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Home » Blog » Writing Prompts » 31 Daily Middle Grade Creative Writing Prompts for August 2019
Written by Jon Lewis in Writing Prompts
Starting each day with a blank page can be intimidating. If the ideas don't flow, panic can set in. Next comes self-doubt, and then writer's block is right around the corner. Utilizing a creative writing prompt unrelated to your current manuscript can help ignite your creativity. After all, there's no pressure with a simple writing exercise.
A writing prompt is a single word, phrase, paragraph or picture meant to inspire a creative writing session. It can be used as a simple writing exercise or even to spur an idea for your next short story or novel.
Creative Writing Prompts for August 2019
Each month, Writing Middle Grade publishes a list of daily creative writing prompts for middle grade authors. Feel free to use them as part of your morning routine (I use them as a 15-minute warmup). If you're really inspired, you just might find the idea for a bestselling middle grade novel.
When I think of August, I'm reminded of summer vacation is winding down, back to school shopping is in full effect, and that my favorite season (autumn) is just around the corner. It's also a month for state fairs, which brings back memories of funnel cakes, corn dogs, and rickety rides that cost far more money to ride than they were worth.
Hopefully these creative writing prompts inspired by those memories will help kickstart your day. Remember, the purpose of a quick writing exercise is to get your creative juices flowing. Write fast and try to make the shift from your conscious mind (where your critical inner voice lives) to your subconscious (where creative ideas flow freely without judgement).
He was supposed to finish his chores by two o'clock, but he was too tired. He'd been up all through the night playing video games with his friends. It's what thirteen-year-olds do in the summer. So, instead of doing his chores after lunch he decided to take a nap. His mom had warned his that she was going to take away his phone if he didn't meet his deadline. "But it's not my fault," he said. "I fell asleep." His mom explains that it was his responsibility to set an alarm. She reaches for his phoen, and he pulls it back. The phone slips from his hand and hits the tile floor. When he picks it up he can see that the screen is shattered.
Her mom had always told her that she wasn't allowed to wear makeup until she was in eighth grade, which she thought was ridiculous. What was the big deal? After all, she was thirteen and every other girl going into seventh grade was allowed to wear makeup. "You're not everyone else," her mother would say, and the answer infuriated her. She ended up in the bathroom before homeroom on her first day of school, and that's when Samantha told her that she could borrow her makeup. "Here," Samantha said, handing her some eye shadow. "I mean, just wash it off before you go home. They'll never know."
He's having trouble reading the board from the back of the room, so his mom takes him to an eye exam. That's when he finds out that he needs glasses, but he doesn't want anyone to make fun of him. "You look cute," his mom says when she sees the on him, but he's convinced that's what moms always say. He's pretty sure his friends are going to mock him all day if he wears them, so he keeps them in the front pouch of his backpack. Then his teacher asks him to read the board from his seat in the back of the room.
Her softball team was down by a run with two outs in the last inning. The two girls before her struck out, and as she walked up to the plate she felt the weight of their entire season on her shoulders. Not only had they won the regular season, but they had beaten this team twice before. She fouled the first ball off, and as the bat hit the ball, butterflies raged in her stomach. The second pitch was a ball, but third pitch must have caught the outside of the plate because the umpire called a strike. She stepped out of the batter's box, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.
He's not allowed to watch R-rated movies. His parents don't think they're appropriate for an eleven-year-old, but there's a problem. He's at his best friend's birthday party and all the kids want to watch a horror movie. He knows that he could get away with it. After all, his parents aren't there so ho would they find out? The only problem is that he doesn't like horror films anyway, but he doesn't want to ruin his friend's birthday. And he doesn't want to be perceived as a baby.
His dad turned on his blinker before he veered their pickup off the highway and onto a gravel road. Ten minutes later they were winding through a forest thick with birch trees. It was their annual fishing trip, and now that he is 13- years-old, his dad was finally going to let him drive the boat. "Remember the moose we saw last year?" his dad asked. "It was right over there." He pointed to a patch of thickets. "Yeah," he replied, but he wasn't paying attention. Instead, he was watching a compilation YouTube video of a bunch of kids crashing their skateboards. That's when a text from a private number popped up on his screen. Look up, it read. "That's weird," he said, but for whatever reason he felt compelled to do just that. He looked up and there, just outside his window, was a man riding in a saddle on the back of what appeared to be a grizzle bear. The man looked a bit like Santa Clause, but he was wearing jeans and a plaid shirt instead of his typical red.
She had always looked forward to her eleventh birthday. After all, she shared a birthday with her grandpa, and he was turning 77. That meant both were double numbers, and they had decided they would splurge and spend the day together at Disneyland. Just the two of them. But three days before their special outing, she was called to the principal's office. Her mother was standing there in tears. "Your grandfather…" she said, her voice trailing off. "He… well, honey. He had a heart attack."
He scrolled through his Instagram feed, wondering what it would have felt like to get invited to Jake's thirteenth birthday party. All the popular kids from his school were there, along with a few who he thought were marginally popular at best. But if they were just marginally popular, what did that make him? He liked the post, hoping Jake would notice and at least think about him. Then he sighed. He felt alone. No, it was actually worse than that. He felt invisible. Against his better judgement, he decided to take his mom's advice and invite a few of the popular kids over for a swim party at their new house. Most of them ignored the invite. A couple said they'd come, but when they day finally arrived, they never showed up. He wanted to cry, but he wasn't going to give them the satisfaction. Still, he had to do something.
It was his last chance to make the Little League all-star team, which is why he worked so hard in the off season. Two years ago, their town had made it to Williamsport, and there was talk that they'd have a good shot again this year. He had been the starting catcher on the best team in the Major division. He led the league in throw outs, and he led his team in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in. But when the all-star team was announced, he didn't make it. Instead, another coach's son, who also played catcher, made the team. He's so angry (and embarrassed) that he told his parents that he's either going to transfer schools or he's dropping out.
Okay, so she tried out to play the Genie in her middle school's production of the Aladdin musical, but that ended up going to an eighth grader. Instead, she's got the role of Jasmine. Everyone was excited—especially since she was just a sixth grader, but she was disappointed. And she was nervous. Jasmine has to wear a crop top and she doesn't think she's thin enough. She wants to quit, but she's afraid to tell the director—or even her parents—why.
He has a predictable routine every day after school. Dump his backpack by the front door, head to the kitchen for a snack, and then it's off to feed the fish in all five of his aquariums. It was Friday, and he was feeling good about acing his first sixth grade vocabulary test. It didn't take long for his mood to change, though. The moment he walked into his bedroom, he noticed the water was boiling in the aquarium where he kept his prized discus. He rushed over and found all five of them floating, along with a dead Plecostomus, and three panda corydoras. He'd texted his mom to make sure the water was at 84 degrees. After all, a cold front had swept through and he didn't want the temps to drop too low. The problem is that she set both the heaters to the max temperature and now everything was dead.
She's a great athlete, and she really wants to go out for the seventh-grade volleyball team, but she's convinced that at least half the girls on the team hate her. When her parents ask her why, all she can tell them is that it's the way the girls look at her. Well, that and she's pretty sure when they're whispering, it's always about her. If she could transfer to a school where at least one of the girls from her club team plays, she'd go out. But Just thinking about it gives her anxiety. Her dad doesn't believe her, though. He's making her go to tryouts, and that's sending her anxiety into overdrive.
He heard that his best friend has a crush on his little sister, but there's no way that's possible. Okay, so she's only a year younger than they are but first of all, she's still only in sixth grade. And second, gross. It's his sister. He decides to confront his best friend in the locker room after gym class, and he couldn't believe it when the answer was, "I mean, yeah. I kinda like her, I guess."
She was dress coded at school because her skirt was a half inch shorter than school regulations allow. She's pointed out several time where boys have worn shorts that were too short. Boys also aren't allowed to wear tank tops, but she counts at least three boys each day who wear them anyway. She might only be thirteen, but she's tired of the double standard and she's ready to do something about it.
A thirteen-year-old boy was sitting in the food court eating burgers with his friends when the girl he'd had a crush on for the last two years walked over. "Is it true?" she asked. She was smiling, but he couldn't tell if it was a friendly smile or one of those "I already know the answer, and it's kind of embarrassing so you might as well say it" kind of smiles. He looked around the tables and saw that his friends seem to be as shocked as he is. This girl had never talked to any of them before, so why now?
A twelve-year-old girl is finally tired of streaming movies and watching YouTube all summer. Her parents are both at work, and with her sister already at the college dorms, she's all alone. The dishes have piled up in the sink, but she isn't bored enough to do chores without getting asked. Instead, she decides to go exploring in the attic. After rummaging through her old dress up box and all her family photo albums, she turns and sees an old chest. She walks over, and as she unclasps the lock, a bright light starts to seep out from the edges.
An eleven-year-old buy decided that he can't wait to try out the new markers that were supposed to be part of his back to school shopping. With his mom distracted by his baby sister's temper tantrum, he snuck into his bedroom, shut the door, and opened his sketch book. He decided to warm up with a quick
She designed a winter coat that can also be configured as a sleeping bag to help homeless people without shelter to stay warm. An outdoor brand offered to pay six figures for the rights to the patented design, but she refused to sell it. Instead, despite the fact that she's only twelve-year old, she wants to raise money for the manufacturing and then give them away for free. Now she's been asked to be on the hottest late night talk show to talk about her story.
A ten-year-old boy is skipping ahead two grades. Now, instead of staying in fourth grade with kids his own age, he'll be starting sixth grade in two weeks. He begged his parents not to do it. He'd always been mocked for being smart—which he never really understood. The last thing he wanted to do was stand out, and now he's certain that things are about to get a lot worse. Especially since he just found out that his mom has set up a "play date" with three other sixth grade boys.
Now that he was twelve years old, his parents finally allowed him to take the kayak out to island in the middle of the lake by himself. It not like it was dangerous or anything. His mom was just one of those helicopter parents who freaked out when he fell off his bike or got hit by a pitch in a baseball game. Whatever. He was alone on an island and it was time to explore. The trees were thick and everything was overgrown, which made it hard to walk. Still, he pushed on. About an hour into the hike he found the ruins of an old house where the roof had caved in. Most of the windows were broken up and vines snaked up the weathered siding. He was about to head up the front steps when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye.
She was laughing as she made her way through the fun house. It was her last summer as a kid—at least that's what she was telling herself. After all, junior high was a lot more sophisticated than elementary school. You actually moved around from class to class instead of sitting in the same boring home room all day long. The lunch room also had a salad bar. Finally, a healthy option to the canned vegetables and mystery meat patties. Anyway, she'd been going to the fun house at the state fair for as long as she could remember and she was about ready to enter her favorite room. You know, the one where the mirrors make everyone look short and fat or tall and skinny. That's when she saw the clown. It was wearing pretty typical clown stuff, like big shoes, a giant bow tie, and all that goofy clown makeup. Something was different, though. Its eyes were fiery red, and when it smiled, it revealed teeth that had been filed to points. She wanted to scream, but when she opened her mouth nothing came out.
A twelve-year-old human was jettisoned to a nearby planet after his starship was attacked. When his pod opens, he finds what looks like a bipedal robot staring back at him. The robot has four arms and a cluster of eight eyes that look as though they may be cameras. However, the boy can't take his eyes from the strange symbol on its shoulder. Though scratched and fading, there's no denying that it's an American flag. But how?
Her alarm clock goes off promptly at six in the morning. Typically, she'd hit her snooze button at least twice, but not on picture day. She's in seventh grade now, and she's seen how much boys pay attention to girls based solely on their looks. She kicks off her comforter and rolls out of bed before marching to the bathroom. That's when she catches a glimpse of something strange in the mirror. She turns, looks, and gasps. Her human flesh has been replaced by coarse green scales. She has what looks like tiny goat horns growing from her forehead and her incisors have turned to fangs.
An eleven-year-old boy heard a rumor that the corndogs at the state fair are actually made from the ground shelter dog meat. He ignored it. After all, he's pretty sure everything he's ever eaten gets been inspected by someone in the government. It's a law or something. Besides, they aren't exactly going to let people eat dogs. Opening night for the fair is finally here and he's heading to the ticket booth with his friends when a series of fireworks goes off. The noise sends what sounds like a pack of dogs barking. He turns to see a man with nine dogs on separate leashes leaning against the corn dog stand, and that's when he starts wondering if the rumors are true.
A twelve-year-old boy told all of his friends back home that he was going to camp. He just wouldn't say where because he was pretty sure everyone would find out his parents were sending him to magic camp. He figured it was going to be a bunch of misfits walking around in Gryffindor and Slytherin robes and for the most part he was right. One day he decided to skip his advanced coin trick lesson to explore walk in the woods, but he stopped when he heard someone begging for help. He slid behind and tree and peaked around the edge in time to see a flash of light. One of the magic instructors turned a girl who looked to be about his age into a wild boar.
Sixth grade has been harder than she thought it would be. It's not the classes. She's even taking advanced math classes and it's still easy. The drama is what's exhausting her. She doesn't know what's worse, the gossip or the backstabbing. Either way, she's ready to ask her parents if she can switch to online school. Homework finished, she opens her YouTube app and clicks on a video titled "Adventure Awaits." The video goes full screen without being prompted, and a man with curly auburn hair, a goatee, and two small horns protruding from his forehead like a goat. He addresses her by name and asks if she would like to go on adventure in a strange land filled with magic, mischief, and just a touch of danger.
Seventh grade is going to be different. That's what he promised himself. In fact, it's why he took any job that would pay him real money all summer long. That meant skipping time with friends—including Little League—to mow lawns, wash and wax cars, and even babysit. He was tired of being the poor kid with the lame wardrobe bought from big box chains and thrift stores. Then, the actual Sunday he was set to go back to school shopping, the pastor at his small church asked for donations to help some foster kids who were living in a nearby shelter. They needed new school clothes and backpacks. He told a story about how every room in the shelter had six kids who were forced to share a single closet full of clothes. They didn't actually personally own anything.
Heart is pounding in her chest, she clamps her hand over her sister's mouth before Lauren can scream. After all, the dead are attracted noise as much as they are the scent of blood and human flesh. She looks down and sees the terror in Lauren's eyes. She thinks about telling her everything will be alright. I mean, the girl just turned six yesterday, but she refuses to lie. They've already lasted longer than they should have given the situation and hiding in a barn stall isn't exactly the same as barricading yourself in mall or even a house.
This was the first year that his teacher not only gave him a supply list, but she insisted that every student in her class buy their school supplies from a specific store. No exceptions. He shrugged. Maybe fifth grade was different. They had to drive nearly an hour to get there, which was odd considering they could have bought everything on the list in at least a dozen stores in town. "This can't be it," his mother said, as she pulled off the road into a gravel driveway that led to what looked like an old barn.
She started to text her response, but she didn't want to hit send. How was she supposed to tell her best friend that she wasn't going to wear matching outfits on the first day of school? Sure, it was a tradition they started way back in kindergarten, but this was seventh grade and she was pretty sure the social rules had changed.
Money had been tight since his dad lost his job, but he was tired of hearing about it. He'd already worn the same backpack for two years and he wanted something different for his first day of seventh grade. Okay, maybe you could get away with Star Wars or even The Avengers. But Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? He was going to get mocked, that was a done deal. The only question was whether or not he was going to get beaten up as well.
link to 21 Characteristics of a Perfect Middle Grade Protagonist
Your protagonist needs to be the most engaging character in your book. After all, the readers are going to witness the story through his eyes. Readers need to care about him enough that they won't put the book down until they know he's safe (which won't be until the last page). That means he has […]


This letter was written by a teacher to his former students in Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho.
Selected article titles: "Council Airs City Problems. Miso, Moyashi Plants; OPD Situation Argued" (p. 1), "Women Drivers, Mechanics Needed by Motor Pool" (p. 1), "Dr. Neher Urges Caution Against Sagebrush Trips" (p. 1), "Brave Yanks With Yellow Skin" (p. 2), "Camp-Wide Egg Hunt Scheduled" (p. 2).
Selected article titles: "Blks. 26, 28, 30 Lead Volunteer Enlistment Here" (p. 1), "Why a Segregated Unit? War Secretary Answers" (p. 1), "Comments on Army Move Favorable" (p. 1), "Editorial: No Time for Confusion" (p. 2), "Volunteers May Get Legal Advice" (p. 2).
Selected article titles: "Authorities Arrest 5 for Evacuee Attack" (p. 1), "Allowance Rules for Clothing Reiterated" (p. 1), "Nisei Boys of Shelby Have Highest I.Q., Says Journalist" (p. 1), "Potential Labor Available Among Former Tuleans" (p. 1), "Hoodlums to be Punished for Molesting Jap Laborers" (p. 2).


Is your garage door broken? Do you need servicing, repairs or a replacement?
Going above and beyond to provide Markham residents exceptional garage door service and selection!
Thanks to our ever-expanding loyal customer base, we have expanded our locations to Whitby, Scarborough and Mississauga — each dedicated to providing the highest quality products, personalized solutions and exceptional customer experience.
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Please give us a call and experience what it's like to deal with an honest and friendly local company. Or, visit our showroom to visualize, touch and learn about the garage products we provide.
Markham Garage Doors is an award-winning company that offers service, repairs, maintenance and installations for all types of garage doors.
As a full-service company, we offer everything you need; fast affordable service, new garage doors, garage door openers, parts, and sometimes just helpful advice. Our aim is to always meet and exceed your expectations.
We are the area's top choice for home and business owners who want fast, professional, high-quality garage door products and service – all backed by the best warranties, knowledgeable staff, friendly service and unbeatable prices.
Markham Garage Doors provides same-day service and repairs for springs, cables, panels, gears and photo-eyes. We believe that you deserve punctual service because your time is very valuable.
Additionally, we offer a free, on-site consultation to match samples to your property, and to ensure that you get the best garage door for your home or business. We'll explain your options, inspect your garage and fittings, answer your questions and find the right solution for your needs.
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Markham Garage Doors provides the largest selection of residential and commercial garage door products and accessories throughout the Markham area. Our team of friendly and experienced garage experts provides individualized attention to all of our local customers — recommending the highest-quality products from leading manufacturers like Clopay® and LiftMaster and finding unique solutions that suit your specific needs, improve your daily conveniences and fit your budget.
At Markham Garage Doors, our team is dedicated to always providing Markham homeowners with attractive and dependable garage door products. All of our Clopay garage doors are crafted from the finest quality steel, aluminum and wood available, and extensively tested against the harshest climates to ensure lasting durability and beautiful appearances. Our residential garage door products are safe, easily maintained and energy-efficient.
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Our highly trained and experienced team can help with any type of garage door repair need, including broken spring and cable replacements, off-track doors or malfunctioning garage door openers. We provide same-day repair services using only the highest-quality tools and equipment available to ensure lasting repairs.
Markham Garage Doors is the premier expert in residential and commercial garage door installation, repair and maintenance for homeowners throughout Markham, Ontario, and the surrounding communities — including the Aurora, Newmarket and Richmond Hill areas. Learn more about our garage door services by visiting our Markham showroom, speaking to one of our team members at 905-472-9178, or completing our online contact form.


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Paul R. Hillner
HILLNER, Paul R. beloved husband of 43 years to Deborah Hillner, loving father of Sara, Brian (Amber) and Lauren (Will Thomas); Preston, Jacob and the late Alyssa Hillner, dear grandfather of Chase and one granddaughter on the way, son of late Rudolph & late Dorothy, brother of Bruce (late June) Hillner.
Paul went to his heavenly home on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at age 70, after a brave battle with blood cancer.
Paul grew up on the famed Jersey Shore and was the Big Kahuna of his neighborhood, mastering surfing and teaching others to hang-ten. He graduated with a BM in Trumpet Performance and Masters in Wind Conducting from University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). He led an illustrious 40+ year career as the Sr Asst Dean of Admissions at CCM and director of the Prep Brass Choir, shaping future musicians across multiple generations. Paul's favorite instrument was the trumpet, as he's well known throughout the community for creating magic "tooting" his horn.
A very faith-filled man, Paul served on multiple committees in his parish, was the director of the guitar group, and played trumpet at many masses throughout the liturgical year.
Paul leaves a huge hole in the hearts of his family, colleagues and friends. He was a selfless and loving husband, father, and friend to all who had the privilege to meet him - making anyone laugh with his whimsical dad jokes.
The family would like to thank Dr. James Essell and the staff at the Blood Cancer Center of Jewish Hospital-Mercy Health for all their unending care and loving support for Paul and his family.
Visitation will be held Monday, July 25, 2022 at Hodapp Funeral Home, 6041 Hamilton Avenue, College Hill, 45224 from 4-7PM, Mass of Christian Burial at St. Margaret Mary Church, 1830 West Galbraith Rd, NCH, 45239 at 10:45 AM on Tuesday, July 26, 2022.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a special CCM Memorial Scholarship fund in Paul's honor. To give, call (513) 556-2100 or visit www.UC.edu/give and choose the College-Conservatory of Music Scholarship Fund. In the comment section, please write: "In Memory of Paul Hillner."
If you're unable to donate financially, please consider donating blood to help your local community, as Paul donated countless pints of blood throughout his service with Hoxworth Blood Center.
Condolences and more info at hodappfuneralhome.com.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


God recommends that we obtain biblical counsel from godly financial advisers.
Therefore, before making any major financial decision, I recommend that you seek the advice of two or three godly financial advisers. In my view, an appropriate definition for such a person would be as follows: a spiritually mature Christian who understands and applies God's financial principles (Psalm 111:10), has a close personal relationship with God (John 15), has the necessary practical financial knowledge (Proverbs 24:3, 4), and habitually puts the interests of clients first (Philippians 2:3, 4).
I believe that one of your financial counsellors should be your spouse (Genesis 2:24), even if she or he has limited financial knowledge. God, through his Holy Spirit, can give his peace or lack of peace to an objective spouse who is not emotionally excited about or biased against a particular financial decision.
In summary, before making any major financial decision, seek counsel from two or three godly financial advisers and from your spouse. Proceed only after you and your spouse have spent considerable time in prayer, and God has given you his peace and his wisdom.


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Q: What is the maximum number of digits a product has? If I have $X \times Y = Z$ where $X,Y \neq 0$ and

*

*$n$ is the number of digits in $X$

*$m$ is the number of digits in $Y$

*$k$ is the number of digits in $Z$
What is $k$ related to $m$ and $n$?
Thanks

A: Well if $X$ has $n$ digits and $Y$ has $m$ digits, then $X\leq 10^n$ and $Y\leq 10^m$. Therefore $X\cdot Y \leq 10^{m+n}$. It seems that the answer is is $m+n$. It think it is optimal because $3\cdot 4=12$.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


All Age Music School is a different type of school. We've established ourselves to allow students and parents to have music lessons from our experienced network of teachers. We'll soon develop the AAM Teacher's Network which will give students the opportunity to learn from an 'external' network of teachers, locations and instruments, meaning you don't have to drive or travel far to learn from one of our experienced, qualified and certified All Age Music teachers. Stay tuned for this roll-out.
With our headquarters based in Sydney's most up and coming creative arts hub 'Marrickville', we aim to provide students both young and old, with quality music tuition, programs, classes and musical experiences. From private tuition to group classes, our goal is to ensure we deliver a high standard of music education and experiences that is well balanced and caters to each individual student.
At this stage our growing locations are within the Sydney Inner West areas. As we continue to expand locations, teachers and their instruments, we will list them on our website, or sign up to our mailing list or Facebook page to be informed.
Each certified All Age Music teacher completes a Working with Children Check and is personally hire by the Principal. If you're wanting to find a teacher who isn't in your area yet, please let us know as we are continually hiring new teachers through-out various areas of Sydney metro.
Free Bonus Guitar Tuner when you enrol online for our next Adult Beginner Group Guitar 101 course.
Free copy of Hal Leonard's Guitar Method Book when you sign up for our next Group Guitar 102 class.
Please note that we are currently taking enrolments for new students and instruments across all our locations and with most of our teachers for 2018. Our Enmore Road, Marrickville studios now offers private tuition for guitar, vocals, piano, bass guitar, trumpet, trombone, tuba, euphonium, saxophone, clarinet, beginner flute, music theory, aural, composition, song-writing and double bass.
Kinder Beat Music is your child's first step into the world of music. We love seeing our Kinder Beat kids grow in confidence both musically and socially. They'll love the journey they take with either Kinder Roo or Kinder Bear. Kids are welcome to drop in on a casual basis to trial out the class before signing up for the term. Visit our webpage for more details or special offers for trial classes. An award winning Australian program, Kinder Beat features activities that children of the 21st century need for brain development and acceleration.
ADULT GLEE CLUB - If you love to sing, used to sing in a choir, used to sing for any reason, then why not check out our growing Adult Glee Club. Held every Wednesday from 7:00 - 8:00pm, our Glee Club is a great opportunity to develop group and harmony singing amongst like-minded singers. You don't have to be the best and you can just sing for fun. There's a range of vocalists and songs vary from old Motown/RnB to musical theatre and current hits.
Our next term of Beginner Adult Group Guitar classes will start in February 2018 with the final term starting mid October 2018. Course runs for 8 weeks with each group class running for an hour. To enrol for our 101 or 102 classes in 2018 please view our timetable. Click here for full timetable and available times and days.
Here's a video clip of MonAnnLisa Wilde's latest single 'Last Time I Saw You on Facebook' featuring our Principal and Director 'Sandra Lie' on rhythm guitar.
Would you like your toddler to be introduced into the world of music and music education?


A 1997 Celtic FC whiskey and a presentation hip flask.
A digital safe with key.
Marvel pen and pencil sets.
A box containing car spray aerosols.
A box of Skyrim scented candles ( 5 ).
4 stoneware items - 2 large jars, 1 smaller and a jug.
A Coronet camera and a Kodak Brownie camera.
A De Longhi coffee machine.
A box of chrome dimmer switches.
A box of 50s and 60s football programmes.
A box of chrome flat plate electrical fittings.
A box of brass flat plate electrical fittings.
A bag with crown green bowls and a jack.
A box of misc tools to include clamps.
A box with a quantity of swimming nappies.
A signed Blackburn Rovers football and a box of Corinthian football figures.
A Russell Hobbs electric carving knife.
A boxed 6 piece knife set with wooden block.
A box of various Brook Bond picture cards to include football related.
Two boxed Mad Catz gaming keyboards.
A quantity of model kits.
A boxed animal trap small size cage.
A box of crystal pets.
A Black & Decker Lithium Batterytech autoselect screwdriver with screwholder AS36LN 3.6V.
A large Arda Oyster shaped glassware dish.
2 Pixar Toy story toys - battery operated.
A box of Corgi and racing cars.
A box of books - all Conan adventures books.
A Champion junior plus jockey helmet.
A box of Action men.
A boxed laser spirit level.
A Scholl foot massager with heat.
A box of Thomas The Tank Engine Tomy engines etc.
A case with 45s along with various books.
A box of various toy cars.
A quantity of storage boxes.
A box of battery chargers for video cameras ( Philips, JVC, Canon, Samsung ).
A Cookworks Signature breadmaker in box.


text:
Global businesses rethink plans to ditch the office post-COVID
LLDTF
LYG
22 March 2021, 8:01 pm ·4-min read
Research conducted in February and March of this year showed that almost half (45%) of chief executives, from the world's most influential companies, do not expect to see a return to "normal" course of business until 2022. Photo: Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images
Businesses across the globe are reassessing plans to downsize their company's physical footprint, with just 17% of executives looking to reduce office space as a result of the pandemic.
This compares to 69% of CEOs who said in August last year that they planned to reduce their office space over three years, highlighting a shift in strategy from survival to revival.
According to a new study by KPMG, company bosses believe that remote working poses fresh data security risks. They named cyber security as the top concerns impacting company growth and operations over a three-year period.
The research, which was conducted in February and March of this year, also showed that almost half (45%) of chief executives, from the world's most influential companies, said they do not expect to see a return to "normal" course of business until 2022.
This is opposed to nearly 31% who believe it will happen later this year.
KPMG surveyed a total of 500 global bosses from 11 key markets (Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Spain, UK and US) about their response to the pandemic, and their outlook over a three-year horizon.
All respondents had annual revenues greater than $500m (£360m) and a third of the companies surveyed have more than $10bn in annual revenue.
READ MORE: Goldman Sachs CEO calls work from home an 'aberration'
The changes prompted by COVID-19 resulted in a quarter of respondents admitting that their business model has been changed forever by the crisis.
Some 55% of CEOs said they were concerned about employees' access to a COVID-19 vaccine, while 90% said they considered asking staff members to report when they have been vaccinated. This was in order to help them think about necessary measures to protect their workforce.
A third (34%) of global executives were worried about misinformation about COVID-19 vaccine safety and the potential this may have on employees choosing not to have it administered.
Bill Thomas, global chairman and CEO of KPMG, said: "Before any major decisions are made, CEOs want to be confident that their workforce is protected against this virus. The COVID-19 vaccine rollout is providing leaders with a dose of optimism as they prepare for a new normal.
"CEOs are scenario planning for difference across certain key markets that could impact their operations, supply chains and people, leading to uneven economic recovery."
He added: "The pandemic has also been a catalyst for CEOs to evaluate the role their companies play in society. Many have given voice to issues they may not have previously commented on publicly – from tackling climate change to supporting the diverse communities they operate in – and we need to keep hearing those voices. There is much more to be done."
READ MORE: Barclays CEO: Packed Canary Wharf offices 'may be a thing of the past'
It comes after HSBC (HSBA.L) and Lloyds (LLOY.L) announced plans in February to slash office space post-COVID.
HSBC said it hoped to reduce its office space globally by 40% "over the long term" as it moves to an "agile" way of working.
The plans do not apply to the bank's branch network, chief executive Noel Quinn said. He added that Europe's largest lender was committed to staying at its Canary Wharf headquarters, which houses 10,000 staff. However, smaller offices around London would likely be closed, he said.
Meanwhile, Lloyds is looking to reduce its office space by a fifth by 2023 as part of a push towards flexible working.
The move has been prompted by COVID-19, which the bank thinks will permanently change the way staff work.
The majority of Lloyds' 60,000 staff moved to working from home last year as the pandemic struck. Chief financial officer William Chalmers said a recent survey of employees found 77% wanted to work from home at least three days a week even after the pandemic subsides.
The finding has prompted Lloyds to consider cutting back office space and rethink the space that remains. Chalmers said the bank would "ensure that the workspace is fit for purpose in an environment in which colleagues want to come to work to collaborate rather than necessarily sit at their desks on their own".
"We will create a purposeful and future-ready workspace for all," he said.
WATCH: Is work from home here to stay? What UK businesses are planning post-lockdown
Pop Sugar UK Tech
Share the Love This Valentine's Day With These 52 Zoom Background Images
Valentine's Day celebrates love and affection, and while affection can be a challenge in today's world, love absolutely is not! Thanks to Zoom, or any video calling service, seeing our loved ones this Valentine's Day is a breeze. Whether it's a Galentine's Day celebration, a romantic date between you and a partner, or a call for singles only (no judgments!), these backgrounds will amplify whatever type of love you're celebrating.
Italy approves new package to curb energy bills, help COVID-hit firms
ROME (Reuters) -Italy approved a set of new measures on Friday designed to curb surging energy bills and help companies cope with the latest wave of coronavirus infections. The scheme, funded by a series of compensatory measures, will not weigh on the public deficit which the Treasury is keen to reduce to 5.6% of growth this year from 9.4% in 2021. Soaring energy prices, triggered by heavy demand for gas as economies look to emerge from the health pandemic, have prompted governments across Europe to introduce measures to try to shield consumers.
MPs criticise 'shameful' underpaying of state pensions
The long-term underpayment of thousands of state pensioners is a "shameful shambles", according to the Public Accounts Committee


text:
SIGNS OF STROKE: Learning how to detect them may someday save your life
Sun | Health & Fitness
By Jill Burcum, Minneapolis Star Tribune — Jul 8th, 2002
Pain in the chest, shortness of breath. Most people recognize these signs of a heart attack and the need for emergency medical care.
Unfortunately, the same isn't true for the nation's No. 3 killer - stroke. More than 750,000 people have a stroke each year, according to the National Stroke Association. More than 160,000 die. Stroke also is the nation's leading cause of disability.
Yet, evidence continues to mount that people don't recognize strokes. Many people don't know about an emergency treatment with a drug called TPA that could potentially save a stroke victim's life and limit paralysis, speech problems and other disabilities.
A 1990 medical study found that more than half of stroke victims waited a day or more to seek treatment. A 1996 stroke association survey found that 17 percent of adults older than 50 - who are in the age group at highest risk for stroke - couldn't name a single stroke symptom. A University of Cincinnati study found that 52 percent of patients having a stroke didn't realize what they were experiencing.
The latest documentation of the lack of stroke awareness comes from Mayo Clinic researchers, who presented their findings at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting in April.
Neurologists Kelly Flemming and Robert Brown surveyed more than 1,000 randomly chosen people ages 19 to 93 in Olmsted County, Minn., where the Mayo Clinic is located.
Less than half of the respondents could correctly define a stroke. Nearly all recognized paralysis as a symptom of stroke. Several other symptoms, such as the inability to articulate thoughts into words, vision loss and numbness or tingling were recognized less often.
"The biggest surprise to me was that the people with a prior stroke weren't any more knowledgeable than anyone else about the risk factors or symptoms," said Flemming, who conducted the survey as part of an effort to build a stroke-prevention program at Mayo. "I guess we're not even educating these people enough on how to recognize strokes and prevent them."
Nearly two-thirds of respondents did not know about treatment options, or that TPA must be given within three hours of stroke onset.
Only 42 percent said they would call 911 - which is what physicians recommend - if they thought they were having a stroke. Forty percent said they did not think there was any treatment for stroke.
Too late for TPA
Particularly troublesome, said Flemming and other experts, is that many people arrive at an emergency room too late for TPA, considered a breakthrough in stroke treatment, to be used.
Flemming estimated that only 5 to 10 percent of stroke victims are treated with TPA.
"Lack of awareness is the biggest barrier to stroke treatment," said Dr. Ronald Tarrel, a neurologist at Abbott Northwestern Hospital's Stroke Services Program in Minneapolis.
TPA, tissue plasminogen activator, is approved only to treat ischemic strokes - about 80 percent of all strokes, according to the stroke association. Ischemic strokes occur when the blood flow in an artery leading to the brain becomes blocked - such as by a blood clot.
Nearby tissue begins to die in minutes as oxygen and nutrients are cut off. The loss of this tissue can lead to speech problems, paralysis and other disabilities.
The remaining 20 percent of strokes are called hemorrhagic strokes. They occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures.
Doctors sometimes call TPA a "clot-busting" drug. It restores blood flow by dissolving the clot that is causing an ischemic stroke, said Dr. Sandra Hanson, a neurologist. But to be effective, it must be given before before a large amount of brain tissue dies.
Puzzle of inaction
Why people don't recognize stroke symptoms or seek emergency treatment remains a matter of concern and debate among experts.
Tarrel believes that because stroke symptoms typically don't cause pain, they don't grab a stroke victim's attention. Heart attacks, in contrast, can cause intense chest pain.
"If there's no pain, just numbness or a sense of weakness, there's this thought of 'Well, I'll just sleep on it and it will go away,' " Tarrel said.
Hanson said many people find that they have symptoms in the middle of the night and don't want to bother anyone. The reality is that waiting may cost a life or lead to long-term disabilities.
To raise awareness, the association is promoting the Three Rs of stroke: Reduce risk, recognize symptoms and respond by calling 911.
Risk factors include high blood pressure, a family history of stroke, smoking, heart disease, diabetes and having high cholesterol, according to the association. Men, U.S.-born blacks and everyone older than 45 also are at higher risk, as are people who have already had a stroke.
Doctors recommend that anyone experiencing these symptoms call 911 immediately:
l Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or - especially - on one side of the body
l Sudden confusion or trouble with speaking or understanding
l Sudden trouble with seeing in one or both eyes
l Sudden trouble with walking, loss of balance and coordination or dizziness
l Sudden, severe headache with no known cause. May be accompanied by facial pain, a stiff neck or pain between the eyes
l Sudden nausea, fever and vomiting - distinguished from a viral illness by speed of onset (minutes or hours vs. days)
l Brief loss of consciousness or a period of decreased consciousness, such as fainting or convulsions
Knowing stroke symptoms could save your life or someone else's
One minute you're strolling down the street. The next you're on the ground, unable to walk or talk. In a split second, your life changes forever. That's what having a stroke is like, and it can happen to anyone at any time -- ... [Read More...]
CLOT-BUSTING DRUGS ... HOLIDAY SNEEZES ... HEART EXERCISES
Scripps Howard News Service Release date: 11-24-92 (Don Kirkman, science editor of Scripps Howard News Service, writes this column weekly.) HEALTH WATCH By DON KIRKMAN Scripps Howard News Service Medical researchers estimate at least 14,000 heart attack victims could be saved annually if ... [Read More...]
An attack on the BRAIN
Listen to stroke patients - what people don't know can hurt them On average, someone in the United States suffers a stroke every 53 seconds. This year, 600,000 Americans will suffer a stroke, and 160,000 of them will die - making stroke the country's third leading ... [Read More...]
Vampire bats might help prevent permanent disability
A vampire bat might someday save your life. The Medical College of Ohio is one of 16 hospitals nationwide testing a stroke treatment based on vampire bat saliva. It's not as outrageous as it sounds, and if the experiment succeeds, it might prevent permanent ... [Read More...]
IN THE HEADLINES: Stroke drug still going strong
TPA, a lifesaving drug that has revolutionized emergency-room treatment of strokes, isn't just a short-term fix. A study found that patients treated with TPA within three hours after a stroke caused by a blood clot in the brain are less likely to be ... [Read More...]


text:
Americans Perceive Likelihood of Nuclear Weapons Risk as 50/50 Tossup
Consumption of media plays significant role in how different generations think about nuclear weapon detonation on U.S. soil
(Hoboken, N.J. – Jan. 22, 2019) – It has been 30 years since the end of the Cold War, yet, on average, Americans still perceive that the odds of a nuclear weapon detonating on U.S. soil is as likely as a coin toss, according to new research from Stevens Institute of Technology.
"That's exceptionally high," said Kristyn Karl, a political scientist at Stevens who co-led the work with psychologist Ashley Lytle. "People don't generally believe that highly rare events are slightly less likely than a 50/50 tossup."
The finding, reported in the January 2020 issue of _International Journal of Communicatio_n, represents the end of a decades long gap in the research literature on Americans' perceptions on nuclear weapons threat. It also provides an initial look at how younger generations, namely Millennials and Gen Z (18-37 years old), think about the topic and what influences their behavior in an era of evolving nuclear threat.
Using their combined expertise in political science and psychology, Karl and Lytle fielded two nationally diverse online surveys totaling more than 3,500 Americans to measure individual characteristics and attitudes, such as perceptions of nuclear risk, apathy toward nuclear topics, media use, and interest in following current events.
They also analyzed how these characteristics and attitudes such as perceptions of nuclear risk influence behaviors, including the likelihood of seeking information and initiating conversations about nuclear topics, as well as preparing emergency kits in the event that the worst were to happen.
The ultimate goal of the work, which is part of the larger Reinventing Civil Defense project supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, is to learn more about how to best develop new communication tools to increase awareness among Americans about topics related to nuclear weapons, particularly what to do in the event of a nuclear detonation.
"The overarching narrative from the Reinventing Civil Defense project is that younger Americans just don't hear anything about nuclear weapons risk," said Karl. "Unlike older Americans, Millennials and Gen Z didn't grow up during the Cold War, so what they know about nuclear risk is what's in the media, and what's in the media isn't necessarily reflective of the true state of affairs."
And media use matters.
Karl and Lytle find that consuming media has a striking effect on how younger and older adults think about topics related to nuclear weapons, especially as it relates to apathy. Specifically, as younger generations report using more media, they are increasingly likely to report being apathetic about nuclear topics.
But this pattern is different for older adults, as there is no association between their media use and their willingness to think about nuclear threats or how to survive them. In terms of behavior, apathy about nuclear topics is associated with a decrease in seeking information on the issue.
Interestingly, as Americans age, the lower they estimate the likelihood of a nuclear detonation in their lifetime. "Among lots of possibilities, they may be thinking if it didn't happen during the Cold War, it won't happen now; or perhaps I have fewer years to live, so it probably won't happen in my lifetime," said Lytle. However, older adults and those who tend to more closely follow the news tend to seek more information about nuclear topics.
Broadly, perceptions of nuclear weapons risk prove powerful as they lead Americans and take various actions to prepare in the event of a nuclear attack. On average, city dwellers estimate the risk as 5-7% higher than their rural or suburban peers whereas women estimate nuclear risk as 3-5% higher than men. Since men report significantly higher levels of media use and more closely following current events, this research presents several opportunities for targeting messages based on these varying perceptions.
One pattern is clear: as perception of nuclear weapons risk increases, so too does Americans' intent to take action and that's true across multiple measures, whether it putting forward effort to think and plan for it, seeking information about it, communicating with others on the topic, or taking steps to prepare for an attack.
Karl and Lytle explain that many people are fatalistic: if a nuclear weapon were to go off in New York City, then we would all be dead, 'so why should I put any effort forward in thinking about it?'
Karl explains that the size of the weapon, the location, and even the weather, are important. In cities, for example, many nuclear weapons detonations would be funneled upward by tall buildings and modeling suggests that many people could survive. The most important thing people could do is get inside a building and stay there for three days.
"Our gut reaction is that everybody would die. But not everybody," said Lytle. "We are trying to figure out how to educate people that this is not always true so that people feel like they have some sort of agency in a situation like this. Many people could survive the initial blast and then their subsequent behavior would determine what happens from there."
While Lytle and Karl emphasize that they don't wish to make claims about the actual degree of nuclear weapons risk, they maintain that perceptions of this risk are crucially important. Even if we assume the risk is low in the real world, it could be life-saving for Americans to know just a small amount about what you should do.
-- Stevens --
About Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a premier, private research university situated in Hoboken, New Jersey overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Since our founding in 1870, technological innovation has always been the hallmark and legacy of Stevens' education and research. Within the university's three schools and one college, 6,900 undergraduate and graduate students collaborate closely with faculty in an interdisciplinary, student-centric, entrepreneurial environment. A range of academic and research programming spanning business, computing, engineering, the arts and other fields actively advances the frontiers of science and leverages technology to confront our most pressing global challenges. The university is consistently ranked among the nation's elite for return on tuition investment, career services and the mid-career salaries of alumni.
Stevens media contact: Thania Benios, 201-216-5003, [email protected]


text:
Andy Dawbarn
Partner London Bridge
Contact Andy
Andy joined Wilkins Kennedy in 2010, having spent over thirty years in VAT, the first five of which were with HM Customs & Excise (as was) and the latter years have been spent in practice, most of which was with two of the 'big 4' firms.
Andy is a Partner of the firm, and leads the direction and delivery of VAT and other indirect tax advisory services.
Andy is CTA qualified and manages a varied portfolio, working with UK-based and international businesses alike. Andy's role includes providing advice on indirect tax services, new legislation and operational compliance. His sector expertise spans financial services, property and construction, academies and not for profit.
Andy regularly lectures on VAT issues and is a frequent contributor to a number of professional magazines and periodicals.
View all our people


Nutrition is a critical component of our Wellness for Life Curriculum. In partnership with our Food Services Department and Parent Teacher Organizations, we have given students the opportunity to broaden their pallets with delicious and nutritious vegetables and fruits. Fridays are set aside as a Fresh Food Friday experience where all students can sample fresh produce! Additionally, we highlight these selections in our newsletters with information about the health benefits and recipes to excite the taste buds. A special thanks to Tessa Carrel for her coordination of the Fresh Food Fridays and Beth Grainger for her expertise and writings about nutrition and food.
Put your chef's hat on and try out our Fresh Foodie Fridays recipes.


text:
Q: Java Unsigned Char Array I'm working on a project fuzzing a media player.  I wrote the file generator in Java and converted the CRC generator from the original compression code written in C.  I can write data fine with DataOutputStream, but I can't figure out how to send the data as an unsigned character array in java.  In C this is a very straightforward process.  I have searched for a solution pretty thoroughly, and the best solution I've found is to just send the data to C and let C return a CRC.  I may just not be searching correctly as I'm pretty unfamiliar with this stuff.  Thank you very much for any help.

A: You definitely want a byte[].  A 'byte' is equivalent to a signed char in C.  Java's "char" is a 16-bit unicode value and not really equivalent at all.
If it's for fuzzing, unless there's something special about the CRC function you're using, I imagine you could simply use:
import java.util.Random;
Random randgen = new Random();

byte[] fuzzbytes = new byte[numbytes];
randgen.nextBytes(fuzzbytes);
outstream.write(fuzzbytes, 0, numbytes);

A: I doubt that you want to do anything with characters. I can't see anything in your description which suggests text manipulation, which is what you'd do with characters.
You want to use a byte array. It's a bit of a pain that bytes are signed in Java, but a byte array is what you've got - just work with the bit patterns rather than thinking of them as actual numbers, and check each operation carefully.

A: Most CRC operators use mostly bitwise shifts and XORs.  These should work fine on Java, which does not support unsigned integer primitives.  If you need other arithmetic to work properly, you could try casting to a short.


At Fergurson Insurance Agency, we offer a variety of coverage options to those in Jacksonville, Illinois and throughout the surrounding areas. As a family owned and operated agency, we know how important protection is. That's why we provide a range of coverage to the community. Established in 1990, we use our experience to ensure clients receive the best combination of price and policy. Schedule an appointment and get the protection you need, today!


text:
Billie Eilish Shares Her Uneasy Dream on 'WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?'
The 17-year-old delivers on high expectations
Emma McIntyre / Staff
There is this idea that Billie Eilish is the first bona fide pop star born of the internet age. Created with the confidence and anxiety of having the world's answers a keystroke away, she's a savvy manifestation of our digital connection. Her music is not the memes and vitriol of it all, but a stylish and vulnerable product of a life completely connected from day one. This is a post-millennial guide to getting through it.
WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? is Eilish's official debut. It arrives with impressively high expectations for a 17-year-old singer, but they are well earned after early examples from the "you should see me in a crown" star. Each new look into Billie's world has offered something achingly authentic and uniquely her own, and that experience is maximized as an album. Often dark without being aggressive, her spooky soundscapes still manage to find their pleasing center. In other places Eilish is sparse and effective, opening herself like a diary, spilling secrets and emotions in a haunting and touching way. The fact that it all feels so true is likely why Eilish has resonated so quickly.
Related: Watch Adults React to Billie Eilish: "This Is Gross, but It Sounds so Pretty"
A lot of her debut lives on the low end. Rattling bass and confessional whispers take listeners by the hand into this uneasy dream. Sometimes it's a restrained trash like a night terror, elsewhere it's with lulling softness coaxing you to follow her. On "bad guy" she stands commanding as the track thumps and twinkles around her. On the single "when the party's over" that bass bubbles and rolls underneath Eilish as she agonizes alongside piano. It's all very rich but not decadent, thriving with emotion and terror near each turn.
If Billie Eilish had arrived 15 years ago, it would be with cake-white makeup and a strong goth aesthetic. The image would be carefully curated to evoke danger and mystery. The expressions in her music would never allow us to watch her eat hot wings or laugh along with reaction videos. Thankfully today she gets to sing and scare and emote as herself, an unconcerned teenager who is unflinchingly honest and cool. Billie is born of an era that allows us to be all things, as long as it's real. WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? is a statement and a healthy mix of that confidence and anxiety. A dream and a diagram at the same time.
WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? is now available everywhere.
When We All Fall Asleep
Where Do We Go?


text:
CREES Lecture. "Solidarity 1980-1981."
170 Dennison, 500 Church St.
Michael Dobbs, visiting professor of communications and former Washington Post Warsaw correspondent. Sponsor: CREES.
Michael Dobbs is an American non-fiction author. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and educated at the University of York, he has been a reporter for the Washington Post since 1980, when he joined the paper as its Warsaw correspondent. He was the Post's bureau chief in Eastern Europe (1980-81), Paris (1982-86), and Moscow (1988-93).
Dobbs spent much of his career as a foreign correspondent covering the collapse of communism. He was the first Western journalist to visit the Gdansk shipyard in August 1980, and also covered the Tiananmen Square uprising in China in 1989 and the abortive coup against Mikhail Gorbachev in August 1991. He also reported on the wars in the former Yugoslavia.
His book Down with Big Brother: The Fall of The Soviet Empire was a runner-up for the 1997 PEN award for nonfiction. His hour-by-hour study of the Cuban missile crisis, One Minute to Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro on the Brink of Nuclear War, was a finalist for the 2008 Los Angeles Times history prize and was named one of five non-fiction books of the year by the Washington Post. Other books include a biography of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Saboteurs: The Nazi Raid on America.
*This is a class lecture that is open to the public. The course, History 331 "Poland in the 20th and 21st Centuries," is taught by Professor Brian Porter-Szucs.


text:
Q: How can I insert a specific value from one multidimensional array into another? Array A:
Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [id] => 1
            [0] => 1
            [project_id] => a
            [1] => a
            [title] => Yellow
            [2] => Yellow
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [id] => 2
            [0] => 2
            [project_id] => b
            [1] => b
            [title] => blue
            [2] => blue
        )

    [2] => Array
        (
            [id] => 3
            [0] => 3
            [project_id] => c
            [1] => c
            [title] => green
            [2] => green
        )

)

Array B:
Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [id] => 1
            [0] => 1
            [project_id] => b
            [1] => b
            [name] => Ross
            [4] => Ross
            [15] =>
            [category] => horse
            [16] => horse
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [id] => 2
            [0] => 2
            [project_id] => b
            [1] => b
            [name] => Capone
            [4] => Capone
            [category] => cat
            [16] => cat
        )

    [2] => Array
        (
            [id] => 3
            [0] => 3
            [project_id] => c
            [1] => c
            [name] => Streisand
            [4] => Streisand
            [category] => elephant
            [16] => elephant
        )

    [3] => Array
        (
            [id] => 4
            [0] => 4
            [project_id] => a
            [1] => a
            [name] => Harper
            [4] => Harper
            [category] => frog
            [16] => frog
        )

)

I want to insert the values from Array A into Array B according to the project_id.
The result that I am trying to achieve is this:
Array C:
Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [id] => 1
            [project_id] => a
            [title] => Yellow
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [id] => 2
            [project_id] => b
            [title] => blue
            [horse] => Ross
            [cat] => Capone
        )

    [2] => Array
        (
            [id] => 3
            [project_id] => c
            [title] => green
            [elephant] => Streisand
            [frog] => Harper
        )

)

I am really lost, I tested working with array_merge, array_column and array_push. But I couldn't find the right method to solve this problem. Maybe it is not possible the way I want to do it? I am happy for any hint!

A: Hope this is what you want:
$arr1 = array
(
    0 => array
        (
            "id" => 1,
            "0" => 1,
            "project_id" => "a",
            "1" => "a",
            "title" => "Yellow",
            "2" => "Yellow"
        ),

    "1" => array
        (
            "id" => 2,
            "0" => 2,
            "project_id" => "b",
            "1" => "b",
            "title" => "blue",
            "2" => "blue",
        )
,
    "2" => array
        (
            "id" => 3,
            "0" => 3,
            "project_id" => "c",
            "1" => "c",
            "title" => "green",
            "2" => "green"
        )

);
$arr2 =array
(
    "0" => array
        (
            "id" => 1,
            "0" => 1,
            "project_id" => "b",
            "1" => "b",
            "name" => "Ross",
            "4" => "Ross",
            "15" => "",
            "category" => "horse",
            "16" => "horse",
        ),
        "1" => array
        (
            "id" => 2,
            "0" => 2,
            "project_id" => "b",
            "1" => "b",
            "name" => "Capone",
            "4" => "Capone",
            "category" => "cat",
            "16" => "cat",
        ),

    "2" => array
        (
            "id" => 3,
            "0" => 3,
            "project_id" => "c",
            "1" => "c",
            "name" => "Streisand",
            "4" => "Streisand",
            "category" => "elephant",
            "16" => "elephant"
        ),

    "3" => array
        (
            "id" => 4,
            "0" => 4,
            "project_id" => "a",
            "1" => "a",
            "name" => "Harper",
            "4" => "Harper",
            "category" => "frog",
            "16" => "frog"
        )

);

$new_arr=array();
foreach ($arr1 as $key => $value) {
  $new_arr_tmp=array();
  $new_arr_tmp["id"]=$value["id"];
  $new_arr_tmp["project_id"]=$value["project_id"];
  $new_arr_tmp["title"]=$value["title"];
  foreach ($arr2 as $key1 => $value1) {
    if($new_arr_tmp["project_id"] == $value1["project_id"])
    {
      $new_arr_tmp[$value1["category"]]=$value1["name"];
    }
  }

  $new_arr[]=$new_arr_tmp;
}
echo "<pre>";
print_r($new_arr);

demo:
https://eval.in/750450

A: Just use two foreach.
<?php

$a = [
        [
            'id' => 1,
            '0' => 1,
            'project_id' => 'a',
            '1' => 'a',
            'title' => 'Yellow',
            '2' => 'Yellow'
        ],
        [
            'id' => 2,
            '0' => 2,
            'project_id' => 'b',
            '1' => 'b',
            'title' => 'blue',
            '2' => 'blue'
        ],
        [
            'id' => 3,
            '0' => 3,
            'project_id' => 'c',
            '1' => 'c',
            'title' => 'green',
            '2' => 'green'
        ]
];

$b = [
    [
            'id' => 1,
            '0' => 1,
            'project_id' => 'b',
            '1' => 'b',
            'name' => 'Ross',
            '4' => 'Ross',
            'category' => 'horse',
            '16' => 'horse'
    ],
    [
            'id' => 2,
            '0' => 2,
            'project_id' => 'b',
            '1' => 'b',
            'name' => 'Capone',
            '4' => 'Capone',
            'category' => 'cat',
            '16' => 'cat'
    ]
];

$final_array = [];

foreach($a as $item) {
    foreach($b as $item2) {
        if ($item['project_id'] == $item2['project_id']){
            $object = array_merge($item,$item2);
        } else {
            $object = $item;
        }
    }
    $final_array[] = $object;
}

var_dump($final_array);


Lovina Tour is one of the best Bali Full Day Tours to see the Dolphin in Lovina Beach. Lovina beach is one of Spectacular beach with Dolphin habitat and perfect place for Watching dolphins in northern Bali. Tour Driver will Pickup you early morning about 03.30 Am at your hotel lobby, you will directly to Lovina Beach. When you arrive there you using traditional boat to see Dolphin, you will using traditional outrigger boat to go inside the sea of Lovina Beach, and waiting on the boat till the dolphin go to surface.
First time in Bali.We are truly impressed with the attention to detail,customer service and knowledge from Trips Bali's team.We had fun , beautiful photo shooting from our guide. Yande will arrange the best itinerary based on your interest and time.
We highly recommend Trip Bali to anyone who would like to experience the real Bali and cultural highlights.
I was recently in Bali for the December holidays. I must say that the public toilets are clean, beautiful scenery up north. A must to see the rice terraces in Jatiluwih. However, plan your trip early as you will get stuck in traffic as the roads are just 2 lanes to tourist spots. As for shoping and entertainment, you will see crowded strips of souvenier shops (easy to bargain prices), cafes, restaurants, all-night clubs in Kuta and Ubud. For the young ladies, if you like, it's a must to give a go with hair braiding at Kuta!
Had an excellent day trip with Bali trips. Wayan took us to the showing of the traditional Barong dance, onto the local manufacturing of jewellery and batik in the Ubud region. Stopped at a lovely place for lunch right by the rice fields, experienced tastings of the local coffee and teas which was excellent. Then onto the rice terraces of Ubud and on the way home stopping at Tegenungan falls. Was a pleasure having Wayan as our guide super friendly and always up for a good chat. Will definitely be giving Wayan a call when we come back.


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text:
When you think of sports fans, especially NFL fans, you know they will go quite the mile to support their team. Heck, take a look at how many fans sit out in the freezing cold temperatures just to watch their favorite star quarterback throw the winning touchdown pass. It is no surprise that many people […]
Jets head coach Rex Ryan proclaimed his team as a Super Bowl favorite a couple of days ago when assessing how his football team would fare in the playoffs.
This is the same guy who thought his team had no shot of making the playoffs after a frustrating home loss to the Falcons. He said nothing for the last couple of weeks of the regular season.
It took the playoffs for the bombastic head coach to finally get back to do what he does best.
Joe Namath begged to differ with Ryan on how this team would do.
Ryan is not wrong for believing in his team, which has the talent to make a January run with a great defense and a great running game. But January football features quarterbacks that need to make the big plays that win games in the postseason.
This is why the Jets are not going to do much in the playoffs. Mark Sanchez is not ready to play on this stage just yet.
It's hard to think Sanchez will do much tomorrow unless he surprises everybody. Palmer can be trusted to put up at least one or two touchdowns, and a bounce back performance by the Bengals quarterback is why Cincinnati will defeat the Jets in the wild-card game. So this is going to be short-lived for Rex's bunch.
It should be a close game, with great defense and an efficient running game. Look for both teams to score points to the point the game will come down to the fourth quarter. In fact, itmight just come down to the final possession of the game.
But does anyone think Sanchez has what it takes to lead in that stretch? Can he engineer a long drive that can give the Jets a chance to finish and win the game?
He's shown so far that he can't. For example, against the Falcons, when the Jets had a shot to win the game, he threw an interception to dash all hope.
To be fair to him, though, he gave the Jets a chance to win by scoring a late touchdown against the Jaguars. The Jets led with two minutes to go, but the defense failed to finish as Maurice Jones-Drew ran for a touchdown.
It's possible he might do the same, but what evidence is out there that he can. He showed no progress late in the season and struggled to understand what Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and Jets quarterback coach Matt Cavanaugh was teaching.
It was so bad that Ryan got involved in trying to help his beleaguered quarterback by bringing in Yankees manager Joe Girardi to help him how to slide not to mention showing those color-coded plays to help him.
Sanchez never had to do much in the final two weeks since he was told to give the ball to Thomas Jones. Now, he has to utilize the running game if the Jets are going to win a game in January.
Ryan believes the Jets can get by with a quarterback who does not have to do much. Afterall, as a member of the Ravens coaching staff in 2000 he witnessed Baltimore win a Super Bowl with Trent Dilfer of all quarterbacks.
That said, that was a fluke. It's hard to go far without a great play by the quarterback. It's something Ryan should remember when he watched Joe Flacco struggled in the AFC Championship game last year.
No one expect Sanchez to go throw 25 times here; he doesn't have to air it out for the Jets to win. He needs to execute on third down at every opportunity and put his team in a position to get points.
A touchdown would be nice, but field goals would be good enough here.
Maybe Sanchez proves everyone wrong. That's the beauty of sports. We always expect the unexpected in postseason games where great moments formed.
Unfortunately, don't expect it.
That's why it was not wise of Rex to open his mouth unless he is really sure.
It'll be up to his quarterback to make him look like a prophet not a fool.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Sometimes in sports, you just gotta believe.
Unfortunately, that's not good enough to maintain journalistic integrity. Nor is voodoo magic—unless you're a Saints fan, in which case you can take the bag off.
But while as a fan I want to believe the Eagles can make the Super Bowl, the fact is that as a journalist, I truly CAN believe the Eagles can get there.
Sure, you can throw out numbers and stats and visual facts to disclaim that. I could do the same for any other team.
But it's always the intangibles that make a good situation great, and the Eagles have five on their side that could be an unwitting boon to their preparation and game planning in their quest to fly south for the winter.
Pete Carroll appeared cool and relaxed on the telecast of Thursday night's BCS Championship. He calmly questioned Texas coach Mack Brown's decision to run a shovel pass just before halftime, resulting in an interception for a touchdown and a 24-6 Alabama lead. The USC coach, though, did not seem on the verge of a major career move.
Roughly 12 hours later, Carroll emerged as the leading candidate in the Seahawks' coaching vacancy after the firing of coach Jim Mora on Friday.
A proposed deal between Carroll and the Seahawks to become the team's new coach is likely, according to multiple reports. The former New England Patriots and New York Jets coach is set to sign a five-year deal at approximately $7 million a year to become the Seahawks' president and coach, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Earlier in the week, Carroll met with Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Times. During a Wednesday press conference, Mora sidestepped a question on whether Leiweke guaranteed his return next season, telling reporters "I haven't talked to Tod in a day, (he's) busy with some other things." The comments may suggest that Leiweke could have been courting Carroll in the days following the Seahawks 17-13 season-ending loss to the Titans.
"We've made a tough decision today," Leiweke said in a statement Friday. "It became apparent after conducting an extensive internal audit, that a new direction was needed to provide an opportunity for the organization to be successful. Today's decision, while difficult, is part of the process in building a franchise with a new vision in 2010."
Since USC won the second of back-to-back national titles in January of 2005, Carroll has been approached by several NFL teams, most notably the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins. The previous deals have reportedly not included an opportunity to serve in a front office capacity, a probable sticking point. A spokesman in the USC Sports Media Relations Department said rumors of Carroll's return to the NFL have surfaced for the past several years at the end of the college football season.
"Pete's name comes out at this time every year," the spokesman said in a statement. "In the past, he hasn't commented on such reports. At this point, we have nothing to report."
Ironically, Carroll's four-year record of 33-31 with the Jets and Patriots is similar to the 31-33 record Mora has compiled in four seasons as a head coach in the league. In the postseason, Mora is 1-1 after leading the Falcons to the NFC Championship in January of 2004, while Carroll is 1-2 in the playoffs. Since Carroll left the Patriots following the 1999 season, however, he has won more than 83 per cent of his games at USC, including seven straight Pac-10 titles from 2002-2008.
During Carroll's tenure at USC, Seahawks middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu anchored the Trojans' defense for two years and received First-team All-American honors in the 2004-2005 season.
A year later, Tatupu earned the starting middle linebacker position in Seattle and led the Seahawks to the NFC Championship. In the week leading to the Super Bowl, Seahawks safety Michael Boulware told the Riverside Press-Enterprise that USC would have won the national championship, and the Seahawks would not have captured the NFC title had Tatupu remained in college.
"He (Carroll) sets the bar high—it's like a pro team down there," Tatupu said in an interview with the Press-Enterprise. "It's very structured, like a job. You're expected to perform well."
Either by fortune or design, Carroll's defense is structured in the same manner as the scheme used by Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley during the 2009 season. Bradley is a disciple of former Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and operated a system based on the "Tampa Two," which frequently employed two and three-deep zones.
Kiffin also served as a mentor for Carroll at the University of Arkansas in 1977, when the young coach was an assistant in the secondary in the defensive coordinator's system. It is there Carroll learned the principles of the 4-3 under blitz, predicated on jamming the box with up to eight defensive players.
"In principle, we want to give our players a chance to know exactly what they have to defend. We also want to give them an attitude in which to do that. We want to be an attacking, aggressive football team," Carroll said in a speech during a Nike coaching clinic. "We want to attack into the gap at the snap, get off the ball to play on their side of the field and get after the quarterback."
One Seahawks' player familiar with Carroll's tendencies on offense is wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The former Cerritos (Calif.) College wideout has spent the past several offseasons working out with Trojans quarterbacks, receivers and defensive backs. This past summer, Houshmandzadeh took extensive repetitions with USC freshman quarterback Matt Barkley.
"One can only assume coming from SC, (Carroll's) had a lot of success," Houshmandzadeh told Seattle-area radio station ESPN 710 on Friday. "Guys are going to listen to what he has to say because of his track record. I think his experience will help him out."
Before a deal with Carroll is finalized, the Seahawks must fulfill the requirements of the league's Rooney Rule by interviewing a minority candidate for both their coaching and general manager vacancies. John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Minority Alliance, said in a phone interview Friday afternoon that he spoke with Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier earlier in the day.
Wooten said Frazier expects to meet with Seahawks officials, despite previous reports that the Minnesota assistant coach declined an interview. Frazier is expected to interview with the Seahawks on Saturday in Minneapolis, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
The chairman of the alliance also said Seahawks officials have indicated they will create two separate positions for president and general manager of the team. Wooten said he provided Seahawks officials with a list of minority candidates that includes: Giants Director of College Scouting Marc Ross, Lions Vice President of Pro Personnel Sheldon White, Texans Director of Pro Personnel Brian Gardner, Chiefs Director of Pro Personnel Ray Farmer and Titans Director of Pro Scouting Lake Dawson.
The Seahawks could fulfill the requirements of the Rooney Rule by naming Carroll as team president and a minority candidate such as Ross as general manager, the Seattle Times reported. Wooten added that Seahawks officials indicated to him that they would begin the interviewing process for general manager next week.
In terms of minority coaching candidates, Wooten said the list he provided to Seahawks officials includes: Frazier, Dolphins wide receiver coach Karl Dorrell, former Buffalo interim coach Perry Fewell, Saints wide receiver coach Curtis Johnson, Broncos running backs coach Bobby Turner, and Ravens defensive backs coach Mark Carrier. Carrier earned First-team All-American honors as a safety at USC.
Houshmandzadeh said the possibility of Carroll's hire could invigorate a locker room in strife at the tail-end of the season. The Seahawks finished 5-11 and lost their final four games by a combined margin of 123-37. As the players cleared out their lockers on Monday, several openly questioned their trust in the offense.
"Everybody has something to prove," Houshmandzadeh said of the possibility of playing for Carroll. "It's like meeting a woman for the first time (and) taking her on a date, man. You got to do everything you can to impress her. We are all on high alert, we have to come out and do our best."
Former Head Coach Bill Cowher wants to coach again, that is a certainty.
Cowher's options are seemingly limited as this year as head coach firings are few and far between, especially considering the number of other high-profile coaches available. So far, his options run the gamut from the Buffalo Bills to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
At this point and time, other teams like the Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, and Chicago Bears are high contenders as well, but their current coaching contracts prohibit them. Each team's current wheelmen have uncertain futures with their teams, so only time will reveal the result.
Cowher isn't simply settling for a vacant headset and a wad of cash, he is looking for a position similar to Mike Holmgren's when he was in Seattle. Cowher wants control over the personnel and overall direction of the team.
Tampa Bay has offered Cowher a $6 million deal, but, Shanahan's $7 million contract with the Washington Redskins nullifies Cowher's chances for taking such a low bid. Buffalo also has a chance at nabbing Cowher but their small market and marginal roster talent won't be enough to attract "the chin."
Cowher's most likely destination is Charlotte. The Carolina Panthers have promising young talent on both sides of the ball and a potential franchise quarterback in Matt Moore.
John Fox has one more year on his contract and Jerry Richardson has made it clear that Fox will retain his position through 2010 but, with General Manager Marty Hurney's contract expiring in June, the Panthers are in terrific shape to give Cowher a big, fat contract and unlimited control at the start of the 2011 season-that is, if Cowher is willing to wait.
The threat of a lockout in 2011 and the end of the current CBA is also a concern for both team and Cowher but he will sign with a team regardless. Also, Cowher has lived in North Carolina for a number of years and will, no doubt, have the support of his family if he opts to stay in the area.
Cowher may not commit to any team this year, but that doesn't mean his talents won't be missed.
Next year, there is sure to be a number more of head coach firings and, while Carolina will likely remain at the top of Cowher's short list, a number of other teams will be vying for his leadership.
Any decision that Cowher makes needs to come quickly, though. His Super Bowl win in 2005 is slowly becoming a moot point.
Underdog Ravens Must Focus On Four Key Points Sunday
Amongst the other three anticipated matchups of the weekend, one that isn't getting a load of exposure is the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens.
Maybe it's due to these two teams being fairly familiar with one another, or the fact that the Ravens are basically being written off as people feel they don't stand a chance against Tom Brady and his Patriots.
For a number of reasons, though, there is a case to be made for the Ravens in this wild-card game. Sure they are clear underdogs against an equipped Patriots team that has been well-balanced all season, but Baltimore has all the weapons needed to contain the Patriots at Foxboro.
1. Defense
When you think of Baltimore, you think of defense. If you have the opportunity to catch the pre-game warm ups, pay close attention to the Ravens huddle. Linebacker Ray Lewis will be more fired up than ever, and he has reason to be for this game.
Ranked third in total defense on the season, and fifth in stopping the run, the Ravens will throw everything including the kitchen sink at Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Laurence Maroney.
In the past, the Ravens defense has rattled Brady. Besides Lewis, expect a few corner blitzes early from cornerbacks Chris Carr and Domonique Foxworthy. The two have combined for six interceptions on the year, and if one of these guys gets a hand on the Patriots quarterback, be prepared to see a half throw and a loose ball on the ground.
Ed Reed is also a talking point in this one. Last season, he kept the Ravens alive in the postseason, and is the backbone of the Ravens defense. Although he's been injured for parts of the season and has barely padded his stats, Bill Belichick will be well aware of his presence.
2. Get Ray Rice Going Early
Another positive that the Ravens have is the ability to mix and match running backs between Ray Rice and Willis McGahee. Few teams in the league have the freedom, and the Ravens need to take advantage of it.
The underrated running back out of Rutgers, Rice has made a name for himself in his second season in the NFL. Seven touchdowns and 1,339 yards on the year speaks for itself.
Burst after the tackle is one of Rice's strengths. If the Ravens get a quick turnover from the Patriots deep in their own territory, handing the ball to Rice to pound some yards would be the best option.
3. Less Time Joe Flacco Has the Ball, the Better
Like I said, giving the ball to Ray Rice is the better option. Although Flacco is still developing and really finding his arm in the NFL, he still isn't the type of guy that you want to rely on too much in a playoff game of this importance.
After starting the season off poorly, things gradually got better. Twelve interceptions for twenty one touchdowns on the season aren't bad numbers on the season for a second year starter, but with a defense like New England's to face (especially with Vince Wilfork right across from centre), having Flacco bide time with the ball in the pocket isn't an option for Baltimore.
4. Penalties
For those of you who watched the Monday Night Football game five weeks ago against Green Bay, you're pretty much used to the color yellow by now.
The Ravens aren't the most penalised team in the league, but they suffer enormous yardage loss on pass interference calls.
Offensively and defensively, they simply cannot afford to making mistakes that cost them yards. A team like New England is dangerous, whether you give them a one-yard advantage or a 15-yard advantage.
Ravens wide receivers need to avoid the pushing and shoving game on the offensive side of the ball. Physicality is a must to win, but the Ravens are only doing themselves harm when they get too hands on when covering deep routes.
NFL Playoffs: Opening Round Predictions and Scores
The NFL Playoffs have finally arrived and for the first time in several years, there is no real favorite to win it all. The Super Bowl is wide open this year and what about the possibility of a Rodgers vs Favre playoff rematch? How about Manning vs Brady again? The battle of the USC quarterbacks should be interesting on Saturday as well. Or perhaps McNabb will finally break through and win a ring.
Last postseason I did picks just like these and predicted the Cardinals would play in the Super Bowl, they did. Let's hope I can be as accurate as last year and hopefully we have a January to remember! Feel free to give me your predictions as well, it is always great to hear other opinions. Let the predictions begin…
Possible Cleveland-Miami Trade For Cribbs If No Deal Is Reached
Browns offer Cribbs new deal…..
Cribbs is disgusted…..
Browns say offer is final…..
Cribbs and agents act very unprofessional…..
BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH……….
If Cribbs can't act professional and a deal cannot be negotiated, the Browns should deal him. It shouldn't matter if we can just bench him. The value we can get over benching him is too much.
Therefore, I have a possible trade between the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins. It is definitely lopsided towards the Browns, but not too lopsided.
The Miami Dolphins get:
-KR/PR/WR/RB Joshua Cribbs
-QB Brady Quinn
-CB Bradnon McDonald
The Cleveland Browns get:
-QB Chad Henne
-SS Yeremiah Bell
-WR Ted Ginn Jr.
-CB Nate jones or Jason Allen
Miami gets the king of the wildcat offense and the best special teams player in the NFL, or maybe even all time.
They also get a quarterback who can manage a game and play well with a good offense like Miami's and has experience under the wild-cat offense.
McDonald is somewhat of just a throw-in in this trade but could really help the Dolphin's defense in the secondary.
Cleveland gets a new and young and successful quarterback who, not exactly 100% proven, is better than both Quinn and Derek Anderson.
They also add a defensive leader in Bell, who can intercept the ball (had three this year), sack a quarterback (7.5 in his career), and is a tackling machine.
They get Cribb's replacement in Ginn who is a better receiver than Cribbs, and has blazing speed which could help open the Browns running game up.
Lastly, they get a player to add depth into the Browns secondary. Either Jones or Allen could start, or play behind a player the Browns acquire in the offseason, hopefully the draft.
Yes, like I said, the trade is lopsided and favors the Browns, but Miami loves the wildcat. Cribbs could run it better than anyone.
Eagles Will Beat Dallas: Roll On, Super 5, Roll On
As my four regular readers know, I met Donovan McNabb, or as he is referred to in this space, Super 5, three weeks ago. He is my favorite athlete is the history of Philadelphia sports.
Today, Rich Hoffman of the Philadelphia Daily News wrote a piece saying that Super 5, barring a run to the Super Bowl, will not be back next year.
I am a big fan of Rich Hoffman. He is the best Philly columnist since the legendary Bill Lyon. I happen to agree with him here. I have said, repeatedly since April, that the Eagles will not bring Super 5 back without at least a conference championship.
Here's where Rich and I differ: I believe that the Birds get it done this year. And it starts Saturday.
Yeah, I know, the Cowboys have exercised the December demons. They finished the season 3-2, including a win over the NFC's top seed, New Orleans.
They swept the Eagles, including a 24-0 shelling in the final week of the regular season. In 19 third meetings involving teams with a regular season sweep in NFL history, the team that finished the season sweep has won the third game 12 times.
Tony Romo dumped that bad luck heifer Jessica Simpson.
The Cowboys got this, right?
Because we have Super 5.
Look, 3-2 is nice, but the Eagles were 6-1 down the stretch—a fact everyone seems to be forgetting. Andy Reid has never (AND THE ROCK MEANS) ever lost his first playoff game. Wade Phillips has never won his first playoff game.
Romo is playing well, but he's never won under the playoff crucible.
Super 5 has won nine times in the playoffs. He, also, has never lost his first playoff game.
The Cowboys haven't won a playoff game since 1996, but, really, that is more a function of circumstance. They had some really bad teams in there, and some really bad coaches too, so we'll throw that one out. The bottom line is, this game will come down to one thing: the play of Donovan McNabb.
Here's the thing. He wasn't very good last week. There has been an enormous amount of negativity around him and the team this week. There is some sentiment that it is time to move on. His back is against the wall.
Every time—every single time—McNabb has been backed into a corner, he comes out fighting. Last year, he played seven of the worst quarters of football I have ever seen from any player, at any position. He was benched at halftime in that brutal Baltimore game.
How did he respond? Oh, all he did was light up Arizona for 260 yards and four touchdowns to kick off a stretch where the team finished the regular season 4-1 to make the playoffs and go to the NFC Championship for the FIFTH time in his career.
Speaking of NFC Championships, let's go to the 2004 game. The Eagles were in their fourth one in a row, and there was talk that McNabb should be traded because he was going to lose AGAIN. Michael Vick and the Falcons, fresh off beating Brett Favre in Lambeau, were going to come to the Linc and beat the Eagles, too.
What did McNabb do then? Well, he didn't lose there, either, winning 27-10.
At the end of the regular season that year, the Eagles sat their regulars for the last two games, and there was talk that they would be rusty and McNabb would lose the first playoff game. McNabb was so rusty that he outdueled Daunte Culpepper for the win, 27-14, throwing for 286 yards and two touchdowns.
Earlier that year, the Eagles lost to the Steelers, and all the focus was one the "argument" that McNabb and Terrell Owens had on the sidelines. All week, the talk was about McNabb's lack of leadership, Owens' lack of respect, and how the team would come apart. What happened?
He had 345 yards and four touchdowns. Against the Cowboys. In Dallas. Including a 14.1 second, Playstation-esque, if I hadn't seen it and you told me about it I wouldn't have believed it scramble.
And now we have Tony Romo. The up and coming Dallas superstar is going to pass McNabb by, right? He will shred the Eagles defense, right? McNabb will struggle and choke, just like he always does, right?
When I met McNabb, he had a friend with him. I told them what a big fan I was, about the article I wrote calling him the greatest player in Philly sports history of my lifetime, and how I was so sick of the haters.
His reply? "We love the haters. They make us stronger."
So count him out. Write him off. Call him a choker. I won't. Not now, not ever.
Eagles 38, Dallas 24.
Stone Cold Lead Pipe Lock.
How the Giants Front Seven Translate to a 3-4 Defense
With the New York Football Giants and 3-4 defensive guru Romeo Crennel rumored to be mutually interested in discussing the Giants vacant defensive coordinator post it begs the question of how well the Giants current defensive front seven would translate to a 3-4 defense. The following slideshow will provide individual assessments of how the current Giants front seven would fare in a 3-4 defensive scheme.