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The Drombeg Stone Circle which is also known as ‘The Druid’s Altar’ is a recumbent stone circle consisting of 17 (of which only 13 remain) closely spaced stones situated near the village of Glandore. The circle is located on the edge of a rocky outcrop and has good views over the sea. Of all the megalithic sites in Ireland, Drombeg is the most visited. A layer of gravel has been laid to protect the site from the high volume of visitors to it. The Drombeg Stone Circle is flanked by a pair of 1.8m high axial portal stones, which provide a south-west axis and orientate Drombeg in the direction of the setting sun during the midwinter solstice. In 1958 the site was excavated and restored. During excavation a pot was found buried in the centre of the circle containing the cremated remains of a young adolescent wrapped with thick cloth. The remains were carbon dated and found to be from between 945 and 830 BC. The pot had been buried in the middle of the circle along with 80 other smashed shards, 4 bits of shale and some sweepings from a pyre. A little to the west of the monument are two round stone-walled prehistoric huts and a fulacht fiadh (cooking place). The huts are conjoined which means they are connected by an inter-leading door. A causeway leads from the huts to the fulacht fiadh which features a hearth, a well and a trough in which water could be boiled by the addition of red-hot stones. According to http://www.stonepages.com/ireland, recent tests have shown that using this ‘boiling’ method, 70 or more gallons of water could be boiled for almost 3 hours. Given the presence of the prehistoric kitchen, the huts and the stone circle, it can be suggested that annual or seasonal gatherings took place at the sacred site down to the 5th century AD – which is what carbon dating reveals for the cooking place. Getting there: Turn left off the N71 from Clonakilty to Rosscarbery onto the R597 (just after you have crossed the causeway). After about 4km, you will see a left turn signposted for Drombeg Stone Circle. Keep driving along the narrow country road and you will come to a small car park for Drombeg. The stone circle is just a short walk from there.

Victims of child abuse are either too young or too afraid to talk about the pain of abusive trauma. If he or she has been abused, your youngster will benefit from the services of a qualified mental well being skilled. It contains, any touching for sexual function, fondling of breasts, buttocks, genitals, oral intercourse, sexual activity, an grownup exposing themselves to the child, or searching for to have a toddler touch them for a sexual goal. Visiting dwelling nurse or social-employee visits are additionally required to look at and consider the progress of the kid and the caretaking situation. In case you suspect a child is being abused or uncared for you can make a report to your native Youngster Protecting Companies or contact Wild Iris for assist. In the event you suspect that a baby is being abused, it’s your duty to contact your local baby protective providers company, police, hospital, or emergency hotline. It also includes voyeurism, photographing kids inappropriately, involving the child in pornographic actions or prostitution or using the web and phone to initiate sexual conversations with kids. Emotional abuse: A pattern of denying a baby love, approval and safety, or mistreating a child in the … Read More

It is caused by the body’s lack of vitamin D, leading to calcium deficiency that affects the development of the skeletal system. It occurs in children under 3 years old, the highest in 3-18 months. The most common cause is vitamin D deficiency due to lack of supply (less sun exposure, dark skin, premature babies, too dense baby …), in addition to rickets due to loss of vitamin D through the kidney …, resistant rickets vitamin D. Signs of calcium deficiency: crying, sleepiness, or startling sleepiness, loss of hair in the back of the nape of the neck, slow teething, enlargement of the head, hump or headache, decrease muscle tone, slow movement development (slow to flip, crawling, walking, standing …) – If severe rickets have sequelae: ribs, Harrison, neck, legs, wrists, X-shaped legs, O. – X-rays can mimic abnormalities: osteosarcoma, striated ribs, premature aging compared to age. – The most valuable indicator is a reduction of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (calcidiol) in the blood. Vitamin D metabolism in the body: Under the skin of children are available pre-vitamin D (7 dehydro- cholesterol), under the effect of ultraviolet radiation of the sun, will activate into vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).The main source of vitamin D for children is sun exposure. Vitamin D is given as a dietary supplement in the form of vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), derived from plants and fungi, which is added in formula milk. Vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 are thought to be prohormones, reaching the liver and being converted to 25-hydroxyvitamin D (calcidiol) which is the circulating vitamin D in the blood. Upon reaching the kidneys, calcidiol is hydroxylated again and becomes a biologically active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol). Calcitriol stimulates the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the intestinal tract, the reabsorption of calcium in the kidneys and the mobilization of calcium and phosphorus from the bones. - Daily sunbathing: Leave your legs, arms, back, and belly for 15-30 minutes in the morning (before 9am). Note that direct sunbathing, means that don’t stand upbehind the window glass, will not be effective. - When kids eat: give them calcium-rich foods (milk, eggs, shrimp, crabs, fish, greens, etc.) and grease. - In areas where the sun is lacking, supplementvitamin Dis highly dependent on diet. All infants, infants, and teens must receive at least 400 UI of vitamin D a day. To meet this need, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends: - Supplement Vitamin D from the day of delivery for complete breastfeeding and partial breastfeeding at a dose of 400 UI/ day (10 μg cholecalciferol) until the infant is about 1l of milk per day or over 250ml of supplemental milk Do not use fresh cow’s milk for children under 1 year old. - Young children and teens should eat vitamin D supplements (milk, starch, egg yolk, etc.) and vitamin D200-400 UI daily. - Children who are at risk of vitamin D deficiency such as poor fat absorption (hypopituitarism, chronic liver disease, etc.), use of anti-epileptic drugs should be monitored for vitamin D levels and periodic replenishment. The dose is 2-4 times higher than normal. - When pregnant, the mother must have a reasonable working and resting regime. Vitamin D can be taken at 7 months of pregnancy: 200,000UI/ one time. - Young children may still be deficient in vitamin D if they are not exposed to sunlight due to high demand. - Dark-skinned children are more susceptible to vitamin D deficiency. - Eating too much protein also increases calcium loss through the kidneys. - Stunted children, whose weight and height are lower than normal children, may have stunted or not. The rate of stunting in Vietnam is still high, according to data from the National Institute of Nutrition 2007, 33.9%, ranked in 20 countries with the highest rate of stunting in the world. - Vitamin D is an oil-soluble vitamin. If the diet is too greasy, even with young vitamin D intake, it can not be absorbed. - The level of vitamin D in breast milk is low, about 22 UI/ l. Therefore, breastfed children should be exposed to sunlight regularly, during the winter months to take vitamin D supplement. 5 Foods to Get More Vitamin D for Rickets in Children In addition to the food, the children exposed to sunlight at the appropriate time is essential. Rickets is osteodystrophy body vitamin D deficiency, affecting the absorption, metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. It is common in children under 3 years old. The major causes of rickets in young children are lack of sunlight, low birth weight babies, preterm birth, non-breastfeeding children, malabsorption syndrome, malnourished children. Children often manifest crying, sleep disturbance, startling, sweating more, the hair loss in the back of the neck to form a ring, the teeth grow slow, slow to know, crawling, walking, standing … In severe cases, the child is disturbed in the bone with a wide area, with hump of the forehead, deformed chest, ribs, wrists, ankles, knees, bowls, etc. Here are some foods that support the treatment of rickets so that mothers can process for the baby. Crab leg powder: crab legs 300g, lotus seed 50g, green beans 50g. Pick up the legs of the healthy crabs, wash the dried to a smooth paste. Lotus seeds, green beans are powdered. The above stuff mixed together. Each time you eat a teaspoon of crab leg powder mixed with rice or thick porridge, can add sugar or salt to eat to fit the mouth. Eating 2 times per day, need to eat for 10 – 15 days.. Chicken egg yolk porridge: 2 egg yolks, 50g rice, seasoning powder. Cooked chicken egg yolks, whites, yolks, dried powder. Yellow rice is powdered. Mix the two, put in the pot, pour the water just enough to boil the porridge thoroughly, add the seasoning powder stirring, boiling again. Feed the child once a day. Need to eat for 20 – 30 days. Shrimp porridge: shrimp 150g, 50g rice, just enough spice powder. Shrimp is washed, peeled and left to stand. Shrimp paste is small. Shrimp, dried shrimps dried flour smooth. Rice grinds into flour. All mixed, add the seasoning powder, add to the pot, pour enough water to cook porridge. When the porridge is cooked for stirring, boiling porridge is okay. Give children to eat once a day when they are hungry, within a month. Pigs cartilage porridge: pig cartilage 100g, rice 50g, MSG, spices powder enough. Pig cartilage bone is washed, grinded as a powder, marinated with seasoning. Rice grinds into flour. Bend the cartilage to the pot add 150ml of water over low heat, when the cartilage to stir the rice flour, boil until the ripe porridge for monosodium glutamate. Children eat 2 times per day when they are hungry. Need to eat instant 15 – 20 days. How to prevent rickets for children To prevent rickets in children, during pregnancy, the mother should eat foods rich in calcium. Breastfeeding is recommended for the first 6 months. Daily sunbathing is about 10 – 15 minutes in the morning. Enhance the child to eat calcium, phosphorus rich foods such as eggs, fish, shrimp, crabs, clam, shellfish and milk, cheese. If necessary, vitamin D, calcium supplement for children as prescribed by the doctor. The child’s home should have enough light. If children suffer from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory … need to be treated soon. Also Read – Pranayam for your best health

The Crossfire Motorcycles: Of course, everyone wants to have a happy life forever. In life, humans have to face all the ifs and buts as they arise. This is to say that life would usually throw challenges at humans. However, people should try to overcome all those challenges through great efforts. After all, life is beautiful. You have each and every chance to make it much more beautiful. That said, here we go about the profile of Crossfire motorcycles. First off, Crossfire is one of the well-known brands in Australia. Established in 2008, Crossfire has been involved in making a range of vehicles from fun bikes to adult bikes to electric vehicles to all-terrain vehicles. As a matter of fact, all these innovative vehicles have been made with technological advances available. Apart from this, the so-called Crossfire motorcycles are a range of motorcycles from Crossfire. Quite amazingly, all these motorcycles have been designed to cater to the needs of one and all. Way to go indeed! On an interesting note, Crossfire has been involved in making high-quality farm and off-road recreational vehicles equipped with all modern features. This aside, the following are some more details relating to the applications of Crossfire motorcycles along with other relevant information as described below: - First up, everything has been changing with time. In fact, change is inevitable. This is true of everything humans have been using. - Well, the same has been the case of Crossfire motorcycles. Most of them have been equipped with advanced features that are only user-friendly. - Despite all those technological advances, it is all about customer delight at the end of the day. In the same way, Crossfire motorcycles have been catering to customer needs in the best way possible. - For example, you have models like New Gen 3 Crossfire CF125 that have features like superb braking system and user-friendly seating to name a few. - Added to this, electric vehicles [EVs] have been yet another addition from Crossfire. Besides this, such innovative creatures like EVs are the brainchildren of Crossfire. Way forward indeed! Well, these are some of the important points relating to Crossfire motorcycles. Here Are The Advantages From Crossfire Motorcycles: Here you will go through some more information relating to the advantages from Crossfire motorcycles along with other important information as explained below: - Power of brands: First off, people will first notice the brand name before purchasing. So it is all the more important to select the best brands and their products respectively. Similarly, Crossfire has been instrumental in bringing about the best range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and electric vehicles. - The CF125 model: One of the best models from Crossfire, the CF125 is simply superb apart from being light and active. In fact, this model has the latest advanced HSK brakes, thereby enabling excellent braking performance. - The CF70 model: Here comes yet another model called CF70. Equipped with hydraulic disc brakes for stopping the vehicle with ease, the CF70 model will give you the most comfortable ride you have ever had thanks to all ergonomic designs. Talking About 50CC Dirt Bikes: First off, such dirt bikes have been designed for use on rough terrain. They have long been a hit with many young people all over the world. This is true of 50CC dirt bikes. The following are some more details: - To begin with, dirt bikes are meant for riding on tough and uncharted terrain. - These 50CC dirt bikes have been declared “the smallest” on the market. - Suitable for young kids, these 50CC dirt bikes have features to control speed. Hello To Crossfire Motorcycles: Given that Crossfire motorcycles have been making waves across the industry, people have been preferring these vehicles to others. Thanks to innovation and technology, Crossfire motorcycles have been part and parcel of modern lifestyle. Way to go indeed!

The Australian Youth Aerospace Association (AYAA) hosts the Aerospace Futures conference in July each year to expose undergraduate and postgraduate university students to the opportunities and realities of the Australian aviation and aerospace sector. Aerospace Futures is the major national event of the AYAA, a three-day conference designed to provide students with access to representatives of both the Australian and international aerospace industries. Speakers provide insight and initiate discussions on current research, careers and future prospects in the industry. Aerospace Concepts is a proud regular sponsor of this event and highly values the role the conference plays in preparing students for entry into the workforce. Shaun Wilson, CEO and Michael Brett, COO, both presented at the 2012 Aerospace Futures discussing various aspects of working in the small consulting engineering business. Shaun discussed the journey that Aerospace Concepts Pty Ltd, now over a decade old, has taken from foundation to a company offering a range of complex aerospace and systems engineering services with a staff of approximately 30 and corporate and government clients in Australia and overseas. Michael discussed a wide range of hints and tips for kick-starting a career in aerospace in the Australian industry, with a view to working internationally. From building your professional network to hints on what employers are looking for in an interview, Michael linked the latest industry trends to the opportunities for soon-to-be graduates and other young professionals For further information please contact [email protected] .

A deal that suited every party – that appeared to be the message this evening as the Canaries officially confirmed they had all-but completed a £2 million plus deal for Huddersfield Town winger Anthony Pilkington. Or rather nearer £1 million, according to the man from Sky. The player was “absolutely delighted”; City boss Paul Lambert was just “delighted”; his former manager Lee Clark was “proud” of the transfer switch; whilst Town chairman Dean Hoyle appeared chuffed to bits after “getting the deal we wanted” for the 23-year-old prospect. In short, therefore, everyone was happy as Pilkington became City’s sixth signing of the summer, the one-time Manchester United trainee agreeing a three-year deal with the Norfolk club, with the option of a further, fourth year. He has also completed a lengthy medical after his season ended early with the broken leg and dislocated ankle sustained in the home win over Rochdale last March. Time enough, however, for him to earn a place in the PFA’s League One Team of the Year. “I’m absolutely delighted to make the move having passed my medical,” Pilkington told Norwich’s official website today, as he followed James Vaughan, Steve Morison, Ritchie de Laet, Elliott Bennett and Bradley Johnson through the door. All of whom greeted the new arrival as he was given the full, guided tour of Colney. “I met all the lads today and met the Gaffer, so yes I’m absolutely delighted,” added Pilkington, given the licence to thrill next season by his new manager. “Paul [Lambert] just told me to go and relish playing in the Premier League,” said signing No6, as Lambert made yet another young man’s dreams come true. “The Premier League is the best league in the world. When you’re a boy you dream of playing in it one day. It’s great to see the club is on the up and we’ll be fighting tooth and nail to stay in the Premier League.” From Lambert’s perspective, he had bagged the services of another young, hungry Football League tyro. At six-foot tall, he was the kind of athlete that the Premier League demands. And having dipped his toe into non-league, he knows how the other half get to live. “He is a top lad and has a real enthusiasm for the game,” said Lambert, the ‘character question’ clearly having been asked and answered. “I am sure that Anthony will be a big player for us,” added the City chief. “He was great for Huddersfield in his time there and he will add to the team for the season ahead.” Able to play either left or right, the arrival of first Bennett and now Pilkington ensures that the Canaries can go into battle with a nicely-balanced 4-4-2 formation – or rather can swiftly switch to it, if the Wes Hoolahan diamond of old doesn’t quite sparkle in the higher flight. And Pilkington is also one with a potential re-sale value. There is an investment argument to be had for picking out the best 23-year-olds in the Football League. Back in Yorkshire and Clark admitted it was a day of ‘mixed emotions’ having fought hard to keep one of his star turns on the books. However, talent will out – the chance to play in the top tier of English football was an opportunity they couldn’t deny the young man. Particularly given the size of the cheque attached, was to be the chairman’s line. “I’m obviously very sad to see Anthony go, as you become a good manager by having good players – and he is very good,” the former Canary No2 told Huddersfield supporters tonight. The fact that he had the ability to step up to the highest level had always crossed the manager’s mind, said Clark. He knew that one day the call would come. “From day one of his arrival at this club I stated that he had the potential to play in the Premier League and we knew that this day might come,” Clark told the Huddersfield Examiner. “To be fair to Anthony, I don’t believe he would have left the club to go to a Championship club. He has absolutely loved his time here and only the opportunity to play at the highest level has triggered his decision to leave. “I have a mixture of sadness and pride over his transfer, but I believe he will be a success at Norwich.” Chairman Hoyle was delighted with the final deal. The claim in Yorkshire tonight was that the deal could yet near £3 million – if every add-on was met and exercised. “We did not need to sell Anthony for financial reasons but at the same time we did not want to stand in his way. “We have secured the deal we wanted. It is a multi-million pound deal which could easily prove the best in the club’s history.”

How to access our service We are currently running a waitlist, however with growing team, we are making steady progress at clearing this waitlist at the moment. - Waitlist Sign-up - to be added to our waitlist, you can sign up using our online form - Feel free to review our rates and policies as well Paperwork to complete before your first appointment Before your first appointment, we will ask you to complete the following two online forms Please feel free to contact us to talk about how we can assist you - even if for a short period of time to get you started while you wait for publicly funded services. We also may be able to refer you on to another local therapist. Our approach to providing intervention and consultation Communication occurs everywhere and anywhere, and rarely with a speech-therapist! Given this, we at Inclusive Communication strongly believe in the value of working on communication skills in the settings where they are most frequently used. Communication success definitely can occur in the therapy room, however we have seen so much success when we met clients in their own space and on their own terms. What we can help with: - Developing communication and language skills - Emergent and early literacy skills - Getting the most out of your AAC device and assistive technology - CAT1 assessments (like what TalkLink does) and funding application for assistive technology to support communication - Updating and creating low tech supports (i.e., visual supports, communication books, PECS, etc) - Becoming more comfortable teaching and interacting with a child with communication difficulties - Discussing and trouble shooting links between "behaviour" and communication, particularly with older students - Helping you understand autism - Supporting adults with intellectual disabilities We are not currently working with clients who primarily need assistance with fluency (stuttering), speech clarity, voice disorders, or feeding/swallowing. CAT 1 - assistive technology assessments We are able to provide privately funded assessments for AAC (Augmentative and Alternative communication. If an appropriate low or high tech solution is found, we can submit CAT-1 level funding applications to Enable (Ministry of Health). The equipment will be publicly funded if you qualify. Alternatively, you can self-refer to TalkLink for a publicly funded assessment for a publicly funded assessment (waits are 1-2 years currently). Where we work We come to you. Our sessions are held at school, in your home, or in the community. If appropriate, sessions can be via telepractice (via skype, zoom or other video conferencing software). We primarily serve the Greater Wellington region including Hutt Valley and Kāpiti. By special arrangement, we occasionally travel for one-off consultations throughout New Zealand. We work where you live, learn, and work. All of our face-to-face sessions are done in the community. We need to see how our clients communicate in their everyday environments. Often this is a mix of school and home sessions. We also work with adults in their workplaces, homes, or in the community. As skills and confidence increases, 'real world' sessions may be considered to help with generalisation. Sessions can be scheduled in the environments that are particularly motivating (or challenging) as the case might be. For example, if a person's goals are to better communicate in the community, we can arrange to work on communication in those settings. We have also done therapy in cafes, in community centres, at the shops, during summer camps, and on occasion even at the local beach! It is our mission to support the ongoing transformational work happening in inclusive education. We provide custom professional learning and development programmes to schools focused on supporting the education of students with diverse learning needs both in New Zealand and overseas. Adults with intellectual disabilities or physical disabilities We provide support to day programmes, disability providers, and others striving to fully support the communication needs of their family members or clients. We can provide advice, training, and coaching around how to teach literacy, develop communication skills, and enhance social communication. Here is an example of this work: We also are committed to helping improve communication accessibility in all sectors of society and deliver training to employers, disability organisations, and customer-facing services wanting to improve how they engage people with communication disorders. Various government agencies responsible for the welfare, safety, and education of young people contract with Inclusive Communication LTD. Sometimes what works best is to have some or all sessions remotely. You can call in from where ever you are so long as you have a good internet connection and not too much background noise. We do the same types of therapy actitivies, however it is easier to share a screen for literacy work, easier to see the therapist's mouth during speech work. This is also an option if you are feeling well enough for a session, but aren't sure if you are coming down with a virus. Sometimes it feels like a tutorial session and other times it can be more like a coach watching from the sidelines giving you encouragement and support. Telepractice is a great way to improve skills, maintain a sense of connection and normalcy, or practice skills you already have! Supervision and student placements We are open to student placements and also do the occasional supervision, particularly in the areas of literacy, AAC, and Autism. Most clients are seen 2-4 times a month (dependent on clinician availability), however in some cases families just want a burst of a few sessions and then be able to request a consult as needed. If you want someone to come in, show you the ropes of a new piece of technology or set of communication techniques, and then want to get on with it yourselves, that is great! Others prefer support on a more regular basis. At any stage, you can let us know what you think you need and we can adjust based on your needs and our availability. We tend to wait for you to reach out because we never want to come across as pushy. Collaboration and Commitment Working closely with clients and their families is the cornerstone to the type of therapy we offer. Our goal is for clients to effectively communicate with the people they see on a regular basis and during their everyday activities. We also strive to help family and teachers to be confident communicating with them. The reality is most clients will spend less than 1% of their week with a speech therapist. The vast majority of all communication opportunities are with other people. And that is great, because we have yet to hear of someone stating that their primary goal is to be better at communicating with their speech-language therapist! We also know that most people learn best from watching. We believe in the power of demonstration. The power of creating communication experiences that ensure that our clients experience success. We believe in stretching a child's capability, but avoid at all costs pushing them too hard. So you will often see me encouraging families, staff and siblings to watch and join into sessions. We want to provide the tools and support so that our clients are able to tell others what they want, share their thoughts, tell stories, have conversations, engage with the written word with confidence, and connect with people. Long term, we want people to become competent communicators so they can focus on goals like getting a job, making and keeping friendships, dating, and succeeding at school. The best outcomes are seen when people have ample opportunities to communicate and develop their literacy skills. They need numerous safe places to make mistakes and appropriate support systems in place. They need understanding communication partners who can wait, believe, coach, give the benefit of the doubt, and listen. Our work extends beyond one-on-one therapy activities. We may need to dedicate time to creating visual supports, updating vocabulary on communication devices, and providing training to families to support someone who is struggling with speech. We may decide that incorporating therapy into daily routines such as meals and household chores is appropriate. At times, we will bring prepared lesson activities and at other times we will look to you for ideas of activities that frequently occur in your family that can be adapted to work on therapy goals.

This is a book about a book. Its subject, the brainchild of the classical scholar and editor Jodocus Badius Ascensius (Josse Bade of Assche, 1461/2-1535), is an edition of Terence produced in 1493 by the Lyon printer Johannes Trechsel. It was by any measure a remarkable work, the first illustrated edition of a classical Latin text and striking testimony to the rapidly developing skills of the earliest printers. A quarto volume of substantial size (319 folios, i.e. 638 pages), it has at its core a text of Terence in an elegant Roman font surrounded in smaller type by a commentary adapted by Badius from the earlier work of Guido Juvenalis (Guy Jouenneaux, ca. 1450-1507) and illustrated with 161 original woodcuts. Two of these are full page pictures (reproduced here as fig. 1-2), one of Guy (or is it Terence?) working at his desk and the other of a Roman stage complete with aediles, actors and audience in contemporary dress and, in the arches below the stage structure, prostitutes plying their trade. The other woodcuts are half-page representations of Terence’s stage action that are rich in detail, with a more fully realized theatricality than the Carolingian miniatures that may have inspired them. The book itself must have been a significant investment—just setting the text may have taken Trechsel’s workers as many as 160 days—and was evidently a prestige volume rather than a money-maker, destined to be the proud possession of aristocrats and clerics. It must have been expensive: in 1499, a deacon in Reval (modern Tallinn) noted in the flyleaf of his copy that he had paid over a gold florin for it. So complex an undertaking will naturally have had a correspondingly complex genesis, which the authors take great care to untangle. The results of their investigation are presented in what is itself a handsomely produced book, well laid out, scrupulously annotated, and very effectively illustrated. Its opening chapters place Terence in the early history of printing (1-2), trace the career of Badius, his three editions of Terence, and his adaptation of Guy’s work (3-4), and discuss the woodcuts and their putative relation to both the MSS illustrations and Renaissance conventions of gesture (5). These are followed by chapters on the representation of theatrical conventions in the woodcuts (6) and the legacy of the Lyon Terence in sixteenth-century book production (7). The authors’ close attention to detail combines with their extensive knowledge of both fifteenth-century literary culture and the developing book trade to yield not just appreciation of this extraordinary book but a fuller understanding of the world that produced it. All this is no small achievement, and the growing interest in reception studies makes their investigation especially timely. Classicists, though, are likely to be intrigued as much by the questions it raises as by the answers it provides. Those who study the production of books have an expertise somewhat different from those of us interested primarily in their content, and seeing things as these authors do is refreshing as well as instructive. Admittedly, it can also be unsettling. The richness of detail provided in exploring the world of fifteenth-century books does not extend to the world of Roman-era plays, so that a Latinist may at times feel like an eavesdropper on the conversation of strangers. Here topics as diverse as the settling of German printers in Lyon, the possible dates of Badius’ time in Ferrara and what he may have studied there, and the representation of male and female attire in early book illustration are richly documented from primary sources and accompanied by ample citations of relevant scholarship, but references to Terence have a more secondhand feel, with readers directed largely to handbook entries and survey articles. Every so often, that can be a problem. The authors have an excellent discussion, for example, of how act divisions found their way into Renaissance editions of Terence (pp. 109-14, though without mention of Plautus), but they are less well informed about what those divisions represent. Badius indicated them with running headers, producing divisions the authors say correspond to those “now used in modern editions” (p. 112), which is presumably what they then mean when they credit him with moving an act break in Hecyra “to its proper position” (p. 126). These divisions are important, they tell us, “for understanding the dramaturgy of Terence’s plays” (p. 223). That is not quite the case, which is why “modern editions” now routinely eliminate the breaks imposed by these early editors. They were responding to occasional traces in the Latin texts of the underlying Greek models, which did employ the five-act structure that inspired Horace’s famous dictum (Ars 189-90), but since Roman plays were written for continuous performance, dividing them into acts creates only a false sense of their dramaturgy. More often, though, Latinists may simply want to know a little more about something a little different. Because the authors are more focused on what Badius did than on why he did it, discussion of his working method rarely goes into our kind of detail. Yet that method is curious. In matters of text, for example, his usual procedure was to accept the authority of Donatus, whose commentary sometimes records variant readings and expresses textual preferences. That is a reasonable procedure, but Badius apparently made one textual emendation on his own authority. It came at Phormio 1016. Convinced that the sense required objective genitives where the manuscripts all read neglegentia tua neque odio…tuo, he printed tui and noted that no less an authority than Lorenzo Valla had proposed a similar correction for the MSS’s desiderio tuo at Heauton timorumenos 307. Badius was well read, and this could be thought a reasonable correction. An editor explicating Terence systematically ex Terentio could cite as parallels Hecyra 219 audiui cepisse odium tui Philumenam and Hecyra 580 ut caperet odium illam mei. T.’s usage varied, however, and so the correction is unnecessary. Badius himself lets stand without comment sine tuo magno malo at Andria 179 and does not follow Valla at Hau. 307, where he prints desiderio tuo. How, then, was he thinking about the text? Was he simply inconsistent or following some other principle? The very layout of his book, itself no small technical achievement, raises even more interesting questions: what kind of reading strategy does that layout presuppose, and for what kind of reader? The manuscript tradition, whether presenting the plays in verse, as the ancient Bembinus does, or in prose, as many later manuscripts do, offers a text that invites continuous reading. Many early printed editions do the same. Here, roughly contemporary with the Lyon volume, is the first edition of Terence (and the first classical Latin text) printed in England, which (its Gothic font not withstanding), offers modern readers a familiar experience. By the 1490s, however, the proliferation of commentaries was encouraging editors to include considerable amounts of paratextual material, which they then squeezed before, after, and around the target text. The Lyon Terence takes this trend to considerable lengths: its pages often present little (sometimes very little) Terence but always a good deal of commentary. Where do readers look when confronted with such a format, and with what effect? And what do the illustrations contribute to their experience? The authors’ figure 5.5 provides a striking example of the result. The page opens the scene in Eunuchus where Parmeno presents Phaedria’s gifts, a slave girl and the (false) eunuch, to Thais. The elegance of the layout is at once apparent, and so is the challenge it presents to readers coming to the text with modern expectations. We look first at the woodcut, where Parmeno in the foreground directs attention to the kneeling slave girl, conspicuous for her black hands and face. That detail is not explicit in the text. Parmeno there says only ex Aethiopiast usque haec (“This one comes all the way from Aethiopia,” 471), leading Donatus to explain that her exoticism, and thus her value as a gift, derives from the remoteness of her origin (ad 167, 471). Only on the next page does the commentary specify her race (Haec maura est ex aethiopia), in effect glossing not the text but the illustration. Much of that commentary simply expands and recasts Terence’s dialogue, tucking observations and explanations into its extended paraphrases. We might expect that sort of exegesis in a commentary originally designed, as this one apparently was, for student use (pp. 122-3), and Badius made no appreciable change to that notional focus. Thus he warns young readers against the easy-going Micio’s acceptance of his son’s whoring and drinking: propterea, iuvenis lector, non sequaris haec comica dicta (ad Ad. 101-2, quoted p. 132). Yet schoolboys were not the only readers Badius evidently had in mind: his preface calls attention to the woodcuts, which he claims make it possible for even the illiterate to follow the plots of the comedies (p. 1). A target readership, then, of students and functional illiterates? How many of either group in the fifteenth-century had the means or the desire to purchase a book on the scale of the Lyon Terence? That deacon in Reval was no illiterate and surely did not spend his gold florin and three albi for a schoolbook. Was this perhaps a book more to be admired than read, or was it at heart a particularly fine crib, an elegant retelling with the original text included to give the exercise a veneer of legitimacy? One way or another, the apparent disjunctions between content and form, advertisement and reality are very intriguing. As the authors make clear in their final chapter, the Lyon Terence inspired copycats and imitators well into the next century. If not itself a commercial success, it certainly showed the way for other illustrated editions that were, a prime example being the Italian edition of Lazzaro de’ Soardi that went through four versions between 1499 and 1512 (pp. 196-206). It is easy to understand their appeal. Looking back over the history of scholarship, however, a student of Terence would probably say that the most influential sixteenth-century edition was not derived from Badius or any of his imitators but was the work of Marc-Antoine Muret (1526-1585), first printed by Paolo Manuzio in 1555 and then frequently copied. It did not reproduce the layout or reflect the priorities of the Lyon Terence. For Muret and the many editors who followed his example, Anne Dacier in the seventeenth century and George Colman in the eighteenth prominent among them, commentaries and paratexts were designed to enrich, not dominate the act of reading. The change seems important for the history of reception as well as the history of printing, and now that so many old books are accessible in digital formats, the course of that development might well be worth tracing. Such an inquiry would of course take us well beyond the remit of the present study, but like so many solid and useful works, this one makes us not only grateful for what it teaches but eager to know still more. The book is no.75 in the catalogue of H. W. Lawton, Térence en France au XVIe Siècle (Paris 1926), no. 89 in G. Cupaiuolo, Bibliografia terenziana (1470-1983) (Naples 1984). Thirty-eight copies (and the leaf of a thirty-ninth) survive. Of digital copies available, that of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek bsb11303143 is particularly user-friendly. The Roman elements, including the prostitutes, seem to derive from Isid. Orig. 18.42.1-2, though the architecture looks to medieval precedents (pp. 175-7). Evidently a high price, though the authors provide no comparanda (p. 20). Neither the original price nor the print run is known. Trechsel made no second printing, but Lawton lists eight derivative reproductions between 1493 and 1501. The Blackwell Companion to Terence (2013) is frequently cited, as are the essays in the authors’ previous edited volume, Terence Between Late Antiquity and the Age of Printing: Illustration, Commentary and Performance (Leiden 2015). To be fair, since Badius, like most of these early editors, presented the text as continuous prose, such running headers, together with the scene illustrations, are the only effective means of finding one’s way through a play. As reported on pp. 117-18, the emendation, along with its rationale, was carried over from Badius’ first, 1491 edition of Terence. The Lyon edition does not highlight textual matters. Donatus, who had no difficulty with the MSS reading, glosses nec neglegentia circa te nec odio, inquit, factum est. The six plays were printed separately by R. Pynson between 1495 and 1497 but apparently designed to be bound together (87 Lawton/97 Cupaiuolo). The (imperfect) British Library copy is available at ProQuest: Early English Books Online. Eu. 454=506, i.e. III.2 in the traditional reckoning, this page includes only lines 545-9. For the growth of paratexts in early editions of Terence and the market forces that encouraged them, see P. F. Gehl, “Selling Terence in Renaissance Italy,” in C. S. Kraus and C. Stray, eds. Classical Commentaries (Oxford 2016) 254-6. Muret’s edition is no. 319 in Lawton (no. 439 in Cupaiuolo), with fifteen reproductions by 1594 and many more well into the seventeenth century. The title page emphasizes Muret’s priorities: “Pub. Terentii Afri Comoediæ sex, ex M. Antonii Mureti exemplari accuratissimè emendatæ. Additis ex P. Bembi vetustissimo codice varijs lectionibus ac breuib. annotationib. partim im margine, partim post scenas singulas adscriptis, quibus loci obscuriores explicantur…” A digital version is available at ProQuest: Early English Books Online.

One of the best rules of childhood is the Rule of Do Over. No matter what game we were playing or what crazy competition we had going on, when things didn’t go down quite the way we’d planned, the Do Over could be invoked by anyone at anytime. Sometimes it was immediate. “No fair, my shoe came untied! Do Over! Everybody back to the big tree. We’ll race again. Ready. Set. GO!” Other times it was delayed. “Chris just rode her bike into a telephone pole. Do Over next weekend!” True story, having just learned to ride a bicycle, I came flying down the hill on my bike in a practice run for a race against the neighborhood boys, lost control and slammed face first into a telephone pole. I knocked out two teeth, and scraped myself up really good. So the bike race ended up delayed until the following weekend and I rode my little heart out despite the bruises, bandaids, and missing teeth. Somewhere along the line though, we all grow up. The rule of the Do Over is cast aside and everything we do is FOREVER and EVER. God help you if you screw up the FOREVER stuff because at that point, you’ve royally screwed up your life beyond all hope of redemption. Or have you? I used to think so. The string of mistakes that started at 19 snowballed out of control until, at 34, after living with the fallout from those mistakes, I finally slammed on the brakes and took my life back. Sounds great doesn’t it? Yeah, well, it wasn’t. Not then anyway. I stood there with all the busted up pieces of my hopes, my dreams, the what-might-have-beens, the what-I-wanteds, and all those jagged pieces were tangled up in pain, hurt, fear, confusion, and disappointment. The people around me were full of ideas of what I could or should do next. And me? I couldn’t move without some broken shard or another cutting even more deeply and by that point, I had had quite enough of being hurt. The oft-repeated question from my therapist was, “But what do you want?” I had no answer. All I could do was make it abundantly clear that I would not make a move until I was damn good and ready. What direction that move might take was too far ahead to even think about. All I wanted was to get through any given day without feeling like I was going to come apart at the seams. That was seven years ago and while on the outside, things may look very much the same – same job, same car, same living situation, – on the inside, everything has changed. Deacon Ron’s favorite question for me from the very beginning has always been: “So what are you and God up to?” If you’ve been reading my posts for any length of time, you know what a wild ride that has been. My relationship with God has been stormy for years. Patience is not my virtue. Trust, more precisely – the lack thereof, is my biggest issue. God has the distinct advantage of having time – as in all of the time or better yet, being beyond all time. Thusly, He’s perfectly content to wait out my little temper tantrums. Little by little, as I’ve stopped – okay maybe not stopped – allow me to rephrase – as I’ve cut down on yelling at Him and started listening to Him, a path forward has been presented, one I had caught a glimpse of at 19. And my response is quite simple: “Are You freaking crazy?!” But it kept coming up so I finally said, “Okay. But if You really want me to pursue this, I have a lot of things in my in my way: The time away from the kids Did I mention the fear? If You want me to do this, You’re going to have to take care of this stuff because I can’t. It’s all beyond my control.” Well apparently God wants me to do this because instead of seeing this as a list of obstacles, He’s treated it like a Honey Do list and just started crossing things off one by one. My RA went into a nasty flare around the time I was on the Cape back in March. My friend, who has the gift of healing, offered to pray with me when I got home. As he prayed with me, the pain in my hands lessened and by the next day it was gone entirely. My vision, which had slipped badly, returned to normal overnight. The RA has been in remission since the first week of April. With my somewhat baffled doctor’s approval, I’ve stopped taking all of my RA medications and I feel the best I have in fifteen years. I no longer wake up feeling like I’m 80. That has taken some getting used to, but in a good way. I find I’m no longer afraid to make plans beyond this week because I’m not worried about whether or not I’ll feel well enough to keep them. The freedom in that is bigger than anything I can put into words. My kids aren’t little anymore. I find myself with two rapidly maturing and increasingly independent young men. While they still aren’t thrilled if I spend time away from home, they aren’t quite as panicky about it as they used to be. Again the word that comes to mind is freedom. I cherish the time I have with them. Yes – even when they’re beating the crap out of each other. But to know I can leave them for a few hours and their world won’t stop spinning is a huge weight off my shoulders. Over the past few months, I started to notice something else was missing. The Gremlin. That bastard hasn’t been jabbering at me. And it’s not like I suddenly have some newfound ability to tune him out. He just shut up. Completely. He’s not gone. But he’s silent. And the fear that he wielded so well in his diatribes has been replaced by quiet and peace. Huge things were being crossed off my list of impossibles in a ridiculously short span of time. Then I came home one Saturday to find the Fairfield County Catholic waiting for me with a huge front page add for Sacred Heart University. My next step had quite literally shown up on my kitchen table. I took a deep breath and took it before I could chicken out. I called and started the process to return to school part-time in pursuit of my bachelors degree in theology and religious studies. When I walked out of the admissions office after being enrolled as a returning student, I did the happy dance all the way to my car and then burst into tears. You see there was one other thing I hadn’t dared to list off to God: This way was open to me at 19 and I didn’t take it. Therefore it was closed, locked, bolted, bricked over and never to be spoken of ever again. The reasons I gave for not taking it then depended on how much I was beating up on myself at any given time. Those reasons ranged from I stormed away from God in a fit of rage, was an emotional basket-case or was just plain flat too weak to handle it. All of which have some degree of truth in them and none of which I really wanted to face. But in order to do this now, I had to. The past few weeks, this has been pretty much all God and I have talked about. Or more accurately, I rambled on and on while He waited, infinitely and maddeningly patient, until I ran out of words. Then when I could finally be quiet, the answer came. “What made you think you were supposed to do this then? You weren’t ready then. I wasn’t done with you yet.” Could it really be so simple? That all this time I’d spent kicking myself – with plenty of help from The Gremlin – that there’d been absolutely no reason to? My life has been one hell of a rollercoaster ride and the life experience I will carry into my classes now will bring far greater meaning to them than my 19 year-old self could have ever imagined. Like that long ago bike race, I needed a little time to recover after my wreck but here I am, at 41, invoking the Rule of Do Over, taking a path I was shown at 19 and have been preparing for ever since.

Getting appealing single cougars in Vancouver can be difficult if you don’t know where to spend your time. Even as a neighborhood, it can get tricky. There are too a lot of prospective areas to attempt, and you can effortlessly waste a lot of work into the incorrect spots. Fortunately, you have us, and we can support you out on your cougar adventure! Why not verify Gastown? If you have been living in “yuppie” neighborhoods like Yaletown, it can truly be tough to spot older ladies. Gastown is historic, and it is property to trendy boutiques and restaurants that Vancouver cougars appreciate. You can also try to reschedule your hunt through the day and go to organic shops like Popular Foods. The older ladies appreciate to sustain their hot bodies. If you like to perform out, you can also check yoga studios like Semperviva. Or if you occur to pass by Granville Island, you may possibly want to shop there and do some cougar watching. But there are certain locations exactly where Vancouver cougars hang out far more than other individuals. And naturally, that’s why you are here. Properly, to aid you with your search, we’ve compiled a list of spots and cougar bars in Vancouver. Verify them out beneath, and you will thank us for getting your savior. Exactly where Cougars in Vancouver Like to Hang Out For your convenience, here are the most cougar-populated locations in Vancouver: Seafoodventure with Vancouver cougars at This location was a should-try. The staff is friendly and accommodating, so you’ll be seated swiftly with a swift rundown of their recommendations. Go right here for the duration of their pleased hour and take pleasure in their $1.50 each day oyster special. Or try their bacon-wrapped scallops. They’re effectively-ready and probably the ideal in the city. You’ll certainly order them once more! If you check out this place, take a seat at the mezzanine level. They have a nice, cozy spot there that’s best for conversations with an older lady. Vancouver cougars go here mainly because it’s a strong oyster joint. If you are craving for some scrumptious seafood, no other location compares. The oysters are usually fresh, and that generally bodes nicely for romantic endeavors. It’s a positive way to swim by way of a cougar hunt with no shelling out a lot of money. is our favourite way to get Vancouver cougars into bed () While a lot of cougars want relationships, other folks favor to retain items casual. They do not want commitment, but they do want a hot evening out. If you’re hunting for the very same issue, try . This internet site is, by far, our favourite one for locating casual sex with older women. Most users are in their 30s and 40s, so you are confident to meet your fair share of cougars right here. The very best element? All of them are on Adult FriendFinder because they want sex. Guys who have not had great results elsewhere and in fact want to obtain some results have to have to verify out AFF! If you do not want a connection, we can relate. We normally turn to Adult FriendFinder for a speedy fling with no strings attached. You’ll uncover that a lot of cougars in Vancouver are also searching for that sort of issue. It is just a matter of taking benefit of the site’s sophisticated search feature. Meet older girls based on their place, age, cup size and even kinks! If you haven’t tried prior to, it could be your ticket into a cougar’s bedroom tonight! for the start off of a fiery cougar romance The decor at Blue Martini Cafe & Jazz appears like it is taken straight out of a 1987 establishment. There’s blue lighting enveloping the space which provides it a vibrant yet cool glow. The clientele is mostly older ladies who like the retro ambiance of this spot. Combining excellent meals, fantastic music, and good organization is . If you’re a pasta lover, go right here throughout pasta Tuesdays. Try their spaghetti with meatballs for that nostalgic, homey feeling. Pair that with nightly performances of regional musicians here and you have got a wonderful night out! Jazz nights are also well known among cougars who frequent the spot. The bar also has lots of refreshing drink possibilities, which you can take pleasure in at their outdoor patio. Invite an older lady for some drinks outside and just sit back, loosen up and listen to the great music collectively! We can assure it will be a romantic knowledge at this location. is the easiest way to meet single cougars in Vancouver looking for relationships, specifically for young guys () Did you know that a lot more and a lot more older girls now go on the net to meet YOUNGER men? Back then, on line dating seemed like one thing only an adventurous 20-some thing would do. Today, cougars like the further freedom and judgment-free apps that aid them land a date. Their favourite app for meeting younger males? . Bars and clubs are wonderful and all, but cougars normally lead busy lives. They do not want to devote a lot of time and dollars at a bar where there’s no guarantee that they’ll meet an individual. Even though Cougar Life doesn’t assure something, it positive puts the odds in your favour! In truth, you can search for girls based on your preferences. We love the search function on this app because it has helped us come across specifically what we want. That is what keeps it on our annual list of the . Want a cougar in her late 40s who loves sports? Hunting for a cougar in her 30s who wants a casual fling? Enjoy the company of a 50-some thing cougar who’s got a lot of life practical experience? Meet her on ! You’ll love the view at You’ll love the fantastic view of Granville Island, the waterway and downtown at this Vancouver cougar bar. The window seats are fabulous for the view and cougar watching although the single-pane glass makes it breezy inside. There’s also a varied menu that’s surprisingly affordable. You will not have to break the bank to delight in your cougar hunt at this spot. There’s a superior selection of wines and beers, and the waitstaff knows specifically what to advise. Try your luck in this cougar hotspot. It has a entertaining vibe that the music enhances even additional. Cougars in Vancouver go right here to let their hair down and go wild at the dance floor. If you have some sick dance moves, now’s the time to show them off at this spot. is worth attempting to meet a cougars who ONLY want lengthy-term () Dating in the twenty-very first century can look hectic and overwhelming, particularly when you want to meet eye-catching older females who, at this stage in their lives, ordinarily have a lot going on. In other words, these girls are not normally out and about looking for guys to get into a partnership with. They’re typically browsing on the internet due to the fact it saves so much time, but this brings up yet a further challenge: which web page do you even commence with? When it comes to deciding upon a dating website or app we have had the most effective accomplishment with (), by far. It has been the gold-standard for nearly twenty years and is responsible for 75% of all relationships that started on-line and ended up with marriage. If you happen to be interested in a real relationship nothing else even comes close. No other internet site can claim final results anyplace as fantastic for a regular guy as eHarmony can! The website is identified as the absolute highest high quality dating website out there and their communication method is created to aid you succeed. Not only are user profiles additional detailed than these on other dating websites which helps massively when it comes to matching compatible singles, but communication is guided. This can truly support you get comfortable with the females you’re matching with, and if you’re not fantastic with ladies, this can really help you get previous the nervous stage in the starting. eHarmony even to new members so if you’re still hesitating for any purpose, there’s genuinely no excuse not to sign up. If you do not, you are actually missing out. Why not give them a shot now and start off matching with hot older ladies in your area suitable away. There’s definitely no other site that compares. Locate enjoyable Vancouver cougars at This rock n’ roll-themed nightclub does a fantastic job of luring cougars in Vancouver. Not only are these ladies known for becoming entertaining and outgoing, but for being pretty risqué as nicely. You shouldn’t be alarmed if they strategy you initially nor if they present to acquire you a drink. The nostalgic sounds of rock n’ roll that live bands bring in get them longing for their youth. Or at least, a youthful man such as your self. If you are seeking to do minimal operate for maximum results, do not hesitate to jump in line. The wait will be worth your whilst, trust us. Locate health-conscious cougars in Vancouver at Established in 1930, all the cougars in Vancouver are fans of this organic grocer. It has an substantial inventory that focuses on bulk foods as properly as fresh, regional make. That mentioned, Vancouver cougars who shop here undoubtedly know how to cook. An aisle devoted to gluten-totally free health and beauty products sets this location apart from the rest. Even though the 1st-class consumer service it presents usually gets the buyers in the proper direction. No matter whether you are hunting to stock up on apples or fresh cougar meat, Renowned Foods is there for cubs like you. Like in the sky, you’ll uncover your twinkling cougar star The Diamond is positioned in a charming brick developing overtop of the bustling Powell and Carrall intersection. All of the most sophisticated cougars in Vancouver flock to this place. This pub-style restaurant provides far more than just impeccable drinks and cuisine. The atmosphere is in contrast to any other, as well. Settle oneself at the bar surrounded by cozy Victorian-style décor. Vancouver cougars will shriek at the sight of a young, dapper man in a 1920’s environment. Meet them at the bar just before moving to the window for a breathtaking view of Vancouver. It is the ideal place to make a lasting impression and engage in casual seduction. Vancouver cougars prowl at A casual dining experience, this is the type of location exactly where every person knows cougars prowl. The owners know, the servers know, the bartenders know and the locals particularly know. And now you know as well. It generally begins with an encounter at their island-style bar. From there, either the cougars or the bait will initiate dinner at a nearby table. A seaside walk along the bridge may well take location. And then after? The sky’s the limit. Something is attainable with a little courage to take the 1st step. Even if you do not get lucky (which we doubt), the reside music, views and made-to-order sushi will make the experience worthwhile. The Hottest Cougar Bars in Vancouver If you want to see how the regional older ladies party, check out these best cougar bars in Vancouver. is one of the oldest cougar bars in Vancouver As one of the oldest cougar bars in Vancouver, this place is established amongst all those 35 and older. Located near the Rogers Arena and BC Location, Shark Club Sports Bar draws in the sportiest cougars in Vancouver. With two massive 12’x7’ TVs, absolutely everyone has a fantastic view of the game. And with a fireplace and comfy booths, there’s lots of space to get to know every other better. Verify out their reside music on Fridays, where the drinks are low cost and dancing is cost-free. You’ll leave inebriated and elevated with a regional older lady. is a glamorous Vancouver cougar bar Attached to the prestigious Fairmont Hotel, this cougar bar in Vancouver is full of sophisticated cougars “just passing by way of.” They’re away from almost everything they know and like, and they’re browsing for cubs like you. Warm them up with a cocktail as you converse more than reside music. Then perhaps you can impress them with rolls ready by sushi-master Chef Takayuki Omi himself. After the fine-dining encounter, you may perhaps just finish up in her hotel area for the night. And depending on how lengthy she stays, you could discover yourself there the evening soon after as well. Get on the ship at This higher-end restaurant with gorgeous views of the West Coast will impress even the classiest cougar. In truth, the classiest cougars in Vancouver dine here on the normal. We suggest you come dressed to the nines and start off your search at the bar. If all goes properly there, you can invite them to a romantic dinner of 5-star views and intimacy at one of the nearby tables. The intoxicating mix of wine and romantic gestures is enough to put any older woman in the mood. Let’s just say that pan-seared fish will not be your only catch of the evening. For extra suggestions verify out a lot more wonderful guides to meet cougars:

Priest turned vigilante Father John (Van Cleef) hunts down a gang of criminals, led by Sam Clayton (Palance), who killed a man in a local bar. On the gang's return to the town, they kill the priest, leaving a young parishioner Johnny behind. He now seeks revenge for the death of the holy man. Director: Gianfranco Parolini (as Frank Kramer) Writers: John Fonseca, Gianfranco Parolini. Stars: Lee Van Cleef, Jack Palance, Richard Boone. Color. Runtime: 94 minutes.

Psychological TV Shows If psychological thrillers are your thing, then look no further! These shows are just the right amount of chilling to get you in a Halloween mood. - Will Graham, an FBI profiler, is required to be supervised by psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter, based on the character of the same name from the 1991 film “Silence of the Lambs.” “Hannibal” has three seasons and can be streamed on Netflix. - This show is named for Mildred Ratched, a new nurse at a psychiatric hospital where “unsettling experiments” are performed on the patients. “Ratched” is available for streaming on Netflix and is a prequel to the 1962 novel “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” - “The Twilight Zone” - “The Twilight Zone” was started in 1959 by Rod Sterling and received a modern update in 2019 by Jordan Peele. The original show can be streamed on Netflix, and the remake is available on CBS All Access. Supernatural TV Shows You can’t have Halloween without a few supernatural elements, and these creepy shows all channel the supernatural! - “The Haunting of Bly Manor” - An au pair, Dani Clayton, is hired by a man to care for his niece and nephew, but it doesn’t take her long to discover that the manor they live in is haunted. This Netflix Original is a follow-up series to “The Haunting of Hill House,” but both shows can be watched independently. - “True Blood” - This popular vampire show follows Sookie Stackhouse, a young waitress in a rural Louisiana town that’s crawling with vampires, shapeshifters, psychics, and other supernatural creatures. You can watch this show on HBO Now. - “Stranger Things” - One of the most popular Netflix Original shows, “Stranger Things” is a supernatural mystery that takes place in a small town in the 1980s. Follow as a gang of middle schoolers meet a young girl with powers and search for a missing boy. When people think of Halloween, they think of horror. These shows are sure to scare you right into the Halloween spirit! - “Castle Rock” - “Castle Rock” is an anthology series inspired by characters and themes created by horror master Stephen King and takes place in his fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine. You can watch this chilling show on Hulu. - “Into the Dark” - “Into the Dark” is a seasonally themed horror show; each of the two seasons has twelve episodes, and each episode is themed around a holiday in the month in which it premiers. This show is available to stream on Hulu. - “Scream Queens” - Unlike the previous two shows in this section, “Scream Queens” takes a satirical approach to horror. Both seasons are available on Hulu and feature the original scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis, who always seems to live in a town with a vicious serial killer. Family-Friendly TV Shows If you’re looking for something to watch with the whole family, or if scary just isn’t your thing, here are a few family-friendly shows that can still get you in the spooky spirit! - “The Haunted Hathaways” - “The Haunted Hathaways” tells the story of a single mother and her daughters who move into a house that is already occupied by a ghost family. This show, available on Amazon Prime, gives a supernatural spin to a ‘blended family’ and shows the two families dealing with everyday problems with ghostly and mortal methods. - “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” - “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” available on Hulu is a late 1990’s sitcom about witch Sabrina Spellman, her aunts Hilda and Zelda, and Salem, a 500-year-old witch trapped in the body of a black cat. The story of Sabrina Spellman originated as a comic book series in the 1970’s and has since been retold in movies as well as in several animated and live-action shows; the most recent of these shows is Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. - There is a seemingly endless supply of Scooby-Doo shows on various streaming sites; Netflix has “What’s New Scooby-Doo?” and “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated,” and Boomerang has every single “Scooby-Doo” episode made since 1969. If you don’t have time to watch a multi-season show or don’t feel like starting something new, try these Halloween episodes of popular TV shows! - “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” - The detectives of Brooklyn’s 99th police precinct take part in an annual ‘heist’ every Halloween, with the stakes and pranks escalating each year. There are five Halloween Heist episodes of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” that you can stream on Hulu: Season 1, Episode 6 “Halloween;” Season 2, Episode 4 “Halloween 2;” Season 3 Episode 5 “Halloween, Part III;” Season 4 Episode 5 “Halloween IV;” and Season 5 Episode 4 “HalloVeen.” - “Boy Meets World,” Season 5 Episode 17: “And Then There Was Shawn” - Cory and friends discover some disturbing things when locked in the school for detention. You can watch them solve a murder on Disney+. - “Friends,” Season 8 Episode 6: “The One with the Halloween Party” - Monica and Chandler throw a Halloween costume party. You can purchase “Friends” by season or by episode on Amazon Prime. - “Lizzie McGuire,” Season 1 Episode 24: “Night of the Day of the Dead” - After Kate disrespects Miranda’s Mexican heritage and her Día de los Muertos decorations, spooky things start happening at the school Halloween party. Find out who’s haunting Kate on Disney+. - “Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” Season 1 Episode 19: “The Ghost of Suite 613” - A ghost is rumored to haunt suite 613 of the Tipton; watch Zack, Cody, and their friends try to spend a night in the haunted suite on Disney+.

In early January 2013, Puerto Rican chat show SuperXclusivo (featuring puppet character La Comay) was cancelled after a sustained boycott campaign. Spark writer Ian Anderson interviews Carlos Rivera, who co-founded the Facebook group and played a leading role in the campaign. The Spark: What were the initial problems with La Comay, and SuperXclusivo, that triggered this campaign? CR: For more than a decade, the show had had issues with hate speech and hate “humour”. In 2010 this came to head with extreme homophobic comments. The TV station was forced by a huge LGBTT campaign to create a public promise to change. A few months later the format re-emerged. It also had moved from being a celebrity gossip and crime sensationalism show and into politics – supporting right wing politicians, draconian law-and-order “solutions to crime” and so on. The latest of this effort had been the unsuccessful attempt to eliminate bail rights earlier in 2012. When we won that referendum, we celebrated the fact we won not against the political establishment, but against La Comay. It was there I was drawn to the issue in a definitive manner. The immediate trigger was the disappearance of a young man in the middle of a robbery. This kidnapping and eventual murder generated incredible social media attention and sympathy. Then the show made hateful comments towards the victim, to the extreme of implying he had it coming for frequenting a red light district. The sympathy for the victim was high, so the comments fell on sensitive ears. The Spark: Who benefits from this bigotry? What are the consequences? CR: Basically the right wing and conservative hate mongers – and the colonialist project benefit. The fundamental consequence was the agenda being set from the right and from the reactionary perspective – even on unpopular issues. For example, the majority of Puerto Ricans are opposed to the death penalty, and the colonial constitution prohibits it. Yet this show made it seem as it was an open question, and had an effect of putting the anti-death penalty forces in the defensive. The loss of this voice has already had an explosive effect – a visible one – in how the debates happen at the street level. There is a sense that the silent majority is progressive – which it is – but there was not this sense before. The Spark: Your “Boicot a La Comay” Facebook page has over 75,000 likes, can you talk about this growth? CR: About half of it happened in the first 24 hours. It was entirely grassroots. The Spark: What kind of impact has the campaign had on the company? CR: They tried to reign in the show – changing it to a pre-recorded format. This created the conditions for the cancellation – Kobbo Santarrosa, the puppeteer found this unacceptable. It proved our theory correct: the show existed due to inertia – not even the management really liked it. They did like the money. So when we attacked the money, the incentive to continue was removed. The Spark: Is this campaign an attack on “free speech”? CR: No. Our first slogan was “Boycott without censorship”. This is why even if some members were calling for censorship – for example, pressuring the Federal Communications Commission to cancel the license – we never made those official. We knew we were treading dangerous waters in terms of speech. Our idea was never to silence speech, but to de-fund speech. The two are not the same. The Spark: What social forces have been drawn into the campaign? All of them. But a salient fact is that the overwhelming majority of likes in Facebook are from women, at a ~58% vs ~42% men. This is significant, in part, because people considered SuperXclusivo to be a “women’s show”. The Spark: Much of the coverage, and social media campaigning, has been Spanish-language. How do you think the English-language coverage has compared with this? CR: It is natural that as local issue that would be the case, but one of the salient facts – except for brief notes in the New York Times – is that English coverage was Latino-oriented. It never broke to other news outlets. This speaks clearly of the colonial relationship. The Spark: What is the relationship, and what are the differences, between US and Puerto Rican networks? CR: Basically out of the three major TV channels, 2 are affiliates of Univision and Telemundo – the leading Spanish-language networks in the USA. WAPA-TV is “independent” but owned by a US private equity firm – the same that owns other “niche” channels like the Gospel and Christian Music Television. The Spark: As someone currently living in New York, how have you found working on a campaign against a show produced in Puerto Rico? CR: It made me dependent on the membership for the information – it also made the media have to work this. The Spark: How did the simultaneous vigil in New York and Puerto Rico go? CR: Very well, I think our victory is in part due to the pressures it generated on advertisers and the owners of the channel. In NYC we were able to directly confront employees for the corporation with our demands. The Spark: How do you see the relationship between online and street organising? CR: I think it is a false dichotomy – and the insistence on this dichotomy is a serious strategic and tactical problem for any political movement. Those who organized the Facebook page that triggered the Arab Spring continue to lead their online communities, but are one of the many voices on the street. This shows they are part of continuum, rather than a dichotomy. Certainly there are differences, but these are minor and microcosmic. At the macro level, they are part of the same general movement, and should be seen as such. Today, street organizing without an online presence is doomed, and vice versa. It is how the world is. The Spark: This is a broad campaign around a single demand. From a socialist perspective, what can be achieved by participating? CR: In particular, we have achieved credibility. This is a mass line issue in a classic sense. The absence of a real socialist force means the gain is limited, but the idea that socialists can contribute to reforms without having to compromise their strategic message is proven – hopefully the lesson will not be lost to socialists in PR. The Spark: What’s next? CR: We will see what the members want. But we already have had minor victories in other issues. The Spark: How can socialists in Aotearoa support this struggle, and struggles like it? CR: Fundamentally, raising the issue of the colonial relationship between the USA and Puerto Rico. The forces against colonialism in Puerto Rico are a minority, but this is due in part to the colonial condition in itself. International awareness of this issue will have solid impact. After all, the independence forces in East Timor, for example, were a minority, until international awareness of the struggle fuelled them. Of course, Puerto Rico has its own complexities, but the international silence on this question tends to isolate and demoralize the pro-independence forces. Some, for example, have become anti-annexation rather than anti-colonial – with serious consequences to the struggle for self-determination.

Martinsburg, W.Va. – Secretary of State Natalie E. Tennant will have a very busy few days in the Eastern Panhandle. On Wednesday, September 29, she will observe a candidate forum sponsored by WEPM-AM, WHAG-TV, and the Observer newspaper. The event will be recorded and aired on WEPM-AM on Thursday and Friday morning. On Thursday, Tennant is scheduled to be live in the WRNR-AM studios with host Matt Miller discussing the upcoming November general election and the SOS On The Road outreach event being held in Martinsburg. SOS On The Road provides all the services of the Secretary of State’s Office to business owners, charitable organizations, candidates, and voters. The SOS On The Road event will be held from 9:30AM to 4:00PM on September 30 at the BB&T on South Queen Street in Martinsburg. Tennant will also visit election officials at the Berkeley County Courthouse and discuss the upcoming November general election. Later Thursday, Tennant will travel to Shepherd University to take part in a voter registration drive. The Shepherd Young Democrats, Shepherd Young Republicans, and the political science honor society Pi Sigma Alpha will all be involved urging students to not only register to vote, but to go to the polls on election day or even serve as a poll worker. The Shepherd event runs from 12-4:00PM with Secretary Tennant speaking at 2:30 with Shepherd President Dr. Suzanne Shipley. Tennant returns to Martinsburg on Friday for a scheduled in studio interview with host Hans Fogle on WEPM-AM. Later Friday, fourth grade students at Potomac Intermediate School in Martinsburg will hear an inspirational message from Secretary Tennant. She will also present the students and school with a state flag.

Barney is back with new licensees for products that will attract both young and old fans of the popular television show. Braha has obtained the license to create Barney plush puzzle mats while a Barney-inspired pillow will join the line of Pillow Pets from Ontel Products Corporation and CJ Products, LLC. Rasta Imposta is designing an adult Barney costume to complement the child’s costume they already produce. Yoostar is adding Barney & Friends to its library of content, allowing users to insert themselves into video footage from the show. Other apparel and accessories licensees include At Full Speed, Bio World, Classic Imports, Concept One and Planet Sox.

Saturday, May 18 2013 9:47 PM EDT2013-05-19 01:47:12 GMT Thomasville Police are looking for two men who attempted to rob a store, scaring customers and clerks. Police say they responded to the Dollar General on West Jackson Street around 9:15pm Friday. EmployeesMore >> Thomasville Police are looking for two men who attempted to rob a store, scaring customers and clerks. Saturday, May 18 2013 6:59 PM EDT2013-05-18 22:59:02 GMT Dougherty County police are searching for a motorist who hit a pedestrian and then fled the scene. Authorities say it happened around 11pm Friday near the 3900 block of Radium Springs Road. PoliceMore >> Dougherty County police are searching for a motorist who hit a pedestrian and then fled the scene. More >> Saturday, May 18 2013 6:58 PM EDT2013-05-18 22:58:50 GMT It's graduation time for high schools in Dougherty County and students are ready to embark on their next journey. 230 graduates received their high school diplomas from Westover Comprehensive High SchoolMore >> 230 graduates received their high school diplomas from Westover Comprehensive High School this Saturday morning.More >> Saturday, May 18 2013 6:44 PM EDT2013-05-18 22:44:14 GMT Investigators are trying to find some clues as to who took nearly two dozen cell phones from a Mitchell County School. Pictures of the Baconton Community Charter School file room show where students cellMore >> Investigators are trying to find some clues as to who took nearly two dozen cell phones from a Mitchell County School.More >> Saturday, May 18 2013 12:48 PM EDT2013-05-18 16:48:01 GMT The family of an Albany teenager who died on Friday, isn't sure how they'll pay for her funeral. 16-year old Keyanna Lang died from a heart condition. Due to her illness the family couldn't keep lifeMore >> The family of an Albany teenager who died on Friday, isn't sure how they'll pay for her funeral.More >> DOUGLAS, GA (WALB) - A shocking discovery Saturday afternoon in Coffee County. The bodies of two young women were found floating in a pond. Authorities tell us they were both murdered. The question now who killed them and why. Angela Ortega and Tasha Stiles left their homes Friday evening for a girls night out, but they never made it home. Now family and friends want answers to why these two fun loving friends were murdered. 20 year old Natosha Stiles cell phone goes straight to voicemail. Her friends and family have been calling it all night, even though they know she wont answer. "They threw her away like a bag of garbage I mean come on now," says Missy Stiles, Victim's mother. Stiles mother last heard from her daughter Friday night. Stiles was out with her friend, and 23 year old Angela Ortega. "They just went out for a girls night out," says Stiles. "They were both fun loving people they just wanted to go out and have a good time," says Tara Burchett, Victim's cousin. But Stiles and Ortega never made it home. "She text my sister and told my sister that their car broke down," says Stiles. The girls were told to call a cab for a ride home. "She text me at 4:30 AM saying momma and that was it," says Stiles. The women's bodies were discovered Saturday afternoon floating in a pond off Rexford Batten Road near Douglas. Three young boys made the gruesome find. "One of the boys that found him, and him and his next door neighbor and cousin was coming through going to go to the store, and they ran back home and their daddy told me they was white when they got home," says Bruce Batten, Neighbor. But family and friends know that whoever killed these women remains on the loose, and hope someone knows who their killer is and why they would commit such a horrific crime. "How do you tell a baby her momma is not coming back," says Burchett. Angela Ortega leaves behind a husband and two daughters, ages two years old and three months old. And Tasha Stiles leaves behind a 17 months old son who has been in foster care. Officials found Angela Ortega's car abandoned and burned around 6 PM on Saturday. GBI would not tell us how the women were murdered, but they do not believe their bodies were not in the pond very long. They ask anyone with information to contact the GBI Douglas office at 912-389-4103. You can remain anonymous.

NOVEMBER 15, 1999 Newark, New Jersey "Did i sound like I was a liberal and a progressive?" Jon Corzine asked me as we pulled out of the parking lot of a senior citizens' center in Monroe, New Jersey, where Corzine, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, had just addressed the local Democratic club. Corzine wasn't worried that he sounded too liberal and progressive. He was worried that he might not have sounded liberal and progressive enough. The former CEO of Goldman Sachs will be spending millions of dollars of his own fortune to run a campaign so left- leaning that it would make Minnesota's left-liberal Democratic senator, Paul Wellstone, blush. Corzine's principal opponent for the Democratic nomination is former New Jersey Governor Jim Florio, who was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1993 because he had broken an earlier campaign promise not to raise taxes. Florio is a policy wonk who has taught courses in energy and environmental policy at Rutgers University. He still has a powerful base of supporters in southern New Jersey, where he served as a congressman, but he is hampered by continuing resentment among voters and Democratic politicians who blame him for making mistakes that led to Republican dominance of state politics in the '90s. No sooner had Florio signaled his intention to run for the seat being vacated by Senator Frank Lautenberg than Democratic officials, led by Senator Robert Torricelli, began casting about for an alternative. They found Corzine. The 52-year-old Corzine, who resigned from Goldman Sachs almost a year ago, was a protege of former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, a former Goldman CEO. Corzine helped Rubin raise money for Democratic candidates, but he never participated in New Jersey politics. He is still very green as a politician and sometimes sounds as if he were in the boardroom rather than on the hustings. On the day I accompanied him, he told the senior citizens in Monroe that he was about to give them the "bullet points" of his program, and he used business-school jargon such as "cyclalicity" when talking to small businessmen in Trenton. But Corzine has a modest appearance and a natural friendliness that serve him well among voters and reporters. A tall, bearded man who was once a reserve on the University of Illinois basketball team, he slouches with his hands in the pockets of his gray suit jacket. He worries--justifiably--that he looks "rumpled." He has little of the hauteur common among many Wall Street masters of the universe; he's surprisingly at home exchanging pleasantries with a retired Cuban-American couple at a senior citizens' home in Union City or talking politics with a black minister in Trenton. Corzine was raised in a small town in central Illinois, where his father farmed and sold insurance. After receiving his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois, he got a graduate degree in business from the University of Chicago and was off to Wall Street, where he rose quickly in Goldman Sachs's bond-trading department. When I asked him how he became such a flaming liberal, he said that he was touched by a "King and two Kennedys." At Goldman Sachs, he said, he was "always outside the general mold." But, while Corzine is unusual, he is part of a tradition of upper-class progressives that goes back nine decades to House of Morgan men such as George Perkins, who bankrolled Theodore Roosevelt's Progressive Party, and Willard Straight, the first funder of The New Republic. The programs Corzine is championing would certainly place him at the far left of the ideological spectrum in the Senate. He would require all employers to provide health insurance and then would insure everyone else through a federal program. (He says the United States will eventually have a single-payer system.) He wants the government to pay for two years of college for every student who graduates high school with a B average. He wants to raise the minimum wage above the poverty line--which would mean increasing it from $5.15 an hour to about $8. He favors a "card-check" program that would force employers to recognize any union that got a majority of workers to sign membership cards. If the United States adopted this system, which is an important factor in the success of Canada's labor movement, it could raise the percentage of organized workers from 15 to 25 percent in one decade and completely change the dynamics of American politics and industry. Corzine hasn't yet learned to construct his speeches around themes rather than programs, but, over a day's discussion, his underlying perspective clearly emerges: the democratic pluralism of the New Deal. He believes in a balanced society in which management and labor enjoy roughly equal power and public action compensates for the inequities created by the private market. He supports labor-law reform, he says, because "the ongoing balance between labor and management is out of whack." He says of government, "I am a capitalist who believes that the government has a role checking the excesses of the marketplace." But Corzine is not a populist or an economic nationalist. He is critical of the Clinton administration for bungling the deal worked out last spring to bring China into the World Trade Organization. And, like Rubin, he opposes programs designed to penalize companies that pay multimillion-dollar salaries to top executives. In the Democratic primary, Corzine's principal strength is also his weakness: the $10 million of his own estimated $300 million fortune that he is threatening to spend. Corzine has tried to ingratiate himself with Democratic regulars by buying radio ads for local candidates in this November's elections, but he has offended some Democrats from old working- class strongholds. At a party celebration at the Polish National Home in Harrison, I heard rumbles of discontent. One man told me, "He is pulling up to towns with a dumpster filled with bags of money and leaving two bags here and five in Jersey City and Newark." Corzine is not comfortable with this issue. When I asked him whether he favored campaign finance reform, he said he wanted to go well beyond the McCain-Feingold initiative and embrace "comprehensive reform"; but, when I pressed him for details, he could only come up with "open access to the airwaves." He said he would oppose closing the loophole in campaign law created by the Supreme Court decision in Buckley v. Valeo, which allows individuals such as himself and Steve Forbes to spend unlimited amounts on their own campaigns. "It gets right at the First Amendment," he said. When I asked him whether it was fair that a college president who wanted to run for office would not enjoy the same advantages that he had, he replied, "I am not saying that all aspects of campaign structures are attractive." He rejected a mutual limit on spending, saying it would amount to "unilateral disarmament." If corzine wins the nomination, he will probably also face questions from Republicans about the economic consequences of his proposals. Without tax increases, the costs of his education and health care plans would plunge the budget back into deficit. When I asked him about the cost of his health care plan, he said that he would figure out specifics later. His plans on the minimum wage and on union recognition, along with his employer-paid health care, would dramatically increase labor costs. It may be that rapid increases in productivity would make these programs viable without creating a fiscal crisis or spurring capital flight. But it is also possible that they could cause the United States to become more like Germany or France, which have relatively high wages and generous social programs--but also high unemployment. Florio has already challenged Corzine's positions on campaign finance reform, but he is not likely to attack the fiscal soundness or political correctness of Corzine's proposals. The two men are both on the party's left, with very similar positions on health care, the environment, gun control, abortion, and labor law. Instead, Florio will raise doubts about Corzine's credentials as a real Democrat. "I've been there before. I have scars on my back from the NRA," he said at a meeting organized by students at Seton Hall Law School and the Democratic Roundtable, a group of young Democrats. Florio is a far more polished politician than Corzine and a better public speaker. He can emphasize points and hold an audience's attention by the timbre of his voice alone, without gesturing with his hands. But he lacks Corzine's amiable personality. Like Governor Parris Glendening of Maryland and other men who have raised themselves from humble circumstances to high office, Florio, a former boxer and a son of a Brooklyn shipyard worker, has put considerable emotional distance between himself and his roots. He is distant and reserved in his manner and is sometimes abstract and professorial in his approach to politics. At Seton Hall, he lost the attention of law students when he began describing at length the "iceberg issue" of pension reform. The student sitting next to me stopped taking notes and didn't resume until Florio began responding to a question about campaign finance reform. Florio would like voters to forget about his governorship, but it keeps coming up. At Seton Hall, the very first question he faced was whether he had any regrets about raising taxes. Florio deals with this question as ineffectively as Corzine answers questions about campaign finance: he defends what he actually did and faults himself merely for failing to convince voters that it was a good thing. "I probably could have done a much better job trying to explain," he told the students. When I asked him afterward what he had learned from the opposition he incurred as governor, he seemed to blame his problems on voters' lack of attention to politics. "I was disabused of the idea that everybody is out there listening to politicians," he said. "It is hard to pierce through the clutter of all the problems people have, so we all have to figure out better ways of communicating, better ways of making things real, so that the things people are doing in Washington or Trenton or wherever relate to people's lives." Florio certainly should not shoulder all the blame for his first-term defeat. When he took office, he faced a large deficit created by his Republican predecessor, Thomas Kean, and a court decision mandating increased spending on public schools. But Florio had promised not only to oppose tax increases but also to conduct an immediate state audit in order to cut spending. He broke both promises. He also raised and redirected spending on education without establishing tough standards to assure voters that the money would not be squandered. He fit the stereotype of the tax-and-spend liberal that voters rejected and that the Democrats of the '90s tried to move beyond (see John B. Judis, "A Taxing Governor," tnr, October 15, 1990). Florio campaign consultant David Eichenbaum claims that the former governor still has the support of "core Democratic voters"; in my own brief survey of Democratic activists and officials, however, I found considerable skepticism about Florio's candidacy. Several people remarked that Florio was "damaged goods" and would be likely to lose in the general election, if not in the primary. To date, the only significant interest group to endorse Florio is the Sierra Club--a fitting tribute to Florio's sterling environmental record as a congressman and a governor. Corzine, for his part, has already gained endorsements from many of the state's key politicians. Under New Jersey's old- style election laws, his name will be put at the top of county ballots as the party's preferred choice. Although Corzine is still unknown in the state and trails Florio in polls, the primary election appears to be his to lose. New jersey's democratic primary could be an anomaly, or it could suggest that, after a decade of caution and retrenchment, the Democrats are once again embracing large-scale reform programs to alleviate social inequality. Although he prefers Vice President Al Gore for president, Corzine's campaign themes and programs clearly echo those of fellow New Jerseyan Bill Bradley. The Democrats originally expected to face New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman in November's Senate race, but Whitman withdrew from the contest in September. She said she didn't want to raise money, but she might also have seen polls that showed that she was vulnerable to a well-financed challenge from a candidate other than Florio. Representative Bob Franks is the best known of the current Republican candidates, but some conservatives are urging magazine heir Steve Forbes to drop out of the presidential race and run for Senate. A Corzine-Forbes race would pit the very liberal investment banker against the magazine-heir-turned-tribune of the supply-side right. The voters would get a clear choice, and media outlets and political consultants would make a fortune off the millions of dollars the two candidates would spend.

In 1869 Richmond was the largest flour milling center in the United States, upon the eve of the Minneapolis era. Richmond never had many mills, but it was a natural place to exit most of Virginia's wheat because her production grew as transportation facilities opened up more distant fields. In 1833 there were only three mills, and in 1859 there were only seven, but its annual average production was 500,000 barrels. Gallego mill ground 900 barrels of flour a day at its best, and from the Haxall Mill, could produce 700 barrels. The architecture of these mills transformed the Richmond waterfront into an industrial center made up of some of the largest structures then standing in America. The first Gallego mill was established at the falls as early as 1796 by Joseph Gallego. From the Richmond Whig, April 25,1865.............."Richmond can boast of having within its limits the largest flouring mill in the world. The erection of the mill was regularly commenced some time in the year 1854. The superstructure rests upon a solid foundation of granite, the base of which is seventeen and a half feet thick. The width tapers to a thickness of six feet at the top course of granite. The average thickness of the brick walls, forming the first four stories above canal street, is three feet two inches. The great mill is twelve stories in height, fronts ninety-six feet on Canal street, and is one hundred and sixty-five feet deep. The height of the front wall is one hundred and twenty-one feet to the top course of bricks. Including the observatory the total height is one hundred and thirty-five feet. The rear wall, embracing a part of the granite foundation, is one hundred and forty-seven feet high. Each floor contains 155,000 square feet or rather more than three and a half acres. Altogether, the available space within the walls of this building is about 200,000 square feet." I am a postgraduate student studying at the University of Glasgow and am at the moment doing a research project on Oliver Evans which will result in a computer simulation of his automated flour mill. I am having difficulty finding information about the production itself, how many bags of flour were able to be produced after automation, what were the throughput rates, seasonal fluctuations and how it affected the production rates etc.. I came across your website and I was wondering whether you had any information about this side of a historic mill's working life or whether you could point me in the right direction. I haven't had much success finding books on historical mills and how they worked (production wise) nor are there many research articles available. Any help would be much appreciated. Dear Karen Williams, Thank you for your e-mail. I think that your problem is that you are looking for output of Oliver Evans mills in bags. Bags denote "household flour." A mill's output is measured in how many barrels of flour that it can produce in a 24 hour period. Each barrel of flour contains 196 pounds of white flour. During Oliver Evans day, for every one hundred of wheat they ground the yield of white flour was 72 pounds or 72 percent. A mill with Oliver Evans machinery installed depended upon the number or run of millstones that the mill had. The owner of the mill had to pay him a users fee based upon how many pairs of millstones the mill had. Most Oliver Evans mills had two or more pairs of millstones. Mills may have two pairs, three pairs, four pairs, five pairs or more of millstones. A mill's output of ground flour depends upon the diameter of A 42 to 46 inch pair of millstones can grind 300 pounds of grain or wheat in an hour. A 48 inch pair of millstones can grind 400 pounds of grain or wheat in an hour. A 56 inch pair of millstone can grind 500 pounds of grain or wheat in an hour. I should mention that this is all English wheat or soft wheat. Hard wheat did not come from the Ukraine until the middle of the 1860's by the Mennonites who brought it to the Midwest and the plains of Canada. It is basically do the math. They did not call shifts in a 24 hour day a "shift" back then. It was called "first watch," "second watch," and "third watch." During Oliver Evans time flour was shipped from a mill in wooden barrels. A wooden barrel was a shipping container that would last 300 years. It is called a "dry cooper" that means that it has split ash hops around the barrel. Metal hops are used on "wet coopers" which are used to contain a liquid. Most flour from Oliver Evans' mills was exported. The Napoleonic Wars were fought with flour produced by American Quaker millers. Yes, most millers (for centuries) were Quakers. Milling was a trade that was traditionally exempt from military service. A cooper could produce or make three (3) barrels a day. That meant if a mill could produce 25 to 50 barrels of flour per day, there had to be a lot of cooper's and cooper's shops around or near mills. At some point most pairs would be simply repaired and reused. They had split ash hops so that they would not create a spark of rolled on a nail head in the floor. Flour dust is more explosive than gun powder, and 35 times more explosive than coal In Oliver Evans mills the stuff that was sifted out, the middlings and bran were most often tossed into the creek or mill stream. They did do some regrinding of middlings, but they are difficult to regrind using the traditional feed system into millstones, and often the flour suffers from heat generated problems. If you over heat the gluten, then the bread will not rise. Regrinding of middlings came with "New Process" milling that happened in the late 1840's and early 1850's. Animal feed business does not come about until after the American Civil War. So up until then the middlings and bran became fish food or euthanize The following would be the labor force of a pre-Oliver Evans mill.........A mill with one pair of millstones would take 6 people to operate (two men and four children). A mill with two pairs of millstones would take 6 to 8 people to operate. A mill with three pairs of millstones would take 8 to 12 people to operate. This would be the labor force for daylight working hours only. A mill with the Oliver Evans automated flour milling system would take one to two people to operate a three pair of millstone mill. This would be per watch or shift of two 12 hour periods The Oliver Evans system was not adopted in England because they held a lower value on human labor than in America. Basically they were not interested because a colonist came up with the idea, and they were willing to maintain the labor and manpower in the system they had in place. In America, or the United States we had a manpower shortage. The average three pairs of millstone mill with an Oliver Evans system of automated flour milling could grind 1,200 pounds of grain or wheat in an hour. The average mill of that size could perhaps store 50 to 75 thousand pounds of uncleaned grain within the building. A granary next door could perhaps store 100 to 150 to 200 thousand pounds of grain in storage. They would buy grain from grain dealers and farmers. It came by canal boat, ship and wagon to the mill (depending upon the location of the mill). What happened was there became a shortage in the market where a mill could now grind 10 to 20 times more than without the Oliver Evans' system. Most mill streams had an average of one mill per mile. What Oliver Evans did was create an industrial revolution in the milling industry so the greater demand cause the agriculture industry to come out of the dark ages (away from the plow, scythe, flail and winnowing basket), and modernize as well. Both the milling and agricultural industries had not changed in thousands of years. If the agricultural industry had done it first there would have been a glut in the market, and the milling industry could not keep up with the oversupply. Oliver Evans saw that it was the milling industry that had to take the first step in the industrial An Oliver Evans mill would run year round with the exception of freezing and flooding. A stream powered mill. A tidal powered Oliver Evans mill run year round with the exception of storms, and an Oliver Evans windmill ran year round with the exception of storms, lack of wind or too much wind. This is why Oliver Evans' son built a steam powered mill in Pittsburgh. Coal fired mill with automated flour milling machinery could run year round. A grist (custom, or batch) mill would grind grain for local farmers at harvest time. It may run 3 or 4 months of the year, and the rest of the year the miller had another occupation like a saw miller, blacksmith. If the grist miller was also a saw miller when the mill froze up in the dead of winter he went out to cut his trees. Then he could skid the logs to the mill on the snow, and begin cutting them with the spring thaw. If the miller was also a blacksmith, when the freeze up happened he began doing blacksmithing work for the logger and then afterwards for the Shop keepers sold flour in cotton sacks. Originally people brought their own sacks. Then after the American Civil War mills began to sell flour in cotton sacks, and the birth of household flour. Flour was basically sold in 10 pound, 25 pound, 50 pound and 100 pound sacks. People used the fabric to make clothing items, shirts, aprons, underwear (Jockey Oats), dish cloths, etc. Paper sacks appeared around 1910 in 5 pound, 10 pound, 25 pound, and The standard output for a mill up until World War Two was a wooden flour barrel that contained 196 pounds. Then around World War Two that changed to a standard "100 weight" sack. How many sacks of flour could a mill produce that weighted 100 pounds. These were cotton sacks. If you are going to make a computer simulation of an Oliver Evans automated flour mill, then you really need to see........The Oliver Evans automated working model of his flour mill in one of the museum buildings at the Hagley Museum and Library in Greenville, of an Oliver Evans Automated Flour Mill. Have you looked on my web pages on Oliver Evans? I have a lot of information out there. Lily Mill Restorations Menu Page. The thing about an Oliver Evans mill that it is automated, which means that it was the first automation of any industry what so ever. It saved manual labor. Oliver Evans came up with his ideas for automated flour milling in 1782-83, using paper models. His book, "The Young Mill-Wright and Miller's Guide" was published in 1795 in 15 editions to 1860. It predated the word "industry" which came into existence in 1814. You mentioned the word, "throughput" which means everything is happening at the same time, and if you want to increase the "throughputs" everything is designed to keep up with all of the parts in the system. So if you want to increase the output, you just increase the flow of grain into the system and increase the power source. With a pre-Oliver Evans mill to increase the output, you have to add more machinery and increase the amount of labor. What happened to Oliver Evans' mills? They became something else. The product remained the same which is flour. So what changed is how the millers ground the grain. Evans did not fall out of fashion, the methods of milling grain changed. Most of his devices (as he liked to call them) or inventions of machinery were incorporated into the new methods of flour milling. The millers would never give up his idea of "automated flour milling." The machines and how flour was produced changed. In Oliver Evans day, for example, there was only soft or English wheat. Now there are a number of known varieties of wheat. Roller mills replaced millstones, and some of his devices have been replaced with pneumatic milling where stuff is blown around the mill though metal and plastic pipes instead of elevators, conveyors, and chutes. You mention the computer simulation of the Oliver Evans' automated flour mill. About 25-30 years ago the most expensive mill restoration to day began on a mill in Northern Virginia. The mill was built in 1810 and would have been an Oliver Evans flour mill. By 1790, all of the new and existing mills in and around the District of Columbia were being equipped with the Oliver Evans automated flour milling system. This mill in time was converted to a "New Process" milling system, and to the four pairs of millstones was added a smaller diameter pair of millstones for regrinding middlings.......Then around 1900-1910, two metal Fitz Water Wheels replaced the mill's two wooden water wheels with an additional steam engines, and a new roller milling system (that practiced "gradual reduction milling." People called it a "white elephant," and they had to hire the most expensive millwright of the day who worked for no less than a thousand dollars a day whether he was on site, doing work for them, or not. Anything that they did, they went the most expensive route possible........I was working in a nearby 1930's Fitz Water Wheel Company restoration of an Oliver Evans' mill, Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park, Washington, D.C. A man walked into the mill one day, and said that he worked for John Hopkins University in Baltimore. He said that he was going to create a computer program for them that would simulate the mill operating. The plan was that there would be computer terminals throughout the mill. As a kid walked around the mill he, she, or they could access the program. It would show the entire mill operating, and if they were standing in front of the water wheels, millstones, roller mills, bolters (sifters), elevators, conveyors, plansifters, cleaners, flour packers, etc., that terminal would focus in on that machine in front of them with details of just how that machine worked. This was before the days of personal computers became mainstream. I guess a packaged program could be sold in the gift shop and to other mills for their sales...........Needless to say, when I heard this, I thought that the mill would only work in the computer simulation, and not for real demonstrations. Well the computer program never became a reality. It was really a heard of its time 20 years ago. And with all of the money they overspent in the beginning stages of the mill restoration, the mill years later is still basically an empty shell. They never came up with the money to finish it. Things like 20 years ago, they spent 250 thousand dollars just to stabilize the building to keep it from falling down. Stupid things like if you put your finger on a course of bricks, and walk around the mill when you return to where you started, your finger will be on a different course of bricks, and not the same one like it should be. To explain some of the stuff that I talked about see the following Design in North America. Please feel free to contact me again if you have any questions or need additional help. Dear Mr. Hazen Thank you so much for such detailed information about Oliver Evans.. it is exactly what I have been searching for and have been unable to find. As soon as I sent you an email I found the pages you had written on Oliver Evans which were extremely informative. The information you have provided will help me achieve more accuracy with the simulation - my professor had told me that finding information such as what you have provided is hard and I would probably have to do some estimates - well not any Thank you once again. I will be referencing you in my final Illustration Number 631 - The Gallego Flouring-Mill-Richmond, Virginia, by Edward King, 1848-1896 and James Wells Champney, 1843-1903, illustrators of "The Great South; A Record of Journeys in Louisiana, Texas, the Indian Territory, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland," Hartford, Connecticut., American Publishing Co., 1875. The illustration shows dock steersmen along the canal in the foreground, and the Gallego Flouring Mills, Richmond, Virginia, in the background. The Gallego Flouring Mills was twelve stories high, this building was one of the largest brick buildings in the United States, producing 190,000 barrels of flour annually. The mill was powered by hybrid vertical water wheels with water from the James River and the Kanawha Canal. Hybrid water wheels have metal shafts and iron hubs upon which a traditional two bucket section wooden water wheel was constructed. Power was taken by a bull wheel on each shaft that operated a smaller pinion wheel shaft. From this horizontal lay shaft several rows of pairs of millstones were operated. The Gallego Flouring Mills was actually two identical mill buildings build end to end, much like Lyons or D.C. Federal Mills on Rock Creek in Washington, D.C. Lyons Mill had a water wheel on each end of the double mill structure. Gallego Mills had two water wheels on each half of the double mill structure. To produce the mill's daily output of 900 barrels of flour a day, that meant that the mill had to have operating 20 pairs of millstones. The mill would have more than likely, had 35 to 40 pairs of millstones since one half of the mill's total amount of stones would always be down for millstone dressing. Gallego Mills may have had either Oliver Evans automated flour milling system, or the "New Process" flour milling system, the mill still ground flour on French millstones, and had the Oliver Evans devices, elevators, conveyors, hopper-boys, and other flour milling machinery like grain cleaners and flour sifters By mid-century, they were joined by other Falls mills in shipping out their flour to South America and to the San Francisco gold rushers. Gallego had a fleet of three dozen schooners, carrying flour as far as Australia. Until war came, Richmond was considered the flour milling capital of the country, the hemisphere, and perhaps even the world. The post-Civil War operation was unable to compete effectively with competition that emerged in the Midwest. Virginia had only the soft or English wheat, meanwhile, during the 1860 the Midwest began growing the inferior Ukrainian hard wheat which the invention of the middlings purifier made into a superior white flour. Hard wheat grows in an arid climate. Prior to the Civil War, Richmond had the tallest brick mills in the world, The Gallego Mills. Some considered it ugly brick for the city skyline of Richmond, Virginia. Kline's Mill, a four-story stone and log building. Once a common combination. Jacob Kline built the original two-story portion of the mill in about 1775 to press flax seed for oil, and grind wheat for flour. When the flax seed oil business was no longer profitable, Jacob and his son Anthony (one of 12 children in the family), put their focus on the flour milling part of the mill's operation. The Klines began to convert the mill into an Evans' automated flour milling design system in about 1797. The son Anthony Kline added two additional floors to accommodate the milling process. Anthony using blueprints supplied by Evans in "The Young Mill-Wright and Miller's Guide," published in 1795. Flour from the mill was exported out of the country. Anthony inherited the mill and 50 acres from his father in 1816. Four years later, he built a two-story brick home on a hill overlooking the mill. Sometime during the course of the operation, a general store was added to the mill and a post office was made part of the store. Kline's Mill was still in operation in the 1950's, and the mill and home stayed in the Kline family until Kline's Mill on Ridings Mill Road, south of Stephens City. The mill is one of finest example of a preexisting mill which was adapted to the Oliver Evans' design in the United States. The mill contains the smallest diameter example of an original Oliver Evans hopper-boy, and Peirce Mill contains a larger diameter original hopper-boy. Peirce Mill is the best example of a mill built with Oliver Evans' automated design in the United States. Kline's Mill is in need of mill restoration and deserves to become a living-history museum. This area is where the greatest number of Oliver Evans mills were found, in the Upper South. The majority of mills that have survived into the present had their water wheels changed to metal, and or have had roller milling systems installed. Kline's Mill represents a lost period in milling technology. "The Young Mill-Wright and Miller's Guide" is considered the miller's and millwright's bible, but Kline's Mill should be one of its houses of worship. Return to Home Page

Quasars Quash Big Bang Assumption by Brian Thomas, M.S. * According to the most prominent naturalistic theory of origins, the universe began over 13 billion years ago in a "Big Bang" that flung matter, energy, and space outward. But quasars near some of the most distant galaxies have posed a problem for this view. A new study showed that these objects, some of the brightest in the universe, cast even more darkness on astronomers' current understanding of starlight and time. Quasars, or "quasi-stellar radio sources," are super-bright, massive, glowing objects that appear to be associated with black holes near galactic cores. Like many stars and galaxies, they are millions of light years away from earth. Light from these distant sources appears shifted toward the red, or low energy, end of the electromagnetic spectrum. This is interpreted to be caused by an expanding universe.1 In the early 1990s, eminent astronomer Halton Arp discovered a thick trail of glowing gas linking a galaxy named NGC 4319 to a nearby quasar. He noted a huge problem with this find--the galaxy's redshift indicated a distance of 107 million light years away, while its quasar's indicated 1.2 billion light years.2 If the degree of light redshift is truly caused by space expanding between earth and the light source, then the amount of redshift between these obviously connected glowing objects ought to be the same--not an order of magnitude different! This discrepancy caused Arp and some astronomers to doubt the assumption that redshift--at least for quasars--is caused by an expanding universe. Other astronomers seem to have just ignored the contraindicating anomaly. Based on new research, however, they may have trouble continuing to disregard the contradictions. In a study published online in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, astronomer Mike Hawkins at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh presented results from 900 quasars he observed over the last couple of decades. He found more problems presented by quasars to the standard cosmological model. For example, identical rhythmic light signatures were observed among two quasars, one with redshift showing it as 6 billion light years away, and another showing a 10 billion light year "distance." Physorg.com reported: Even though the distant quasars were more strongly redshifted than the closer quasars, there was no difference in the time it took the light to reach Earth. This quasar conundrum doesn't seem to have an obvious explanation.3 If redshift is not a reliable indicator of quasar distances, then how reliable is it for other objects? What else could be causing the difference in degree of redshift, and would this alternative cause have implications for other cosmic phenomena? In addition, if the data are ambiguous about the distances to quasars, then science cannot be as sure of the time it took for quasar light to reach earth. There are even more glaring observations that do not "seem to have an obvious explanation" in the current cosmological context. For example, astronomer Neil DeGrasse Tyson stated emphatically that "the universe was born 14 billion years ago,"4 yet this is not nearly enough time for light from separate regions of space to have crossed paths. According to the Big Bang model, in order for the temperature of space to be as remarkably even as it is, light must have intersected to have smoothed out its energy.5 This "Horizon Problem" has not been solved and is devastating to that model.6 Both the Horizon Problem and the anomalous quasar data reveal fundamental gaps in current astronomical understanding. Some of the basic, fundamental questions remain unanswered about the universe's structure, size, expansion dynamics, effects or causes of gravity, and the nature of light. And this precludes confident assertions about its age--if those assertions are based merely on today's observations and naturalistic assumptions. For example, astronomer Hugh Ross recently stated, "Technological advance provides definitive data on the age of the universe and earth. There's simply no scientific basis for thinking that the universe and earth are not billions of years old."7 Investigating--not simply ignoring--observations like unexpected quasar light behavior and super-smooth cosmic temperatures shows that the data are only definitive in their defiance of mankind's overconfidence that science has solved the secrets of the universe--including its age. Investigators may never be able to determine the universe's age based on natural parameters alone, but its age in earth terms has been clearly mapped out in the pages of Scripture, a document that carries the highest authority of divine authorship and veracity. And that authority, along with plenty of scientific evidence, points to a recent creation by an omniscient, omnipotent Creator.8 - Evolutionary cosmologists have extrapolated this expansion back in imaginary time to a Big Bang, but creation cosmologists point out that this may corroborate over a dozen Bible references to the Lord stretching out the heavens. See Humphreys, D. R. 2007. Creation Cosmologies Solve Spacecraft Mystery. Acts & Facts. 36 (10): 10. - Arp, H., G. Burbidge and A. Hewitt. 1995. More on the galaxy-quasar connection. Sky and Telescope. 75 (8): 9. - Zyga, L. Discovery that quasars don't show time dilation mystifies astronomers. PhysOrg. Posted on physorg.com April 9, 2010, reporting on research published in Hawkins, M. R. S. On time dilation in quasar light curves. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Published online in advance of print April 9, 2010. - deGrasse Tyson, N. For the Love of Hubble. Parade, June 22, 2008. - This use of "temperature" is unique. What has been measured is the blackbody radiation of the cosmos, which ought to be very irregular. Instead, it is measured at 2.7 degrees Kelvin whether near or far from galaxy-rich regions of space. See Gish, D. 1991.The Big Bang Theory Collapses. Acts & Facts. 20 (6). - Coppedge, D. 2007. The Light-Distance Problem. Acts & Facts. 36 (6). - Ross, H. 2009. More Than a Theory. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 17. - Humphries, D. R. 2005. Evidence for a Young World. Acts & Facts. 34 (6). Image credit: NASA, ESA, and G. Canalizo (University of California, Riverside) * Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research. Article posted on April 29, 2010.

TRADES UNION CONGRESS GENERAL COUNCIL. From DR. H.B. MORGAN. To SIR WALTER CITRINE. Department Social Insurance. Date 4th November, 1936. SPAIN AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. REPORT of an interview between Archbishop Hinsley, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, and some Catholics associated with the Labour and Trade Union Movement, on Saturday evening, the 31st October, 1936. (1) This meeting was arranged as the result of the attendance of Archbishop Hinsley at the Ben Tillett Memorial Dinner and some observations which he there made both publicly and privately. The approaches were first made by Mr. Young, who was formerly a very prominent member of the Night Telephonist Section of the Post-Office Workers, but has now been seconded to be the telephonist at Buckingham Palace. Mr. Peacock, the Secretary of the National Trade Union Club, also took steps to choose Catholics whom he thought would be representative. Those present at the interview were as follows :- His Grace, The Archbishop Hinsley of Westminster. Monsignor Valentine Elwes, his Private Secretary. Miss A. Somers, a London Organiser for the National Labour Party. Mr. T. O'Brien, General Secretary of the Theatrical Employees' Union. Mr. Bernard Sullivan of the Taylors & Garment Workers' Union. Mr. Young (as above) Dr. H.B. Morgan. And without any intimation to the above party a representative of the Transport & General Workers' Union, who was suddenly found waiting at the Archbishop's house when the rest of the party arrived. - Name not known. Miss Monica Wheatley, unfortunately, could not attend. Certain other Catholic members also could not attend. (2) The interview was cordial throughout, and the Arch-

The Bravo network released a line-up of its in-development shows today along with a demo reel that features, at the top of the heap, Gallery Girls, the not-very-good-sounding reality show that follows seven girls as they strive to enter the New York art world without the slightest idea of how to go about doing that. The lineup features new details about the show, including the names of the aforementioned girls. For a while, the show’s working title was changed to Paint the Town but the demo reel features a logo with the original title, which was consistent with what we’d previously encountered on our trips to the set. The description, which confirms the participation of collector scion Liz Margulies, follows: Viewers are introduced to seven young women who dream of living a chic and fashionable existence in New York City. Chantal Chadwick, Kerri Lisa, Liz Margulies, Claudia Martinez, Angela Pham, Amy Poliakoff and Maggie Schaffer all share a passion for art, but are divided amongst their Manhattan and Brooklyn lifestyles with vastly different attitudes and tastes towards fashion, art and men. And here’s that demo reel, in which two people explicitly reference Sex and the City: Follow Dan Duray via RSS.

April 26, 2012 My dear you are the most wonderful person in the world and you will have such a wonderful success in your new job. I am so happy for you!!!! I have never, in my whole life, written anything like that to any friend. To anyone at all, in fact. At first I chalked it up to English not being her first language, but apparently she’s like this in her native language too. It’s just who she is. For many people, if they sent a message like the one above, it would be disingenuous, if they could even get away with it. Not this friend; she really means it. She is genuine and open and so warm. I do not have an expressive face; I do not feel emotions as strongly as others; I do not tend to say expressive sentiments. Most people, except my children and my husband, and perhaps my blog readers, see very little emotion from me. Even so, it feels marvelous to be on the receiving end of such effusiveness from this friend, or my closest friend, or my husband, or my children, or my late mother, all of whom are tremendously expressive (of the full gamut of emotions, not just love). I may not express much emotion, but I’ve surrounded myself with it. How effusive are you? April 19, 2012 My real estate agent isn’t that great. Not terrible by any means, but not the best. My now-former house has been for sale since my mother’s health took a turn for the worse, almost 6 months before she died, which was over a year ago. That means my house has been for sale for a year and a half. It’s been empty for 3 months and counting. We keep dropping the price, and it keeps not getting bought. Our agent does all the things she’s supposed to do, but we can’t help but feel that if we had someone top-notch, they’d be doing more. More marketing, more staging, smarter pricing from the outset, something. It may be the horrendously crappy real estate market, or it may be her. The catch is that we can’t fire her, and we couldn’t have gone with any other agent — because she is my now-former boss’s wife. He never said that I had to use his wife, but it seemed like it could really be asking for trouble if I didn’t. DH has a good friend who is the opposite kind of real estate agent, in a different city. He’s the kind you see on billboards. Everyone in the industry knows him. He’s been featured on one of those TV shows that follows someone looking for a new house. If we lived in his city, we’d be obligated to use him, the same way we’re obligated to use my boss’s wife, but I’m glad that we’re not. He is The Best, and he knows it. Maybe because he and DH have been friends for more than 30 years he’d give us extra personal attention rather than charming us at key points in the process and delegating all of the real work to his underlings. Maybe. But he is The Best because of volume, not because of personal attention. No, in the case of real estate I’d rather have someone who wants the best price for me rather than the fastest sale for him. I’d rather have someone who is good but not a superstar. In many domains, though, I do extensive research to find The Best. Burrito and Tamale’s first pediatrician was absolutely the best in the area, in terms of both skill and bedside manner. My first RE was one of the most famous in the world; my 2nd RE was the most respected in the region. Each car we have bought has been the absolute best possible choice for our needs at the time. Twice I have worked for one of the most important people in the world in my field; both times I have gotten mistreated and been miserable, but I also ended up with letters of recommendation from two of the most important people in our world, and for the rest of my career people will say, “Oh, you worked with him? Wow. He’s my hero.” In other domains, I settle for fine. For example, the guy who plowed our driveway was fine — I don’t know if it’s even possible to be the best at plowing driveways. Even if it was, how much better could the best plow guy be than the fine one? What difference would it really make? Sometimes, beyond driveways, it does matter. Trust me, when it comes to dentistry it matters — I once had a filling fall out because the crappy dentist hadn’t removed all of the decay. When it comes to selling a house, so far it’s made $100K of difference in the asking price (and counting? please, no, just let it sell, c’mon, please?). When I was a child athlete, the difference between best and fine was the difference between 1st place and 3rd place. I was a competitive figure skater as a kid. I was not blessed with natural athletic talent, but I had been taking dance since I was 2, which made me flexible and graceful. I don’t know how my mother chose my skating coaches. My main coach, Brenda, was very nice. Everyone in the rink liked her. Her students did pretty well in competitions. I, however, was perennially 3rd place. There was a Girl Who Won Everything, and every time I moved up to the next level she did too. She was way better than I was, but somehow she didn’t advance faster than I did. It was really annoying. That explained not being 1st, but I almost never got 2nd either. I just wasn’t that good. Not that I was the worst; I usually scored above the middle of the pack. But once I was the only one in my division, and I didn’t get 1st place. They only gave 1st if you deserved it. I was the only competitor, and I placed 2nd. Humiliating. The Girl Who Won Everything had a very young coach, Tania. When I started skating, Tania wasn’t a coach, just a teenager who skated at the same rink. Then, when she turned 18, she became a coach. And, because Tania had been one of us, a bunch of kids left their coaches and went to her. She was fun and young and so nice, and good. Really good. I stayed loyal to Brenda. I went to her wedding. I helped her evaluate potential baby names. I accidentally blew out the candle on her baby’s first birthday cake. We had a relationship. Meanwhile, Tania’s students started winning. And winning. And winning. Especially the Girl Who Won Everything, but everyone else too. They collectively swept every competition. One day, my mother arranged for me to have a single lesson with Tania. I would still be staying with Brenda (and my 2nd coach; don’t ask me why an 11 year old who’s not that good has to have 2 different coaches, but I did), but everyone knew that Brenda’s students were killing it, even the kids who weren’t naturally talented, and I wanted to know what the fuss was about. I had just one lesson with her. In that one lesson, Tania completely changed the way I jumped. I was a better skater after 45 minutes with her. My muscle memory can still recall how it feels to jump the old way vs. the Tania way — I can’t do it anymore, but my brain remembers exactly how Tania taught me to jump twice as high. She was clearly The Best. Yet I stayed with Brenda, fine but unremarkable Brenda. I don’t know what might have happened if I’d switched to Tania from the start, or what might have happened if I’d switched after that life-changing lesson. Maybe I would have stuck with skating longer. I was never destined for the Olympics, but maybe I could have learned to do the double and triple axels that Tania’s students were doing. I probably would have received at least a few 1st place trophies, which seemed so important at the time even though all of my trophies and medals are gone forever now: after my mother’s death they were all thrown away when her house was cleared out. Or maybe if I’d switched to Tania, I wouldn’t have learned the feeling of being with someone mediocre and knowing that you could do better, knowing that you are trapped by your own inertia. That feeling is now embedded deep within me. When I should be choosing something better, I feel it at such a visceral level. That feeling has saved me from bad doctors and loser boyfriends and inferior cupcakes. That feeling is why I will find a kick-ass real estate agent for the next house. When do you want The Best? When do you settle for fine? April 12, 2012 I love blogging. Not quick Tumblr-style blogging that you do from your phone, but crafted, deliberate, edited and re-edited blogging. Email is good too, for the same reason. Most people would be shocked at how many times I edit and tweak even the simplest emails. Lack of editing is why I don’t like hand-written letters… that, and the ink that my left hand smears across the page. Unlike regular blogging, micro-blogging is a challenge for me. How am I supposed to think complete thoughts in 140 characters? Where is the nuance? I’m the only person I know who not only doesn’t abbreviate when texting but uses full punctuation: I’ve never received a semi-colon in a text, but I’ve sent plenty. Long-form is too long for me. I’m such a perfectionist that I can’t see a very long piece of writing through. In the olden days, pre-Twitter, DH used to say that instant messaging was perfectly suited for him. Now, he is a masterful Tweeter. He, somehow, can encapsulate nuance and wit and depth into 140 characters. He’s great at mid-length like blogs and longer-lengths too, but on Twitter he shows a gift for brevity that I can only dream about. What medium is best suited for you? April 5, 2012 Welcome to the April Intelligentsia. #30: Elana from Elana’s Musings #26: A from Are You Kidding Me? #26: Lost In Translation from We Say IVF, They Say FIV #22: Strongblonde from Strong Blonde #14: Tara from Turkey In My Oven #12: St. Elsewhere #10: Lori from Write Mind Open Heart #10: Rebecca from Get Lost With Me, Darling #5: Sara from Aryanhwy Current home tastes (at least in the U.S.) seem to skew toward big, open living spaces — the “great room.” My now-vacant, still-unsold, hemorrhaging-money house is the opposite: many separate living spaces. I loved it. I loved that DH and the twins and I could each do our own work/play without hearing each other. Conversely, multiple prospective buyers have specifically complained that there was no great room. Aren’t there any introverts who want to buy my house? Preparing for fall, I’ve just toured several very different preschool classrooms. They are all within the same philosophy, so the toys and learning materials are very similar. There are differences in teacher styles and general vibe, of course. But the biggest difference is the physical space. One classroom is enormous, three connected rooms, with 12-foot ceilings, century-old woodwork, all sorts of nooks and crannies to work independently or interact with peers (or to get into trouble — I’m looking at you, Burrito). Another classroom is “cozy” — smallish space (accommodating half as many kids as the first one), low ceilings (not that you care when you’re 3 feet tall), dark — a Hobbit House feel. A third classroom is a big airy room with two walls of windows, bright and modern. For several reasons including but not limited to the physical space, the bright airy classroom is the current frontrunner for our preschool choice. The first one would have been the frontrunner if I were picking a house. The Hobbit classroom would have been the frontrunner if I were picking a workspace. My tall husband, on the other hand, would steer clear of the Hobbit room regardless of the purpose: he’d be okay with either of the other two, but dark with low ceilings is a dealbreaker for him. Burrito is happy pretty much anywhere. If it were up to Tamale, they’d attend an outdoor school. “I’m sitting on the ground! I need some sunscreen.” What kind of physical space are you drawn to?

Anna Faris, Adam Brody, Danny Masterson , John Cho, Jane Lynch, John Krasinski, Marion Ross, Michael Hitchcock, Danny Trejo, Roscoe Lee Browne Show Full List Synopsis: A young actress unknowingly eats her roommate's super-marijuana cupcakes, becoming incredibly high and setting off on a manic series of misadventures! A smart stoner comedy, with Jane Lynch, John Krasinksi. USA - 2007 - R © 2007 APOLLOPROMOVIE GMBH & CO 3 FILMPRODUCKTION KG

FRIDAY, OCT. 5 . Annual rummage sale: The Cocoa-Rockledge Garden Club is hosting its annual rummage sale, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 5 and 6, 10 a.m. to p.m. at the Garden Club building, 1493 S. Fiske Blvd., Rockledge. Admission is free. For more information, call (321) 638-3840. . Save a life; adopt a homeless pet: During the month of October, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of North Brevard's Mobile Pet Adoption Unit will have adoptable pets at the following locations: . Friday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Publix in Port St. John. . Wednesday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Petco in Titusville. . Thursday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SPCA Thrift Store in Titusville. . Friday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Walmart in Titusville. . Wednesday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Petco in Titusville. . Thursday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SPCA Thrift Store in Merritt Island. . Friday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Publix in Port St. John. . Wednesday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Petco in Titusville. . Thursday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SPCA Thrift Store in Titusville. . Friday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Walmart in Titusville. . Wednesday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Petco in Titusville. To see a complete listing of all adoptable pets at the SPCA, visit www.spcanorthbrevard.com or for more information, call (321) 267-8221. . YouthBuild Program seeks participants: Following the recent award of its third U.S. Department of Labor grant, Brevard Community College's Space Coast YouthBuild has started the enrollment process to recruit its next class of 16 students. The goal of this workforce development program is to assist at-risk youth to attain a high school credential and further their education or technical/vocational training toward employment in an economically sustaining career. Sixty-five students will be served during the three year grant period. Applicants must be 16-24, not have a high school diploma or GED and be withdrawn from high school. Students are selected through a process, which includes interviews and participation in an unpaid orientation, giving them the chance to have a successful future that might otherwise be lost. Information sessions about this free program will be held in October; registration is required. Those interested should contact Amy Andrews at (321) 433-7383 or Cosanne Mistretta at (321) 433-7477. SATURDAY, OCT. 6 . Three-mile challenge unites fitness enthusiasts: The Fourth Annual 3-Mile Challenge, to be held on Saturday, Oct. 6, begins at 8 a.m. at Parrish Health & Fitness Center, 2210 Cheney Highway, Titusville. Day-of-race registration begins at 7 a.m. The race represents an ongoing, friendly challenge between Parrish Health & Fitness Center and the Titusville YMCA. In addition to awards for age groups, male and female and top finishers, the Challenge Award goes to the fitness center with the most registered runners. Membership is not required to represent a team. All proceeds are donated to the Y's Annual Community Support Campaign. The race route will take runners from Parrish Health & Fitness Center to the Titusville YMCA, 2400 Harrison St., Titusville. Registration forms are available at either facility, or at parrishhealthandfitness.com or ymcacentralflorida.com/y-locations/titusville. . Animal shelter volunteer orientation: The Central Brevard Humane Society presents its Shelter Volunteer Orientation 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at 1020 Cox Road, Cocoa. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and be dedicated about the welfare of animals. Pre-registration is required. All volunteer applications must be completed prior to the start of the Volunteer orientation program. For more information, call (321) 636-3343, Ext. 207, or email [email protected]. . 'Fossil Month' at Sams House at Pine Island: The Sams House at Pine Island will offer a variety of free activities throughout October as part of "Fossil Month." . Ice Age Hike: 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 6. Enjoy a two-mile guided hike along one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the county. . Owl Prowl: 8-9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 12. Join the search for resident barred owls and other creatures of the night along the 1/2-mile hammock loop trail. Reservations are required. Call Katrina at (321) 432-3231 or email [email protected]. . Fossil Fish: 10-11:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 13. Sturgeons have changed little over the past 200 million years. . Florida Fossils Display: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 13: Central Florida Fossils owner David Celli will set up a display of Florida fossils spanning the past 10 million years. . From Ice Age Megafauna to Ancient Peoples of Pine Island: 3-4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 20. Mastodons and giant ground sloths once called Pine Island home. See a presentation on these Ice Age megafauna and then take a short walk to the Indian Burial mound on site. . Appalachian Trails and Tales, 3-4:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 27. Rex and Colleen Derin will share their gear and many humorous stories from their adventures hiking the Appalachian Trail. The Sams House at Pine Island is owned and managed by the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. It is located at 6195 N. Tropical Trail, Merritt Island, a half-mile west of S.R. 3. The center is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours of the cabin and the adjacent 1888 home are offered every Thursday at 3 p.m. For more information, call (321) 449-4720. . Blessing of the Animals: The Church of Our Savior, 5301 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach, Saturday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m. Get a special picture taken with a $5 donation. There will be chances to win a gift basket. Bring the entire family for a special blessing. All pets must be on a leash or in appropriate carriers and have current vaccinations and tags for the safety of our animals and friends. All donations will benefit the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Florida Wildlife Hospital & Sanctuary. For more information, call (321) 698-1419. . Citizens Action Committee: A Political Candidates Forum will be presented Saturday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m. in the Community Room at the Cocoa Beach Public Library, 550 N. Brevard Ave., Cocoa Beach. This forum will hear from candidates for the Cocoa Beach City Commission. For more information, call (321) 868-1104 or visit www.cocoabeachpubliclibrary.org. . YMCA free tennis play day: the Titusville YMCA will host a free youth tennis play day 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 at the Titusville YMCA Tennis & Racquet Center, 3050 Satterfield Road, Titusville. This event is in conjunction with the thousands of United States Tennis Association free tennis play days being held across the country in celebration of Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play. The event will utilize the USTA 10 and Under Tennis format, which allows smaller children to play tennis on smaller court sizes, with racquet sizes that fit their hands, foam and low-compression balls, a simple scoring system, all adjusted to ease kids into the sport. Tennis equipment is provided but children are required to wear proper tennis shoes and athletic clothes. This event is open to the public with an emphasis placed on family participation, effort and sportsmanship. During the play day, parents and children can also sign-up for future afterschool tennis lessons or programming at the Titusville YMCA Tennis & Racquet Center, and learn about other USTA leagues and opportunities. For more information about this event and other youth tennis opportunities, contact Nick Cordes, YMCA tennis pro, at (321) 269-3763 or email [email protected]. . Historic Downtown Titusville events: . Jazz & Wine is Saturday, Oct. 6 from 6-9 p.m. at 422 Julia St., Titusville. Cost is $10 for general admission and $25 for admission with wine samples. . Thursday Night Live is a free music event from 5-8 p.m. Stroll the historic streets, shop and dine. Stores remain open late until 8 p.m. . Third Saturday will be every third Saturday from 5-8 p.m. Third Saturday will be on Mariner Way and will feature food trucks, farmers market in Julia Courtyard and Artisans Village - featuring artists, jewelry crafts. For more information on these and other events, visit www.mainstreettitusville.org, contact the Main Street Titusville office, 13 Main St., Titusville or call (321) 607-6848. . Annual celebration: You are invited to the 22nd Annual Celebration and Gala. The event will be hosted by the Beach Place Guest House, 1444 S. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m. with all proceeds benefiting those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. There will be food, entertainment, a silent and live auction, raffles and a cash bar. Attire is Florida casual. The cost is $50 per ticket and $90 per couple, which includes a complimentary cocktail. Contact Christine Hackford at (321)724-1177 for more information and tickets or visit www.projectresponse.org using PayPal SUNDAY, OCT. 7 . Animal Reserve Member Appreciation Day: The Central Florida Animal Reserve Member Appreciation Day will be noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, at the facility in Cocoa. Visit tigers, lions, cougars and leopards. RSVP at (321) 637-0110 or email [email protected]. . SPCA needs volunteers: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is looking for volunteers in its adoption centers and thrift stores, in addition to needing foster homes for cats and dogs with litters of kittens and puppies and other cats and dogs, too. Fill out the volunteer application online at www.spcanorthbrevard.com/volunteer to receive an invitation to one of the upcoming volunteer orientations via an email, containing instructions about how to reserve a seat. Reservations are required to attend Orientation. Upcoming volunteer orientations will be: . Thursday, Oct. 18, 5:30-7 p.m. . Saturday, Oct. 27, 1-2:30 p.m. . Thursday, Nov. 1, 5:30-7 p.m. For more information, contact Kris Dickey, volunteer coordinator, at [email protected] or call (321) 412-1151. . 'One Day Fun Day Camp' registration: Brevard County Central Area Parks and Recreation is now taking registration for the "One Day Fun Day Camp" on Friday, Oct. 12. One Day Fun Day Camps are held on days that Brevard County Public Schools do not have school. The camp is for boys and girls enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade and is offered at three different locations: Travis Park, 2001 Michigan Ave. Cocoa; Kiwanis Island Park, 951 Kiwanis Island Park Road, Merritt Island; and McLarty Park, 790 Barton Blvd., Rockledge. The One Day Fun Day Camp cost is $30, runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and includes a field trip to CinemaWorld to view the new release "Frankenweenie." Pre-registration is required. Space is limited. For more information or to register, call (321) 633-1874. . Activities and classes sponsored by Parrish Medical Center: October classes and activities sponsored by Parrish Medical Center and its family of services and programs include everything from childbirth classes to information for caregivers. See individual classes for location and contact information. . Beginning breastfeeding class: Free. Call (321) 268-6682 to register. . Moments to Miracles (childbirth education class): Parrish Medical Center Conference Center, 951 N. Washington Ave., Titusville Cost is $50 per couple, and pre-registration is required. Call (321) 268-6790 for dates and times. . Sibling class for big brothers and sisters: Parrish Medical Center Conference Center, 951 N. Washington Ave., Titusville. Call (321) 268-6790 for information. Pre-registration is required. Parrish Medical Center also has children's activities, diabetes education, fitness education and general interest classes. For more information, call (321) 268-6110 or visit www.parrishmed.com. MONDAY, OCT. 8 . MOPS and moms next meetings: Are you looking for new friends? Do you need support and validation of your mothering choices? Are you ready to relax and enjoy the wonderful company of other mothers in the community as your children are lovingly-cared-for? Come join Titusville Mothers Of Preschoolers, a mothering support group existing to meet the needs of mothers in the greater Titusville, Port St. John and Mims communities on Monday, Oct. 8 and 22, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Offered is great conversation, dynamic guest speakers and creative activities. Age-appropriate childcare is provided by a professional nursery staff. Enjoy MOPS' Mom's Night Outs, regular play dates and the opportunity to connect with other moms all year long through an email network. Contact Jenn Allen at (321) 632-4064 or email [email protected] for more information. . Food vendors sought for 'Movie Night In The Park' series: Brevard County Parks and Recreation, North Area, is accepting applications for food vendors for the "Movie Night in the Park" series. Vendors will be chosen for the entire movie series, which runs from October through April, and will be expected to attend all movie events. Movies will be shown on a giant 23-foot movie screen. Vendors may obtain applications at the North Area Parks Operations Office, 475 N. Williams Ave., Titusville. Applications are accepted 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Special consideration is given to not-for-profit service organizations. The county reserves the right to limit vendors to one or two vendors per product. There is no cost to submit an application. Contact Mike Herman at (321) 264-5105, or by email at [email protected] for additional information on this and other recreation programs sponsored by Brevard County Parks and Recreation in North Brevard. . Weekly activity calendar: The North Brevard Senior Center, 909 Lane Ave., Titusville, presents is weekly calendar. 10 a.m. - Senior Fitness 10 a.m. - Canasta 11:15 a.m. - Tap & Jazz 12:30 p.m. - Duplicate Bridge 1 p.m. - Mexican Train 6 p.m. - Country Couples 6:30 p.m. - Tap & Jazz 7 p.m. - Poker (first and third) 7 p.m. - Bunco (second) 11 a.m. - Pinochle/Cards 12:30 p.m. - Mahjongg 1 p.m. - Tai Chi 1 p.m. - Party Bridge 6 p.m. - Line Dance 9:30 a.m. - Senior Fitness 10 a.m. - Mahjongg 12:30 p.m. - Duplicate Bridge 1 p.m. - Line Dance 6:30 p.m. - Line dance 10 a.m. - BINGO 2 p.m. - Scrabble 9:15 a.m. - Gentle Yoga 10:30 a.m. - Writers Club 12:30 p.m. - Duplicate Bridge 7 p.m. - Party Bridge For more information, call (321) 268-2333. . Luncheon meeting in Cocoa: The Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, Apollo Chapter 1137, will hold a luncheon meeting at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 8, at Kay's Real Pit Barbeque, 1552 King St., Cocoa. Speaking will be Don Stewart, the NARFE Region III vice president. For more information, visit www.narfe.org/chapter1137. . Cribbage on Merritt Island: The Space Coast Peggers is a local group of cribbage players is in search of new members. A nine-game tournament is played every Monday night, starting at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, at the All One Family Senior Day Program, 585 N. Courtenay Parkway, Suite 101-102, Merritt Island. Guests can play two times before they decide whether or not they want to join the club. If you play "kitchen cribbage," you will enjoy playing with the Space Coast Peggers. Call (321) 459-9379 or (321) 632-2088 for more information. . Space Coast table tennis: Table tennis is alive and prospering on the Florida Space Coast. There are two clubs offering great facilities and competition for all levels of play. Space Coast Table Tennis, run By Danny Nail, Bill Durbin and Bill Mitcheson, is open to play on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Space Coast Table Tennis is at the Veteran's Memorial Center, 400 Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island. The second club is the Joe Henneke Melbourne Table Tennis Club at the Recreation Center, 321 Ramp Road, Cocoa Beach. This club is run by Mark Mannarino and is open to play on Sunday mornings, starting at 10 a.m. For more information about table tennis, call (321) 243-1048. TUESDAY, OCT. 9 . Sunflower House hosts caregiver group: The Sunflower House hosts a Caregiver Life Transitions support group each Tuesday from 1:30-3 p.m. for former family caregivers who are transitioning to a life beyond the caregiving years. Participants share their grief, memories and difficulties, as well as their strengths, joys, gratitude and discoveries. The group provides a safe environment where members can form new bonds, reduce loneliness and find conditions favorable for healing. For more information about this group, call (321) 452-4341. The Sunflower House is located in the Merritt Square Mall in Merritt Island. . Rehearsals for Space Coast Chorus venues: The Space Coast Chorus, an a cappella men's chorus, invites men who like to sing to join them as they prepare to present a program of traditional Christmas music at several venues throughout Brevard County, including Surfside Playhouse, churches, shopping malls, etc. The program will include such Christmas favorites as "Silent Night," "O Holy Night," "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" and others. Rehearsals will be from 7-8:15 p.m. every Tuesday, starting in October, in the Choral Room of the B. W. Simpkins Building (No. 4) on the Cocoa Campus of Brevard Community College. For more information, call Arlan Ropp at (321) 636-0900. . Recognize a Brevard veterinarian: Nominate an outstanding local veterinarian for the 2012 James Herriot Award in a letter describing his/her humane deeds and contributions to clients and to the community. In 2005, Robert Allen, president of the Palm Bay-based Daphne Foundation, instituted the James Herriot Award, named for the best-selling author and veterinarian who was known for his compassion for all animals and there owners, as a way of honoring Brevard's most caring and humane vets who also work to serve their community and animals in need. Mail the detailed letter to: Daphne Foundation, 1199 Houston St., Melbourne, FL, 32935. Nominations are also being accepted by email at [email protected]. Deadline for nominations is Monday, Oct. 22. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 10 . Cheerleading and gymnastics: 'Cheersnastics' classes start Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Port St. John Community Center, 6650 Corto Road, Port St. John. These cheerleading and gymnastics classes will be held from 5-6 p.m. Wednesdays for participants ages 5-12. The cost is $20 per month. This class is sponsored by Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department's North Area Parks Operations. For more information, call (321) 633-1904. THURSDAY, OCT. 11 . Titusville grandparents raising grandchildren: This support group will meet 10-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, at 805 Century Medical Drive, Building B, Titusville. For more information, call (321) 848-8006. . Halloween Horror Nights jaunt to Universal Studios: Club 13 will be going to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios in Orlando from 2:30-11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11. The cost of the trip is $55, which includes dinner, transportation and theme park ticket. Participants can be picked up by parks and recreation staff from schools in Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island and Rockledge, or parents/guardians can drop off teens at the Lower Level, at 840 Forrest Ave., Cocoa. Club 13 is for teens in middle and high school; however, participants for this trip must be at least 13 years old. Brevard County Public Schools does not have school on Friday, Oct. 12. Pre-registration is required, as space is limited. For more information or to register, call (321) 633-1874. . 'Grandfamilies' holiday tree registration: Grand Parenting Again, a program of Aging Matters in Brevard, will host an "Angel Tree" at the Sunflower House for its clients this holiday season. The program offers support to grandparents and other relative caregivers, 55 and older, who are faced with the challenge of raising grandchildren or minor relatives age 18 and younger. "Grandfamilies" interested in participating should contact Janet or Barbara at (321) 452-4341 or attend a "GRAND Parenting Again" meeting. The meetings are held at the Sunflower House on Thursday, Oct. 11 and Thursday, Nov. 15 from 11 a.m. to noon. Meetings are also held at the Cocoa West Community Center, 230 S. Burnett Road, Cocoa, Thursday, Sept. 27, Thursday, Oct. 25, and Thursday, Nov. 29 from 5-7 p.m. Gifts received through the "Angel Tree" will be distributed to grandchildren and grandparents at a holiday party on Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. at the Sunflower House. Businesses, community organizations and individuals interested in donating gifts for the "Angel Tree" should call (321) 452-4341 or stop by the Sunflower House to choose an angel tag, beginning Nov. 12. The Sunflower House, a program of Aging Matters in Brevard, is located at the Merritt Square Mall and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. . Commission on Parks and Recreation to meet: The North Brevard Commission on Parks and Recreation will hold its next monthly meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in the Brevard Room at 518 S. Palm Ave., Titusville. One or more members of the Titusville City Council and the following committees may be present: Causeway Improvements Referendum Committee, Equestrian Trails & Facilities Referendum Committee, and the Mims-Scottsmoor Community Center Referendum Committee. The public is invited. The Brevard Room is located in a building on the north side of the parking lot behind the Brevard County Government Center-North. For more information, call Terry Lane at (321) 264-5105. . Fall tree and plant sale at Searstown Mall: The Titusville men's garden club will present its 2012 fall tree and plant sale Friday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 13, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Searstown Mall is on Country Club Drive and U.S. Highway 1 in Titusville. The specials will be: abelia, bald cypress, bottlebrush, boxwood, camellias, canna, crepe myrtle, crinum lilies, flax, gardenia, holly, jasmine, juniper, liriope, pineapple guava, roses, native grasses, oak, podocarpus, pittisporum, tea olive and white society garlic. Tomatoes will be available. Plant prices are 50 cents to $50. Master gardeners and helpers will offer advice and assistance purchases. Applications for potential members will be available. A free tree seedling will be given to children to support the "Titusville Tree City" designation. Please bring empty pots/containers/trays for recycling. For more information, contact Joanie at (321) 480-8807 or email [email protected]. . Owl Prowl: Search for resident barred owls and other creatures of the night along a 1/2 mile hammock loop trail at Sams House at Pine Island 8-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12. Reservations are required. Sams House is at 6195 N. Tropical Trail, Merritt Island. For more information, call (321) 449-4720 or visit www.eelbrevard.com. . 'Walk to Remember' at Rhodes Park: Join in for the Second Annual Walk to Remember, 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 13, in support of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend; if you haven't lost a baby or child but would love to support the cause, please join in! The event currently provides support to Holmes Regional, Wuesthoff of Melbourne, Wuesthoff of Rockledge, and will soon be supporting Indian River Hospital, Cape Canaveral, and Parrish Medical Center. This year's location is at Rhodes Park Community Center Pavilion in West Melbourne, which is off of Flanagan Avenue. There will be face painting, a bounce house, food and beverages, music, raffles, crafts and a butterfly release. There will also be a "Wall of Angels" this year to display your posters of your babies! Please join in and share this event with others. For more information, visit www.cherishingthejourney.org/#!__events--walk11, where you can register for the walk, submit your baby's name for the T-shirts and program, order additional T-shirts and butterflies. The funds raised through this event will help support additional families and hospitals for the rest of this year and the first six months of 2013. Those wishing to donate for the raffle, call Jennifer at (321) 750-8354 or email [email protected]. . Attic Treasures and Bake Sale: The Dorcas Circle will hold its fall "Attic Treasures and Bake Sale" Saturday, Oct. 13. The sale will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m. at Suntree United Methodist Church , 7400 N. Wickham Road, Suntree. Treasures offered for sale include, but are not limited to, small appliances, cookware, glassware, antiques/collectibles, seasonal items, jewelry, bedding, linens, books, toys, sporting goods, pictures, mirrors, silk flowers, CDs, DVDs, miscellaneous items and baked goods from Dorcas' finest bakers. No clothes, old TVs or electronics, old telephones or computers please. Proceeds from the sale will go to local charities, such as the following: . Daily Bread: a soup kitchen in Melbourne that feeds more than 200 people daily. . Devereux: provides behavioral, developmental disability and residential care for children in the area . Salvation Army Women's Shelter: provides assistance for victims of domestic abuse. . Space Coast Center for Mothers with Children: provides shelter and job training for mothers. . Make a Wish Foundation: helps critically ill children realize a dream. Dorcas Circle would appreciate any contributions of items, such as those listed above, for the sale. Items can be brought to the church dining room Friday, Oct. 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you need pick-up, call the person identified below. For more information about the upcoming sale, call Merle Gelles at (321) 504-9917. . America's Boating Course: The Cocoa Beach Sail and Power Squadron will offer America's Boating Course, a United States Coast Guard and Florida state-approved, exciting and in-depth boating safety overview for all prospective and current boaters. This course will give you the mandatory Florida license for those born after Jan. 1, 1988, with a boat engine of more than 10 horsepower. The classes will be held on Saturday, Oct. 13 and 20, at the Cape Canaveral Hospital, 701 W. Cocoa Beach Causeway, (Route 520), Cocoa Beach, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Many boat insurance companies will offer discounts to boaters who successfully complete America's Boating Course. The topics covered include: Introduction to Boating, Safety Equipment, Rules and Regulations, Piloting, Anchoring, Communications, Trailering, Personal Water Craft and Knots. The cost for the class is $30. This includes the instruction manual and CD and an invitation to one of the general membership meetings; and upon successful completion, a six-month optional membership in the U.S. Power Squadron. Students sharing the manual pay $40. For more information, call (321) 452-3682, or email [email protected] to register. Learn more about the Cocoa Beach Sail & Power Squadron at www.CBSPS.com. . Call for nominations for LEAD Brevard's 4 under 40 recognition: Nominations are now open for LEAD Brevard's ninth annual 2013 "4 under 40." Who are the young leaders in your sphere of influence that are making a difference today? Nominate them for this prestigious recognition. The individual you nominate should possess the following criteria for this award nomination: . Demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession. . Provides valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community. . Clearly serves as a role model for others personally and professionally. . Are younger than the age of 40 on Jan. 1, 2013, and lives or works in Brevard County. . Showcases a commitment to his/her personal/professional development. Nominate a young leader today at www.LEADBrevard.org. Nomination forms must be submitted to LEAD Brevard by Oct. 15. For more information, visit www.LEADBrevard.org or call (321) 632-8222. . The Haunted Forest in Cocoa: The Brevard Museum presents The Haunted Forest Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27, 6:45-9:30 p.m. for all ages. The Haunted Forest is a spooky event with fun for all ages. This year, the haunted forest includes live characters, pumpkin decorating, face painting, yummy treats, fun and games for children and a haunted path for adults! Cost is $7 for ages 12 and older, $4 for ages 3 to 11, with ages 2 and younger admitted free. The location of The Haunted Forest is next to Brevard Community College Planetarium & Observatory, 1519 Clearlake Road, Cocoa. For ticket information, call (321) 632-1830 or visit www.brevardmuseum.org

by Elaine Hegwood Bowen Film Monthly Home Short Takes (Archived) Small Screen Monthly Behind the Scenes New on DVD Books on Film What's Hot at the Movies This Week Hannah Free echoes one of the latest initiatives by President Barack Obama that allows same-sex couples to make end of life health care decisions for one another. Obama ordered hospitals around the country to honor patients’ wishes about who may visit their sickbeds or risk losing Medicaid and Medicare money. In Hannah Free, Sharon Gless plays a lesbian who has been involved in a lifelong love affair with her childhood friend Rachel, played by Maureen Gallagher. At the end of their lives, Rachel’s family tries to keep Hannah from seeing Rachel as she slumbers on life support in the same nursing home as Hannah. Hannah’s free spirit in their relationship paled next to Rachel’s boring existence. While Hannah traveled all over the world, Rachel was content to remain in Ohio all her life; even marrying at one point and having twins. It seems that Rachel sometimes resented the free life that Hannah was experiencing, but she was too timid to venture out on her own. The movie sweetly details the relationship between the two, even as young girls, with Hannah approaching Rachel in an intimate manner as they played, while Rachel initially resists because she goes to church and is a Christian. Of course, traditional gender expectations eventually challenge their deep love for one another; Hannah becomes outward and unapologetic, while Rachel attempts to raise her children, after her husband passes. Weaving between past and present, Hannah Free reveals how these two passionate women maintain their love affair, despite a marriage, a world war, infidelity and family denial.The movie shows Hannah as a strong woman who doesn’t take much from anyone and who is as persistent in her quest to see Rachel as she’s dying as she was to have a normal relationship with the woman who is her best friend in the world. In the end, Rachel’s great granddaughter helps sneak Hannah into her room late at night to watch her. It’s painful to see Hannah take all the “death” in, as she and Rachel had been so alive in the flashbacks that retell their story. Hannah Free has screened at more than 60 film festivals in North America, including San Francisco’s Frameline Fest and Los Angeles’s OUTFEST, and has won multiple prestigious awards, including Best Feature Film at Philadelphia’s Q-Fest. Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times calls this “A terrific role for Sharon Gless, who runs with it gloriously.” Hannah Free will be available on DVD June 1 and comes loaded with features, including interviews with Gless, writer Claudia Allen, director Wendy Jo Carlton and the cast and crew; bloopers; Behind the Scenes featurette, a WTTW-Television Chicago Tonight segment and more. For more information, visit Web site www.wolfevideo.or or call 1-800-GET-WOLFE. Elaine Hegwood Bowen is an editor, writer and film critic in Chicago. Got a problem? E-mail us at [email protected]

Are there any particular incidents which are responsible for the low reputation Microsoft (and Bill Gates) has in the eyes of the open source community? Microsoft is clearly not the only proprietary company. Companies like Apple have done a lot worse when it comes to restrictions on software. Why does Microsoft get most of the hatred from the open source community? closed as not constructive by Robert Harvey, Rein Henrichs, Jarrod Roberson, GlenH7, MichaelT Apr 24 at 4:06 As it currently stands, this question is not a good fit for our Q&A format. We expect answers to be supported by facts, references, or specific expertise, but this question will likely solicit debate, arguments, polling, or extended discussion. If you feel that this question can be improved and possibly reopened, see the FAQ for guidance. I guess if there's any one "incident" then it was the so-called "Halloween Documents", which were a series of memoranda that were leaked by a Microsoft employee to Eric S. Raymond in the late 90's, detailing Microsoft's desire to "disrupt the progress of open source software." It is worth mentioning a fact that highlights the aforementioned statement: that Microsoft often engages in negative (non-technical) campaign against its competitors. One of the greatest foul plays in Microsoft's history is paying someone to write a book claiming that Linux source code was stolen from Minix, in an attempt to make companies afraid to use Linux, so that it can sell its own products, in the basis that it was not legal to use stolen source code. Fortunatelly, Andrew Tanenbaum wrote an article to refute the accusation. While not so intensively, Microsoft still engages itself in practices like that, as one can see from the recent claim (in 2007) that Linux infringes Microsoft patents (1 and 2) or the more recent (2012) "Droid rage feud" on Twitter. A link for the specific tweet can be found here. While Microsoft's attitude has somewhat mellowed (compared to the past), many in the open source community still see Microsoft as a rather aggressive (and foul) competitor, particularly with respect to the negative campaigns and to the way they license their patented technologies (the "Open Specification Promise"). Now, whether that reputation is (still) justified is another question. Personally, I don't think Microsoft is as "evil" as some people would like you to think - certainly not compared to some other companies out there. |show 21 more comments| As Dean pointed out, for historical reasons. However, I think Microsoft has been progressively heading the right way, take for example this: Keep in mind that Microsoft, above all, is a business, and they will always look for profit in some form of another, however, I think they now know the value of community. Regarding being evil in open-source, I think Oracle is the new Microsoft, v.gr.: I think what saves Microsoft is that their actual constant interest is to cover all of the market and this can lead to intelligent strategies, and Oracle's demise in open-source is plain interest in profit. Perhaps I'm being a little visceral against Oracle, so if anyone can prove me wrong, go ahead. I am an active open source developer with commit access to several projects. I don't hate Microsoft. There are some things that I dislike about our industry as a whole, of which Microsoft is a part: None of these gripes are at all exclusive to Microsoft. Yes, I read the Halloween documents when they leaked, but I wasn't really put off by them. I said then, just as I say now that a truly functional distributed development model is nearly impossible to disrupt. That has proven to be the case in most instances. Technically, I am not fond of some of Microsoft's products. I suffered through EDLIN, laughed at BOB and avoided Vista at all costs. However, Windows 2000 is still (in my book) one of the hardest OS's to kill. I'm also becoming rather fond of Windows 7. I wouldn't purchase my own copy, but I'll happily use the copy that my company provided. As others have said, I'm far more concerned regarding Oracle being Oracle than I am about Microsoft being Microsoft. At the time of this writing, Microsoft is at least predictable and they are trying to repair past damages to the free software community. Like others, I take those repairs with a grain of salt, but they do seem to show the capacity for metacognition, albeit on levels that many would consider trivial. Note again, publicly traded companies have an obligation to their share holders. My decisions on what technology I use are based solely on technical merit. I'm not the only one who thinks that way. It just happens that, if I have the source code to something and can modify it to suit my needs, the merit increases exponentially. If I change it and can't share it, it is useless to me. I'm also not completely immune to the idealism of free software, I really hope that one day, open collaboration prevails and we really start advancing ourselves free from litigation and secrets. I live in the real world, and I don't see that happening in the immediate future. One can hope, and I do, and I work for change. Until then, I do have bills to pay :) I don't get paid for speeches. Microsoft had something of an anti-competitive reputation before open source was ever an issue. One example is one of the Office apps (Word, I think) which was claimed to include during startup an allocation of an unrealistically huge amount of memory which was then immediately freed without ever being used for anything. When asked to allocate a large block of memory, MS-DOS would always succeed initially irrespective of whether all that memory was actually available. Digital Researches DR-DOS would fail immediately if too much memory was requested. The effect was that the Office app worked just fine on MS-DOS, but crashed immediately on DR-DOS. The claim was that this was intentionally done to give the impression that DR-DOS was buggy, and to make using DR-DOS impractical for customers already dependent on Office. The policy of allowing a memory allocation even though the memory isn't immediately available isn't so wierd as it sounds. Linux does the same thing even now. That policy often allows things to run without problem that would otherwise have a problem, though very occasionally the policy backfires and the Linux kernel has to start killing off processes to free memory as a result. The reason I point this out is because, for all I know, there may have been some weird but genuine reason for the large allocation at the start. It sounds implausible, but so does the policy of allowing allocations when the memory isn't immediately available. For that matter, the whole thing might even be a myth. Certainly some well known ex-Microsoft employees have published blog posts describing the extreme measures that Microsoft used to (and maybe still does) go to to ensure that old applications, including third party apps, continue to run on later DOS and Windows versions - though that is a slightly different thing, of course. |show 2 more comments| Well some time ago (like 5-6 years AFAIR) they tried to make linux illegal by throwing money at SCO company lawsuit. They were sending legal threats and trying to sue linux users, pretending to own it. It took like 2 years, before they finally acknowledge they were unable to point any "stolen" code, so they switch to a nice thing called software patents and then they said their "intellectual property" was stolen. As you may know Intellectual Property is some bullshit, not a real thing, so it's easy to say someone stole it from you... when you don't even know what it is. "I use red backgrounds for my desktop - you stole my intellectual property". SCO's reputation get so bad that they went bankrupt and i guess this one, beside many others is enough to hate microsoft for financially backing up this bullshit to undercut linux reputation. We can add some mentally retarded Ballmer's quotes to the equation: -- "Open Source is a cancer" But, in the end MS is 100x more friendlier than eg. Apple. Apple made it illegal for their programmers to use tools that they want (eg. cross compilers or flash)... treat to destroy any free video codec (because they own all Intellectual Property, bla bla bla)... so at least MS is sane in this matter (not treating their programmers and users like slaves). We should really hate Apple, microsoft get much nicer over time. Now Apple is trying to delegalize owning a brain. To end with optimism. It's good that we, in European Union don't have any sortware patent or intellectual property bullshit going on. So apple can for now go f** themselves... and harass United States people only. Even the Terms Of Service (TOS) agreement for private end-users was ruled illegal by the German court (and several other countries ruling followed), so in EU it means just NOTHING. How good is that? :) |show 17 more comments| As Paulo Scardine has pointed out, Gates started off hostile to the hobby computing community, and it isn't clear that he ever changed that. Microsoft has used aggressive and frequently illegal business tactics to get to its position, and sells primarily to businesses rather than individuals. Microsoft is currently a monopoly in the OS and office software field, and it's difficult to get a computer without some money going to Microsoft. This is exactly the sort of thing that got a lot of people hating IBM back when they were in a similar position. The 1998 Halloween documents showed Microsoft as actively hostile to the Free Software/Open Source community. Microsoft is generally believed (I haven't checked it out myself) to be the financial driver behind the SCO lawsuit that attempted to destroy Linux. The lawsuit was ill-advised (SCO didn't even own the copyrights they claimed they were trying to enforce) and destroyed the company, but that didn't seem to stop anybody. Microsoft was behind the OOXML standardization scandal, which destroyed a lot of confidence in the ISO and interfered with their ability to get things done. (This involved Microsoft fast-tracking a bad standard by having MS partners step into the standardization process to push specifically for OOXML standardization, ignoring objections, and leaving standards bodies without a quorum when the MS partners left.) Microsoft has alleged, many times, that Linux violated MS patents, without ever saying which patents or in fact supplying evidence. This was viewed by lots of people as an effort to cast FUD over Linux, making MS look like the safe legal choice through innuendo. The SCO lawsuit, OOXML standardization, and patent rumbles are all in the past several years. Therefore, Microsoft's got a strong history of being the enemy, including fairly recent actions. The Free Software/Open Source community has a collective memory, so it will take a long time and a lot of work for Microsoft to lose its bad reputation. |show 1 more comment| What really got the ball rolling was the Netscape vs. Microsoft stuff, which included accusations that Microsoft deliberately broke Win98 in a way that caused Netscape to crash. This accusation turned out to be false -- it was the result of Apple QuickTime not following Netscape's plugin development guidelines. The judge rejected that evidence (most likely because she didn't understand it), and it quickly became popular for governments and organizations to sue Microsoft over silly crap, with the EU following suit insisting that Microsoft killed Real Media with Windows Media Player. Of course, then Netscape went open source and was forked under the name Mozilla and then Firefox, so the hate swelled within the open source community from there too. All of Mozilla's campaigning didn't help either. The worst part of all this scapegoating and witch hunting is that it's letting people be incredibly irresponsible, like when people decided to blame half a million SQL injection attacks on SQL Server, rather than admitting that that particular class of bugs is entirely the fault of the database user. I'm quite critical of Microsoft myself, but I'm even more critical of the people who think that they can get away with anything if they just blame Microsoft. Also, Microsoft's particularly hated in the open source community because some people -- including Ballmer -- have instilled a false dichotomy between Microsoft and free/Free software. |show 2 more comments| Kids, sit down, uncle Paulo has a nice history for you. Bill Gates was one of the first business man to advocate selling software by itself. Before him, software was mostly something bundled with hardware. He started the damn software as a product industry. The infamous 'AN OPEN LETTER TO HOBBYISTS - By William Henry Gates III' dates back to 1976!!! A young (just 20) Bill Gates wrote this letter to the legendary Homebrew Computer Club complaining that Altair BASIC was being rampantly copied. And, towards the end: So the thing remounts away back before Microsoft became known for playing hardball business. Before the software industry, software was free, something bundled with hardware to make it useful. It came with sources and hardware maker was happy when you fixed or improved programs. It's why old farts like RMS (and myself) despise this guy - BTW it's why we have the whole free software moviment. |show 6 more comments| The main cause of dislike for me toward Microsoft is (was) the disdain shown towards open standards. I think the prime example that comes to mind regarding this issue is Internet Explorer 6. IE6 is so buggy it rapidly becomes a true nightmare to develop websites catering to it. Not having clear, common standards that every party (in this case, browser companies) agree upon only slows down end users work (webdevs), and, in a broader sense, progress as a whole. Microsoft is making amends and trying to do "good" with IE9, we just have to wait for IE 6, 7 and 8 to slowly die. For a long long time it was also close to impossible to read a .doc file in anything but Word, preventing users from switching text editors if they wanted to do so. Bad communication regarding Outlook 2010 also started an uproar on twitter, see here : http://fixoutlook.org/ I think Microsoft has covered a lot of ground towards being more "open" and more standards-friendly, which is a good thing. I predict the "new ennemy" will soon be Apple :) I don't think of Microsoft as evil, now they're more clumsy and under a lot of pressure, trying to do as best they can to please both devs and users, which isn't always easy. |show 9 more comments| When talking about Microsoft to people who don't know too much about IT, I notice that they wrongly think that: After all, most people don't bother to know what are the restrictions of Microsoft vs. Apple or other companies software: for them, they are all proprietary, so restrictive in the sense that you cannot download or share the software product legally. Most people also doesn't know that Microsoft is strongly involved in Open Source products and, even more, in free products, which have a less restrictive license than most Open Source ones (for those people, it's a good idea to invite them to visit CodePlex). Finally, I think that criticism against Microsoft is stronger than against other companies just because of the dominant position of Microsoft. Probably people using Apple products will have the same arguments against Apple when talking about Open Source. |show 3 more comments| I think one part for this is the fact that Microsoft has a virtual-monopoly on the Operating System market, and is partially aggressively defending it (Get The Facts, anyone?). Which is absolutely valid, it's a company which needs to make money, the problem with monopolies and virtual-monopolies is that it is good for the company, but not for the market and especially not good for the customers. We don't have a really free OS-Market at the moment. Sure, the situation has improved a lot over the last years, but there are still many issues out there. F.e. the fact that Windows/Office comes bundled with most PC systems, without the option to get a OS free system (or a completely different OS pre-installed or at least installation medium). Or that most schools are teaching kids that Windows is pseudonymous with PC and Microsoft Office is everything you'll ever need (which is the bigger issue in my eyes). The next problem is that Microsoft can't really be open and compatible to the rest of the world, because it would destroy their business model. Windows is a closed platform, the moment everything is compatible and open, that's the moment you don't need Windows. F.e. the Office Open XML Standard, which has so many flaws in it and in the standardization process that many call it a violation of the ISO. In the end, Microsoft is a capitalistic company with a virtual-monopoly, that's absolutely valid...but that doesn't mean that it's good for us. And many people think that way, especially if they've seen other possibilities. |show 7 more comments| It has historical reasons. Microsoft was earlier very active against (and sometimes in an unfair way) against concurrents. That also includes Open Source. Halloween-documents are an example. Microsoft also had an agressive campaigning against OSS. That included also some patent-claims, that lead to the contract between Novell (Suse) and Microsoft. That contract made Microsoft in the end to one of the biggest Linux-distributors. Recently Microsoft has changed it's strategy. The firm no longer agitates against OSS. It even produces some Open-Source-software. Apples and Oracles doings in the recent past, make them currently much more 'evil' than Microsoft. But some people are conservative, that also includes their choosen enemies. I would add, that Microsoft had been building it's bad reputation not only with the OSS-folk. OS/2-lovers, Netscape-users or Java-programmers all have also reason to hate Microsoft. This isn't the main reason, but it doesn't help: Microsoft has been accused of astroturfing. I've never seen it proven, but I used to lurk on Linux forums, and every so often I would see posts claiming Linux crashes regularly and is hard to maintain. The posts would come from people claiming to be seasoned computing professionals, but there would always be something very basic that they didn't know, or they would say something indicating that their knowledge of Linux was years behind the times. I reserve judgement as to whether Microsoft was or was not behind the posts, but as I say above, I'm sure the accusation didn't help matters. |show 3 more comments| The primary reason is because big business is notorious for patenting everything they can and locking others out of the industry. If I invented something, I'd want to profit from it too, but big business takes it a different level, attempting to patent generic ideas and trademark generic words. This is called economic rent seeking. It's a very corrupt practice which congress has not had luck in stopping. It is counter-innovative. Open source people tend to have innovation in their mind more so than money. Keep in mind, SO is closed source, and profit based. The difference is that they create things of value and ask for little in return (ad revenue). There are even clones of SO out there (for Django, PHP, etc), but SO doesn't sue their creators. Microsoft and Apple sue the competition out of business and charge a killing for their products, while providing little more than an expensive marketing message in return. I was an almost exclusive user of and developer for Microsoft platforms until Microsoft joined the Trusted Computing Group and basically started to show that I, the person who bought their products, wasn't who they were concerned about pleasing; that instead they'd please media companies, et al, at my expense. I switched away from my MSDN Enterprise subscription (paid a pretty penny for that!), stopped using Microsoft products one at a time, beginning with Windows, as I found F/OSS alternatives until nowadays my computer is 99.44% uncontaminated with anything Microsoft. I can't speak for open source developers (because I barely qualify as one), but I can say that for my own choice I made it because I got tired of Microsoft taking my money with one hand and taking away my ability to use the computer I paid for with the other. I'm not a committed F/OSSer. I don't buy into the rabid versions of F/OSS philosophy (or, rather, attitude) so I'll use commercial software provided the following criteria are met: |show 5 more comments| I can't speak specifically to open source, but I do know that at least for a while Microsoft made cross-platform programming more difficult than necessary. I spent a good chunk of the '90s writing code that had to run on multiple platforms (various flavors of Unix, Linux, Windows, and occasionally MacOS), and it always seemed like Windows was the long pole in the tent. Microsoft made it relatively easy to develop for Windows, but if you wanted your code to build on any other platform you had to jump through a number of hoops. By comparison, classic MacOS didn't throw anywhere near the number of hurdles in your way that Windows did, although working with MPW would occasionally make you question your career choice. |show 1 more comment| It isn't that people or for the question's sake, geeks, hate Microsoft. When people turn towards open source, initially there is always the open source sentiment in mind. In those sentiments, they just get carried away with all the evil-doings of Microsoft in their past and end-up hating it. But, with time and work, they again realise that it wasn't exactly their not-involved nature, it was more about their inclination in their initial phase. I too started to hate MS in the beginning of my inclination towards open-source but with time, it just faded away. |show 1 more comment| One more reason: Microsoft has a history of picking existing and successful open source projects, creating a closed-source clone of it, and integrating it into Visual Studio. Mostly the Microsoft-made alternatives were seen as inferior by the community - at least by the community of the tool they cloned, and sometimes even by the whole .NET community. But after that, they still created tools that did the same as already existing OSS projects, for example: ...which probably causes a lot of people involved with open source to still hate Microsoft. Everyone needs an enemy in order to motivate the troops. We have always been at war with Eurasia. Certainly, Microsoft hasn't been a saint. However, only half of what is ascribed to them is really valid criticism, most of it is simply hyperbole, conspiracy, and sensationalism. I've seen mention of OOXML in this thread, and frankly that is the worst possible example because the anti-OOXML campaign was orchestrated by Sun and IBM for their own commercial interests. People like Rob Weir played the Open Source Advocates like a banjo, wrapping their commercial interests in the flag of "openness". Almost everything they accused OOXML of was equally applicable (or more so) to the community trumpted ODF spec, and the ODF spec was seriously deficient in many areas. All the complaints about "ballot stuffing" could be equal leveled at IBM (who actually wrote several of the responses by supposedly government groups). Whether or not you think OOXML was a good spec is irrelevant. Far worse specs go through standards bodies all the time, without nary a peep.. but because this was microsoft, it was somehow the end of the world as we know it. I mean, seriously.. who cares if OOXML is made an ISO standard? Really? There is no law that because it's a standard, you have to support it. There are tons of standards that nobody supports, even in the open source community. The whole mess was stupid, and the blame does not rest on MS's shoulders for submitting a sub-par standard, it lies on the Open Source advocates shoulders for making a gigantic mess over something that really had no bearing on those that wouldn't implement it anyways. As evidence, now that OOXML has passed... who cares? Almost nobody. You seldom hear anyone say anything about it, not even Rob Weir. It's simply a non-issue. |show 1 more comment|

Rolle Model: Myron Rolle Hosts Leadership Camp Myron Rolle has a list of impressive accomplishments; a legend at Florida State, a Rhodes Scholar, and a sixth round draft pick for the Tennessee Titans to name a few. And it appears that Rolle takes his role model duties just as seriously. And one young man in particular has taken note. 13-year old Billy Carrigan met Rolle at his leadership camp out in Starke this past weekend, where he explains the impact Rolle has had in his life and the inspiration he gives to everyone around him. - Myron Rolle Co-Hosts Camp At Camp Blanding - Brewer & Noah to Host Camp in Gainesville - Brewer Hosts Back 2 Back Youth Basketball Camp - Corey Brewer Back In Town Hosting Basketball Camp - Muschamp Hosts Women's Football Camp - Dunlap Hosts First Annual Football Camp For Kids - Leadership Camp Gives Foster Kids Hope - East Gainesville Initiative Will Host One- week Camp for East Gainesville Residents - Gator Football Looking for Leadership - Donovan Looks To Underclassmen For Leadership

"Is it going to hurt?" the very pregnant young woman at the center of "Motherhood the Musical" asks the trio of older, wiser friends who've popped round for a baby shower and, like you do, to sing a few original musical numbers in the mother-to-be's living room. "The delivery?" comes the dry response, "or the next 18 years?" That genuinely funny line scored a knowing, collective laugh from an audience that only had to read the marquee to know what this show was going to about and for whom it was intended. Produced by the same, savvy folks who helped bring us "Menopause the Musical," "Motherhood the Musical," now at the Royal George Theatre, is one of those shows that aims to profit by giving people in a certain demographic the feeling of a safe place and a shared communal experience. It wants to be the premiere destination for spring baby showers. Such accessible entertainment, to my mind, has value in the wider theatrical ecosystem. Not everyone wants to see "The Iceman Cometh." Some people would rather listen to songs about Costco, or, perchance, enjoy a stage property made entirely of Kirkland bathroom tissue. And the things to like about "Motherhood the Musical" include a willingness to discuss such atypical theatrical matters as, oh, pantyliners and bladder control. "I leak, leak, leak like a Senator in Congress," goes one of my favorite lyrics, closely matched by "I can't do the hustle, because I can't control my muscle." Try finding stuff like that in "Pacific Overtures." Much as we pretend otherwise and declare ourselves unique individuals, our experiences at these big, messy moments in life — and the arrival of a child is one big messy moment — closely mirror those of our fellow humans. And thus many of the lines and lyrics in this show hit home. There's a sequence involving the selection of baby names that anyone who has gone through such a chore, er, delight, will recognize: someone comes up with a name, and you find yourself unable to separate the moniker from the person who has born it. So although the show sometimes has to twist like a pretzel to explain the constant absence of men, even when a kid is on the way, the conceit should be workable for an escapist night out. You just stick a few different kinds of mothers in a room and have them crack jokes and sing to a new mom for 90 minutes about what it's all going to be like for an audience that mostly knows full well what it's like. But a lovable night at the theater requires far more deviation from a formula than this particular show, written by Sue Fabisch, manages to deliver. The central problem is that nothing is at stake. Granted, there's a kid coming, but the show still feels like it resulted from a group of songwriters sitting around and coming up with individual ideas for songs themed around the different issues that potential mothers approach with ambivalence: epidurals, sex after kids, minivans, the inevitable failings of men. Some of the songs are genuinely fun, but the thin connective tissue seems in service of the numbers, when it needs to be the other way around. And when nothing builds to anything in the broader sense, you find yourself counting how many songs are left. The show, which is directed by Lisa Shriver and performed by Melody Betts (the divorced mom), Jen Chada (the stay-at-home mom), Kimberly Vanbiesbrouck (the stressed-out career mom) and Madeline Duffy-Feins (the mom to be), veers between truthful, appealing sequences and overwrought cliches. The honest Chada sings a sweet ballad about the sheer satisfaction of taking care of a kid and Betts, a formidable actress, takes a predictable number about watching your kids leave with your ex and turns it into something that feels intensely personal. When"Motherhood"hovers there, the show works quite well. But many other moments are cliched and overblown — most egregiously a trite and reductive song called "Grannyland" that not only breaks the show's own rules but is singularly unfunny and poorly performed. Live musicians would certainly have helped (the show is sung to tape, which feels cheap). So would more sophistication, nuance and, well, truth. For proof that we're still arguing over what motherhood should mean, you need only note the flap that ignited this week when a clumsy Democratic strategist suggested that Ann Romney, a stay-at-home mom, had "never done a day's work in her life." Had Hilary Rosen shown up at "Motherhood the Musical," I suspect she'd have been shouted down by an entire theater of mothers. Surely there's a musical in that. When: Through June 17 Where: Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St. Running time: 1 hour, 30 mins. Tickets: $48-$65 at 800-982-2787 or motherhoodthemusical.com

So much cool Jane stuff going on around this here internet! Enjoy, beloved sisters. And robots. (There are probably robots reading this, I’ve decided.) - Didja hear? PD James’s Austen mystery novel, Death Comes to Pemberley, comes out December 6 in the U.S.; it’s already out in the U.K. A lady can do what she wants when she’s 90, you know? - Didja know? There’s band called The Jane Austen Argument. - An interview with delightful fellow blogger—and all-around nice person—Laurel Ann Nattress, of Austenprose and the anthology Jane Austen Made Me Do It. - Check out this cool embroidery pattern, based on a letter Jane wrote to her brother, Frank! In other, unrelated news, it’s only 45 days until Christmas. - This is just a really confusing image, especially if you think it’s the cover of a purportedly Regency-era romance where Kate Formerly Middleton wears a cowboy hat. You know, hypothetically. (Heh, you’re going to click now, right? You can’t not click after that gorgeous description.) Keep calm and Jane on, everybody. Where early young women take walks by West Cliff Drive before breakfast (with their dogs). Where there are many many coffee shops to shelter from the rain, see, and be seen in. Where Admiral Croft’s arm really would be helpful in fending off undesirable acquaintances-to-be. And where sensible young women are indeed fine for their own pleasure alone. One of the greatest dilemmas of my life is my inability to read and knit simultaneously. It’s all so frustrating: two activities, both alike in brainpower and quiet productivity, and yet I have to choose between them! I propose that I’d read a lot more Austen if I could do it in conjunction with something yarny. (This, of course, assumes that I shun that magical twentieth-century invention, the audiobook, which is generally true, probably to my own detriment.) However, the place where Austen and the fiber arts intersect is often glorious—a mix of the Regency and the extremely modern, sometimes in the same piece. Check out the following Austen-inspired patterns from around the web:*) Via KnitPicks: “Inspired by one of Jane Austen’s greatest literary characters, this breezy cowl is a beautiful and fun accessory to crochet in no time. It features triple crochet stitches and open airy shells making it the perfect addition to your favorite spring time outfit.” Via CanaryKnits: “This pattern was hatched from my love of Jane Austen and the very-small gauged. With a light and airy feel, this ‘spencer’ is highly wearable. Knitters: be forewarned. The little scalloped edging is crocheted!” Via Twist Collective: “Austen fans will recognize Bingley’s estate; sock knitters will recognize a friendly little flourish they can’t resist.” Via Knotions: “This lightweight summer cardigan was inspired by those wonderful regency muslin dresses that you see in films such as Pride and Prejudice.” Via Knitty.com: “Whether you think of Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice [or Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!] or Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones’s Diary, Mr. Darcy is a character who comes across all aloof and snobby and unapproachable at first, but by the end is discovered to be a stalwart and totally appealing [and zombie-vanquishing, depending on what you're reading] gentleman. Similarly, this sweater might look unapproachably elaborate and time-consuming, but it’s actually a straightforward and rewarding project. And while this sweater will not bestow impeccable manners on the man who wears it [or protect him from zombies], it will keep him warm and cozy on weekend walks in the snow or long winter days at work.” Now, join me in…not reading? (*These patterns are exclusively of a non-Ravelry-exclusive nature, for obvious reasons. For those active on The Rav, well. Let’s talk.**) (**For those confused about the mysterious Ravelry, click and be amazed.) Readers, we know how fond you are of your Action Janes. We know you’re pals. We know you’ve bonded. We know you all take your Janes everywhere, sharing every confidence and frolicking in fields of flowers together, or whatever. (Just us?) But as the holidays approach, we also know that Action Jane can serve a vital purpose in holiday-ifying our respective homes: with her open but relatively narrow skirt and semi-movable legs, Jane makes an awesome and unique Christmas tree topper/instant conversation piece. So if you’re in possession of an Action Jane, but not of something to stick on top of your tree—or if you have both, but like the idea of Winged Jane and her Feather of Holiday Goodwill—we think you’ll love these instructions for your very own Jane Austen Christmas tree topper: 1. Crank up your favorite holiday tunes. No skimping on this, you hear? Otherwise you will surely be black of heart and devoid of cheer, and Jane will know. Jane always knows. 2. Draw and cut out the angel wings of your choice. This may take a couple of tries, as you realize that the birth of Jesus was not actually presided over by a fairy. 3. Cut a narrow strip of aluminum foil a few inches in length. 4. Shape the aluminum foil into a tiny halo for Jane; if you prefer a slightly elevated “floating” halo, cut another piece of foil and shape it into a support piece. Wrap one end around the seam of the halo and leave the other end straight. 5. Tape the wings to Jane’s back; either set the halo directly on top of her bonnet or tape the support to the back of her head. Voila! Stick Angel Jane on top of your Christmas tree—arranging her legs as necessary; we won’t speak to modesty—and revel in the way she oversees all festivity and merriment. Jane was made for festivity and merriment. But, you know, some of us have bigger Christmas trees—the kinds of macho trees that won’t fit underneath Jane’s slinky skirts (ooh la la!). Some of us can’t get enough of the decidedly un-Regency hoop skirt look. And some of us just like making things more difficult for ourselves. For these special classes of readers, we have Action Jane Christmas Tree Topper: The Advanced Class, with an extended and arguably more angelic-looking skirt and the opportunity for extra craftiness. If decorating angel skirts sound like your cup of tea, read on: 1. To make wings and a halo, follow steps 1-4 of the basic instructions. 2. Using a square piece of paper, trimming two diagonal corners as shown by the dashed lines—this will be Jane’s skirt. 3. Decorate as you see fit. Tiny stars, tie-dye, applique poodles, whatever. The skirt is your oyster. 4. Roll the paper into a cone-shaped skirt around Jane’s tiny waist and tape in the back—once at the top and at least once farther down. 5. Proceed to Step 5 of the basic instructions—tape the wings to Jane’s back and secure the halo to her head. Ta-da! Action Jane saves the day once again, poised for any and all Christmas hijinks you might throw at her. Now, get on with the drinking of mulled wine, or whatever it is we’re doing to celebrate.

Resources for Professionals The majority of diabetes resources on the internet are aimed at laypeople, but scientists also share information online. Here are a few recommendations centering on encapsulation of cells and research groups studying type 1. Type 1 Research Consortia This list is taken from an article by two leading diabetes researchers published in Diabetes, the lead journal of the ADA (January 2011) under the heading “Perspectives in Diabetes.” It purports to be a comprehensive list of consortia studying type I diabetes. The weblink for each is accompanied by a quoted description from the site, and by a comment from Scott King, founder of Islet Sheet Medical. Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium “The T1DGC originally focused on recruiting families with at least two siblings (brothers and/or sisters) who have type 1 diabetes (affected sibling pair or ASP families). The T1DGC completed enrollment for these families in August 2009.” I was curious about this one, because we already know a lot about the gene alleles’ contribution to autoimmune diabetes. The site is for investigators, not the public. An expensive study that is unlikely to be useful in finding a cure. The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young “The TEDDY study—The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young—is looking for the causes of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).” A long-term study of the vexing problem of identifying the environmental causes of autoimmune diabetes (which is only roughly 50% genetic). I hope it is well designed because environmental interventions would be cheap and could work. Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes “nPOD is a collaborative type 1 diabetes research project funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). We support scientific investigators by providing, without cost, rare and difficult to obtain tissues beneficial to their research.” I went to the trouble of getting accredited access to this one: an excellent atlas of tissues from the pancreases of autoimmune diabetics. The quality of the data is impressive. This consortium has made possible the discovery that some diabetics die with a small residual islet function, and these tend to have fewer complications. Search for Diabetes in Youth “SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth is a multi-center study funded by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases). The study focuses on children and youth in the U.S. who have diabetes.” This appears to be a useful study to get a handle on what forms of diabetes children actually get, including “hybrid” diabetes with features of both type 1 and type 2, and cofactors. Model of an organized and easy-to use site. The data are all reported by ethnicity, which I find annoying. Races are just suites of gene alleles; couldn’t we skip the race reporting and go directly to the genetics? Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet “TrialNet is a network of 18 Clinical Centers working in cooperation with screening sites throughout the United States, Canada, Finland, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand. … dedicated to the study, prevention, and early treatment of type 1 diabetes.” A poorly organized but information-rich site on interventions to slow down early stages of autoimmune diabetes. Highlight: “News…,” where you can hear the Jonas Brothers PSA. So far the interventions reported extend the length of the “honeymoon” but with unacceptable side effects. Immune Tolerance Network “A clinical research consortium sponsored by NIAID and JDRF … The Immune Tolerance Network (or ITN) is a non-profit, government-funded consortium of researchers working together to establish new treatments for diseases of the immune system.” This organization is responsible for the huge, badly designed, badly executed multi-center trial of the Edmonton Protocol. The website is slick and puzzling. I searched for “diabetes” and got one good hit, announcing a 5-year, $15 million initiative between ITN and JDRF five years ago. I wonder what came of that? Nothing on the ITN site. Trial to Reduce IDDM in the Genetically at Risk “TRIGR is an international, randomized, double-blinded trial. The hypothesis to be tested is whether hydrolyzed infant formula compared to cow's milk-based formula decreases risk of developing type 1 diabetes in children with increased genetic susceptibility.” This trial is follow-up on the reports that early formula milk increases risk of T1D compared with breast milk in early life. It includes upbeat newsletters for the families participating, but no data I could find. Islet Cell Resource Centers “The Islet Cell Resource Centers (ICRs) were funded by the National Center for Research Resources and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, components of the National Institutes of Health … and comprised an interactive group of 10 academic laboratories charged with three major goals: 1) to provide pancreatic islets of cGMP-quality to eligible investigators for use in FDA-approved, IRB-approved transplantation protocols; 2) to optimize the harvest, purification, function, storage, and shipment of islets while developing tests that characterized the quality and predicted the effectiveness of islets transplanted into patients with diabetes mellitus; and 3) to provide pancreatic islets for basic science studies.” This consortium shut down in July 2009, it seems. Collaborative Islet Transplant Registry and Clinical Islet Transplant Corsortium “The Clinical Islet Transplantation (CIT) Consortium is a network of clinical centers and a data coordinating center established in 2004 to conduct studies of islet transplantation in patients with type 1 diabetes.” The Registry site is for researchers only. The public Corsortium site does not have anything beyond background information. See “Who…” for the people who control the funding of conventional islet transplantation. So far as I can tell, this whole field is about waiting for an immune suppression drug that will have acceptable side effects. I think it will be a very long wait. Diabetes Research in Children Network “The mission of DirecNet is to investigate the potential use of glucose monitoring technology and its impact on the management of type 1 diabetes (T1DM) in children. … DirecNet is a network consisting of 5 clinical centers and a coordinating center.” It seems a very good idea to study use of CGM in children. Data availability through the site is impressive. But the most recent entries are dated 2008, and the studies are “recruiting” status, so it is clearly not up to date. Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications “Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) is a multi-center, longitudinal, observational study designed to utilize the well- characterized Diabetes Control and Complications Trial DCCT cohort of 1297 patients (EDIC, 2009).” A project of the George Washington University Biostatistics Center, EDIC is squeezing information from the DCCT Study cohort. Good use of an established and historic cohort. I am a big fan of epidemiology. Diabetes management, encapsulation approach The Wikipedia entry on diabetes therapy has a good lay summary of the encapsulation approach. Current Research into a Cure for Type-1 Diabetes “News and updates on potential cures for type-1 diabetes, that are in human (or clinical) trials now, or are expected to be soon.” If you are following research, the most impressive combination of breadth and good judgment is Joshua Levy's blog. Islet Sheet Medical The researchers at Islet Sheet Medical have an excellent record in developing and proving microencapsulation and thin sheet macroencapsulation technologies. They are available for consultation and/or collaboration of projects in encapsulation with any living cell as well as islet of Langerhans. Services can include technology improvement, experiment design, and even sales of proprietary reagents. Contact Scott King. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation If you do diabetes research, you already know the funding sources. The starting point is, of course, JDRF. Juvenile Diabetes Cure Alliance For a metaview of diabetes research funding check out JDCA. They have positioned themselves as “the voice of the donor” and focus on directing funding on a defined cure. Lots of unusual perspectives. Mendosa.com—Living with Diabetes The granddaddy and still best and most complete metasite. Vast. “A consultancy devoted to the business of diabetes … includes Diabetes Roundup III, a unique 200-page compilation of cogent observations on the diabetes and obesity industries facing the industry today.” The most impressive business site. City of Hope, Levine Symposium “Each year the City of Hope Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism holds an annual diabetes and obesity symposium in memory of the late Dr. Rachmiel Levine, the scientist responsible for clarifying the nature of insulin action.”

Tobacco industry must come clean Federal Judge Gladys Kessler ordered some of the world's largest cigarette companies to come clean about decades of false advertising. Kessler's summary included: "Over the course of more than 50 years, defendants lied, misrepresented and deceived the American public, including smokers and the young people they avidly sought as 'replacement' smokers about the devastating health effects of smoking and environmental tobacco smoke." Big Tobacco was ordered to pay for a two-year national campaign admitting their dishonesty, in order for them to set the record straight about harmful effects of cigarettes. Many in the United States, especially here in West Virginia, continue to suffer preventable illness and chronic disease and death because of a lifetime of smoking. The tobacco companies got away with false advertising for decades, and this greatly influenced public opinion and deceived smokers from the truth. Had the industry been honest about the ill effects of smoking, such as cancer, heart, and lung diseases, many lives and health-care dollars could have been saved! Unfortunately, the tobacco industry continues to prey upon the poor, the less-fortunate, and those who can least afford the illnesses caused by tobacco and nicotine addiction. It is well past time for policy makers and court adjudicators to make the tobacco industry come clean, for tobacco prevention and cessation, as well as strong tobacco product taxation and other policies to be given more than just lip service in West Virginia and all of Appalachia. These efforts can save billions of dollars in preventable health-care costs over the years to come. Bruce W. Adkins

In order for a society to function, there has to be a certain level of trust. Each day when we leave our homes, we take for granted that most people are not going to attack us for no reason, that there will only be isolated incidents of theft in our community and that rioting and violence are not going to erupt in the streets. Whether we realize it or not, we depend on the fact that the vast majority of the people around us are going to act in a civilized manner. Unfortunately, the thin veneer of civilization that we all take for granted is starting to disappear. When I was growing up, I was taught that challenging times reveal our true character. There are many that believe that the declining economy is causing a lot of the chaos that we are now witnessing, but perhaps what is going on is that these challenging economic times are simply revealing the character that has been there all along. For decades, a “false prosperity” that was fueled by unprecedented amounts of debt has masked a lot of the internal rot that has taken hold in America. But now that our prosperity is crumbling, our lack of values is becoming startlingly clear. Greed, corruption and extreme self-centeredness have deeply infected our society. We see this on Wall Street and in Congress, and we see this among those that are trying to survive on the mean streets of our largest cities. Our nation is breaking down on every level. If by some miracle we were able to fix our economy, that would mask our problems for a while, but it would not solve them. Unfortunately, as I write about nearly every day, there are a whole host of indications that our economy is about to get even worse. When it does, millions of Americans will become even more desperate, and as we are now seeing all over this country, desperate people do desperate things. The following are 22 signs that the thin veneer of civilization that we all take for granted is starting to disappear…. #1 In Detroit, 100 bus drivers recently refused to drive their routes out of fear for their own personal safety. An article posted on the website of the CBS affiliate in Detroit is quoting the head of the bus drivers union, Henry Gaffney, as saying that the drivers are “scared for their lives”…. “Our drivers are scared, they’re scared for their lives. This has been an ongoing situation about security. I think yesterday kind of just topped it off, when one of my drivers was beat up by some teenagers down in the middle of Rosa Parks and it took the police almost 30 minutes to get there, in downtown Detroit,” said Gaffney. #2 In Wilmington, Delaware recently, a man offered to help someone carry a television down the street, but quickly realized that it was his own television which had just been stolen out of his house…. A Wilmington resident who stopped home for lunch about noon today saw a man carrying a flat screen TV down the street and asked the man if he needed help. He then recognized the television as his own, looked up and saw the door to his home ajar, said Master Sgt. Adam Ringle. #3 Shocking video has surfaced of a young thug walking up to a defenseless elderly man in a Chicago subway station and knocking him out cold. In the video, the friends of the young man are cheering him on and laughing at how easy it was to knock the old man out cold. #4 Beating up old people for no reason seems to be catching on all over the country. Just check out the following report from a recent article posted on philly.com…. AN 84-YEAR-OLD ex-university official savagely attacked by four young punks during a walk in Wissahickon Valley Park earlier this week theorizes that the beating he endured was a cruel game of “get the old geezer.” Jim Shea, a former vice president of university relations for Temple, from 1968 to 1983, walks up to five miles on Forbidden Drive, in Fairmount Park, three times a week, but that type of stamina wasn’t enough to stave off the lowlifes who not only beat him bloody, but dealt a blow to one of the things he holds most dear – his pride. #5 All over the United States, police are brutalizing Occupy Wall Street protesters and spraying pepper spray directly in their faces. Whatever you may think of the Occupy Wall Street protests, the reality is that this is not a sign that things are becoming “more stable” in America. You can see video of one very disturbing confrontation right here. #6 Clashes between police and protesters in Oakland, California recently became so violent that at one point the streets of Oakland resembled a war zone. #7 Unfortunately, as the American people become increasingly frustrated with out system many of them are actually starting to consider violence as a solution. According to one recent survey, 31 percent of all Occupy Wall Street protesters “would support violence to advance their agenda”. #8 In New York recently, a confrontation between two female customers and a frustrated cashier ended with the cashier beating the living daylights out of them with a metal rod. The following is how a local CBS affiliate in New York described this incident…. It appeared to have started when two female customers argued and yelled obscenities at the cashier when he questioned a $50 bill they gave him. One of the female customers then slapped the cashier. A woman is then seen jumping over the counter while the other woman goes behind the register. That’s when the cashier can be seen on the video disappearing into the back of the fast-food restaurant. He comes back with a metal rod and begins hitting the women. You can see video of this violent confrontation right here. #9 These days, many Americans are so “on edge” that just about anything will make them snap. For example, a 60-year-old woman in New Mexico recently repeatedly stabbed her boyfriend because she thought that he was cheating during a game of Monopoly. #10 If you thought that the above example was crazy, just check out what one man down in Georgia did recently. He actually firebombed a Taco Bell because they did not put enough meat in his Chalupa. #11 In Cleveland last week, a 49-year-old man was sent to the hospital after a poll monitor working for the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections tried to bite his nose off. #12 Not only do TSA agents make us feel like dehumanized cattle as we go through airport security, some of them are evening making fun of us at the same time. For example, one TSA agent recently scribbled “GET YOUR FREAK ON GIRL” on a TSA inspection notice after discovering a sex toy in the luggage of one female traveler. #13 Identity theft is rising to very alarming levels all over the United States. For example, a recent article in the Palm Beach Post described what has been going on down in Florida this year…. In the first half of this year, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 20,000 complaints from Floridians whose identities had been stolen — nearly as many as in all of 2010. More than half of those reporting their Social Security numbers or other personal information had been ripped off and used to commit fraud or theft were in South Florida, with heavy concentrations in parts of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Hallandale Beach. “That kind of increase is really shocking,” said Vance Luce, deputy special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service in South Florida, which investigates identity theft and financial crimes. “The fact that it’s on the upturn doesn’t surprise me at all, but that’s pretty alarming.” #14 In the Seattle area, an elderly couple in their eighties was recently brutally attacked by a 31-year-old man armed with a crossbow and a hatchet. The following description of this brutal crime comes from King 5 News…. Prosecutors say 31-year-old John Chase was walking down the highway when he saw Ralph Aldrich, 88, in his back yard. Detectives say Chase shot and killed Aldrich with a crossbow and then went inside the home and repeatedly hit 83-year-old June Aldrich with a hatchet. #15 As America falls apart, more of us than ever are taking medication for depression. At this point, more than 1 out of every 10 Americans over the age of 12 is taking prescription antidepressants. #16 In some areas of the country, people have been literally tearing apart their own cities in an attempt to find things to sell. I recently discussed this phenomenon on The American Dream Blog…. In Fresno, California the damage caused by thieves stealing copper wire from city street lights is costing the city about $50,000 a month. So far, about 2,500 street lights have been stripped of their wiring. #17 As people become more desperate, we are starting to see some truly bizarre crimes in many parts of the nation. In northern Alabama, one team of crooks has been using a forklift to pull entire ATM machines out of the ground. #18 Most Americans don’t realize this, but all over the U.S. livestock is being stolen from ranchers in unprecedented numbers. The following is from a recent Associated Press article…. While the brazenness may be unusual, the theft isn’t. High beef prices have made cattle attractive as a quick score for people struggling in the sluggish economy, and other livestock are being taken too. Six thousand lambs were stolen from a feedlot in Texas, and nearly 1,000 hogs have been stolen in recent weeks from farms in Iowa and Minnesota. The thefts add up to millions of dollars in losses for U.S. ranches. Authorities say today’s thieves are sophisticated compared to the horseback bandits of the rugged Old West. They pull up livestock trailers in the middle of the night and know how to coax the animals inside. Investigators suspect it’s then a quick trip across state lines to sell the animals at auction barns. #19 At this point, thieves are becoming so bold that they will steal literally anything that they are able to cart away. For example, in the San Francisco area a while back thieves actually stole a copper bell that weighs 2.7 tons. #20 According to the FBI, the number of gang members in the United States has increased by a staggering 40 percent since 2009. Right now, there are 1.4 million gang members terrorizing citizens on the streets of America. #21 Down in Miami, thieves have become so bold that they have actually been breaking into parked police cruisers and stealing guns and ammo out of them. Many of those guns undoubtedly are ending up in the hands of gangs members. #22 Be careful who you befriend online. They might just hold you captive and use you as part of a Satanic sex ritual. The following description of an incident that recently happened in Milwaukee comes from thesmokinggun.com…. Two young Milwaukee women were arrested this week after an 18-year-old Arizona man–who traveled to Wisconsin by bus after meeting one of the suspects online–told cops that he was held captive in the duo’s apartment for two days and slashed and stabbed more than 300 times as part of an apparent satanic sex ritual. Anger and frustration are growing to unprecedented levels in this country, and all of this anger and frustration is manifesting in thousands of different ways. As I have written about previously, the rioting, the crime and the violence that we are seeing now is only just the beginning of what is coming. Unless a miracle happens, our country is going to keep heading down the road toward societal collapse. For even more examples that show that our country is starting to come apart at the seams, please see the following articles that I have authored previously…. It won’t happen all at once, but unless our nation changes direction dramatically, we will see things get progressively worse and worse. Instead of teaching our children to love and care for one another, we have taught them to be incredibly self-involved. Today, way too many Americans deeply love themselves, deeply love money and are deeply addicted to entertainment. Each new generation seems to be even more prideful, even more arrogant and even more violent. As a nation, we are losing our empathy for others, our compassion for the needy and our respect for the elderly. Our family units are breaking down and thousands of our communities are being transformed into hellholes. What in the world is happening to America? If you have a thought on this topic, please feel free to share your opinion by leaving a comment below….

NEW YORK (AP) — "Kinky Boots" star Billy Porter's new play has attracted some fearsome talent — Emmy Award-winner S. Epatha Merkerson and Tony Award-winner Lillias White. Primary Stages said Wednesday that "While Yet I Live" will star Merkerson, White, Elain Graham, Susan Heyward, Kevyn Morrow, Sharon Washington and Larry Powell. Sheryl Kaller will direct the play, which is about a young man's coming of age in Pittsburgh. The off-Broadway theater also revealed the cast of "Smash" creator Theresa Rebeck's new play, "Poor Behavior." The comedy about two couples spending a not-so-idyllic weekend in the country will star Heidi Armbruster, Brian Avers, Jeff Biehl and Katie Kressler. Evan Cabnet will direct. Primary Stages, celebrating its 30th season, will also offer "Lives of the Saints," reuniting playwright David Ives and director John Rando.

Public Policy Institute of California researchers Magnus Lofstrom and Laura Hill discuss their research examining the potential labor market outcomes and other possible economic effects of a legalization program. This conference offers law and policy analysis and discussion on cutting-edge immigration issues. Award winners for the inaugural year of the E Pluribus Unum Prizes program were honored at a reception at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC in 2009. MPI's symposium on citizenship examined immigrant civic and political participation, the notion of local voting rights for noncitizens, the concept and practice of dual citizenship, and the role of citizenship in immigrant integration. A discussion on the gains that young adult immigrants or the U.S.-born children of immigrants have made in education and employment, with speakers: Michael Fix, Jeanne Batalova, Andrew P. Kelly, Raul Gonzalez, and Margie McHugh. This is the latest in NCIIP’s language access webinar series exploring the policy and program implementation imperatives for government and community agencies serving Limited English Proficient (LEP) populations. In this webinar, experts discuss barriers immigrant and LEP individuals face in accessing the WIA system, how a revitalized WIA could address these barriers, and the extent to which the current Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee's WIA reauthorization proposal addresses these barriers. This interactive language access webinar, one in a series offered by the Migration Policy Institute's National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy, examines how New York and Illinois have broken down some of these barriers to proactively engage LEP communities to obtain workforce services. This discussion focuses on the MPI report, "Executive Action on Immigration: Six Ways to Make the System Work Better," which outlines administrative actions that can be implemented to improve the immigration system.

0 Comments · Wednesday, November 19, 2014 Libraries and newspapers are dying. There’s no denying that. by Jac Kern Jac's roundup of pop culture news and Internet findings In advance of last Sunday’s Bengals game against the Patriots (I know, let’s not speak of that), some local players were featured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’s popular "Tonight Show Andy Dalton truly is a personified pumpkin spice latte, isn’t he? Housewives of New Jersey stars Teresa and Joe Giudice last week both plead guilty to multiple counts of fraud and were sentenced to 15 months and 41 months in federal prison, respectively. Teresa will serve her sentence first beginning in January 2015. Joe faces deportation to his native Italy following his jail time. The two sat down with Andy Cohen for an exclusive interview that aired Monday on Bravo. The network reportedly paid big bucks for the one-on-one — according to some sources, enough to cover their restitution — but Bravo denied the claims. A hefty paycheck would explain some of the tough, pressing questions Cohen was able to get away with. (At one point as we were watching Part One, my boyfriend hushed me — “I’m trying to hear this,” he said — which has certainly never happened during a Bravo program. Ever.) Part Two of the interview airs Thursday at 9 p.m. The Giudices serve as a reminder not to commit bank fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, bankruptcy fraud or lie on loan applications or forget to pay your taxes. And if you do, try not to throw lavish parties in your tacky suburban castle on national television. On the upside, they did just provide me with an excellent pop-culturally relevant Halloween costume idea. Thanks, Tre! Related: Fellow New Jerseyan and tanning enthusiast Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino has also recently been charged with tax fraud Way to make the Garden State proud. Lil Jon, “Lil Lena” Dunham, Fred Armisen, children of famous folks and other celebs teamed up for an epic Rock the Vote video: Because we just can’t let that terrible club anthem died quietly, can Some of the scariest shows of the season start up this week, with American Horror Story: Freak Show debuting tonight on FX and The Walking Dead’s fifth season premiere Sunday on AMC. Read more about these shows and others to watch in this week’s TV column. We already know a TWD spinoff/companion series is in the works, though few details have been revealed, and now we’re learning American Horror Story will get a related offshoot. I know what you’re thinking: each season basically is a spinoff of the AHS franchise. But this is a little different. Ryan Murphy will direct a new series based on the same anthology format and American setting for American Crime Story. Each season (presuming its success matches that of AHS) will follow a different true American crime, beginning with one of the most followed court cases of all time: The O.J. Simpson trial. American Crime Story: The People Vs. O.J. Simpson has already been ordered as a 10-episode series for FX. Read more here. Portlandia’s feminist bookstore sketch may be a hilarious fiction, but it’s filmed in real Portland bookshop In Other Words. The IRL Women and Women First is at risk of closing and it needs your help! Alfonso Ribeiro of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is on Dancing with the Stars so of course he did “The Carlton”: 0 Comments · Wednesday, September 17, 2014 Mayor John Cranley launched this year’s Young Professionals Kitchen Cabinet, a think tank for Cincinnati residents under the age of 40. Members will have the chance to brainstorm, research and share ideas with the mayor and city administration. 0 Comments · Wednesday, September 25, 2013 It’s difficult to consider the Cincinnati Bengals to be one of the NFL’s more innovative franchises — aside from winning the most lopsided stadium deal in the history of football and then hiring the guy who negotiated it for the county, the team is really only known for losing Super Bowls to the 49ers and a funny 1990s Garey Faulkner parlays a one-time bet into success as a beard model 0 Comments · Wednesday, September 18, 2013 The Amelia native and onetime pro BMX biker has parlayed his massive (and still growing) beard into something he never thought possible: a living. 2 Comments · Wednesday, September 18, 2013 FRIDAY SEPT. 13: Ohio is a great state with a lot of smart people in it, but somehow it seems like the dumbest people in it end up in really important positions. Take Debe Tehrar, the president of the Ohio School Board. 0 Comments · Wednesday, August 21, 2013 SATURDAY AUG. 17: The Akron Beacon Journal today reported that a state representative named John Becker, who is apparently from suburban Cincinnati (how many [expletive] state reps are there, for real?), proposed an expansion of Ohio’s death penalty law to cover some sex-related crimes. 0 Comments · Wednesday, April 3, 2013 The 2013 reader picks for best local athletes, teams and recreational sports spots around town. 0 Comments · Wednesday, April 3, 2013 From Joey Votto's cool hitting style to the local coaches, teams and recreational spots we enjoy all year long. 0 Comments · Wednesday, January 9, 2013 Is Dalton the quarterback who can lead the Bengals to a Super Bowl? For now, at least, his coach is sticking by him, so that’s about all that matters.

SANFORD, Fla. — Law enforcement officials are asking residents of Sanford and surrounding areas to remain peaceful after a verdict is announced in the George Zimmerman (pictured) trial. The Sanford police chief and Seminole County Sheriff made their appeal Friday shortly after jurors began deliberating in Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial. Zimmerman says he shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in self-defense. Prosecutors say Zimmerman was a wannabe cop who took the law into his own hands after a rash of break-ins in his Sanford neighborhood. Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith says the city has evolved since tens of thousands protested last year after Martin was killed. Civil rights leaders came to Sanford to demonstrate when Zimmerman wasn’t immediately arrested. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below. George Zimmerman’s lawyers made one last attempt Friday to convince a jury the neighborhood watch volunteer shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in self-defense, saying the prosecution’s case for murder is built on “could’ve beens” and “maybes.” The jury was expected to begin deliberations as early as Friday afternoon after receiving dueling portraits of Zimmerman: a wannabe cop who took the law into his own hands or a well-meaning volunteer who feared for his life in a struggle with the unarmed teenager who was slamming his head into concrete. Attorney Mark O’Mara told jurors the burden was on prosecutors, and said they hadn’t proven Zimmerman’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. “If it hasn’t been proven, it’s just not there,” O’Mara said. “You can’t fill in the gaps. You can’t connect the dots. You’re not allowed to.” Prosecutor John Guy followed with a rebuttal, accusing Zimmerman of telling “so many lies.” He said Martin’s last feeling was fear as Zimmerman followed him in a neighborhood on a rainy night Feb. 26, 2012. “Isn’t that every child’s worst nightmare, to be followed on the way home in the dark by a stranger,” Guy said. “Isn’t that every child’s worst fear?” One juror, a young woman, appeared to wipe away a tear as Guy said nothing would ever bring back Martin. Guy said Zimmerman violated the cornerstone of neighborhood watch volunteer programs, which is to observe and report, not follow a suspect. Zimmerman’s account of how he grabbed his gun from his holster at his waist as Martin straddled him is physically impossible, Guy said. “The defendant didn’t shoot Trayvon Martin because he had to, he shot him because he wanted to,” Guy said. “That’s the bottom line.” Because there were no eyewitnesses, the panel of six women will likely rely heavily on testimony – which was often conflicting – from police, neighbors, friends and family members. They will have to decide who the aggressor was and whether they can determine who was yelling for help on a 911 call that recorded the shooting. Zimmerman, 29, is charged with second-degree murder, but the jury will also be allowed to consider manslaughter. Under Florida’s laws involving gun crimes, manslaughter could end up carrying a penalty as heavy as the one for second-degree murder: life in prison. O’Mara dismissed the prosecution’s contention that Zimmerman was a “crazy guy” patrolling his townhome complex and “looking for people to harass” when he saw Martin, an unarmed black teenager. O’Mara also disputed prosecutors claim that Zimmerman snapped when he saw Martin because there had been a rash of break-ins in the neighborhood, mostly by young black men. Zimmerman at no point showed ill will, hate or spite during his confrontation with Martin, which is what prosecutors must prove for second-degree murder, O’Mara said. “That presumption isn’t based on any fact whatsoever,” O’Mara said. In contrast, prosecutors argued Zimmerman showed ill will when he whispered profanities to a police dispatcher over his cellphone while following Martin through the neighborhood. They said Zimmerman “profiled” the teenager as a criminal. O’Mara also told jurors to ask themselves what Martin was doing during the four minutes from when he started running at the urging of a friend he was talking to on a cellphone to when he encountered Zimmerman. Martin was planning his attack instead of going back to the townhome where he was staying, O’Mara said. The defense attorney let four minutes of silence pass to emphasize the amount of time. “The person who decided … it was going to be a violent event, it was the guy who decided not to go home when he had a chance to,” O’Mara said. The defense attorney bolstered his arguments with a poster-board timeline of events, a power point-presentation showing witnesses who had testified and a computer-animated depiction of the fight based on Zimmerman’ account. O’Mara placed two cardboard cut-outs of Zimmerman and Martin in front of jurors to show Martin was considerably taller than Zimmerman, although Zimmerman was much heavier. Later, he carried a block of concrete and put it in front of the jury box to show how it can be used as a weapon. To invoke self-defense, Zimmerman only had to believe he was facing great bodily harm, O’Mara said. He asked jurors not to let their sympathies for Martin’s parents interfere with their decision. “It is a tragedy, truly,” O’Mara said. “But you can’t allow sympathy.” Allowing the jurors to consider manslaughter could give those who aren’t convinced the shooting amounted to murder a way to hold Zimmerman responsible for the death of the unarmed teen. To get a manslaughter conviction, prosecutors must show only that Zimmerman killed without lawful justification. As the nation awaits a verdict in the trial, police and city leaders in Sanford and South Florida say they have taken precautionary steps for the possibility of mass protests or even civil unrest if Zimmerman, who identifies himself as Hispanic, is acquitted, particularly in African-American neighborhoods where passions run strongest over the case. There were massive protests in Sanford and other cities across the country when authorities waited 44 days before arresting Zimmerman. Guy said the case wasn’t about race. “It’s about right and wrong,” he said. “It’s that simple.”

Trout and Largemouth Bass in the creel thrill young anglers during Hooked on Fishing Day (Riverton, Wyo.) – Hooked On Fishing, sponsored by the Riverton Kiwanis Club on Wyoming’s Free Fishing Day brought out almost 60 anglers Saturday morning at the Rendezvous Ponds. At least those who signed up, anyway. There were many other anglers there, too. Through mid-day, 21 fish had been caught and measured, including Rainbow Trout, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Carp and White Suckers. The Kiwanis was serving free hot dogs and hamburgers along with chips and pop for the anglers on a very nice morning. At the registration table, The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Paul Gerrity of Lander was measuring the fish brought in for the contest. Just across the ponds, the Cub Scouts were having a day camp. Several of the scouts were fishing, others were out hiking and doing other activities. The planned canoe paddling the night before was curtailed due to the wind. One Cub Scout, Joe Atkin, caught a very nice 13.5 inch Largemouth Bass, but he didn’t enter it in the contest. Instead, Joe cooked it up and ate it for lunch. Unfortunately, later in the day, while his fishing pole was unattended, a fish took the bait on his hook and ran with it, dragging the pole into the pond and out of sight into the greenish water. It was the perfect time for a little swim, but not before putting on a life preserver. The pole is still out there somewhere, but at least he had a good lunch. Photos by Ernie Over. Click to enlarge.

Amazon Captive of the SS. Part (The Television Episode they couldn't show.) ANNOUNCER: "In last week's episode, an old adversary, Fausta Grabels, posing as a would-be turncoat to the Nazi cause, lured our heroine into a meeting deep in enemy territory. At the rendezvous site, as she negotiated with Fausta, SS thugs treacherously bludgeoned the American superheroine from behind. Fausta watched, unpityingly, as her henchmen chloroformed the stunned Amazon, freeing her to rob the helpless prisoner of her Power Girdle, her Tiara and her Lasso. Then, to the delight of her underlings, the grinning Nazi maliciously removed the Amazon's famed red and gold bustier. Announcer: "Before her victim regained consciousness, Fausta administered an experimental drug, that SS scientists assured her, would rob the American heroine of her phenomenal Amazon strength and agility." Announcer: "Fausta transported her unconscious prisoner deep into the Black Forest, to an SS Rest and Recreation Center, before reviving her," Announcer: "Cackling at the success of her underhanded plan, Fausta informed her prisoner that she would fight in the SS Arena, or a face a Firing Squad. The gallant Amazon was horrified to discover Fausta intended her to fight a teenager, Fausta's aide, young Helga Smeck, the former girl's combat champion of the Hitler Youth." Announcer: "Over the gallant Amazon's protests, Fausta thrust her into the SS Combat Arena, packed with a jeering throng of SS men, and two of Dr. Goebbel's most expert film crews, while the grinning Helga entered the Arena to the wild cheers of the evil Nazis." Announcer: "Now, as our story continues, the reluctant Amazon Princess tries to reason with the young woman, but Helga, heart hardened to loving reason by Nazi Propaganda, arrogantly ridicules the words of peace and love, and stalks her intended foe with feral cunning, looking for an opening. Robbed of her astounding powers, and unaware of the diabolical drug Fausta injected, the high-minded Amazon finds the young Nazi an unexpectedly formidable foe, and has no choice but to fight." Announcer: " We pause now for commercial break." End of Part 1. Go on to Part 2.

This has been a beautiful and rewarding meeting. I endorse the counsel provided by President Howard W. Hunter and that given by each of the sisters who has addressed us. As I contemplate the vast audience assembled tonight, I ponder the words of President Heber J. Grant, who declared: “I have often felt that a photograph of our dear sisters, with the intelligent, Godlike faces they possess, would be a testimony to all the world of the integrity of our people.” 1 We would certainly need the widest wide-angle lens to include all of you in one photograph. Such is not available to us, but with God, all things are possible. In His infinite vision, He literally can view all of us and bless all of us. All we need do is to so live that we merit the blessings ever predicated on our faithfulness to His commandments. Said President George Albert Smith: “I desire to impress on you daughters of God … that if this world is to endure, you must keep the faith. If this world is to be happy, you will have to set the pace for that happiness. … If we are to maintain our physical strength and mental power and spiritual joy, it will have to be on the Lord’s terms.” (Relief Society Magazine, Dec. 1945, p. 719.) Perhaps a young lady had this thought in mind when she spoke the feelings of her yearning heart: “What we really and truly need is less criticism and more models to follow.” Frequently we are too quick to criticize, too prone to judge, and too ready to abandon an opportunity to help, to lift, and, yes, even to save. Some point the accusing finger at the wayward or unfortunate and in derision say, “Oh, she will never change. She has always been a bad one.” A few see beyond the outward appearance and recognize the true worth of a human soul. When they do, miracles occur. The downtrodden, the discouraged, the helpless become “no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (Eph. 2:19.) True love can alter human lives and change human nature. This truth was portrayed so beautifully on the stage in My Fair Lady. Eliza Doolittle, the flower girl, spoke to one for whom she cared: “You see, really and truly, apart from the things anyone can pick up—the dressing and the proper way of speaking—the difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she’s treated. I shall always be a flower girl to Professor Higgins because he always treats me as a flower girl and always will; but I know I can be a lady to you because you always treat me as a lady and always will.” The Apostle Paul wrote an epistle to his beloved companion Timothy in which he provided inspired counsel equally as applicable to you and me today as it was to Timothy. Listen carefully to his words: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee,” “but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Tim. 4:14, 12.) We need not wait for a cataclysmic event, a dramatic occurrence in the world in which we live, or a special invitation to be an example—even a model to follow. Our opportunities lie before us here and now. But they are perishable. Likely they will be found in our own homes and in the everyday actions of our lives. Our Lord and Master marked the way: “[He] went about doing good.” (Acts 10:38.) He in very deed was a model to follow—even an example of the believers. Happiness abounds when there is genuine respect one for another. Wives draw closer to their husbands, and husbands are more appreciative of their wives, and children are happy, as children are meant to be. Where there is respect in the home, children do not find themselves in that dreaded “never never land”—never the object of concern, never the recipient of proper parental guidance. To those who are not yet married, I counsel: People who marry in the hope of forming a permanent partnership require certain skills and attitudes of mind. They must be skillful in adapting to each other. They need capacity to work out mutual problems. They need willingness to give and take in the search for harmony. They need unselfishness of the highest sort, with thought for one’s partner taking the place of desire for oneself. Many years ago I had the opportunity to deliver a commencement address to a graduating class. I had gone to the home of President Hugh B. Brown that we might drive together to the university where he was to conduct the exercises and I was to speak. As President Brown entered my car, he said, “Wait a moment.” He looked toward the large bay window of his lovely home, and then I realized what he was looking for. The curtain parted, and I saw Sister Zina Brown, his beloved companion of well over fifty years, at the window, propped up in a wheelchair, waving a little white handkerchief. President Brown took from his inside coat pocket a white handkerchief, which he waved to her in return. Then, with a smile, he said to me, “Let’s go.” As we drove, I asked President Brown to tell me about the sign of the white handkerchiefs. He related to me the following incident: “The first day after Sister Brown and I were married, as I went to work I heard a tap at the window, and there was Zina, waving a white handkerchief. I found mine and waved in reply. From that day until this I have never left my home without that little exchange between my wife and me. It is a symbol of our love one for another. It is an indication to one another that all will be well until we are joined together at eventide.” Yes, a model to follow, “an example of the believers.” To you young women in attendance tonight, you, too, can be a model—even an example. We are all aware that we live in a time when there are those who mock virtue, who peddle pornography under the guise of art or culture, who turn a blind eye, a deaf ear, and a calloused heart to the teachings of Jesus and a code of decency. Many of our young people are tugged in the wrong direction and enticed to partake of the sins of the world. Yearningly such individuals seek for the strength of those who have the ability to stand firm for truth. Through righteous living and by extending the helping hand and the understanding heart, you can rescue, you can save. How great will then be your joy. How eternal will be the blessing you will have conferred. Some women face illness and incapacity, even to the point of being bedfast. Even so, there is the privilege to rise above affliction and to be a true example of faith, of love, and of service. Such was the partnership of Virginia and her husband, Eugene Jelesnik. They for many years worked together in bringing the gift of song and the joy of music to thousands of servicemen and women and to audiences from stages worldwide. Then illness and advancing age forced Virginia to remain within four walls—bedfast. But her spirit could not be held hostage by an impaired body. She continued to encourage her husband and to be his inspiration and constant support. All who are the beneficiaries of Eugene’s community concerts and his civic service marvel at his energy, his enthusiasm, and his kindness. In his many responsibilities, Virginia was ever a source of his strength. While the Apostle Paul urged that we be examples of the believers, he didn’t restrict the boundaries of our service or limit the extent of our influence. In July of this year, my wife and I attended an honor banquet where individuals were recognized for their quiet service, their selfless sacrifice, their untold devotion to lifting others to a higher plane of living with no thought of aggrandizement or personal reward. One Native American lady had literally given much of her life to teaching boys and girls of her native race how to live, how to love, and how to serve. Her response when recognized for her accomplishments bespoke her humility. Quietly and sincerely, she said just two special words: “Thank you.” Another beautiful woman was honored for her caring, her serving, and her leadership. As a nurse she comforted the wounded in World War II. As a wife and partner with her husband, she built a worldwide business which blessed the lives of many. And today she, as a widow, continues daily service to her state and community. She seems to always be smiling. Perhaps this is because she has found the key to happiness. She has always been a missionary. She has ever been there when needed. Yet another, we learned, had quietly yet effectively labored with love to ensure that the rights of abused children should not be neglected or abandoned. There were others. All qualified for the definition of a pioneer—namely, “one who goes before, showing others the way to follow.” During the banquet and program, I sat next to a well-known personality, Flip Harmon, and his wife, Lois. Flip has been involved with the direction of the Days of ’47 celebration for forty-three years, this being an annual July 24th activity in Salt Lake City. Since Flip was up and around the room fulfilling his official duties, I had the privilege of talking with Lois. She mentioned that she and family members were in attendance at every presentation of the famous rodeo which is one of the highlights of the Days of ’47 celebration. Now, a rodeo is nice once in a while—but every night? I asked Lois how she endured the schedule. Her response was from the heart. “This is Flip’s life, and I want to be part of it. He counts on me.” The night I had attended the rodeo with Sister Monson, my Aunt Blanche (age ninety-five), and our grandchildren, Lois was surrounded by children and precious grandchildren. She was the epitome of happiness. Now, during our luncheon conversation, Lois volunteered to me a few details about her husband. She said Flip had an angel mother who prayed fervently for her sons as they served their country during wartime. When Flip returned home, he and Lois were married. A busy life and welcome children followed. Each year as their wedding anniversary approached, Flip would say to Lois, “What gift do you want for our anniversary?” Each year the answer was the same, “A temple sealing.” The gift was not given. Then one year, as the perennial question was asked, “What do you want, Lois, for our anniversary?” and the usual response was given, “To go to the temple of God together,” Flip’s reply was unexpected: “Fine. I’ll prepare for such an event.” They were sealed for time and eternity in the holy house of God on their twenty-ninth anniversary. Later, Flip served as a bishop. Each remains faithful to the other and loyal to the Lord. As Lois continued, I noticed tears brimming in her eyes. She said, “You know Flip always wears cowboy boots. At the end of each day he would sit in the chair before the fireplace, where he would take off his boots and then read the paper. He would never put away the boots, no matter how many times I mentioned the subject. Years ago that would bother me. But not anymore. Today I just love those boots. Tender are my feelings and full is my heart as I willingly and lovingly pick them up and put them away each evening.” Now tears were brimming in my eyes. Unexpectedly, Lois Harmon was asked to come to the podium, where she was given signal honor for her silent service. A beautiful bouquet of red roses was presented to her. Flip was asked to respond. His expression was from his heart. It was as though the two of them were alone in the large hotel dining area. “Lois is the light of my life. She’s my eternal partner.” (The word partner seemed to fit with the cowboy boots.) “We’ll be together forever.” Patience was rewarded. Love was expressed. Heaven was near. My dear sisters, young and those just a bit older, though your circumstances may differ and your opportunities may vary, you can be models to follow, even “examples of the believers.” In the Holy Temple just east of the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, a beautiful tribute was paid to two of our sisters serving in the nursery. They, of course, were dressed in white, as were the children who had, that evening, been sealed to their parents. As the sisters bade their farewell to the children, one tiny girl, from a faith-filled heart, said to them, “Good night, angels.” May I borrow her words and say to you sisters worldwide, “Good night, angels.” In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Robert Pattison, a former vice president at Parsons Brinckerhoff and also a former president of the Long Island Rail Road, died May 12 at age 88. Pattison’s railroad career spanned four decades and included positions in freight and passenger rail operation, administration, and engineering, as well as overseeing the LIRR from 1976 to 1978. At PB, he was the technical director of railway engineering operations, both domestic and international, responsible for technical review for all the firm's rail projects. This review included rehabilitation of railroads, new coal haul railroads, studies of freight rates, sale of railroads and railroad operations, design of rail facilities, structural projects, and several high speed rail projects. Pattison also served as general manager of the Penn Central-Conrail Railroad from 1972 to 1976, responsible for the operations of the metropolitan region, which included the commuter operation between Grand Central Terminal in New York City and various points in New York State and Connecticut. He began his railroad career with the New York Central Railroad in 1947; from 1961 to 1972 he served as assistant general manager in charge of complete regional railroad operations. A founding member of the U.S. High Speed Rail Association, Pattison was involved with U.S. HSR efforts initiated by Penn Central’s Metroliner service on the Northeast Corridor. Pattison earned a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Illinois. His professional affiliations included the American Railway Engineering Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, High Speed Rail/Maglev Association, the MOLES, National Defense Transportation Association, Newcomen Society, New England Railroad Club, New York Railroad Club, Railway Tie Association, Roadmasters and Maintenance-of-Way Association of America, and the Society of American Military Engineers. In an apparent about-face, New York City’s Department of Transportation, long known for being averse to light rail and streetcar options and opportunities, seeks to choose a consultant this summer to studyrestoration of a streetcar route in the Red Hook waterfront area of Brooklyn. Red Hook, an old manufacturing and shipping district now enjoying a resurgence, is sparsely served by buses, but is generally acknowledged to be “underserved” by rail transit; the nearest subway stop on the F line is more than a mile away. NYCDOT’s study could also look at extending the proposed one-mile route another half-mile east, directly to New York City Transit’s massive transit hub at Borough Hall in Brooklyn. NYCDOT will fund the study through a $300,000 federal grant appropriated in 2005. The route has been advocated by the Brooklyn Historic Railway Association, a citizens group, for at least a decade; BHRA’s president, Bob Diamond, has promoted the idea for an even longer period. Diamond says the streetcar project would cost up to $15 million. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), who supports the effort, says she has sought $10 million in additional federal funding for the project. Railway industry suppliers continue to test and deploy new systems, even in the face of the "Great Recession," according to a new survey conducted by the Railway Supply Institute (RSI) this spring. "While Positive Train Control (PTC) garners most of the headlines, innovations in information technology, energy conservation, and refinements in equipment are steadily making rail operations more efficient and effective," RSI Executive Director Tom Simpson said. "We see progress in electronically-controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes, computerized camera inspection systems, fuel efficiency technologies, and better materials, coatings, monitoring devices, and improved valves and fittings for tank cars transporting hazardous and toxic materials." Twenty-eight suppliers responded to the e-mail survey, identifying themselves as locomotive, freight car, or passenger car builders, component suppliers, or as working in communications and signaling or maintenance-of-way (some have multi-discipline research and development efforts). The survey sought details on research and development budgets and supplier interaction with their railroad customers. Nearly half of the respondents said that more than half of their research and development is driven directly by their customers' requests. Ten of the respondents are "big spenders" on R&D, laying out more than $1 million a year on new technologies. Five spend more than $5 million annually. Despite the recession and downturn in operations, only two respondents have reduced their research and development spending over the past five years, and 11 are increasing their investments. "These results are extremely positive," said Bob Pokorski, Director of Engineering for Miner Enterprises and 2010 RSI chairman. "This survey was done in February and even then, in a down economy, with the downturn in car orders, rail suppliers are still optimistic about their future. It points to a healthy rail supply industry." Union Pacific’s employee records show Willie Sandoval to be a boilermaker in a locomotive shop in Fort Worth, Texas. UP Chairman, President and CEO Jim Young knows Sandoval to be also “a teacher, coach and mentor who consistently demonstrates outstanding safety practices and a willingness to share his knowledge with America's railroads honored the industry's safety achievements and celebrated railroads with the best employee safety records at the annual E.H. Harriman Awards. According to the Association of American Railroads (AAR), 2009 was the safest year ever for railroads, with significant milestones achieved across the board in reduced train accidents, employee casualties and grade crossing collisions. U.S TransportationSecretary Ray LaHood announced proposed new rules May 17 that he said wouldprohibit the use of cell phones or other electronic device by railroad operating employees "if it interferes with thatemployee's or another employee's performance of safety-related duties." Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman had good news for his shareholders, at least for the short-term, at their annual meeting in Williamsburg, Va., last week. The Canadian UrbanTransit Association recognizes Bombardier's achievement for 60-day streetcardemonstration project in Vancouver, Canada. At the CUTA 2010 Annual Conferenceheld in Ottawa, Canada, Bombardier Transportation received an award for theOlympic Line in the category "Exceptional Performance and OutstandingAchievement" under CUTA's National Transit Corporate Recognition Award Program. Cattron Group International™, a lglobal manufacturer of remote control products and professional services for the industrial, mining, commercial mobile and railroad markets, has contracted with TTechTrain SA de CV to represent the company in Mexico. They will handle all brands for the Industrial and Rail markets. Andres Duncan and Susana Duncan, along with their colleagues, have a combined experience of 86 years providing service to the railroad industry in the Americas.

SILVER BELL CLUB - LODGE #2365 POLISH NATIONAL ALLIANCE Since 1880, the PNA began providing insurance protection for Americans of Polish origins and ancestry, their families, friends and neighbors, both by owning quality life insurance and by taking advantage of our many excellent fraternal programs. History of the Silver Bell Club #2365 In 1925, twenty-six (26) young sports minded men banded together to form an athletic club which became the Silver Bell Club. These men were of Polish and Slovak origin. The club's primary objective was to participate in various competitive sports of boxing, baseball, and basketball. In 1974, the President, initiated the first annual "Sports Awards Banquet". Two champion The club became affiliated with the Polish National Alliance of North America, the largest Polish Fraternal organization in America. To distinguish this Lodge, it was named the "PNA Silver Bell Club, Group # 2365. In 1944, the Club, leased a building at 1700 Massachusetts Street. At the end of World War II, it became a place to reunify the neighborhood GI's returning home from military service. In 1950, the Club purchased the former Gleason Welfare Center. In1995, the first amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws were written and adopted, for new members and the inclusion of members were honored, Tony Zale, former world middle-weight boxing champ and Hank Stram, former head coach of the super bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. This sports award program drew crowds from 700 to 900 people to the event. This continuing event features National sports figures, honoring graduating high school students of Polish-Slovak decent. The Club purchased a 50 acre site and hall at 10310 Grand Blvd., in Crown Point, Indiana, in 1997. A catastrophic fire destroyed the 5,000 square foot hall on Christmas Eve, in 2004. Currently meetings are held at: Gary Sportsman's Club 10101 Madison St. Crown Point, IN SILVER BELL CLUB'S SYMBOL....THE BELL The future of the Silver Bell Club has been based on a firm foundation, the goal will be to increase membership, in order to continue it's Fraternal and civic endeavors for the Northwest Community as well as Polonia. Silver: means faith, purity, high and mighty, it also can mean having the soft, clear tones of a SILVER BELL. high rank or royalty , a cloth or garment was formally worn by sovereigns, hence it has connection with royal power, or dignity; (having highest rank or wealth). Mailing address: Silver Bell Club P.O. Box 162 Hobart, In 46342

Our company decided to put in an assembly line at our new DC location where I work. This was supposed to help speed up the shipping process, by enabling the line operators to shrink wrap pallets as the move along the line to their final shipping dock destination. They purchased said unit from a company that was supposed to come in and install it. This is the same company that installed our conveyor belt that failed, the second week in use, because it was not properly installed or maintained by this particular company. It took forever for Howard, the owner I think, and his band of fools to come and install. I and several other men and woman witnessed quite the display of ignorance while watching these young inexperienced men try to assemble the unit. At one end there is a pallet table that lifts up and and down and rotates 180 degrees allowing workers to stack boxes on the pallet more easily. This was not installed properly, as a matter of fact we don't even need it or use it. When I asked the guy putting it together what it was for he said he did not know. "Then why do we need it?" He couldn't answer. I have an answer. Because the people who sold it to us did not look at what we needed, but looked at what they could sell us. What kind of industrial assembly products company sells their client something they don't need?... A shady uneducated one. I asked Howard, the guy in charge, several poignant questions about the operation and the installation. He always had those, used car salesman from the 70s, answers. The kind packed plum full of garden manure. After a couple of days of operation our shrink wrap unit started to lose momentum and we were reduced to actually pushing it manually around in circles. Someone called Howard to come fix it. In the weeks that followed, myself and several other plant people inspected the equipment and surmised that it was a mechanical failure. The turn table was out of balance and the guide wheels where shot. Along comes Howard and the gang. He brings several people with him none of whom seem to know much about trouble shooting, except the electrician. Now to save time in the interest of our company, I'm not sure if these are billable hours from Howard or not, I suggest early in the morning that they disassemble the turn table to get to the root of the mechanical problem. Allow me to illuminate. I am no one special at my place of employment, but my yearly bonus and our reputation depends on our ability to adequately provide product to our account holders. If we lose accounts, we lose business and then we lose our jobs. That being said the longer they dink around with this the longer we are held up. And if they are billing us for this "repair time", its costing us money. So back to the root of the problem. After I relay what myself and my colleagues believe to be useful information I am told that this is an electrical problem and I really don't know what I am talking about. After wasting an entire day rewiring and "troubleshooting" they finally decide to take it apart. What do they discover. A bent sprocket shaft and worn out trolley wheels. So my superior looks at Howard and says "So Howard still think it's an electrical problem". Moral of the story: No matter how long you have, or more importantly have not, been in business always listen to your clients. At least pretend to listen, there by avoiding egg face. #2 Always know those that labor among you, for there may be one wolf hiding as a sheep waiting to devour your money with no remorse.

Distraction displays, also known as diversionary displays, or paratrepsis are anti-predator behaviors used to attract the attention of an enemy away from something, typically the nest or young, that is being protected by a parent. Distraction displays are sometimes classified more generically under "nest protection behaviors" along with aggressive displays such as mobbing. These displays have been studied most extensively in bird species, but also have been documented in populations of stickleback fish and in some mammal species. Distraction displays frequently take the form of injury-feigning. However, animals may also imitate the behavior of a small rodent or alternative prey item for the predator; imitate young or nesting behaviors such as brooding (to cause confusion as to the true location of the nest), mimic foraging behaviors away from the nest, or simply draw attention to oneself. Distraction displays were once considered to be a sort of "partial paralysis," or uncontrolled, stress-induced movements. On the basis of several observations, David Lack postulated that such displays simply resulted from the bird's alarm at having been flushed from the nest and had no decoy purpose. He noted a case in the European nightjar, when a bird led him around the nest several times but made no attempt to lure him away. He additionally noted courtship displays mixed with the distraction displays of the bird, suggesting that distraction display is not a purposeful action unto itself, and observed that the display became less vigorous the more frequently he visited the nest, as would be expected if the display were a response driven by fear and surprise. Other researchers, including Edward Allworthy Armstrong, have taken issue with these arguments. While Armstrong acknowledged that displaying animals could make mistakes, as Lack's nightjar seems to have done in leading him around the nest, he attributed such mistakes not to paralytic fear but to a conflict of interest between self-preservation and reproductive or enemy attack impulses: the bird at once experiences a drive to lure the predator away and also to directly guard the young. Armstrong also thought that the incorporation of sexual and threat displays into the distraction display did not necessarily represent a mistake on the part of the animal, but "might make the display more effective by increasing its conspicuousness." Finally, the observation of less vigorous displays due to repeated nest approaches does not preclude the parent animal simply learning that the human is not a threat to its young. Jeffrey Walters provided evidence that lapwings possessed the ability to distinguish between different types of predators of varying threat levels, a behavior which is presumably learned, perhaps through cultural transmission. Armstrong additionally noted that displaying animals were rarely captured by predators, as would be expected if the display were truly uncontrolled, and that the movements seemed to show signs of some sort of control by the animal, although likely not conscious, intelligent control. One example of apparent control is attention seemingly paid to routes used by the displaying animal when moving away from the nest. Furthermore, researchers have noted parent animals moving towards the predator during the display. While some of these cases could be attributed to mistakes made during "partial paralysis," in the case described by Wiklund and Stigh, snowy owls consistently walked or ran towards the predator while displaying, suggesting that the action was deliberate. An additional hypothesis in alignment with Armstrong's ideas about conflicting impulses suggests that the incorporation of sexual and threat displays into the distraction display may represent displacement. Displacement occurs when an animal, unable to satisfy two conflicting impulses, may initiate an out-of-context behavior to "vent". If a displacement behavior served an adaptive function, such as increased survival of the young, then it may have experienced positive selection and become ritualized and stereotyped in its new context. In any case, there are some forms of distraction display which may in fact have evolved from stress responses, an idea more in alignment with Lack's hypothesis. One of these is the "rodent-run" display, in which a bird fluffs its feathers to mimic the fur of a rodent and scurries away from the nest. It is possible that this display originates from a feather ruffling reflex to alarm. There are several conditions in which distraction display may be advantageous to the animal, such that the incorporation of displacement or stress behaviors into offspring defense will most likely undergo positive selection. Most such cases depend upon the condition or location of the nest: distraction display has tended to evolve in species whose nests alone do not provide a substantial physical barrier to predators, and in those that nest on exposed terrain or close to the ground. If the nest is on open terrain, the parent may perceive predators at a greater distance and be able to leave the nest and begin displaying before the predator is in sufficient proximity to locate the nest. Furthermore, if the nest is on or near the ground, the parent may be able to display more effectively; Armstrong noted the relative rarity in the literature of distraction display in arboreal-nesting species, and attributed this to the difficulty of displaying convincingly while on a branch. Nonetheless, there have been anecdotal reports of warblers, which nest arboreally, dropping to the ground to perform a distraction display when disturbed, as well as displaying along a tree branch. In addition, distraction display tends to be most adaptive when animals nest solitarily, as solitary nesters lack the opportunity for mobbing a predator or otherwise performing communal defense, although some species have been observed to display in groups. Finally, distraction display tends to be adaptive when diurnal predation by visually-stimulated predators takes place (as these predators are most likely to notice the visual display). Distraction display has been most extensively studied in birds. It has been observed in many species, including passerines and non-passerines, and has been particularly well documented in the Charadriiformes. Injury-feigning, including broken-wing and impeded flight displays, is one of the more common forms of distraction. In broken-wing displays, birds that are at the nest walk away from it with wings quivering so as to appear as an easy target for a predator. Such injury-feigning displays are particularly well known in nesting waders and plovers, but also have been documented in other species, including snowy owls, the alpine accentor, and the mourning dove. Impeded flight displays additionally may suggest an injured wing, but through an airborne display. False brooding is an approach used by plovers. The bird moves away from the nest site and crouches on the ground so as to appear to be sitting at a nonexistent nest and allows the predator to approach closely before escaping. Another display seen in plovers, as well as some passerine birds, is the rodent run, in which the nesting bird ruffles its back feathers, crouches, and runs away from the predator. This display resembles the flight response of a small rodent. It has additionally been postulated that threat displays, such as gaping by the Caprimulgidae and wing-extension by the killdeer, and sexual displays, such as courtship dancing by stilts, can become incorporated into distraction displays where the bird is feigning injury. In both cases the incorporated components may increase conspicuousness, resulting in a more effective distraction display. Stickleback fish have been documented performing distraction displays. A nesting male three-spined stickleback, when approached by a group of conspecifics, will perform a distraction display by digging or pointing into the substrate away from the nest in order to protect his eggs from cannibalism. There have been two explanations proposed for this behavior. One hypothesis is that the display arose from a courtship behavior in which the male normally "points" an approaching female towards his nest so that she may lay her eggs within it. Therefore, pointing at the sediment away from a nest containing eggs may divert a cannibalistic female's attention through sexual cues. A second hypothesis is that the stickleback distraction display arose from displaced foraging behavior and as such represents faux-foraging. In support of this hypothesis was the finding that all-male, all-female, and mixed foraging groups responded equally to the display, which would not be expected if it were indeed mimicking a sexual display. Though rarely documented in mammals, a few instances of distraction display have appeared in the literature. One researcher documented a distraction display performed by a female red squirrel in order to protect her young. When the nest was approached, the female attempted to lead the researcher away through the trees using a ventriloquistic call that resembled the cries of the young. An additional study documented distraction display in Mentawai langurs, whereby a male will call loudly and bounce on branches while the female and young are able to quietly hide. Costs and decision to display While animals performing distraction displays are rarely documented as being killed, risks to the displaying animal do exist. One researcher observed and documented an instance in which a second predator become attracted to an animal already performing a distraction display, which was initially triggered by the approach of an initial predator. The displaying animal was killed. Additionally, it has been shown that some predators are “smart,” or have learned to recognize that distraction displays indicate a nearby nest. One study recorded a red fox that increased its searching behavior in response to the distraction display of a grouse and eventually found and killed the grouse nestlings. Factors influencing decision Given these risks, an animal must decide when distraction display is an appropriate response to a predator. Researchers have found several important factors that appear to influence the decision to use a distraction display and the intensity of the display, although it is not evident that these factors are taken into consideration consciously by the displaying animal. Several considerations involving the predator have been shown to be important, including the distance of the predator from the nest. Intensity of display has been shown to decrease as the distance of the predator from the nest increases, perhaps representing the balancing of risk to the displaying parent and to the vulnerable young. The type of predator has also been shown to be of importance, with birds tending to display most intensely to ground-dwelling carnivores and less intensely to humans and flying predators. Finally, the number of potential predators has also been shown to be important in sticklebacks, in which frequency of distraction displaying by the male is positively correlated with the number of conspecifics in a foraging shoal. In addition, the presence of a second parent at the nest correlates with increased display intensity, perhaps representing a diluted predation risk. The number of potential extra-pair mobbers has also been shown to marginally increase the intensity of the display, again representing a possible dilution of risk to each of the animals engaging in the distraction. Third, the timing of distraction display as a correlate of nestling age has been a matter of particular interest in birds, with study results showing that the age at which displays are performed differs in species with precocial and altricial young. In species with precocial young, distraction display is most frequent just after hatching, while in altricial young, it is most frequent just before fledging. This may represent a greater tendency to display at the times when parental investment in young is greatest, and the young are still very vulnerable. However, some studies have failed to find any correlation between the cost of replacing a brood (a measure of parental investment) and the frequency of distraction display. Lastly, game theory has been employed to explain how grouse may decide to display or not based on proxies for the abundance of “smart” predators, such as abundance of rodents in the preceding year. In this particular study, it was assumed that a greater abundance of rodents in one year may result in higher birth rates among foxes, which feed on the rodents, and therefore a greater population of one-year-old foxes in the following year. Yearling foxes are not yet experienced enough grouse hunters to be considered "smart." As such, distraction display may be a profitable strategy for the grouse in years following rodent population booms, as there is less risk of encountering a "smart" predator. However, a low rodent population in a given year may result in lower birth rates among foxes for that year, thereby resulting in a higher proportion of older, more experienced foxes in the population in the following year. In such a case, grouse may profit from not displaying, as they are more likely to encounter a "smart" predator. - Armstrong, Edward (1949). "Diversionary display.--Part 2. The nature and origin of distraction display". Ibis 91 (2): 179–188. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1949.tb02261.x. - Armstrong, Edward (1949). "Diversionary display.--Part 1. Connotation and terminology". Ibis 91 (1): 88–97. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1949.tb02239.x. - Barrows, Edward M. (2001) Animal behavior desk reference. CRC Press. 2nd ed. p. 177 ISBN 0-8493-2005-4 - Armstrong, Edward (1954). "The ecology of distraction display". British Journal of Animal Behaviour 2 (4): 121–135. doi:10.1016/S0950-5601(54)80001-3. - Caro, Tim (2005). "Nest defense". Antipredator Defenses in Birds and Mammals. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press. pp. 335–379. - Ruxton, Graeme D; Thomas N. Sherratt; Michael Patrick Speed. (2004) Avoiding attack: the evolutionary ecology of crypsis, warning signals and mimicry. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-852859-0. p. 198 - Foster, Susan (1988). "Diversionary displays of paternal stickleback: Defenses against cannibalistic groups". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 22 (5): 335–340. doi:10.1007/BF00295102. - Ridgway, Mark; McPhail, John (1987). "Raiding shoal size and a distraction display in male sticklebacks (Gasterosteus)". Canadian Journal of Zoology 66 (1): 201–205. doi:10.1139/z88-028. - Whoriskey, Frederick (1991). "Stickleback distraction displays: Sexual or foraging deception against egg cannibalism?". Animal Behaviour 41 (6): 989–995. doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(05)80637-2. - Whoriskey, Frederick; FitzGerald, Gerard (1985). "Sex, cannibalism and sticklebacks". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 18 (1): 15–18. Retrieved October 26, 2015. - Tilson, Ronald; Tenaza, Richard (1976). "Monogamy and duetting in an Old World monkey". Nature 263 (5575): 320–321. doi:10.1038/263320a0. - Long, Charles (1993). "Bivocal distraction nest-site display in the red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, with comments on outlier nesting and nesting behavior". Canadian Field-Naturalist 107 (1): 104–106. Retrieved October 13, 2015. - Byrkjedal, Ingvar (1989). "Nest defense behavior of lesser golden-plovers" (PDF). Wilson Bulletin 101 (4): 579–590. - Duffey, Eric; Creasey, N. (2008). "The "rodent-run" distraction-behaviour of certain waders". Ibis 92 (1): 27–33. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1950.tb01730.x. - Rowley, Ian (1962). ""Rodent-run" distraction display by a passerine, the superb blue wren Malurus cyaneus (L.)". Behaviour 19 (1–2): 170–176. doi:10.1163/156853961X00240. - Lack, David (1932). "Some breeding-habits of the European nightjar". Ibis 74 (2): 266–284. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1932.tb07622.x. - Walters, Jeffrey (1990). "Anti-predatory behavior of lapwings: Field evidence of discriminative abilities" (PDF). Wilson Bulletin 102 (1): 49–70. - Curio, E.; Ernst, U.; Vieth, W. (1978). "Cultural transmission of enemy recognition: One function of mobbing". Science 202 (4370): 899–901. doi:10.1126/science.202.4370.899. JSTOR 1747814. PMID 17752463. - Wiklund, Christer; Stigh, Jimmy (1983). "Nest defense and evolution of reversed sexual size dimorphism in snowy owls Nyctea scandiaca". Ornis Scandinavica 14 (1): 58–62. doi:10.2307/3676252. Retrieved October 26, 2015. - Tinbergen, Nikolaas (1952). ""Derived" activities: Their causation, biological significance, origin, and emancipation during evolution". The Quarterly Review of Biology 27: 1–32. doi:10.1086/398642. Retrieved October 26, 2015. - Grimes, A. (1936). ""Injury feigning" by birds". Auk 53 (4): 478–480. doi:10.2307/4078314. JSTOR 4078314. - Barash, David (1975). "Evolutionary aspects of parental behavior: Distraction behavior of the alpine accentor". Wilson Bulletin 87 (3): 367–373. Retrieved October 26, 2015. - Pavel, Vaclav; Bures, Stanislav (2001). "Offspring age and nest defence: Test of the feedback hypothesis in the meadow pipit". Animal Behaviour 61: 297–303. doi:10.1006/anbe.2000.1574. - Hudson, Peter; Newborn, David (1990). "Brood defence in a precocial species: Variations in the distraction displays of red grouse, Lagopus lagopus scoticus". Animal Behaviour 40: 254–261. doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(05)80920-0. - Sonerud, Geir (1988). "To distract display or not: Grouse hens and foxes". Oikos 51 (2): 233–237. doi:10.2307/3565647. Retrieved October 26, 2015. - Ristau, Carolyn (1991). "Aspects of the cognitive ethology of an injury-feigning bird, the piping plover". Cognitive Ethology: The Minds of Other Animals. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. pp. 91–126. - Baskett, Thomas S. and Sayre, Mark W. and Tomlinson, Roy E. (1993) Ecology and Management of the Mourning Dove. Stackpole Books, p. 167, ISBN 0-8117-1940-5. - Sordahl, Tex (1990). "The risks of avian mobbing and distraction behavior: an anecdotal review" (PDF). Wilson Bulletin 102 (2): 349–352.

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The California Wine Club In This Issue My best wine values of 2007 My best wine values of 2007 As I do at the end of every year at this time, I've sorted all my wine-tasting reports of the year, using the power of the computer to spot the wines that I've rated best for quality and value. These are the wines that showed exceptional value at all price points, earning the admiring moniker that online wine "geeks" call "Quality-Price Ratio" or, for short, "QPR." While there haven't been many dramatic new developments or unexpected trends in the wine world in 2007, a number of recent trends appear to be continuing. For instance: Farewell to the cork? The battle between natural cork and alternative closures go on. In spite of increased quality control measures by the cork industry that have led - at least in my experience - to a significantly reduced incidence of "cork taint" among recent wine releases, taint-free alternatives continue to capture market share. As in the past, Australia and New Zealand lead the charge, with virtually all white wines from Down Under now arriving under screw cap; perhaps even more significantly, more and more reds - even hefty Shirazes - are starting to turn up with the clean metal closure. Even in Europe, the floodgates are starting to open, with screwcaps and synthetic "corks" becoming widespread among modest wines. Austria and Germany, where aroma and flavor "transparency" are critical, seem to be on the verge of abandoning traditional cork for their whites, flirting with a variety of closures including the intriguing glass stopper as well as screwcaps and synthetics. Big changes coming in Europe Faced with dramatic declines in wine consumption among young people, rising anti-alcohol sentiment, and a glut of unsellable industrial wine that, at least in France, has led to government subsidies for distilling unsold wine into alcohol, the European Union and European marketers are looking at dramatic changes in wine regulation. While the top-level controlled-appellation wines that wine geeks love don't seem threatened for now, this development bears watching. Blockbusters and climate change A string of record-hot years and increasingly chaotic weather makes it increasingly difficult to deny the reality that something weird is going on with Earth's climate. Whether we blame climate change, vineyard and winery technology, critical pressure or a combination, the average alcohol level in wine is indisputably rising, with "blockbuster" wines, hard to match with food, becoming dominant in many New World regions and difficult to escape even in Europe. Those of us who prefer lighter, more delicate and food-friendly wines are finding our options diminishing. Inflation Alcohol isn't the only wine number that's going up. The continued rise of the Euro against the dollar shows no sign of abating, with the European currency unit approaching its all-time high of nearly 1 1/2 times the dollar at year's end. The "dollarette" may be a creature of intentional economic policy, seeking to boost U.S. corporations by making them more competitive with imports, but it's a whack in the wallet to wine lovers, as we see even modest European wines reaching the mid-teens to $20, and very little "interesting" wine selling for much below $12. Blame the Euro for the high price of imports; you'll have to ask a follower of Adam Smith or Milton Friedman why U.S. wines seem to be following a similar pattern, but I'm blaming the "invisible hand" of the market. Fine wine, it seems, is increasingly seen as a luxury good, and if you can't afford it, to paraphrase Marie Antoinette, "Let 'em drink beer." Comparing my list of top-value wines of 2007 against the list for 2006 tells the tale: Last year, 60 wines made my cut for the honor-roll roster of value at all price points. Just five of them sold for more than $20, with 25 in the $12 to $20 mid-range, and 30 for $12 or less, of which 16 were tagged at $10 or below. This year, 56 wines made the cut, with just nine of them priced under $10 and only seven more between $10 and $12. A dozen fell between $12 and $15, suggesting that, for budget purposes, $15 has become the new break point for "less expensive" wines. Sorted by country or region, this year's QPR list includes 22 from France and 10 from Italy. Perhaps reflecting the Euro's rise, value wines from the United States and Australia both increased their share, with nine entries from California (and two from Washington State), and five Australians. Wrapping up the list, I have two each from Argentina, Portugal and Spain, and one each from Austria and South Africa. The list includes 34 red wines, 20 whites and two rosés; among them you'll find six sparkling wines and one dessert wine. To whet your appetite, here are links to some particular personal favorites from this year's list: Gérard Raphet 2005 Bourgogne (France), $22.99. (Find it on Wine-Searcher.com) Alkoomi 2004 Frankland River Western Australia Shiraz Viognier (Australia), $22.99. (Find it on Wine-Searcher.com) Edmunds St. John 2004 "Rocks and Gravel" California Red Wine (California), $20. (Find it on Wine-Searcher.com) Alain Jaume & Fils 2005 Domaine Grand Veneur "Les Champauvins" Côtes du Rhône Villages (France), $19.99. (Find it on Wine-Searcher.com) Palacios 2005 "Pétalos" Bierzo (Spain), $18. (Find it on Wine-Searcher.com) Tenuta Roveglia 2004 Lugana (Italy), $14. (Find it on Wine-Searcher.com) Laurel Glen 2005 REDS Lodi Red Wine (California), $9.99. (Find it on Wine-Searcher.com) Ken Forrester 2006 Stellenbosch Petit Chenin (South Africa), $9.99. (Find it on Wine-Searcher.com) For a detailed look at all 56 of my top-value wines of 2006, ranked in order of the actual retail price that I paid, click to my annual report, QPR 2007, at For today's tasting report, following up on Friday's Champagne recommendation with yet another fine "farmer fizz" (estate-bottled "grower" Champagne), see below. Spread the Cheer with The California Wine Club Since 1990 The California Wine Club has been discovering limited production wines from small California wineries. Every month features a new winery and a new adventure! If you're looking for a memorable gift that won't be found in local stores, try The California Wine Club. Gift months include two bottles of hand-selected, award-winning wines and the club's entertaining and beautiful 12-page magazine, Uncorked. Just $34.95 per month plus shipping and handling. Send as many months as wish, and save on discounts of 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. If there is someone on your gift list that you forgot, call us now and we'll help spread the New Year's cheer. 1-800-777-4443 or visit www.cawineclub.com. Champagne René Geoffroy "Expression" Brut Coumières Premier Cru ($29.99) Clear pale gold, with a foamy mousse followed by a very persistent bubble fountain. Apples and a delicate whiff of rising bread dough; just a touch of cocoa. Tart and crisp, flavors follow the nose. Creamy and fresh, nicely balanced. Another "farmer fizz" from an individual grower (Récoltant-Manipulant), it's an unusual blend of 50% Pinot Meunier, 40% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay. U.S. importer: Michael Skurnik Wines, Manhasset, N.Y.; a Terry Theise Estate Selection. (Dec. 28, 2007) FOOD MATCH: Good with a diverse range of fare on a pre-New Year's buffet: French bread and Brie, avocado and grapefruit salad, spinach quiche and a vegetarian kale-and-garbanzo soup. VALUE: More than competitive in the pricey realm of "real" Champagne at this price point, which appears to be a few dollars under the market. WHEN TO DRINK: Made to drink up and requires no cellaring, but it should keep well for a year or two under good storage conditions, perhaps longer if you like the oxidized quality of older Champagne. The importer's Website features this English-language fact sheet on Champagne René Geoffroy, with links to detailed reports on this and other specific wines: FIND THIS WINE ONLINE: Compare prices and locate vendors for Geoffroy "Expression" on Wine-Searcher.com: Saratoga Wine Exchange One Stop Gift Shopping! The Saratoga Wine Exchange is your source for fine wine online! Spend less time searching web sites for that rare vintage or gift - we've done the work for you! Our online store is easy to use, flash-free and full of fine, rare and collectible wines including Kistler, Turley, Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estates, Mouton, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and many more. Find exactly what your cellar or gift list needs right here, 24-hours-a-day, with just a click of your mouse. Check out our most popular section – wines rated 90 points and above. Wines are listed by price so you can easily search and find wines rated 90 points or above in your price range. Makes for easy holiday shopping!" Talk About Wine Online If you have questions, comments or ideas to share about today's article or wine in general, you're always welcome to drop by our online WineLovers Discussion Group. This link will take you to the forum home page, where you can read discussions in all the forum sections: Everyone is free to browse. If you'd like to post a comment, question or reply, you must register, but registration is free and easy. Do take care to register using your real name, or as a minimum, your real first name and last initial. Anonymous registrations are quietly discarded. To contact me by E-mail, write [email protected]. I'll respond personally to the extent that time and volume permit. PRINT OUT TODAY'S ARTICLE Here's a simply formatted copy of today's Wine Advisor, designed to be printed out for your scrapbook or file or downloaded to your PDA or other wireless device. This week on WineLoversPage.com Oxford Town Wines: Surviving New Year's Eve Preaching to the choir, columnist John Juergens offers a few tips on surviving the hedonistic whirlwind that sucks us through the maelstrom of New Year's Eve. Our Internet radio "TalkShoe": Happy New Year 2008! Come and join the festivities! There's (virtual) Champagne for everyone as we talk about the world of wine in the year just past and the year to come on our Internet Radio TalkShoe! Please join us today, Dec. 31, at Noon US EST (9 a.m. Pacific, 6 p.m. in Western Europe) to listen or talk. See our TalkShoe page for information about tuning in: In last week's show, we talked about wine trends of 2007. Download it or listen online: All our TalkShoe programs are available for listening at any time in the archives! WineLovers Discussion Group: Tips on building a wine cellar A wine enthusiast plans to build a wine cellar, and gets lots of advice and tips from participants in our WineLovers Discussion Group. To read the conversation or join in, click: Netscape/Compuserve Community Poll: Wine Resolutions for 2008 As 2007 nears its end, it's time for our annual discussion about our wine-related resolutions in the New Year. We're running this poll for another week, so if you haven't voted yet, now's your chance! Last Week's Wine Advisor Index The Wine Advisor's daily edition is usually distributed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (and, for those who subscribe, the FoodLetter on Thursdays). Here's the index to last week's columns: Farmer fizz (Dec. 28, 2007) Getting older, getting better (Dec. 26, 2007) The 15 percent solution (Dec. 24, 2007) Complete 30 Second Wine Advisor archive: Wine Advisor FoodLetter: Round Two beef stew (Dec. 27, 2007) Wine Advisor Foodletter archive:

David Bourget (Western Ontario) David Chalmers (ANU, NYU) Rafael De Clercq Ezio Di Nucci Jack Alan Reynolds Learn more about PhilPapers Critical Horizons 9 (1):42-59 (2008) This paper explores the tension between pragmatism and utopia, especially in the concept of "realistic utopianism". It argues that historically, the pragmatic and gradualist rejection of utopia has been anti-utopian in effect, notably in the case of Popper. More recent attempts to argue in favour of "realistic utopianism" or its equivalent, by writers such as Wallerstein and Rorty are also profoundly anti-utopian, despite Rorty's commitment to "social hope". They co-opt the terminology of utopia to positions that are antagonistic to radical alterity. But this is not a necessary response to the utopia/pragmatism tension: Unger, who is explicitly opposed to utopia, in fact proffers a more sympathetic resolution based on the merits of vision, social improvization and collective learning. These may lie closer to the core of the utopian project as a vehicle for the education of desire than Unger himself recognizes. |Keywords||No keywords specified (fix it)| |Categories||categorize this paper)| Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server Configure custom proxy (use this if your affiliation does not provide a proxy) |Through your library| References found in this work BETA Darren Webb (2007). Modes of Hoping. History of the Human Sciences 20 (3):65-83. Peter Fitting (1998). The Concept of Utopia in the Work of Fredric Jameson. Utopian Studies 9 (2):8 - 17. Citations of this work BETA No citations found. Similar books and articles Ralf M. Bader (2011). The Framework for Utopia. In The Cambridge Companion to Nozick's 'Anarchy, State, and Utopia'. Cambridge University Press Angela Yiu (2008). From Utopia to Empire: Atarashikimura and A Personal View of the Greater East Asia War (1942). Utopian Studies 19 (2):213 - 232. David Halpin (2001). Utopianism and Education: The Legacy of Thomas More. British Journal of Educational Studies 49 (3):299-315. Zachary Price (1999). On Young Lukács on Kierkegaard: Hermeneutic Utopianism and the Problem of Alienation. Philosophy and Social Criticism 25 (6):67-82. Galib A. Khan (2006). In Search of a New Utopia. The Proceedings of the Twenty-First World Congress of Philosophy 2:269-273. Patrick Parrinder (1987). Utopia and Meta-Utopia in H. G. Wells. Utopian Studies 1:79-97. Roland Boer (2008). Religion and Utopia in Fredric Jameson. Utopian Studies 19 (2):285 - 312. Michael Hviid Jacobsen (2004). From Solid Modern Utopia to Liquid Modern Anti-Utopia? Tracing the Utopian Strand in the Sociology of Zygmunt Bauman. Utopian Studies 15 (1):63 - 87. Bríona Nic Dhiarmada (2007). Aspects of Utopia, Anti-Utopia, and Nostalgia in Irish-Language Texts. Utopian Studies 18 (3):365 - 378. Chlöe Houston (2007). Utopia, Dystopia or Anti-Utopia? Gulliver's Travels and the Utopian Mode of Discourse. Utopian Studies 18 (3):425 - 442. Added to index2009-01-28 Total downloads90 ( #46,455 of 1,907,365 ) Recent downloads (6 months)6 ( #128,488 of 1,907,365 ) How can I increase my downloads?

My mare is deathly afraid of me since she bucked me off! HELP My 5 year old 13.3hh morgan cross mare, Ruby came from the Amish. We got her at an Amish auction like 3 months ago and she has come A LONGGGG way. When we got her wouldn't let you catch her, but once you did she was just so afraid that we were going to hit her or whip her. She has finally overcome that fear and she trusts me a little bit. She came broke to drive but I want to break her to ride, jump especially. I have broke and sold about half a dozen horses now so I have a good idea of what I'm doing. I am firm when the horses need it, like I WILL NOT let them push me around. They are not allowed in my little 'bubble', etc. I soon realized this isn't how I should work her. The first few times I rode her around she was so easy going, nervous, but easy going. I ride her in my barnyard, nice level surface, fenced in. Nothing special. I decided to ride her in a different area because the night before it rained so it was all mushy. First I took a whole lap around this front paddock, probably 3 times the size as my barnyard thing, leading her so she wouldn't spook under saddle. So no spook so I flexed her climbed on and just walked around the paddock. When we got to a corner, the farthest point away from the barn, I asked her to stop. She always had good brakes so I wasn't pushing it. She stopped fine, then wouldn't stand and thats when the bucking began. Nice high bronc bucks too! So I just bailed, landed on my butt and watched her buck her way to the gate. I walked to the gate, not expecting to catch her soon, so I just stood there, with my head down, shoulders in. Within 1 minute she comes walking up to me licking her lips and saying she is sorry. When I go to grab my reins (slowly) she throws her head up in fear and runs away. Eventually she comes walking up again. So I just start slowly rubbing on her shoulders butt everything to calm her down, but still, with every touch she flinches. I didn't get back on for that session, but I just worked on rubbing her down until she calmed down. This was about 4 days ago... And I have worked her every day, by lunging her saddled with a tie down and my 'Anti-Buck strap'. Its just a piece of baling twine around the saddle horn and around her neck, so when/if she puts her head down to buck, it kinda chokes her off. Also my saddle isn't the problem, its a 15'' Billy Cook barrel saddle, that fits her nicely, plus I've lunged her W/T/C in it, no buck before this. So my question is how do I get her to trust me that I will not hit her whip her etc? Haha also I kinda need my confidence built up too... Any tips? Thanks guys for reading my essay!! Patience is the only cure. She's scared that she's done something wrong and she might get beaten up for it. You need to show her that you're not like that. I'm working with a young horse that was deathly afraid of people and is still very wary/suspicious of anything that you could hit her with... the only cure is patient persistence and knowing when to let the smallest baby step be a win, and when to push the horse for more. Mine is coming around incredibly fast, but I'm working with her 3 times a day, always patient. SHE has to ALLOW me to do whatever, I can't force anything on her at all... and it was the same with halters, when I first got her the only way to halter her was to back her into a corner and force the halter on. I refuse to do that, so it was a few days before I could get one on her, but a day or two after that she started trying to take the mickey, and then all of a sudden she became totally easy. All from patience, and not giving up until I got a small win. Doesn't sound so much like fear to me, as a pain reaction. It could be any number of things, including the saddle. It may have been hurting her all along, but she put up with it as long as she could. You might want to check her teeth and see if they need to be floated, as well as checking for pressure points down her back where it might be hurting. SR, mine flinches at touch sometimes... and was REALLY bad when I first got her. But she's not even broke, and isn't sore anywhere (I have massaged her all over), it's fear and/or ticklishness. Around her flanks it's ticklishness, she's a red mare and I have found such creatures to have more sensitive skin than any other horse... but she also has a spot just behind her elbow, and used to have a spot under her belly, both of which are places an angry farrier might jab a rasp into a horse should it fidget. Her previous owner was a very impatient man, and had been a farrier for too many years... as a result her feet are brilliant but being a young TB she wouldn't have been especially willing to stand still, so I wouldn't be surprised if she'd copped a few rasps to the gut. Thanks guys. I had a good idea patience would be the answer, but was just wondering if there was any other tips. She is getting better, a lot better. Yeah she is real scared of my lunge whip, I feel so bad for her. She is breath takingly beautiful, and the amish used her as a plow horse.... She's a chocolate palimino :) I think the bucking might have been caused by her not being quite ready for riding just yet, actually, upon thinking on it for a while. (and having a near-disaster with mine because I tried to do something she wasn't ready for - not riding, but a groundwork thing that I've done with every single one of my horses) Usually, if you overload them, they do go backwards. The art is knowing when to push and when to say ok, I'll let you have that baby step and try to do more tomorrow. Horses crave leadership and they get their confidence, initially, from their herd leader. YOU have to become her leader. Here is another instance where Clinton Anderson's methods would really help you. Usually I just suggest checking out his videos online, but IMO, it would do you good to buy his basic DVD's and follow it. Right now her fear is making her VERY DANGEROUS to you. This is a LOT cheaper than your hospital bill when she hurts you, and it's inevitable if you don't turn her around. Plus, if you give up on her and sell her, trailering is probably gonna be difficult, too. I've had several friends injured over the years trying to load a problem horse. CA had a recent program with a woman whose mare had been neglected before she bought her (halter grew into the face, and other stuff), and then she freed the horse when a fire (in Texas, 2011) was engulfing her property and the mare wouldn't load in her trailer. She thought she'd never see this horse again, but the mare found a creek and her survival skills kicked in. But, she was wild when the owner got her home. CA turned this mare around in about 4 days. She was quiet and obedient and loaded to go home. We THINK that these horses cannot be retrained, but your mare is looking for security. Herd leaders DEMAND attention and instant reaction of the lower members of the herd. CA's method primarily teaches you to move your horse's feet, and demands that the horse look to YOU for commands. This will translate, later, into riding cues. Those of us who have ridden and trained for decades KNOW when our horse is "listening to us" bc we get quiet, instant obedience of cues. (We also know the difference between how a hot blooded and cold blooded horse reacts obediently to our cues. Your horse is probably on the "hot" side.) I've taught my 6yo geldings to move over EVERY TIME I groom them, and many other English terms, and I reinforce my commands with a whip when they don't respond when I ground train. I use lots of lots of backing every training session, too, bc horses don't naturally like to back up long distances, and none like to back straight. I am only 5'4" tall, but I can still train my 16'3hh gelding, who has had some issues with fear and confidence. The more I train for obedience on the ground, the more confident AND relaxed he becomes. Abuse and fear can come from any owner. My farrier is an Amish man, and his horses are obedient, but not fearful, btw. I quite honestly don't have time to do a 20 minute paragraph about leadership and crap. The bottom line is, you probably shouldn't have bailed. Not saying its easy to stay in a buck.. But you probably should be more prepared next time you ride. Not only are horses completely unpredictable but young horses are for sure. Also considering you took her to a new place and she "seemed" to not react at first, but then she did under saddle. So my advice is be prepared next time.. Everyone has these slip ups and everyone has to learn at some point. So when you decide to ride her next time, have a bucking strap on and only ride her in places shes familiar with. To get her familiar to a place lunge her and desensitize her completely. It could have even been a discomfort issue, maybe not even the fact that shes in a new area and thinks she could get eaten. So make sure you stay in her buck because horses are fairly intelligent and you may have taught her that when she throws the pressure is off her back. This won't interfere with her "trusting issues" either. Also, don't chase her around the pasture, make sure she comes to you.. It doesn't matter if your out there for 10 hours. You want to make sure that horse trusts you.. If your chasing her around your making her believe shes pray to you and she may think bad things will happen. It shouldn't take long for her to come because horses are extremely curious animals. Hope this helps. Riding too soon a scared horse is the result here. Go back to basics. She is broke to drive? Good. Put the saddle on her and long line her. Treat her like an unbroke horse. Catching is an issue because she is afraid? Easy... put her in a small space (like a roomy box stall). The ONLY time she eats (or drinks) is when you bring food and water to her. It means a LOT of your time.. but all of that time will be a positive association. No other horses or people.. ONLY you and food and water ONLY when you show up. No halter or any equipment. Her confinement is the stall. When she starts looking for you.. nickering even when you walk into the barn.. THEN she gets a little paddock and the stall. She now gets water free choice (I get that going asap) but still no food unless you are there and you take it with you when you go. It is amazing how quick the horse will stop being afraid if all the stuff she needs to stay alive comes from YOU. Riding her in a new area created anxiety to an already delicate situation. The situation being that she hadn't completely trusted you at that point. Then coupled with you requesting for her to stand still in the corner after a stop caused in explosion and loss of trust. When I ride a colt in a new area or doing something new that is going to create some anxiety and test how much he trusts me I don't ask him to stand still when I know he can't. When you do it makes a colt feel trapped and creates more anxiety. What I do instead is simple redirect him. All I want is to be able to direct him where I want. When he gets relaxed enough and wants to stop, then I will ask for it. Not only does that keep building the trust by making him feel safe in a new situation but you will get better, complete and safe stops. Last weekend is a perfect example, we own a very green 5 yr. That had some bad habits and spoiled. We turned him out for 6 months to gain weight and be a horse. I rode him a couple of times, then last weekend my husband wanted to use him gather cows. This horse was a little excited and unsure as I don't think he has ever been around cattle. So he took the back to push cows. If that horse wanted to go forward and blow through the back of cows instead of pulling on the reins and forcing a stop, he just let wallow around and if he blew some cows out, no big deal, there is a fence on all four sides, we just gathered them back up. After a few times of that, just redirecting him in the general direction instead of holding him back, he relaxed and hubby could ask for a stop. When training you try to use everything the horse does, good or bad, to your advantage. So if he has energy, use the energy, teach direction, do circles or serpentines. That will also get him paying attention and start focusing. When you feel he wants to slow down and maybe stop, use that to teach a relaxed stop. |All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:32 AM.| Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Copyright ©2000 - 2016, vBulletin Solutions, Inc. vBulletin Security provided by vBSecurity v2.2.2 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2016 DragonByte Technologies Ltd. User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2016 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.

Hyde Park is filled with happy families with small children, all happy and laughing. I feel out of place, no scratch that, I am out of place despite giving the appearance of fitting in. I look like a somewhat normal not quite sixteen year old wasting away the day in the park; in reality I'm creating an exclusion zone. An exclusion zone, is a small area created by a runic array that will temporarily hold back the anti escape wards used by Aurors, thus giving me the chance to escape. It won't hold for long, a minute at best, but if I stay, within its confines then that's all the time I need to Apparate away. The magic takes and I get up and walk away. Unless someone dispels it the zone will last for twenty four hours or until triggered. I've got an owl to send to Dumbledore, he'll meet me of that I'm sure. Because he needs me as much as I need him. Dumbledore rubbed his eyes tiredly. Three hours since Harry Potter had successfully robbed the Ministry of Magic, three hours since all of his mistakes had come back to him as he stared into those cold, green eyes and, he thought as his gaze turned to a near inconsolable Nymphadora Tonks, three hours since he'd found a curious link to the missing saviour. For the majority of the last three hours Dumbledore had been at the Ministry dealing with the fall out of discovering that the Boy-Who-Lived was alive and subsequently allowing him to get away. Now he had finally gathered his Order in Grimmauld Place so that they could be briefed and so that he could get some answers. "I now call this meeting to order," Slowly the murmurs subsided "By now everyone is aware of what occurred this morning is that correct? Good. Now before we continue does anyone have any questions?" Before anyone could ask a question Fawkes appeared in a ball of flames with a letter in his mouth. Blinking in surprise Dumbledore reached out and took the letter. He knew that if a letter was delivered to his office while he was away Fawkes would bring it to him if the phoenix considered it to be important. Opening the envelope he found a single sheet of cheap parchment. We need to talk. Hyde Park within an hour of opening this, come alone. Pushing magic into his eyes Dumbledore activated his Mage Sight, magnifying the twinkle in his eyes. He recognised traces of an alarm spell which was how he assumed Harry knew when he got the letter. "It appears I have a meeting that I must attend with a potential Order member, I ask that everyone will wait here until I return and postpone the meeting. I'll be back within the hour." Dumbledore waited briefly for the murmurs of assent before grasping Fawkes tail feathers and disappearing in a flash of flame. I feel a pulse of magic from my alarm spell and smile, I'd half expected Dumbledore to be out of reach since my visit to the Ministry but obviously I was wrong. I move through the park until I come to rest on the bench that sits in the middle of my exclusion zone. I picked Hyde Park because it's highly unlikely that Dumbledore will try and capture me here since my previous reaction to imprisonment says that I'll fight it with everything I have. It doesn't take long before I spot him crossing him the park in a plum coloured suit that looks fifty years out of date. I wave my hand and perform the radar charm, it appears to be wandless magic but the tip of my wand is sticking out of my sleeve. Dumbledore is the only magical person within its range but that doesn't mean that there aren't others lurking beyond the range of the charm. I'll say it again; my paranoia has kept me alive. Dumbledore seats himself on the bench opposite mine and waves his hand about looking like a crazy old man for all to see. I can feel the magic though and extend my own magic towards it. Each spell has a different feel to it and my memory's telling me that he put up a silencing ward and a notice me not charm. I can't fault him for that. I scowl; I haven't gone by that name since I ran away from the Dursleys at the age of five. I prefer Cayden, I like Cayden. People who know me by that name either fear or respect it because of my own achievements not something that I can't remember. I didn't know what it meant when I picked it from a book that I'd read but it fits me. In Gaelic Cayden means Spirit of battle. People don't respect the Boy-Who-Lived though, he's a symbol to used and locked away until he's needed again. I'll let Dumbledore call me Harry though, whether I like it or not Harry Potter and Cayden are different parts of the same person. That person being me. Still I don't have to like it. "Hello Albus, I know the prophecy," straight to the point, that's me. "I assumed so but please tell me what you hope to get from this meeting, from what I've gathered so you're a rather independent person." Who would've thought? Albus Dumbledore's a smartarse. "I am," I reply shortly "but I also know when I need help. I want to confront him so badly, I want to rage and scream about leaving me the Dursleys but I don't. It serves no purpose and while I resent him for it I forgave him a long time ago, keeping hold of anger is futile but just because I forgave him doesn't mean that we aren't going to sit down some time soon and he's going to explain his reasoning to me. Just because I forgave him doesn't mean that I'll ever forget. "What do you think I can do for you?" "I'm a powerful wizard and rather skilled if I do say so myself yet I'm in no way capable of killing Voldemort by myself even if he didn't have his Death Eaters. I'd say that I could defeat all of his Death Eaters save Bellatrix Lestrange and I believe I could even overcome her with some difficulty. You're reputedly the only person Voldemort ever feared and if the reports that I've read of his last rise are true you're capable of holding him to a draw. Between us we could defeat him, the prophecy says that only I can kill him but it doesn't say anything that stops you from beating the shit out of him beforehand," I stop, I've said my piece for now. "So you believe in the prophecy?" "No but Voldemort does and that makes it self fulfilling," I know how he knows the prophecy since it was marked on the orb that the seer made it to him but his eyes narrow slightly when I say Voldemort believes in it. No way and I telling about my connection with a certain Dark Lord. "I've sworn to oppose Voldemort so it is only natural that I aid you, how do you propose we go about this alliance?" "What do you think?" I shoot back, I'm winging it at the moment but I've got a few ideas and want to see how his compare to mine. "I would like you to accompany to a Fidelius protected location…you do know what the Fidelius Charm is do you not?" I nod and he continues "Once there you will be inducted into the Order of the Phoenix and I along with some of the Order's more skilled members will begin working with you and building up your skill. I would also like you to attend Hogwarts for your sixth year if for no other reason then to give the public hope. For now I suggest we keep your return secret." I turn the ideas over in my and they match my own but need a few amendments. "I won't swear any oaths other then a vow of silence without good reason or depending on the contents. I accept the proposal of training and keeping my return secret. What's Chami told you about me?" "Chami?" he asks, intrigued "Ah you must mean young Nymphadora. After your display at the Ministry earlier and her recognition of you she has been quite uncooperative. The only people who know the two of you are acquainted are Aurors Shacklebolt and Robbards, both of whom are keeping quiet for now and myself and your godfather Sirius Black, she hasn't revealed anything and I was intending to question her before I received your letter." Did he say godfather? I voice that thought. "Yes I did and he is quite anxious to meet you." I 'hmm' noncommittally and make more plans. "I'll go with you now but I want to be disguised, I trust you didn't tell anyone who you were meeting," he nods the affirmative and I go on "I need an oath that you won't tell anyone what I'm about to reveal." He hesitates briefly and makes the oath putting in amendments that he is freed from it if I'm breaking laws. Smart man. "I'm a metamorphmagus." "That actually explains some things," Dumbledore muses "Like how you stayed hidden for so long. I assume that is how you intend to keep your identity secret from the Order?" "Remus Lupin is a werewolf and old friend of your parents; do you know how to conceal your scent?" I draw my wand and wordlessly perform the necessary charm, the last time I used this I'd driven a silver spike through another werewolf's mate. My features change until I've got dull brown hair and eyes with unremarkable features and appear to be in my mid thirties, in other words I'm someone you wouldn't look at twice. While I was doing this, Dumbledore was busy writing something using conjured implements and hands the slip of parchment to me once I finish. The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix is located at 12 Grimmauld Place London I burn it and vanish, the ashes once I memorise it and rise from my seat. Most people would think that in my position I'd demand oaths of loyalty or something of that sort from Dumbledore but the simple fact is that we both know that if he screws me over then he's fucked because I'll watch Voldemort burn Hogwarts to the ground before I do anything. Dumbledore extends his hand and I grab it without hesitation. I hate Side-Along Apparition, mainly because I don't control the destination but it's more convenient then me Apparating blind. I guess I just need to have a little bit of trust. With the slightest of pops we appear in what I think is the hallway of a house that until recently was abandoned. There's a troll foot umbrella stand just inside the door which I assume leads outside and a covered portrait on the wall, Dumbledore gestures to the portraits and mimes silence, I acquiesce with a nod of my head. I follow Dumbledore until we come to the kitchen, he walks straight through but I take a moment to steel myself, Chami, my Chami, is inside. I walk through and my eyes sweep across the gathered group. Tonks looks miserable and I feel like an utter bastard. Hell I am an utter bastard. "This, my friends is Lewis Moore and I have just inducted him into the Order, please make him feel welcome." The group murmurs their greetings and I get several thorough examinations from some of them, these people I take notice of and mark them as the more capable members. Alastor Moody watches me suspiciously while Severus Snape appears to be trying to memorise every aspect of me. His presences is a surprise, it's well known amongst those who sell illegal ingredients that the Potions Master uses a certain mark on his arm to gain access to the rarest ingredients. A spy possibly, he's definitely someone that I'll need to watch. "Now I believe we have business to attend, you may get to know our new friend later. Nymphadora I believe we must ask some questions of you?" I almost curse myself when I realise something, I don't want Tonks to reveal that I'm a metamorphmagus but I never said anything about it to Dumbledore, at worst I'll have him get everyone here swear a vow of silence not to reveal the fact or personally memory charm them. "Can't you leave her alone Albus, can't you see she's had a hard day," a woman standing behind Tonks snaps and I wince not having seen her face when I entered as she'd been turned away from me. I've met Andromeda Tonks once, she's an independent woman and powerful witch, she'd have to be to get her family through the first war and raise Tonks on her own after her husband left her. She's going to do some damage when I reveal myself, I guess she'll get whatever Tonks leaves. If Sirius is my godfather I wonder if he'll mind me using him as a shield. "I'm truly sorry Andromeda but I'm afraid that these answers are important. Tell me Miss Tonks how long have you known Harry Potter?" Tonks meets Dumbledore's kind gaze, her eyes are red rimmed and I can decipher the emotions in them and guess the reason for each one. Happiness: I'm alive not dead as my disappearance suggests. Sadness: I did disappear without a word; it looks like I was using her. Anger : I'm alive and didn't tell her plus there's the whole 'may have been using her' thing. I could be wrong though. "I met him the summer before my seventh year and what would have been his second year at the time though I didn't know he was Harry Potter, when he introduced himself he called himself Cayden. It was obvious to me though that he was a street kid." "Cayden?" Andromeda asks "The Cayden that you brought home when he'd gotten beat up?" Tonk's nods, the time her mother is referring to is when I got caught by a gang of thugs during what would have been my third year at Hogwarts and beat up badly. I ended up better then them though, I survived. Tonks found me at my current home and took me to her mother's house to get her to patch me up. Andy, as she had told me to call her, offered me a home. I don't know why I refused, it was a dream come true but I think by that time I was used to my life, it was something that I carved for myself and by staying with the Tonks' I would've had to tell them the truth and frankly I didn't want to be Harry Potter. Snape catches my eye, or more his eyes do, they're gleaming. Performing Legilimency has a different effect on people's eyes, mine apparently have a type of hypnotic swirl but I suspect Snape's gleam. He's making the barest of eye contact with Tonks but that's all a master needs. I feel angry, Tonks is crap at Occlumency outside of a flimsy shield to protect her during a duel, and she never bothered beyond that. As I consider what to do about my suspicions Snape speaks up. "Well what else do you know? Where can we find him? What are his habits?" "I don't know where to find him, I haven't seen him since Christmas," she sounds miserable and slightly defiant. "Then what do you know about him, if we know his habits we may be able to find the arrogant brat," Snape sneers. Nice to know what he thinks of me. "Go to hell Snape, if Cayden wants to stay hidden then he can and I'm not going to help you find him by betraying his trust." I expect Snape to explode but he does something completely different. "The little changeling is in love," he crows "Tell me girl did he make you feel special, did he not ask you to change your form or did you volunteer to do so? Well guess what you stupid little girl, he's a Potter and he did what Potter's do best and used you." The rooms explodes even as Tonks shrinks back from his accusations, I can see the uncertainty swimming in her eyes. She doesn't want to believe Snape but I've done nothing but support his view, except for the part about changing her appearance, I'd never ask her to do that especially after she told me what it was like for her in school. Dumbledore is berating Snape along with most everyone else while Tonks is being comforted by Andy and a friend of hers that I recognise as Hestia Jones. Snape's voice rises above them all. "If you won't tell us what we want I suggest we take the information, we are after all in a war and Potter appears to be our best hope unfortunately." Dumbledore shoots down this idea but a lot of Order members agree with Snape and looking at it from their point of view I can't blame them. I guess I might need to reveal myself sooner then I'd thought since I refuse to put Tonks in this position. I discreetly slide my wand from its holster; I have a feeling that I'm going to need it. My features fade to my base form and I inject magic in my voice so that my voice rises above the hubbub and people actually pay attention to me. "If you've got questions for me Snape ask them." Everyone turns to me. A stunned silence ensues as I bare my scar. The sound of Tonks chair scraping across the floor breaks it and I wince at the look on her face as she shoves through the people to get to me. It appears that she isn't going to bother going for her wand. I make no attempt to dodge the small fist as it crashes into my face.

The game was out of reach, but Peyton Hillis was running. Of course, this was really nothing new. Hillis had been running all day — over, around and through the Patriots run defense. He was the primary reason the Browns were rolling over the Patriots to this point, taking a 27-14 lead late into the fourth quarter. On Cleveland’s final drive, he had accounted for all 25 yards, bringing the Browns down to New England’s 35-yard line. With Cleveland facing a second-and-6, Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy did what he did best — handed the ball to Hillis, who swung around right end. Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich, charged with setting the edge, was blown off the line. And when a Cleveland blocker trucked safety James Sanders and Brandon Spikes was similarly left in the dust, Hillis was just about gone. Hillis kept running and running. The only New England defender within striking distance of Hillis was Jerod Mayo, but Hillis delivered a stiff-arm that knocked Mayo to the ground around the five-yard line. With that, he was into the end zone for his second touchdown of the day. Ballgame over. Thanks for coming. Browns win, 34-14 (click here for the complete recap). Hillis was fantastic, but the Patriots were never in this game, falling behind early in the contest and being outplayed in all three areas of the game. “We didn’t do the things we need to do to win, to really be competitive, and that was the result of the game,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “Obviously, we have a lot of work to do. We’re a better team than we showed today but we weren’t today. Certainly hats off to them, they did a good job. [They were] clearly the better team.” Those of you who had Peyton Hillis in the “Which opposing running back will break 100 yards against the 2010 Patriots first?” pool, come on down and collect your prize. Hillis ended up with 29 carries for a career-high 184 yards and two touchdowns. It was the most impressive output for a running back against the Patriots since LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 217 yards against New England on Sept. 29, 2002. “He’s a good player, runs hard,” Belichick shrugged when asked about Hillis. “We’ve seen him do that. They did a good job. They did a better job than we did.” The amazing thing about Hillis’ performance was not just in the numbers. It was how he became a different back for different situations. He’s known as a big, physical runner, and did a lot of pounding the football Sunday against the Patriots. When he needed to be, he also ran away from guys like a lighter back. At the appropriate time, he was a traditional between-the-tackles guy. Whatever the Browns needed him to do, he did. He even jumped guys — on his first play from scrimmage, he actually leaped clean over Sanders on the way to an 18-yard gain that pretty much set the tone for the entire game. For the Patriots, the most damning indictment on the afternoon was in the fact that even when they knew what was coming, they were powerless to stop it. Hillis touched the ball 32 times (29 carries and three receptions) and had only one play with negative yardage. And holding a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and looking to run out the clock, the Browns kept giving it to Hillis, who ran the ball nine times for 70 yards in the fourth quarter, an astonishing average of 7.8 yards per carry down the stretch. Belichick sought him out after the game “He said ‘Congrats,’ and that he was impressed,” Hillis said. “And when you get a compliment like that from a great coach, it means a lot.” For all the talk of taking a stand and a return to the days of bend-but-don’t-break defense, it was a rude awakening for a run defense that had managed to string together a series of impressive physically charged performances against backs like Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson. “This was very disappointing. Coming in, we felt pretty good about our run defense and [Hillis] just came out with their offensive line and did a great job and ran the ball hard,” said linebacker Jerod Mayo. “It was an awakening. [Sunday] was disappointing, but at the same time, if we can learn something from this, then it was worth it.” Here are nine other things we learned on Sunday in Cleveland: RIGHT NOW, THE PATRIOTS DON’T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF DEPENDABLE OPTIONS IN THE PASSING GAME After a first quarter where he was 1-for-6 for 10 yards (and the New England offense was 0-for-3 on third-down conversions early), Patriots quarterback Tom Brady actually finished with decent numbers — 19-for-36, 224 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. But the New England offense was uncharacteristically out-of-sync much of the day: Brady was throwing to empty spaces, and appeared not to be on the same page with many of his receivers. At one point, after a busted second-half play involving Danny Woodhead, the running back came back to the huddle with palms upraised as if to wonder what happened. He wasn’t the only one. For a team that came into the contest averaging 29 points per game, it was a shocking turn of events. The Patriots didn’t cross into Cleveland territory until there was 11:42 left in the second quarter, and didn’t have a single play on the Browns’ side of the 50-yard line in the third quarter. The running backs averaged just 3.4 yards per carry, and the New England running game was just 3-for-11 on third-down conversions. Things got so bad they pulled Brady with 2:34 left in the game, the earliest he’s been yanked since Brian Hoyer relieved him with 5:26 remaining in the bloodbath in New Orleans against the Saints last season. “We were out of sync a little bit,” Brady said. “You've got to take advantage of scoring opportunities. You've got to convert on third down. We just didn’t do enough to advance the ball so we've got to figure out the problems.” There are a variety of issues plaguing the New England offense, particularly the passing game: with the trade of Randy Moss, Wes Welker is still struggling with his new position as the focus of opposing pass defenses. Deion Branch is still clearly hobbled by a balky hamstring. And there are times when youngsters like Woodhead, Aaron Hernandez and Rob Grokowski look and play like guys who only have a handful of games of experience in the Patriots’ offense. If New England is going to struggle to run the ball as it did yesterday (68 yards and a 3.4 yards per carry average), it will have to get more out of the passing game if it is to be successful. "We've got a bunch of talented players and I'd like to think that we have guys who can make plays," Brady said. "We certainly make a lot of plays out there but we just didn't do it consistently today. That's the frustrating part. You do it right once, the next time, you just don't do it right. That's something that leads to three-and-outs and to not being able to sustain drives. “It is Week 9 and we've got a lot of work ahead. I don't think that we are a finished product right now. We have to do things better in all areas, including the quarterback.” FOR ALL THE OFFENSIVE WOES THE PATRIOTS SUFFERED ON SUNDAY, DON’T BLAME THIS ONE ON DANNY WOODHEAD OR AARON HERNANDEZ While the rest of the New England offense wasn’t able to do much of anything on the afternoon, the duo of Hernandez and Woodhead was able to provide a small spark to an otherwise punchless Patriots’ attack. They certainly weren’t perfect — consider the previously mentioned busted play where it appeared Woodhead ran a bad route — but they combined for 140 total yards of offense, just under half of the 283 total yards the Patriots had on the afternoon. Woodhead had nine carries for 54 yards rushing and two receptions for 38 yards, with his highlight coming on a second quarter drive where he hauled in a 26-yard catch to help spark a scoring drive that went 79 yards. (On the drive, Woodhead accounted for 39 of the 79 yards.) The 26-yarder represented a career-high for the Chadron State product, who had a 24-yard reception at Tampa Bay in December 2009 when he was with the Jets. Meanwhile, Hernandez caught a team-high five passes for 48 yards and two touchdowns, the first scores of his career. His first TD catch came on what should be classified as one of his most impressive receptions of the season — from the two-yard line, Brady delivered a laser toward Rob Gronkowski, but the ball bounced off him and shot up into the air. Hernandez, standing near the back of the end zone, outjumped the Cleveland defender for the ball and had the presence of mind to come down with both feet inbounds for New England’s first touchdown of the day. His second touchdown was a little more pedestrian — it came in the fourth quarter when Brady lofted one to the far corner of the end zone over Cleveland safety T.J. Ward. Hernandez made a nice reception and fell gently after the catch, but came down with it safely inbounds for his second touchdown of the day. Hernandez, who also had a 22-yard reception late in the second quarter, now has a reception of 20 or more yards in seven of eight games. In addition, he now has 34 receptions in 2010 to go along with his 436 receiving yards, which gets him closer to the franchise rookie records for tight ends: 37 receptions (by Greg Baty in 1986) and 636 receiving yards (by Russ Francis in 1975). THE PATRIOTS SPECIAL TEAMS WEREN’T READY There were early signs Sunday wasn’t going to be a good day for the Patriots special teams unit: After a 38-yard field goal from Phil Dawson to open the scoring with 11:53 left in the first quarter, Dawson kicked it short. With the ball in the air, Gronkowski called for a fair catch, but darted away from it, leaving it for running back Sammy Morris. Morris muffed the kick, and former New England defensive back Ray “Bubba” Ventrone recovered the fumble for the Browns. Cleveland scored two plays later when Hillis punched it in from two yards out to make it 10-0 with 11:11 left in the first quarter. After the game, Gronkowski characterized the miscue as a “miscommunication,” and took full responsibility for what happened. “We have to get that right in practice. It's not acceptable and it shouldn't be happening,” he told reporters. “[It’s] definitely frustrating, but you have to put that behind you right after and keep moving on.” On New England’s next possession, punter Zoltan Mesko nearly had his first punt of the afternoon blocked. Long snapper Jake Ingram bounced a snap for Mesko. And kicker Stephen Gostkowski suffered a thigh injury — emergency kicker Wes Welker finished up in his absence, delivering an extra point in the fourth quarter and adding a late kickoff as well. The special teams struggles lasted all day — even when a Reggie Hodges punt with just over 20 seconds left landed on the New England two-yard line. WHEN IT COMES TO STOPPING BRANDON TATE, THE BROWNS MIGHT HAVE FOUND A SOLUTION The faceoff of Brandon Tate against the Cleveland kick coverage team was one of Sunday’s most anticipated matchups. Tate is one of the best in the league — thanks to the North Carolina product, the Patriots entered Sunday’s game fifth in the league with 26.8 yards per kick return, while Cleveland’s kickoff coverage had allowed just 18.6 yards per return (second-best in the league). In addition, the Browns were one of only five teams in the league that had yet to allow a return of 40 yards or more. But when it came to kickoffs on Sunday, the Browns were clearly doing everything in their power to keep the ball away from Tate. They spent much of the afternoon kicking it short — in six kickoffs, Tate only handled one of them. The rest went to Dan Connolly, Morris (two each) and Alge Crumpler (one). As a result, the Patriots, who came into the game averaging 28.9 yards per kick return, averaged only 9.3 yards per return on Sunday. In addition, New England, which had an average starting field position of its own 31-yard line entering the game, had an average start of its own 24 against Cleveland. The Patriots didn’t start a drive in Browns’ territory all day, with their best starting point of the day being their own 38-yard line. The keepaway method was an effective way of keeping the New England kick return game in check — so effective, in fact, that it wouldn’t be a surprise to see other teams try the same thing later in the season. You yield a few extra yards on the kickoff, but you also eliminate the possibility of Tate breaking one long. A ROOKIE TIGHT END WILL OCCASIONALLY PLAY LIKE A ROOKIE For the first seven games of his professional career, Rob Gronkowski certainly hasn’t played like a rookie. Gronkowski’s strength as a blocker and red-zone threat made an immediate impact for the New England offense. He entered Sunday’s game against the Browns with 10 catches for 101 yards, and was tied for the team lead in touchdowns with three. But on Sunday, Gronkowski suffered through the worst afternoon of his professional career. The nightmare included multiple dropped balls, a red-zone fumble, a miscue on a kickoff that led directly to a Cleveland touchdown and an offensive holding call. The worst infraction of the afternoon came at the end of the first half. With less than a minute to go in the second quarter, the Patriots were in Cleveland’s red zone, driving for a potential touchdown that would have cut the Browns’ halftime lead to 17-14. Brady found Gronkowski with a pass near the right sideline inside the five-yard line, and the rookie tight end was trying to get a few more yards before he was held up by Cleveland defensive back Abe Elam. The ball was knocked away and recovered by Elam. Drive over. The next time the Patriots would get that close to the end zone would be in the fourth quarter with Cleveland holding a 27-7 lead. “I fumbled it,” Gronkowski flatly told reporters after the game. “It shouldn’t be happening because I should have two hands on the ball. I shouldn’t be letting defenders get in at the ball like that. I have to get low and get down.” “The tight end caught the ball and as I was coming up to make the tackle, I was going to try to strip the ball out; it was fortunate for us to even get it out and then get on the ball,” Elam told reporters. “I think it was big for our defense and big for our team. It was just instinct. I’m a football player, so I’m going out there trying to make plays every opportunity I can. I’m just thankful for being able to help my team.” “It was a huge play,” Browns coach Eric Mangini said. “They’re driving down in typical New England fashion towards the end of the first half and I’ve had a bunch of games against them where they’ve been able to score at the end of the first half. To get that strip when we did was huge. It took points off of the board, totally changed the momentum going into the locker room and it was a pivotal play.” Gronkowski did finish with four catches for 47 yards — including a 22-yarder that sparked New England’s only scoring drive of the first half — but it was the most forgettable game of his young professional career. “This is definitely frustrating,” Gronkowski said. “But you have to be able to put it behind you right after the game so you can keep moving on.” “The only thing you can do from a situation like this is learn and move on,” veteran teammate Alge Crumpler told reporters. “We have a lot of football left in this season and [Gronkowski] has a lot of football left in his career.” THE PATRIOTS ARE GOING TO EASE LOGAN MANKINS BACK INTO THE ROTATION No one was quite sure when Mankins — who returned to practice this week — was going to return to the starting lineup, but the Fresno State product got the call at the start of Sunday’s game in place of Dan Connolly, who manned the position while Mankins stayed away because he was unhappy about his contract. Mankins was part of a rotational system at the guard spot — Connolly spent time spelling both Mankins and right guard Stephen Neal on the afternoon — and certainly didn’t appear any worse for wear. He was part of an offensive line that only allowed one sack and two quarterback hits, and will likely see a sizable boost in his playing time next week against the Steelers. WES WELKER HASN’T FORGOTTEN HOW TO KICK The wide receiver has been called on to kick a few times in his career, most notably on Oct. 10, 2004, as a member of the Dolphins. That afternoon at Gillette Stadium against the Patriots, Welker was the first player in NFL history to have a kick return, a punt return, a field goal, successful PAT and kickoff in same game. It wasn’t a colossal surprise — Welker was an avid soccer player from age four through high school while growing up in Oklahoma. He got the call again on Sunday against the Browns when Stephen Gostkowski went down early with a thigh injury. He didn’t have to worry about any field goals, but he delivered an extra point after New England’s fourth-quarter touchdown, and also handled kickoff duties on the ensuing kickoff, where he delivered a 45-yard boot to the Cleveland 25-yard line. “Obviously that came up, [and] unfortunately, and you try to make due with what you've got,” Welker told reporters. As for Gostkowski’s immediate future, that remains a question mark. For what it’s worth, he hasn’t missed a single game because of injury since he arrived as a fourth-round pick in 2006 out of Memphis. However, it wouldn’t be terribly surprising to hear about the Patriots working out a few kickers this week. “His leg tightened up in the game; obviously he wasn’t able to finish and kick,” Belichick said when asked about the kicker. “So, we’ll have to see. But he wasn’t able to finish the game.” IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR DEFENSIVE POSITIVES, THE ONE AREA THAT WASN'T AWFUL WAS THE NEW ENGLAND SECONDARY While the front seven was unable to slow down Hillis or get any sort of pass rush on McCoy (the rookie quarterback wasn’t hit, according to the stat sheet), the secondary actually had a decent afternoon. McCoy was very accurate (14-for-19), but had only 174 total passing yards. The New England secondary was able to guard against the big play through the air — the majority of sizable gains that came in the Cleveland passing game came because of yards after the catch. And the finest defensive play of the game for the Patriots came as the result of the secondary, when roughly midway through the first quarter cornerback Devin McCourty, who had six tackles, stripped Hillis at the end of a long run. The ball was knocked away and Brandon Meriweather (who also had six tackles) came away with it. In addition — and in the grand scheme of things, it’s pretty minor, but still worth mentioning — in a season where the Patriots have been scalded by slot receivers, they were able to slow down Browns slot receiver Chansi Stuckey, holding him to two catches for six yards. Jonathan Wilhite looked good keeping Stuckey in check — in the first quarter, he made a nice breakup on a pass intended for Stuckey on the goal line, which forced the Browns to settle for a field goal. Wilhite also had an impressive third-down tackle on Stuckey early in the second quarter that forced a Cleveland punt. All of that was little comfort to Sanders, who (because of the knee injury suffered by Pat Chung) was paired with Brandon Meriweather at safety for most of the afternoon. “I just know that we didn’t play well today,” he said. “In all three phases of the game, they were the better team. They executed and made the plays that they had to make to win and we didn’t.” A BAD WEEK OF PRACTICE USUALLY MEANS A BAD GAME Several players, including Brady and defensive lineman Vince Wifork, told reporters after the game that the Patriots had a poor week of practice — including an apparently miserable outing in Friday’s session, which ran much longer than anticipated — and that was certainly reflected in the final score. “It’s hard to say. Every week, some days you have good practices and some days you have bad practices. We just didn’t play well today,” Brady said when asked about the idea of a bad week of practice. “I think that’s what it comes down to. We just didn’t execute the way we needed to execute on a down-by-down basis. We all have to do a better job, the quarterback has to do a better job and each group has to do a better job. That’s the only way that we are going to do better.” ”Practice wasn’t great, the game wasn’t great, and it showed out there,” Wilfork said. ”Every phase of the game, it’s like we didn’t know what they were going to do, when we knew what they were going to do. It played out the way we knew it was going to play out. But hey, we lost. We have to learn from this one.” ”One thing I can tell you, I don’t like the feeling. I’m pretty sure everyone in this locker room don’t like this feeling,” Wilfork said. ”So what can we do about it? Go to work [Monday], make the corrections and learn from it, get ready for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But we got to learn from this. We’ve got a lot of learning that’s going to be on this film.”

- The Hounds have one of the top ten scorers in the league on their roster, Matt Danowski (34 pts), and Ryan Young (29pts) is eleventh in the League. - Charlotte is middle of the pack, scoring 128 goals in 2013. They started strong, and for the first seven weeks Charlotte trailed only Denver in goals-scored. - Midfielder, Peet Poillon, is tied for second in the League, with four two-point goals. - Attackman and captain, Matt Danowski, has scored at least two points in every appearance this season. This includes one seven-point game, and five games with at least four goals. - Charlotte has scored at least 11 points in every game this season, a record that only the Denver Outlaws can beat. - The Lizards scoring efforts are lead by rookie, Rob Pannell, with 24 points on the season. - Cumulatively the Lizards have 147 points on the season, including assists and goals. - Rob Pannell has scored at least two points in every game he has played this season, including three five-point games. - New York is only seventh in the League with 99 goals on the season, lead by Pannell, Tommy Palasek (20pts) and Mark Matthews (17pts). - New York is tied with the Ohio Machine in last place for shots on goal with 222. The Charlotte Hounds have put together a much more consistent offense, one that posts points regardless of who they’re playing. Even against the Denver Outlaws, the Hounds were able to post 16 points in their first game and 11 in their second game. This is more points than any other team has scored against the League’s best defense. The Lizards are dependent on Rob Pannell to produce but he alone is not enough. With only 222 shots on goal, they need to make more scoring opportunities for themselves if they want to keep pace with the Hounds. - Charlotte lays claim to an All-Star defense, literally. Both defenseman Brett Schmidt and Ryan Flanagan saw playing time in the 2013 MLL All-Star Game. - Charlotte’s Tim Fallon leads the League in groundballs, with 86 on the season. - Charlotte has only allowed four two-point goals, tied for the second fewest in the League. This means their defense is protecting the goal, and not allowing the opposing offense to shoot from outside the two-point line. - Charlotte has allowed 137 goals, tied with the Boston Cannons for the most goals allowed in 2013. - Faceoff man, Greg Gurenlian boasts a league-best .613 faceoff win percentage, with a 157-256 record. - New York rests in fifth place for goals against with 124, 13 better than Charlotte’s 137. - All-Star defenseman, Brian Karalunas, has scooped up 21 ground balls on the season, right behind fellow defenseman, Steven Waldeck with 22. Gurenlian leads the team with 66. - New York is in sixth place for most two point goals allowed with six, meaning their defense has not managed to cover their territory as well as other teams’. This one is close, but Charlotte just barely has the advantage. The Hounds have the ability to zero in on a player and put a stop to their scoring, making sure they provide complete coverage. This was seen in Charlotte’s first meet up with Boston when they held Paul Rabil scoreless, unfortunately this opened up the rest of the Boston midfield and Charlotte could not hold on for a win. However, The Hounds’ ability to cover may be enough to stop Rob Pannell, and only leave scoring to Matthews and Palasek. The Lizards can also start from the “x” with an advantage, as Greg Gurenlian is expected win a majority of the faceoffs over Charlotte’s Tim Fallon. - The Hounds goalie, Adam Ghitelman, trails with only a .477 save percentage, a league-worst for starting goalies. - Ghitelman’s 12.81 goals against average, is seventh in the League. - While Ghitelman’s numbers do not look great, he does have 543:10 minutes of playing time in goal, just behind Drew Adams. - 2012 Warrior Goalie of the Year Drew Adams currently leads goalies in saves with 141 saves in 10 games. - Adams is in fifth place for goals against average with 12.34. - Adams’ six allowed two-point goals, has him tied for second most allowed, behind Jordan Burke. New York’s All-Star goalie, Drew Adams, is exactly what most teams wish they had in goal. Adams’ 141 saves are a testament to his defensive skills and athleticism. Adam’s has spent more time on the field than any other goalie, with just over 598 minutes, proving to be a dependable and efficient goal tender. His .534 save percentage is nothing to scoff at either. He certainly has the advantage over Ghitelman, who shows some inconsistencies and a below .500 save percentage. Who has the overall advantage? Charlotte Both teams are coming off of losses and have something to prove as they approach the end of the season with win percentages below .500. The Hounds as a whole have played close games and just fallen short on several occasions. This is the second matchup between the two teams in 2013, and Charlotte walked away with the 14-12 win on May 31. Not much has changed for Charlotte since then, they’ve continued to produce goals, and remain competitive with rookies Mike Sawyer and Eric Lusby. The Lizards have seen much greater deficits in their losses this season, and are currently on a three-game losing streak. The Lizards do boast a great faceoff man in Gurenlian, and a reliable goalie in Adam’s, but if they can’t find the goal at the other end of the field, faceoff wins and saves will be irrelevant. The Hounds and Lizards both are not where they want to be this season, but consistency is something they’ll need to work on if they want to win this one.

League officials are considering a proposal to award a medal named in honour of Alex McKinnon to the man of the match in the City-Country fixture. McKinnon was a member of the Country side that defeated City 18-12 last year in his maiden representative appearance. But the Newcastle forward's league career was cut short when he suffered a serious spinal injury against Melbourne in round three. The McKinnon family have been great contributors to bush football, with an oval in Aberdeen named after Alex's father, Mal. Country Rugby League officials are planning to honour former chairman Wayne 'Jock' Colley, who recently passed away at the age of 61, with a minute's silence, while players will wear black armbands. They are also keen to honour McKinnon and the inaugural Alex McKinnon Medal could be struck for the outstanding performer at Apex Oval on May 4. "Being an NRL player who put so much into the game at a young age, it would be appropriate," CRL chief executive Terry Quinn said. McKinnon recently proposed to his girlfriend, Teigan Power, and vowed to walk her down the aisle. The 22-year-old has already had some positive developments in his long recovery, with the Knights reporting he experienced movement in his left arm and improvement in his right arm. While some players are likely to be rested from the annual clash in Dubbo, it is shaping as a genuine State of Origin trial for others. St George Illawarra's Josh Dugan is slightly in front of Brett Stewart in the battle for the Country No 1 jumper, with Newcastle's Akuila Uate and James McManus firming for wing spots. Jamal Idris and Jack Wighton are the likely centre pairing while Canberra forward Paul Vaughan looms as a bolter after his heroics against Melbourne. Dragons forward Jake Stockwell is another smokey under consideration. James Maloney will be the five-eighth although there is still debate over whether his scrumbase partner will be Todd Carney or Jarrod Mullen. Gold Coast playmaker Albert Kelly is under consideration for a utility bench spot. City could name a number of playmakers including Adam Reynolds, Josh Reynolds, John Sutton and Aiden Sezar, who are also vying for the other Blues halves spot alongside Mitchell Pearce. Country selectors are also agonising over the hooking role, with Michael Ennis, Mitch Rein and - if he's not rested - Kurt Gidley in the frame. Manly's Glenn Stewart is tipped to miss out although another veteran, Beau Scott, is a likely starter. Selectors are also watching Bulldogs forwards Josh Jackson and Dale Finucane, who is yet to make his representative debut. Country coach Trent Barrett and City counterpart Brad Fittler will liaise with NSW coach Laurie Daley before selecting their teams to ensure all contenders have a chance to impress before Origin I at Suncorp Stadium. Tickets to the game have been slashed to $5 after only 4635 fans showed up at last year's clash at Coffs Harbour.

Free agency started on Friday and teams did not waste much time. This year there were a lot of big names looking to find a new team. Here are some of the biggest deals so far. Turner to Falcons: RB Michael Turner signed a deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Turner was the backup to LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego and showed some great skills when he touched the ball. He was regarded as one of the top prospect among free agent RB’s this off-season. Foster and Bruce to 49ers: RB DeShaun Foster will be a part of the 49ers team next season. Foster was part of a 2 RB system in Carolina last season and is a nice addition to the 49ers backfield. Isaac Bruce is also on his way to the 49ers. The 49ers have been looking for a veteran WR to help cure their passing-game woes. Porter to Jaguars: The Jaguars added a veteran WR of their own in Jerry Porter. The Jaguars hope that Porter can kick-start their passing game from his years of experience with the Raiders. Stallworth to Browns: The former speedy Patriot WR Donte Stallwoth is on his way to Cleveland. After a great offensive performance last season with the Patriots and with the Eagles before that, the Browns look to be even more dangerous next season with this addition. The Browns also resigned QB Derek Anderson and signed DT Corey Williams from the Packers. Crumpler is a Titan: After a season full of injuries for TE Alge Crumpler, he has found a new home in Tennessee. The Titans hope that Alge will be the weapon they need to help QB Vince Young in the passing game. Samuel to Eagles: CB Asante Samuel, one of the hottest prospects in the free agency this off-season, signed with the Eagles. The Eagles also signed DE/LB Chris Clemons from the Raiders. Faneca a Jet: Veteran and Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca is now a Jet, acquired from the Steelers. The Jets also signed LB Calvin Pace from the Cardinals and tackle Damien Woodey from the Lions. Check back for more updates on this year’s free agent frenzy.

On the right, we have a young Helen Mirren in Age of Consent. On the left we have an actress who looks a whole lot like a slightly older Helen Mirren in Hot Spur. Did famous British actress Helen Mirren appear in the roughie Western "Hot Spur" back in 1969? We think we have photographic evidence that she did (see image above, see article at link for more almost convincing images). But then, we also think robots are stealing our luggage. Still, don't dismiss this theory as the peabrained malarkey it so clearly is, because it's OUR theory and our feelings would really be hurt if you did.

My alarm went off at 4:00 AM. Not that I had to get up. Byton had taken it, and set it. I’m not sure why. He didn’t need to leave until 6:00. It is very loud – an old-fashion wind-up model – but it’s not able to wake Byton quickly. He seems to sleep very, very soundly. What’s more, he puts it all the way across his room, rather than next to his bed, so even when it wakes him, it takes him some time to turn it off. In other words, long before the noise was over, I was awake enough to know that I wasn’t going to be able to doze off again. Not awake enough, however, to overcome my exaggerated resentment. That came later. So I lit a candle, and put a pot of coffee on the propane stove. My laptop was out off charge, so there was no question of working. I grab a book and sat down to read. I’m within two hundred pages of the end of a novel called //The Man without Qualities//, so I don’t lack for something to do. I didn’t need to be out the door until 6:30. I had a full schedule planned for the day, but nothing was starting very early. My first meeting was in Petyonvil. The meeting is part of a contract that Frémy arranged with an NGO called Concern Worldwide. (See: http://www.concernusa.org/news/item.asp?nid=139). It seems to be an interesting organization. Concern works in three different regions of Haiti, with programs in microfinance, health, education, food security, and disaster relief. Frémy arranged for our team to lead Wonn Refleksyon and Open Space training for Concern’s staff at all three of its locations. Concern’s goal is to improve communication, both within its staff and with its partners, the community organizations it works through. The work at the office on Lagonav is being led by Abner Sauveur and Millienne Angervil, two teachers from Matènwa. I’ll join them whenever I visit their school. There is a group in Sodo, a town on the Central Plateau, and we are working with its staff by visiting for a couple of days’ intensive work each month. But the main group is at Concern’s central office in downtown Petyonvil, about an hour’s walk downhill from Ka Glo. Tuesday was the seventh meeting. I had missed the last two, so I was anxious to see the progress the group had made. The group at Concern is big enough that we decided to separate into two sections. This was good for us, because it offered Frémy and me the chance to work with two less-experienced colleagues. It’s a great opportunity to strengthen our team. Frémy leads one section together with Kerline, a woman whom we know through the Kofaviv group. I lead the other with Abélard, Frémy’s next-door neighbor and friend for over thirty years. Abélard decided to run our discussion on Tuesday. Our room meets in cramped, but comfortable quarters. It’s the second biggest space Concern has available, but it’s just a little too small for the 22 of us that were there on Tuesday. We squeezed in as best we could. I sat on the floor in front of someone, and Abélard sat on a stairway. The group includes some of Concern’s leading program consultants, a couple of administrators, but also a couple of members of the cleaning staff and a driver. It is, thus, a pretty mixed group, and the fact that its members represent different steps on Concern’s hierarchy can make for interesting tensions. From the very start, our conversations have been dominated by a couple of very strong women. The activity Abélard was leading was designed to begin to address such and imbalance. It involved a conventional Wonn Refleksyon discussion. After that, however, there was a short evaluation when each group member chooses from a short list of virtues of a good group member, explaining which they see as their strengths an which they see as there weaknesses. The list includes things like: listening well, encouraging others, helping others clarify their thoughts, and speaking clearly. The group took to the evaluation well. For example, Joanne, the most dominant of the women, said, quite correctly I think, that she was good at the work in small groups, but that in the large group discussion she talks much too much. It will be interesting to how that realization plays out in the weeks to come. From Petyonvil, I had to get down to Pòtoprens quickly. So I took a motorcycle. It’s expensive, but a good driver can avoid traffic, so it’s fast. I had learned from Kerline that the Kofaviv women would be meeting – I had thought they were planning to restart the following week – and I was very anxious to see them because I hadn’t met with them since the beginning of December. In addition, I had a specific question for them. The guys in Cité Soleil had told me something I could scarcely believe. They had said that violence against women had pretty much stopped in Cité Soleil because the heads of the gangs had said they would execute any rapists. When I got to the Kofaviv office, I looked for Suzette. She lives and works in Cité Soleil, in a neighborhood called Dwiya. She said that what they had told me was partly true. In the guys’ neighborhood and the ones surrounding it, the head of the gangs had done just that. Since no one doubts his word in such a matter, he was able, with such a threat, to eliminate at least some types of violence against women. But he is not the only gang leader in Cité Soleil, though he has influence in more neighborhoods than just his own. One of the others is a man of quite different inclinations, who still permits members of his gang very wide latitude. Where Suzette lives, there are still some dangers, and the neighborhood below hers is as bad as it’s ever been. This apart from the violence against women and others – intended and unintended – connected with the presence of the UN’s military mission. The women’s discussion on Tuesday was to be led by Edith and Adjanie. The group’s members take turns, and they had volunteered. It was an interesting day, because for the first time they were going to by talking about a picture rather than a text. The one in our book is a print by Kathë Kollwitz called “Prisoners Listening to Music.” The group has a lot of experience in Wonn Refleksyon discussions by now. They even have a fair amount of experience at leading their discussions themselves. They talk comfortably and seriously with one another, whether they are in small groups or are sitting in the large circle. What’s more, in working with the second volume f texts that we use here, they’ve show flexibility and imagination in working out the lessons plans they follow each week. Adjanie’s leadership when we were discussion Newton’s Laws of Motion was just one example. Generally, they show a willingness to mix the standard strategies they have learned from Frémy and me over the last year or so with other group leadership practices – liking singing and playing games – to create a constructive environment that everyone enjoys. But as I watched Edith and Adjanie work with the group on the Kollwitz drawing, I had to admit that I felt there was something missing. They gave good instructions for each step of the process. They even had lots of interesting things to say about the drawing and the issues that it raised. In fact, they were the two most vocal contributors to the conversation. But they didn’t really work on drawing out their fellow members’ thoughts. They didn’t ask for further explanations. They neither pressed anyone nor encouraged anyone. It’s not as though the group needs a lot of leadership. Its members do pretty well. At this point, they would be able to accomplish a lot if a leader just suggested a topic and said, “Go.” But it’s always wrong to be satisfied with a group’s progress. A group’s leader has a special charge to keeping pushing a group’s members to new heights. I spent a few minutes after the meeting sharing my feedback with Edith and Adjanie. I’ll be with the group again in two weeks, and I hope I’ll be able to make the point again for everyone. From the Kofaviv office, I went to Fonkoze. The organization has been invited to submit a small number of very large funding proposals. I have slid into a role as the one who write initial rough drafts of many of the proposal that Fonkoze submits, so I had a lot of work to do to get a set of drafts out quickly. What’s more, the proposals are more closely connected to the financial aspects of Fonkoze’s work than to the educational ones, so I writing a little bit out of my element. I spent the afternoon writing, but it was crucial that I have the chance to go over the drafts with Fonkoze’s director, Anne Hastings. She’s the one who can be really clear about what the proposals need to say. So I needed to meet with her whenever she became available. We finally got together a little after 4:00, and worked hard until at little after 5:30. This presented a problem. This time of the year, Pòtoprens is starting to get dark by then, and my plan was to head from Fonkoze to Cité Soleil. That was where my last meeting of the day was scheduled to be, and that was where I planned to sleep. But it’s not customary to enter Cité Soleil after dark. Anne arranged for a Fonkoze driver to drop me of at the Gonayiv bus station, at the edge of Cité Soleil. There was no question of asking him to bring me all the way in. Instead, I arranged with the folks in Cité Soleil to meet me at the station and go in with me. Getting to the Gonayiv station after dark is spooky. During the day, it is one of the liveliest, most crowded intersections I know of. In Haiti or elsewhere. What I discovered on Tuesday is that, after dusk, it is entirely empty. It becomes, as they say, “a vast wasteland.” No signs of the vehicles and people that fill it during the day except the rubbish they leave. Because there are no streetlights, it’s also dark. I was grateful that I saw Farid running up to meet me almost as soon as I got out of the pick-up truck. We walked quickly into the Cité. Héguel, who leads the group with me and whose apartment-mate I have become the once or twice a week I stay there, was just behind him. He said he sent Farid, who’s much younger, running ahead, because he realized the intersection would be empty and knew that I’d be nervous until I met up with a familiar face. When I arrived, I was thoroughly scolded by everyone for arriving so late. I promised that I wouldn’t do it again, and I won’t. Then we got to work. We decided to work on English. The last couple of times I’ve met with them, I’ve taught them songs. I’ve felt that, especially when they learn English songs that are already familiar to them, it will help them get words down. It will help their feel for the language. And even if I’m wrong, what’s already clear is how much they enjoy singing together in English. It creates a wonderful environment. It brings them together. The song we worked on Tuesday was “How great Thou Art.” They are all devout Christians, and there’s hardly a Haitian who doesn’t know the song well in French – even among those who speak only Creole. So I figured that learning it in English would be easy enough. Here they are, the kids of Belekou: WS_30121 After we taped that, they wanted to work on the song we had learned last week. It’s a duet that came out last summer by Haitian hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean and Colombian singer Shakira. They spent the next hour and a half singing and dancing: By the time they left Héguel and me to our piece, it was late, at least by my standards here. Héguel when off to bed. I lit a candle and read for awhile before I did the same. Here’s a picture of my room in Belekou. It has all the comforts of home. Or, to be more exact, both the comforts. It has a mattress, hand-sewn by one of the members of the Belekou group, a young guy named Ewol. He used to have a business making mattresses, but lost the space he was making them in, so had to stop. It also has a candleholder, courtesy of Zach Rasmuson, one of the premier pinot noir makers in America, and a wonderful long-time friend.

A D-Day sniper who was shot in the leg during the Normandy landings during the Second World War has been awarded the highest French decoration. Lionel Ginger, 90, who was born at 88 High Street in Hemel Hempstead, was awarded the Legion D’Honneur order Chevalier, which is the highest honour bestowed on former military personnel by the French government. Mr Ginger, who recently moved into the Water Mill House Care Home in Nash Mills, was called up to the army at the age of 18 and fought in the 6th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers. The young Lance Corporal was wounded at Normandy and returned to the battalion in Germany, where he served in the Royal Military Police until the end of the war, in places like Hamburg, Hannover and Braunschweig. During the conflict, Mr Ginger returned home to marry his childhood sweetheart Winifred Floyd at St John’s Church in Boxmoor on May 1, 1943. Mr Ginger said he had the opportunity to meet ‘a lot of important people’ during his time stationed in Germany. He said: “I met Woolworths heiress Barbara Hutton, but I didn’t know who she was until someone told me afterwards! “I also escorted German heavyweight boxers Max Schmelling and Walter Neusel. “I took Walter to the Hannover Stadium for an an exhibition, and I waited in the car outside. But he called me over and took me down to a ringside seat where I watched the whole match before I drove him back to the station.” When the war was over, Mr Ginger returned home to his wife and enrolled on a hairdressing course before opening a barbers in Watford in 1953. The salon, called Underhills, became very successful – partly thanks to the 1950s Teddy Boys, who according to Mr Ginger liked to have their hair ‘just so’. He said: “They used to come in and get their hair done all big – the bigger the better – and they didn’t care what it cost them!” In 1964, Mr Ginger decided it was time for a change so he, Winnie and their two children emigrated to Adelaide in Australia for a new life in the sun, where he found work as a prison officer. Two-and-a half years later, after finding the climate too hot, the family returned home to Risedale Road in Hemel and Mr Ginger went about setting up another salon in Sheepcot Lane, Watford called Linfreds – which he ran with brother Fred. It enjoyed the same success at Underhills. Mr Ginger, who moved to a bungalow in Belmont Road, Bennetts End, retired in 1985. Sadly, Winnie has since passed away. The Legion D’Honneur will join Mr Ginger’s collection of 13 other medals and one medallion. He said: “It’s nice to have some recognition, 71 years later. I was only a young man of 18, like so many of us were.” Mr Ginger’s niece, Sheila Stapleton, visits her uncle regularly. She said: “I feel very proud of him – that medal is thoroughly deserved.”

I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air. ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne This morning we were scheduled to meet up with Trudie & Leo at the buffet brunch at the Mac. I ended up skipping out as I wasn't feeling all that great after eating a big steak dinner the night before - no wine involved! I did get up in time to make them coffee when they returned just after 11. From there Carm and I went to the flea market for bargain haircuts, Canadian Tire to see if there was anything good on sale (there wasn't). The rest of this incredible afternoon was spent catching some sunshine, and visiting with people in neighboring campers. I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't just a little easier to meet up with people without our fancy fence... I'm conflicted - it is great not to tie the dogs up, but it is also nice to wander out to the road to talk with passers by. We watched a program on CNN with an interview of Malala, the young Pakistani girl that was shot by the Taliban - what an incredible young woman. Despite, or perhaps because of, the attack on her life she has a resolve and an insight rarely seen in adults, let alone a 16 year old. I think that her attitude towards life as she overcomes her injuries can be an inspiration to us all. I raise up my voice – not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. ~ Malala Yousafzai,

2 Min Read LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift was named Billboard's woman of the year on Tuesday, becoming the youngest artist ever to receive the honor. The 21-year-old country-pop crossover artist has won four Grammys and her five-time platinum selling album "Speak Now" has been one of 2011's biggest sellers in the United States. Eleven of the 14 tracks made their way onto the Billboard Hot 100 charts in a single week earlier this year. Billboard editorial director Bill Werde said Swift's music and songwriting had transcended all genres of music. "At the young age of 21, Taylor has already made a major impact on music and has been an incredible role model for aspiring singers/songwriters and young women everywhere. I look forward to watching her career continue to flourish in the years to come," Werde said. Swift's 2008 album "Fearless" captured both the heartache and thrills of first love and remains the longest-running No.1 album by a female country artist in the history of the Billboard 200 album charts. Her overall worldwide sales now exceed 20 million albums and 40 million song downloads, Billboard said. Swift will be presented with the award at the 2011 Billboard Women in Music event on December 2 in New York. Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Edited by Bob Tourtellotte

Babylon film theatre in Berlin, in Mitte district, once a month on a Friday night invites artists to show their works on the big screen of the legendary. The artist is present – it is his/her night. Often the artists take the chance to celebrate premiers and sometimes to stage live acts, such as performances, concerts or artist talks, accompanying the video presentation. The aim of the screening series is to give an insight into the current video art production of Berlin’s international art scene. Both, renowned artists as well as promising young artists, are invited with their works. Videoart at Midnight is non-profit, private initiative. Admission is free. Upcoming film screening program: 21 April 2017 Screening: #84 Theo Eshetu 19 May 2017 Screening: #85 Agnieszka Polska 16 June 2017 Screening: #86 Andy Graydon

- Find a Trail - My TrailLink - Explore Trails - About Us - Get Involved To reach the Imeson Road trailhead from downtown Jacksonville, take I-10 west to Exit 356/I-295 North and head up I-295 to Exit 9/Commonwealth Avenue. Drive west on Commonwealth about 1 mile to Imeson and turn right. The marked trailhead is on the left. To reach the Brandy Branch Road trailhead, take I-10 west to Exit 343/US Highway 301 and head north to US Highway 90. Turn left, drive west about 2 miles then turn right on Route 121/Brandy Branch Road. The marked trailhead is on the right. City of Jacksonville 555 West 44th Street Jacksonville, FL 32208 Tried the trail for the first time in July...hot! What a nice trail! Be very careful at road crossings. Great facilities and interesting stops along the way. We road the entire trail from east to west and back (28.4 miles). The first 3.7 miles were along power lines and open in the sun. The remainder of the trail was nice and shaded. Very flat and easy for anyone. Great place to bike and also take the dog! This is a lovely, well-kept trail that is heavily shaded, a nice way to get some exercise and stay out of the sun (for the most part). Rode it twice during a recent stay in the area and loved it. Woods and farmland, lovely. Awesome 29.5 miles I walked this trail before but started from the Jacksonville end. This time I started from the Baldwin end of the trail. In your picture (view) you do mention an address for the Baldwin end the correct address is listed on the board as 89 Brady Branch Rd. The trail was even more quite and had more wilderness than the Jacksonville side. The bench at the 8.5 mile had a broken frame and a missing trek slat on the seat, but was okay to sit on. I will most likely return to the Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail it was enjoyable to walk it from either end. I started off from the Jacksonville parking area which has large parking spaces. I walked about 4 miles toward Baldwin about a mile and a half past the electric grid and back. About 3 and a half mile in there was a stench in a couple places that smelled like dead animals. The walk was very pleasant and peaceful, although you do cross some roads but they are not busy at all, no noise and very woodsy feeling but very straight clean and well maintained. There was also trees on both sides that provided some decent shade from the sun. Although there was mostly bikers everyone was friendly and courteous. Great place. Specially near Camp Milton. I just purchased my first bike in 30 years and decided to go to the Baldwin end of the trail to try it out. Unfortunately, it was only two days after Hurricane Matthew tore through the area and it definitely showed on the trail, it was a real mess. I did buy a mountain bike and I really needed it, because this felt like it was an off-road trail with the amount of sticks and leaf litter on the trail. Less than a quarter mile from the parking lot, a HUGE tree almost completely blocked the trail. I was able to get under it and continued to the old train station. Since this was my first ride in a very long time, I decided to turn around and head back. I would DEFINITELY want to return later after they finish cleaning it up and ride it again. This is a great Trail!! Very well maintained, scenic and a great place to ride!! This trail is perfect for beginner to advanced riders; great for a family excursion without much traffic to look out for. I like to keep it in the rotation for days when I need fast, flat, and uninterrupted mileage. We rode our bikes on this trail for the first time on a Saturday afternoon around 75 degrees. Couldn't have asked for a better day. There were leisurely bike riders (us), fast cyclists, dog walkers, rollerbladers, walking families with strollers, and everyone we encountered was nice & respectful, keeping to the right for faster passerbys. The parking lot has security cameras, trash bins, & restrooms. The trail has mile markers and 5 miles down there is a stopping point with restrooms. There are benches every couple of miles & most of the trail is shaded. The scenery is nice, though u will pass a few derelict trailers & monster trucks. Today we saw cats, dogs, cows, bulls with horns, little pigs, donkeys, turkeys, squirrels, & 1 unsuspecting rabbit :) We did 5 miles & came back but at the 5 mile stopping point there is a map that shows a town if you continue on for 5-6 miles that has ice cream shops & restaurants. Hoping to return to this trail soon. Great ride in Feb. Started at Camp Milton. Plenty of parking, adequate restrooms are a ways from parking so don't plan on changing there. Lots of shade from evergreens make this shady even in the winter. Lots of deciduous trees too so probably deep shade after the trees leaf out. Didn't spot any wildlife beyond squirrels and birds. Easy ride west for 10 miles. Not much traffic. Lots of geocaches too! Hope to get out on a later trip to do Camp Milton into Jacksonville. My wife and I rode this trail on February 28, 2016. It was a sunny Sunday afternoon and the temperature was 60-65. We parked at Camp Milton. We try to find a middle point to park at when riding longer trails. This way if there is a problem with one of our bikes, the distance back to the car is limited. Although with two people someone could always go get the car and drive it back to where the bike broke. We only rode west, from Camp Milton to Baldwin and back. We did not go east of Camp Milton. The trail is asphalt and very smooth. We wore long sleeve t-shirts because we were in the shade most of the trip. (BTW. I rode a mountain bike and my wife a hybrid. Casual riding.)The were more people on road bikes than any other mode of transportation. All the riders announced themselves before passing us. We will definitely go back and ride the other part of the trail. I don't remember if there were restrooms at Camp Milton. There were restrooms at the Baldwin parking lot, and an portable restroom in the parking lot at the end of the trail in Baldwin. We saw a turtle, horses, birds, people riding motorcross, and chickens. Because of the length of the trail I would say its worth the trip. I live in Central Florida and it was a 2 hour drive to this trail via I-4/I-95. The Imeson Road trailhead was easy to find...just of the I-295/Commonwealth Ave. Exit. Restrooms and plenty of parking at the trailhead. The first two miles were a bit uphill and bordered by power poles and 1/2 acre residential lots. Eventually, the trail leveled out, the power poles disappeared and the landscaped transitioned to woods or open agricultural areas. Water and restrooms are located at the 5.7 mile marker at the Camp Milton Rest Area and at the 12.4 mile marker at the Baldwin Station Rest Area. This is the place to get off the trail to find stores or restaurants about 3/4 miles to the south on SR 90 (Beaver St). Next time I come to this trail, I will use the Baldwin Station as my turn around point instead of biking the extra 2.1 miles to the Brandy Branch Road Trailhead. My husband and I rode the trail today. The weather was perfect! 60 degrees! Very little traffic on the few cross streets, mostly curtious people on the trail, and well kept. Highly recommended! 5 of 5 stars review Some reviews here are a little outdated regarding facilities. There are now cameras installed at the Imeson parking lot and a very helpful fellow explained that there haven't been any more vehicle breakins that he knew of. We had absolutely no problems. My camera battery died, or we would have had more pictures of the facilities. There are facilities and water at each end and at the 5.5 mile Camp Milton side trail. Possibly the nicest thing about this excellent trail how nice the people are. Almost entirely tree-lined, we rode in perfect comfort on what was a hot sunny day. We will make this a weekly ride. We started out late on Sunday afternoon around 4 30pm. Not expecting to finish before dark we were feeling determined. We stopped along the way to take some pics and water breaks. In the end we finished at 9pm. The last few miles were grueling as it has now become dark. I will plan better for our next time. It was so beautiful and serene. Felt like we had the whole trail to ourselves. Rode this trail for the third time yesterday, with plans to come back several more times while we are in the area. The scenery is relaxing and the wildlife abundant, including gopher tortoises. The thick canopy makes for a refreshing ride, even in the afternoon heat, and the long stretches without stop signs make for a good workout. Good trail of plain. Met the security rooster at the Imeson trailhead! I only rode to the 10 mile marker this last time. It was a great way to start a Sunday. I really do like this trail - people are otherwise friendly. Most say good morning. My only major concern, the gun shots you could hear in the distance. Whether or not someone was target practicing or not..it was a little disconcerting. Especially when a shot rung out and the top of the trees about 50 feet from me rattled. I think I am going to try out the Palatka - Lake Butler trail next Sunday. This morning was my first ride on any of the trails in the area. I picked this trail because it was close to my house and because of all the positive reviews. It was a very nice ride. Because I am just getting into riding, I wasn't sure how far I was going to ride and was very happy to see mile marker posts along the trail an 1/2 mile markers painted on asphalt. I started at the beginning and went to mile marker 5. May not sound like much but 10 miles on my first day out made me feel good. The trail was nice and peaceful. just enough people to not feel to isolated but plenty of time alone. Can't wait to go back again. Started at Imeson Road trailhead; at mile 5.7, a historic Civil War Camp just a short walk behind the bathrooms with very good informational signs. Earthworks are still in place. A great 28 mile round trip. What a Gem!! Started on Imerson and rode to the end on Blanding Trail and back, 3 hours of pure joy. Nice trail heads on each end of trail with restrooms, 2 more restroom facilities one at 5 a half miles from Imerson and then around the 12 mile, there are mile markers at each mile, lots of benches along the route, this is a great path! My first time on this trail and I had a very good time. Went from Jax till the Baldwin Railroad station (12.7 out of 14.5 miles).Very well maintained and clean. I did not see one piece of trash from start to finish. Will come again... Play "Animal Scavenger Hunt" as you breeze under the shaded Florida canopies! We had an awesome Bike Ride yesterday at the Baldwin/Jacksonville Trail. The entire trail is 14.5 miles journeying through the swamp, forests, wetlands, grassy plains, rural homes, small farms etc. The constant shift in scenery is stimulating and it's even more fun to count how much wildlife you saw! I joked that it was like playing Animal Bingo! The coolest thing I saw was an adorable baby armadillo sniffing around the grass about a foot from the trail. I was also amused seeing two cows bathing in a deep pond in the shady forest. It looked a little ominous with the dramatic lighting and reminded me of The Walking Dead. (Thankfully, no zombies were present.) I was surprised with how BUSY it was Sunday morning! There was spandex, helmets, and bikes with skinny tires galore in the parking lot. However, once you were on a trail you had a leisurely private ride all to yourself with numerous "Good Mornings" to other cyclists as they passed. When reading the reviews on this site it warned against car breakins, but it seemed like there was a constant watchful crowd by the parking lot so I wasn't worried. Because of the Florida summer heat, and because we were wussy, we did not finish the entire trail. We stopped midway by Camp Milton. Camp Milton Historical Preserve is the site of an important battle of the Civil War, but to be honest with you there wasn't much to see. At that halfway point there is also clean bathrooms, water fountains, and two picnic tables. We rode on the little trail off by the bathrooms to explore Camp Milton. Just meandering around Camp Milton wasn't terribly interesting but it was something new to explore and it was free. I can't wait to go back and ride along the other half of the trail towards Baldwin and see what other animals we find and reward ourselves with some Dreamette icecream upon completion! A great ride with very few intersections. This trail truly takes you away from this hustle and bustle of Jacksonville. The length of the trail is perfect. Round trip is close to 30 miles..The road will well maintained, beautiful homes along the way, canopy trees...cows, horses...Great get away and exercise.... Courteous fellow bikers, nice shaded paved trail with lots of benches,and a bathroom facility along the trail. The only downfalls are the parking if you don't get there early enough the parking lot is FULL and you might want to bring a roll of toilet paper, the bathrooms aren't stocked very well, there was none in either facility at the head of the trail today. Get there early or you'll struggle for a place to park! The trail is paved and mostly shaded. There are benches along the way for you to take a break if need be, courteous riders/walkers/joggers and beautiful scenery along the route. We happened along a grazing set of bulls on the trail unfenced but they didn't care that we were there and kept on about their business, I will post a photo!!! All in all well worth the drive from anywhere to ride this trail, we will definitely be returning! The Jacksonville trail head is easy to find. Even though my GPS kept trying to dump me on the Baldwin end, I just found Imeson Road and looked for the sign. The parking lot was full at 8:45am. I found a grass spot and unpacked my bike. The trail head is very basic -paved parking spots, trail guide sign and mens/womans restrooms. The trail is wide, smooth, even has mile markers - a nice touch. Passing mile marker 1 I felt fatigued and anxious. Am I THAT out of shape?? Then I realized I was on an incline. Being an old railway, the inclines are so gradual you don't notice them but your legs will. As soon as I got past that first peak suddenly life got better. I love those long, smooth sweeping curves - no blind spots! Within 20 minutes I found myself riding in the total shade. Even on this hot sweaty August day the air was surprisingly comfortable under the dense canopy. It's been a wet summer so the drainage ditches on each side of the trail were full of water - and mozzies! If you ride this trail after a heavy rain, bring plenty of repellent or ride like the wind!! The rest area at the Camp Milton Historic Preserve fork is delightful! There's a cement pad with picnic table, groomed grass area, clean restrooms and ICE COLD water in the drinking fountains! There are only a few street crossings on this trail and the rural roads were never busy. The morning crowd was mainly comprised of spandex suited marathoners shooting swiftly past me. They glided along singly and in long strings. I was a little disappointed at the number of empty drink bottles this crowd drops in a single day. As the sun got high in the sky the mix of people changed. I passed a senior couple holding hands taking leisurely stroll, a delightful chap in flip flops riding a beach cruiser with an umbrella strapped to the bars. I was amazed at the variety of people I met. The Baldwin trial head and adjoining park has something for everyone. Both covered and open picnic areas, playground, skateboard park, and a tourist shop that was closed at the time. Conspicuously absent was the big city crowds you find at parks in larger cities. If you like a quiet, relaxed atmosphere the Baldwin trail head is a good stopping off spot. I rode a few blocks north to "Everybody's Restaurant". This quaint little breakfast diner is chocked full of nostalgia, good food and southern hospitality. You'd be hard pressed to spend over $10 per meal. Their cheeseburger plate really hit the spot for me. Overall I was very satisfied I took this ride and I will do it again soon. This being my first 30 mile round trip ride ever, it was surprisingly stress free due to the smooth flat paved trail. I would recommend this ride to anyone who loves to enjoy nature in peaceful quiet surroundings. With the exception of the shooting range I passed by, I mostly heard birds singing, leaves rustling and water trickling - very relaxing. Trail is great but car car was also broken into at the Imeson Rd parking area in the middle of the afternoon with a crowded parking lot. Will not go back again. The trail itself was just a paved path unlong the trees which sheltered from the sun. Good for those riding with children and/or disabled persons. I parked at the camp milton parking lot to access the trail. my vehicle was broken into while riding. Glass smashed in. Reported it to authorities. I was told that several robberies has happened there and surrounding area(not sure at the parking lot at baldwin park enterance). Just ran "burlary camp milton jacksonville" through the search engine and found a posting on a forum dating back to 2008 stating the same thing happened, car robbery. I really think that this place is not a safe place to take a bike ride.... I don't know that I would drive for hours to get to this trail, but it is definitely worth a drive if you're local. I live in Jacksonville and have used the trail many times. It is decently kept, there is a bathroom and water fountain built at an old train station a little farther than midway from the Jax end of the trail. There are porta potties and parking at the jax and baldwin trail ends. The main selling point for me is there are only 2 or 3 street crossings so it there is no traffic to contend with and the scenery is decent in general, but actually very nice as far as Jacksonville goes. Scenery wise, there are horse and cattle farms along the way, and lots of tree cover. The trail is flat for the most part, there are a few slight hills that work your legs if you're used to the usual flat jacksonville stuff, but it's an easy ride. I've taken road bikes, mountain bikes, and even an 3 speed in-hub french number from the 60's on this trail and they all got me through with ease. There aren't many places nearby to eat so I'd pack some snacks. My husband and I rode this trail last weekend. We started at the Balwin Trailhead, went west and then turned and rode to the east to the end. Great trail. Not much traffic to contend with. In riding many other trails around the state I would say that this one needs more covered places to stop along the way. There were benches but few picnic table/covered areas. Unfortunately we got caught in a thunderstorm and rode the last 7 miles in heavy rain. The only wildlife sighting we had were 2 black snakes sunning themselves on the trail. Overall, a nice trail. We rode this trail last week (April 2009). It was wonderful. No congestion, cool and absolutely beautiful! The best yet! My wife and I have ridden thousands of miles on this trail. It is beautiful, with a tree canopy covering probably 75% of it. We have seen squirrels, rabbits, snakes, deer, longhorn steer,turkeys, pheasants, cattle, birds of every kind, vultures, eagles, goats, turtles....it's like a visit to the zoo! The trail is blacktopped and very smooth. It is maintained by the City of Jacksonville, and they blow off debris every day. "I thoroughly enjoyed this trail, along with my granchildren whose father is in the Navy and stationed here. I have a question for the person who reviewed the trail on 4-25-2006 titled wow wow wow. You encouraged someone to maintain this nice trail. To whom were you addressing this comment? My question to you is - what are you doing to help maintain trails in whatever area you live? Most trail maintenance is done by volunteers. " "I'm new to the whole hiking and biking trail experience and the jax-baldwin trail has put a good impression on me. It was easy to find, all the other cyclist smiled back at me, and there was plenty of parking. Very, very beautiful. We're privelaged to have something like this in young jax. only one suggestion: please maintain this trail." "The directions to the Baldwin trailhead In this directory are ""[Baldwin Trailhead and Park: From Jacksonville, take Interstate 10 west to Exit 50 (new Exit 343) for US 301. Head north on US 301 (toward Baldwin), continuing through Baldwin to the trailhead]"" would be continuing through Baldwin turn just West of where 301 turns north again. If you turn north on 301 you will not see it. We had asked and noone knew where it was. We saw where it crossed 301 and so first went East and then West and found it. It was 25 miles round trip and a beautiful ride, mostly canopied with trees. There is a new park going in about 5 miles east of Baldwin. New FLUSH bathroom in with country cabin look and knotty pine interior! BEAUTIFUL. Big park going in behind that. All adjoining the bike path. Thanks for the help in finding Rail Trails. We love them." "The trail is lovely. The Baldwin trailhead is very nice - but finding it is difficult. The trail website states ""Head north on US 301 (toward Baldwin), continuing through Baldwin to the trailhead"" The trailhead is located Center St N. As you are traveling north on 301/90 turn left on Center St N; follow until it ends. You'll see the park and just follow the raod around until you get to the parking lot. Once there, you'll really enjoy the trail. "I've ridden this track many times, but have not seen any deer. Today I got out early, riding by 8:00AM and saw a bunch. Have Fun and Keep Riding!!" "We live in Hattiesburg Mississippi and are fortunate to have one of the best Rails to Trails in the country, Long Leaf Trace, so yes, we are spoiled and are sometimes disappointed in trails we've visited but not this one. It's a beautiful trail that has plenty of nature and a nice wide track. We're use to seeing a lot of deer, turkeys, squirrels and rabbits on our trail here in south MS. We saw several snakes and some awesome-huge grasshoppers on the Baldwin trail! This trail wasn't real busy either, we only saw one fellow cyclist, it was threatning rain though. The only suggestion we would like to make to the managers of the trail is to please post some signs marking the trail entrances from the highway and the small city streets. We had to stop twice and ask if we were heading in the right direction. If we hadn't, we would have never found the trail. We enjoyed our Baldwin ride when we got there!" "On our many outings on the trail we have seen deer, turkeys, foxes, hawks, rabbits and one rabbit in the process of becoming a hawk, at least part of a hawk. We have seen several coral snakes. You don't see these guys often. I have never seen one anywhere else but the zoo. We have seen wood storks, stilts and herons in the ditches on the road to the power plant, a worthy side trip. We have seen diamond back rattle snakes, timber rattlers, and pygmies. We have seen ribbon snakes, racers, rat snakes and moccasins. We have seen a huge variety of wildflowers and plants. It is a heck of a nature walk that many people miss because they are so focused on going fast." The Baldwin Trail is the premier trail in the Jacksonville Area. The trail offers postcard views and great areas for picnics along the trail. "This trail is really nice. It is close enough to my house so that I don't have to load my bike into my car and drive to the trail. I get on near the Imeson trailhead, so that makes it really convenient. We can ride the whole trail to Baldwin and then go to Everybody's Restaurant to eat dinner. This makes it a nice family outing, or we just take a picnic. Then, we just ride back home. e rode two weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon and saw three gopher tortoises, two deer, an alligator, several birds including a belted kingfisher, numerous squirrels and lots and lots of beautiful butterflies. Today we rode it and only saw two baby gopher tortoises, birds including our belted kingfisher that we saw the last time, squirrels and butterflies. Each trip you can expect to see different things. The canopy of trees really makes this trail something special. It is just gorgeous; you'll see quite a bit of wild flowers. I haven't tried the other rail-trails but, with this one so close to my home I am satisfied with it. I have ridden it several times and don't get bored with it. I could ride it everyday and count each time as a new adventure. I see a lot of people on the trail, on bikes, hiking, inline skates, horses, jogging, you name it. I am glad that they put something so nice out on this side of town. Besides the Jacksonville Zoo, this is about the only outdoor entertainment that we have in Jacksonville. Anyway, I could go on and on. So, just get out your bicycles or go buy one and hit the trail. You won't be sorry." "We tried the Jacksonville - Baldwin trail in mid September 2004 between hurricanes and tropical storms. It is a flat east-west 14.5 miles each way and we embarked from the Brandy Branch trailhead at the western most point. We were the only car in the lot and when we passed Baldwin we noticed an empty lot also. Did a round trip to the Imeson Road trailhead (3 cars) and only passed four other bikers. Surface of black top made for an extreemly smooth riding through fields and swamps with good foliage shade. The surface was clean and tree debris from the storms were sawed away from the trail and removed. Grassy sides of the pathway were mowed and clean. This is a great path for viewing assorted wildlife including a huge cottonmouth moccasin sun bathing on the asphault (we didn't stop to visit). Deer, cows, chickens, hawks and occasional eagles abound as well as goats and the usual Florida native wildlife. If you plan to stop at one of the many benches thoughtfully set along the trail you should bring a good mosquito repellant during warm weather due to the swamp nature of much of the locale. Porta-potties are located at each of the three trailheads and midway is a first class his and hers pine panalled rest facility complete with stainless steel fixtures and diaper changing station. Quite impressive! All in all, this is the best longer ride in northeast Florida and similar in many ways to the Siver Comet trail in Atlanta. Go do it! You'll be glad you did. " "This is the fourth trail we have reviewed and it is the best so far. We started at the Baldwin Brandy Branch Road trailhead where the trail is mostly flat and well shaded. It is extremely well maintained with grassy banks on both sides that had been recently mowed. Most of the trail is shaded by a canopy of trees. As you get nearer to the Jacksonville end, the trail is less shaded and there are several cross roads. The trail is well travled by other bikers, joggers and in-line skaters and is apparently used by horses also. The Jacksonville and Baldwin trailheads feature ample parking lots. The Jax parking lot was full by the time we arrived there attesting to the number of users of this trail. " "This trail is perfect for everyone regardless of thier experience level. Ride, jog, walk or skate -- whatever your pleasure this trail will far exceed your expectations. The 10-foot wide trail allows for plenty of room for couple and group rides. It's mostly shaded and provides plenty of livestock viewing. Just make sure you don't run over any chickens and you will have a blast. " "This 14.5-mile long asphalt surfaced trail is a magnet for bikers and in-line skaters living in or near Jacksonville and Baldwin, FL. The trail boasts three dedicated trail user parking lots, a former railroad caboose, a restroom facility fashioned as a railroad station, a gated trail crossing over an active railroad line, safety signage at all street crossings, and much more. On the day of my visit the Imeson Road Trailhead parking lot in Jacksonville was full. However, the Baldwin and Brandy Branch Trailhead parking lots had one car each parked in them. The three parking lots are identically constructed and sized. Portable restrooms are located at the Imeson Road and Brandy Branch lots. The permanent restroom facility fashioned as a train station is located in Baldwin adjacent to a municipal park; that‘s where you‘ll find the old caboose as well. There’s also a working water fountain at the Baldwin Trailhead and Park. If you enjoy biking flat paved surfaces, or are an avid in-line skater, and don’t mind dealing with loads of street crossings, give this trail a try. Bring plenty of water in the summer though!" "This is one of my favorite trails. It is so relaxing. I have seen deer, foxes, rabbits and snakes. If you want to get a decent bike ride in without having to worry about traffic, this is the place to be! The trail is very well maintained. " "Pleasant and relaxing. A great trail for bikers, runners and skaters." "Jax->Baldwin is one of the best trails. The trailway is smooth and wide. There are no breaks in the asphalt. Sight distance is excellent. Leaving Jax, the trail cuts through sparsely settled gently rolling terrain. At 6 miles it crosses a stream (not potable). Beyond 7 miles, the trail enters a wooded section with considerable canopy overhead. This section is exquisite. There is a parking lot with water and potties at Baldwin (12.5 mi). The trail ends at FL 121 (14.5 mi). Use is variable, but the width of the trail makes even two-abreast safe." "Nice trail, use is developing nicely. Need more parking spaces at the Imeson Rd trail head at times (a good sign!)" "This is a wonderful trail. Very scenic, shady and friendly. Watch out for the cows that occassionally get out! Happy Trails! " "I'ved lived in Jax all my life, this is the best thing the city has done. If you ain't been on the trail you should try it, you'll love it! I hope the city will continue to maintain it. Lots of improvements could be made but I'm happy to have it as it is! Dennis " "The Jacksonville-Baldwin rail trail is a wonderful asset in a city that is already a pleasure to live in. I'm a resident of Jacksonville and have been riding the trail nearly every weekend for about a year and a half. It's a great way to relax and get some fresh air. The Jacksonville trail head is easily accessible via I-295. There's a great little diner about a quarter of a mile off the trail in Baldwin, so there's a nice mix of nature and civilized comfort. Try it. You'll like it." Thanks to the great folks who made this possible. This trail does not have any events yet. Be the first to add one! The S-Line Urban Greenway is a rail-trail that runs just over three miles. The Black Creek Trail parallels U.S. Highway 17, from Orange Park south to Black Creek Park near Lakeside, FL, just south of Jacksonville. Passing... Although the State Route 21 Multiuse Path is not scenic, as it closely parallels its namesake roadway, it does provide an important connection between... The Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail corridor stretches nearly 47 miles from State Route 238 in Lake Butler to west of US 17 in Palatka. Currently, 20... Along the northeast coast of Jacksonville, sections of the developing Timucuan Trail have been built in Big Talbot Island State Park and Little Talbot... The Amelia Island Trail, on Florida's northeastern coast, runs from Peters Point Beachfront Park to Amelia Island State Park in the city of Fernandina... This 12-mile paved path joins two outstanding north central Florida state parks, Ichetucknee Springs and O'Leno. The greenway goes through the town of... The Waldo Road Greenway, Depot Avenue Rail-Trail, and Kermit Sigmon Bike Trail are seamlessly connected as part of Gainesville's ever-expanding... The Georgia Coast Rail-Trail will eventually stretch 68 miles from Kingsland north to Riceboro, a lush corridor of longleaf pine forest, marsh and saw... The Palatka-to-St. Augustine State Trail currently runs through the communities of Armstrong, Elkton, and Vermont Heights in northeastern Florida.... Connecting the university town of Gainesville with rural Hawthorne, this 16.5-mile trail makes for a great day trip, complete with a hill or two and... The UF Campus Greenway was completed in 2016 and now winds across the University of Florida in Gainesville, uniting the east and west sides of the... TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!

I used to ride the school bus with Jim Kalinowski. Every day for a solid hour of winding through the rural, melanoma twisty roads of Half Moon Township, viagra I’d stare out the window at the silos and horses and sheep. Way’s Fruit Farm would flash splashes of red through its endless strawberry fields and apple orchards. I’d try in vain to neatly write the answers to my procrastinated math homework, herpes attempting to syncopate the scrawling of my pencil to the unpredictable asphalt bumps along Route 550. Or I’d just stare out the window and daydream. Or I’d chat with Jim. Jim was one of the wise, older friends to the far younger, impressionable me. He was, after all, in senior high school, and I was just entering 7th grade. He was beginning work on his Eagle Scout project, and I was just transitioning from Cub Scouts into Boy Scouts. Jim was patient and thoughtful, an exceptionally good listener for an adolescent, but really for any age. I didn’t know him extremely well, but we used to joke and laugh, and I looked up to him for no particular reason other than I felt like I should. He was a young man of integrity. Loyalty. He got it from his dad. Mr. Kalinowski was always a fascinating, quirky, clever man. As little as I actually knew Jim, my interaction with Mr. K was even less. Still, the few times I met him at various scouting or community events always had a positive, familial impact on me. Quick with a joke and quicker with a pun, he was always smiling below his nicely curled mustache (long before the hipsters decided to think it was cool). It was a few years later, long after Jim had graduated and it was my turn to finish my Eagle Scout Project and receive the rank’s ceremonial award, when Mr. K casually through out a line that has resonated with me so strongly that it’s become a mantra of my own. I had invited him and Jim to attend my Eagle award ceremony. It would mean a great deal for such friends and leaders who so influenced my life to be there for this transitional chapter-close. They did attend, and it was lovely and appreciated. But it was the sentence he said in response that still makes me swallow hard and makes my heart and spirit swell. Most would say, “Yes.” Or “maybe.” I’ll do my best. Wouldn’t miss it. I plan to be there. Endless, hollow cliches of commitment that we all use and try desperately to mean. All of which sound–and generally are–reflexive responses that we don’t give much thought to. Mr. Kalinowski’s words: “If I can’t make it, I’ll send my bones.” I’ll send my bones. It’s such a lightly uttered phrase with dark connotations. A perfect, beautiful combination that eloquently expresses intent and determination of will. It says: I take my word seriously. I’ve thought about it. I’ve said it. I’m going to do it. I try to use the word “promise” sparingly. But if and when I do promise, I do all that I can to keep it, and will continue to do so until I simply can no more. My parents, teachers, and leaders all encouraged and instilled in me the importance of commitment and integrity. Jim Kalinowski’s Dad drove it home. If I tell you I’m going to be somewhere, I will. And If I can’t make it, I’ll send my bones.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of discussion in forums such as this one about Smart Meter technology and where the industry is at this point. I know they are being implemented on the eastern portion of the U.S. My understanding is that there are health related concerns about them but to what extent I don't have personal knowledge. On the surface they would seem to be a logical choice for electrical energy savings. Does anyone have first hand knowledge on how the Smart Meter industry is developing? Just a quick primer on them: http://blog.sls-construction.com/2011/reading-your-electric-meter The RF concerns are way over baked - from Ben Stallings blog: http://blueboathome.com/EMF The utility here has installed smart meters for more than 95% of accounts. Apparently at some point in the near future we will have the ability to monitor our usage via the internet. I'm sure a few folks will embrace this, but most will barely notice. The main advantages will be to the utility, in terms of more accurate metering and remote monitoring/troubleshooting capabilities. Smart meters eliminated a whole lot meter readers and overhead for the utility. I have heard that when all smart meters are installed, the utilities will put everyone on (TOU) time of use. If you use energy at the wrong time, you will PAY. Also the current smart meters are not working out with a net metering arrangement, so the utilities had to go back to the previous (not so smart) meter used with a grid tied photovoltaic system until they work out the bugs. We have one on our house, love it. We can monitor use online in 15 minute increments although the data is about 2hrs behind "real time". Works great for instant feedback of what energy saving measures work and which ones don't. TOU rates are OPTIONAL in our area, our utility even offers a 1 year guarantee of rates being no higher than it would have been on standard rates. We signed up for TOU, it has saved us considerably. Our program offers 1/2 price power compared to standard rates during "off peak times". On peak is 2-7pm weekdays in summer months where rates are about 2.5x standard, all other times are considered off peak. Thanks for the reply, Bob. Could I talk you into posting a picture of it? We have had them here in San Diego Gas and Electric for some time now. They started rolling out a couple of years ago. They installed both gas and electric smart meters. They have a system called Energy Charts which came on board about the same time Google PowerMeter was killed. http://rede3.com/Why_Google_PowerMeter_failed.html There have been no problems and the system is up and running quite nicely Maybe interesting bedtime reading: Realizing the Energy Efficiency Potential of Smart Grid, by Me (I'd recommend the PDF link there if you're actually going to read the whole thing). As for health concerns, the majority consensus seems to be you're worse off with a cell phone, cordless phone, baby monitor, or microwave oven than you are with a smart meter. Some smart meters use the same GSM technology that mobile phones use. I won't claim this report from UTC is unbiased research, but it could be informative. In terms of industry development, they're well on their way to being pervasive in the US, despite hiccups and occasional poor communication from utilities. Italy and Malta both already have essentially 100% implementation, many other countries around the world are committing to large-scale roll-outs. Smart meters offer opportunities for both consumers and utilities to save energy. Real time monitoring of electric usage allows the grid to be operated at much tighter tolerances, resulting in greater efficiencies and reliability. This is all good for everybody. Besides the advantages of online monitoring and being able to monitor in real time the electric usage of individual appliances and systems, not every consumer is having a warm and fuzzy experience with their new smart meter in the central valley of California. In 2009 and 2010, I was active as a solar power consultant, typically performing at least three presentations a week to home owners. The presentation almost always included an analysis of their last 12 months electric usage. A significant percentage of home owners that purchased Photovoltaic systems from me were really angry because of their increased bills with their new smart meter. Their new smart meter was registering higher usage and their bills were often much higher, as much as 50% in extreme cases. It was not uncommon to hear of bill increases as much as 25% to 35%, even though the home owners were telling me nothing had change in the way they used electricity. As an experienced sales person asking homeowners fact finding questions, their reason for looking into solar was often the same on a significant percentage of my appointments. These home owners were looking into solar electric because of their frustration with their smart meter. They were highly motivated to lower their newly increased electric bill and maybe even more so they were angry enough that they wanted to stick to the man. There were enough home owners angry with their smart meters that I was seeing them on the local news venting their frustration on a somewhat regular basis. It was not to many months after these galvanizing local news stories started showing up that the utility in this area reduce their tier 5 rate down to a tier 4 rate and they called it summer relief. Until very recent, the rates had not been raised again. I personally saw my usage at home jump up significantly and my bills increased by 20% to 25% when they put a smart meter on. When I called the utility, all I got from them was that my original meter was antiquated and under registering the usage. It felt like they were telling me I should be grateful for my discounted electric cost prior to getting a smart meter installed. Now that’s some good spin. I might have believed them but I was meeting people sometimes almost weekly that were telling me the same thing and it was showing up on the news as well. TOU rates are an option here in the central valley. TOU can work very well for a young couple that leaves in the morning and returns in the evening to an empty house. I don’t believe TOU works nearly as well for an elderly couple or for someone home all day with an infant in the home that needs to keep their home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Here in the central valley the highs in summer average around 98F and the lows in the winter average around 38F. I have heard from several sources that the utility will put everyone on TOU once the installation of smart meters has been completed. Whether or not they have an infant or an elderly person in the home. The key here is currently TOU use rates are currently option that work well for many, but soon they may be mandatory for all. In our area TOU is required to be "revenue neutral". This means a person bill under TOU and standard rates should be the same if the consumer doesn't change usage habits at all. Our utility will even switch you back to the standard rates AND refund the difference (up to a year) if you paid more under the optional TOU. Doing simple things like delaying laundry, dishwasher, etc is enough to make TOU worth it, even if you don't adjust the thermostat. OG&E encourages consumers to "precool" their house before 2:00PM, then raise thermostat until 7:00pm. I haven't thought about all the extra revenue OG&E is getting from eliminating all the old "slow meters", perhaps the payback for upgrading everybody to smartgrid will pay off for OG&E sooner than they thought.

A terrific solo motorcycle adventure and priceless sociological archive all in one. All delivered with a hushed breath of quiet humility and gratitude. In 1932 New Yorker and architecture student Robert Fulton Jnr had finished a year’s post-grad study in London. Most Yanks would have boarded a steamer at Southampton and been home in a week. Not so young Robert… He scrounged a Douglas motorcycle and set off overland, destination Japan, where he finally did get the boat back to Uncle Sam’s shores. Eighty years later his journey would be legitimately impressive but imagine the world he crossed; mostly dirt roads, almost completely devoid of telephones and infrastructure as we know it today. He traversed a Europe not plunging head-first into war, a Middle East still firmly under British control and an India destined to be British forever. His foray into Chiang Kai Shek’s pre-communist China brought him into a society almost frozen in time. Robert Fulton is a hero of this festival since he had the energy and diligence to shoot thirteen hours of film and pioneer a route which in only a few years would become impossible. We salute him!

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What looked like i...This Week in 1960s Baseball (August 9, 1963) One loss shy of tying the major league record of 19 consecutive defeats in one season, New York Mets pitcher Roger Craig today switched his ...Glancing Back, and Remembering Joe Cunningham Joe Cunningham was a left-handed hitting outfielder-first baseman who sprayed line drives to every field and hit .280 or better each of his...Glancing Back, and Remembering Wes Covington Wes Covington was a strong man and a powerful hitter. He worked from an unorthodox batting stance where he held the bat behind him nearly pa... 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When my wife and I first watched Netflix’s Stranger Things series, I was struck (just like so many of my peers) by how powerful the D&D nostalgia was. We were those kids in 1985 (minus demonic monsters and psychic girls). Much has written about the connection between us 40-something gamers and the Stranger Things kids, so i won’t rehash it here. But an experience last night reminded me that you did not have to be 12 in the 1980s to be those Stranger Things kids: you can be 12 right now, in fact. Obviously, I make no secret of my geekery and neither does my wife, so it was not unusual that Dungeons and Dragons came up in a conversation between her and a friend at work. It turned out this friend, S, had bought her son J a full set of the D&D 5th Edition books (Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, Monster Manual as well as the Starter Box) for Christmas. Part of the reason was because S wanted J to put down his tablet and interact with friends more. J and his buddies had tried to navigate D&D on their own, S told my wife, but had crashed and burned. That is when my lovely wife offered up my services to teach J and his friends how to play D&D. I was to be Johnny Diceseed, progenitor of a whole new crop of D&D players. I will admit, at first I balked a little. I am used to running games for strangers at conventions, but those are usually adults, and if there are any kids they tend to be with their parents. My sense of humor and imagination are not PG rated, and f-bombs, shit jokes and bloody decapitations are likely to fly during any given moment in one of my games. In addition I was not confident in my ability to teach kids the very basics of a game that is so ingrained in me after 30-plus years of playing it. Are you a parent? Do you remember the frustration of trying to teach a child to ride a bike when you could not actually articulate how to keep the bike upright? That’s what I was worried I was up against. Nonetheless, I agreed. After all, the couch is cold. As the event got closer, I found myself rehearsing things in my head, planning out how I would explain this aspect or that aspect. I remembered being me trying to master the weird game in the red box and I got both a little misty and excited to impart that on a group of kids. I have purchased D&D for friends’ kids before, trying to pass on the hobby, and have offered advice to those kids. My own kids have been resistant, with my son being more active than tabletop gaming allows and my daughter being too young until recently. This would be the first time I really tried to teach the basics of the game to kids I had not met before. It would be much more like those convention experiences of a table of strangers. None of my plans survived contact with the enemy, so to speak, but even so I was able to herd the kids and get them pointed in the right direction. J was quiet but deeply interested. Of the other four kids at the table — at boys about 12 or 13 years old — two were obviously natural gamers. One, B, is going to be their DM — he says not, and they want to make J do it because it is his stuff, but I can spot a DM a mile off and B is going to be it. Two of the other boys were a little more distracted and had little interest in the nuts and bolts of their characters, and if I had to guess those two would play for a while on occasion before wandering off back toward other activities. One thing I found to be difficult in the process what that non-gamer adults never understand how long D&D takes. The kids wanted to learn to create characters AND play the game. Our window was about 2 hours. I got the kids through the rolling stats, picking race and class and spells, part of character generation and then told them we would fill in the other details as we went. Then, I ran them through a forest ambush with a hobgoblin and some goblins to give them a taste of the combat rules. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. It is hard to articulate until you sit down and think about it, but there is quite a lot that happens in your average game of D&D. No single 2 hour session can hope to teach it all. But, again, as Johnny Diceseed my job was just to plan a 20-sided acorn. When I learned to play D&D, we had just a 32 page player’s guide and 64 page DM guide to navigate, along with a solo adventure to explain the basics and a pre-stocked dungeon to get the DM started. I like the D&D starter set and think the Lost Mines of Phandelver is a great introductory adventure, but I actually prefer Paizo’s Pathfinder beginner Box for teaching the very basics of tabletop D&D style role-playing. Kids just getting into D&D now have a lot more material to try and digest. If it were up to me, I would teach a group to play D&D over the course of four sessions. The first one would be a short adventure with pre-generated characters to teach the basics of play and the assumptions of the world of D&D. The second session would be a character generation session where the players went through the entire process, had time to read their options and so on. The third and fourth sessions would be a somewhat longer adventure using those newly minted characters, designed with the goal of introducing the variety of activities that can happen in D&D, from dealing with NPCs to delving dungeons to traversing the wilds to selling loot and upgrading their gear. By the end of those four session, I think any group of kids that was interested in D&D should be able to navigate their way through the sometimes arcane rule books and adventures. My philosophizing aside, I got to see at least a few gamers made last night. They cheered when they eviscerated a goblin and laughed when the barbarian whiffed twice in a row. They only got to peek through the door into this world, but they decided based on what they saw they were going to set their shoulders against that door and push. I am excited for them, for all the adventures they will have and the friends they will make and the worlds they will create.

Nearly 2,000 years ago a young religious scholar, the son of a carpenter, chose to stand apart from the established religious leaders of the day. Building upon a heritage of moral virtues, he emphasized love for all, including thy enemies, as well as hope and compassion. On this day, December 25, 2014, we are honored to celebrate his birth. In so doing, let us share with each other his message - that good will prevail over evil, that peace can and will be accomplished, and that love will conquer all. Let us also remember his teaching - that understanding and goodwill to all leads to treasures more lasting than any accumulation of gold or silver. May peace, love and kindness find you on this special day. Merry Christmas.

This is the inside of an Italian restaurant in Melbourne, called +39. (Apparently, 39 is the international dialing code for Italy.)The pizzas were delicious, but what I found surprising was the sound level: it was quite difficult for us to hear what the others were saying. In fact, this seems to be the norm. We also went to an Indian restaurant where the noise level was even higher. And I've heard that in clubs, it is much, much noisier (though I can't verify that one). When I am with people, I like to be able to hear what they are saying; and I find it quite upsetting when I can't. But it seems that young people aren't like that. I sometimes think that nowadays places such as restaurants and clubs are actually designed to ensure there is lots of noise, so that people don't have to communicate with each other too much, or maybe because nobody cares whether others can understand them or not. Perhaps young people don't really like to listen to others. Or maybe I am just out of touch with modern trends. I guess restaurants and clubs aren't designed for old fogeys like me. The sociolinguistics of the Chinese script 3 hours ago

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Another godfuckingdamn label. I got the form today. Johnny is my christening godmothers youngest son. As a child I remember how different he was and the nervousness I felt when around him which didn't dissipate even as a young adult when he came to my wedding. He stared blankly, with a look I now recognise, into the camera when the traditional family pictures after the service were taken. Recently, his older brother proudly told me of his enormous talent for reading and memorising maps. Johnny, now in his early thirties, was a walking GPS unit when they recently were in London having memorised the entire train network and most of the area they were in whilst they were visiting their sister working over there. None of his family probably knew what it was he had back then or if they did I don't believe they understood it. Certainly there was no name they gave to us. We just knew he was different. The uncomfortable feeling he gave me is most certainly the feeling others have around my youngest son Mark. Not that I blame them for that. Pot. Kettle. Black. And shit, I would have given anything, anything to "cure" him. To save him. To undo whatever it was that I had done to make him this way. To rid the guilt. The realisation of how futile, desperate and pathetic those actions were came like a blow to the head. In all that time when I couldn't accept his diagnosis of autism I never stopped to think I wasn't accepting him. The human being. And so it must be with Matthew as well. He may be. He may not be. Sign the form, take him to the shrink. Tonight after dinner I just limped towards the bed then curled tightly into a ball, sheets over me, the door shut so he wouldn't see me. Bereft of rational or calm thought. Tomorrow I may throw myself at it, embrace it, accept it, love it. Or maybe next week, or next month. Just not today. A week and half ago on his birthday I was driving him to school. La Roux on Triple J was singing about how she would be bulletproof (this time). He said to me from the back seat "Mum, I'm twelve now and I've got my whole life ahead of me". Our eyes met in the mirror and crinkled at the corners. "Yeah, you do" I told him. You do Matthew, you do.

The twins wondered sometimes what would happen if they stopped acting and let people know that they really did sleep together. They'd never actually tell, of course, because it was one thing to be scandalous and quite another thing to have that kind of stigma attached to you. It was one of those brands that would never really go away, and it would end up with them seeing a psychologist to boot. Hikaru and Kaoru didn't like psychologists. They didn't think they had psychoiatrophobia (they also didn't think that was the right word, but it was the one they'd coined for themselves to use) so much as a healthy paranoia. They also believed that it wasn't paranoia if they really were out to get you. They'd read everything they could get their hands on about multiple births and arranged to meet and talk with as many other twins and triplets and quadruplets as they could. They were more interested in the identicals like themselves, but they'd researched fraternal births as well. And thus far into their data collection, they were fairly sure their situation was unique. The first time they saw a Venn diagram, it had been like Buddha's own moment of enlightenment to them. There was Hikaru. There was Kaoru. Then there was that vast overlapping portion in which something hadn't ever fully separated, the part where they really were one person, thinking the same thing, instinctively moving the same way. Being together was easiest because that way neither of them had to try to explain away why they'd suddenly laughed at the joke someone had just cracked three rooms over, where the other twin was. Their parents knew, of course, and in their more compassionate moments the twins felt sorry for them, having given birth not just to twin hellions, but legitimate freaks of nature as well. They'd been overprotected from the moment their parents had figured it out when they were three, taking Kaoru into one room and Hikaru into another and quizzing them on a set of cards with colors and shapes. They hadn't known then that other people didn't see through their siblings' eyes, and they still didn't know what the conversation their parents had had that night had been about. But they remembered what their father had told them the next morning, the four of them in the twins' bedroom with the door shut and window shades closed: "You must never, ever let anyone know. It will make you different, and people don't like what's different." They thought they'd grown up that day, catching onto the fear in their father's eyes, their mother's arms as she hugged them tight. They thought they'd been acting ever since. My Brother, My Secret, Myself by K. Stonham first released 21st October 2006 When they'd gotten out of kindergarten and started in on real school, the twins had realized that being freaks actually gave them an advantage of sorts. If Hikaru worked harder on math and science and Kaoru worked harder on art and literature, they could each know more with less individual effort. Their grades were persistantly near the top of the class, scores deadlocked, tests identical. It amused them to have their teachers suspect they were cheating off one another and change desk arrangements for exams so they were in opposite corners. It didn't work. They were quite proud of themselves, actually, for sending three teachers to psychologists before they even got out of primary school. "You're proud of making your teachers need shrinks?" Haruhi asked them. "Oh, poor soul," Kaoru said dramatically, "who does not know the joy of a challenge, of mischief achieved!" "You know," she grated, "I think I read a book or two with characters like you two in it..." "We know!" the twins said, grinning manically as they looked at her. "We read them too. All of them!" She looked at them curiously, first Hikaru then Kaoru. "How do you do that?" she asked. "The unison thing. You always know what each other are going to do. Is that an act, or...?" "It's a twin thing," they said dismissively. "Besides, we don't always talk together," Hikaru said, leaning back and waving his hand. "Even when you don't, you finish one another's sentences," Haruhi replied. She propped her chin on a fist. "Sometimes I wish I had a brother or sister. It'd be nice to be close to someone like that." They thought sometimes that they might be able to tell Haruhi and she wouldn't stop liking them because they were different and in one another's minds all the time. She was the only one aside from their parents who could consistently tell them apart, after all, even when they sometimes woke up in the wrong body. There were the bodies that were Hikaru and Kaoru, and the two overlapping people within who were Hikaru and Kaoru and ever since they'd hit puberty, they'd been getting tangled up in one another's dreams and once in a while getting up in the morning and finding they were in the wrong body. After the first few panicked hours the first time, they'd decided to just go with the flow, and they always ended up switched back within a few days. Haruhi, they thought, might be able to accept that. But they didn't want to risk it. Hikaru liked her, and Kaoru did as well, though not quite in the same way, and until they were sure that she could accept that they were the same person as well as different people, they didn't want to risk it. So they kept her at arm's length too. Haruhi was really the first girl they'd known. Oh, there'd been girls around them all their lives, maids and nurses and fellow students, and of course the butterflies of their own social class who made up the clientele of the Host Club, but despite liking the attention they got because of their looks and their "are they or aren't they?" scandalous behavior, they'd never really paid any attention to girls as a general class. They were there, they were pretty, that was all. Haruhi was there, and Haruhi was pretty, too, but somehow they couldn't consign her into the "everyone else" class after she started consistently calling them on which was which. "How can we be lonely," Hikaru asked, "when we have each other?" "Maybe we do need other people too?" Kaoru asked. "We've been just fine up until now," Hikaru stubbornly answered, leaning his head on his twin's shoulder as they both watched the clouds. "Would it hurt to have other friends? Real other friends," Kaoru amended. "Real friends tell each other everything. How could we tell anyone else everything?" "Hikaru... even if you do kind of like her, do you really think anything could change us?" "Like we could compete with Milord," his brother replied with just a hint of a snort. "Milord can be an idiot. I think we can stack up to him just fine." Kaoru's head rested atop Hikaru's. "Do you really want her?" "I think so." His brother sighed, then smiled. "Then we'll go for her." They hadn't once spoken aloud. What belonged to one twin belonged to them both--thoughts, feelings, knowledge. There were no separate possessions, homework and Valentine's Day chocolate were shared, and the relative concept of a first kiss with someone else generally elicited the bemused inquiry of which of them would go first. They already knew that when they fell in love it would be together. What was Hikaru's was Kaoru's was Hikaru's, and there was nothing to be done about any of it. They'd once asked a nine-year-old girl how she knew which twin she was and which one was her sister. She'd thought about it for a minute, then answered "I'm always here, but sometimes she goes away." That answer had made the both of them feel very sad, though they didn't quite understand why. "I'm not scared to die," Kaoru once said. "I'm scared that you'll die," Hikaru had finished for him, understanding. They had no concept of being alone, not even the fact that they'd always been isolated from everyone they met because they aren't us and won't understand. It was easier to push others away than to like them, to let them get close. If no one knew them, no one could know. No one could hurt them. They preferred to be alone. Somehow, they'd never expected it to be Kyouya who called them on it. "Your hair's parted on the wrong side," he commented to them after the club had closed operations for the day. "Is there any reason why?" The brothers looked at one another. They'd switched again the night before and were currently Hikaru-in-Kaoru and Kaoru-in-Hikaru, hair parts going as always with bodies not souls because they were mirrors and their natural parts fell that way. "How can you tell?" they asked, looking back at the Vice-President. "I hadn't noticed it before Haruhi pointed it out, but you do have some distinct mannerisms," Kyouya replied, tallying sums in his ever-present laptop. "Once you know what to look for, you're actually fairly different." "What mannerisms?" they demanded. "Hikaru drums his fingers when he's bored. Kaoru just daydreams," Kyouya listed implacably, continuing to type. "There are others, of course. But when someone watches the two of you, the hair parts match the person eighty-five percent of the time. It's the other fifteen percent that interests me." Hikaru and Kaoru looked at one another and sat down at the table. The rest of the Host Club ignored them, being inveigled by Honey into eating cake with him. "What would your guess be?" Kaoru asked, resting his elbows on the tabletop and lacing his fingers together. Their nerves hummed cold and tight and hiding that was difficult, but not impossible. Kyouya stopped typing and looked up at the two of them. "After consideration, I don't know." "Explain," Hikaru requested, posture and positioning identical to his brother's. "Ordinarily I would say you switch hairstyles on a whim," Kyouya answered. "That doesn't explain how the two of you have been getting absolutely identical test scores your entire lives, or how you fleece Tamaki at card games." "So what alternate conclusions might you make?" Hikaru asked softly. They were treading on dangerous ground and they knew it, but he wanted to go just one step further. "I can postulate that the two of you do share some kind of psychic link," the rational shadow king replied. "It's not unheard of for identical twins." "We know," they said together. "We've done a lot of research on twins," Kaoru expanded. "Being rather intimate with the subject, as it were." "You're not ordinary, are you?" Kyouya inquired softly. "Not even for psychic twins." "What would you do if we said 'yes'?" they asked together. He was one, they were two... and even the reach of the Ootori family could only extend so far if they had to run. They weren't expecting him to smile. "Nothing. Except continue to avoid playing cards with you." "Not subject us to tests, to charts and graphs and needles and doctors?" asked Kaoru. "Not turn us over to the government or try to make us into some kind of psychic espionage force?" asked Hikaru. "Have you ever considered," Kyouya asked in reply, fingers returning to his keyboard, "that the two of you may read too much manga?" They looked at one another, considering. They liked Kyouya, respected him even. He might be a calculating financier-in-training, but they didn't think he would betray them. "I'm always me," Kaoru said softly, "and Hikaru is always Hikaru." "But even when we're apart, we're always together," Hikaru said quietly. It was more than they'd ever told anyone. "Thank you for telling me," Kyouya said. He still hadn't started typing again. "I will keep the information in confidence." "Sometimes when we wake up, we're each other," Hikaru continued boldly, testing limits. Kyouya's eyes widened slightly. "That must be... confusing." "Not really," Kaoru replied. "Not anymore." "How can you tell when you've switched?" Kyouya asked, then caught himself. "The hair parts. Of course." They nodded together. "We haven't found anyone else like us yet." "But we haven't met all the twins in the world yet either." It was strange and somehow frightening to have someone know their secret. They slept curled around one another that night, trying not to worry. If Kyouya did anything, they could run. They could lie through their teeth (they were good at that). They could take revenge. Plots ranging from tossing his beloved laptop into a fountain to shipping him to South America in a crate filled with wood ants danced through their minds until they finally fell asleep. The last, and best, possibility involved social humiliation on a grand scale, but figuring out just what would kill Kyouya's pride was tricky. They resolved to work on the problem in the morning, and woke up switched back. That Kyouya had been the first person to figure it out, the twins could understand. He was methodical, rational, and apparently his perceptiveness might give Haruhi's a run for the money. That worked out, they would have expected Haruhi to figure things out next. "You know," he told them privately over instant coffee a few days later, "I'd always wondered how you can pull off your 'brotherly love' act so well. It is brilliant, after all, and the ladies seem to adore it." His tone was solemn, his head tilted slightly to the right. "I honestly can't believe that it took me so long to realize that before one can offer love to the ladies, one must love oneself first." His sentence was obscure enough that it took them a moment to work through the implications. And it was generous of their Lord to phrase it in such a way that they could laugh it off. He was that way, after all, when he wasn't being a total flake. The brothers exchanged a glance. "Milord, have you been talking with Kyouya-sempai?" Hikaru asked, fingers tight on the handle of his cup. "Kyouya? Yes. But not about this. Why?" Tamaki was guileless, and unlike themselves, he didn't fake such things. He was like Audrey Hepburn's character in that movie their mother loved, a phoney but a real phoney because he honestly believed what he said and did. It was the part of his charm that the host club's clients never understood. It was the part that the other club members liked the most. Tamaki was sincere. "Have you told anyone?" Kaoru asked quietly, wanting to be angry, to be hurt. When had they started slipping up so that two people had pegged them in one month? "Told anyone? No." Tamaki toyed with the gold-painted handle of his own cup. "It didn't seem like something you'd want anyone to know. To be honest, I'm surprised you told Kyouya." "We didn't," they said together, then separated themselves again. Tamaki's eyes were wide. "He figured it out himself?" "We were surprised too," Hikaru agreed. "He agreed to not tell anyone, though." "Heh." Tamaki looked down at his hands. "I won't either. I just thought you should know that I knew. In case there's anything you need." They looked at one another again, surprised. "Thank you for the offer, sempai," Kaoru replied gently, "but there's really nothing we need right now." "We've always been like this," Hikaru explained. "Even if there was a way to separate us... we wouldn't know how to live apart. If we even could." "Heh." Tamaki's smile was warm and a little wistful. "It must be wonderful, to have someone always with you like that, someone you can always depend on..." Hikaru's hand found Kaoru's beneath the table. "Yes," he agreed with a look at his brother. They admitted that Tamaki had a point. Self-love, which was different from narcissism, being much healthier and more respectable, was vital. And they knew they loved who they were, both as individuals and as a collective. They also knew they weren't in love with one another. They did have sex together, but if it was a taboo they broke, it wasn't the one their clients thought. It wasn't too uncommon for twins to know when each other were hurt, or safe, or happy. When you were a set of twins who spent fifteen percent of your time in each other's bodies, though, and a hundred percent of your time in a Siamese mind meld with one another, sex with each other ended up being something more akin to two-body masturbation. Sometimes they burst out laughing as they each lost track of whose hands were doing what, or caught the blurred edges of the fantasies that drove one another on. More often, though, it was just pleasure and heat and release and feeling better afterwards. They both knew that they should be more disturbed about it, but (point one) they were both healthy red-blooded young men, and (point two) there was really no way for them to sneak around the other's attention, which (point three) made trying to hide or not share sex absolutely ridiculous. They thought about it sometimes afterward, about how a girlfriend or wife (in the abstract) would and couldn't change things. If they got lucky, they concluded, they'd end up either in a threesome. If they didn't get lucky, they supposed, they'd be working their way through a series of girlfriends for the rest of their lives. The issue of (potential, theoretical, way down the line) offspring didn't bother them much either. They were genetically identical, so how exactly did it matter which of them would actually father a child anyway? When they weren't in their school uniforms or host club costumes, they didn't bother dressing alike. No one could miss the fact that they were twins anyway, so what was the point of advertising it? Besides, past a certain age (nominally the age when one began to pick out one's own clothing) they thought that twins dressing identically was stupid. Then, too, was the fact that wearing different outfits gave them twice the opportunity to coordinate and look good. They blamed their fashion designer mother for their keen sense of style. When they remembered, they also thanked her for it. Other babies had learned colors and shapes from wood blocks or picture books. They'd learned from scraps of silk, of linen, of wool. They'd been playing dress-up in her studio, draping larger scraps around and on one another, until their father had become concerned that his sons were perhaps becoming too effete and gotten them a soccer ball and a field to kick it around on. They still went into their mother's studio, though, and pulled out bolts of fabric to figure out what colors and styles they wanted to wear. And they were still the models for her young men's line. "What I don't get," Honey said to them one day over tea and cake, "is how the two of you hide in plain sight." The brothers glanced at one another, then Kaoru sighed in resignation and Hikaru propped his head on a fist, looking off to one side. The thought ran through their shared mind that they really should be getting used to the other Host Club members talking to them about who they really were. Because if Honey knew, Mori knew as well, and that left only Haruhi. Renge they dismissed out of hand; amusing as she was, the "moe" fangirl was only a butterfly like other girls, and not going to look beyond what she wanted to see. "Do we want to ask how you knew?" they asked. "You move together," Mori answered, setting a new slice of cake down in front of his cousin, who beamed up at him. "Uh-huh!" Honey agreed, nodding. "When you're in front of people, you move differently, but when you think no one's looking, you don't bother." Pastel flowers seemed to bloom around him as he dug his fork into the strawberry atop his cake. "Ah," Hikaru breathed in realization. They'd thought they'd long since gotten the hang of moving separately; it was almost instinctive by now. But their sempai were top-notch martial artists, so it made sense that they could see that kind of thing. "People expect twins to be somewhat alike," Kaoru said. "As long as we act kind of normal," "they don't look closer and figure things out," Hikaru finished. "Most of them, anyway." "People aren't very smart sometimes, are they?" Honey asked brightly. "They don't look at me very closely either." Contrary to what might be expected, they didn't actually feel what one another did. If Kaoru got a papercut, Hikaru didn't feel it on his own finger. He did experience Kaoru's sharp wincing of pained surprise, though, and the minor flare of surprise/aggravation every time the cut was irritated. Pleasure was shared in the same hazy way as pain, but the bright sense of mischief came from both of their cores, emotions welling upward and outward where sensations seeped down and in. One of their proudest pranks was making Haruhi (and everyone else) think they were fighting. They'd made the decision in a split second and the verisimilitude it had required had been both exacting and exhausting, but managing to pull it off had been a rush like no other. In retrospect they realized they'd probably tried a little bit too hard, but then they'd had no experience with the subject. The very idea of the two of them fighting was not only alien but completely incomprehensible. And they'd frankly never been interested enough in other people for it to be worth their time disliking them. Tamaki had been the first exception in their "us and other people" existence. For whatever reason, shortly after he'd transferred into Ouran Academy in middle school the upperclassman had taken an interest in them (Hikaru thought it was because he had wanted good-looking twins in his newly-formed Host Club; Kaoru thought it was because Tamaki felt sorry for their anti-social behavior) and, smiling, dragged them along in his wake into the company of his other friends, where Honey had offered them cake, Mori had nodded wordlessly at them, and Kyouya had written something in the file he held and asked them how they would feel about being the "devilish twins" of the club. A few months of "intensive Tamaki host training!" and a set of new haircuts later, they'd been in business shocking and titillating the club's clients. They'd slowly warmed to the flighty, good-hearted club president, to the point where Kaoru (the slightest bit more bisexual than Hikaru) had commented that Tamaki would be good boyfriend material. But neither of them had ever been serious about the matter, and besides, the concept of being Tamaki's boyfriends they calculated out to being more of a headache than it would be worth. Not, mind you, that the scenarios they'd run through of how to introduce Tamaki to the idea hadn't been riotously hilarious. When they came to the realization that since the other members of the Host Club knew what they were they might not have to act around them, it was something of a revelation. They were always acting. Even when they were at home, they still performed in front of the servants and before their parents, trying to behave like less of what they actually were so as to not worry their family. Normality, they realized, was an unattainable goal, but that didn't mean they couldn't try to provide the illusion of it. The idea of not acting, though, of being the same in front of other people as they were when they were alone... it was like a giant hand had lifted the roof off their house and left them staring up at a terrifyingly wide endless sky. There was a possibility of not having to be conscious of each step, each gesture. They wouldn't have to engage in useless vocalizations to one another. They might not have to hide where they were one and two and one. It was a paralyzing thought. There was what they were, and what they were not. There was what they feared, and what they did not. Hikaru's hand curled around Kaoru's as they lay awake in bed that night, staring up at the distant ceiling, drifting in and out of one another's thoughts. To not have to be afraid of being themselves... "We should never, ever let anyone know," Hikaru murmured. "But if it's them, it's probably all right," Kaoru replied. "But Haruhi," Hikaru said. "Doesn't know," they finished together, and that was the crux of the dilemma. To tell, or not to tell? They didn't, not right away. It was one thing to have your friends figure out things on their own. It was another to let the girl you liked know that you and your brother and yourselves were freaks. Not when she liked you and laughed with you sometimes and had the desk between both of yours. They wanted to... they just couldn't. It felt like being in kindergarten all over again, wanting to go play with the other children but being frozen by sure knowledge of difference and rejection. The open door of possibility could shut itself by the implications of what might be on the other side, leaving them alone together again. Kaoru said that telling her didn't have to include a confession as well. Hikaru replied that if they were going to tell her, they should tell her everything. Kaoru didn't see why. Hikaru replied that it was the principle of honesty. Haruhi just looked back and forth between the two of them and remarked that she felt like they were having a conversation behind her back. That shut them up and started them vocalizing a conversation about a different topic with her. In their more honest moments they admitted to themselves that they were hoping she would be like the other Host Club members and approach them about the subject. They also knew that smacked of cowardice. So in the end, they settled on a compromise. They didn't tell Haruhi per se, but in-club they did drop some (though not all) of the pretenses they kept up around other people. Tamaki still hadn't twigged to their card-sharking him, though, and grabbed Haruhi to be his partner after all the other club members refused. She kept looking at the twins more often than her cards, though, and while the puzzled look on her face was close to the cutest thing ever, Tamaki's jealousy was even more amusing. She kept watching them for the better part of two weeks, and Hikaru and Kaoru wondered what was going through her head. They were "normal" in class and while entertaining clients, but before and after hours of operation, they peeled back a few of the defensive layers they kept about themselves. They didn't bother as much with the studied differences in their ways of speaking and moving, letting their voices become more similar again. They sometimes sat conversing silently instead of making noise so that others felt more comfortable. They leaned against one another, shoulder to shoulder, back to back, instead of standing or sitting at an enforced difference and touching only in a "brothers and best friends" manner. Personal space, in fact, disappeared. And they stopped "accidentally" bumping into one another entirely, releasing the illusion that they didn't always know exactly where one another were. For some reason, the two of them letting down their guard seemed to make the rest of the club relax a little as well. Mori smiled a little bit more. Honey's cuteness wasn't quite as hyperactive. Kyouya sent fewer raised eyebrows in their direction. Tamaki just seemed happier in general. It wasn't that they hadn't wanted real friends, they finally concluded, it was that they'd always thought that they couldn't have them. But somehow none of their sempai really seemed to mind either knowing or seeing that they were different than everyone else. ...It felt good to be accepted for themselves. They were doing a Victorian theme day when Haruhi finally asked. They admired her pearl-gray suit and they liked the way her large eyes peeked out from beneath the top hat. "Why have the two of you been--" she started. Hikaru hushed her with a finger on her lips. Kaoru glanced around and made sure Tamaki was elsewhere, discussing final plans for the theme with Kyouya. They agreed it was the right moment. "You said once that the two of us might look alike but we were really completely different people," Hikaru reminded her. She nodded. "Yes, but..." "We are and we aren't," Kaoru said. Her eyes were confused. He leaned in close from the side and whispered a secret into her ear. "What one of us knows, we both do. What one thinks, the other does as well. What one feels, we both feel." "Even when we're apart," Hikaru murmured to her, watching shades of expression cross her face. "That's not possible," Haruhi refuted. "There are more things in heaven and earth, my dear Haruhi, than are dreamt of in your philosophy," they informed her together. "But that's for you to discover," Hikaru said blithely, straightening her hat. Kaoru tugged at the tails of her mourning coat, adjusting the lay of the garment. "Watch and see," he agreed. They both took a step back and examined their handiwork. They grinned and gave a thumbs-up. "Perfect!" they said together. Her eyes were still bewildered, but this was Haruhi and she had certain passive-aggressive tendancies. Still it felt like a cold lump of fear in their stomachs as they went to Kyouya to get their client listing for the day. She knew, and while they were giving her time to absorb the information, to let it click into place with their behavior of recent weeks... For the first time, they realized that liking someone the way they liked Haruhi meant handing them the power to hurt you. They slept in tangled dreams that night and woke up as each other. They tied each other's ties that morning, as always, because anything I can do for myself I can do for you as well. They were mirrors before their mirror, and their mood was heavy and depressed, like the humid air before a summer rainstorm. There was an English test that day and they stumbled through it with less than their usual verve, identical marks on identical pieces of paper even with Haruhi's desk between them, and they did think that had been a clever bit of positioning on the part of the teacher when they'd been assigned desks this year. It wasn't obviously separating them but it was still an attempt to stop them from "cheating" off of one another. Too bad it was doomed to failure. Haruhi stopped them for a moment as they were on their way out of the classroom to get lunch in the cafeteria. She already had her commoner's lunchbox out on her desk, of course, and her English textbook as well. She looked back and forth between the two of them, then simply asked "Why are you switched today?" "It happens sometimes," Hikaru bluntly answered. "We don't know why," Kaoru agreed. "I see," she said, and went back to her studying. They thought about it as they walked down to the cafeteria. They didn't know what she really thought yet (Hikaru thought she was still processing the information), but at least she hadn't jumped up, shrieked "Ew, you freaks!" and fled the classroom. ...Not that she would, Kaoru pointed out. Haruhi wasn't a very girly girl and certainly not the type to have that reaction even if the thought did disturb her. Still, they wanted her to like them. Even if she ended up with someone else, they thought they could deal with it. As long as they were still at least friends. When had they ever wanted someone's friendship so badly? Hikaru mused. When they fell in love, Kaoru answered. It was almost a week later before Haruhi approached them about the matter again, and it wasn't like they hadn't all been talking and studying and hosting together, but she'd been keeping a certain subtle distance that they could appreciate. They still hadn't switched back and they didn't know why but theorized it was related to their emotional state. The whole week their hearts had been cold and wet and heavy, like a gray winter's day, and while the clientele of the Host Club certainly hadn't noticed, the twins knew that their set pieces had taken on a quality of melancholy. They knew where the source lay, but they certainly couldn't blame Haruhi when the faults were in their own heart. They shared a bedroom but had separate beds, albeit ones that had always been pushed together. Recently, though, they'd taken to sleeping on the same mattress together, curled up comfortably together like a pair of nestled spoons. They thought none of this spoke well for them, and were beginning to get somewhat desperate about Haruhi giving them an indication of what she thought. But they refused to push her. She packed her books and notes into her (cheap; not even real leather) satchel and smiled at them. The Host Club was meeting a little early that day to go over the quarterly business plans (boring, but they had to keep Kyouya happy and at least pretend to listen, otherwise he'd seek revenge and Kyouya could be scary) and brainstorm for new theme day ideas. They had an idea for an Arabian Nights theme but hadn't worked out a sketch yet for Haruhi's costume. While they thought she'd look adorable as a harem boy, an open front vest was right out and a closed front vest just wouldn't be the same. Maybe something with tassels? they idly wondered. "You know," Haruhi commented as the three of them meandered toward the third music room, "it really doesn't matter." "What doesn't?" Hikaru asked. "That you're different," she replied, swinging her satchel slightly. Her head was tilted down; she looked at the carpet instead of either of them. "I like you both anyway." "So you don't think we're freaks?" Kaoru asked softly, even though there was no one else in the hallway to hear. She laughed, a bright skipping sound, and looked at each of them where they flanked her. "I've always thought that," she confessed. "Come on, you can't tell me that you think anyone in the Host Club is normal." They blinked, not understanding what she meant. She was the only odd one, with her poor background. She sighed, seeing the confusion writ large across their faces. "Never mind. But I do like you guys, regardless of whether you're different or the same." And it wasn't quite as good as a confession of love would have been, but it still felt like a breath of fresh air gusting through a room, sweeping out all the stale emotions that had been laying dormant in their hearts. Slowly they relaxed, previously unnoticed tension flowing out of their shoulders. "You know, Haruhi," Kaoru said, "if you ever wanted to know what we mean by being loved simultaneously by tightly-bonded twins being 'a maiden's ultimate romantic fantasy'..." "I am not one of your customers!" she retorted. "We know," Hikaru said, carefully laying one hand on her shoulder just as Kaoru did so on her other side. "You're special," they breathed together, and brushed identical light kisses on her cheeks. She blinked as they drew back. One hand touched the cheek that Kaoru had kissed. "I'll keep it in mind," she said, looking confused. It was the best they could do, the closest they could come to an outright confession without the risk of being turned down and having that change things. If she was ever ready and interested, she knew they were there and willing. If not, at least they still had her friendship. "We'd better hurry," Kaoru said. "Kyouya-sempai'll be mad if we're late today." "He's scary when he's mad," Hikaru added. She laughed. "I can believe that." They slept with their hands curled together in one another like a yin-yang symbol that night. Where one ended the other began. Their dreams were bright and wide open. Maybe the real reason people went to school was not to learn math and languages, but to learn about other people, their dreaming minds thought, opening the door to the third music room. Inside, Tamaki lounged on his chair, golden and smiling. Kyouya stood behind him, an efficient shadow writing in his ever-present file. Honey perched on Mori's shoulders, the cousins a yin and yang in a way that the twins never would be. Haruhi stood off to one side, looking far too good in her cross-dressing school uniform. "Welcome to the Host Club," the five greeted them. Hands linked, Hikaru and Kaoru smiled in their sleep and stepped forward into the room, the door closing behind them. When it comes to Ouran High Host Club, I adore the twins. That said, I have no idea where this story came from. I do apologize for the twincest to those who are squeamish about such things.

Think back to what you were like as a young teen. Were you shy or outgoing, happy or moody, responsible or not so much? Now look at yourself as an adult. Despite changes in your fashion sense and music taste, has your personality stayed pretty much the same? Past research has found that personality typically remains relatively stable from adolescence into early adulthood, but until recently few studies have looked at the long term. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh believe they've completed the longest-ever personality study, measuring personality in the same group of people in early adolescence, then again in their much later years. The results, published in the journal Psychology and Aging, found that there may not be much of a correlation between people's personalities at 14 and their personalities at 77. “Personality in older age may be quite different from personality in childhood,” the researchers concluded. For the first part of the study, researchers used data from a 1950 study in Scotland where teachers rated their 14-year-old students on six personality characteristics: self-confidence, perseverance, stability of moods, conscientiousness, originality and desire to excel. In 2012, the researchers tracked down 635 of those teens who had been assessed more than six decades earlier. Of that group, 174 agreed to take part in a new survey a year later. Now 77 years old, they rated themselves on the same personality traits teachers had rated them on so many years earlier. In addition, they nominated a close friend or family member to rate them on the same characteristics, too. Personality changes through life The researchers found there was no significant correlation between the ratings teachers had offered when the participants were 14 and the personality ratings participants gave themselves or the ones their friends gave them at age 77. "We hypothesized that we would find evidence of personality stability over an even longer period of 63 years, but our correlations did not support this hypothesis, appearing inconsistent with previous results," the researchers wrote. So the teenage you may not even remotely resemble the more senior version of yourself, it turns out. "Personality changes only gradually throughout life, but by older age it may be quite different from personality in childhood," the researchers conclude. "Future studies should focus on developing better understanding of how and why personality changes throughout the life course."

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High evaluation of yourself Attendance in the inauguration in the dream may be a sign about higher self-assessment in the real world. On the other hand the dream is also associated with an important decision that you have done recently. This decision possibly can affect personal prestige and requires considerable time and money. - Promotion if see the inauguration – In the dream you are in the inauguration or see it, this will bring you job promotion. You will be evaluated because of your hard work; - No hopes to reach goals if feel bad in the inauguration – The young woman has negative feelings when she participates in the inauguration, this dream shows that she will not be able to fulfill her wishes.

The always insightful Flavia Dzodan (if you don’t follow her already, you should do so now) has pointed out on Facebook that while the whole world is concerned with one white dude’s asylum decision, hundreds and thousands of refugees are constantly dying trying to reach the EU, and no one pays attention. Their bodies remain mostly anonymous. Continue reading - Highlight of the day: Thomas Piketty speaking in front of a full house. instagram.com/p/47BMwxnATZ/ 3 years ago - An interesting article about a new conflict in higher ed, which is currently affecting my day job: "But students... fb.me/6zEaR5S0T 4 years ago - We made it work!!! #GameofThrones instagram.com/p/meLkGBHASR/ 4 years ago - Life coach Andrew Frank now speaking at the win_nyc arts and culture event. instagram.com/p/k5ljLEnAf7/ 4 years ago - New post on the blog on how young women are embracing feminism (or aren't they?), courtesy of Barnard College: fb.me/15uurYEog 4 years ago Topics9/11 abortion advertising anders behring breivik antje schrupp apocalypse art asylum biology birth control burqa children contraception crisis discrimination dominique strauss-kahn equal marriage europe facebook false allegations far-right movement feminism flavia dzodan france gabrielle giffords gender across borders gender equality germany greece guest blogger hellraiser hollywood homosexuality horror immigration internship islamophobia julian assange literature mama grizzly marine le pen masculinity migration military movies neoliberalism political correctness post-gender postfeminism postmodernism privilege pro-choice queer theory racism rape rape culture refugees religion roma sarah palin sexism sexuality social media sweden terrorism thilo sarrazin tunisia tv unemployment united nations united states violence wilchins women's quota women's work This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

This is the Site of the Once Industrious "Cataract Coffin Factory". Abraham owned a coffin factory at the top of Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls Canada. The story has it that proprietor Abraham Mortimer dedicated every waking hour to surveying the progress of the coffins being built and the success of his business. At night he was tormented by young hooligans who taunted the eccentric old man. Abraham would chase the riff-raff from their pranks and dares. They always laughed at his threats, until one fateful night... Abraham confronted a rowdy group of thrill-seekers. In the ensuing struggle, a stack of solid oak coffins overturned and Abraham was crushed to death! The guilty ran off and were never apprehended for their part in the gruesome murder. Soon after the funeral Abraham Mortimer's coffin was found unearthed and empty! To this day it is said he walks the halls for revenge on those who dare to trespass on his beloved and now abandoned factory...

Ultimo post del año 2008 deseándoles que tengan un 2009 brillante. El artículo siguiente del cura católico John Clifton Marquis, publicado en IDPI y recomendado por Gustavo en un comentario de verdad va a la cuestión moral relativa a la legislación de las drogas. Hay un abismo entre esta forma de tratar la cuestión y la exhibición de frases cazafantasmas que estamos acostumbrados a ver. Si alguien se toma el trabajo de traducirlo, se lo agradezco. Sólo voy a poner en castellano esta frase que me parece contundente: “Los líderes morales no tienen otra alternativa que elegir entre una moralidad auténtica, que lleva al bien, y una moralidad cosmética, que se ve bien“. Su título es “Las leyes sobre drogas son inmorales”. Creo que desde ahí puede venir el cambio, la inquisición debe ser primero desenmascarada en el plano ético. Drug Laws are Immoral – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – By Father John Clifton Marquis, S.T. U.S Catholic, May 1990 The United States’ federal, state, county and city governments have spent the last 50 years writing and enacting antidrug laws with increasingly severe punishments for offenders. These laws are false gods promising a salvation they cannot produce. Every year, they demand more adoration from their devotees: more time, more money, more people, more resources. And yet, no matter how punitive the sanctions (including the death penalty itself), the drug-providing business has only escalated; indeed ballooned. This is simple, historical fact. Drug laws are a moral issue. Fifty years of drug legislation have produced the exact opposite effect of what those laws intended: the laws have created a tantalizingly profitable economic structure for marketing drugs. When law does not promote the common good, but in fact causes it to deteriorate, the law itself becomes bad and must be changed. The undeniable result of current U.S. drug laws is certainty that drugs will be very, very expensive. The corollary to that “given” is that people will commit many and violent sins to control the money that is to be made. The moral issue here is to do the very best that can be done to give the community maximum control over drug availability and consequent drug use. Society cannot cure every drug abuser or alcoholic; that is a given. But the community can create a social condition in which innocent people do not become victims and where health-care professionals have a better opportunity (with more funds and people available) to serve the healing process of drug abusers. The moral principle involved here is very old and very sure: pick the lesser of two evils. Drug abuse is bad. It is a patent evil to the person abusing drugs and to everyone connected with him or her. But drug abuse is a problem that church and society can tackle and, in many cases, cure or control. In practice, our communities have the spiritual and psychological tools at hand. However, most do not have sufficient human and economic resources to use those tools effectively to help the people who desperately need them. The overwhelming majority of these resources are mainlined into a self-abortive policing effort that, by its very nature, cannot succeed. Drug use and abuse clearly are serious problems. Yet a more intrusive and caustic moral illness results from the presence of drugs in the United States: greed. Greed is a much more subtle evil that the immaturity that leads to substance abuse. Like a cancer, it produces ancillary evils as destructive as its root. The people of the United States know by daily experience the destructive and havoc wreaked upon their lives by drug provides. This is the moral evil that must be erased. I am painfully aware that, for many millions of U.S. citizens, the very mention of completely legalizing drugs sounds like a form of blasphemy. That is why I deliberately described current U.S. drug laws as false gods. They are blasphemy. They are the idolatrous Frankenstein that elected officials have created. They make the drug trade incredibly lucrative. Neither police action nor the appointment of drug czars will faze the drug lords. As a nation, the United States may well arrest and convict thousands of dealers. Law enforcement agencies can incarcerate them all at disastrous cost to the public. For the kind of economic profit illegal drugs provide, however, there will always be other losers that take their places. The kingpins will go on. Moral leaders have no alternative but to choose between authentic morality, which produces good, and cosmetic morality, which merely looks good. Drug laws look good! But the tragic flaw of cosmetic morality, like all other forms of cosmetics, is that it produces no change of substance. Proponents of cosmetic morality would rather look good than pay the tough, personal price of doing good. Authentic morality knows its limitations in the human condition and does all it can for the common good. Some people are convinced that any and every problem can be solved with just a little more firepower. Yet the United States already has the third highest rate of incarceration in the world, following only South Africa and the Soviet Union. Continued enforcement of drug laws may make us number one. Funds needed for education and health care will be stripped away to maintain police agencies and prisons. U.S. liberties and judicial process are endangered because of a growing mania to win in court one way or another. Authentic moral leaders cannot afford the arrogant luxury of machismo, with its refusal to consider not “winning.” Winning, the case for drug abuse, is finding the direction and methods that provide the maximum amount of health and safety to the whole society without having a cure that is worse than the disease. The fact is that the United States never had organized crime until Prohibition. Illegal (and thus very expensive) alcohol created a new economic market with hoodlums machine-gunning one another to death over profits. The percentage of U.S. citizens who drank hard liquor actually increased after alcohol was outlawed. When alcohol became legal again, the now-organized crime syndicate simply picked up the drug trade. The standard argument against the legalization of drugs (all drugs, across the board) is: “It will make people, especially young people, think drugs are good.” The people involved in drug dealing and drug using already think they are good. They are acquiring the money or pleasure so highly prized by the U.S. culture. At this point, what is imperative for leaders in the United States to realize how young people think about good and bad. As a culture, U.S. youth do not equate illegal with immoral. Within their culture (and their experience of what adults have been doing with laws for the last generation), illegal simply means “harder to get,” “forbidden fruit,” or “adult toy.” The United States has some laws for the protection of human life. What does that teach young people about the law? Law may very well have been a teacher of good and bad for Saint Paul and Saint Thomas Aquinas, but it is hardly that for U.S. youth. Another popular argument (and gross misconception) is that legal drugs will be too available. The reality is that U.S. grade schools and prisons are two of the hottest areas of drug trade. How much more available can the stuff become? Legalizing all drugs in the United States would have one immediate and dramatic effect: it would render them cheap. In today’s market, a kilogram of illegal heroin or illegal cocaine has a street value of several million dollars. A kilogram of illegal marijuana has a street value of about a quarter million dollars. A kilogram of legal cocaine would be worth perhaps a couple hundred dollars and a kilogram of legal marijuana would be price with expensive tobacco. As long as drugs are illegal, the obscenity of the pricing structure will perdure. Legal drugs do not drug lords make. Legal drugs eradicate the reason for violence to control the trade. There is no doubt that some people will abuse legal drugs; this happens with legal alcohol. It is also a sad human fact that some very sober and reasonable people drive cars recklessly; gamble away their hard earned money; use the gift of speech to spread slander, calumny, and gossip; and go on to do a great variety of inappropriate and sinful things. Human nature is, after all, wounded by the reality of sin. But lawmaking is not now, and never has been, the magic formula for goodness. The problems, hurts, and difficulties that will definitely result from legalized drugs will be far, far less numerous and less destructive to the whole society than theft, bribery, violence, murder, mayhem, and self-degradation that are daily bread in the United States today. U.S. citizens must have the integrity and the painful honesty to keep in the forefront of their minds that they are not preventing addiction to crack or any other drug at this time. The current methods are not working. Humility, not arrogance, will help society find the best way to reach its goal, which is common good. The authentic definition of humility is truth.

We are proud to reveal the names and profiles of our professional juries. Presiding over six categories, the international juries, comprised of acclaimed filmmakers, film critics, festival directors and programmers from all over the world will be watching and evaluating a total of 107 films competing in this year’s edition. Get to know them better before they arrive in Prizren: Since 2011 he has been the artistic director of the international documentary film festival Filmer A Tout Prix in Brussels. After getting a degree in Contemporary History at the University of Brussels (ULB), he has worked for 15 years in film production (fiction and documentary) and for contemporary art exhibitions in Belgium. His mixed British-German background reflects the diversity of Brussels where he grew up, and where he enjoys the full variety of cultural offerings and its evolving social reality. Under his guidance, the biennial festival Filmer A Tout Prix has renewed dynamism, open to multiple forms of media expression around documentary films. Born in 1979 in Belgrade (Serbia) is a filmmaker with passion for social change. Her short documentaries tackle such issues as gender and sexuality, homelessness, education of Roma children living in squatter settlements in Belgrade and youth gun violence in New York. The films were shown in many international film festivals such as Berlin International Film Festival, International Film Festival Rotterdam, Palm Springs ShortFest ,Traverse City Film Festival and have won awards worldwide such as Best Balkan Documentary Film at Dokufest, Best Short Film at SEEFest in LA, Best Short Film at Human Rights Film Festival in Montreal. Films are used in educational settings, media campaigns and by various NGOs. Ivana is an experienced lecturer, was a speaker at TEDxAUK. She received her education at the Ethnology and Anthropology department at University of Belgrade, Ateliers Varan documentary film workshop founded by Jean Rouch, Peace Studies and also studied Documentary Media studies at The New School in NY. Charlotte is Director of Programming at Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary festival. She was previously Head of Film Programming and Training at the Frontline Club in London, an organisation dedicated to championing independent journalism and freedom of expression. Charlotte has worked with BBC Storyville, the Channel 4 BritDoc Foundation’s Puma Creative Catalyst Fund and the Edinburgh International Film Festival, where she curated the strand Conflict | Reportage. Charlotte has written extensively for a number of different outlets and was the main photographic researcher for the launch of The Times Online archive project. Alongside programming, Charlotte advises organisations on media literacy, specialises in investigative journalism, international conflict, and has an academic background in the role of technology for the media. Neil Young lives and works in his home town of Sunderland, UK. He has reviewed films on a regular basis for The Hollywood Reporter (Los Angeles) since 2008 and for Tribunemagazine (London) since 2005, also contributing film-festival reports to the latter. He is an occasional contributor to Sight and Sound, SoFilm and Indiewire and has written on film for The Independent (London), Monocle, Dazed and Confused, KINO! (Ljubljana), Senses of Cinema, Time Out (London) among many other outlets. In 2000 he helped found the pioneering film-review website Jigsaw Lounge. He has been Co-Director of the Bradford International Film Festival (at the UK’s National Media Museum) since 2011 and has been a consultant for the Viennale since 2010. He is a member of the programming-board of several European film-festivals including Crossing Europe (Linz), Tromsø (Norway) and Ljubljana (Slovenia) and has served on more than 20 film-festival juries including the Semaine de la Critique at Cannes in 2013. Born in Brazil in 1970, he studied Journalism in Sao Paulo and Film in New York. He is a film teacher in Madrid and runs the production company Dok Films since 2000. Oksman directed “The Beautician” (2004), “Goodbye, America” (2007), “Notes on the Other” (2009) and “A Story for the Modlins (2012) among others. Director and producer, mentor to up-and-coming filmmakers, Fisher is one of Israel’s leading documentary filmmakers. “Six Million and One” (2011) officially selected to IDFA Amsterdam, won him the Dok.fest Munich best film award, the Silver Horn for best director at Krakow and opened USA screenings at the Lincoln Plaza Cinema in NYC. This film completes a family trilogy that started with the critically acclaimed film “Love Inventory” that won the 2000 Israeli Film Academy Award. Later came “Mostar Roundtrip” where he followed his son on an adventure of studying in the conflict ridden city in Bosnia. Fisher served on the juries of festivals such as: IDFA, Krakow, HotDocs Toronto, Karlovy Vary and EFA. As Director General of the New Israeli Foundation for Cinema and TV, he founded the “Greenhouse” programme geared for Mediterranean filmmakers and helped bring Israeli documentaries to international recognition. Studied French and Portuguese at the University of Mainz from 1972 to 1975 and, from 1976 to 1979, worked as a trainee and later editor at the daily newspapers Fuldaer Zeitung and Hessisch/Niedersächsische Allgemeine. Between 1980 and 1985 she worked as free-lance journalist in Berlin, from 1985 to 1988 as press attaché of the “750 Years Anniversary Berlin 1987“ and “Berlin – European Capital of Culture 1988“. She has been connected to the history of the European Film Academy since its very beginnings in 1988: first as PR manager of the European Film Awards, later as project manager for the Academy’s activities and publications, since 1996 as the Academy’s director. Since 2004, she has also been the producer of the European Film Awards, since 2006 managing director of EFA Productions GmbH, the company producing the Awards together with the European Film Academy, and since 2012 producer of the EFA Young Audience Award. He is a film curator, graduate of Northumbria University Newcastle and Universität der Künste Berlin. He directed current affairs documentary series for public television in Belgium and Greece until 2004. Since 2005 he has curated programmes for numerous film festivals in Europe. Until 2012 he was artistic director of the Experimental Forum at the Thessaloniki Film Festival and is currently curating a section of the Athens Avant-Garde Film Festival. He co-founded the independent film laboratory LabA in Athens, which he runs since 2009. She studied Theatre & Media Studies, American Studies and English Studies in Erlangen and Durham, USA. She has started her career as an academic and researcher in the Film Studies field. From 2000 to 2010 she was the director of the silent film festival StummFilmMusikTage Erlangen and since 2007 she has been the full-time director of the Nuremberg International Human Rights Film Festival. In 2008 she acted as the chair of the Human Rights Film Network, an association that currently consists of 38 human rights film festivals from around the world. Since January 2014 she is the chair of the Association of Bavarian Film Festivals. She has been a curator, media programmer and commissioning editor for public media for over 20 years. At the Independent Television Service (ITVS), which funds, promotes and distributes independently produced programming to public television, she is Executive Content Advisor, and works on program content and strategy for the organization, including commissioning programming from U.S. independent producers and from international producers for ITVS’s International Media Development Fund, and co-curating the Independent Lens series, a series of independently produced programs on PBS. She has shepherded award-winning documentaries to public television, including “The Invisible War”, “At Berkeley”, “The House I Live In,” “Detropia”, “The Interrupters”, “Waltz with Bashir”, “A Lion in the House” and “Last Train Home”. Aguilar holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies and a Master of Arts in Film and Television Studies from UCLA. She is President of the Board of Women Make Movies and is on the steering committee of Eurodoc and STEPS International. Francesco Giai Via Francesco Giai Via is a festival programmer and film critic based in Torino, Italy. After graduating at the University of Turin, since 2006 he’s been collaborating with the National Museum of Cinema. He is programmer for the Torino Film Festival in charge of the international documentaries selection and the two Italian competitions, italiana.doc and italiana.corti (documentaries and shorts). Since 2012 he is a Festival Programmer for CinemAmbiente, the longest running and most important environmental film festival in Italy. He is a co-founder of Crocevia di sguardi, a festival focussed on documentaries and migrants issues now at its tenth edition. He holds seminars on film festival management for various Italian universities and institutions. Francesco runs a column on comic books and graphic novels for italian film magazine Cineforum. :HUMAN RIGHTS DOX Nenad Puhovski was born in 1949 in Zagreb, Croatia. He graduated from Faculty of Philosophy and Academy of Arts, Drama section. Since 1965 he directed in theatre, film and television, and until now has more than 250 productions. He was awarded nationally and internationally for his work. Besides working as dramatist he lectured for film and TV director in ADU. He mentored projects for young professionals in Europe, Asia, South America, Near East, Africa and USA. In 1997 he establishes and leads since then Factum, the most important independent documentary production. In Factum as a producer he signed more than 70 documentaries, which were screened in more than 70 festivals and got international awards as well as two main state awards Valdimir Nazor, two Grand Prix and four awards for best production in DHF. In 2005 he establishes and runs as a director the ZagrebDox, one of the biggest documentary festivals in the region. For his extraordinary work he was awarded with the Medal of the City of Zagreb and the Croatian Order of Danica. In 2009 for his extraordinary work in documentary field especially with ZagrebDox, he was awarded by European Documentary Network (EDN). He is a member of the European Film Academy. Enver Robelli was born in 1973. He is an editor of foreign affairs for the Swiss newspaper “Tages Anzeiger.” He studied journalism in the Swiss Institute for Media and for almost two decades he covers the developments in Southeast Europe. Between 2007 and 2012 he worked as a correspondent for “Tages Anzeiger” and “Süddeutsche Zeitung.” During 90’s he reported for several media in Germany and Switzerland. Robelli also writes for the Kosovan daily “Koha Ditore”, since its establishment in 90’s. Besides journalism, Robelli is also active in literature translation from German to Albanian language. Until know he translated a book written by the historian, Oliver Jens Schmitt about Kosovo’s history and a biography of German chancellor Angela Merkel. Robelli has published a book-interview with late Albanian politician Arben Xhaferi. Robelli lives and works in Zürich. Filmmaker David France is an award-winning journalist and best-selling author who has written for the New York Times, Newsweek, and New York magazine, where he is now a contributing editor. For his journalism, he has received the National Headliner Award and the GLAAD Media Award, and has seen his work inspire several films, most recently the Emmy-nominated Showtime film “Our Fathers,” based on his critically acclaimed book. He directed the Oscar- and Emmy-nominated documentary “How to Survive a Plague,” which has received a Peabody Award, numerous festival honors, including from the Gotham Awards, the International Documentary Association, and the New York Film Critics Circle. He is at work on a major history of AIDS, due from Alfred A. Knopf in 2015, and a number of film and television projects. Born in Romania in 1981. After studying art and design in Romania and France, he has been pursuing his artistic research at the Fresnoy Studio of Contemporary Arts. Recurring topics such as distress, cloning, hallucination, city life and war articulate the whole of his exploration of mysterious and subconscious beginnings. These visual and poetic trips, mix several techniques and styles and may be seen as propositions for a new dream oriented technology. His work hes been shown in numerous film festivals (Locarno, Rotterdam, Festival of New Cinema in Montreal) and exhibitions (“Dans la nuit, des images” at the Grand Palais, “Labyrinth of my mind” at the Cube, “Video Short list: the Dream Machine” at the Passage du Retz, “Studio” at “Les Filles du Calvaire” Gallery, etc). Montserrat Guiu Valls Born in 1965 in Navàs, Barcelona, Spain. She graduated in Geography and History at the University of Barcelona, majoring in History of Art, in 1989. She made Film Conservation and Restoration studies at George Eastman House, International Museum on Photography and Film, and Rochester Institute of Technology (USA), 1992-93. She has a degree in Film Restoration given by Spanish National Film Archive, 1997. Between 1998 and 2002 she directed the Native American Film and Video Festival in Barcelona taking place at CCCB (Contemporary Cultural Center of Barcelona). In 2004 she becomes an official member of the organization team at Huesca International Film Festival (HIFF), and takes care of International Relations and Curates special film programs. She also selects International shorts and documentaries for the official competition. She has been invited as a juror in several short film festivals. Award winning director and producer born in 1984 in Kosovo. He entered the world of Art by drawing cartoons and comic books, from where the transition to movie editor was easy for him. He studies in the Institute for Film and Photography “Gjon Mili” Kosovo with major in Director of Photography. He finished his studies for Film Directing in University Of Prishtina, Faculty of Arts in Kosovo. As a film director and producer he has worked on a number of short and documentary films which have participated in many International Film Festivals.His last short film “Kolona” received up to sixteen awards in different festivals. He is also the winner of the Yearly Award for Cinematography of 2013 “Bekim Fehmiu” awarded by the Ministry Culture of Kosovo.He is also participant in EFA – European Film Academy project “A Sunday in the Country” 2014. Born in 1956. Since 1986 he is one of the organizers of International Short Film Festival in Hamburg. He is a founding member of the KurzFilmAgentur Hamburg e.V. and since 1992 did several activities, like organisation of the festival, setup and development of the short film archive and database. Between 1997-1999 he was a member of the director’s board of the Hamburg International Short Film Festival. Starting from 2000 he is head of the Theatrical Distribution Department and Acquisition of the Kurz Film Agentur Hamburg. Born in 1980 has a master’s degree in Film & Television Studies and has been a director for Go Short – International Short Film Festival Nijmegen since the early beginning of the festival in 2008. Go Short is the only international film festival in the Netherlands exclusively for short films. The festival screens approximately 300 shorts in competition, focus and thematic programs. It also hosts a five day campus program for young film professionals and several industry events. The rest of the year the festival distributes short films in Dutch cinemas as pre-films, hosts a weekly short film blog at blog.goshort.nl, and promotes short films at several events throughout the country. She is a curator and art critic born in 1984 in Tirana, Albania. Holds a Master in Curatorial and Critical Studies from Städelschule and Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. She is one of the founders and director of Tirana Art Lab – Centre for Contemporary Art based in Tirana and the artistic director of Balkans Beyond Borders Short Film Festival. She curated a number of international exhibitions and events in different European countries. Recent thematic group exhibitions she has curated include: „The aesthetic of the small act” at Action Field Kodra in Thessaloniki and „Voices of Truth“ in Villa Romana in Florence, Italy. Her curatoriral and theoretical work focuses on video art and film developments inside the art context and question of curating time-based art. Demetja lives and workes between Tirana and Frankfurt am Main.

Iceland weighing ban on Internet pornography Proponents of the ban claim that pornography has damaging effects on children and women. Icelandic Interior Minister Ogmundur Jonasson, the author of the proposed ban, said he believes it will help stop youth from viewing Internet pornography. "We have to be able to discuss a ban on violent pornography, which we all agree has a very harmful effects on young people and can have a clear link to incidences of violent crime," Interior Minister Jonasson said. The ban would block access to pornographic websites in Iceland, and make it impossible to use Icelandic credit cards on X-rated sites. Iceland has already passed a law that forbids the printing and distribution of pornography; the law excludes the Internet, however. Experts have argued that there is domestic support for such a ban: "We have many experts from educationalists to the police and those who work with children behind this, that this has become much broader than party politics," political adviser Halla Gunnarsdottir told the Daily Mail. “At the moment, we are looking at the best technical ways to achieve this,” Gunnarsdottir said. “But surely if we can send a man to the Moon, we must be able to tackle porn on the Internet.” At such a scale and magnitude, Iceland’s online pornography censorship scheme would be the first of its kind for any European nation, Professor Gail Dines told the Telegraph: "It is looking at pornography from a new position – from the perspective of the harm it does to the women who appear in it and as a violation of their civil rights." However, opponents of the ban have argued that such censorship is unfeasible. "When you have a group of people who have the job of monitoring the network traffic and deciding what would be allowed and what won’t be increases the risk of non-pornography sites to be added to the list and blocked off,” explained Prostur Jonasson of Iceland’s Association of Digital Freedom. The UK is the only other European country that has tried to implement a similar ban. It proposed blocking access to all pornography websites this past December, but UK ministers rejected the idea over a lack of public support. Iceland is known for its pro-women policies, which may credit to country’s openly lesbian Prime Minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir. In 2010, the country implemented a highly controversial ban on all strip clubs, arguing that they are harmful to women. The Scandinavian country also launched a consultation process in 2010 to investigate the effects of Internet pornography on women and children. The study concluded that viewing violent online pornography increased the intensity of sex attacks, and that if children were exposed to such content at an early age, they displayed similar signs of trauma as those who had actually been abused, the Daily Mail reported.

What follows is a rough account of a presentation I gave at a regional gathering of Lutherans recently. I suspect you will find errors in the text – please forgive them! I have been asked to make this available rather quickly and thus I beg your forgiveness in this area. I have thrown out some challenging questions towards the end. Please engage with the questions I ask. I have no easy answers and I do not hold my life up as an example of what we should be doing. Send reactions and feedback my way. I recommend Dr Jenning’s piece (http://goo.gl/wdErGq) for further reading on issues of finances and Lutheran schooling in Australia. Where love comes to life I would like to tell you the stories of 3 men – Stephen, Duan and Charlie. (All names in this piece have been changed to protect identities) Stephen is Egyptian. His family is Coptic Christian. In 2011, the president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, stepped down in response to the Arab spring uprising in his country. This took place at a place called Tahrir (freedom) square and both Stephen and his brothers participated in the protests against the wishes on their parents. This is the same place that your speaker tonight discovered what tear gas tastes and feels like. There are 87 million people living in Egypt and as my friend Ibrahim said to me, this is the first time in recorded history that the Egyptian people had been free. From the time of the Pharaohs, they had been ruled by dictators. When you apply for a visa in Egypt you have to supply your religion on the official form. So you carry a card as an Egyptian citizen or a visa if you are a foreigner which states your religion. When you greet someone you have the choice ‘Salam alykuem’ (peace be with you) which is considered a Muslim greeting or Sabah alcher (good morning), which is considered Christian (because you aren’t using ‘salam alykuem’!). You proclaim your religion immediately with your greeting. Unlike the west where we consider it impolite to talk about religion, politics or sex – in Egyptian society these are fair topics. One day I was talking to a Taxi driver who had 9 children – he asked why I didn’t have any children. I said in my less than perfect Arabic that my wife and I were not planning to. He then pointed at this crotch and asked sincerely ‘andak mushkilla?’ which translated means ‘do you have a problem?’ Reproductive problems are very much fair game for taxi conversation in Egypt. Stephen went to a government run high school and he told me great stories of the ineptitude of his teachers. Teachers in Egypt are paid less than $100 per month by the government. How do they make a living? Many refuse to teach the content during the day and then run night tutoring sessions at a great profit. Current estimates suggest that following the chaos of the revolution and on the back of years of mismanagement, half the Egyptian population is illiterate. Perhaps only 25% of women are literate in Egypt. Stephen had an interesting time in university. Due to corruption, his professor of English had a PhD but could not read, write or speak English. As a result, the exercises and assignments Stephen had to complete were flawed. Stephen would be required to write incorrect English in order to pass in this professor’s class. Stephen passed with distinction after spending endless hours figuring out exactly what elements of English the professor had incorrect. Stephen then helped his classmates pass by teaching them these skills. In order to make sure he knew English, he watched every English language film he could find and read every book in English he could find. His English is extraordinary. Egyptians are having a very rough time at the moment. The week that my wife and I arrived in Egypt an elderly Egyptian woman died from food poisoning as the hospital refused to admit her because she had no money. Work is scarce – with tourism representing 13% of the country’s GDP. The tourist industry in Aswan, in the deep south of the country, is currently running at 4% of what it once was. Some are trying to use religion to divide the people but as one of my good Egyptian taxi driving friends said: ‘Muslimeen behab allah, messaen behab all. Koolo eizeen schokel, akl, modrassa wa mostespha. Mushkilla eh?.’ (‘Muslims love God, Christians love God. We all want a job, food, schools and hospitals. What is the problem?’) When Stephen learnt that I was lecturing at a Bible college for Sudanese refugees and after hearing their stories, he started volunteering to translate at this college. He heard the need and wanted to help. After I left Egypt I was very happy to hear he became the head administrator of the college and has begun studying alongside the African refugees in order to become a pastor himself. This is truly amazing. The hatred between Egyptians and Sudanese runs very deep. Not that long ago through Facebook I learnt that Stephen’s brother was killed. Stephen’s brother was actively involved with protests against Mubarack and then the Morsi regime. Egyptians fear that their internet is being watched and thus don’t write some things online. But I have a pretty good idea about what happened to Stephen’s brother. Stephen is choosing each day to live a different life. He has given up a good salary teaching Arabic to foreigners in order to teach God’s word to refugee pastors and to train refugee teachers. Duan is Ugandan and has the brightest and most sincere smile I have ever seen. Duan’s story is quite interesting. He speaks 7 languages. When I asked him how he learnt French his answer was. “It wasn’t too hard. I had some friends from Congo who liked soccer and so we played soccer in French”. English is Duan’s sixth language. His schooling took place under a tree. He sat in the dirt with another 50 or so young people and learnt language from an elder. The elder would write a word in the dirt and Duan would copy it in the dirt. The teacher would return after seeing the other 50 students check it and issue another word. He is now the director of African Hope Learning Centre (AHLC), having begun as a technical assistant, becoming a primary school teacher, then primary headmaster and now director. He is assisted by deputy directors Jacques, James and Matthew. Jacques is from Congo and is a political refugee as all of the men in his family has been killed due to his father being involved with an opposing political party. James fled South Sudanese to avoid tribal warfare. Matthew was a Christian born in the Muslim north of Sudan. For a time, Matthew lived naked in the fields as he lost contact with his family. The UN interacts officially with about 250,000 refugees in Egypt. Having worked with NGOs like MSF, refugee researchers, long term missionaries, I know the number of refugees currently living in Egypt is closer to 4 million. There is a major UN processing centre in Cairo which acts as a funnel for those hoping for resettlement elsewhere. However, the Egyptian government bars refugees from accessing healthcare, education and from working. So African Hope offers education to 500 students from grade 1 to grade 11. Staff and students have a basic healthcare program including dental care, vaccinations, health education. The school also provides employment for more than 50 refugee teachers. Over 20 African nations are represented in students and staff. From Sudan into the horn of Africa, Somalia, Ethiopia, through down as far south as Uganda and Burundi, then west to Angola and up to Nigeria. The goal of this illegal school is to provide an education to build the African community which is in sore need of doctors, engineers, teachers and business people. It is hoped that this education will allow students to define and build a positive future for their countries. This of course is difficult. Finding the finances to run the school is very difficult in a very competitive global aid market. AHLC is reliant on volunteers due to the low educational levels of teachers. Our refugee teachers would barely pass Grade 7 in Australia. While staff training can help, volunteers are essential to improve our student outcomes. That was why I was there – to provide staff training. Put simply – you cannot teach what you have not been taught. At one stage we could not teach maths because there was not a single person in the refugee community who knew maths beyond a grade 2 level. I discovered this naively when I set some benchmarking tests for all the students and I discovered that not a single student in the school knew what a rectangle was. I discovered the reason why when I saw the look of confusion in the eyes of my maths teachers when I asked them what a rectangle was. Duan first came to Cairo to work in a call centre on a very good salary. Duan chose to give up this lucrative salary to lead the education of 500 hundred young Africans. We pray that he can lead this school into a positive future that helps to build Africa. Charlie is Australian. Charlie was borne to Deli owning parents in the great wine country of McLaren Vale, South Australia. Charlie’s family are not really religious. He recalls a story of a rather tense moment and vigorous theological argument when Charlie’s mother stared down the priest who took issue with her demand to remove the promise ‘to obey’ from her marriage wows. There is also a rumour that Charlie’s grandfather tried to burn down a church after copping a hiding from the priest for being insolent during Sunday school. Charlie’s parents were told, when he was a grade 1 student, that he would never learn to read and write at an adult level. “He should leave school as early as he can and get a trade”, his parents were told. Charlie was lucky to have parents who knew this was rubbish. He shifted schools but it was at that time that his parents started looking for a suitable high school with great teachers. They did not want this to happen again. As it would happen, a new Lutheran school was opening in McLaren Vale, Tatachilla Lutheran College, the very year in which Charlie would commence high school. Charlie happened to be enrolled number 65 of 67 sof that first intake of students. Charlie became a Christian through seeing the teachers at Tatachilla model a Christian life of service. As Charlie often says, “I can’t pinpoint the moment that I became a Christian – I just felt an increasing belief that this stuff the pastor talked about in chapel was true because the teachers lived it. They didn’t just talk about it.” Charlie found himself the first in his family to attend university. Not long after starting university, Charlie starting attending his local Lutheran church. He was enjoying quite a successful opera singing career (a talent fostered by his teachers) when a vocal injury forced him to take 2 years off of professional singing. He had two options before him. With his passion for God, young people, sharing big ideas and music, he considered becoming a pastor in the Lutheran church or becoming a teacher. He chose the latter, studying education through Flinders University and through Australian Lutheran College. Charlie gained a job at a very prestigious Adelaide Lutheran school and began his teaching career there. Around this time a nice young girl came into his life and it wasn’t too long before friendship turned into marriage. Through the Lutheran Church, Charlie had the opportunity to discover that not all Lutheran schools were as nice and well resourced as his. He travelled to Papua New Guinea and the US on social justice trips. Charlie’s wife had for a long time had a passion to work with African refugees – specifically Sudanese women. A flame burned a little brighter – a flame that was lit at a Lutheran school which emphasised active love for others. Charlie remembers his principal at Tatachilla, Richard Bruss, saying often “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” So it came to be that Tom (or ‘Charlie’) and his wife left their comfortable lives in Adelaide to serve in Egypt. What would you die for? Working in Egypt caused me to come to terms with a willingness to die for a belief. I will not pretend like Egypt is anything like current situations in the Congo, Afghanistan or Iraq. Rarely did I feel my life was in true danger. However, as foreigners began being killed Robyn and I had to think about what was going to be line where we fled. Robyn spent a week at home at one stage as a public threat was made against foreign white women working for churches. Living with a packed bag and $1000 USD under your pillow to buy your way out of a country changes your perspective. It brings a certain clarity to things. You think “am I willing to die in order to provide a service to those who need it?” How much am I willing to personally suffer so that others don’t? What is God’s will? Few things annoy me more than people who try to give me comfort by saying that I don’t need to worry about those who are still in Egypt working with the refugee community or the refugees themselves. “God will look after them” or “God will rise up those to do what he needs done.” When I was working at African Hope there were more than 10 international volunteers – now there are two. I chose to leave and I left behind work that now goes mostly undone. That is something I need to deal with. We live in a protected bubble here in Australia. Our faith, our worldview, our lives are all symptomatic of a society that lacks suffering. We choose to ignore the great pain and suffering of our brothers and sisters across the world. As Christians in the west we have blindly followed a lie. Many believe that it is enough for us to have our faith in God and just live our lives as best we can. It is shameful that the lives of most Christians look no different to the lives of your average Australian – mortgage, shiny car, shiny kids, overseas holidays. Is that really what Christ taught us? Is that what God sacrificed his son for? So that we could live Christian flavoured lives hidden from seeing the suffering of others? Experiences like mine change your perspective. So much so that I still think of money in different units. When I was working at African Hope, every $50 meant another day that I could afford to feed the 500 students at the school. At my current school, when I buy an iPad, I cannot help but know that for the cost of the iPad I could have fed 500 African refugees for about 2 and half school weeks. I know what it is like to form a contingency plan for running out of money for the food program. You remove the meat from the dish, you remove the vegetable, you half the amount, you feed the youngest only and then as a last resort, you stop the meals. Thank God it didn’t ever get to a point where we had to stop meals. Please don’t put me, or anyone else on a pedestal and say “I could never have done what you did”. It isn’t a case of can’t – what I did was not difficult. Anyone in this room could serve in this way usefully if they wanted to. Robyn and I made a choice to serve in Egypt. To simply say “I couldn’t do what you, Stephen our Duan did” is an excuse. An excuse so often used to justify inaction and to do nothing to help those in need. The world is the way it is because we continually make choices that allow it to be so. It is humanity’s will that is causing the suffering the our world. This is not the will of our loving God who suffers with the oppressed. What motivates you? Why did a teacher and his wife from a nice Lutheran school in Adelaide go to Egypt and spend 35k of his own money and 10k of generous people’s money, to help people? Because there was a need. Robyn has always wanted to work with Sudanese refugees and the largest population of Sudanese outside of Sudan is in Cairo. Faith without works is dead. Nothing more than that. We went because there was a need we could meet. Within each of us, the Holy Spirit is working to bring us to love our neighbours as Christ taught us. We must choose to take this call or ignore it. Moving to Melbourne was not really part of the Brennen’s plan after Egypt. But at the same time a Lutheran school leader with refugee and migrant experience comes home at the exact same time that the only Lutheran school in the country serving a significantly refugee/ new migrant/low income community needs a leader. Sunshine Christian School is a lovely primary school in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Being principal there takes as much passion, perseverance and dedication and fortitude as working in Egypt did. The issues are different but the goal is the same – to nurture young people to serve God and his people. Ask yourself – Would you get up tomorrow and do your job if you were not paid? Do you believe what you do each day is truly serving others as God would have you serve? A great Lutheran social justice heritage Lutherans have a great heritage to offer. I was in demand as a lecturer at a bible college in Egypt because Lutherans are known in Africa for having biblically centred and sound theology. Ask many a Sudanese refugee about Lutherans and they see it as a word that represents comfort and support. This comes from their time in Lutheran run refugee camps. It has been written of our spiritual father, Martin Luther: “[He argued that] God’s justice is a life-giving justice for all persons regardless of gender, race or ethnicity, social or economic status – a justice that should underpin human relationships and the education of future leaders in society. Indeed, he was among the first of his generation to protest business, banking, and religious practices that favoured the wealthy few and impoverished the many. And yet…Lutheran history is marked by the refusal to heed the ancient call to act with justice, exchanging that more difficult task for charitable endeavours or stoic silence in the face of oppression.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote : “We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself” As Lutherans I think we are very good at the loving God bit and feeling saved. What we need to do is to commit more to the mystery and gospel imperative of loving others. There are many choices we make as a church. A choice we make at the moment is to allow our schools to exclude families on the basis of their economic status. I live with the knowledge that if I were born now my parents could not afford to send me to a Lutheran school – not on their income. My family situation is not unique. What might Luther say if he were here today and saw that our schools, that were first set up to serve Lutheran refugees newly arrived to Australia, now exclude refugees through their fee structures? Could our church find new funding strategies to sustain and plant low fee schools in areas of great need in order to provide a Lutheran education to children that need it most? Last year I met with a family who wanted to enrol their daughter at my school. Knowing that they were a practising Buddhist family I asked them why it was that they wanted to send their child to a Lutheran school. They said this: “I don’t want my daughter to go to a public school. I know your school is a good school. You will not ignore her soul. You will teach her about God. You will teach her about duty to others. This will not happen at the other local schools” According to the enrolment policies of most Lutheran schools we are required to give first preference to Lutherans and then practicing Christians. Had there been an abundance of enrolments in the previous categories this child would not be attending a Lutheran school. What do we make of this? As a church we make the choice to pay our school principals an annual salary that alone would be enough to run African Hope Learning Centre for an entire year. My wage alone is more than enough to feed, educate and provide healthcare for more than 500 refugee students while also giving work for another 50 refugees. What does this information mean to us as schools of the church? How do we process it? As we look at approving church budgets, how are we spending our money? Are we investing in supporting the oppressed and needy or perpetuating nice buildings with empty pews? Could the current shortage of Lutheran pastors, teachers and leaders suggest that we have lost a culture of service to others that we once had? Germaine Greer was educated in the Catholic schooling system. She writes: “(The Catholic nuns) brought out the best in me and it needn’t have been brought out – it could have stayed right where it was. I could have married a stockbrocker and settled into a life of three cars and a carport. They made that impossible because I was hungry for something else” This is what the Lutheran church did to me. It made me hunger for justice for all people. Are all of our Lutheran schools and churches encouraging this and making it central to their culture? Our world is full of need and we must respond. A response more than turning away, throwing in a few dollars or praying for someone else to do it for us. I don’t care how much money you make, what country you come from, what your religion is, what your qualifications are, what you have achieved or what others say about you. What I am most interested in, what I want you to show the world, is that you can love others amongst your own struggles, brokenness, grief and despair – because that is where love comes to life.

"We valued the festival so highly 30 years ago, when everything was in scarcity, because it was the only time we got to eat meat, put on new clothes and stay up all night playing games," Hu says. "Today we do those things anytime we want. It's human nature to chase what's hard to get and then throw it aside once we have it." However, folklore professor Zheng Tuyou from Fudan University says there's no reason to lament changing customs. "Folk traditions always change with the social changes," he says. "There is no standard to mark a truly traditional Chinese New Year because traditions long ago varied under different dynasties." Form may change but essence does not, Zheng says. He points to hongbao as an example. Money didn't really come into commonplace use until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and today people transfer money around via mobile phones. "But the inner spirit of it never changes, that is to wish children good health," he says. "Old things are gone or eliminated, replaced by new things. It's just the way of development. We don't need to be overly nostalgic about it or even try to revive old times. Let the past go." The traditional family reunion dinner is another case in point. In olden days, wives prepared the New Year's Eve dinner. But in recent years, more families have chosen to eat the big meal in a restaurant. Bookings for that evening in major restaurants must be made well in advance. But now, with the trend toward home-delivered meals — some prepared by experienced chefs — families are once again choosing to stay at home. "Folk traditions have their own way of adjusting to the social environment," Zheng says. Last Lunar New Year's Eve, about 650,000 Shanghai residents traveled overseas for the holiday, often forfeiting presence at the traditional family get-togethers. "Why is it that young people don't care about Spring Festival but like Western festivals more?" asks professor Zhang Zujian from Shanghai University. "I find traditional Chinese festivals are mostly the same — we worship, we eat and we wish. What really matters is how we bridge the age gap and extend out hands and hearts to others." Old traditions are indeed evolving. Traditional Spring Festival couplets nowadays are often written with funny catchphrases instead of classic poems, and ancient operas have added punk music and electronic elements to attract young people. "But rest assured, Spring Festival won't disappear, no matter how much it changes," says He Chengwei, vice chairman of the Shanghai Federation of Literature and Art Circles. "It's a special time to bid farewell to the past year, past failures, past heartbreaks and welcome a fresh start, a new era and a bright future."

We give homework supplies Why do we call them "homework supplies" and not school supplies? Because even the schools in the less privileged areas do manage to have supplies in the classroom for the students to do their work. It's when they get home that the kids really struggle. Many of the elementary school students that Rainbow Pack helps live below the poverty level. Most of the basic items that we take for granted every day are out of reach for these young students. Simple supplies, like a pencil or paper can make the difference between doing your homework and failing. By giving every student from Pre-Kindergarten - 5th grade a backpack full of homework supplies we let them know that know they can be the kind of student that the want to be. From the feedback we have received over the years we have learned that for many of these young students we are not just giving them supplies they might otherwise not have. For some of these students this is the first time they have been able to pick out something just for themselves that is brand new and not a hand-me-down. For many it helps them to fit in because they have the same backpacks and supplies as everyone else. For a few, it is more than just a backpack, for the kids who don't have a home or live in a home with many family members this little backpack might be the only safe place they have to keep the things that are important to them.

We are lucky to live less than an hour from the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park and even luckier to get to spend lots of time in one of the world’s first national park. It isn’t easy picking 5 hikes in a park that is so full of wonderful backcountry experiences, but I did it. According to the park website: Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America’s first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Preserved within Yellowstone National Park are Old Faithful and a collection of the world’s most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. I’ve chosen 5 hikes that my family and I have enjoyed and that represent different areas and ecosystems in Yellowstone. So, whether you want to geyser gaze, watch trout spawn, photograph wildflowers or push a stroller, I have a hike for you! Trailhead: On the northeast park entrance road west of Pebble Creek campground Distance: About 0.5 mile one way Difficulty: The trail is quite steep, but it is so short that almost anyone can make it. Trail description: The short, steep trail switchbacks up the side of a hill through open sagebrush steppe, wildflowers and forested pockets. What you’ll see: A beautiful lake nestled in a meadow at the base of Mt. Hornaday. If you visit in June you’ll see hundreds of cutthroat trout spawning in just inches of water in the inlet. Otters and muskrats also make Trout Lake home. Get there at the right time and you’ll see otter pups playing on fallen logs and chasing each other around the lake. Cutthroat and rainbow trout draw anglers to the lake. Trailhead: Behind Roosevelt Lodge Distance: 4 miles roundtrip Trail description: This loop trail departs from behind Roosevelt Lodge and climbs 300 feet onto the bench. Here the trail joins the Roosevelt horse trail and continues west to Lost Lake. (If you take the trail east, you loop back to the Roosevelt corrals on the horse trail or continue on to Tower Fall Campground.) From Lost Lake, the trail follows the contour around the hillside to the Petrified Tree parking area. Cross the parking lot and climb the hill at its northeast end to loop back behind Tower Ranger Station. Cross the creek and return to the Roosevelt Lodge cabins. (It’s easier, if a little longer, to hike back the way you came or walk on the road back to Roosevelt Lodge.) What you’ll see: Pretty Lost Lake, wildflowers, waterfowl, wet meadows, petrified tree, black bears (maybe, but carry bear spray any time you hike in Yellowstone). Trailhead: Cascade Lake Picnic Area, 1.5 miles north of Canyon Jct. on the Tower-Canyon Road. Distance: 4.5 miles roundtrip Trail description: Fairly flat trail through meadows. This trail is often muddy through July, so hold off until Aug. What you’ll see: Wildflowers and wildlife—in season. Lovely, Cascade Lake. Since the Canyon area can be such a zoo, this is a nice way to take a short break from the throngs. You can make this a through trip by hiking 3 miles out the Howard Eaton Trail to the trailhead 0.5 miles west of Canyon Junction on the Norris-Canyon Road (leave a vehicle). Or, from Cascade Lake take the strenuous, 1,400 foot climb in 3 miles to Observation Peak (11 miles roundtrip from the trailhead). The hike takes you to a high mountain peak for an outstanding view of the Yellowstone wilderness. The trail passes through open meadows and some whitebark pine forests. Lone Star Geyser Trail Trailhead: 3.5 miles southeast of the Old Faithful area, just beyond Kepler Cascades parking area. Distance: 5 miles roundtrip Trail description: This mostly level trail follows an old service road along the Firehole River through unburned forests of lodgepole pine. This trail can be accessed by bicycle with the final approach to the geyser on foot. What you’ll see: Lone Star Geyser erupts about every 3 hours. Even if you miss the eruption, the ride or walk along the Firehole River is lovely. Plus, it is fun to see a geyser off the boardwalk, even when it is just gurgling. There aren’t many trails in the park where bikes are allowed, so take advantage of this one. If you get a chance, check out Kepler Cascades near the trailhead. John W. Hoyt, the governor of Wyoming Territory visited the Park in 1881 looking for a decent wagon route connecting his Territory to the Park. Included in the party was a young boy named Kepler. According to the book “Yellowstone Place Names,” then Superintendent Norris named the cascade after “the intrepid twelve-year-old son of Governor Hoyt, of Wyoming, who shared all the hardships, privations, and dangers of exploration with his father.” Two Ribbons Trail Trailhead: Approximately 5 miles east of the West Entrance, no marked trailhead, look for wayside exhibits next to boardwalk in large pull-outs Distance: Approximately 1.5 miles (2 km) roundtrip Trail description: This is a completely boardwalked trail that winds through burned lodgepole pine and sagebrush communities next to the Madison River. This is a nice walk for someone pushing a stroller. What you’ll see: Good examples of fire recovery and regrowth as well as buffalo wallows. Waterfowl on the Madison River. Need a trail guide? Of course, I think you should get my book, 20 Family-Friendly Hikes in Yellowstone. My go-to, favorite hiking book for longer hikes in Yellowstone is Bill Schneider’s Hiking Yellowstone National Park. Other family-friendly hikes in Yellowstone (or a bit more description of the ones above). Want to Spend the Night?

Hi there! Welcome! Thanks for your visit, let me introduce myself, my name is Albert Miró, and this is my personal website. In this website you can find information about who am I, which are my motivations and interests. Also, you can take a look at my professional background, as well as some projects that I've done for myself and some that I've made at work. I'm a mobile applications developer, using cutting edge and growing technologies like augmented reality, specialized in Android and Unity3D. Some of my hobbies are skiing, mountaineering, cycling, reading, cooking and taking pictures (you can take a look at some of my pictures at this link). I like to enjoy my free time, either making some of theses activities or working in my personal projects. I'm interested in learning all the new technologies that appear and use them in my projects. Motivated by game development, web development, team working, entrepreneurship and take the most of all the opportunities to learn and improve personally and professionally. Now that you know who I am, if you want to know me better or propose some interesting project, don't hesitate to contact me! To finalize, I would like to share with you the next quote: It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad. Mobile applications and games development with augmented reality and Unity3D Some of the projects in which I have been involved are: - Cheetos Moovins - Holoz Virtual Tattoos - Fanta - Te Damos La Paga - Tour Interactivo – RCD Espanyol - Applus+ Idiada - Moscow Zoo App - Educa - CreAnima Fashion - Educa - CreAnima Monsters - Educa - Lince - Educa - Appuzzle Spain - Educa - Appuzzle France - Educa - Appuzzle Europe - Educa - Appuzzle World - Carnet Jove - Grup Planeta - Rellotges - Grup Planeta - Chef Plus Induction - Sony NEX Photo Places - La Granja Nesté - Pangea Reality - June 2012 - Current work Projects & Labs At this section you can find all the projects that I've done for my personal development. Some of them are done in the university and some in my free time. The main purpose of all of them is to learn and improve my skills while I've been having a good time developing them. Awesome racing game where the player becomes the pilot of a spacecraft and will try to overcome his enemies thorugh some attacks like placing walls in the middle of the trail, launching fireballs, or leaving objects in the middle of the trail to make their enemies crash and arrive to the finish line before them. Online multimedia learning system using Moodle for the course Computer Networks Project.Made with a group of four students. Application that lists all the applications that the user has installed in their device and lets you save the list in your device or send it through email. Development of an augmented reality application for the tourism in Barcelona for Android devices. With this application, the user can see information of some points of interest in the city, know where he are through a map and go for some routes guided using augmented reality. Have a great time searching all the pairs! Classic game to find the pairs with an animals theme. Fhenerur is a classic RPG game set in a feudal environment, where in some special and unique places magic still remains where humans haven't burned or destroyed the magical trees able to generate it. This story is about Jack, a young wood sculptor who lives happily with his wife Arlene. Until a day arrives and they're forced to be separated. Help Jack to discover a few places where magic still remains in order to find what he seeks the most. In this journey you will find lots of proves and puzzles that you should complete in order to end the game.Developed with Christian Amenós. Application that lets you add or substract a counter, you can use it to count all the people that comes to an event, or any other activity that you think that it can be useful. Option to share your counts. Application that shows a motivation quote every time that is opened. The user can see more quotes touching at them. This app has Push Notifications enabled to send messages to all the users simultaneously. Application that uses Open Street Maps to show your localization in a map. Application that lets you compute the time between different dates and times. Neuronum is the application that will help you to develop your Mental Fitness. Make simple numerical calculations every day in order to improve your memory and mental arithmetic skills. Developed with Christian Amenós. Applications development for the Samsung Galaxy Gear watch using the Tizen SDK, you can find them in the Samsung Store for Galaxy Gear. Developed with Christian Amenós. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. School of Informatics School of Informatics - Computer Science: - Human Computer Interaction - Processing Formal and Natural Languages - Distributed Systems - Introduction to Vision and Robotics - September 2011 - Desember 2011

Yes it’s that time again (if you can read it that is) where I have a look at the perennial geek designer from the amazing people at – TokyoFlash. The model is the BASIK Watch by José Manuel Otero and here it is. So let’s “at a glance” check the time . . . . Noooo, I’m not quite seeing what the actual time is here, but I’m sure I can work it out given time! Which for me is not quite the name of the game. I confess I like to wear on my wrist something beginning with W! Yes you guessed it – a Watch! and one that when I give it a quick glance immediately tells me the time and maybe even the day and the date! Now is that too much to ask? Well it seems to me that at TokyoFlash they are always attempting to challenge the old round dial concept clock face idea for showing the time, which like the original QWERTY keyboard worked for all sorts of very good reasons (and even that’s been challenged these days) and every time I see one of their new creations I start to get one of my awful migraines again! Now I don’t really mind them doing this as it’s great potty training and probably really mentally challenging for the young designer, but sometimes a reality check might be in order here. Because I and most of us I suspect want a gadget that simply, easily and clearly shows the time – no more – no less. It’s a bit like re-inventing the wheel I suppose. Why is it round? – I can even hear the new recruit to the Design Guild of Pointless Ideas, question. Would it not be better to make it square? And Oh of course we can round off the pointed bits to make it smoother yes and maybe – no maybe . . . an oval? But we’d maybe have to alter the suspension to compensate I suppose if it’s used as a vehicle . . .? And then there’s . . . . Now – where was I – Oh yes – the Basik Watch . . . . Well it’s not really difficult when you study it for a while – something you can do with your time I suppose 😉 and this is the same image with the time disclosed at image top left. Well the dial has 2 index rings – the Inner which is for the Hours and the Outer for the Minutes. These are in light grey unless activated as markers. You can see on the inner index a dark marker – at 3 (hours). Another dark marker is showing on the outer index indicating 7 (minutes) and the very outer continuous moving line thing which goes round the entire dial perimeter is showing at 27 – this is the seconds. Hence the time is 03.07 and 27 secs. And how do we know it’s 03 am and not 3 pm? well apparently it’s indicated by the changing colour of the dial – if it’s light colored then it’s PM and if it’s dark is AM – or perhaps the other way around – sorry but this migraine! Also you can move the outer bezel which in turn moves the entire dial around, so that if the watch is off your wrist and sitting on it’s side, you can move the 12 o’clock position to the top and the watch reads as if it was sitting upright – get it? Utterly fascinating and brilliant I am absolutely sure – but is it for me? Well sadly I am equally and absolutely sure it’s NOT . . . ! Anyway if you want to check it out HERE is where it’s at . . Now – I’ve taken so long with this Post that I’d better check the time myself! Well I can see Mickeys long gloved hand is pointing at 5 and his shorter open glove hand is pointing at 6 . . . . Goodness it’s 5.30 – it’s time for my dinner! 😉 😉 Seriously this is quite an unusual watch and one of the best of the alternative time readers out there in my opinion. The idea of using inner and outer indexes is not particularly new, though the dark indication markers are quite novel. Personally I would prefer the dark markers to be very much darker so that I could more easily see the time in less than ideal light. I like the large Date window which is easy to read and the Seconds animation perimeter is both novel and a very good indicator, firstly showing the watch is running and secondly a rather good seconds countdown timer too. As I said in the Post, which I admit to being a little tongue in cheek, it still is not really the watch for me. But I can see certainly see the attraction for many (possibly younger than I) who like something that little bit different. In fact I’m sure it wouldn’t take long to get used to to it and that “quick glance” might well be all you need. Anyway, hats off to José Manuel Otero for a pretty smart and different take on the more usual watch idea and congratulations – for it seems to work!

In the bohemian neighborhood of São Paulo, Vila Madalena, young fintech entrepreneurs have occupied a three-story building known as the “cryptocurrency house.” One such A cryptocurrency hedge fund, Atomic Fund, has joined the many technology startups in what is still South America’s most prominent financial hub. And it looks like Atomic at just the right time. The number of investors trading on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange numbers around 619,000 total traders. Bitcoin investors alone, however, offer more than double that figure. The pioneer currency also stands far apart from any other digital currency speculation. In a country that has suffered hyperinflation on several occasions, both the banks and the populace are primed for bigger picture thinking on virtual currencies. Some of the biggest players in private banking are thus prioritizing blockchain research and expertise. Three of the biggest Bitcoin exchanges, Foxbit, Mercado Bitcoin and Bitcambio are also hosted in São Paulo and have grown in spite of local banking obstruction. A digital currency investment adviser at XP Investimentos, Fernando Ulrich, pointed to the approximately $38 million in bitcoin that constituted daily trade in February. “That’s more than the entire year’s worth of Bitcoin trades in 2016 in Brazil [around R$115m]. There’s been a tremendous influx of new users.” Kenzo Tominaga, the Atomic Fund founder, was frank in his appraisal that citizens are skeptical and looking for financial alternatives. “Brazilians do not trust their government and have a tendency to adopt technology trends quickly,” he said, adding “Cryptocurrencies are rebelling against the established [financial] system and are born out of the internet — that’s why they’re really catching on here.” His three co-founders all call themselves ‘anarchist-capitalists.’ All four have asset management, fintech or banking backgrounds and feel that they are operating in an environment intolerant of bureaucracy and compelled to be creative, even when it comes to currency. The Millennial Revolution and Brazil High unemployment amid a prolonged return to a thriving economy was ready and waiting just as millennial students graduated and entered the job market. For many, prospects have never been good, and the incoming workforce turned to digital entrepreneurship. Co-founder Piero Ganciarates noted too that “[Any] escape from government control and paperwork [is] super attractive.” More than a few startups are reaping the rewards too. The second-largest exchange in Brazil, Foxbit, is celebrating the influx of new money and interest. CEO Guto Schiavon explains that after a year, the exchange now occupies new premises, a move necessitated by the need to accommodate 80 total employees. Foxbit also hosts around 400,000 clients and accounted for almost half of the traded $1.1 billion in Bitcoin in 2017, just under half the $2.14 billion total for the country as a whole.

A review of The Diviners by Libba Bray Published 2012, Little, Brown In spite of the adage, we all judge a book by its cover. Especially if you find yourself in the type of book store that shrink-wraps its “browsing” copies and you have nothing else to go on. The cover of my copy of The Diviners just told me to purchase it: the front cover was designed well and reflected the era and aura of the narrative; the back cover informed me that the author (who I will be reading for the first time) has previously been awarded for her work, and is also a best-selling author. The blurb tells me of murder, supernatural powers, and secrets—a LOT of secrets. And that can be a good thing. Mystery is a necessary ingredient of a good murder story. Well, if it pays off. In this book, there’s a very solid divide between the awesome mystery and the awful mystery. Let’s start off with the awesome. I would really have to commend the author for creating such a cryptic and creepy character in Naughty John, the murderous evil spirit roaming the streets of 1920s Manhattan and perfect villain of the story. The scenes of Naughty John going about his ‘work’ are just plain horrifying. All told from his preys’ perspectives, these unfortunate encounters are described in terrifying detail. So much that the fear was exhilarating, tangible, and mine. Ruta’s heart fluttered wildly and her legs jellied. This had been a terrible mistake. She would leave at once. Ruta turned and watched in horror as the last of the illusion crumbled and the house transformed before her eyes into a dark, rotting hole, the rot crawling up the walls to meet her. The smell hit her like a punch, making her gag. And there were rats. Oh, god, how she hated rats. With a little cry, Ruta stumbled forward, as if she could outrun the dark coming to get her. Where was the door? It was nowhere to be found! Almost as if the house were keeping it from her. As if it wanted to keep her here. That’s probably half as scary as the rest of the scene gets, but I wouldn’t dream of spoiling that (or any of the many other terrifying scenes) for anyone. I would definitely recommend the book to those with a love for scary stories. That said, I’m on the fence as to whether the horror value of this book outweighs its excesses. Quantitatively, and generously, I would put the Naughty John material at probably half of the 600 pages of this book. I think the 300 pages spent on what was needed in this book are enough to make it stand as the first installment of a series, an introduction of the main characters plus a first adventure or challenge to bond them. Those two things do happen in this book. The main characters come together as a team to catch Naughty John, and we get to know Evie, a precocious, attention-seeking, 17-year-old wannabe-flapper with the titular divining powers. We are also introduced to Uncle Will, curator of what Manhattanites fondly call The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies. There’s also Jericho, Uncle Will’s big and brooding assistant with a secret. And Sam, a pick-pocketing charmer with a secret. Everybody has a secret in this book. And in this book, everybody’s a lot. Because aside from those four I’ve already mentioned — who were the only pivotal characters for the Naughty John arc — there are Mabel, Theta, Henry, Memphis, Isaiah, the green-eyed girl, Sister Walker, and two old ladies whose names I now forget. All these characters, save for Mabel, at some point in the novel were revealed to have some kind of mystical ability. Some of their powers were revealed, some were kept unknown until the end of the book, which did not make sense if the author was going for a lumpsum introduction of absolutely everybody. These “other” characters provided a lot of dimension to the story, raising issues we take for granted at present and some that continue to be a challenge today. On the other hand, it felt a bit heavy-handed. For one thing, I don’t think you need to give each character their own baggage to make them interesting. It seriously felt like the author listed all the problems she could think of (liberal during a conservative era, battered wife, gay, colored, abandoned, sick, etc) and raffled them off among the characters she created. Did anything happen to them? In passing, probably, and nothing where they could not have been replaced by a situational character the narrative just needed at that point, and who the reader doesn’t have to get to know or invest in. The real question though is did I care? Sad and only answer: no. I could have done without knowing any of them, at least at this point. I guess they would all play certain significant roles in the next installment/s of the series, and I just wish they were left out of this one and introduced only when they would become important. Six hundred is a lot of pages to ask of a reader * and I think the author was remiss in her responsibility to make it worth her readers’ while. I hope the next installment isn’t as long as this one. Or if it is, I hope the length is crucial. Thing is, because of my experience with this book, which half-annoyed half-excited me, I’m still thinking about reading the next book (coming out Aug 2014). Then if I’m also judging by the cover, I may just be spared from finding out. * Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell was over a thousand pages long, but I didn’t mind. Of course, because of its length and narrative style, I couldn’t possibly recommend it to young readers. But reading adults should have no excuse. It’s absolutely worth it.

The New York Women’s Foundation distributed a record $8 million in 2017 for undertakings in line with its mission to create “an equitable and just future for women and families.” A vital part of this 31-year-old foundation’s work is drawing on local expertise to create and disseminate research on the needs and circumstances of women, girls, LGBTQI, and gender-nonconforming people. In the fall of 2018, the foundation released part of a series called, Voices from the Field, which explores challenges and support strategies for low-income women in NYC during four major developmental periods: ages 0-8, 9-24, 25-59, and 60 and up. The newly released “Blueprint for Investing in Women Age 25 – 59” draws on data and expert interviews across academic, policy, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors to identify systemic barriers and potential solutions for these populations. New York City is home to a diverse group of 2,250,000 female-identifying people. Striking stats from the NYWF research include that in the state of New York, the rate of workforce participation for women with children under six is 81 percent for Black women, 64 percent for Latina women, and 50 percent for White women. A total of 56 percent of Latina household incomes cannot cover basic living costs, along with 47 percent of Black households, 44 percent of Asian households, and 24 percent of White households. Given that many women of color and immigrant women in poverty are both primary caregivers and breadwinners, stable housing and care for their children emerged as key focus areas. President and CEO of the New York Women’s Foundation Ana Oliveira said the report clarified that “there must be a concerted and coordinated effort by the government, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors to use their resources to expand access to affordable housing and reliable child care.” An anonymous participant in a job training program is quoted in the report, explaining how having to both earn wages for a household and be its primary caregiver can be a catch-22: “I’m constantly worried about my children because I can’t always arrange good care for them while I’m in training. And once I’m hired, I know I’ll be constantly worried about my job because there are bound to be times when those arrangements will fall through and I’ll have no choice but to stay home to take care of my kids. Women can’t be in two places at once and—when we try to be—everyone loses. Why haven’t people figured that out yet?” Reasonably-priced child care was found to be the most crucial need for women in NYC, with affordable housing a close second and a clearly interconnected factor in women’s stability. Being able to pay for housing also connects to other obstacles for women, such as domestic abuse; women who cannot afford a place to live struggle to leave violent situations. Similarly, equitable and living wages, quality health care, and inclusion and representation in the public sector are all areas where barriers exist and overlap for women, especially for those of color and of immigrant status. The NYWF calls on the public, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors to step up their support for these females, pointing out that it can only benefit the metropolis as a whole. “[The Blueprint Series] is offered with the conviction that there is no better strategy for boosting New York’s overall economic strength than supporting the women who provide the cultural wellspring and the economic and caregiving bedrock for the city,” the foundation states in the publication. Specifically, it asks the government to back policies including family leave, equal pay, job training, emergency refuge, improved sexual assault and rape prosecution, and to “forthrightly identify, monitor, and combat institutionalized harassment and violence against women of color, immigrant women, and LGBTQI individuals.” Nonprofits and funders are similarly encouraged to serve and empower women economically, civically, and through high-quality health and family services, including those relating to reproductive care. NYWF emphasizes the need for multifunder efforts and collaborative action to reach these goals and recommends that funders “ensure that all those efforts reflect the explicit input and guidance of those constituencies” served. Participatory and inclusive grantmaking and strategic partnerships are methods the foundation already embraces and practices itself. Examples include its, “Girls Ignite! Grantmaking,” which empowers teenagers to distribute local funds, and its funders collaborative called the New York City Fund for Girls and Young Women of Color, among many of its other undertakings. The New York Women’s Foundation also recently announced the first recipients of grants from its Fund for The Me Too Movement and Allies and launched the Justice Fund to address the effects of mass incarceration on females. It will certainly be interesting to see what new endeavors and developments 2019 holds for this women’s foundation; in the most recent annual report, Oliveira and Board Co-Chairs Kwanza Butler and Janet Riccio write they are “more resolved than ever to take bold action to create gender, racial and economic justice.”

Monday, March 31, 2008 The funny thing is, in the literally thousands of gravel road recon miles I have done, this has never happened before. Was it the vehicle? Nope...........couldn't have been. Just a weekend prior to this I put in 1250 miles of travel in the same vehicle. I used it for part of last years recon too. No, it was the severity of the roads. Put that into your thinkerer as you contemplate Trans Iowa this year. A little ibuprofen did the trick for me though I still feel it this morning. I thought I was going to be able to catch up with Captain Bob for a spin yesterday but I thought better of it due to the back issue. I went down to the Lab for a while instead to start the process of bike set up and choices for Dirty Kanza. I have more than one choice for a bike for this gig. (A great blessing and luxury, I admit). I am primarily concerned with comfort, ability to carry water, and comfort. Did I mention the bike needs to be comfortable? Uhh.........okay, why so much emphasis on comfort? Well, let me tell you; Dirty Kanza is rife with some of the roughest gravel around. Iowa gravel shudders in fear when Kansas gravel is mentioned. Really, it is pretty dang rough down there. So I am considering what 200 miles of pounding will potentially do and I am thinking comfort, okay? This leads me to four rigs in the stable: The Blackbuck, the Pofahl, the Badger, and the venerable Dos Niner. Problem #1: I signed up for the single speed class. The Dos and the Badger are geared specific bikes, so a single speed conversion and chain tensioner would be necessary. Not the most preferred set up, that's for sure. The Dos is interesting for the soft tail aspect and the Badger is interesting for its uber comfy drop bar style. The Pofahl may be a great choice, but I'm still dialing in the cockpit on that one. I may not have time to get that right and train on top of it. The Blackbuck is a possibility with it's superior water carrying capability and it has a pretty nice steel frame for comfort. I am currently playing with set up on it though, as well, so it may be nixed unless a suitable set up is hit upon. So, the bike is still up in the air yet and what will shake out should be pretty interesting. I have parts coming to experiment with and some parts already here. The coming weeks should prove interesting with results and more fiddling. Stay tuned! Saturday, March 29, 2008 <===One of several downhills Let's see: 431 miles and fourteen hours on the road today to get this course dialed. How many downhills did we drive? Lots! But as you all know, for every downhill there is an accompanying uphill section. <===One of several uphill slogs. So, how many uphills did we drive today? Get ready for Trans Iowa V4 folks. The toughest one yet! <===Some roads were just barely passable. Road conditions varied all over the place from absolutely perfecto gravel- faster and smoother than last year- to absolutely horrendous. And everything inbetween. Let's say about half the course is suffering from the effects of snow yet, and this less than a month away from the start! <===Tunnel vision on March 29th? Yep, you betcha! Much of the course is lined with snow taller than my SUV that we drove today. This snow is keeping the roads saturated by melting everyday a bit and re-freezing at night. Will it all be gone by April 26th? Probably, but the effects may still be lingering. Consider that farm equpment has yet to hit the fields and you can see why some of these roads will have no time to recover from the ravages of this past winter. Some of the roads we traveled looked as if they had been bombed for all the potholes in them. We're talking miles of this sort of thing. <===We saw Wisconsin, Minnesota, and a whole lot of Iowa today. What will you see on T.I.V4? I thought I'd be nice and give you all a parting shot of what you will likely miss because it will be dark out when you pass through here. Such a shame! We saw some beautiful vistas today! What you will see: About 75% of the course is what I would consider hilly or worse. You won't see a lot of open convenience stores. You will see "B" roads. You will see places cars can not go. You will see evidence of wheeled vehicles not powered by "typical" means. (You might even see these vehicles in action) You will see two track and gravel roads four lanes wide. You will see cool bridges. You will see lots of cemeteries. If you finish, you will have seen the longest T.I. course ever. I often said to d.p. today that I have never seen the course roads in worse condition previous to a Trans Iowa. I also noted how hard it was to drive a lot of this course. You could put on a seriously cool rally on these roads, they are that challenging to drive. Anyway, we'll have some details on mileage and course checkpoints, time cut offs and supply notes soon. Stay Tuned! Friday, March 28, 2008 Anyway, I see where Cameron Chambers, Travis Brown, and Keith Bontrager are all scheduled to line up there on May 31st. As I said on mtbr.com, you better get your "hellos" in at the start line, 'cause these guys will be smokin'. Should be a fun time though. Banned From Public School!: I work with a guy at the bike shop that is also a teacher at one of the public high schools in our fair city. He tells me that he is a regular readed of this blog. He informed me the other day that the school has blocked this site on the computers at school. Hmmm..............must be my rebelious nature, or my subversive message.....whatever. Maybe they are afraid he's wasting time or something, I don't know. Anyway, a dubious honor, I'm sure. Bicycles are kind of scary and dangerous. I would be afraid.......very afraid! Sea Otter, Here I Come!: I got my itenerary for Sea Otter yesterday. I'll be flying out of Dead Moyne this time. WooHoo! This event is pretty fun. I recommend it to anyone that is into cycling of any discipline. Where else can you go to that has a huge expo, demo bikes, pro road and mountain bike events going on at the same time, and about a gazillion cycling freaks walking/riding everywhere you look? Yeah, it is a circus and the weather can suck, but there is nothing else like it. Bad thing: It happens the week before Trans Iowa. Yeah.......I'll be bushed at the end of April! Have a great weekend and ride yer bikes! Thursday, March 27, 2008 <===Dickies makes some nice budget work clothes..........and these gloves. Just before I left to go to Texas I went shopping for a pair of Mechanix gloves or an equivilant since my hands don't like typical cycling gloves. I saw these and got them for about $16.00 or so. As a work glove they stink! I mean, how fast do you think that terry cloth thumb area will fill up with grease and dirt? About what.........three seconds? But as a cycling mit it is pure genius. I bet Dickies never dreamed of these as a mountain biking glove. I searched and found out that the actual company making these for Dickies is some outfit called Fortress. Mmm-kay, whatever. They are cheap and they work...........for me. I don't like cut off finger gloves- make my hands go numb. I don't like a lot of palm padding either, so these fit the bill for me. Heck, they even do a color Mr 24 would be proud of! Trans Iowa Recon........no really! Seriously! Yes, it has been said before but T.I.V4 recon is upon us for real this time. It has to be! There is only a month to go till this beast gets going and we have to get our ducks in a row........fast! (Now watch...........we'll have some freak winter blizzard this weekend because I wrote this!) If and when this happens, (it will) I will post a report and maybe a pic or two. Stay tuned. I am not going to promise anything at this point! No More Waiting: I posted this on the T.I.V4 site already, but I'll post here as well. The "waiting list" is being shut down. With only a month to go I am finding more people have moved on to focus on other events and the impending work load of T.I.V4 is weighing heavily on my decison to shut it down. I just won't have time to dedicate to taking care of that list anymore. If you were on the list, thanks for your patience and I hope you try again next time. The Dirt Be Shapin' Up: It's looking as though offroad is going to be happening sooner than later. Winds and fairly dry weather are conspiring to make the dirt shape up pretty fast. I was thinking it would take a long time for this winter to shake off but it appears that we are well on our way to riding dirt sooner than I would have thought possible. I'll be doing some exploratory poking around in town here and others are going to be peeking here and there in the woods to see how things are coming along. It won't be long though, I'll bet, and we'll be out riding the trails again. Wednesday, March 26, 2008 <===The BD 2 after about eight months of constant use I have had this very early production version of the Ergon BD 2 back pack since last summer and I have been thrashing it ever since. It's seen daily commuting use, mountain biking, long rides, and it's been in Nevada and Texas deserts. Rain, snow, and wind have not been strangers either. Here's an update on how it has been performing so far. The BD 2 is the larger of Ergon's bicycle oriented back packs. It can hold a 100 oz. bladder with ease and a bunch of your gear as well. I have had it loaded down with upwards of 30lbs of stuff before and it rides great with even that much weight on board. Generally though, it's just a full load of water, some nutrition, a few tools, spare tube, CO2 inflater, hand pump, shock pump, and maybe a few other sundry items. I always have room to spare. I'm quite confident that given the right equipment and a bit more organization, I could find room for some outerwear and more stuff necessary for multi-day epics. I have on a couple occaisions carried the full 100 oz of water with three extra water bottles! Anyway, the point is, you can carry a whole lotta stuff in a BD 2 if you need/want to. <====My solution to a small problem I have had great experiences with the BD 2 so far, but I have also experienced a couple noteworthy exceptions. One is the chest strap. It attaches on either side of each shoulder strap in front by a means of a plastic clip that is crimped on the edges of the shoulder straps. One of these popped loose at Interbike's Outdoor Demo last fall. While I was able to have it quickly and expertly repaired at Ergon's booth at the demo, an in the field failure would necessitate some other solution. Well, that's exactly what ended up happening to me later that fall. I simply looped around the shoulder straps webbing with the loose end of the chest strap. Voila'! No more worries since then. <===It hasn't been a problem.........yet! Another glitch with some early iterations of the BD series packs was a Flink bolt that backs out and separates the pack from the framework that straps to your upper body. See that shiny bolt head in the pic at the left? That's the guy! I have a replacement bolt that cures the problem, but I haven't installed mine yet. (I know, I know......bad boy!) However; I haven't needed to. I have it in the backpack waiting on the day when I finally break down, ( or the back pack breaks down!) and install the thing. I suppose I ought to do it, but I have only had to tighten the bolt twice and I am aware that it backs out, so I check it regularly. Anyway, the point is that if you already have an Ergon BD series pack and it was an early version, you can get a free replacement bolt from Ergon by contacting them. Overall my impression is that the Ergon BD 2 is a great back pack/hydration system (You have to supply your own bladder) that can carry almost anything reasonably needed for serious rides to epic adventures. It is reasonably durable, well thought out, and beyond some quirky pockets and the chest strap issue, it has been flawless for me. I would highly recommend it based solely on how it rides with a load on it. The fact that it performs well above and beyond that fact is a bonus. If you don't need all that room, the BD 1 is also basically the same pack with a smaller carrying volume. For those of you looking for something even more extreme/waterproof, the new BC 3 is coming soon. I've seen early versions of this pack and it looks killer! Commuters or serious multi-day riders need to check this baby out. Tuesday, March 25, 2008 Well, the wheels both exhibited similar air holding capabilities. It seemed that everytime I checked throughout the week that both sets would lose about the same amount of air, or not. Sometimes it seemed that they would stabilize. Weird. Anyway, it was obvious that there was no real distinction there and that both sets were holding air rather well. Performance was really good with both wheel sets. I never experienced any burping or any negative sensations while on the bike. Both sets did not flat during the trip, which was my main goal. If I had flatted, or if I ever do, it is going to be a big mess because I've got plenty of sealant in each tire. Well, that might be if they were to flat in the near future. Later on the sealant may dry up, I don't know, but I've heard of this. I plan on doing a little maintenance check on these in a month, maybe two. So, as of now everything is great. I can't say as I feel any sort of rolling resistance advantages. I have a test planned though that might help me to see if there is anything to this. I'm thinking it is a negligible, if any difference from a tubed set up, but we'll see. Air pressure can be lowered, true, but I can and have run rediculously low pressures with tubed set ups, so I don't see the big deal here either. The interesting thing I found was that rolling resistance increased on par with tubed set ups when I lowered the pressure on one of my tubeless set ups. They felt no different to me than a low pressure tubed set up, so again, I just don't see any advantage there. Maybe a pinch flat could be avoided, and that's the only thing I can think of. In the end I can only say that the systems I'm using will hopefully prevent any punctures from becoming flat tires. Other than that I am not convinced there is any sort of advantage to tubeless mountain bike tires right now. I'll keep riding and testing though to see if I'm missing something here, so stay tuned. So far, so good................. Monday, March 24, 2008 <===Surrealistic view: The Flint Hills at dawn Easter Sunday. Back home and back to the routine again. Reflecting back on what just happened is a bit tough yet. My brain being addled from 24 hours of travel over two days time. Yep, 1239.3 miles to be exact. The two bikes I took down both did fantastic jobs with the severe terrain I rode them on. Of course, as I have said, the Siren Song may have been a crazy choice as a single speed bike, but it was still a load of fun. I would highly recommend it as a platform for a single speed endurance machine. Oh so smoooooth! The Hi Fi was equally as satisfying. I was really glad I had full suspension bikes at my disposal for this trip. It is really what you need to have on the technical trails of Franklin Mountain State Park. While I love my rigid front/hardtail rear 29"ers, I wouldn't want to have to ride one down there. It's waaay too rough and rocky. At least for my ol' body it is! So, anyway......here I am back in Iowa and while it may not be very warm, at least almost all the snow is gone and it looks as though trail conditions will be improving. Right now I'm sure everything is a bit soggy, but with time it should start to come around. That's good because I have to get started riding again for several reasons, not least of which is the upcoming Dirty Kanza 200 which will be held where today's photograph was taken. It may not look like much there, but the camera only captures the tops of the hills. There is a lot more going on out there than the eye can see from I-35, I'll tell you that much! You might be very, very surprised! While it's good to be back, I'll just be getting busier, so no more time to reflect. It's onwards and upwards from here! Friday, March 21, 2008 But now it is time to buckle down and get to driving back towards home. The "big chunk" will be tomorrow- 700 plus miles in one day with two kids. Then Sunday it'll be the home stretch with around 500 miles on tap. That is if all goes well. Let's hope it does. Today we went to an amusement park where the rides, for the most part, were the same as they were 40 years ago. It was weird watching my kids ride stuff I rode when I was a little guy. Kind of a time warp thing. Anyway, it was hot and sunny, I was getting tired, and I forgot that I was in charge of Mrs. Guitar Ted's purse and walked away from a picnic table it was under. About 50 paces away it dawned on me that I left it there. Sure enough, it was gone! Well, we found out where the office was and asked a young lady if they had seen it. To our amazement and relief, it was there. Apparently a sharp eyed employee saw it and took it to the main office immediately. We were only without the purse for fifteen minutes max, but that was some stress I didn't need! Last year I forgot Mrs. Guitar Ted's suitcase with her and the kids clothes, this year I lost her purse. Not a very good track record! Well, if that is all the drama we incur on this trip, that'll be enough for me. See ya all back in Iowa soon! Thursday, March 20, 2008 <====A loose rocky ascent around some unfriendly vege! <===A view down hill at some more rocky goodness. <===The trail winds away into the distance. The Fisher Hi Fi Deluxe is there waiting to gobble it up. <===A trail runs through it: This is one of those areas where it looks like you are riding through the rubble of a building! <===Warm weather, sunshine, and mountains. G-Ted says, "Me likey!" Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Anyway, it was back after it on the Fisher HiFi Deluxe today on Franklin Mountain. The timing was right so I went for it. I did the same loop for testing purposes that I had done on Monday. The funny thing was, this time I had gears and man! Did it ever make a difference! I smoked the loop in half the time it took on the single speed. Of course, some of that was trail familiarity, but a lot of it was being able to get into a low gear and grind over stuff I was walking up on the single speed. I'll be honest, the single speed thing here was a killer! I really got beat down from working myself so hard. The climbs are steep, but compounded by loose rocks, step ups, and cactus avoidance. I ended up walking a fair bit. That was where it took a longer time on the SS for sure. Today was different. Right off the bat I was carrying far more speed and climbing much more of what I had walked just two days ago. Still, there were some sections that would necessitate my having some more practice time to clean. I am confident I could make the whole loop with more riding time. The thing is, I was being cautious because I was riding in some dangerous terrain alone. One small mistake could have ended up being a very bad situation. Well, the Fisher Hi Fi was a blast! I was cruising along at a clip that was almost too fast for a newbie to these parts. I had to reel it back in a few times. The last section of trail I rode was called Cory's Quarry. Man, did the name ever fit! Wait until you see the pics I got. Anyway, the rocks were big, loose, and everywhere. I had fist sized rocks flying up and hitting the bike and one nailed me in the shin. No harm done, but that isn't what I like to see in my peripheral vision- rocks that ought not to be airborne flying up in close proximity to my tender bits! So, I really enjoyed today's ride and it was a great way to cap off the riding part of my vacation. I am dedicating the rest of the time here to family, so no more rides till I'm back in Iowa. Too bad! It's absolutely beautiful and epic riding here. Tuesday, March 18, 2008 <===Visited some local bike shops incognito! Well, after yesterdays sufferfest, I took today off for some recovery and to await the forecasted warmer temperatures for Wednesday. (70's for high temps) Less wind too, not that it is a problem, but hopefully less dust will be in the air. I inhaled my fair share on Monday, that's for sure! Anyway, we all got out and just hit up some shops and took in some of the local scenery. <===A view from a scenic overlook about two thirds of the way down from the pass on Trans Mountain Highway. We didn't really do a whole lot but hang out with each other and it was great not to have any schedules or places we had to go. I played outside with the kids for awhile and now they are seeing a kids movie with Mrs. Guitar Ted whilst I type at my snail like pace on here and elsewhere. <===What you are likely to see in yards here for "weeds". That about does it for today. Tomorrow will be something else. Maybe a ride, maybe some other tom-foolery. Who knows and who cares. It's vacation, right? Monday, March 17, 2008 <===The Siren Song in quiet desert repose. Well, the desert southwest is warm and sunny at a balmy 64 degrees today. Wind kept me in tights and a long sleeved jersey over a short sleeved one though. This mountain biking scene here may not be totally hopping, but it is awesome riding and pretty dang technical. <=== Looking back down the trail you can see the weathered and broken exposed bedrock off camber section. One small misstep and yeeouch! The trail was as tough as I remembered from last year, loose and rocky with plenty of ascending and descending on narrow single track. Cactus was on the trail in the form of broken off bits with spiky needles still intact. I had to dodge the ones I saw, but the Stan's sealant did it's job and I went three hours without incident. <===More climbing on exposed bedrock. There was quite a bit of this broken up exposed bedrock on the trail I rode. It was great until you hit a crack or seam and a gaping hole running crossway on the trail would be waiting to nab your front wheel and throw you down. I missed any crashing today. Believe me, I surely didn't want to biff on this trail! Broken bones, ripped flesh, and cactus punture wounds are not high on my list of "fun pain". What was on that list was lung busting climbs, burning thighs, and raw windpipe from all of the dust I breathed in today. I'll get to sneak out one more time while I'm here, but I'm not sure when. I'll be sportin' four X four inches and 27 gears the next time I'm out though! Sunday, March 16, 2008 So, I am planning to get a big helping of Franklin Mountain sometime while I'm down here on board the two bikes I brought down. When exactly that will be is yet to be determined, but plans are being co-ordinated now and it will happen. Hopefully the sand storm is over or it will have to wait until it is. Winds blow pretty strong and steady down here when they blow. That's it for tonight. Stay tuned for irregular updates throughout the week. New Mexico may be a treat as the winds are forecast to gust in excess of 50 mph on the way. Mountains + wind + long drive = not much fun! We'll see. I have some pics to post but that'll come later when I get to El Paso, so stay tuned! Friday, March 14, 2008 Well, here are the bikes that are going on the trip to Texas, (that is if the car is done today like they said it would be!) Anywho......The Siren Song single speed is set to roll. Race Face crank, 33T ring, 22T Surly cog, Chris King hubs, Stan's Flow rims with Continental Mountain King 2.4" tires mounted tubeless with Stan's. Magura Louise disc brakes, Thomson post WTB saddle, Syntace bar and stem. Cane Creek AD 5 shock, Reba fork. Ergon grips for the mits. And the other bike- The Fisher Hi Fi Deluxe with mostly SRAM drivetrain gear with the exception of the LX Hollow Tech two piece crank. I swapped the wheels over to the Bontrager Race X Lite Tubeless Ready set, (Not shown) and mounted Dry X tires tubeless with Slime sealant for tubeless tires. The only other change from stock was to mount Ergon Grips to the bars for my mits comfort and control. So, all is a go as long as the body shop holds it's end of the deal up. I sure hope so, because if we have to wait until Monday to leave, we are not going. It takes two days with the kids to get to El Paso, and leaving Monday to turn around and come back Saturday is not an option. So, at this late hour I'm still left in the dark as to whether or not I am going to actually get to Texas. I've had run ins with body shops all through out my life. Just another reason why cars and trucks suck. But that's another post......... Stay tuned.......if I actually get out of town, I'll post a on the road report late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Otherwise, I'll post right away again tomorrow with the bad news. So if you don't see a new post here tomorrow, you'll know we're outta here. Thursday, March 13, 2008 I even had the proper Stan's rims and yellow tape installed, courtesy of Bike 29. So I knew I hadn't ran a foul of some ghetto tubeless rim strip or the wrong rim. Still, something wasn't right. When I went to Decorah, I inquired of several of the locals about their tubeless set ups, as I knew that they ran them up there to great success. (Notice: the word "success" is coming up a lot here!) I even bought some Stan's milky magic from Deke figuring I would benefit from positive mojo if I did so. I did more research on the inner-web-o-sphere and visited Stan's site trying to put together all the missing pieces. Well, last night was the night it all came together. The little secret applied here, the homemade applicator I made from a Coke bottle, and the satisfying "pop" of beads setting up all lead to my very own Stan's tubeless conversion success story. So, does that mean that Guitar Ted will now become assimilated into the masses of devout tubeless believers? Hmm..........well, only if it actually works! That's what this Texas trip is going to prove out to me. If tubeless doesn't leave me stranded, leave me walking miles from my car, and doesn't make me mess with gooey-glop in the dirt while I switch back to a tube trail side then maybe.........just maybe, me love you long time. We'll see about that though. Until then, I'll test ride the set up from last night and hope we get our car back today, like the body shop promised us. We're still not cleared for take off just yet. Even the best laid plans can go astray. Stay tuned! Wednesday, March 12, 2008 Last evening I made the trek up to Decorah Iowa to talk to the DHPT Decorah Human Powered Trails) at their monthly meeting. I was pretty much the only thing on their agenda for the evening. (Most likely why there was such a low turn out! ) Anyway.....the ideas for this years Ballyhoo were discussed and lots of cool ideas were pitched. We will be having a pretty good time this year, that's for sure! I won't give away any details right now as there are things that need to be worked out, but here is an overview of what we are envisioning the weekend to look like this year. Friday Night: We are looking into having a get together at a local establishment with musical entertainment. There also is talk of having a night ride up in the trail network. Saturday: Along with some changes we are making, like having onsite registration, there will be the vendors and demo rides. Guided trail rides, the demo loop, and self guided trail rides will all be options. There will also be skill riding challenges available onsite for entertainment and fun throughout the day Saturday and Sunday as well. Saturday Night: The Ballyhoo Blowout. (Hmmm.........that just rolled outta my head, not bad!) Anyway, yeah............much like last year we are going to have a big party with a band and dancing on Saturday Night. It should be pretty fun. Sunday: The demo rides, guided trail rides, skill games, and such will all continue. We will also be having a drawing for prizes from all the names we had registered for the event on Sunday. (Must be present to win) and that will pretty much wrap things up for the weekends festivities. Sound like fun? Go to the Big Wheeled Ballyhoo site for future updates and pre-registration with a chance to win a prize, which should be coming soon. Tuesday, March 11, 2008 Well, I recieved some assistance in the form of a "secret recipe" and technique from a certain Lincolnite. The thing was though, his main ingredient isn't available locally here. Bummer! So, with time winding down on me, I had to use something else that I could get my hands on for now. (Not saying what, but it's commercially available. Wait till after I'm back, I'll let ya all know if it worked then) Anyway, I used the Bontrager Dry X tires on my Bontrager Race X Lite wheels which is a fool proof tubeless set up. I'm tellin' ya, if they ever get those tubeless rim strips for the Rhythm wheels out there I won't even consider using anybody elses system. The Bontrager TLR tires fit super snugly on the plastic rim strip to the point that your thumbs get a work out putting on the tire for the first time. That's like unheard of in the 29"er tire world. Then when you do get the tire on there, you can already hear that the beads are nearly seated due to the hissing of air when you squeeze the tire. Needless to say, setting the beads up is a no-brainer. Just pump up to about 50psi and everything snaps up into place. Add sealant and you are done. Easy! I got two tires done.......ready to ride done.....in thirty minutes. And I found a wrench that fits the flats on the removeable core presta valves in my tool box. Bonus! One wheel set ready to do battle with the Texas cactus. Stay tuned for the next wheel set I am going to attempt to set up tubeless. Hope it goes as well as the first! Handbuilt Bicycle Blues: If you haven't noticed, there is a big dust up on mtbr.com over certain small custom builders and some pretty disturbing claims of poor business practices on their parts. I have been pretty close to one of the accused. It saddens me on several levels that the issues have arisen and are being dealt with on public forums in some very juvenile and pathetic ways. I just wanted to air out some of my personal feelings on the matter. In general, my belief is that the products in question, the actual frames themselves, are very well thought out, fine quality pieces. No question about it. I have ridden or closely inspected two of these accused frame builders work, and it is above reproach in regards to quality. The issue that is at hand is how the business side was handled in each of the cases I am aware of. So, taking the product out of the picture, or the fact that they are one man operations, what we have here are simply just failed businesses for whatever reason. Businesses fail all the time. Even big bicycle companies "bite it" from time to time. What is different here is that the businesses in question were higher profile small builders and the problems that were had were immediately posted on the internet forums and Kangaroo court was in session from the get go. I've no doubt that people are angry, used and abused, and deserve some sort of justice, but that's what our legal system is for. This internet "mob mentality" I see is rather disturbing. Sure, you could say, "Well- You got your frames, you don't get it." And that justifies poor behaviour and slander? Please explain that. Besides, folks have no idea what problems I had or didn't have because I kept it out of the forums and dealt with it privately. Perhaps we could do with more of that. Finally, I just want to add my opinion that I believe in the small, hand built bicycle industry. I think it's fantastic and most builders have a passion and care for what they do and how they handle their businesses that is very admirable. These spectacularly publicized failures not withstanding, I think the hand made bicycle is a valid choice for anyones next rig. Funny thing happened at "mail call" yesterday: We get the mail in at the shop I work at around noon each day. The coming of the mail "man" (Ours is actually a woman) is greeted with calls of "Hello" and sometimes a bit of chit chat. It's a time that is a "marker" for our day at work. So when the mail showed up yesterday, I said "hello", of course, while another co-worker grabbed the stack of posts to take back to the office. Suddenly I hear, "Hey! Here's a Trans Iowa post card!" Wha............a T.I.V4 post card? Yep! Post marked in mid November, we finally got Dave Nice's post card on March 10th! Fortunately for Mr. Nice, he very wisely sent out more than one card and did get on the roster. Just goes to show you, late mail still happens in 2008! Monday, March 10, 2008 I'm betting that just about anybody that is a "bicycle enthusiast" will at least give it a go, but you would expect that of them. It is the much larger body of people out there that don't ride bicycles that is important here. To see any significant change in gas prices downward or to see any kind of a boost for the cycling industry, it is these non-cycling people that will have to come in and make a difference. My gut feeling is that it won't happen. Not even with $4.00 per gallon gas or higher. Here's why: This weekend I rode my bike to church and back. I play in the church band and since we have two services on Sunday and a rehearsal before hand I have to get there pretty early in the morning. I don't know what the temperature was, maybe around 20 degrees, but I got some comments from some of the band about how "hardcore" I was for riding that morning. However; it was another comment made by a young man that really got my attention. He is of college age, strong, fit and healthy. He said to me, "I'll never get into riding a bike, because I'll admit it, I'm just to lazy to sit there and turn the pedals around. That's too much work for me." Wow! So, I guess that whatever the price, it's "easier" to drive an internal combustion vehicle. To my mind, this guy wouldn't ride a bike unless the other option- driving a car- was taken away. I don't think high priced gasoline is going to do that. Since that is the case with this fellow, I would bet that the majority of folks out there that are non-cyclists would tend to fall into that camp. That means that while I expect a boost in commuting this summer, it won't be as big as it should be. Not this time. Cars are kind of like cigarettes in one regard. The price of cigarettes is mostly tax, yet the folks addicted to them just keep on paying the price. Have you seen what a carton of cigs sells for? It's rediculous! High gas prices making more bicycle commuters? Nope, it will just get more rediculous, just like cigarette prices and the folks addicted to that product. Until the option to drive is limited or taken away in some respect bicycles will never become a major form of transportation in the U.S.A., and that is really too bad. Oh well, I'll be riding to work today on my bicycle. I hope you will consider doing that too. Sunday, March 09, 2008 <=== The Siren "Song" as it appeared at the expo area at the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo recently. The Song is an interesting bike. With an inch and a half of rear wheel travel on tap, it should really take the edge off the trail in El Paso. It also doesn't have a pivot in the traditional sense. It has a flex plate made of titanium bolted onto the bottom bracket and chainstays. Low maintenance and durability are some of the design goals with the Song. This one happens to be a single speed 29"er, but it can be had in a mixed wheel format called the "fifty-five" or as a geared bike in either full on 29"er or fifty-five options. I got word yesterday that this particular Song is "in the mail", so I'll be looking for it to show up here soon. I'll be riding it pretty much as pictured here with the exception of my using an I-9 wheel set I have with those new Continental tires. I'll have some pics of the bike once I get it set up to go later next week. Saturday, March 08, 2008 Would a bicycle shop be a good place to take my Eagle for installation? No, many bicycle shops have a negative attitude, when it comes to motorizing a bike, they feel everyone should be in Lance's physical condition. If you don't have the time (or the inclination) to do the installation yourself, take the unit to your neighborhood lawn and garden repair - these folks are familiar with engines And which end of the screwdriver to use! So, What's Lance got to do, got to do with it? ( appologies to Tina Turner) This is so funny and pathetic on many levels. Obviously, the touch point for most folks outside of cycling is Lance Armstrong. Now that is interesting. Given that the image they probably have of him is of a man in tip-top physical condition, a condition most of us are unlikely to reach in our lifetimes, and you can see why this is what "they" think cycling is. Then the observation makes more sense. It also points to what I've been saying for years, that lionizing people like Lance Armstrong isn't going to do cycling any favors with the general public, but that's a whole 'nuther story. It's interesting also to me that they recommend taking your ill-concieved motorcycle to a lawn and garden shop. Hmm..........makes me wonder if they've allready been laughed out of the local motorcycle shop. Because, well........usually you take a motorcycle to a motorcycle shop, right? It seems to me that this "motorized bicycle community" has an identity crisis. Well, one thing is for sure, if you put a motor on a bicycle it becomes a motorcycle. That's pretty obvious I think. Next, don't be bringing your motorcycle to a bicycle shop. Wrong place to get service on anything motorized, ya know? Finally, perhaps we all could do a better job of being nice to these freak machine wielding folks when they come into our shops. Apparently they don't understand who they are, so how can you blame them. Friday, March 07, 2008 Well, funny you should ask..... I just got a couple Continental Mountain King 2.4" tires in to test/review. (Check out the specs and my initial take here.) These will be going on my Industry 9 single speed wheels which in turn should be going on one of the two bikes going to Texas with me. I can't say yet what that bike is, but here is a riddle to help you guess. It has something in common with a six pack of beer. It has something in common with the coming season of the year. It has a name on the top tube which is beautiful to hear. What am I? Let the guessing begin! I'll be doing some testing on that rig with those Conti tires. The other bike will be the Hi Fi Deluxe which should be an excellent rig for the rocky, loose conditions of the trail I am going to tackle down there. I want to run some sealant in the tires and I have a plan on that front in the works. Should prove to be fool proof. So, now it's time to tune up the Hi Fi, and wait for the other rig to show up here next week right before I leave. Hopefully the car, the bike, and myself all converge on readiness at the same time. That would be really cool! Other than that, not much else new going on 'round here! Thursday, March 06, 2008 In about a week I'll be pulling out of this deep freeze to go to the sunny desert in West Texas. Down in the West Texas town of El Paso, to be exact. (Old country music freaks .....or haters......will now have a song stuck in their heads the rest of today. You can thank me later.) Yep! My trip of freedom from ice and snow. I can't wait. Of course, you do know what this means, right? It means that the weather will finally straighten up while I'm gone. That's right! When I get back all that will be left will be the remnants of big snow piles. Just wait and see. I'll be riding my bikes a couple of the days while I'm down there, but I also will be going to Sea World in San Antonio too. Gotta take the kids there. That's a trip within a trip right there. See, for you Texas uninitiated, this "little trip" over from El Paso to San Antonio will take 12 hours. Yep! 12 hours at 75mph on freeway all the way there. And you are still in the middle of the state! Oh, did I mention that the 12 hours is only one way? Yeah.........24 hour round trip baby! That doesn't include the time spent in San Antone. But hey.........the kids will love it, I'm sure. It's closer to go to Tucson, Arizona than to go to San Antonio..........that's how big Texas is! Anywho, I have a lot of things to do to get ready. I'll be dragging two bikes along with me, that is if our car gets outta the body shop on time! It is scheduled to be done just days before we leave. Talk about cutting it close! And if it doesn't get done, then the whole trip gets cancelled and we have snow forever! So, it is imperative that the vehicle get done before our scheduled departure or the Mid-West will be plunged directly into the next ice age. Really.........that wouldn't be so bad, would it? I mean, we're used to it by now anyway, right? I could always get that Pugsley, or "fat front" one of my 29"ers. And Mike Curiak wouldn't have to go so far to do this as he has been. Right? Wednesday, March 05, 2008 Big Wheeled Ballyhoo: It is getting time to be talking about this event again. It is scheduled to happen on June 21st-22nd in Decorah, Iowa. We are getting together some great bikes, activities, and prizes to be given away. Look for more at the Big Wheeled Ballyhoo site soon. The Theme this year is "A Weekend Of Big Wheeled Bliss". Look for stuff outside of the 29 inch wheeled format, by the way. ( wink - wink!) It should be a great time. I'll post more on the event here as the time gets closer, so keep your eyes peeled for updates. Just A Word On The Roadie Weirdness: Not that I pay a whole lot of attention to the roadie scene, but when it gets as bizarre as it has gotten lately, how can you not notice? You've got one side saying they will ban, santion, or slap your wrists for entering another organizations events, while the one side says they don't recognize the other side and the riders don't know what to do. Then you have the organiazation behind the big Daddy of 'em all tour saying to some teams that they are not invited because of drug related scandals while other teams are invited that suffer from drug related scandals. .....wha? Is this a cycling soap opera or what? Then add to that Rock Racing. (Turn up the sound if you click on this) If it wasn't a road racing team I'd a thunk that Mr. 24 invented this organization. The only thing missing from the web page is a soundtrack of some angry, screaming metal frontman. Anyway, this road cycling scene............weird! My Plan To Stop Winter From Coming................Again: So, after getting all of this snow, I'm thinking, "Why didn't I get a Pugsley?" I could have ridden it about three straight months this year in the conditions it was designed for. Rats! I'm sure that if I do spring for one now, we'll never see snow again. Hmm..............maybe I could take one for the team! Ha! It's as good a reason to own one as any, I figure! Tuesday, March 04, 2008 Well, I was thinking that sooner than later these two fellas are going to be looking into some new mountain bikes. They obviously had a sense of adventure, (Besides myself, they were most certainly the only other guys in town cycling that weekend), and they asked me some questions about my bike and 29 inch wheels in particular. I have often said that a sub-grand 29"er would start bringing on more 29"er freaks and this scenario last weekend is the perfect seed for that to sprout from. Both guys were on hardtails that were verging on ten years old, if not older. In my time working at the bike shops around here, that's about the time folks start looking at a new bike. These guys were ripe. If they get into a shop that knows their stuff and has access to the sub-grand 29"er, I see one if not both of them getting on 29"ers. The thing is, it's a big "if" concerning the shop and the 29"er actually being there. Many shops don't believe in 29"ers, or have staff that even knows much about them. Strange as that may sound, it is true. If there is one thing that is keeping 29"ers down, it is that. I am confident that once most folks ride one, it is a sold bike. Hands down, a 29"er will improve upon the average cyclists mountain biking experience over a 26"er any day. That alone should convince shop owners to carry them, that is if they care about their customers off road cycling experiences. Sound like a harsh statement? Well, again- I believe most average mountain bikers would see an immediate benefit from riding a 29"er. They are more stable, less endo prone, and have better traction than their 26 inch counter parts. What's not to love for a recreational mountain biker about that? The trouble is, there are not many places that are versed in 29"ers. There are more that are all the time, but there are also lots of shops that are not. So, if shops want to benefit from the next wave of mountain bike purchasers and turn them into enthusiastic off roaders, then a 29"er is a no-brainer. Get ready, or get left behind. Monday, March 03, 2008 <===I busted through some drifts, but none this big! I took Saturday off from riding as I was feeling really beat. In fact I took a rare mid-day nap I was so tired. Sunday was better, so I hit the trail with the KMFDM to see what it was like out there. The temps were in the 40's and the snow was melting like crazy. I found the bike path leading out of town southwards and followed it. I noticed I wasn't the only one that had the idea to ride as I soon discovered two other sets of tracks in the melting ice. Soon I discovered that the snow had drifted across the path in various places. Sometimes a bit more than a couple feet deep. I could see that the two guys ahead of me, (I could see them by now) had been busting through most of them and I was having no problems with them myself. I just did it like we used to back in the day. Go really fast, hit that drift, come out the other side going much slower, but still going. (Only we did it in cars back then!) 29 inch wheels were cruising through those drifts with no problems. I finally started to reel the two guys in front of me in. They saw me coming at Shaulis road and waited for me to roll up. I hadn't met these two fellas before, but the were locals and we chatted for a bit before they turned back and I went on across the highway on Shaulis. I turned onto the old chunk of 63 shortly before hitting a gravel due south. I wanted to check the conditions of the rural roads. <===If it wasn't covered in melting sheets of ice, it was saturated with water. I found the going extremely tough. Where the snow and ice was gone the gravel was saturated. I am talking Trans Iowa V2 saturated. I was pushing into the surface about three quarters of an inch deep with 2.1" wide tires on. The ice covered sections were actually much faster. It's going to be awhile before the gravel shapes up too because we just got more rain, then snow on top of it and it all has re-frozen since it's 21 degrees as I type this. Yeah, it's still a mess. I turned back into town northward and once I got into the city I found rivers of water running over slush over ice. Great! Slow going as I picked my way through some of Waterloo's southern neighborhoods. I saw lots and lots of folks chipping ice out of driveways and sidewalks, just like Carlos details on his blog. We saw a glimpse of spring yesterday, but today it's the same ol' same ol' wintery crapola again. Two hour delay for schools so I'll be late getting to work. Seems like Mondays have been this way for awhile now. Anyway, it was great to at least get in a ride yesterday, but I have to say that two hours of not coasting is pretty brutal on the ol' hind end. I'm thinking a Brooks B-17 is in my future for the KMFDM. Sunday, March 02, 2008 This means that a lot of us Mid Westerners have to start packing on a lot of miles in a short period of time. Training for races will be intense. I am going to have to start laying down some long gravel rides myself to get ready for Dirty Kanza and the rest of the year. That doesn't cover it all for me though. I'll be doing some gravel road recon too. It's getting to be crunch time as far as Trans Iowa is concerned and the course still hasn't been verified yet. Add in my vacation to Texas in the middle of March and that cuts into time even further. Then right before T.I. I have a trip to Sea Otter. It's going to go from zero to sixty pretty quickly around here! So these last wintry days are passing quickly by and it's time to get into the starting blocks. Ready, steady, go.....................

Will MacDonald, fiddle, and Lee MacDonald, cello Tuesday, August 27, 2019, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., The Arizona Senior Academy Building Let your heart be tugged by “Ashokan Farewell” and find your toes tapping to “Morrison’s Jig” during a midday concert presented by Tucson’s unique fiddle-and-cello duo, “Young MacDonald.” Brothers Will and Lee MacDonald have been playing fiddle and cello as a duo since childhood, and these two young men have brought their lively music to numerous venues around Tucson and the southwest. They improvise and play their own arrangements of tunes from a variety of traditions and cultures, including bluegrass and jazz classics. “Young MacDonald” placed first in the Civic Orchestra of Tucson’s Young Artists’ Competition’s Ensemble Division in 2018, and released their first CD, “Poundcake,” in November of that year. Will, now seventeen years old, began studying classical violin at the age of 5, and a year later turned to fiddle music. His teachers have included Laura Barry and Wynne Rife, and he currently studies with Nick Coventry and Matt Rolland. He has studied music composition through Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s Young Composers Project, and was a finalist in the 2015 TSO Young Artists Competition. He was named the Arizona State Overall Fiddle Champion in 2017 and 2018, and won numerous awards at the National Old Time Fiddle Contest in Weiser, ID, in 2018. Fourteen-year-old Lee began his cello studies at age 7 with Professor Theodore Buchholz of the University of Arizona. Today his studies continue with Mary Beth Tyndall and Nick Coventry. He won second Place in the TSO’s Young Artists Competition in 2016 and first Place at the Tucson Cello Congress competition in 2018. Lee has played back-up cello in numerous fiddle contests in the Southwest and in the National Old Time Fiddle Contest in Weiser, ID. Written by Nancy Green, Academy Village Volunteer

Matlock Farm part 1 A Tale of Two Brothers At 153 acres, Matlock Farm is one of the largest, contiguous working farms in the Puyallup River Valley. On February 18, 2015, it was permanently protected through the purchase of a conservation easement, making it the largest farm conserved in Pierce County to-date. The Matlock Farm was owned and stewarded by the Matlock family for more than 60 years—and has been operated as a working farm for more than 100 years. This is the first blog of a three-part series on Matlock Farm. A Piece of History After being a part of a family that had sharecropped for decades throughout Oregon and Washington, G. Lee Matlock was finally able to put roots down in 1945 when he purchased 10 acres of farmland in the Puyallup River Valley. At the suggestion of their father, the Matlock brothers, Ivan and Dave, returned home to work for their father after graduating from Washington State University in the mid-1950s. They pooled land and resources in hopes of earning a good living for themselves and their families. The first year, however, was a disaster: a killing freeze struck, taking all of their crops. The second year, too few crops were replaced by too many—produce from many other farmers flooded the marketplace, and the selling price, as Ivan put it, “fell to pieces.” The Matlocks decided that quick action needed to be taken if they wanted to save the farm. They chose to expand rapidly, and luck was with them; within five to six years, the Matlocks had gathered over 200 acres. The Matlock farm became a major institution in the Puyallup region, growing one million pounds of berries each year while employing hundreds of local youth. In fact, several local government officials, including Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen, State Senator Randi Becker, Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland, and Puyallup City Manager Kevin Yamamoto, have worked summers on the Matlock Farm. According to Lt. Governor Owen, the farm provided an incredible opportunity for thousands of young kids over the years. A Turning Point In 1987, however, the berry farm was faced with the obstacle that would be its demise: the U.S. Department of Labor decided that schoolchildren under the age of 14 would no longer be allowed to work on the farm. Hundreds of local youth lost their summer jobs. To the disappointment of the community, the Matlocks converted 85 acres of berries into a seedling nursery. The remaining acreage of berries was leased to other farmers. From 1987 to 1996, the Matlock Farm provided nursery stock of cherry, oak and mountain ash trees which were shipped across the country. It became quite successful—at one time the Matlock Farm sold 25% of all cherry trees sold in the U.S. For Sale for 20 Years In 1996, Ivan and Dave – well into their 60s – made the decision to retire from their lifelong occupation. Since the next generation of Matlocks chose to pursue careers other than farming, the brothers began to look for someone to buy their land. The first prospective buyer they found had intentions to develop the land into a golf course but the buyer went bankrupt before the deal went through. A second prospective buyer planned to convert the land into a subdivision but the real estate market plummeted and once again, the deal fell through. In the end, the Matlocks leased the land to a local farmer, and the land remained unsold for nearly 20 years. As stewards of the property for more than 60 years, we are very happy to see it go to the next generation of Puyallup Valley farmers. Forterra has been an exceptional partner for our family. Not only were they able to conserve the farm, but they were also able to make it viable for the next generation of farmers to acquire. The Matlock Farm transaction was completed using several grant sources: Pierce County Conservation Futures, Pierce County Surface Water Management, and the State Department of Ecology Floodplains by Design program. In addition, the farmers who partnered with us on this transaction also contributed several hundred thousand dollars each to purchase their pieces of the farm. Combined, the total purchase price was just over $3 million. As a result of the purchase, Ivan and Dave will finally be able to truly retire. Read more on the Matlock Farm Series:

Shagara translated as tree from Arabic, is the culmination of a one year-long choir collaboration featuring a Sudanese female choir of seven girls & women between 11-27, an Egyptian volunteer and a Greek singer/artist. The choir, initiated in November 2015 in Cairo, through the Tadamon Community Center (Egyptian Refugee Multicultural Council), was originally formed on a voluntary basis to explore in weekly workshops the way a female foreign body expresses itself through music and language in contemporary Cairo. Taking influences from traditional Sudanese folk, pop & electronic music, Shagara draws the listener in a tapestry of English & Arabic text that was written and translated together with the choir. This EP unearths that lived experienced by these girls & women, and a shared language emerges. Shagara locates itself in a contemporary moment of social & political flux, and emanates hopes of women’s emancipation. It combines recorded & mastered choral techniques with synths, electronic beats, oud, gambri, percussions, guitars & flutes and densely-layered vocals. This EP starts with a traditional Sudanese song that takes the listener into a dreamy world where children "…like the freshness of a good smelling tree branch everyday getting greener...", could be softly but surely taking over the world. "whatever will come for me / will come for you all " Shagara has been developed in partnership with the Tadamon (Egyptian Refugee Multicultural Council) in Maadi, Cairo. This project was originally initiated through a residency with Townhouse Gallery from October to December in 2015. Conceptualized by artist Maria Sideri, the group collaborated in Cairo and composed these four songs under the name Hello World. After working together until the end of the 2017 summer, followed by a second longer recording and mixing process, Hello World are now proud to release Shagara EP as the outcome of their collaboration. As an artist and with a strong interest in cultural anthropology I arrived in Egypt to explore the life and times of 1930's avant-garde artist, journalist and feminist thinker Valentine de Saint Point. Saint Point also worked alongside renowned Egyptian feminist Doriya Shaafik whom i discovered in Egypt. During my stay in Cairo, I was inspired to collaborate with a local female community and explore notions of 'the foreign' or 'the outsider''. This process was heavily influenced by my research and relationship to Valentine. Through a continuous body of artistic work that encompasses music, performance and writing, my investigative dialogues with a small part of the Sudanese community of Cairo, brought us to rethink notions of the female foreign body and how it manifests in the rich and complex diversity of this immense cityscape. Through composing this music and the texts with the choir, an empowering space for a young women’s collective emerged. Through sharing our personal experience we found strategies to challenge the presence of female/feminine otherness; making and marking ourselves visible from the hidden neighborhoods of Hadayek in Maadi. From its inception, through creation, mastering and release, this project to-date has received no financial resource. With your contribution of purchasing the Shagara EP, we will be able to pay artists, technicians and all those involved for their contributions, and continue to work with this choir as an ongoing collaborative process. We will ensure that its members continue to receive workshops, training and further artistic opportunities within the grassroots community. Supporting this project also supports me to continue developing my artistic practice and understanding of contemporary issues relating to feminism, the foreign body, notions of migrancy, and the issues and experiences facing women whom move across and between cultures. Hello World would like to continue to create contexts that open up space for conversations and collaborations; catalyze female emancipation, and gently challenge the status quo around representations of the female Sudanese population living in Egypt. Your support of Hello World through purchasing this EP also pledges much welcomed support of the unique positions of young African women. It can contribute positively towards shifting perceptions whilst also celebrating unique talents and their distinctive collective 'voice'. released January 2, 2018 Shagara it’s the result of a one-year collaborative process with the members of the choir, music producers and musicians between Egypt and Greece. All songs- except from the traditional Sudanese song لو اعيش زول ليهو قيمة- are original material composed by Maria Sideri in collaboration with the Hello World Choir and the musicians. Hello World Choir: 1 Entesar Μamoun Amer 2 Dalia Mamoun Amer 3 Eva Gabriel Wanadil Malik 4 Sabah Gabriel Wanadil Malik 5 Awadya Sabet Wasil Jendo 6 Mahraeal Zakria Potros 7 Samar Jon Agok 8 Eman Abed El Waged Abed El Kareem 9 Abeer Joseph Samuel 10 Sara Ali Dafaalla Maragan Maria Sideri: vocals, back vocals, acoustic guitar, keys, electronics Ibrahim Ezz El-Din: acoustic guitar, electric guitar Ahmed Darwish: cajon Fady Yanny: percussions, congas and bongos Mazin Helal: percussions, hang Drum Ahmed Omran: oud, gambri, flutes Badz: bass synth for Shagara Orestes Benekas: bass synth for Hello World Music written by Maria Sideri Lyrics hello world: Maria Sideri Lyrics for little dream: Nour Mustafa Mussa Lyrics for wake up: Eman Abed El Waged Lyrics for shagara: Hello World Choir Produced by Kareem Captan, Peter Ayman & Maria Sideri Recorded by Mazin Helal Mixed by Kareem Captan, Peter Ayman & Tasos Korkovelos Mastered by Anastasios Kokkinidis Cover album Image: Sixtine Larrieu Video promo: Dimitris Mouggos Special thanks to: JP Kalonji, Dimitris Mouggos, Robbed Groove, Jan George, Bakry Ahmed, Andrew Mitchelson, Melody Nelson, Adham Zidan, Yasmine Ahmed Moataz, Kawthar Younis, Dina Naser, Amado Alfadni, Ashraf Osman, Fatima Saeed (director of Tadamon), Fatima & Bakhita (facilitators), Eman, Ayasha, Sarah (volunteers) and the families and friends of the Hello World Choir.

Teen Alcohol And Drug Rehab Centers List of all Teen Rehab Centers Near me LOAD FACILITIES NEAR ME Teenage Substance Use Disorders and Teen Rehabs If you have a teen who is struggling with addiction—be it alcohol, drugs, or even habitual or behavioral addictions—it can be scary and confusing to understand and know what to do to help them. Teen rehab may be the answer. The teen years are crucial in the process of a person becoming who they are meant to be, and that’s why it is extremely important to work hard to motivate that teen to reverse harmful and negative behaviors while they’re still growing and can recover to become safer and healthier. Luckily, there are many different types of teen rehabs and programs that can cater to your teen’s unique needs and situation. This guide will cover several different types of programs and discuss both the positive and potentially negative aspects of each. If you’re a teen suffering from addiction and you’re looking for help, you are not alone—and there is help out there that will work for you. If you are a parent or family member of a teen suffering, you can rest assured that there are people out there willing and capable of helping you and your loved one through the process of recovery. The Impact of Addiction in Teens Many people wonder how many teens are addicted to drugs or alcohol, and the number is staggering. Currently, there are nearly two million teens in the United States who are suffering from some sort of addiction. A culmination of several studies shows some startling facts about the commonality and impact of addiction in adolescence. In 2015, approximately 33 percent of high school students reported having consumed at least one alcoholic beverage in the previous thirty days, 39 percent of students had tried marijuana in their lifetime, and 5 percent of high- school-aged teens had reported trying drugs such as cocaine at least once in their lifetime. (Five percent may seem like a low number, but when the fact is considered that there are currently more than nineteen million students enrolled in high school, the realization comes that 5 percent accounts for just under a million students.) And that doesn’t factor in for people who omitted the truth during these surveys in fear of being reprimanded. While there are far too many teens who are using and sometimes abusing drugs and alcohol, it is important to note that these numbers have actually been steadily decreasing over the last decade or so. This is partially due to the wider access to treatments, as well as the increase in knowledge and information on the negative impact of these substances. The number of teens who reported never having tried even one puff of a cigarette rose from 59 to 68 percent between 2013 and 2015. This number is projected to grow, while the number of teens who are using is expected to decline. Signs Your Teen May Be Using Drugs or Alcohol As a parent or guardian of a teen, you likely have wondered at one point or another if your teen may be using drugs or alcohol. Sometimes it is difficult to know for sure, but there are many warning signs of teen drug use that you should be looking out for, such as: - The sudden increase in mood swings and/or irritability. - Changes in behavior such as slacking off in class, hanging around different friends, and getting in trouble at school. - Mental changes such as poor concentration, lack of focus, and loss of memory. - Sudden onset of depression or anxiety, detachment, loss of interest in activities that once excited them, or a “nothing matters” attitude. - Avoiding eye contact at home, locking themselves in the bathroom or their own room, wanting to be alone all the time, or skipping out on family events. - Finding substances and/or related paraphernalia in their room or with their belongings. These are just some of the typical signs you may notice in a teen who has begun using and/or abusing drugs or alcohol. While this only covers some possibilities, this list offers a helpful start to assess where your teen may be. Why do Teens do Drugs? Teen drug addiction rarely looks like the problem that it actually is from an outside perspective, which is why teens feel more comfortable trying these drugs than they actually should. And although individual teens’ reasons may vary for using alcohol or drugs, there are some pretty concrete and universal factors that affect a teen’s decision to do drugs or not. One of these reasons is, of course, peer pressure—but not necessarily how many people think. Teens often make friends with other teens who have already begun trying different drugs or drinking alcohol and so see it as a normal and interesting thing to do. If a teen finds a friend who seems to have a lot of fun and be a happy person, and they find out that friend smokes marijuana on the weekends, they might feel influenced to do the same. Some teens do drugs because they were exposed to it at an early age from family members, including their own parents. Others may do drugs because they are suffering from trauma, depression, or anxiety, and they feel the drugs will help. However, it’s likely that most teens continue to do drugs after they’ve tried it once or twice because they experienced something positive when they did. Teens are often thrill seekers, they want to have fun and create interesting stories or memories. Unfortunately, a lot of drugs have been made out to be ‘fun creators’ and teens are often tricked by this idea. Popular Drugs with Teens Drugs have both evolved and changed so that drugs that were popular thirty years ago in young adults and teens aren’t necessarily popular now. Twenty or thirty years ago, it was more common to hear of teens using harder drugs like cocaine, meth, or heroin. Now, however, it is more common to hear about teens using drugs like LSD, MDMA, and mushrooms. As mentioned, one of the most common for use by teens in the last five to ten years is the use of MDMA, often referred to as “Molly” or “ecstasy.” These drugs started popping up in the 1990s when the rave scene became increasingly popular. In the last decade, electronic dance music, or EDM, has skyrocketed in popularity, and the drugs typically used at events featuring this music have become even more widespread. And of course, the most popular substances used by teens continue to be marijuana and alcohol, with around 70 percent of high school students believing that marijuana is safe to use, and 45 percent of high school seniors admitting to using marijuana at least once in their lives, according to 2017 Monitoring the Future Study. Whatever the reason may be, and whatever the substance may be, drug use often turns into drug addiction, and it’s crucial to begin changing this behavior while there is still time to do so. Long-Term and Residential Drug Rehab for Teens When looking into options for a teen who is battling addiction, you’ll probably come across a number of residential and long-term programs, especially inpatient programs. These programs come in a very wide range of structures, ideologies, and core principles, so there will likely be an effective option for your teen’s unique situation. While the idea of sending your teen away somewhere for an extended period of time may sound daunting, it’s important to note that being removed from the entire situation surrounding addiction or dependency offers a solid platform for recovery, especially in adolescence. The amount of time spent in a treatment center depends on the particular location and program. Some could be as brief as thirty days, while others can last as long as one year. The length of time that your teen needs depend greatly on their situation and the severity of the addiction. Here are some things to expect from a long-term or residential treatment program: - Community-based treatment – Many treatment centers that utilize long-term inpatient care focus on using a sense of community in their therapy. This happens through group activities, group therapy, and more. - 24-hour help and monitoring – When your teen is away at an inpatient residential treatment center, you can rest assured knowing that professionals are working around the clock to help your child recover. Whether it be medical during the detox period, or just being there as someone to talk to, the staff is always there to help. - Routine drug and alcohol testing – Some of these longer-term programs will grant your teen a measure of freedom, and some may even allow them to leave the campus for a portion of the time. Thus, programs such as this always administer regular drug and alcohol tests to ensure that your teen is staying abstinent. - Constantly being surrounded by others who understand the experience – Oftentimes, teens struggle to recover from addiction on their own because they feel they have no one to turn to who understands what they’re feeling. Luckily, these types of treatment centers offer the chance for your teen to be surrounded by other patients who are going through the same thing, as well as staff who oftentimes have recovered from addiction themselves and later dedicated their lives to helping others do the same. - Skill-building and coping techniques – Of course, these addiction treatments are designed to help give your teen the skills, tools, and knowledge they need to help change their behavior for good. You can expect your teen to learn to not only recognize their negative thoughts and behaviors associated with addiction but also how to use that energy and turn it into something positive. It is extremely important to do your due diligence when deciding between different types of programs, especially inpatient ones. Every program is unique, and it’s important to talk to someone from a center you are interested in, and talking to them about the teen’s specific situation, to predetermine if that particular program would be the right choice. Who Might Inpatient Treatment Be Good for? Inpatient addiction treatment for teens is life-changing and beneficial for many, but it’s not the right fit for everyone. If your teen is experiencing a long-term addiction to an illicit substance, and they need to be separated from a bad situation, then long-term residential care can often be a good fit. Someone who is at risk for severe withdrawal symptoms could benefit greatly from being monitored throughout their detox phase. On the other hand, someone who is facing addiction to something like tobacco or marijuana may not necessarily need this rigorous and time-consuming program. Contact a few different places and speak to them about whether or not you should consider their program for your teen. Outpatient Addiction Treatment for Teens If a long-term program isn’t the right fit for your teen’s unique situation, then you may want to consider outpatient addiction treatment instead. Outpatient treatments allow your teen to remain at home, attend school, yet still get the help they need. Some of the primary factors of these types of programs you can expect include: - Therapy-focused treatment – Most outpatient programs work through both individual and group therapies. They can range dramatically in the type of therapy, from faith-based therapy to cognitive behavioral therapy to dialectical behavior therapy. - Use of medication – Patients can expect to be assisted through the process of their recovery by medication both in their initial detox phase as well as with their therapy. - Family-focused recovery – In addiction treatment, especially with adolescence, building a support system including family is important for recovery. - Partial hospitalization plans – PHPs are really common with outpatient addiction treatment for anyone who is at risk of withdrawal symptoms during the detox period. Hospitalization may be range from a couple of days to one to two weeks. Outpatient addiction programs range widely in duration, a frequency of meetings, and ideology, which gives you the option to find something geared toward your teen’s specific needs. Is an Outpatient Addiction Treatment Program Good for Teens? Most treatment facilities and programs use a similar set of criteria to help determine the type of treatment that may work best for a particular person. These six criteria are widely used: - Length of intoxication and withdrawal potential - Other existing medical conditions - Presence of preexisting emotional, behavioral, or cognitive conditions - Readiness to change - Potential and risk of relapse - Recovery environment, including home, school, family, friends, etc Outpatient programs are great for those at the onset of addiction, those addicted to a substance of lesser danger such as tobacco and marijuana, and teens who want or need to stay home to have the support of family and friends. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Youth Another newer, rising method of addiction treatment to consider is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT was originally created in the early 1970s to help treat patients with depression or anxiety but was later found to be widely effective for other ailments, including addiction. When it comes to treating patients dealing with addiction, a significant shift in thought and understanding are needed to make such a radical change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy encourages patients to track their thoughts and analyze those situations, thoughts, and behaviors typically associated with their drug use. What to expect from a program that uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy might include: - A present and active therapist – In many forms of therapy, the therapist encourages you to do all of the talking and asks only a few directive questions. CBT is different—the therapist and you are both actively participating throughout the whole process. - You playing a large role in your therapy – Another unique part of cognitive behavioral therapy is that the patient plays a key role in setting the actual agenda for their therapy sessions based on what is prominent in their life at the time. - Learning important skills and coping mechanisms – CBT will teach you how to rewire your brain to think positively rather than negatively, which will, in turn, help you both identify the problems and take control of your life. - Short-term treatment schedules – This evidence-based form of therapy only lasts around twelve to sixteen weeks, relatively short for addiction treatments. - Addressing dual diagnosis in addiction – Many times, those who are suffering from addiction are also struggling with some other mental illness or disorder such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, or others. CBT was designed to treat these forms of mental ailments and can simultaneously treat these alongside addiction treatment. CBT teaches patients to change the way they think about and see their world, suggesting that thoughts affect actions, which in turn affect feelings. If one can learn to identify negative thought patterns and the actions associated with them, they can teach themselves how to feel better on their own. Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Good for Young Adults? This form of therapy is really helpful for basically anyone who is struggling with addiction, whether used on its own or paired together with other forms of addiction treatment. Anyone with an addiction ranging from mild to severe can benefit greatly from the tools gained in CBT addiction treatment, especially those who have a dual diagnosis. Like all other types of treatment, it’s important to get in contact with the potential facility and talk to them about your teen’s specific situation to make sure that place is right for them. How To Pay for Teen Treatment With this knowledge of the different kinds of treatments available and which ones may be best for your teen, of legitimate concern, is how to afford it. Several options are available in paying for teen addiction treatment. Medicare is a government-run program that covers 190 days total of inpatient stay at a psychiatric facility over the course of one’s life, and an unlimited amount of time in any period of hospitalized inpatient addiction treatment. Medicaid, a state-funded program, can offer similar coverage as Medicare. However, one will need to meet qualifications according to age, disability, and income. Medicaid is perfect for teens under the age of nineteen who are from a low-income family, especially for those who are in need of assistance for addiction treatment. If you make too much money to qualify for health care assistance, you still may be able to afford addiction treatment for your teen through your own private insurance. While most insurances do cover things like addiction treatment, it’s not true in all cases; so it is important to contact your insurance provider and find out what is covered. Sometimes insurance isn’t enough to cover the whole cost of treatment, which is why agencies like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse offer grants and scholarships for those who are in need. All that is needed is to access these sites to fill out applications detailing the child’s needs and your current financial situation. Don’t let lack of affordability keep you from giving your teen the help they need to get through this. Resources like these are designed to help. Getting Started Today The most important thing now is getting started. You have the information you need to start choosing between different types of treatment programs and facilities, so it’s time to take action. Getting help can mean the difference between a short life of addiction anda long life of happiness. Use this information and find the best treatment for your teen and their unique situation and needs—don’t wait for things to get worse. Get started today! Find Teen Rehab Centers by Your State

Applications are open for Elective Aid 2018 Elective Aid is a 10-day global health programme for aspiring medical leaders. Click HERE to find out more and apply This year’s programme will take place in Sylhet district, Bangladesh, between 28th July and the 12th August 2018. Elective Aid is an unparalleled opportunity for medical students across all years of training to gain global health experience, providing healthcare services to underserved rural communities. All volunteers will be expected to raise £850 for the trip, which will include in country travel, accommodation and medical supplies. Return flights to Bangladesh will cost an additional estimated £650 The deadline for applications is 5pm on 31st March 2018. Notes to Editors: - Elective Aid is Selfless’ global health leadership programme designed primarily for UK medical students. Elective Aid works with local doctors, and healthcare delivery partners, to reach rural underserved communities and provide free healthcare. The programme has previously been supported by the Department for International Development. - Selfless is a social enterprise, led by young people, with a mission to create effective, innovative, and sustainable solutions to our most pressing challenges in healthcare. - Selfless is a registered charity in England & Wales (1147463). For more information please contact [email protected] or call 0203 372 6278.

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“Risk-benefit in food safety and nutrition” June 11-13 2019, Parma ONLINE APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED AS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PARTECIPANTS HAS BEEN REACHED A “NO FEES” SUMMER SCHOOL FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the University of Parma and the School of Advanced Studies on Food and Nutrition, with the collaboration of the Catholic University Sacro Cuore of Piacenza, the Technical University of Denmark, the National Food Agency, Sweden, the University of Barcelona, and the Istituto Superiore di Sanità are organising a Summer School for young researchers with the objective to provide an opportunity to learn from some of the most prominent experts in the field of risk-benefit approach in food safety and nutrition, including theory, case studies, and communication of results in risk-benefit studies. The various health effects associated with food consumption, together with the increasing demand for advice on healthy and safe diets, have led to the development of different research disciplines in food safety and nutrition. In this sense, there is a clear need for a holistic approach, including and comparing all of the relevant health risks and benefits. The risk-benefit assessment of foods is a valuable approach to estimate the overall impact of food on health. It aims to assess the combined negative and positive health effects associated with food intake by integrating chemical and microbiological risk assessment with risk and benefit assessment in food safety and nutrition. At the same time, it is essential to understand how some methodological and statistical criteria have become myths, thus affecting the way that consumers perceive the information provided by the scientific community, with special stress on benefits derived from foods. In addition, the communication to the general public of both risks and benefits of food also becomes crucial. The organisers have opted for a free-of-charge Summer School to offer an opportunity to an extended number of PhD and young post-doc researchers and also other scientists to get advantage of this learning opportunity. Registration is limited to 150 people and participation will be decided by the scientific committee on a first-come, first-served basis. Young people without a permanent position need a short presentation of a scientific tutor. The deadline for applications is May 30th. Apply asap, we look forward to welcoming you to the 2019 edition of this Summer School! download the flyer.pdf

It’s been 24 days since schools and universities, sport clubs and swimming pools, museums and libraries, ice cream parlors, snack bars, and even playgrounds and soccer fields closed on March 13. That makes for almost four weeks of quadruple home schooling and dual home office. It makes for well over twenty breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, and for countless snacks in between, mostly for the children, but sometimes for Pelé and Messi, our two guinea pigs. It makes for long and busy days. We download school assignments for four children, try to make sense of the tasks and explain them to the kids who have every reason to remind us that we are not their teachers. Every minute there are questions to be answered and demands to be met. Every night is movie night. We all find ways to agree on something suitable for people between eight and 52 years old. Before the movie, the children take turns calling their grandparents who are at risk and a few hundred kilometers away. The children won’t be able to visit them during the Easter holidays, when the grandparents usually support us with childcare. For more than three weeks the children have not hung out with their friends, with whom they usually inhabit a strange world full of secrets and wonders from which adults are excluded. All that is left are long conversations over FaceTime. Sometimes the doors are closed, the voices hushed; sometimes we are forced to be privy to these conversations. Weekends are great. There is no home schooling or home office. The days start late and are usually whiled away in pajamas. There is no need to explain why voices have to be kept down for thirty minutes during an important conference call or the study has to be avoided for three hours while I teach students who are almost six thousand kilometers away. Weekends offer rare moments of experiencing what the intellectual pundits are talking about: life is less busy, less hectic, slower, healthier perhaps. Every Monday, it is back to our accelerated routine. Sometimes we join the children in playing table tennis. Sometimes the children join us in watching the news. This could be a great teaching moment: about exponential versus linear growth, about pandemics and public health, about politics, federalism, and democracy, about the Schengen agreement and the European Union generally, and, most importantly, about civil rights. Much of what they see on the news, however, is paternalistic and simplistic; even ten- and twelve-year-olds find it too predictable and boring—too childish, in short. We watch the PBS NewsHour as an antidote. We are not far from Offenbach, a town of a hundred and forty thousand people just east of Frankfurt that has been struggling with debt and deindustrialization since the 1970s. It is extraordinary how much work it is to shut down a city. Offenbach is where my wife works. Among other things, she helps oversee the city’s public health office. Her (home) office days are longer than usual. For everyone working for the city, it is a time for sober, judicious, and most of all prudent action in these weeks if not months of calamity. What about the Circus Barus, which got stranded in the city but is based in Schlitz, a small town 150 kilometers northwest of Offenbach? What about domestic violence after weeks of confinement? What about neighborhoods in which almost all families live in crowded apartments now that playgrounds are closed? What about the homeless when shelters are shut? Can the city transform fire hydrants into basins in which the homeless can wash their hands? On March 17, Offenbach’s public health office reported six confirmed cases; on March 22 there were eleven confirmed cases and the first death. On March 29 the office reported 24 confirmed cases, seven of whom were in the hospital. On April 6, there were 42 confirmed cases; eight people were hospitalized, four of them in critical condition; since March 22, there have been no further deaths from Corona. For German standards this is a city of young people. In 2016, the mortality rate in Offenbach was 8,3; during the last quarter of 2019, about three people died every day. Meetings of more than two people in public are prohibited; violations are punished by a fine of at least two hundred Euros. On March 12, the unemployment rate was at 5,3 percent. New numbers are due in a week. We are lucky. We have a small garden, and it is spring. We have Pelé and Messi. We have a mountainous forest a five minute walk away. We have two weeks of Easter holidays. We are curious to see what happens next. Till van Rahden teaches modern European history at the Université de Montréal where he held the Canada Research Chair in German and European Studies from 2006 to 2016. In 2016, he was a Visiting Fellow at the IWM. He recently published: Demokratie: Eine gefährdete Lebensform (Campus, 2019).

Tenth anniversary of gay murder spurs new campaign Erasing hate from schools, workplaces, and communities is the goal of a new campaign launched in America this week by the Matthew Shepard Foundation. The foundation was created by Dennis and Judy Shepard in memory of their 21-year old son Matthew, who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in Wyoming in October 1998. Matthew’s murder was a watershed moment in the perceptions of LGBT people in America. Then-President Bill Clinton tried to extend federal hate crime legislation to include gay and lesbian people in the aftermath of his death, but ultimately was defeated by Congress. Judy Shepard, Executive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, launched the new ‘Campaign to Erase Hate’ by asking the crowd of more than 500 people to raise themselves to the power of ten and join with her in helping the Foundation fulfil its mission of erasing hate. The goal of the campaign is to equip individuals with the necessary tools to discuss and address hate in our society. These tools include personal webpages, resources on dealing with hateful speech and actions, monthly correspondence and most importantly, a way to invite ten others to join. “We are starting a movement of people dedicated to erasing hate from our schools, workplaces, and communities,” said Mrs Shepard. More from PinkNews “For the last ten years, individuals have been raising themselves to do amazing things with no resources. What we are trying to do is give this great work a structure and create a community of individuals who are using their voices and talents to address these issues.” The ‘Campaign to Erase Hate’ will utilise MatthewsPlace.com, a youth-designed website launched by the Foundation last year, to involve young people in the campaign. Plans include working with various social networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace which are popular with young people. “The philosophy of the campaign is to start with individuals in the community who can put a face on the impact of hate,” explained Mrs Shepard. “Then, if those people engage ten of their friends who then engage ten of their friends, we will quickly reach our goal of changing the hearts and minds of one million people. Your voice is the most powerful tool in erasing hate.” Earlier this month the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s Excellence in Media Award was presented to Mrs Shepard. She is one of the most prominent campaigners for federal hate crimes legislation to be passed in the US. To join the campaign, visit click here.

Children should be taught about investing. They need to be taught that much more than savings, investment also matters. For children to be able to understand investments, they should be taught in ways that correspond to their age and their interests. Investment can simply be defined as the purchase of goods that are not consumed today but are used in the future to create wealth. It can also mean a monetary asset purchased with the idea that the asset will provide income in the future or will later be sold at a higher price for profit. Saving is good but Investing is better We all need to understand the relationship between saving and investing. The act of saving should be the first lesson to teach your children before investment. Plenty of parents start their kids off with a piggy bank to teach them the importance of savings. However, very few teach their children how to invest. You need to teach your kids the essence of saving because the money they save will serve as the capital for the investment. For long-term success, investing has to be the next step. This will help them avoid debt, keep them responsible and boost their confidence. How then can you raise a child who is an investor You might be tempted to put off investing discussions until your child is grown up and has money to invest. Investments take many forms. Young kids might have a hard time understanding the concept of the future. It is best to teach them by relating it to something easy to understand and fun. You could start off by getting books that teach financial intelligence. Get a copy of The Little Red Hen and read it to your child. In this story, the hen invested the time and effort to turn wheat into bread—sowing the grain, harvesting it, and making the dough. The lazy animals who were her friends blew her off and did not help until it was time to eat. She refused to share her bread with the slackers, and everyone learned a lesson. This is an example of thinking long term. Help your child plant a garden or put some seeds in a flowerpot. Talk about the time the plant needs to grow and the water you need to “invest” in it so that you get a beautiful plant that blooms. Here is how investment works The interest we can get from bank accounts is very low so investing is a way to make your money go further. For example, a 10-year old who stashed N1,000 in a high-yield savings account earning 2% would have close to N3,000 by retirement age. Alternatively, if they earned 7% a year by investing that money over the same time period, that deposit would grow to more than N41,000 by age 65. Once kids understand interest, they can take on investing and the stock market. They’ll have the ability to earn even more if they can understand the following concepts. Stocks vs. bonds: When you invest in a stock, you are a partial owner of the company. Alternatively, when you buy a bond, you are lending money. Risk vs reward: If you take on more risk, the rewards tend to be greater over time. However, the likelihood of losing money increases as well. Time horizon: Saving for something six months down the road is different than saving for something five years from now when it comes to investing. While stocks may sink from time to time, over the long run they go up. Diversification: Investing in a few companies reduces the risk compared to investing in a single stock. Click here to read: [Are You On Track To Be Financially Independent At 59? ]

General Election 2017. Danny Lawson/PA Images. All rights reserved.The previous two columns in this series have explored the idea that a Conservative Party landslide, with at least a 150-seat majority, might not after all be the outcome of the United Kingdom's general election on 8 June. The earlier one expressed "a niggling sense that something may be developing below the surface that could break through even in the short time left” (see "The Corbyn crowd, and its message", 18 May 2017). That notion was based partly on the way in which Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was repeatedly attracting large and enthusiastic crowds at open-air events arranged at short notice, apparently responding to a felt need for a less regimented and more engaged kind of politics. Within a week, this sense of a trend had begun to evolve into something rather more definite, and Labour activists were beginning to think the Conservatives might be denied an overall majority (see "Corbyn, and an election surprise", 26 May 2017). This latter column indicated a possibility of wishful thinking, but the trend of the last few days suggests that it is now distinctly possible. Part of this sudden and unprecedented shift reflects the Conservatives' campaign errors, especially over confusion on its policy over social care. But it is also clear that Labour under Jeremy Corbyn is connecting with people in a remarkable way – his popularity is growing day by day and, far from being an obstacle to Labour’s electoral ambitions, he is becoming their star player. Labour under Jeremy Corbyn is connecting with people in a remarkable way – his popularity is growing day by day and he is becoming their star player. In light of these two columns, Oxford Research Group has just published a briefing that extends the discussion to look specifically at Jeremy Corbyn’s views on international security. These views were expressed in his Chatham House speech on 12 May and further developed in a thoughtful response to the devastating Manchester Arena attack late on 22 May. In terms of conventional electioneering wisdom, defence and security are assumed to be Labour’s weakest policies, certain to be bitterly criticised as unpatriotic by the great majority of the national print media. Such criticism certainly followed the Chatham House speech and the subsequent Manchester intervention, but they had much less effect than intended. Indeed Corbyn’s view that the war on terror was failing and that there must be a fundamentally new approach to international security got much more support than expected, and certainly did nothing to dent the growing popularity of the party. Jeremy Corbyn addressing crowds in 2003 against going to war in Iraq. The ORG report concluded: “[After] more than fifteen years of the war on terror, failed or failing states in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Yemen and Somalia, close to a million people killed and over eight million people displaced, the argument for some serious rethinking on Western approaches to security is hardly difficult to make. This is where Jeremy Corbyn’s Chatham House speech is so significant since it breaks away from a near-universal Western state consensus and may be much more in tune with what many millions of people may be thinking. Whatever the outcome of the general election next week, space has been opened up for much wider debate. Independent organisations such as Oxford Research Group that take a critical but constructive approach to security will have a particular responsibility to aid the quality of that debate.” The ORG report does, though, include one serious caveat. If in the coming weeks, ISIS loses both Raqqa and Mosul and then collapses, making it look like the war on terror is at last something of a success, then any chance of rethinking security, whichever party is in power, will be much diminished. At the time of writing the ORG report, such a collapse did not look too likely but what is relevant here is that further, wide-ranging evidence from just the last few days strongly confirms that view. Three days, four theatres of war That evidence comes from Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt and the Philippines. In Iraq, the army’s extended operation to retake Mosul was expected to be completed in barely ten weeks, but is now likely to take at least three times that. Der Spiegel reports that during the fighting, ISIS has deployed over 850 truck-bombs hundreds of young men ready to kill themselves. Even now, there are still around 1,200 ISIS paramilitaries defending a small core of the old city and the Iraqi army is only able to deploy a similar number of its elite task-forces one and two of its "golden division" (i.e. special forces). So many of these troops have been killed or seriously wounded that the division is reported to be greatly depleted, with little capability of providing a professional core to the army when ISIS moves fully over to insurgency mode. Already that insurgency is evolving, the latest grim result being the bombing of a Baghdad ice-cream parlour in a Shi’a district of the city on 30 May, killing thirty-five people and injuring more than a hundred. In Afghanistan, the Trump administration is overseeing a rapid expansion of its air-war against the Taliban and ISIS offshoots, with 460 weapons released in April 2017 compared with 203 in March, the April total being the highest since the peak of Obama’s “surge” in August 2012. The paramilitary response is wide-ranging, including one of the largest truck-bombs ever detonated, killing over eighty people and injuring more than a hundred, just outside Kabul’s “green zone”. In Egypt, the recent bombing of Coptic Christian churches was followed by attacks by ISIS gunmen on a small convoy of Copts going on a pilgrimage to a monastery 150 miles south of Cairo. The assault in Minya province killed at least twenty-eight people, the latest in a series that has taken the lives of more than 100 Copts since December. In the Philippines, the army has been caught out by a sudden surge in paramilitary activity from a group linked to ISIS, in violence made worse by Philippine army casualties caused by “friendly-fire” incidents. The impact, and the sense of a government unable to cope, was enough to persuade President Duterte to cancel a visit to Japan. The continuing insurgency and counter-violence in the southern province of Mindanao, where martial law is now in force, is part of a growing climate of insecurity in which the state plays a major role. A time to rethink These and many other incidents – including, of course, Manchester – are reminders that ISIS and similar movements are simply not going away, and for Trump to promise more force will be the equivalent of piling yet more combustible material onto the blaze. ISIS and similar movements are simply not going away. The implications for Britain are that at some stage there has to be a fundamental rethinking of its defence posture and how it responds to al-Qaida, ISIS and the like. Even if Theresa May’s Conservative Party is re-elected, that process will eventually become impossible to avoid. But if Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party were to achieve the near-impossible and form a minority government in the coming weeks, its chances would be greatly boosted. Just one reason for anticipating a Labour success is that the much needed rethinking might happen sooner rather than later.

First post-lock down trip: Ocean City Updated: Jun 19 On the first day Maryland relaxed its COVID-related restrictions we found ourselves in Ocean City. It’s a three-hour drive from DC, but that’s how badly we wanted to get out and make the most of the first warm weekend. Beach and seafood! Now, I hate Ocean City with a passion right up until the moment I sit down on the wide sandy beach with a fish taco and beer in hand. The aesthetic of the town, and especially if its ultra popular boardwalk, is not all that different from other commercial beach towns, actually. I’m not sure I know what bothers me about seeing a woman with a giant hair bow drinking margaritas from a bucket. That’s the same thing, minus the hair bow, I did during my beach vacation in Thailand a few years ago. The shopping isn’t very tempting either, although everything is reasonably priced. In one store everything was under five bucks, including their bestselling t-shirt saying “I’m not gay, but $20 is $20.” Although their tattoos cost more, presumably. In Ocean City, large fake eyelashes are very popular, as are funnel cake and Hooters. So it’s fitting, somehow, that in the midst of the mayhem a young preacher holds a sermon, warning the busy crowd against the wrath of God. I guess my problem is that everything is happening at once. People really let it all out in OC. I’m extremely wary of those precariously riding bicycles while holding large beer cups, and straight up annoyed with all those guys who took the mufflers off their neon colored sports cars. To balance the crazy, we spent the next day far away from the boardwalk bonanza. We drove to a quiet part of the beach five miles further north. We stopped just short of entering the state of Delaware, which has not relaxed its restrictions, as far as I know. Things I want to remember for next time, and would recommend to others, are: for accommodation, go for a beachfront property and book a room with a sea view. There are lots of hotels on the beach, as well as smaller inns, so it’s not hard to find. Although this time around we stayed at a family resort called Francis Scott Key Resort. We had a kitchenette and the property had all the space in the world for kids to be kids. There was a playground, mini golf, and two huge pirate ships. And perhaps most importantly—although temporarily closed due to the pandemic—two of the coolest kid pools I’ve ever seen. In terms of restaurants I’d say seafood all the way! Despite the omnipresence of fastfood chains you can get the fresh catch of the day in lots of restaurants and beach shacks. And there’s a surprisingly good restaurant (slash awesome liquor store) called Liquid Assets we got take-out from. We ordered Kung pow calamari, tuna crisps, homemade pasta, and Brussels sprouts—all delicious!

“So let me postulate a situation. You’ve got a young married couple, all dewy-eyed and lust-crazed, moving in to their first house. It’s not a bad house, because her father helped with the down. So they stand there in the their first real kitchen. Say marble countertops, built-in dishwasher, electric not gas stove, which is an abomination but never mind. There are boxes on the floor filled with kitchen stuff. It’s time to unpack.” I pause for a breath. Scott looks at me expectantly. We’re having lunch in the Sidebar, a fine Oakland establishment across the street from Lake Merritt. Scott knows a lot about design, probably. Scott knows about a lot of things, some of which may not be things. I picked him to listen about kitchens. Lucky him. “So here’s my question: How do they decide where things go? That pair of scissors, for instance. Where does it go? The flatware drawer? The tool drawer with the screwdrivers and the one hammer? Maybe it doesn’t even go in the kitchen. Maybe the scissors belong in the home office. Which brings us to the garlic press, the wastebasket, the kibble container, the fruit bowl, the baking powder, and so forth. Where do they go? How do you decide?” “How do you decide?” asks Scott, stressing a different word in the sentence. “Me? How do I decide? Mostly I’m not the decider in the kitchen. But I think some of it has to do with how our parents’ kitchens were organized. I’m sure that very few mothers actually explained why the colander goes where it goes, but, you know, kids. They internalize things, and pretty soon the colander is in the baking drawer because that’s where Mom had it. Which is too bad, because the colander belongs on the occasional pot shelf.” “The occasional pot shelf?” “Where the pots you use only occasionally go. The big one you only bring out for stew when company is coming, the little sauce pan that’s rarely used for sauce. As opposed to the every day frying pan or the useful pot for cooking pasta. Clearly, some of the decisions are based on some kind of frequency-of-use algorithm. But others…” My voice trails off. I’m at the limits of my pre-lunch speculation. I take a ruminative bite of polenta. I love lunch. When I was starting out as an editor, lunch was always the time for idea development. Plus, it was usually free. I don’t imagine you kids have heard about expense accounts, but they were one of the loveliest flowers of the old capitalism. Now everybody eats kale chips at their desks, finished off with their ninth cup of coffee of the day. I remember when a nice veal piccata and a glass of white wine was a routine treat. I —” “My arrangements are always logical,” Scott says. “For instance, all the things with pointy ends go in one drawer. Knives, scissors, that sort of thing.” “What about the meat thermometer? That has a pointy end. You could kill someone with a meat thermometer.” “That goes in the cooking drawer, with the pot holders and the measuring cups and the small pile of folded recipes. The treasured recipes, of course. Mom’s meat loaf, the chicken dish my wife learned in college, the infinitely elastic lasagne. Are 17 people suddenly coming to dinner? Let’s have lasagne!” I could see that Scott was getting into it. I could see that he enjoyed making lists of kitchen thingies. Buying kitchen implements — a wooden spoon, a whisk, a pepper grinder — doesn’t really even seem like consumerism, although if you add up the cost of all your utensils and containers and one-use appliances — popcorn popper, anyone? It’s basically a hair-dryer with a top — it would probably be more than a Meneghini refrigerator. (I just looked. A Meneghini La Cambusa will set you back a cool $41,000. But it’s a damn good refrigerator.) “Of course, my arrangements are darned logical too. I think everybody thinks their own arrangements are logical. Those scissors I mentioned? That was not a hypothetical example. Tracy thinks the scissors belong next to the sink. That is of course ridiculous. They belong over in the prep area, where boxes and bags require opening. But, you know, other people. They sure are protective of their opinions.” “So what happened?” “We bought another pair of scissors. We needed an anti-bickering strategy.” (Research indicates that we have five pairs of scissors in the kitchen. We also have a cherry pitter, an egg slicer, a lemon squeezer, a potato masher, a funnel that used to belong to Tracy’s mother, and a large ashtray in the shape of Dodger Stadium. We also found this: Which, who knows? Not us.) It was Scott’s turn to meditate. He chewed his Cuban roast pork sandwich. “Is there a point here?” he finally asked. “I had an idea that I’m pretty sure is not new, but it came to me in my own little head, so I like it. Everybody’s a designer. Everybody has dozens of design ideas that they don’t know they have. Like, some people favor symmetry. They’re always discovering an object that must go in the center of the table or wherever, and then arranging objects on either side. Bonus points if you’ve got two of something — porcelain rabbits, say — and put one on either side. Other people prefer a more subtle aesthetic approach, while still others like random scattering of stuff, because that makes life more interesting. It’s hard to say where these preferences come from. Family patterns, sure, but there are plenty of examples of people who grew up in a symmetrical household and became militantly chaotic as soon as they left home.” “And how does this relate to the scissors?” “Just this: I have no idea where my preference in scissor location comes from. I could make up a reason why it’s logical, but that would be post-hoc hand-waving. It comes from the same place as my fondness for cacti and my love of old cars. It feels hard-wired. And, I, well, think that’s interesting.” Scott smiled. I know he thought it was interesting too. “Want some coffee?” he asked. I was pretty sure he was hinting that he would enjoy a discussion of coffee worship and its attendant grinders, pressers, steamers and beans from the north slope of Mount Confundida in Costa Rica. But no, he just wanted coffee.