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Tentative Rule Vote
Thread starter Austin
Which Rule Would You Like?
Tentative A
Tentative B
No Rule
I've been reading some of the newer post in the tentative rules about spoilers. That being said there has been two tentative rules that seem to stick out. I fear that if I do a conversational vote, that it will go on and on for a long time. My school year is about to end so my free time will start to increase. Anyways the two rules up for vote.
Tentative Rule 3.a
Failure to warn about Spoilers - Infraction 2 points
Spoiler is any piece of information that gives: story line details, solutions to quests or dungeons, new characters or characters' secret identities, or secret items or items' locations that are meant to be revealed at a certain point during the game (excludes box, manual, and exposition). Failure to warn happens when a user doesn't use spoiler tags to hide said content that relates to a game other than the topic of the thread, or includes a spoiler in a thread title. This rule does not apply to the Zelda Theory section, where references to other games is expected and encouraged in the spirit of theorizing. First and minor offenses will be met by a PM from a moderator reminding the user of this rule. Repeat offenses may result in a warning, and a full infraction will only be given out in very rare and extreme cases.
Tentative Rule 3.b
Failure to warn about Spoilers - No Infraction
Spoiler is any piece of information that gives: story line details, solutions to quests or dungeons, new characters or characters' secret identities, or secret items or items' locations that are meant to be revealed at a certain point during the game (excludes box, manual, and exposition). This isn't a strict rule and will not be punished as such. Users may be reminded via PM to be mindful of the common courtesy of hiding off-topic or spontaneous spoilers. Moderators reserve the right to edit posts to include spoiler tags at their discretion and issue at most a PM asking the user to be more cautious in the future.
DeletedUser9
I voted for A, but it still needs a little work. The primary disagreement on the spoiler issue is which games are considered spoilers, not how do deal with violations (dealing with them with the A method sounds ideal though).
The main argument we're dealing with is actually whether we should not have the rule at all, only have spoiler rules applicable for recent games, or for all games. Problem is, I'm not convinced the majority of the normal members actually want spoiler rules in place. This was first brought up by moderators, not forumgoers, and this context needs to be remembered. We don't want to implement a rule just because the mods want it when it's the kind of thing meant to protect the actual users. I've seen a number of people complain about it, so I think if we're going to do anything extreme like apply the rule to older games, we NEED to take a public vote.
Rule A deals with some reasonable policies to help people avoid spoilers THEMSELVES (which they should be doing; internet forums generally = spoilers), but I still think it's kind of unreasonable when you factor in older games with really common knowledge stories. Do you expect people to not talk about LA being a dream, or Sheik or Tetra being Zelda, or that you go to the future or the Dark World in OoT and ALttP respectively? These are all just as much of spoilers as anything else, yet just about everyone knows them and is even EXPECTED to know them to actually discuss many topics. Having to use a spoiler tag for every single one is an unnecessary pain considering that talking about this stuff is what this forum is for.
Of course, you can allow common knowledge stuff as exceptions to the rule, but then what? Do you compile a list of exceptions? That won't work. The only logical solution is to apply the rule to recent games. TP, PH and ST this would be applicable with, and SS as soon as it comes out. It's a basic practice anywhere you go to consider something that is sufficiently old "common knowledge". Darth Vader is Luke's father, for example. This applies to classical writings, plays, and old entertainment. Why wouldn't it apply to this, especially since we're on a forum for discussing that entertainment in-depth?
luke is my wife
Spoilers ahead!
I voted for Rule A as well. Looks like it's just me and Axle on that one. It seems like most people don't want an infraction at all. However, I fear this will allow for people to freely post spoilers in unrelated areas. I agree that a spoiler policy that has something to do with the topic on hand is unecessary, but I wouldn't want someone to be reading through a thread about "Did you like Midna?" in Modern Zelda and read "Zomg no!! The KoRL is totes better b cuz he's really a person!!1!!1!!" That in itself is unfair, although it does play into the "read at your own risk" factor.
Axle the Beast said:
Common knowledge spoilers are alright as long as they pertain to the topic at hand. Most people know that the KoRL is really a person. However, when discussing Midna, there is no reason to write, "Zomg no!! The KoRL is totes better b cuz he's really a person!!1!!1!!" outside of Spoiler Tags.
Soldier of Link said:
If it's a common knowledge spoiler, then there is no reason whatever why it should be in spoiler tags, because by definition, it's common knowledge. If people do not know it, then they are the exception rather than the rule. It's basically impossible to craft the rules to properly care for exceptions like that without pissing off the majority of users.
I agree with enforcing the rules for pretty much all games on thread titles. That makes sense. But once the thread title indicates the game, if you haven't played it, then you have no business asking people to not spoil it in a thread about it; don't read the thread.
Now let's take your example of someone saying "Zomg no!! The KoRL is totes better b cuz he's really a person!!1!!1!!". Are you saying that if someone who hasn't played The Wind Waker reads that post and doesn't stop as soon as they see "King or Red Lions", or "KoRL" or really the name of any character they're infamiliar with, that they shouldn't just stop reading? Even if older games are not enforced at all, common sense would allow pretty much anyone to avoid spoilers.
I also guess I don't understand what you're saying, because you're saying common knowledge spoilers are fine when they relate to the topic at hand. Well, if they relate to the topic at hand, then the spoilers are marked properly and thus it doesn't matter if they're common knowledge or not, they're still allowed.
The idea behind common knowledge games is simply that we don't worry about them at all, aside form let's say, thread titles. With that in place, we don't worry about them since it will rarely be an issue for anyone, and someone still has the means to either not read a thread or, in most cases, stop reading threads once certain games or names are referenced. Besides, in a topic about helpers in Zelda, shouldn't you expect comments about helpers from games you haven't played? Common sense STILL applies.
After thinking about it more, I asked Justin to change my vote over to No Rule. I think aside from thread titles, which to my knowledge have never really been a major issue and can be handled separately, there's still no reason to have a rule at all since common sense can help you avoid threads or even specific posts. I've done it myself, and/or chosen not to do it myself, so I know it's 100% possible.
In short, there's no reason to have a rule on something people can and probably should handle on their own.
If y'all do decide on having one, I still don't want it to extend past recent games for all the reasons I've stated.
Hegemon
If that sentence were phrased any differently (i.e. "Things that are real people like the King of Red Lions are more interesting"), then it would be impossible to know when to stop. There's no guarantee that people are going to be given adequate warning of off-topic spoilers just from context. In response to a statement further down in your post, if someone has not played WW, then (s)he would not know if there was a helper in it. So should that thread be avoided by everyone who hasn't played every single game?
It was mentioned in the Skype chat -- and I think in the other thread a long time ago -- that if we do end up with "no rule" or "3.b" and people aren't paying attention to moderators' PMs, they could receive an infraction for something else like posting off-topic (if it's an off-topic spoiler) or trolling (if they're intentionally repeating the behavior).
Justin, do you think we should keep the debate over which games to apply it to in the other thread, or just continue it here?
But you called me here...
I voted for A. I think that it is the better of the two. However, I feel that it needs the changes that Axle has discussed.
Locke said:
Imma just continue it here.
My feelings on what games it should apply: All games, or no games. Honestly, you shouldn't just say "it applies to Spirit Tracks and upcoming Skyward Sword." There are a myriad of spoilers from other games, as well. Link's Awakening is chock full of them, as is Ocarina of Time, and The Wind Waker.
This works fine as well. As long as it does not go unpunished, I do not have a problem with this idea.
My real opinion on Spoilers is that I really have no opinion. I care not if a game is spoiled for me. I haven't even gotten to the Moon in Majora's Mask, yet I could have an in-depth debate about what happens in the final fight. I've already spoiled it for myself, and I don't have a problem with spoilers. However, I would like some sort of guideline for others, just as a courtesy.
and Tonic
The Flying Mobile Opression fortress
The very reason why I do not believe there should even be a rule or if there is one the punishment should not be anything significant, is simply because no two people here can agree on exactly what a spoiler is. And even when the forum has a definition in print, it is still very heavily debated and argues to the point where the admins will quickly want to wash their hands of the situation and intact a zero tolerance policy where spoiler tags are everywhere and reading any thread is too much of a chore to get through spoiler button after spoiler button. And all are afraid to post in fear of incurring infractions. Or there is no official policy which creates a reaction in all the anti spoiler crowd that wish to not have anything known until they themselves play it and might be afraid of having a game ruined for them at any second they are on the forum by clicking on any and all thread titles.
So because we are having far too much difficulty agreeing on what exactly a spoiler is, then too many people will be punished due to the misunderstanding. I would hate to see many infractions passed out because no one agrees on what a spoiler is.
As long as the definition of spoiler is still debated I heavily doubt people will be capable of agreeing on a single rule. Each tentative rule given above and in the other thread has a different definition. We need to hammer out the exact definition first then figure out a method of policing that definition.
Are you seriously suggesting someone would go into a Zelda Helpers thread and not assume there would be helpers from games they have not played? How many games in the series after Adventure of Link can you name that do not have helpers? It's a basic, obvious thing. So someone can reasonably assume that if they have not played all the games in the series, then in such a thread people would discuss games they have not played. Again, this is basic logic. This applies to ANY THREAD that discusses series-wide concepts. For the most part, it's easy to figure out which threads are going to contain spoilers. There are going to be exceptions of course, but it's foolish to enforce a rule for everyone that only prevents a small problem.
Then you don't agree with the idea of common knowledge games? See, the problem is, yes, there are spoilers for other games. But they've come and gone. A long time ago, for many of them. It's not at all the same enforcing spoiler rules for both old and new games. Old games are just that, old. Their "time" has already happened, and the period where someone would avoid learning about the game so they can play it is, for the most part, gone. New games have just come out. That period is still there.
I understand that many people have not played them yet. But as I've said already, for the most part it only requires basic logic to avoid spoilers by yourself. The few times you cannot are rare exceptions, and enforcing a broad rule for it is far too big an action for a small problem; you can't and will never be able to please everyone. Which brings me to this...
I really am not trying to be rude with this, but it really seems to me that this entire issue and controversy has been brought up entirely by the moderating team. Particularly by members of the moderating team and now Knights and Shoutbox Users who don't have much of anything to gain from a spoiler rule. So this is all for the "good of the other members". But I've never heard anyone complain about spoilers at all until this debate was started by a moderator. And to my knowledge not too many have complained about spoilers while others have complained about spoiler rules.
So it seems like this entire debate was started to find the solution to a problem that doesn't really exist, since it was started by a moderator giving a member and infraction for spoilers when there wasn't any spoiler policy. The members didn't care about the spoilers. It was a moderator.
Djinn also raises a point I've been trying to stress in a different way. Actually enforcing spoiler policies isn't as simple as it's been made out to be. It's already created problems, even with the straightforward rule we already had written that didn't have any loopholes. It's not wise to expand an already problematic rule to restrict more games.
There's a Bazooka in TP!
I voted for "No Rule" if only because the term spoiler is just too hard to define. One may assume it's only the most shocking of secret plot points while others figure saying what's inside the first cave in the original LoZ is a spoiler. It can't be measured as it's different from person to person. It's not as cut and dry as if a person's swearing in their posts.
Given the age gap between Zelda fans, I think it's safe to assume that no one game can be ruled to be more free of spoilers than others as there's always new fans entering the fray. I've talked to people on this board who've only played Ocarina of Time. Others have played them all. I've been playing Zelda games since the first one was released, and yet I've only played just over half of them. To each person the rules change, and to cover every single possible spoiler is restricting the flow of conversation.
I think it's just best that people govern themselves in this matter. If they are that sensitive about spoilers, they shouldn't come to an online forum about the games they don't want spoiled until they play through them. I know it sounds harsh, but I think it's better to deal with malicious spoilers (Total game ruining in the subject line for instance) and leave the others alone. I know malicious ones still apply to a the sliding spoiler scale of a person to person basis, but I would think they are more obvious as they are handled more like an attack or spam post made in order to anger and annoy other members.
DuckNoises
Gone (Wind) Fishin'
Apparently there has been a little bit of confusion about 3b. When we were discussing posting 3b, I meant it to be sort of a reminder to users. I don't want it being enforced, really. The extent of the enforcement for 3b was just to send a PM to a user if they are posting spoilers that are unnecessary or may seem a little off-topic. There are no supplementary infractions of any kind. It's more of a preventative measure than anything else; more of an encouragement to users to be careful about posting spoilers, if they are going to. It isn't meant to be any kind of hindrance to reduce the number of spoilers posted or to discourage people from posting --it's just meant as a policy to notify users that we are trying to minimize spoilers, and that the users can help with minimizing them, if they so choose. Choosing to help would be the ideal solution, but not doing so won't result in any kind of punishment. Helping out is just good measure, and I feel that encouraging good measure in users is a positive thing that can help remedy the situation without causing further controversy.
Baysiderulez
Cali For Nuh
That's exactly why I voted for it ducky
In my eyes... its more of a rule on how Moderators are supposed to treat people who post spoilers, rather then what members are supposed to do with spoilers. Its more of a policy then a punishment. So that everyone is on the same page. That's why I voted for 3b rather then no rule.
Y2K3
Lushier than Mercy!
Newfoundland, Canada
I voted for No Rule, however I would be fine with 3.b. Like others have said, not everyone has the same definition of a spoiler. Plus, I'm sure some people, like myself dont' care about spoilers, making it difficult to know what others may call an obvious one.
An example of differences in opinion can be seen in this topic alone. SoL said that there can be spoilers in any game, but I feel if the game is old enough, then using spoilers are just silly. Unless told otherwise, I would just go and assume that people have played games like OoT, so I wouldn't bother to put it in spoilers.
:right:
I voted no rule, as I didn't think that anything is warrented. This is a fourm, and its enter at your own risk. If I had to choose, I would pick rule B.
Mr.Verto
爆発物マネージャ
Not in the SB ;-;
I pretty much agree with Axle. No Rule.
Why? Well this is a ZELDA site, so if you joined here, is becasue you have knowledge of Zelda. And now again, we might know every game, and every now and then we might find something about the game we didnt know. But is it a big deal? Probably not, probably yes. But now again ZD has the infinte solution already. Yes, when making a thread you can add the prefix SPOILER or any game. So instead of making it a rule, making it known to new users to read this "part" of the thread title to evade this situation, and MAKE it mandatory that users to add a prefix. If its not a specifc game, well then General Zelda. So...


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Thomas Pennant
Stone to Stafford
Next Selection Previous Selection
IMMEDIATELY after leaving Stonefield, reached the little town of Stone, a place remarkable for religious antiquity. Legend tells us, that the before-mentioned Wulferus, then a Pagan, put to death his two sons, Wulfad and Rufin, on suspicion of favoring the Christian faith; Wulfad at this place, Rufin at Burston, about three miles distant. Over each, stones were erected, as usual, in memory of the dead; whence the names of these places are derived. Wulfere, after this unnatural deed, was struck with the utmost remorse, and, by the influence of his queen and St. Cedda, or Chad, who lived in a neighboring hermitage, was converted to the religion he had so lately persecuted; and, by way of expiating his guilt, among other works of piety, founded at Stone a college of canons regular, about the year 670. His queen Ermenilda is said to have also founded a nunnery here. On the invasion of the Danes, the religious were dispersed; but on the abatement of the cruelty of those barbarians, it is probable they returned, or at lest a new establishment was formed. This is certain, that religious were found here after the Conquest; for there is an idle tale of two nuns and a priest being slain there, by Enysan, a Norman. This Enysan, of Walton, was the true re-founder. Caution must be used in reading the histories of these times, which are filled with pious romance. Little credit should also be given to the murder of the sons of Wulfere. The Saxon Chronicle is silent about the deed. That prince was a convert to Christianity, and seems to have founded the house through the common motives of zeal.
Enysan, on his re-establishment of this house, filled it with canons from Kenelworth, and made it a cell to that place. The Staffords, who were his superiors, assumed the honor of this new foundation; and a second Robert de Stafford, about the year 1260, rendered it independent of Kenelworth, excepting the right of patronage, and a yearly pension. The church of this priory was the place of interment of several of this great family; and numbers of magnificent tombs, with their figures in alabaster, lay there till the dissolution; when they were removed to the Augustines, on Stafford Green. On the road-side is a fragment of a thick wall, perhaps a remnant of the priory. The church is quite new, and is a very elegant building, dedicated to St. Wulfad, one of the supposed martyrs. At the time of the suppression, a tablet, giving the whole history of the house, was hung up in the priory: it is related in old English metre; but is so tedious, that I must refer the readers, who desire to peruse it, to the cited author.1
As soon as I left Stone, I saw on the right a large house called Aston, originally the property of a branch of the Heveninghams of Suffolk. Walter, the last of the line, left two daughters; the second (who only had children) conveyed by marriage the estate to Sir James Simeon, who rebuilt the hall. He also built in the garden a mausoleum; in which, I think, he is interred. The place is at present the property of Edward Weld, Esq. of Lulworth castle, in Dorsetshire, and descended to him of late years, by virtue of a marriage of an ancestor with a daughter of this house, in the reign of Charles II.
THE road from this place, for several miles, passes along a pretty vale, watered by the Trent, bounded by two hills, and much enlivened by the course of the canal. About the third mile from Stone, I went by Burston, a small hamlet, noted formerly for a chapel erected over the spot where Rufin, second son of Wulfere, was supposed to have been martyred; and on that account, in old times, greatly frequented by the devout.
ABOUT a quarter of a mile from hence, on the top of a hill, stands the church of Sandon . This manor, in the twentieth of William the Conqueror, was in the hands of the king; who bestowed it on Hugh Lupus; and he again gave it to William de Malbang, or Nantwich. It passed from this family (by the gift of Adena, second daughter of William, grandson to the former) to Warren de Verdon; and by his daughter Alditha, to Sir William Stafford; and by the marriage of Margaret, daughter of one of his descendants, in the twelfth of Edward III. to Thomas of Erdeswik. It continued in possession of that family till the reign of James I. In his time it was sold to George Digby, groom of the stole to that monarch, by his half-brother Richard Erdeswik. Charles Lord Gerard, of Bromley, became master of it, by marriage with a daughter of Mr. Digby; whose granddaughter, by matching with William Duke of Hamilton, conveyed it to Lord Archibald Hamilton ; who, in 1776, disposed of it to Lord Harrowby. A law-suit concerning this place gave rise to the fatal duel, in November 1712, between James Duke of Hamilton and Lord Mohun; in which both combatants lost their lives.
THE antient mansion stood near the church, within a moat; but is now demolished, and a beautiful house,2 commanding a fine view, was built by Lord Archibald Hamilton, on an eminence impending over the Chester road. The steep slope is beautiful, cloathed with plantations of recent date, but extremely flourishing.
THE church is in the gift of Lord Harrowby. Before the dissolution, it belonged to the abbey of Cumbermere; being bestowed on it by the founder, Hugh de Malbang .
THE monuments are curious. The finest is in memory of the celebrated Sampson Erdeswik, the learned antiquary of the county; a faithful guide of all that concerned the families, till his death, which happened in 1603. He might have spared himself the expence of a monument; his work would have perpetuated his name. He erected one in his life-time; and is represented recumbent, a colossal figure in a jacket with short skirts, and spurs on his legs. Above, in two niches, are his two wives, kneeling: the one was Elizabeth Dikeswel; the other Maria Neale, widow to Sir Everard Digby, and mother to the unfortunate victim to the gunpowder plot. Besides inscriptions to these ladies, is a pedigree of the house; for which, as well as several other epitaphs of the Erdeswiks, the reader is referred to the Appendix.3
I shall only mention, that the tombs are of the altar-form, and have the figures of the persons commemorated engraved on the stone.
THE inscription on a plain marble tomb, in memory of Mr. Digby, once owner of the place, is very worthy of preservation: as it records a remarkable piece of history, I shall give it here at length, and add notes to the obscure parts.
Si quis hie jaceat, roges, viator,
Georgius Digbaeus ,
Armiger.
Vir (si quis alius) celebrati nominis.
Nobili clarus prosapia, sed vita nobiliori:
Quippe qui
Ipsum nobilitatis fontem caeno turbatum
Demum limpidum reddidit:
Hoc est
Ut memet explicem,
Qui regis Jacobi purpuram
Maledicti Schopii 4 dicterici foedatam
Obtrectatoris sanguine5
Retirixit.
Nee tamen homuncionem penitus sustulit
Sed gravius stigma fronti incussit
Quam Henricus magnus
Libello,6
Quo scilicet toto vitae curriculo
(Utpote omnium contemptui expositus)
Sensit se mori.
Hujus egregii facinoris intuitu
A Jacobo honoribus auctus est
Digboeus
Meritis tandem annisque plenus
Vivere desiit, semper victurus.
Ipsis Idibus Decembris, a°. {
AEtatis suae LXXXVI.
Tanti herois laudes
Licet non taceant historici
Haec saxa loqui curavit
Lectissima heroina Jana Baronissa Gerrard
De Bromley ,
Clarissimi Digboei filia
Superstes unica.
FROM Sandon the hills recede to the north. I directed my course to Chartley, about four miles and a half distant, and about three north from the great road. This venerable pile is built round a court, and great part of it is curiously made of wood, embattled at top, and the sides carved. In many places are the arms of the Devereux; the devices of the Ferrars and Garnishes; and, in Saxon characters, the initials of the founder, W. D. (Walter Devereux) with the motto Loial suis je. Over the door of the gateway is carved a head in profile, with a crown above. In the middle of the court stands a fountain: and the whole building is surrounded with a moat. The view within the court is faithfully shewn in Plot, tab. v.
IN several of the windows are painted glass. In the great bow-window of the hall are the horse-shoes, the antient device of the Ferrars; in others, the arms of that family, of the Devereux, Garnishes, and Shirlies. A bed is still preserved here, the work of Mary Stuart, who was for some time imprisoned in this house: besides this, at present there are no vestiges of its former grandeur. Within and without is a mortifying appearance of neglect and approaching decay.7
AT a small distance from the house, on a knowl, are the poor remains of the castle; consisting of the fragments of two rounders, and a bit of a wall, almost hid in wood. This fortress was very soon permitted to fall in decay. Leland speaks of it as a ruin in his days. When the power of the nobility was broken, by the policy of Henry VII. numbers of the barons, finding their castle no longer a protection to their insolence, were glad to quit so incommodious a kind of habitation. We often see, as in the present instance, an antient mansion near the remains, or on the scite of a more antient castle: the times were so much bettered, and monarchy had recovered so much rightful strength, that the former became useless against their prince, or their rival reguli, who then began to acknowledge the power of law. Yet still some species of castellated mansion, against popular commotions, or the attacks of bands of robbers, was requisite. Conveniency, and a sort of elegance, was affected in their houses; but a necessary suspicion still remained, and safety provided for by the deep surrounding moat, by the gateway, and the strong door.
Chartley castle was built by Randle Blundeville, Earl of Chester, in 1220, on his return from the Holy Land; and to defray the expence of this, as also of Beeston, which he also founded, a tax was levied on all his vassals. By his death, this part of his estate devolved on William Ferrars Earl of Derby, in right of his wife Agnes, third sister of Randle .
His son Robert, entering into the factious views of the barons, received a defeat at Chesterfield in 1266. His estates were confiscated, and the castle and manor bestowed by Henry III. on Hamon Le Strange; but, notwithstanding this, he possessed himself of it by force, and the king was obliged to order his brother, Edmund Earl of Lancaster, to besiege the place; which he took, but not till after much loss on both sides. Edmund, and the nobility who assisted in the siege, thought proper to obtain his Majesty's pardon for the lives lost on the occasion. Ferrars himself received his pardon, was divested of the earldom of Derby, but was suffered to retain this castle; possibly, being reduced so low as to be incapable of giving farther disturbance. It continued in his line till the reign of Henry VI. when, in 1447, by the marriage of Anne, or Agnes, sole heiress to William Lord Ferrars, to Walter Devereux, sheriff of Herefordshire, it passed into another great race of peers. The lady was at that time only eleven years and eight months old; but by the king's special favor, in 1452, she had livery of her lands, without further proof of her age. This estate continued in his posterity (the Lords Ferrars, Viscounts Hereford, and Earls of Essex) till the year 1646, when it fell to Sir Robert Shirley, by his marriage with Dorothy, youngest sister to Robert Earl of Essex, the noted parlement general; and is at present possessed by their descendant Earl Ferrers .
IN hopes of finding, in the neighboring parish-church of Stow, the monumental honors usually attendant on great families, I visited it, at the small trouble of a mile's ride. I was disappointed, for I found only one of this great line deposited in the place. This is very frequent with a race of heroes, whose active spirits carry them into scenes remote from their natal soil, or bring them to fates that prevent possession of their parental sepulchres. Walter Devereux, the first Lord Ferrars, fell in the field of Bosworth, fighting valiantly in behalf of Richard, and was buried among the undistinguished slain. Walter, his descendant, first Earl of Essex, died Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, September 22d, 1576, as supposed by poison, and was interred at Caermarthen. His son, the favorite of Elizabeth, fell a victim to his indiscretion and ambition; perished by the ax, and was flung among the attainted herd. His son, for a series of victories in the cause of liberty, received from his grateful party the magnificent honors of a public funeral in the capital, which his arms had defended.
I FOUND here only the tomb of Walter, first Viscount Hereford, grandson of the first Lord Ferrers, and founder of the house of Chartley. He served with honor in the French wars, under Henry VIII; and in the naval attack of Conquet, in 1512, he was honored with the garter by his royal master, and with the title of Hereford by his successor. His death happened in 1558. He lies here under a fine monument, erected in his life-time; his figure is represented in robes, with the collar of the garter round his neck: his head reposed on a plume of feathers, wreathed round a helmet. On one side of him is placed his first lady, Mary, daughter of Thomas Marquis of Dorset; on the other, his second, Margaret, daughter of Robert Garnyche, Esquire, of Kyngeton, in Suffolk. Around the side is represented, I suppose as mourners, six female and six male figures; the last begirt with swords.
NEAR this is another tomb of alabaster, with the figures of two persons engraven on it; but so cankered with age, that neither inscription nor distinction of sex, can be made out.
ON the chancel floor a brass plate preserves the memory of Thomas Newport, steward of the houshold to Walter, first earl of Essex, and delivers his character in these terms:
Qui charus charis fuerat qui firmus amicis;
En! Thomas Newport conditur hoc tumulo.
Qui felix ortu full et morte beatus;
Quern Deus et coelum, quem pia vota habent.
FROM Stow I hastened to the Chester road, which I reached at the hamlet of Wych, in the parish of Weston on the Trent, whose spire steeple appears at a small distance on the other side of the road. This place is productive of salt, and has been long noted for its brine-pits, the property of Earl Ferrers .
AFTER going about two miles farther, I passed through Great Heywood, a village bestowed by Roger de Melend, alias Long Epee, a worthless prelate, in the reign of Henry III. on his valet Roger de Aston; whose family made it their residence, till the marriage of a descendant with the heiress of Tixal, occasioned it to remove to the new acquisition. In my memory the old seat was in possession of the Whitbies. It has since been re-united to the house of Tixal, by purchase. The barn belonging to the manor-house of Heywood, was of a most magnificent size; but of late has been greatly reduced.
THE horse-bridge over the Trent, adjoining to Heywood, was not less remarkable, for I remember it to have consisted of two-and-forty arches; but the number at present is much lessened. There is a tradition, that it was built by the county, in compliment to the last Devereux Earl of Essex, who resided much at Chartley; and, being a keen sportsman, was often deprived of his diversion for want of a bridge. I am not clear about the truth of this report. There certainly had been a bridge here long before, so that, if there was any foundation for such a mark of respect, it could only have been rebuilt after falling to decay.
FROM the middle is a view, of very uncommon beauty, of a small vale, varied with almost every thing that nature or art could give to render it delicious; rich meadows, watered by the Trent and Sow. The first, animated with milk-white cattle, emulating those of Tinian; the last with numerous swans. The boundary on one side, is a cultivated slope; on the other, the lofty front of Cannock Wood, clothed with heath, or shaded with old oaks, scattered over its glowing bloom by the free hand of nature.
IT is more difficult to enumerate the works of art dispersed over this Elysium; they epitomize those of so many places. The old church of Colwich; the mansion of the antient English baron, at Wolsely Hall; the great-windowed mode of building in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, in the house of Ingestre; the modern seat in Oak-edge; and the lively improved front of Shugborough; are embellishments proper to our own country. Amidst these arise the genuine architecture of China, in all its extravagance; the dawning of the Grecian, in the mixed gothic gateway at Tixal; and the chaste buildings of Athens, exemplified by Mr. Stuart, in the counterparts of the Choragic monument of Lysicrates ,8 and the octagon tower of Andronicus Cyrrhestes .9 From the same hand arose, by command of a grateful brother, the arch of Adrian of Athens, embellished with naval trophies, in honor of Lord Anson, a glory to the British fleet; and who still survives in the gallant train of officers who remember and emulate his actions. My much-respected friend, the late Thomas Anson, Esquire, preferred the still paths of private life, and was the best qualified for its enjoyment of any man I ever knew; for with the most humane and the most sedate disposition, he possessed a mind most uncommonly cultivated. He was the example of true taste in this country; and at the time that he made his own place a paradise, made every neighbor partaker of its elegancies. He was happy in his life, and happy in his end. I saw him about thirty hours before his death, listening calmly to the melody of the harp, preparing for the momentary transit from an earthly concert to an union with the angelic harmonies. The unfinished improvements are carried on with great judgment, by his worthy nephew and successor George Anson, Esquire.10
AMONG the great number of statues which embellish the place, an Adonis and Thalia are the most capital. There is also a very fine figure of Trajan, in the attitude of haranguing his army. The number of rude Etruscan figures in the garden, shew the extravagance of the earliest ages, and the great antiquity of the art of sculpture in Italy, long before the Romans became a people. The beautiful monument in the lower end of the garden, does honor to the present age. It was the work of Mr. Schemecher, under the direction of the late Mr. Anson. The scene is laid in Arcadia. Two lovers, expressed in elegant pastoral figures, appear attentive to an antient shepherd, who reads to them an inscription on a tomb,
Et in ARCADIA ego!
The moral resulting from this seems to be, that there are no situations of life so delicious, but which death must at length snatch us from. It was placed here by the amiable owner, as a memento of the certainty of that event. Perhaps, also, as a secret memorial of some loss of a tender nature in his early days; for he was wont often to hang over it in affectionate and firm meditation. The Chinese house, a little farther on, is a true pattern of the architecture of that nation, taken in the country by the skilful pencil of Sir Percy Brett: not a mongrel invention of British carpenters.
OPPOSITE to the back-front of the house, on the banks of the Sow, stand the small remains of the antient mansion, which, according to Leland, originally belonged to Suckborrow with a long beard, and who, as some say, gave it to the mitre of Lichfield. It must have been in very early times; for the manor of Haywood (in which this is included) belonged to the see in 1085, the twentieth of William the Conqueror, and so continued till the reign of Edward VI. who bestowed it on Lord Paget. The house was till that time one of the palaces of the bishops. The reliques, at present, serve to give the appearance of reality of ruin to some beautiful Grecian columns, and other fragments of antient architecture; which were tacked to the front by the late Mr. Anson .
Shugborough was frequently the house I had the happiness of making my head-quarters: from whence I made many an excursion to the neighboring places. I beg the reader's pardon for indulging myself with a recollection of what formerly gave me so much pleasure in the survey, and for detaining him with the account of a short circuit, rich in objects.
I SHALL cross the Sow, and begin with Tixal, distinguished at present only by its magnificent gateway, a motley pile of Gothic and Grecian architecture, embellished in front with three series of columns, Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. I thought it might have been one of the early works of my countryman by descent Inigo Jones; but I find it was built by Sir Walter Aston, Knight, who died in 1589, when Inigo was too young for any such undertaking. The antient house stood behind this gateway, and was a most venerable pile, built as far as the first floor with stone, the rest with wood and plaister, by Sir Edward Aston, in the reign of Henry VIII. A brick building is substituted in the place. The memory of the antient pile is preserved in the xxxviiith plate of Doctor Plot's history. This manor, immediately after the Conquest, belonged to Roger de Montgomery, and was held from him by Henry de Ferrers. It passed afterwards into the house of Wasteneys, or de Gastenoys, one Paganus de Gastenoys being lord of it about the reign of Henry II. It continued in that family for several generations, till Rose, the daughter of the last, and widow to Sir John Gastenoys, Knight, sold it to the Littletons, but not without consulting the learned, whether she could do it with safety to her soul. By the marriage of Joan (daughter to Sir William Littleton, who died in 1507,) to Sir John Aston, Knight of the Bath, it passed into that name, and is now owned by the Honorable Thomas Clifford, in right of his lady, daughter to the last Lord Aston .
I MUST not omit, that the poet Michael Drayton was greatly patronized by Sir Walter Aston, ambassador to Spain in the time of James I.; nor is the bard deficient in gratitude :
"The Trent, by Tixal grac'd, the Astons' antient seat,
Which oft the Muse hath found her safe and sweet retreat;
The noble owners now of which beloved place,
Good fortune them and theirs with honor'd titles grace.
May Heaven slill bless that house, till happy floods you see;
Yourselves more grac'd by it than it by you can be:
Whose bounty still my Muse so freely shall confess,
As when she shall want words, her sighs shall it express."
Polyolbion, Song xii.
Michael Drayton owed much to this gentleman; and was one of his esquires when Sir Walter was created Knight of the Bath. He again acknowledges his particular bounty, in the Preface to the Polyolbion; and it is even said, that he undertook that work at his patron's persuasion.
ON leaving Tixal, I went through the park, and part of a common of the same name, on which are two tumuli; one called the king's, the other the queen's Low; but no reason is assigned for the names. In 1493, an infamous assassination was committed on this heath; which shews how little the vindictive spirit of the feudal times was subdued. A family emulation had subsisted between the Stanlies of Pipe, in this county, and the Chetwynds of Ingestre. Sir Humphrey Stanley was one of the knights of the body to Henry VII; Sir William Chetwynd one of his gentlemen-ushers. The former, as is said, through envy, inveigled Sir William out of his house, by means of a counterfeit letter from a neighbor; and while he was passing over this common, caused him to be attacked by twenty armed men, and slain on the spot; Sir Humphrey passing with a train at the instant, under the pretence of hunting, but in fact to glut his revenge with the sight. It does not appear that justice overtook the assassin, notwithstanding the widow of Sir William invoked it. Probably Sir Humphrey had no fortune worthy of confiscation.
AT a very little distance from this heath lies Ingestre, or Ingestrent, a respectable old house, seated on the easy slope of a hill, and backed by a large wood, filled with antient oaks of vast size, which makes part of the pleasure-ground. The walks are partly bounded by enormous hedges of forest-trees, and partly wander into the antient wood, beneath the shade of the venerable trees.
THIS manor, about the time of Henry II. was the property of Eudo de Mutton; in the reign of Edward III. it was transferred to the family of the Chetwynds, by the marriage of Isabel, daughter of Philip de Mutton, with Sir John de Chetwynd: in which line it continues, being at present owned by John Chetwynd Talbot ,11 Esquire, grandson of John Lord Chetwynd .
THE house is built in the stile of the reign of Elizabeth, with great windows in the center, and a bow on each side: the last are of stone, the rest of the house brick. In the great hall, over the fire-place, is a very good picture of Walter Chetwynd, Esquire, in a great wig, and crossed by a rich sash. This gentleman was distinguished by his vast knowledge in the antiquities of his country, and more so by his piety. The present church of Ingestre was rebuilt by him, and was consesecrated in August 1677, when a sermon was preached, prayers read, a child baptized, a woman churched, a couple married, a corpse buried, the sacraments administred, and, to crown all, Mr. Chetwynd made an offering on the altar of the tythes of Hopton, worth fifty pounds a year, to be added to the rectory for ever. The church is very neat, and is prettily stuccoed. In it is a mural monument, in memory of its great benefactor, who died in 1692.
Hopton Heath lies on the side of Ingestre Park, and is noted for a skirmish between a party of the King's forces, under the earl of Northampton, and another of the parlement's, commanded by Sir William Brereton and Sir John Gell. Victory, notwithstanding a great inequality of numbers, declared itself on the side of the royalists; but it was purchased at so dear a rate, that, as Lord Clarendon expresses, a great victory had been an unequal recompence for the loss sustained in the General. The earl fell in the action, neglected by his troops, busied in the pursuit; and left environed by enemies. He slew his first assailants, and died valiantly, refusing the offered quarter.
AFTER riding from Ingestre three miles, through very bad roads, I reached Stafford, a good town, containing about five thousand inhabitants, seated on a plain, bounded by rising grounds at a very small distance. The streets in general are well built; the market-place large, ornamented with a handsome town-hall, with five windows in front: it is built upon pillars, and presents a facade with six arches, intercolumniated with Ionic pilasters. This is the county-town; and here the assizes are appointed to be held, by a statute of the first of Elizabeth .
THE county infirmary lies at a small distance from the town, and is a good plain building. It was finished in 1772, and is supported by an annual subscription of between eight and nine hundred a year.
Stafford consists of but a single parish, with two churches. That of St. Mary is a rectory, in the gift of the king; a large building with an octagon tower, and formerly with a lofty spire rising from it. Here is to be seen the tomb of Sir Edward Aston, the builder of Tixal, who died in 1567, and Joan his wife. Their figures are represented in alabaster, under a large canopy.
THE font is a singular piece of antiquity: very clumsy; but the sides and base most singularly carved into rude Gothic figures.
THIS church had been collegiate, and was given, a little before the year 1136, by King Stephen, to the bishop and chapter of Lichfield and Coventry. The patronage was granted, in 1445, by Henry VI. to Humphrey Duke of Buckingham. It was of exempt jurisdiction, and consisted, in the twentysixth of Henry VIII. of a dean and thirteen prebendaries.12 The dean's house stood at the west end of the church, and serves at present for the school.
THE religious houses were the Grey Friars, or Franciscans, at the north end of the walls, founded, according to Erdeswik, by Sir James Stafford of Sandon. It was valued at £ 35. 13s.. 10d. per annum, and granted, in the thirty-first of Henry VIII. to James Leveson .
THE FRIERS AUSTINS had a piece of ground given them on the green, at the south end of the town, by Ralph Lord Stafford ,13 in order to found a house, about the year 1344, for his own soul's sake, those of his wives (Katharine and Margaret), Sir Humphrey Hastings, Knight, and that of Edward III. The tombs of his great line were removed to this church from Stone, at the dissolution, but soon suffered to perish. It was granted, in the first of Queen Mary, to Thomas Neve and Giles Isam .
A PRIORY of black canons, founded by Richard Peche, bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, about the year 1180; as others say, by Gerard Stafford, on land which he held from the bishop, whom he complimented with the title of founder.14 The prelate had a great affection for this house; for, on resigning his see, he became a canon of it: and here ended his days.15 It maintained only seven religious, whose revenues were £ 198. a year. On the dissolution it was granted to Rowland Lee, bishop of Lichfield .
BESIDES these, were two hospitals, and the free chapel of Saint Nicholas, in the castle.
THE town was defended partly by the river Sow, which bounds one half of it; the rest was guarded by a wall, and by a ditch, supplied by the river with water. It had formerly four gates; of these two are yet standing. The place never was defencible; at least never stood a siege. Sir William Brereton, the parlement general, took it by surprize, in May 1643, with the loss only of a single man.
THE origin of Stafford is very uncertain : the first name of it is said to be Betheney, and that it had been the seat of an hermit called Bertelin, in high fame for his sanctity. The earliest authentic mention of the place is in the year 913, when Ethelfleda 16 Countess of Mercia, and sister of Edward the Elder, built a castle here. This lady had one child by her lord Ethelred; when, balancing the pangs of parturition with the joys of connubial rites, Amazon like, she determined to forbear for the future all commerce with him. From thenceforth her delight was in arms, in conquests, and in securing her dominions. Such was her prowess, that, laying aside all feminine titles, she received that of King, as if Countess and Queen were inadequate to her heroism.17
THE scite of this fortress is not precisely known. Doctor Plot is of opinion, that it lay within the entrenchments at Billington, at some distance from Stafford, and seems to found his conjecture from the lands wherein they are being still a remaining part of the demesne land of the barony of Stafford .18 Camden attributes a tower to Edward the Elder, founded in the year after that which was built by his sister, and places it on the north side of the river. A mount still remains near the new bridge, called by Speed, Castle-hill; at present named Bullyhill, on which it probably stood.
THE poor remains of the castle, which was garrisoned in the civil wars, stand on a little insulated hill, a mile south from the town. The keep was on an artificial mount: the whole is surrounded with a deep foss, which, on the south side, has besides the additional strength of a high rampart. This was founded by William the Conqueror, and was soon after demolished. It is supposed, that, during the time it stood, the custody of it was committed to Robert de Tonei, younger son of Roger, standard-bearer of Normandy ,19 a follower of the Conqueror, who took from this circumstance the name of Stafford. It is conjectured, that the king at that time reserved this manor to himself, and that it was not included in the vast grant made by him to Robert, of eighty-one manors in this county, twenty-six in that of Warwick, twenty in Lincolnshire, two in Suffolk, and one in each of those of Worcester and Northampton. It appears that it continued in the crown till the second of Edward II. when Edmund Lord Stafford received the grant, and held it in capite by barony, together with that of Bradeley and Madeley, by service, of finding for forty days, at his own charge, three armed men, with three equis coopertis, horses harnessed for war, as often as there should be war with Wales or Scotland .20 I know not for certain who was the restorer of this castle. Mr. Erdeswic says, it was Ralph de Stafford, a distinguished warrior, cotemporary with Edward III. It was garrisoned by the king in the civil wars; was taken by the parlement forces, and demolished in 1644.
ABOUT a quarter of a mile south of the castle, in a low situation, stood the manor-house of the family, fortified by the same Ralph; for I find from Dugdale ,21 that he had permission, in 1348, to make castles of his manor-houses at Stafford and Madeley. This great family had in it barons, earls, and dukes; and in the year 1637 became extinct: at that time humiliated into barons again. The moat of their antient residence is still to be seen, surrounding a rectangular piece of ground, the scite of the house.
MY curiosity led me about two miles further, to Billington, to examine the supposed scite of the antient Stafford castle. Near the extremity of a high hill, steeply sloping on three sides, and commanding a most extensive and beautiful view, I found a large area, surrounded in some parts with one, in others with two, deep fosses. This had been a British post, as it agrees with those we find in many parts of the kingdom; but as it retains the name of Billington Bury, it probably might have been occupied by the Saxons, whose posts are distinguished by the addition of Borough, Bury, and Berry.
THE town of Stafford is governed by a mayor, recorder, ten aldermen, and twenty common-council-men; and was incorporated in the third of Edward VI. It first sent burgesses to parlement in 1294, the twenty-third of Edward I. They are elected by inhabitants paying scot and lot, and are returned by the mayor.22
THE borough still retains one antient custom, the privilege of borough English, or the descent of lands, within its liberty, to the youngest sons of those who die intestate: an usage which is supposed to have been originally founded on the presumption, that the younger child was the lest capable of providing for itself.
THE barony was, even at the Conquest, one of the greatest in England, and afterwards, like other great seigniories, stiled the Honor of Stafford. None were such originally, but which were royal; but were afterwards bestowed in fee on some nobleman, as proved the case with this, as mentioned in page 104; when it was given to Edmund Lord Stafford, with eighty-one dependent manors, with sixty knights fees, viz. nine in his demesne, and fifty-one in service.
AFTER leaving the town, I crossed the Wolverhampton Navigation 23 at Radford Bridge. This may be called a port to Stafford. A little farther is Weeping Cross; so stiled from its vicinity to the antient place of execution. A little farther on, opens the rich view of the vale of Shugborough, varied with rivers and canals, and bordered with the several seats before described.
ON approaching Cank Wood, I find on its confines Heywood Park; a small house, the property of Lord Paget, remarkable for the beautiful woody dingles that wind into the sides of the forest. When I was wandering through them, I imagined myself engaged in those of my native country. Here I suppose to have been the park of red deer, which Leland says the bishop of Lichfield had in his manor of Shugborow. I skirted part of the wood, which here ends boldly, almost driving the traveller into the Sow. This front has received from Mr. Anson a wonderful change.
Miraturque novas frondes.
Pines instead of oaks; which, waving over the head of the passenger, would recall to his memory, had he been abroad, the idea of many an alpine scene.
1 Dugdale Mon. ii. 126.
2 Now the residence of Lord Harrowby. ED.
3 No. I.
4 Caspar Seioppius was a German of great erudition, but of a most turbulent disposition; he became a convert to Popery in 1599, and naturally distinguished himself by a blind and furious zeal against his former religion; and went so far as even to recommend the utter extirpation of its professors. He was a fierce antagonist to Scaliger, Causabon, and other Protestant writers; and in his book stiled Ecclesiasticus, 1611, he attacked James I. in a very indecent manner.
5 The affront offered to our monarch, induced Mr. Digby, and some other followers of the Earl of Bristol, then ambassador to Spain, to attack Scioppius in the streets of Madrid, in 1614; where they left him for dead. As soon as he recovered, he removed to Padua, dreading another attack. He lived afterwards in continual apprehensions, and shut himself up in his room for the last fourteen years of his life. He died in 1649, at enmity with all mankind.
6 He was as profuse of his abuse of Henry IV. in the book above mentioned, as he was of the English monarch. The regency of France, in honor to the memory of that great prince, directed it to be burnt by the hands of the common hangman.
7 A fire in July 1781, completed its destruction.
8 Antiquities of Athens, ch. iv. tab. 1. 3.
9 The same, ch. iii. tab. 1. 3.
10 Father to the present proprietor, who was created a peer of Great Britain in 1806. The house has been recently enlarged, and a handsome portico added to it. The highly cultivated state of the demesne marks the laudable agricultural taste of the noble owner. ED.
11 He succeeded his uncle William in the barony of Talbot in 1782, and in 1784 was advanced to the dignity of an earldom.—Ingestre is now in the possession of his son Charles Chetwynd, earl Talbot .
12 Tanner, 495.
13 Dugdale's Baron, i. 161.
15 Angl. Sacra, i. 435. This house was dedicated to St. Thomas Becket, exactly ten years after his death.
16 Saxon Chr. 104.
17 Tour in Wales .
18 Hist. Staff. 416.
19 Dugdale's Baron., i. 156.
20 Blunt's Tenures, 25.
21 Baron, i. 160.
22 Willis, iii. 50.
23 Distances. Heywood, to its junction with the Birmingham canal, near Wolverhampton, 22. 4. 0; rise 125 feet: Stainport on the Severn, 24. 0. 0; fall 301 feet.
Thomas Pennant, The Journey from Chester to London (London: Wilkie and Robinson, 1811)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


In the world of Information technology today, women are grossly underrepresented. However, a few women are smashing old ways of doing things, altering the status quo and making gigantic waves in the sector.
More specifically, in the Nigerian technology space, women such as Dr. Omobola Johnson, Nigerian technocrat and the pioneer Minister of Communication Technology; Evangeline Wiles, the Managing Director of Nigeria's leading online marketplace Kaymu.com.ng; Linda Ikeji, foremost Nigerian blogger and FunkeOpeke, an experienced telecommunications executive who founded Main Street Technologies and is the C.E.O. of MainOne are making a massive difference in Nigeria and Africa at large.
Today, we we bring you the story of Funke Opeke, the founder of MainStreet technologies and CEO of MainOne.
Funke is an alumnus of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife where she studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering before she proceeded to New York for a Master's degree at Columbia University. Funke thereafter pursued a career in ICT in the United States and rose to the level of the Executive Director at the Wholesale division of Verizon Communications in New York when she decided to return to Nigeria in 2005.
On her return, she served as the Chief Technical Officer of MTN Nigeria, and subsequently served as adviser to Transcorp and Chief Operating Officer of NITEL for a brief period before eventually launching the Main Street Technologies in 2007.
The company raised $240 Million to build the pioneer private submarine cable system in West Africa – the Main One Cable. The 7,000km cable runs from Portugal down to Accra, Ghana and Lagos, Nigeria and delivers wholesale broadband capacity across several countries in West Africa today.
She says that the most challenging aspect of her work so far is building her team to drive such an innovative project and deliver world class service quality out of the operational headquarters in Nigeria, while the most satisfying part is seeing how much they achieved within few years of the company's establishment and early progress towards the transformation of the Internet economy in West Africa.
Funke Opeke's dream was transforming her world; so when she was the Interim Chief Operations Officer of the Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL), she performed several actions that conflicted with the numerous norms, like paying junior personnel their salaries; strange, isn't it? It was quite normal for low level workers not to be paid for several months and not one thing would be done about it. So she stepped on the toes of many.
Consequently, She found it quite difficult to thrive in such an environment, but she was not discouraged in her mission to transform her world. It was after her efforts in NITEL fell through that she decided to lauch Main One.
In this Spirit. Funke Opeke started a $240m project; she decided to lay a fibre optic cable from Portugal down to Nigeria across the bottom of the ocean, so in 2008, she started Main One Cable company for this purpose. With the help of Fola Adeola, the founder of GTbank and Asue Ighodalo, a lagos based corporate lawyer, the project was a success. This endeavor was the beginning of an explosive technological transformation in the history of the continent. It was this singular idea that gave our e-commerce niche a progressive leap. Companies like Konga, Jumia, hotels.ng, DealDey, Uber app among others consequently sprang up.
Funke Opeke's Main One cable has become the backbone of internet technologies and telecommunications in general, in Africa today as they have become broadband connection providers to giant telecommunications companies in Africa.
To all young minds out there, here is Funke Opeke's advice for you. "I think the possibilities within Nigeria are limitless and students and young graduates need to continually seek opportunities to excel within their fields of endeavour. They should seek solutions to challenges, seek the assistance of like minds and people who believe in their dream and just go for it. The fact is you can achieve whatever you put your mind to. And it does not matter if you are male or female. I participate in the Girls in ICT programme and there I said to them that ICT offers a tremendous opportunity for young women to work on solutions and technologies that impact people's lives and change the world. A career in ICT can be diverse, varied and offer good rewards. Young women with the Science and Maths aptitude and skills who do not explore a career in ICT are limiting themselves.
One cannot be successful if one does not also have self-belief, the support of a great team, and of course a dream.
Thanks for reading today's brand report. If you were inspired, kindly leave a comment.
Are there other women making waves in technology that you know of? Why not share your list in the comments section?


Since the spring of 2018, many online businesses and marketers fret over the words such as 'private data', 'Regulation' and 'data protection'. If you have an email address or use an application, program or any other software which demands a sign-in, then you have probably noticed an unusually increasing number of emails (some may even call them spammy) which invite you to resubscribe or confirm their use of your personal data.
If you have, you need not worry. Welcome to the post-GDPR web.
From May 2018, many online businesses went into a massive craze because of the European Regulation which protects their citizens' data even outside the EU. The regulation is intended to prevent and punish any unlawful misuse of data online, which may affect online businesses.
Since we are not legal experts, and probably nor are you, you probably do not have the slightest idea how to align your business with this regulation. Well, educating yourself may be the first step so here we will try to encapsulate only a few important things you need to pay attention to. Since the regulation was written for lawmakers, not the ordinary business folks, it is our intention to make it more understandable and down-to-earth as much as we can.
Note: This article does not constitute legal advice. Please refer to an EU law expert about anything you may find confusing and read as much about the regulation from relevant sources.
In the context of websites and online businesses, GDPR means the legal protection of personal data of persons living in the European Union no matter where your online business is. If you use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel or any other script which processes data, stores it or sends it to a third-party here are only some of the things you need to make compliant.
Online safety is the most important item on this list. If your website is prone to hacker attacks or any other misuse, you had better implement an SSL certificate. Not only will SSL help you rank better on Google due to a recent algorithm update, but it (or its updated version – TLS) will also show users that you respect their private data by adding an HTTPS prefix, thus adding authority to your domain.
Technically speaking, this socket encrypts traffic coming from your web browser and website via HTTPS, which is of extreme importance especially in web shops which have online payment options.
Even though consent is the keyword of GDPR, we must highlight however that even when your users give their consent to data processing, they can retreat it anytime and file a complaint to the court in case of a breach.
A good example of user-friendly cookie preference management on the website of Aldo.
There you have it, the three most important elements to help you survive in the post-GDPR world (wide web). We must remind you again that this is not a legal advice but only an observation of good practices and some good reason.


A Free Pre-made Digital Scrapbooking Layout!!
Today RLR Creations will be giving away a new pre-made layout! This is the third layout in RLR Creations newest Template Tuesday series. If you have enjoyed the layouts given away previously, be sure to give this new one a try too. Remember to download the previous Tuesday's layouts also. Using these pre-made digital scrapbooking layouts will help you jazz up all your digital scrapbooking pages in an easy way.
Digital Scrapbooking Templates are easy to use and will give your creativity a jump start! You just drop your own papers, elements, journaling, and photos into the pre-made layout using your preferred Digital Scrapbooking program, such as Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, or any Software program that accepts PSD files and allows you to work in layers.
These templates can be used over and over again, giving you enough help to complete your digital scrapbooking needs! These layouts are available for everyone who wants to give the pre-made digital scrapbooking template a try.
You can download today's template by clicking on the image that appears below: This week, RLR Creations will also provide a tutorial for Photoshop Elments users on How-To use one of our templates! Follow the easy steps below to learn how to fill the shapes on the layout in the PSD file with digital papers, edit or replace elements, and then edit or add word art. Be sure to look back at RLR Creations previous tutorials also!
Basically, to use a template, you can fill the shapes in the PSD file with digital papers, edit or replace elements, and then edit or add text or word art.
Open the template and the papers you want to use in Photoshop Elements. Note that the template consists of several layers of grayscale shapes.
Note: Open Elements then chose File>Open, rather then opening the template into the program, so you can view the layers.
Tip: Duplicate the template and work with a copy to avoid ruining the template source file. To duplicate a file, from the File menu, select Duplicate.
Make sure you can see the template and the paper in the workspace. From the Window menu, select Images, then Cascade to display both files.
Select the Move tool, then drag-and-drop the photo to the template. The paper is displayed on the layer above the background.
In the template, select the layer that contains the shape you want to fill.
Select the Move tool, then drag-and-drop the paper to the template. The paper is displayed on the layer above the selected shape.
With the paper layer selected, press Ctrl+G to create a clipping group with the shape layer below. The paper is now displayed within the shape.
4. Repeat this process with all the shape layers you want to fill.
In the template, select the photo layer.
Make sure you can see the template and the photo in the workspace. From the Window menu, select Images, then Cascade to display both files.
Select the Move tool, then drag-and-drop the photo to the template. The photo is displayed on the layer above the photo shape.
With the photo selected, press Ctrl+G to create a clipping group with the shape layer below. The photo is now displayed within the shape.
After you drag the photo to the template, the photo has handles that you can use to resize and reposition the photo in the frame.
If you do not see the handles, in the Layers palette, select the layer that contains the photo and press Ctrl+T to display the bounding box.
Click the green checkmark to apply the changes.
Have you found that you only have personal photos to add to this free template and you need the additional elements? Check out RLR Creations creative digital designs. There are Digital Scrapbooking kits for every occasion!
Today RLR Creations very first ever digital creation, the Disney Classic Digital Scrapbooking Kit will undergo a revamping in order to update the whole kit and RLR Creations wants to share it with you. This updated kit features things like: 10 additional and new Disney themed digital papers, 31 additional and new elements and 12 new digital "stickers." Plus 9 new word art elements, and so much more!!
You can use this updated kit to add more Disney to your digital scrapbooks! This kit is perfect for all Disney lovers and would be a great way for anyone to digitally scrapbook Disney vacation photos, children's Disney themed birthday party pictures, and many others. The revamped kit can also be used to create digital cards and invitations.
Right now this updated version of RLR Creations first creation can be bought at at reduced Price of only $5.00. This Disney digital kit coordinates perfectly with RLR Creations huge variety of Disney Theme kits. For all things Disney that can be used to digitally scrapbook vacations, holidays, and Character Favorites visit RLR Creations website by clicking here!
Don't forget to check back in tomorrow for this weeks Template Tuesday to download a free digital scrapbooking pre-made layout. Remember these templates can be used to drop in your own papers, elements, and photos to create quick digital scrapbook pages.
Free Pre-made Digital Scrapbooking Layout!!
Today RLR Creations will be giving away a new pre-made layout! This is the second layout in RLR Creations newest Template Tuesday series. If you have enjoyed the layouts given away previously, be sure to give this new one a try too. Remember to download the layout that launched RLR Creations new series also!! Using these pre-made digital scrapbooking layouts will help you jazz up all your digital scrapbooking pages in an easy way.
Also RLR Creations has provided readers with how-to tutorials to better use the templates given away each week. Be sure to check them out so you can get the best out of each layout you download for free to try from RLR Creations. These tutorials are extremely user-friendly and by following the steps provided in each, anyone can use them. So make sure you give them a try!
Today RLR Creations will be starting the second Template Tuesday series by giving away a new pre-made layout! The previous 6 templates will be taken down and set up to be sold off of RLR Creations website very soon! If you have just begun following RLR Creations' blog, be sure to get the free templates each week because after 6 layouts are given away to readers, they are removed and will become available only by purchase from RLR Creations website.
Be sure to check back in on Thursday for "Tips, Tricks, and Quick Fixes" and learn something new to apply to your own digital scrapbooking to make your creations even better!
"Phineas and Ferb" Mini-kit Add-on!!
Today RLR Creations will be giving away a free try-it-now "Phineas and Ferb" mini-kit add-on! This kit, that was sneak peaked on Monday of this week, is RLR Creations newest digital creation and is all about those inventive brothers, Phineas and Ferb, and their plans for summer vacation!
This entire digital kit contains 23 decorative papers and elements, such as 11 themed bottle caps, different tool themed embellishments, a full alphabet with numbers and special characters, zippers, tags, and eyelets and so much more. This digital kit would be a great way to scrapbook your childrens inventive adventures during their own summer vacation! It can also be used to create digital birthday invitations, address labels, cards, and so much more!
The "Phineas and Ferb" Free mini-kit add-on contains, decorative papers and elements, such as 2 themed bottle cap, a string frame, a paper clip and backwards staple, folder tie embellishment, and so much more! There are 10 papers and 17 elements in total in the free mini-kit add-on!!
If you haven't already downloaded the template that was posted on Tuesday, go ahead and do that first. Then, take the papers and elements provided in the free kit posted here and your own pictures and follow along with the tutorial that shows how to use the pre-made layout. Sooner, not later, you will have a new page to put into your scrapbook.
If you want more of the papers and elements the full "Phineas and Ferb" digital scrapbooking kit has to offer, the entire kit is now available for purchase!
Click on the image that appears below to buy the whole Phineas and Ferb Digital Scrapbooking Kit; which includes 23 Papers, 24 Digital Character Stickers, 65 Elements and a full Alphabet,; then scrapbook all your children's summer vacation adventures!!! Be sure to check back in on Monday to see what RLR Creations is doing next!!!
Adding Style to Your Digital Word Art!
Today RLR Creations will be giving a tutorial on How-To create patterened word art! Using clipping masks to layer photos in a unique way to add style to your digital scrapbooking, as seen in yesterday's post, but clipping masks are also a great way to give your word art a colorful flair.
This page was created using elements from RLR Creations "Backyard Fun Digital Kit" You can view and purchase the kit here!
Follow the simple steps below to create your own custom patterned letters using any font!
Step 1: Type your desired text on a new layer. Choose a thick-lined font for the best results.
Step 2: Right-click the text layer in the Layers Palette and choose Simplify Layer.
**Note: Once you simplify the layer you will not be able to edit the letters, so be sure to check your typing!
Step 3: Layer the patterned paper or other element you want to use for your pattern over the letters above the text layer.
Step 4: Ctrl-Click the icon of your text layer in the Layers Palette. You will see a selection border "marching ants" appear in the shape of your letters.
Step 5: Select the patterned paper layer in the Layers Palette, keeping the selection border active, press Ctrl+G, then Ctrl+E to "clip" your patterned paper to the selection border and then merge the layers.
Step 6: To enhance the look of the patterned word art you can play around with your program's Layer Styles by double clicking the icon of the word art you just created, and try adding drop shadows, strokes and glow effects to achieve the look you want.
Step 7: Proceed with your layout.
Don't forget to check back in for Freebie Friday to download something free that revolves around RLR Creations new digital kit "Phineas and Ferb!"
Today RLR creations is giving away a new pre-made digital scrapbooking layout. This layout marks the 6th template in RLR Creations first Template Tuesday series! If you have enjoyed the previous layouts that have been given out, be sure to give this new one a try too!
And if you haven't had the chance to try out the pervious templates that have been given away, be sure to do so this week! When RLR Creations starts the second series of Template Tuesdays, next week, it will be taking down those templates featured in the first series in order to create a new template set. This set will be for sale on RLR Creations website soon afterwards.
Don't let the Tuesdays get away from you! Be sure to look back at the last 6 weeks to get your free pre-made digital scrapbooking layouts before they are gone!! Just click on the "Template Tuesday Freebie" tab on the right hand side of the blog home page to be directed to all the template freebies RLR Creations has given away!
Have you ever seen a creative layout where the designer uses mulitple frames to showcase one photo in a unique way and wondered how they did it?
This page was created using elements from RLR Creations "Nature's Garden Digital Kit" You can view and purchase the kit here!
Today's free template is perfect to showcase one great photo in a unique way and RLR Creations will show you how simple it is to accomplish using the simple steps below.
Step 1: Download the template above and open with Elements.
Step 2: Next open the photo you wish to use for the page and drag the photo from the edit window down to the thumbnail of the template. This will add your photo to the template page.
Step 3: Move the photo so that is directly over the 4 photo frames in the layout. If necessary resize the photo so that it is about the size of all 4 frames combined.
Step 4: Duplicate the photo layer 3 times.
Right-Click the layer name or thumbnail, and choose Duplicate Layer.
***Note do not move the photos on your page, you will want all 4 stacked on top of each other.
Now you will have 4 copies of your photo.
Step 5: In the Layers Palette drag a copy of your photo above each photo layer. There are 4 photo layers and each should now have a copy of your photo placed right above eachin the Layers Palette.
Step 6: One at a time, hover your mouse between the picture layer and the photo layer, and click while holding down the alt key. The photo layer is acting as a clipping mask and your picture conforms to it.
**PS users can simply right-click on each photo layer and choose Create Clipping Mask in the pop up window.
THAT IS IT!! Once you have "clipped" all 4 photos you duplicated your frame photo is now complete!
Also be sure to look back at the previous Tuesdays to check out RLR Creations how-to tutorials on how to use pre-made digital scrapbooking templates and how to colorize greyscale elements! These tutorials are extremely user-friendly and by following the steps provided in each, anyone can use them. So make sure you give them a try!
Today RLR Creations is going to sneak peak a brand-new digital kit, based on its newest Disney favorite, Phineas and Ferb! These inventive brothers are the summer's biggest hit, as they find something new to do for everyday of summer vacation.
This kit includes, decorative papers and elements and all of the shows main characters; and so much more!! This "Phineas and Ferb" kit would be a great way to digitally scrapbook all of your childrens adventures over their own summer vacation! This kit can also be used to create digital cards, birthday invitations, address labels and so much more!
This entire digital kit will be available this Friday, August 6, 2010! Remember to pop back in for Freebie Friday to receive something free that revolves around RLR Creations brand new digital scrapbooking kit "Phineas and Ferb!" You will be able to purchase this whole kit that day also!


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HomeSASSA STATUS CHECK PENDING
SASSA STATUS CHECK PENDING
SASSA Payment Schedule Dates for May 2022
SASSA has recently announced the May grant payment dates. Below beneficiaries may check when they may collect their payments.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has recently revealed that approximately 46% of South Africans are beneficiaries of social grants provided by the agency.
During the first week of every month, Sassa pays permanent grants to qualifying recipients. These grants include the Disability grant, Older Persons' grant, Care Dependency grant and Child Support grant.
The agency has also announced that permanent grants will begin to be distributed on the second day of every month. In the past, these grants were provided on the first Wednesday of a month.
The announcement means that beneficiaries will have access to their grants earlier every month.
Grant payments for the month of May would have been available on Monday 2 May 2022, however, the Post Office does not provide grants on public holidays.
Beneficiaries may, therefore, collect their grants from Tuesday 3 May 2022.
Payment dates for May 2022
Tuesday 3 May: Older Persons Grant
Wednesday 4 May: Disability Grant
Thursday 5 May: Children's Grants
How To Submit SASSA SRD Grant Appeal Under New Rules
Latest News about SASSA Grants Today 1st May 2022


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SRINAGAR: A protest demonstration was conducted by PHE joint employees association in Press Colony Srinagar on Thursday in view of their demands for regularization of their services and to release their pending monthly wages.
Scores of casual workers and daily wagers, led by the Sajad Ahmad Parray, Chairman Kashmir PHE Joint employees association, assembled at press colony holding placards that read "regularize our services", "release our pending monthly wages", "consider working months instead of payment months" , and "amend SRO 520" Parray, and sought an early redressal of the grave concern.
The chairman of the association while talking to media said that this protest is to remind the promises which government had made with the labours and daily wagers working in the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department that their pending wages will be released and their services will be regularized in addition to an amendment in SRO 520 after implementing 7th pay commission but nothing of such kind has been done till now.
"Our job is to provide clean drinking water to the people of the state and it is the job of government to release our monthly payments on time but to add to our troubles, the government is doing utter injustice to us by only considering our payment months instead of our working months," he said.
The protesting employees threatened to boycott their services if their demands are not met soon. "We are also a part of the society and we don't want the people to suffer but the government's behaviour towards us is compelling us to take this extreme step, which will ultimately lead the common people to suffer on daily basis.
They further said that if their demands are not met till January 14, they will again protest on January 15 and that would be very severe and large scale.


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Q: Substring in linux using cut I would like to grab a substring of a file to get the default password of mysql in centos.
This is the command I am using to get the password:
sudo grep 'temporary password' /var/log/mysqld.log

which result is:
2018-02-21T07:03:11.681201Z 1 [Note] A temporary password is generated for root@localhost: >KkHAt=#z6OV

Now, I am using this command to get the password only and remove the unnecessary stuff, so I can use it in a script:
sudo grep 'temporary password' /var/log/mysqld.log | cut -d ':' -f 4 | cut -d ' ' -f 2

But using 2 cuts seems very ugly. Is there another command or tool that I can use, or a more elegant way to do this?

A: Using awk:
$ awk '/temporary password/{print $NF}' file
>KkHAt=#z6OV

A: Bearing in mind that awk splits the lines in fields based on a field separator (by default whitspaces) and NF refers to the number of fields, you can print the last field with:
$ grep 'temporary password' /var/log/mysqld.log | awk '{print $NF}'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Vicky Giouroukakis, PhD, is a professor in the Division of Education at Molloy College, Rockville Centre, New York. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in literacy, English education, and TESOL. Prior to her tenure at Molloy, Giouroukakis taught English at a public high school in Queens, New York, and ESL to adolescents and adults.
Giouroukakis is the coauthor of the Corwin best-seller Getting to the Core of English Language Arts, Grades 6–12: How to Meet the Common Core State Standards with Lessons from the Classroom and Getting to the Core of Literacy for History/ Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects, Grades 6–12.
Her research and publications center on the topics of adolescent literacy, teacher education, cultural/linguistic diversity, and standards and assessment. She has been interested in standards and assessment and how they affect instructional practice ever since she began teaching.
Giouroukakis' work has been featured in books and scholarly journals, and she frequently presents at regional, national, and international conferences. She also serves as a consultant for the Boards of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) and provides professional development to various school districts. She received the Educator of Excellence Award from the New York State English Council in 2010 and the Research Achievement Award from Molloy College in 2015.
This not a test-prep book. It is not about "drill and kill" practices that narrow learning so that students will pass an exam. Instead, authors Maureen Connolly and Vicky Giouroukakis present a lesson planning approach for the secondary classroom that generates test success as a byproduct of comprehensive literacy learning.


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HR's Guide to Building an LGBTQ-Friendly Workplace
Blog, Employee Engagement, HR Hacks - Jun 23, 2020 Jill Garrison
Pride Month is a glorious display of rainbows, self-expression and employers are really going the extra mile to show that they support the LGBTQ community—at least, that's how it's been for the past decade. It's no secret that times have changed, and employers are starting to recognize that inclusivity is good for business, which leads to a lot of "love is love" campaigns that can come off a little disingenuous.
At the end of the day, any Pride-themed marketing campaign is just that: marketing. Members of marginalized communities can easily tell the difference between sincerity and exploitation. The best way for organizations to celebrate and show true support for the LGBTQ community is to start right in their own backyard, by ensuring that their corporate policies, benefits and company culture are just as inclusive as that rainbow Twitter icon.
Despite shifting public opinion and increasing acceptance, true health care and workplace equity is far from a reality for most LGBTQ employees.
Nearly half of LGBTQ workers still fear being out with their sexual orientation at work, and more than half have experienced or witnessed anti-LGBTQ comments by coworkers.
Even with insurance, LGBTQ adults are more likely to delay medical care than straight men and women due to fears of discrimination and negative experiences at the doctor.
68% of LGBTQ employees said their company could do more to support them at work.
The Supreme Court passed the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits discrimination based on sex in the workplace. "This is a huge victory for LGBTQ equality," said James Esseks of the American Civil Liberties Union. He added: "The Supreme Court's clarification that it's unlawful to fire people because they're LGBTQ is the result of decades of advocates fighting for our rights. The court has caught up to the majority of our country, which already knows that discriminating against LGBTQ people is both unfair and against the law."
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation's 2019 Corporate Equality Index recognizes 572 major businesses that earned the distinction of "Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality" based on their comprehensive corporate policies, benefits and practices.
What are some of the benefits employers can incorporate that ensure health care and workplace equity for LGBTQ workers and their families?
Same-Sex Spousal Health Care Coverage
Same-sex couples have more access to employer-sponsored health insurance than ever before, which is a step in the right direction. However, the overall percentage of employees with such access is still lagging behind that of opposite-sex couples.
The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that although access to same sex-spousal coverage is increasing, it remains significantly less common than the offer of opposite sex spousal coverage. In 2018, 63% of employers offering health insurance to opposite-sex spouses also offered it to same-sex spouses, and that number is up from 43% in 2016. However, private companies still have the legal right to refuse to offer this benefit.
Kaiser also found that the larger the firm, the more likely they were to offer both opposite sex and same sex spousal coverage.
The HRC Foundation reports that most employers had an overall increase of less than 3.5% of total benefits costs when they implement partner benefits; this is a low-cost, high-return initiative that can make a world of impact for LGBTQ workers and their families.
Paid Leave and Paternity Benefits
To ensure inclusivity and avoid potential grey areas, paid leave policies should include specific language that applies to both same-sex and opposite-sex spouses, as well as domestic partners.
If employees with opposite-sex spouses are allowed to use paid sick leave or paid caregiving leave to care for their spouse, the same should be offered to same-sex spouses.
The same applies to bereavement policies. The International Foundation's 2017 Paid Leave in the Workplace survey found that, on average, employers allow employees four days paid bereavement leave for the death of a spouse and three days for the death of a domestic partner.
The Family and Medical Leave Act guarantees eligible workers up to 12 weeks of job-protected, unpaid leave, but most new dads—only about 14%—do not have access to paid leave.
Limited leave policies disproportionately affect families that are adopting a child. Advance notice is not always an option during the adoption process, and the unpredictable adoption timeline is much easier to handle when parents can count on a paid leave policy rather than trying to save up vacation days.
In a 2018 SHRM survey of employers, just under 30% of respondents offered paid paternity leave, up from 21% two years earlier. However, many new fathers find that even for those companies that have gender-neutral parental leave policies, it's more difficult in practice to actually take that time away.
Fertility Benefits
When it comes to family-friendly benefits, LGBTQ parents are often left out. Fertility benefits are usually created specifically for women who want to delay pregnancy to focus on their careers and require an actual diagnosis of infertility in order to be eligible.
In vitro fertilization is rarely covered by insurance, despite the fact that this is the only option for gay men wanting biological children. Current laws cover infertility treatments and testing, which excludes LGBTQ people from coverage because they don't necessarily need infertility treatments, but they do need assisted reproductive technology.
According to Dr. Mark Trolice, director of Florida-based clinic Fertility CARE, most insurance companies don't cover fertility treatments because of the cost. It typically costs up to $20,000 per round, and usually takes multiple tries to be successful. A gay couple would also need an egg donor and a surrogate, which puts the cost at over $100,000, and often involves travel costs for both the surrogate mother and the new parents.
Many LGBTQ employees take inclusive fertility benefits, or lack thereof, seriously into account when on the job hunt. Larger companies like Facebook have the ability to customize these benefits, but many insurers have a relatively narrow definition of who qualifies for infertility treatments if they're even covered to begin with.
But some companies, like T-Mobile, have found a way to work around the complexities of insurance requirements by simply reimbursing up to a certain amount in expenses for any employee who's going through the process of adoption or surrogate pregnancy.
Transgender-Inclusive Health Care Coverage
Unemployment among transgender and non-binary workers is higher (16%) than across LGBTQ people overall (13%), which is dramatically higher than the national average of 4%. The majority of U.S. states still lack employment protections based on gender identity and sexual orientation, but that doesn't mean that employers shouldn't step up and create an inclusive workplace for these minorities.
22% of HR professionals surveyed by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans said their health plans cover gender confirmation procedures, up from 8% in 2016. However, these benefits are more likely to be found at large employers—only 10% of companies with fewer than 50 employees offer trans-friendly health benefits, up from only 4% in 2016.
Trans-inclusive health benefits are a relatively low-cost investment that has an extremely high impact for those that benefit from them. Employers are starting to realize that trans-inclusive benefits aren't all that expensive—and not just because only a small percentage of their workforces are likely to use them. The HRC Foundation finds that most employers report marginal increases to total benefits costs related to transgender-inclusive health care coverage— a fraction of a decimal point of cost calculations.
Gender confirmation surgeries differ in scope and specifications, giving patients a range of medical options to define transitioning on their own terms. Facial feminization procedures, nonsurgical care like hormone therapy, laser hair-removal, voice therapy and tracheal shaving can go a long way for many transitioning employees.
All LGBTQ employees need specific policies that apply to them just as equally as they apply to any other employee at the organization. Offering inclusive policies and benefits can not only ensure that every employee feels welcome and appreciated in the workplace, but also have a pretty significant impact on your company's bottom line.
A Deloitte study found that inclusive cultures are two times as likely to meet or exceed financial targets, three times as likely to be high-performing, six times more likely to be agile and innovative and eight times more likely to achieve better business outcomes.
How LGBTQ-friendly are your employee benefits and workplace policies, and how can you improve them better to embrace a more diverse and all-encompassing workforce and culture?
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Guest Post The Hartford: A Safe Space: Empathy and Education help foster open dialogue about mental health January 14, 2021
The Source – Stephanie Shields from Aflac | October 5, 2020 December 30, 2020
The Source – Uche Enemchukwu from Nelu Diversified Consulting Solutions | September 23, 2020 December 17, 2020


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Eight vie for six seats in Pembroke
RH council sees no new qualifiers
Qualifying for municipal elections came to a close at 4:30 p.m. Friday, and the latter part of the week brought several incumbents, a previous council member and a political newcomer into the ring for Pembroke City Council.
But things were quiet at Richmond Hill City Hall, leaving Post 3 incumbent Jimmy Hires and Post 4 incumbent Marilyn Hodges, along with respective challengers John Fesperman and Jan Bass the only names slated for that city's ballot.
Meanwhile in Pembroke, several eyes are on the at-large seat for the council, as three candidates – Doug Kangeter, Ernest Hamilton and Randall Faircloth – qualified for the position by the end of the week, according to City Clerk Betty Hill.
Kangeter, who currently represents the city's District 2, said he decided to run for the at-large seat because plans to build a house could take him outside the district during the next four years.
Kangeter, who owns a logging business and has lived in Pembroke all his life, said he decided to seek re-election to continue the work of the current council.
"We've got some things going on in Pembroke, and I want to be here to see what's in progress get done," he said.
Hamilton is a retiree who previously served on city council and held the city Public Works Superintendent position for 18 years.
"Being a prior council member at large, there are some things that need to be done that some of the (current) councilmen are not aware of, like water and sewage," he said.
Hamilton served as the council member at large from 2000-2008, and lost his seat to current council member at large Angela Reed in the 2008 election. Reed is not running for re-election.
Third at-large candidate Faircloth could not be reached by press time.
District 3 council member Dianne Moore has qualified for re-election to that seat. She said she decided to run for another term because she enjoys being a part of city government.
"I've learned a lot and I've done a lot to benefit my district and Pembroke during my time," she said. "I do my best to work for the citizens of Pembroke."
If elected, this will be Moore's second term on the council and she said she's lived in Pembroke for nearly 32 years.
Council member Tiffany Walraven also has decided to run for her District 4 seat again. She said her decision for re-election came from her experiences during the last four years.
"I've enjoyed working with the city for the last four years and trying to help move it forward, and I've enjoyed learning about a lot of new aspects about the city that I didn't know before," she said.
District 1 council member Johnnie Miller also qualified by Friday, though he could not be reached for comment by presstime.
Earlier in the week, Mary Warnell qualified for Pembroke's mayoral seat and Kim McGhee qualified for the District 2 seat.