The ability to discern and understand distinctions is one of the first steps to wisdom. As we grow our ability to fine tune these distinctions helps us get to the essence of who we are and how we live. Differences though are only meaningful when viewed in contrast to similarities. For example to discribe a person as not being a girrafe is not very insightful. It is only when we compare that person to other people that we begin to see meaningful distinctions. If we could find a person's twin and then explain how they are different we would have exposed the very essence of who each one is individually and what makes them unique. This is demonstrated in the Torah when Jacob dressed up as Esav. Prior to that point the distinctions between the two were very external and somewhat superficial. Esav was red and hairy and Jacob was not. Jacob was a sheperd while Esav was a hunter. It is only when Jacob disguised himself as Esav and they externally looked alike that the Torah gives us insight as to what really distinguishes Jacob from Esav. The Torah states, quoting Isaac their father, "the voice is the voice of Jacob while the hands are the hands of Esav". Jacob's essence is through his words, through his ability to articulate his thoughts and wisdom while Esav is interested in conquering and building.
This same process can help us understand what Passover is all about and the true essence of freedom. There is an extreme similarity that exists between freedom and slavery. This is apparent with the central symbol of Passover; the matzoh. Isn't it incredibly ironic that the way we celebrate freedom is by eating the bread of slavery and affliction? Granted we would want to acknowledge the experience of slavery during our celebration to ensure we maintain the proper appreciation. Nonetheless, shouldn't the eating of the bitter herbs on the seder night alone suffice? Why not simply eat the matzoh on that first night with the marror and the remainder of the holiday indulge in the rich fluffy leavened challahs? However, the truth is that the matzoh is the very symbol of freedom. This can clearly be seen by the fact that we are required to lean when we eat the matzoh in contrast to the eating of the bitter herbs. How can matzoh be both the reminder of slavery as well as an expression of freedom?
The movie Shawshank Redemption shows us just how slavery and freedom appear almost identical. The character Andy Dufrane is wrongly imprisoned for the murder of his wife yet remains quite free from the confines of prison. Morgan Freeman's Red on the other hand is truly enslaved by the institutionalized existence even though he has established an ability to bypass the rules and regulations. In one very poignant scene Andy is placed in isolation and explains that it was the easiest time yet because he had his "music" with him. His music was his connection to his identity and awareness that he defines who he is and no external limitations can take that away. That is real freedom; the ability to not allow external forces nor our egos to dictate who we are.
In Chapters of the Fathers it states that there is no free person other than one that is involved in the Torah. On the surface this seems quite strange since the Torah mandates every aspect of our lives. If Freedom is the ability to live without mandates then the Torah is the furthest thing from freedom. However in order to be free we must know what it is we want to do with our freedom. That is because freedom is the ability to choose, not the escape from choice. Freedom is having the clarity to know what it is that we want to accomplish and having the ability to do so. Freedom is being aware of our potential and living up to that responsibility. Freedom is being driven to achieve. Freedom is actually choosing what we wish to be a slave to.
It is for this reason that matzoh is the same bread for both slavery and freedom. Matzoh is the bread of slavery when we are subjected to the mandates of Egypt and Pharaoh. That same bread becomes the symbol of freedom when we choose to live by the moral standards of the Torah. Both are a result of a lack of time. One is a lack of time stolen from us against our will, the other is a lack of time to waste being idle. Both the slave and the free person are therefore driven. The difference between freedom and slavery is that even though they are both very driven; one is driven and forced by the whims of something holding us back. We could just as easily be a slave to our laziness and desires as we are to the dictatorship standards of society. On the other hand a free person is driven for greatness. One who is free has no time to waste. The choice to be free is the choice Andy Dufrane so aptly stated; "get busy living or get busy dying".


text:
Bühl je část německého města Tübingen v Bádensku-Württembersku. Nachází se na okraji města, jihozápadně od centra a má 2194 obyvatel (2010).

Poloha
Městská část se nachází v údolí řeky Neckar pod Wurmlingenskou kaplí, 6 km jihozápadně od centra města a 4 km východně od města Rottenburg am Neckar poblíž dálnice A 81 Singen-Stuttgart.

Pamětihodnosti
 Historické jádro vesnice
 Renesanční zámek
 Chráněná přírodní rezervace Bühlertal
 Selské muzeum

Externí odkazy

 Bühl na www.tuebingen.de

Tübingen
Vesnice v Bádensku-Württembersku

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


This manual is written for midwives and doctors at the district hospital level who are responsible for the care of women with complications of pregnancy, childbirth or the immediate postpartum period, including immediate problems of the newborn. The publication is available online in English and French, and can be downloaded as a "PDF" file in English, French, and Spanish by clicking on the appropriate link below.
This pocket-sized booklet is designed to help the health care provider in a Type 1 health post recognize and respond to obstetric emergencies. The goal of emergency obstetric Publication Covercare at the health post level is to diagnose the problem, stabilize the woman, and arrange for transport to the nearest facility capable of managing and treating the complication.
The Quick Reference Guide is based on the World Health Organization manual Managing Complications in Pregnancy and Childbirth: A Guide for Midwives and Doctors. The first section of the Guide deals with responding to an emergency using rapid initial assessments; the next section presents diagnosis and management according to symptom; the Appendices include information on active management of the third stage of labor, essential drugs and supplies, infection prevention and guidelines for procedures. (2003) Available in English, French and Spanish.
Publication CoverB. Kinzie, P. Gomez, R. Chase. JHPIEGO Corporation, 2004.
This reference manual is intended for use by skilled providers (including midwives, doctors and nurses)—working in low-resource settings at any level of the health care system or in homes—who care for women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, and for newborns. Although the BMNC's emphasis is on supporting and maintaining the health of the woman and her baby, the manual recognizes that all childbearing women and newborns are at risk of developing life-threatening complications.
The aim of Pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and newborn care guide for essential practice (PCPNC) is to provide evidence-based recommendations to guide health care professionals in the management of women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, and post abortion, and newborns during their first week of life.
All recommendations are for skilled attendants working at the primary level of health care, either at the facility or in the community. They apply to all women attending antenatal care, in delivery, postpartum or post abortion care, or who come for emergency care, and to all newborns at birth and during the first week of life (or later) for routine and emergency care.
The PCPNC is a guide for clinical decision-making. It facilitates the collection, analysis, classification and use of relevant information by suggesting key questions, essential observations and/or examinations, and recommending appropriate research-based interventions. It promotes the early detection of complications and the initiation of early and appropriate treatment, including timely referral, if necessary.
The publication is available online in English and French, and can be downloaded as a "PDF" file in English and French by clicking on the appropriate link below.


Android Library to handle SharedPreferences boilerplate code and other tools.
An easier way to use and consolidate preference in your Android project.
It's best to set up a way to ensure only one instance of each preference will be available in your application. This can best be done by using Dagger, but can also be done with an overridden Application class.
This little tool generates wrappers for your SharedPreferences, so you can benefit from compile time verification and code completion in your IDE. You also get nice singletons for free.
Android annotation based SharedPreferences wrapper with fluent interface.
Complex Preferences is a component to android that allows the developers put objects and complex objects in SharedPreferences. Gson (Google Json Library) is used internally to persist objects.
Easy way to handle shared preferences.
A small library containing a wrapper/helper for the shared preferences of Android.
A easy way of using Android SharedPreferences.
Secure and easy storage for Android.
Preference subclass that goes into your PreferenceFragment.


Author: Guita T. Gopalan, Managing Director, Colayco Foundation, the first, the most experienced and the most effective in teaching personal finance to Filipinos. This is her first guest post. Most importantly, be realistic with yourself about how much time you can devote to your new business. Finding the right match isn?t all that difficult once you thoroughly consider your options.
5.	Offer your customers a vacation from winter with luxury loyalty gifts. Also added to the package is the ability for anyone to get started on a 14-day trial for only $2. This makes building your business a breeze, as the excuse of "I don't have the money" is virtually eliminated.
Additionally, paid inclusion spiders will go back to your pages often, sometimes even daily. It can feel confusing and overwhelming when something as serious as a wage garnishment presents itself, but there are financial professionals who specialize in helping people sort out their financial problems. Let?s discuss a few. Is the new connection to furnished apartments in New York City provided by Silverstein Properties.
That brings us to the next level in the food chain. With insurance premiums skyrocketing one of the capital reasons for this is; all the uninsured nationality who have to gate freebie or despondent charge medical services.
– Start planning your home based business ? Visit for information about our books, seminars and free financial advice. Be aware that if you have no incoming links to your pages, the regular spider will never locate them at all.
However, the most essential thing about a healthy atmosphere is to filter the air which is so full of pollution. They utilize state-of-the-art technology to contact current and potential customers through email lists and links.
55 yrs old Information and Company Professionals Rodrick Murry from Swift Current, spends time with interests like hunting, , and chess. Felt especially motivated after creating a journey to Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves.


← We're making a movie!
Last chance– Kickstarter Reward prizes!
Rye fans– there are only 2 days left in our Kickstarter campaign, which means just TWO DAYS to pledge if you want any of the amazing schwag we've got left for this fundraiser.
There's some T-shirts, track jackets, hoodies, DVDs, original autographed art, cd mixes, and some other crazy stuff like a chicken parm dinner prepared by the First Mama of Rye Donna Leto in Bayonne.
This entry was posted in album art, autographed screen print, Claw & Globe, Daniel Rumain, Dave Leto, Gregg Leto, HErbert Wiley IV, Herbert Wiley V, Jack Leto, Jersey City, Jon Gonnelli, Justin Angelo Morey, Limited edition, maxwell's, NJ, Paul Fig, Ralph Cuseglio, Ryan Gross, Rye Coalition documentary, Rye Coalition live, Rye Coalition Videos. Bookmark the permalink.


In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame seed oil, ginger and 1 clove garlic.
Remove pork from marinade. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown pork chops on both sides. Set aside.
Add the rice and 3 cloves garlic to the skillet, stirring for about 2 minutes.
Add the rest of the ingredients to the skillet, bring to boil, reduce heat, add pork chops and cover.
Cook 30-35 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and pork is done.


text:
Brian McDermott
Former manager Brian McDermott makes Reading FC pledge as fans clamour for his return
A number of fans have been clamouring for the 60-year-old to return to Reading FC in some capacity as the club and manager Veljko Paunovic battle serious issues on and off the pitch
Jonathan LowReading FC Reporter
Former Reading manager Brian McDermott (Image: Get Reading)
Get Royals transfer latest, team news, match updates and analysis delivered straight to your inbox
Former Reading manager Brian McDermott says he would be willing to return to the club and help out if the call came.
A number of fans have been clamouring for the 60-year-old to return to Royals in some capacity as the club and manager Veljko Paunovic battle serious issues on and off the pitch.
McDermott has extensive knowledge of Reading, having joined the club in 2000 as chief scout under Alan Pardew.
He then worked his way up and became manager between 2009 and 2013, guiding the club to the Premier League for just the second time ever after winning the 2012 Championship title.
READ MORE: Sir John Madejski sends clear message to Reading FC and under fire manager Veljko Paunovic
McDermott also had a second stint as boss after Steve Clarke's sacking at the end of 2015 but he left the following summer when Jaap Stam was brought in.
He remains a hugely popular figure among Reading fans and with the club not having a director of football since Mark Bowen left the role to become manager in October 2019, some supporters have called for him to be handed a role with the Royals.
"I'd help out, that's a non-issue for me, of course I would help out," said McDermott on BBC Radio Berkshire.
"There are many people who would help out because the club means so much to them.
"It's always about people. This is the situation Reading are in at the moment, it's about the people and personalities.
"It's about the older and more experienced players like Andy Carroll, Josh Laurent and Danny Drinkwater...[helping] those young players who've come through the academy, and they have to stand up and say 'we've got to show ourselves and do whatever it takes.'
"I feel for this manager (Paunovic) and any manager who is going through what he has been going through.
"I know exactly what he's going through - but it wasn't so long ago they went to Fulham and won (earlier in the season).
"It's about trying to clear their heads over the next few days and trying to find a good an atmosphere as possible."
Bristol City, Middlesbrough and Stoke City could follow Reading FC in receiving point deductions
Reading FC goalkeeper Rafael linked with transfer return to Brazil amid contract standstill
Reading have had, quite simply, a disastrous start to 2022.
Firstly, they let slip a two-goal lead against relegation rivals Derby County to draw 2-2 after conceding two late goals.
They then lost 2-1 in humiliating fashion at sixth-tier side Kidderminster Harriers in the third round of the FA Cup last weekend.
That was followed by an equally humiliating 7-0 capitulation at home to Fulham on Tuesday night.
The results have left Paunovic under immense pressure from supporters, with some calling for a change.
Fans have also been highlighting the wider issues surrounding the club away from the field, saying they are impacting performances on it.
McDermott says sacking the manager won't resolve the problems overnight.
Brian McDermott salutes the Reading fans during his first spell in charge (Image: Edide Greville)
"It can make a difference short term, but this has not been a short term issue," he said.
"Garath McCleary (former Reading midfielder) mentioned it - Wycombe have had the same manager since 2012. At Reading, between 2000 and 2013, we had four managers.
"Over that time we had a director of football, we had a scouting structure in place - everything was in place to be successful.
"Everything off the pitch has to be structured and in place but that is not for today, that's for later. That is how the owner wants to structure the club.
"You can't go into the mind of the owner.
"I have my views on a structure of a football club and how it should be run - very strong views - but the owner is going to do things the way he wants to."
Veljko Paunovic in Reading FC transfer plea to Andy Carroll as striker's contract nears end
'Fans deserve better' - Ex Reading FC favourite calls for club to act after Fulham horror show
Reading are swiftly back in action this weekend when they make the long trip to the north east to take on Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium (Saturday, 3pm).
Paunovic will be hoping to get a reaction out of his players as Royals seek just a third win in 14 matches.
Despite all the noise away form the pitch right now, McDermott says the focus for Paunovic and his players must solely be on picking up three points against Boro.
"This is a difficult cycle and they've just got to fight their way out of it," said McDermott. "The problem to start with is Middlesbrough.
"For me, you look at Middlesbrough, keep a clean sheet, get a result and that's it, short term. I would look very, very short term at the moment.
Get the latest Reading FC news
You can get the latest news on our dedicated Reading FC page
We're also on social media:
Twitter: You can follow our Twitter account @readingfclive and our Reading FC reporter Jonathan Low @jonathanl50
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You can also get the latest news for Berkshire straight to your mobile or tablet when you download the free BerkshireLive app.
Sign up to receive push notifications - including Reading FC specific ones - which means you'll always be the first to know what's happening.
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"The long-term issues have been there for eight or nine years now. They can be sorted but the only thing I'd be concerned about right now if I was involved at the club would be trying to get a result at Middlesbrough.
"I'd try to galvanise the players as much as possible.
"Everything would be short term and the next game, because that's all they have got. The players will be embarrassed and the manager will be embarrassed after Tuesday.
"I've been there on the pitch. You want to thank fans for their support but it really is embarrassing to be involved in something like that, but you've got to get over that. That's what you're paid for.
"You've got to deal with what you've got and set up the team in the best way you can.
"That's what has got to happen at Middlesbrough."
Get the latest Reading FC news from BerkshireLive delivered straight to your inbox with our new newsletter
Veljko Paunovic addresses question over his Reading FC job after 7-0 thumping by Fulham
'Sorry to all the fans' - Reading FC pair hold hands up after historic 7-0 mauling by Fulham
Ex Reading FC managers
Andy CarrollBelgian giants Anderlecht linked with January transfer move for out-of-favour Reading FC strikerReading FC striker George Puscas has struggled this season in front of goal and the Romanian has been linked with a move away from the Royals during the January transfer window
Veljko Paunovic and Reading FC given timely boost ahead of Luton Town amid Liam Moore decision
Reading FCReading FC could welcome back experienced defender Michael Morrison in the near future after he featured for the Royals' under-23s side against Newcastle United on Friday
Veljko Paunovic sends key message to Reading FC players and fans ahead of Luton Town clash
Reading FCReading FC have two home games this week in the Championship, with the Royals hosting Luton Town on Wednesday night before the visit of Huddersfield Town on Saturday
Veljko Paunovic gives hint over Andy Carroll's Reading FC future amid Burnley transfer links
Reading FCAndy Carroll's short-term contract at Reading FC expired after the Royals' 2-1 defeat against Middlesbrough in the Championship, a game in which he scored
Reading FC hero Jobi McAnuff issues verdict on Andy Carroll's future amid Burnley transfer links
Andy CarrollFormer Reading FC captain Jobi McAnuff has spoken about the future of Andy Carroll, with the former Newcastle United and Liverpool striker linked with Burnley after his short-term Royals deal
Josh Laurent has message for Reading FC fans as he pinpoints what needs to change for Royals
Reading FCReading FC endured a difficult end to a terrible week on the pitch as Royals lost out 2-1 against Middlesbrough, having led at the Riverside Stadium through Andy Carroll's goal

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Here at Freeman, we are inspired by growing up in the Pacific Northwest and the outerwear of a simpler time. We wanted to capture some of those clean, functional details in a raincoat while offering modern fabrics. The Freeman is our completely overhauled raincoat featuring new, higher-rated waterproof shell fabric, an updated flannel liner, a reinforced hood brim, and a few pattern tweaks to improve fit. Whether walking to work or taking a scenic hike, we designed this jacket to be your perfect companion.
Waterproof/breathable 2-ply outer layer with a soft flannel interior liner.
Two exterior snap pockets, one interior pocket.


text:
Q: running sessions in tensorflow As everyone else, I have an optimizer and cost calculator as following:
with tf.name_scope("calc_cost"):
    cost_mini_batch = compute_cost(ZL, Y_mini_batch, parameters, lambd,
                                   mb_size=tf.cast(X_mini_batch.shape[1], dtype=tf.float32))

with tf.name_scope("train"):
    optimizer =  tf.train.AdamOptimizer(learning_rate = learning_rate).minimize(cost_mini_batch)

In my training execution, I run the following...
_ , minibatch_cost = sess.run([optimizer, cost_mini_batch])

But I am a bit confused regarding how I should be reading this statement.
Since optimizer runs the cost_mini_batch anyway, I wonder if this statement can cause the problem that cost_mini_batch is run twice? The actual value I am interested in (for logging purposes) is the minibatch_cost. (I kind of would like to see that it is decreasing.) But I obviously at the same time want the training algorithm to run the optimizer.
I wonder if anyone having more experience than me can help me to read the sess.run(...) statement correctly i the formal way? I assume that the cost_mini_batch is not run twice here. For example, what would cause it to be run twice?

A: Tensorflow work flow is:
1. build the Graph
2. run the graph in Session

as your code, you are defining cost_mini_batch and optimizer two elements in Graph,  after this, you invoke Session to run this Graph. so actually they will only run when you invoke sess.run.
Find more in Graph and Sessions

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Derek Acorah will get in touch from beyond the grave 'to let people know he's safe' according to pals
Kim NovakSunday 5 Jan 2020 9:40 pm
Friends of Derek Acorah think he will be in touch through a psychic (Picture: PA/Splash)
News of Derek Acorah's death shocked fans over the weekend, but his close friends think the TV medium will be in touch from beyond the grave.
The psychic, who was most famous for starring on Most Haunted, passed away aged 69 after developing pneumonia and sepsis.
One of his close friends and Most Haunted co-stars, Phil Whyman, thinks Derek – who was famous for passing on messages from the spirit world through his spirit guide, Sam – will communicate from beyond the grave to let his loved ones know he's is alright.
Phil told the Daily Star: 'It would be nice to think he'll be in contact. When he does, he will probably crack a joke or two. He liked a laugh. He was always smiling. He had a massive persona.'
Scarborough psychic Micky Vermooch added: 'Derek doted on his family. Him and his wife were devoted to each other. I know for a fact it won't be long before he makes himself known.
'He will find someone he wants to make contact with him to say, "Derek has arrived in the spirit world." I don't think it'll be too long until that happens. He will want them to know he's safe.
'In terms of coming back from the spirit world, I would say he has a headstart – his faith is everything.'
Phil Whyman starred on Most Haunted with Derek and Yvette Fielding (Picture: LIVING TV)
Derek's wife, Gwen Acorah Johnson told fans that he had died, writing: 'Farewell my love! I will miss you forever! I'm devastated to announce that my beloved husband Derek has passed away after a very brief illness.
'Thank you so much to everybody who has supported me – I can never thank you enough.'
She later revealed details of the illness, telling her followers: 'He was taken really quickly. It was pneumonia which got him in the end.
More: Derek Acorah
Derek Acorah's widow still talks to him as if he's alive: 'People think I'm mad'
Danniella Westbrook 'devastated' over Ghost Towns co-host Derek Acorah's death
Yvette Fielding pays tribute to Derek Acorah as Most Haunted co-star dies aged 69
'He developed sepsis and was in intensive care. I'm heartbroken to have lost him. It's devastating that's he's gone.'
Derek died just weeks before his 70th birthday, and fans flooded social media with tributes to the much-loved medium.
MORE: Yvette Fielding pays tribute to Derek Acorah as Most Haunted star dies aged 69
MORE: Derek Acorah complained of illness in New Year post just days before tragic death
Derek Acorah
What was Derek Acorah's cause of death and how old was he?
King of Queens and Modern Family star Norma Michaels dies aged 95
Christopher Tolkien, son of Lord Of The Rings author J.R.R., dies aged 95
Vikings star Alexander Ludwig puckers up for a passionate kiss with co-star girlfriend on red carpet
PewDiePie blesses us with one last YouTube video as he takes well-earned break
Lisa Armstrong denies '£31m settlement' from Ant McPartlin amid claims they reached agreement 2 years after split
Home › Entertainment › Showbiz


Li holds a B.A. and M.A. in music composition and theory from the Taipei National University of the Arts (Taiwan) and an Artist Diploma from the Yale University School of Music. She is completing a Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, studying composition with Marta Ptaszynska and orchestration with conductor Cliff Colnot. Relevant honors, awards, and grants include Artist Residency at Cite Internationale des Arts, Jacob Druckman Scholarship, University of Chicago Scholarship, and National Culture and Arts Foundation (Taiwan).


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Victoria es un pueblo ubicado en el condado de Misisipi en el estado estadounidense de Arkansas. En el Censo de 2010 tenía una población de 37 habitantes y una densidad poblacional de 46,69 personas por km².

Geografía
Victoria se encuentra ubicado en las coordenadas . Según la Oficina del Censo de los Estados Unidos, Victoria tiene una superficie total de 0.79 km², de los cuales 0.79 km² corresponden a tierra firme y (0 %) 0 km² son  agua.

Demografía
Según el censo de 2010, había 37 personas residiendo en Victoria. La densidad de población era de 46,69 hab./km². De los 37 habitantes, Victoria estaba compuesto por el 94.59 % blancos, el 0 % eran afroamericanos, el 0 % eran amerindios, el 0 % eran asiáticos, el 0 % eran isleños del Pacífico, el 5.41 % eran de otras razas y el 0 % pertenecían a dos o más razas. Del total de la población el 5.41 % eran hispanos o latinos de cualquier raza.

Referencias

Enlaces externos

Pueblos de Arkansas
Localidades del condado de Misisipi (Arkansas)


text:
HomeJohn Williams In Vienna
John Williams In Vienna
John Williams In Vienna is a TV show on Australian national television from SBS ONE with an average rating of 3.0 stars by TVCatchUpAustralia.com's visitors. We have 1 episodes of John Williams In Vienna in our archive. The first episode of John Williams In Vienna was broadcast in September, 2020. Did you miss an episode of John Williams In Vienna but don't you wan't that to happen in the future? Please set an alarm and add John Williams In Vienna to your favourites, so we can remind you by email when there's a new episode available to watch. Completely free: handy!
Legendary composer John Williams makes his historic debut on the Musikverein stage with the world-famous Wiener Philharmoniker to perform iconic themes from Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park, among other cinematic landmarks.


Lighting Inc |About Us | Lighting, Inc.
We strive to be a resource clients can count on for innovative lighting solutions and reducing the amount they spend on energy. Our knowledge and understanding of lighting solutions will only be matched by our outstanding customer service and vast selection of fixtures.
Founded more than 30 years ago, Lighting Inc. has been Oklahoma owned and operated since day one. Over those 30 years we have made a name for ourselves by providing excellent customer service. Today, we offer everything from single hard-to-find lamps to complete turnkey services and retrofits for massive facilities.


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Q: Ionic Js - Error after update Node to 4.1.1 (Windows) I've just updated Node to 4.1.1 version, now i get this error with Gulp:
Error: libsass bindings not found. Try reinstalling node-sass?

Can't find a solution. I've failed with:

*

*Removing node_modules and reinstalled it with npm install.

*Installing nvmw.

*Downgrading Node to 0.10.38

*npm rebuild node-sass

*npm install node-sass

I really don't know what to do now.

A: *

*Rename/delete folder node_modules in project folder

*In file project_name/package.json, rewrite:

"dependencies": {
        ...
        "gulp-sass": "^2.0.0",

*Run again

ionic setup sass

A: Perhaps try npm rebuild node-sass.  If that doesn't work check/remove/update module version numbers.  Also the n module/cli could be useful.


09/19 Is Talk Like A Pirate Day!
That's right Captains! Thursday is International Talk Like A Pirate Day!!
The one day of the year it's ok to call your friends scurvy dogs! And thanks to the Royals on the Isle of Kings, we shall be celebrating here on A Pirate's Portal with free code giveaways! Yeah!!
Dave Barry mentioned this day in his nationally syndicated newspaper column in 2002. And what once was a goofy idea celebrated by a handful of friends has turned into an international phenomenon that shows no sign of letting up.
Take a visit to the official site for Talk Like A Pirate! You'll find information, news, events in your area, links to apps for your phone, and a whole lot more!
And stay tuned to A Pirate's Portal for your chance to win!
Load up your cannons for a roaring volley to celebrate! We'll have contests all weekend long with prizes for your pirate and crew!!
This entry was posted on September 17, 2013, in News and tagged games, Kid friendly, kid safe, news, newsletter, online, Pirate101, Pirates. Bookmark the permalink.


Marine-Plus.Com CETREK 930-557 Electronic Compass For the Boating Community!
This Original UK Cetrek Compass Works With the Cetrek 737 Autopilot & 930-617 Distribution Box BUT MAY Work with Other Cetrek Autopilots! Please be SURE to Check Your Documentation or with Your Local Marine Electronics Dealer for Proper Information concerning Your Application.
Check Out Pictures & NMEA or N+1 Output Doc Above!
NOTE: This Compass is Marked as Manufactured by Cetrek in United Kingdom ONLY with NO Markings Associated with Teleflex. Teleflex Manufactured and/or SOLD Cetrek and Wagner Autopilot Components for nearly 30 Years... a lot of their Same Parts had Different Brand Names and Model Numbers.
Used, Like New - LAST ONE!


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Tag Archives: ofsted inspection
NUAST – the story so far
This post has also been published on Hands Off Our Schools:
As those following local developments will know, the Nottingham Academy of Science and Technology (NUAST) has actually opened, this September, though not on its brand new site, in the shadow of the Dunkirk flyover. They are claiming to have just over 100 students in Year 10 and Year 12 ('lower Sixth').
One of our members attended a recent 'open evening', intended to publicise and recruit for next year – again, not in their own building but on the University campus. However, the building will soon be available for these sessions and, presumably, for teaching. Once they are able to 'show off' their state-of-the-art facilities, they no doubt think they will find 'selling themselves' that much easier.
We remain mystified as to why anyone would sign up their child on a promise, even if the facilities are good (they ought to be, considering they cost £10 million of taxpayers' money!) The school has had a turbulent few months leading up to a rather low-key opening, with students being taught anonymously (i.e. not wearing uniforms) in another Nottingham college. Famously, the first principal left under something of a cloud partway through the year. We certainly think she was pushed as the University started worrying about what they were getting into. She had fallen out with the Uni authorities over whether or not teacher unions would be recognised – jobs were advertised on basis they would NOT be, the Uni said they would be when made aware, but she insisted, at first, that this would not be the case. Part of the Uni's panic was also probably down to getting their fingers burned at Samworth (the other 'Nottingham University Academy'), judged 'Inadequate' by OFSTED last Autumn; one of their partners at NUAST, the Djanogly Learning Trust also had its Academy judged 'Inadequate' in the same sweep. So they called in The Torch Academy Gateway Trust, rapidly becoming 'flavour of the month' in this area.
It must be remembered that 'Torch' is effectively one school, Toot Hill Comprehensive, in Bingham, which has achieved an 'Outstanding' OFSTED rating and which, to its credit, also helped The Meden School out of 'Special Measures'. How many Headteachers would find achieving and maintaining an 'Outstanding' rating, and helping another school in difficulty, more than enough to fill up their time? Most, we would think, but not the Head of Toot Hill who is now CEO of 'Torch' on well over £200K a year.
Last Autumn, 'Torch' was called in at Samworth and Djanogly to help out, whilst concurrently spending time and energy (not to mention buckets' full of taxpayers' money) on getting the Nottingham Free School up and running (79 students started this Autumn in parts of a converted factory in Sherwood!). 'Torch' was also 'called in' to 'provide the education' at NUAST. It's not entirely clear what this means but, presumably, they effectively run the place since the Uni isn't equipped to and the Djanogly Trust shouldn't, because it was barred from opening any new schools (except NUAST, funnily enough!)
Questions remain to be asked of NUAST:
Where is all the money coming from? It obviously hasn't currently got enough students to make it financially viable without subsidy, even though it is clear they will offer all sorts of courses but reserve the right not to run them if they turn out to be non-viable.
In which case, how many years before the taxpayer could be said to be getting 'value for money'?
Unlike many 'free schools', of which this is one type, it will have an examination record pretty soon: students in both Key Stage 4 and Sixth Form will get full GCSE and A Level results in August 2016 – so, will they be any good? By what criteria should we judge them?
Why have four governors resigned recently?
What connection is there between the erstwhile Chair of Governors and the company which 'managed' the recruitment process to appoint the new Principal?
What effect will recruitment to NUAST have on local schools? As education insiders know, schools seek so-called 'option choices' from Year 9 students in January and, on that basis, 'option groups', a staffing plan and timetable are constructed for the next academic year. The loss of even just a handful of students could make some groups non-viable with a knock-on effect to staffing and budgets.
Will NUAST, based on the 'university technical college' (UTC) model, be any more successful than other UTCs such as Hackney UTC, which has closed?
More fundamentally, is encouraging children as young as thirteen to 'specialise' the right thing for them? A career in engineering or science, the prospect of working with a world-class university and employers with household names might sound alluring, but will the reality be different? These children will not be entering the workforce for at least 6 years (if they are currently in Year 9) or longer. Who knows what specific skills employers might be looking for in a decade's time? Better, maybe, to keep their options open and make sure they have a firm grounding in 'the basics'
NUAST is wrong because it has spent, and will go on spending, money we are told is in short supply, which could have been used to improve science and engineering facilities in schools that would NOT require the children to specialise. It is wrong because it offers children and parents an illusion of choice when it cannot guarantee any level of quality. It is wrong because it holds out a promise it cannot necessarily fulfil.
By CT • Posted in Academies, Free Schools, News, Nottinghamshire, OFSTED	• Tagged academies, Free schools, Funding, Nottingham Academy of Science and Technology, Nottingham Free School, NUAST, ofsted inspection, school funding
A million pounds a head – is this really the way to spend tax-payers' money?
We all know how important the 'hard-working families' of this country are to the government, how important it is to spend their taxes wisely. As a country, apparently, we can't afford welfare payments – including for those in work but very low paid – to keep pace with inflation; we can't afford our public service employees to get pay rises that keep pace with inflation. So what do we make of a government that pursues a policy that is clearly ideologically-based, spending our money to set up so-called 'free schools' in areas where there are already enough school places? Whatever happened to 'value for money' (which used to be one of the OFSTED tests but it might be different this week)?
Trinity Academy in Lambeth is one of the starkest, daftest examples: the DfE bought the freehold of the land for £18 million, but only 17 pupils have enrolled. Imagine being the head trying to come up with some sort of justification for your multi-million pound school that attracted just a handful of pupils. 'Well, we've had another four apply and there were three more who haven't shown up!' (So, best case scenario, that's 24 then? I feel much better now! That's actually what he said, by the way, in so many words.)
It's looking like education isn't going to be a key battleground at the general election, which may be a good thing, given Labour's half-hearted opposition to 'free schools', not to mention some of their half-baked ideas ('parent-led academies', for goodness sake!) but to most sensible people, the waste of money on these pet projects, which have shovelled money into the bank accounts of Tory donors, is just one more piece of evidence that the Coalition has nothing but contempt for 'hard-working families' (and the rest of us) and, for all his show of righteous indignation over the NHS, Cameron will say or do anything to retain office.
Colours to the mast: however lack-lustre and dubious the alternative, we cannot give the Conservatives another five years to sell off and ruin our public services whilst pretending to 'fix' the economy. They've done nothing of the sort but they WILL complete their Thatcherite project if they get in again.
By CT • Posted in Free Schools, News	• Tagged Conservative, Free schools, Funding, ofsted inspection
OFSTED's use of data is rubbish, apparently (who'd have guessed?)
Head on over to http://physicsfocus.org and read a post by one Professor Moriarty, from down the road at Nottingham University. He tells how, on becoming a governor at Middleton Primary School, he received some training and was aghast at what he heard. In brief, he demolishes OFSTED's use of data.
By CT • Posted in Nottinghamshire, OFSTED, Primary School	• Tagged Middleton Primary School, Nottingham University, OFSTED, ofsted inspection, Professor Moriarty
This way for rigour…
It's one of those words we didn't use very much 'til four years ago but the Education Secretary is all for it. Whether you agree with his methods or not, you can't fault him for his aim: more rigour. So why, I have to ask, is there less rigour in one fairly obscure but important corner?
The 'rigorous' judgement of secondary schools is now based largely on the extent to which they manage to move their children on 'three levels of progress'. For the uninitiated, this means from the end of Key Stage 2 (that is, at the end of the primary phase) to the end of Key Stage 4 (that is, 16+, end of Year 11 and what used to be the end of compulsory schooling), schools are expected so to teach, motivate and encourage (or, if you're Gove and Wilshaw, bully and threaten) students that they add three National Curriculum 'levels' in that time.
A few moments' thought will reveal several problems with this. Forget for a moment that the end of KS 2 is measured as a 'level' but the end of KS 4 is measured largely in GCSE Grades (so we need some equivalence and conversion) and that a 'level' is quite a broad band so that there is a significant difference between a 'top' Level 4 (i.e. nearly Level 5) and a bottom Level 4 (i.e. only just better than Level 3), so much so, in fact, that after the inception of the National Curriculum back in the eighties, 'sub-levels' were devised so that children and teachers could see some indication of progress during a school year, although the reporting of gradings at the end of KS 2 is in whole levels. Forget all that. Clearly, it is absolutely vital that we can have confidence in the reliability of the Key Stage 2 result. I have talked about this before and discussed the pressures on Junior schools to do whatever they can (sometimes 'gaming', as Mr Gove might say) to maximise the KS 2 result because, after all, they are judged on how far they have moved children on from Key Stage 1, at the Infant school. I have to remind you that KS 1 levels are based solely on teacher assessments with a very light touch moderation regime and that the pressure on Infant schools and KS 1 teachers is also great.
Given all that, can we rely on the KS 2 results? After all, they are based on externally marked SAT examinations, aren't they?. Again, I've suggested previously that a looser examination regime will have allowed some 'manipulation' but at least they are externally marked papers, right? Well, no, actually. The KS 2 Writing Task is, since 2013, internally marked. I have it on good authority (i.e. a current serving primary head teacher, who also reported what fellow heads admit to doing) that schools are now quite deliberately and consciously pushing through some students at a higher level than they know the child should receive, in order to achieve an overall 'pass percentage' that will keep them out of 'Special Measures'. Teachers in the secondary school will look at the reported level, look at the first few bits of work from that child and be horrified, recognising that their task is now much greater.
It is, of course, unprofessional and I cannot condone it, but I can understand. If you set up a system that threatens livelihoods, reputations and communities unless certain benchmarks are reached; if the school would be 'academised' and given to a chain owned by a Tory-supporting carpet magnate (Lord Harris, do you recognise yourself?) and the head sacked if a second poor OFSTED grading is given, and if you leave open a 'loophole', then it is human nature for people to, well, frankly, cheat. Yet no one seems to have noticed. Secondary heads are castigated for legitimately giving students a second chance at achieving a decent grade: this is called 'gaming', but primary heads can get away with it because of a loosening-up of the system.
But, maybe, just maybe, there's something more sinister going on here. Gove is keen to have as many schools as possible in his little (well, not so little) band of state funded independent schools (academies or 'free' schools) for ideological reasons I've discussed elsewhere. Most of the good or outstanding schools will, for their own reasons (either connected to money, ego-mania or a combination of both), have voluntarily converted, leaving a few 'community' or 'LA schools'. Some of those are struggling around the 'Requires improvement' mark. They need a good set of results next time round to avoid the 'drop'. Why not make it just that little bit harder for them? True, the over-graded Year 7s currently in secondary will take a few years to feed through, but it's all making the job just a bit harder and a trifle more demoralising.
So, Mr Gove, where's your rigour at Key Stage 2? If we have to have this farce, at least make the playing field, if not exactly even, at least not riddled with potholes.
By CT • Posted in Academies, Examinations, Free Schools, Michael Gove, OFSTED, Primary School	• Tagged academies, accountability, assessment, exams, Michael Wilshaw, National Curriculum, ofsted inspection, primary education, rigour, secondary school
Everything I know (well, almost) …
When a friend and colleague asked me for a ' briefing' on Gove, I went a bit mad! It's long but it is my attempt to put what I know in context. Can you spot anything I've missed?
1. The Macro
From the word go (May 2010), Michael Gove acted swiftly to begin the implementation of his policies, even using parliamentary procedures designed for terrorist legislation to push through the law to enable academies and free schools to start from September 2010. It is clear to everyone that he is motivated by ideology – an apparent belief that 'the market' will provide the best and most efficient service, even in education – and is only interested in evidence if it can be used to justify his actions (not unlike many a politician here!). He will cherry-pick or even invent 'facts'. For example, he chose to implement the Swedish model for free schools despite it being far from clear that they were working even in that country and ignoring some obvious differences of culture (eg there is no private education sector in Sweden). He ignores evidence emerging from Sweden that after 20 years it is not working and is certainly increasing segregation. Gove has also been caught out quoting 'facts' culled from very dubious sources and surveys.
In his moves on the curriculum and examination system, Gove has also been guided by ideological prejudice eg his own specialist area of English Literature (prescribing books that children ought to be made to read, which will hardly increase their motivation to enjoy literature) and his imperialist view of History. He has become the darling of the Conservative right because he appears to champion a move backwards to 'traditional' styes of teaching (eg rote learning), a focus on a narrow form of literacy, a UK-centric/imperialist world view of History, a preference for a grammar-school/private school ethos, a return to 'O' level, the abolition of coursework, down-grading of vocational (ie 'easy', in his view) subjects and so on.
He has been helped by three factors. Firstly, the media have assisted in creating a narrative about English education, namely, that state education is failing, that it is poor when compared internationally and that private education is self-evidently better. Secondly, unlike the NHS, the public does not perceive education as a 'national education service' and are by and large uninterested in schooling if their children are doing ok, unless their school is threatened in which case, there is often a determined campaign of support for the school. However, few of these issues make the national media (Al Madinah and the recent problems of E-ACT being exceptions) so that a problem with your own local school may seem to be a blip and not part of a national trend, when, in fact, it is. Thirdly, the spectacular failure of the Labour Party to mount any kind of serious opposition to Gove's wholesale dismantling of the state-funded education system.
The prevailing narrative has become accepted 'fact' but can easily be challenged. However you judge it, many schools have done well and are improving, however, most of those schools have been encouraged to move outside the state sector and become independent academies (albeit still funded by the tax-payer) so the illusion continues that state schools (ie LA-run schools) are failing. The international comparisons (OECD 'PISA') were seized on by the media, Gove and even, regrettably, Tristan Hunt, but those who have looked closely can see straight away that the tests, the methodologies and even the interpretation of the results, are deeply flawed. These 'results' are now being used to urge our schools to adopt teaching strategies and styles that are anathema to our culture eg the Singapore model for Maths. As for Gove's recent praise for the private sector, dressed up as a desire for all our children to have 'as good as', this has been rightly condemned as nonsense. There are many inequalities of funding and a privileged intake that, once stripped away, mean that, in fact, if anything, the best state schools are doing slightly better.
The media have certainly done a lot to establish the 'narrative' of failure and poor comparative performance in the public mind, over time (think of the annual claims that improving exam results must be an indication of 'dumbing down', going back decades) and they have also done little to challenge Gove or expose the growing evidence of the failures of his policies. Those 'in the know' are aware of increasing stories of 'financial irregularity', and poor performance in the 'free school' and academy 'world' and are surprised that an investigative journalist or documentary maker has not delved and exposed. For some commentators, there is a belief that Gove, as an ex-journo himself, gets off lightly. It is also the case that many in the serious media are the products of private schooling so readily buy the negative state schools stereotype.
2. The Micro
At the school level, Gove's policies and attitudes are doing great damage to our teachers and pupils. There has probably never been a Secretary of State so universally loathed by the teaching body. The Coalition has successfully waged a propaganda campaign against public services and, in education, Gove has used what he perceives to be public antagonism or, at best, indifference, to suppress wages, alter pension rights and attack working conditions. A recent survey suggested that, under Gove, teachers' actual working hours have increased. Moreover, Gove has attacked and denigrated teachers – the very people whose support he needs to implement changes – at every turn. He has dismissed opposition amongst the teaching profession and the education world more generally as "vested interests' and "the enemies of promise". The NUT was branded "an extreme left-wing organisation" and headteachers who chose exam entry strategies which maximised the chances of student success were accused of "gaming" (in other words, cheating). Most Secretaries of State are unloved by teachers but it would be hard to overestimate how reviled this one is amongst ordinary classroom teachers, not simply because they disagree with his policies but because his words and his actions indicate to them that he does not value their hard work and expertise. Unheralded changes of policy, issued as diktats, show how little they are thought of.
In this regard, Gove is given a close run by Michael Wilshaw. No teachers are likely to be fond of OFSTED but, under this chief (appointed by Gove) they have seen regular and bewildering changes that have left them unclear what they have to do. The 'toughening up' and renaming of 'Satisfactory' as 'Requires improvement', means that there is no longer any meaningful comparison to be had between schools and has left schools that have clearly been improving over five or six years, apparently standing still or even going backwards. There is now a great lack of clarity about what inspectors are looking for with recent announcements that no particular teaching style in valued more than others, and the revelation that, apparently, individual teachers are not 'graded'. Other announcements seem to widen the attributes being inspected even including teachers' dress and the school's outcomes regarding careers and student destinations.
Wilshaw has the same people skills as Gove, at least where teachers are concerned and, notwithstanding an apparent falling out between 'The Michaels' recently, OFSTED is part of the problem. The number of children alleged to be 'being failed' (that is, being taught in schools graded 3 or 4) is a new statistic, devised by Wilshaw (reminiscent of Woodhead's famous 'fifteen thousand failing teachers'), and used as part of the 'failing state sector' narrative. More significantly, OFSTED outcomes are used by the sinister DfE 'brokers' to badger and bully heads into turning their schools into academies. There is plenty of evidence that OFSTED is in cahoots and that the policy has little to do with improving education and a lot to do with enabling essentially sound schools, perhaps undergoing a transition or 'blip', to be gobbled up by academy chains who can claim responsibility for improvements that were about to happen anyway. Some of the chains and their 'heads' have close connections to the Conservative Party eg Lord Harris, of 'Carpetworld', a Tory donor, who is a fairly 'hands on' head of the Harris Academy Trust.
3. A note about funding
Even a politician like Gove feels the need to create an impression with the electorate. The impression has therefore been created that education funding has been protected under the Coalition, whereas heads and bursars know that, at the sharp end, that's not how it feels. 'Early adopters' of 'converter academy' status often bluntly explained it was for the money. Gove has diverted large amounts – billions – to his pet 'free school' and academy projects, to the undoubted detriment of 'bog standard' local schools. 'Free schools' in particular can often to be shown to be very poor value for money. However, those billions will still show up as part of the overall education budget so no apparent cuts have taken place.
The serious cuts that have gone on in local authorities which are, quite clearly, a deliberate policy of the Coalition, have a knock-on effect on LA-run schools. Services that used to be free are now charged for (examples are work experience checking and careers advice via Connexions, which Wilshaw has recently said will now be part of inspections from September!) The biggest con of all, however, is the 'pupil premium'. This is a much-trumpeted Liberal Democrat policy which appears to provide support for children from poorer homes but, on closer inspection, is largely an illusion. This is because the money provided less than compensates for the money needed to make up the shortfall from other sources, particularly local authority services and grants. To add insult to injury, OFSTED insists on seeing evidence that the PP is being used for the purpose for which it was intended!
The arguments against academies and 'free schools' are well-rehearsed. Despite what Gove and 'DfE spokesmen' say, there is no evidence that they are more successful than equivalent LA-supported schools. The inexorable movement is towards chains in place of Local Authorities, which have no democratic accountability and which, if Gove gets his way, will be allowed to make a profit. It is not clear who monitors and supports quality in these schools, other than OFSTED, hence the recent spat over inspecting chains. These chains are technically 'charities' but operate like the businesses they really are. Financial irregularities, cheating, fraud even, are emerging – there are certainly instances of links between directors of 'trusts' and their own companies who profit from contracts awarded them by the schools – which may be lawful but sounds at the very least 'inappropriate'.
However, the greatest damage Gove is doing is to the ethos in schools. Gove's and Wilshaw's behaviour towards schools, headteachers, teachers and local communities is nothing short of bullying. There is now a lot of evidence that academies and 'free schools' operated by chains are run along similar lines where employees are bullied, rather than encouraged, into behaving the way the management wants. To be fair, such an attitude has always existed amongst a few heads who seemed to think the only way to manage people was to threaten them. This could be put down in the past to good teachers being promoted, without additional training, beyond their level of competence. However, this is now on the increase as 'business' tries to run schools as businesses, using the very worst 'business practice'. In such schools it will hardly be surprising that teachers start treating children the way they are being treated themselves.
4. A Word about Labour
The official opposition seemed, at one point, to be sitting it out. Gove moved swiftly in May-June 2010 and maybe the party was shell-shocked by its defeat. Maybe they found it hard to oppose a policy (academies) which they had initiated. The truth is that it was a ridiculous notion when New Labour brought it in: who on earth thought that the problems of an under-performing school could be solved by ceding major influence to a car dealer with a 'creationist' bee in his bonnet? (Reg Vardy, in case you're wondering). It actually makes no sense and leads many to think that Labour and the Tories are really on the same page. In other words, they are, to differing degrees only, both interested in undermining local authorities, which can be irritating to whichever government is in power, and giving our state schools system to business.
The previous Labour education 'shadow', Stephen Twigg, seemed to take the 'shadow' title literally and was conspicuous by his absence from serious debate. Under Hunt, things have been little better. Apart from asserting that schools ought to employ qualified teachers (which, according to a recent survey, most 'free' schools do anyway) his main policy suggestion has been a Royal College of Teaching, which looks suspiciously like the GTC Mark II and whose main point seems to be to allay public fears that poor teachers might not be able to be sacked! More nonsense, of course. The politicians are so very keen on giving the right impression to the public, assuming they have accurately 'read' the public mood in the first place. Actually, some surveys suggest the public is further to the left than this and would welcome a full-throated attack on what some believe is an increasingly chaotic and unsustainable mess.
SUMMARY – the main points to be made against Gove are :
– his refusal to look at evidence or to pilot new schemes, but he ploughs ahead regardless, interested only in his 'market' ideology;
– an unsystematic development and launch of policy, often coming apparently from nowhere with no notice, leading to an increasingly chaotic and piece-meal education system;
– his curriculum changes also play to the neo-con right, dressed up as 'rigour' and 'improving standards';
– the encouragement of a negative view of state as opposed to private education;
– his attacks both verbal and in actions, against the teaching profession;
– the appointment of Wilshaw and his support for a campaign by OFSTED that treats schools, heads and teachers very badly with increasing concerns about consistency and fairness;
– the waste of vast sums of money on pet projects that could have been spent on schools;
– with Wilshaw, he is responsible for underhand and bullying treatment of schools, heads, communities and teachers, thereby encouraging others such as unelected heads of 'chains', headteachers and governors to behave likewise;
– the undermining of democratic accountability of schools to their local communities;
– the encouragement of business to enter the education 'market' for profit (technically, the 'trusts' are charities but there are plenty of apparently legal ways being used at the moment to make a profit eg IES from Sweden); and, of course, illegal ways as well!;
– his oversight of an increasingly fragmented and chaotic education world where ultimately the interests of the individual child are forgotten.
By CT • Posted in Academies, Free Schools, independent sector, Michael Gove, OFSTED	• Tagged academies, Free schools, Michael Wilshaw, ofsted inspection, parent, school funding, teacher
Sorted? Not quite…
So, Al-Madinah is being handed over to a tried and tested purveyor of academies : job done? Well, maybe, as far as the kids are concerned and, since the place was in dire straits, I can't think of a better solution, the interests of the children always being paramount, in my book. But, as the old joke goes, I wouldn't have started from here. Once alerted to the appalling state of affairs that had developed at A-M, the authorities acted pretty swiftly and have found a solution – but how come this school was allowed to open in the first place, given that the problems of inadequately trained, unqualified staff and even the issues with safeguarding, were apparent before it opened? It was obvious that the group setting up the school had no experience of setting up something as complex and significant as a school – after all, this wasn't a couple of people opening a little shop on the high street.
In the pre-registration report by OFSTED in July 2012, before the school opened, no assessment was made of its ability to educate children! However, at this stage OFSTED did identify four regulations regarding child protection that the school hadn't yet met and indicated that staff needed training. The DfE says that A-M provided evidence it had met the OFSTED requirements before it opened. Yet the school had to close after the first day of the inspection because the OFSTED team found basic safeguarding requirements were not being met. Whilst wondering what the Headteacher was doing not to have noticed this nor to have spotted that all teaching was inadequate and none of his staff even knew how to plan a lesson, since the governors were inexperienced enough to hold him to account, what outside body was there to monitor and support the school? OFSTED is the nuclear option but, dare I say it, a local authority would have fitted the bill perfectly?
Al-Madinah shows up in stark relief, the problems inherent in setting up free schools and all those who oppose them should be pressurising the government and educating the public by telling them about this, and similar, disasters. The problem is, by no means, 'sorted'!
By CT • Posted in Free Schools, News, OFSTED	• Tagged Al Madinah, Free schools, ofsted inspection
You heard it here first!
The government has appointed Barry Day and the Greenwood Dale Trust to run the Al Madinah free school in Derby, as predicted in my post 1 November. Day is the former Headteacher of Greenwood Dale school, an early-adopter of the old opted out/grant maintained status. Now CEO (or some such) he's been quick to jump on the govewagon and his lot currently runs twenty or so schools in the Nottingham/Derby area. Most recently he was handed the nice new buildings of Sinfin School which was swiftly rebranded City of Derby Academy.
Having read the full OFSTED report for Al Madinah, I think it's a safe bet that the kids there will be better off under Greenwood than the incompetents currently running it. However, there are challenges ahead for Day. There are no nice buildings to take over and presumably he'll need to keep the Islamic ethos of the place. Gove is a big fan and he must be counting on Day to get him and Lord Nash out of a jam.
By CT • Posted in Academies, Free Schools, Michael Gove, OFSTED	• Tagged academies, Al Madinah, Barry Day, Free schools, Greenwood Dale Trust, ofsted inspection, sinfin community school
In a recent post I suggested that headteachers might be so incensed by Gove's decree on so-called 'early entry' that they might decide, in the interests of their pupils, to ignore him, enter pupils as many times as they saw fit and, crucially, publish their own exam stats based on children's best results rather than, as Gove has decided, the DfE 'Raise-Online' stats based only on the 'first attempt'. Evidence is now emerging that not only will many heads do this, but that, most importantly, they will have at least the tacit support of OFSTED in doing so.
I've been privileged, through my contacts in education, to have seen a confidential document from an OFSTED inspector on this matter. As I am sworn not to quote, I must paraphrase as follows:
OFSTED inspectors, it appears, are unhappy with Gove and what he has done. He didn't consult them and, if he really is concerned about schools suppressing student achievement through 'early entry', OFSTED inspectors are sufficiently on the ball to pick this up and to use the 3 and 4 levels of progress measure to bear down on schools who have misused early entry in this way. The inspector recognises that pulling the November entry at the last minute, as heads were being urged to do, would undermine the confidence of students – as a former head, this inspector recognises also that heads have a moral duty to do the best for their students: it isn't just about maximising exam results for the school. The inspector goes on to say that inspectors s/he works with will be interested to look at the real results the schools will have as well as the bogus ones which will appear on the government's Raise-Online.
This is really dynamite and, although I understand the reluctance of this particular inspector to 'go public', it's a great pity they did not. Gove is beginning to be under pressure from powerful and influential people in education for his constant and inconsistent meddling in the examination system and, it has to be remembered, he cannot bring about any reforms unless those 'on the ground' acquiesce. The only threat Gove can use is that, if a school's results fall below a certain level (the so-called 'floor'), OFSTED can judge the school inadequate. However, it is clear from the above that inspectors will be very reluctant to do this if the unofficial (ie real) results are ok and it's the official results only that fall below floor.
By the way, I appear to have reached a milestone 100th post to this blog in less than 11 months. Coincidentally, I happened yesterday to run into Alan from the WEA who taught me all my blogging skills so, many thanks to him and to you out there for sticking with me. I'm sure I will have plenty more to say in the coming months!
By CT • Posted in Examinations, Michael Gove, News	• Tagged exams, ofsted inspection
Will this 'chaotic', 'dysfunctional' school be allowed to continue?
Thanks to a leak, we now know how damning the OFSTED report on Al-Madinah free school in Derby actually is. We have seen how Mr Gove has rushed in to 'rescue' children from 'failing' schools in the past. One example was Sinfin nearby in Derby which was still a fully functioning school before Gove sent his storm troopers in to quickly convert it to City of Derby Academy, now corporately badged as part of the Greenwood Dale empire. So what of the four hundred or so children at Al-Madinah? How is their education to be continued without further disruption? It is not their fault that their parents foolishly signed up for a school that has turned out to be useless, parents who, no doubt, thought their children would be royally indoctrinated into a Muslim faith and culture. I regret all so-called faith schools but this one has turned out to be a school only in name. However, it cannot just be closed and the children and their parents left to flounder.
Be that as it may, Al-Madinah could be something of a watershed for both Gove and his new 'shadow', Tristram Hunt. Obviously, Al-Madinah is an extreme example but it does show the folly of the whole 'free school' phenomenon: they've started up in unsuitable buildings which nonetheless have been well furnished at public expense but with, apparently, nobody with much experience of teaching or running a school. Self-evidently, these children would have been much better off in a local-authority run school or, even, an academy which had been based on an existing school. Hunt has an 'open goal' to expose the utter foolhardiness of Gove's reckless policies if he can summon the courage to believe that public opinion will be behind him and not Gove's ideology. Gove, already under pressure for his constant meddling with the exam system, should come under greater scrutiny for his 'free' school policy.
When Gove's political epitaph is finally written (oh, make it soon!), we might find 'Al-Madinah' written on his heart.
By CT • Posted in Academies, Free Schools, Michael Gove, News, OFSTED	• Tagged derby city council, Free schools, Labour, ofsted inspection, sinfin community school


Guest blog by Dr Amara Thornton, History of Archaeology Network, UCL.
In 1930 Mary Chubb met architects Ralph Lavers and Hilary Waddington in Venice. All three of them were en route to Egypt to work for the Egypt Exploration Society on an archaeological excavation at Amarna, the ancient capital city of the 18th Dynasty pharaoh Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti.
At the time, Lavers and Waddington were new graduates of the Architectural Association School of Architecture; courtesy of archivist Ed Bottoms, I recently had the opportunity to look through the AA School archive in search of them. I've been interested in the contribution architects made to archaeology for a long time, and this was a great chance to learn more about the early lives of these two men. Happily, the archives didn't disappoint.
Although Chubb later wrote that Lavers and Waddington had barely met each other before leaving London for Egypt, the archive revealed that they both contributed to three consecutive AA pantomimes between 1924 and 1926. Held in December, these annual events were a highly creative and demanding undertaking – students wrote the scripts, composed the music, designed the sets, made the costumes and props, and staged and acted in the production. Profits from ticket sales went to the Architects' Benevolent Fund, while props and costumes were available for sale. It's no wonder then, as Ed told me, that a number of architecture students who worked on these pantomimes had – in time – successful careers in Art Direction.
"Guffaws; or the Double Elephant and Castle" premiered in December 1924. It was revue production, consisting of eleven distinct scenes. The final programme shows Lavers acting as "Third Rustic" in Scene Five "'The Innkeeper's Daughter' (A Rustic Opera)" and Cabin Boy in Scene Nine "Treasure". Waddington did not act in this production, but took part in its staging as one of a handful of Stage Manager's Assistants (Fig 1).
An intriguing photograph in the AA archive labelled with both Lavers and Waddington's names, captures (I assume) a rehearsal of one of the scenes – though not, I think, either of the scenes that Lavers was meant to be in (Fig 2). Interestingly it seems to foreshadow Lavers and Waddington's later work in archaeology; both examine minutely the hem of a Roman 'Galatea' and what looks like an entrenching tool (used for digging trenches in both archaeological and military contexts) rests nearby.
Lavers and Waddington had a more prominent roles in the 1926 pantomime, "Cylinderella: or the Story of Flo and Return" (Fig 3). Waddington worked with another student JB Atkinson to provide props for the production, while Lavers took the role of "Mr Scream", one of two RIBA external examiners. Several portfolios of sheet music from this production are held in the AA School archives, along with various production notes. These include an intriguing pencil sketch with archaeological links (Fig 4), and copies of a duet between Lavers' Mr Scream and his co-examiner Mr Grave entitled "I think Mr Scream" (Fig 5).
Fig 4. A pencil sketch found in one of three portfolios of "Cylinderella" sheet music. The three scenes depicted show a figure at Stonehenge (top) and ancient Egyptian architecture and monuments (middle and bottom).
Fig 5. First page of sheet music for "I think Mr Scream", song number 11 in "Cylinderella".
As architects for the Egypt Exploration Society's excavations at Amarna, Lavers and Waddington were responsible for site surveys and plans. After his third season on site, Lavers organised the Society's 1933 exhibition – an annual event at which objects from the winter excavation would be brought back to London and put on public display. Lavers' Amarna exhibition was held at his alma mater, the Architectural Association, for four weeks during the summer of 1933 (Fig 6). His description of the display in the July 1933 AA Journal featured an image of a cast of one of the objects discovered – a portrait head, unfinished, of the famous Queen Nefertiti.
Fig 6. Catalogue for the 1933 exhibition of antiquities from Amarna, held at the Architectural Association.
In the exhibition Lavers highlighted the work of architects in the Amarna excavation by including a range of house and town plans as well as imagined reconstructions produced by himself and Waddington. Two other AA trained architects, Seton Lloyd and J. C. Rose, were also featured.
Hilary Waddington went on to a distinguished career in archaeology, working in Mandate Palestine in the 1930s and then moving to India in 1937. He remained focused on the historic built environment as part of the Archaeological Survey of India until the 1950s.
Ralph Lavers continued as draughtsman for the archaeologist Leonard Woolley's excavations at Tell Atchana (Alalakh), Turkey in the late 1930s before moving into design and illustration. His torch design was chosen for the 1948 London Olympics and his mural designs representing the long history of farming were incorporated into the Science Museum's Agriculture Gallery in the early 1950s as part of a new interpretive vision for the display of agricultural materials.
From the 1940s to the 1960s his illustrations featured in a number of works, particularly those aimed at school-age children. Lavers' illustrations are fascinating; the texture and shading of his black and white depictions of ancient portrait heads featured in Donald Lindsay and Mary Price's A Portrait of Britain Before 1066 (1963) create lively animations of these inanimate objects. He also illustrated his former colleague Mary Chubb's memoir of their Amarna days, Nefertiti Lived Here (1954). His sketch of surveying in action at Amarna stretches diagonally across page 74 – at the bottom left hand corner Lavers' Architect peers through a theodolite towards a workman with measuring rod in the distance at the top right hand corner.
Lavers and Waddington were two of many architects who contributed to interpreting and promoting archaeology. In his memoir, fellow AA School architect (and noted archaeologist) Seton Lloyd wrote that his architect's eye gave him a valuable and distinct window into the past. The AA archives were for me a valuable window into the archaeological architect's experience, revealing how the practices of architecture and archaeology informed each other – beginning with the holiday pantos. I look forward to my next visit.
Brief biographies of Ralph Lavers, Hilary Waddington and Mary Chubb can be found in Who Was Who in Egyptology (Egypt Exploration Society, 4th edn 2012).
Chubb, M. 1954. Nefertiti Lives Here. London: Geoffrey Bles.
Lindsay, D. and Price, M. 1963. A Portrait of Britain Before 1066. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Lavers, R. 1933. Exhibition of Recent Work of the Egypt Exploration Society. The Architectural Association Journal. Vol XLIX (557): 35-36.
Lloyd, S. 1986. The Interval: a life in Near Eastern archaeology. Faringdon: Lloyd Collon.
West, L. 1967. An Agricultural Machinery Museum. Agricultural History 41 (3): 267-274.
The Times. 1989. Hilary Waddington. The Times Digital Archive. 14 Aug, p. 12.


The Fishers JV Boys Basketball team beat Ft. Wayne Snider in the opening game of last Saturday's matinee by a final score of 53-43. In one of their best performances during this tough second half stretch the visiting Tigers trailed for only a few brief minutes early on before ratcheting up the defensive pressure and forcing the Panthers to play on their heels. The hosts jumped out to an early lead taking a 12-11 advantage into the 2nd quarter but it would be their last lead of the game as Fishers used a strong period of play to run out to a 24-18 lead heading into halftime. In the 2nd half, the Tigers kept their foot on the gas pushing their lead to 10+ before a late Snider rally cut the deficit once more 4 points going into the final quarter of play at 36-32. However, the Fishers defensive effort would prove to be too much to overcome as the Tigers slowly milked the game away from the FT line in the waning minutes prevailing 53-43 for their 10th win of the season as they now stand at 10-8 overall. Leading the way for Fishers was once again Freshman Charlie Smith with a game and season-tying high 19 points and 7 rebounds and Bryce Williams chipped in 14 points and 5 assists. Max Wuensch provided a strong presence off the bench adding 8 points and 2 steals.
Fishers is back at home when they host the Anderson Indians this Tuesday, February 5 with tip-off at 6:00 pm.


P.C. Joe Penhale is desperate to keep Maggie and show her he's changed; that he's the macho husband she wants. But Maggie plans to return to Bude. Penhale resorts to desperate measures to convince her to stay, including surreptitiously paying people to be nasty to her so he can step in and assert his authority, and show her he can be tough. Aunt Ruth uncovers a chest of family heirlooms when she clears out a barn at the farm, including photos as Martin as a six-year-old schoolboy. The photos bring back poignant memories of an unhappy childhood for Martin and it prompts him to think of registering their son for boarding school. But Louisa is horrified at the thought of sending him miles away to school. Tension is mounting between Louisa and Martin. They can't seem to agree on anything. The final straw for Louisa comes when she discovers Martin has set a date for their baby's christening without even consulting her. Louisa decides she has had enough. She packs a bag, and takes the baby back home to her mum.


I found some information about bullying that I'd like to share with you.
Most bullies are unhappy and have low self-esteem. They may come from an abusive home, or one where they are left alone most of the time. In either case, they have not learned appropriate behavior and may be acting in this manner for attention from anyone, even the police. The bottom line is, a bully doesn't feel loved. Don't let your child become a bully or be bullied. Here are some preventative things that you probably already do.
Be a good model for your child to imitate. Kids learn by watching and they will copy what you do.
Create positive communication channels with your child. Spend quality time with them. Let them know you are there for them and they can talk about anything, even if its things that you find difficult to discuss. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Don't give them double messages, it will confuse them.
Make sure your family environment is a supportive one. Get to really know your child. What turns him/her on or off. What sparks their curiosity.
Make sure you child is able to have positive relationships with other adults, ie: teachers, nurses, counselors, doctors, ministers etc. That way when you aren't there, they have someone to talk to.
Take an active interest in your child's school. Volunteer, take part in field trips. Communicate with the teacher, esp if something doesn't seem right.Set up fair and clear cut boundaries so your little one knows what is expected of him/her. That way your child will feel safe and loved.
Teach your child positive values. They need to learn to be honest, loving and caring. They aren't born with these traits.
Love your child and let them know that you love them.


text:
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    module.internet = {
        win_inited : false
    };

    if (stbWindowMgr.InitWebWindow){
        stbWindowMgr.InitWebWindow(
            '/home/web/public/app/bookmarks/header.html',
            '/home/web/public/app/bookmarks/footer.html');
    }

    main_menu.add(get_word('internet'), [], 'mm_ico_internet.png', function(){

        stb.EnableVKButton(true);

        _debug('module.internet.win_inited', module.internet.win_inited);

        _debug('stbWindowMgr.IsWebWindowExist', !!stbWindowMgr.IsWebWindowExist);

        _debug('stbWindowMgr.openWebFace', !!stbWindowMgr.openWebFace);

        if (stbWindowMgr.openWebFace){
            stbWindowMgr.openWebFace('/home/web/public/app/ibman/index.html?mode=2&url='+encodeURIComponent('http://google.com'));
            module.internet.win_inited = true;
        }else if (module.internet.win_inited && stbWindowMgr.IsWebWindowExist && stbWindowMgr.IsWebWindowExist()){
            stbWindowMgr.raiseWebWindow();
        }else{
            if (stbWindowMgr.InitWebWindow){
                stbWindowMgr.LoadUrl('http://google.com');
                stbWindowMgr.raiseWebWindow();
            }else{
                stbWindowMgr.openWebWindow('http://google.com');
            }

            module.internet.win_inited = true;
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    }, {layer_name : "internet"});
})();

loader.next();

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
package com.devplant.basics.apiexplorer.controller;
import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
import static org.mockito.Mockito.when;
import static org.springframework.test.web.servlet.request.MockMvcRequestBuilders.get;
import static org.springframework.test.web.servlet.result.MockMvcResultMatchers.content;

import java.util.Collections;

import org.junit.Test;
import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
import org.springframework.boot.test.autoconfigure.web.servlet.WebMvcTest;
import org.springframework.boot.test.mock.mockito.MockBean;
import org.springframework.http.MediaType;
import org.springframework.test.context.junit4.SpringRunner;
import org.springframework.test.web.servlet.MockMvc;
import org.springframework.test.web.servlet.request.MockHttpServletRequestBuilder;

import com.devplant.basics.apiexplorer.model.Author;
import com.devplant.basics.apiexplorer.repository.AuthorRepository;
import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;

@RunWith(SpringRunner.class)
@WebMvcTest(value = AuthorController.class, secure = false)
public class AuthorControllerTest {

    @Autowired
    private MockMvc mockMvc;

    @MockBean
    private AuthorRepository authorRepository;

    @Autowired
    private ObjectMapper mapper;

    @Test
    public void testFindAllAuthors() throws Exception {
        Author testAuthor = new Author(1, "The Dude", null);
        when(authorRepository.findAll()).thenReturn(Collections.singletonList(testAuthor));
        MockHttpServletRequestBuilder requestBuilder = get("/api/author")
                .contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON);
        mockMvc.perform(requestBuilder)
                .andExpect(content().contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON_UTF8))
                .andExpect(mvcResult -> assertThat(mapper.readValue(mvcResult.getResponse().getContentAsString(), Author[].class)[0]).isEqualTo(testAuthor));
    }

    @Test
    public void testGetBookById() throws Exception {
        Author testAuthor = new Author(1, "The Dude", null);
        when(authorRepository.findOne(1L)).thenReturn(testAuthor);
        MockHttpServletRequestBuilder requestBuilder = get("/api/author/{authorId}", 1)
                .contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON);
        mockMvc.perform(requestBuilder)
                .andExpect(content().contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON_UTF8))
                .andExpect(mvcResult -> assertThat(mapper.readValue(mvcResult.getResponse().getContentAsString(), Author.class)).isEqualTo(testAuthor));
    }

    @Test
    public void testFindByWrittenBook() throws Exception {
        Author testAuthor = new Author(1, "The Dude", null);
        when(authorRepository.findByWrittenBook("Test Book")).thenReturn(testAuthor);
        MockHttpServletRequestBuilder requestBuilder = get("/api/author/by-written-book").param("bookName", "Test Book")
                .contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON);
        mockMvc.perform(requestBuilder)
                .andExpect(content().contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON_UTF8))
                .andExpect(mvcResult -> assertThat(mapper.readValue(mvcResult.getResponse().getContentAsString(), Author.class)).isEqualTo(testAuthor));
    }

}


text:
Криступас Шлейва (род. 5 июля 1996 года) — литовский борец греко-римского стиля, бронзовый призёр чемпионата мира 2021 года и чемпионата Европы 2020 года.

Биография
Родился в 1996 году. С 2007 года активно занимается борьбой. С 2011 выступает на международной арене. В 2014 году завоевал серебряную медаль Чемпионата Европы среди юниоров.

В 2017 году впервые принял участие во взрослом чемпионате мира по борьбе. Занял 21-е место в весовой категории до 66 кг.

В феврале 2020 года на чемпионате континента в итальянской столице, в весовой категории до 67 кг Криступас в схватке за бронзовую медаль поборол спортсмена из Белоруссии Александра Ливончука и завоевал бронзовую медаль европейского первенства.

Примечания

Ссылки

Борцы Литвы


Yakas Kauri was considered the 7th largest kauri tree [ranked by merchantable volume] in New Zealand in 1971. Nicholas Yakas became witness to many marvels of the Waipoua Forest whilst he was a young man and hot in the pursuit of Kauri gum in the 1920's. It wasn't until 1966 when Yakas was asked if he knew of other Kauri trees in the Waipoua Forest that were as big as or larger than Tane Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere, that he decided to share some of his secrets.
So, a group consisting of Yakas, Tudor Collins of Warkworth, (one of New Zealand's top photographers of native bush scenery of that era), Sir Alfred Reed a publisher and author and a bush-lover, and Mrs. Ellen Wech set out and rediscovered the kauri tree. It was in 1968 when the name "Yakas Kauri" was officially accepted by the general public when Tudor Collins had one of his coloured photos of the tree published in a full page display in the weekly news of July 29 1968 edition. It was simply captioned "Yakas" tree by J.G. Erne Adams, the editor of the article, and the name has since stuck [1,2].
The often quoted height (43.9 m) volume (134.2 m3) and diameter (391.2 cm) of Yakas is taken from Burstall and Sale's 1984 book 'Great Trees of New Zealand . The calculations were made using forestry methodology of the time and were sourced from a 1971 New Zealand Forest Service survey of 13 (and later 20) named kauri in Waipoua and Omahuta Forests . The volumes established for each tree were of merchantable timber volumes inside bark. The 2009 measurements quoted on this record are taken from visiting U.S.A. tree researcher Robert Van Pelt's calculations where he used very accurate laser based technology and tree measurement methodology .
Recently available online copies of Leonard Cockayne's 1907/1908 botanical survey  include a photograph of a large tree he measured at 46 ft in girth, 6 ft above the ground. This tree, the largest he saw in his survey, was confused with the "phantom tree", a large tree glimpsed by hunters in the early 1960's, and a number of expeditions by Yakas, Collins, Peter Mathews and others during the late 1960's and 1970's to locate the tree resulted in the discovery of the Cockayne Kauri (Mathews took this to be the so-called phantom tree) and the re-discovery of the McGregor Kauri. More recently, in 1990, Stephen King found and measured the "Phantom Kauri"[7,8], equal in volume to Te Matua Ngahere (NR/0802).
A comparison of the distribution of the burls visible in the Cockayne photograph to burls on one side of the Yakas tree show that it is the same tree. The location of the Cockayne tree, given by him as "between Kohura and Omaia...", two clearings within the forest, south of the current day Te Matua Ngahere track. The given location for the Cockayne tree is the same as the setting of the Yakas tree. It is now known that the Yakas tree was seen, measured and photographed by Cockayne some 12 or 13 years before Nick Yakas found the tree.
1) Department of Conservation, Yakas Kauri Walk track notes.
5) Robert Van Pelt 2002 & 2009 NZ Summary spreadsheet.
8) S. King (personal communication, June 2016).
12 m to the first branch.
25 Mar 2009 Van Pelt, R.
The Yakas Kauri is sign posted "Kauri Walks" from State Highway 12, which runs through the Waipoua Forest. The track is 1.7 km and takes 40 minutes one way. It is very important that you keep to the walking track at all times. kauri have very sensitive surface roots, and foot traffic around the trees endangers their life span and may potentially spread the PTA disease that is threatening them.


Barry Otto, Lynette Curran, Helen Jones et al.
Without fail the closing moments of this film have me in tears every time I watch it. I have loved this film since I first saw it in the late 80s. Whilst definitely dated in so many ways it is still clear it was way ahead of its time and the environmental and ethical issues it covers are even more pertinent today than ever they were back then... It's a very very dark comedy (and poignant love story (amongst other plot lines...), hold on in there through the first 30 minutes that are very weird indeed at times (sardines, very odd sibling relationships...) and you definitely won't regret it. The last 20 minutes or so are priceless.


Sound is the primordial source of all manifestation, and the human voice is the most powerful and dynamic instrument on Earth. Through the creation of vibration we may access the infinite potential of Spirit. In this Sonic Bloom Sound, we gather in ceremonial circle to open our hearts and voices fully through exploration of the sonic sphere. With tones and frequencies generated entirely by our voices we unlock vibrational keys held deep in our beings. This is a safe, powerful and fun container to explore freedom of voice and expression, allowing the inner and outer sounds to harmonize into a tangible field of collective healing.
We will explore with our most powerful tool, our voice and continue the sound exploration with a guided shamanic journey into the Earth Elemental in Celtic traditions. This is a space to reach our ancestors, spirit guide allies, totems and power animals of the earth realm for messages and connect with our most trusted unseen allies. We also find in the fire our ability to transform and transmute. Let this force run through you!