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Home >>Search Speakers >> Roger Merrill
Roger Merrill
Co-founder of the Covey Leadership Center (now FranklinCovey Co.) Executive Coach, Keynote Speaker and Author
Roger Merrill Demo
Roger Merrill, co-founder of the Covey Leadership Center (now FranklinCovey Co.), has more than 40 years of experience as a line manager, senior executive, executive coach, consultant and teacher. Roger now specializes in writing, speaking and executive coaching with select senior leaders and organizations.
Roger is co-author (with Stephen R. Covey and Rebecca R. Merrill) of the international best seller, First Things First. He is also the author of Connections: Quadrant II Time Management, co-author of The Nature of Leadership, and contributing author to Principle-Centered Leadership. Roger's book, Life Matters: Creating a Dynamic Balance of Work, Family, Time, and Money (co-authored with his wife, Rebecca), was recognized by Soundview Executive Summaries as one of the 30 best business books of 2004.
One of the key reasons for Roger's effectiveness as a coach and consultant is his broad range of international experience and his ability to work at the personal, interpersonal, managerial and organizational levels in a practical, holistic way.
As an executive coach, speaker, consultant, and trainer, Roger has:
Worked with over 600 different organizations in more than 30 countries
Addressed domestic and international audiences ranging from a few to more than 20,000
As a manager and line leader, he has served as:
President of small food processing company (100 employees)
Senior HR executive of a large multinational organization
Co-founder of the Covey Leadership Center
President of a large multinational not-for-profit educational organization
As a writer and thought leader, he has:
Authored or co-authored four books which together have sold over 2.5 million copies and have been translated into more than a dozen languages
Talent Unleashed
The question: What single activity is most effective in unleashing human talent and improving organizational performance?
The answer: Holding three key conversations. What these conversations are, their history, and the principles that differentiate and make them powerful create an engaging and practical presentation. Audiences learn specific steps they can immediately implement with great results.
Based on the soon-to-be-released book Talent Unleashed co-authored with Shawn Moon, Todd Davis and Michael Simpson.
5 PD (Prevalent and Dangerous) Leadership Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Too often, unsuspecting high potential leaders become victims of habits and attitudes that cause them to plateau or crash. Roger provides early warning signs and avoidance strategies that not only safeguard the path to leadership success but actually help leaders achieve it.
The 6 Things Great Leaders Have in Common
With four decades of experience in working, training, consulting and writing in the field of leadership, Roger hones in on six specific things that emerge as common to great leaders worldwide. Understanding them will change your perspective on your own experience, help you benefit more from it, and influence you to seek opportunities you might otherwise avoid.
Life Matters 2011
Building on the powerful principles in his book Life Matters; Creating a Dynamic Balance of Work, Family, Time, and Money, Roger focuses on real-time application that addresses today's struggling economy, social networking and iPads. Life Matters was recognized by SoundView Executive Summaries as one of the best business books of 2004.
John Nance
Leader & Pioneer in Aviation and Medical Safety
Elizabeth Lombardo
Happiness Scientist
Larry Myler
Business Development Entrepreneur
Steve Gilliland
Dominique Dawes
3-Time Olympic Gymnast
Mohanbir Sawhney
McCormick Tribune Professor of Technology
Kaplan Mobray
Career Consultant and Founder of the Kaplan Mobray Leadership Institute
Catherine Seda
Internet Marketing Strategist
Cathy Rush
John Wooden of Women's Basketball
Frits van Paasschen
Seasoned Global Executive
Erick Burton
Charles Hazlewood
Internationally Acclaimed Musical Conductor


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Kurdish artist wins 2022 Kathleen K. Seefeldt Award
"It was a great honor to receive the award for best artist of the 2022 Kathleen K. Seefeldt Award for Arts Excellence."
Lukman Ahmad received the 2022 Kathleen K. Seefeldt 'Award for Arts Excellence' on Thursday, May 12, 2022 (Photo: Lukman Ahmad/Twitter)
Kurdistan Lukman Ahmad Art Syrian Kurdistan kurdish culture
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Lukman Ahmad, a Syrian Kurdish musician and self-taught artist, received the award for best artist of the 2022 Kathleen K. Seefeldt Award for Arts Excellence on Thursday.
"It was a great honor to receive the award for best artist of the 2022 Kathleen K. Seefeldt 'Award for Arts Excellence' sponsored by Prince William county's Art council," he tweeted.
It was a great honor to receive the award for best artist of the 2022 Kathleen K. Seefeldt "Award for Arts Excellence" sponsored by Prince William county's Art council. pic.twitter.com/e6oV9DvFvz
— Lukman Ahmad (@LukmanAhmadArt) May 13, 2022
"Thanks to all my dear friends who supported me during my long art journey, and a special thanks to the director of Gallery ARTfactory Jordan Exum and her team who collaborated with me to set up my first solo exhibition after Corona at ARTfactory," he wrote in a Facebook post.
"The Kathleen K. Seefeldt Award for Arts Excellence was established over 15 years ago by the Prince William County Arts Council to recognize and celebrate the artists, arts organizations, volunteers, educators and businesses that build upon and sustain Ms. Seefeldt's legacy of public service and support for the cultural arts," reads the official website for the Prince William Country Arts Council.
Lukman is from Syrian Kurdistan, and, according to his website, his art "reflects the Kurdish experience as well as the human experience."
"Self-educated, and deeply in touch with his people and with the intertwined surrounding cultures, he expresses imagination and experiences with authenticity, allowing color and movement to tell the story, be it one of pain or of happiness, of contemplation or passion," reads his biography.
He held over 45 exhibits in various countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iraqi Kurdistan, Switzerland, Lebanon, and the United States.
"His work reflects that value as a path to understanding oneself and one's environment, and as a method to show the Kurdish experience and to remove conflict and suffering. Purpose, value, and vision, through symbolism, expressionism, and color," his website says.
Detroit-area man convicted of aiding Islamic State in Syria

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The Mysteries of Pittsburgh
Posted on March 11, 2010 by carlosdev
A beach party, Pittsburgh-style.
(Peace Arch) Jon Foster, Peter Skarsgaard, Nick Nolte, Sienna Miller, Mena Suvari, Omid Abtahi, Keith Michael Gregory, Seth Adams. Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber
There comes a point where we all need to find ourselves. We drift aimlessly from moment to moment, never really sure who we're supposed to be and how we're supposed to act. Sometimes, it takes one strange summer to right our drifting ships.
Art Bechstein (Foster) has a very bright future ahead of him. The son of Joe Bechstein (Nolte), a powerful businessman in the city of Pittsburgh, he's been accepted to a prestigious university to learn business, with an eye to becoming a stockbroker, much to Joe's chagrin. Joe's business, you see, is laundering money for the mob, and he is eager for Art to take over the family business.
Art would much prefer to lose himself in a minimum wage job for the summer, and he finds just the one as a clerk at a book store. He gets involved in a highly sexual relationship with Phlox (Suvari) his manager, and exists in a state of passive stupor. Only when he meets Jane (Miller) at a party does he begin to rouse from the waking slumber he seems caught in.
Jane also has a boyfriend, Cleveland (Skarsgaard), a petty criminal who has a penchant for manipulation, bisexuality and occasional violence. Still, Art is fascinated by him and the two become buddies, each sleeping with Jane and eventually with each other. Cleveland is his own worst enemy and soon runs afoul of the wrong people, leading Art to seek intervention from his father, the ultimate in degradation as far as Art's concerned. Unfortunately, in Pittsburgh, happy endings aren't a regular occurrence.
This is based on Michael Chabon's coming-of-age novel which he wrote in 1988. Chabon, who also wrote "The Wonder Boys" and "The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay," is one of my favorite authors today. He is a very literary, smart kind of writer and the movie tries to capture that feeling. Director Thurber, who previously helmed Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, was much taken by the novel and convinced Chabon that he was the man to bring it to the screen after many failed efforts to do so. That he persevered and got the movie made is to be commended.
That said, it should be noted that the movie suffers from a surfeit of languidness. I think Thurber was trying to emphasize the overall passiveness of the Art character, but Christ on a crutch, he's borderline narcoleptic here. Art never acts at any time in the movie, always reacts and consequently it's hard to get fully invested in the character. Foster doesn't help by playing him colorlessly, although that may have been intentional given the script. Foster's voice-over narration is over-utilized in places, although the fact that much of the narration is lifted directly from the book is somewhat compensatory.
That opens the door for Skarsgaard and he kicks the damn thing in with a vengeance. This becomes in no small way Cleveland's movie and Skarsgaard plays the character as something of a modern-day pirate, full of lust for life and zeal for lawlessness. It's a memorable performance and Skarsgaard could well be on his way to becoming one of the better young actors in Hollywood.
Nolte has become a solid character actor with his hangdog expression; he glowers often like a pit bull is hidden inside. He's tough but reaches out to his son with regularity, knowing in advance that his feckless boy will turn away. He puzzles over how such a creature could have come from his loins, but doesn't overly obsess about such things. It's a great role for Nolte and he's perfectly cast.
Miller and Suvari are both pleasant enough in their roles, with Suvari getting the nod for performing in a role that has little going for it and makes it at least memorable, which is more than Foster could do with the lead role.
The Pittsburgh depicted here is a tough survivor, the capital of the Rust Belt. While Philadelphia carries with it certain sophistication and is firmly planted in an Eastern mindset, Pittsburgh is more rooted in the Midwest and is much more blue-collar. Abandoned factories and rough and tumble punk clubs are just some of the hangouts for the characters here, and it feels pretty authentic – that much the filmmakers got right. Unfortunately, the movie could have used a bit more oomph in it and quite frankly, a different actor as Art. Foster may well be a decent actor, but he simply couldn't make Art a character I'd want to spend any time with – not even the 90 minutes of the movie that is about him.
WHY RENT THIS: Skarsgaard gives an electrifying performance that lights up the screen. Chabon's prose, utilized in the narration, is always quite wonderful to hear. Nolte gives yet another solid performance.
WHY RENT SOMETHING ELSE: The pacing is uneven and Foster is unfortunately not terribly memorable as Art, although this is perhaps intentional.
FAMILY VALUES: There is a great deal of sexuality, sexual tension and nudity throughout, as well as some fairly strong language. Definitely for mature audiences only.
TRIVIAL PURSUIT: In the book, the character of Cleveland is not bisexual and plays a very minor role. His character was merged with the main gay love interest Arthur Lecomte in order to provide a love triangle for dramatic purposes.
NOTABLE DVD EXTRAS: There's an interesting interview with author Michael Chabon, director Thurber as well as some other people connected with the production detailing the novel's somewhat bumpy journey to the screen.
TOMORROW: The Great New Wonderful
This entry was posted in DVD Review and tagged bisexuality, book stores, casual sex, cinema, coming of age, DVD Reviews, Films, independent drama, Indie Drama, love triangle, Mena Suvari, Michael Chabon, money laundering, movies, Nick Nolte, Peace Arch, Peter Skarsgaard, petty crime, Pittsburgh, Sienna Miller, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh by carlosdev. Bookmark the permalink.


Yeah, "missing" is pretty much code for "killed by government/law enforcement" in South America.
Thanks for the rep, I can totally see it btw!
Hey, WTF is with teletubby-warrior stalking you? :?
Thanks for the advice on the timing belt. I did just find out through some research that Ford required some changes to be made for their version. They made Nissan modify the version of the VG30E to be used in the Villager, including making it non-interference. While the timing belt is still important, at least it isn't responsible for the integrity of the motor in this one.
Congratulation on having your car's dash appear on the second page of google images when searching for "fusebox xj6".
Hey thanks for suggesting handlebar chaps ( on the General Motorbikers thread). I think I might pick some up for my bike.
Oh damn. I need to round up some cash and go and attend a vintage race-type of event where these things run. Also Group C vintage events, where one of the best cars is a car that probably ranks among your personal favorites.
No, I never saw the MP4/4 Hondas when they were running originally - but I watched them on TV and have since seen them at vintage races and similar events.
It's damn hard to forget that noise. The only sweeter noise in all of motorsport is the sound of a Honda RC166 in full cry.
Was reading one of your rare posts in the F1 section, and a little thing struck me. Did you actually see F1 cars in action in a race in the USA on-scene? You mentioned the sound of the McLaren-Honda spooling up its turbos.
Just a random thought. Are you double the badass because you drive two jaaaaaaaags instead of just one?
I got the pulley from a firm in Britain, but I think they went out of business. It's still available, though, from other UK vendors (Paramount Performance, I think) - and even if not, any competent machine shop can turn them out. You can also try to get one off a 03-04 Mustang Cobra, I think they're similar as well.
The fuel pressure was left up to my dyno tuner, I don't know what it is set to but I'm thinking it's something like 45psi. Yes, the engine management has been reprogrammed with a reprogrammable chip I got from the same firm in Britain (though I think Paramount Performance over there still makes them). The fuel injectors are ~550cc units scavenged from a Mustang Cobra.
Alright! Where have you required the blower pulley? How much have you increased the fuelpressure? How much does the injetors fluid? Have you reprogrammed the standard management system?
I have: chipped it, changed out the blower pulley, fitted a larger/more efficient intercooler, larger fuel injectors, aftermarket fuel pressure regulator, aftermarket fuel pump, fitted a large bore custom Magnaflow exhaust and a lot of dyno tuning. With a few other tricks, of course.
My name is Andreas and i?m from Sweden.
I have a Jaguar XJR -96 with manual transmission (one of 78 built LHD)..
When i was searching around on the internet for tuned xjr?s your threads came up, and i saw that you have over 440hp in yours!
What exactly have you done to the engine?
Thank you for trying to explain to all that passion and knowledge of cars produces far greater results than some moron with his calculator. I just wish they would pass the information around the plant I work at, otherwise I will be out of a job.
Appreciate your posts and the insightful information they bring, especially the "Trains in America" thread. You seem like one of the most knowledgeable people on this forum.


This listing at 2221 Carriage Hills Drive, Boulder, CO 80302 is a residential-detached listing with 2 full baths, 1 half bath, 1 three-quarter bath, 4 bedrooms and approximately 5,461 square feet	on a lot of 1,516,324 sqft (or 34.81 acres). It was built in 1990.	2221 Carriage Hills Drive is located in Boulder and in ZIP Code 80302. It has been listed on our site since 2019-02-08.


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Montessori: The Magic of Three
In Montessori, there is a great tool called the Three Period Lesson. It's really quite magical in how effective and simple it is, but it also relates to life's intricacies and mysteries in myriad ways. Over the past few weeks, I have been thinking a lot about the three-period lesson and how it might explain why we were foolish enough to leave our lovely life in Zurich when we did.
Let's explore that more, but first you need to understand the basic mechanics of the lesson.
To give a three-period lesson, the teacher takes three related, yet different items, and introduces them to the child in three steps. Let's take the wooden fruits above. These might be an activity the child has already had a lesson on for matching. Then, once a child has displayed mastery in matching the fruits, the teacher would then employ the three-period lesson to teach the names of the fruits, taking just one apple, one pear and one plum, leaving the matches and other fruits aside. (This set is very small with only 4 matches; it would probably be combined with another set of fruits from the same manufacturer.)
The first step, or period, in the three-period lesson is the introduction: With the items lined up and nothing else in the work space, the teacher will state, "This is an apple. This is a plum. This is a pear," touching each one as she says its name. Then, she continues on with the second period, giving a series of commands such as "Touch the plum. Hold the apple. Put the pear here. Give me the apple," so on and so forth until the child is totally accurate each time. When the child makes a mistake, the teacher doesn't point out the error, per se, but rather plainly and simply says, "You handed me the ______(whatever one it is)" and places it on the table before continuing on with the next command. Finally, at the very end, the teacher will ask, "What is this?" for each object. That is the third period. If a child is successful and having a good time, the teacher might do another three. But never more than two three-period lessons in one sitting to allow the learning to stick.
The three periods can be labeled as 1). Orientation, 2). Interaction, and 3). Mastery. It is an incredibly effective teaching tool that allows children to acquire vocabulary while simultaneously understanding the greater meaning of a word. Care is taken to isolate objects in order to focus on their distinct qualities. For color, The Color Tablets are used rather than using different colored fruits, because while it is true that the fruits are different colors, they also differ in shape and texture and other ways. Isolating qualities is key.
So, how does this relate to life? Well, the first evidence is the three year cycle. Children in Montessori classrooms are divided by age covering three year spans. Zero to three, three to six and so on. It seems that as in the lesson, the children follow the three periods with each year they spend in the same classroom with the same teacher. The first year the child's focus is on orientation, the second year is all about interaction, and the third year, they achieve mastery.
So how does this apply to life beyond Montessori? Well, it seems to me that, having lived in our apartment in Seefeld for three years, we went through a complete cycle and that may have affected our feelings in significant ways.
We had already spent a year orienting to life in Switzerland in a smaller village suburb of Zurich before we moved to Seefeld. But moving to Seefeld felt was very much a new beginning. We were living in Switzerland on our terms, in the city, in an apartment we picked out ourselves and loved, rather than in the apartment our employer had selected for us before we arrived. That first year in Seefeld was unbelievably exciting. Not only were we completely pinching ourselves moving into our dream apartment, but I was pregnant! We got our little nest all set up and then brought Coco home. We spent that year orienting ourselves, both to life as new parents and to our neighborhood and surroundings. We figured out the best grocery store, the best ways to get around with a buggy, the unwritten rules of the shared laundry room, the best settings to have the radiators on and all that sort of stuff.
The second year, we really developed routines and interacted with the space and neighborhood on a deeper level. With all the basics taken care of, we found our favorite routes to walk, our favorite parks and spots for Coco to play, discovered specialty shops, went to Orange Cinema, got a season pass to the Badi and the zoo and memorized tram schedules.
By the third year, I guess you could say we had achieved mastery. But in life, it's not so much mastery as it is familiarity. We had achieved total familiarity with our surroundings, with our neighborhood, with our apartment, even with life as parents. Nothing was new anymore and I think on some level, we made the very real mistake of confusing familiarity with boredom.
Sigh. What a mistake that was. Familiarity is comfort and predictability and stability, but it is not boredom.
So now, I find myself looking forward and looking back at the same time. I regret leaving Zurich, but I also have to wonder what another year here would feel like now that we've been in Spokane for two years. I love my family, but I don't really like Spokane. I cannot say I ever disliked Zurich. I found it difficult, of course, because Switzerland is known as an extremely difficult place to be an expat. But I always liked Zurich. I remember one day sitting down by the lakeside and hearing that little voice inside of my heart wishing that my family were from Zurich. I felt like it was the most perfect place on earth, and I wished I didn't feel that constant conflict as to where to live. I have to admit that I don't feel that way here in Spokane. I don't love it or feel like it's mine and yet my family is here and I love them dearly.
But does it actually matter that I don't like Spokane? Would a third year change that? Would a third year override my ambivalence, break through the unknowns and learning curve and leave me with a sense of mastery? Would that be enough? Because, I was born here and I (mostly) lived here until I was 12, so it already feels familiar, just not in a good way. I can't help but think that that staying here actually would feel like real boredom! Sigh again.
I guess there is only one way of knowing. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for us. Regardless of what happens, I have learned that familiarity or mastery will come wherever we are. I'm going to do my best to be okay with feeling settled this time.
How long have you lived where you are? Do you feel as if you've put down roots? Do you live in your hometown? Does it feel nice and cozy, or are you bored? (You can be honest here;) Share your story in the comments below!
dreams - life - chance . expat . Montessori . motherhood . repat . three-period lesson
Amanda February 13, 2017 at 10:44 PM
So much yes to this! We just moved to Seattle (3 months ago), so I very much feel like we're in the orientation period. Since everything is so new to us, it's all very exciting. We can see ourselves putting down roots here. We're even thinking about buying a house (probably a really small fixer because, Seattle)! But we are also itchy feet kind of people and I could see myself mistaking familiarty with boredom, so it's good to keep that in mind for the next few years!
It's such a curse to be an itchy feet sort! ;) Congrats on the house plans and the new move. I hope you find yourself content and not the least bit itchy in a few years! xo
Once again you have outdone yourself! What a great post! I think maybe everyone experiences the "right" city differently. I moved to Munich 11 years ago and from the first months I was here I had this odd feeling that this was the city for me. 11 years later, that hasn't changed for a moment. Also having met and married my husband, had 3 kids here, adjusted to parental life, I never felt bored. Also since having so many kids I don't even get bored hahaha. Maybe it makes it easier since my husband is from here I feel more like I have a right to stay? You know? I am not saying that's not the case for you in Zürich but it sounded like you felt like that.
Also if you do go back (I am rooting for team go back!) I think you would find your experience utterly changed by mastering the German language. You will never feel truly at home without the language!
My thoughts anyway. Thanks for your constant excellent writing and knowledge. Very inspiring.
Oh, Emily! Thank you for your kinds words and also for your keen observations. I think you're right that I always felt like I didn't deserve to be in Zurich somehow. What a silly truth to believe! It's not true at all. And you're absolutely right about German. Since I read your comment last week, I've been thinking of ways to learn German starting now. Thanks for the push!!! I love hearing how happy and settled you are in Munich. And with three kids! :) YAY. xoxoxo
Cherie February 13, 2017 at 11:46 PM
Hard to believe you've already been in Spokane for two years! We are into our 4th year in Basel but just moved into Basel-Landschaft after living in Basel-Stadt for three years. On my 3rd year in the city, I've had the routine pat down, had the tram and bus schedules committed to memory and was thoroughly enjoying everything until Baby #4 came along and threw all those out the window - ha! So here we are entering another 3-year cycle - in a new (much smaller and quieter) village where folks speak Swiss-German and we have to find our new favourite places to explore, etc. I love your Montessori posts - hope you blog more about it! I'm just starting to read "How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way" out of curiosity. We don't do Montessori at home or at school but I like the ideas that Montessori has. Hope you visit Switzerland soon with your family!
Thanks, Cherie! Doesn't time fly?! That sounds like a really significant move for you guys - one that will certainly result in more integration!! Pretty exciting. I will definitely be doing more Montessori posts and if you have a question or Montessori topic you'd like to know more about, send me an email! I'd be happy to cover it for you. xx
Kim February 14, 2017 at 10:53 AM
Enjoyed this thought-provoking post today :) I lived in Dakar, Senegal for 6 years and I think cycling through different jobs fought off the complacency that sometimes comes with mastery. But by year 5 (and career monotony), I started to feel the itch. While Dakar is by no means an "idyllic" place to live, I loved it fiercely and miss it. My family never understood the draw, but the energy of the city, kindness of the people, and good weather became my new normal. I'm now in the orientation phase of life in London (4 months in) and loving the change, but my American family has already started the homecoming campaign. I too struggle with the family/geographic balance... but to be completely honest, the distance doesn't bother me much (facetime! frequent visits!) and while that elicits some guilt, my greatest internal resistance is to being forced to settle or end back up at home, or speed up life here/wherever I am. How to manage family expectations, disappointment, and our own plans/desires... Sigh. I also empathize with my mom wishing she could live near her daughter and new son-in-law. Maybe its a phase and we'll settle after kids ;)
It's a lot for sure. I think we fell into the trap of thinking we'd settle after kids, too, so watch out for that one. ;) I love hearing your story, Kim! Senegal must have been incredible; I love the way you describe the parts you loved about it. It's nice to know you understand this feeling, too! Enjoy London. Such a great experience to have! xoxoxo
Allison February 16, 2017 at 2:47 AM
The 3 year point is also a classic difficult year for expats. I remember reading an article about it when I was feeling really homesick in year 3. I think it has to do with familiarity as you say because the exciting adventure and newness has worn off and so all the things you miss about your home country and all the things you dislike about your host country bother you more.
I'm totally going to google that article, thanks for the tip! It's true that the three year mark is pitvotal. Sigh.
I'might guessing it might have been this one: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatlife/8495758/Three-Year-Syndrome-when-expats-get-bored.html
jen February 18, 2017 at 12:24 PM
We moved around quite a bit when we first married, four different cities, different homes, different jobs. Never feeling quite settled until we moved to Asheville, NC six years ago. It's home. We're settled. I don't get that itch anymore and it's a lovely feeling. That being said, it could also be the phase of life that we are currently in - raising a family, slowing down.
Oh, that is so nice to hear! It gives me hope that we will get rid of that itchy feeling some day, too! Thank you for sharing, Jen. xoxo
sharp October 7, 2020 at 3:23 AM
I am happy you take pride in what you compose. This makes you stand way out from numerous different authors that push ineffectively composed substance.
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Want to know the secret to being rich and famous?
Put your music on a 7 inch vinyl record. Allowing 5 to 7 minutes per side, they're perfect for singles. The 7 inch record (also known as a 45) has been killing it a the merch table. Not only that, their small size makes them hugely popular for mail-outs. Weight standard is 45 grams; when cut at 45 rpm (rotations per minute), they hold approximately 5 minutes per side. When cut at 33 rpm, they hold approximately 7 minutes per side. We offer the option of small or large center holes on all our 7 inch records.


A multidisciplinary global consortium of researchers can provide independent high-quality evidence regarding the scale of illicit drug use, harms, access to services at country, regional and global levels, and build capacity for better data in these areas.
This project will evaluate the utility and effectiveness of the eCliPSE portal - a website for people experiencing comorbid mental health and substance use problems, and the clinical services supporting them.
This NIH-funded project builds a system to monitor the emergence of new synthetic opioids in darknet markets or cryptomarkets.
This project aims to develop a unique intervention that increases the engagement of Aboriginal young people with youth mental health services.
This research is aimed at transforming systems to improve mental health and drug and alcohol outcomes for Aboriginal people.
This NHMRC-funded study will address important knowledge gaps in the sexual lives of prisoners to inform evidence-based policy responses.


RT Master Lyophilisate contains a genetically engineered version of M-MLV Reverse Transcriptase (M-MLV RT) with eliminated RNase H activity and increased thermal stability. The enzyme is a RNA-directed DNA polymerase that synthesizes a complementary DNA strand initiating from a primer using single-stranded RNA or DNA as template. Its enhanced thermal stability in combination with the deactivated RNase H activity results in an increased specificity, higher cDNA yield and an improved efficiency for full length cDNA synthesis compared with standard M-MLV RT.
The enzyme is recommended for synthesis of cDNA from 100 bp up to 10 kb length.


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Q: Convert Mysqli image array to a string for a Shopping cart I have a while loop that goes as follows
 while ($row_cat_pro = mysqli_fetch_array($run_cat_pro)) {
     $pro_img = $row_cat_pro['product_image'];
     $pro_dollar = $row_cat_pro['product_price'];
 }

And the corresponding echo statements for the arrays goes as follows
 echo "
$pro_dollar
";

and
 echo "";

When I load the page Inspector, the $pro_dollar and $pro_img variables are both replaced with the word Array... How do I fix that?
EDIT
So far I've managed to fix one problem. I've surrounded the pro_dollar variable in the htmlentities function
ie
     $pro_dollar=htmlentities($row_cat_pro['pro_price']);

but I'm still stuck on the image variable...

A:    $pro_dollar=$row_cat_pro['product_price']

$pro_dollar is an array and it can't be converted to string by just echoing it
to know key names use print_r($pro_dollar); then use extract to convert array keys into variables for example
// print_r() sample output

array (
"currency" => "USD"
)

by using extract($pro_dollar);
echo $currency; // outputs USD

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Warren Throckmorton
A college psychology professor's observations about public policy, mental health, sexual identity, and religious issues
Tag: BMC psychiatry
Reorientation therapies in the UK: Survey results
A new survey from BMC Psychiatry found that 4-17% of therapists surveyed offer some form of therapy designed to reduce homosexual attractions.
From the article in the BBC News:
A significant minority of mental health professionals had agreed to help at least one patient "reduce" their gay or lesbian feelings when asked to do so.
The survey, published in the journal BMC Psychiatry and conducted by London researchers, involved 1,400 therapists.
Many were acting with the "best of intentions", said the lead author.
Only 4% said they would attempt to change a client's sexual orientation, but when asked if they would help curb homosexual feelings some 17% – or one in six – said they had done so.
The incidence appeared to be as prevalent in recent years as decades earlier.
Here is the abstract from the journal article:
We know very little about mental health practitioners' views on treatments to change sexual orientation. Our aim was to survey a representative sample of professional members of the main United Kingdom psychotherapy and psychiatric organisations about their views and practices concerning such treatments.
We sent postal questions to mental health professionals who were members of British Psychological Society, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Participants were asked to give their views about treatments to change homosexual desires and describe up to six patients each, whom they have treated in this way.
Of 1848 practitioners contacted, 1406 questionnaires were returned and 1328 could be analysed. Although only 55 (4%) of therapists reported that they would attempt to change a client's sexual orientation if one consulted asking for such therapy, 222 (17%) reported having assisted at least one client/patient to reduce or change his or her homosexual or lesbian feelings. 413 patients were described by these 222 therapists: 213 (52%) were seen in private practice and 117 (28%) were not followed up beyond the period of treatment. Counselling was the commonest (66%) treatment offered and there was no sign of a decline in treatments in recent years. 159 (72%) of the 222 therapists who had provided such treatment considered that a service should be available for people who want to change their sexual orientation. Client/patient distress and client/patient autonomy were seen as reasons for intervention; therapists paid attention to religious, cultural and moral values causing internal conflict.
A significant minority of mental health professionals are attempting to help lesbian, gay and bisexual clients to become heterosexual. Given lack of evidence for the efficacy of such treatments, this is likely to be unwise or even harmful.
Going a little deeper into the study, it appears that some of the efforts designated as change might not be direct efforts to change after all. Consider some reasons given for what is labeled by the authors as support for change efforts:
"…where someone had a strong faith, then working to help the person accept their feelings but manage them appropriately may be the best approach if (the) person felt they would lose God and therefore their life was not worth living."
"Some bisexual individuals may wish to choose an orientation that is
comfortable for them and their lifestyle choices for example. This is a
therapeutic issue to explore and support if that is their wish. It is different from behavioural attempts to reshape desire."
"Yes, possibly those within marriages that wish to continue with that
relationship rather than break up"
Rather, these therapists give what sound like client-centered responses based on the individual circumstances of the clients. I wonder if the authors of this article may have pushed these responses into either change or gay affirming camps without considering a third more neutral position – what Mark Yarhouse and I call sexual identity therapy.
Most of the other comments relied on a belief that therapists should follow the wishes of the client. This seems reasonable if the client is informed that change is infrequent at best and we do not know going in who might shift and by how much. Also, it is necessary to provide prospective clients with accurate information regarding homosexuality without regard to the ideological loyaties of the therapist. Also, it seems clear that non-homosexually identified people experience same-sex attraction. Helping them sort out their particular situation and arrive and a value-congruent position is not the same thing as reparative or reorientation therapy.
The authors paint a picture of 1 in 6 therapists engaging in change therapy and I think that is misleading. The 4% figure seems like the right number of therapists who deliberately promote change among their same-sex attracted clients.
Author Warren ThrockmortonPosted on March 26, 2009 Categories ex-gay, NARTH, Professional issues, psychology, Religion and sexuality, reparative therapy, Research news, sexual identity, sexual identity therapy, sexual orientationTags BMC psychiatry, ex-gay, reorientation therapy, reparative therapy, UK190 Comments on Reorientation therapies in the UK: Survey results
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Martin Luther King, Jr. – Letter from a Birmingham Jail
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Join the fun at the 4th Annual Spring Egg Hunt Bonanza. This is a free event for children ages 0-12. Hunt for eggs, meet the Bunny, firefighters and police officers. Bring a basket or bag for the egg hunt and your camera to take pictures with the Bunny! This event is sponsored by North St. Paul Parks and Recreation and Gallagher Financial Services.
The Environmental Advisory Commission meeting takes place on the fourth Monday of the month starting at 6:00 PM at City Hall.
Spend the evening with Joyce Germscheid and Kristen Rieser, members of Silver Lake Improvement Association (SLIA). Learn about one of the City's most important resources and the SLIA's group of citizens watching out for the health of the lake. Hope to see you there!


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- Menu -All Metro newsCouncil President Peterson NewsCouncilor Craddick NewsCouncilor Lewis NewsCouncilor Dirksen NewsCouncilor González NewsCouncilor Chase NewsCouncilor Stacey News
Councilor Juan Carlos González
Metro Council District 4
Survey open: Help shape the future of affordable housing in greater Portland
Your feedback will be used to help Metro search the Portland region for the best locations for new affordable housing and will provide information to those building and managing affordable housing about how to be accessible and supportive of all people.
Public notice: Opportunity to comment on creation of Regional Waste Advisory Committee
In June 2019, the Metro Council will consider whether to establish a new Regional Waste Advisory Committee. To share your views, please comment by 5 p.m. on May 20, 2019.
Metro awards third round of Community Placemaking grants
April 29, 2019 9 a.m.
In its third cycle, Metro's Community Placemaking grant program continues to support creative, equity-focused efforts that address power, healing, identity and belonging.
PILOT projects test new approaches to equitable transportation in greater Portland
Metro awards $150,000 in grants to four pilot projects that will test ways to provide more equitable access to new transportation technologies – from ride-hailing to car-, bike- and scooter-sharing - around greater Portland.
Food Waste Stops With Me celebrates first year's successes
Food Waste Stops With Me launched in April 2018 as a partnership between Metro, the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and city and county governments to provide information, resources and technical assistance to food service businesses to help reduce food waste.
Parks and Nature puts Equity Action Plan into action
By Grady Wheeler
April 4, 2019 3:40 p.m.
With the help of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team and the Center for Diversity and the Environment, the Parks and Nature Department hosted an all-day equity training for more than 60 people from around the region on March 11.
Metro Council considers potential parks and nature bond measure for November ballot
By Yuxing Zheng
April 2, 2019 11:33 a.m.
The Metro Council has asked staff to develop a package of proposed investments with an initial framework focusing on racial equity and climate resiliency across six areas: protecting and restoring land, taking care of Metro parks, awarding community grants, supporting local projects, creating trails for walking and biking, and delivering on large-scale community visions.
Read the spring 2019 issue of Our Big Backyard
Sprinavasa Brown and Dr. Kellianne Richardson – two women of color – founded Camp ELSO in 2015 to provide Black and Brown children in greater Portland with opportunities to explore nature and environmental professions. Brown shares her journey and offers advice to White environmentalists and nature educators in the spring 2019 issue of Our Big Backyard.
Metro submits two letters to ODOT regarding Rose Quarter Improvement Project
April 1, 2019 12:48 p.m.
On March 29, 2019, Metro sent two letters to the Oregon Department of Transportation regarding the Interstate 5 project in the Rose Quarter in Portland.
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Jonathan Hellberg has always been hungry to prove his musical prowess to the world. Hailing from Stockholm, Hellberg first began his musical knack in the form of one-man-shows for his family on makeshift instruments. By the age of 13, he was introduced to the world of producing and DJ culture through a school friend who was experimenting with mashups. From that discovery, Hellberg began to tinker on FL Studio, seeing how far he could push himself. Creating a slew of both hip hop beats and house tracks, Hellberg eventually turned to honing his craft in the dance music world.
Fast forward to today, Hellberg has become a valued family member of Monstercat by embodying everything the label is about: fearless experimentation, holding himself to a standard of perfection, and a disregard for the status quo. The future is nothing if not extremely promising for Hellberg.
AIR Hellberg
DIMENSIONS Hellberg
HEADLIGHTS Hellberg
HEY MAMA Hellberg
SYNCHRONIZE Hellberg
THE GIRL Hellberg
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Case & Point
Rezonate
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Do you want to make the most of your ability to enjoy the beauty of nature from inside your home? If so, you may want to consider installing new patio doors in Charlotte. There are many ways in which these products may help you feel closer to the freshness and wonder of nature, even when you are inside your house.
First, new patio doors could potentially make it much easier for you to access your patio, deck and yard. If you are currently dealing with outdated or poorly designed doors that are difficult to open and close, you might find it frustrating trying to go back and forth from your yard to the interior of your house. New patio doors that operate smoothly may allow easier and more convenient access to your yard, while still locking when needed for security and child safety.
What about enjoying nature without leaving your house? From dramatic summer storms to soft and peaceful snowfalls in winter, some weather might be best experienced from the safety and comfort of your own home. You can likely find new patio doors in Charlotte that have a slim, unobtrusive design with lots of sparkling glass to provide you with a clear view of the weather outside your house.
When you think about boosting your ability to enjoy the outdoors from your own home, do not forget the potential importance of keeping outside weather where it belongs. New patio doors could potentially allow you to enjoy beautiful views and easy access to the outside world, without allowing drafts or heat transfer to harm your home's energy efficiency.
Investing in new patio doors in Charlotte may be one of the best ways you can boost your ability to enjoy the beauty of nature from your very own home. For the best outcome, try to find doors that are likely to operate smoothly, provide a clear view and improve your home's energy efficiency.


Thomas Small was arrested Thursday in connection with the murder of his wife, Diane, whose body was found 37 years ago near a bridge in Coles County, Ill.
On Thursday, 37 years after the crime, police arrested the woman's former husband, Thomas Small, in connection with her murder. Police believe Small, 70, killed Diane Small, dismembered her body and then disposed of the remains near the Air Tight Bridge in rural Coles County.
Diane Small's dismembered remains were found in 1980 near the Air Tight Bridge in Coles County.
"Nobody knew who it was because there wasn't any head, feet and hands," Judy Whiteside, a Coles County resident, told FoxIllinois.com.
"This is great news, especially for her daughter," retired Bradley Chief Steve Coy told the Daily Journal. "She has always wanted to know what happened."
Sources close to the case told the newspaper that Small -- who lives in Kankakee County -- confessed to killing his wife.
Small reportedly told police at the time that his wife voluntarily left the couple's home on OCt. 15 and never returned.
In a statement released last week, the Coles County Sheriff's Department said Small is currently in custody in connection with his wife's murder and that "charges are pending."


I remember watching a talk on testing JS by Christian Johansen, the author of https://www.tddjs.com/. I was just getting into testing JS and it was all still mystery to me. The moment he explained what an assertion is by writing an assert() function from scratch everything just clicked.
I think that's the key to comprehension for many complicated topics. You need to bridge the gap and connect the new, unknown topic, to a known topic, so your brain can make connections and store them in memory that way.
A test in JS or any programming language verifies the correctness of something. This verification process is called an assertion.
An assert function that returns true if a and b are equal.
Testing frameworks like Jasmine have many types of assertion functions.
You could use this method to write a bunch of tests.
If you wanted to get a step further you could use a test runner like Mocha. A test runner allows you to write a bunch of tests and then provides a simple mechanism to run all the tests.
This example is straight from the Mocha docs.
Create your test folder and first test file.
Create test.js in that folder and open in in your editor.
Then we need to run the test file using mocha.
The assertions passed. Great. We can now add more tests.
It can be easy to get overwhelmed with all the tooling around tests, but remember two things: 1) At center of all the tests are simple assertions that you are making about your program. 2) You have assertions inside tests, and test runners run all the tests.


What is passive voice and why should you avoid using it in your writing?
Whenever I edit or proofread a text or manuscript, one of the most common corrections I have to make is to turn passive and causative forms into active sentences.
Yes, I use passive resistance against the passive!
It is almost always better to use the active voice instead of the passive voice because it clarifies who or what is performing the action of the verb on the object.
Using the active voice allows a writer to describe people, places, things and reasons in much more detail. A story or an article resonates better with a reader when they know exactly what, when, where, who, how and why. In active voice, the subject performs the action of the verb.
By contrast, the passive is like scientific writing; quite cold and devoid of information or vivid detail. This is because the grammatical subject of the sentence does not perform the action.
But to avoid using passive forms, you first need to know how to recognise voice construction, and then how to change them into more detailed active sentences.
The basic form of the passive is the verb to be + past participle in all tenses.
2. What Is Passive Voice In The Causative Form?
Summary – Make it a habit to recognise the passive form in your writing and change it to active voice.
It is said that the passive voice is not a good choice. But who said it?
Here is a very basic example of active and passive.
Passive: The meeting was cancelled due to a train strike.
Active: Our manager cancelled the meeting because of the train strike.
In the passive sentence, we do not know who cancelled the meeting but in the active sentence we know it was the manager. The use of due to is common in passive forms but because is more informal and suits the active form better.
In general, the passive form is far less informative than the active form. This is why active voice is the preferred style in good communicative writing.
Active: He was confused. Meaning he wasn't sure or couldn't make up his own mind.
Passive: He was confused (by something or someone). His manager told him to do one thing, but his director told him to do another.
Active: They were relaxed. They were in a state of relaxation.
Passive: They were relaxed (by something or someone). The music helped them to relax.
The way to differentiate between the two is to understand if there is or can be an operator. In passive form, the preposition by indicates that the subject receives the action from the operator.
If it is the adjective form, there is no operator because it is describing the subject of the sentence.
Use of the passive can also create awkward sentences, especially when used with a prepositional phrase.
Active: Martin abided by the decision.
Passive: The decision was abided by.
Active: The burglar broke into the bank.
Passive: The bank was broken into.
The sentences above show why you should avoid the passive when there are dependent prepositions. When the form of the verb is a phrasal verb with one or sometimes two particles, it can really become very ridiculous.
Here is a grammatically perfect example of the passive that is cumbersome.
Active: David and Roger got down to business.
Passive. Business was got down to.
Clarity in writing comes from being precise about who performs the action, which can then be described in far more detail. To achieve this, it is best to start a sentence with a verb phrase and avoid using an inanimate noun as the subject of a sentence.
In the example above, choosing between active or passive voice is easy because writing about the burglar would be much more interesting than writing in vague boring terms about a bank.
Causative forms are similar to passive voice in that there is usually an invisible operator.
There are two causative structures.
Generally, it is called have something done, when you have or get another person to do something, or want someone to do something.
Here are some causative examples, including some using auxiliary verbs.
Mary has her hair cut every two months.
Joe got his car serviced last Tuesday.
He had his computer replaced under guarantee.
I am having my teeth cleaned on Monday.
She's getting her hair done before the wedding.
As with the passive, an operator can be added, but it is rare to do so.
Mary has her hair cut every two months by her hair stylist.
He had his computer replaced under guarantee by Apple.
What's the difference between, have and get + object – past participle?
We use have when something is arranged for someone, and with get, it expresses the idea that the subject is in some way involved.
I am having my teeth cleaned on Monday. This says that someone else, and in this case, the dentist is doing everything.
Joe got his car serviced last Tuesday. By using get, it indicates that Joe was perhaps in some way involved by either taking his car to the garage and waiting there, or possibly even participating in the service.
The causative is also very often used when the subject has paid someone to perform an action.
Anytime you notice that you are using the causative verb or form of verbs, think about trying to express it in another way. By doing this, you can remove the simple use of cause something and rewrite it with more descriptive elements.
Mary goes to her hairdresser every two months because she likes to keep her hair very short.
Sometimes it seems quicker and easier to use the passive or causative. However, it usually lacks detail or explanation. It is much better to rewrite these sentences in active form and add more compelling detail.
I always use Grammarly to check my texts after I have finished writing my first draft. But you can use almost any decent grammar check to do the same.
The first thing I do is look for passive voice sentences and make sure that I replace every one that is possible to change.
More reading: What's the difference between simile and metaphor?
It is almost always possible to edit your writing to avoid the two passive forms and replace them with much more exciting and informative sentences.
All it takes is the ability to recognise sentences that need changing and then use a little imagination to reconstruct them in a much better way. Adding a transitive verb often helps.
× My Japanese maple was damaged in the storm and now has broken branches.
√ My Japanese maple looked wretched after the storm had torn off half of its beautiful flowing branches.
× My new iPhone was replaced because of a pixel problem.
√ The guy at the Apple store was so friendly when I showed him the missing pixels on my iPhone screen. And guess what? He gave me a brand new phone on the spot and didn't even ask for my receipt.
× I have been told that coffee is good for you.
√ I read an article in Popular Science a few days ago that explained all about a huge research project that proves that coffee is good for you.
To round off this article, here are a few of my favourite quotes about why the passive should be avoided in all forms of writing.
More grammar: What Is The Subjunctive Mood And When Should You Use It?
A great article. I have to actively concentrate on this when I write but it is becoming more natural with practice.
Agree with everything you say above – in English. Some languages insist on the passive – Welsh for instance – I know you don't write in Welsh so this is for casualinfoonly and obviously doesn't relate to English.
In Welsh you can't say the equivalent of "I was born in London." Because you didn'tdo the action (obviously). You have to say the equivalent of "I had my birthing in London." Which throws the action back on the doer.
Just saying, to add to the mix.
Great article. I write science and yes, it is easy to fall into the trap of the passive voice. Thank you for such an informative article.
You've been looking over my shoulder. This is a real weakness for me. I spend way too much time going back and correcting my passive sentences. Maybe someday, the light will come on. Thanks for a great post.
Great article. I often fall to passive writing in drafts and fix later.
Should I Stay In Kindle KDP Select Or Open Publish?


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RIO DE JANEIRO – She was cheered by legions of Carnival fans, but 7-year-old Julia Lira, the youngest drum corps queen in memory at Rio's lavish party, broke down crying after being surrounded by cameras early Monday.
Dressed in a sequined halter top and a miniskirt made of purple feathers, the youngster tentatively stepped through the first 50 yards of the parade. Her father — the president of the parading Viradouro samba group — then took her by the hand and presented her to the crowd. She smiled big for the photographers and adoring fans.
But 10 minutes into the group's parade and surrounded by dozens of photographers and television cameramen, the youngster broke down in tears and was immediately scooped up into the arms of her unofficial handler, the group's spokeswoman Joice Hurtado, and taken away from the attention.
After a five-minute cool down, Julia returned to her place in front of the group's massive drum line, but was quickly whisked through the parade grounds by her father and out of the media's eye.
"She just got scared after having all those cameras thrust in her face," Hurtado said after the parade. "After we got her into her mother's arms, she quickly calmed down and put on a great show."
While Julia bounced back and began to samba at the helm of the parade, television coverage broadcast to millions in Brazil steered clear of showing any more shots of her.
Before the parade began, Julia's father, Marco Lira, said that "she's happy, she is ready to dance."
After the parade, however, both father and daughter looked tired and emotionally exhausted, though Julia managed a few furtive smiles but no words when asked how she liked the event.
Some in the audience thought she was not ready for the spotlight.
"She is too young to be a drum corps queen," said Marister Deniz, 60, who was watching from the stands. "A girl that size shouldn't be thrust in such a role."
But Jorge Elias Souza, a member of the Viradouro drum corps, said he was proud of the girl regardless.
"She is the embodiment of all the love in our school. Normally a famous person is the drum corps queen, but her father is our president and she is the center of our family," he said.
Putting Julia in the Carnival role drew the ire of child welfare advocates who were against a young girl taking on a role normally reserved for sultry models and actresses.
Carlos Nicodemos, director of the Rio de Janeiro state Council for the Defense of Children and Adolescents, two weeks ago asked a judge to keep the girl from dancing, arguing that "what we can't allow is putting a 7-year-old girl in a role that traditionally for Carnival has a very sexual focus."
A judge ruled last week that the girl could join the parade, and the overwhelming response in Brazil was a shrug and acceptance.
Before Julia took to the parade ground, the Rio's reigning Carnival Queen Shayene Cesario Vieira, 24, said she thought "it's cool" that the girl would participate.
"I don't remember hearing of a drum corps queen being so young," she said. "But her dad is the president of the group and if he thinks it's OK, it's OK."
In the two weeks leading up to the Carnival parade, Marco Lira said repeatedly that he and his wife would be with the girl at all times and they would carefully watch to make sure she doesn't get too tired during the parade. Both he and his wife were with the girl through the entire parade.
The Viradouro samba group has a history of controversial themes. A 2008 float portrayed Hitler amid a sea of naked mannequins representing Holocaust victims. A judge banned that float from being in the parade.
Nicodemos has also suggested that the samba group put Julia into her role to get extra attention — a charge strongly denied by her father.
As 12 top-tier Rio samba schools compete fiercely in the parades that are broadcast to viewers nationwide, massive street parties continued to erupt across the city.
Tourism officials said almost 730,000 visitors arrived in Rio this year for the big party — a 5 percent increase over last year.
It's the first Carnival since Rio was named as host to the 2016 Olympics, and officials have been working hard to show that the city, known for the drug-gang violence that pervades its slums, can safely host major events.
There have been few reports of violence during the party so far.
A 37-year-old Dutch tourist was shot by a robber as he tried to defend a Dutch woman he was with, police said. A spokesman for the Silvestre Hospital said Alexander Kors Johannes had been operated on and was in stable condition Sunday.


Citywide fun during February and April vacation! ¡Diversiones para todos durante las vacaciones escolares!
Lowell Kids Week consists of nearly forty free programs, serves over 2,000 local kids and their families, and builds connections among a diverse group of local organizations, agencies, and businesses. The Week At a Glance and full Kids Week Schedule are NOW LIVE!


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Epstein case shows corruption in the legal system runs deep
LEGAL SYSTEM CORRUPTION: July 12, 2019 Fresh on the heels of the Harvey Weinstein scandal and amidst the #MeToo movement the scandal spawned, the story of financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is in the headlines again. Epstein is a former hedge fund manager who made billions of dollars on Wall Street in the 1980s and 1990s. He owns six homes across the globe, including one on his own...
Moscow in the valley
By: Laura Hollis 06/27/2019 - 5:04pm
GOOGLE: June 27, 2019 Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe has released another damning video and leaked documents with further evidence of the extent to which tech lefties will go to deprive Americans of free speech and access to information. This time, the video and documents come from Google -- a Silicon Valley company with the most-...
Advantage: Trump
TRUMP PRESIDENCY: June 20, 2019 The past week has provided plenty of proof that beating Donald Trump in 2020 is going to be a lot harder than the Democrats (and their cheerleaders in the media and Hollywood) would like to believe. Let's start with his rally in Orlando Tuesday night. That was the official announcement of Trump's...
The sad lesson of Jon Stewart's valiant speech
GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE: June 13, 2019 Jon Stewart is best known as a comedian and former host of "The Daily Show." Virtually all talk show hosts draw from the well of politics. But Stewart's tenure took that to a new level, and he made no bones about his distinctly progressive leanings. Stewart is talented and intelligent, and...
When heroes have feet of clay
By: Laura Hollis 06/03/2019 - 8:22am
HUMAN FAILINGS: May 30, 2019 So, what happens now? According to Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David Garrow, FBI surveillance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the late 1950s and early 1960s (the records of which were just released) produced evidence that Dr. King had dozens of extramarital affairs, participated in sex orgies, hired prostitutes...
Want to make progressives happy? Destroy everything
By: Laura Hollis 05/25/2019 - 10:25pm
PROGRESSIVES: May 24, 2019 The left destroys everything it touches — or at least everything it gets control of. This was not necessarily true when leftists called themselves "liberals." But now that traditional liberalism is passé, its place taken by "progressivism," it is a foregone conclusion. I was reminded...


Council aims to keep members informed of recent major changes to the law and other relevant announcements where they consider members will be impacted.
A summary of matters discussed can be read here.
A summary of matters discussed can beread here.
We received the attached document from CIPA in September 2016. We will continue to publish further BREXIT documents from CIPA on this page.


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Coal, oil, and gas are responsible for much more atmospheric methane, the super-potent warming gas, than previously known.
Animals 21/02/2020 watinet
Explore the unique culture and breathtaking natural beauty of this central Canadian province.
Hands on with Android 11's first developer preview. Google is making some big promises here: improved support for 5G, better privacy features, and new messaging interfaces. Here's the first look at the best features so far.
The head of the General Services Administration is blocking funds for Joe Biden's team that would facilitate a smoother transition between presidencies.
Democrats, media push for unity after years of attacking President Trump
CNN's Anderson Cooper talks to a senior adviser of the Biden-Harris transition team, Jen Psaki, about the team's options should the General Services Administration continue to refuse to sign off on a key document needed to formally begin the transition proces…


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I trusted Larry [Wright].
I wasn't looking for
holes in his story.
Alex Gibney
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Mike Rinder: A Vicious Liar to Be Avoided…
Marty Rathbun: How (Not) to Make Friends…
Spanky Taylor: Backpedalling Before Your Eyes
Watch Spanky Taylor's tear-jerker "escape" tale at the center of Alex Gibney's HBO film unravel before your eyes when she suddenly gives it a rewrite…
Sister Offers "Crash" Course in Paul Haggis Lies
Just like one of his movie scripts, the story of Paul Haggis' departure from the Church is fiction made from whole cloth. Just ask his sister, who notes her brother had been inactive in the Church for 30 years leading up to his creating a faux controversy in a desperate bid to get publicity for his sagging career…
Re: Alex Gibney Film, from Attorney Monique E. Yingling
To HBO Senior Counsel
Re: Film by Alex Gibney
Re: Church of Scientology
Letter to Alex Gibney
Re: HBO Documentary on Scientology
Read the truth
See the letters sent to Alex Gibney & HBO
Letter to Alex Gibney, Jigsaw Productions, October 6, 2015
Letter to Alex Gibney, Jigsaw Productions, November 06, 2014
Letter to Alex Gibney, Jigsaw Productions, December 16, 2014
Letter to Sheila Nevins,
President, HBO Documentary Films, December 16, 2014
Letter to Alex Gibney, Jigsaw Productions, January 07, 2015
President, HBO Documentary Films, February 18, 2015
Letter to Stephanie Abrutyn, HBO Senior Counsel, February 20, 2015
Letter to Jay Ward Brown, HBO Counsel, February 27, 2015
President, HBO Documentary Films, March 03, 2015
Letter to Stephanie Abrutyn, HBO Senior Counsel, March 16, 2015
Letter to Jay Ward Brown, HBO Counsel, March 18, 2015
See the Family Letters sent to HBO about "Going Clear"
The Posse of Lunatics
the Church of Scientology
ALEX GIBNEY & HBOThe Prison of Propaganda
President, HBO Documentary Films,
President, HBO Documentary Films
Re: HBO film on Scientology
Mike Rinder: Anti-Scientologist, Unreliable Source
Dear Ms. Nevins:
The deceitfulness of Alex Gibney's HBO film on the Church of Scientology knows no end.
Predictably, one of the linchpins of the movie is Mike Rinder, a rabid anti-Scientologist who was removed in disgrace from his position in external affairs in the Church more than a decade ago for criminal acts, malfeasance and, most importantly, for repeatedly lying to the leader of the religion. This is the very same individual we advised HBO and Mr. Gibney nearly two months ago had been deposed and questioned under penalty of perjury on matters directly related to many of the claims he had made to Lawrence Wright, the primary source for Gibney's film. We assumed, correctly, that Rinder would make the same false claims to Gibney and for that reason, a review of Rinder's deposition testimony in which, under oath, he was repeatedly shown to be a liar, was integral to any due diligence for the film. Because Mr. Gibney had no interest in the truth which could only serve to thwart the story "he wanted" to tell, he ignored our advice.
We now know with certainty that Rinder's sworn testimony does indeed contradict his statements in Mr. Gibney's film. Gibney's failure to make appropriate edits to reflect the facts as contained in the Rinder deposition can only be attributed to a complete and utter lack of anything resembling journalistic ethics. In Gibney's "documentary" world, the facts be damned if they do not fit the preconceived story. Gibney likewise refused to meet with 25 individuals—many of them with firsthand knowledge about Rinder and his tall tales—including Rinder's own daughter, former wife, former assistant and numerous former colleagues and superiors who came to speak with Gibney in New York and present him with the facts.
In his 6 January deposition, under oath, Rinder admits to lying over and over to the leader of the religion, a transgression that would get one disciplined in any church. (One might think that even HBO employees could be disciplined or even fired if they were to lie repeatedly to Richard Plepler or to Jeff Bewkes.) In that same deposition, Rinder also, under oath, flatly contradicts statements he makes in Gibney's film: In the film Rinder claims that he lied to the media and to the courts at the behest of the Church. In the deposition he admits that in declarations and testimony he provided while with the Church, he was in fact telling the truth.
If that was not enough to establish that Rinder has no credibility and is an unreliable source, he further admits under oath that he is being paid $175-an-hour by plaintiffs' attorneys suing the Church. Rinder confirmed that in just one case, attorneys adverse to the Church had paid Rinder more than $22,000. It is notable that in the many years since he has been out of the Church, other than briefly working at a car dealership, he has not been employed other than in his capacity as an anti-Scientologist. Journalistic ethics require HBO to inform viewers that Rinder has an admitted financial interest in disparaging the Church. Mr. Gibney's arrogant disregard for testimony under oath is proof that Gibney was willing to ignore anything, even sworn testimony, that might undermine and contradict the predetermined themes in his film.
We advised you and Mr. Gibney of the Rinder deposition the day after it was concluded and how it had confirmed Rinder's lack of credibility. (See January 7, 2015, letter to Gibney, which was copied to you. It is also available at http://freedommag.org/going-clear/letters/to-alex-gibney/january-07-hbo-documentary-on-scientology.html.) We believed the deposition would be a valuable tool if HBO truly wanted to vet Rinder's allegations. Both Gibney and HBO refused to follow even the most rudimentary journalistic standards employed by tabloid journalists, providing an opportunity to respond to allegations. Instead, they label a proven, paid liar as a "hero."
Mike Rinder's Record of Lying
When Rinder's repeated lying to Church leadership was discovered, it led to his removal from any position of authority 12 years ago. Rinder's was anything but a sudden departure; it was a very long fall from grace arising out of Rinder's chronic dishonesty and malfeasance. Rinder's malfeasance as a former external affairs staffer caused the Church numerous problems that took years to correct. Ultimately, the Church's leader was forced to clean up Rinder's final mess, which resulted in his removal in 2002. If that were not enough, since Rinder's expulsion another of Gibney's sources, Marty Rathbun, admitted to a Florida newspaper that he, Rinder and another source for Gibney's film, Tom DeVocht, conspired to suborn perjury behind the backs of Church leaders. Rathbun could not have been clearer that this was unauthorized conduct when he stated to the press: "Nobody told me to do it."
Irrefutable proof of Rinder's lies in Gibney's film about the Church were exposed in his January 6, 2015, deposition when Rinder confirmed under oath the truthfulness of his handwritten apology titled "My Honesty," dated August 21, 2003, in which he stated he was sorry for having repeatedly lied to the leader of the Church:
It is a reflection on my cowardice and lack of integrity that I would do this [lie] and it's just black and white wrong and a low-tone suppressive trait. I've done it many times with you and have always had some justification for it that I then didn't really confront it for what it is. I finally confronted this for real.
In acknowledging the truth of this apology in his deposition, Rinder further stated he "only" lied to the leader of the Church:
Q. You believed you were a liar?
Q. You believed you had lied about many things, correct?
A. To him, yes.
Q. Ok. And had you lied to other people besides him?
Q. So, the only persons you told lies to during the time you were at the Church of Scientology was Mr. Miscavige, correct?
A. Yeah, that's correct.
Q. And you've told him lies on dozens of occasions?
A. Oh, I have no idea.
Q. Hundreds of occasions?
A. I have—I just said I have no idea.
Q. You can't—you can't quantify in any way by estimate the number of lies you told to Mr. Miscavige?
A. No, I can't.
Rinder lied to the leader of the religion so often he could not even estimate whether it had been dozens or hundreds of times. It was countless times "even down to 'lying about lying' and doing illegal things" as Rinder himself states. Rinder was removed for being dishonest and a blatant liar, as he acknowledges under oath. Despite this well-known fact, Gibney does not bother to include in the film any reference to Rinder's own admissions concerning his lies, lying about lying and the fact that he was removed from post in 2002. Had he, that would have allowed audiences themselves to judge Rinder's credibility, something Gibney is clearly not willing to risk.
Gibney's attempts to use Rinder to make it appear as if Scientologists and the Church routinely lie in contravention of Church tenants, is provably false as made clear in this excerpt from the January 6 deposition:
Q. It wasn't always your practice to present the truth to courts in affidavits and declarations, was it, sir?
A. Of course it was.
Q. Was it the case that you lied under oath in declarations submitted to the court during the time that you were at the Church of Scientology?
A. No. I think that I—everything that I wrote or said or, you know, all the stuff that you're going to pull out, at the time I firmly believed that it was the truth…
The statements Rinder acknowledged under oath on January 6 were truthful, when Mr. Gibney's cameras were not around, were made in court filings under penalty of perjury two dozen times over two decades beginning in April 1982 and continuing for twenty years. The statements cover a variety of subjects that directly contradict numerous allegations in Gibney's film:
The Scientology Scripture includes a comprehensive system of ethics that includes moral and ethical codes. The sole purpose of the Scientology system of ethics is to make it possible for auditing and training to occur and to enable Scientologists to apply Scientology technology and doctrine in their daily lives in order to achieve a Clear civilization. The system includes ethical guidelines for both the individual and group. Violation of ethical guidelines may result in loss of church membership and ineligibility to participate in religious services at a Church.
On January 6, 2015, Rinder confirmed under oath that this was a truthful statement. He also acknowledged newly the following statements to be correct:
While they now rail against Mr. Miscavige and unleash the foulest lies about him their imaginations can concoct, any Scientologist would have thought it totally proper under the circumstances for those people to have been expelled from the Church without a chance for mercy. However, he gave them another chance…
The sheer volume of despicable allegations made about him are intended to create the false impression that where there is smoke there is fire. These "witnesses" know only too well from their experience in the Church that the tactic of telling bigger and bolder lies has been a strategy employed against the Church in litigation for years. Tell enough lies, and make enough allegations, and an impression will be created which accomplishes the end of destroying a reputation no matter how untrue the allegations are. Public figures are especially susceptible to this fraud as any study of history shows. Jesus Christ was crucified based on the false accusations of Judas Iscariot and the prejudice of the Romans.
I know David Miscavige personally. As such I know him to be completely honest, and sincerely dedicated to helping people. For what he has done to expand our religion, he has the respect and admiration of millions of Scientologists. And for this same reason, he has earned the enmity and particular scorn of those with a vendetta against Scientology.
In the last decade, he has personally done more to ensure Scientology is standardly applied and made more widely known and available than any other single individual. After L. Ron Hubbard, the Founder of Scientology, passed away in 1986, the religion entered a new phase. While there will never be another L. Ron Hubbard, his death marked a time of potential disruption and upheaval, and Mr. Miscavige shouldered the responsibility for not only keeping the Scriptures pure, but for guiding our religion into a time of great stability and rapid growth. He never sought personal power or aggrandizement; he was thrust into the position he currently holds precisely because he is so dedicated to helping others through our religion. It is because he has demonstrated time and time again his integrity and selfless willingness to serve for the good of others that he enjoys the support of the staff and parishioners of the Scientology religion.
Yes, on January 6, 2015, Rinder confirmed—under oath—that these were truthful statements.
Rinder also described as "not true," "terrible," "spiteful" and "misleading" the allegation that the Church's leader, Mr. Miscavige, was involved in the death of his mother-in-law. While Rinder once again confirmed that statements he made while in the Church were true, it must be noted that the author of this allegation, a California lawyer named Graham Berry who was declared a vexatious litigant by a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge for bringing unsupportable claims to harass the Church, is now a "friend" of Rinder. Rinder's scruples only go so far when he is given the opportunity to cavort with other anti-Scientologists! It is even more noteworthy that Berry, who Rinder now acknowledges is a liar who concocted outlandish allegations, was a source for Lawrence Wright's book: the attorney supposedly bankrupted by the Church even Wright was embarrassed to name because of his history as a vexatious litigant for which he was repeatedly sanctioned. Here's what Rinder said, under oath, earlier this year:
Q. Okay. You think he's not being criticized?
A. I think that he is being—okay. If you really want me to answer this question, I will. This primarily, and you will see in here, the subject of these spiteful allegations and falsehoods was that David Miscavige had been somehow involved in the death—the death of his mother-in-law, Shelly's mother, and to this day I do not believe that that is true and I think that that's a terrible allegation to make about someone that is not only not true, is spiteful and misleading, and I would say that today. I do not believe that David Miscavige had any involvement with the death of his mother-in-law. I will—no one will ever convince me otherwise and I would never say otherwise. These people were saying that and I disagreed with that.
Thus, we have a source for the Wright book and the Gibney film attacking the credibility of another source. The lies go on and on and on.
Mike Rinder & Marty Rathbun
Another glaring omission in the film is the connection between Rinder and Marty Rathbun. Mr. Gibney fails to disclose that Rathbun was the guru for a small Texas hate group of which Rinder was a member. These two are renowned to act as one, with Rinder even stating he "emulates" Rathbun. For the last six years they have conspired to attack their former Church and the character of the Church's leader, denigrate the religion and harass parishioners.
Gibney also neglects to mention that Rathbun once beat Rinder within an inch of his life, an incident both have acknowledged. What makes their relationship all the more bizarre is that Rathbun anointed Rinder as a "minister" of Rathbun's group for the sole purpose of presiding at Rathbun's wedding, claiming himself to be the first, last and only "Independent Scientology Minister." No sooner had Rinder toasted Rathbun as "perhaps the finest example I have ever met of someone who maintains the Code of Honor, personal integrity and care for other people" than Rathbun demonstrated that integrity by spending his honeymoon night in jail in New Orleans for, among other things, "harassing a tourist."
In his January 6, 2015, deposition, Rinder stated that he no longer holds his ministerial "position" and that he does not subscribe to those "views" any longer. Rathbun's self-styled group collapsed as a "failed experiment." Rinder's beliefs have changed yet again only this time he cannot attribute his about face to the Church and its leader.
Rinder's claim to have been the Church's "spokesperson" during his tenure with the Church is yet another lie put forward for Rinder's self-aggrandizement. The Reverend Heber Jentzsch was the Church's spokesperson throughout the entire time Rinder held a position in external affairs. While Rinder did at times speak to the press on matters of external affairs for which he was responsible (and repeatedly botched), the title he appoints for himself is yet another example of his lies and a feeble attempt to make himself seem much more important than he ever was to the Church.
Gibney's "Hero's" History of Domestic Abuse
Gibney's so-called "hero" has a history of domestic violence. Gibney has not only chosen to ignore this history in the face of the facts long-since presented by the Church and more recently provided by the attorney for Rinder's former wife, he also again fails to inform his audiences so that they can judge Rinder for themselves. It is a matter of public record that Rinder violently attacked his former wife, who is less than half his size, screamed at her and called her a "bitch." Rinder grabbed her arms while holding his car keys, twisting her arms so forcefully she thought they would break. Photographic evidence and the report of the paramedics called to the scene show the initial injury. In the ensuing years, her shoulder did not heal and required surgery. Physical therapy for the injury continues today. According to her attending physician, she will be in pain for the rest of her life. To compound the trauma, their daughter witnessed her father attacking her mother, as did Rinder's brother. It is nothing short of shameful that HBO provides a platform for a wife abuser and refers to that abuser as "heroic."
Counsel for Rinder's former wife also advised HBO that Rinder's outrageous allegation in Gibney's film that his former wife was held against her will, then released to provide a "scripted" interview to CNN in which she revealed that he is a pathological liar is provably false. Gibney never contacted Rinder's former wife to find out if there was any truth to this despicable allegation he intended to include in his film. Does it not give HBO pause to know that this outrageous accusation of Rinder's was never put to the Church or to his former wife for a response? The fact that this accusation was contrived five years after the fact should have raised the warning flag that Rinder is not credible. You personally should be ashamed of this sexist treatment towards women and the acceptance of the view of an admitted liar without so much as contacting the woman for a response. Given your public stance on domestic violence and HBO's airing last year of a documentary on the subject, it is more than hypocritical that you are now glorifying a sleaze, who after he abandoned and abused his former wife, married a girl younger than his daughter. All this to support an anti-Scientology agenda? Where are your journalistic ethics?
Far from a "hero" it would be more accurate to describe Mike Rinder as an inveterate liar and a perpetrator of domestic abuse. Traitor also comes to mind, as he is the one who betrayed the values of honesty and integrity he once held dear as do all Scientologists; he has now extended his habit of "lying about lying" to a fantasy of lying when he did not lie, all for financial gain. This raises the question, of course, whether Gibney and/or HBO paid Rinder to appear in the film, beyond his all-expenses-paid junket to Sundance. And yes, I do demand an answer to that question.
Enclosed is the evidence regarding the lying by Mr. Rinder that I brought to New York and which the Church has posted online. All of it was available to Mr. Gibney; all of it was ignored. It is impossible for HBO and Alex Gibney to claim they did not know that this source has no credibility. Mr. Gibney's film must be corrected.
Karin Pouw
cc: Alex Gibney, Jigsaw Productions
Mike Rinder: Unreliable Source Uncovered
Domestic Violence: Church of Scientology Letter
to Sheila Nevins, President, HBO Documentary Films, March 12, 2015
The Church of Scientology is committed to free speech. However, free speech is not a free pass to broadcast or publish false information. We have all seen what happens when facts are not checked or those being reported on are not given a chance to respond. The Church is taking a resolute stand against such actions—both on its own behalf and for others who either cannot or will not do so.
Freedom seeks out and illuminates solutions to society's problems.
Freedom addresses issues, not politics.
Freedom uplifts human aspiration. It stands for accurate and accountable reporting and publishes information available in no other publication.
Freedom is the voice of the Church of Scientology.
LRonHubbard.org
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CCHR.org
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Florida Edition
Media & Ethics
©1996-2022 Church of Scientology International. All Rights Reserved. Freedom is a trademark and is used with its owner's permission.


text:
Гришанки — присілок, Воткінський район, Удмуртія
 Гришанки — село, Новосокольничеський район, Псковська область

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
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DISTDIR="$BASEDIR/dist"

# run the build script
./build.sh

# Create a new Git repo in dist folder
cd "$DISTDIR"
git init

# Set user details
git config user.name "ibuild.io"
git config user.email "ibuild@ibuild.io"

# First commit, .. horray!
git add .
git commit -m "Deploy to gh-pages"

# Force push ...
git push --force --quiet "https://${GH_TOKEN}@${GH_REF}" master:gh-pages > /dev/null 2>&1

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Milwaukee Alliance hosts rally to focus the county budget on community, not cops
By Paris Miller |
Read more articles in Brutalidad Policial
Milwaukee County Supervisor Ryan Clancy speaks during the rally to defund the sheriff's office and invest in communities. (LaTasha Lux / LaLux Photography)
Milwaukee, WI - On the afternoon of November 6, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR) held a rally at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee. This rally was in protest of the current county budget proposal, which the County Board of Supervisors will vote on the morning of November 8. The current proposal would increase the already bloated budget of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) by 6%. MAARPR's canvassing efforts over the past six months have revealed that working-class Black and brown people in Milwaukee do not want this budgetary increase.
In addition to protesting against the current budget proposal, this rally was also held in support of Supervisor Ryan Clancy's amendments to the budget. Instead of giving more money to the MCSO, Clancy is fighting to divest money from them and put it towards areas that will help communities such as parks, mental health services and better job opportunities.
"People from the community, its organizations, individuals, are demanding a divestment from policing and towards the things that we know makes us better," said Supervisor Clancy during his speech for the event.
The Milwaukee Alliance hopes that with the vote being held Monday morning and the culmination of almost a year's worth of work, the politicians will actually listen to the people and adopt Supervisor Clancy's proposed amendments. Milwaukee needs resources for the community, not the cops.


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On June 30th, the Omnibus School Code legislation, House Bill #1901 was enacted into law by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. It includes a number of essential funding elements relating to the state's basic education formula, teacher/principal evaluations, special education, community colleges, and libraries. Additionally, the bill includes language from Senate Bill 1492 introduced this spring by Sen. Lloyd Smucker, which provides a blueprint for other school districts to follow if they decide to start their own Open Campus program that Penn Manor, Manheim Township and Hempfield School Districts will be piloting during the 2012-2013 school year.


text:
Taking Away Some of the Randomness from a Random Universe
Posted: November 6, 2015 | Author: brucem | Filed under: Competency Building and Organizational Development | Tags: Borussia Dortmund, Christian Güttler, FIFA World Cup, footbonaut, Mario Gotze, practice, random chance | 1 Comment
Achieving excellence in process is a blend of art and science, left and right-brain approaches. For example, in many areas of business, such as sales, we often hear how it "is an art, not a science" and that "process turns salespeople into robots" etc.
Here's an example, however, of how something that is seemingly an unpredictable art — responding to the unpredictability of a football's motion from moment to moment — into something that is aided by approaching the task as process. In this case, the process is the manner in which football players practice receiving and passing balls. The improvement was to develop a machine, a system, called Footbonaut, as seen in this UEFA video.
It was developed by a German inventor Christian Güttler. When he started in 2006, the machine generated some interest, but not until it was used at a German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in 2012, that interest exploded. It is said that the Footbonaut was a significant factor in Borussia Dortmund's getting to the UEFA Champion's League final in 2013.
The Footbonaut is a 14×14 meters cage with a circle in the middle where a player stands. The automated system fires balls at the player from four different angles and two different levels. Once the ball is released, the player has to control it and then pass it into one of 72 flashing green panels. If it takes him too long the light on the square turns yellow and then red. If you pass the ball when the square is green, you get the most points. All passes and touches are recorded and can be reviewed on an iPad, from which the Footbonaut is controlled. According to Güttler after 15 minutes of "in the cage" training the player will have received/passed the same amount of balls as in a week of training.
In a piece for CNN, Tom McGowan wrote in 2012:
Dortmund's success in recent years and the performances of players like striker Robert Lewandowski and midfielder Mario Gotze have attracted admiring glances from a host of top clubs. And former Mainz coach Klopp hopes the "Footbonaut" can help Dortmund maintain their stellar standards.
"It is the perfect tool to improve ball-handling skills," said the 45-year-old. "It demands precise skills used at speed in a physically tough environment. It´s quite a package!"
Echoing Klopp's excitement, Dortmund's chief scout Sven Mislintat is interested by the cage's potential to analyze player development.
"We can closely monitor a player´s development with data gleaned from the machine," said Mislintat. "There is no reason why a player cannot translate the actions practised in this environment onto the actual playing field."
In a review of a new book, "Das Reboot" by Raphael Honigstein, The Economist wrote:
Almost half of the goals scored in football are virtually random, reckons Martin Lames of the Technical University of Munich. And football's best loved narratives—the come-from-behind win, the giant-killing—are those that upset expectations. But Raphael Honigstein's new book "Das Reboot" focuses on the bits of the game that are not random, and how a well prepared team faces anything but a coin-flip.
After a long period as a footballing superpower, the German side became complacent. The nadir was the European Championships in 2000, when it failed to win a game, even losing to England in a match Mr Honigstein describes as "an all-round embarrassment of footballing poverty". 14 years later, Germany would humiliate Brazil, the World Cup hosts, 7-1 before defeating Argentina to take home the trophy.
Interestingly, one player who used the Footbonaut at his club was Mario Gotze. Last year, at the 2014 World Cup, he controlled a cross with his chest and volleyed the ball into the net with a replica of the set of motions the training machine provided. Practice: 1, Random: 0.