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This Portfolio (bdkfam)
the paradox
the kludge brothers are at it again for the first time
Barbara Jean
A sweet young 'girl' says 'no' in more ways than one...
My World Of Hopes, Dreams, Fantasies
Entries for various Blog Challenges.I will be expressing my hopes, dreams and fantasies.
"Let My Life Please"
Please Jesus Christ.
A small poem
An attempt at a poem with a prompt - 26 words
Application For Refugee Status
Our first contact with an alien craft and they 'need' our help. Our laws don't apply here.
The sailor
A young girl has worked as a nanny for the past three years, but one day it changes.
Facing our own mortality and hindsight on what we achieved.
Science Fiction Short Story Contest
A contest inspired by the serious need for more good sci-fi
Sunset's Companion
A poem about Mercury for the 24 Syllables Conteset
Changing of the West
The West sure is changing.
Dusty Lovers-Part Three Chapter Four
by Bonnie Lass
Rated: ASR · Book · Romance/Love · #2191202
Memories of a lost love
Size: 0 Entries
Created: May 16th, 2019 at 11:37pm
Modified: May 16th, 2019 at 11:37pm
Genres: Romance/Love, Spiritual
Harry had led a privileged life, and an interesting one. My thirsty brain and my hungry soul soaked it up like a sponge and I clamored for more. I was no slouch. I could keep up with him easily. He learned a thing or two from me, and he readily acknowledged that. He knew I was smart and he was the first man aside from Daddy to genuinely appreciate and value that. Jacinto had been proud of it, but was not in tune with it. Harry and I both loved knowledge and learning and we challenged and stimulated each other. Harry did not mind spending money on me and us while we were dating. But he never spent money on me or Cori. Never any flowers or candy. Not a single balloon. Nothing spent on either of us, specifically. Not that I really wanted him to do so; in fact, I probably would have discouraged it. It was incongruous to the way he did spend on our activities. I now know that can be attributed to wealth and Harry's go big attitude. Back then it was inconsistency with the safety issues and not seeing me to and from the car. That and the spending were similar matters. As big a jerk as Jack could be, even when we were penniless, he would out of the blue, with no particular reason, bring me small gifts. On any given day, it might be a candy bar, a new type of razor for what he called my beautiful skin. He might have cut out an article or a cartoon to look at. They were very inexpensive, but so precious to me. They were tokens of his love. So thoughtful and romantic. Sometimes, it could be a little gift for the baby or a jar of baby food. Jerry had done the same. I gave to each of them in kind. I considered them to be little love offerings. It wasn't the gift or the cost, it was the act of doing, the act of giving that made a difference. I associated that with love and romance. When I loved somebody, I wanted to spoil him in big and little ways. I missed that sorely. I was grateful for the wonderful, joyful times he provided. We went places I could never have gone, were it not for him. I knew that and appreciated it, but I would have gladly traded a night out on the town for a chocolate kiss or a single daisy. I never mentioned it to Harry. If you have to ask it sort of tarnishes the whole idea of it. And on the other hand, he really did treat me like a princess.
The Alexander family was indeed well off. He told me his Dad was an important executive for Marriott, and when I asked what his Mom did, he told me she was a Dallas socialite. Wow! His Dad had gotten him in the door at Marriott, but it was up to him where he took it. He'd made manager of the Tampa office, one of the youngest ever. He was very proud of that and happy that he had pleased his father. He loved finding approval in his father's eyes. It was clear he was going places. I was very proud of his accomplishments. They were important and impressive and they were part of who he was. I knew full well that it had been no easy task to rise in the ranks or to follow in those footsteps, even if he had made it look easy. I admired and respected that part of him and he knew that, but I would have been proud of him if he'd gotten promoted to street cleaner. He knew that too. He would have been just as diligent and faithful to that end. He would have approached it with the same vigor, the same excitement and the same commitment. And he would have been proud of his work and proud that he did it well, whatever it was. That was one of the best things about Harry.
Oh how Harry loved his family. I have never known any young man who was so proud of his parents or his kin. He showed respect and admiration for them always. He loved all of you with a depth that I have seldom seen. I am sure you know you were his favorite. He always smiled when thinking or speaking of his family, but his face took on a different look when it came to his sister. She meant the world to him. Sis held a special, warm place in his heart. He never said anything bad or negative about any of his clan. According to Harry, none of them had any faults. That made him even more appealing, albeit a little scary. That brand of love for family and the loyalty were and are uncommon and two of the most important traits to me. I would have hated to see anybody criticize any of them in his presence. It would not have been pretty.
He was a teller of tales, and regaled me with his wonderful stories. Once, in the darkness of just a single candle, my cigarette glowed in the dark. (Harry only smoked occasionally). He chuckled and told me about a girl he'd dated once. They got in far too late, so turned the car lights off before they got to the house. The girl did not have a key and they did not dare ring the bell. So, they pulled off socks and shoes and climbed in through a window. They'd giggled once inside, thinking they were home free. And, he was happy in knowing that he would not have to climb back out the window and over the shrubbery. The girl led Harry to the front door. That is when they saw it- the red glow of a cigarette. Mother was sitting in a chair facing the window and door. She'd silently watched the whole thing! We laughed and laughed until we cried.
The man had been all over and loved to tell me about some of those places almost as much as I loved listening. He talked about his home state of Texas. He was very proud of Texas and was glad to have been born and reared there. His pride was obvious. He spoke of California, Europe and even Florida. I don't remember all the places he mentioned. Sometimes he apologized because I had never been anywhere. He thought it might seem like bragging or rubbing my nose in it. It was almost as if he felt guilty that he had been able to travel while I had not had the opportunity. I assured him there was no need for that, I did not take it that way and begged him to continue. I wanted to hear more. I wanted to hear all of it. His tales were so vivid, I could actually visualize the things he had seen. I traveled vicariously through him. The one place I most enjoyed hearing about was Colorado. And I believe it was the place he most enjoyed telling me about. When he spoke about that place, he was transported. His aura changed. It was mysterious and mystical when he talked about it. I always believed he might have had a spiritual experience or enlightenment of some sort in Colorado. And I was reminded of the glass elevator. That night when we flew among the stars in that black velvet canopy. Part of the reason he loved the John Denver song was his similar experience in the great state of Colorado. Because of his special connection to Colorado, I developed a connection of my own.
He told me I had to see it and experience it myself one day. He guaranteed that he would make that happen, no matter what. We'd go together and it would be a very private esoteric encounter. He thought maybe one day we might live there together. I wonder which part of the state he would have chosen for us. It seems I hear about Colorado on a daily basis, get pictures, images, and TV spots. I know they are reminders, subtle hints from him. My daughter has now spoken about moving there, although it has nothing to do with Harry. It is purely coincidental. I know without a doubt he wants me to go there, and I know I must go before I exit this lifetime. He has shown me. It seems to be an essential segment of my own spiritual path. Perhaps he is keeping his promise to me, to take me there by giving me those little "messages". Those nudges, not always so gentle. Perhaps it is some ancient rite that we must follow to meet again. I look forward to it although the thought of it is enough to make my eyes water. I want to go and I fully expect that our spirits will reunite there. Maybe we can time it for the Perseids meteor shower. At the risk of sounding insane, he smiles about that, along with me.
We were good together, Harry and me. We fit together and complemented each other. He was totally in charge of his life and destiny, and as we meandered together, mine unfolded effortlessly. Things weren't always perfect. That might have been too boring. For one thing, Harry was an unwilling yuppie. He was very down to earth in spite of his background. He felt more comfortable with the middle class. He was good with and to his employees and they loved him because he commiserated with them. Harry appreciated all he had, all his parents were able to offer. But he believed that he had been born into the wrong circumstances. He felt that he was supposed to be one of the working class. He yearned to be part of that world and that group. I knew his heart and this was very real to him. In spite of his background, he felt more comfortable with people who were low middle class to middle class. He embraced it. Unfortunately, Harry was not very realistic about it. He thought everybody would welcome him and admire him for wanting to be part of them, united with them. They would like and accept him based only on what and who he was. Their judgement would be based on Harry and not on the façade. He believed everyone would just think it was so cool and love him for it; that they would feel lucky to have someone like him in their lives, in their world. He thought they would feel a kinship because they could tell his intentions were true. His name was Winston Harold Alexander, but he chose to be called Harry. He said William was too common and too stodgy. He thought it was a tell-tale sign of his status. His status glowed like a neon bar sign, with or without the name. He just wanted so badly to be a regular Joe.
Unfortunately, not everyone shared his optimism. They were not excited by his feelings or his thoughts. They were not anxious for his attention. The have-nots will always be suspicious, fearful, and maybe a bit resentful of the haves. And rather than think it was beautiful, it made them a little more suspicious of a guy who wanted to jump out of the lap of luxury to become one with them. They all would have traded places in a heartbeat. I tried to help him navigate, ran interference for him, and sometimes was a bully on his behalf. I was under 5'3" and never over 100 pounds, but I could be scary if I had to be. Especially when it came to my daughter or him. Incidentally, Harry was the only man who never complained about me being too skinny. He often commented on how a little bitty princess could be so fierce and have such a lack of fear. He was in awe, I know, but it scared him a bit. He was fearful of my safety and well- being. The goal was to have these folks get to know him. Of course, they would like him, and they did after a while. He would soon be accepted into the group, with a little help, but he was still part of that other life that they envied. He had "well to do" imprinted on his person and they all had seen it. Harry felt slighted sometimes, and it hurt me. Shame on them. He told me a time or two that even I was not completely part of the group. I was too smart, independent, capable, and assertive. In a game of wits, I would beat them all, hands down. Perhaps he had a point. "One man (or woman) that has a mind and knows it can always beat ten men who haven't and don't."
George Bernard Shaw »
I often imagined that one day people might raise fists and start chanting Harry! Harry! As they did for Che when he entered the room. He wanted that same sort of connection to them and to their world. One thing of which I am certain is that he knew it mattered not what world he was part of, as long as he was part of mine
Like Evita, his thoughts were in earnest and his intentions were pure, albeit misdirected. He was noble and his heart was always in the right place. However, he had not taken into account that he had never walked a mile in their shoes, he'd never had to do so. We can imagine what grief feels like, but until we actually experience it, it is not real. To be honest, if he was required to wear those poor quality, uncomfortable boots, in order to join their ranks, surely he would have declined. Supposing he had accepted the challenge, how long would he have survived without his creature comforts. When would he say when? He would have given it his best shot, but I don't believe he would have been able to hold onto that lifestyle indefinitely.
In spite of his claims of a connection with, and wanting to be part of the middle class and live that lifestyle, there were times when Harry's love of extraneous pleasures would belie his assertion of his identity with the middle class working folk. He liked living in a nice place and having simple but nice things, including furnishings and clothing. I loved his mind and how it worked. He used knowledge, logic, common sense, business sense, and a bit of compassion thrown in, to make decisions. He knew that about himself. Once he made a decision, he was unlikely to rethink it. He would not argue or fight, he would just shut you down if there was any question about his decision. All of the above caused friction regarding my apartment. He did not love my apartment as I did. He did not care for the heavy, dark furniture. The warmth of hardwood floors, the fireplace did not impress him. True, a big part of that was his concern about safety and security. That was a big deal to him in all situations. He believed that I lived in an unsavory area. Truth be known, his apartment was on North 116th Street and I believe that his area was just as bad, if not worse. He hated the screened in porch at the front of my place, again because of the safety. He really worried about the baby with nothing to protect her but the screens, aside from the fact that he figured it was too easy to break into the apartment. I understood and appreciated his concern. But I adored it and wanted to make it look like a French café. Neither of us would use the front stair way, which was closed in, steep and dark. We had to pass the downstairs neighbors who were weird and nosy. They creeped us out. I wonder where his concern ended and something else began.
The back stairway made him fearful. He was afraid of me carrying the baby and her belongings up and down. "You could fall and both of you could get hurt". I will always appreciate that he thought of and cared about her safety too. Many times when he questioned me, he'd say, "and what about the baby?" So because of his aversion to my home when we spent an evening in, it was usually at his place. It was a 30 minute drive to his apartment, and I had a baby to care for before and after a visit to his home. When I had to leave, Harry would beg me to stay. It would have been so easy to have agreed. Connie would have kept the baby. But I felt a strong sense of responsibility to Cori. And he needed to be aware of that. It explained me better but later on it would have a big impact on his life and our life together. I reminded him that if I was too late, I would not be able to take the baby home and would have to spend the night at Connie's. Looking back now, maybe that was part of his intent. Still, I mentioned it to him, wanting a discussion. He answered that after careful consideration, he thought his home made more sense. I couldn't understand his reasoning. His was newer, nicer, with carpet and central heat and air. His furniture, he thought was nicer and more modern. This man who longed to be living in middle class America almost came off as a snob. However, his was also a place far removed from the world, with quiet and peaceful solitude. That is the one thing with which I did agree. Jack could not come around at will. My family and friends would not go the distance to find us. They did have the address and phone number to reach me in case I was needed for my daughter. Had I not asked to give it, he would have insisted. There was no changing his mind. Once he used his famous line 'after careful consideration', I knew there was no point in pursuing it. Mouth set in that thin line, voice calm but with a touch more bass, firm and sure. That look of finality in his eyes was a challenge for me, but more often than not, I would acquiesce. I thought of it as a compromise. At least that is what I told myself. It was actually giving up and giving in. I would not have allowed myself to admit that, but that is what it was. He did not gloat. Ever. He simply would not do that. It would be bad form. But self-satisfaction could not always be masked.
Part of me wanted to stand my ground. I remembered what my mother said. Sometimes you have to go along to get along. And I simply did not want to fight or argue with Harry. I surely did not want to hurt or upset him. I could not risk losing him. Nor could I stand the thought of Harry being angry with me. I loved him so much. He was so good to me in so many ways. I could do that one thing for him. I gave Harry great latitude. He did not carefully consider the time, the drive or the gas I spent. Nor did he take into account me driving a long way, late at night by myself. He could have lightened my load, made it easier on me, and easier for us to spend time together. It was a bit hurtful and confusing. It did not fit in with his character. There was also some inconsistency with his safety concerns. He lived on the second floor and would wait on the terrace for me to pull up. I could see his smile even before I parked. And that still makes me smile. Then he would wait with the door open for me. I could not get in the door until Harry welcomed me in Harry fashion. If you have never been greeted by Harry, then you have missed out on one of life's great pleasures. There was nothing like it before or since. He would wrap me in those big arms and make me feel loved and wanted and safe and secure. It was never a quick process. He took his time and held me tightly, sometimes lifting me off my feet and just standing there holding me. That was awesome. I can't tell you how many times I would start running toward him on the landing. As I reached him, I would leap into his arms. He had no trouble catching me and I never doubted that he would catch and hold onto me. I'd giggle and he would chuckle. My legs wrapped around his waist and my hands clasped behind his neck, he would dance around the room and it felt to me like I had taken flight. I have never flown so lightly and highly again. I was like a feather in his arms and he pointed out that it felt like that to him as well. Oh the great fun we had, we often threw our heads back and laughed for no reason at all. We were just overjoyed so much of the time. Life was good and even at our relatively young age, we were smart enough to know how lucky we were and to show our gratitude. The fact remains however, that he never walked me to or from my car. That puzzled and bothered me a lot. Maybe it's safe to say it irritated me a bit. But all in all we got along famously.
The first time Harry took me out for dinner, he told me about a girl he had dated. I believe he dated her just before we met. She was a model, tall and willowy. I was short, and very thin but always believed I was fat. (How Harry had laughed when I confessed that to him, that big boisterous laugh that came up from the depths of his belly). How could I possibly compete with her or the others like her? And oh yes, did I mention she was blonde and beautiful? She'd been very haughty and very spoiled. That was what he was used to. The Hauteur. I was completely opposite. How, I supposed did a wonderful man like Harry ever find any rapport with them? The first time he'd taken her to dinner, she'd ordered the largest, most expensive steak on the menu, along with appetizers, sides, etc. When the meal arrived, she had eaten 2 bites, then pushed her plate away. I supposed that women like her would find that acceptable, but I was shocked. It made me angry. "You're kidding me. I can't believe she would do that." 'Why not? I wouldn't expect her to eat if she wasn't hungry.' I did not understand. What made them think this was acceptable? Surely, she knew her own appetite? Perhaps that was admissible in his world. My head shook side to side when he replied to my question that she had not at least taken home a doggie bag. The waste of food was worse than the waste of money "Well, I would never do that". 'You wouldn't?' he asked, then answered his own question. 'No, you would never do that.' He reached for my hand, and then kissed it. 'You really are a princess.' That became his pet name for me and that is how he treated me. He knew me so well and loved all he knew. He accepted me and understood me. And he always wanted to know more. I did not like talking about my life much; compared to his it was a bit dark and sad. He looked straight into my soul. He felt what was in my heart. And he not only loved me, he liked me just as I was. I felt the same about him. If I was his princess, he was my king. I treated him as such, because in my world he alone ruled.
I often have wondered if we would have grown any closer or drifted apart. It is wonderful to think of how it could have been for both of us. Parts of us would have lingered no matter what happened and, what we were would have remained a blissful memory. I chose to believe we would be together as one soul for eternity. There was no reason for disbelief. Teresa came over exceptionally happy one day shortly after that date. I waited anxiously for the "Harry Report." "He says he is absolutely crazy about you." It made me happy to hear it and happy to know he shared his feelings for me unashamedly, unapologetically. But it was not a news flash. I knew he was crazy for me, as I was for him. We always showed each other how much we cared for each other. We were very affectionate and loving in every thought, word, and deed. We both got lucky, and I felt blessed that he felt that same way. If I had never led a privileged life before, I had found my fortune. I had become rich beyond belief.
I always wondered how I was lucky enough to have a man of Harry's stature in my life. I felt extremely fortunate. Lacking confidence, I allowed my insecurity to take hold. In those times I would ask myself how a man like him could want to be with me. What could he possibly see in me? How long before he dumped me for one of those model types? They were, after all, to what he had been accustomed. Why would he welcome me into his world? There were many times I would express those doubts to him, and it always made him sad. He shook his head at me a lot. Sometimes, he would hang his head and look at the floor. Often, his head would hang down while his eyes looked up at me. And there were the times he would pull me up, hold me in his arms and tell me what a silly girl I was. He asked questions. Why did I continue to feel that way? Didn't I know how much I meant to him? Was he doing something wrong or leaving something out that caused me to have those concerns? How odd that he felt the same in reverse about me. Many of those times he would say I was top drawer, and that would make me shake my head. He would say he was the lucky one and wonder how I could love him as I did. He would say those girls couldn't hold a candle to me. He thought that I could have any man I wanted and that he worried about that here and there. He had made it perfectly clear that he was not the jealous type, but there were small signs of that trait in him. It would show in his eyes. I never acknowledged it, because I knew it would bother him to know it showed. It would hurt me deeply to see him feel insecure and worried, even sad. He thought I might leave him. He actually thought I was beautiful, although I could not understand why. He loved my face, my hair, my brain and my body. He loved what a good mother I was, how I loved my daughter. He liked the way I dressed and talked and cooked. He loved my compassion and loyalty. My sensibility along with my sense of humor appealed to him. He found it attractive that I could debate without fighting. I laid things out in a way that was becoming to him. And he loved my sense of social and individual justice. It was okay that I got fired up here and there, that was a plus to him. And he loved how fearless I was, although it worried him sometimes. He went on and on trying to convince me of how close to perfect I really was, and how sad he was that I did not know it. He knew he would have to work harder to have me see me in his eyes. He wanted me to see and feel the way he saw me. I knew I had won the grand prize, but he insisted the grand prize was me. I was his princess.
One night when we'd gone out, I caught a glimpse of The Drummer. I kept my silence. Two nights later I walked into a convenience store. The Drummer and The Pig followed me in. Not a word was spoken. He was just reminding me that he was still around. Harry and I had talked at length about his life and his past. When the subject of my past had come up, I had hedged, evaded and avoided. It was time for me to tell him and possibly forewarn him. It was scary, because I knew he might not want to deal with it I also knew he would not like that I had waited so long to tell him. I realize that a small part of it was that he would see it as a lack of trust. Oh my God what if he leaves me? Please don't let him go away. But I could not keep it from Harry. I had to be fair to him, no matter the cost. Trembling and stuttering, I told him most of it, but not all. I was a very private person, and still am. Also, I was in great fear of him knowing the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I was focused on making him aware of The Drummer and how disturbed that man had become. I was not scared of him really, but other people were. A shadow of doubt appeared on Harry's face, then vanished instantly. But it had been there, I had seen it. I could never unsee it. When he tried to assure me that it was no big deal, I couldn't help thinking and worrying that it very well could be. I was scared for him, as well as for us. I should have known that Harry could hold his own and he and I both knew his capabilities. Harry did not fear the Drummer and did not want to think about it unless he had to. He would wait until he had to cross that bridge. I hope he knew it was my fear of what I had known, and not a doubt about him, because I knew he could and would do whatever it took if the time ever came. Knowing Harry as I did, I knew he would just put it out of his mind, but all The Drummer had to do was make one of his infamous scenes. The man I was dating came from another world. He'd been accustomed to dating models and debs. I did not believe he could or should have to handle something like that and knew he wouldn't want to. Truthfully, that bothered me. Strange, too, knowing that he was ultra- safety conscious. He lectured me-often about my personal safety, or rather not taking enough interest in it. When we went out, Harry always walked me to and from the car, and opened the doors for me. He always proffered his hand. That was probably at least as much good form as caution. It seemed confusing to me that form and caution did not always apply. When I visited him, the rules changed. It puzzled and annoyed me slightly.
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Henderson County closes regular-season with long-time rival Owensboro
The regular season for high school football comes to an end this week and with it the final regular-season edition of 10 Things to Know.
Henderson County closes regular-season with long-time rival Owensboro The regular season for high school football comes to an end this week and with it the final regular-season edition of 10 Things to Know. Check out this story on thegleaner.com: https://www.thegleaner.com/story/sports/columnists/kevin-patton/2018/10/24/henderson-county-closes-regular-season-long-time-rival-owensboro/1730050002/
Kevin J. Patton, Henderson Gleaner Published 1:00 p.m. CT Oct. 24, 2018 | Updated 1:42 p.m. CT Oct. 24, 2018
Henderson's Skip Patterson (1) hands off the ball to HendersonÕs Isaiah Easley (17) during the Reitz vs Henderson County football game Colonels Stadium Friday, August 17, 2018. The Panthers defeated the Colonels 41-35 in the season opening game.(Photo: MaCabe Brown / The Gleaner, MaCabe Brown)Buy Photo
HENDERSON, Ky. – The regular season for high school football comes to an end this week and with it the final regular-season edition of 10 Things to Know.
1. Henderson County comes back from its open date to play one of its oldest rivals. While Henderson County has played the Red Devils nearly every year since 1957, the Owensboro-Henderson rivalry is much older. Henderson and Owensboro, which were long-time Thanksgiving Day rivals, played as far back as 1895.
The Red Devils lead the series with Henderson County 34-24 and have won three in a row. The Colonels' last win came in 2014 at Colonel Stadium 44-18.
2. Following Isaiah Easley's career-high 252-yard performance two weeks ago in the 54-41 win over Daviess County, Henderson County has three players with more than 550 yards rushing. Logan Green leads the team with 780. Skip Patterson has run for 620 yards, while Easley now stands at 554 yards.
More: Isaiah Easley scores seven touchdowns in Henderson's 54-41 win over Daviess County
3. Henderson County has had a decisive advantage in the turnover department this season. The Colonel defense has forced 18 turnovers – 13 interceptions and five fumble recoveries. The offense has turned the ball over only 11 times. But the true advantage is shown in points off turnovers. Henderson County has turned those 18 turnovers into 84 points, while the opponents have scored only 28 points off turnovers.
4. Owensboro, which is ranked ninth in its class, captured the 5-A First District title last week with a 47-6 win over Graves County. The Red Devils have won five in a row scoring at least 40 points in each of those wins since a 21-12 loss to Bowling Green.
5. Owensboro (7-2) features a balanced offense led by running backs Imonte Owsley, who has rushed for 643 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Trevon Green, who has totaled 610 yards and eight touchdowns. Quarterback Will Warren, who is ranked second in the state in Class 5-A with 259 yards a game, has thrown for 2,327 yards and 27 touchdowns, while completing 155 of 257 pass attempts.
Five different receivers have caught at least 21 passes for the Red Devils, led by Tryen Hayden, who has 44 catches for 633 yards. Owsley is also a big-play threat through the air with a team-leading 731 receiving yards on 39 catches with seven touchdowns.
Owsley rushed for 119 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Owensboro's win over Henderson County last year at Rash Stadium.
6. Owensboro's leading tackler is Austin Gough, the grandson of late Henderson County athletic director Jerry Mezur. Gough, a sophomore linebacker, leads the Red Devils with 101 tackles.
7. Henderson County has played Owensboro in the final game of the regular season every year except one since 2003. In 2008, the Colonels played Bowling Green in their final game on the schedule after losing to Owensboro the week before. Henderson County has an 8-7 record in the rivalry game since it moved to the end of the season in 2003.
8. Webster County (1-8) closes out its regular season by hosting neighboring McLean County (6-3). The Cougars are the runners-up in the 2-A Second District finishing 3-1 behind Owensboro Catholic. Friday's game will feature two of the state's leading tacklers. Webster County's Shawn Guinn leads 2-A with 124 tackles, while McLean County's Andrew Munster is second with 110.
9. Union County (6-3) will visit Murray (6-3) Friday in the final game of the regular season. The Tigers, who are ranked 10th in 2-A, have won five of their last six games with their lone loss in that stretch coming to top-ranked Mayfield 63-28. Murray won last year's game in Morganfield 39-29
10. The schedule is set for the first round of the playoffs on Nov. 2.
6-A: Louisville Eastern (3-6) at Henderson County (6-3). Eastern visits Manual (5-4) this week.
3-A: Union County (6-3) at Larue County (5-4). Larue County hosts Campbellsville (8-1) on Friday.
2-A: Webster County (1-8) at Owensboro Catholic (7-2). Owensboro Catholic hosts South Warren (9-0) this week.
Kevin Patton can be reached at 270-831-8350 or at kevin.patton@thegleaner.com. Follow him on Twitter @kjpatton67.
Friday's Games
Owensboro at Henderson Co., 7 p.m.; Union Co. at Murray, 7 p.m.; McLean Co. at Webster Co., 7 p.m.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Как получить callable атрибуты у объекта? На первый взгляд ответ на этот вопрос очень простой. Обратиться к полю __dict__ и отфильтровать по свойству callable. Проблема в том, что у объекта определено поле __slots__, что не даёт этого сделать.
Есть ли какой-нибудь иной способ получить имена всех методов класса, не переписывая сам класс, имею в виду удаления поля __slots__?
Update @S.Nick
from abc import ABC
from typing import Dict

class Abstract(ABC):
    __slots__ = set()

    def __init__(self, attributes: Dict):
        attributes = {k: v for (k, v) in attributes.items() if k in self.__slots__}
        for attr, val in attributes.items():
            setattr(self, attr, val)

class A(Abstract):
    __slots__ = {'a', 'b'}

    def method1(self):
        return 'method1'

    def method2(self):
        return 'method2'

class B(Abstract):
    __slots__ = {'c', 'd'}

    def method3(self):
        return 'method3'

    def method4(self):
        return 'method4'

class Combiner:
    def __init__(self, data: Dict):
        self.met1 = A(data)
        self.met2 = B(data)

    def get_method(self, func_name):
        pass

Хочу чтобы метод get_method по имени функции возвращал соответствующий метод из классов A и B. То есть:
>>> g = Combiner()
>>> g.get_method('method2')
    <bound method A.method2 of <__main__.A object at 0x10f520438>>

A: Если задача - получить именно методы (а не вообще все callable аттрибуты), то можно так:
class Example:

    __slots__ = ['a', 'b', 'c']

    def foo():
        pass

    def bar():
        pass

example = Example()

import inspect

methods = inspect.getmembers(example, predicate=inspect.ismethod)

print([name for name, method in methods])

Если же хочется вообще все callable аттрибуты, то замените predicate=inspect.ismethod на predicate=callable

A: попробуйте так:
class my:
    __slots__ = "a", "b"
    def foo(self):
        pass

for el in dir(my):
    if callable(getattr(my, el)):
        print(el)

если магические методы не нужны, то так:
for el in dir(my):
    if callable(getattr(my, el)) and not el.startswith("__"):
        print(el)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Thermaltake's gaming branch, Tt eSPORTS , has been making a name for itself recently by providing high quality, entry-level gaming peripherals at a low price. Today we are reviewing the Tt eSPORTS Meka mechanical gaming keyboard. Recently, mechanical keyboards have been making a comeback, especially in the gaming industry because of their advantages over traditional rubber dome keyboards. With new mechanical boards coming out from all of the major companies, we will see if the Meka has was it takes to stand up to them.


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text:
Democracy representation and participation
30/01/2023 26/01/2023 / inlogov / Leave a comment
Paul Joyce, Philip Whiteman and Jason Lowther
Cities must be at the heart of a successful response to the climate crisis. Hundreds of local authorities in the UK are acting responsibly by taking the climate crisis seriously, whether it is by setting net zero targets or proclaiming a climate emergency. But they will be hampered in their endeavours for a number of reasons, including the significant capacity constraints that contradict their aspirations, even though national government in the UK has also set a net zero target.
Support for local government action could increase if government ministers listen to the recommendations of a report by the Rt Hon Chris Skidmore Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) Chairman, who issued a report on how the UK could better meet its net zero commitments. It's an impressive piece of work, reflecting over 1800 written submissions as part of the official Call for Evidence. Central to its recommendations is the need for central government to empower regions, local government and communities to play a greater role.
We should acknowledge that on some measures the UK is already performing relatively well on environmental issues, particularly in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The UK was placed joint second in Yale's global Environmental Performance Index 2022, with Finland and behind Denmark. It achieved the fastest improvement of the three countries (and third best globally) in the last decade. Between 1990 and 2020, the UK reduced emissions by almost 50%, driven in part by a reduction in the use of coal and toward natural gas and renewables. Some of this success stems from historic decisions such as the 2008 Climate Change Act, which committed the UK to reaching 80% emissions reductions by 2050, and actions such as the introduction of a carbon price floor in 2013 and investments in solar and wind energy.
It may become more difficult for the UK to keep performing well as new, more challenging actions are needed. The EAC report is clear that local government is critical to developing and implementing the necessary actions, and that this requires a fundamental change in its relationship with central government. We highlight four essential changes.
First, simplify net zero funding arrangements. The report is clear that "current central government funding arrangements are standing in the way of effective local action". The funding landscape is disjointed, unfair, and expensive for local authorities because of its complexity and reliance on short-deadline competitive bidding.
Secondly, trust local government. The report recognises that "to achieve a place-based, place-sensitive, locally-led transition to net zero, Government must place its trust in local leaders and communities to deliver". Analysis by UKRI found that a "place-specific" approach to decarbonisation costs 70% less and delivers 90% more benefits than one which is "place-agnostic". The report recommends a high-level framework and an agreement to close future partnership working between central and local government.
Thirdly, allow local communities to determine their priorities and approach within the national framework. The report recommends a new statutory duty on local authorities to take account of UK net zero targets. Disappointingly, government is asked to back only "at least one" Trailblazer Net Zero city, local authority and community, with the aim for these places to reach net zero by 2030.
Finally, align the planning system with net zero ambitions. The current framework sometimes stands in the way of councils insisting on high standards. And cumulative cuts to planning department budgets mean many councils lack the staff to deliver effective planning inputs quickly. As the report says: "Reforming the relationship between central and local government on net zero will empower local authorities to deliver place-based, place sensitive action and unlock the high levels of local net zero ambition that we have across the UK. Unblocking the planning system and aligning it more closely with net zero will enable widespread pro-growth, net zero development" (p.189).
In our discussions with local councils, we often find strong aspirations to address the environmental agenda. To turn green aspirations into reality, we need city and town governments that are properly empowered and resourced to achieve this. One of our concerns is that while the local authorities in the towns and cities are positive about cooperating with central government to promote sustainable development, their capacity is limited by comparison with European counterparts such as Sweden, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, and Denmark. In consequence, the centralised approach to public governance in the UK has produced little "depth" to sustainable development by public authorities. Furthermore, we note that whilst may local authorities aspire to improve the environmental agenda, there is often a lack of specific or explicit connectivity to international targets, comparing less favourably to local authorities in other countries.
It is time to empower local government to become a powerful means of transformation of UK society, to give them much more fiscal autonomy, and to give them a strong mandate for sustainable development of cities and towns. This needs to be effective not just for the biggest cities, but also for smaller cities and towns where the capacity is sometimes more limited. Chris Skidmore's report has recognised many of these issues, we now need to break the mould and give local government the mandate, capacity and collaborative approach it needs to succeed.
Paul Joyce is an Inlogov associate. Paul has a PhD from London School of Economics and Political Science. His latest book is Strategic Management and Governance: Strategy Execution Around the World (Routledge, 6 June 2022). He is a Visiting Professor in Public Management at Leeds Beckett University.
Philip Whiteman and Jason Lowther are Inlogov staff members.
25/11/2022 / inlogov / Leave a comment
Jason Lowther
Everyone in or with links to the Institute of Local Government Studies was saddened this week to learn of the death of Professor John Stewart, who from 1966 developed Inlogov to focus on UK local government and made an enormous and lasting contribution to the development of local government, local governance and public administration scholarship over several decades.
I had the good fortune to meet John last year when, following the death of his wife, Councillor Theresa Stewart, he kindly offered his research library to the department. We had a lovely afternoon recalling the earlier days of Inlogov, developing the first courses, contributing to the insightful Layfield Commission on Financing Local Government, travelling all over the country to review training and development needs in hundreds of councils, and leading thinking on the sector through articles in both the scholarly and professional journals.
John was a strong advocate of local government as community leadership at the heart of a vibrant democracy – rather than a mindless channel of central government's directives or a mere provider of various local public services. He and his co-authors often led the thinking in key areas. In the 1970s, he promoted the development of corporate planning and management in local authorities bringing synergy to the various service areas. In the 1980s, he asserted the value of the public good in the face of New Public Management's push to convert public service into private consumption. He argued that developing Quangos for specific services was creating a late twentieth-century version of the fragmented local public service world of the Victorian era. In the 1990s, he challenged the narrow consumerist Citizen's Charter approach and instead asserted the importance of citizens' rights, participation and accountability.
In 2014, John published his reflections on the past four decades in local government. He argued that the problems facing the economy, society and the environment need effective local responses:
Local government can draw on its own and its citizens' ideas and aspirations, but this genuine localist approach cannot be achieved in fragmented and imperfectly accountable structures over-controlled by central government. The lesson of the last 40 years is the need for a learning government that welcomes diversity. All can learn from the relative successes and failures of diversity, whereas too often centralism builds uniformity from which all that may be learnt is general failure.
As well as research, John developed a strong teaching capacity in Inlogov. He created residential courses, held at Wast Hills House outside Birmingham, which had been given to the University by the Cadbury family. It was adapted as a residential facility with 25 bedrooms and a range of teaching rooms. These courses became the essential preparation for local government officers with ambitions to become chief executives. Much of the work on the courses was in small groups, which led to many lasting friendships between future senior local government officers and chief executives across the country – providing an essential support network for those in these tough roles. The Local Government Training / Management Board later commissioned John to visit almost all English local authorities and many in Scotland and Wales, assessing their capacity and recommending approaches to develop this further.
In addition to his remarkable 36-year writing partnership with LSE's late Professor George Jones, John nurtured and collaborated with successive generations of scholars including Bob Hinings, Royston Greenwood, Stewart Ranson, Rod Rhodes, Kieron Walsh, Chris Skelcher, Steve Leach and many more. A few weeks ago, I invited some of his former colleagues to contribute some reflections for a potential collection of some of John's works. I was delighted by the speed and warmth of the responses, typical examples including:
"John was the nation's teacher of local democracy. He was a remarkable man, a gifted and inspiring leader at the Institute and across local government"
"John Stewart was the most significant British thinker on local government in the last half of the twentieth century. He was the key influence on several generations of local government workers"
"He argued that the narrative that users of public services should be treated as self-interested customers ignored their role as citizens with a wider interest in the welfare of their community"
"His wonderful insight helped so many people to be massively more effective than many of us thought possible"
"The most negative thing I ever heard him say about an idea was 'I don't think we can make that a priority'"
"I've not known such intellect, such tolerance, generosity and encouragement from a mentor. This must have been the same for many who have come under his giant but gentle wings"
"John and George [Jones] formed a partnership whose writings proclaimed the case for local government for almost forty years. They were doomed, like Cassandra, to have their warnings ignored. But John's influence on the management of local authorities endures."
Outside his professional life, John was a loving husband, father and grand-father. Following his death this week, his grandson Henry published a lovely thread on Twitter outlining some of John's achievements and recollections from friends and colleagues.
It is immensely humbling to inherit the guardianship of one of John's creations, Inlogov. I will close with another quotation, from my colleague Emeritus Professor John Raine this week:
His legacy in shaping the policy and practice agenda of local government in the UK, as well as on the development and sustainment of INLOGOV as the premier research and teaching centre for local governance, will surely endure.
Jason Lowther, Director – Inlogov
Voter ID – in theory, practice and mirrors
Picture credit: https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/why-the-governments-mandatory-voter-id-plans-are-a-terrible-idea/
Chris Game
"ID cards for polls are nothing more than suppression of voters" – D Butler. I'd forgotten precisely when and where I first read this pronouncement – May 2021 in The Times, as it turned out – shortly after the Government's Elections Bill, now Act, was published. But I certainly remembered it.
Partly the phrasing, as personally I'd have gone for "nothing less than", if I was hoping to galvanise readers into outraged protest. The seriously striking bit, though, was obviously the author.
Since first becoming fascinated by elections and electoral studies – thanks initially to Prof Richard Rose at the Univ of Manchester, then the late Prof Tony King at Essex – there has only ever been one D Butler in that file of my academic consciousness. Populariser of the Greekish word 'psephology' for the study of elections, and original authority figure in the BBC's General Elections coverage: Nuffield College, Oxford's Sir David Butler, who died earlier this month, aged 98.
I knew him – distantly, but sufficiently to know he'd never have uttered anything resembling that strongly opinionated opening sentence – and, of course, 'twas not he. Rather, as I almost immediately realised, it was Dawn Butler: recent candidate for Deputy Labour Party Leader and, it so happens, MP for the London Brent constituency in which I first voted – shortly before she was born.
All of which might have excused a quickish blog return to the contentious Voter ID issue – within weeks of its last coverage – even if it hadn't once more been prominently in the news this past fortnight, with Parliament finally getting its first full sight of the Government's Voter Identification Regulations and the Electoral Reform Society leading the call for a parliamentary inquiry into its implementation.
The Elections Act requires voters, from next May, to produce photo ID at UK Parliamentary and most English local elections. And now, a mere six months or so later, we – and the local election officials required to implement them – finally have the Government's list of acceptable forms of ID and proposed guidelines governing initially next May's council elections: Coronation permitting, in most English councils – though not Birmingham, to save you checking.
The guidelines run to just the 344 pages, taking effect probably in January. Leaving already pressured election officials with minimal time (and as yet undetailed costs, beyond a 'ballpark' £180 million per decade) to process and issue electoral identity documents for those who gradually discover they don't have acceptable forms of photo ID. Plus the near certainty that at least some would-be, and quite likely upset, voters will be turned away at their polling stations – which could add to the fun for the small army of volunteer poll workers.
At which point I should indicate my personal viewpoint. Instinctively – and certainly predating Birmingham's own 2004 embarrassment of six Labour councillors getting elected through what was judicially described as a "massive, systematic and organised" postal voting fraud campaign – I've long broadly supported, in principle, stronger election integrity rules in general and photo voter ID specifically.
And I have recounted in these columns the reactions of some of my overseas students to the frankly casual ID confirmation procedures they've observed when accompanying me to the polling station. Their surprise at the staff's indifference to whether I've brought my poll card identification; and almost shock as I 'helpfully' point on the register to what I claim is my name and address.
So why my support in principle for photographic ID – as well as nowadays that of a substantial majority of voters themselves and the conditional backing of the independent Electoral Commission? Simples! Elections are the engines of our democratic system. They should be seen by all as important, and that perceived importance is diminished by not having visibly more robust voter identification procedures – like virtually all other 'democratic' nations.
On the Crime Prevention Research Center's database of Europe's nearly 50 such countries, "only the United Kingdom" does not require government-issued photo voter ID to vote in national elections.
Correction! Not the UK, just GB. Northern Ireland introduced voter ID nearly 20 years ago, and now has numerous forms of acceptable photographic ID – including, as well as passports and driving licences, a free Electoral Identity Card, plus senior, disabled and blind persons' 'SmartPasses'.
Since when, the Electoral Commission has found that, far from prompting polling day protest riots, voters' confidence that elections are well-run has steadily increased to at least match the levels in other UK regions[1]. The demonstrable message has been not that we elsewhere in the UK are uniquely virtuous and trustworthy – though even Ministers concede that fraud levels are minimal, if not invariably seen as such. Rather, it's that for us – and successive Governments – voting has been seen as less big a deal than, say, collecting a parcel at a post office.
Until now, that is, following a decade of quite dramatic change in the voting behaviour of particularly our 18 to 24-year-olds. Their turnouts are invariably lower than the average, but still high enough to hurt. In the 2010 General Election these mostly fledgling voters split equally across the Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dems, roughly 30% for each. By 2019, almost overlooked in the Conservatives' overwhelming win, it was Labour 52%, Conservatives 28%, Lib Dems 11%.
That's what evidently prompted the rush – not 'personation' or fraud, which for polling station voting are acknowledged as negligible. Rather, a possible early General Election campaign in which the Conservatives don't start way ahead of the field. It also explains why the apparently generous range of 21 acceptable forms of ID is clearly weighted towards the better paid and over-60s. Older Person's Bus Pass, Oyster 60+ card, Freedom Pass (66+), Scottish National Entitlement Card (60+), etc. – all welcome. Those particularly applicable to younger people, like Student ID cards or Railcards, remain "unacceptable", as in the original legislation.
Yes, as in Northern Ireland, free 'Voter Authority Certificates' will be available – including online – and a public awareness campaign will remind you and your selfie to apply in time. And no, none of this remotely approaches the legalised voter suppression we saw in some of this November's American state elections. But – to coin a dreadful cliché – it's from the same partisan playbook.
As are the £1.3 million-worth of 40,000 mirrors and privacy screens – one of each per polling station – that desperately cash-strapped councils must provide to check on would-be voters with religious face coverings. But they may well prove worth a blog of their own sometime before next May.
A slightly publisher-edited version of this blog appeared in The Birmingham Post, 17th November – https://www.pressreader.com/uk/birmingham-post/20221117/textview
[1] Examples from the Electoral Commission's 'Winter Tracker', Jan/Feb 2022:
"Elections are affected by fraud/corruption?" Total agree: 37%; W Midlands 37%; NI 30%.
Those "not confident that elections are well run: Some people have difficulties registering to vote":
Total agree: 20%; W Midlands 18%; NI 10%.
Chris Game is an INLOGOV Associate, and Visiting Professor at Kwansei Gakuin University, Osaka, Japan. He is joint-author (with Professor David Wilson) of the successive editions of Local Government in the United Kingdom, and a regular columnist for The Birmingham Post.
Integrated Care Boards – a new frontline in localism?
As the government once again kicks down the road decisions on vital reforms and funding for social care, local areas are establishing the Integrated Care Boards which will lead the new Integrated Care Systems (ICS), bringing together the NHS, local government and partners to plan and deliver integrated services to improve the health of the local population. Building on the progress made since many public health responsibilities transferred back to local government in 2013, this is a great opportunity to address the determinants of health and issues around health inequality. Might ICSs at last lead to an effective local voice in our over-centralised, top-down healthcare system?
Each ICS is supposed to plan at three levels: the neighbourhood (an area of around 40,000 people), the 'place' (often a LA area), and the (ICS) system (covering around 2 million people). Working at the neighbourhood level is likely to be somewhat informal, often using a social prescribing approach and developing multi-disciplinary teams including third sector partners. The approach to 'place' looks set to vary between areas, with some ICSs devolving significant responsibility (and funding) whilst others centralise these at 'system' level. Meanwhile at 'ICS system' level, Integrated Care Partnerships (joint LA and health committees) will develop an Integrated Care Strategy to meet the assessed health and social care needs of their population identified in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and Wellbeing Strategies prepared by local Health and Wellbeing Boards.
Beyond the formal planning process, the success of local ICSs will partly depend on the quality of local collaborative (managerial and political) leadership – across statutory partners and with the third sector. It will be a tough job to balance the priorities of the national health service and issues of local places, but many local authorities will be able to offer helpful experience , for example from moves to more networked governance approaches.
The National Audit Office recognises the potential but appears dubious on current prospects. Last month it published a review, Introducing Integrated Care Systems: joining up local services to improve health outcomes, finding:
"NHSE has a detailed regime to monitor performance against core NHS objectives but … it is less clear who will monitor the overall performance of local systems, and particularly how well partners are working together and what difference this new model makes…"
The report notes that, whilst government is asking ICSs to set out local priorities and make progress against them, there is no protected funding and few mechanisms to ensure this happens. This leads, as the NAO politely puts it, to "a risk that national priorities, and the rigorous oversight mechanisms in place to ensure they are delivered, crowd out attempts at progress on local issues". The report also identifies five "high risk" elements of effective integration: clarity of objectives, resourcing, governance and accountability (such as how ICSs will function alongside existing local government Health and Wellbeing Boards and how accountability differences between NHS and local authority bodies will be resolved), and the capacity to balance priorities other than national NHS targets. These urgently need to be addressed if ICSs are to begin to meet their potential.
At one of Inlogov's "Brown Bag Lunch" discussions earlier this month we agreed on the importance of issues around how ICSs develop, particularly in terms of developing effective system leadership and planning, collaborating with community organisations, and links to wider devolution processes. I'd be interested to hear about experiences in local areas as these develop.
Jason Lowther is the Director of INLOGOV. His research focuses on public service reform and the use of "evidence" by public agencies. Previously he worked with West Midlands Combined Authority, led Birmingham City Council's corporate strategy function, worked for the Audit Commission as national value for money lead, for HSBC in credit and risk management, and for the Metropolitan Police as an internal management consultant. He tweets as @jasonlowther
Picture credit: National Audit Office
Are councillors safe? #DebateNotHate
Earlier this summer the Press Association reported an attack on an Edinburgh Councillor who was said to be very shaken up after he was confronted by a man he reported as 'hurling verbal abuse' at him as he was delivering leaflets in his ward at about 11.10am on Sunday, continuing 'he then put his hand up to my throat and he then pushed the leaflet down the top of my shirt' (PA Newswire: Scotland, 7 August 2022). This isn't an isolated incident, although media and government attention has often been focused on threats to British MPs, such as the tragic murder of Jo Cox, and violent conflicts in the USA.
The LGA submitted evidence to the 2019 House of Commons review of intimidation in public life, giving several examples of the intimidation of councillors including:
A Sandwell councillor's car was forced off the road, and the authority used a court injunction to stop an abuser approaching two councillors.
A young female Conservative councillor decided not to stand for election again, citing the abuse she faced.
A disabled former council leader stayed away from a council meeting because he feared for his safety.
Abusive messages were sent to an Isle of Wight councillor's daughter in the run up to a controversial decision.
The 2017 review of Intimidation in Public Life by the Committee on Standards in Public Life made recommendations to government, social media companies, political parties, the police, and others about the measures needed to deal with intimidation, which the Committee described as 'a threat to the very nature of representative democracy in the UK'. Three years on, the Dec 2020 progress report welcomed greater protections by social media companies, whilst noting the companies had still not enabled users to escalate potential illegal content online to the police. All of the Westminster political parties have established Codes of Conduct that explicitly prohibit bullying, harassment and unlawful discrimination and some (the Labour Party, the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party) have signed the joint statement of conduct against intimidation.
Just over a year ago, LGA Labour Group leader Cllr Nick Forbes called for a 'zero-tolerance approach' to the harassment of councillors and a 'change in the law to protect us' (Municipal Journal, 21 October 2021). He recalled abuse over social media and dog mess being put through his door. At the same meeting of the LGA's executive advisory board, LGA deputy chair, Cllr Tudor Evans, who has been subject to a death threat, said: "we can't tolerate this anymore". The meeting received a report which recommended a campaign focused on detoxifying public political discourse and improving the response to unacceptable behaviour, as well as developing a code of conduct for councillors.
Some guidance and support is available. The LGA has published advice for councillors on handling intimidation, which it defines as "words and/or behaviour intended or likely to block or deter participation in public debate, which could lead to an individual wanting to withdraw from public life". The guidance includes the organisation of ward surgeries, such as avoiding holding solo surgeries in otherwise empty buildings, advice on home security, managing social media contact, and how to handle visitors to the councillor's home address. There's also useful advice for councils on how they can support councillor safety.
But more needs to be done. It is never acceptable for councillors to have to choose between feeling safe and serving their community. It's wrong that social media companies don't facilitate reporting to the police. All political parties should be signed up to conduct against intimidation. All councils should be reviewing the LGA advice to ensure their elected members are as safe as possible, and government should provide funding for the necessary security measures. As the Committee on Standards in Public Life concluded in a blog on progress since their report: "Intimidation and abuse have no place in a healthy democracy".
Picture credit: guystuffcounseling.com/
Is Government Giving Value For Money?
When money is short, how we spend it becomes even more important. As central government reheats its arguments for austerity following the chaos of the last few weeks, I've been reflecting on the contents of the 2021 budget (just a year ago). The 2021 budget set out not just spending plans, but also a souped up approach to measuring outcomes and cost-effectiveness of government spending. How are these playing out, and will they survive the No 10 merry-go-round?
Rishi Sunak, then eight months into the job as Chancellor, noted that government borrowing was relatively high after the pandemic, warned of the public finances' exposure to rises in interest rates, and outlined how spending was being linked to the delivery of outcomes alongside across the board 'efficiency savings':
The fiscal impact of a one percentage point rise in interest rates in the next year would be six times greater than it was just before the financial crisis, and almost twice what it was before the pandemic…
Decisions have been based on how spending will contribute to the delivery of each department's priority outcomes, underpinned by high-quality evidence. The government has also taken further action to drive out inefficiency; SR21 confirms savings of 5% against day-to-day central departmental budgets in 2024-25. (page 2)
The "priority outcomes" are the latest in a long line of attempts to prod government spending into delivering effectively on political priorities, rather than blindly increasing/decreasing by x % compared to last year. A 2019 report from the Institute for Government helpfully outlines many of these earlier initiatives (summary from the House of Commons Library) including:
"Scrutiny programmes" and the Financial Management Initiative (FMI), introduced under Thatcher.
The Cabinet Office and Treasury set up the Financial Management Unit (FMU) in 1982 to help with creating plans under the FMI.
The "Next Steps" report, published in 1988, which recommended the establishment of executive agencies to carry out the executive functions of government.
Tony Blair's administration developed a greater focus on performance targets and Public Service Agreements (PSAs) which put these targets on a formal basis.
In 2001, Blair's government also set up the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit (PMDU), which was intended to coordinate PSAs and bring them under more central control.
Under the coalition government in 2010-15, PSAs were abolished and replaced with Departmental Business Plans (DBPs). These shifted the focus from targets to actions – in other words, they listed what each department would do and by when, rather than what they sought to achieve.
Under the Conservative government in 2016, DBPs were renamed to Single Departmental Plans (SDPs), which were themselves renamed to Outcome Delivery Plans (ODPs) in 2021. According to the NAO, SDPs (and by extension, ODPs) are supposed to be "comprehensive, costed business plans".
As well as having to write down what outcomes they want to achieve, and how they will know whether that is happening, under the SDP system departments were also required "to assess progress in delivering their priority outcomes [and] … share regular performance reports with HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office".
In the 2021 spending review, the departmental outcomes were spruced up to reflect the (now last-but-one) PM's five priorities of levelling up; net zero; education, jobs and skills; recovering the NHS; and reducing the volume and harm of crime.
This blog's audience may be interested in "Where does local government fit in this compendium of key priorities?" The answer is a little depressing: on the last line of the last page (page 30 of 33), just before the devolved government departments. The relevant outcome is inspiring enough: "A sustainable and resilient local government sector that delivers priority services and helps build more empowered and integrated communities", albeit with the reassuringly non-SMART measure that "the department will provide narrative reporting on progress for this outcome". Of course I exaggerate, because local government has critical inputs to very many of the earlier outcomes too, but it's hard not to conclude that local services and communities were not yet at the top of the ministerial attention list.
Will the "priority outcomes" survive the whirlwind of ministerial movements and unforced economic missteps? After the last seven weeks, I'm not going to make predictions – but we should know in the next month, and alongside the financial figures they could be our best hint yet on where a Sunak government is heading.
Picture credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du_6mRV8Hm8


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A Spanish Court Is Forcing This Bisexual Man to Pay His Ex-Wife for 'Hiding His Sexuality'
Written by Stephan Horbelt on November 6, 2020
This post is also available in: Español ไทย
A shocking court case out of Valencia, Spain, has in effect cemented "bi erasure," conflating people who are attracted to more than one gender as in essence 'really just gay.' Even worse, this recent bisexuality court case has resulted in a cash payout for the ex-wife of a Spanish attorney and activist — truly ridiculous.
Javier Vilalta has said he was "perplexed" when he was served with a lawsuit from his ex-wife, who he had amicably divorced a decade prior. She was suing him for hiding "his true sexual condition" from her, according to the suit.
After a three-month case, the court ordered Vilalta to pay his wife a hefty sum for each year they were married for having "deliberately hidden" his homosexuality. Let's be clear, though, he's not homosexual. How sad and unfortunate that in 2020 there are people who still don't understand the concept of bisexuality, let alone try to cement bi erasure into law as a judge.
Vilalta has said about this bisexuality court case (translated from Spanish), "The trial has been shameful, and the sentence was a slap in the face. But, beyond the lawsuit and the sentence, we must remember that we are talking about a person with whom I have had a relationship from 16 to 34 years old. … When I got married I was heterosexual, I want this to be very clear. That's how I felt. As a result of my divorce, I had doubts about my personality and with a therapist I discovered that I was bisexual. And this I told my ex-wife in 2016."
Javier Vilalta, who was sued as part of this bisexuality court case. (Photo by Eva Máñez)
Vilalta's wife, reportedly, was told by her friends last year that her ex-husband had likely always been homosexual, which prompted her to file the lawsuit. She alleges that she would have never married him had she known about his true sexuality, and for that asked to be compensated 10,000 euros for "economic and moral damages."
The potential chilling effect of a decision like this, which Vilalta has himself acknowledged, is that more people will be afraid to 'come out of the closet' if in the past they were in a seemingly heterosexual relationship.
But Vilalta is correct: No one is obligated to reveal their sexual history or identity to anyone, including a partner, and such an obligation being enshrined in law is laughably foolish. Moreover, sexual identity for many people — most especially queer people — is something that evolves over time, as in the instance of this bisexual court case.
But lest we become too disheartened, Vilalta's case — and its resulting bi erasure — isn't finished quite yet, as the Spanish activist has decided to appeal the ruling and monetary judgment. He's said he wants to make sure this "does not happen to anyone again."
What are your thoughts on this bisexuality court case? Are you as confused as we are that bi erasure still exists in 2020?
Featured photo courtesy Getty Images
bisexuality lawsuits Spain
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The people of Greencastle in Donegal were shocked to hear yesterday that the beach below the town will soon no longer be in the EU. NI Secretary of State James Brokenshire told the Commons that the UK's formal position is still that the whole of Lough Foyle is within British territorial waters, presumably up to the high water mark on the Donegal shore. In the days of empire, of course, Lord Palmerston would have dispatched a gunboat or two to settle this sort of dispute. Come to think of it, it's not that long ago they had one in Carlingford Lough, which they presumably also claim even like Lough Foyle there is an international border running down the middle.


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North Carolina Central holds off Gardner-Webb in nonconference nail-biter
Eagles were able to force the Runnin' Bulldogs into a turnover in the final seconds to come away with a narrow 72-71 win.
Photo: North Carolina Central Athletics
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central and Gardner-Webb battled all the way to the wire, but the Eagles were able to force the Runnin' Bulldogs into a turnover in the final seconds to come away with a narrow 72-71 win at home inside of McDougald-McLendon Arena.
Both NCCU (5-7) and G-WU (4-7) got off to slow starts, but once the teams got going, they set the stage for a fantastic game. The contest was knotted twice and saw the lead change hands five times; including three lead changes in the second period. The Eagles built up a nine-point lead in the first half, but then the Runnin' Bulldogs rattled off a 12-point streak to take the lead, and hold on to it on the way to a 30-28 advantage at the midway point.
G-WU built that cushion up to six points before NCCU pulled together an 11-point sprint of its own, and eventually led by 10 at 55-45, with a little under 10 minutes remaining. Both teams shot over 50 percent from the floor in the second half, but G-WU made its difference from the perimeter with six three-pointers. D'Maurian Williams knocked down three of those, including a few difficult shots to help the Runnin' Bulldogs continually shave down the 10-point Eagle lead down to just a single point with seconds remaining.
The Eagles were sent to the free-throw line with eight seconds remaining, but G-WU came away with the rebound after the missed attempts. The Runnin' Bulldogs had one final chance to snag the win, but a critical turnover allowed the Eagles to escape with the dramatic 72-71 win.
Kris Monroe built on his MEAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week performance against Carver with a new season-high of 17 points, as one of four Eagles to reach double-digits. Justin Wright put in 10 points for the fourth time this season, joined by Dontavius King with 10 points and nine rebounds, and Randy Miller Jr. with 10 points.
Williams finished with 14 points and five boards for G-WU, right behind Jordan Sears with a team-best 15 points and game-high six assists.
Courtesy: North Carolina Central Athletics
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Home » Blogs » nandi's blog » Do You Know How the Dinosaurs Look? Scientists Present the Most Accurate Reconstruction
Do You Know How the Dinosaurs Look? Scientists Present the Most Accurate Reconstruction
What do you know about dinasaurs? Are they new to our planet? How the dinosaurs looked like?
Do you how dinosaurs looked like in the ancient times? Well, it was only a few millions years ago, and most of us should remember, right? Unfortunately, new discoveries provide us the information that we were wrong mostly about dinosaurs. Recently forty researches from various institutes of the world were amazed at new dinosaurs. These forty men with doctorate degrees were staring at the new version like children in a candy shop. Paleontologists and paparazzi couldn`t miss a chance of gathering and snapping a new creature standing in front of them. They couldn`t hide excitement with all their approving nodes and discussing the matter.
From the first glance to the dinosaur, it looked like a Frankenstein monster. Only the fiction monster was created out from the bodies of the humans, this on represents a synthesis of reptile and birds. Some people may find the resemblance of the monster with a turkey or parrot. Especially, the parrot-like face. Nevertheless, this parrot was certainly dangerous as it could harm you not only with words. Scientists gathered to look at this miracle of nature to understand the nature of evolution process. Nevertheless, some research couldn`t hide their curiosity by touching bristles erupted from the tail of the creature.
Paleoartist Bob Nicholls presented this new creature. His genius mind could construct the new type of reconstruction of Psittacosaurus. Scientist and regular people saw dinosaurs before, so what is the new with this version of died ancient creature? Nevertheless, the reconstruction of Psittacosaurus is claimed the most accurate for the whole history of paleontology. It connects almost all pointy features of the old creature. Bob Nicholls based his reconstruction on the studies of Dr. Jacob Vinther from the University of Bristol in the UK. The discoveries of this scientist in China helped the paleoartist create the most accurate version of the dinosaur.
If you did not know much about dinosaurs or you don`t have a whimsy child who helps you get some information about the ancient creatures, then you would need to be answered in some FAQ. Psittacosaurus fossil (the fossil which helped to reconstruct the Psittacosaurus) can be found in the most of Asia, particularly in China and Mongolia. One of the distinct features of Psittacosaurus is its large brain. The dinosaur lived around 100 million years ago, but the size of the brain can also suggest that it was one of the smartest dinosaurs.
This specimen was held and researched at the Senkenberg Museum in Frankfurt. The lead research group in the studying of the dinosaur was Vintner's team. The complete skeleton of Psittacosaurus was delivered to the facility from China for complete studying of the matter. Now it`s stored in Frankfurt in one of the most secured fossil deposits in the whole world. This storage place is called Lagerstätte. This storage is famous for reasons of researches and containing large deposits of fur, stomach, skin, feathers and bodies of different ancient animals. Nevertheless, even among these fantastic creatures, the Psittacosaurus is a star, especially with preserved cloaca.
Vintner's team are no strangers to the storage in Frankfurt. Vinther is a famous scientist – paleontologist, especially with its last discoveries of Sirius Passet in Greenland. In the paleontology science, his name becomes a synonymous of fossil pigments studying. He was the leader in studying of fossil remnants from various parts of the world, like Brazil, China, and Germany. He managed to travel in almost all parts of our small planet to make discoveries out of the little remnants, like ancient squid ink or avian dinosaurs feathers. This man can be named a rock-star of paleontology in some way.
It`s no secret that there were studies of the Psittacosaurus before. Nevertheless, the Vintner's team was the first one who approached to the studying in a more quantitate way. They managed to reconstruct the accurate pigments of the skin. They approached the researching of the remnants with X-rays and highlight fluorescent materials to create an accurate version of the dinosaur's skin. They used electron microscopes to find parts of melanosomes. This hardly to pronounce word`s meaning defines as the structure of pigments gathered in skin and skin cells. Therefore, from "Ashes," they managed to create a 3-D version on the computer of Psittacosaurus. That was the time for Robert Nicholls to came in the game.
Robert Nicholls is based in Bristol, and he is famously known for his artworks with dinosaurs' recreation. His vivid artworks in Paleontology are famous in the world of science. His portfolio works can be seen in various famous channels on TV, like National Geographic and BBC. Various museums have the honor to show his artworks. He breathes a new life into a prehistoric world with his art creations. Moreover, he does not lack a sense of humor; you may know his necks are acting like rods of lightning from a sauropod, and especially famous dinosaur suffering from dysentery. Robert Nicholls have his vivid vision the prehistory world.
In one of his interviews, where he tried to remember when he had started his work with dinosaurs, he pointed at the childhood. We all liked drawing dinosaurs in childhood, but rarely one of us could imagine this kind of hobby like a profession. Nevertheless, Robert Nicholls was one of the guys who decided to continue drawing dinosaurs as a full grown man. In the question about Psittacosaurus, he managed to get some information about this kind of creature from Jakob. One phone call was enough to get the interest of the artist in work with Psittacosaurus. Therefore, now we have the most accurate model of this dinosaur.
The reconstruction process took around three months of work, but it was the very culmination of the process of recreating as there was no turn back. In the very basis, it was needed to create a fiberglass model. Nicholls firstly created a frame made of steel and with using of polystyrene and wire mesh bulked the whole construction. It was a necessary process, before sculpting the model in clay. That was the exact point when the figure comes to life with adding skin features, wrinkles, horns, and beaks. The master mold was created out of this sculpture. Therefore, it allowed Nicholls to paint the fiberglass model.
What is so special for Nicholls in creating this sculpture? For him, it`s an unusually large head with pigment clusters, robust limbs, skin flaps, and highly pigmented cloaca. Nevertheless, this features supported the idea of the most accurate feature of the dinosaur in the whole world. For Nicholls, the whole surprise was the anatomy of the creature, especially with cloaca. Still, these features can be complete evidence of the most exclusive dinosaur pattern in the world. Therefore, it was needed to be created and showed to the public. Nicholls was the only master who could create such a creature in a three-month period.
The Psittacosaurus recent researches showed more than mere deep skin pigments. The dinosaur takes its name from the Psittacines, in other words – parrots. This ancient creator was an ancestor of these smart little birds. Nevertheless, it`s still questionable. In 2010 a paleontologist Paul Sereno argued the parrot-like patterns of the Psittacosaurus, he stated that this dinosaur is an ancestor not only to parrots but the whole group of birds. Nevertheless, his statements were discussed once later with the new discovery of muscle types of parrots and the Psittacosaurus which are not seen in every other bird or reptile.
Still, more scientist can argue the family connection between Psittacosaurus and parrots. Adam Taylor from the University of Bristol argued the statement of the similarity of muscle types of these family members. Moreover, he seems to argue The Anatomical Record of the creature. Adam Taylor states that the too soft facial features of the dinosaur are taken so far. His team modeled a different type of the dinosaur. With using a new method of engineering which is called finite element analysis FEA, they managed to test the skull of the bird-like dinosaur during the feeding. Therefore, they could see that the muscles during feeding process act not similar to parrots.
Nevertheless, the Psittacosaurus may not be a creature which has a resemblance with a dazzling parrot of the Mesozoic era, but Vintner's team still made a discovery by revealing so many features of the prehistoric creature. These detailed studies of the Psittacosaurus showed us how these creatures lived, who were their natural enemies and the food they ate. Moreover, scientists can analyze the lifestyle of that animals with modern animals to see some resemblance of the ancestors and their modern offsprings. The complete study of the Psittacosaurus can show some distinct patterns of lifestyle in the whole family group of gazelles in African's Savanah.
According to recent studies, the Psittacosaurus lifestyle was more like gazelles in African's Savanah. They could dwell in open space, moreover, like gazelles, the Psittacosaurus had darker backs and lighter bellies. This ancient dinosaur had something called countershading, the ability to blend in the environment. It means that they were perfect masters of leaving the danger when it was needed and blend with the environment. People also have the same patterns in modern military and hunting equipment. Of course, they were made by hands of people, not by design of Nature, but people can learn from Nature and continue learning.
According to Vinther, the coloration can show the scientist a dynamic between prey and predators. It`s an important strategy regarding victims and hunters in the modern world. How it was possible that they distinguished so differently is still a secret for lots of scientists. It`s still unclear why they managed to develop in some or another way. Nevertheless, the remnants of the Psittacosaurus and other creatures of that period can give the answer to the scientists. Why preys got his pigmentations with more like terrain scale, while predators have a completely other pigmentation. What was the whim of nature to act like this in some manner?
The Psittacosaurus skin was examined several times during researches. The scientist tried to play with a different pattern of possible skin color and shapes for this creature. Nevertheless, this kind creature had not only a specific skin color but also shades of this color, which helped him blink on the sun in some manner. Therefore, the predators could notice it from the distance or be blinded by the sun from the skin of Psittacosaurus. Vinther tried to examine this kind of patterns of the animal by laying the gray model without patterns, to understand how shadows fall on the body of the dinosaur.
This photographed light diffusion provided by the paleontologist helped to reconstruct the exact model of the Psittacosaurus and also provide a skin model for the exact dinosaur. This fossil can provide some images and patterns of life of this magnificent creature. Nevertheless, even with a whole model of the dinosaur created by a paleontologist artist, the humanity still has a little understanding of life not only this specific creature but the whole Era where it lived. Therefore, you can expect a lot of studying in the further years.
There are still interesting facts about this Psittacosaurus. It had feathers and supposedly could dwell not only on the ground but also on the trees, like birds. It couldn`t fly obviously but still desired to create some manner of flying in other modern birds. The camouflage pigmentation on the body could provide some manners for protection, but not for the whole. There was still opened mouth features for this type of animals, which might have been the main spot for predators. Nevertheless, it helped the Psittacosaurus to chew food they needed.
The scientists like Vinther and his team does not desire to stay on this level of studying of the Psittacosaurus. It seems that the dinosaur has some connection with modern parrots and gazelles, but there is a still clear not understanding of how it should work. There are a lot of evidence that there may be similarities to both of these creatures. Nevertheless, there is still some doubts about the Psittacosaurus being one of those creatures' ancestors. The main problem, for now, is the type of their jaw muscles. They might be similar to a parrot, but still, it`s not enough to prove their relatives' connection.
Vinther and his team are no strangers to scavenging discoveries out of the fossil. The research work made by the team of scientists and especially the work of the most accurate version of the Psittacosaurus may show people the real understanding of dinosaurs. Moreover, the discovery of Nicholls shows that now that day when every paleontologist could create some colors for the dinosaurs is gone. There are many pieces of evidence of colors of dinosaurs. The new age of technology showed the importance of colors for everyone in this matter. Therefore, Nicholls can clearly look to the bright future side of the question.
So, what is for Vinther? After his travels and his work with the Psittacosaurus, what should we expect next? According to his words, he would still continue working with ancient creatures. His next target is mammals from Messel period of our history. Nevertheless, it does not mean that he would live his work with dinosaurs. There are a lot to do with these majestic creatures.
So, when your child asks you about the most accurate dinosaur model, you can show them the picture of the Psittacosaurus, which is the most actual model for dinosaurs.
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Just a few short weeks after being forced to cancel an entire leg of touring, British sensation Adele has officially been released to return to singing live again. We hear the singer is excited about making the trek planned for the U.S., which was canceled when Adele began suffering from a random case of laryngitis.
For more information on the story and to check out upcoming tour dates, visit the links provided below. Share your thoughts with us below on the message board via your Twitter or Facebook profiles.
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