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Militant Islam Monitor > Satire > UK gov to work with Islamists on mosque citizenship curriculum "Preventing Violent Extremism: Next Steps For Communities"
UK gov to work with Islamists on mosque citizenship curriculum "Preventing Violent Extremism: Next Steps For Communities"
MIM: According to the BBC Islamist Tariq Ramadan who was denied entry to the United States due to terrorism ties is among the 20 'academics and theologians' who are going to be on the board of this endeavor.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/preventingviolentextremismnext
Preventing Violent Extremism: Next Steps for Communities PDF, 1134 kb , 52 pages
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/898004
Blears - preventing violent extremism: next steps for communities
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears today announced a package of measures responding to calls from Muslim communities to support the promotion of citizenship and shared values and to stop Islamic theology being abused by those who seek to divide communities.
She said that a clear understanding of faith, open debate and discussion are key to building communities which are resilient to violent extremism.
The Government has always been clear that communities must be at the centre of the response to violent extremism. Over the last year we have been working with communities and local authorities in developing their capacity to confront violent extremism effectively, marginalise and undermine those actively peddling these views and support vulnerable young people.
Today's announcement builds on this significant progress. A new report Preventing Violent Extremism: Next Steps for Communities builds on the cross-government strategy published in June and outlines an ambitious new phase in our work with communities. This includes supporting increased take-up of citizenship teaching in mosque schools, strengthening theological understanding and a renewed focus on the importance of local council and community leadership. The report outlines plans to:
Establish a new independent board of academic and theological experts
Muslim stakeholders have consistently expressed concerns about Islamic beliefs being misused by those seeking to promote extremism or reinforce certain cultural practices. They are equally clear that violence has no place in Islam and that Islamic theology can play a vital part in countering such teachings.
The Government has responded by working with Muslim communities to facilitate the establishment of an independent theological board who will be able to advise on these issues and share their findings with the wider Muslim community. Cambridge University will be commissioned to establish a board of around 20 leading Muslim scholars and community representatives.
The board will examine issues relating to Islam in a modern context and how that fits with being a citizen in the UK. The membership of the board will reflect the diversity if Islam and Muslim communities in the UK. Seminars will be held over the coming months to discuss a broad range of issues including citizenship, identity and gender.
The content of these discussions, research findings and reports will be disseminated to a wider audience, helping to strengthen young people's understanding of their faith.
Citizenship teaching in mosque schools
A significant number of young Muslim people attend mosque schools regularly to receive traditional Qur'anic teaching. Building on pioneering work within Muslim communities, the Government has supported an independent educational organisation - the Schools Development and Support Agency - to work with scholars, educational experts and mosque school teachers to develop new citizenship materials and training packages for mosque schools.
These resources will be taught alongside or as part of traditional lessons with the focus on demonstrating to young British Muslims that their faith is compatible with shared values and with being a British citizen; undermining the violent extremists' argument that there is a fundamental conflict between the West and Islam, and being British and Muslim.
The new materials will be piloted in mosque schools in East London, West London, Leicester, Birmingham, Oldham/Rochdale, Bradford/Kirklees. Mosque teachers will be trained in using the new materials over the summer ready for use in October.
A new group of community leaders to advise on local responses to tackling extremism
Local Authorities have a central role in supporting communities and now see preventing extremism as a key part of their business. Many areas have fully grasped this agenda and are working closely with partners and their communities to develop innovative responses to the challenges it poses. For other authorities it remains a newer priority, we need to see more action from them and we will provide the support, training and guidance they require to do that.
We want to hear first hand what is happening on the PREVENT agenda in local areas, to be kept informed about the work underway, understand where we Government can provide more support and ensure that local authorities are clear about our priorities and expectations.
We will establish a Local Delivery Advisory Group comprising council leaders, chief executives, education advisers, community cohesion advisors and housing association representatives to ensure we continue to work closely on responding to the challenge.
Hazel Blears said:
"We have made significant progress working with communities to build an alliance against violent extremists.
"We have a responsibility to ensure that our young people are equipped with the skills they need to stand up to violent extremists and help them understand how their faith is compatible with wider shared values.
"It is not for Government to dictate on matters of faith or religious teaching. But Muslim communities themselves have told us that stronger leadership is needed on what are often controversial issues.
"There are still some local authorities who know there is a problem in their local area but fight shy of it. This kind of challenge won't go away if we stick our head in the sand. It is important for civic representatives to take responsibility, starting with Chief Executive Officers and Leaders."
Today's report underlines the achievements that have been made but also outlines the further steps we must now take.
Over the last 15 months the Government have been taking forward a range of work to prevent violent extremism including:
The roll out of the £6m Preventing Extremism Pathfinder Fund which has supported over 200 grass-roots projects in over 70 priority areas. We are boosting that funding to enable local partnerships to step up this work and achieve greater impact - reaching £18m by 2010-11.
The development of a Faith Community Development qualification which will provide faith leaders with the skills and capabilities to lead their communities;
The roll-out of roadshows which enable leading scholars who emphasise that there is more that unites than divides us, taking on directly the extremists' narrative.
The establishment of the Young Muslims Advisory Group and the Muslim Womens Advisory Group, which will give these people a stronger voice and the capacity to shape the future of their communities.
Last summer we announced that £70m would be available for community-led work to tackle violent extremism. To support this work we have issued strengthened guidance to councils making clear they should only award funding to those groups who are actively taking a stand against violent extremism and promoting shared values such as tolerance and respect for the rule of law.
Since this announcement the total funding available has increased to over £80m is available over the next three years. The additional investment will be retained centrally and support programmes centred on:
Strengthening community leadership - particularly focusing on supporting those, including young people, who have links with some of the hardest to reach individuals. A key focus will be Empowering Muslim women and young people to play a more active leadership role and to encourage the emergence of new leaders from within communities including through a wide range of mentoring opportunities.
Supporting local responses - we will step up our work to support and build the capacity of local partnerships including local authorities, police, community groups ensuring that they are equipped to develop responses to specific challenges in their own areas.
Improve faith understanding and put long term measures in place to support faith leaders and institutions including the establishment of a theology board and support an Independent Review of the training of Muslim faith leaders.
This summer Hazel Blears will visit Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. The trip is intended to help deepen the Government's understanding of the strong links - particularly in faith issues - between those countries and their diaspora communities here in the UK.
The Communities Secretary will meet with Government Ministers in each country and discuss a wide range of issues including sharing experience of developing community led responses to tackling extremism alongside security responses. She will meet with those involved in religious training, community empowerment and cohesion issues, and women's and youth groups.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families is jointly supporting the programme to develop citizenship teaching in mosque schools as well as wider work to promote the role of education in building more cohesive and resilient communities.
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls said:
"Extremists of every persuasion tend to paint the world as black and white, accentuating division and difference, and exploiting fears based on ignorance or prejudice. Education can be a powerful tool in tackling this. Giving young people the opportunity to learn about different cultures and faiths, and - crucially - to gain an understanding of the values we share, will also help to build mutual respect and tolerance from an early age and create an environment where extremism cannot flourish."
1. The document Preventing Violent Extremism: Next Steps for Communities can be viewed at: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/preventingviolentextremismnext.
2. The Citizenship materials have been developed by Islam and Citizenship Education (ICE). Further details can be found at www.theiceproject.co.uk (external link).
Visit our newsroom contacts page for media enquiry contact details
MIM: The homepage of the ICE project
O mankind! Indeed, we created you from a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Truly, the best of you in the sight of God are the ones who are the most righteous. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all things. (Qur'an 49:13)
O' believers, Be steadfast in your devotion to God, bearing witness to the truth in all equity; and never let hatred of any-one lead you into the sin of deviating from justice. Be just: this is closest to being pious, and remain conscious of God: truly, God is aware of all that you do. (Qur'an 5:8) http://www.theiceproject.co.uk/
The "Preventing Violent Extremism" initiative is also working with the UK Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office as well as an Islamist group called the Radical Middle Way.
RMW is funded primarily by a grant from the UK Government's Global Opportunities Fund and DCLG. Additional support has come from a wide range of sponsors that in the past has included organisations like Islamic Relief."
http://www.radicalmiddleway.co.uk/about_us.php
The Radical Middle Way
"And thus have We willed you to be a community of the middle way, so that you might bear witness to the truth before all humankind." Qur'an, Surah al-Baqarah, verse 143
The Radical Middle Way (RMW) is a revolutionary grassroots initiative aimed at articulating a relevant mainstream understanding of Islam that is dynamic, proactive and relevant to young British Muslims.
Through public lectures, seminars, workshops and cultural programs, we engage with real issues through legitimate orthodox scholarship. The RMW is about erasing the schism between public and private discourse over issues affecting Islam and Muslims in the modern world – we believe in open debate and meaningful discussion.
The Radical Middle Way is based on clear principles:
a rejection of all forms of terrorism;
a commitment to the revival of mercy, public service and a concern for social justice as emblematic Islamic duties;
a commitment to the emergence of a distinct British Muslim identity that encourages the active involvement of British Muslims in social, public and economic life of Britain; and
inspiring young people to become active agents for peace and positive change in their local communities
These themes are grounded in Islamic scholarship, tradition and civilisation. The project is committed to creating spaces where young Muslims can engage with these ideas in a meaningful, open and creative way.
Bringing the Best – Together
Since 2005, RMW has brought thousands of young people into contact with leading scholars of Islam from all over the world. Our visiting scholars and speakers are figures who command wide respect and authority, including Shaykh Abdullah bin Bayyah, Shaykh Ali Gomaa, Habib Ali al Jifri, Reis-ul-Ulema Mustafa Ceric, Ustadh Amr Khaled, Imam Suhaib Webb, Dr Tariq Ramadan, Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, Dr Jamal Badawi, Imam Ziaullah Khan, Murad Hoffman, Shaykh Hassan Le-Gai Eaton, Shaykha Halima Krausen, Yusuf Islam, Shaykh Walead Mossad, Mufti of Rwanda Saleh Habimana and Na'eem Jeenah. All are outstanding leaders and visionaries.
"Radical Middle Way events have given frontline workers like me the opportunity to engage with very senior Muslim scholars. Their advice has strengthened my understanding of the dilemmas we face as Muslims in the West. As a result, I am better able to serve the young men in my local community who are crying out for leadership and guidance." – Participant
"It's nice to hear people speak forcefully and unapologetically about the middle-way and really brings home the meaning of what that exactly is. Too often the mainstream majority is too quiet. It struck the heart beautifully." - Participant
Fiercely Independent
RMW is an inclusive intellectual and theological movement determined to present the message of the faith in a manner that lacks ambiguity, is exciting and bold: no topic is taboo, dissention is considered a virtue and scholarship is highly respected. We have a rigorously negotiated "terms of reference" with our funders that guarantees the independence of participating scholars and ensures that all of our activities are undertaken in the best interests of Muslim communities. Visiting scholars are given no prior script and are free to both choose and decide on the nature and content of their presentations. RMW has hosted lectures, seminars and debates which have addressed significant issues of the day including foreign policy, faith and citizenship and the role of religion in the modern world. RMW is funded primarily by a grant from the UK Government's Global Opportunities Fund and DCLG. Additional support has come from a wide range of sponsors that in the past has included organisations like Islamic Relief.
A Unique Partnership. Since its launch in 2005, RMW has worked with dozens of organisations and groups across the UK. Key partners and supporters have included the Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS), Young Muslims Organisation (YMO), Q-News and Mahabba Unlimited. Our doors are open and we are always expanding our network.
http://www.radicalmiddleway.co.uk/partners_supporters.php
Alhambra Productions
Amal Press
Andalus Project
An-Nisa Society (Wembley)
British Muslim Forum
City Circle
Christian Muslim Forum
Federation of Student Islamic Societies
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Guidance Media
Islamic Establishment
Islamic Relief
Islamic Good Direct
London Muslim Centre
Madni Mosque, Bradford
Mile End Community Project
Nawawi Foundation
Shukr Clothing
Southwark Council
Ummah Foods
Young Muslims UK
Zaytuna Institute
http://www.radicalmiddleway.co.uk/scholars.php
Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad
is one Islam's leading thinkers today. He graduated from Cambridge University with a double-first in Arabic in 1983...
Shaykh Abdallah Adhami
began his studies of shari'ah at the age of eight, and heard his first scholarly narrative in 1975. He earned scholarly licenses from many...
Shaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah
is one Islam's greatest living jurist. An extremely well-known and well-respected scholar, he is considered a "scholars' scholar" since many of...
Imam Abdur Rahman Helbawy
is a member of the IIDR Board of Directors. Preliminary study of Islam and Islamic Sciences was with his father Dr Kamal el-Helbawy...
Shaykh Ali Gomaa
is the Grand Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt - the second highest religious position in the country, after the position of Shaykh al-Azhar...
Habib 'Ali Zain Al Abideen Al Jifri
received a classical Islamic education from the illustrious scholars of Hadramauwt, embodying a methodology which crystallizes the middle way...
Ustadh Amr Khaled
is a relatively young Muslim Egyptian preacher and Islamic motivational speaker. He began preaching in mosques at a young age...
Catherine Heseltine
has been Muslim for 9 years, active in the Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPAC UK) for the last 5, currently as National Campaigns Manager...
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
was born in Karachi, Pakistan and raised in Toronto, Canada. He entered the University of Toronto with a full scholarship and completed his...
Dr Fatima Zohra
has worked with various community groups, and was a trustee of the Muslim Women Helpline. She is keen to encourage practicing Muslim women...
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf
founded Zaytuna Institute which has established an international reputation for presenting a classical picture of Islam in the West...
Shaykha Halima Krausen
was born in Aachen, Germany into a Catholic/Protestant family. She became Muslim in her early teens, eventually learning Arabic...
Shaykh Hasan Le Gai Eaton
The works of Shaykh Hasan le Gai Eaton have been decribed as sublime, poetic and masterful. His books have transformed lives...
Humera Khan
is a founder member of An-Nisa Society, an organisation managed by women working for the welfare of Muslim families...
Shaykh Ibrahim Osi-Efa
was born and raised in Liverpool, England. He was blessed with the opportunity to study several classical disciplines...
Khola Hasan
is a writer and popular public speaker on Islam, with special emphasis on women's issues and human rights...
Al-Habib Kazim Ja'far Muhammad al-Saqqaf
was born in Tarim, Hadramaut. He was taught the Qur'an and other Islamic disciplines by his eminent teachers at the famous school of...
Dr. Jamal Badawi
is a member of the Islamic Juridical Council of North America. He has served as a volunteer imam in Halifax, Canada since 1970...
is host of TV show, "Stairway to Paradise", airs worldwide on ART International and Iqraa. His recent appearances at the 2005 FOSIS conference ...
Dr. Murad Hoffman
was Germany's ambassador to Algeria and Morocco. He embraced Islam in 1980. His first book on Islam was Diary of a German Muslim...
Mufti Mustafa Ceric
is serving his second term as Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is considered as one of the most powerful scholarly voices...
Rami Nashashibi
is the Executive Director of IMAN (Inner City Muslim Action Network) in Chicago...
Imam Suhaib Webb
was born and raised in the State of Oklahoma, USA. During his teens he became a Hip Hop DJ and made many...
Professor Tariq Ramadan
holds an MA in Philosophy and French literature and PhD in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the University of Geneva. In Cairo...
Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah
is an American Muslim, born in 1948 to a Protestant family in Columbus, Nebraska. He is scholar-in-residence of the Nawawi Foundation...
Shaykh Walead Mohammed
was born in New York City in 1972 and grew up there and later in central New Jersey. Upon completion of high school he entered Rutgers...
Imam Ziaullah Khan
is the Director of the Centre For Islamic Development in Halifax, Canada, the Friday Prayer leader for the Muslim Student's Association...
MIM: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office website description of the Radical Middle Way.
Muslim grassroots in the UK
The Radical Middle Way (RMW) is a Muslim grassroots movement dedicated to making mainstream Islam relevant to young British Muslims.
Its main aim is articulating an understanding of Islam that is dynamic, proactive and relevant.
Managed by young Muslims
Started in 2005, it is funded mainly by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the UK's Department for Communities and Local Government. The project is managed by young British Muslims themselves, in partnership with various Islamic organisations.
The funding is vital to their efforts but RMW is keen to point out that "We have a rigorously negotiated 'terms of reference' with our funders that guarantees the independence of participating scholars".
Its message to supporters also points out that this independence ensures "that all of our activities are undertaken in the best interests of Muslim communities."
Bringing together Muslim scholars
It operates in the UK and for the past three years RMW has been bringing together some of the leading authoritative and independent Muslim scholars from across the world to talk to young British Muslims.
One of the most important areas they discuss is what it means to be young, British and Muslim. It tries to combat ignorance by arguing for the 'middle way' amongst the mainstream Muslim community.
RMW says that it is critical is to ensure that effective debate is lead by qualified scholars. It is also about challenging extremist views and providing alternatives, and changing the minds of young Muslims seduced by the rhetoric of extremism and radicalisation.
Not only do they get their messages out via their website but they have embraced the latest technology like MP3s, podcasts, videos, Youtube etc.
Distinguished scholar
One of their distinguished scholars, Shayk Abdallah Bin Bayyan has used the RMW website to answer difficult questions from young visitors ranging from education, sharia law, forgiveness and music and mainstream Muslim thought.
RMW has held nearly 15 major tours so far, inviting scholars to address their young Muslim audiences – 60,000 in all and female as well as male.
The scholars come from all over the world, from the US to Egypt and the Yemen, from Canada to Bosnia and Germany.
This year they are running a series of monthly roadshows with leading scholars, thinkers and Muslim personalities who would engage in debates, seminars, discussions and face-to-face dialogue with our target audience.
They plan walkabouts, 'kebab shop' discussions and roundtables with voluntary sector organisations - youth and women's groups being a priority.
Since its launch in 2005, RMW has worked with dozens of organisations and groups across the UK. Their key partners and supporters include the Federation of Student Islamic Societies, the Young Muslims Organisation, Q-News, Britain's leading Muslim magazine and Mahabba Unlimited which organises cultural, intellectual, spiritual and social events and programmes.
See our preventing and resolving conflict pages for more about FCO policy. http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/fco-in-action/casestudies/young-muslims-uk


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Knights, Murder, Zombies…It's an EVIL Smorgasbord! "Erotic Nights of the Blind Dead" reviewed!
Posted by The Evil Blogger on January 10, 2020
Buitrago, Spain in 1310, Templar priests set forth on a mission, wandering the countryside to root out evil witches for torture, flogging, and eradication, but what the priests kept secret from public eye is that the village women they were apprehending were actually innocent and used as a means for sacrifice. The sadistic, malevolent priests drank the blood of their innocent victims for eternal life. Fed up with the Templar priests authority, the village men tracked them down to a gruesome end as the vowed in the throes of death to return for revenge. Buitrago, Spain in 1976, the Templar Priest, decomposed to the bone inside their tattered and dirty ceremonial robes, arise from their shallow graves with a hunger for vengeance and feed upon the flesh and blood of unsuspecting outside partygoers under the moonlight night.
Baring a thin shred of anything approximating a resemblance to Joe D'Amato's "Erotic Night of the Living Dead" and Amando de Ossorio's "Tombs of the Blind Dead" from the 1970's to early 1980's is Vick Campbell's "The Erotic Nights of the Blind Dead. Also known as "Graveyard of the Dead" or, in it's original language, "El Retorno de los Templarios," is the 2007 Spanish produced throwback to the gothic and erotic ghoulish horror genre that once widely flourished through Europe and parts of South America and has, more or less, been nearly forgotten admirably for decades. "Erotic Nights of the Blind Dead" marks Campbell's feature and script debut that blends the gothic and the erotic for an entry into the soles (or souls, perhaps?) of considerable shoes to fill and the consensus is Campell's a size 10 trying to fill out into a size 18 wide but leaving too much wiggle room for missteps.
Campbell, also known Vick Gomez, commissions mostly a Spanish cast of the unknown variety, starting off with Eloise McNought in her breakout performance as the troubled, young Miranda who has been sexually abused by her father and has, somehow, misplaced her husband. Miranda's backstory has an equal amount of ambiguity as the rest of the cast with bits of family melodrama to piece together her obviously distraught mental state. McNought's a budget actress at best as she sometimes looks right at the camera in the midst of intense scenes and Campbell has a knack for upskirt scenes with McNought which feels creepy and impertinent to the story. Miranda's the searched figure for her brother Jorge, Albert Gammond. Gammond, who had a role in Campbell's short "Violencia gore," has less backstory as the estranged son of the family and when he arrives to 1976 Buitrago, out of nowhere, to search for his sister, the siblings tango the enigmatic dance of who, what, when, why, and how? Gammond's few dialogue moments are eaten up by Jorge trying to convince a distressed Miranda he's her brother and reminding them of the childhood songs they sang as kids. Thais Buforn, Rick Gomans, Anarka de Ossorio, Dani Moreno, Anthony Gummer, Julian Santos, and Jose Teruel co-star.
"Erotic Nights of the Blind Dead" flatters being as an economic version of an Amando de Ossorio "Blind Dead" film, which centers around the vile and wretched depravities of the ghastly Templar Knights ethos and while Campbell captures the essence of the Knights and their menacing macabre presence of soiled garbs and persistence, the attention to the rest of a, literally, non-story is hastily slapped together or stuffed with cinched time wasters. The first half hour involves nothing more than Templar Priests roaming the countryside, flogging with an endless crack of a whip those who they deem dissident. The Knights' whip must be malfunctioning as it could not rip flesh or break the souls of man until well into the lashing that mercifully warrants an edit for some bloody, but still steadfast firm, scarring and sheered rags. I felt the floggers arm and shoulder pain with such extensive beatings. Next, the majority of the second act consists of Jorge pleading with his sister Miranda to listen to him and convince her about his brotherly love and bring her back home. At this point, flashbacks of her father's lust for her are introduced to backstory Miranda's despair; the smoking gun catalyst finally rears a father-daughter rape-incest ugly head in act three when the Templar Knights have resurrected for blood thirsty revenge and gives some context of Miranda's blabbering incoherency in the middle of the dry Buitrago landscape; yet, Miranda's daddy issues hardly explain why the Templar Knights have returned at this point in time and just want the undead Knights tend to accomplish with their revenge at hand. In fact, there's no explanation given at all…they just return and rampage. Campbell extends upon the risible execution of an Amando de Ossorio film by inverting scenes that are the same shot just in reverse, utilizing a single ambient track over and over again on multiple scenes, and countering whatever shred of terror from the Knights with an easy way out of unexplained reasoning for their befuddling demise. Almost as if Campbell didn't know how to end his film and gave up with a snap of his fingers. Who does he think he is, Thanos!?
"Erotic Nights of the Blind Dead" lands DVD home video distribution from MVDVisul and Wild Eye Releasing on their Raw and Extreme banner. More raw, then extreme, Vick Campbell's gleaming debut homage offers no eroticism either on the region free, 70 mintue runtime title, but, rather, lingers over incest and whipped-bloodied breasts of slim illicit pickings and suggests the title was more a ploy against "Graveyard of the Dead" to gain buys. The picture is presented in a widescreen format, but suffers from horrible color banding and severe compression issues that nearly make this title indiscernible like an aged or scores of duplication VHS transfer. The Spanish language stereo track also has flaws with speckled quality and coarse feedback at times due to bad mic placement. As aforementioned with the repetitive ambient and score tracks, range and depth do not reside with these versions of the Templar Knights that are probably inundated in a violent anguish of the same loop of rattling chains and heavy breathing. To add salt to the audio wound, the English subtitles are riddled errors such as Obbey instead of Obey or Swete instead of Sweetie. Special features include a behind-the scenes segment of ho-hum production takes, deleted scene, and Wild Eye trailers. One thing I think might be interesting is actress and executive producer Anarka de Ossorio who, I can't confirm, might have some relation to Amando de Ossorio; the idea would be neat if his legacy still lives on through his kin. A brooding atmosphere from beginning to end, "Erotic Nights of the Blind Dead" has little else to offer under a guise to link itself to legendary Euro-trash gold, but filmmaker Vick Campbell detrimental diegesis could tarnish the very jeweled films in which he attempts to honor.
Purchase Erotic Nights of the Blind Dead on DVD!
Leave a comment Posted in Death, Evil Reviews, Remakes / Re-envisions, Sequels, Trailers, Uncategorized, zombies Tagged 2007, Albert Gammond, Amando de Ossorio, Anarka de Ossorio, Anthony Gummer, Buitrago, Dani Moreno, El Retorno de los Templarios Graveyeard of the Dead, Eloise McNought, Eloise McNought breasts, Erotic Nights of the Blind Dead, Erotic Nights of the Living Dead, Gothic, incest, Joe D'Amato, Jose Teruel, Julian Santos, MVDVisual, Rick Gomans, spain, spanish, Templar Knights, Thais Buforn, Thanos, Tombs of the Blind Dead, undead, Vick Campbell, Vick Gomez, Wild Eye, Wild Eye Raw and Extreme, zombies
Half-Assed Evil Exorcists! "John Dies at the End" Book Review
Posted by The Evil Blogger on September 22, 2014
Jason Pargin, under the pseudonym name David wong, is a major success stories that inspire all of us hopeful writers. Pargin, a low on the totem poll data entry administrator, is the brains behind the insanely clever, notoriously witty, and devilishly deranged novel "John Dies at the End." Without even an English degree to his name, Pargin wrote short stories that turned into a full fledged novel solely by word of mouth from total strangers. Eventually Pargin was contacted by Phantasm director Don Coscarelli and as soon as Pargin blinked, a movie was adapted from his story and the rest is hisory.
"John Dies at the End" revolves around David Wong, a video store clerk whose life isn't exactly that excited, but when he discovers the "soy sauce" from a homeless Rastafarian Wong and his friend John are sucked into the massive plans of an alternative reality species that has their sights on enslaving humanity in the name of their leader "Korrok." Only Wong and John can see the truth because of the "soy sauce" and while others live their daily lives, Wong and John prepare for battle the only way they know how – with boom boxes, flame thrower water guns, and Molly the bomb eating dog.
Pargin's novel will be a treat that you'll never ever in your life read something similar like it again. Somehow able to paint a perfect picture with his colorful use of dictionary, Pargin certainly knows how to make silly scary and fun. The pages just kept turning as if I was hooked on the "soy sauce" and was warped, like a "Star Trek" hyper drive, into an other world universe. The randomness of scenes with Wong's first person version of events can only be described as batshit nuts with a hint of nihilism. Once you add his friend John into the mix, it's a whole different story as John is a colorful character with classically hilarious one liners and a mind like a 13 year old boy ready to take on the world.
I'm one those people who watched the Don Coscarelli movie first before reading the book and I did this before with Stephen King's novel The Mist and so far, I'm not disappointed with my ass-backwards way of doing things. Of course, the novel will always have more than a movie adaptation, but damn did Coscarelli bring Wong's world to life and light and I do believe that the writings of Pargin are so vivid and clear that this made Coscarelli's job easy.
"John Dies at the End" is a must read. It isn't the latest best seller as the book's been out since 2007, but this horror comedy will make you laugh and thrill you into thinking about the possibilities of our universe.
Leave a comment Posted in Book Review, Demonology, Evil Reviews Tagged 2007, alternate reality, Alternate Universe, book review, David Wong, Don Coscarelli, Evil Review, horror, horror comedy, Jason Pargin, John Dies at the End, novel, Penis, rastafarian, Review, Reviews, Soy Sauce, star trek, stephen king, the mist

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Q: Cprogram to print an English ruler In this i have been tasked to Write a C program to draw an English Ruler whose lengths as well as orientation(horizontal/vertical) is given by the user.
I wrote a program that prints the ruler vertically, and i wanted to write another program that prints it horizontally, then i join the two programs using if functions.
but the program for printing the ruler horizontally is not coming out well. I need some help.
This is the program that prints the ruler vertically.
#include<stdio.h>
int main(){
  int q,num,x;
  int y,p,n;
  printf("Enter height of central dashes\n");
  scanf("%d",&n);
  printf("Enter number of inches\n");
  scanf("%d",&num);
  for(x=0;x<num;x++)
  {
    for(q=0;q<n;q++)
    {
      printf("-");
    }
    printf("%d\n",x);
    for(p=0;p<n-3;p++)
    {
      printf("-");
    }
    printf("\n");
    for(p=0;p<n-2;p++)
    {
      printf("-");
    }
    printf("\n");
    for(p=0;p<n-3;p++)
    {
      printf("-");
    }
    printf("\n");
    for(p=0;p<n-1;p++)
    {
      printf("-");
    }
    printf("\n");
    for(p=0;p<n-3;p++)
    {
      printf("-");
    }
    printf("\n");
    for(p=0;p<n-2;p++)
    {
      printf("-");
    }
    printf("\n");
    for(p=0;p<n-3;p++)
    {
      printf("-");
    }
    printf("\n");
  }
  for(y=0;y<n;y++)
  {
    printf("-");
  }
  printf("%d",x);
  printf("\n");
  return 0;
}

I need some ideas on how i can print this ruler horizontally.
Probably using loops.
This is the program that i wrote to print out the ruler horizontally. But it can only print for the interval of 1 inch.Sorry about the indentation, couldnt edit it
#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int q,num,x;
int y,p,n=9;
printf("Enter number of inches\n");
scanf("%d",&num);
for(x=1;x<=num;x++)
{
for(q=1;q<=n-8;q++)
{
printf(" | ");
}
for(q=2;q<=n-1;q++)
{
printf("   ");
}
for(q=9;q<=n-0;q++)
{
printf(" | ");
}
printf("\n");
for(q=1;q<=n-8;q++)
{
printf(" | ");
}
for(q=2;q<=n-5;q++)
{
printf("   ");
}
for(q=5;q<=5;q++)
{
printf(" | ");
}
for(q=6;q<=n-1;q++)
{
printf("   ");
}
for(q=9;q<=n;q++)
{
printf(" | ");
}
printf("\n");
for(q=1;q<=n-8;q++)
{
printf(" | ");
}
for(q=2;q<=n-7;q++)
{
printf("   ");
}
for(q=3;q<=n-6;q++)
{
printf(" | ");
}
for(q=4;q<=n-5;q++)
{
printf("   ");
}
for(q=5;q<=n-4;q++)
{
printf(" | ");
}
for(q=6;q<=n-3;q++)
{
printf("   ");
}
for(q=7;q<=n-2;q++)
{
printf(" | ");
}
for(q=8;q<=n-1;q++)
{
printf("   ");
}
for(q=9;q<=n;q++)
{
printf(" | ");
}
printf("\n");
for(q=1;q<=n;q++)
{
printf(" | ");
}
printf("");
}
return 0;
}

This is the output for horizontal
this is the output for vertical

A: Instead of giving out the whole answer for your homework question, here is a head start. The following program prints a ruler in C using recursion. Try playing with the code to make it fit your task and needs. The code has been taken from a book
Code:
//using recursion to subdivisionside a ruler
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

const int len = 66;
const int divisions = 5;
void subdivisionside(char ar[], int min, int max, int level);

int main()
{
    char ruler[len];
    int i;
    for (int i = 1; i < (len - 2); i++)
        ruler[i] = ' ';
    ruler[len - 1] = '\0';

    int min = 0;
    int max = len - 2;
    ruler[min] = ruler[max] = '|';

    printf("%s\n", ruler);

    for (i = 1; i <= divisions; i++)
    {
        subdivisionside(ruler, min, max, i);
        printf("%s\n", ruler);
        for (int j = 1; j < len - 2; j++)
            ruler[j] = ' ';
    }

    return 0;
}

void subdivisionside(char ar[], int low, int high, int level)
{
    if (level == 0)
        return;
    int mid = (high + low) / 2;
    ar[mid] = '|';
    subdivisionside(ar, low, mid, level - 1);
    subdivisionside(ar, mid, high, level - 1);
}

Current Output:
|                                                               |
|                               |                               |
|               |               |               |               |
|       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

Ref: C++ Recursive function for printing a ruler not working.
Hope this helps and happy coding!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Multiple agencies are providing the services of marketing the products or the services by the use of the internet. Nowadays there is an increase in the number of these agencies and are claiming to be the best in the marketing of products or the services. When choosing the right agency to market, your products can be a process since there has been an increase in the number of those agencies offering those services. The following are those things you should follow when selecting the best digital marketing services.
Ask people who have ever been services for information of that agency that you intend to choose for digital marketing. Ensure you've found the information you are looking for on the websites of those different agencies that you'll choose the right one. Consider also to get their recommendations from those family members or the business friend on the right agency to receive services from. Ensure that you've been directed to the best and ideal agency for digital marketing that will ensure you've marketed your products or your services. Make sure you've paid a visit to the agency offices to determine the services they are providing for digital marketing for your products or the services.
Ensure you've considered the experience of that agency by the number of successful companies or startups that they've assisted in the marketing of the products or services. Go for that agency that can market the products or the services using digital marketing services such as web designing. Determine the experience of that agency that you intend to choose by the number of startups they've helped.
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text:
Beitar battles back to winning ways to ease woes
Beitar climbed up to ninth place and moved seven points clear of the bottom two.
By ALLON SINAI
Published: FEBRUARY 4, 2014 00:08
Beitar Jerusal em midfielder Aviram Bruchian
(photo credit: ASAF KLIGER)
Beitar Jerusalem gave itself some breathing space from the Premier League relegation zone on Monday night, snapping a four-game winless streak with a 1-0 victory over Hapoel Acre at Teddy Stadium.
Beitar climbed up to ninth place and moved seven points clear of the bottom two thanks to Aviram Bruchian's 37th-minute winner from the penalty spot.
The ball brushed ever so slightly against the hand of Acre's Edi Gotlieb, but referee Menashe Mashiah pointed to the spot and Bruchian stepped up to convert the penalty and give Beitar just its second victory from its past 12 matches.
Five of Beitar's starters on Monday joined the team during the January transfer window, including Pablo Brandan and Dusan Matovic, who made their league debuts.
Beitar also completed the signing of Danny Preda from Maccabi Petah Tikva on Monday, with the promising midfielder set to make his debut against Bnei Yehuda on Saturday.
Monday's defeat extended Acre's winless streak to eight matches, with Yuval Naim's team failing to find the back of the net for a third straight game.
Nevertheless, all Naim wanted to speak about after the match was Mashiah's controversial call.
"Beitar doesn't need help from the ref," said Naim, whose team failed to register a single shot on target. "I prepare the team for the game for an entire week and then the referee gives them such a penalty."


FATZER is your go-to reference for all questions related to ropes. Our years of experience and specialization in the manufacture of cableway ropes make for a compelling, industry-specific knowledge base to optimize our support for cableway system manufacturers and rope users alike.We are happy to provide expert help, from the selection of the ideal rope, to a suitable rope transport, to service and maintenance once operation has begun.
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Police forces across the UK are carrying out a nationwide crackdown on hundreds of UK-based hackers who purchased hacking tools from Dark Web marketplace Webstresser to carry out hundreds of thousands of DDoS attacks on websites.
In April last year, Europol, the Dutch Police and the UK's National Crime Agency along with a dozen law enforcement agencies from around the world succeeded in taking down Webstresser.org, the world's biggest Dark Web marketplace that offered Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) services for hire.
Before it was taken down, Webstresser was considered the world's biggest marketplace to hire Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) services and had over 136,000 registered users and 4 million attacks measured by April 2018 and DDoS tools available at the marketplace were used to target critical online services offered by banks, government institutions and police forces, as well as victims in the gaming industry.
Sophisticated DDoS tools were available on Webstresser for hire for as low as EUR 15.00 a month, thereby ensuring that cyber criminals who didn't have enough funds to launch attacks on their own could also rent malicious stressers and booters to fulfill their motives.
According to the National Crime Agency, even though Webstresser ceased to function in April last year, UK police forces are still trying to trace and apprehend home-based hackers who purchased hacking tools from the Dark Web marketplace to launch DDoS attacks on hundreds of websites owned by UK organisations.
"Since November 2018, a number of Webstresser.org users in the UK have found themselves the subject of law enforcement activity. Officers from the NCA's National Cyber Crime Unit, with support from Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs) and Police Scotland, have executed eight warrants and seized more than 60 personal computers, tablets and mobile phones. A number of users also received 'cease and desist' notices. A further 400 users of the service are now being targeted by the NCA and partners," it said.
"The action taken shows that although users think that they can hide behind usernames and crypto currency, these do not provide anonymity. We have already identified further suspects linked to the site, and we will continue to take action.
"Our message is clear. This activity should serve as a warning to those considering launching DDoS attacks. The NCA and our law enforcement partners will identify you, find you and hold you liable for the damage you cause," said Jim Stokley, Deputy Director of the NCA's National Cyber Crime Unit.
According to Europol, while law enforcement authorities in the UK are doing commendable work in going after over 250 users of Webstresser and other DDoS services, authorities the Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Australia, Colombia, Serbia, Switzerland, Norway and the United States have also joined the fight against DDoS attacks.
"While some are focusing their actions against the users of webstresser.org specifically, law enforcement agencies around the world have intensified their activities against the users of DDoS booter and stresser services more generally. To this effect, the FBI seized last December 15 other DDoS-for-hire websites, including the relatively well known Downthem and Quantum Stresser.
"Similarly, the Romanian police has taken measures against the administrators of 2 smaller-scale DDoS platforms and has seized digital evidence, including information about the users. Size does not matter – all levels of users are under the radar of law enforcement, be it a gamer booting out the competition out of a game, or a high-level hacker carrying out DDoS attacks against commercial targets for financial gain," it added.


text:
Home›Golf News›Why Jon Rahm is golf's most exciting talent since Tiger Woods
The Cut Line
Gear Shorts
The Week In Social
Why Jon Rahm is golf's most exciting talent since Tiger Woods
By Michael McEwan — 20 November, 2017
Jon Rahm European Tour PGA Tour
As the Jack Nicklaus Gold Medal was being hung around Dustin Johnson's neck following his major breakthrough at the 2016 US Open, Jon Rahm was standing just a few yards away.
The Spaniard had finished in a tie for 23rd at Oakmont to win the low amateur spoils on his first major start. A week later, he turned pro.
Eighteen months on, he is established as one of the world's top golfers, is a winner on both the PGA Tour and the European Tour and, at the time of going to print, is fourth on the Official World Golf Rankings.
He has, to put it bluntly, come a seriously long way in an obscenely short space of time.
This is an era of hyperbole for hyperbole's sake, a time in which a 'legend' is a guy who stands his round at the 19th hole and in which holing an important putt is classed as 'brave'. And yet there are few words you could use to describe Rahm's ascent to the top of the game that even the most literal and hardened of cynics could take issue with.
It has been meteoric. It has been exceptional. It has been astonishing.
For me, Jon Rahm is the most exciting golf talent to emerge since Tiger Woods. You might think that an extraordinary thing to say considering the competition. There's Sergio Garcia, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson to name but four.
Still, there's something about Rahm that sets him apart.
I can only explain it like this: it feels like he has always been part of the conversation. He's been pro for little over a year and yet it feels like he has been around for years and years.
Think about it. When was the last time that there was a big event, such as a major or a WGC, when Rahm wasn't touted as a possible winner? And yet he has only played in six majors and four World Golf Championships to date. Incidentally, of those three WGCs, he has been third once and runner-up another time.
At this year's Masters - just his third major start - he was 25/1 to win the Green Jacket. Only six players had shorter odds, and that's despite the fact that no first-timer has won at Augusta National since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.
On the PGA Tour, he has banked over $7m in on-course earnings – twice as Arnold Palmer made in his entire PGA Tour career. Since turning professional, he has made 36 starts worldwide, racking up three wins and, almost as impressively, 13 top-five finishes.
But it's not just about how talented a player he is; he has bags of personality to go with it. Good stuff and bad stuff.
He plays with an enormous amount of energy. When things are going well, he shows it. Equally, when they're going badly, he resorts to fits of pique that would make any of his fellow hot-blooded Latin compatriots blush.
Some people hate that - but not me. I love it. It shows character. It shows that he cares. It shows that he is determined to strain every single last drop of talent out of himself. Give me that over any emotion-suppressing Tiger-clone any day of the week.
Whist I can't ever dream of identifying with Rahm's game, I can identify with his passion and his determination. He's just brilliant to watch.
More than anything, I can't wait to see Rahm in the Ryder Cup next year. Barring injury, he is an absolute shoo-in to qualify for Thomas Bjorn's European team. The prospect of he and Patrick Reed going at each other in the Sunday singles should make any golf fan salivate.
These aren't things that you typically say about somebody who, as recently as last year, was playing in the Arizona State University Thunderbird Invitational. But that alone tells you everything you need to know about Rahm. He is a legitimate phenomenon. And, having only turned 23 last week, he's just getting started.
He'll win multiple majors and be a world No.1 for a long time to come. I'm utterly convinced of it.
Be under no illusions: this guy is the real deal.
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Among social primates communication is key. Nonhuman primates do not have language but they communicate nonetheless. Among many primate species, facial expressions, gestural communication and vocalizations can be used to communicate information among members of a troop that can increase the fitness of a collective group. In the documentary, "Clever Monkeys", one important features that repeats throughout the film is the inherent communication abilities that nonhuman primates have.
Before you view "Clever Monkeys" make sure read Primate SocialbehaviorNotes and the textbook (Larsen, pgs. 175-180).
Your task will be to view how nonhuman primates communicate and understand how communication can increase fitness among social primate groups.
For your post you must choose one example of how your chosen primate species communicates. Name the species and and give one example.
You must also explain how communication increases fitness within the species that you choose.
In your answer make sure you explain what fitness means.
Clearly explain how your chosen mode of communication would enhances fitness within your chosen species.
Make sure you cite your information.
Make sure you respond to two other student posts.
In your response explain how your species communication would potentially enhance the fitness of another students chosen species.


DC Collectibles' Icons line of action figures adds four new characters from some of the DC Universe's most memorable events and stories! Each figure comes with multiple accessories! 10. SUPERMAN - THE MAN OF STEEL -- 6" 11. AQUAMAN - LEGEND OF AQUAMAN -- 6" 12. ATOMICA DELUXE ACTION FIGURE -- FOREVER EVIL -- 6" Comes with RAY PALMER - 1.5" and RYAN CHOI - 3"


Welcome to your July update for KYN!
Firstly, to report on a fantastic achievement for Seal community! On Sunday 1st July, we welcomed our very first Seal Garden Safari. This was organised by Frances Fish, who managed to persuade 9 people to have their gardens open to us for the afternoon.
Of course, we were totally blessed with good weather, but what an amazing project. The gardens were so diverse, inspiring, and many new relationships were forged. And on top of all that - £1,500 was raised for The Kenward Trust.
Kenward is a fantastic local charity, based in Yalding, and provides re-habilitation for alcohol addiction and substance misuse.If you have the chance to visit the centre in Yalding, please do, and see for yourself, the fantastic work they do!
Congratulations to Frances and a huge thank you to those of you who have been slogging in your gardens for the past weeks, to get them pristine for us to trample all over them!
This of course was followed by the Strawberry Tea in the vicarage garden, in aid of St Peter and St Paul Church. This is always a popular annual event, but this year, a record 100+ teas were served, making a total of £600 profit.Sorry Anne and Philip Le Bas - more garden trampling!
The two events were linked by a very interesting exhibition of 'Seal Then and Now', in the church, and put together and manned by our own, local historian, David Williams. It was so interesting to see our own properties as they were back in the day!(You will see David features several times in this update)! He is conducting a historic walk around the village from 11.30 - 1pm on Sunday August 12th.He is also the speaker at Seal History Group in September.
How often have you just fancied a chat, but everybody seems to be in a group already?
Wouldn't it be good to know there were times and places where you could be sure of finding people who also just fancied a chat, and were looking forward to meeting new people?
We are planning to move this idea forward very soon.
Please e mail Marion or Anne to learn more. marionjgilchrist@gmail.com or priest@sealpeterandpaul.com . There is a leaflet to download here which gives more details.
This trip is almost fully booked. Money to be paid by July 20th please. Contact marionjgilchrist@gmail.com for more info.
We still hope to get this project off the ground for this summer. Please contact me if you would like to get involved in the set-up.
We have started to make plans for this year's 'LIGHT UP SEAL FOR CHRISTMAS'. We are in need of MANY people to come forward to offer help with fund raising, sorting the lights we already have, and getting them up and taken down in December and January. PLEASE - come forward with your ideas and offers of help and support, as we cannot manage this without you!
World Mental Health Day is always held on October 10th. There is a move to organise as many local events to support this as possible. DO WE WANT TO DO ANYTHING AS A COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THIS? Please contact me with your ideas if you do and we will try to help facilitate something.
The events are arranged for 10.30 am on Sunday July 22nd, August 12th, September 2nd and September 16th.
Please see Seal Parish Council's Website for information.
Seal Football Team are looking for over 16's to play for them. Please contact Mike Deamer on 07801240927, or turn up for the first training session of the year, on Thursday 10th Julky at 7pm.
Details of the rest of the years planned events are below.
SUNDAY 15TH JULY - 3PM-4.30PM - SEAL CHURCH HALL - MESSY CHURCH. CRAFTS, ACTIVITIES, WORSHIP AND TEA FOR ALL AGES.
FRIDAY JULY 20TH - ALL MONEY TO MARION FOR BROADSTAIRS TRIP.
SATURDAY 21ST JULY MIDDAY TO 4PM - SEAL VILLAGE ALLOTMENTS OPEN DAY WITH HOSPICE IN THE WEALD.- Entrance by donation - stalls, refreshments, cakes, sweets, crafts,nearly new stall, veg, plants and honey from Mrs Bee. Seal Allotments, Childsbridge Lane Seal.
SUNDAY AUGUST 12TH - HISTORIC WALK AROUND SEAL VILLAGE WITH DAVID WILLIAMS.11.30-1PM. MEET AT SEAL CHURCH LYCHGATE. BOOK WITH ME - marionjgilchrist@gmail.com or 01732 763727.
FRIDAY AUGUST 17TH - COACH TRIP TO BROADSTAIRS - 9.30 - 5.30 FROM SEAL CHURCH LYCHGATE - £12 PER ADULT £7 PER CHILD (NOT £8 AND £5 AS IN ADVERTISER - SORRY). ALMOST SOLD OUT! Book with marionjgilchrist@gmail.com.
Enjoy your summer, but please remember, we need you, your ideas and your support, to make these projects work! We look forward to meeting many of you at these events, and hearing from you in the near future!
Sunday August 19th – Alternative date for guided historical walk with David Williams, should weather not allow on 12th.
Sat 8th September – 1pm – Seal Village Allotments BBQ.See their website for further details.


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How are you? Have you been Spring cleaning like I have?
Today, I am sharing our Spring Kitchen.
I love this time of year, it makes you feel so accomplished, and tired at the end of the day.
I did some changing and rearranging in the kitchen for Spring. I also dusted, wiped down the cabinets and bagged up a few things for Goodwill.
I have too much junk, I admit it.
I love my blue mason jars I scored at Walmart.
They look so pretty on the window sill.
I spread some color and cheer here and there.
One of my favorite pictures from our trip to Ireland last year. Just an old tea kettle on a window sill outdoors filled with wild flowers.
Love the lace curtains peeking out.
Having a corner sink is nice. I love the sunlight streaming in this part of the day.
however, with the natural sunlight and all the windows we have perks it up.
I do love our cabinets and you will never see a paint brush taken to this wood.
Reminds me of a rustic log cabin in a way.
I still have that little kitchen embellishment I added a few years ago.
I finally changed that rooster picture that was behind our sink.
and draped it our pizza board.
I like the change and it only cost me $10.00 for the rooster chalkboard.
the floors are still holding up and shiny since I cleaned them with olive oil and lemon juice, you can get the formula and try it out.
I will show you the dinette soon. I have some changes coming in there.
Next to get Springify the bedroom!
Your kitchen looks absolutely magnificent!
Your kitchen get a lot of wonderful sunshine in it! Love all of your changes and love your pizza board!
Morning, Debbie Dear! OH, I just adore your pretty kitchen! Everything is just perfect. I love the big round, is it a tureen, on your island. And…I'm trying not to covet that red scale you have. I'm on the lookout for one! Hope your week is going well and I wish I could pop in and have a visit with you!
I love your kitchen Debbie. I need to start spring cleaning too. It's finally warming up here.
It feels good to have a fresh clean kitchen. I wish I had windows at my sink to look out. Looking good!
Very spring-ee. I love that little tea kettle hanging in the window above your sink. How cute!
So glad to hear you won't ever try painting those lovely cabinets. I've thought, for about one second, about painting my fireplace mantel and a couple of other wood pieces, but am so glad I never have.
Your kitchen is pretty and springy! So happy to see some sunshine here today. Yay for spring!
Debbie..your kitchen is so cheerful..love the pops of color..the blue pitcher..and the tea towels. Looking forward to seeing more of your Spring decor.Thanks for sharing your beautiful kitchen once again.
So clean and bright and shinning. I love your kitchen and all the spring touches are great. Those blue ball jars on the sill are so pretty. Great job.
Debbie, your kitchen is so pretty! That's the place in the house that is the most fun to change up here and there.
Love your kitchen Debbie! So bright and cheerful…HAPPY SPRING!
Yes, I have been spring cleaning but I love your kitchen! Those cabinets and hardwood floors are beautiful. I love brinigimg the outdoors in & love your flower vessels!
Ahhhh, it looks wonderful Debbie! I need to get some cleaning done around here – if i can ever find time amidst all my sewing and painting projects!
Love your kitchen! Very fresh looking. And I wouldn't change those cabinets either. they are beautiful!
What a glorious kitchen you have. I too love wooden doors in a kitchen. Your decorations are lovely.
Love your spring touches in the kitchen. I can't wait to use my green mason jars in the new house. Your kitchen has such great light!! Sorry, I am just starting to catch up on emails.
Everything looks so fresh and colorful, Debbie! What a wonderful decorating spot you have with that corner sink set-up. It always looks so fun.
I love your kitchen and I agree, your cabinets should never be painted!! They are gorgeous as they are! Everything looks so pretty, and right now I have to check out your post on cleaning the hardwood with lemon and olive oil…I've never heard of that and wonder how I missed that post.
Just Beautiful. I Love Getting Ready for Spring and You have done it Well!!
Beautifully springy! Love the rooster chalkboard!
Did someone say Spring chicken?
Not me no Spring chickens here!


RE takes up 10% of the curriculum, but is not totally confined to lesson time. RE permeates the whole life and ethos of the school. The whole school explores the same theme but from different aspects, through year group topics on a one year cycle. This enables the children to celebrate their new experiences and understanding together whatever their age.
The children will 'Explore' the topic in a way appropriate to their age range. Then they will come to the heart of the process, where they will 'Reveal' the Christian understanding of the mystery of God and human life as expressed in the person, life and gospel of Jesus Christ. The children will then 'Respond' to their new knowledge and understanding by celebrating together.
Collective Worship is an important aspect of Religious Education. Each day the children take part in a Collective Worship, whether it is in small groups in class, in year groups or in department groups. Collective Worship is an ideal opportunity to celebrate. Celebrations are an essential part of life for people of every age and faith. Collective Worships consist of varying elements such as gathering and greeting, listening, reflecting, responding through community praise, especially in song, prayer and of course the children's own work and ideas.
At Runnymede we have whole school Collective Worships to celebrate the new academic year, Harvest Festival, All Saints, Advent, Christingle, the Shoe-box Appeal and Christmas in the Autumn Term.
In the Spring Term we celebrate Lent, the Good Shepherd Collection for the Nugent Care Society and the joy of Easter Week. In the Summer Term we celebrate the feast of Blessed Edmund Rice the founder of the Christian Brothers, pupils who have received the Sacraments this year in a special school celebration near the Feast of SS Peter and Paul and a Year 6 leavers' thanksgiving collective worship. Of course throughout the year we celebrate many Feasts and Holydays of the Catholic Church.
For one week of the Autumn term we spend all our R.E. time looking at Judaism and in the Spring term we look at Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism to give the children an experience and understanding of an Other Faith which is so important in our multi-cultural society.
There is a First Friday Prayer Group for anyone to attend- all welcome.
The Edmund Rice Group meets weekly for reflection and how to respond to the life and inspiration of Blessed Edmund. The group leads the school in charity work and seeks to keep the example of Edmund alive in our school.
Passing on the faith to your child - What is the best way? This leaflet from the Archdiocese of Liverpool is a beautifully simple reminder of how to nurture faith in your child.
Celebrations are an essential part of life for people of every age and faith. The cycle of a year and the span of a lifetime are marked by rituals, when people gather to celebrate with their friends.
Rejoicing and celebrating help all of us to reach into the heart of life and to realise the deepest meaning of what is happening here. They keep before us what is important in life: its joys, difficulties, sorrows and successes. Celebration is an opportunity to experience joy and also to come to terms with sadness and difficulty in order to feel joy again. Our understanding is heightened so that we are able to get back to living with renewed vision and hope.
At Runnymede, as we explore the topics in 'Come and See', we have the opportunity to develop the knowledge and understanding of our Catholic faith. To read further please see the Religious Education section of the website.
Through the themes for each term, the children will become familiar with the seasons of the Christian Church. Through the topics, they are introduced to the traditions, customs and practices of seasons and special feasts. Making time to celebrate enable children to acknowledge the value of the experiences they have explored.
During the year, we at Runnymede have many opportunities to celebrate. At the end of each topic the children plan a celebration of the work they have completed during that particular topic. This could involve, singing, dancing, scripture readings, art work, dressing up, picnics a walk in the beautiful grounds or many other alternatives. A truly special time.
Outside the curriculum lessons we celebrate many aspects of our lives and the lives of others. We begin the year celebrating a new beginning and welcome new and old members of our school community. On the feast of St. Edward, October 13th, we celebrate in school and the children also have a holiday from school (attached to half-term).
Before the end of the first half term the whole school celebrates Harvest Festival. A time to thank God for all we have and a time to share with those who do not have as much. We collect tinned food, biscuits and crisps which we give to local food banks and the homeless. We have a Fun Run in our school grounds which is very enjoyable and donations go to a global charity like CAFOD or our twin school in Sierra Leone, Blessed Tansi.
Advent is a time of preparation. We celebrate the beginning with a Mass or a special Collective Worship. During Advent we fill our Shoe-boxes so they can be sent to children who otherwise would not receive any gifts at Christmas. We celebrate the latter part of Advent with a Christingle Service, which is all about light in the darkness. Christmas is celebrated with Nativity plays, Carol Services, Christmas concerts, Carol singing and of course lots of parties and fun.
The Spring Term begins with us celebrating the Epiphany, the arrival of the The Wise Men. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, this is celebrated in school with a Mass or special Collective Worship. During Lent we celebrate again how lucky we are by collecting for the Nugent Care Society, the Good Shepherd. Children are asked to do extra jobs at home to raise money e.g. set the table for tea, help with the dishes or tidy their rooms. To celebrate Easter, the events of Holy week are reenacted with special Collective Worships, led by the children. We also have Easter bonnet parades and Easter Rabbits visiting the school!
The Summer Term is a time to celebrate so many things. May marks the feast day of the founder of the Christian Brothers, Blessed Edmund Rice. Year 4 children, who have received the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion, lead a special whole school celebration. Year 6 have a special Mass and Leavers' Collective Worship to celebrate their life in Runnymede as they leave to move on to their Secondary schools. This term is also a time when we celebrate achievements, academic, sporting, musical and progress formally taking place at the Cathedral for the Runnymede, Prize Giving.
Throughout the year many people help us celebrate, visitors to the school, parents, teachers, support staff and we have links with our local parishes, especially St Paul's and Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs.
Runnymede is a Catholic school, but we have children and families of other faiths. We have an open attitude to all faiths. As Catholics we are committed to respecting people of other faiths and to recognise that God is in work in them. In the multi-faith society of today, Religious Education introduces children to the background and beliefs of people of other faiths so that prejudice and misunderstanding can be overcome from an early age.
In the Autumn term we explore Judaism and in the Summer term we look at either Islam, Hinduism or Sikhism.
At the centre of the ethos of our school is the desire to help others, by following the message of Blessed Edmund Rice and the Gospels. We at Runnymede do this in our charity work. We try and support local and global charities by raising money, but also by our prayers and work in school.
•	The Nugent Care Society "The Good Shepherd"
•	Zoe's Place Hospice in West Derby.
Often children have desires to highlight and raise money for a charity that is of special interest for them. We try to help as much as we can.


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The space above your head in the garage doesn't have to go unused. Getting items off the garage floor allow you to use the garage exactly how you would like. These Cookeville overhead garage storage ideas can show you just how useful these solutions are.


text:
Q: Managing stage and live webapps (apache, haproxy, https redirection) We have a staging environment for our rails webapp set up as a second Apache virtual host, with haproxy 1.5 sitting in front of both. Until recently the stage was configured as a different frontend listening on a different port to the live version. This worked pretty well as any redirections, links etc. worked perfectly, with all traffic just going through a different port.
However, we're adding https redirection to the site; this breaks the port-based strategy as the http and https listen on different ports (so http://www.example.com:3000 gets redirected to https://www.example.com:3000 which breaks if you're listening for ssl on e.g. 443.
I tried a similar setup to the author of this post: HAProxy reqrep remove URI on backend request
That is to say, I've configured a single haproxy frontend to use the "stage" backend if I insert /stage/ into my url, so:
www.example.com/somepage.html

serves the page from the live backend, whilst
www.example.com/stage/somepage.html

serves the page from the stage backend. Because I obviously want to run apps with an identical directory structure on both backends, I'm stripping away the "/stage/" from the URI in the stage backend. The problem is that any time the rails app itself wants to redirect me (if I even click on a link!), the stage is no longer in the url, so it redirects me to the live website. The idea of the setup is that the app can just be copied from stage to live once we're done testing, so I don't want my Ruby code to know or care which environment it is in if I can avoid it. Is there any way (within haproxy or apache) so that any http requests made by that version are "kept in-house", so that if I log in to the stager version I stay there?
Thanks in advance.

A: I wouldn't look into different URL, subdir, port or anything like that if you want to set up a staging environment. Instead I could recommend 2 different approaches which do not require any URL rewriting.

*

*You could set up the frontend for the staging environment on a different IP address. In case you want to test the staging environment, you could simply point the (sub-)domains to the staging IP in your local hosts file. This approach requires you to have an IP address available of course.

*You could set up an ACL in HAProxy based on a cookie set on the domain. If you enable the cookie, you will be sent to the staging environment.
In HAProxy config this would look something like this:
frontend main

[... bind stuff ...]

acl staging_cookie_set req.cook(enableStaging) -m str 1

[... rest of your frontend logic ...]

use_backend staging if staging_cookie_set
default_backend live

If you now set the cookie 'enableStaging' to '1', you will be sent to the staging environment.


When I talk about my edtech company in investor circles, I usually sense a lot of skepticism rooted in the fact that some high-profile edtech companies have not lived up to their promise over the past years. But when I see how much this market is changing and how some edtech companies now IPO with great success or are valued at more than $3 billion, I am uplifted. How do you think about the different types of edtech companies and what are the major differences and commonalities in this industry?
This is a great question, and I agree that it's useful to differentiate between types of edtech companies. When talking about edtech in general, we find that companies tend to fall into one of four categories based on what I call " The Learning Continuum:" (1) early childhood education (ECE), (2) kindergarten-12th grade (K-12), (3) higher education (HE), and (4) lifelong learning (LLL). Each of the four categories tends to require a different type of product as users' educational needs and expectations vary significantly based on their age and where they are in life.
It is worth noting that there are companies that transcend two buckets; but even those generally tend to focus on one bucket for monetization and the other for distribution. Examples of this are companies in the ECE space that offer marketplaces for parents to find daycare availability for their kids, but their revenue comes from charging those small businesses a subscription fee for utilizing their CRM software. Similarly, we have seen consumer content companies in K12 distribute their content for free in schools and monetize with parents for home use.
Why is this relevant to me as an entrepreneur?
The edtech market is complex, and I've noticed that it is generally difficult for people outside of edtech investing to understand the nuances of the industry and its different business models. This 8-Bucket framework can be used to explain your company to potential investors in a more granular way that expands on what an "edtech" label might imply. In a time when "education is eating the world," it is becoming increasingly more exciting to invest in edtech, but also increasingly complex. As an entrepreneur, it's your job to explain to investors where your company fits into the landscape and why it will succeed.
Another implication of the 8-Bucket framework is that you can use it when looking for investors to help you grow. In doing so, I recommend prioritizing the Business Model axis, especially once you find product-market-fit (you understand your user and business model) and are looking to grow. For entrepreneurs raising capital, I suggest that you prioritize working with those that have experience investing in companies with your same business model, even with no education investing experience. For example, if you're developing a product that is sold to universities, then an investor with experience in enterprise SaaS might be able to help you with forming a sales team, developing customer success strategies, and other areas that are relevant to your business model and are critical for your growth.
Finally, this 8-Bucket framework can be used to help you think about areas for expansion beyond your core business. For example, a K12 company that sells direct-to-consumer (bucket #4) can eventually expand by selling to schools (bucket #3). (Piper is an example of this), Alternatively, a company selling to universities (bucket #5) can expand by selling to K12 schools (bucket #3) too (Canvas is an example of this).
Some companies can even expand across multiple buckets such as EverFi which sells to K12, universities and corporations alike. This can work for expansion within your main market or as you expand internationally. As a matter of fact, it is common that companies, as they expand globally and find product market fit in new geographies, find that they need to adjust either their business model or target user, meaning they need to move across at least one of these axes. This is important as investors will be interested in companies that start with a focus in one of these eight buckets but have the potential to eventually expand beyond that, as this can significantly expand the total market size.


text:
Covid has shown us it's vital to push for exam reform
GCSEs and A levels 2021 have shown us how important it is to make the exams system as fair as possible in an unfair world, says Geoff Barton
So, after a seeming eternity of government dithering and delay, we finally have an answer about the shape of next year's GCSE and A-level exams in England.
That is, in itself, good news, because it brings to an end so much of the uncertainty that has swirled around this issue for far too long, and allows our schools, colleges and students to get on with the job of preparing for next summer with a better idea of the road ahead.
Hold on to that thought, though, because from here on everything I write is about to become a lot less certain and a lot more debatable.
Besides there being detail to fill in about how measures such as advance notice of topics and exam aids will actually work in different subjects, there is a much more profound problem. It is this: the government's plan doesn't actually address the central issue – the vastly differing extent to which students have been affected by the pandemic.
If student A has not covered a topic in sufficient depth, while student B has done so, advance notice of exam topics may help student A to a certain extent, but it will also help student B. So it won't level the playing field. It won't guarantee fairness.
GCSE and A levels 2021: No simple solution
And there's no simple solution. The government knows this, which is why it has announced a new expert group to look at differential learning experiences to see what more can be done.
But, in truth, the range of options they have, from where I sit, appears to be limited. Indeed, we have spent the past few months arguing about possibilities in what has sometimes felt like ever-decreasing circles.
Our answer at ASCL was the idea of introducing more optionality into the topics that students could answer in exam papers. That didn't mean giving students choice over which questions they answered. It was about letting teachers – the people who would best know the level of learning loss in their school – control the final paper placed in front of students.
It was an idea we discussed with various assessment experts. It would recognise that, in an exceptional year, exceptional measures were needed.
And we were told in no uncertain terms that the concept was flawed. It would be logistically very difficult to design exam papers in a way that could ensure that questions on all those different options carried the same degree of difficulty. It would therefore be impossible to maintain a common standard.
It would be impossible also to ensure the integrity of the examination process in an education system that places so much store by an examination process.
In other words, in the end, the government and Ofqual made the call that our brand of centre-based optionality was too risky to attempt in the time available. We understand that.
Very little room for manoeuvre
The trouble is that this leaves us – and that expert group – with very little room for manoeuvre. After all, the government has categorically ruled out the only other alternative, which is to use some form of teacher assessment.
The consequence is that we are left in a situation that feels unsatisfactory, but which is probably the only remaining option: that is, the government's proposals.
In this, the theory goes, the disruption suffered by students is mitigated by more generous grading, advance notice of topics, special considerations, backup papers, and so on.
While that does not expressly address the problem of differential learning experiences, taken together, it does at least knock some of the harsher edges off the exam process and allows students to focus on what they need to revise.
In other words, it will make things better, without providing a perfect solution.
Now we need to focus on the remit of this expert group and put all energies in trying to find further ways to address the issue of differential learning experiences, to do all we can to make things as fair as they can be in an unfair world.
Pushing for exam reform
The announcement that routine Ofsted inspections will not resume in the spring, that performance tables will not be used – both of these will enable teachers and leaders to focus on the only thing that matters. That is: helping every young person from every background to have the best chance possible to demonstrate their potential in their exams next summer.
And then there's a bigger task.
For the longer term, we have to redouble our efforts to push for reform of the exam system. Because it is a fiction that exams, in normal times, provide a level playing field. They do nothing of the sort.
Young people from struggling families, without the technology, resources, and private tuition that are available to those from more affluent homes, are always are at a disadvantage. The Covid pandemic has accentuated a problem that is already there.
What we need is an assessment system that, rather than being predicated on a set of high-stakes terminal exams, has at its heart a more nuanced range of assessment methods, both formal and informal.
And so, instead of instilling a sense of failure, the way we judge our young people should be built upon principles that bestow a sense of achievement, helping these citizens of the future to see that a grade doesn't define who they are.
As one 16-year-old who got a GCSE grade 3 in English said to me last year: "I am more than that grade tells you."
Next year's imperfect exam solutions are a stepping stone. Beyond 2021, we need to work towards creating a shared dignity of achievement.
Geoff Barton is general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders
GCSEs 2021: 5 ways exams will be different next summer
Are 2021 exam measures enough for pupils in the North?
Exams 2021: 7 questions still unanswered
Are GCSEs worth saving?
Why not trust teachers and scrap next year's exams?
Does everyone in school have Stockholm syndrome?


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Having crossed the Atlantic four times, most memorably in 2012 with a new passport, I have a dream to cross the Pacific Ocean by ship someday.
Another wish was to go from the USA to Kazakhstan, halfway around the world, without boarding a plane. Though I didn't quite make it, I did cross seven time zones before setting foot in an airport. While a friend was lamenting her upcoming 17-hour flight, I was happily anticipating my 29-day journey.
Empty passports in hand, my wife and I began by leaving on a midnight train to Florida, hopping on the Silver Star on a warm May South Carolina evening. No one weighed or checked our luggage. No one frisked us.
People complain about rail travel, especially Amtrak, but we were pleasantly rocked to sleep in a roomy recliner, followed by one of my favorite travel experiences, breakfast in a railroad dining car (French toast and maple syrup – yum!). Backing into Tampa station in a giant Y-shaped turnaround, we dropped off passengers and continued south through Florida's swampy flatlands to the water city of Ft. Lauderdale.
The next dawn found us heading to Holland America's ship Noordam, our home for the next 17 days. Though airplanes have names, people rarely notice them. Ship names, however, have distinct personalities and become etched in our minds. Dockside, we showed our blank passports and climbed aboard.
Blessed with beautiful weather, we enjoyed calm seas, sunny days and unique ports of call such as Ponta Delgada (the Azores), Lisbon, Cadiz, Malaga and Barcelona. A special highlight was enjoying an Italian dinner at sunset while sailing through the narrow strait separating the islands of Corsica and Sardinia—not something usually experienced on a red-eye flight!
Most modern travelers cross borders without realizing it. We fly over them while sleeping. Then we land in the world's great cities and step off a plane into the beating heart of a new country. Sometimes, we cross them by rail or ferryboat. Rarely do we cross these ragged edges on foot.
Arriving in Civitavecchia, near Rome, we jumped ship and walked into Italy, crossing an invisible border without even showing our passports. We had traveled 19 days and still had no entry stamps. After sampling pasta cooked in a flamed cheese wheel, we headed north by high-speed train and dashed through a tunnel across another border into Austria. Still no passport checks.
My wife loves the film Sound of Music, so we played the parts of Rolfe and Liesl, singing our way around Salzburg to the Do Re Mi song. Next up on our itinerary was the Railjet, a pleasant daylight train that whisked us farther eastward to Budapest, Hungary. We still hadn't boarded a plane since leaving our little house in Lexington, South Carolina.
We had planned to continue our overland journey to Kiev and beyond, but transit visa and train ticket costs finally stopped us in our tracks (my eldest foster daughter advised, "Pa, I wouldn't ride five days from Kiev to Karaganda!"). After enjoying the "Paris of the East," we headed to Budapest airport for our first flight. It was here, seven time zones and seven international borders later, that our passports were finally checked.
"When did you enter Hungary?" said the airport agent, flipping through our still shiny and completely blank passports.
"Two days ago," I replied.
"How did you get here?" she continued investigating.
This was obviously so uncommon a story it had to be original. Unlike the immigration official in Crossing Borders 1, she didn't ask to see my collection of used tickets. Shaking her head, she gave me my first passport stamp and waved me through.
Like this story? Please follow this blog for more travel tales to come in 2019!


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