text:
LeBron James Launches I PROMISE Program to Help AtRisk
LeBron James' I PROMISE school in Akron, Ohio, is slated to open its doors in the fall of 2018. (Photo by Angelo Merendino/Corbis via Getty Images)As part of his ongoing commitment to help students reach their fullest potential, Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James on Tuesday, April 11, announced a partnership between the LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools to create a new I PROMISE school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.Eligible students will be selected via a lottery system to attend the elementary school, which will start with the first grade, Cleveland.com reported."We've learned over the years what works and what motivates them, and now we can bring all of that together in one place along with the right resources and experts," James said in a statement. "If we get to them early enough, we can hopefully keep them on the right track to a bigger and brighter future for themselves and their families."The three-time NBA champion launched the I PROMISE program in 2011 with the goal of tackling the city's high school drop-out rate. Each year, APS identifies a group of third-graders who've fallen behind academically. Through an expanded curriculum focused on hands-on learning and STEM activities, the I PROMISE program aims to help these students by providing them with the resources, encouragement and mentorship they need to make it to graduation.In addition, the program sponsors after-school programs, Hometown Halls for local parents and caregivers, and a week full of activities each August to accomplish its goals of aiding at-risk youth. Students who stick with the foundation's program are promised a full-ride to the University of Akron upon graduation, according to Cleveland. com"We've seen the positive influence of the LeBron James Family Foundation on our students and we look forward to continuing to do everything we can to put our students in a position to be successful," said David James, superintendent of Akron Public Schools.Details on the new I PROMISE school will continue to be worked out in the coming months, but the learning hub is expected to utilize specialized programming to foster an environment that promotes social-emotional learning. The school will apply a continued focus on both academics and character building, while the University of Akron's LeBron James Family Foundation College of Education offers support, research and regular assessments for the new institution.A master plan is slated to be submitted to the Board of Education for approval in October, after committees of local leaders, teacher, parents and other experts come to an agreement on logistics.Upon approval, the I PROMISE School will open in fall 2018 with newly identified third- and fourth-grade classes, Cleveland.com reported. First- and second-grade classes will be added by 2019, and the school hopes to house students through the eighth grade by 2022."We know this is going to be successful," said Michele Campbell, the foundation's executive director, "because LeBron James has brought a community of partners, resources and expertise, and with the help of these partners, we're ready to take this next huge step." read more
| Category: pdcqqwjd
Should Terrell Owens Be In The Hall of Fame
Embed Code FiveThirtyEight More: Apple Podcasts | ESPN App | RSS | Embed Here's a list of all the records that were set or tied in Super Bowl LI.The Washington Post's Neil Greenberg picks eight numbers that highlight why this year's Super Bowl was so shocking.Despite all the memes, Nate Silver notes that Super Bowl LI wasn't really like the election.Across the NFL, players reacted to Terrell Owens's Hall of Fame snub.SB Nation's Harry Lyles Jr. argues that it's ridiculous that Terrell Owens isn't in the Hall of Fame.Significant Digit: 26.1, the player efficiency rating of Elena Delle Donne last season. Last week, Delle Donne was traded from the Chicago Sky to the Washington Mystics. Delle Donne said she would be willing to sit out the 2017 season if Chicago did not trade her. Welcome to the latest episode of Hot Takedown, FiveThirtyEight's sports podcast. On this week's show (Feb. 7, 2017), we do a super-sized segment breaking down the record-smashing Super Bowl LI. The New England Patriots clipped the Atlanta Falcons' wings in a 34-28 come-from-behind victory featuring the first overtime in Super Bowl history. Next, in his second year of eligibility, Terrell Owens did not make the Hall of Fame — does his #FlawedProcess claim have merit? We investigate. Plus, a significant digit on the WNBA's Elena Delle Donne.Links to what we discussed: read more
The Stats Say Washington Should Have Signed Colin Kaepernick And Its Still
28Nick Mullens1700.1570.478 17Dak Prescott4180.2300.492 35Cody Kessler970.1190.491 15Mitch Trubisky3520.2480.522 47Sam Bradford81-0.1560.329 42Tyrod Taylor84-0.0010.354 27Matthew Stafford4640.1700.482 2Drew Brees4160.4320.589 30Colt McCoy520.1340.492 21Andrew Luck5330.2050.52 37Case Keenum4520.1060.449 39Josh Allen2280.0790.435 24Derek Carr4520.1760.511 Kaepernick has outperformed Johnson, tooAttempts, yards per attempt, expected points added per play, success rate and yards after catch EPA per play for Kaepernick and Johnson, 20tk-18 41Nick Foles800.0240.398 3Matt Barkley250.4310.44 Josh Johnson1936.1-0.040.46+0.60 Data includes two-point conversions but does not include kneel downs. 11Carson Wentz4000.2810.535 31Joe Flacco3770.1320.454 44Sam Darnold314-0.0600.427 1Patrick Mahomes4830.4410.561 Colin Kaepernick1,9417.2+0.170.45+0.67 22Cam Newton4440.2010.521 25Andy Dalton3620.1750.508 Show more rowsSource: Elias Sports Bureau So what about moving forward? Could Kaepernick help Washington win? Our best predictors of future performance at the QB position are career efficiency measures like yards per attempt and EPA per play — far more useful than looking only at Kaepernick's most recent season.The table below shows every player who has attempted at least 20 passes this season, sorted by total expected points added per play. Total EPA includes both passing and rushing production, and gives a full picture of a player's offensive contribution. Kaepernick's career numbers would put him 26th among quarterbacks this season, ahead of Matthew Stafford and Kirk Cousins — who are being paid a combined $50.5 million. 7Russell Wilson3390.3210.513 PasserAttemptsYARDS/ ATTEMPTEPA/PLAYSUCCESS RATEYAC EPA/PLAY 5Matt Ryan5050.3290.547 The contest wasn't a contest at all. Kaepernick is superior to Sanchez over his career by a large margin and across a wide spectrum of metrics. Kaepernick's career yards per pass attempt is higher than Sanchez's by more than half a yard. His career EPA per play is on the order of 40 times better than Sanchez, despite their yards after catch EPA per play being relatively close.Kaepernick has been far from perfect. His career yards per attempt is no better than league average, and his career completion percentage is low at 59.8 percent. His greatest flaws as a passer show themselves at the intermediate depths, where his completion percentage is well below average. Whether this is because he struggles to make reads or because his decision making on slower developing routes is poor is an open question. What is clear is that neither Kaepernick nor Sanchez is particularly accurate across most depths of target. 18Jeff Driskel1010.2140.46 34Ryan Tannehill1960.1200.479 13Deshaun Watson3970.2620.526 14Aaron Rodgers4940.2550.49 Most starting quarterbacks with NFL experience did indeed create value per play above what we might expect from Kaepernick, but Kaepernick's worst season is still better than 26 percent of the quarterbacks who have attempted a pass in the NFL in 2018. Kaepernick may be a fringe starting NFL talent, but he is likely better than many of the quarterbacks who have seen playing time this season, including even Alex Smith.It's probable that Kaepernick could start for Washington and produce enough with his arm and his legs to salvage their playoff hopes. There remains the opportunity for Washington to sign him and find out for certain. Instead he continues to languish in free agency.Check out our latest NFL predictions.CORRECTION (Dec. 15, 2018, 11:45 a.m.): A previous headline on this story misspelled Colin Kaepernick's name. 51Mark Sanchez35-0.6270.361 26Colin Kaepernick1,9410.1710.464 50Nathan Peterman82-0.5890.315 19Eli Manning4610.2130.462 33C.J. Beathard1710.1220.463 43Blaine Gabbert61-0.0150.453 After starting quarterback Alex Smith broke his leg in Week 11, the Washington Redskins rode their journeyman backup, Colt McCoy, to two losses and a 7-3 deficit against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13 before he also broke his leg. Struck with misfortune at the most important position in professional sports, Washington trotted out Mark Sanchez, a player signed off the street to back up McCoy.This obviously didn't work out well. Sanchez had not played an NFL game since 2015, and he went on to record the worst expected points added (EPA) per play (-0.627) of any NFL QB in 2018 with at least 20 pass attempts. This includes Nathan Peterman. Sanchez was promptly benched in a blowout 40-16 loss to the Giants in Week 14. His replacement: Josh Johnson, a 32-year-old journeyman who has played for 12 different NFL teams and who reportedly had to play Madden to learn the names of his new teammates.Hindsight is 20-20, but it's worth asking if this skid could have been avoided — or at least somewhat mitigated — had Washington signed free agent Colin Kaepernick instead of Sanchez. It's even worth wondering if they still should sign him. A playoff berth for the Redskins is highly unlikely, but they are still not mathematically eliminated. Could signing Kaepernick help the team win out, finish 9-7, and give them a shot at the postseason?Let's look at this as a purely football decision and put aside any public relations baggage that would come with signing Kaepernick. Let's also assume that Kaepernick is in decent enough shape to put on a jersey right now and play at the levels we have seen from him in the past. (For what it's worth, he has said that he's remained in game shape.)I looked at standard measures of quarterback performance like yards per attempt along with more advanced stats like EPA per play and success rate, which measures how often a player keeps his team "on schedule" or on track for a first down. The first question — "Should Washington have signed Sanchez or Kaepernick?" — is straightforward to answer.Using data from Ron Yurko's EPA model, I analyzed both of the QBs over their careers to see which one has been better at creating expected value per pass. I also broke out the contribution of yards after the catch to help with the comparison. Yards after catch is probably best thought of as the product of scheme and wide receiver skill, but passes that are on time and on target from a QB surely help as well. 23Lamar Jackson1010.1910.519 Sanchez-0.05 4Philip Rivers4140.4240.541 29Kirk Cousins5250.1460.51 PasserAttemptsYards/ AttemptEPA/PlaySuccess RateYAC EPA/Play Career expected points added per rush for Colin Kaepernick and Mark Sanchez, 2009-18 32Baker Mayfield3790.1240.479 Kaepernick has easily outperformed SanchezAttempts, yards per attempt, expected points added per play, success rate and yards after catch EPA per play for Kaepernick and Sanchez, 2009-18 6Jared Goff4600.3280.517 9Tom Brady4760.2900.526 Mark Sanchez2,4036.6+0.000.45+0.60 12Ryan Fitzpatrick2480.2750.523 Kaepernick, however, has also affected game outcomes with his legs. He is not exactly young anymore, though, at 31 years old; we might expect a decline in rushing effectiveness that typically accompanies NFL QBs as they age. Still, Kaepernick's legs are fresh, and Sanchez has never shown the ability to add value on the ground. 10Ben Roethlisberger5480.2830.517 8Jameis Winston2700.2910.542 38Brock Osweiler1780.1010.44 45Josh Rosen314-0.0870.425 49Derek Anderson70-0.3250.429 Kaepernick+0.21 EPA/Rush 20Marcus Mariota3000.2130.51 46Chase Daniel76-0.0960.47 36Alex Smith3270.1130.457 40Blake Bortles3700.0400.463 Colin Kaepernick1,9417.2+0.170.45+0.67 48Josh McCown109-0.2190.383 Meanwhile, Kaepernick adds roughly equal value to his team whether he runs or passes the football, making him a legitimate dual threat. It was this ability that took the San Francisco 49ers within 5 yards of winning the 2012-13 Super Bowl. What's more, the league has become more open to the air raid concepts Kaepernick ran at the University of Nevada, as evidenced by the ascendancy of Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes, who played in an air raid system at Texas Tech. There are legitimate reasons to believe that Kaepernick could still fit in the league.Kaepernick's path to snaps in Washington is blocked by current quarterback Johnson, who has just 193 total career pass attempts to his name and, like Sanchez, is a year older than Kaepernick. When we look at his career efficiency numbers compared with Kaepernick's, we can see why Johnson hasn't been allowed much opportunity to throw. Plays with Johnson under center have resulted in negative value for his teams. Kaepernick would be in the middle of the pack this yearEvery quarterback with a minimum of 20 pass attempts this season in the NFL, compared with the career numbers of Colin Kaepernick PlayerPass AttemptsTotal EPA/PLAYSuccess Rate Data includes two-point conversions but does not include kneel downs.Source: Elias Sports Bureau 16Jimmy Garoppolo900.2310.52 read more
The Best Players And Biggest Upsets Of 2018 In Almost Any Sport
2NFLJan. 14JacksonvillePittsburgh24.33 Elo's biggest playoff upsets of 2018Top postseason upsets of the 2018 calendar year, based on winners with the lowest Elo-generated pregame win probabilities, compared with other playoff upsets in the same sport since 2000 32018Mike TroutMLB10.0 WAR9 12018Mookie BettsMLB10.6 WAR4 SportDateUnderdogFavoritePregame Win prob.Rel. Rank Since 2000 4CFBSept. 22Old DominionVirginia Tech2.57 42018Jacob deGromMLB9.6 WAR15 * Current season still in progress† mWS = Modified Win Shares, a version of win share that also blends in a player's VORP and PER to create a consensus statistical rankingPlayers qualified if their season either started or ended in 2018. NFL rankings include only skill-position statistics.Sources: Baseball-Reference, FanGraphs, Pro-Football-Reference, Basketball-Reference 82018-19*James HardenNBA20.4 mWS†30 62017-18James HardenNBA21.2 mWS†24 Among teams in MLB, the NFL, the NBA, NCAA football and NCAA men's basketball.MLB pregame win probabilities take into account the starting pitchers for each team in a given matchup.Source: ESPN 102018-19*Anthony DavisNBA19.1 mWS†39 52017-18LeBron JamesNBA22.5 mWS†19 Elo's biggest upsets of 2018Top upsets of the 2018 calendar year among sports with Elo ratings, based on winners with the lowest Elo-generated pregame win probabilities, compared with other upsets in the same sport since 2000 rankSeasonPlayerSportValue MetricRelative Rank Since 2000 3MLBJuly 28Kansas CityN.Y. Yankees22.43 6CBBMarch 16MarshallWichita St.12.913 6MLBJune 22Kansas CityHouston24.411 4MLBOct. 7AtlantaL.A. Dodgers35.310 Now, I know what you're all thinking: The first 16-over-1 win in NCAA men's tournament history isn't the top upset of the year? Perhaps surprisingly, Maryland-Baltimore County's stunner over Virginia — which had a 2.5 percent probability of happening, according to Elo — was only the sixth-biggest college basketball upset of the 2017-18 season alone. (In terms of raw upset odds, St. John's knocking off Villanova was about 23 percent less likely.) But it's still a fair point; there are a ton of random regular-season upsets every year, but far fewer come in the postseason. So here's a version of the ranking above that looks solely at playoff upsets (excluding the College Football Playoff, which has existed only since 2014): 5MLBJune 8Chi. White SoxBoston23.38 92018Max ScherzerMLB8.7 WAR34 NFL MVP favorite Patrick Mahomes was a very close second behind Betts, having produced one of the top individual skill-position seasons of the millennium while leading the Kansas City Chiefs' explosive offense. (And he's still going, of course.) Behind Mahomes is a mix of familiar names — Trout, LeBron James — and players whose award-winning 2018 performances propelled them into historic territory, such as Mets ace Jacob deGrom and Rockets star James Harden.Mahomes's season isn't the only great individual campaign still unfolding. Saints QB Drew Brees has also produced MVP-type numbers, though they have flagged a bit since the end of November. And amid speculation about where he might play next, Anthony Davis currently leads the NBA in win shares and player efficiency rating, while ranking second in value over replacement player. Finally, despite Houston's disappointing start, Harden has quietly been playing nearly as well as he did last season, leading the league in VORP.Still, this is a case where the limits of our analysis — leagues for which we have Elo ratings — miss a lot. If you expand the search beyond the sports in which we track Elo, as ESPN's Peter Keating did, American gymnast Simone Biles would give Betts a run for the No. 1 slot. In 2018, Biles won gold in every category at the U.S. championships, then fought off a kidney stone to win four more golds (plus a silver and a bronze) at the World Championships. Between Biles's stellar performance and those of snowboarder Chloe Kim, WNBA star Breanna Stewart, top-ranked golfer Ariya Jutanugarn and swimmer (and FiveThirtyEight favorite) Katie Ledecky, we saw an outstanding crop of dominant female athletes this year.Biggest upset of 2018Baltimore Orioles 10, Boston Red Sox 3 — Sept. 26 (No. 1 upset in MLB since 2000)It's fitting that the top upset of the year featured our worst team of 2018, the Baltimore Orioles, beating the best, the Boston Red Sox. In baseball, most games are pretty close to a coin flip, with only the most extreme mismatches (usually aided by a disparate starting-pitching matchup) straying very far from 50-50. But in the second leg of a late-season double-header, the Red Sox sent staff ace Chris Sale to the hill against rookie Jimmy Yacabonis. Boston was looking for its 108th win of the season; Baltimore was looking to avoid loss No. 113. Going into the game, our pitcher-adjusted Elo model gave the O's a mere 18.8 percent chance of winning. And yet, Baltimore hung seven runs on the Sox bullpen in the last three innings (including four on closer Craig Kimbrel) to break a 3-3 tie and seal the historic upset.It was one of four upsets in 2018 that ranked among baseball's 10 most improbable since 2000, helping MLB dominate the upset ranking below.2Granted, perhaps that is driven as much by tanking — which creates the sheer prevalence of record-setting mismatches — as anything else. 7MLBAug. 30DetroitN.Y. Yankees24.916 After making that change, we do see UMBC's win rise to the top of the list as the most impressive postseason upset of the year. In fact, it was a pretty good year for underdogs all around, from the Philadelphia Eagles' dog mask-fueled Super Bowl victory to the Vegas Golden Knights' Stanley Cup Final run as an expansion team (and 200-1 title shot).While the Warriors won again and baseball's best got even better, there was still room in 2018 for plenty of surprises and inspiring performances. Here's hoping 2019 brings fans even more moments to enjoy on the fields, courts, rinks and everywhere else our favorite games are played. 1CBBMarch 16UMBCVirginia2.5%2 The best MLB, NBA and NFL players of 2018Top players of the 2018 calendar year, based on relative value metrics compared with other player-seasons in the same sport since 2000 9NBAMarch 16SacramentoGolden State7.218 SportDateUnderdogFavoritePregame Win prob.Rel. Rank Since 2000 5NBAApril 16MiamiPhiladelphia17.710 8NBANov. 23PhoenixMilwaukee7.116 As 2018 draws to its conclusion, we wanted to look back at the year in sports — the best (and worst) teams, the results that surprised us most and the athletes who inspired us. On Friday, we covered the best and worst teams of 2018, so now it's time to look at the best players and upsets of the year.You can read that first article for more detail on the methodology behind our rankings — but the "best players" are derived by taking a similar approach, this time using an all-in-one value metric of choice in each pro sport for which we have Elo ratings1I used Approximate Value for the NFL, wins above replacement for MLB (averaging together the versions of WAR found at Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs) and a mix of value over replacement player (VORP), win shares and player efficiency rating for NBA players (with those numbers for current NBA seasons prorated to 82 games). and ranking every player relative to other individual seasons since 2000. (Again, this includes all stats from seasons that either started or ended in the 2018 calendar year, so some numbers included in those seasons may have been compiled in 2017.) We're also tracking the best upsets in the same manner, measuring the winner's Elo-predicted win probability against the most unlikely wins in that sport over time.Without further ado, I give you the best professional player of 2018 in the NBA, NFL and MLB …Best player of 2018Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox (fourth-best MLB season by wins above replacement since 2000)In a year that featured a number of standout performances, none was better than that of Boston's 26-year-old right fielder. Betts earned American League MVP honors by becoming just the fifth player of the 21st century to crack 10.0 WAR in a single season — and he was the rare player to outduel WAR machine Mike Trout for the top slot in the league. Add in Boston's World Series victory (which Betts punctuated with a home run in the clinching contest), and Betts had himself a year for the ages in 2018. 22018-19*Patrick MahomesNFL21 AV5 3NFLJan. 6TennesseeKansas City24.84 Among teams in MLB, the NFL, the NBA and NCAA men's basketball. College football upsets weren't included in the ranking because the College Football Playoff has existed only since 2014.Source: ESPN 8NBAMay 1ClevelandToronto21.827 10CBBMarch 18Texas A&MNorth Carolina19.536 7NBAMay 14Golden StateHouston21.725 2MLBJuly 15DetroitHouston21.42 10MLBApril 25MiamiL.A. Dodgers25.119 9NBAMay 3ClevelandToronto23.333 1MLBSept. 26BaltimoreBoston18.8%1 72018-19*Drew BreesNFL19 AV29 read more
Week 15 NFL Elo Ratings And Playoff Odds
Remember the Seattle Seahawks? For all 137.6 decibels of noise at CenturyLink Field, they've been relatively quiet this year. The Seahawks have been one of the most consistent teams in the NFL, rarely blowing anybody out and rarely getting blown out.Seattle's 24-14 win in Philadelphia on Sunday was typical of its season. The Seahawks faced an excellent opponent — they've had one of the league's tougher schedules — and they won clearly and cleanly, although not overwhelmingly. It was their sixth win in seven games. During that time, the Seahawks have gone from modest underdogs to make the playoffs to 94 percent favorites to do so.Seattle has also nearly regained the top spot in FiveThirtyEight's NFL Elo Ratings. The New England Patriots, who scored their own impressive victory over the San Diego Chargers, remain in No. 1, but it comes down to decimal points. The Patriots' Elo rating is 1717.1; the Seahawks' is 1716.6. The Denver Broncos remain in third and the Green Bay Packers in fourth.But although the Seahawks' playoff chances were once imperiled, the Elo ratings were never down on their quality. Seattle started the season at No. 1 and fell only as far as No. 3 in the league before moving back into a near-tie for first place. Seattle didn't fall that far, in part, because Elo factors in a team's preseason standing. (Preseason estimates are based on where the teams stood at the end of 2013.)Seattle isn't the only team that testifies to the value of accounting for preseason expectations. Among Elo's preseason top four, Denver has remained in the top four every week of the season, and the Patriots have remained in the top four during all but two weeks.Meanwhile, teams that looked average to start the year before making a charge up the standings, such as the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs, have since fallen back into the middle of the pack. The only real exception has been the Packers, and Elo has a good excuse for them, because the system doesn't account for the injury to Aaron Rodgers that harmed their 2013 performance and depressed their preseason rating.The Seahawks still have some regular-season work left: They'd much rather enter the playoffs as division winner, which would allow them to play as many games as possible at CenturyLink Field and probably get a first-round bye. Our simulation has Seattle with a 23 percent chance of repeating as Super Bowl champions if they win the NFC West, but just a 10 percent shot if they enter the playoffs as a wild card team.But Seattle's situation is a little more favorable than it might appear from the NFC West standings. Although they're a game behind the Arizona Cardinals, the Seahawks have beaten them once this season and will play them again Dec. 21. If Seattle wins that game, it'll make up the game against Arizona and also clinch the head-to-head tiebreaker. Seattle rates as a slight favorite in that game even though it's being played in Arizona, so it's a slight favorite to win the division, too, per Elo.Here are the playoff odds for the Seahawks and the other 31 NFL teams:No team has clinched a playoff berth so far, although some are all but certain to make it. The Packers reached the playoffs in 98.7 percent of our simulations this week. And both the Broncos and the Patriots made it 99.9 percent of the time.Some other team will make the playoffs in far less glorious fashion. The 5-8 Atlanta Falcons, 5-8 New Orleans Saints and 4-8-1 Carolina Panthers are still competing for the division title in the NFC South; the "champion" will not only make the playoffs, but host a home game. The best the NFC South champion can do is an 8-8 record; there's a 31 percent chance of that, according to our simulations. There's a 59 percent chance the division winner finishes with just seven wins, and a 10 percent chance they'll have only six wins (either a 6-10 record or 6-9-1 in the case of Carolina). For the rundown on everyone else — including this week's extremely high-leverage games in the NFC East and AFC South — check out Mike Beuoy and Reuben Fischer-Baum's playoff implications column.Elo point spreadsRecord against point spread: 105-86-3 on season (10-5 in Week 14)Straight-up record: 144-63-1 on season (12-4 in Week 14)Elo has been on a hot streak in Las Vegas; the point spreads the system spits out have been on the right side of the closing Vegas line about 55 percent of the time this year.This is almost certainly just blind luck. The system isn't as sophisticated as what bookmakers use, and Elo only beat the point spread 51 percent of the time in our backtesting of it — not enough to make a profit after the casino's take.But this has been a fairly predictable NFL season; for the most part, the teams that looked best when it began look the best now.CORRECTION (Dec. 11, 10:29 a.m.): A previous version of this article incorrectly said New England has remained in Elo's top four every week of the season. It has remained in the top four during all but two weeks. read more
Listen To Hot Takedown Our Sports Podcast Pilot
Some of what we mentioned on this week's show:Benjamin Morris breaks down Pete Carroll's call.Nate Silver: Are the Patriots the greatest dynasty ever?Did the Hawks put together the greatest month in NBA history?Grantland's ode to Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford.(This is part of the prelaunch experimentation for the FiveThirtyEight podcast. We'll be posting audio of different kinds on SoundCloud and then launching the actual podcast this spring. Stay tuned! And let us know what you think by tweeting our podcast producer/host, @jodyavirgan, or emailing us.) By Jody Avirgan More: Apple Podcasts | ESPN App | RSS Loyal FiveThirtyEight readers: This week we recorded a trial run of our new sports podcast "Hot Takedown," and we're eager for you to take a listen. We're trying to add a little data perspective to the major storylines — and arguments — of the week.This episode, editor Chadwick Matlin, sportswriter Neil Paine and visual journalist Allison McCann discuss the Super Bowl and winning streaks in the NBA. FiveThirtyEight's Reuben Fischer-Baum also stops by to provide this week's "significant digit" — a historically bad free-throw performance in Brooklyn.Take a listen or download it below. read more
Columbus Police sting operation led to Adolphus Washington solicitation citation
OSU senior defensive tackle Adolphus Washington speaks to the media during Big Ten Media Days in Chicago in July 2015. Credit: Kevin Stankiewicz | Assistant Sports EditorNewly released court documents show it was a Columbus Division of Police sting operation that led to the citation of senior defensive tackle Adolphus Washington.Washington was charged and released by the Columbus Police Vice Squad Unit on Wednesday night with a first-degree misdemeanor charge of solicitation for prostitution. The incident took place at the Extended Stay America hotel in Worthington, Ohio.An affidavit filed Friday by Columbus Police stated Washington first contacted an officer who was acting as a "decoy prostitute" in response to an ad posted by detectives on the classified advertising website Backpage.com.The advertisement was posted in the "escorts" section, stating "New to Columbus, Experience the Best."Washington called the officer with a request to visit and asked for the address, before following up with a text message just after 10 p.m., according to the document. Washington texted again about 20 minutes later, stating he had arrived at the hotel.At 10:36 p.m., Washington entered the hotel room, where the decoy asked how long Washigton intended to visit, to which he responded, "a short stay."The officer told Washington that a visit of that length would cost $60. However, after the officer stated she did not have change for Washington's $100, Washington began to negotiate, asking, "Well, what will $100 get me?"The officer responded that $100 would pay for a one-hour visit. Washington agreed to the new price before placing his cash on the hotel dresser.The officer then offered Washington "some head." Upon agreeing to receive fellatio, Washington was detained by detectives, according to the document.OSU coach Urban Meyer announced that Washington has been suspended for the Jan. 1 Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame. The game was scheduled to be Washington's last with the Buckeyes.In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, Washington expressed remorse for his actions."I want to sincerely apologize to my family, to coach Meyer and the coaching staff, to my teammates and my friends for my lack of judgement (Wednesday) night and for my actions that I truly regret. I have wanted to be a high-character teammate, a contributor to the success of this program and, most importantly, someone my family can be proud of," he said in the statement. "I am extremely disappointed in myself, and I can honestly say I will learn from my mistake and I will accept the consequences that deservedly will come my way. And I hope that people will know that I am truly sorry and that I sincerely do apologize."Washington's arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 17.Wednesday's citation was the second in less than two months for the Buckeyes, as redshirt sophomore J.T. Barrett was cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated early in the morning of Oct. 31. read more
| Category: hoduiaqh
Emma Baranski adds solo title to résumé for Ohio State synchronized swimming
OSU junior Emma Baranski won the solo national title on April 16. Credit: Courtesy of OSUAnother Ohio State athlete, synchronized swimmer Emma Baranski, has made a splash in the national circuit, as the junior won the solo national title during the U.S. Collegiate Championships.But this was not Baranski's first brush with collegiate success. Last season, the OSU synchronized swimming team, which finished in second place this year, won the team title for the 29th time. The feelings following the victories, Baranski said, are different."With team, you're working together with seven other girls, so it's amazing to get the team title," Baranski said. "But as solo, it's a lot more pressured because everyone's eyes are right on you. Individually, it felt really good, and I was proud of myself just getting through it."OSU coach Holly Vargo-Brown's sentiments mirrored Baranski's, saying that the sense of pride she receives from coaching an individual champion versus a team champion has its differences. "We are fortunate in that last year we had a team title, and we didn't have an individual one," Vargo-Brown said. "I think this year to have done that is some extra pride because in the midst of everything not necessarily going Ohio State's way, to know that this person that worked so hard was rewarded, I think that was extra special."In addition to the second-place team finish, the Buckeyes also placed second in the duets and had two trios tie for third. Baranski, who dabbled in figure skating and dance before becoming involved in synchronized swimming, is studying arts management with minors in dance and business. She said hopes to own a dance studio one day. A desire to participate in a team sport pushed the Hamden, Connecticut, native toward synchronized swimming, but she said her dance background has helped her in solo routines."In the team routine, you're swimming a lot sharper, and your goal is to be synchronized with everyone else. With a solo performance, you're trying to be one with music almost," she said. "From the very beginning of when you start to train a solo, you're training almost a story and an emotional piece. "It's more of a dance routine in the water."The Buckeyes' coaching staff assigned a primary coach for Baranski to help her build a bond with the choreography. That, alongside Baranski's work ethic and skill set, is what Vargo-Brown said she believes helped the junior to find success."Emma is amazing. She's a very hard worker, and she really brings a passion to whatever part of the synchronized swimming that she's working on," Vargo-Brown said. "Because she is a dancer, she has really been able to improve on the expression that she brings to the performance, which I really think has helped her achieve the success that she has." While synchronized swimmers are rewarded for making their routines look effortless, Vargo-Brown said she does not want the athleticism of the swimmers to go unnoticed."Synchronized swimming is not what you see in the movies or the renditions of people making fun of it; these are athletes, and they train like athletes," said Vargo-Brown, a former OSU synchronized swimmer who is in her fourth season at the helm. "They lift weights, they're in the water and they can't touch the bottom, they're holding their breath and they really do have to be in the most-fit shape possible to accomplish all of that." The level of work that goes into synchronized swimming is not lost on Baranski, who said that staying ahead of the competition is the hardest part. With a dream to participate in Cirque du Soleil's synchronized swimming show in Las Vegas, she knows it won't come easy."It's pretty competitive and it's very international. You have the best talent from all over the world coming to Cirque du Soleil, so the competition is first," Baranski said. "You really can't stop training, it's just go, go, go all the time." read more
Urban Meyer Ohio State enter first game week of 2013
Lantern file photoThen-sophomore Ryan Shazier overlooks the sidelines during a game against Michigan State on Sept. 29, at Spartan Stadium. OSU won, 17-16.It is officially game week for the 2013 edition of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team, and coach Urban Meyer said football is all he wants to talk about."I just can't wait to play football," Meyer said Monday, deflecting a question asking if he is the same guy he was when he coached at the University of Florida. "All due respect, I just want to answer questions about football."A constant throughout camp has been talk about how impressive younger players such as freshmen Dontre Wilson, Ezekiel Elliot, Jalin Marshall and Joey Bosa have been performing and how they are expected to contribute right away. Meyer said a few of those freshmen will see the field against Buffalo."For sure, Dontre Wilson and Ezekiel Elliot will play," Meyer said. "On defense, Joey Bosa for sure will play."Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tom Herman said OSU would "be foolish" not to let Wilson touch the ball on offense, but doing so is a delicate balance."I think that you have to be careful with a true freshman that has to play some running back, has to play some wide receiver, has to flex out and run routes," Herman said. "So the package will be small to start the year off, and let him become an expert at the few things we are asking him to do."Meyer said Wilson is "going to return the opening kickoff of the 2013 football team," but is more "anxious" to see how he reacts to being in front of a large crowd at Ohio Stadium."I think coaches have a tendency to devalue what happens when you jog out that tunnel, especially at a place like Ohio Stadium," Meyer said. "There will be a lot of deep breaths being taken and you just can't create that animal until you get that opportunity."Senior safety C.J. Barnett called the feeling he got when he ran out onto the field for the first time at the Horseshoe "unexplainable," but has simple advice for Wilson for Saturday's opening kickoff."The only thing I could tell him is just take a deep breath and he's out there for a reason," Barnett said. "We all have confidence in him that he can get the job done, so just relax."Another position that younger, more inexperienced players could see time at is running back, due to both senior Carlos Hyde and redshirt-junior Rod Smith being suspended for three and one games, respectively. Meyer, however, said he is not worried about the spot, thanks to the return of redshirt-senior Jordan Hall from the injuries that plagued him in 2012."Jordan Hall is the best running back on our team right now, and so he'll have to lose that spot," Meyer said. "Bri'onte Dunn and Warren Ball are the next two in, and we want to get Ezekiel (Elliot) in to see how he responds in that kind of environment."Meyer also said Wilson could see some time at running back, depending on the offensive sets they go with, but for the time being, Hall is the guy."Jordan is a little smaller but he is arguably one of the toughest guys pound-for-pound on our team," Meyer said.During OSU Media Day Aug. 11, Meyer spoke about how there were four or five units on the team that were causing him to be uncomfortable as fall camp came to a close. His thoughts on those units have since changed."Offensive line, I feel very good about (it)," Meyer said. "Quarterback, feel very good about. The receivers (are) probably one of the most improved areas on our team. Running back feel very good about."There is one position, however, that Meyer believes the team is still lacking at: linebacker."The area we are still trying to solidify is linebacker," Meyer said. "Curtis Grant has not really played a whole lot of Mike (middle) linebacker, but he's catching up quick."Meyer noted how Grant is behind because he suffered a concussion during training camp, but is doing his best to get on the same level as his teammates before Saturday.Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, Luke Fickell said Grant is in a tough position, because even though he is a junior, he has yet to see consistent playing time."A guy that's a junior in college maybe wouldn't miss a beat because he's been here for two years and had a lot of experience," Fickell said. "But the reality is he has not had a whole (lot) of game experience."Junior linebacker Ryan Shazier echoed his position coach, but said the inexperience goes beyond just Grant."I feel like the biggest concern right now is because we have a lot of inexperience and a lot of young guys," Shazier said. "When we get a lot of guys that haven't played together, it's kind of a struggle."Fickell said even though the concussion set the starting middle linebacker back, he still has confidence in him."The reality is if that was a freshman that missed 10 or so days or 10 practices or something like that, you would be much more worried," Fickell said. "I'm not worried about Curtis Grant, because his passion and his energy is what's going to show."According to Meyer, the team held a meeting Monday afternoon to decide the 2013 captains. An OSU athletics spokesman told The Lantern that the decision has not been made as of late Monday evening.Kickoff against Buffalo is scheduled for 12 p.m. Saturday at Ohio Stadium. read more
Commentary Battle of Ohio splits Ohio State students
Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) attempts a pass in the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings. The Cleveland Browns defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 31-27, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Sunday, September 22, 2013. Credit: Courtesy of MCTOn Sunday afternoons on Ohio State's campus during the fall, chances are that plenty of people will be wearing brown and orange in support of their favorite NFL team.The Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals play each other twice every year in a rivalry known as the "Battle of Ohio." Columbus is located roughly between the two cities, 127 miles southwest of Cleveland and 97 miles northeast of Cincinnati.The "Battle of Ohio" began in 1970 after the AFL/NFL merger and the two teams have played 79 times. The Bengals lead the series, 42-37.The Bengals have held an advantage since the new Browns franchise joined the NFL in 1999, after the original franchise relocated to Baltimore. The Bengals have won 18 of 28 games in this time span, giving Cincinnati fans reasons to brag to Clevelanders.Last season, the Bengals finished 10-6 with a spot in the playoffs while the Browns finished 5-11, a typical record for the team in recent years.The histories of these two teams are very closely related. The Browns were formed in 1946 and named after their first head coach, Paul Brown. Brown, who was the head coach at Ohio State for three seasons, including their 1942 National Championship year, continued his success as he led the Browns to seven league championships in their first 10 seasons.Brown's time in Cleveland came to an unexpected end when he was fired by the new owner Art Modell in 1963. He wasted no time returning to football, and joined the newly-formed Cincinnati Bengals as their first head coach in 1968, bringing many of his own traditions, such as similar uniforms of dark brown jerseys and orange helmets as well as tactics like the two-minute drill and player intelligence tests that he created in Cleveland.The rivalry has been very tense for players and fans both on and off the field. An example of this was during a game between the Bengals and Seattle Seahawks in 1989 when Bengal fans threw snowballs at Seahawk players, prompting Cincinnati coach Sam Wyche to grab a microphone and say, "Will the next person who sees anyone throw anything on the field point them out, so we can get them out of here! You don't live in Cleveland; you live in Cincinnati!" Cleveland fans took this shot personally, and the next time the Bengals played in Cleveland, Wyche was booed by Browns fans.Both teams have had successes and failures, and the number of fans supporting either one may depend on who is having the better season.The "Battle of Ohio" will be played twice this year, on Sept. 29 at First Energy Stadium on the Cleveland lakefront and on Nov. 17 at Paul Brown Stadium in downtown Cincinnati.Football fans at Ohio State will proudly wear scarlet and gray on Saturday afternoons in support of the Buckeyes, but the brown and orange many wear the next day depends on where they are from, and which Ohio team they are rooting for. read more


Collaborating closely with school-serving organizations to activate more support for students and schools, particularly in areas of need.
Mobilizing a diverse network of Arizonans to move from concern to action to meet the immediate needs of schools and students, and to impact education for the long-term.
Empowering students to play a role in building stronger schools and developing lifelong civic skills.
SpeakOut AZ emphasizes close collaboration with schools, community partners and civic leaders. We build and foster connections between neighbors, businesses, nonprofits and schools while drawing upon national data, resources and best practices to activate civic leaders. SpeakOut AZ believes that every Arizonan has a role to play in creating the communities and schools we want.


text:
Q: Action Error does not display when using a reload function I have set in Action java file that addActionError() is called when there is error. But Now in my JSP class, I have a code that will reload the page when the user click the "submit" button.
My problem now is, the page will reload and not showing the error message. I have used
 <s:if test="hasActionErrors()">
 <s:actionerror/>
 </s:if>

but it will still skip the error and just refresh the page.

A: You can call your JavaScript function like this in JSTL:-
<s:if test="${hasActionErrors()}">
<!--Do your operation here..-->
</s:if>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Taiwan is famous for its dizzying array of night markets, and for good reason too!
One of the most iconic night markets in Taipei, this spot is constantly covered by the media for the wide variety of traditional and modern food it offers. Additionally, with a newly opened food court nearby, we expect Shilin to get a lot busier.
If we could only pick one, our top must-try dish would be the Shilin XXXXL fried chicken: The battered fillets are juicy and tasty, and are so huge they can rival the size of both your hands! If you've got space for more, try the oyster omelette, which is topped with zesty lime and tomato sauce. The adventurous ones can give the famous stinky tofu a go.
For shopaholics, Shilin Night Market is home to rows of stalls selling fashionable clothes and accessories. But be sure to practice your bargaining skills before you come, for they will surely come in handy when you work to persuade the seller to match the price you want.
Located in Taichung, Fengjia Night Market is the largest night market in Taiwan, so one night may not be enough to clear it. Next to Feng Chia University, the market extends over several streets for your endless shopping and eating pleasure. Expect a huge variety of activities, which range from shopping to eating and even games.
Our favourite street snack is the squid on a stick. Similar to the Shilin XXXXL fried chicken, the squid is coated in flour before being deep fried and sprinkled with spices. Had a bad experience with "rubbery" pieces of sotong? This dish will restore your faith in dish. The squid is cooked to perfection: Under the crispy "shell" lies the succulent and savoury squid. Another dish to try is the "lazy" shrimps—as its name suggests, the snack is great for those too lazy to peel shells, as the entire prawn can be eaten. This means that you can keep your hands clean for more shopping!
Although a lot smaller than the above-mentioned markets (it is only 600m long), the RaoHe Night Market is one of the oldest ones in Taipei. A stone's throw away from Wu Fen Pu, we recommend heading there for dinner or snacks after your shopping spree.
While you're there, you must try the pork ribs soup and pepper bun. While the former may taste similar to the local Bak Kut Teh, the spices and herbs are extra fragrant, making the dish stand out and especially delicious during cold weather. The pepper buns are barbecued on the spot using charcoal, and are typically filled with pork and vegetables.
Got other night markets to recommends? Tell us in the comments below!
Check out 15 Japanese Snacks You Will Regret Not Buying Home, We Put Hong Kong's Most Popular Food to the Taste Test, and Taipei Nightspots For A Night You Won't Remember.
The Dangers of Free Public WiFi—The Price is Your Privacy!


text:
A framework for coherent decision-making in environmental impact assessments in the energy sector of South Africa
Broughton, Elena Konstantinovna
The current decision-making processes involved in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) in South Africa suffer from a lack of coherence and do not include evaluation of trade-offs between qualitative and quantitative impacts, as well as environmental, economic, and social dimensions. In addition, insufficient capacity and knowledge among authorities, a lack of objectivity among Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs), and mediocre reports add to the problems associated with effective decision-making. This work presents a framework aimed at improving the effectiveness and objectivity of the decision-making process applied in South Africa's EIAs in the energy sector. A number of decision-making models and tools are available to researchers and practitioners throughout the world that could potentially be applied in EIAs. Among these are Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM), and Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA). Each of the tools has its own advantages and disadvantages. With respect to the CBA, its biggest disadvantage is the fact that it requires conversion into monetary terms of all impacts, which is sometimes difficult to achieve. The RIAM, on the other hand, fails to provide a systematic approach to the ranking of alternatives. Both of these issues are addressed by the MCA tools. The MCA framework, furthermore, is universal, transparent, easy to replicate, and does not require a particularly large amount of labour and financial resources to complete. It is, however, subjective, but this shortcoming can be overcome by making the decision process more transparent. The framework proposed in this research paper is based on the Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) technique that allows the identification of the proposed development's cumulative impact versus the current status of the environment. It then compares possible alternatives, where available, in order to identify the most optimal solution. The proposed solution takes into account the trade-offs between the different impact metrics. The research methodology followed in this paper comprised four steps, namely:

 Selection of case studies,

 Information collection,

 Framework application and testing and

 Feedback.

 The development of the framework followed an eight-step approach that is generic for MCA and was tested on two case studies that have already gone through the Environmental Impact Assessment process, i.e. the Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) plant in the Western Cape and the Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plant in the Northern Cape. The former was evaluated against the "no-go option", but included a decision tree comprised of impact areas, categories of impacts and dimensions (environmental, social, and economic). The latter included alternatives for four components of the project, but the decision tree comprised only of categories and dimensions. The effectiveness of the framework was verified by testing the results of the case studies against the recommendations proposed in the respective Environmental Impact Reports. In all cases, but one, the results of the framework correlated with the recommendations made by the Environmental Assessment Practitioners in the respective studies. In addition, a workshop with the decision-makers was held to obtain their viewpoints regarding the usefulness of the framework in their decision-making environment. These decision-makers supported the use of the framework in their environment as it offered an integrated and transparent approach to the evaluation of projects and alternatives. They emphasised, however, that the decision-making process was complex and the application of the framework alone would not be able to address all the challenges. The case studies demonstrated that the proposed framework could be successfully applied in the process of undertaking impact assessments in the energy sector. It can be used to determine the trade-offs between impacts and dimensions, while taking into consideration the opinions of specialists and decision-makers when assigning weights. The framework has the ability to clearly illustrate the benefit of introducing mitigation measures and it also indicates an alternative that produces the optimal cumulative impact. In conclusion, the work presented contributes to the new body of knowledge in the field of Environmental Impact Assessment in the energy sector as it will assist authorities in making objective and informed decisions, while ensuring greater transparency in the process. It also opens opportunities for conducting follow-on investigations, such the application of the framework in other sectors of the economy, undertaking a sensitivity analysis to compare the range of scores used in the evaluation of impacts, and investigating the possibility of acquiring input from Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) and integrating those into the framework.
Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011.
Name: dissertation_2011.pdf
Theses and Dissertations (University of Pretoria) 17669
Theses and Dissertations (Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM)) 65

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
var $buoop = { vs: { i: 8, f: 15, o: 10.6, s: 4, n: 9 } };
$buoop.ol = window.onload;
window.onload = function () {
    try { if ($buoop.ol) $buoop.ol(); } catch (e) { }
    var e = document.createElement("script");
    e.setAttribute("type", "text/javascript");
    e.setAttribute("src", "http://browser-update.org/update.js");
    document.body.appendChild(e);
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Part of our Safety Shorts series, Fall Protection is ideal for pre-shift safety meetings, behavior-based programs, and provides a high quality visual reference to be used as part of a safety training program.
Great service from Falck. Really happy with our purchase. We realized a need for fall arrest training on our construction site, and ordered this film after doing our research. Three days later, we'd received the video, and it was everything we were looking for.
Next time we need a safety film, we'll be coming back to Falck.
Use it for daily safety meetings and orientations very often.
Click the button below to add the Fall Protection (Safety Video) 20% OFF SALE to your wish list.


text:
LGiU
About LGIU
Facts and figures: England
Facts and figures: Scotland
Facts and figures: Ireland
Workstreams
Home > Blog > Viewpoint: How local authorities can help combat loneliness
29th April 2014 England & Wales Communities and society, Health and social care
Viewpoint: How local authorities can help combat loneliness
By LGiU
Image: North Yorks County Council
Cllr Shelagh Marshall is the Older People's champion for North Yorks County Council. She chairs The Age Action Alliance, Isolation and Loneliness Working Group. We hear from Shelagh about the important role local authorities can play in combating loneliness.
Has your council got loneliness as a priority in its Health and Well Being Strategy? Have councillors in your area been encouraging the older population to lobby your Authority to make it a priority. I hope there are very few councillors who are not aware of the national Campaign to End Loneliness.
Described in Graham Tomlin's book, 'Looking through the Cross' he says "One of the most painful and devastating sicknesses of our time is loneliness, and a way of life that builds community and can enable friendship is infinitely to be preferred to one that breeds isolation,….."
The detrimental effects on one's health is as bad as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and twice as bad an effect as obesity. Tackling this modern day scourge and developing services to reduce the effects could save the Health and Social Care services a considerable sum of money and improve the Well Being of many older people.
Local Authorities and councillors are extremely well placed to take this campaign head on. Public Health Strategies and Community Plans have been published by local authorities and The Preventative Strategies are being developed at this time of writing. Councillors should lobby their portfolio holders to include ending loneliness as a priority and request the appropriate Scrutiny Committee to set up a task group to investigate and monitor the plans of the Council to identify those in the community at risk and the availability of services to promote social inclusion.
One task which councillors could do is to produce a database of the 50s Forums in their Ward or Division and then write to the Chair of the Health and Well Being Board and ask it to encourage GPs to write menu prescriptions and social prescriptions with the aim of tackling the effects of loneliness.
I hope that these ideas show just some of the ways local authorities can play a key role in helping support those struggling with loneliness in their community.
To find out more about The Campaign to End Loneliness, please see here.
To find out more about the Age Action Alliance, please see their website here.
In Conversation With: Ten years of Gold School Meals in East Ayrshire Council with Andrew Kennedy
East Ayrshire Council's (EAC) Andrew Kennedy talks to LGiU's Kim Fellows about the Food for Life Served Here (FFLSH) certification scheme aimed at improving school meals in Scotland. The gold award for school meals was given to pupils in 31 certified primary schools and 16 nurseries daily in EAC, 3,600 of which are free school…
Eco-anxiety: what can local government do?
In 2017, an increasingly pervasive worry was defined for the first time by the American Psychological Association as 'eco-anxiety': "a chronic fear of environmental doom". This briefing will investigate the rise of this phenomenon across the world and explore the ways in which local governments can both become more environmentally sustainable themselves and help employees…
Health, public health and social care round-up: December 2019
The health, public health and social care round-up summarises new policy, research and publications that are relevant to elected members and officers interested in health and social care. It is intended to be a digested read and provides links to the source documentation of major reports for further consideration.
LGiU has offices in England, Scotland and Ireland.
e: info@lgiu.org
About LGiU England & Wales
About LGiU Scotland
About LGiU Ireland
Don't miss out on any of our local government posts, research and events. If you are a member make sure you receive Daily News and members only briefings and reports.


Over the past few years, many organizations have realized how important their company culture is. From the way they treat employees, hire new ones, to how their employees treat each other, culture is a fundamental ingredient to an organization's success. When it's bad or nonexistent, it's costly, as Walmart recently found out.
A few years ago, Walmart had a problem. Sales were falling at its stores and only 16% of them were meeting the company's customer service benchmarks. The company's revenue dropped for the first time in decades.
Walmart's executives cames up with a solution: pay people more, train them better, and give them more opportunities for growth. Not exactly rocket science, but a huge shift for the world's largest retailer who had built their company on keeping costs down to offer huge discounts. They may not have come out and said it, but the bottom line was that even at Walmart, company culture matters. For decades Walmart had thrived by offering incredible value to customers. Now they were trying to save the ship by offering value to their employees, too.
The key is to always pay attention to your culture, even when it seems like you don't need to. Quite simply, proactively nurturing a positive, company culture is one of the best investments of time, energy and money that an organization can make. Creating a structured process do that will save your and your team countless headaches by giving you the information you need ahead of time to keep your organization on track when things are good and, more importantly, when things are on fire.
The difference between a stellar and mediocre company culture can be more subtle than you think. On the surface, things may look fine while major problems are simmering or vice versa. That's why adding objectivity and data into the equation is crucial. Here's how to do it.
Organizational values set the tone of your culture, but espousing them and practicing them are two entirely different things. So, it's important to figure out whether your culture is actually working or not. A good way is to do so is come up with questions about your culture and ask every person in the organization to answer them anonymously.
You probably only need five to ten questions in total. For instance, you could ask everyone if they are happy, if they think the organization is innovative, and if they think the organization is open to diverse viewpoints and perspectives. You want questions that are general enough to be easily interpreted and answered, while also offering insight into how your people view the organization.
After you see the results, share them with the entire organization, and create opportunities to have a dialogue. In some cases, a place that supports anonymity like Tinypulse may be best, but it can also help to have a open conversations with smaller teams about the results and about your organization's culture more broadly. From there you'll have a pretty good idea of where you culture is working, and how it can be improved.
Culture is created by every single individual, and can be undermined just a handful. That's why it's important to have numerous and regular touch points to assess your culture. Feedback loops ensure that things, negative and positive, don't go unmentioned or unnoticed for too long, and also offer the opportunity for regular course corrections as necessary.
Every stage of the employee lifecycle should have regular feedback loops, from the initial outreach phase with candidates to exit interviews when staffers leave the organization. It may sound like lots of work, but technology is making it easier than ever to collect troves of valuable information fairly often. Many ATS's feature feedback solutions within their platform, and services like SurveyMonkey make it exceptionally straightforward to create detailed polls and then widely distribute them. With this kind of information, you'll see issues before they become problems, learn what things are working well, what people care most about, and what things need to be fixed or addressed before they get worse.
When collecting feedback, be sure to mix yes and no questions with open-ended questions so that you get a holistic view of what's happening. Including subjective feedback will make it easier to interpret the data you're getting, and let you figure out what is driving the trends and changes you see. That makes it easier to diagnose potential problems and double down on effective strategies.
All that data can become overwhelming without context. That's why setting up internal company culture KPIs and benchmarks are essential to fully leveraging the data you collect. If you're not sure what kind of benchmarks are reasonable or how to create decent KPIs, Lever's Recruiting Benchmark's or Greenhouse's KPIs are a great examples of strategically using KPIs and benchmarks to drive improved performance. It's important that KPIs can be tracked over time, boiled down to a single number, and make comparisons easier to come by. Effective KPIs keep you honest by helping you avoid meaningless vanity metrics and instead focus on those metrics that have an actual bearing on your organization's health.
Employee Referrals - If people want their friends to come work at a company, that's usually a pretty good indicator that they're happy.
Absenteeism - Keeping track of absenteeism rates on a week to week or month to month basis can tell you very quickly if people are happy at the office. Segment out the data for teams, divisions or certain seniority levels to know if problems are isolated or widespread.
Employee Churn - How many people leave the organization during a given period of time. You can't prevent everyone people from leaving, but upticks may indicate that you have a bigger problem than performance-related churn on your hands.
Employee Satisfaction Index - What percentage of your employees say they are happy? How happy is the average employee?
Average Tenure - Long-term employees are usually the happiest and most productive, which means there's a powerful financial argument to be made for keeping your employees as long as possible.
Diversity Metrics - Tracking the breakdown of your staff tells you whether your organizational cultural supports diverse experiences and viewpoints or does not.
The best KPIs tell you that you have a problem ahead of time, thereby letting you fix the issue proactively. Effective benchmarks allow you to evaluate performance. Using both to track your culture will keep your team ahead of the curve when it comes to nurturing your company culture.
Remember, too many KPIs can muddle the process. Typically seven or fewer KPIs is optimal. This allows your team to stay focused on the most meaningful without muddling the process. Also, KPIs must be actively evaluated over time. A great KPI one year might not be so great the next, so ensure that they remain the most valid ways to gauge your culture. If not, come up with better ones.
Your company culture is created by actively promoting positive behaviors, activities and mindsets. The same goes for the nurturing process. Great culture comes from people caring enough to make things better, and that includes you.


After Sony released a more affordable PlayStation 3 console last year exclusively for Europe and Hong Kong, the company is planing to release the third-generation flash-based PlayStation 3 in North America too.
Several photos were leaked on the internet with a 12GB PS3 that comes with a Netflix package and a sign "do not sell or display prior to 18 August". So if you don't have a PlayStation 3, this is your chance to test the console out before PlayStation 4 will be out this holiday season.


text:
Home » Consumers Carry Less Cash
Consumers Carry Less Cash
Cash is the dominant payment form for transactions of less than $10.
Two of five consumers carry less than $20 cash on a daily basis, says Bankrate.
Instead of greenbacks, consumers use alternatives such as debit cards, prepaid gift cards, credit cards, and smartphones with electronic payments apps.
Although electronic payments numbers continue to increase, cash is not becoming irrelevant, says George Peabody, a payments strategist at research firm Glenbrook Partners. "Cash is going to be remarkably resilient. I'm not expecting cash to disappear anytime soon," he says.
On a day-to-day basis, more than two-thirds of survey respondents carry $50 or less, 49% have $20 or less in their pockets, and 9% say they don't carry cash at all.
Women tend to carry less cash than men. This suggests some women "may prefer to carry less cash than men so as to reduce the risk of being a target for criminal activity," says Greg McBride, Bankrate's chief financial analyst.
Carrying cash can have a psychological effect on spending. One university student told Bankrate that if she has cash, not only does she spend it, but she also spends more on her debit card.
"It's a weird kind of wealth effect," she says.
Cash is the dominant payment form for transactions of less than $10, according to the Federal Reserve. It's most commonly used for gift s, transfers to people, food, and personal care.
But data security breaches like the one at retail giant Target make consumers wary of plastic payments.
A survey by cybersecurity firm Feedzai finds that 40% of consumers who knew about data breaches were using cash more oft en and plastic less, according to The Wall Street Journal.
In some situations, such as natural disasters, cash is still important, says Paul Sullivan, vice president/general manager of Agility Recovery— a CUNA Strategic Services provider.
"We all know that during a major event, cash is always king. You may not always be able to use cards because services could be down," he says.
KEYWORDS cash payments


text:
Boxing Tribune Interview: Nate Tubbs re-establishing non-profit group to benefit at-risk youth
April 20, 2012 by Tim Harrison Leave a Comment
Former heavyweight contender and regular sparring partner for Mike Tyson, Nate Tubbs hasn't fought since his one-fight comeback in 2005, but he is slowly making a comeback to the sport that gave him direction in life – he just won't be the one in the ring . Tubbs, the founder of the non-profit Nate Tubbs Group Home and Amateur Boxing Program, closed its door in the wake of the tragic murder of his son nearly 4 years ago. Stricken with grief, Tubbs stepped away from his life's work.
Now after being away from the sport, Tubbs returned and is working hard to re-open his organization. Tubbs is organizing a night of fights to take place this Saturday night at the Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun, Indiana. Part of the proceeds will go to fund a new gym and facilities for the organization. Tubbs spoke to the Boxing Tribune to talk about his organization, its goals, and Saturday's event. Check out what he had to say.
Boxing Tribune: Hey, Nate. How's everything going?
Nate Tubbs: It's coming along pretty good. I'm taking care of business, running along dealing with fighters, they give me a headache. It isn't like when I used to fight. We're trying to get it done, we don't wait until the last minute.
BT: I didn't want to take too much of your time, I know you're busy with your event coming up. I wanted to start off by talking briefly about your pro career for those who aren't aware of who you are.
NT: Oh, yeah. Well, my pro record was like 19-4. In 1994 I knocked out Corrie Sanders in the second round in South Africa. That was the greatest moment of my career. It was unprecedented. It was over in South Africa. I was Mike Tyson's sparring partner for about 15 good years. Earlier in 1994 I won the UBO [Universal Boxing Organization] title and I held it for four years. Then in the year 2000 I started a non-profit organization called the Nate Tubbs Group Home and Amateur Boxing Program. About three-and-a-half years ago my son was murdered in Cincinnati, and I sold my gym, I just sold everything and shut down because my mom passed away a month later. Then back in June I called Mike Tyson up to help out with this boxing event so I could get to a point where I could get the gym back open for these kids. This program it's a group home and an amateur boxing program for kids. I'm just trying to guide these kids in the right way. It's better me than somebody else because I used to be one of them, and they relate to me a little bit better than somebody that never experienced what they're going through – and survived.
BT: I'm sorry to hear about your son, Nate. After the time off, what brought you back to your organization?
NT: Basically everywhere I want I would hear 'when are you going to open the gym? When are you going to open the gym?' We got a lot of talent, but we don't have any good trainers. I had an organized program in a high-tech gym and I was there teaching. I taught kids how to deal with situations pertaining to training, as well as things outside the ring. It was like a one-stop shop. What brought me back was looking at all these kids, and everybody turning around and doing crime. We have mentoring programs where I could explain to these kids about the consequences of the things they do. You know, because I've got a criminal past myself. But I survived and I turned my life around and I'm at a place setting up something for my kids in my boxing program right now. I just got ten kids in a truck driving program, I'm trying to better their lives. And who better to do it than me? Because I've got a lot of book knowledge, and I've got a lot of street credibility because I used to be one of them. I used to be one of the tough guys. A lot of it is just me being respected by their parents. Their parents tell them about the things I used to do, and if I can change then anybody can change. I had my boxing career, and thank God I took some knowledge from it and I learned the business part. My gym is like a one-stop shop. Once these kids reach 18 I can help them turn pro and manage their careers, so it's like on the job training already.
BT: Yeah, you know it sounds like a great program that's more than just teaching kids how to box. You're giving kids another option if a pro career doesn't work out. Just so the information gets a little more run, what's the name of your program again?
NT: The Nate Tubbs Group Home and Amateur Boxing Program.
BT: I understand you've got an event going down this weekend. Where will that take place?
NT: It's at the Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun, Indiana.
BT: Is it all pro fights, or is it a pro-am event?
NT: Only Pro
BT: You've got Tommy Hearns and Buster Douglas scheduled to be there.
NT: Yeah, Tommy Hearns, Buster Douglas, and Janks Morton.
BT: Oh, yes I forgot about him.
NT: Janks Morton trained Sugar Ray Leonard for about 30 years.
BT: They're helping out in the promotion of the event. Will they be involved with the organization in any other way?
NT: Well, Janks Morton is from my hometown and he's like a father figure to me. He's going to put some things together. We're all working together to put some things together to try to give these kids an opportunity.
BT: I understand this is another event in an ongoing series you're looking to put together.
NT: It's not the first event, it's the third one this year. Mike Tyson came in last June and helped put some things together, and then Buster Douglas came in and helped out with the last show in October.
BT: So it's a definite ongoing series that you'd like to keep going.
NT: Exactly. We're trying to raise money to get the facilities back open, and get the equipment for the program. I mean, we're out there looking for donations so we can help these kids.
BT: Do you have ticket and event information for those that might want to attend?
NT: It's at the Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun, Indiana. Tickets are being sold through Ticket Master, and they'll be available at the door of the Rising Star ticket office. The doors open up at 6 pm, April the twenty-first, and the first bout is going to be at 7 pm. There's going to be seven bouts, and one of them is a 2008 Olympian; Olanrewaju Durudola. He was a 2008 Olympian for Nigeria. He's fighting a guy named Calvin Rooks out of Memphis, Tennessee. Then we've got the co-main event with Buster Douglas' fighter. John L. Smith fighting Ralph Lawrence, and that's going to be a hell of a fight. We've got a rising star named Mel Crossty out of Cincinnati… [the rest of the lineup was inaudible due to electrical interference].
BT: Well, it sounds like you've got a full night of fights going on.
NT: Yeah, we also have Janks Morton's fighter Duane Mobley fighing Francisco Russell in a 6-round fight. I'm also expecting that to be a hell of a fight.
BT: Alright, Nate. I don't want to take up too much of your time, so I'll let you close by saying anything you didn't get a chance to say already.
NT: Not really, I just want to ask that people come out and support and wish for the best.
BT: Alright, Nate. Thanks again for your time, and I wish you the best of luck.
NT: Alright, thanks.
"Like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for exclusives and other bonus material from Boxing's Independent Media. You can also keep track of all the latest in boxing news and views by downloading our safe & free toolbar:
Filed Under: Featured, Interviews Tagged With: Buster Douglas, Janks Morton, Nate Tubbs, Tommy Hearns
My Life as a Boxer's Wife: King Carlos Molina's Queen (Part One)
What Can Save HBO Boxing Now?
Golovkin: Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride; Magno's Monday Rant
Bert Sugar Was a Fake. (A Tribute)
My Life as a Boxer's Wife: King Carlos Molina's Queen (Part Two)


One of the home furniture that is the gathering place for animal hair is carpet. This is certainly because the carpet can bind dirt into the fiber. Carpets consisting of lots of fiber are also ideal for animal hair to land smoothly there. Vacuuming the carpet regularly is the main thing you can do to remove as much animal hair as possible. In addition, you can also do tips on removing animal hair from the following rugs.
Vacuum the carpet first thoroughly.
Spray water on the sponge until the sponge feels moist.
Apply a sponge to the entire surface of the carpet to lift the remaining hair.
Squeeze the sponge, then vacuum the hair caught on the sponge.
If it is still needed, repeat from the second step.
Mix water with clothes softener liquid in a spray bottle.
Spray the mixture to the entire surface of the carpet. Avoid spraying too much liquid because it will make the carpet wet.
Let the carpet dry a little first.
Vacuum the carpet as a whole. The clothes softener will help make animal hair more easily removed from the carpet.
Sprinkle baking soda on the entire surface of the carpet, then leave it for a few minutes.
Vacuum the carpet until clean baking soda is lifted.
Repeat the steps if needed.
If your carpet is too dirty, not only because of animal hair but also because of dust, dirt, food scraps, etc., it is a good idea to wash the carpet as a whole, either wash it yourself or use professional carpet cleaning services.
Silo or farm tower for storing grain is a storage place of material in the form of granules and fluids. Usually the storage inside the silo must be in bulk form. The silo structure is made of steel or concrete. Reinforced concrete is the most common structural material in the manufacture of silos. This is because concrete can offer protection for the ingredients in it. In addition it requires less maintenance, and is relatively free from structural hazards (such as indentations).
The current silo function has a difference with the old silo. Currently silos not only as a means of storage, but have a greater role that is for manufacturing and distribution process. In addition silos are useful in the production process such as mixing, blending and proportioning. Now the distribution of materials stored in the silos causes a lot of demand for large capacity silos.
Grains can be handled like fluid that can flow and facilitate the movement of materials.
No need for sack wrapping.
Quality control is more efficient and effective.
Silos need a place that is not wider than sack system storage in the same quantity.
Agricultural storage can also be done for longer periods with lower losses.
Silos are used to store agricultural products, minerals, mineral processing, chemicals and industrial materials. The use of silos is not only for finished materials, but also for raw and semi-finished materials. Use of silos in groups or singles, sometimes as terminal goods for receiving and shipping of goods. Such terminals usually include multiple transport modes. Examples of silo use as a terminal are as follows: the material arrives by ship is then stored in the terminal for a while. After that it is channeled through trucks, trains or other ships for shipping to various places.
The moisture content in the seeds should be low.
Grains should be free of dirt and dust.
Must be watertight and unaffected by weather and free from the effects of solar radiation.
Equipped with conveyors and bucket elevators.
Styles due to stored material.
Load due to charging and discharging silos.
Earthquake load on structures and materials stored.
People who have their own dogs might love and value them so much, feeling that they are good friends, even members of the family. One who loves his or her dog, then, might feel so worried if his or her dog is sick, suffering from the problem of epilepsy or another kind of disease. One will be glad to know that today, small things like giving medicine to a dog can be made more enjoyable, and one of these is through pill treats. Finding the best pill treats for your dog, then, is definitely something that you should do, something that you will not regret, as it is sure to be greatly satisfying and beneficial, both for you and for your dog.
Pill treats for dogs are certainly beneficial in a lot of ways, one of which is the fact that when you use them, you can be sure that giving medicine to your dog will be a much easier task. One's dog might not like taking medicine, and he or she can have a hard time getting it down the dog's throat or trying to blend it in with the things that the dog eat. It is good to know that when people are able to find the best pill treats for dogs, they can be sure that their dogs will be eager to take their medication.
Finding the best pill treats for dogs is also something good, as you can be sure that your dog will just love the treats. This is because the treats will come in many flavors, and are sure to be very delicious and enjoyable for dogs.
It is quite a challenging job to care for the dog correctly. The fact that the younger dogs are not prone to many health complications make it more straightforward to manage them than the aged dog which has numerous cases relating to their health. Many of the individuals who possess dogs prefer to prepare for them in the kitchen or give to the dogs whatever it is that they are eating themselves. It is in this regard that there has been an increase of late in the number of producers manufacturing best dog food for boxers with an aim to tap the market that has grown tremendously. There is a need that you do not forget a few essential things when selecting the best dog food for boxer since the process in some instances can be very exhausting to your mind. Deliberated in this text are tips that will help you to deal with dog feeding more appropriately.
It is necessary that you adopt a habit of cooking for your dog. Foodstuff that is mainly designed for the dogs are the ones that you include in the diet that you seek to prepare for the dog. It is vital that you search internet to establish the best dog food for boxer. The mode in which the best dog food for boxers are manufactured gives them a wealth of nutrients that are beneficial to the health of the dog. The diet that best fits the health of your dog can be derived from this best dog food for boxers. The fact that the dogs can digest carbohydrates means that there is no harm in feeding them with these type of diet. It is good to remember that it is the health of your dog that is at stake and hence aim at maintaining it at its best.
There is a question of whether or not it is a correct to feed the dog with leftovers from your dish. There is no harm in feeding the dog remains of your dish although you have to ascertain that the diet will not affect the condition of the dog. Foods from your diet that cannot make the dog to abnormally increase its body mass index are the ones you should give to the dog.
Ways to Make Your Dog Have a Good Oral Health.
The oral health of a dog is a vital, and you should always ensure that it is in good condition. This is irrespective of its age or breed. A dog with a poor oral health may experience a fall out of teeth, sour gums, rotting tooth sockets, and infection among others. About 85% of dogs above four years have been reported to suffer a type of preconditioned disease.
Unfortunately, the mouths of dogs act as fertile ground for bacteria. This means that things can get uncontrollable easily. Some measures to make sure that your pet is in a good oral health are highlighted in the steps below.
First, you should schedule regular visits to the vet.
There are suggestions that dogs which are between one and ten years old should visit the vet at least one time a year. In case the dog develops other health issues, there would be need for more checkups. When checking the dog, the vet identifies more problems that the dog might be facing. Some vets have dentist team. There is a dentist in California veterinary professionals. This implies that all your dog's problems will be treated in the same office.
There is need to give attention and care to teeth dog's teeth, just in the same manner human beings take care of theirs. Many dog owners, however, feel that the process is not easy, and they might end up hurting their dog. If you, however, do it regularly and the dog realizes that it is not a hurting process, the dog might end up liking it. Initially, you can start cleaning the dog for 30 seconds and then increase the brush time with time.
A dog's bad breath should serve as a warning sign. It is not right for a dog to have bad breath. You should visit the vet immediately you see that your dog has bad breath.
There are many aids to a dog's oral needs in the form of toys, foods, and treats. This improves the oral health of your dog in a big way, although it is not meant to replace brushing your dog or taking it to a vet for checkups. These products are usually used to help in plaque and tartar control.
Does it cross your mind for once to look after your dog's oral health? No matter what your dog's breed or age is, any responsible dog owner must be able to know the real importance of oral health. According to California veterinary specialist, there are many different issues that may be rooted back to poor oral health of your dog such as rotting tooth sockets, gum infections etc. Reports from a number of vets as well stated that approximately 85 percent of dogs who are over 4 years old suffer from some type of periodontal disease.
The sad thing is that, dogs' mouth is more of a breeding ground for viruses and bacteria meaning, it is fairly simple for things to go out of hand. For any loving and responsible pet owner, what has to be done is to be certain that the oral health of your pet is taken care of to steer clear of these problems from happening. In this case, there are several steps that you might like to do as what suggested too by California veterinary specialist.
Number 1. Schedule regular visits to the California veterinary specialist – if you aren't able to remember the last time that you brought your dog to the vet to have its routine checkup, then the chances that it is overdue is high. It is recommended that normal and healthy dog is between ages of 1 to 10, must be visiting the vet annually for checkup. If the dog developed other health issues for instance, then they have to do frequent checkups.
On last check up, the vet will look inside their mouth and see if there are potential areas that may cause some problems. Some vets have designated staff that is dealing with dog dentistry. As an example, there are California veterinary specialist hire dentists to have someone deal with this matter. What is meant by this is, if there are issues in your dogs' oral health, it can be dealt with right then and there in the clinic.
Number 2. Brush their teeth – your dog also needs the same level of attention and care in their teeth just like how you do in yours. There are a lot of dog owners who feel apprehensive when brushing the teeth of their dog and feel that their dog will give them a hard time. While it's true initially, things are going to be easier once you get used to it.
Number 3. Bad breath shouldn't be ignored – California veterinary specialist highly recommend to pet owners to not disregard bad breath from their dog as this can be an indication of a more serious problem in the end.


text:
Customizing A Ford GT Order With Vaughn Gittin Jr. Part 1
by Jesse Kleib | December 21, 2018
buildingcustomizingfordford gtGTvaughn gittin jr
If you get behind a driver like Vaughn Gittin Jr., you're talking about ...
If you get behind a driver like Vaughn Gittin Jr., you're talking about somebody who has definitely been behind the wheel of a lot of cars. Not only has he driven a lot of cars that you and I have access to but he's also been behind the wheel of some machines that make well over 1000 hp and are built to absolutely attack whatever track or racing surface it is that is at hand. Maybe it's his RTR drifting machine or perhaps a rallycross car… You get the idea. Therefore, you would imagine that when such a driver who has driven some of the most insane vehicles that one can fathom gets behind the wheel of a car and says that it's one of his favorites, maybe it's a car that you should keep an eye out for.
This time, we ride along with Vaughn as he takes us through the process of being able to customize his very own Ford GT. From start to finish, it would appear as if the professional driver really has his fingerprints on just about every part of this process and therefore, when he gets down to actually driving the car, it seems a little bit more special than just picking the machine off of the lot. In fact, we think that this might even be one of his favorites.
If you follow along with the video below, you'll be able to see the parts of the very personal process that have Gittin Jr. picking out exactly the way that he wants his GT and even showcases a little bit of wheeltime as he gets his initial impressions on one of the cars that has really done a great job of taking the automotive community by storm. This certainly isn't one that you're going to want to miss.
Vaughn Gittin Jr. Takes The W At Formula Drift Irwindale


Call this my shot of shame, taken on the way home from my dentist's office. Is it my fault the Dairy Queen is across the street?
Roma of Roma's Space. Roma will have her presentation online tomorrow, Wednesday, July 25.
Simona of Briciole is currently welcoming your photographs for BWW Week #43 which will be published on Wednesday, August 1.
Details on participation and a list of upcoming hosts can be found here.
N.B. - If you are having problems resizing your photos for maximum clarity, do be sure to send hosts image files of 300 dpi which are larger than the host's dimension requirement rather than 72 dpi. While a large image can be sized down to 72 dpi for uncompromised quality online, the reverse is not true. Enlarging a 72 dpi file generally results in pixelation and/or blur that can be quite noticeable. If you have any questions about photo resolution, I am happy for you to contact me at thewellseasonedcook AT yahoo DOT come to help you out.
Easier to prepare than it looks, this Middle Eastern cold plate of compressed couscous decorated with fava beans is a festive presentation for warm-weather eating. Drizzled with a tangy and slippery drizzle of tahini oil, lemon juice, and garlic, its flavors collide refreshingly on the tongue, surprizingly without being overly cluttered. Although samplings of smoky, mashed eggplant add another traditional taste, it is not essential to the recipe. Its absence will not be noticed, but its presence will be noticed more with the elusive charm that only charcoal can impart to a dish. The meaty, dark maroon fava bean is the best variety for this recipe since its robust color and texture complement the large pearl couscous for a stylish meal.
Divide and press couscous into four 1-cup capacity ramekins. Cover each with foil or plastic wrap. Put in refrigerator to set for at least an hour. Meantime, prepare dressing by whisking all wet ingredients together in a small bowl, taking care to smooth out any tahini lumps. Stir in garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper. Invert each ramekin onto a salad plate, tapping to release couscous timbales. Don't worry if they are not perfect looking; it makes for a more casual, tumbled look. Divide fava beans among plates, arranging them on top and around timbale. Spoon 2 tablespoons dressing on and over salad. Dollop small spoonfuls of eggplant on each plate. Garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.
This recipe is for Lisa of Lisa's Kitchen, co-creator and host (with Jac of Tinned Tomatoes) of No Croutons Required, the monthly vegetarian salad and soup event, this month featuring dishes Suited for Summer. Lisa's round-up will be online shortly.
I have also prepared this for Simona of Briciole, hosting My Legume Love Affair # 49. Simona will be welcoming your legume-centric recipes through the end of July.
Do stop by both these lovely ladies' blogs for wonderful ideas to try in your own kitchen.
This is my contribution to Black and White Wednesday - A Culinary Gallery - Week #41, being presented tomorrow by host Lynne of Cafe Lynnylu. Lynne is accepting latecomers until midnight, Wednesday, July 18, New York time. I thank Lynne and all of you who keep this unique event sparkling with creativity and talent.
Roma of Roma's Space is hosting Week #42. You can find the list of upcoming hosts and event details here should you like to participate. Your fine photos are always welcome, and there are weeks open for future hosts. Please drop me a line at thewellseasonedcook AT yahoo DOT com if you would like to be assigned a week.
One of New Jersey's most famous retro, roadside eateries, The Tick-Tock Diner, is my contribution to Black and White Wednesday #40, hosted by Anusha of Tomato Blues. Anu is running late in posting her gallery, but has assured me it will be online tomorrow.
Thanks to everyone for their participation.
The very talented Lynne of Cafe Lynnylu is currently hosting BWW Week #41. Please see the host line-up for all the details you need to join in.
Welcome to Black and White Wednesday Week #39. As today's host, I am very happy to present twenty-two delightful photographs representing just how diverse and expansive our food lives are, ever more curious when enjoyed in black and white.
Many thanks to everyone who has participated. I have enjoyed viewing your talented work and trust that as you scroll down the gallery, you will take pleasure in it, too.
Anusha of Tomato Blues currently is hosting Week #40. I will be adding several more names and dates to the host line-up later tonight.
Ben - What's Cooking, Mexico?
My contribution to Black and White Wednesday - A Culinary Gallery - Week #39, which is being presented here tomorrow, July 4. I will be accepting latecomers until 11:59 p.m. New York time today. If you prefer, you can send your work to Anusha of Tomato Blues (details here), who will be hosting next week's gallery.
Thanks to those who have already sent me your fine images.
See you tomorrow at the gallery!


Waitrose St Ives is a store forming a part of Waitrose chain. It is open on: Monday 07:30 - 21:00, Tuesday 07:30 - 21:00, Wednesday 07:30 - 21:00, Thursday 07:30 - 21:00, Friday 07:30 - 21:00. At weekends its opening hours are: on Saturday 07:30 - 20:00, on Sunday 10:00 - 16:00. This shop's address is: Station Road, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 5BW. To contact the customer service directly please call the number 01480 492949. Waitrose St Ives is visited by many people inhabiting nearby towns like Holywell, Needingworth.


(AJC) Joe Beasley, the southern regional director of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, on Tuesday called on Atlantans to oust Mayor Kasim Reed from office because of what he calls the mayor's overreaction in his standoff with protesters occupying Woodruff Park.
Reed announced he would revoke an executive order that has allowed them to stay in the park more than two weeks, and protesters held a news conference Monday night to take on Reed and Atlanta Police Chief George Turner.
"I'm just really appalled to see this massive police presence, so we're calling on the people of Atlanta to recall Mayor Reed for malfeasance in office because he is abusing the taxpayers' money by having this massive show of force when it's not needed," Beasley said Tuesday.
Beasley said he does not believe that the mayor's plan to have members of the clergy talk with the protesters will bring an end to the occupation of the park.
"We have to let the mayor know he didn't get into office by himself," Former City Councilman Derrick Boazman said. He added, "(We have) a black police chief who sounds like Bull Connor." Connor was the public safety commissioner in Birmingham during the civil rights movement.
Atlanta police recruits, dressed in white T-shirts and blue pants, began erecting barricades around the park Monday afternoon after Reed said he would at some point void his order allowing the protesters to remain in the park until Nov. 7. Reed did not give a time when the order would be revoked. He did say, though, that it would be at his choosing and that the city's Police and Fire departments would be ready to clear the downtown park at his command.


Every year the group I volunteer for takes a trip to Lake Powell. "Arizona Camp Sunrise" sponsored by the American Cancer Society is a camp for children who have or have had cancer and also their siblings too. Check out their web site for more info. This is the second trip to Powell since geocaching started so I decided Lake Powell needed another cache.
Since we camped in a different location than we usually do, I decided to put out another cache so geocachers could see more of Lake Powell. Our normal camping sight near the Labryinth Canyon cache was no good this year since the water was much lower than last year, so we went to another spot that we used many years ago.
The area is up in an nice canyon of Powell... Gunsight Bay... Has a very cool view of Gunsight Butte.
Some of the kids from camp and I went out and hid this cache near the back of a vary large cove. It should be up high enough in case the water comes back up or if it rains it wont go dissapearing into the lake. The cache is larger ammo can chock full of goodies worth the hunt. Its about half full of items so there is plenty of space to exchange items. The cache is hidden under pile of rocks that which we made to look pretty natural so it is hopfully not stumbled across to easy. Please re-hide it as good after you are finished.
Have fun!!! Make sure you visit the Labryinth Canyon cache while your out there too.


Sorry ! There are no listings matching your search.
INFINITI Employment Solutions is a full service employment firm established in 1999. Without making you feel like we've discovered the cure for insomnia...here's a brief overview of our firm.
© 2018 INFINITI Employment Solutions. All rights reserved.