers threw incomplete and WSU had escaped. After a quick WSU three-and-out, Cal again drove deep into WSU territory and looked poised to cut into the lead. On 3rd-and-3 from the WSU four yard line, Armani Marsh beat his blocker inside and cut down Chris Street to force 4th-and-6. Once again, this forced Garbers into an uncomfortable situation on fourth down, and WSU had another stop. Just incredible play-making on both third and fourth down.
In an early sign that all the BS in this series could turn toward the Cougs for once, there was the botched snap on Cal's PAT to get things rolling, followed by the bizarre punt sequence that was equal parts amazing and horrifying. First, Nick Haberer - bro, wtf are you even doing? I don't know how things work in Australia, but running toward a huge defender and then kicking the ball straight into him won't get you very far in American football. BUT WAIT - Ron Stone was there to save the day! Since the ball was behind the line of scrimmage, Stone picked it up and was able to advance it past the first down marker. You know defenders just love getting a chance to carry the ball. And credit where it's due to Haberer, who TOTALLY REDEEMED HIMSELF by getting in the way of the Cal defender just enough to give Stone a lane toward the marker.
I wouldn't recommend that we keep that no-look shovel pass in the arsenal, but it sure was cool when it worked!
Huge plays by Ron Stone and Travion Brown on Cal's last serious threat. First Stone sacked Garbers on 2nd-and-5, then Brown knocked down a screen pass on which WSU sent about seven rushers. That play was going to go for several yards, and probably a score, if Brown doesn't make that play.
Also on the defense, Brennan Jackson has been removed from the milk carton! The big defensive end picked up two sacks, including one on which he absolutely embarrassed the poor Cal tackle.
Brennan Jackson Jr. starts the 2nd half with his 2nd sack of the day!
https://t.co/xgaiEYgt5A#GoCougs | #Pac12FB | @BrennanJ88 https://t.co/cMtHoLIL57 pic.twitter.com/vpbWwWKSbS
That man had a family, Brennan!
Max Borghi had a bit of a star-crossed day, and seems really tentative at times, but there were a few flashes of his old self when he was embarrassing defenders with the stiff arm and truck stick.
Man, when de Laura is playing within the offense and taking what's there, he looks unstoppable.
His legs are so important, too, such as that 15-yard scramble on 3rd-and-5 that set up WSU's final touchdown.
One more on the defense - While the Cougs converted 8/17 third and fourth down tries, Cal was 4/20. Seemed like every time you looked, WSU was getting a stop on those crucial downs. More of that, please!
Special thanks to United Airlines, who got me from Frankfurt to Norfolk on time so I could hustle to the hotel and tune in just as the Cougs were scoring their first touchdown.
Newark Airport. Everything about it.
Chase Garbers is bad. Not as bad as the Newark Airport but also not far off. It was pretty surprising how a guy with his experience was so skittish when he sensed the slightest bit of pressure.
de Laura was good at times, but he has to work on the deep throws, He had Jackson for an easy touchdown on an out-and-up in the third quarter and brutally underthrew it. And it would be great if he didn't try and take so many low-percentage kill shots when there are open receivers underneath.
Let's never run that play fake/slant pass ever again. It's incredibly risky and became an INT.
Speaking of INTs, de Laura made a very poor decision with WSU driving in the second quarter, and got picked. That's bad enough, but then the play-by-play guy goes, "well that's as good as a punt." Except that IT WAS SECOND DOWN
Then, when JdL finally put a long pass on a receiver, Stribling dropped another sure touchdown. Thank god my hair is short or it would have been forcefully extracted.
Forgetting what down it was seemed to be a chronic issue with the announcers and officials. If only the announcers had some sort of visual display(s) that provided such information.
4.4 YPP / 5.2 YPA will not win the Cougars many games, and seven points in the second half will also not win the Cougars many games.
Cammon Cooper was inserted yet again to run a quarterback draw when WSU was trying to kill the clock. WHY?! How 'bout just handing it to a running back? Or take a knee? It was clear that Wilcox (for some stupid reason) wasn't going to stop the clock, so what was the point?
Speaking of Wilcox, how come he doesn't have one of those one-legged scooters to get up and down the sideline? Or maybe he could borrow Derek Dooley's stool?
As well as the defense played, there's no excuse for letting the quarterback scramble for 16 yards on 3rd-and-15. Just can't happen.
After seeing all those Coug fans baking in the sun Saturday, we fear that there may be an aloe vera shortage in the Bay Area this morning.
That stupid tunnel that goes through the water between Norfolk and Hampton is the worst. No matter what time you're trying to use it, the damn thing is backed up. Kill it with fire (which may be difficult since it sits in the water, but still)
That's about it! Let's bask in the win! Go Cougs!
This time, fortune favors the Cougars: Washington State handles Cal for first win at Berkeley since 2013 | The Spokesman-Review
Washington State put a stop to a recent trend of misfortune at Memorial Stadium with a 21-6 drubbing of Cal, and anyone watching Saturday's Pac-12 game could probably sense the Cougars' turn of luck during a pivotal first-quarter sequence.
Smothering Washington State defense posts three shutout quarters in 21-6 victory over California | The Spokesman-Review
WSU's defense was prone to the occasional breakdown, but there was no letdown from Jake Dickert's unit as the Cougars held California scoreless through the final three quarters of a 21-6 victory at Berkeley's Memorial Coliseum.
Difference makers: Calvin Jackson Jr.'s big afternoon leads Washington State over California | The Spokesman-Review
The junior edge rusher had what was likely his finest day in crimson and gray, recording two sacks and deflecting a third-down pass at the line of scrimmage midway through the second quarter.
Cal Football Outclassed by Washington State, Loses 6-21 - by Rick Chen - Write For California
California's sole score came on the home team's first possession. Senior running back Christopher Brooks beat two Cougar defenders for an 11-yard rushing touchdown.
Insta-Recap & Rate the Game: Bears drop a stinker to Wazzu, 6-21 - by Rob Hwang - Write For California
The Bears went down early in the first quarter 6-14. Including a muffed snap on an extra point and blocking a punt by Wazzu, that would be recovered and rushed for the 1st down.
De Laura's return sparks Washington State past Cal 21-6
Jayden de Laura passed for three touchdowns, two to Calvin Jackson Jr. who made a spectacular one-handed grab near the corner of the end zone, and Washington State beat California 21-6 on Saturday.
Pac-12 recap: ASU rises, Oregon falls as chaos rules the weekend
The Hotline never envisioned needing to write the following sentence at this stage of the season, but it's wholly appropriate: The Huskies are in danger of missing the postseason.
This Week in Parenting
Not a whole lot to share since I got home Tuesday and left again on Saturday, so we'll catch y'all up on the adventures of Comino the Cat. She is something else, man. From tightroping rails, to killing and eating flies, to nearly breaking every piece of glass in our house, little Comino is good for a few laughs a day.
As we know, cats love to climb, and she's no different. Still, it was a surprise to walk in to the bedroom and see her walking along the top of our door. My flight suits hang on the back side of the door, and she climbs up them to reach the observation point.
Once she has conducted the appropriate amount of battlefield reconnaissance, it's time to find a hide site and await the nonexistent prey. In her case, that means she must roll up a bathroom mat in order to camouflage herself from the any unsuspecting (and still nonexistent) targets that pass by.
If the hunt is unsuccessful, she goes looking for even bigger fish. In her case, that means trying to take down the ceiling fan rescue helicopter that is coming in to extract her targets from the battlefield. This calls for a full frontal assault in which she leaps from the bed to try and snag the pull chain fast rope that her enemies use to get into the chopper.
The war continues unabated.
If you're interested at all in the Afghanistan debacle, I urge you to listen to this podcast. I thought it was tremendous.
A Conversation With an Afghan General - The New York Times
From the moment Afghanistan's government fell, the U.S. has put much of the blame of Afghan security forces — a force that President Biden said gave up without a fight.
Goldman Sachs, Ozy Media and a $40 Million Conference Call Gone Wrong - The New York Times
The digital media company has raised eyebrows for its claims about its audience size for years. Then came the strange voice on the phone.
'Vigilante treatments': Anti-vaccine groups push people to leave ICUs
Anti-vaccine Facebook groups have a new message for their community members: don't go to the emergency room, and get your loved ones out of intensive care.


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Article Guiding Groups
Guided Reading for Proficient Readers?
I was excited when I saw Tracy's name on my "coaching roster." Tracy is an enthusiastic teacher who is well respected in the school district that had contracted me. I...
Shari Frost has enjoyed a rich and varied professional life as an educator. She has served as a classroom teacher, a reading specialist, a staff developer, and an instructor at the university level. Shari has taught kindergarten through fifth grades, and currently assists educators as a professional developer in the Chicago Public Schools. Her latest book is Two Books Are Better Than One.
Guided Reading Run Amok
Shari Frost helps a teacher who has guided reading groups that have run amok, and discovers the real culprit is a lack of time for reading and writing in the literacy block.
Guided Reading in Perspective
Cathy Mere puts guided reading in perspective, explaining how it works as one piece of the puzzle when it comes to fostering a lifelong love of reading in students.
Grouping Strategies for Guided Reading
How can you support the "outliers" in classrooms — students with unique needs or profiles who don't neatly fit into any instructional group? Shari Frost offers some strategies.
Guided Reading with Kindergarten English Language Learners
Max Brand takes two kindergarten English language learners from reading a familiar book to exploring a new text, and explains in the debrief how he targets specific reading skills.
English Language Learners First-Grade Guided Group
Stella Villalba leads a guided reading group of first-grade English language learners, beginning with building vocabulary.
Environmental Group Notes
Katherine Sokolowski meets briefly with a group of fifth-grade girls to go through the notes they are taking for their environmental studies project and talk through next steps.


Animal-loving singer Leona Lewis has put together a shopping guide to help fans interested in buying cruelty-free fashion.
The Bleeding Love hitmaker, a staunch vegetarian and longtime animal rights campaigner, admits she would love to purchase leather shoes and handbags, but she is committed to only buying items made without animals products.
In a post on her blog, Lewis writes, "Yes, it's true I do often drool over the latest Laboutin (sic) collections. How I'd love to run around and catch a glimpse of that red sole on my feet. Oh how I daydreamed of owning an oversized tote a la Mulberry... But I soon snap out of it when I realise that the chemically treated, drummed, stretched, dyed leather in that pretty pink shoe or the slouchy Topshop bag was once part of a beautiful creature that suffered at the hands of humans."
Lewis goes on to list her top tips for finding animal-friendly outfits, including brands and websites selling faux-skin designs, and she also explains the different symbols printed on labels that indicate materials used.


I think I am as most other non-Americans think that the history of African slaves brought to America was something connected with the southern states and not the northern states like New York. But back in the early days of the American colonies all 13 colonies had slavery present to various extents. In fact New York didn't start the abolishment of slavery until 1799 and there was slavery present on Manhattan Island from the early days of the city of New York. The last 10,000 slaves in New York were finally set free on 4 July 1827 without compensation given to the former owners of the slaves.
At the time of the American revolution slaves actually made up a quarter of the population in new York and the city had the second highest number of slaves in any city of the American colonies just behind Charleston in the deep south.
The presence of slaves on the small island presented a special problem – what to do with them after life. There really wasn't any of the wealthy or not so wealthy white population on the island who wanted to spend eternity next to the African slaves and when the Trinity Church took over the administration of the city burial grounds they banned the burial of blacks in the church yards.
So something had to be done – a new burial ground was created designated as the Negros Burial Ground where people of African descent – both slaves and free – could be buried. To be buried in the actual burial ground you had to pay a fee so some people were buried just outside the official burial ground to avoid paying a fee. The first burial took place in 1690s and the area was in use until 1794 and an estimated 10-15,000 people were buried in the area. Not everybody kept the peace of the cemetery – in fact some physicians and medical students dug out bodies from the burial ground during the nights in the 1780s to make dissections of the bodies.
After the last burial in 1794 the city was expanding and the area of the burial ground was designated for city development. The area had been in a small valley so a lot of dirt were transported in and put on top of the burial ground which actually protected the area. After this the burial ground was largely forgotten for 50 years. Then in 1846 when the first department store in America was built on the corner of Champers Street and 280 Broadway several skeletons were found. This didn't really stir an interest when more bones were discovered at Broadway 290 in 1897 it did create a short-lived interest in what kind of bones it was but nothing more were done about it and the place remained forgotten for almost a hundred years.
Finally when the new Ted Weiss building was under construction in the early 1990s actual intact graves were discovered and pressure build on the federal government to actually do something about the burial area. Finally in 1992 George Bush made a slight change to the design of the Ted Weiss building and part of the burial site was protected. Finally in 2006 the next president Bush made the area into a national memorial for the burial ground.
From outside there is a small memorial which you can walk right by on the street if you are in the area. There is a small memorial next to the street and apparently there is also a small visitor center in the Ted Weiss building which I didn't realize when I was there. So I only took a quick look at the memorial which is fairly quick since it is nearly as interesting as the backstory of the monument.
Who is buried in General Grant's Tomb?
Great incite. I suppose it was to do with the port – like my old home, Liverpool, a city built on slavery.
I think it was more than just the port. It seems like they need Manpower in many area so they used slaves in the smaller business as well.
This is so interesting. It's not surprising though that they just didn't show respect to the buried. They still treat African Americans like crap here.
Well I was still a bit surprised they actually went and stole the body of the dead.
African Americans have been so disrespected and dehumanized in this country that it honestly doesn't surprise me that people wouldn't think anything of using their bodies for whatever.
I am not sure the physicians and students at that time bother about the skin colour. I think they just wanted the bodies most easily available for their studies. If it had been of the poor White people they probably would still have stolen those. I guess the bodies at this burial site was just the ones with the easiest access.
Its sickening to think that they dug up the bodies to do their experiments and practice. I am not a descendant of American slaves, my family came from the Caribbean but I still find it a fascinating and sad history.
I wasn't surprised they would let the slave be buried in the white cemetaries inside the city limits. It was what I kind of would expect from this time period. But the fact they actually stole the buried bodies in the middle of the night was very disturbing.
I'm surprised that I'm just now learning about this memorial. The next time I'm up there I'm definitely visiting this spot. The history is so sad. I'm glad that at least there's a memorial for all those people, but of course the memorial doesn't make up for how they were treated. Thank you so much for teaching me about this place!
You are very welcome. And I hope you go next time you are in New York. If you go to the visitor center let me know if I missed out by not going inside (didn't realize it was there when we walked by).


So Southend have placed Phil Brown and his management team on gardening leave whilst a settlement is agreed.
"Recent performances have been unacceptable and in the Board's view the lack of discipline, Nile Ranger a case in point, has only served to compound the position."
Terrifyingly, some of our fans would probably still take him now.


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Everspace: Counting Down to March
Everspace:
Counting Down to March
If you are one of the backers of Everspace on Kickstarter, you are also one of the lucky ones who will get the chance to check out the alpha release of this long awaited title. In less than a month, ROCKFISH Games will release this game for the testers, and for the open public in the October this year.
Until today, there are a total of 10,739 people backing Everspace, who have pledged €420,252 total to bring this game to life.
For those not familiar, Michael Schade and ROCKFISH Games are the developers of the now renowned space game series for mobile, Galaxy on Fire. With a little help fron the Unity 4 engine and through 10 years of collaboration, this independent team is set on a mission to produce a unique, yet unseen version of rouge-like, first person shooter puzzle, The EVERSPACE.
Although we still know very little about the plot, some details are already disclosed for public. Allegedly, the story revolves around the key protagonist, a pilot, who is lost in space. After you wake up in the middle of nowhere, you don't know who you are or where you might be, you receive a short message with a set of coordinates. Your only choice is to try to reach that destination in order to find out what happened.
The trick is – every time you die you receive a clue about who you might be, or what your mission actually is. There are also rumors that the game will feature multiple choices, and the players will write the storyline from different segments, by choosing different paths.
While we are daydreaming about the possibilities of Everspace, the ROCKFISH developers are keeping us updated on the latest enhancements and alterations, and it seems that these guys are tireless. By the end of the October 2016, when this game is set to drop, who knows what will we get after all the touch ups and changes that they keep implementing. Probably a neat flying killing machine, right?
Not that anyone's complaining.
Custom Modding
One of the new features announced for Everspace is the ability of custom modification. You can build weapons from resources, tweak your gear, tighten your fire rates, increase your power, and customize your particular model in accordance to your gaming style.
ROCKFISH has a new partner, an indie studio from Frankfurt called Blazing Badger. Since they've just released their UE4 built game on XBox, Steam and PS4, titled AIPD, it seems that they will be the perfect fit for providing ROCKFISH with some genuine experience and guidance. Especially now, when the guys are trying to push their debut right on the XBox One console.
An Exclusive Interview with Michael, CEO of ROCKFISH
For more info, visit Everspace Kickstarter page. You can still donate and gain early access.
However, if you are interested in reading more about Everspace, the FoH interviewed Michael a few weeks ago, and you can find that piece here. Find out more about the idea behind Everspace, Michael's inspiration and his view of what this game actually represents.
George Ilich
George is an avid blogger, a fiction writer in his own spare time, a content marketer during the day and a manager of the FoH website. A book nut, a movie nut and everything space nut, who loves to talk about himself in third person. He's awesome.
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Screening and Panel at College of Wooster, OH
Biophilic Design to be presented by the Horticultural Society of New York in their Green Screen Film Series
Thursday January 31st the Horticultural Society of New York will be screening Biophilic Design. Find out more at http://thehort.org/programs_films.html.
Doors open at 6pm; film starts promptly at 6:30pm
Hort members: Free; Non-members: $5
Register online or email programs@thehort.org
Screening in Portland, ME
Time: 5:30pm	– 7:30pm
Location: Portland Public Library, Rines Auditorium, Portland
The film showing will be followed by a discussion with experts in this area, Gunnar Hubbard and Peter Burke.
For more information see: http://www.maineusgbc.org/event/film-showing-and-discussion-biophilic-design-the-architecture-of-life/
With more than 23 years of experience as a green building consultant, Gunnar Hubbard has been involved in green building efforts across the United States and in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He has played a key role on a wide variety of sustainability projects and project types, including hotels, educational facilities, sports facilities, high-rise buildings, science buildings, health facilities, government buildings, retail facilities, museums, manufacturing facilities and residential buildings. His experience as a LEED consultant encompasses a variety of LEED rating systems including LEED NC, EB:O&M, CI, CS, LEED for Schools, LEED for Retail, LEED for Healthcare and LEED for Homes, and he has experience with Net Zero Energy buildings. His project credits include Las Vegas CityCenter Block C, Harvard University's Allston Science Complex, more than ten of Vornado Realty Trust's high-rise buildings in New York, Shanghai International Financial Center, and the Museum of the Built Environment in Saudi Arabia.
Active in teaching, Gunnar develops and leads green building workshops around the world. He has been a LEED® Faculty™ since 2004 and was named LEED Fellow in 2012. He also holds a license to provide the U.S. Green Building Council's curriculum to groups in the U.S. and abroad. His recent workshops were in Shanghai and Stockholm. He is teaching as a visiting faculty at Cornell University and has taught at Ball State University and the Yestermorrow Design/Build School.
Gunnar graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor's degree in environmental studies, and from the University of Oregon with a master's degree in architecture. He is a licensed architect in California.
Peter Burke is the owner of PBLA, an emerging design firm which holds simplicity, function, context and value over all other factors. Peter is a registered Landscape Architect in the State of Maine. Peter was born in the mountains of Venezuela and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He attended the University of Maine at Orono, where he received a bachelor's degree in International Affairs, and later, after working in non-profit development and traveling all over North America, Mexico and Central America, attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and earned a masters degree in Landscape Architecture in 2000.
Since then he has been either building or designing landscape-centric places that improve the quality of people's environments and lives. He worked for six years in multidisciplinary architecture and engineering firms, and his breadth of experience and interest in working with allied professionals is one of his great strengths.
$5 Suggested Donation at the Door
This program was made possible by support from the Maine Humanities Council and the Portland Public Library.


UD's Tsu-Wei Chou has been selected to receive the Nadai Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
9:46 a.m., Nov. 18, 2013--Highly cited researcher. World Fellow of composites. One of the top 100 materials scientists of the decade.
Tsu-Wei Chou has received all of these accolades and many more during his four-decade career, and he recently added another one — Nadai Medal from ASME.
Chou, who is the Pierre S. du Pont Chair of Engineering at the University of Delaware, will share his perspectives on composites science and technology during the Nadai Medal Lecture at the 2013 ASME Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition in San Diego on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Chou's involvement in composite materials dates back to his graduate school days at Stanford University in the late 1960s, when he asked his professor about future research directions.
That excitement has been at the foundation of this composites pioneer's work for the past 43 years. He has worked with a wide variety of materials and geometries, including hybrid composites, textile structural composites, flexible composites, and most recently nanocomposites. He and his research team have demonstrated unique applications of carbon nanotube-based continuous fibers in multifunctional composites and energy storage devices.
Chou joined the UD faculty in 1969 and was a founding member of the Center for Composite Materials (CCM). In addition to his technical achievements, Chou is credited with pioneering and sustaining many of the international collaborations that have made CCM recognized throughout the world.
The author of over 335 journal articles and several books, Chou is editor-in-chief of Composites Science and Technology. A fellow of six professional societies, he has received the Charles Russ Richards Memorial Award and the Worcester Reed Warner Medal from ASME, the Distinguished Research Award from the American Society for Composites, and the Medal of Excellence in Composite Materials and the Francis Alison Award from the University of Delaware.
Established in 1975, the Nadai Medal commemorates the achievements of Arpad L. Nadai, a pioneer in the field of engineering materials. Recipients are recognized for significant contributions and outstanding achievements that broaden the field of materials engineering.


VW's e-Golf is the car maker's first EV to hit the U.S market. But how does it stack up against other electric vehicles like Ford Fusion Electric, Nissan Leaf and Fiat 500e?
The EPA has released official ratings for the Volkswagen e-Golf. Range is listed at 83 miles, while MPGe is a combined 116.
The 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf is closer then ever to its US launch and MotoMan took the opportunity to test dive the car in Virginia. Here's the video review.
Here are the details on the lease deal for the 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf, obtained exclusively by InsideEVs.


Pumpkin spice coffee, sweaters, brisk weather, and your festival. Capture the season and attention with the Fall Leaves Image Flyer. Brightly colored leaves drift into a pile within this template's background, while event details are presented in warm typeface. Fill its six image upload spots with sponsor logos!
Sized at 8.49" x 11.46"
Generate interest for your event with custom printed flyers from TicketPrinting.com.


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Предња средишња линија (лат. Lineа mediana anterior ) једна је од  оријентационих линија у анатомији на прењој страни тела која служи за ближе одређивање положаја појединих органа на телу.

Анатомија
Предња средишња линија у анатомском смислу је оријентациона линија која се пројектује на средини грудне кости и допире до средње горње ивице препонске симфизе (лат. symphysis pubica).

Извори

Спољашње везе

Анатомија човека

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


You may remember Jeremy Squires from our Favourites of Couch by CouchWest 2013 post (here) so I wanted to let you all know about a new single he has out currently, Ghostlike. If you are into beautiful but sombre songs that create a moment of reflection, almost a slowing down of life, than this is a must hear. Squires plays almost all (if not all) instruments for his music to increase his connection to it, to use it as a path to find more about himself and to help heal former wounds. This all sounds awfully brooding, and it is, but it also brings what can be called a more authentic, heartfelt product that he presents to the listener. There are small parts of Squires in each song I hear, and Ghostlike is a great example of this.
You can expect a full length album later this year (I believe in October) called When Will You Go so keep an ear out for it as it is more of the above…you know, if that is your thing. And it should be.


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Racial Attitudes and Whites' Opinions about the Trayvon Martin Case
Michael Tesler
April 03, 2012, 4:23 PM GMT+0
As discussed earlier on this site, a nationally representative survey of Americans conducted last week by YouGov (n=1,000) uncovered significant racial differences in respondents' opinions about Trayvon Martin—the 17 year old African-American who was shot and killed by George Zimmerman in February. Not surprisingly, black respondents were considerably more likely to think Zimmerman should be arrested and tried than whites (83% to 58%). Race also shaped opinions of Florida's Stand Your Ground Law, which has helped Zimmerman evade arrest thus far. Only 6% of black respondents, for example, support this law that allows individuals to use deadly force if they believe they or others are threatened, compared to 35% of whites.
Along with such racial polarization, there is a long history of racial attitudes influencing white Americans' opinions about issues associated with black people (see among many others: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). In keeping with those studies, my analysis of last week's YouGov survey uncovered strong effects of racial attitudes on white Americans' opinions about the Trayvon Martin case. Indeed, the figure below shows that white respondents' who scored high in racial resentment (see measurement: here) were nearly 40 percentage points less likely to think George Zimmerman should be arrested than their least resentful counterparts, even after controlling for party identification, ideological self-placement and educational attainment. These racial attitude effects were slightly more pronounced for the Stand Your Ground Law. With partisanship, ideology and education controlled for, the second panel shows that the most racially resentful were 45 percentage points more supportive of this law than the least resentful whites.
(Note: Predicted probabilities were calculated by setting partisanship, ideology, education, and thermometer rating of whites to their sample means. Source: YouGov Survey, March 24-27, 2012)
Finally, the panels below demonstrate that white respondents' ratings of African-Americans on a 0-100 thermometer scale had a similar sized impact on how these individuals felt about both Zimmerman's criminal culpability and whether the Stand Your Ground Law should remain in place as is.
All told, then, the results presented confirm what most people probably already suspected—white Americans' opinions about the Trayvon Martin incident are at least partially rooted in their feelings towards African-Americans.
Elizabeth Holmes | Economist/YouGov Poll: November 19 - 22, 2022
Foreign Policy | Economist/YouGov Poll: November 19 - 22, 2022
Politics | Economist/YouGov Poll: November 19 - 22, 2022
How Americans evaluate Joe Biden and Donald Trump in November 2022
When do Americans think that workers and students should be able to use sick days?
Sick Days | YouGov Poll: August 18 - 22, 2022


As members of PPG and in accordance with our Guiding Principles "Members understand Force-Free to mean, no shock, no pain, no fear, no physical force, no physical molding, no compulsion based methods are employed to train or care for a pet" It is also the belief that experienced trainers must begin their behavior change programs with the least invasive and least aversive training protocols necessary to change the problematic behavior. Education is one of the key goals of PPG so its members have access to resources and thus training tools that meet the needs of their clients in line with the Guilds Guiding Principles. Our future provisional member mentor programs will enable less experienced trainers to learn these training techniques and broaden their tool-kits.


Something we have long predicted has finally happened. In terms of Google searches, mobile now has more searches than desktop. This point is especially striking given the fact that the "Desktop" category included tablets like the iPad, which are not what you would traditionally think of as a desktop computer.
This means that for the majority of people, where they go first for information, news, purchases and otherwise is a mobile screen, and not a desktop. Whole industries will need to fundamentally change how they approach their business strategies. Currently, many companies have a budget allocated for Web development but don't have a corresponding one for mobile. With the majority of users now accessing information from a mobile device, businesses absolutely need to have a mobile strategy, and have money budgeted towards that.
And no, they should not convert the website budget to mobile web budget, as the mobile web is dying. If extra budget can't be had, then whatever companies are spending on web they should start to shift that funding into apps. This shift has long been coming and we are excited to see it happening, so we can continue to help more and businesses get their message out to where their users are.
In the longer term, the companies that get the attention of users will be the ones who have good apps. Those companies will be the survivors and will defeat their competition. It won't be the best website that wins anymore. And lest we forget, businesses need to make money, and most buying decisions are made on mobile now.
In a few years this will be self evident but right now there is a seismic shift that is occurring, and many are missing it. They need to adjust accordingly or feel the pain of moving too slowly. And they better hope that pain doesn't entail shutting their doors.