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Home /News/Fil-Am educator calls for transformation amid pandemic, inspires DepEd teachers, officials in PHL
by Noemi Baysa
"As educators, much is expected of us on how we prepare the young generation for an unknown future. The time has come that we need to transform the way we educate the world's future leaders and movers."
This was the call of Dr. Nerissa Linell Joie Tago Calub, Education Administrator IV at the Department of Education (DOE) in New York City (NYC), as she inspired Filipino educators and officials in public schools during her talk at a free webinar conducted by the International Cooperation Office (ICO) of the Department of Education on April 22, 2019.
Dr. Margarita Consolacion Ballesteros, Director of DepEd-ICO, organized the seminar "Transforming Education in the 21st Century Pandemic: Issues and Thrusts" to give Filipino educators a first-hand account of the practices of educators as well as the school systems in NYC in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Forty-seven teachers, SDO officials, regional supervisors, and ICO staff, all coming from the different parts of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, joined Dr. Benjamin Paragas, Regional Director of DepEd-MIMAROPA; Dr. Estela L. Cariño, Regional Director of DepEd-Cagayan Valley; Dir. Ballesteros, and Dr. Calub for a 2-hour exchange of ideas on the new role of educators and the school systems in transforming education.
"A school system is a cell itself, the smallest unit of life, and in transforming the kind of education we need amidst the pandemic, it is to cause to undergo some DNA or genetic transformation," Dr. Calub explained as she drew the participants to the importance of growth among educators.
Berries and thorn amidst the pandemic
Amidst the coronavirus crisis, Dr. Calub highlighted the importance of recognizing not only the thorn which she said was the pandemic itself, but also the berries which according to her were the blessings that people continuously received.
"The pandemic is vicious and dangerous. It is a threat to health and lives. As government employees, we have to share the blessings that we receive," the former Assistant Schools Division Superintendent of Cebu Province explained.
Dr. Calub further shared how millions of people in the US just like in the Philippines lost their jobs and how a lot of them lost their loved ones because of the thorn.
Participants, heeding the call of the renowned speaker, reflected on the blessings they received despite the pandemic.
"Family. Home. Health. Students. Secured income. God," participants chimed in one by one, celebrating what Dr. Calub referred to as their big B [blessing].
Transforming education
Dr. Calub reiterated that the challenges people face would be the very reason that they need to grow.
"We don't grow when things are easy; we grow when we face challenges," Dr. Calub said to stress the needed change given the current situation.
The former Dean of Graduate School and Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Divine Word College of Laoag also underlined the need for educators to transform and see growth in their personal and professional lives.
"Let us make the challenge brought about by the pandemic as stepping stone for us to step up the plate for growth as teachers, as administrators, as family members, and as members of our own community," Dr. Calub prodded.
The NYC school systems
New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) is the department of the government of New York City that manages the city's public school system.
According to Dr. Calub, the NYCDOE has over 1.1 million students taught in more than 1,800 separate schools. There are around 80, 000 teachers all over the city with 20,000 support staff.
Being the largest school system in the United States, the NYCDOE has an annual budget of 25 billion dollars.
Unlike in the Philippines, teachers in NYCDOE do not get a permanent item the moment they are appointed. They are subject to a tenure requirement which is 3 years of satisfactory performance.
Dr. Calub also shared that NYC is not made up of entirely English-speaking students. A lot of their students are English Language Learners, those whose home language is not English and those who need support in learning the language. Also 20% of their students are with disability.
An adhoc member of the New York State Education Department Professional Licensing Team on Bias Review, Dr. Calub also revealed that not everybody in NYC is in the above average socio-economic status; in fact, 72.8% belonged under the economically disadvantaged.
The city that never sleeps in the midst of the pandemic
In the midst of pandemic, New York City, known as the city that never sleeps, has sheltered in and took a PAUSE (Policy to Assure Uniform Safety for Everyone) as ordered by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of the New York State.
According to Dr. Calub, Americans are used to sheltering in even in pre-pandemic time, because their routine after work is to come home, rest and do the household chores.
But mentally, the PAUSE is making them a little bit stressed out and anxious because they know they are not supposed to go out.
Dr. Calub described NYC now as the city that fell asleep in the midst of the sounds of the sirens.
"There could be hardheaded Americans but a lot of us have taken the protocol by heart because it has hit our homes," Dr. Calub explained as she recalled losing two of her close friends despite being healthy due to COVID-19. (READ: US Coronavirus Death Toll Passes 50,000)
Issues in education amid crisis
April 22, 2020 marked the 6th week since schools have been closed, and the 5th week that educating the young has gone fully virtual in New York City.
The schools were closed on March 16, 2020 (a day after the Enhanced Community Quarantine in National Capital Region in the Philippines began), and to date there is still no final decision as to how long schools will be closed.
Dr. Calub explained that the DOE institutionalized a 100% virtual teaching-learning process, and prepared the teachers and students for it, though in a very limited time.
Teachers were trained for three days, which was not a problem for those who were digital natives since they could easily access, navigate and utilize technology to its full capacity, but it posed problems to teachers who were digital immigrants.
Students' preparedness was focused on the number of students who has technology at home and who actually has internet connections.
Knowing that not all students have gadgets for virtual learning, the DOE used their resource allocation to immediately distribute 300,000 laptops to their students, but there was still a long wait for others since all units were already distributed.
Higher stakes examinations such as SAT and ACT, that would qualify students to high end universities or to obtain scholarships, were cancelled. The Regent Examination in June has also been cancelled.
Graduations rites could be virtual for the Grade 5 elementary students, Grade 8 middle school students and Grade 12 high school students, who would all get their diploma unless credits are not warranted.
Dr. Calub also shared that religious observance days such as the Pass Over and Good Friday were not observed to avoid students getting a chance to go to the park.
Spring break, after school classes, Saturday programs, summer school, and Summer Youth Employment Program similarly were all suspended.
As for the budget, the Mayor has announced taking out 900 million from the 25 billion dollars, which would affect the hiring of new staff and would in turn have an impact to the teacher-pupil ratio.
Not giving up: Education thrusts
Sharing the quote, 'Every great story happened when someone decided not to give up,' Dr. Calub encouraged the participants to continue working as educators.
"Our gov't leaders are not giving up; our new heroes, the frontliners are not giving up; we educators who work from home, we should not give up because the future of our students, the future of our school community certainly rest on us," said the CEO and Founder of Pathways Education Consultancy.
Dr. Calub further stressed how the DOE has stepped up in giving service to New Yorkers.
"In the pre-pandemic time, students have free breakfast and lunch as part of the 25B budget of the DOE, but now in this crisis, DOE through its 400 meal hubs across the city, is committed to making free meals thrice a day for pick up not only for our students but for any New Yorker," she said.
As for education, DOE provided the InfoHub and TeachHub for remote teaching and learning, to which students and teachers have access. The website has rich instructional materials and resources.
As part of teachers' professional development, the DOE gave teachers who need technical support in virtual teaching an access to NYCDOE Remote Learning Tech PD Calendar, an updated website to help them in creating their day to day classes.
Noting that 70% of the 1.2 million students in NYC speak another language, the DOE administrator shared that major languages were part of the translation in the website used for virtual teaching-learning.
"Language access is available for all families, because if these will not be translated, communication lines are hindered along the way," she expounded.
The former professor at Cebu Normal University also highlighted that students with functional challenges have a particular site that would provide them support.
"Special education students are provided with the remote Individualized Education Program (IEP) which has staff members who are special education teachers, psychologists, and related service providers like councilors, nurses, physical therapists, and speech pathologists who are required to provide teletherapy, unless parents would say no," she explained.
Dr. Calub also added that DOE has provided the teletherapy service not only to those mandated to receive them but also to those who maybe in mental crisis at the moment, those who are anxious and depressed.
"Mental health is a very urgent and critical issue that New Yorkers are being challenged with. The cabin fever is real in New York," Dr. Calub shared as she talked about the anxieties New Yorkers are feeling caused by being isolated for a long period of time.
Dr. Calub also recalled that on the very first week that the city went remote, Regional Enrichment Centers (RECs) were established to have safe places for the children of the frontline workers while they take care of the city.
Eight RECs all around the city, staffed by DOE employees and community-based organization partners, safely take care of the children of the first responders, health care providers and frontliners who need to serve the city.
The DOE administrator pointed out that department also addressed possible domestic abuse through the child abuse and maltreatment prevention and intervention during remote learning and through the RECs.
"We have the NYCDOE website which is open so that victims or witnesses to child abuse or those who suspect of knowing such incidence can directly report it," Dr. Calub shared revealing that the reports of incidence of child abuse has increased during the pandemic.
The renowned lecturer also boasted of the communication lines in NY being very open, saying that anyone can go straight to the governor, mayor, chancellor using various modalities, snail mail, World Wide Web, phones, and media.
Dr. Calub also revealed that families were also given cash stimulus checks, similar to the social amelioration program that poor families in the Philippines received.
Chartering the uncharted waters
Dir. Ballesteros in reflection recapped that the impact of the coronavirus is not just to the educators in the Philippines but worldwide.
"Dr. Calub's sharing is more than enough to say that COVID is not only for us but for all people all over the world especially the respective departments of education," Dir. Ballesteros said.
Dr. Calub shared positivity restating the words of Gov. Cuomo of the New York State saying that we will all get through the pandemic.
"New York is tough. I am tough. We are all tough. And my being a Filipino makes me tougher. We are more resilient compared to other locals here. And I believe that the Philippines would get over this challenge," she remarked with an unyielding spirit.
The DOE administrator also talked about the scenarios when schools reopen saying that public health standards must dictate the new norms.
"Everyone in the school community, in the Philippines and in the US are confronted with an unprecedented educational upheaval. The new normal has started and will stay longer than expected," she explained.
As for the Philippines, Dir. Ballesteros said that commercial service providers offered free learning management system for DepEd.
"In the Philippines, Globe and Smart Tele Coms have already offered free use of data for DepEd Commons. IBM Philippines, Microsoft, Google, and other private partners are also offering their platform for free," she clarified.
Dir. Ballesteros revealed that the government has negotiated with PLDT and TELCO, and everything will be packaged for students and teachers for free, and that DepEd is hoping that by last week of April, if not early May, everything will be in place.
The ICO Chief also added that she has negotiated with colleagues in Netherlands, New Zealand and Brussels, but everything is yet to be presented to the Curriculum and Instruction Division.
Dr. Calub offered the possibility of creating ties with EverFi, which is a platform that provides essential soft and hard life skills, good for Senior High School.
Concluding, the Filipino DOE official in New York noted that all educators are chartering an uncharted water in this crisis.
"COVID-19 pandemic is a great equalizer, and that no matter how rich New York is or the United States is, we are all on the same boat," Dr. Calub said in closing.
On denial and toxic positivity: The other dangers of the pandemic
Two sides of the crisis
TAGS: Dr. Nerissa Linell Joie Tago Calub education amid pandemic education transformation ICO International Cooperation Office
Rosario Baysa says:
-Dr. Callud
The pandemic will never be enough to stop teachers and instructors from evolving into the master of our future. Thank you dr Noemi Baysa for this article and thank you Dr. Callud for all your efforts.
I have learned necessary knowledge, it's your turn now. Pls read the article below and be enlightened.
Kristine R Cruz says:
Nice! Kudos! 😊😊
Marylou G. Salcedo says:
I am so engrossed with this article, Dr.Calub shared the " city that never sleep…now fell to sleep".
This pandemic have showed to the world, that even first world countries is not exempted.
"we are all on the same boat".
Thanks dr. Noemi Baysa for this article and to Dr. Calub for sharing.


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« RIP: Vinod Khannaji
Now central banks are weary of private digital money: How history is being repeated the other way round.. »
A Hayekian solution to realising potential of Indian heritage which so far has been an utter waste…
One does not agree much with Niti Aayog's recent ways (see this and this for instance).
However, there is little to disgaree in this article from its CEO Amitabh Kant. Given the huge history of India, preservation and highlight of its heritage buildings is just a given thing. But all we have done is destruction of these buildings. The entire experience of going through most of our heritage buildings is just so painful.
We know what the problems are. So not getting into that discussion. What is interesting is to see a Government official suggest a more decentralised solution towards the problem:
If we are to pass on our built heritage to future generations in a better condition than we inherited it, liberalization of the cultural sector needs to be brought in and responsibility entrusted to private entities, universities, non-profits, even resident welfare associations. A combination of non-governmental partners engaging the specialists required and government agencies supervising conservation efforts could ensure that the highest standards are met.
Heritage buildings everywhere utilize local materials; the skills to work upon these are in the local communities. Obviously, any conservation effort then has to source locally—creating employment and economic opportunities. Many an Indian ruler commissioned forts, palaces and temples in times of drought as a life-saving economic incentive for the populace. "Make in India" objectives will thus be met by any well planned and implemented conservation effort while simultaneously creating an economic asset that continues to pay rich dividends for years to come.
Only a limited number of heritage buildings are tourist attractions; for the rest, new functions need to be incentivised and planned. Most of the 600,000 protected heritage structures in the UK are in private ownership—and as historic buildings are considered better built, they command high premiums. Just as the Indian government's ministry of tourism funds the tourism corporations of all states, Central government grants could be made available to fund conservation efforts by the states and private owners. Property tax waivers, permission for change of land use and transferable development rights are amongst other incentives owners of heritage buildings or those residing within the 100m "prohibited zones" of nationally protected monuments could receive. Besides being used as hotels or museums or libraries, heritage buildings could also easily be adapted to serve as schools or clinics—lending economic value to local communities. While representing a higher aesthetic and building quality, it is always more economical to convert a building than to build afresh.
There is an example where this has been a success:
One of the world's most frequently cited conservation success stories has resulted from the non-profit partnership established by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Central Public Works Department and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation in the Capital's Humayun's Tomb-Nizamuddin area. Here, over a 10-year period, conservation works have been undertaken on over 40 structures, leading to a tenfold increase in visitor numbers and the doubling of the number of World Heritage Sites; they now number 11, in addition to Humayun's Tomb. The Aga Khan Trust has assisted the ASI in taking ownership of an additional 35 acres of land, freeing it from encroachment and implementing landscape restoration at the monuments. Over 10,000 trees have been planted in the process. With conservation work requiring 500,000 days of work for craftsmen, there is a strong case for making conservation works eligible for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act funds.
As a result of this partnership project, over 20,000 people inhabiting the adjoining Nizamuddin Basti today have an improved quality of life resulting from simultaneous efforts in street improvement, landscaping of neighbourhood parks, building of community toilet complexes, improved primary education and the provision of widely-used health facilities. The emphasis of the Sufi cultural legacy through cultural performances and exhibitions has also instilled a sense of pride in the local community. Providing appropriate vocational training has meant thousands of jobs and economic opportunities in selling souvenirs crafted by the women in Nizamuddin.
Just as anywhere else in the world, our built heritage can be leveraged for economic gain through tourism dollars as well as opportunities for craftsmen and local communities.
Hmm… I am sure there are examples of some failed projects as well.
But overall, a decentralised approach is likely to succeed more given the diversity and sentiments. We should try and involve more and more local communities giving them ownership over these projects.
Tourism has so much job creating potential in India. Pity, we hardly pay much attention to it other than charging higher fares to foreigners for visiting these sites. This is also ironical as most Indians neither have an idea about these sites in their own places nor intend to visit them..
This entry was posted on April 27, 2017 at 2:48 pm and is filed under Discussion, Indian Economy/Financial Markets.	You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Fly Fishing Film Tour is brought to Sandpoint by Big R Fly Shop and the Panhandle Chapter of Trout Unlimited. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Panhandle Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Pend Oreille Water Festival.
Tickets($12) are available locally in advance at Big R Fly Shop, 208-255-5757 and Eichardts Pub. They are also available through F3T online for $14 and at the door on the night of the event for $15.
Doors open at 6.00 pm so please come early for a pre-event social gathering. Film starts promptly at 7.00 pm.
For more information please contact Calvin Fuller, 208-255-5757 or calvin.fuller@csww.net or Reg Crawford, 208-290-3545 or panhandletu@gmail.com.


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How to Destroy America
A Frightening Analysis
Editor's Note: As far as I have been able to determine, this account is true. Source: Internet accounts
We all know Dick Lamm as the former Governor of Colorado. In that context his thoughts are particularly poignant. Last week there was an immigration-overpopulation conference in Washington, DC, filled to capacity by many of American's finest minds and leaders. A brilliant college professor named Victor Hansen Davis talked about his latest book, "Mexifornia," explaining how immigration — both legal and illegal — was destroying the entire state of California. He said it would march across the country until it destroyed all vestiges of The American Dream.
Moments later, former Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm stood up and gave a stunning speech on how to destroy America. The audience sat spellbound as he described eight methods for the destruction of the United States. He said, "If you believe that America is too smug, too self-satisfied, too rich, then let's destroy America. It is not that hard to do. No nation in history has survived the ravages of time. Arnold Toynbee observed that all great civilizations rise and fall and that 'An autopsy of history would show that all great nations commit suicide.'"
"Here is how they do it," Lamm said: First to destroy America, "Turn America into a bilingual or multi-lingual and bicultural country. History shows that no nation can survive the tension, conflict, and antagonism of two or more competing languages and cultures. It is a blessing for an individual to be bilingual; however, it is a curse for a society to be bilingual. The historical scholar Seymour Lipset put it this way: 'The histories of bilingual and bi-cultural societies that do not assimilate are histories of turmoil, tension, and tragedy. Canada, Belgium, Malaysia, Lebanon all face crises of national existence in which minorities press for autonomy, if not independence. Pakistan and Cyprus have divided. Nigeria suppressed an ethnic rebellion. France faces difficulties with Basques, Bretons, and Corsicans."
Lamm went on: Second, to destroy America, "Invent 'multiculturalism' and encourage immigrants to maintain their culture. I would make it an article of belief that all cultures are equal. That there are no cultural differences. I would make it an article of faith that the Black and Hispanic dropout rates are due to prejudice and discrimination by the majority. Every other explanation is out of bounds.
Third, "We could make the United States a 'Hispanic Quebec' without much effort. The key is to celebrate diversity rather than unity. As Benjamin Schwarz said in the Atlantic Monthly recently: 'The apparent success of our own multiethnic and multicultural experiment might have been achieved! Not by tolerance but by hegemony. Without the dominance that once dictated ethnocentrically and what it meant to be an American, we are left with only tolerance and pluralism to hold us together.'"
Lamm said, "I would encourage all immigrants to keep their own language and culture. I would replace the melting pot metaphor with the salad bowl metaphor. It is important to ensure that we have various cultural subgroups living in America reinforcing their differences rather than as Americans, emphasizing their similarities."
"Fourth, I would make our fastest growing demographic group the least educated. I would add a second underclass, unassimilated, undereducated, and antagonistic to our population. I would have this second underclass have a 50% dropout rate from high school."
"My fifth point for destroying America would be to get big foundations and business to give these efforts lots of money. I would invest in ethnic identity, and I would establish the cult of 'Victimology.' I would get all minorities to think their lack of success was the fault of the majority. I would start a grievance industry blaming all minority failure on the majority population."
"My sixth plan for America's downfall would include dual citizenship and promote divided loyalties. I would celebrate diversity over unity. I would stress differences rather than similarities. Diverse people worldwide are mostly engaged in hating each other - that is, when they are not killing each other. A diverse, peaceful, or stable society is against most historical precedent. People undervalue the unity! Unity is what it takes to keep a nation together. Look at the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed that they belonged to the same race; they possessed a common language and literature; and they worshiped the same gods. All Greece took part in the Olympic Games.
A common enemy Persia threatened their liberty. Yet all these bonds were not strong enough to over come two factors: local patriotism and geographical conditions that nurtured political divisions. Greece fell.
"E. Pluribus Unum" — From many, one. In that historical reality, if we put the emphasis on the 'pluribus' instead of the 'Unum,' we can balkanize America as surely as Kosovo."
"Next to last, I would place all subjects off limits ~ make it taboo to talk about anything against the cult of 'diversity.' I would find a word similar to 'heretic' in the 16th century - that stopped discussion and paralyzed thinking. Words like 'racist' or 'x! xenophobes' halt discussion and debate."
"Having made America a bilingual/bicultural country, having established multi-culturism, having the large foundations fund the doctrine of 'Victimology,' I would next make it impossible to enforce our immigration laws. I would develop a mantra: That because immigration has been good for America, it must always be good. I would make every individual immigrant symmetric and ignore the cumulative impact of millions of them."
In the last minute of his speech, Governor Lamm wiped his brow. Profound silence followed. Finally he said, "Lastly, I would censor Victor Hanson Davis's book Mexifornia. His book is dangerous. It exposes the plan to destroy America. If you feel America deserves to be destroyed, don't read that book."
There was no applause.
A chilling fear quietly rose like an ominous cloud above every attendee at the conference. Every American in that room knew that everything Lamm enumerated was proceeding methodically, quietly, darkly, yet pervasively across the United States today. Every discussion is being suppressed. Over 100 languages are ripping the foundation of our educational system and national cohesiveness. Barbaric cultures that practice female genital mutilation are growing as we celebrate 'diversity.' American jobs are vanishing into the Third World as corporations create a Third World in America — take note of California and other states — to date, ten million illegal aliens and growing fast. It is reminiscent of George Orwell's book "1984." In that story, three slogans are engraved in the Ministry of Truth building: "War is peace," "Freedom is slavery," and "Ignorance is strength."
Governor Lamm walked back to his seat. It dawned on everyone at the conference that our nation and the future of this great democracy are deeply in trouble and worsening fast. If we don't get this immigration monster stopped within three years, it will rage like a California wildfire and destroy everything in its path, especially The American Dream.
Scary. That people actually think this way.
He does identify some some problems that need to be dealt with, but I fear as to how he would deal with them.
"Lamm went on: Second, to destroy America, "Invent 'multiculturalism' and encourage immigrants to maintain their culture. I would make it an article of belief that all cultures are equal. That there are no cultural differences. I would make it an article of faith that the Black and Hispanic dropout rates are due to prejudice and discrimination by the majority. Every other explanation is out of bounds."
Hmm, so he thinks we shold just settle on one culture and be done with it. Fine- I vote Celtic. From this day forward, we should all practice Celtic culture. No? OK, Italian. From this day forward we should all be Italians. Don't like that idea either? Well, what should we be. With so many cultures available right her in Aermica (on might say "mulit-cultures) which one should we settle on?
I could address a number of other screeds this xenophobe professes, but I'm at work, at just thinking of the support this guy has turns my stomach
Monday, August 01, 2005 9:53:00 AM
Unfortunately, Lamm is right. Far from being xenophobic, he has latched on to exactly what is wrong with our country.
It's not so much that any one of the things he mentioned by itself is bad, or that all of them together are bad. After all, complete inflexibility is a poor strategy. It's the degree to which we (and by "we" I mean such a large segment of the population) have recklessly embraced these ideas, and indeed tried to turn our country in such a dramatically different direction than that which made us the greatest nation on Earth.
Instead of taking the near-perfect template upon which the USA was designed and built and fine-tuning it, we have made wholesale changes that have not just altered the problem areas, but have radically distorted its fundamental structure. Today, the US is quickly becoming like Michael Jackson, who has made such ridiculous changes to his appearance that he is no longer recognizable as Michael Jackson, and barely as a human being.
For cultures/societies to survive they need certain things. One is a common language. Next is a stable set of cultural standards into which immigrants immerse themselves, and become Americans. They need to operate from a position of strength, protecting their cultural attributes, not trying to be all things to all people, and especially not catering to those who perceive themselves as victims because they haven't yet made the effort to assimilate into our society.
"Well, what should we be," you asked. "With so many cultures available right her in Aermica (on might say "mulit-cultures) which one should we settle on?" That is exactly the problem. The culture we should settle on is "American." Which is what Dick Lamm plainly said. We need to re-establish Americanism here in America. When the Italians, the Irish, the Germans all came here a hundred years ago, guess what they did? They became Americans. They didn't expect America to adapt itself to them, they understood what so many now do not: That it is their job to adjust. They did, and our country became stronger and better.
These days, immigrants come to a place that is so insecure that it attempts to adapt to them, and that, my friend, is a prescription for disaster. That disaster is underway.
If that reality frightens you, truly frightens you, I recommend that you give this subject some serious thought to find why Lamm is right.
Monday, August 01, 2005 10:49:00 AM
Buffalo said...
Lamm is correct. Well done, Mr. Shott.
Nope. Celtic society all the way
Monday, August 01, 2005 12:42:00 PM
Thanks for the comment, Mr. Brown. Glad to have you commenting again.
Monday, August 01, 2005 2:40:00 PM
As for you, Mr. i eat puppies, Celtic music is dreadful. Wouldn't you reconsider?
DREAFUL??? Obviously, you've never partaking in a good craic. Celtic music is some of the best. A great deal of the music from Appalachia and old-time country finds its roots in the blues and Celtic music. (and hear I am talking about the true country, like Willy Nelson, Johnny Cash, Charlie Pride etc, or your bluegrass)
Your modern country, on the other hand, is what can be referred to as dreadful. That stuff they play on 4 out of five country stations that I wouldn't wipe my dog's but with.
Yes, Celtic music has an honored place in the evolution of "American" music. Like most ancient musical forms, though, it is pretty repetitive, and that's what I was referring to.
I don't listen to a lot of "Country" music, but for a while it seemed to be re-cycling old pop/rock tunes, and imitating them. That wasn't/isn't so bad, but it isn't really "country," either.
Yes, and by "your country music" I meant the royal you
I suspected that's was how you meant that.
Your man O'Reilly, at it again.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200508020002
Tuesday, August 02, 2005 3:42:00 PM
I may be completely wrong about this, and the source you provided indicates that I am, but I have to believe that someone of O'Reilly's stature had some effect on trade with France.
I share his sentiment that we should punish people economically when they act against the interests of the U.S. I have crossed Aruba off my list of desirable places to go. I've always wanted to visit the southern Caribbean, as it's the only part of that region I haven't visited. Aruba won't get my money, however, based on the way they have botched this investigation.
And that decision was made before O'Reilly suggested it. I imagine others feel the same way.
O'Reilly is a man of low stature. OK, he has a few million viewers- he regularly gets beat by UPN.
Unfortunately, his record for playing loose with the facts is extensive and well documented.
Also, I cringe to use "media matters" as a source b/c, while they are usually solid in their reporting and citation, they don't turn that same investigative eye on the left.
And I agree on economic punishment, as well as other forms, but this is just a case of O'Reilly stroking his ego. HIDE THE FALLAFAL!
Wednesday, August 03, 2005 10:30:00 AM
Manly Geek said...
I couldn't agree with you more on this. And what I don't understand is why its a Republican President who is laying such excellent ground work to accelerate the process of destruction.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005 5:13:00 PM
"My sixth plan for America's downfall would include dual citizenship and promote divided loyalties."
Interesting article. And, I would say, is in line with the sentiment of the majority of our population, that is, with mainstream Dems and Repubs... not the politicians, mind you. But the people that the politicians SUPPOSEDLY represent
The only problem is that politicians on both sides of the aisle do not have the balls to enforce the laws already on the books, nor do they have the balls to implement policy that would consider the long-term viability of the culture that has created the United States of America.
I think it boils down to the statement... we are so damn open that we do not realize that we are opening (our borders, our influences) to cultures that WILL NOT perpetuate our openness. That is, there are no assimilation (or even amalgamation) forces in effect that teach these new immigrants just what it is that the USA was founded and grown on... There is no point! They do not want our culture, they just want the money.
They are not being taught concepts of Personal Liberty, all of our founding principles...
Thursday, August 04, 2005 9:38:00 AM
manly geek: Welcome and thanks for your comment.
I'm assuming you are referring to Mr. Bush's neglect of the borders. If so, I heartily agree. This is, in my opinion, the biggest failing of his otherwise pretty good presidency.
Thursday, August 04, 2005 4:45:00 PM
Brad: I think Mr., Mrs., and Ms America would agree with that sentiment. As for the politicians, I detect the impulse from the Left to condone things which tears our culture apart, but not from the Right.
Our country is fast becoming a multi-national, multi-cultural, far-too-socially-liberal hell. If we don't reinstitute some social and cultural standards pretty soon, it might be too late.
It's a tough line to walk, in these dangerous times, between safety and liberty. If we give up too much liberty in order to protect ourselves, the terrorists will have won the easy way.
I'm willing to sacrifice a LITTLE freedom TEMPORARILY, but sacrificing any is a risky business.
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Democrats' own mood poll scares them
Part I It's Time for the Pot to Start Callin...
The Plame Name Blame Game
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2005 Cost of Government Day - July 4
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Burr Kills Hamilton in Duel in 1804
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From the Belly of the Beast
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An immigrant's musings on Durbin
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One Down, Four to Go


text:
New Business Intelligence White Paper from Cognos Explores Trends in Data Visualization
March 20, 2007 By BI Editor
Cognos announced the availability of the third in a series of three White Papers exploring core principles of effective data visualization. Spanning more than 2,000 years of recorded human history, Data Visualization: Past, Present, and Future examines the birth and evolution of data visualization, from early Egyptian tables used to organize astronomical information through bar charts, treemaps, and geo-spatial visualization tools (such as Google Earth).
Commissioned by Cognos, the paper was written by renowned data visualization expert and educator Stephen Few and published by the Cognos Innovation Center for Performance Managementâ"¢. The paper follows the previous releases of two papers, Visual Communication: Core Principles for Displaying Quantitative Information, and Visual Pattern Recognition: Meaningful Patterns in Quantitative Business Information, both by Few.
Stephen Few is Principal of the consultancy Perceptual Edge and the author of two books: Show Me the Numbers: Designing Tables and Graphs to Enlighten and Information Dashboard Design: The Effective Visual Communication of Data.
Explores link between data visualization and business intelligence
The paper also explores the academic interest in data visualization and its influence on best practices in real-world applications. "Dashboards, visual analytics, and even simple graphs will continue to develop and conform to best practices," writes Few.
Also explored are future directions for data visualization, such as its increasingly important role within business intelligence. "Data visualization is well-equipped to assume a central role in business intelligence, for it is intelligence that it is tailored to foster," writes Few.
Helping to build best-practice business cultures
The Cognos Innovation Center was established in June 2004 to advance the understanding of proven performance management best-practices and enabling technologies. In June, 2006, it expanded its focus to advance BI competency for the strategic application of business intelligence on an enterprise scale.
"Business Intelligence Competency Centers (BICCs) act as enablers and catalysts for the creation of best-practice cultures," said Michael Dziekan, Cognos Global Program Director, Business Intelligence Competency Centers. "The knowledge and practical guidance provided in these white papers will provide a great start to organizations building an inventory of best practices that drive operational efficiency."
More value from business intelligence deployments
Business intelligence deployments are most successful when they meet a specific business need. By following the principles in these papers, business intelligence professionals will be better able to design reports that communicate more clearly and effectively, thereby increasing the relevance of the content to the user, and the business value of the entire deployment.
The Paper is available for immediate download from the Cognos Innovation Center for Performance Managementâ"¢.
About the Cognos Innovation Center for Performance Management
Staffed by experts in planning, management processes, and technology, the Innovation Center partners with more than 500 Cognos customers, academics, partners, industry leaders, and others who want to accelerate adoption, reduce risk, and maximize the impact of technology-enabled performance management practices. Depending on their area of interest, members focus on advancing performance management practices or business intelligence competency, gaining insights from experts and peers who have experienced similar challenges and paths to success.
Filed Under: Business Intelligence, Cognos


The machine can accommodate an extra large grinding wheel with 610 mm diameter and 160 mm ... CNC Series (Heavy Duty) GUH-3540CNCGUH-3580CNCGUH-35100CNCGHU-35150CNC.
... food processing machinery and equipment, ... Heavy Duty Grinding Mill, ... Diameter Size of Millstone in MM & in Inches: 300MM - 12"


text:
Mahabe est une ville et une commune urbaine de l'Ouest de Madagascar, appartenant au district de Besalampy, appartenant à la région de Melaky, dans la province de Majunga.

Géographie

Démographie
La population est estimée à environ  en 2001.

Économie
90 % de la population travaille dans le secteur agricole. Les principales cultures sont principalement le riz, l'huile de palme, le manioc ou encore des arachides.

Notes et références

Voir aussi

Article connexe
 Province de Majunga

Liens externes

Commune dans la région de Melaky

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Breaking: dcu | Vindictus | Wakanda #5 | star trek | always sunny | HyperX | Shadow Gambit | invincible | Dragon Ball Super | Aliens Abducted My Parents | warrior nun | the boogeyman | Monster Energy Supercross | avatar | Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #9
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The Gang Drops First 3 Podcast Eps
by Ray Flook
Well, that didn't take long. Only a few hours after sharing the trailer for the new podcast looking back on the history of FXX's Kaitlin Olson, Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney & Danny DeVito-starring comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, we have the first three episodes of The "Always Sunny" Podcast ("The Gang Gets Racist," "Charlie Wants An Abortion" & "Underage Drinking: A National Concern") with Day, Howerton & McElhenney. The trio is offering the kind of creative and personal perspectives that fans have been asking for, starting with the pilot episode and covering every episode over the record-setting series' 14-season run as it heads into Season 15 next month. . As the podcast describes it, each episode will be loose and structure-free which means "the guys just talk about the episodes for a while and then it just sort of… ends." To get a taste of what's to come, check out the trailer & overview below:
Image: Simplecast
For a taste of what's to come, check out the podcast trailer & overview below; following that, we have the first three episode that dropped online earlier today:
The Always Sunny Podcast is a look back on the past fourteen seasons of the hit show, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, hosted by Glenn, Charlie, and Rob. With the fifteenth season dropping December 2021, the guys are going back to where it all began: 2005. Starting with the very first episode, they'll rewatch every season and give us a deep dive into their memories of creating the show, reveal how they first met, and discuss how they created a lasting partnership that has endured the better part of two decades. That is, if they can remember any of it.
Now here's a look at the first three episodes: "The Gang Gets Racist," "Charlie Wants An Abortion" & "Underage Drinking: A National Concern":
So make sure to mark it down on your calendars because the doors to Paddy's are swinging open again starting Wednesday, December 1, with its first two episodes. Here's a look at the official It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 15 trailer from FXX. And before you ask? Yup, apparently The Gang was cleared to travel internationally (nice work, TSA). And we might be seeing Mac and Dennis appear before the January 6th committee from the looks of things:
Video can't be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Season 15: Official Trailer | FXX (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTGQiJ6sAxU)
When the show returns, the gang finds themselves at a crossroads in this strange new world in the wake of Covid-19 and all things 2020. The rules are changing quicker than anyone can keep up with, despite herculean efforts from Mac (McElhenney), Charlie (Day), Dennis (Howerton), Dee (Olson), and Frank (DeVito) to continue business as usual. They must also now face the music and decide who they'll become in the cultural upheaval that is 2021.
Posted in: FX, Hulu, Preview, Trailer, TV | Tagged: always sunny, Charlie Day, fx on hulu, FXX, Glenn Howerton, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, podcast, preview, rob mcelhenney, Season 1
About Ray Flook
Serving as Television Editor since 2018, Ray began five years earlier as a contributing writer/photographer before being brought onto the core BC team in 2017.
Latest by Ray Flook


Folk magic is the magic of the people, and, traditionally, healing magic is a bigger part of it. As we know, healing has many facets, and our ancestors were aware of this, too. So it's no surprise to find remedies against a broken heart or the evil eye among spells and herbs to cure colds or rashes.
In this sense folk magical healing has a holistic approach, grown and developed further over the centuries, with many tried-and-true remedies but especially with a main focus on people as whole beings. This also extends into the cosmic dimension—for example, by taking into account the phases of the moon or planetary correspondences of bodily systems and organs. Many traditions preserved well even over centuries, like the old knowledge about the planetary forces ruling the days of the week, a knowledge dating back into the ancient world and still in use today (at least in rural regions).
This is what makes the old traditions so interesting for us today. In a fast-paced world with shrinking securities, we need to explore ways to gain balance and a bond with the helpful forces of nature. Healing folk magic is a way that gives (back) order to body, mind, and spirit, reuniting us with the elemental rhythms of nature.
It's also a healing tradition with a good sense for personal responsibility. In the old days when a person went to a traditional healer, she or he was often asked, "Do you believe?" If the answer was a hesitant, "Maybe" or, "I'm not sure," some healers turned the person away. This was not because they were cold-hearted, but because they knew that the person in need of healing has to play an active part (even if it's just mentally).
For many of us today personal responsibility is an expansion of possibilities. For example, we have the choice to combine modern medicine with folk magic. This is especially helpful since modern medicine is without a doubt a great "repairing medicine," but prevention and the balance of body and soul often need some extra input from accompanying healing traditions.
Human beings are whole beings that have the cosmos inside themselves (as stated before with the example of the correspondences of organs and the influence of the planets), and we are also linked to the whole universe as such. The old European healing magic always followed the axiom "As above, so below." We are related. And our relationships to nature, to herbs, healing stones, trees, and also to the power of words can help us to find our place of balance (again, if need be).
Since all theory is grey, as we say in German (meaning, "it's just pure theory"), let's have a look at some simple remedies against everyday ailments to lift up the Lebensgeister (vital spirits).
Lavender is a wonderful healing plant for the nervous system. Our ancestors linked it to the quick-witted planet Mercury. It's used to balance his energy of swiftness and steady communication. Therefore, all plants of Mercury fit perfectly in our modern, fast-moving world.
The tea is made very easily: take a teaspoon of lavender per cup, pour boiling water over it, quickly put a lid on the cup (to prevent the aromas to diffuse in the air; you want them in your cup, and a saucer works well for this) and let it steep for ten minutes.
Drink it as warm as possible, and in small sips. It's usual to drink up to three cups per day (this is the traditional recommendation for most healing teas: one in the morning, one at noon, and one in the evening). Take it with you in a Thermos if you are busy during the day.
This tea is wonderful for stressful days, and even helps if the stress already damaged your balance (resulting in headaches). Lavender is also a good helper for the evening when you have the need to calm down but still feel a lot of tension.
Magical spells have a long history, and often they are surprisingly short or concise. Many spells also involve action of some kind, like a movement of the hand in a brushing manner (to brush away evil from a person) or a gentle push with the thumb (to get an illness under the proverbial thumb).
What I grab at gives way.
It's best to repeat this spell three times. You can say it aloud or murmur it, but traditionally it has to be said in some way (as opposed to repeating it just in your mind). Afterwards, make three crosses with your thumb in the air above the place, to seal the spell.
In folk magic, trees are not simply big plants. They are spiritual allies and strong spiritual antenna, connecting us with the realm of earth, the here and now, and heaven above. Even today, in some regions, it is still customary to tie wishes to a tree.
In my hometown of Leipzig, this tradition is being revived. Leipzig is a big town; one chestnut tree in a park where many people pass during the day was assigned by some people as wishing tree, and today many colorful slips of paper are hanging in its branches, stating the wishes of people who turn for the tree to help them.
They are hanging freely, so everyone can read them, and it's touching to see that most wishes are about family and living a happy life. I've never seen a slip of paper asking for money or greedy things. When turning to a tree, people seem to feel instinctively that this is about life itself.
This magic also works the other way around. If you have a problem, you can tie it to a tree to resolve the bad energy and turn it into something good. For this take a small piece of white cloth (just natural materials, nothing with synthetic fibers) and touch the problem with it. (This could be a physical body part, for example, or a symbolic gesture such as touching your heart or head to remove heartache or sorrows.) You can even go a step further and for example touch a letter, an e-mail on the screen, or just anything that is a reasonable representation for the thing you wish to fix with the cloth.
Then go straight to the tree and tie it to one of its branches, pleading the tree to help you with that matter. Leave a little present for the tree as well, such as a small crystal or an apple. The best trees for this kind of magic are strong and healthy ones, and since it's a banishing action, one usually does not use fruit-bearing trees, but rather ones like oak, willow, or linden. Most importantly when choosing a tree is that it's a strong tree. Listen to your gut feeling. If it feels that a particular tree is the right one, stick to your perception and use it.
As previously noted, our ancestors were embedded in the natural tides and knew how to use them for positive effects. One especially auspicious time to get rid of negative energies, bad habits, and other unwanted things of all kinds is when the moon is in Pisces. It's the last sign of the zodiac, and therefore the perfect time to let things go.
In the past, the moon was seen as a kind of "little sun," traveling through the zodiac in one month, whereas the sun needs one year. Therefore, it was used to improve things quickly.
It's preferable to use the waning moon for this, but if this is not possible (since half of the year the moon will be waxing in a sign) simply use the last day of the moon in Pisces.
There can be so many things we want to let go, so the first task is to find a symbol for the matter at hand. The easiest way is to write down what something else. It's not important what this means to others, just what it means to you.
Folk magic is easy, isn't it? But, don't underestimate it, simply because it is easy. The easy things are often the ones to be performed in the most proper way. It's like—to give it a culinary comparison—cooking a really good tomato sauce. Everyone can tell the difference between a real good tomato sauce and junkfood. So, don't consider easy spells to be spiritual "junkfood." Perform them with love and care and wonderful results are waiting for you.
This was just a little introduction into folk magic. If you want to know more, have a look into my book Magical Healing.


text:
namespace Velasquez
{

ImageTool::ImageTool(QObject *parent)
	: TransformableTool(parent), loader(NULL)
{
}

ImageTool::~ImageTool()
{
    clearLoadRequests();
}

qint32 ImageTool::getElementType() const
{
	return ImageElement::Type;
}

QStringList ImageTool::getFileExtensions() const
{
	static QStringList ext = QString(SUPPORTED_IMAGE_FORMATS).split(" ");

	return ext;
}

bool ImageTool::canCreate(QGraphicsSceneMouseEvent *mouseEvent) const
{
	Q_UNUSED(mouseEvent)

	return false;
}

bool ImageTool::canCreate(QKeyEvent *keyEvent) const
{
	Q_UNUSED(keyEvent)

	return false;
}

bool ImageTool::canCreate(const QMimeData *data) const
{
	return isMimeSupported(data) || data->hasImage();
}

void ImageTool::createElement(QGraphicsSceneMouseEvent *mouseEvent)
{
	Q_UNUSED(mouseEvent)
}

void ImageTool::createElement(QKeyEvent *keyEvent)
{
	Q_UNUSED(keyEvent)
}

void ImageTool::createElement(const QMimeData *data, const QPointF &pos)
{
	ImageElement *element;

	// If we deal with image - we use it first
	if (data->hasImage())
	{
		element = new ImageElement(qvariant_cast<QImage>(data->imageData()));
		setupNewElement(element, getCenteredElementPosition(pos, element));

		return;
	}

	QPointF addPos;
	QStringList files = getSupportedFilesFromMime(data);

	foreach (QString fileName, files)
	{
        if (QUrl(fileName).toLocalFile().isEmpty())
        {
			loadImageFromUrl(fileName, pos);
        }
        else
        {
            element = new ImageElement(fileName);
            QPointF newPos = getCenteredElementPosition(pos, element) + addPos;
            setupNewElement(element, newPos);
            addPos = getNextElementPosition(addPos);
        }
	}
}

void ImageTool::createElement(const QImage &data, const QPointF &pos)
{
	ImageElement *element = new ImageElement(data);
	setupNewElement(element, pos);
}

bool ImageTool::isMimeSupported(const QMimeData *data) const
{
	bool isSupported = TransformableTool::isMimeSupported(data);

	// If there is the link to image we support it
	return (!isSupported) ? !getImageUrl(data).isEmpty() : isSupported;
}

QStringList ImageTool::getSupportedFilesFromMime(const QMimeData *data) const
{
	QStringList supportedList = TransformableTool::getSupportedFilesFromMime(data);
	QString imageUrl = getImageUrl(data);

	if (!imageUrl.isEmpty())
		supportedList << imageUrl;

	return supportedList;
}

void ImageTool::loadImageFromUrl(const QString &url, const QPointF &pos)
{
	if (loader == NULL)
	{
		loader = new QNetworkAccessManager(this);

		connect(loader, SIGNAL(finished(QNetworkReply*)), this, SLOT(onImageLoadReply(QNetworkReply*)));
	}

	QUrl u(url);
	QNetworkRequest request(u);
	QNetworkReply *reply = loader->get(request);

	loadRequests.insert(reply, pos);
}

void ImageTool::clearLoadRequests()
{
	foreach (QNetworkReply *reply, loadRequests.keys())
		delete reply;

	loadRequests.clear();

	DELETE_AND_NULL(loader);
}

QString ImageTool::getImageUrl(const QMimeData *data)
{
    if (data->hasHtml())
    {
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        int startImageLink = htmlText.indexOf("<img ");
        int endImageLink = -1;

        if (startImageLink > -1)
        {
            startImageLink = htmlText.indexOf("src=\"", startImageLink);

            if (startImageLink > -1)
            {
                endImageLink = htmlText.indexOf("\"", startImageLink + 5);
                if (endImageLink > -1)
                {
                    return htmlText.mid(startImageLink + 5, endImageLink - startImageLink - 5);
                }
            }
        }
    }

    return QString();
}

void ImageTool::onImageLoadReply(QNetworkReply *reply)
{
	if (reply != NULL && reply->error() == QNetworkReply::NoError)
	{
		QByteArray data = reply->readAll();

		if (!data.isEmpty())
		{
			QImage image;
			image.loadFromData(data);

			if (!image.isNull())
			{
                ImageElement *element = new ImageElement(image);
                QPointF newPos = getCenteredElementPosition(loadRequests[reply], element);

                setupNewElement(element, newPos);
			}

			loadRequests.remove(reply);
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	}

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		reply->deleteLater();

	if (loadRequests.isEmpty())
		DELETE_AND_NULL(loader);
}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


As you can see, in addition to being eXceptional, the voodoo dolls have X's for their eyes and hearts - another connection with today's letter, so I didn't cheat too much.
Anyway, I first saw this short at the Charleston International Film Festival a few years ago, and I was blown away by it. I actually teared up, which feels a little silly. I mean, they're voodoo dolls – they don't even have real faces! And they're only on screen for four minutes and don't utter a single line of dialog. Yet the message of sacrifice is so powerful it really makes an impression. It's bolstered by amazing animation and a perfect musical score, but it truly demonstrates that sometimes the simplest stories can be the most effective.
I've actually seen the film several times since then, and it gets to me every time. One of the places was a screenwriting class where the instructor was showing it to drive home the point that oftentimes less really is more. I also think it's a great illustration of the writer's mantra "show don't tell" – the body language of the voodoo dolls and a few simple actions not only tell us everything we need to know, but also impact us emotionally. Sebastian's Voodoo is an example of simple, yet powerful storytelling I think we should all keep in mind while writing.


A new way of lifestyle has emerged where traditional methods of energizing our body mind and soul most of us practicing to recharge ourselves and activate our cells to function more efficiently. Centralizing our brain and mind to be prepared for the daily activities.
In this blog I will be explaining all the chakras, their benefits, sounds to pronounce when meditating.
Its located in the navel of our abdomen belongs to the reproduction system, the testicles and ovaries and also the urinary bladder and kidneys.
Its located at the centre of the ribs or diaphragm and is in relation to the liver, gallbladder, stomach, spleen and the small intestine.
Its location is at the thymus gland and belongs to the heart and the arms.
Its located at the thyroid gland and it relates to the lungs and the throat.
Does not have a corresponding organ but is related to the whole being.


text:
October	23	2015
4 Bargain Blue-Chips? Banco Santander SA, WM Morrison Supermarkets PLC, William Hill plc And Debenhams Plc
Shares in William Hill (LSE: WMH) have fallen by over 7% today after it released a profit warning. It cited a tough third quarter of the year, with revenue falling by 9% versus the comparable period last year and operating profit declining by 39%. A key reason for this was the impact of the World Cup, which significantly impacted its gross win margins, as well as 23m in new and increasing gambling taxes.
Looking ahead, William Hill remains confident in the prospects for its online core markets and continues to deliver strong operating cost discipline. However, with the gambling sector enduring challenging trading conditions and the companys shares trading on a price to earnings (P/E) ratio of 13.3, there appear to be better options elsewhere.
One such option is Debenhams (LSE: DEB). Unlike William Hill, it released an encouraging set of results recently which showed that its turnaround strategy is making steady progress. The company posted its first rise in net profit since 2012 as it reduced the scale of discounting so as to improve gross margins by almost 1%. Better stock management also contributed to its improved results and, with the company expected to continue to grow its earnings in each of the next two years, it appears to be on the path to improved performance.
Certainly, the change in CEO may cause a degree of uncertainty regarding its long term strategy. But, Debenhams appears to be through the worst of a challenging trading environment and, with it having a P/E ratio of just 11.6, appears to offer a relatively wide margin of safety.
Similarly, Santander (LSE: BNC) also has a very cheap share price, with it trading on a P/E ratio of just 10.6 which, given its upbeat profit forecasts, appears to be difficult to justify. For example, Santander is expected to grow its earnings in-line with the wider market, with 6% earnings growth forecast for the current year and 8% forecast for next year. As such, its shares could be rerated upwards especially if the European economy gains strength due to the impact of quantitative easing.
Furthermore, Santander appears to be a on a sound financial footing, with the placing undertaken last year helping to beef up its balance sheet. And, with dividends being covered 2.5 times by profit, it appears to have sufficient reinvestment potential to improve its capital ratios, too.
While the UK supermarket sector has been akin to car crash in recent years, Morrisons (LSE: MRW) could be about to turn a corner. Under a new management team, it is expected to deliver double-digit growth next year and, beyond that, its improved strategy appears to be set to yield further sales and earnings growth.
For example, Morrisons is focusing on its core activities and is seeking to make substantial efficiencies and cost reductions. This, alongside exiting unprofitable activities, should provide a boost to its financial performance and, with previous years comparatives being relatively poor, even a slight improvement in Morrisons performance could cause investor sentiment to rapidly gain a boost. With its shares trading on a price to earnings growth (PEG) ratio of just 0.9, they appear to be a bargain.
Of course, finding great value stocks is never an easy task. That's why The Motley Fool has written a free and without obligation guide called 7 Simple Steps For Seeking Serious Wealth.
It's a step-by-step guide that could make a real difference to your portfolio returns in 2015 by helping you to find the best stocks at the lowest prices.
Click here to get your copy – it's completely free and comes without any obligation.
Peter Stephens owns shares of Debenhams and Morrisons. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
Are Sirius Minerals PLC, AFC Energy plc And LGO Energy PLC Set To Soar?	Should You Buy These Dividend Favourites? GlaxoSmithKline plc, Diageo plc And Aberdeen Asset Management plc


This charming ring of 585 white gold alloy includes a flawless 0.13 carat diamond solitaire. Held with a prong setting, the diamond gives this ring its incredible and attractive radiance. Whether it is used as a convincing argument for your marriage proposal, a wedding ring, or simply a captivating accessory for your evening gown, this ring is bound to enchant. A marking, such as a name or date, can be engraved into the ring upon request. If you need assistance with determining your ring size for this ring, please click here.


An employee warning notice is issued by the human resource department of organizations. Its purpose is to discipline an employee. There can be different conditions for the notice to be issued. In most cases, an employee receives it for practicing unethical or unprofessional practices at work. A template for this notice can be used to create this form. Its contents can vary according to the preferences of an organization. However, the notice is mostly only one page long. All the information is brief and exactly to-the-point. It begins with the organization's name at the top. A logo may also be added.
The subject of the form can be mentioned in bold as a title. This title can be used to outline the kind of employee warning being issued. In this way, it is understood at a single glance what the notice is about. Next, the form mentions the employee's name and other details. For instance, his or her position in the organization and department are included. Then the content about the employee warning is included. Firstly, his or her offense is mentioned. Then follow other details about the warning.
The supervisor or manager can include his or her comments. An action plan can be suggested in order to help the employee bring improvement. It is also important to mention future consequences in case the employee repeats the offense. This notice can easily be created on the computer with the help of a customizable template. It can then be printed and issued to the concerned employee.


Family and friends will love the spacious living in this 40' 11" long, 8' 0" wide 5th Wheel, especially with the 3 slides that maximize the interior! And you'll be able to keep the climate inside cozy and comfy, utilizing the efficient 42000 BTU furnace and the modern 15000 BTU a/c unit!
Your family will look forward to every meal you make on the road because you'll have a state of the art kitchen with all modern appliances, including a 3 burner range cooktop, 18.00 cu. ft. refrigerator, and more! And the big 65 gal. freshwater tank means there'll be plenty of water on your trip!
Enjoy privacy and convenience whenever you need to go with the full bathroom! It comes with an easy to use Foot Flush toilet and a shower! Your showers can stay as hot as you need them to be, with 60 lbs. of LP tank capacity! There is a 90 gallon gray water tank and a 45 gallon black water tank.


text:
/* Test prototypes */
int test_table_hash_cuckoo(void);
int test_table_lpm(void);
int test_table_lpm_ipv6(void);
int test_table_array(void);
#ifdef RTE_LIB_ACL
int test_table_acl(void);
#endif
int test_table_hash_unoptimized(void);
int test_table_hash_lru(void);
int test_table_hash_ext(void);
int test_table_stub(void);

/* Extern variables */
typedef int (*table_test)(void);

extern table_test table_tests[];
extern unsigned n_table_tests;


Can I license the information on providerdata.com to use on my company website, in my call center or integrate it into my provider network?
Yes. We have a variety of licensing options depending on the data you need, size of your operation and intended use. To learn more, contact us at (404) 250-8370 or businessdata@carelike.com.


text:
Q: Path not found - GetOpenFilename VBA Error I'm trying to build a sub that allows a user to attach an image to a user form, my approach is to use OpenFileName to get the file path of the chosen, and then copy it into another folder for that submission for later use. I keep on getting a path not found error each time I select an image. It gets thrown as soon as GetOpenFilename is executed. Why is this happening and is there a better way that I could be going a bout this? Thanks.
Private Sub AttachImagesButton_Click()

    Dim photoPath As Variant
    Dim newTicketFolderName, destination As String

    'get user to select a photo from disk and assign to
    photoPath = Application.GetOpenFilename("Image Files (*.*), *.*", , "Select image")

    On Error GoTo Error

    If photoPath = False Then Exit Sub
End Sub

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Detillier cites family in swan song retirement
Published 12:02 am Saturday, January 9, 2016
By Lori Lyons
LUTCHER — Everyone wants to go out a winner. Lutcher football coach Tim Detillier will.
Lutcher football coach Tim Detillier poses with members of his family Nov. 20 after a 44-6 playoff victory over Wossman. The win was Detillier's 263rd, putting him atop the all-time wins list in River Parishes history, surpassing Joe Keller. (Photo courtesy of riverparishfootball.com)
Just weeks after winning his fourth state championship as a head coach at Lutcher, Detillier announced his retirement. The Bulldogs defeated cross-river rival St. James (and former assistant coach Dwayn Jenkins), 41-14, in the 2015 Class 3A championship game in December. Detillier made the announcement during a meeting with his team Thursday afternoon, but he had his mind made up before the season began.
"Only two people knew," he said. "Me and my wife. Winning the state championship had nothing to do with it. I'm just so blessed that the year went the way it did and ended the way it did. I have a great coach's wife. She raised my kids while I was raising everybody else's."
Detillier, 60, had coached the Bulldogs through 25 seasons, amassing a record of 222-89, with state championship victories in 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2015.
He compiled a career record of 266-112 over 38 seasons, including a six-year stint as head coach at St. Charles Catholic. He also served as an assistant coach (and head baseball coach) at Lutcher under current head coach Frank Monica, who coached Detillier in high school.
In November, Detillier became the River Parishes all-time wins leader, surpassing the legendary Joe Keller. He currently ranks 13th on Louisiana's all-time wins list.
Monica said Detillier called him early Thursday morning to let him know his intentions.
"He said he wanted to spend more time with his family," Monica said. "He wants to be able to see his grandkids on the weekends. He didn't get to see his kids too much growing up. I told him, 'You're talking to the choir.' He's a great person. He deserves it. I'm jealous that he gets to do it."
Detillier and his wife, Wanda, have been married 35 years. They have three children and two grandchildren, with another on the way. The grandchildren are living in Texas.
"That's the problem," Detillier said. "If they were right there in Paulina, I could go see them."
Monica said Detillier always had a competitive nature, even as a quarterback and second baseman at Lutcher.
"He was a great left-handed hitter who threw right," Monica said. "I knew then he would be a real success. We hate to lose him in the coaching profession. I hope he continues to be involved with issues in the LHSAA."
Detillier has been an active member of the Louisiana High School Coaches Association, the Louisiana High School Athletic Directors Association and the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. He was a finalist for the Executive Director position two years ago.
"I don't know what I'll do, but I'll do something," Detillier said. "It's a leap of faith."
Of course, speculation began almost immediately over who would fill the void left by Detillier. Jenkins was a longtime assistant coach and had moved up to the Bulldogs' offensive coordinator before jumping across the river to be the head coach at St. James. In three seasons he has led the Wildcats to a 23-12 record and this season's runner-up finish to Lutcher. He was the LSWA Class 3A Coach of the Year. Current defensive coordinator Craig Zerinque and defensive line coach Troy Borne also are potential candidates.
"If I do this now, the guy who comes after me — whoever it is — will have a very good chance to be successful," Detillier said. "If I wait a year, will we be 3A or 4A or Metropolitan or what? I did what I thought was best for Lutcher football."
More High School Sports
Lady Rebels soccer team rebuilding in 2022
St. John Parish High School Basketball Round-up
Basketball roundup: St. John teams grind out hardcourt play


Energy and Buildings, 2018, v. 166, p. 165-177 How to Cite?
© 2018 Elsevier B.V. Air source heat pump (ASHP) units are used in applications around the world. After optimizing the multi-circuit outdoor coil by installing water collecting trays between circuits and adjusting the refrigerant distribution by using valves located at each circuit, system frosting/defrosting operation performances could be effectively improved. Before practical industry-scale application of trays and valves, their economic performances should be evaluated. However, in current literature, techno-economic analysis on operation performance of ASHP units is rare, which limits the development of innovative technologies. Therefore, a techno-economic analysis on frosting/defrosting operations is carried out in this study. Firstly, the frosting/defrosting experiments are introduced, followed by a series of assumptions and calculations. Then, the economic analysis results are provided in detail. Compared with a traditional ASHP unit, the total running costs of the modified unit in the heating season could save as much as 3681.75 CNY, or 10.33%, and the total cost decreased by 3516.75 CNY, or 4.67%, over 15 years of service life. The payback period of the additional initial cost is less than 8 months. Contribution of this work plays an important role in the evaluation and application of new technologies in the HVAC field.


Carrie Kuball, VP of sales and marketing with EnviroFlight, told us the Ohio headquartered company is current in the process of fine tuning the highly automated equipment designed exclusively for its production systems.
The new production facility is the first commercial-scale insect rearing and processing facility in the US, she said. The site is a modular, scalable facility so eventually, it will be able to generate about 3,200m tons annually.
Black soldier fly larvae can be used to generate a sustainable protein ingredient for use in feed, she said. "They're voracious eaters, they grow very fast, they produce a high-quality ingredient based on what they eat and their food source is by-product that otherwise would not be consumed, at least by people," she told FeedNavigator.
"The other really neat opportunity with black soldier flies is how efficient they are – if you look at an acre of land, black soldier flies can produce two times the protein as mealworms or crickets – if you're comparing them to other insects they're twice as efficient," she said.
They also can generate more protein per acre than soybeans or chickens, she added.
In addition to the new production facility in Maysville, Kentucky, the company is currently still producing its insect-derived products at its facility in Ohio, said Kuball. When the transition to the new facility is completed, the initial building is set to become a research and development facility for EnviroFlight.
Work on the new facility started more than a year ago, said Kuball. Right now, there is not a set timeframe for the new facility to reach full production.
The company focuses on feeding its insects products that could otherwise end up in a landfill, she said. "The idea is that we're feeding a food source to the larvae that would otherwise not be used for human consumption," she added.
The new production facility contains both an area to house and raise the black soldier flies used in the production of EnviroFlight's products and the processing facility needed to generate them, said Kuball. "The building contains everything from beginning to end," she added.
Unlike some insects, black soldier flies are relatively quiet both in their larval and adult stages, she said. "The larvae don't make any noise and the flies don't really either – the flies don't buzz, but sort of flitter along like a butterfly," she added.
In addition to work on the new facility, EnviroFlight has been continuing to develop its role as a feed protein or feed ingredient provider in the US, said Kuball.
"The interest in the US is amazing given the fact that this is a brand new protein source or feed ingredient to the US," she said of the developing domestic market.
As a poultry feed ingredient, dried black soldier fly larvae or ground black soldier fly meal was recommended for addition to the Association of American Feed Control Officials' (AAFCO) definition for approved use in September, said EnviroFlight. Previously, the ingredients had been listed for use with salmonid species.
"There is a lot of research taking place in other species as well," said Kuball. On the livestock side, some swine producers also interested in working with black soldier fly-derived proteins or feed ingredients, she added.
However, the recent change to the definition to allow for use of black soldier fly ingredients in poultry feed has been opening doors for the feed industry, Kuball said.
The new, printed definition for ingredient use is anticipated following a meeting next week, she said. However, the change so far has allowed feed manufacturers the ability to start their own research.


A style of vocal percussion associated with hip-hop in which sounds produced in the vocal tract are used to create funk rhythms.
Journey' is exactly that - a trip through a variety of musical genres derived and inspired by the urban spectrum of sound, presented and narrated by Cull through the craft of Human Beatboxing.
Ed Holden Mr Phormula has performed gigs around the worldfrom the Human Beatboxing Convention in Brooklyn, New York to the Bestival Festival on the Isle of Wight.
Since festival curators and producers Rika lino, Jason King and Wiley Hausam have been planning a block party that goes beyond the basics, four performance workshops are going to demonstrate the intricacies of human beatboxing, popping and locking, turntablism and the art of rhyming.
Whether it's glacial Icelandic choirs, human beatboxing, throat singing or impersonations of trombones, it's all grist to Bjork's mill.


text:
WSJ: "If at First You Don't Succeed, You're in Excellent Company"
From the April 29, 2008, edition of The Wall Street Journal comes an article for those of us who have received the tenth rejection letter -- and the twentieth. Excerpts:
What makes some people rebound from defeats and go on to greatness while others throw in the towel? Psychologists call it "self-efficacy," the unshakable belief some people have that they have what it takes to succeed. First described by Stanford University psychologist Albert Bandura in the 1970s, self-efficacy has become a key concept in educational circles, and is being applied to health care, management, sports and seemingly intractable social problems like AIDS in developing countries. It's also a hallmark of the "positive psychology" movement now sweeping the mental-health field, which focuses on developing character strengths rather than alleviating pathologies.
Self-efficacy differs from self-esteem in that it's a judgment of specific capabilities rather than a general feeling of self-worth. "It's easy to have high self-esteem -- just aim low," says Prof. Bandura, who is still teaching at Stanford at age 82. On the other hand, he notes, there are people with high self-efficacy who "drive themselves hard but have low self-esteem because their performance always falls short of their high standards." ...
Where does such determination come from? In some cases it's inborn optimism -- akin to the kind of resilience that enables some children to emerge unscathed from extreme poverty, tragedy or abuse. Self-efficacy can also be acquired by mastering a task; by modeling the behavior of others who have succeeded; and from what Prof. Bandura calls "verbal persuasion" -- getting effective encouragement that is tied to achievement, rather than empty praise. ...
What if you really do lack the talent to succeed at whatever you're trying to do? That's a tricky question, psychologists say -- one that's on display in the early episodes of "American Idol" each season. Try to objectively assess how much you are likely to improve with training and hard work, and how much it's worth to you, or whether there are other ways to enjoy your passion -- being a coach instead of a player, for instance. On the other hand, what if Dr. Seuss had given up after his 27th rejection and not tried once more? In the words of Henry Ford: "Whether you think that you can or you can't, you're usually right."
(Picture: CC 2007 by BookMama)
Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008
RC said...
Self-efficacy -- now that is something i can get behind way before self-esteem.
Loren Eaton said...
Agreed. It's ironic that some of the groups equipping people to do nearly super-human things (e.g. The Marines) do so by breaking down self-esteem first. I suppose you could say they replace it with self-efficacy.
Loren Eaton
Lightning, Eh?
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Music To Write By
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What Is The Middle Shelf?
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The Collected Stories of M.R. James
Count Zero
Middle Shelf Stories
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"If at First You Don't Succeed, To Hell with It!"
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Stealing Is Bad
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Although you're undoubtedly always looking for ways to save money in your Annapolis, Maryland, home, there are some areas in which you shouldn't cut corners. When you're doing construction or buying new appliances, do it right the first time, or you may end up spending far more to fix costly mistakes.
You may wonder how important it is to hire a licensed contractor. The answer is, "very important." Using a licensed contractor helps to ensure that the people in your home are certified and know how to do their job. Your HVAC system is one of the biggest investments in your home and not one you should leave to just anybody. It may be tempting to use your neighborhood handyman to cut corners and save money, but not with something as important as your HVAC system.
If you're adding on to your house or building anything else that requires a permit, it might be tempting to forgo the paperwork. That's a bad idea. If you don't hire a licensed contractor, they may not even know that a permit is required. Although not all projects need a contractor, if you don't use one, it's important to do your research and make sure any remodeling projects or additions are eligible under your local zoning laws, and obtain any permits necessary before starting the project.
If you're spending the money on new appliances, then spend the money on energy-efficient appliances. Replacing appliances isn't the always the most exciting upgrade since it can be costly. However, it is worth it to invest in the right equipment. Energy-efficient appliances will save you money on your utility bills and will sometimes provide tax credits. Furthermore, if you plan on selling your home eventually, you could see a return on your investment.


Poker Stars is no longer allowing its players to participate on Poker After Dark.
We received an email to the site today detailing how earlier this week Stars told its sponsored players that they will not be able to play on the popular late night show. The reason: the way Full Tilt Poker, who underwrites the production of Po ker After Dark, markets the show internationally.
While U.S. American broadcasts aren't overtly distinguishable as a Full Tilt production, foreign markets receive a more branded version of the program.
An initial request for a quote from Poker Stars was not returned in time for this post, however we will keep you posted if they do.
Hopefully this doesn't begin a Biggie/Tupac, East Coast/West Coast style fued between the two online poker giants, who have more or less co-existed comfortably for years. Last thing we want is Stars getting capped on the Vegas strip followed by Tilt pumped with a lead salad in LA. Nobody wins in that scenario, guys.
We unfairly rip on America's cap. We actually love Canada. Good people up there. One thing Canadians also don't get enough credit for is being a land filled with hot girls. Heck, we've been to Edmonton and even there the ratio of hot to not-hot girls was off-the-charts. So in honor of PCA Caribbean Adventure winner (and Canadian) Poorya Nazari, we bring you Kim Cloutier. Easily one of Canada's finest. View more here.
All right, Poker Stars. If you're gonna do these athlete celeb sponsors, let's lay down a couple rules: 1) no gingers (ah-hem), and 2) at least kind of sort of educate them on some poker basics.
Now we all know Canadians basic passions in life go something in order like ice fishing-->curling-->socialism-->Bare Naked Ladies-->hockey. So the entire nation of Canada then probably saw Mats Sundin on Hockey Night in Canada After Hours not able to answer a basic poker question from special call-in guest, Daniel Negreanu.
Go to about 2:30 in the vid. Guess Mats needs to spend more time on PokerVT.
Looks like we were slightly off on which major tournament Chino Rheem was going to win.
Chino Rheem is running good.
After a poker career that for years wasn't too bad, wasn't too good, Chino has figured it out in 2008. He final tabled two WSOP tourneys (including the Main Event), and now, after never even having one World Poker Tour cash in his name, he has won the WPT Copy+Paste title.
Chino beat Justin Young heads-up for the win, banking $1,538,730. Young takes home $936,760.
Of note, Chino was NOT wearing a Poker Stars patch. Why? They dropped him. Chino had the biggest and most vocal support group at the final table and plenty of friends in the pro ranks, but behind the scenes he hasn't been worth the hassle for Stars, apparently. Like we always say though, can you really ever be mad at a guy named Chino?
The rest of the final table payouts were: Evan McNiff ($540,440), Steve Sung ($396,206), Amnon Filippi ($288,235), and Hoyt Corkins ($216,175).
Bluff Magazine has broken a story that Lee Jones (not at right), the ex-poker room manager for PokerStars.com, will join CardRunners.com as its new Chief Operating Officer.
Jones had been working as host and organizer for EPT events, as well as its lead broadcaster.
"Team Cardrunners" (Taylor "Green Plastic" Caby, Cole "cts" South, Brian "sbrugby" Townsend, Eric "p3achy_keen" Liu, Brian "Stinger885" Hastings, Mike "Schneids" Schneider, and Andrew "muddywater" Wiggins) recently joined the Full Tilt Poker roster.
Read the full story at Bluff here.
* Special thanks to Vikki Blows for making this post a little sexier. Get more Vikki Blows at the Vikki Blows blog. Vikki Blows Vikki Blows Vikki Blows.
ePassporte is officially out as an option to deposit and withdraw funds for online poker players.
"We have been advised that the United State's Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York is conducting a widespread investigation of internet gambling, including poker. All though [sic] we do not believe we have done anything illegal, we do not wish to be associated with anything that might be considered illegal by the United States government."
"As an alternative to ePassporte, we are pleased to offer you our newest, most efficient payment processing option yet - Instant eChecks."
Poker Stars offers eCheck as well, which directly withdraws and deposits money into your bank account.
See the full ePassporte letter here.
* Thanks to reader DrewOnTilt for the link.
Poker Stars continues to add to its growing stable of pros.
On the heels of signing with marketing and representation agency Poker Royalty, Gavin Griffin has now inked a deal with the online poker giant. Griffin was the first player to win the poker media created "Triple Crown" (a WSOP bracelet, WPT title, and EPT title) when he captured the WPT Borgata Poker Classic earlier this year.
Also landing with Stars is 2006 Bluff Magazine Player of the Year Chad Brown. One of the most successful tournament players of the past few years, Brown is engaged to another Stars player, Vanessa Rousso, a woman, who also happens to be from Duke, in case you didn't know that already.
In completely unrelated news, possibly the funniest episode of South Park ever, Canada on Strike.