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Company name
Overview
VP is seeking to redefine its online presence, and introduce unique products for the home and office that will be sold direct to consumer online.
The existing site is a brochure site; it does not have any e-commerce capabilities.
The winning design will use VP's existing logo/branding. Information for VP's distribution channel partners will also be made available via the site. Finally, the new site will incorporate a shopping cart to power online sales.
Tell us a bit about who you are and the people you reach
Consumers who are interested in unique products for use at home or in the office from brands such as:
Fun play, Shock Athletic. Best Step. Organize by Design, Force Field
Requirements
Website and shopping cart design will be based upon utilizing current logo, but not necessarily the current color scheme. That said, some of the current color schemes can be used by the designer if they feel that better design results can be achieved with this approach. We're open to your creativity.
Shopping Cart Template will consist of main shopping page with several products/brands displayed along with a promotional blurb for each item.
Example: http://www.flight001.com
(This is based on the WDH Shopping E-Commerce Engine)
Upon clicking the selected brand or product, user will see a category page that lists all the products associated with that brand.
Each product will need a page that displays product images, name, price, and description.
Designers who have question contact akanyc@gmail.com
Summary:
Dynamic, Informative, Consumer Oriented, Elegant, High-Product value, easy to navigate, and find information. Design should be clean and well presented. | {
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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753820.post116163755146839899..comments2013-01-11T17:55:51.015-05:00Comments on Sentient Developments: Walker and Cirkovic: Astrophysical Fine Tuning, Naturalism, and the Contemporary DesignGeorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003484633933455827noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753820.post-1161720772122948832006-10-24T16:12:00.000-04:002006-10-24T16:12:00.000-04:00James Gardner's recent work (and its surrounding l...James Gardner's recent work (and its surrounding literature) is the most important contemporary discussion of this line of thought...MCP2012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753820.post-1161712280131146502006-10-24T13:51:00.000-04:002006-10-24T13:51:00.000-04:00Tell me that I really didn't just write, Robert Di...Tell me that I really didn't just write, Robert Dick...<BR/><BR/>Dicke... I mean, Robert Dicke... geezAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753820.post-1161711954779937492006-10-24T13:45:00.000-04:002006-10-24T13:45:00.000-04:00A clear and strict separation of the issue of anth...<I>A clear and strict separation of the issue of anthropic fine tuning on one hand and any form of Eddingtonian numerology and teleology on the other, may help clarify arguably the most significant issue in the philosophy of cosmology.</I><BR/><BR/>What I read was a dubious interpretation of the historical account. In the first place, Dirac's hypothesis is where Robert Dick got his anthropic coincidence from, he didn't destroy it. He was making note of that Dirac's hypothesis requires that the anthropic principle be true, in terms of time and location. In other words, he was saying that the universe evolves, and he was saying that it evolves to favor carbon based life at a specific time and location in the history of the universe.<BR/><BR/>Dirac's hypothesis was flawed because he thought that gravity fell off with expansion, but that does not mean that the "numerology" doesn't apply to the anthropic principle:<BR/><BR/>Dirac's hypothesis included a gravitational constant that decreased with age over time, while the electric force remained constant, and this is how he explained the dimensionless number which appears in physics, 10^40, per its relation to the distance in astronamical units accross the universe. He noted that the electric force between the proton and the electron is inversely proportional to the square of the distance, while the gravitational force is also inversely proportional to the square of the distance, but the ratio of those two forces, 10^39, does not depend on the distance. He resoned that the magnitude of the number makes other units of comparison inconsequential due to the largeness of the number, so it stands alone at the order of magnitude, unity. <BR/><BR/>If you express the age of the universe in atomic units of time, then you get a number of about 10^39, approximately the same as the previously mentioned number. <BR/><BR/>In 1937, Dirac proposed an explanation of the two large numbers in terms of a third one, which was the age of the universe t_U, (the epoch), measured in units of a typical atomic time e^2/mc^3. Using the present age of the universe, it turns out that... <BR/><BR/>e_3=t_U/(e^2/mc^3)=e_1 <BR/><BR/>From this, Dirac postulated that the number of nucleons in the universe must increase with t_U^2, and the gravitational "constant" G must decrease by t_U-1. <BR/><BR/>Dirac also mentions the possibility that hc/e^2 and/or m_p/m_e might vary proportionally to the logarithm of t_U. <BR/><BR/>But gravity is cumulative, locally and so real particle pair production should increase the gravity of the universe, unless the creation of particles from vacuum energy leaves real holes in the vacuum that serve to counter-balance the increased gravitational effect, by increasing vacuum tension, via the increase in -rho that occurs with further rarefaction of the vacuum, where... <BR/><BR/>P is related to vacuum energy density, by P = -rho. <BR/><BR/>The number of nucleons in the universe must increase with t_U^2, as the universe ages, per the second law of thermodynamics in an expanding universe which requires that the breakdown of energy include the isolation of of high-energy photons that are known to interact with virtual particles in the quantum vacuum to create real particle pairs. <BR/><BR/>And so the number of nucleons in the universe increases, while G remains constant, since the decrease which occurse with t_U^-1 represents an increase in -rho, which is immediately offset by the increase in mass energy that comes about when you make a real massive particle from virtual particles in the vacuum. <BR/><BR/>I say, "further" rarefaction because real particle pair production should also increase with the increase in negative energy density, that comes about as a result of increasing tension between the vacuum and ordinary matter. <BR/><BR/>The square of the age of the universe equals the number of particles in it, because the size of the universe in astronamical units is proportional to the number of particles that have been created, meaning that vacuum expansion is inversely proportional to real and virtual particle pair production as the negative pressure component increases in proportion to the holes that get made in the vacuum by way of the condensation of its energy. <BR/><BR/>General Relativity can be accomidated to this idea fairly easily.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com | {
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Organ Trafficking
The various forms of human trafficking are commonly distinguished by their purpose: for sexual exploitation, for labour exploitation, and for exploitation of the bodily organs of the victim. While there is significant research and political focus on the first two forms of human trafficking, the latter, organ trafficking, receives relatively less attention. In Canada, organ trafficking mainly occurs through a phenomenon called “transplant tourism”, in which Canadians visit another country to receive an organ transplant in a foreign hospital. Organ trafficking is the most transnational form of human trafficking, as both sex trafficking and labour trafficking typically operate intranationally.Currently, data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that of the 106,879 solid organs known to have been transplanted in 95 member states in 2010 (legally and illegally), about 73,179 (68.5%) were kidneys. But those 106,879 operations satisfied just 10% of the global need, therefore illuminating the very shortage of organs that fuels the organ trafficking phenomenon. An estimated 10,000 black-market operations involving purchased human organs occur annually – more than one every hour – according to WHO. It estimates that organ trafficking accounts for five to 10 per cent of all kidney transplants worldwide. There are currently several international standards in place for combating the trafficking of organs, including the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the World Health Organization’s Guiding Principles on Human Organ Transplantation, among others. CanadaCanada is among the top ten of global importer of organs. The most common organs sought for in the 'organ market' are kidneys, followed by livers, for purposes of transplantation. According to the UN, such practices have increased exponentially in recent decades with the growing demand for live-donor organ transplants. This demand is attributable to an increasing differential between rates of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and deceased donor organ donation. To contextualize, there are more than 3,300 Canadians on waiting lists for a kidney transplant — almost double the number 20 years ago — and close to a third of them are from Ontario, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information. More than 300 people from Ontario on those lists have died in the past decade. These statistics illustrate the desperation that entices many Canadian patients to turn to transplant tourism.Transplant TourismTransplant tourism is a very complex phenomenon. PACT-Ottawa wants to emphasize that not all transplant tourism is necessarily organ trafficking. Transplant tourism is not framed as organ trafficking when the donor has not been forced or deceived into donating the organ, when all medical and other procedures (such as an appropriate payment and proper medical aftercare) have been followed, and if the donor has truly consented to donating an organ.·According to the Declaration of Istanbul all commodification of organs is ethically wrong, and must be criminalized.·However, Ric Esther-Bienstock makes a strong argument that transplant tourism can empower local donors in harsh socioeconomic positions too.·Furthermore, transplant tourism can be seen as a health hazard to Canadian citizens, as the care in other countries may be suboptimal.·The profit margins of the middle men and involved hospitals may be huge, which would provide a strong incentive towards organ trafficking.·There is a significant shortage of organs within Canada, which would provide a strong incentive for Canadians to get their often lifesaving organs elsewhere.Developing a Policy Framework to Combat Organ TraffickingPACT-Ottawa is involved in the effort to combat organ trafficking as stories of atrocities while extracting organs from involuntary donors have continuously haunted the international press, and have been acknowledged by the United Nations, World Health Organization, and the Canadian government. These confirmed stories could be extreme examples of organ trafficking and warrant action.“This form of trafficking in persons follows patterns similar to other forms of human trafficking (e.g. exploitation of vulnerable populations), but intrinsically contains significant differences. Some of the actors and modus operandi of this crime stand in sharp contrast to other forms of trafficking in persons, e.g. the requirement of medical professionals, the matching of an organ recipient, the duration of exploitation and the subsequent release of the victim. Knowledge of these practices is not well known and, resultantly, the response globally has been, at best, uneven.” Indeed, in Canada no quantitative data are collected, even though this would be possible due to the necessary aftercare in hospitals of the Canadian transplant tourists after receiving a transplant. Because no data is available, it is impossible to say how many Canadians partake in transplant tourism, how often and from where the organs are acquired through organ trafficking.Apart from a complete lack of monitoring and an ambiguous legal status, the only existing policy effort geared towards transplant tourism is a joint endeavor by the Canadian Society of Transplantation and Canadian Society of Nephrology. This policy paper contains advice for doctors as to how they should warn potential transplant tourists for the ethical dangers involved, and how to treat homecoming Canadians after their transplant in another country.The lack of action constitutes a problem of responsibility. PACT-Ottawa is of the opinion that Canada should take responsibility for this issue, as it is one that is multi-layered and involves the exploitation of countless individuals. Canada has the resources and is in the position to take responsibility in curbing this phenomenon.Canadian Conference on Organ TraffickingIn response to this growing issue, PACT-Ottawa is organizing a conference with the aim of implementing a policy regarding transplant tourism. Due to the complex nature of this phenomenon, PACT-Ottawa does not have all the expertise necessary. The conference will be organized in such a way that participating experts, organizations and institutions have the opportunity to share their expertise and influence the agenda. Together, we must take action in order to develop a framework that tackles the issue of organ trafficking.
Additional Resources
Please consider browsing the articles and other material related to organ trafficking curated by a PACT-Ottawa volunteer here. | {
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witnesses say the fight came to an end when mishey pulled a gun. he was taken into custody charged with aggravated assault [La. R.S. 14:37]. police say no one was injured in the altercation but more charges could be filed. | {
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3d Printed Furniture
Buy 3d printed furniture cool chairs dollhouse without print technology an aluminium cast chair such as this would be prohibitively expensive to manufacture however with additive manufacturing there ... | {
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CI
CONCEPT
Redrover’s CI embodied the vision and will for ‘the best global media contents enterprise’ to take the lead in the content market by strengthen the global competitiveness with the independent research development. Red color represents the challenge, passion and adventurous thinking to pull ahead. And Rover color means the professionalism and soundness. Since it used Rounded Gothic Font that set soft line off to advantage, it tries to express the characteristic of the innovative company. The logo of Redrover is the fundamental element that delivers the visual image of Redrover. Under any circumstances, it cannot be transformed for the use.
COLOR
Since the color is the element that people recognize first among the other graphic element and one of the company identities, it should follow the precise manual color manuscript in case of using REDROVER Red and REDROVER Gray | {
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Tecumseh Public SchoolsTecumseh Public Schools serves nearly 2,900 learners in preschool through grade 12 in Lenawee County, Michigan. The district provides all learners with the opportunity to explore every facet of their education with a focus on Customized Learning and Project-Based Learning. In addition to a variety of academic paths, learners may also participate in nationally-recognized musical, fine and performing arts programs.
About Us
At TPS we strive to provide the Ideal Learning Experience where each learner:
is met at his/her level of learning
is using one of his/her best learning styles
is learning skills and concepts with content of high interest to him/her
understands the relevancy of what he/she is learning
is challenged and successful
and looks forward to coming back tomorrow
Welcome to Tecumseh Public Schools!
Tecumseh Public Schools is proud to be among those districts choosing to lead transformational changes in education. TPS provides all learners with the opportunity to explore every facet of their education with a focus on personalized, competency based learning. This customized learning approach is organized in such a way to support the individual strengths of each learner - preparing them for a lifetime of skilled growth and learning.
OUR VISION
We are a dynamic learning community, taking bold steps to ensure all learners are inspired and empowered for life. Our vision serves as the blueprint for all improvement projects and the expectation for each individual in the district.
OUR MISSION
TPS is Uncompromisingly Learner Centered. This is the guiding principle for our district where we put the best interests of our learners at the forefront of all we do. We are committed to creating experiences that prepare children for lifelong learning.
OUR STRATEGIC DESIGN
We are committed to creating learning experiences that prepare our learners for life. The Strategic Design was developed in collaboration with our community after a study of the shifts, trends and future conditions that define the world our graduates will face in their future. Our curriculum supports the creation of customized learning paths to support the individual strengths of each learner, preparing them for a lifetime of skills growth and learning across the personal, learning, relationship, cultural, global, civic and economic spheres of living. | {
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This is not the first time that the veteran rapper has spoken up in defense of the former NFL star. In 2013, the Cali native posted a photo of himself and Hernandez on Instagram and expressed his support. | {
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Trending News
Educational computing kit company Kano announced today that it has signed a two-year licensing to create Disney-branded products later this year. Details are still pretty scant on how precisely the deal will take shape, but the first product looks to be a Star Wars-themed kit.
Related News
When Disney announced plans for its Star Wars lands, didn't the opening seem far, far away? Well, surprise, 2019 is "already" upon us and we can expect to see Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios by this fall (after a debut in Disneyland sometime this summer). But there are many new attractions coming to Central Florida's theme parks in the next 12 months....
SALT LAKE CITY — Another "Star Wars" spinoff TV series will begin filming in October, according to multiple news reports. What's going on: Production Weekly confirmed that the show, which has been billed as a spinoff to "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," will begin production in October 2019 with a release date set for 2020. The series has been described this way: "The rousing spy...
When Disney announced plans for its Star Wars lands, didn’t the opening seem far, far away? Well, surprise, 2019 is “already” upon us and we can expect to see Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios by this fall (after a debut in Disneyland sometime this summer). But there are many new attractions coming to Central Florida’s theme parks in the next 12 months....
Jonathan Eze Over N8 million worth of sub-standard products have been destroyed by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) at Yankatsari Yangongon in Kano. SON said the move was to serve as warning to recalcitrant producers and merchants of substandard products in the Kano/Jigawa States axis. The details of the products include 83 bags of 25kg expired foreign rice, 257 bags...
The core argument of this article is as follows: Several valuations of Waymo (GOOG, GOOGL) from mainstream analysts range from ~$120 billion to $250 billion. The logic behind these valuations applies equally well to Tesla (TSLA) if Tesla can demonstrate equal progress toward full autonomy. There is a realistic probability that Tesla will demonstrate meaningful progress toward...
Join our newsletter to get more stories like this Sometimes it’s not who actually won the award but who lost out that makes the headlines. During 2018, Disney/Marvel/Pixar produced some of the most profitable movies of the year and together received nine Golden Globe nominations in 2019 for the films Black Panther, Mary Poppins Returns, Incredibles 2 and Ralph Breaks the...
Building the DIY Tablet PC - Kano Computer Kit Touch Showcase
published:14 Dec 2018
Building the DIY Tablet PC - Kano Computer Kit Touch Showcase
Building the DIY Tablet PC - Kano Computer Kit Touch Showcase
published:14 Dec 2018
views:476449
Thanks Kano for sponsoring this video! You can get the Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit for a special price of only $79.99 this holiday season at https://getkano.co/2NFoCv6 and you can learn more about the Computer Kit Touch featured in this video at https://getkano.co/2LbtBUq
AND, if you use code FRIEND20 at checkout you\'ll save an additional 20% off ANY Kano Kit.
Twitter - https://twitter.com/linustech
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/LinusTech
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/linustech
Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/linustech
Intro Screen Music Credit:
Title: Laszlo - Supernova
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKfxmFU3lWY
iTunes Download Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/supernova/id936805712
Artist Link: https://soundcloud.com/laszlomusic
Outro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High http://www.youtube.com/approachingnirvana...
Building the DIY Tablet PC - Kano Computer Kit Touch Showcase
published:14 Dec 2018
views:476449
Thanks Kano for sponsoring this video! You can get the Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit for a special price of only $79.99 this holiday season at https://getkano.co/2NFoCv6 and you can learn more about the Computer Kit Touch featured in this video at https://getkano.co/2LbtBUq
AND, if you use code FRIEND20 at checkout you\'ll save an additional 20% off ANY Kano Kit.
Twitter - https://twitter.com/linustech
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/LinusTech
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/linustech
Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/linustech
Intro Screen Music Credit:
Title: Laszlo - Supernova
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKfxmFU3lWY
iTunes Download Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/supernova/id936805712
Artist Link: https://soundcloud.com/laszlomusic
Outro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High http://www.youtube.com/approachingnirvana...
Sponsored by Kano. Check it out here: http://getkano.co/2zM6B8K
Today Evan is building his first computer with the Kano computer kit! Watch how easy it is to build and code.
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER CHANNELS!
EvanTubeHD: http://www.youtube.com/EvanTubeHD
JillianTubeHD: http://www.youtube.com/JillianTubeHD
EvanTubeGaming: http://www.youtube.com/EvanTubeGaming
DTSings: https://www.youtube.com/c/dtsings
FOLLOW US!
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/evantubehd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvanTubeHD
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvanTubeHD
Production Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound...
Sponsored by Kano. Check it out here: http://getkano.co/2zM6B8K
Today Evan is building his first computer with the Kano computer kit! Watch how easy it is to build and code.
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER CHANNELS!
EvanTubeHD: http://www.youtube.com/EvanTubeHD
JillianTubeHD: http://www.youtube.com/JillianTubeHD
EvanTubeGaming: http://www.youtube.com/EvanTubeGaming
DTSings: https://www.youtube.com/c/dtsings
FOLLOW US!
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/evantubehd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvanTubeHD
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvanTubeHD
Production Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound...
Thanks Kano for sponsoring this video! You can get the Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit for a special price of only $79.99 this holiday season at https://getkano.co/2NFoCv6 and you can learn more about the Computer Kit Touch featured in this video at https://getkano.co/2LbtBUq
AND, if you use code FRIEN
Sponsored by Kano. Check it out here: http://getkano.co/2zM6B8K
Today Evan is building his first computer with the Kano computer kit! Watch how easy it is to build and code.
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER CHANNELS!
EvanTubeHD: http://www.youtube.com/EvanTubeHD
JillianTubeHD: http://www.youtube.com/Jillia | {
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Looking for Terra Brooks?
About placeholder profiles
You are visiting the placeholder page for Terra Brooks.
This page is here because someone used our placeholder utility to look for Terra Brooks.
We created this page automatically in hopes Terra Brooks would find it. If you are not
Terra Brooks, but are an alumni of Owings Mills High School,
register on this site for free now. | {
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"The concern is making sure the [electorate] understands this is a change of title, not of government," he said.
Council vice chairman Scott Caserta offered to amend the title to "director of operations." He placed his intention on the table stating that he would take comments from council members until Monday night. Based on the feedback from speaking council members at the work session Sandra Clements favored city manager.
"I think the title should be city manager," stated Frances Jackson.
Make Bates countered, "if it's not going to be city manager, leave it what it is."
David Ball stated, "My favorite is municipal operations manager."
The city garage and so-called motor pool would remain, just redefined to add flexibility and use of modern electronic tracking technologies. | {
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Friday, December 30, 2005
Now that the holiday hubbub is settled down to a steady pace, very much eased by the nice long Christmas break for my dear husband and Son1, I've started in on my after-Christmas-Day reading.
I decided to finally start reading about the Balkans, Rwanda, and so on after a failed attempt a while ago (upon finishing The Bone Woman, see below). Causes: my nonfiction book club started in November, with Guns, Germs, and Steel, and though I hadn't barely made a dent in the book -- it was November, eek! -- the discussion got me interested in both tackling the book again and learning more about genocide. Then I volunteered The Bone Woman for our January book, so why not. Bosnia and Rwanda, here I come. Tonight I read a good chunk of The Balkans: A Short History.
Here's my current book stack, more or less, almost all from the library.
Audubon First Field Guide: Night SkyLooking Through a Telescope...because we can see stars by 6 pm at this time of year.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency...January book for my MOMS Club fiction book group.The Botany of Desire: A Plant's Eye View of the World...February book for my nonfiction book club.The Bone Woman: A Forensic Anthropologist's Search for Truth in the Mass Graves of Rwanda, Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo by Clea Koff...January book for my nonfiction book club. I highly recommend it, even if you never would imagine reading a book on this topic -- like me.Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies...last November's book for my nonfiction book club. And therefore:The Balkans: a short historyMadness Visible: A Memoir of WarBeyond the Mountains of the Damned: The War Inside KosovoA Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide -- I actually bought this book.(requested: We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda)
Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt...I'm curious about this book, a completely different topic for Anne Rice, about the boy Jesus.
The Good Son: Shaping the Moral Development of Our Boys and Young Men by Michael GurianRaising Musical Kids: A Guide for ParentsHomeschooling: The Middle Years...Son1 has been having puzzling difficulties with school and I really like this book The Good Son; I want to incorporate more music into our lives; I really like the HSing, the Early Years book.
Year in Review Meme
Record the first sentence of the first post of each month on your blog for the past year.
January 2005:I'm pretty sure I was the anti-Holidailies, as I pretty much stopped blogging during the period the Holidailies participants vowed to blog daily! (Dec 6 - Jan 7).
February 2005:Today I realized that I'm starting to drag.
March 2005:Boys, ours, and sports (setting aside my knitting -- I started a sock on double-pointed needles, heehee)
April 2005:It's April and the beginning of storm season here in the heart of Tornado Alley.
May 2005:I am so tired.
June 2005:Progress is made! (with socks I was knitting)
July 2005:In early June we started talking about fun things we wanted to do this summer.
August 2005:The kids and I have been home from our 22-day Washington state trip for a scant two and a half days.
September 2005:My dear commenting visitors, please be not annoyed that I've turned on Blogger's anti-machine-spam feature so now you have to be a human being and type in odd combinations of letters and numbers to comment here...
October 2005:"You're a big city girl with a small town heart, which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome."
November 2005:Did I mention that I decided to take on a sort-of-big project as my leap into paper crafting?!?
December 2005:I'm feeling pretty good about the whole homemaking thing right now.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
If you received a Barnes and Noble gift card in your stocking (or just wish you had)...
1. Do you go to the brick and mortar store or use it online?Brick and mortar, 'cause browsing through the bookshelves is such sweetness.
2. Do you think "This is mine, all mine!" or "I've been wanting such-and-such read aloud for the kids?"Mine! Well, mostly.
3. Do you buy yourself a nice B&N coffee from the cafe, or consider that a waste of good Book Money?A nice coffee, and then I drink it, look through my book(s) of choice, and knit. Aaaah.
4. Does a $50 value on the card meanA)Spend as close to $50 as possible without going over.B)Buy one book and save the balance for next time.C)Take $50 off a purchase of $100 or more.For me, A -- I spend it all and no more. Or, only a tiny bit more?
5. Do you take the children and consider it a fun family outing, or plan your trip for when your hubby can watch the kids?This would definitely be a solo outing. On the other hand, the kids are jumping up and down ready to head to B&N and spend their Christmas cash, so we WILL have that family outing anyway.
6. And finally, do you make a beeline for your favorite section (and what section is that?) or do you browse the new releases and recommendations up front when you walk in the door?I browse the displays throughout the store, then check out history, religion, fiction, cooking, gardening, crafts (knitting! etc!), children's religion books, homeschooling resources (history again...), and then start figuring out what to actually buy. A very difficult decision!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
"No mail for us," said Son2 after checking the curbside mailbox. Er, um, take a look at the entryway, boys! Woohoo!!
Too funny.
In other news, the Christmas tree received its multi-colored lights yesterday evening with very little foul language from yours truly. Then the kids added the ornaments and the garlands of red beads. Today I put down the official snow-substitute swirled white bedsheet, and we have a decorated Christmas tree!
In addition, nearly all of the gifts for the kids have been acquired. Good secrets are being kept. Stockings are out and ready for Christmas Eve. There's an electric candle in the kitchen window and a string of white lights along the windowsill of the big dining area window. With no extension cord to be found (where did they all go??), the rest of the electric candles are waiting patiently for me to take care of their electrical connection needs.
The boys are literally spinning with excitement and extra energy; more outside time helps a LOT. Yesterday I realized they were actually duelling outdoors with their wooden sword and a cobbled-together alternate weapon; I wished for shields with which I could give them a little prep/pep talk about blocking sword blows!
After dinner tonight we also played Kerplunk and put together a 3-d puzzle. Maybe tomorrow we'll play Ticket to Ride, a great railroad-across-the-USA board game. I'm thinking about making either homemade ornaments or cookies with the boys tomorrow or Saturday.
Perhaps I should consider putting up the Christmas tree a week earlier in the future. It is doing wonders for my mood!
It's a dishcloth. And I like it. Red and white (for Christmas) 100 percent cotton Peaches and Cream from a big-box store, and family-handmedown size 7 aluminum needles. A fun and fast little project, perfect for the holiday-prep-addled brain.
I used the "bee" stitch, which was a bit puzzling to figure out. My first bee-stitch dishcloth looks a bit irregular because it was really hard to figure out whether I'd just done a "knit in the stitch below" or not. Finally I figured out that I could tell what I'd done the previous row by whether there were two wraps or one around the back of the previous stitch. Aha! Not to mention, the whole "knit in the stitch below" was VERY confusing -- as described it was clearly an increase -- until I found a blog entry that I cannot for the life of me find again. Anyway, the blog mentioned that you slip the old stitch off after knitting into the stitch below it. Whew. That made it work (made sense to clueless learner me). Now it's kind of fun.
I'm using dishcloths instead of sponges now. I'm tired of old stinky sponges no matter what I do, so I might as well use dishcloths and toss them in the laundry with the cloth napkins, kitchen towels, and old-towel kitchen rags!
When my dishcloths have all been washed, I'll take a group photo. Hey, why not.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Gifts acquired for our own children? Half-check. I always end up doing this in the last week before Christmas, and it goes fine. I'll go to a few stores tomorrow morning, leaving the boys with dear husband 'cause he's taking the rest of the week off (and next week, all the way through Jan 2, yay!). That might do it. I have a few homemade things to do, if possible. This is all more complex because Son1's birthday is the day after Christmas.
Christmas letter written? Check. Though I'm not even attempting to send it until next week.
Christmas tree up? Check, thanks to dear husband.
Christmas tree decorated? Uh, no, thanks to the carefully packed-away lights NOT WORKING and therefore a trip to the store late last night to buy more lights. Now I'm working up the energy to put the lights on the tree before the kids go to bed tonight.
Teacher gifts assembled and given? Check. Whew.
Last day of school reached and finished? Check. And boy howdy, are these two boys getting excited about Christmas! I'm applying lots of outdoor playtime to ease the mix of excited boys and no-energy mommy.
Common areas of the house decluttered? Not on your life. Kids' toys decluttered and streamlined? Arrgh, not that either. I've started hauling things around and clearing out the living room etc 'cause of the Christmas tree and of course the upcoming new items arriving in the household shortly... but the clutter has gotten a bit wild and it's daunting. And that's the first decluttering priority. We can deal with older toys after Christmas Day.
Goals for the next few days: take care of myself to get rid of my cold and avoid Christmas morning wipeout (eat right, drink lots, take zinc etc, relax, sleep enough). Finish the Christmas gift-getting and -making. With the boys, finish decorating the tree and get the electric candles in the windows. With the boys, bake cookies! Wrap their gifts before the late afternoon Christmas Eve service rather than 10 pm - 1 am (shudder). Do the essentials and enjoy them without fussing over what we're not doing / not getting done. That's a biggie.
[Oops, it's not "O King of the Nations, and their Desire; the Cornerstone, who makest both one: Come and save mankind, whom thou formedst of clay." Not at all!]
O Dawn of the East, brightness of light eternal, and Sun of Justice: come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
UPDATE: Only later did I look carefully at the latin and realize the English paraphrase is not for this antiphon at ALL! I found an appropriate translation, from R. Fairchild's sermon and lectionary resources O Antiphons page. I like their English translations much better, anyway.
I love the Great O Antiphons. A big thank you to those sister and brother Christians of the 8th and 9th centuries.
Friday, December 16, 2005
As previously mentioned here, I haven't wanted to cook since, oh, maybe August? July? So we've been limping along in the nutritional dinner area this whole time. Clearly I'm going to have to bootstrap myself up into Cooking Woman mode.
It did occur to me a few days ago, as the boys were begging for this or that fast food, that... we could make fancy tacos (etc.) at home really easily. And we could have breaded fish and fries and coleslaw at home, too, for a lot less money than a fast food meal. Finally, Son2 was talking about how much he used to love that red soup we used to eat... Oh, you mean tomato soup? with grilled cheese sandwiches? Right there we have three EASY meals I can actually make without having to be creative if I don't want to (I think the creativity thing is my problem right now; my creative energy is really tapped out. Note to self: explore that thought later.)
Yesterday I actually wrote out a menu list -- meals to have before Christmas. Here it is.
- Beef stew and homemade bread (we have all of the fixings, and making homemade bread means we stay home all morning or all afternoon, which is a good thing right now)- Ground beef and lentil soup (have all fixings except beef stock, but I have turkey stock -- and beef bones so I COULD make beef stock some evening)- Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches (we got the ingredients last night, woohoo!)- Spaghetti squash and regular spaghetti, red sauce, and bread (homemade or not) (we have everything but the tomato sauce and the regular spaghetti, which is a fallback in case the kids hate the squash version)- Small steaks, roasted vegetables, homemade rolls (using our freezer stash of meat)- Chinese-style noodles with vegetables and chicken-or-beef on the side or mixed in (dear husband does these Chinese-style inventions and we forget how much the boys LOVE the flavors! we need noodles, though)- Waffles-or-pancakes and scrambled eggs (this was last night's dinner, with waffles)
Actual home-cooked meals and real planning, oh my!
UPDATE. Of course the plan has changed already! We had waffles and scrambled eggs the first night. Then last night we were going to have leftover soups from Wednesday night's Advent supper at church -- beef and mushroom soup, tomato vegetable soup, and for the kids canned tomato soup -- but we went out and got our Christmas tree and picked up a couple of pizzas. On our way home we passed our bicycle-commuter neighbor and invited him to dinner, so he kept dear husband company while DH prepped the tree for an overnight in a bucket of water, and then joined us for the most casual of dinners and a viewing of "A Charlie Brown Christmas." I think tonight will be soup night, but we'll need to get more bread for grilled cheese sandwiches since the current loaf has disappeared into hungry boys and man as cinnamon-sugar toast over the last few days.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
I'm actively working on/attending to a list of Christmas gift ideas for our kids' grandparents and cousins. A list of ideas for gifts from us to our kids. A list of Important Things To Do this week, and on the weekend, and before Christmas. A list of requested meals (who knew Son2 would remember he likes tomato soup?). A list of household to-dos. A list of church-related to-dos. A list of chores for the kids to do. Trying to cross things off and keeping things moving along around here.
And then there are the other lists.
The list of movies we have seen lately thanks to a free trial subscription to Blockbuster Online:- The Polar Express (saw that in the theater last year, wow)- The Incredibles (never saw it in the theater despite good intentions)- I, Robot (just dear husband and me)and those we'll watch this weekend:- Whale Rider (dh and me)- Million Dollar Baby (dh and me)- The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl (kids and/or all of us)
The movies we are recording with our DVR to watch soon:- A Christmas Story (huge favorite of dear husband's)- It's a Wonderful Life (for perspective and sentimentality)- The Santa Clause (huge family favorite, but our VCR broke so we haven't seen it in a while)
The Christmas-holiday-winter specials for the DVR to record:- A Charlie Brown Christmas (of course!!)- Dr. Suess's The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (the animated version, a HUGE favorite for dh and me; we dislike the Jim Carrey version rather a lot)- Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (what parent can resist "Put One Foot in Front of the Other...")- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys- Frosty the Snowman, and Frosty Returns (not favorites, but they're fine)- A St. Olaf Christmas (always wanted to see this but always missed it)- Some other Christmas music specials, I forget what- Christmas from St. Peter's, the televised Christmas Eve/Day midnight mass with Pope Benedict XIV
It's time to scan next week's schedule for versions of the Christmas Carol; I want to see the 1930s one, the 1940s one, and the Patrick Stewart one. This year I really want to read the story (for the first time), and I DO have a copy now.
Another list is obvious from earlier posts: the list of knitting projects on the needles. I added another -- a dishcloth using the dishcloth cotton my mother-in-law sent me and one pair of the many family knitting needles she sent me as well (wonderful gift!), and using a "DW" pattern. Super easy and quick, and I need more hand-size dishcloths, so it's perfect.
Then there's the list of books borrowed from the library, mostly (about 10?) fun little mysteries that I plan to enjoy during Christmas vacation, next Thursday through the Monday after New Year's Day. I have a bunch from a needlework-shop-owner detective series, a series of coffeehouse-related mysteries, and a scrapbook-related mystery. Who knew such things existed? They're fun. I also borrowed the new Anne Rice novel about the young Christ, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt. I borrowed Guns, Germs, and Steel AGAIN because my nonfiction book group's discussion inspired me to finish it. I also borrowed a Ken Haedrich cookbook about soups, breads, and salads, in hope of being inspired by one of my favorite cookbook authors.
Lists, lists, lists. I'm making those lists and checking them twice. It'll work, so long as I spend as much time the next seven days on the to-do kinds of lists as I do on the for-fun kinds of lists.
Monday, December 12, 2005
My Harry Potter right sock for Son2, based on the SixSoxKnitalong Go Team! pattern. I'm going to park the stitches before decreasing for the toe, and start the second sock -- because he's a growing boy!
Same Harry Potter right sock, inner-leg side.
My simple top-down fair isle hat, the beginning. I'm up to 34 stitches on each of 4 needles.
Simple top-down fair isle hat, a close-up view. You can see the eight stitches of the Ocker cast-on for a circular center start. If you know what you're looking for you can see where I had to pull out 4-6 rows early on and then couldn't figure out where the decreases were happening so it was impossible to get the stitches back on the needles with the same orientation. Ooops; obviously it doesn't matter much (enough?) to me, since I just forged onward.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
This weekend is all about the birthday parties. And the knitting. And probably a real effort at pulling together a Christmas card design. In between birthday party forays, of course.
This morning I took both boys to a birthday party at an inflatables place, where they bounced and slid and played live, well-padded Rock'm Sock'm Robots with each other. This evening it'll be a bowling birthday party for Son1, and us if we'd like to bowl too. Tomorrow afternoon we're off with both boys to another friend's at-home birthday party.
In the meantime, I made a plan for knitting myself a hat! I need an easy knitting project, since all of the coffee to-go cup sleeves are done and I'm back to colorwork sock knitting -- which requires some focus. I decided to park the toe of Son1's first Harry Potter sock and cast on for the second sock. He's a growing boy, so I finally decided to wait on the toe of sock No. 1 until I was at the toe of sock No. 2. Anyway, I've started a hat for me for a second project.
I'm using deep navy blue as the background color, and I pulled out the light blue, yellow, deep red, and white as possibilities for the purl stripes and some colorwork on the side of the hat. I plan to vary the background color as in the fair isle hat in the first link above. I'm a little concerned about the light weight of the sportweight wool yarn, but the stranded colorwork should make those parts of the hat warmer. I'll keep that in mind as I invent the hat! Basically I'm going to invent things as I go along. Oh my. I'm excited!
Next, a Christmas card design. Probably work on that tonight and tomorrow early afternoon. Hmm.
By the way, the arctic air is gone and the snow is nearly gone even in the north-facing gutters and roof nooks; it's 55F today and sunny!
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
I used Brown Sheep Company's Top of the Lamp sportweight wool for most of these coffee to-go cup sleeves that I made over the last few weeks. They're being sold at my church's holiday bazaar today. They were quick and easy, for the most part.
Sportweight was a good choice; it made this a fast project, a couple of hours per cup sleeve, usually. I wanted a dark color on at least one edge to mask coffee drips. When I got frustrated that my normal bindoff was too tight I found and learned a new binding off stitch, and that was cool. You can see that at the bottom edge of the two multi-colored cup sleeves (in the second photo, on the right).
I got fancy with the multi-colored cup sleeves. I wove in the bottom ends then brought them up and out the top, braided them with the others, made a knot, and trimmed a casual tassel -- just for something different. I think I'm gonna knit me up one of those!
Red and white
The colors of the very popular local state university.Offset ribbing (intentionally switched from k2p2 to p2k2 halfway through the middle stripe), slip stitch rows, checkerboard stitch I think (k2p2 for 2 rows, then p2k2 for 2 rows, etc.), and a simple stripe.
Blue and yellow
Offset ribbing, multiple stripes.
Multicolored
One strand Opal pastel variegated sock weight yarn and one strand Top of the Lamb (T-o-t-L). It didn't occur to me to change needle size! Both start with 2-3 rows of deep blue T-o-t-L with the Opal. On the left the base T-o-t-L is yellow, and on the right it's white. The lefthand one is checkerboard stitch for the top half, merged into ribbing for the bottom half by way of a bunch of random decreases -- don't look too close! The righthand one is seed stitch for the top half and ribbing for the bottom half -- with fewer stitches cast on and thus no need for weird decreases.
Son2 LOVES the yellow-and-Opal version. He declares it BEAUTIFUL. I like the white-and-Opal version a lot, myself. Before I knit myself one of those, though, I'm working on a deep red cup sleeve with a wild red-orange-yellow Squiggle upper part!
Very cool: Son1 is deep into reading the knitting books I got for him at the library. Kids Knit, Kids Knitting!, Sunny's Mittens, and another beginner kids' knitting book. I think the best are Melanie Falick's Kids Knitting! and Sunny's Mittens. He now wants to make mittens, which means learning to wrangle double-pointed needles AND getting some appropriate wool yarn. In true knitter fashion, he wants to start right now with any yarn I have! I've created another knitter!!
UPDATE: Son1 changed his mind; now he's started knitting squares to make into bean bags, following Melanie Falick's recipe in Kids Knitting! -- what a good idea. He shopped my stash of old solid-colors acrylic yarn that I bought from a friend in my first months of stash building, for purposes such as this. I'm dropping hints on ways he could hold the yarn, or bring the new loop through, etc., to help with some of his frustrations. Right now he knits very evenly though a bit tightly.
It's snowing! For the last 10 minutes around our humble abode the snow has been falling. Thanks to the cold days we've had, the street and driveway are NOT melting anything at all. The streets and driveways have a thin, white covering, and the white stuff is blowing from the edges of roofs.
This stuff makes a noise when it hits the windows, so I don't think it's snowflakes. It looks more like pellets. It's handy to have a shelf full of weather / meteorology books that dear husband and I have collected since college days. So, I thumbled through my old Observer's Handbook, c1982, Her Majesty's Stationery Office (college textbook!) and read the description of snow pellets (no mention of graupel). Okay, time for the Peterson's Guide to the Atmosphere. Hmm, no obvious answer here either. Finally I pulled out LaChapelle's Field Guide to Snow Crystals and learned that it could also be simple snow crystals, since it's too cold for the clumpy big fat wet snowflakes of near-freezing temps. I went upstairs for another reason, and realized I could see the snowy stuff up close out my loft office window, which looks right out on various sections of our roof. Definitely pellet-like. Okay, good enough!
That won't matter to anyone unless they're looking forward to starry snowflakes on their coat sleeves and car windows. Fun, though. I love snow, and the scientific arcana about it and about cold places. I really missed the white stuff when we lived in north Florida. If we lived in a more mountainous and cold-winter place I'm pretty sure I'd be a student of winter mountaineering and glaciers, since I never ended up going to Antarctica as a research oceanographer (saline currents off ice shelves, oooh cool).
This stuff is funny right now, because it's too cold for it to stick together or stick to anything else. Between wind gusts it's simply rolling down and falling off those roof sections outside my window.
Here in Oklahoma, we're getting our first taste of winter weather. A cold front came through, followed by arctic cold air. This morning's low was something like 17F; it may creep to a high of around 20F, and then fall to an overnight low of around 9F. It's also rather windy, 20 mph mostly. That means a windchill today around 3F, and tonight dropping to as low as -6F. This is old hat for folks in the northern plains, but not so much for us in the southern plains. Brrr.
The boys are excited that we're supposed to have an inch or so of snow this afternoon, but they don't understand that (1) at these temps, the snow will be so dry that it won't make snowballs, (2) it's so windy that the snow will just blow around, and (3) it's so cold and windy that I won't let them outside to play anyway. Sigh.
Here's what I wrote in an email conversation with some friends today.
We love snow, all except my Ohioan husband, but the thing about today and tomorrow is that it'll be dangerously cold, especially with the wind chill. I forced Son1 to wear a hat to school (he's been objecting lately) and I told him that if for some insane reason they have an outdoor recess today or tomorrow, he's to tell them his parents said he has to stay indoors. There is no playing outdoors for my kids when it's this cold and windy.
For winter weather outdoor play days, here's what I wish I had: silk long underwear. Seriously good layering and outerwear make a big difference in comfort level, but other than my token "play in the snow" effort, I just send my boys into the backyard and prep the hot cocoa for when they come back in. Also a set of dry everything so they can head back out later even if their first gear is wet, LOL.
As far as winter weather in general goes, I had the car serviced, I pulled out the winter hats and mittens, I'm working on a winter weather kit for the car, the house is pretty buttoned down, and I plan to make beef stew and bread for dinner, YUM!
Oh, this is funny. Son1 just complained, "It's still not snowing. How can it be cold outside when it's not even snowing???" LOL.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Haha, Santa's helper! You are the joyful, helpful elf. You are the type who looks for reasons why certain actions could have been taken, or why some things occurred. You mainly do that when the situation affects you. Mostly, you are someone who likes to help others, and you probably attend some community service events. You like to make sure that things are right. You hope for the best for others. Merry Christmas =)
Thursday, December 01, 2005
I'm feeling pretty good about the whole homemaking thing right now. People and house are being taken care of, holiday activities are off to a good start, and I'm even in the mood, after a too-long hiatus, to bake bread and treats and make dinners. Did I mention that the laundry is on a pretty good roll?
Seems a bit vague and everyday, I know. Here's the deal.
Holidays
After our two feasts on the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I thought I wouldn't get the Christmas decorations out until later this week. That worries me because I can end up putting off important Advent and Christmas things and we end up not enjoying the season and our family traditions to the fullest.
On Sunday evening, though, I decided to pull out The Boxes in order to switch the kitchen towels to the holiday/winter ones. While they were open, I got out the snowflake placemats made by Aunt R. and the big snowflake napkins bought on clearance one year. While I was digging around in the boxes, why not get out all sorts of kid-made stuff to put on the mantel?
Next thing I knew, Christmas music was playing, thanks to dear husband and his iTunes Christmas playlist on his laptop! So sweet -- he knows I absolutely love all kinds of Christmas music. Son1 got into the swing of things and eagerly helped move things, put away autumn things, and decorate the mantel. Yay!
First seasonal music played in Advent: whatever dear husband played Sunday evening. On Monday I listened to DirecTV's XM satellite radio's wacky Christmas music channel. Or maybe it was their Nashville Christmas channel? Probably both. On Tuesday Son2 and I finally brought out my box of Advent and Christmas CDs and tapes, and I played some instrumental Celtic Christmas music, followed by Leon Redbone's Christmas Island and two Amy Grant Christmas CDs. I snagged my absolute favorite for-the-car Advent/Christmas music: Kathy Mattea's Good News. Today at home I'll put on my ultimate favorite Advent/Christmas music: medieval! and a little bit of Renaissance; gotta have those celestial choirs.
Most of our Christmas decorating this year will probably be serious decluttering so we can enjoy our living areas. Plus the Advent wreath, electric candles in the windows, the decorated mantel, all of the Advent and Christmas books piled on the hearth, and, later, the Christmas tree. An example of the decluttering I mean: last night we put away everything that was on the card table and got out some jigsaw puzzles. Son1 put together half of dear husband's 3-d British telephone booth before bed, and when he finishes he plans to start dear husband's 500-piece flat puzzle of a violin, yikes. THIS is why I've wanted a card table!
House
On the house front: the handymen we hired to do outside repairs on our house have finished half the tasks over the last two days, which is a huge relief. The siding on the upper half of the chimney that was water damaged has been replaced and they'll also correct the problem, the problems with the vent openings at the peak of the roof are being corrected, and they'll be back to do the rest. Big relief to get that taken care of, with the money in the bank for it.
It's time to get quotes on replacing the back fence. And attend to some other household maintenance things, indoors and out. It'll be very good to get more things taken care of rather than worry about them.
People
As the weather turned cool and cold, we realized Son1 had some serious gaps in his cool/cold-weather wardrobe. I'm thankful to be connected to enough friends with boys of varying ages so we receive plenty of hand-me-downs for most of the boys' clothing needs. But this year I've noticed a big need for long-sleeved tops for Son1, and Son2 could use a few more as well.
Yesterday Son1 and I went to a big-box store and got a plain long-sleeved T-shirt, a waffle-weave long-sleeved top, a turtleneck, and a fleece pullover for him; a waffle-weave long-sleeved top and a fleece pullover for Son2 who already has turtlenecks and long-sleeved T-shirts; coordinating nice long-sleeved T-shirts for the two of them for church and other dress-up occasions; and khakis for Son1 for church (he revealed that he prefers them to jeans for church, surprising me!). They're all in great fall colors for my guys (deep red, khaki green, deep olive green, navy blue) at nice low prices. And I've introduced to them the idea of layering, an excellent idea in a high-heating-cost winter, a/k/a The House Will Be Cool.
The things that aren't hidden with hand-me-downs are (a) shrinkage and (b) durability. When something has already been worn a bunch, you already know the size it's going to be AND how it's going to last and look after some wear. I washed all of the new things last night and... Son1's plain long-sleeved T-shirt shrunk some and might be too small, but the rest came through the laundry just fine. Whew!
I would prefer to buy at a second-hand store (Son1's jeans came that way), but this worked for this season. This afternoon we keep looking for cold-weather shoes for Son1 to replace his basically shredded athletic shoes.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;for all of them are clothed...Psalm 31
I've heard there's a possibility of snow after this upcoming weekend. Heh.
UPDATE: Son1 now has light-hiking-boot-type winter shoes, and Son2 has LLBean-style slip-on winter shoes. If this winter brings snow, ice, sleet, graupel, or even the lowly cold rain, they now have better footgear for it than this morning, and that makes me happy. | {
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Friday, January 23, 2015
The beginning of the R01 twin strategy
Parents of twins will probably laugh at my naivete, but as someone who always wanted two kids
Mother with twins
I always thought that twins were the most efficient way to achieve that goal: you have two of them at once and you're done. So I didn't bat an eye when one if my senior faculty mentors outlined what I will call the "R01 twin strategy" to me.
His reasoning was that getting a first R01 with early investigator status, a good funding history and good productivity should be doable, but the big ordeal is then getting that second R01, which is orders of magnitude harder that the first one. If my first R01 goes in in June and the second in October as planned, the Just In Time update for the second grant will include a funding decision for the first one...the unlikely chance that the first one gets funded could kill the second one. The alternative strategy is to develop them as fraternal twins, separate in all fashions (topic, approach and study section) and send them out into the world, i.e. the CSR, together. Then the JIT will say "pending" for both. If they get rejected, you resubmit together. If one gets funded, mazel tov! If both get funded, double mazel tov, golden confetti, and a serious discussion with the dean about lab space!!
It's bold and some will say it's suicidal. The huge issue is planning, because splitting the time to work on two major grants means half the writing effort and, in this funding climate, that could mean disaster. Yet, this is very appealing to me. I thought some of my other senior mentors would yell at me for proposing this, but they actually were intrigued and thought it was a viable idea as long as it was carried out correctly. Anyone who ever knew me in college knows my multitasking schedules to be the stuff of legend (and cause of endless teasing)... I have 19 weeks: if split in alternating 4 weeks intervals for each grant, that gives me 2 full months each, plus 3 extra weeks. So I'll commit to a pilot run: 1 week to outline 2 sets of specific aims, 4 weeks for each grant, then I'll decide whether to drop one or keep going on both. I've been on break from grant writing since August and this is an exciting new challenge.
I'll try and blog through it. Just as a preview of what's to come, today I had an experiment planning meeting with the co-PI on one of the grants and I started working on the new biosketch that will be used starting in June. This last endeavor caused a minor meltdown. You see, the new biosketch gets rid of your publication list and asks you to point out your major accomplishments and contributions to science, and I had nothing to say. What have I done that is really significant? I don't have a single major discovery that pushed science forward. No Science, Cell or Nature paper. How do I fake this? After a moment of panic and some soothing rounds of Candy Crush, I started writing possible contributions and grouping papers under them. I have been at the forefront of next-generation sequencing identifying multiple novel disease genes. I have defined guidelines for genetic testing in different population. I have pioneered blah, blah, blah. I have made sure healthy babies were born, goddammit! Okay, maybe R01 #2 will have a presentable biosketch...but that's the one with the least preliminary data. Where are the cell biology and mouse genetics pubs for R01 #1? Crap, that's the R00 conversion. This paper we're writing better be going out pronto!...And as you see I'm rapidly spinning out of control.
What do you think, readers, am I a) insane, b) ridiculously cocky, c) just right? Will I survive?
6 comments:
Wow! OK I think you're maybe a little insane, but maybe that's because there's no way in hell I could write 2 R01s from scratch for the same deadline. I would for sure get burned out, and would worry that alternating between working on the two would make me lose focus on both. But from reading your blog, I get the impression that you've got your shit together way more than I do, so if you feel you can do it, it's always better to have more stuff in!
That said, I'm just not sure if the risk that's making you want to do this is real. I've never heard of someone getting back to back fundable scores and the 2nd one getting not funded because of the first one. If anything, as you know, funding begets funding, and you're maybe more likely to get a better score on the 2nd one if the first one hits (provided they're completely distinct projects, like you say).
Also, you mentioned that one of the grants has a co-PI. Is that PI ESI too? If not, then that trumps your ESI status and the grant doesn't get ESI consideration, so then it really doesn't make much sense to worry about each grant being considered simultaneously.
Does being a co-PI trump NI status too? I am planning an RO1 grant with my ex-mentor, but I am going to stay as a Co-I so as to keep my NI status. However, if the NI is not counted when you team with an established investigator, I might as well become co-PI on the grant.
How is my New Investigator status changed if I am part of a multi-project award?If the new investigator is assigned a PD/PI role for the overall multi-project application, the individual will lose their NI status when the award is made. If the new investigator is the lead of a project or core, but not the PD/PI for the overall application, the individual will retain NI status when the award is made.
I have ESI status but I plan to submit a Multiple PI application. Will my application be flagged as ESI?As with applications from New Investigators (see the Definition of New Investigator at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/index.htm), a multiple PD/PI R01 application will be flagged as an ESI application only if all the listed PD/PIs have ESI status at the time of submission.
I dont agree with the advice you are getting.I dont think you can trick NIH into giving you two grants if they dont think you can handle it by submitting them at the same time, and if they do think you can handle it, they prefer the awards to be at least a little staggered.I think the only benefit to submitting two applications if is you have the ideas, the preliminary data, and the time/energy to write them, and dont want to wait.
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About Me
I'm a biomedical research scientist venturing into starting an independent research lab in academia. The goal of this blog is to share my experience and new/interesting ideas about management and grant writing with friends and colleagues. All ideas expressed in this blog are my own. | {
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Thursday, 31 March 2011
Those of you who are Lithuanian (and maybe Polish or Russian or Latvian) might know what "Kaziuko Muge" is. For those of you who is not aware I will try to describe it. Well it is a Lithuanian fair where lots of people come together on the street and sell hand made stuff like jewelery, crafts, food and many other things. Others come just to buy (like me!). The fair is traditionally held on the Sunday nearest to St. Casimir's Day, March 4, the day Saint Casimir died. I know I am writing about this now when it is almost April, but I have been lucky this year. I recently went to Lithuania for my mums birthday (11th of March) and realized that the Fair have been moved forward to 12th-13th of March. I got excited of course and grabbed a bunch of friends (including my mum) and made my way to the Laisves Aleja (Freedom Alley) where "Kaziuko Muge" takes place. You won't believe how many things I bought! First I got attracted by two wooden angels that you can see above (I have a thing for angels ;)). I also found the earnings with red stones in the middle very pretty (red is one of my favorite colors) displayed bellow....
On top of this I bought 1kg of wool tread... Call me crazy, but I do love knitting! The only thing is that I can't find time for this indulge :(. I got so many unfinished knitting projects! Once I was knitting gloves for my dad (birthday present) and I did not finish it, but I did write a card with a promise to finish.... Three years later he still sometimes shows me the card with the promise (he uses that card as his book-marker) and the gloves are still not finished, but they are still somewhere and I still can promise that it will be completed!.... one day... :/
At the fair some elderly was selling a hand made soap and I always wanted to learn how to make my own soap, but until that happens I bought the whole lot... seven blocks :/...Well they did smell nice and looked all pretty like cakes....and I was too greedy to share it with my friend Vicki :(
And finally, I bought herbs. Most of them are wild flowers, weeds and things that grow unwanted everywhere. Well you know... nettle for instance :) I have never seen anybody sowing nettle seed, nettle just comes uninvited whether you want it or not. But, before you get all angry with the nettle I have to say: nettle has good qualities! Like people, nettle is not perfect, but definitely wants to be friendly. Nettle tea fights coughs, tuberculosis and asthma; It also counters arthritis, rheumatism, tendonitis and other disorders of the muscles and joints; Nettle tea combats a variety of intestinal disorders; Nettle tea fights skin problems; Nettle tea fights allergies like eczema, and hay fever. And many many more things :)
Finally I would just like to say that "Kaziuko Muge" is lots of fun and is a must visit event when you are in Lithuania! And you can always negotiate prices there! Well that's the part I find most fun! :)
Sunday, 20 March 2011
I don’t know about you but I am a big fan of the American sitcom “Desperate Housewives”. In fact that's the only TV program I watch! Anyway, there is one part I find really funny where Bree (the one that has her own catering business) tried to steal the recipe from Katherine (one of her neighbors in Wisteria Lane). It all started when “the girls” (other neighbours) liked Katherine's lemon meringue pie better than Bree’s. Bree of course gets jealous (as you may all know she likes to be the best in baking). Initially she asks for the recipe, but to my surprise Katherine refuses! So Bree goes for even more shocking action and tries to steal it by breaking into the the Katherine’s house.... I always wonder why in Wisteria Lane people don’t lock their door? Is this what they do in USA? That surely would not work in London if you can imagine!
Anyway, few weeks ago I had a similar situation. My best friend Vicki’s birthday was coming up and I was looking for a good cake recipe she would really like. I knew Vicki loves cheesecakes, chocolate, coffee and alcohol (sometimes I am even concerned that she might be an alcoholic... ha ha, only joking ;-)). Anyway, I remembered that she really liked the cake that one girl (her name is Jada) from my Church made . It was a cake made of cookies, cream and of course alcohol! I decided to ask Jada for the recipe as I knew she got it from her aunt. And guess what, Jada told me that her aunt does not want to give that recipe away!!! I was gobsmacked! How can this be? At that point I felt exactly like Bree felt, I finally could relate and understand her motivations to commit her “crime”. I bet if Jada’s aunt was living in the setting of Wisteria Lane and especially if she did not lock her house door, I would be definitely tempted to steal that recipe! Never mind, I have realized that I still live in London and I absolutely have no idea where Jada’s aunt lives. So I had to come up with more civilized option. I decided to create a recipe from my own memory of how that desert tasted. I can only say that the cake came out successful and it managed to generate me some praising (that I always love!). And... Jada, if you are reading this, I am definitely not upset. I am actually really proud of you that you managed to keep the promise you gave to your aunt :)
1. Mix coconut milk with the rum.
First time I made this cake ( when testing the ingredients) I bought coconut milk that was creamy and thick. but when I was making it second time (for the actual birthday) I bought different brand ("Island Sun") and it came runny and not as sweet as previous brand. I was initially panicking, but quickly fixed it with a little bit of icing sugar (I find that icing sugar blends easier) and creamed coconut (luckily I had it in my cupboard!). I think it came out as good as the first time!
2. Dip cookies in badges and let it soak in rum and coconut milk mix for a little but no longer than 3min (otherwise it will turn into porridge!)
3. Line all soaked cookies into the spring form.
4. Whip double cream and cover cookies with it (Just don't whip it too much as then it is difficult for it to get through the cookies' gaps). I Don't think Jada put double cream in her cake but I did it so my cake looks pretty :D
5. Decorate it with flaked chocolate (just take the bit of plain dark chocolate and run knife edge trough it. At least that's the way I find the easiest to flake the chocolate.
6. Before enjoying keep it in the fridge for at least one night (Don't be tempted to put into freezer).
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
I just came back from IFE Food and Drink Exhibition where I had such a great time! It was overwhelming as I not only had a opportunity to try different foods but also to see new products that are about to come onto the market (to the shops to be available for us to buy and enjoy).
The winner in my mind is this drink called "Wood Juice Birch" (made from Birch sap). The reason why I can appreciate it is because I know the truth value of it as traditionally in Lithuania (in old days) we used to collect tree "sap" (in Lithuania we call it "sula") for many health benefits (my grandma could make you the whole list for you). It's only available in spring as the water streams (sap) starts traveling trough the tree after heavy winter, therefore this would not work in UK (simply because there is not enough of snow during winter).
Here is the description on the bottle: "From centuries Birch was seen as very beneficial for human health. It was used to help eliminating extensive water from organism and get rid of body toxins. It was recognized by great nutrition and health values. Birch sap is 100% vegetal juice collected on early spring directly from the trees located in untouched nature where no industrial facilities are around...."
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About Me
I will start with saying that I was never born as a perfect cook. I only
got in love with baking and food later in life when I moved to London
and had no other option as learning to satisfy my all time hunger for
cakes. Yes, it is bad habit to eat sweet, especially just after the
dinner but every time I can't resist the feeling that somehow the dinner
is just not completed without the dessert!
My learning took bit by bit from watching my friends cook and eventually
from following the recipes. My first time experience on baking was when
I was 9 years old. I baked a cake to impress my mum for her birthday. I
don’t know what went wrong, but it came out really flat, thin and
unbaked inside. I will always remember the expression on my mum's face:
she was trying to eat it with the smile on her face. So... if after this
I can bake I believe everybody have a potential to do it too. The most
important ingredient for it is love for food!
Anyway, I am coming to the end. My main dream is to open a community cafe So
keep following my blog if you interested to see my journey towards this goal.
Thank you so much for your support :-) | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
The Duckworth-Lewis Method
In first-class cricket matches, each team has two-innings, ten wickets to lose in each inning and no limit on the number of overs in which to use those ten wickets. However, there is typically a four or five day limit on the length of the match. The aim is to score as many runs as possible and a team is declared the winner if they have scored more runs than the other team over both innings' provided that their opposition has lost all their wickets. Thus if one team has scored less runs but has not lost all their wickets when time runs out, the match is declared a draw.
A one-day cricket match consists of one innings per team with 10 wickets to lose and a 50-over limit on the innings. So unlike first-class cricket, a one-day cricket match must have a winner unless each team's score is the same at the end of the match, in which case the result is a tie.
Cricket cannot be played in inclement weather (such as rain or bad light). A first-class match can simply resume from where it left off after a rain delay. Adopting this philosophy in a one-day match could easily prevent the match from completing in a single day due to time constraints. Thus there must be rules that shorten a rain-affected match so that the rain delay doesn't advantage either team.
This provides a real life problem for statisticians and mathematicians to solve. In this first of a series of articles we outline some of the methods used to calculate revised targets in rain-affected matches and we describe in detail how the current method, the Duckworth-Lewis method, is used. We then give some real life situations of rain-affected matches where the Duckworth-Lewis method was or could have been used.
Let's use the 1992 World Cup semi-final between England and South Africa as an example of a rain-affected match. Due to rain before the match commenced, each team was restricted to 45 overs. England scored 6/252 batting first and South Africa in reply were 6/231 after 42.5 overs before rain interrupted play with South Africa requiring 22 runs from 13 balls with 4 wickets in hand. With a place in the World Cup final at stake, it was crucial that the overs to be lost by South Africa did not advantage or disadvantage either team. We show how this match proceeded later in the article.
Over the years there have been many different methods used to recalculate targets after rain delays. A simple method is the Average Run Rate (ARR) method in which the team with the higher average number of runs per over faced is declared the winner. In the Most Productive Overs (MPO) method, the target for the team batting second, when their innings is reduced to x overs, is the sum of the x highest scoring overs of the team that batted first. Both these methods, along with the others, have flaws and would regularly disadvantage one of the teams.
When play resumed in the 1992 World Cup semi-final, enough time had been lost that 2 overs had to be removed from South Africa's innings, leaving them with just 1 ball to face. The MPO method in use at the time controversially calculated that South Africa's target was only reduced by one run and thus they required 21 runs from the remaining 1 ball, which left them in an impossible position, and England advanced to the World Cup Final. This match clearly highlighted the need for a better method for calculating revised targets in one-day matches.
Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis, two statisticians in England, together invented a method for fairly calculating revised targets and it has been the official method used in one-day international matches since 1997. It is based around the fact that batting sides have two types of resources with which to score their runs - wickets and overs - and that their potential for run scoring depends on both these resources.
They define a function P(u,w) that denotes the average proportion of runs yet to be scored by a side in an innings with u overs left to be bowled and w wickets lost. Extensive research and statistical methods led to the creation of this function, which cannot be disclosed due to commercial confidentiality. However, Table 1 is an excerpt of the table containing P(u,w) values for a few select values of u and w. Click here for the full fifty over 2002 Duckworth-Lewis table.
Table 1: An excerpt of the 2002 Duckworth-Lewis table
Overs left \ Wkts lost
0
2
5
7
9
10
50
100.0
85.1
49.0
22.0
4.7
0.0
40
89.3
77.8
47.6
22.0
4.7
0.0
30
75.1
67.3
44.7
21.8
4.7
0.0
20
56.6
52.4
38.6
21.2
4.7
0.0
10
32.1
30.8
26.1
17.9
4.7
0.0
0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
The statistics in the table implicitly show the tactics and the way the game is played. At the start of a full innings, the batting side has 100% of its resources still available, so P(50,0)=100%. Every over bowled and each wicket lost results in a loss of resources for the batting team. Every time there is an interruption that causes overs to be lost, the batting side unfairly loses resources. Fairly or unfairly, how much resource they have lost depends on the stage of the innings and the number of wickets lost.
Stating this formally, if rain interrupts play with a team w wickets down with u1 overs remaining and play resumes with u2 overs remaining, then they have lost P(u1,w) - P(u2,w) of their resources and whether they are batting first or second, the Duckworth-Lewis method needs to reset their score (if batting first) or their target (if batting second) to reflect this loss of resources.
Let us first take the case where team 1 has completed its innings uninterrupted, that is they had 100% of their resources available, scoring S runs and suppose that team 2 has its innings interrupted and overs are lost. We can easily calculate the proportion of resources team 2 has at its disposal after a rain delay. The new target for team 2 will be set so that the ratio of team 2's target to team 1's score is the same as the ratio of team 2's resources available to team 1's resources available. That is,
Put simply, if team 2 only has available x% of the resources that team 1 had, then they only have to score x% of the runs team 1 scored. Note that the revised target is always rounded down and this is the target for a tie. To win the match, the team batting second needs to score at least one more run than the target.
For example, suppose a team is 5 wickets down with 20 overs remaining when rain causes 10 overs to be lost. When they leave the field, the batting side still has P(20,5)=40.0% of their resources remaining. After the rain delay they only have P(10,5)=27.5% of their resources available, so they have unfairly lost P(20,5)-P(10,5)=12.5% of their resources. In other words, assuming there are no more rain interruptions, this team only has 87.5% of the resources team 1 had available. Thus if the team was batting second chasing S to win, their new target would be S x (1 - P(20,5) + P(10,5)) = S * 87.5%.
When rain interrupts and overs are lost from the innings of the team batting second it always disadvantages them and hence their target is reduced as we just described. When rain interrupts the innings of team 1, in which case match officials try arrange the loss of overs so that each team's innings is reduced by the same amount, it sometimes disadvantages the team batting first and sometimes disadvantages the team batting second.
For instance, if team 1 still has 8 wickets in hand when rain caused the premature closure to their innings with 10 overs remaining, they are significantly disadvantaged, since it is highly likely they would have scored a lot more runs, and hence the target for team 2 should be increased. While if team 1 was 9 wickets down when rain caused a premature closure to their innings with 25 overs remaining, this benefits them because it was unlikely they were going to score many more runs anyway, and hence the target for team 2 should be decreased.
These scenarios can still be modelled in terms of loss of resources. Let R1 denote the resources available for team 1 and R2 denote the resources available for team 2. If the reduction of overs meant that team 1 has more resources available than team 2 (that is R1 > R2), then team 1 has been advantaged and the target for team 2 will be reduced as per Equation 1. If the reduction of overs meant that team 1 has the same amount of resources available as team 2 (that is R1 = R2), then no team has been disadvantaged so the target will not be changed. If the reduction of overs meant that team 1 has fewer resources available than team 2 (that is R1 < R2), then team 1 has been disadvantaged and the target for team 2 will be increased (see Situation 3). In this situation, team 2's target will not be increased using Equation 1, because scaling up team 2's target by the ratio of resources available to each team can sometimes lead to distorted results. Instead, team 2's target is scaled up by applying the excess resource team 1 has (R1 - R2) to the average score achieved in a full uninterrupted first innings, G, which currently is 225.
In summary, if team 1 scores S runs, then the revised target T for team 2 to tie is as follows:
The newer Professional Version of the Duckworth-Lewis method which is currently used at the elite level and requires a computer for calculations, overcomes the problem of distorted results when team 2's target need to be increased. For amateur matches where the use of a computer is not guaranteed, the standard method we have outlined is used.
Since the Duckworth-Lewis method came into operation in 1997, their tables have been updated a few times to reflect changes in the game, specifically the overall increase in scoring rate and the change in scoring patterns.
Real Life Examples
We have seen how to apply the Duckworth-Lewis tables for all different stages of the match in which a rain interruption might occur. Let us have a look at some real match situations and how the Duckworth-Lewis method would be applied. We will start with that infamous and controversial World Cup match in 1992.
Situation 1
In the rain interrupted 1992 World Cup semi-final, each side was reduced to a maximum of 45 overs. England batted first and scored 6/252. South Africa in reply was 6/231 after 42.5 overs when rain interrupted play causing 2 overs of play to be lost. By the Duckworth-Lewis method what should South Africa's revised target have been?
Answer 1
The first rain interruption caused each team's innings to be reduced by 5 overs. As the resources of each team have both been depleted to 95% no correction is required for this interruption.
However, the rain interruption that occurred during South Africa's innings came with 2.1 overs remaining and 6 wickets lost. The loss of two overs at this stage of the innings cost South Africa approximately 6.8% of their resources by the Duckworth-Lewis tables at the time. Using Table 2, South Africa's target to tie should be
Rounding down gives the score for South Africa to tie as 233. Thus South Africa's target for victory would have been 234 and they would have required 3 runs of the remaining delivery. Recall this compares to the 21 runs required under the MPO method, which was actually in place at the time.
Situation 2
In February 2006 India batted first in a one day international against Pakistan and scored 328 all out. Pakistan in reply was 7/311 after 47 overs when play was abandoned. Who won the match?
Answer 2
Losing the final three overs (at 7 wickets down) corresponds to a loss of 7.3% of resources by the Duckworth-Lewis tables at the time. This then makes Pakistan's target to tie
Thus Pakistan needed to be on more than 304 for victory. Since they were on 311, they were declared the winners by 7 runs.
Situation 3
In Perth in 1983, England had reached 3/45 after 17.3 overs before a heavy thunderstorm caused play to be delayed and each innings to be reduced to 23 overs. In their remaining 5.3 overs, England scored 43 runs for a total of 88 runs. The method at the time made no change to the target for New Zealand and they won easily. By the 2002 Duckworth-Lewis tables, what should New Zealand's target have been?
Answer 3
At the point play was stopped England still had roughly 64% of their resources remaining. When play resumed they had approximately 15% of resources available. This corresponds to a loss of 49% of resources and hence they only had 51% of their resources at their disposal. New Zealand had 62.7% of their resources at their disposal.
By the third line in Equation 2 (using G=225), the target for New Zealand to tie would have been
Hence, New Zealand would have required 115 for victory rather than 89.
In our next article, we will go into more depth as to why the Duckworth-Lewis method is a good method, including how their tables describe the way the game is played today. | {
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Tag: Goose Island
Kate Alimpiyeva, who moved to the U.S. from Ukraine in 1999, had a cultural taste for tartness that predated the cusp of the sour beer craze here in the States. Even as the trend dawned, she longed for something that never quite made the jump to the U.S.—a traditional, fermented Eastern European beverage called kvass... View Article
Time is relative, and a year can both be experienced as a blink of an eye or a whole decade, creeping along. Casting my glance backward, I’m surprised to find a year of beer looks more like that decade; it’s possible that more change hit the brewing world in 2015 than any year since... View Article
Those wild ales you love might not be so wild.September 29, 2015 - Jeff Alworth
One of the best breweries I know is so obscure and out-of-the-way that most people living an hour and a quarter away, in Portland, don’t even know it exists. It’s named Solera, appropriately, after an equally obscure technique of nurturing wild ales. In an era of hops, the brewery does have one IPA, but mostly... View Article
(Press Release) CHICAGO and FENNVILLE, Mich.—Goose Island Beer Company of Chicago and Virtue Cider Company of Fennville, Michigan, announced a partnership today in which Goose Island will become the majority shareholder in Virtue Cider. Founders Gregory Hall and Stephen Schmakel will continue to be the creative and operational force behind the business. Virtue will utilize... View Article
We all know how craft beer history goes. Beer was great until the 19th century, when mass production of lagers took over the world, and American brewers put corn and rice in their beer to make it cheaper. By 1950, everyone was hypnotized by marketing into drinking the fizzy yellow beer. It looked bad, but... View Article
How did you get into brewing? I was fortunate enough to go to Kalamazoo College, in Kalamazoo, MI in 1990. By that time Larry Bell was fairly well established at his brewery, so my first microbrew experiences were some of Larry Bell’s creations. I started homebrewing shortly after moving there. I also had the opportunity... View Article | {
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} |
You
can buy giselle Perfume on sale today and it can be shipped to you
for a reasonable fee. We update our site daily so check
back for more giselle by Carla Fracci Perfume.
Womens giselle by Carla Fracci
Giselle is a fruity-floral, very fresh and quite watery. It's moderately sweet, crisp and provide attire and classic beauty to women. This comprising of caramel, musk, vanilla, white honey and cinnamon, freesia, jasmine, coconut and tuberose and ylang ylang. It is smooth and distinctive with long lasting pleasant effect to appeal. | {
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OKLAHOMA ALL-HAZARDS INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM (AHIMT)
PROGRAM MANUAL
Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
1 ADOPTED 04/09/2010
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program Manual was developed in a collaborative process by the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee. The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee is a multiagency, multijurisdictional, and multi-discipline committee representing various stakeholders in all-hazards incident management.
Dennis Beyer
Tulsa Fire Department
Chairman
Franklin Barnes
Oklahoma City Police Department - Oklahoma City Emergency Management
Recorder
Gary Davis
Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security
Member
Carl Hickman
Mustang Fire Department
Member
Cecil Michael
Rural Fire Coordinators
Member
David Barnes
Oklahoma County Emergency Management
Member
Ed Kostiuk
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Member
Garrett Thornton
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM)
Member
J.D. Wilson
Oklahoma Highway Patrol
Member
Keith Bryan
Nichols Hills Fire Department
Member
Richard Love, Sr.
Oklahoma City Public Works Department
Member
Mark Goeller
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry – Forestry Division
Member
Steve George
OSU Fire Service Training
Member
Mike Murphy
Regional Medical Response System/EMSA
Member
Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee
Adopted: April 9, 2010
Revised: July 16, 2010
Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
2 ADOPTED 04/09/2010
Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
3 ADOPTED 04/09/2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC
PAGE
Mission Statement
4
Definition of Program
4
Background
4
Definitions
5
Oklahoma AHIMT Administrative Oversight
5 Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee
5 Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Goals
6 Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Objectives
6 Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Operating Procedures
7 Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Responsibilities
7 Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security (OKOHS)
7 Host Agency or Jurisdiction
7 AHIMT Program Manual
8
Creating an All-Hazards Incident Management Team
8 Identifying Stakeholders and Participants
8 Memorandum of Understanding
8 AHIMT Team Manual
9
AHIMT Purpose and Function
9
AHIMT Organization
10
AHIMT Staffing and Personnel Selection
10 Application and Selection Process
11 Removal from Team
13
Training
13 Prerequisite Training for AHIMT Membership
13 Training After Joining AHIMT
13 Position Task Books (PTB)
14 Cross Training
14 Continuing Education
14
Funding and Reimbursement
15
Position Responsibilities
15 Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
4 ADOPTED 04/09/2010
TOPIC
PAGE
General Concept of Operations
16 Requesting and Activating
16 Deployment
17 Work/Rest, Length of Assignment, and Days Off
19 Single Site Events
19 Multiple Site Events
19 Delegation of Authority
20 Incident Management
20 Demobilization
20 Performance Evaluation
20 Release and return to Home Unit
21
After-Action Review Process
21 Phase One – Hot Wash
22 Phase Two – Debriefing
22 After-Action Report
23
Complaints
23
Reports
24 Incident Briefing Form (ICS 201)
24 Incident Action Plans (IAP)
24 After-Action Reports (AAR) and Improvement Plans (IP)
24 AHIMT Records Management System
24
Equipment
25 Issued Equipment
25 Vehicle Operations
25 Equipment Accountability and Checkout
25 Equipment Maintenance and Repair
25
Oklahoma AHIMT Program Manual Maintenance
25 Types of Changes
26 Submitting Changes
26 Coordination of Review
26 Approval
26 Notice of Change
26 Distribution
26 Reissuance of the Program Manual
26 Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
5 ADOPTED 04/09/2010
Appendices
Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
6 ADOPTED 04/09/2010
Mission Statement
To provide qualified All-Hazards Incident Management Teams (AHIMT) for the State of Oklahoma and its political subdivisions capable of supporting and assisting in the management of natural and manmade emergencies, disasters and acts of terrorism.
Definition of Program
To provide guidelines and direction for the development, operation, and maintenance of Type 3 AHIMTs based on National Incident Management System (NIMS) standards.
Background
The purpose of an AHIMT is to assist any jurisdiction confronted with an incident beyond its capabilities in either complexity or duration. The team would bring some of the following capabilities to an incident:
A robust management framework to support the jurisdiction in bringing an incident to conclusion Planning and documentation to include assistance in development of Incident Action Plans, Site Safety Plans, etc Logistical support Public information and notification support Operational support and expertise
The local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) will define the AHIMT’s role:
The AHIMT may provide a support role for the local Incident Command System structure. In the event the AHJ requests the AHIMT to manage the incident they will provide a Delegation of Authority to the AHIMT and if appropriate, Unified Command will be used. Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
7 ADOPTED 04/09/2010
Definitions
A Type 3 AHIMT:
Is a multi-agency/multi-jurisdiction team for extended incidents, formed and managed at the State or regional level. Is deployed as a team of 8* or more personnel to manage major and/or complex incidents requiring a significant number of local, regional, state and possibly federal resources, and incidents that extend into multiple operational periods and require a written IAP. May be utilized at incidents such as a tornadoes, earthquake, flood, or multi-day hostage/standoff situation, or at planned mass-gathering events. May initially manage larger, more complex incidents prior to arrival of and transfer of command to a National/State Type 1 or Type 2 IMT. May be deployed anywhere in the State of Oklahoma upon request from the Agency Having Jurisdiction.
*Teams will maintain all positions 3 deep (e.g., A Type 3 AHIMT will roster 3 members for each ICS position) may also include other ICS positions if requested or needed.
Oklahoma AHIMT Administrative Oversight
Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee
The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee consists of representatives of various disciplines and organizations who are stakeholders in the AHIMT program. Stakeholders are the primary users of and providers of personnel for the AHIMT.
The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee consists of the following positions:
OKOHS AHIMT Administrator Oversight Committee Chair Oversight Committee Vice-Chair/Recorder Oversight Committee Members
Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
8 ADOPTED 04/09/2010
The membership of the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee shall minimally consist of representatives from:
Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security (OKOHS) Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH)
o Preparedness & Response Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training (OSU-FST) Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF) Oklahoma Rural Fire Coordinators Oklahoma Emergency Management Association (OEMA) Oklahoma Fire Chiefs Association Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Local Emergency Management Local Law Enforcement Local Fire Department Local Public Works
Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Goals
The Oversight Committee will be an active, decisive body that will represent the stakeholder disciplines and/or agencies, which are the primary participants in and/or users of, All-Hazards Incident Management Teams. The Committee will provide oversight to the operations of the AHIMTs in accordance with the AHIMT Program Manual.
Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Objectives
1. Function as a Qualification Review Committee ensuring that qualified individuals comprise AHIMT membership.
2. Ensure the AHIMT members are provided with validated training.
3. Ensure that qualified individual(s) are selected for the position of Incident Commander.
4. Ensure AHIMT Team Manuals are consistent with the AHIMT Program Manual.
5. Responsible for state credentialing process which follows national guidelines
Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
9 ADOPTED 04/09/2010
Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Operating Procedures
1. The Committee will have equal authority vested to each member.
2. The Committee members will endeavor to meet and participate at Committee meetings.
3. The Committee will regularly meet on the second Friday of the month, except on Holidays, or as needed as determined by the Committee.
Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Responsibilities
1. The Committee will annually review the AHIMT Program Manual and make necessary revisions.
2. The Committee will review the qualifications of individuals who comprise or apply for AHIMT membership.
3. The Committee will review and approve nominations for the position of Incident Commander on the AHIMTs.
4. The Committee will review and approve AHIMT Team Manuals and any revisions that are made.
5. The Committee may have Working Groups comprised of Committee members to work on specific projects or issues related to the AHIMT Program.
6. Responsible for state credentialing process which follows national guidelines.
Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security (OKOHS)
The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security is responsible for:
1. NIMS Compliance and coordination
2. Oversight of NIMS/ICS training in the State of Oklahoma including instructor credentialing.
3. Oversight of All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) training including position specific training and Position Task Books.
4. Oversight of the All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) program following the guidance and recommendations of the AHIMT Oversight Committee.
Host Agency or Jurisdiction
Each AHIMT will require a host agency or jurisdiction responsible for managing administrative needs. The host agency or jurisdiction will provide an Incident Management Team Program Manager (IMTPM), which may be an additional duty assigned to an existing employee, to handle administrative matters relating to the team and provide off-site coordination and support of the team when it is deployed.
The IMTC duties and responsibilities include: Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
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Team Manual development and maintenance. Team roster Team call-out roster Team training schedule Forward and disseminate Team related information to team members concerning meetings, publications and articles of interest, safety items, etc
AHIMT Program Manual
The AHIMT Program Manual is developed and maintained by the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee. The Program Manual is the governance document for all Oklahoma AHIMT Program. Team Manuals must be consistent with the Program Manual. AHIMTs must comply with the Program Manual.
Creating an All-Hazards Incident Management Team
Identifying Stakeholders and Participants in an AHIMT
When creating a team begin by identifying the stakeholders or participating agencies and jurisdictions. If unsure who to involve in the team, then the Capabilities Aggregation Method (CAM C-3) approach may be of assistance in this process.
Capability Center – Immediate jurisdictional boundary. Cities, counties, or tribes that adjoin your jurisdictional boundaries. Capability Cluster – Regional jurisdictions – cities, counties, or tribes that adjoin your Capability Center. Capability Contour – Cities, counties, or tribes that adjoin your Capability Cluster.
AHIMT Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Stakeholders and participants in the All-Hazards Incident Management Team must have Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) in place.
An MOU is the governance document for the AHIMT that voluntarily unites all stakeholders and participants that have agreed and consented to pursue and participate in the AHIMT.
The MOU memorializes in writing the good faith intentions of each stakeholder and participant by specifying the tenets upon which each stakeholder and participant has agreed and consented to voluntarily unite.
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The MOU is to remain in effect for as long as the AHIMT is in operation, or otherwise, until the stakeholders and participants in the AHIMT agree to cancel or modify the MOU in accordance with the other operating documents for the AHIMT.
See Appendix A – Sample MOU.
AHIMT Team Manual
Each AHIMT is required to develop a Team Manual. The Team Manual must be consistent with the AHIMT Program Manual.
The Team Manual is the governance document for the team and sets forth the rules, guidelines, policies, and procedures adopted by the stakeholders and participants in dealing with activation, deployment, operations, and routine matters.
The Team Manual helps facilitate the efficient and orderly performance of the team. It helps to memorialize the roles, responsibilities, and expectations with regard to the team, which reduces the likelihood of future misunderstandings concerning the performance and operation of the team.
See Appendix B - AHIMT Team Manual Contents for recommended contents of the AHIMT Team Manual.
AHIMT Purpose and Function
An AHIMT primarily deploys to support and assist an existing Incident Command.
An AHIMT may deploy to assume Incident Command and manage an incident, but only after receiving a Delegation of Authority from the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
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AHIMT Organization
A Type 3 AHIMT will minimally be comprised of the following Command and General Staff ICS positions:
Incident Commander Public Information Officer Liaison Officer Safety Officer Operations Section Chief Staging Area Manager Planning Section Chief Logistics Section Chief Finance/Administration Section Chief
* Intelligence/Investigation Section Chief (Optional depending on incident)
In addition to the eight Command and General Staff positions a Type 3 Team may also have the following Unit Leader Positions:
Staging Area Manager Resource Unit Leader Situation Unit Leader Communications Unit Leader Medical Unit Leader Food Unit Leader Supply Unit Leader
Additional ICS Positions may be added as necessary depending on the kind and type of event or incident.
AHIMT Staffing and Personnel Selection
Individuals from a broad cross section of disciplines and jurisdictions including law enforcement, fire, EMS, public works, emergency management, public health, finance, and general administration will staff the teams.
Any person who meets the minimum requirements, as specified below in the Prerequisite Training for AHIMT Membership, is eligible to join an AHIMT.
It will be the goal of each AHIMT to identify and designate at least three (3) qualified individuals for each identified core team position. This will allow for a rotational schedule for individuals and additional teams. Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
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Candidates for AHIMT positions must meet all the prerequisites of training and experience, including agency specific supplemental requirements when appropriate. The basic requirements for each team member are described below in Training.
Application and Selection Process
1. Letter of Commitment
Each Applicant is required to submit Letter of Commitment signed by the head of their authorizing organization. This letter ensures their authorizing organization has authorized their participation, supports it, and will provide the Applicant with all protections under their Worker’s Compensation during training, response, and/or deployment
See Appendix C – Sample Letter of Commitment.
AHIMT Application
Each Applicant is required to submit a completed AHIMT Application. This application provides basic information about the applicant, their training, and experience. It is used to make sure they meet the minimum requirements for the AHIMT.
See Appendix D – Sample Application.
2. Resume and Letters of Reference
Each Applicant is required to submit a professional resume and at least three letters of professional reference.
The resume is used to review the Applicant’s level of experience and training as it relates to their career field and the Incident Command System. The letters of professional reference attest to the Applicant’s professional performance and conduct in their career field and the Incident Command System.
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Each Applicant’s resume will be evaluated on the following criteria:
Career experience ICS experience in an ICS team leader, unit leader, general staff, or command staff position Experience with the ICS planning process and development of an Incident Action Plan and/or Incident Briefing Form (ICS 201). Training and professional development including all NIMS/ICS related training courses.
3. Skills and Experience
Each applicant is required to submit any documentation showing their experience serving in a command or general staff position on an actual incident. This could include copies of:
ICS 214 – Unit Log Position Task Books Incident Action Plan (IAP) ICS 201 – Incident Briefing Form
4. Interview (Optional)
Applicants may be interviewed by a panel from the AHIMT oversight committee.
5. Selection
Actual selection is subject to approval by the respective AHIMT Command and General Staff. Preference will be given to those candidates with the most NIMS-ICS knowledge, experience, and training. The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will review the qualifications of individuals who comprise AHIMT membership and when vacancies occur on one of the teams to help ensure they meet established qualifications. The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will review and approve nominations for the position of Incident Commander on the AHIMT and when vacancies occur on one of the teams.
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Removal from Team
An AHIMT member can be removed from an AHIMT for documented cause. This may include:
Failing to complete required training Repeated failure to participate in team training. Repeated failure to respond to call-outs when in “on-call” status. Poor performance during deployments. Alcohol/Drug use on deployment /assignment Any significant human resource (HR) infraction based on team, state or home agency policy.
If for any reason a person must be removed from the AHIMT, then all team members and the removed team member’s parent organization will be notified.
Training
Training requirements are based on U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Fire Administration, Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) Program guidelines.
Prerequisite Training for AHIMT Membership
Personnel assigned to an AHIMT must complete the following training:
NIMS ICS-100, 200, 300, and 400 (Pre-requisite for AHIMT membership) NIMS IS-700 and 800 (Pre-requisite for AHIMT membership)
Training After Joining AHIMT
Required
Command and General Staff Functions for Local IMT Course (CGSFLIMT)
o Minimum 36 hours
o Includes evaluated functional exercise on last day ICS Position Specific Training
o Varies based on position from 8 hours to 40 hours ICS/EOC Interface Course (G-191)
*Actual training hours may vary as requirements may change over time.
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Position Task Books (PTB)
AHIMT members will complete a Position Task Book for the position they will be assigned.
Completion of Position Task Books (PTB) could include demonstration of competencies and behaviors while participating in full-scale exercises and actual planned events and incidents.
Historical Recognition
o Team members who have performed a Command, General Staff, or Unit Leader position at past events or incidents within the last five years may receive.
Qualified Evaluator
A Qualified Evaluator is a person who is qualified in the ICS position they are rating or the Incident Commander or Deputy Incident Commander.
Final Evaluator
The Final Evaluator is a person who is qualified in the ICS position they are rating or the Incident Commander or Deputy Incident Commander and is the last person to evaluate the IMT member and complete the Position Task Book.
Cross Training
AHIMT members should be trained and qualified to perform more than one ICS position.
Continuing Education
Team members will maintain annual continuing education requirements (16 hours minimum annually). Continuing education must be related to ICS, Emergency Management, Emergency Operations Center, Multiagency Coordination, position specific training, exercises, and/or actual incidents.
The Incident Management Team Program Manager will monitor compliance with the Continuing Education requirement. The Program Manager will maintain training records on each team member, which are kept by the Host Agency.
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Funding and Reimbursement
Except as provided by a Memorandum of Understanding, all funding for AHIMT activities, equipment, and related expenses shall be the responsibility of the individual team member and/or the member’s sponsoring organization.
If requested for deployment, reimbursement for personnel, travel/lodging/per diem, and operating costs will be pursuant to any mutual aid agreement or the Oklahoma Intrastate Mutual Aid Compact.
In all other situations the following procedure will be followed:
The AHIMT Finance Section Chief will track all costs for the team’s activation, response, operations, and demobilization.
The AHIMT Finance Section Chief will prepare an invoice for the identified costs, which will minimally include:
o Members name and ICS position title
o Hours worked by each member
o Hourly rate for each member based on the member’s parent organization’s collective bargaining agreement/rate of pay
o Each members vehicle description and mileage to and from the incident
The AHIMT Finance Section Chief will process the invoice according to established procedures.
The AHIMT Host Agency may choose to submit the invoice to the requesting jurisdiction.
The requesting jurisdiction pays the AHIMT Host Agency in accordance with Memorandums of Understanding, Mutual Aid Agreements, or other agreements.
The AHIMT Host Agency shall distribute reimbursement funds to the individual member’s parent organizations.
Position Responsibilities
AHIMT Position Responsibilities are based upon existing NIMS ICS doctrine, principles, and guidance.
See Appendix E – ICS Position Responsibilities. Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
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When functioning in a supporting or assisting role, they may fill subordinate positions within their regular Command or General Staff Position.
Incident Commander may function as:
o Deputy Incident Commander
o Public Information Officer
o Liaison Officer
o Safety Officer
Operations Section Chief may function as:
o Deputy Operations Section Chief
o Branch Director
o Division or Group Supervisor
Planning Section Chief may function as:
o Deputy Planning Section Chief or any Planning Section Unit Leader position.
Logistics Section Chief may function as:
o Deputy Logistics Section Chief or any Logistics Section Unit Leader position.
Finance/Administration Section Chief may function as:
o Deputy Finance/Administration Section Chief or any Finance/Administration Section Unit Leader position.
General Concept of Operations
Requesting and Activating
Any jurisdiction or organization can request an AHIMT respond to their incident by contacting the AHIMT Point of Contact (POC).
Initial requests can be verbal, but will be followed up with a written Mutual Aid request by e-mail, Teletype, FAX, or other means.
See Appendix F – Sample Mutual Aid Request.
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AHIMT responds to a mutual aid request.
Oklahoma Mutual Aid Compact Local Mutual Aid Agreement/Automatic Aid Agreement
o Developed and approved between jurisdictions.
Deployment
The AHIMT Incident Commander authorizes the activation and response of the AHIMT.
Upon receiving the request for an AHIMT from the AHIMT POC, the Incident Commander will contact the requesting on-scene Incident Commander and gather additional information about the incident situation, the AHIMT mission, and other information necessary to complete a Deployment Briefing. After gathering this information the AHIMT Incident Commander will decide whether or not the AHIMT will respond to the request.
Each AHIMT will maintain an on-call schedule, rotating members between being on-call, standby, and off-duty. Each AHIMT will determine the length of on-call, standby, and off-duty status for their members.
On-Call – Members who are in On-Call status are prepared and ready to respond to an activation and call-out Standby – Members who are in Standby status are prepared and ready to respond to relieve the On-Call AHIMT members at the end of an operational period. Off-Duty – Members in Off-Duty status are not prepared nor expected to respond to relieve the On-Call or Standby AHIMT members.
If the On-Call AHIMT Incident Commander decides the AHIMT will respond to the incident, then he/she will:
Contact the other On-Call AHIMT members and provide them with a Deployment Briefing.
o AHIMT members are activated from a roster of qualified personnel on a rotating basis.
o Each team shall attempt to maintain a well-balanced team with at least 50% of the members having previous response experience. This procedure ensures that the same individuals are not always selected, thereby providing an opportunity for more team members to gain experience.
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Notify Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security and the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) of the activation.
Once all of the On-Call AHIMT members have been notified and activated, the AHIMT Incident Commander will confirm to the requesting jurisdiction the status of the Team and their estimated time of arrival at the incident scene.
Once On-Call AHIMT members have been notified and activated they will:
Respond directly to the incident scene or report to a Point of Departure (POD) whichever the AHIMT Incident Commander designates depending on the situation and nature of the mission. Be suitably equipped with clothing, medical, and personal needs for the possible duration of the assignment. Be suitably equipped with the materials, equipment, and supplies to perform their ICS position responsibilities and tasks. Provide their own transportation unless other arrangements have been made. Team members are encouraged to carpool.
When warranted, an AHIMT may be pre-positioned for anticipated major emergencies, disasters or events. During pre-positioning, information flow and coordination with decision makers is critical for timely and effective decisions on the nature and extent of an AHIMT response. The AHIMT will receive situation reports and other appropriate information during the pre-positioning period.
Upon arrival at the incident scene, the AHIMT Incident Commander will meet with the current on-scene incident commander and receive a situational briefing to further assess the situation. After assessing the situation, the AHIMT Incident Commander will decide whether or not the AHIMT will continue to respond.
If the decision is for the AHIMT to continue their response to the incident scene, then the AHIMT Incident Commander will contact the responding On-Call AHIMT members and provide them with an updated Deployment Briefing.
If the AHIMT Incident Commander decides to cancel the AHIMT response, then he/she will notify the On-Call AHIMT members and AHIMT POC to cancel and if already enroute, to turn around and return home.
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Work/Rest, Length of Assignment, and Days Off
Type 3 Teams may deploy for more than one operational period and up to 14 days at the incident exclusive of travel. AHIMTs will ensure all personnel are provided a minimum 2:1 work to rest ratio (for every 2 hours of work or travel, provide 1 hour sleep and/or rest) Work shifts that exceed 16 hours and/or consecutive days that do not meet the 2:1 work/rest ratio should be the exception and no work shift should exceed 24 hours. The AHIMT Incident Commander or Team Leader must justify work shifts that exceed 16 hours and those that do not meet the 2:1 work/rest ratio.
Single Site Events
Major emergencies and disasters involving a single site or small geographical area will have a single IMT established to facilitate the management and coordination of resources.
Multiple Site Events
Incidents or events involving multiple sites or large geographical areas may require major or complex incident/event management:
Combining several incidents into an incident complex Dividing an incident into two or more single incidents Expand the planning capability Adding a second Operations or Logistics Section Activating an Area Command
If the Team is tasked to manage multiple sites, the AHIMT Incident Commander should confer with the local jurisdiction and request an additional AHIMT to assist with the management of the multiple sites, incidents, or events.
When there are multiple incidents generally in the same area that are each being managed by an IMT or a very large incident that has multiple IMTs assigned to it, there may be a need to establish an Area Command. The Incident Commanders for each team involved in management of such incidents/events should confer with the local jurisdiction and make a decision to establish an Area Command. Additional AHIMTs should be requested to establish an Area Command.
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Delegation of Authority
ONLY used when an AHIMT is being asked to take over management of the incident. WILL NOT be used when an IMT is in a supporting role to a local jurisdiction.
The AHIMT Incident Commander will cooperatively develop and submit for signature to the local Agency Representative a written Delegation of Authority (DOA). The DOA is required to assure that there is a complete understanding by all parties of the scope, nature, and requirements of the assignment.
See Appendix G – Sample Delegation of Authority.
The Oklahoma Mutual Aid Compact, a Mutual Aid Agreement, or an Automatic Aid Agreement must apply or be in effect before an AHIMT can accept a delegation of authority and assume responsibility for incident management.
Incident Management
The incident will be managed in accordance to the fundamental features, concepts, and principles of the Incident Command System. The incident management will be consistent with the team members NIMS/ICS training.
Demobilization
IMT components will be demobilized in accordance with the demobilization plan prepared by the IMT Planning Section, approved by the AHIMT Incident Commander, and implemented and managed by the IMT Logistics Section.
The considerations for AHIMT demobilization can be found in Appendix B.
The AHIMT is not completely demobilized until all IMT resources have returned to their home jurisdiction.
Performance Evaluation
Prior to demobilization, the AHIMT Incident Commander should discuss overall Team Performance with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). This discussion provides an opportunity to cover important aspects of team performance, such as:
Accomplishment of Agency goals and objectives Effective incident management, team leadership, and professionalism Sensitivity to local concerns, resource limits, environmental, political and social concerns, and cost Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
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Recognition of changing conditions and effective use of local resources Proper emphasis on safety and initiating action?
See Appendix H – Sample Incident Management Team Evaluation Form.
In addition, each supervisor should evaluate the performance of all Team members using ICS Form 226 — Individual Performance Rating. Each team member and their supervisor will sign the rating form at the conclusion of the rating discussion. A separate form is completed for each IMT position held. Section Chiefs should review all appraisals for team members in their section. The AHIMT Incident Commander will review and countersign all ratings where the overall rating is outstanding or unsatisfactory. Each team member should be given a copy of their appraisal at the end of their assignment.
Copies of the completed evaluation forms are forwarded to the AHIMT Team Coordinator for inclusion in Team records/files.
Release and Return to Home Unit
The final item on the AHIMT Incident Commander checklist prior to departure from an incident is the Release and Return to Home form. By signing this form, the Agency Administrator agrees that the Team:
Has accomplished the stated mission and objectives and is approved for release Has documented all consumable/disposable supplies used, and if the local jurisdiction will reimburse the Team for their replacement Will forward a copy of the final After-Action Report to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
If a Delegation of Authority was issued to the team, then this document returns the authority and responsibility for the management of the incident to the local jurisdiction’s Agency Administrator.
See Appendix I – Sample Release and Return to Home Unit Form
After-Action Review Process
Just as the demobilization process begins with the activation, so does the after-action process. The Planning Section Chief should constantly reinforce the need for IMT personnel to document any issues or items that may be included or reviewed in the after-action process.
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The debriefing may be conducted in a two-stage process with the first phase beginning prior to the release of the IMT from the incident, preferably prior to transport home. If required, the second phase is the more detailed debriefing that occurs after the IMT personnel have time to rehabilitate themselves after returning from their assignment.
The After-Action Process and After-Action Report will be conducted and developed in accordance with the principles and practices of the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP).
Phase One — Hot Wash
At the earliest convenient opportunity after conclusion of incident management activities and while still on-scene, the AHIMT Planning Section Chief should conduct a Hot Wash.
The Hot Wash is intended to provide AHIMT members an opportunity to express their concerns and identify action items.
The Hot Wash is normally done by function, starting with the planning function and concluding with the AHIMT Incident Commander. This will introduce issues that need to be discussed while the focus is still on the mission and issues are still fresh in the minds of the team members.
Issues that surface will be documented and serve as the basis for the AHIMT After-Action Report.
Phase Two — Debriefing
The AHIMT Incident Commander will evaluate the need for a Formal Debriefing and determine the appropriate level of participation based on the incident scope and complexity. If needed, this meeting should be scheduled as soon as possible following demobilization from the incident.
The input from the Phase One – Hot Wash will provide the basis for the Debriefing Agenda. Output from this Debriefing will be used to prepare the AHIMT After-Action Report to be submitted to the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee.
The Debriefing should address at a minimum, the following topics:
Strengths Areas for improvement Lessons Learned and best practices
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After-Action Report
The AHIMT Incident Commander will ensure the Planning Section Chief develops an AHIMT After-Action Report, which includes a documentation of activities, strengths or positive aspects, areas for improvement, and recommended corrective action. The AHIMT Incident Commander shall present the After-Action Report to the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee within 30 days of AHIMT demobilization from an incident.
The final After-Action Report should minimally include:
An executive summary A chronology of events including alert, activation, mobilization, on-site operations, and post- mission activities Strengths Areas for improvement Lessons learned and best practices Improvement Plan (IP)
Complaints
Complaints regarding the performance of the AHIMT during an incident will be directed to the Host Agency. The AHIMT Host Agency will conduct an inquiry into the complaint. Upon completion of the inquiry the AHIMT Host Agency will determine if the complaint is sustained or unfounded. If the complaint is sustained, then the Host Agency will recommend appropriate corrective action to the AHIMT Incident Commander to improve the team’s performance.
Complaints regarding an individual member’s performance will be directed to the AHIMT Incident Commander. The AHIMT Incident Commander will conduct an inquiry into the complaint. Upon completion of the inquiry the AHIMT Incident Commander will determine if the complaint is sustained or unfounded. If the complaint is sustained, then the AHIMT Incident Commander will recommend appropriate corrective action to improve the team member’s performance.
Complaints of misconduct by an individual member of the AHIMT will be directed to the member’s parent organization for investigation, disposition, and any corrective action.
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Reports
Incident Briefing Forms (ICS 201) and Incident Action Plans (IAP)
The Incident Commander or Planning Section will complete the Incident Briefing Form or Incident Action Plan, whichever is appropriate for the situation. The Incident Briefing Forms and Incident Action Plans will be completed in accordance with Incident Command System training. The completed Incident Briefing Forms and Incident Action Plans will be kept on file in the AHIMT records management system.
After Action Reports (AAR) and Improvement Plans (IP)
The AHIMT Incident Commander will ensure an AHIMT After Action Report is produced. The completed After Action Report and Improvement Plan will be kept on file in the AHIMT records management system. The AHIMT Incident Commander shall send a copy of the After-Action Report to the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee within 30 days of AHIMT demobilization from an incident.
AHIMT Records Management System
Each AHIMT shall maintain a records management system to store original documents produced by the team. The following completed original documents should be filed and stored in the AHIMT records management system:
Memorandums of Understanding
Member applications
Member Letters of Commitment
Team Manual
Team Rosters
Call-Out Lists
Mutual Aid requests
Delegations of Authority
Incident Briefing Forms
Incident Action Plans
Release and Return Home forms
Team Evaluations
Individual Performance Evaluations
After Action Reports
Corrective Action Plans Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
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Completed complaint inquiries
Equipment
Issued Equipment
AHIMT members may be issued equipment to perform their position functions, duties, and tasks. Each member is responsible for the proper care, use, and control of their issued equipment. Issued equipment will be inspected and inventoried in accordance with the policies, procedures, and regulations of the Team Manual.
Vehicle Operations
All vehicles will be operated in accordance with applicable statutes and laws and the AHIMT member’s parent organization’s policies, procedures, and regulations. Traffic collisions and/or damage to any vehicle will be reported immediately and handled in the same manner as the AHIMT member’s parent organization’s policy and procedure;
Equipment Accountability and Checkout
The AHIMT may have equipment under its control. This equipment will be issued/checked-out and checked-in. The AHIMT shall account for all issued, loaned or borrowed equipment.
Equipment Maintenance and Repair
The AHIMT may have equipment under its control. The AHIMT will arrange for or coordinate necessary maintenance and repairs of equipment under their care and control.
Oklahoma AHIMT Program Manual Maintenance
The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of the Oklahoma AHIMT Program Manual.
The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will annually review and revise, as needed the Oklahoma AHIMT Program Manual.
This section establishes procedures for interim changes and full updates of the Program Manual. Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
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Types of Changes
Changes include additions of new or supplementary material and deletions. No proposed change should contradict or override authorities or other plans contained in statute, Executive Order, or regulation.
Submitting Changes
Any Oversight Committee member, AHIMT member, or AHIMT stakeholder or participant may propose a change to the Program Manual.
Coordination of Review
The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee is responsible for coordination of review of the proposed changes. The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will submit the proposed changes to all participating AHIMTs and ask for their comments and input.
Approval
The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will review and discuss the proposed change along with any comments and input received from participating AHIMTs. The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will approve as is, approve with modifications, or disapprove any changes to the Program Manual.
Notice of Change
After approval of the final change language, the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will issue an official Notice of Change. The notice will provide the change language on one or more numbered and dated insert pages that will replace the pages in the Program Manual. Once published, the changes will be considered part of the Program Manual.
Distribution
Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will distribute Notices of Change to all participating AHIMTs.
Reissuance of the Program Manual
When the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee deems necessary an entire Program Manual with approved revisions will be distributed to all participating AHIMTs.
OKLAHOMA ALL-HAZARDS INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM (AHIMT)
PROGRAM MANUAL
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program Manual was developed in a collaborative process by the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee. The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee is a multiagency, multijurisdictional, and multi-discipline committee representing various stakeholders in all-hazards incident management.
Dennis Beyer
Tulsa Fire Department
Chairman
Franklin Barnes
Oklahoma City Police Department - Oklahoma City Emergency Management
Recorder
Gary Davis
Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security
Member
Carl Hickman
Mustang Fire Department
Member
Cecil Michael
Rural Fire Coordinators
Member
David Barnes
Oklahoma County Emergency Management
Member
Ed Kostiuk
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Member
Garrett Thornton
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM)
Member
J.D. Wilson
Oklahoma Highway Patrol
Member
Keith Bryan
Nichols Hills Fire Department
Member
Richard Love, Sr.
Oklahoma City Public Works Department
Member
Mark Goeller
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry – Forestry Division
Member
Steve George
OSU Fire Service Training
Member
Mike Murphy
Regional Medical Response System/EMSA
Member
Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee
Adopted: April 9, 2010
Revised: July 16, 2010
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC
PAGE
Mission Statement
4
Definition of Program
4
Background
4
Definitions
5
Oklahoma AHIMT Administrative Oversight
5 Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee
5 Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Goals
6 Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Objectives
6 Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Operating Procedures
7 Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Responsibilities
7 Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security (OKOHS)
7 Host Agency or Jurisdiction
7 AHIMT Program Manual
8
Creating an All-Hazards Incident Management Team
8 Identifying Stakeholders and Participants
8 Memorandum of Understanding
8 AHIMT Team Manual
9
AHIMT Purpose and Function
9
AHIMT Organization
10
AHIMT Staffing and Personnel Selection
10 Application and Selection Process
11 Removal from Team
13
Training
13 Prerequisite Training for AHIMT Membership
13 Training After Joining AHIMT
13 Position Task Books (PTB)
14 Cross Training
14 Continuing Education
14
Funding and Reimbursement
15
Position Responsibilities
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TOPIC
PAGE
General Concept of Operations
16 Requesting and Activating
16 Deployment
17 Work/Rest, Length of Assignment, and Days Off
19 Single Site Events
19 Multiple Site Events
19 Delegation of Authority
20 Incident Management
20 Demobilization
20 Performance Evaluation
20 Release and return to Home Unit
21
After-Action Review Process
21 Phase One – Hot Wash
22 Phase Two – Debriefing
22 After-Action Report
23
Complaints
23
Reports
24 Incident Briefing Form (ICS 201)
24 Incident Action Plans (IAP)
24 After-Action Reports (AAR) and Improvement Plans (IP)
24 AHIMT Records Management System
24
Equipment
25 Issued Equipment
25 Vehicle Operations
25 Equipment Accountability and Checkout
25 Equipment Maintenance and Repair
25
Oklahoma AHIMT Program Manual Maintenance
25 Types of Changes
26 Submitting Changes
26 Coordination of Review
26 Approval
26 Notice of Change
26 Distribution
26 Reissuance of the Program Manual
26 Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
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Appendices
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Mission Statement
To provide qualified All-Hazards Incident Management Teams (AHIMT) for the State of Oklahoma and its political subdivisions capable of supporting and assisting in the management of natural and manmade emergencies, disasters and acts of terrorism.
Definition of Program
To provide guidelines and direction for the development, operation, and maintenance of Type 3 AHIMTs based on National Incident Management System (NIMS) standards.
Background
The purpose of an AHIMT is to assist any jurisdiction confronted with an incident beyond its capabilities in either complexity or duration. The team would bring some of the following capabilities to an incident:
A robust management framework to support the jurisdiction in bringing an incident to conclusion Planning and documentation to include assistance in development of Incident Action Plans, Site Safety Plans, etc Logistical support Public information and notification support Operational support and expertise
The local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) will define the AHIMT’s role:
The AHIMT may provide a support role for the local Incident Command System structure. In the event the AHJ requests the AHIMT to manage the incident they will provide a Delegation of Authority to the AHIMT and if appropriate, Unified Command will be used. Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
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Definitions
A Type 3 AHIMT:
Is a multi-agency/multi-jurisdiction team for extended incidents, formed and managed at the State or regional level. Is deployed as a team of 8* or more personnel to manage major and/or complex incidents requiring a significant number of local, regional, state and possibly federal resources, and incidents that extend into multiple operational periods and require a written IAP. May be utilized at incidents such as a tornadoes, earthquake, flood, or multi-day hostage/standoff situation, or at planned mass-gathering events. May initially manage larger, more complex incidents prior to arrival of and transfer of command to a National/State Type 1 or Type 2 IMT. May be deployed anywhere in the State of Oklahoma upon request from the Agency Having Jurisdiction.
*Teams will maintain all positions 3 deep (e.g., A Type 3 AHIMT will roster 3 members for each ICS position) may also include other ICS positions if requested or needed.
Oklahoma AHIMT Administrative Oversight
Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee
The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee consists of representatives of various disciplines and organizations who are stakeholders in the AHIMT program. Stakeholders are the primary users of and providers of personnel for the AHIMT.
The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee consists of the following positions:
OKOHS AHIMT Administrator Oversight Committee Chair Oversight Committee Vice-Chair/Recorder Oversight Committee Members
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The membership of the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee shall minimally consist of representatives from:
Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security (OKOHS) Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH)
o Preparedness & Response Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training (OSU-FST) Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF) Oklahoma Rural Fire Coordinators Oklahoma Emergency Management Association (OEMA) Oklahoma Fire Chiefs Association Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Local Emergency Management Local Law Enforcement Local Fire Department Local Public Works
Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Goals
The Oversight Committee will be an active, decisive body that will represent the stakeholder disciplines and/or agencies, which are the primary participants in and/or users of, All-Hazards Incident Management Teams. The Committee will provide oversight to the operations of the AHIMTs in accordance with the AHIMT Program Manual.
Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Objectives
1. Function as a Qualification Review Committee ensuring that qualified individuals comprise AHIMT membership.
2. Ensure the AHIMT members are provided with validated training.
3. Ensure that qualified individual(s) are selected for the position of Incident Commander.
4. Ensure AHIMT Team Manuals are consistent with the AHIMT Program Manual.
5. Responsible for state credentialing process which follows national guidelines
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Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Operating Procedures
1. The Committee will have equal authority vested to each member.
2. The Committee members will endeavor to meet and participate at Committee meetings.
3. The Committee will regularly meet on the second Friday of the month, except on Holidays, or as needed as determined by the Committee.
Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee Responsibilities
1. The Committee will annually review the AHIMT Program Manual and make necessary revisions.
2. The Committee will review the qualifications of individuals who comprise or apply for AHIMT membership.
3. The Committee will review and approve nominations for the position of Incident Commander on the AHIMTs.
4. The Committee will review and approve AHIMT Team Manuals and any revisions that are made.
5. The Committee may have Working Groups comprised of Committee members to work on specific projects or issues related to the AHIMT Program.
6. Responsible for state credentialing process which follows national guidelines.
Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security (OKOHS)
The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security is responsible for:
1. NIMS Compliance and coordination
2. Oversight of NIMS/ICS training in the State of Oklahoma including instructor credentialing.
3. Oversight of All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) training including position specific training and Position Task Books.
4. Oversight of the All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) program following the guidance and recommendations of the AHIMT Oversight Committee.
Host Agency or Jurisdiction
Each AHIMT will require a host agency or jurisdiction responsible for managing administrative needs. The host agency or jurisdiction will provide an Incident Management Team Program Manager (IMTPM), which may be an additional duty assigned to an existing employee, to handle administrative matters relating to the team and provide off-site coordination and support of the team when it is deployed.
The IMTC duties and responsibilities include: Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
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Team Manual development and maintenance. Team roster Team call-out roster Team training schedule Forward and disseminate Team related information to team members concerning meetings, publications and articles of interest, safety items, etc
AHIMT Program Manual
The AHIMT Program Manual is developed and maintained by the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee. The Program Manual is the governance document for all Oklahoma AHIMT Program. Team Manuals must be consistent with the Program Manual. AHIMTs must comply with the Program Manual.
Creating an All-Hazards Incident Management Team
Identifying Stakeholders and Participants in an AHIMT
When creating a team begin by identifying the stakeholders or participating agencies and jurisdictions. If unsure who to involve in the team, then the Capabilities Aggregation Method (CAM C-3) approach may be of assistance in this process.
Capability Center – Immediate jurisdictional boundary. Cities, counties, or tribes that adjoin your jurisdictional boundaries. Capability Cluster – Regional jurisdictions – cities, counties, or tribes that adjoin your Capability Center. Capability Contour – Cities, counties, or tribes that adjoin your Capability Cluster.
AHIMT Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Stakeholders and participants in the All-Hazards Incident Management Team must have Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) in place.
An MOU is the governance document for the AHIMT that voluntarily unites all stakeholders and participants that have agreed and consented to pursue and participate in the AHIMT.
The MOU memorializes in writing the good faith intentions of each stakeholder and participant by specifying the tenets upon which each stakeholder and participant has agreed and consented to voluntarily unite.
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The MOU is to remain in effect for as long as the AHIMT is in operation, or otherwise, until the stakeholders and participants in the AHIMT agree to cancel or modify the MOU in accordance with the other operating documents for the AHIMT.
See Appendix A – Sample MOU.
AHIMT Team Manual
Each AHIMT is required to develop a Team Manual. The Team Manual must be consistent with the AHIMT Program Manual.
The Team Manual is the governance document for the team and sets forth the rules, guidelines, policies, and procedures adopted by the stakeholders and participants in dealing with activation, deployment, operations, and routine matters.
The Team Manual helps facilitate the efficient and orderly performance of the team. It helps to memorialize the roles, responsibilities, and expectations with regard to the team, which reduces the likelihood of future misunderstandings concerning the performance and operation of the team.
See Appendix B - AHIMT Team Manual Contents for recommended contents of the AHIMT Team Manual.
AHIMT Purpose and Function
An AHIMT primarily deploys to support and assist an existing Incident Command.
An AHIMT may deploy to assume Incident Command and manage an incident, but only after receiving a Delegation of Authority from the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
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AHIMT Organization
A Type 3 AHIMT will minimally be comprised of the following Command and General Staff ICS positions:
Incident Commander Public Information Officer Liaison Officer Safety Officer Operations Section Chief Staging Area Manager Planning Section Chief Logistics Section Chief Finance/Administration Section Chief
* Intelligence/Investigation Section Chief (Optional depending on incident)
In addition to the eight Command and General Staff positions a Type 3 Team may also have the following Unit Leader Positions:
Staging Area Manager Resource Unit Leader Situation Unit Leader Communications Unit Leader Medical Unit Leader Food Unit Leader Supply Unit Leader
Additional ICS Positions may be added as necessary depending on the kind and type of event or incident.
AHIMT Staffing and Personnel Selection
Individuals from a broad cross section of disciplines and jurisdictions including law enforcement, fire, EMS, public works, emergency management, public health, finance, and general administration will staff the teams.
Any person who meets the minimum requirements, as specified below in the Prerequisite Training for AHIMT Membership, is eligible to join an AHIMT.
It will be the goal of each AHIMT to identify and designate at least three (3) qualified individuals for each identified core team position. This will allow for a rotational schedule for individuals and additional teams. Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
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Candidates for AHIMT positions must meet all the prerequisites of training and experience, including agency specific supplemental requirements when appropriate. The basic requirements for each team member are described below in Training.
Application and Selection Process
1. Letter of Commitment
Each Applicant is required to submit Letter of Commitment signed by the head of their authorizing organization. This letter ensures their authorizing organization has authorized their participation, supports it, and will provide the Applicant with all protections under their Worker’s Compensation during training, response, and/or deployment
See Appendix C – Sample Letter of Commitment.
AHIMT Application
Each Applicant is required to submit a completed AHIMT Application. This application provides basic information about the applicant, their training, and experience. It is used to make sure they meet the minimum requirements for the AHIMT.
See Appendix D – Sample Application.
2. Resume and Letters of Reference
Each Applicant is required to submit a professional resume and at least three letters of professional reference.
The resume is used to review the Applicant’s level of experience and training as it relates to their career field and the Incident Command System. The letters of professional reference attest to the Applicant’s professional performance and conduct in their career field and the Incident Command System.
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Each Applicant’s resume will be evaluated on the following criteria:
Career experience ICS experience in an ICS team leader, unit leader, general staff, or command staff position Experience with the ICS planning process and development of an Incident Action Plan and/or Incident Briefing Form (ICS 201). Training and professional development including all NIMS/ICS related training courses.
3. Skills and Experience
Each applicant is required to submit any documentation showing their experience serving in a command or general staff position on an actual incident. This could include copies of:
ICS 214 – Unit Log Position Task Books Incident Action Plan (IAP) ICS 201 – Incident Briefing Form
4. Interview (Optional)
Applicants may be interviewed by a panel from the AHIMT oversight committee.
5. Selection
Actual selection is subject to approval by the respective AHIMT Command and General Staff. Preference will be given to those candidates with the most NIMS-ICS knowledge, experience, and training. The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will review the qualifications of individuals who comprise AHIMT membership and when vacancies occur on one of the teams to help ensure they meet established qualifications. The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will review and approve nominations for the position of Incident Commander on the AHIMT and when vacancies occur on one of the teams.
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Removal from Team
An AHIMT member can be removed from an AHIMT for documented cause. This may include:
Failing to complete required training Repeated failure to participate in team training. Repeated failure to respond to call-outs when in “on-call” status. Poor performance during deployments. Alcohol/Drug use on deployment /assignment Any significant human resource (HR) infraction based on team, state or home agency policy.
If for any reason a person must be removed from the AHIMT, then all team members and the removed team member’s parent organization will be notified.
Training
Training requirements are based on U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Fire Administration, Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) Program guidelines.
Prerequisite Training for AHIMT Membership
Personnel assigned to an AHIMT must complete the following training:
NIMS ICS-100, 200, 300, and 400 (Pre-requisite for AHIMT membership) NIMS IS-700 and 800 (Pre-requisite for AHIMT membership)
Training After Joining AHIMT
Required
Command and General Staff Functions for Local IMT Course (CGSFLIMT)
o Minimum 36 hours
o Includes evaluated functional exercise on last day ICS Position Specific Training
o Varies based on position from 8 hours to 40 hours ICS/EOC Interface Course (G-191)
*Actual training hours may vary as requirements may change over time.
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Position Task Books (PTB)
AHIMT members will complete a Position Task Book for the position they will be assigned.
Completion of Position Task Books (PTB) could include demonstration of competencies and behaviors while participating in full-scale exercises and actual planned events and incidents.
Historical Recognition
o Team members who have performed a Command, General Staff, or Unit Leader position at past events or incidents within the last five years may receive.
Qualified Evaluator
A Qualified Evaluator is a person who is qualified in the ICS position they are rating or the Incident Commander or Deputy Incident Commander.
Final Evaluator
The Final Evaluator is a person who is qualified in the ICS position they are rating or the Incident Commander or Deputy Incident Commander and is the last person to evaluate the IMT member and complete the Position Task Book.
Cross Training
AHIMT members should be trained and qualified to perform more than one ICS position.
Continuing Education
Team members will maintain annual continuing education requirements (16 hours minimum annually). Continuing education must be related to ICS, Emergency Management, Emergency Operations Center, Multiagency Coordination, position specific training, exercises, and/or actual incidents.
The Incident Management Team Program Manager will monitor compliance with the Continuing Education requirement. The Program Manager will maintain training records on each team member, which are kept by the Host Agency.
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Funding and Reimbursement
Except as provided by a Memorandum of Understanding, all funding for AHIMT activities, equipment, and related expenses shall be the responsibility of the individual team member and/or the member’s sponsoring organization.
If requested for deployment, reimbursement for personnel, travel/lodging/per diem, and operating costs will be pursuant to any mutual aid agreement or the Oklahoma Intrastate Mutual Aid Compact.
In all other situations the following procedure will be followed:
The AHIMT Finance Section Chief will track all costs for the team’s activation, response, operations, and demobilization.
The AHIMT Finance Section Chief will prepare an invoice for the identified costs, which will minimally include:
o Members name and ICS position title
o Hours worked by each member
o Hourly rate for each member based on the member’s parent organization’s collective bargaining agreement/rate of pay
o Each members vehicle description and mileage to and from the incident
The AHIMT Finance Section Chief will process the invoice according to established procedures.
The AHIMT Host Agency may choose to submit the invoice to the requesting jurisdiction.
The requesting jurisdiction pays the AHIMT Host Agency in accordance with Memorandums of Understanding, Mutual Aid Agreements, or other agreements.
The AHIMT Host Agency shall distribute reimbursement funds to the individual member’s parent organizations.
Position Responsibilities
AHIMT Position Responsibilities are based upon existing NIMS ICS doctrine, principles, and guidance.
See Appendix E – ICS Position Responsibilities. Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
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When functioning in a supporting or assisting role, they may fill subordinate positions within their regular Command or General Staff Position.
Incident Commander may function as:
o Deputy Incident Commander
o Public Information Officer
o Liaison Officer
o Safety Officer
Operations Section Chief may function as:
o Deputy Operations Section Chief
o Branch Director
o Division or Group Supervisor
Planning Section Chief may function as:
o Deputy Planning Section Chief or any Planning Section Unit Leader position.
Logistics Section Chief may function as:
o Deputy Logistics Section Chief or any Logistics Section Unit Leader position.
Finance/Administration Section Chief may function as:
o Deputy Finance/Administration Section Chief or any Finance/Administration Section Unit Leader position.
General Concept of Operations
Requesting and Activating
Any jurisdiction or organization can request an AHIMT respond to their incident by contacting the AHIMT Point of Contact (POC).
Initial requests can be verbal, but will be followed up with a written Mutual Aid request by e-mail, Teletype, FAX, or other means.
See Appendix F – Sample Mutual Aid Request.
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AHIMT responds to a mutual aid request.
Oklahoma Mutual Aid Compact Local Mutual Aid Agreement/Automatic Aid Agreement
o Developed and approved between jurisdictions.
Deployment
The AHIMT Incident Commander authorizes the activation and response of the AHIMT.
Upon receiving the request for an AHIMT from the AHIMT POC, the Incident Commander will contact the requesting on-scene Incident Commander and gather additional information about the incident situation, the AHIMT mission, and other information necessary to complete a Deployment Briefing. After gathering this information the AHIMT Incident Commander will decide whether or not the AHIMT will respond to the request.
Each AHIMT will maintain an on-call schedule, rotating members between being on-call, standby, and off-duty. Each AHIMT will determine the length of on-call, standby, and off-duty status for their members.
On-Call – Members who are in On-Call status are prepared and ready to respond to an activation and call-out Standby – Members who are in Standby status are prepared and ready to respond to relieve the On-Call AHIMT members at the end of an operational period. Off-Duty – Members in Off-Duty status are not prepared nor expected to respond to relieve the On-Call or Standby AHIMT members.
If the On-Call AHIMT Incident Commander decides the AHIMT will respond to the incident, then he/she will:
Contact the other On-Call AHIMT members and provide them with a Deployment Briefing.
o AHIMT members are activated from a roster of qualified personnel on a rotating basis.
o Each team shall attempt to maintain a well-balanced team with at least 50% of the members having previous response experience. This procedure ensures that the same individuals are not always selected, thereby providing an opportunity for more team members to gain experience.
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Notify Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security and the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) of the activation.
Once all of the On-Call AHIMT members have been notified and activated, the AHIMT Incident Commander will confirm to the requesting jurisdiction the status of the Team and their estimated time of arrival at the incident scene.
Once On-Call AHIMT members have been notified and activated they will:
Respond directly to the incident scene or report to a Point of Departure (POD) whichever the AHIMT Incident Commander designates depending on the situation and nature of the mission. Be suitably equipped with clothing, medical, and personal needs for the possible duration of the assignment. Be suitably equipped with the materials, equipment, and supplies to perform their ICS position responsibilities and tasks. Provide their own transportation unless other arrangements have been made. Team members are encouraged to carpool.
When warranted, an AHIMT may be pre-positioned for anticipated major emergencies, disasters or events. During pre-positioning, information flow and coordination with decision makers is critical for timely and effective decisions on the nature and extent of an AHIMT response. The AHIMT will receive situation reports and other appropriate information during the pre-positioning period.
Upon arrival at the incident scene, the AHIMT Incident Commander will meet with the current on-scene incident commander and receive a situational briefing to further assess the situation. After assessing the situation, the AHIMT Incident Commander will decide whether or not the AHIMT will continue to respond.
If the decision is for the AHIMT to continue their response to the incident scene, then the AHIMT Incident Commander will contact the responding On-Call AHIMT members and provide them with an updated Deployment Briefing.
If the AHIMT Incident Commander decides to cancel the AHIMT response, then he/she will notify the On-Call AHIMT members and AHIMT POC to cancel and if already enroute, to turn around and return home.
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Work/Rest, Length of Assignment, and Days Off
Type 3 Teams may deploy for more than one operational period and up to 14 days at the incident exclusive of travel. AHIMTs will ensure all personnel are provided a minimum 2:1 work to rest ratio (for every 2 hours of work or travel, provide 1 hour sleep and/or rest) Work shifts that exceed 16 hours and/or consecutive days that do not meet the 2:1 work/rest ratio should be the exception and no work shift should exceed 24 hours. The AHIMT Incident Commander or Team Leader must justify work shifts that exceed 16 hours and those that do not meet the 2:1 work/rest ratio.
Single Site Events
Major emergencies and disasters involving a single site or small geographical area will have a single IMT established to facilitate the management and coordination of resources.
Multiple Site Events
Incidents or events involving multiple sites or large geographical areas may require major or complex incident/event management:
Combining several incidents into an incident complex Dividing an incident into two or more single incidents Expand the planning capability Adding a second Operations or Logistics Section Activating an Area Command
If the Team is tasked to manage multiple sites, the AHIMT Incident Commander should confer with the local jurisdiction and request an additional AHIMT to assist with the management of the multiple sites, incidents, or events.
When there are multiple incidents generally in the same area that are each being managed by an IMT or a very large incident that has multiple IMTs assigned to it, there may be a need to establish an Area Command. The Incident Commanders for each team involved in management of such incidents/events should confer with the local jurisdiction and make a decision to establish an Area Command. Additional AHIMTs should be requested to establish an Area Command.
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Delegation of Authority
ONLY used when an AHIMT is being asked to take over management of the incident. WILL NOT be used when an IMT is in a supporting role to a local jurisdiction.
The AHIMT Incident Commander will cooperatively develop and submit for signature to the local Agency Representative a written Delegation of Authority (DOA). The DOA is required to assure that there is a complete understanding by all parties of the scope, nature, and requirements of the assignment.
See Appendix G – Sample Delegation of Authority.
The Oklahoma Mutual Aid Compact, a Mutual Aid Agreement, or an Automatic Aid Agreement must apply or be in effect before an AHIMT can accept a delegation of authority and assume responsibility for incident management.
Incident Management
The incident will be managed in accordance to the fundamental features, concepts, and principles of the Incident Command System. The incident management will be consistent with the team members NIMS/ICS training.
Demobilization
IMT components will be demobilized in accordance with the demobilization plan prepared by the IMT Planning Section, approved by the AHIMT Incident Commander, and implemented and managed by the IMT Logistics Section.
The considerations for AHIMT demobilization can be found in Appendix B.
The AHIMT is not completely demobilized until all IMT resources have returned to their home jurisdiction.
Performance Evaluation
Prior to demobilization, the AHIMT Incident Commander should discuss overall Team Performance with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). This discussion provides an opportunity to cover important aspects of team performance, such as:
Accomplishment of Agency goals and objectives Effective incident management, team leadership, and professionalism Sensitivity to local concerns, resource limits, environmental, political and social concerns, and cost Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
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Recognition of changing conditions and effective use of local resources Proper emphasis on safety and initiating action?
See Appendix H – Sample Incident Management Team Evaluation Form.
In addition, each supervisor should evaluate the performance of all Team members using ICS Form 226 — Individual Performance Rating. Each team member and their supervisor will sign the rating form at the conclusion of the rating discussion. A separate form is completed for each IMT position held. Section Chiefs should review all appraisals for team members in their section. The AHIMT Incident Commander will review and countersign all ratings where the overall rating is outstanding or unsatisfactory. Each team member should be given a copy of their appraisal at the end of their assignment.
Copies of the completed evaluation forms are forwarded to the AHIMT Team Coordinator for inclusion in Team records/files.
Release and Return to Home Unit
The final item on the AHIMT Incident Commander checklist prior to departure from an incident is the Release and Return to Home form. By signing this form, the Agency Administrator agrees that the Team:
Has accomplished the stated mission and objectives and is approved for release Has documented all consumable/disposable supplies used, and if the local jurisdiction will reimburse the Team for their replacement Will forward a copy of the final After-Action Report to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
If a Delegation of Authority was issued to the team, then this document returns the authority and responsibility for the management of the incident to the local jurisdiction’s Agency Administrator.
See Appendix I – Sample Release and Return to Home Unit Form
After-Action Review Process
Just as the demobilization process begins with the activation, so does the after-action process. The Planning Section Chief should constantly reinforce the need for IMT personnel to document any issues or items that may be included or reviewed in the after-action process.
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The debriefing may be conducted in a two-stage process with the first phase beginning prior to the release of the IMT from the incident, preferably prior to transport home. If required, the second phase is the more detailed debriefing that occurs after the IMT personnel have time to rehabilitate themselves after returning from their assignment.
The After-Action Process and After-Action Report will be conducted and developed in accordance with the principles and practices of the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP).
Phase One — Hot Wash
At the earliest convenient opportunity after conclusion of incident management activities and while still on-scene, the AHIMT Planning Section Chief should conduct a Hot Wash.
The Hot Wash is intended to provide AHIMT members an opportunity to express their concerns and identify action items.
The Hot Wash is normally done by function, starting with the planning function and concluding with the AHIMT Incident Commander. This will introduce issues that need to be discussed while the focus is still on the mission and issues are still fresh in the minds of the team members.
Issues that surface will be documented and serve as the basis for the AHIMT After-Action Report.
Phase Two — Debriefing
The AHIMT Incident Commander will evaluate the need for a Formal Debriefing and determine the appropriate level of participation based on the incident scope and complexity. If needed, this meeting should be scheduled as soon as possible following demobilization from the incident.
The input from the Phase One – Hot Wash will provide the basis for the Debriefing Agenda. Output from this Debriefing will be used to prepare the AHIMT After-Action Report to be submitted to the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee.
The Debriefing should address at a minimum, the following topics:
Strengths Areas for improvement Lessons Learned and best practices
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After-Action Report
The AHIMT Incident Commander will ensure the Planning Section Chief develops an AHIMT After-Action Report, which includes a documentation of activities, strengths or positive aspects, areas for improvement, and recommended corrective action. The AHIMT Incident Commander shall present the After-Action Report to the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee within 30 days of AHIMT demobilization from an incident.
The final After-Action Report should minimally include:
An executive summary A chronology of events including alert, activation, mobilization, on-site operations, and post- mission activities Strengths Areas for improvement Lessons learned and best practices Improvement Plan (IP)
Complaints
Complaints regarding the performance of the AHIMT during an incident will be directed to the Host Agency. The AHIMT Host Agency will conduct an inquiry into the complaint. Upon completion of the inquiry the AHIMT Host Agency will determine if the complaint is sustained or unfounded. If the complaint is sustained, then the Host Agency will recommend appropriate corrective action to the AHIMT Incident Commander to improve the team’s performance.
Complaints regarding an individual member’s performance will be directed to the AHIMT Incident Commander. The AHIMT Incident Commander will conduct an inquiry into the complaint. Upon completion of the inquiry the AHIMT Incident Commander will determine if the complaint is sustained or unfounded. If the complaint is sustained, then the AHIMT Incident Commander will recommend appropriate corrective action to improve the team member’s performance.
Complaints of misconduct by an individual member of the AHIMT will be directed to the member’s parent organization for investigation, disposition, and any corrective action.
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Reports
Incident Briefing Forms (ICS 201) and Incident Action Plans (IAP)
The Incident Commander or Planning Section will complete the Incident Briefing Form or Incident Action Plan, whichever is appropriate for the situation. The Incident Briefing Forms and Incident Action Plans will be completed in accordance with Incident Command System training. The completed Incident Briefing Forms and Incident Action Plans will be kept on file in the AHIMT records management system.
After Action Reports (AAR) and Improvement Plans (IP)
The AHIMT Incident Commander will ensure an AHIMT After Action Report is produced. The completed After Action Report and Improvement Plan will be kept on file in the AHIMT records management system. The AHIMT Incident Commander shall send a copy of the After-Action Report to the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee within 30 days of AHIMT demobilization from an incident.
AHIMT Records Management System
Each AHIMT shall maintain a records management system to store original documents produced by the team. The following completed original documents should be filed and stored in the AHIMT records management system:
Memorandums of Understanding
Member applications
Member Letters of Commitment
Team Manual
Team Rosters
Call-Out Lists
Mutual Aid requests
Delegations of Authority
Incident Briefing Forms
Incident Action Plans
Release and Return Home forms
Team Evaluations
Individual Performance Evaluations
After Action Reports
Corrective Action Plans Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
27 ADOPTED 04/09/2010
Completed complaint inquiries
Equipment
Issued Equipment
AHIMT members may be issued equipment to perform their position functions, duties, and tasks. Each member is responsible for the proper care, use, and control of their issued equipment. Issued equipment will be inspected and inventoried in accordance with the policies, procedures, and regulations of the Team Manual.
Vehicle Operations
All vehicles will be operated in accordance with applicable statutes and laws and the AHIMT member’s parent organization’s policies, procedures, and regulations. Traffic collisions and/or damage to any vehicle will be reported immediately and handled in the same manner as the AHIMT member’s parent organization’s policy and procedure;
Equipment Accountability and Checkout
The AHIMT may have equipment under its control. This equipment will be issued/checked-out and checked-in. The AHIMT shall account for all issued, loaned or borrowed equipment.
Equipment Maintenance and Repair
The AHIMT may have equipment under its control. The AHIMT will arrange for or coordinate necessary maintenance and repairs of equipment under their care and control.
Oklahoma AHIMT Program Manual Maintenance
The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of the Oklahoma AHIMT Program Manual.
The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will annually review and revise, as needed the Oklahoma AHIMT Program Manual.
This section establishes procedures for interim changes and full updates of the Program Manual. Oklahoma All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Program
28 ADOPTED 04/09/2010
Types of Changes
Changes include additions of new or supplementary material and deletions. No proposed change should contradict or override authorities or other plans contained in statute, Executive Order, or regulation.
Submitting Changes
Any Oversight Committee member, AHIMT member, or AHIMT stakeholder or participant may propose a change to the Program Manual.
Coordination of Review
The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee is responsible for coordination of review of the proposed changes. The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will submit the proposed changes to all participating AHIMTs and ask for their comments and input.
Approval
The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will review and discuss the proposed change along with any comments and input received from participating AHIMTs. The Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will approve as is, approve with modifications, or disapprove any changes to the Program Manual.
Notice of Change
After approval of the final change language, the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will issue an official Notice of Change. The notice will provide the change language on one or more numbered and dated insert pages that will replace the pages in the Program Manual. Once published, the changes will be considered part of the Program Manual.
Distribution
Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee will distribute Notices of Change to all participating AHIMTs.
Reissuance of the Program Manual
When the Oklahoma AHIMT Oversight Committee deems necessary an entire Program Manual with approved revisions will be distributed to all participating AHIMTs. | {
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Phewwww!!! Finally, some relief from tests and tuts... It's been a long time since my last post. Life has been just too busy all this time ... painfully busy. A lot of people have recently asked me about changing the GRUB boot order, having installed linux quite enthusiastically. So here's a HOW-TO for the same :
sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
Now you can customize and configure your GRUB boot loader from here. The first option you will find is 'default'. The default value for this option is 0.
default 0
You just need to change this 0 to 3/4/5 according to the OS you want to boot by default. Generally, 0 will be for the linux kernel, 1 for recovery mode and 2 for the memory testing mode. Changing this default value is all you have to do. You can also enable colored GRUB menu by uncommenting the 'color' option. For newbies, uncommenting means deleting the '#' from the line | {
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Heating
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Air Worth Expert Advice Blog
Refrigeration is important. The science of keeping things cool has made an immeasurable impact in our quality of life as Americans, and especially as Texans. The preservation of food, the manufacturing of penicillin and the ice in your tea are all made possible by refrigeration. However, the advancement in refrigeration technology has not been without cost. The first chemicals used in refrigeration units for both industrial and home uses were toxic gasses such as ammonia and methyl chloride. A leak in one of these units was not just dangerous but potentially deadly.
The Value of a Secret
Secrets are tricky things, aren’t they? Depending on the subject (surprise party vs. hazardous waste) and who it is about (relative vs. major corporation), a secret can be a fun event bonding people together or it can...
Occasionally, you will need some renovations for your home, and a heating specialist will likely be needed for that. If you want the job done correctly, you need to make certain that you hire only the very best. We've got a couple of guidelines...
Maybe you’ve heard of the “Butterfly Effect?” I won’t get into all the principles of this incredible idea that a butterfly flapping its wings in a distant forest somewhere causes a hurricane to form many miles away. Too complicated for...
Can you think of the last time you got maintenance on your AC or furnace? If the answer is no, or it hasn’t been checked sometime in the last year, you’re running the risk of facing a breakdown. Your HVAC system is probably one of the...
Thermostat settings on your air conditioning system are most times directed by personal preference as well as energy savings preference.
For example, the Energy Star program recommends a setting of 78 degrees for conserving energy and staying...
We’re used to the weather folks giving us a heads-up about what’s going to happen during the day – you know, something along the lines of, “Most parts of Tarrant County will see a few showers this morning, but sunshine...
It sure does feel like we are always playing catch-up – at work, at home, with our friends and family – the list goes on and on and there is never enough time to do it all. I can’t tell you how many times I think of something I...
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No Serbu For You Soup Nazi T-Shirt Debacle
I missed this whole “controversy”, but it’s pretty funny.
1:14 – “We are just going to shoot him” LOL wtf? That’s a gun guy joke? I’ve never heard that before. Did that guy seriously say that to a journalist and expect it not to be taken in any way other than incredibly negative?
I’ve met Mr. Serbu, even got a tour of the place when they were still mainly building single shots and that fancy super shorty shotgun. Pretty awesome guy, but most certainly a poor choice of words. People not used to that sort of audience say some dumb stuff sometimes.
What the actual fuck does NYPD need a 50 for? They ask us why we would need a 50 cal, or semi auto as a way to shut us down on getting guns, but seriously, what anti-armor/anti-material operations is NYPD operating in?
devil’s advocate: Police allegedly stopped the “zombiemobile” van of the idiot in texas (who went up against a dallas PD station) with a .50 round to the engine block.
To the story in this thread: Ah, fuck ’em if they can’t take a joke (regardless of how funny it is or isn’t). That was not yelling fire in a movie theater. Nor did *anyone* take him seriously. They just climbed on the “omg gun guy joking about shooting people” bandwagon. Notice how they said ‘joking’ and not “threatened”. They know he was joking and not serious, yet they’re taking him to task over it because of their hand-wringing vagisil emotions. And gun-people who are climbing all over him are falling right into the media’s trap. They’re allowed to use whatever language they want, and we can’t make a light-hearted joke? Fuck that. Those are shitty rules. Well, I guess they’ve won because I never go around saying I’m going to shoot someone. I just say I’m going to stab them. Then it’s acceptable.
Parody and Satire have always been (somewhat) exempt in trademark law. The Soup Nazi can say whatever he likes, but this is most likely protected parody. Just another case of the Streisand Effect. Had he not said anything, Serbu would have sold a dozen shirts. He pitched a fit online and now Serbu is getting all kinds of publicity. | {
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Extends WooCommerce to allow you to add a Video to the Product page. An additional tab is added on the single products page to allow your customers to view the video you embeded.
When adding a product select the "Video" tab and insert your video embed code where asked. A new tab will appear on the product page called "Video" (or the title you entered for the video) and your video will then display.
WooCommerce Video Product Tab works with any theme that supports WooCommerce.
Localization
If you do a translation for the plugin, please send it to me to include as part of the plugin language folder. I'll acknowledge your work here. To send your translation files contact me. (http://www.sebs-studio.com/contact/) | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Richard Carrier – in his test on the mythical vs historical Jesus in his book OHJ – relied on a more or less traditional Paul of the Acts. I am wondering whether that is consistent. A mythical Jesus but a traditional Paul ? Perhaps a realistic Paul might throw light on a historical Jesus ? The question under discussion – for already one month – is what that alternative for Paul would look like. (My first reaction to Carrier’s OHJ was on January 16.)
Categories for truth and falsehood
The Origin of Christianity is a mer à boire. Eventually when technology progresses all data en hypotheses will be in a database and then computer programs can create stories depending upon your preferred probability priors – with different pooled estimates for the different communities. The following is also intended to convey some of the problems.
Information in the works by Flavius Josephus (FJ) and the New Testament (NT) and Other sources might overlap or not. Since True information will be inside or outside of a source, there are 2 x 2 x 2 = 8 categories of overlap or not. The 8th option would be something that would be true but for which there is no source. This might be expert intuition or phantasy – but it would still be true within this universe of assumed truth. Check the Venn Diagram on the right.
In addition we might have False “information”. Thus in total there are 16 categories. Logically there would be only 8 categories, since a negation of false again is true. For a database it might make more sense however to store a direct falsehood rather than rework it. For example, if the NT were to hold that “Jesus died in 30 AD” (as an estimate date) then it is more efficient to record it in category -7, rather than turn this into “It is false that Jesus died in 30 AD” in category 7.
We would use number 0 for statements that have not been allocated, say in purgatory in the middle. Believers might shift them all to 8 and disbelievers might shift them all to -8, but that would somewhat reduce the value of those categories. The problem is rather the ranking of the statements for processing. The believers and disbelievers might actually agree on the ranking itself but only disagree where to start: at the beginning or the end. (Always at the beginning, but where that is depends upon the chosen perspective.)
FJ = works by Flavius Josephus, NT = New Testament
I have assigned the numbers so that :
1 would be supported by all sources
1-4 cover the whole of FJ, our most important source (with the NT copying FJ in 1 & 3)
5-7 reflect decreasing reliability.
Obviously, subcategories are possible. FJ and NT can be split into the various works, creating a finer grid, but also moot questions like whether the NT overall supports something that is in one gospel but not another (like the Star of Bethlehem). One can use higher numbers to create such a finer grid, and a database could handle the associated negative numbers for the falsehoods (another example of the use of negative numbers).
We would have double entry bookkeeping. “Archeology shows that there is no Nazareth in the year 30 AD” in 6 is an archeological qualifier for “Jesus came from Nazareth” in -7. There is also a risk of The battle of the databases because of disagreements on those valuations.
A remarkable point arises when we would succeed in decoding the NT so that all that seems false suddenly appears to be only a coded message. Like Eisenman in his New Testament Code we would have a Gestalt-switch in which pieces of the puzzle fall into their places, and the database would need to be re-valued. Note that Eisenman doesn’t quite fully subscribe to the time shift hypothesis yet.
Categories 1 – 4: Beware of FJ
Christian editors might have fully re-edited the works of FJ to eliminate gross inconsistencies with the NT.
While 1 & 2 find support in Other sources, 3 & 4 are tricky:
Category 4 is tricky since we must rely on the internal consistency of FJ itself.
Since the NT is not independent but derivative upon FJ, the former point actually also holds for 3.
The FJ ~ NT parallels mentioned by Goldberg might not quite distinguish between 1 and 3.
For example in Category 2, Halley’s comet of 66 AD might be identified: “Thus there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet, that continued a whole year.” (War 6.5.3 288-309). And perhaps there is a parallel in the NT – when we decode with the time shift hypothesis.
Remember the pro-Roman view in the NT and the pro-Jewish view in FJ – apart from various otherr angles – so that it might be difficult to speak about matching of data. There is Steve Mason’s warning:
“If perspective is unavoidable even where we have video cameras and satellite relays, how much more does it figure in any text from the Greco-Roman world?” (Mason, “Josephus and the New Testament“, p301)
Remarkable is also Mason’s discussion of John the Baptist by FJ:
“(…) he was a good man and had exhorted the Jews to lead righteous lives, to practice justice [dikaioyne] towards their fellows and piety [eusebeia] towards God, and so doing to join in baptism. (…) Notice also that Josephus reduces the content of John’s preaching to the maxim “piety toward God and justice toward one’s fellow’s”. This is Josephus’s usual way of describing Jewish ethical responsibility. [ftnt] (…) He even claims that the first two oaths sworn by Essene novices were “to behave with piety toward God and with justice toward their fellows” (War 2.139) This terminology, which summarizes the popular morality of the Greco-Roman world, is part of Josephus’s apologetic arsenal: he wants to present Judaism as a philosophical tradition that embraces the world’s highest values. [ftnt]” (Mason, p214-215)
The latter reminds of Jesus in Matthew 22:36-40 with the two maxims: to honour God and love one’s neighbour as oneself – which isn’t quite justice. See the discussion in The simple mathematics of Jesus p62 that refers to Euclid’s axiomatic development of geometry. Hellenizing influence on Judaism might be shown in that Jesus axiomatically reduced Moses’s Ten Commandments to those two maxims.
Category 7: What might be true in the NT just by itself?
The NT is a theological tract, intended to induce worship of God and obedience to his (not her) priests. It is not supposed to be historical. It might invoke an air of history, as one of the ways to buy into people’s awe for ancient knowledge and respect for scholarship.
To be most effective, a good religious parable has two layers: the induced message alongside the surface appearance of a “true story”. Grown-ups no longer accept the story of Santa Claus, but they may accept another story that looks more like serious history, like the story of Jesus as Santa Claus for grown-ups.
The creators of the NT were only human and ran against limitations in their capacity at phantasy. You cannot make up everything. Even the Wizard of Oz is a parable about the gold standard (yellow brick road) versus greenback money (emerald city). The creators of the NT used existing stories to work with. The works by FJ were plundered. Thus, most of the “history” in the NT is in categories 1 & 3 above.
Subsequently, what might be truths in the NT itself – category 7 ? If we are very strict then this category might be entirely empty. It is useful to allow for general external information about human behaviour that would not be too dependent upon that particular period of time.
We might recover the literary models, say the use of Homer (see Dennis Macdonald).
We can try to recover what the creators tried to hide, to recover their purposes.
There may be small bits that follow from internal consistency.
This kind of analysis is related to the distinction between Halakha (The Way) en Aggadah (Understandings), with PaRDeS methods – and Sod in Category 8 or -8. Paul might be a pre-rabbinic supporter of aggadah with a rejection of halakha. Thus, when the NT is called a source here, then it is only as a literary product with religious intentions, and we can use mathematics to check on patterns.
An example of the last is that Charles Vergeer found – in this entry – that Paul is called “Saul” in Acts before Acts 13.9 and thereafter is called “Paul” (Category 7). This tiny piece of evidence suggests that the association with governor Sergius Paulus on Cyprus, conventionally around 45 AD, might be meaningful in some sense (Category 7 in terms of “may be”). Charles Vergeer suggested that Paul’s name derived from receiving patronage by Sergius Paulus. Compare how Josephus got patronage from the Flavians (Hypothesis: category 8 or -8). Check this caveat on name conventions and why Saul might not need become Sergius Saulus. The label “patronus Pauli” will be useful for analysis till we determine who this patron might be. Vergeer also pointed to events in Rome around 58 AD (category 6) that would have implied a loss of power of Paul’s patrons, so that they could no longer protect Paul: which caused his beheading. But we don’t really know whether he died then and there (Hypothesis: category 8 or -8).
Vergeer has a strong point in a possible link to Philippi and Corinth, cf. the Epistles in the NT. In the Epistle to the Philippians there is mention ofEpaphroditus, which is a name that we also find mentioned by Josephus.
Our objective is to find out more about the alternative Paul. Let us see whether we can push this idea of patronage closer to Category 1.
Time shift of Paul’s patronage by a patronus Pauli
Vergeer used the time-scale of the NT, so that he referred to Sergius Paulus around 45 AD. However, there is the time shift hypothesis by Eisenstein and Einhorn, holding that the NT basically deals with the events around the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, and that those are projected onto one generation earlier in 30 AD. Eisenstein looks at the Dead Sea Scrolls and internal consistency (Category 1), and Einhorn uses elementary statistics on FJ and NT (Category 3 and 4).
Thus, Paul would have been present around 70 AD, and we should look for a potential patronus Pauli around that time, which the writers of the gospels projected back into time to a meeting with Lucius Sergius Paulus on Cyprus.
We already saw that 58 AD is a crucial year. Not just because of the beheading of a largely fictional Paul but also because Felix, procurator of Judea, is recalled to Rome and replaced by Festus. We know quite a bit about the situation in Rome in this period.
We may wonder why Festus got selected. We already observed before that Pompeius Paulinus returned in 58 AD from his command in Germania Inferior. He might be another candidate to succeed Felix, and be supported by his son in law Seneca. If Paulinus would become patron of Saul, then we would have the gens Pompeii and Pompeius Saulus, or on a smaller scale patronus Palinus. However, we use the term patronus Pauli only as a technical term. There may be other candidates too.
FJ is only 21 years of age in 58 AD.
In this period we encounter the freedmen brothers Marcus Antonius Pallas in Rome and Marcus Antonius Felix as procurator in Judea. Their background is available in the Appendix. There is no known connection between the names Pallas and Paulus.
Something completely different – Life of Matthias alongside Life of Brian
Below I will quote from FJ and NT to support some arguments. There are different readers:
Established students of the Origin of Christianity will become bored since they already have seen those quotes many times before.
New readers will be overwhelmed.
It will be useful to keep this discussion interesting and to have a key to hold on to.
In earlier weblogs I already wondered about these key points – and not add some other ones:
What if Matthias ~ Saul ~ Egyptian ~ Paul ~ presented in the Acts as a new Moses ?
We cannot use identity signs since there has been too much editing later on. If the fit becomes convincing then we would be able to identify the editing.
FJ writes in his books that the Egyptian disappears and is never heard from again. Actually, the Egyptian might have been arrested, and taken by Felix to Rome, with 21-year old FJ coming along to save the life of his elder brother (age unknown).
Spoil-sports of this scenario will hold that Saul escaped in a basket and henceforth was nicknamed tarsos, which he then used to argue that he was from Tarsus. But this doesn’t sound quite convincing (certainly not in terms of literary composition of a tract in theology).
Why is this not ludicrous from the start ? Why might this even be an interesting idea ?
We know hardly anything about Matthias.
Well, that is good. He is a clean canvas and we can paint almost any picture. What we paint is bound to remain in category 8 or -8, unless we might be able to appeal to some internal consistency for the whole puzzle. (That we know so little about M might make him suspect, but he might also have been a bore – thus suspicion is no real argument.)
This new hypothesis should allow experienced students to read the same old quotes with fresh inspiration, while new readers have a key to hang on to. Both readerships can link the information to a Life of Matthias rather than Life of Brian.
Core points are – with some repetition to see how the pieces fit together:
The simple mathematics of Jesus p 128 mentions some loose ends, and one is: “(4) We see surprising elements. When FJ becomes a member of the Sanhedrin around 64 (for the F [Pharisees]): what is the situation for his father (S [Sadducees]) and brother Matthias ? Perhaps Matthew ? There is also a tax collector with that name, and a text editor might not assign names to persons by chance. See also that successor of Judas [ – Matthias]. Suppose that Josephus is silent about his brother, who then writes a story about Jesus using the life of his brother Josephus as a model. It is fun to speculate about this infinity of possibilities.”
In this space of possibilities we can now drop the possible patronage by some patronus Pauli.
Assume that FJ’s elder brother Matthias was The Egyptian, was captured in 58 AD by Felix, and dispatched to Rome, with FJ at age 21 coming along to plea for his freedom.
Matthias saves his life by accepting the patronage by some patronus Pauli.
That FJ calls M “Egyptian” might be a reference for a longer stay and education in Alexandria, as the eldest son. Perhaps even a family nickname.
The paragraph in the Acts in which is asked Paul whether he is the Egyptian, would merely copy some information from FJ: Category 3 for the question and -3 for the answer.
(That the denial is a give-away confirmation causes problems of classification. Potentially the NT becomes a fully true book again once everything is decoded, as we observed above.)
The invention of Tarsus is required to be able to deny being the Egyptian but still claim citizen rights.
The tarsos = basket would refer to Moses from Egypt – with also the theological suggestion that Matthias as Paul is the New Moses.
Acts 21.30-40 relay about Paul and the Egyptian. When the Chief Captain makes a link between speaking Greek and a provenance from Egypt, the idea is that people in Alexandria speak Greek.
“30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. 31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. 33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done. 34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. 35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. 36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him. 37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? 38 Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? 39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people. 40 And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,” (Acts 21.30-40, KJV)
Conclusions
The further testing of this compound hypothesis is moved to the separate section below.
In summary, conclusions are:
The murder of high priest Jonathan in 58 AD put Matthias in violent protest on the Mount of Olives as the Egyptian. The events caused a recall of Felix to Rome. Matthias was brought along as a captive, and FJ came along to save his life.
There can be conceptual & psychological & religious consistency between being Matthias, the Egyptian, and Paul (with eventual the gospel to the gentiles).
Elsewhere, Roger Parvus has described that the Acts give an inverted description of Saul and Paul.
There would be two trips of FJ to Rome, while PACE and Goldberg’s timeline would have one (and do not recognise the inconsistency).
Matthias’s patronage by a patronus Pauli is likelier on the first trip in 58 AD then the second in 62 AD.
The patronage need not amount to very much, merely a restoration of earlier appeasement.
The scenario explains some explanatory gaps in PACE.
PACE does’t mention that FJ might want to hide the identity of the Egyptian. There now is a good motive.
The prospect of fitting with later developments look good.
There are still ample alternative connections for some patronus Pauli, e.g. via Rome-Alexandria.
The scenario puts more credibility on Paul than the vague “Paul of Tarsus” (with a curious “nickname”), while it would not be clear who else might be Paul.
FURTHER DISCUSSION
Consistency of being the Egyptian and accepting Roman patronage
FJ and his brother M are from Sadducee stock. If we want that Matthias is the Egyptian and later accepts a patronus Pauli, then the psychological gap should not be too big. (Though stories about remarkable conversions abound – psychologists should be able to tell more about these likelihoods.)
At bottom:
High priest Jonathan seems to have had a policy of appeasement with the Romans. If Matthias is angered by the murder, then it is because Felix betrayed this moderation. Once Felix would be punished and the Romans promise improvement, then Matthias might be realistic enough to return to the policy of appeasement. When he wants his father en himself to become high priests, then he would have to deal with the Romans in that position too. Thus, patronage by some Romans would not seem like a bridge too far.
Consistency with Paul’s gospel to the gentiles (with hypotheses)
The next question is whether Matthias might even have ideas about a gospel to the gentiles.
Judaism isn’t monolithic:
The Sadducee elite does Temple service and adheres to Mosaic law with the Ten Commandments and basic issues like circumcision. They don’t recognise an immortal soul. They have most room to collaborate with the Greeks and Romans.
Pharisees are closer to the common people: they perform at circumcision, bar mitzvah, marriage and burials. They adhere to the Halakha with eating laws and such. They preach an immortal soul, perhaps also to keep discipline amongst their sheep. They hardly can collaborate with Greeks and Romans.
Sadducees look down upon Halakha as “not from God and Moses, but man made”.
The Essenes seem to be a bag of mixtures.
The link to Egypt is important. Education in Alexandria would have turned Matthias skeptic about Judaism and its divisions.
Philo of Alexandria developed a syncretic philosophy himself, that in various ways fits somewhat with later Christendom and in other ways with Gnosticism.
See our discussion about Torah and Gnosis, with elements that many seem to miss.
Philo also reports about Therapeutae in Egypt, likely influenced by Pythagoras, Plato and the syncretic Greek-Egyptian god Serapis, also influenced by Asclepius.
Those Therapeutae could link up to some Essenes.
An (advanced) education in Alexandria puts more emphasis on logic.
Matthias might have had a basic education with the Essenes in Qumran, but moved on the Alexandria, and the event of 58 would indicate the split from Qumran to a more Hellenized and likely somewhat gnostic Paul, laying the foundations for later and wiser Christian editors. (Category 8 or -8.)
A good education in Aristotelian logic in Alexandria might have shown Matthias that the Sadducees are rather hypocritical. They depend for their income (sacrifices, taxes) upon the common people, but they let the people believe other things than what they believe themselves. It would be more harmonious if people paid taxes for what they believe in. It reduces criticism when people find out.
See also Goldberg on the class conflict. Sadducee Matthias could remain Sadducee and not switch to Qumran, but oppose hypocrisy out of initial conviction and a better trained feeling for logic. FJ says that he himself joined the Pharisees, but this may be out of calculation – either the doing or the saying so.
PM. If FJ himself was law-observing then the war would cause him to emphasize religious tolerance: say with fighting on the Sabbath and not requiring circumcision from gentile allies. This isn’t quite the same as Paul’s position to abolish Halakha anyhow. FJ, in looking back on his life:
“23. At this time it was that two great men, who were under the jurisdiction of the king [Agrippa] came to me out of the region of Trachonius, bringing their horses and their arms, and carrying with them their money also; and when the Jews would force them to be circumcised, if they would stay among them, I would not permit them to have any force put upon them, but said to them, “Every one ought to worship God according to his own inclinations, and not to be constrained by force; and that these men, who had fled to us for protection, ought not to be so treated as to repent of their coming hither.” And when I had pacified the multitude, I provided for the men that were come to us whatsoever it was they wanted, according to their usual way of living, and that in great plenty also.” (Vita, quoted in the FJ ~ NT parallels by Kenneth Humphreys) (See also Goldberg‘s parallel, and that my earlier discussion that Jewish women aren’t circumcised.)
FJ’s meeting of Poppaea in 58 AD – inconsistency about his two trips to Rome
To understand the following we first need some data.
There are some crucial periods for the procurators, and there is FJ’s inconsistency on Rome. For FJ I use Whiston at Project Gutenberg, PACE, and Gary Goldberg’s Josephus.org with a timeline and such.
“Further, the interpretation of the Life that I have proposed here integrates it fully with the Antiquities, to which it is attached. The Life also becomes broadly consistent with the War. When Josephus now changes the details, it is not because, having shifted political allegiances, he wishes to make subtle new points, as scholars have often thought. Such motives would not explain the general sloppiness of detail in this book. Rather, Josephus exploits his brief period of command in Galilee to make some claims about his aristocratic virtue in support of his magnum opus. In the spirit of his age, which we find also among the gospel writers, he shows not the slightest hesitation in changing details or disregarding precision altogether in the interest of making his present rhetorical points.” (Steve Mason, Josephus and the New Testament, p131).
Mason seems to hold that there was only one trip to Rome, and that FJ used data from Antiquities to creatively retell his Vita. In Antiquities we find a trip under Festus with priests not in bonds, without mention of FJ partaking at age 26. Later in Vita there is a trip under Felix with priests in bonds, and FJ (“at age 26” while he would be 21) partaking and meeting Poppaea, wife of Nero. Perhaps the 62-63 trip is embellished in Vita, but FJ in Antiquities might have had a reason to cover up the first trip.
FJ mentions in Vita (published around 99 AD) that he took a trip to Rome in the period of Felix with Jewish priests in bonds. This must be in 58 AD at the latest, and likely in this year when Felix is called back to Rome because of the murder of high priest Jonathan.
I will presume that the ship departing in 58 also arrives in 59 AD.
FJ meets Poppaea, the future wife of Nero. Since Nero and Seneca were still close, it should not be unlikely that FJ also met Seneca.
FJ mentions in Antiquities(published around 94 AD) another travel by priests to Rome in 62-63 AD under Festus. These priests are not in bonds. FJ doesn’t mention whether he partakes or not. FJ claims: Poppaea helps the priests.
About the first trip in 58, FJ says that he is 26 years of age which would hold for the second trip.
Given the role that FJ assigns to Poppaea for that second trip (wishful thinking, boasting ?) it may well be that FJ was on that second trip too (so that he could witness that). Who would miss the opportunity to cement relations in Rome ? (But then, it was Nero, who had already murdered his mother in 59 AD.)
Given the later publication of Vita, it might be that FJ confused the dates and procurators, and that there was only one trip. However, it would concern his own life. The binding of priests, shipwreck, meeting Poppaea, and reference to “small and trifling occasion” should make for proper distinction between the two trips. It is more likely that he made a single error of putting in the wrong age. Which error indicates that he was on that second trip too. On the other hand, Mason makes a strong case for rhetorical motives.
Some quotes – with wikipedia a portal and no source:
54 – 65 AD: “On October 13, 54 A.D., Nero became the emperor of Rome. For five years Burrus and Seneca were able to control Nero and Agrippina. Under Poppaea‘s influence, Nero had his mother [Agrippina the Younger, 15-59 AD] killed, and this meant trouble for Seneca as well. In 62 A.D., Seneca retired and Burrus died. After this happened, Nero lost all control. Finally in 65 A.D., Nero accused Seneca of being involved in a conspiracy to kill him. Nero ordered Seneca to commit suicide, which he did with his faithful wife by his side. Nero prevented Paulina from dying, but Seneca went ahead as ordered.” (vroma.org)
58 AD: “Poppaea then married Otho, a good friend of the new Emperor Nero, who was seven years younger than she was. Nero fell in love with Poppaea and she became Nero’s mistress. According to Tacitus, Poppaea divorced Otho in 58 and focused her attentions solely on becoming empress of Rome and Nero’s new wife. (…) Tacitus claims that Poppaea was the reason that Nero murdered his mother. Poppaea induced Nero to murder Agrippina in 59 so that she could marry him. Modern scholars, though, question the reliability of this story as Nero did not marry Poppaea until 62. (…) The historian [ ! ] Josephus, on the other hand, tells us of a very different Poppaea. He calls her a deeply religious woman (perhaps privately a Jewish proselyte) who urged Nero to show compassion, namely to the Jewish people. However, in 64, she secured the position of procurator of Judaea for her friend’s husband, Gessius Florus, who was harmful to the Jews.” (Wikipedia on Poppaea)
On the procurators:
59-62 AD:“Now when Porcius Festus was sent as successor to Felix by Nero, the principal of the Jewish inhabitants of Cesarea went up to Rome to accuse Felix; and he had certainly been brought to punishment, unless Nero had yielded to the importunate solicitations of his brother Pallas, who was at that time had in the greatest honor by him. Two of the principal Syrians in Cesarea persuaded Burrhus, who was Nero’s tutor, and secretary for his Greek epistles, by giving him a great sum of money, to disannul that equality of the Jewish privileges of citizens which they hitherto enjoyed. So Burrhus, by his solicitations, obtained leave of the emperor that an epistle should be written to that purpose. This epistle became the occasion of the following miseries that befell our nation; for when the Jews of Cesarea were informed of the contents of this epistle to the Syrians, they were more disorderly than before, till a war was kindled.” (Antiquities, 20.8.9)
The murder of high priest Jonathan in Judea 58 AD
Gary Goldberg provides us key information.
Felix Arranges the Assassination of High Priest JonathanA 20.8.5 162-4Felix also bore an ill-will to Jonathan, the high priest, because of his frequent admonitions to improve the administration of Jewish affairs; for Jonathan feared that he himself would have complaints made of him by the multitude, since he it was who had requested Caesar to send Felix as procurator of Judea. So Felix contrived a method whereby he might get rid of one who had become so continually troublesome to him; for such continual rebukes are annoying to those who are disposed to do wrong. For such reasons Felix persuaded one of Jonathan’s most trusted friends, a citizen of Jerusalem named Doras, to bring the robbers upon Jonathan, in order to kill him; and this he did by promising to pay a great deal of money. Doras complied with the proposal, and contrived for the robbers to murder him in the following way. Certain of those robbers went up to the city as if they were going to worship God, while they had daggers under their garments, and by thus mingling themselves among the multitude they slew Jonathan.
CommentThe account written earlier, in War 2.18.3 [must be 2.13.3], does not implicate Felix in the assassination. Josephus states that it was Jonathan who had originally requested Felix be sent as governor, which was done by Emperor Claudius, who was friendly with the Jewish royal family. As Felix and his brother Pallas were freed slaves who rose high in Claudius’ administration, Jonathan may have thought Felix would be a gentle administrator. However, after only two years Nero succeeded Claudius, and under the new administration that the governor’s corruption accelerated..
Curiously, the discussion at PACE – managed by Steve Mason – does not discuss the inconsistency of FJ’s claims of a trip at age 26 under Felix, and the estimated tenure of Felix (52-58).
PACE gives a majority view of a recall of Felix in 59 or 60 AD, but the coinage of Kokkinos fits with the murder of high priest Jonathan. PACE says that Jonathan was a former high priest – which is true because he was so on occasion before 58 too – but should he not be better be the high priest when he was murdered ? In Wikipedia’s list of high priests, Jonathan ben Ananus of 58 is not documented yet.
Footnote 95: “Antonius Felix according to Tacitus ( Hist. 5.9), Claudius Felix according to the mss. of Josephus at Ant. 20.137. The Epitome there has “Claudius sent Felix” (see Schürer-Vermes 1.460 n. 19; but Kokkinos 1990). Felix was the brother of Marcus Antonius Pallas, the influential freedman of Claudius’ mother Antonia. Pallas served as the emperor Claudius’ financial secretary ( a rationibus) and seems to have played a major role in the affairs of the imperial court (Suetonius, Claud. 28-9; Tacitus, Ann. 12.53). Although—and because—he was granted the exceptional honor for a freedman of receiving the insignia of a senior magistrate (praetor: Pliny, Ep. 8.6), Pallas created many aristocratic enemies: Pliny called him a “dirty rotten scoundrel” ( Ep. 7.29). He was later put to death by Nero. Near the end of the Antiquities Josephus has introduced Felix as the brother of this notorious official, evidently assuming an audience who know the name of Pallas: Ant. 20.137. Matching Tacitus’ description of Felix as a man who, “practicing every kind of cruelty and lust, wielded royal power with the instincts of a slave” ( Hist. 5.9), Josephus first describes the successful freedman’s lust for the already-married but still teen-aged Judean princess Drusilla (daughter of Agrippa I and sister of Agrippa II), which led her to “violate the ancestral laws” and marry this gentile ( Ant. 20.143-44). It was under Felix’ watch, according to Josephus, that Judean political life deteriorated sharply. The governor’s determination to do wrong drove him to introduce knife-wielding assassins ( sicarii) into the city and to murder the former high priest Jonathan (20.162-64). He thus opened a Pandora’s box, which he could not close even though he aggressively tried to stamp out militant and religious radicals (20.167-72). He also sided arbitrarily with the Syrian inhabitants of Caesarea Maritima against the Judeans there (20.173-78), creating further tensions. Cf. War 2.247-70 and Krieger 1994:141-71. The dates of Felix’ tenure as procurator are uncertain and depend on a large number of variables (see Schürer-Vermes 1.460 n. 17, 465-66 n. 42). Most scholars posit either 52 or 53 CE as his first year, though the matter is complicated by Tacitus’ confident description ( Ann. 12.54), not paralleled in Josephus, of an earlier sharing of power in Samaria and Judea by Cumanus and Felix. Estimates for the year of his recall range from 54 through 61 CE, with the majority view favoring 59 or 60. Kokkinos (1998:385-86) makes a case from the coinage for 58 CE.” (Life, Translation Mason, Whiston Section 1.1.3, PACE footnote 95)
Footnote 93: “After Josephus’ 26th birthday. Since he was born in Gaius’ first year (cf. § 5: March 18, 37 – March 17, 38), his 26th birthday fell between March 18, 63, and March 17, 64 CE. Josephus’ departure for Rome was, therefore, probably in the sailing season (spring to autumn) of either 63 or 64.
The murder of Jonathan in 58 put the Egyptian on the Mount of Olives
When we look at War 2.13.3, we find that the slaying of Jonathan ben Ananus [Ionathes] is linked to Felix’s recall to Rome and replacement by Festus.
We also see The Egyptian, who responds by wanting to attack the Roman garrisons in Jerusalem. It is a long quote but crucial for our purposes to discover who Paul is and who changed his name into Paul.
“3. When the country was purged of these, there sprang up another sort of robbers in Jerusalem, which were called Sicarii, who slew men in the day time, and in the midst of the city; this they did chiefly at the festivals, when they mingled themselves among the multitude, and concealed daggers under their garments, with which they stabbed those that were their enemies; and when any fell down dead, the murderers became a part of those that had indignation against them; by which means they appeared persons of such reputation, that they could by no means be discovered. The first man who was slain by them was Jonathan the high priest, after whose death many were slain every day, while the fear men were in of being so served was more afflicting than the calamity itself; and while every body expected death every hour, as men do in war, so men were obliged to look before them, and to take notice of their enemies at a great distance; nor, if their friends were coming to them, durst they trust them any longer; but, in the midst of their suspicions and guarding of themselves, they were slain. Such was the celerity of the plotters against them, and so cunning was their contrivance.
4. There was also another body of wicked men gotten together, not so impure in their actions, but more wicked in their intentions, which laid waste the happy state of the city no less than did these murderers. These were such men as deceived and deluded the people under pretense of Divine inspiration, but were for procuring innovations and changes of the government; and these prevailed with the multitude to act like madmen, and went before them into the wilderness, as pretending that God would there show them the signals of liberty. But Felix thought this procedure was to be the beginning of a revolt; so he sent some horsemen and footmen both armed, who destroyed a great number of them.
5. But there was an Egyptian false prophet that did the Jews more mischief than the former; for he was a cheat, and pretended to be a prophet also, and got together thirty thousand men that were deluded by him; these he led round about from the wilderness to the mount which was called the Mount of Olives, and was ready to break into Jerusalem by force from that place; and if he could but once conquer the Roman garrison and the people, he intended to domineer over them by the assistance of those guards of his that were to break into the city with him. But Felix prevented his attempt, and met him with his Roman soldiers, while all the people assisted him in his attack upon them, insomuch that when it came to a battle, the Egyptian ran away, with a few others, while the greatest part of those that were with him were either destroyed or taken alive; but the rest of the multitude were dispersed every one to their own homes, and there concealed themselves.
6. Now when these were quieted, it happened, as it does in a diseased body, that another part was subject to an inflammation; for a company of deceivers and robbers got together, and persuaded the Jews to revolt, and exhorted them to assert their liberty, inflicting death on those that continued in obedience to the Roman government, and saying, that such as willingly chose slavery ought to be forced from such their desired inclinations; for they parted themselves into different bodies, and lay in wait up and down the country, and plundered the houses of the great men, and slew the men themselves, and set the villages on fire; and this till all Judea was filled with the effects of their madness. And thus the flame was every day more and more blown up, till it came to a direct war.
7. There was also another disturbance at Cesarea,—those Jews who were mixed with the Syrians that lived there rising a tumult against them. The Jews pretended that the city was theirs, and said that he who built it was a Jew, meaning king Herod. The Syrians confessed also that its builder was a Jew; but they still said, however, that the city was a Grecian city; for that he who set up statues and temples in it could not design it for Jews. On which account both parties had a contest with one another; and this contest increased so much, that it came at last to arms, and the bolder sort of them marched out to fight; for the elders of the Jews were not able to put a stop to their own people that were disposed to be tumultuous, and the Greeks thought it a shame for them to be overcome by the Jews. Now these Jews exceeded the others in riches and strength of body; but the Grecian part had the advantage of assistance from the soldiery; for the greatest part of the Roman garrison was raised out of Syria; and being thus related to the Syrian part, they were ready to assist it. However, the governors of the city were concerned to keep all quiet, and whenever they caught those that were most for fighting on either side, they punished them with stripes and bands. Yet did not the sufferings of those that were caught affright the remainder, or make them desist; but they were still more and more exasperated, and deeper engaged in the sedition. And as Felix came once into the market-place, and commanded the Jews, when they had beaten the Syrians, to go their ways, and threatened them if they would not, and they would not obey him, he sent his soldiers out upon them, and slew a great many of them, upon which it fell out that what they had was plundered. And as the sedition still continued, he chose out the most eminent men on both sides as ambassadors to Nero, to argue about their several privileges.” (War 2.13.3)
PACE has question marks – plug in Matthias the Egyptian
Let us consider the hypothesis that the Egyptian is Matthias, elder brother of FJ. An essential part of the hypothesis is that M had studied in Alexandria and had returned to the Temple, and became livid that Felix murdered Jonathan.
FJ in his later report for Vespasian needed to hide Matthias’s name, and used a general label, which was copied by the author of the NT. (A false phantasy is category -8, but if true it would be category 3.)
PACE doesn’t mention that FJ might want to hide the identity of the Egyptian. They point to some curious things about this Egyptian that however fit the hypothesis about Matthias. The label Egyptian is not ethnic but derives from other considerations, which the writer of the NT is well aware of by including the information about speaking Greek which FJ doesn’t mention:
Footnote 1640: “On this figure see also Ant. 20.169-72; Acts 21:38. It is striking that the man should be known by this ethnic label—rather than by his name, and not by his Judean identity: for Josephus he was an Egyptian who harmed the Judeans. But was he not also a Ioudaios? (If not, how did he attract such a following, and why did he have such an interest in Jerusalem?) In Alexandrian politics the label “Egyptian” was a slur: Egyptians of native ancestry were sharply distinguished from Alexandrians, whose ancestry (though thoroughly mixed by the 1st cent. CE) and culture derived from Greco-Macedonian roots, as also from the Judeans, who continually angled for equality with the Alexandrians. In the Apion Josephus is keen to disassociate Judeans from their widely presumed Egyptian ancestry (e.g., 2.8); most revealing is his attack on Apion for asserting the Egyptian ancestry of the Judeans while denying his own Egyptian identity (“he falsely claimed to be an Alexandrian”; Apion 2.28-30; see Barclay ad loc. in BJP 10).
That Josephus identifies this man only as “the Egyptian” could mean either that this was the only way the man was known (odd, given that there must have been many Judeans from Egypt and Alexandria passing through Jerusalem; it is hard to imagine someone being known as “the American” in London), that he does not know his name (curious, given that he claims to know the names of even obscure troublemakers), or that he intends disparagement by this label.
Most remarkable is Acts’ use of the same epithet in place of a name—and apparent misuse of it, by having the Egyptian leading sicarii into the desert (Acts 21:38). That might suggest the author’s dependence upon Josephus.” (War, 2.13.5, Niese Section 261)
FJ’s first trip to Rome in 58 AD: The Egyptian
The Egyptian doesn’t get a name, which is curious for Josephus who knows so much. But in 58 FJ is only 21 years, and likely not so interested in writing his history.
However, in Antiquities we find another detail: the tumbling of walls remind of Jericho, with Joshua, the Saviour. Now FJ is silent about the context of the murder on Jonathan and the planned attack on the Roman garrison.
This must be in or before 58 AD: “6. These works, that were done by the robbers, filled the city with all sorts of impiety. And now these impostors and deceivers persuaded the multitude to follow them into the wilderness, and pretended that they would exhibit manifest wonders and signs, that should be performed by the providence of God. And many that were prevailed on by them suffered the punishments of their folly; for Felix brought them back, and then punished them.
Moreover, there came out of Egypt about this time to Jerusalem one that said he was a prophet, and advised the multitude of the common people to go along with him to the Mount of Olives, as it was called, which lay over against the city, and at the distance of five furlongs. He said further, that he would show them from hence how, at his command, the walls of Jerusalem would fall down; and he promised them that he would procure them an entrance into the city through those walls, when they were fallen down.
Now when Felix was informed of these things, he ordered his soldiers to take their weapons, and came against them with a great number of horsemen and footmen from Jerusalem, and attacked the Egyptian and the people that were with him. He also slew four hundred of them, and took two hundred alive. But the Egyptian himself escaped out of the fight, but did not appear any more. And again the robbers stirred up the people to make war with the Romans, and said they ought not to obey them at all; and when any persons would not comply with them, they set fire to their villages, and plundered them.” (Antiquities 20.8.6, The Egyptian)
That the Egyptian “disappeared” is a sweet lie, sweet, since the label indeed isn’t mentioned anymore. (It may be a literary thing. The Gospel according to Mark had an empty grave too.)
FJ’s first trip to Rome in 58 AD: Felix recalled to Rome
Since FJ is born in 37 AD he would be 21 years of age in 58 AD when Felix still reigned.
“3. But when I was in the twenty-sixth [Category -4, not seen by PACE] year of my age, it happened that I took a voyage to Rome, and this on the occasion which I shall now describe. At the time when Felix was procurator of Judea there were certain priests of my acquaintance, and very excellent persons they were, whom on a small and trifling occasion he had put into bonds, and sent to Rome to plead their cause before Caesar.
These I was desirous to procure deliverance for, and that especially because I was informed that they were not unmindful of piety towards God, even under their afflictions, but supported themselves with figs and nuts. [This might be zealots – nazirites who have to stay away from death]. Accordingly I came to Rome, though it were through a great number of hazards by sea; for as our ship was drowned in the Adriatic Sea, we that were in it, being about six hundred in number, swam for our lives all the night; when, upon the first appearance of the day, and upon our sight of a ship of Cyrene, I and some others, eighty in all, by God’s providence, prevented the rest, and were taken up into the other ship.
And when I had thus escaped, and was come to Dieearchia, which the Italians call Puteoli, I became acquainted with Aliturius, an actor of plays, and much beloved by Nero, but a Jew by birth; and through his interest became known to Poppea, Caesar’s wife, and took care, as soon as possible, to entreat her to procure that the priests might be set at liberty. And when, besides this favor, I had obtained many presents from Poppea, I returned home again.” (Vita, 3)
Comments:
Poppaea would indeed already be the mistress of Nero, though not yet his official spouse (in 62 AD).
There would be no need for FJ to meet Seneca but it might still be feasible that FJ and / or some of the priests including Matthias accept patronage by some Romans in order to get their liberty.
If FJ himself accepted the patronage by the Pauli, then he would call himself Paulus Josephus. Then he would later change his patronage to the Flavians, unless the Church redacted this too.
For the priests who were in bounds, it depends upon why they were in bounds, for them to accept patronage by the Pauli.
If FJ’s brother Matthias would be The Egyptian and now switch to Paulus Matteus, then we might assume tough discussions between the brothers on the boat trip. (For the film: FJ causes the shipwreck to get rid of witnesses.)
It has been suggested e.g. by Ralph Ellis, King Jesus, that Poppaea liked young men and that FJ was an exotic, witty and seductive young man, so that the true persuasion derived from charm and such. It depends upon FJ’s religious convictions whether he would use such tactics. But of course he was young, and Poppaea might have tainted him. As Ellis remarks: the willingness to eat and drink with the Romans without insistence on special food might already be quite a feat.
The most peculiar is that the priests are bound because of a small and trifling affair. Well, for a small affair people might not want to go to Nero, and would have to be bound of course. It is more likely that it wasn’t a small affair though.
We are also invited to believe that Felix was so incompetent and impatient to put people in bonds and dispatch them to Rome on a “small and trifling” reason . Alternatively, these were real important priests, like Matthias.
Felix is recalled to Rome in 58. It is conceivable that he wants to bring along some evidence. Matthias is an important captive.
FJ’s second trip to Rome 62-65 AD
PACE has no comment that FJ would be on this trip. But he could be, if the reference to 26 years of age is an indication.
62-65 AD: “11. About the same time king Agrippa built himself a very large dining-room in the royal palace at Jerusalem, near to the portico. Now this palace had been erected of old by the children of Asamoneus and was situate upon an elevation, and afforded a most delightful prospect to those that had a mind to take a view of the city, which prospect was desired by the king; and there he could lie down, and eat, and thence observe what was done in the temple;
which thing, when the chief men of Jerusalem saw they were very much displeased at it; for it was not agreeable to the institutions of our country or law that what was done in the temple should be viewed by others, especially what belonged to the sacrifices. They therefore erected a wall upon the uppermost building which belonged to the inner court of the temple towards the west, which wall when it was built, did not only intercept the prospect of the dining-room in the palace, but also of the western cloisters that belonged to the outer court of the temple also, where it was that the Romans kept guards for the temple at the festivals.
At these doings both king Agrippa, and principally Festus the procurator, were much displeased; and Festus ordered them to pull the wall down again: but the Jews petitioned him to give them leave to send an embassage about this matter to Nero; for they said they could not endure to live if any part of the temple should be demolished; and when Festus had given them leave so to do, they sent ten of their principal men to Nero, as also Ismael the high priest, and Helcias, the keeper of the sacred treasure.
And when Nero had heard what they had to say, he not only forgave them what they had already done, but also gave them leave to let the wall they had built stand. This was granted them in order to gratify Poppea, Nero’s wife, who was a religious woman, and had requested these favors of Nero, and who gave order to the ten ambassadors to go their way home; but retained Helcias and Ismael as hostages with herself. As soon as the king heard this news, he gave the high priesthood to Joseph, who was called Cabi, the son of Simon, formerly high priest.” (Antiquities, 20. 8.11 at PACE)
Comments would be:
Agrippa’s ability to look into the Temple courtyard has military implications, and similarly the wall that would block his view again. It is strange that FJ assumes that his readers would not be aware of this.
The fire in Rome of 64 is curiously absent from his report. (For the film: FJ started that fire too.)
FJ is back in time in Jerusalem in 65-66 when the uprising starts so that he can take a command post. His brother’s reputation will have helped. But Matthias has changed to the moderates now (Category 8 or -8).
Apparently FJ leaves when Poppaea and Seneca (4 BC – 65 AD) fall out of favour and have to die.
In 66 there is Halley’s comet – not unexpected in some circles that kept records.
Around 62 Seneca the Younger is forced to retire. It is unlikely that there would be a link now. If Pompeius Paulinus is the patronus Pauli (with a need to explain the difference between “Pauli” and “Paulini”) then the patronage would have been established in the first trip.
Appendix: The freedman brothers M.A. Pallas and M.A. Felix
Check the names of the two freedman brothers:
The elder: Marcus Antonius Pallas (died 62 AD) with an important position at the court of Claudius and Nero, originally a slave of Antonia Minor, a niece of Augustus and mother of Claudius.
Around 31 AD: “Now Sejanus [20 BC – 31 AD] had certainly gained his point, had not Antonia’s boldness been more wisely conducted than Sejanus’s malice; for when she had discovered his designs against Tiberius, she wrote him an exact account of the whole, and gave the letter to Pallas, the most faithful of her servants, and sent him to Caprere [Capri] to Tiberius, who, when he understood it, slew Sejanus and his confederates; so that Tiberius, who had her in great esteem before, now looked upon her with still greater respect, and depended upon her in all things.” (Antiquities 18.6.6.)
52-58 AD: “Then Claudius sent Felix, the brother of Pallas, to manage the affairs of Judea. After completing the twelfth year of his reign, Claudius granted to Agrippa the tetrarchy of Philp, and Batanea.(…)” (Antiquities 20.7.1 quoted on Josephus.org)
According to Tacitus Annals xii 53-54 the brothers are descendent from kings of Arcadia – and note that this does not lay far from Corinthe, which town is related to the gens Aemilii Pauli. Potentially some of these Pauli were involved ? Marcus Antonius Pallas may have chosen his name from Pallas Athena however.
Our problem is solved since it is used as an example:
“Names of Freedpeople: When slaves were freed, they occupied a middle status between the freeborn and the enslaved; they were referred to as liberti or libertini, which we translate as “freedpeople.” While they were still enslaved, they had a single name, either a part of the name they had carried before they were enslaved or a name given to them by their master, often coming from mythology, referring to their country of origin, or referring to a personal characteristic. The slave’s name, like everything else, was completely at the discretion of his/her owner. However, there were specific conventions that governed the names of freedpeople. A freedman took the praenomen and nomen of his former master, who was now his patron, plus his slave name as a cognomen; if he had been freed by a woman, he took her father’s praenomen and nomen plus his slave name (e.g., Marcus Antonius’ daughter Antonia freed a slave named Pallas, who was then called M. Antonius Pallas).” (vroma.org)
Thus, based upon only these data, the involvement of the gens Pauli seems unlikely for Pallas.
However, there is a route from FJ to Felix to Pallas to some potential patronus Pauli at the court.
PM 1. Another key is that Caesar Augustus’s niece Antonia Minor (36 BC – 37 AD) (see also here) was great-aunt of Nero, and by marriage and adoption was his grandmother (link via Claudius), while Alexander the Alabarch in Egypt looked after her estates.
“In 56 two years after the accession of Roman emperor Nero, the imperial freedman Pallas and the Praetorian prefectSextus Afranius Burruswere accused of conspiring to have Felix declared emperor. The conspirators were put on trial, but Felix does not appear to have been implicated. Nero however, began to watch his brother-in-law closely, afraid of his connection to the imperial family.” (wikipedia) | {
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Audi RS3 stage 3 555bhp stage 3 upgrade
We have just completed a stage3 upgrade on a n Audi RS3 8P using our own hybrid turbo and REVO stage 3 software and we have seen 555bhp on the dyno ! Keep your eyes out in up and coming editions of VWG tuner magazine ! | {
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Esther Hoorn considers ways librarians can support scholars in managing the demands of copyright so as to respond to the needs of scholarly communication.
Intellectual Property Rights have become increasingly powerful and far-reaching. This has grown to be the standard opening line of papers in the field of law addressing issues of copyright for scientific research and scholarly publishing [1]. Concerns are expressed about the likelihood of preserving the public domain in the Internet era [2]. Currently new ways to safeguard the values and the entire potential of scholarly publishing and communication are being explored within the framework of existing copyright law. To date copyright law has always been reasonably balanced, weighing the interests of rights owners against those of users and the public interest generally.
As explicitly expressed in the wording actually proposed by EBLIDA [3] in the preamble to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty [4]:
'The Contracting Parties, recognising the need to maintain a balance between the right of authors and the larger public interest, particularly education, research and access to information, as reflected in the Berne convention, ...'
So from this rather abstract point of view, copyright serves the same interests as those inextricably linked with scholarly communication. This is why a practical first step to adjusting to an Open Access environment can be found within the existing framework of copyright law. The use of Creative Commons licences, agreements, guidelines and regulation through technical developments (such as integrating licences in metadata) can be seen as a means of adjusting copyright to the needs of scholarly communication without changing the law.
Moreover the potential of using Creative Commons licences as an advocacy tool is equally worthy of investigation. In tweaking the use of Creative Commons licences for scholarly use it may be important to re-examine research norms. Solutions can be found in better understanding of the values as well as the aims and purposes of scholarly communication [5]. This is an issue in which scholars need to be involved and where it is important to come up with discipline-specific answers. The Berlin Declaration recognises the view that community standards will continue to be important in the enforcement of proper attribution and responsible use of the published work.
Repositories and Open Access
Copyright Inside Out
Open Access grants a right to the end-user to access freely and make use of scholarly materials. This represents a radical shift in the paradigm. Copyright is based on a 'state-given' exclusive right to an author to publish, with some limitations to safeguard the interests of end-users. Open Access can be achieved when rights holders decide to give some of their rights away to the end-user. Because copyright law is regulatory, rights holders are entitled to decide whether to cede some of their rights. The full merit of the strict reading of the definition of a Open Access contribution according to the Berlin Declaration is that it makes clear that initiatives by (groups of) private authors are required to advance a public goal.
The Rights Roadmap in the Berlin Declaration
Now more and more institutions are signing the Berlin Declaration, it is useful to examine the definition of Open Access in some detail. On an initial reading there seems to be two conditions for Open Access:
the author grants free access to the end-user and
a complete version of the work is placed in a repository.
In fact, in the current quest for content, libraries tend to be satisfied when just the second condition is met. As a consequence there is every chance that they miss out on the richer roadmap to Open Access that is hidden in the following definition which with its preamble reads as follows:
"Definition of an Open Access Contribution
Establishing Open Access as a worthwhile procedure ideally requires the active commitment of each and every individual producer of scientific knowledge and holder of cultural heritage. Open Access contributions include original scientific research results, raw data and metadata, source materials, digital representations of pictorial and graphical materials and scholarly multimedia material. Open Access contributions must satisfy two conditions:
1. The author(s) and right holder(s) of such contributions grant(s) to all users a free, irrevocable, worldwide right of access to, and a license to copy, use, distribute, transmit and display the work publicly and to make and distribute derivative works, in any digital medium for any responsible purpose, subject to proper attribution of authorship (community standards will continue to provide the mechanism for enforcement of proper attribution and responsible use of the published work, as they do now), as well as the right to make small numbers of printed copies for their personal use.
2. A complete version of the work and all supplemental materials, including a copy of the permission as stated above, in an appropriate standard electronic format is deposited (and thus published) in at least one online repository using suitable technical standards (such as the Open Archive definitions) that is supported and maintained by an academic institution, scholarly society, government agency, or other well-established organization that seeks to enable Open Access, unrestricted distribution, inter operability, and long-term archiving." [6]
The definition of an Open Access contribution holds an important pre-condition where it states that Open Access ideally requires the active commitment from each and every individual producer of scientific knowledge. As explained above, this is also an important point from a lawyer's perspective.
The first-mentioned condition can only be met if the rights holder [7] decides that he or she wants to do two things, i.e. grant free access to end-users -which can be done in a straight-forward way - but also grant a licence to reuse the material for any responsible purpose. This is an important condition, for in so doing the rights holder helps to widen the legal public domain. Furthermore the licence offers the opportunity to reduce transaction costs currently associated with the reuse of scholarly materials for educational purposes.
The suggested reach of the licence as described in the first condition does not apply to printed material. Instead it is limited to reuse in any digital medium for any responsible use. Lawyers should refer to 'any responsible use' as a vague norm. This requires further clarification: communities should decide on the licences appropriate to their field of research. Guidelines and publication agreements with the option of a licence to make an Open Access contribution can be worked out by faculties, learned societies and the boards of journals. And it would seem sensible that they take account of the reasonable interests of those publishers who facilitate self-archiving or an Open Access business model in their guidelines [8].
I do not agree with the view that this licence is merely a formalistic condition and likely to lead to problems in enforcement [9]. The ever-vigorous Creative Commons initiative has proven otherwise. In broader research on institutional deployment of Creative Commons licences the preliminary report states that there is no reason to suggest that Creative Commons licences could not be used by public sector organisations [10].
The second condition in the definition of an Open Access contribution states that the work and all supplemental materials, including a copy of the permission as stated above, in an appropriate standard electronic format is deposited (and thus published) in at least one online repository. The holder of a repository can facilitate this by offering information on the use of searchable standard licences like the Creative Commons licences.
Towards Good Practice in Awareness-Raising
As part of a collaborative programme by SURF and JISC, a survey was carried out on the views on copyright of authors publishing in Open Access journals. I was involved in this investigation. The report Towards Good Practices on Copyright in Open Access Journals is now available online [11]. The recommendations should also prove valuable to the process of awareness-raising in respect of the use of repositories. It was established that author involvement in copyright matters even among authors who already publish in Open Access journals is still low. Let me quote from this recommendation:
'Maybe the most important stakeholder in the scholarly communication system consists of the scientific authors themselves. However, this stakeholder seems insufficiently involved in developing new copyright practices: stumbling blocks in reaching the academic community are low involvement and ignorance among scientists. This can also be concluded from this study, in which 30% of the respondents don't know who initially owns the copyright of their own research articles and in which 26% of the respondents indicate to have a low interest in the copyright issues of their own research articles.' [11]
One of the main recommendations is to use the Creative Commons licences as models for awareness-raising. These licences are used in a wide variety of Open Access journals.
The example of the PLOS (Public Library of Science) magazines demonstrates that there is a relationship between the business model of the publisher and the freedom of end-users to use a work as they see fit. With these magazines the publisher is in no way dependent on income from access or reuse of the work. Therefore PLOS can agree that the producer makes his or her work available under a Creative Commons attribution licence. As long as the end-user gives a proper attribution, he or she is free to reuse the material. Even commercial reuse is allowed. PLOS explains that the publisher and the producer both have an interest in the work being widely disseminated. Therefore there will be no objection if, for instance, a book appears on the Indian market with translated articles from PLOS magazines.
In general the survey shows that authors want a limited copyright role for the journal publisher. The attitudes of the authors on copyright issues in relation to traditional journal publishers are surprising: although most are involved in traditional journal publishing, only 2% prefer the transfer of copyright to the journal publisher and only 10% think that the publisher should handle permission requests to reuse the article. A large majority (71%) wants the authors to retain the copyright; an equally large majority wants to see the author handling permission requests as well. This also holds true, judging from the replies of the respondents, as regards the editorial board members of traditional journals.
Authors want unlimited reuse for scholarly and educational purposes for everyone, but limitations on commercial reuse by others. This could be achieved by the NON COMMERCIAL USE licence. The Berlin Declaration apparently considers it to be proper to scholarly communication that the author keeps the right to be attributed. This can be done by adding the ATTRIBUTION licence. A third Creative Commons option gives rights to end-users on the condition that they make their work freely accessible under this Creative Commons licence as well. I will come back to the value of this SHARE ALIKE licence for scholarly communication after a general introduction to the Creative Commons initiative.
Creative Commons
Figure 1: Decision Tree for the Main Options with Standard Creative Commons Licences
The fact that the general issue and the specific matter of enforcement of copyright have gained in importance with the advance of the Internet is largely due to a strong lobby of the music and film industries. Laws and technical protection measures are used to safeguard their interests. However at the same time the dissemination of culture and knowledge, which copyright tries to encourage, is in fact also jeopardised at the same time. As a counter-movement Lawrence Lessig [12] instigated the Creative Commons. This initiative offers people who would like to share music, photos or text the opportunity to do so within the parameters of copyright law by means of contracts between the author and the end-user. In such a contract the author indicates the degree of licence the end-user has in using the product. These contracts are standardised and legally sound and they are offered in natural language and as metadata for the purposes of machine searches.
For instance, when someone makes a photo available with a Creative Commons licence, stipulating that the author's name be quoted and that no commercial reuse be allowed, then a student who wishes to use this photo in an assignment knows that there is no impediment in this instance, and can publish the assignment without further ado, as long as he or she acknowledges the name of the photographer.
From the user's perspective the ideal situation would be for clear indications as to user rights to be offered within the search process through descriptive metadata in respect of copyright status. An example of this functionality can be found on the Creative Commons Web site under the Find button. Some work still has to be done to add information on user rights to the metadata used in the OAI protocol used for institutional repositories. In the long run, a search including the question whether the material may be reused for scholarly, non-commercial use could well result in a vast number of articles, thereby demonstrating that scholarly communities value the opportunity to share their work.
SHARE ALIKE
Using the SHARE ALIKE licence recognises that it will require a collective effort to achieve freely accessible scientific research and scholarly communication over the Internet. Such use seems to resonate with a central value in scholarly communication, namely constructing knowledge through sharing information [13]. A limitation on an author's rights to cite from a work has always been part of copyright law. From this perspective it might be reasonable to ask whether, in the context of scholarly communication, it is practical for the author to add the condition that his or her work be made available under the same licence. This licence can be valuable in circumstances where scholars work together on the Internet using software for collaborative peer production [14].
Creative Commons Licences: The Berlin Declaration and the Repository
Integrating the Creative Commons licences under the conditions of the Berlin Declaration demands the following steps.
In the light of the second condition of the definition of the Berlin Declaration, the holder of a repository should start to offer information on the standard Creative Commons licences to the depositor.
Individual depositors who retain their copyright should be encouraged by an institutional policy to use Creative Commons licences.
Communities of researchers should be encouraged to develop guidelines and agreements on the use of Creative Commons licences appropriate to their areas of work.
Further searching for works published under a specific Creative Commons licence should be enabled through the development of descriptive metadata on the copyright status.
Since a repository can also contain materials of which the institution is the rights holder (i.e. educational materials), institutions could further the aims of the Berlin Declaration by developing a policy that such materials are made available under a Creative Commons licence.
Conclusion
I hope to have demonstrated that the Creative Commons licences can add value to the aims of the Open Access movement. As the Berlin Declaration has indicated, it is crucial that authors are involved in the process. Using the standardised Creative Commons licence models can achieve this goal. A further advantage of this approach is that what is now largely a library-driven movement can be broadened in scope.
As regards further development it is essential that every holder of an institutional repository work in co-operation with the appropriate scholars in the department of law and other relevant departments. It is to be hoped that collective discussion will help to raise awareness of the potential, for instance, of regulating an internationally distributed networked environment, adopting practical approaches to the sharing of information and maximising the chances of embedding a new generation of peer-to-peer software into the scholarly communication process [15].
Acknowledgements
I would like to record my thanks to the Ticer [16] community for giving me the opportunity to contribute to work on which this article is based.
A possible next step to facilitate enforcement and tune the distinction between proper scholarly use and commercial use would be to introduce a copyright dispute resolution system. See: Lemley, Mark A. and Reese, R. Anthony, "A Quick and Inexpensive System for Resolving Digital Copyright Disputes" (March 24, 2004). UC Berkeley Public Law Research No. 525682. http://ssrn.com/abstract=525682 | {
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Green Papaya Powder with Pineapple and Turmeric
18/05/2017Author: Meredith Wilson
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$55.00
Green Papaya Powder with Pineapple and Turmeric 150gr
Since time immemorial the paw paw, sometimes called papaya (carica papaya), has been a crucial ingredient in natural healing, and has also been part of the staple diet of many of the planets indigenous peoples. Papain is the living enzyme within the flesh of both a green and ripe paw paw, and is renowned for its ability to break down protein.
Using Green Papaya Powder
Green papaya powder is best used after consuming the main meal of the day for optimum results. Place 1 flat teaspoon into a glass of small class of water, stir and drink. Some particles may stick to the sides of your glass. Rinse and drink.
The green powder particles drop down on top of the food inside the stomach and set to work breaking down both animal and plant proteins.
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Description
Green Papaya Powder with Pineapple and Turmeric 150gr
Since time immemorial the paw paw, sometimes called papaya (carica papaya), has been a crucial ingredient in natural healing, and has also been part of the staple diet of many of the planets indigenous peoples. Papain is the living enzyme within the flesh of both a green and ripe paw paw, and is renowned for its ability to break down protein.
Using Green Papaya Powder
Green papaya powder is best used after consuming the main meal of the day for optimum results. Place 1 flat teaspoon into a glass of small class of water, stir and drink. Some particles may stick to the sides of your glass. Rinse and drink.
The green powder particles drop down on top of the food inside the stomach and set to work breaking down both animal and plant proteins. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
N.Y. mayor-elect will face immediate fiscal crisis
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Bill de Blasio is “in both a political and fiscal bind,” said professor Douglas Muzzio.
By Jonathan Lemire
Associated Press
December 01, 2013
NEW YORK — Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio will sweep into office in January with a powerful mandate for progressive change, but a looming fiscal crisis threatens to derail his agenda before it begins.
De Blasio, a Democrat, faces a multifaceted dilemma years in the making that he will be forced to confront within weeks of taking office. He will contend with soaring worker health care costs, a still-fragile recovery from the recession, and potentially a dramatic reduction in the vital aid supplied to New York by the state and federal governments.
But de Blasio’s most immediate crisis is presented by some of his staunchest allies: the city’s unions. All 300,000 members of the municipal labor force have been working on expired contracts for years, declining to negotiate with outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg in hopes of striking a more favorable deal with de Blasio.
Labor leaders are asking for current and retroactive raises, a balloon payment that could eclipse $7 billion, which is nearly 10 percent of the city’s entire $72.5 billion budget, according to the Independent Budget Office.
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‘‘There is no question this is the biggest fiscal problem the incoming mayor faces,’’ said George Sweeting, deputy director of the nonpartisan agency. ‘‘It will impact everything else.’’
If de Blasio were to fully acquiesce to the unions, his scramble to fund the raises would have immediate and dramatic ramifications.
Agency budgets would be slashed, meaning vital services, from trash pickup to police staffing to school supplies, would likely be cut. City workers would be laid off. And de Blasio would have little choice but to raise the one tax he can control, the property tax, which could drive homeowners and businesses from the city.
‘‘To pay for all that, they would have to be sweeping cuts that would really impact the quality of life in the city,’’ said Carol Kellerman, president of the independent Citizens Budget Commission.
Negotiations over the new contracts are expected to begin in January. De Blasio has been steadfastly noncommittal about retroactive raises, and his team declined to comment further.
‘‘He’s in both a political and fiscal bind,’’ said Baruch College political science professor Douglas Muzzio, noting that de Blasio faces a choice between alienating his base or throwing the budget out of kilter.
A compromise may be the most likely outcome, according to analysts. Instead of retroactive raises, de Blasio could offer one-time bonuses for employees that would not be factored into their pensions. He could also ask city workers to start contributing to their health care premiums.
But the fiscal challenges de Blasio faces won’t end with the union contracts.
Like most big-city mayors, de Blasio is uncertain on whether he can count on aid from Washington, where another government shutdown or sequestration could turn off the faucet of federal funds.
There is some good news: New York has bounced back from the last recession better than most big cities, city spending has been cut slightly, and tax revenues are on the rise, thanks in part to Bloomberg’s policies and rising profits on Wall Street.
But de Blasio needs more than that to enact his sweeping legislative agenda, one he hopes will continue the city’s reduction in crime while combatting rising income inequality.
His signature campaign proposal is universal pre-kindergarten, which will be funded by a tax hike on the wealthy. But he needs Albany’s support to raise taxes, and if it’s not forthcoming, he’ll need to look elsewhere to find the money.
‘‘He has tough choices to make,’’ Kellerman said. ‘‘There’s no pot of gold to pay for everything.’’
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Friday, September 24, 2010
Hand Reference, Part Two
This selection of reference hands comes from Andrew Loomis, Milt Kahl, Jeff Smith, and Jim Macauley. The bottom sample, from Jeff Smith's epic graphic novel series "Bone", shows how a hand can add greatly to the body language and expression of a character. Note how Thorn, the young woman, goes from nonchalant to focused, baffled, curious and quizzical and how her hand helps to project those emotions. I've known Smith for many years and can recognize his wife Vijaya's hand gestures in this series. When drawing your character, think of a friend or famous actor that has a similar personality, then observe how they use their hands to express themselves. The more realistic and natural your hand poses are, the more convincing your character's emotions and gestures will be.
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Planet to Planet: Creatures and Strange Worlds
"Mike's sketchbook, Planet to Planet, is fresh, innovative, and inventive. It is liberally filled with exotic locations and characters, and his creatures, drawn in an abundance of forms, poses, and points of view, sparkle with life and imagination. - Terryl Whitlatch".
Click to Order | {
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Haley has a lot of lines in this one, but they give away the first one in a thought bubble, so it's really easy.
Elan, I'm in love with you.Elan, I'm in love with you. Completely in love. Love, love, love, love.My dad is being held ransom by an evil dictator.I'm not really in the Thievks' Guild anymore.I cheat at solitaire.I have a tattoo you've never seen.I kissed a girl once.OK, OK, more than once!Elan, it turns out I may not be exactly what you would call- | {
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According to Deadline, 'Welcome to the Rileys' helmer Jake Scott is set to direct an untitled biopic about the late singer, who died tragically in 1997 at the age of 30. Ryan Jaffe ('The Rocker') will pen the script, while Riley's mother, Mary Guibert, will serve as executive producer. | {
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Obituaries, Church News, Events for October 19
OBITUARIES
Clyde Edward Braxton
A celebration of Life Service for Clyde Edward Braxton, 92, of Anniston will be held Friday, October 20, 2017 at 12:00 pm, at Parker Memorial Baptist Church in Anniston with the Rev. Mac Amis, Rev, Billy Wayne Morris and Rev. Bill Golden officiating. Burial will be at Forestlawn Gardens. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service in the Parker Memorial Parlor. Mr. Braxton passed away Saturday, October 14th, at NHC Healthcare.
Survivors include: son, Terry Braxton (Leigh) of Anniston and Mike Braxton of Oxford; grandchildren, John Braxton (Lesley), Clay Braxton, Stacie Braxton and Kyle Braxton (Natalie); four great grandchildren, Jeb Braxton, Avery Braxton, Hudson Braxton and Nash Braxton; brother, W.C. Braxton (Carol); sister, Joyce Piper and numerous nieces and nephews. The family acknowledges and gives special thanks and love to caregiver, Barbara Beason. Special thanks is given to the entire staff at NHC Healthcare and Alacare Hospice for their care and compassion.
Mr. Baxton was preceded in death by her loving wife of 63 years, Jewell Lorene Lambert Braxton who passed away on Friday, October 13th. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Curtis and Mable Braxton; brothers, Norman Braxton, Wayne Braxton; and sister, Frances Youngerman.
Pallbearers will be John Braxton, Clay Braxton, Kyle Braxton, David Hall, Ronnie Hall, Ray Hanson, Curt Piper and Paul Braxton. Honorary Pallbearers will be great grandchildren.
Mr. Braxton was born in Evergreen (Conecuh County), Alabama and lived in Anniston most of his life. He was a member of Parker Memorial Baptist Church where he was a member of the Street Sunday School Class. Previously he was a member of Glen Addie Baptist Church. Mr. Braxton was retired from Interstate Roofing & sheet Metal Company after 36 years of service. He was a Mason and member of Saint Johns Lodge 931 F&AM. He was an avid outdoorsman. He and his wife enjoyed traveling across the country with family and friends. He loved spending time at the family farm in Cleburne County.
Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to Parker Memorial Baptist Church.
A celebration of Life Service for Jewell Lorene Lambert Braxton, 84 of Anniston will be held Friday, October 20, 2017 at 12:00 pm, at Parker Memorial Baptist Church in Anniston with the Rev. Mac Amis, Rev, Billy Wayne Morris and Rev. Bill Golden officiating. Burial will be at Forestlawn Gardens. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service in the Parker Memorial Parlor. Mrs. Braxton passed away Saturday, October 13th, at NHC Healthcare.
Survivors include: son, Terry Braxton (Leigh) of Anniston and Mike Braxton of Oxford; grandchildren, John Braxton (Lesley), Clay Braxton, Stacie Braxton and Kyle Braxton (Natalie); four great grandchildren, Jeb Braxton, Avery Braxton, Hudson Braxton and Nash Braxton; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family acknowledges and gives special thanks and love to caregiver, Barbara Beason. Special thanks is given to the entire staff at NHC Healthcare and Alacare Hospice for their care and compassion.
Mrs. Braxton was preceded in death by his loving husband of 63 years, Clyde Edward Braxton who passed away on Friday, October 14th. Mrs. Braxton is preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Flora Lambert; sister, Ruby L. Hanson and Eva L. Hall.
Pallbearers will be John Braxton, Clay Braxton, Kyle Braxton, David Hall, Ronnie Hall, Ray Hanson, Curt Piper and Paul Braxton. Honorary Pallbearers will be his great grandchildren.
Mrs. Braxton was born in Heflin (Cleburne County), Alabama and lived in Anniston most of her life. She was a member of Parker Memorial Baptist Church of Anniston where she was a member of The Joy Sunday School Class. Previously she was a member of Glen Addie Baptist Church. Mrs. Braxton was retired from the Anniston City Schools after serving as Food Service Manager at Johnston Jr. High/Elementary School. She and her husband enjoyed traveling across the county with family and friends. Her greatest joy came from spending time at the family farm in Cleburne County.
Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to Parker Memorial Baptist Church.
CHURCH NEWS
Happy Hill
Hello from Happy Hill. Hope you are having a blessed week.
We were blessed at Happy Hill on Sunday with an uplifting song service followed by Pastor Appreciation gifts presented to Rev. & Mrs. Mark Hilburn and Rev. & Mrs. Earnest Bowen by Bro. Chad Austin. The message was delivered by Bro. Mark from John 11:1-44 & Ephesians 3:13-18. reminding us of the importance of Faith in good and bad times. We should always have faith in God’s timing and strive to see Him and His plan in every area of our lives. Sunday night, Bro. Earnest delivered the message from Mark 5:1-20. He reminded us of how blessed we are not to be like the man called Legion, who was left alone to be plagued day and night by his demons. Unlike this man, we are never all alone with our demons. Jesus is always there and will come to rescue us from the tormenting demons, just like he rescued the man from the legion of demons.
We are encouraged to read and study on these scriptures, to examine what they mean to us.
Your invited to join us October 30-November 3 at 6:30 p.m. nightly for Revival with Brother Silas Carver and family . Wonderfully anointed preaching and singing.
Our Adult Sunday School lesson today was “Jesus Offer’s Salvation,” Luke 18:18-30, 19:1-10. God sent Jesus because we needed a Savior to forgive our sin’s and turn our live’s back to God . When we follow Christ our commitment to Him should be our greatest priority. Luke 18:27 “And He said The thing’s which are impossible with men are possible with God .”
Brother Ronnie’s message this morning was from
2 Samuel 9:1-13. Mephibosheth ( represent’s all of us ) was living in Lodebar ( represent’s where we all were when in sin). David ( represent’s God ) David showed kindness to Mephibosheth ( Jonathan’s son ) because of the covenant of friendship between him and Jonathan. God show’s mercy and grace to us for Jesus Sacrifice- Blood Covenant ! Sister June shared a quote she like’s “ When God is quiet during a test - the teacher is usually quiet during test’s .” Brother Ronnie added “But He’s alway’s close enough to see what’s going on .”
Tonight’s service was a “Healing Service.” Brother Ronnie read several scripture’s on healing : Matthew 4:23-25, Malachi 4:2, John 14:12 , James 5:16 , 1 Peter 2:24 , Acts 8:7, Mark 16:16-18, Isaiah 53:5.There is not anything to hard for God ! As Christian’s we should be the happiest, Healthiest people in the world.
Brother Ronnie’s number (256) 201-9444.
EVENTS
October 21
Cedar Creek Baptist Church located at 13019 County Road 19, Heflin, Al., will host a Benefit Singing for Ricky (Chub) Butler on Oct 21 who is suffering from Stage 4 Colon Cancer beginning at 5 p.m. This event is to help his family in the many expenses of traveling to Birmingham three to four times a week for doctor’s visit and treatment. Special Singers donating their time and talents are Crystal River from Oxford, Almost Home from Heflin, Carter-Robertson Band, and Rev. Donald Triplett.
Fall Festival at Nances Creek Baptist Church Gym will be held Oct. 21 from 5-8 p.m. There will be soup and chilip supper, kids super slide and obstacle course, hay ride, face painting, fish pond, silent auction and much more. For more information, call 256-310-7216 or 256-453-2067.
October 22
New Harmony Baptist Church will have Trunk or Treat on October 22 from 4-6 p.m., in the City of Heflin Park. There will be hotdogs, chips, games and candy.
October 26
American Legion Hall Post #19 will have a meeting on October 26 starting at 6 p.m. All members and veterans are encouraged to attend.
October 28
Mt. Paran Baptist Church located at 1201 County Road 40 in Fruithurst will have a “Fall County Festival” on October 28, starting at 2:00 PM AL TIME --- UNTIL Food, games, hay rides, bounce house, scavenger hunt, fun for all ages. Everyone invited call 256-579-5263 for more information or directions.
Fruithurst Baptist Church will have a Fall Festival on October 28 from noon- 4p.m. There will be prizes for best costume for children and adults and also prizes for best chili with a cake walk and lots of games.
Chulafinnee Baptist Church is having a Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct 28 from 4-6pm. There will be games, door prizes, hayride, hot dogs and chili. Everything is free and everyone is welcome. The church is at 6961 US Hwy 431.
Living Word Family Church County Road 49 , Fruithurst Alabama 36262. Invites everyone to their Bible Themed Fall Festival October 28 , watch for time next week . Pastor Brother James Roper .
October 29
Happy Hill Baptist Church presents Chili Supper and Trunk of Treats on October 29 with supper at 5 p.m. and treats from 6-7 p.m. cst.
Trunk or Treat at Fruithurst Baptist Church will be held October 31 from 4-6 p.m. in the church parking lot.
Thursday
Join Zion Church Of God located at 5317 County Road 82 Wedowee Alabama 36278 for “Refresh Service” on Thursday nights at 6:30 pm with Brother Terry Richardson. Pastor Brother John and Sister Sandee Kilgore.
Friday
Celebrate Recovery Group meets at Beth-El Assembly of God each Friday at 6p.m. If you have a stronghold in your life: Pride, anger, pornography, gossip, worry, jealousy, addiction, control issues, etc. and you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired of it, this may be for you. Please call Jamie B. at (256) 201-3135 for more information.
SWAT (Servants With A Testimony) meets at Macedonia Baptist Church each Thursday at 6p.m. If you have a stronghold of addiction in your life that you’re sick and tired of, SWAT may help. Please call (256) 748- 4460 for more information.
Saturday
The Full Circle Band plays every Saturday night from 7:00 pm until 11:00 pm at the American Legion in Heflin Alabama. Admission is $5.00 per person and no smoking or alcohol allowed. Located next to the intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 78. Take I-20 to exit 199 and turn North onto Highway 9. Go 1.4 miles and turn right into driveway. | {
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One Clue Answers is the best fan site for finding solutions to the mobile app, One Clue. Run out of boosts? Stuck on a level? Having trouble getting into a rhythm? Consider One Clue Answers to be your database for every level in the game. Click on the appropriate hot link to your right for the answer you need.
***November, 14, 2013 - We have fixed the issue with the buttons on the Home page not working. We apologozie for this error. All navigation on the site should be working now. | {
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We respect your privacy and will not share your contact information or sell it to a third party. Privacy policy.
Product # JUN56064761
Make sure the Jets know they can count you as a fan with this women's New York Jets t-shirt. This officially licensed t-shirt shows off the name of your favorite NFL team on the front and is perfect for watching Sunday's game in. It is made from a tri-blend fabric consisting of 50% polyester, 37% cotton, 13% rayon for a super soft texture and comfortable fit. | {
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Obama, Pelosi congratulate Netanyahu
WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Obama called Benjamin Netanyahu to congratulate him on becoming Israel’s new prime minister.
According to a White House statement, during the call Obama also "reaffirmed the United States’ steadfast commitment to Israel and its security" and told Netanyahu that he looked forward to working with him and his government "to address issues of mutual concern, including Iran and Arab-Israeli peace."
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, also congratulated Netanyahu, saying in a statement Tuesday that she looked forward to working with him and the new government."
"There is an unshakable bond between the United States and Israel," she said. "It grows out of our past and is strengthened by the fundamental values we share."
Pelosi, like Obama last week, also called for moving forward in peace talks on the 30th anniversary of the Camp David accords between Egypt and Israel.
"Reflecting on this anniversary is a reminder of the common cause the United States and Israel share — a safe and secure Israel living in peace with her neighbors," she said. | {
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Radio Atlantic, IA – AM 1220
Gronstal vows to preserve woman’s right to “control her own destiny”
May 28th, 2011 by Ric Hanson
The top Democrat in the Iowa Senate says he doesn’t want to “take away a woman’s control of her own destiny” when it comes to terminating a problem pregnancy. Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal is from Council Bluffs, the city where a doctor who performs late-term abortions intends to open a clinic. The Iowa House has passed a bill that would ban abortions after the 20th week of a pregnancy. Gronstal and the other 25 members of the Iowa Senate took a different route, passing a bill that sets up a state permitting process for such facilities, with rules written in such a way that it would be hard for Dr. Leroy Carhart to open his clinic in Council Bluffs.
“I believe the surest way to keep Carhart out of Iowa is for the House to pass the bill the Senate passed,” Gronstal says. The Senate proposal would require a “free-standing” late-term abortion clinic like Dr. Carhart hopes to open to be near a hospital that has a special unit for premature babies, and Council Bluffs doesn’t have one.
“I believe that’s the surest way to keep (Carhart) out of Iowa, without taking away a woman’s control over her own destiny,” Gronstal says. Gronstal is critical of the House proposal which would ban abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy. It would allow abortions in cases when the woman’s life is at risk, but Gronstal says that exception may not have applied to the six women who got late-term abortions in Iowa in 2009.
“It said that a woman had to be in imminent danger of death,” Gronstal says. “Basically, it says that unless the woman is hemorraging and about to die, you can’t do the abortion even if there’s no way the baby can’t survive outside the womb.” If the Republican-led House and Democratically-led Senate don’t agree and pass a bill dealing with this issue, Gronstal isn’t willing to say that’s an open door to Carhart.
“I don’t know that it means that. I don’t know that Carhart is going to come to Council Bluffs,” Gronstal says. “We’ve got a bill that I believe is the surest, quickest way — after much discussion with a lot of people in the senate and in the attorney general’s office and a host of folks — after much discussion, we’ve got a bill that we believe much more effectively than the House bill will keep Carhart out of Iowa. The House ought to pass it.”
Gronstal made his comments Friday during taping of the Iowa Public Television program “Iowa Press.” | {
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We have a huge selection of Florida Panthers BB&T Center Tickets
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and view the Panthers schedule here. Choose a date and start planning a day or an evening with the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center today!
The Florida Panthers compete in the Southeast Division of the National Hockey League. They joined the league in 1993, and have been known as a highly competitive team ever since. Even though they have not had as much success as some other teams, they are well on their way to getting there.
The Panthers play their home games at the BB&T Center. This venue opened in 1998, and fans were greatly anticipating its arrival. And ever since the first Panthers game, fans have been coming back time and time again. They are the ones who make the experience great for everybody involved. And of course, the players also appreciate the modern venue as well.
The Panthers managed to win their conference in 1996, but were knocked off in the Stanley Cup Finals by the Colorado Avalanche. Although they have yet to win their division or the Stanley Cup, the Panthers have been competitive year in and year out.
Many great players have competed for the Panthers. Some of the most well known include Scott Mellanby, Olli Jokinen, Pavel Bure, and Brian Skrudland among many others.
If you are a Florida Panthers fan you are in for a lot of fun in the near future. The franchise is on their way to the top, and it will be a great ride for everybody involved.
The Florida Panthers of the NHL are the only full time tenant of the BB&T Center at this time. In the past the Florida Pit Bulls of the ABA and the Florida Bobcats of the AFL also called this arena home. But even though it only has one major tenant, the BB&T Center does not have a hard time staying busy throughout the course of the year.
For hockey games the BB&T Center can seat a little over 19,000 people making it one of the biggest venues in the entire NHL. This number increases to more than 20,000 for basketball games and other events such as concerts.
Although sporting events are most popular at the BB&T Center, circuses, concerts, and trade shows are also quite common inside. Many well known performers such as The Who and Barbara Streisand have stopped by the BB&T Center for a show.
This arena is one of the most modern and advanced in the country. And with more than 70 suites and nearly 2,300 club seats, there are plenty of options for any fan.
With so much to offer it is easy to see why the BB&T Center is always crowded no matter what time of year it may be. It is safe to say that this venue will be serving the public for many years to come. | {
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The creators of Clear App for the iPhone have just announced a camera app for the iPhone entitled Analog. Taking the same design cues from the simple multitasking Clear App, the Analog app promises a multitude of filters presented in a minimal and intuitive interface. The app will also feature social media sharing including the likes of facebook, twitter, or via e-mail. No word on release date yet, except that it is coming to the App Store soon. Via Cult of Mac | {
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HERO available to 74% of CA households; more than $650m in projects funded; 5,500+ jobs created; over 33,000 projects completed
Thirty cities and two counties across California launched the Home Energy Renovation Opportunity (HERO) Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program today. HERO financing enables homeowners to make energy- and water-efficiency improvements and pay for them through their property tax bill. Property owners repay the assessment over 5 to 20 years and the interest is tax-deductible. Homeowners see immediate savings on utility bills. Given the State of California’s newly-adopted regulations aimed at reducing urban water consumption by 25%, PACE financing is a particularly appealing option for homeowners and municipalities.
“The HERO Program makes it possible for homeowners to do both the right thing and the smart thing: invest in conservation,” said Mayor Maureen Frechet of San Mateo. “PACE financing allows for homeowners to pursue energy efficiency remodels, solar installations, and drought-tolerant landscaping projects that will make their homes more sustainable. Property owners that take advantage of PACE financing programs, such as HERO, can feel good that they’ve made a smart investment in their properties and in our community as a whole.”
The HERO Program has been adopted by 319 California communities in the Golden State since launching in December 2011. HERO is now available to over 10 million California households. To date, the program has funded more than 33,000 residential efficiency projects, totaling more than $650 million in financing. By stimulating home renovation activity, the HERO Program increases demand for local contractor services. HERO is estimated to have spurred the creation of more than 5,500 jobs in California since beginning in December 2011. | {
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Kathy Johnson
Guide at a Glance
Locations
Idaho, United States
Activities
Lifestyle, Wine Tour
Languages
English
Guide Bio
Kathy Johnson is the founder and owner of Winery Seekers. She found that Idaho was lacking in the wine business, therefore she worked hard and became the first winery tour company in Idaho. She traveled to many places, tasting and educating herself on different kinds of wine. Kathy was elected to the board of the Treasure Valley Wine Society in 2007 and have served two terms. She is currently an honorary board member on the TVWS Board, an educational society which presents wines from around the world. | {
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Device intended to protect the respiratory system from inhalation of hazardous atmospheres. A respirator that removes contaminants from the ambient air is called an air-purifying respirator. A respirator that provides air from a source other than the surrounding atmosphere is an atmosphere-supplying respirator. | {
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Agri-food industry
Illicit Trade in the Agri-Food Industry
Illicit trade in the agri-food sector affects a variety of products manufactured and sold all around the world. Food fraud can manifest itself in a variety of manners, ranging from the replacement of key ingredients with cheaper alternatives, wrongly or incorrectly labelling practices, selling ordinary foods as organic, unfairly using origin or animal welfare quality logos, and counterfeiting and marketing food after its expiration date.
In South-East Asia, the private sector has been trying to prevent sugar smuggling to avoid drastic price drops due to illegally imported sugar threatening local industries on which locals farmers depend for their livelihoods. Confed, the largest organization of local sugarcane farmers in the Philippines, argued that “smuggling would ultimately gobble up the sugar industry” (GMA News Online, 2010). Tea is another commodity whose smuggling represents a major strain on Pakistan’ finances, one of the world’s largest importer and consumer of tea. Reports indicate that the illicit tea business in the country accounts for more than a third, half by some estimates, of the total market. According to Unilever Pakistan Limited, “business operations and profitability of legitimate commercial importers and packers have been severely curtailed” (The Express Tribune, 2014). In Italy, organized criminal groups are now involved in the commodity value chain of Italian food products exported abroad (Reuters, 2017). Economic activities in the Italian agri-food sector managed by criminal organizations were estimated to be worth some 15.4 billion euros in 2014 alone (EURISPES, 2015). | {
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Tune in every Saturday morning @ 11:00am-12:00am to Sports Reality Radio with hosts, Curtis "Tru Karackta" Townsend and Bears Expert Ricky Thomas to call in and debate the latest sports topics from the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB and more. If you have the knowledge and facts then let's talk Sports Reality, Man Cave Style! So crack open your beers and settle into your spot for 60 minutes of Sports Reality Radio! | {
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How Atomic Clocks Work
This is something I found fascinating and thought some of our users may find this interesting as well. Most of the clocks in my life are somehow synced with an atomic clock somewhere. Granted, this consists of my phone and computer but who needs a clock outside of these devices? This includes our own web site: www.worldtimeserver.com .
Atomic Clocks work by measuring what is essentially the vibration of excited atoms. Caesium is used in most cases but there are alternatives. Microwaves are used to excite the atoms to a specific frequency or level of vibration. The Atomic Clock checks the various caesium atoms for this vibration and when it finds them it knows things are vibrating at the right level and uses that frequency to increase time forward.
This is essentially the same thing as a pendulum clock. But microwaves are used to send the atomic pendulum moving and the pendulum is constantly checked for moving the exact right distance. Yes, the process is of course a lot more technical than this but I always find things a little easier to understand if I can picture a common equivalent. | {
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Miley Cyrus Backs #FreeBritney During Surprise Concert
Miley Cyrus gave a surprise performance during the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis on Saturday, May 4.
During her set, she sang "Party in the USA," which features the lyric, "And a Britney song was on." She sang the line an unprecedented three times during the remixed version and, at one point, shouted, "Free Britney!"
The slogan is a reference to fans creating the #FreeBritney movement/conspiracy theory, which alleges that Britney Spears is supposedly being held against her will at a mental health treatment facility.
However, Spears shut the rumors down via an Instagram video and caption detailing that she is, in fact, alright and was checked into the facility via her own free will. During her stay, she even left the facility to go to a salon and enjoy Easter with her family.
Fans immediately took to social media to share Cyrus' impromptu concert and her campaign shout-out. Cyrus is one of the first major celebrities to support the Free Britney movement/conspiracy. | {
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The Misfits’ Jerry Only at New York Comic Con
I really wasn’t expecting to bump into Jerry Only and his Misfits bandmate Chupacabra (yeah, yeah, I know, it’s not the original line-up) at New York Comic Con, but that’s part and parcel of the madness of that event. I don’t do many music industry interviews (and this one was spur of the moment with zero prep time, and entirely off the top of my head to boot) but I rose to the occasion and did the best I could under the circumstances. Chupacabra doesn’t talk much, by the way. Hope you enjoy, Disinfonauts.
Meh, if you go to the San Diego Comic-con, you’re going to see Danzig, and if you’re cool to him and you talk comics instead of music, you have a pretty good shot at hanging out with him at his hotel suite. He’s not anywhere as big a dick as his reputation leads you to think, and he’s the original, plus now that he’s put on some weight, he’s not such a health nazi. I guess if you’re on the east coast tho, you gotta take what you can get.
Matt Staggs
Glenn founded the band, had a brief line-up with a bunch of guys who didn’t make the cut and then recruited Jerry. The stuff before Jerry is pretty much ancient history.
I’m based in the Deep South, but I’ve been attending both NYCC and SDCC since 2010. I’ve only seen him there once out of the four times I’ve gone to SDCC, but I’m told he sometimes has a booth. I’ve never seen it, but I’ve never had enough time to really make a concerted effort. I give him a wide berth, not because I think he’s a dick, but because I think he’s super-sensitive and a bit of a crybaby and that’s what makes him act like a dick. Most of the people I attend the con with (exhibitors) have had very poor experiences with him, and I just don’t have the time or patience for people like that anymore. I’m not doubting you, though. Maybe there’s a side of him that no one I know in my admittedly small social circle has experienced. I do know Jerry is a hell of a nice guy, and was signing stuff and doing photos for free with anyone and everyone who wanted them and taking tons of time to chat with fans. In a place where even the dude from “The Last Dragon” wants $20 for a headshot, that’s saying something.
In any case, I’m still a pretty big Danzig fan. The “lost cuts” box set is pretty awesome if you don’t have it. His cover of “Cat People” rocks.
InfvoCuernos
I think Danzig is a classic example of someone that wanted fame, and then when he got it, he didn’t realize that it was a full time job maintaining a public image. I haven’t been to the SDCC in about 5 years now, so I don’t know if he currently still maintains a booth, but he usually wears a nametag that says “Sam Hain” instead of Glen D. Danzig era Misfits will always be the Misfits I think about when someone says Misfits.
PrimateZero
Thanks for the post Matt. Now I have Teenagers from Mars stuck in my head….that and Static Age. | {
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What We Do
Hipster [hip•ster]
A person characterized by a particularly strong desire to be on the cutting-edge.
Full Stack [ful•stak]
A team that works together to design, code and integrate customer experience into client websites.
Responsive [ri•spän•siv]
Looks good on big monitors, smart phones and everything in between.
Portfolio
Sportster
App & Web Development
Sportster Apps has that perfect combination of inspired idea, motivated leadership and solid, clear direction that makes this project an absolute treat to work on. Sportsterapps.com is the home of the Sportser iOS application (coming soon), which will give families the tools they need to develop strong, smart and happy athletes.
Here, we get a taste of Madison’s first client work as a Hipster. We were blown away by her eye for color and balance. Her creativity shines in the icons and graphics, which are 100% Merica-made! We built sportsterapps.com using Jekyll, hosted on Amazon S3 and Cloudfront. This makes the site amazingly fast loading. We can’t wait to see what else the Hipster-Sportster collaboration holds for us.
Go Lafayette
Collaboration•Web Development
The people of Lafayette, CA needed a way to make an informed choice about how to get around town quickly and sustainably. Enter HipsterCreative. We worked on GoLafayette in conjunction with the creative teams at Conflare and Hammerhead Design, and focused on the technical development aspects of the site.
Of the projects we have worked on in the last few years this stands as one of our favorites. It combines cool technology, great design and a passionate cause. There were some interesting caching bits with the routes to create a smooth mobile experience.
Get A Nice Can
Toter, A Wastequip, LLC Brand
Collaboration•Web Development
Concentriccame to us needing some assistance implementing a project on a tight timeline. They delivered to our team high fidelity designs and we collaborated on the final specifications based on the needs of the Toter brand. The results speak for themselves.
There is some light play on words in the copy, compelling graphics and excellent copy. TheCan Examwas a fun feature to develop and gave us some insight into how those trendy "Which blah-blah Are You?" quizzes get designed.
Lee Hilton
Sr. Developer•Dark Overlord
Lee is the owner and lead developer of Hipster Creative. After nearly burning his hand off at Almond Roca manufacturers Brown & Haley as a youth, he decided that manual labor was really more of a hobby type thing. He returned to the digital realms and refined his skills over years of all nighters and hair pulling product launches.He is a proud Elder of the Internet, currently seated as Arbiter.
Madison Merica
Designer•Bear Whisperer
Madison flew into Hipster Creative from the wilds of Montana on a glorious bald eagle filled with hope and fabulous design taste. Her personal style is a mix of whimsy and wonderful that she can eschew at will when it is time to do a business. She has mad illustration and design skills and is fluent in the dialect of Butters Stotch.
Kevia Cloud
Developer•Sempiternal
Kevia is an endless, perennial entity of web development. His"super strong prescription glasses" are simply a cover for the space stabilizing lenses that allow him to see the passage time as mere humans do. We can only assume that this is true, as hiscoding skills continue improve faster than is reasonable for anyone born of our world.
Margaret Hilliard
Project Manager•Logophile
Margaret is a nerd wrangler of the highest caliber. She does all things"office," including project management, money stuff, koala lullabies, and HR. In a previous incarnation it is suspected that she was the typewriter on which Hemingway wrote several of his greatest works. It certainly explains how aggressively she works to clarify copy and document the undocumented.
Located in the heart ofTacoma, Washington, we are an easy distance from both Seattle and Olympia. | {
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Mets Cry Foul? Gimme a Break
Chase Utley is a hard nosed player and a guy who plays the game the right way (I know some of you hate that cliche, so I brought it out just for you). He has no track record of dirty play in his past, which is what makes this strange. David Wright has a problem with the way Utley slid into second base to break up a potential double play ball. Wright, the unofficial leader of the Mets, said it was unwarranted and borderline. Disagree? Me too.
I’ll preface this argument by saying I respect the hell out of Wright – more than most other MLB players, too. He’s one of those guys you wish you had, even though he resides in a city you may loathe during baseball season. This is seemingly out of character for him. If Wright hadn’t been so outspoken about the hard slide, it would have gone down as just another play. Yes, the Phillies announcers took note of it, but in my opinion, it looked like a good hard slide. Utley was well within the basepath and slid just as he got to the base, a more than legal play.
The Mets seem to want to “handle” this situation tonight, whatever that means. They’ll likely hit Utley, which has happened several times before. But it makes little sense.
Ruben Tejada, the Mets second baseman that took the brunt of the hit, seemed OK with it after last night’s game, which should tell you something. Perhaps Wright is teeming from his teams inability to win games. Frustration may have boiled over, which is understandable. But to call out Utley on a play that is well within the rules of the game is absurd.
I will ask this: if you were on the other side, would it have looked clean to you? Try to approach it as a Mets fan or player. Would you stand for that if it was the other way around? Tough call, but in the end no one was injured, so chalk it up as a gritty play by a guy that just want to win, and will at any cost.
So, as he usually does, Chase Utley will take first base after being hit by a pitch. He’ll run up the first base line and if the situation occurs again, you’d better believe he’ll take out the second baseman just as he was taught to.
“Chase plays the game hard. He plays the game passionately. But there’s a thin line between going out there and playing the game hard and going out there and trying to get somebody hurt. That’s a thin line. Nobody’s going to go and push us around. We’re going to have our teammates’ back. I think cooler heads prevailed, but we’ve got to let them know that over on our side, we didn’t appreciate it, and we’re going to go out there and have our teammates’ backs. … If he doesn’t mind guys coming like that after him, then everything’s good.”
David Wright after the game. He compliments one of the best second basemen in the game and then sticks up for his team. Perfectly normal and frankly it’s kinda what you want on your team. He also said; “It’s a legal slide. It’s within the rules. But somebody’s going to get hurt.”
On the other hand, here is what Reyes had to say:
“I think it’s a little dirty because I think he slid right on top of the base. He doesn’t need to do that there in that situation.”
If our boys were on the receiving side, the comments of David Wright are definitely within reason. Reyes on the other hand is typical of what I believe the Mess are about.
My answers to Pat’s questions-
IF I were on the other side …….
Would it have looked clean to me- if I were on the other side honestly, no.
Would I stand for it- honestly, no.
Why-because I’d be on the other side, I don’t really think it was dirty.
That being said, how stupid can these azzholes be???
If my team were on the other side, retribution would have already taken place. My pitcher would have already done the job, against anyone on the Phillies. Or my next extra base hit or advancement of a runner(did they get any after that?) would have resulted in a hard slide. It would be done like men do. It would be done and over.
But these aren’t men, these are the Muts. These crybabies scream from the dugout, then they go to the media, and do everything they can to call attention to themselves. What a bunch of wussies!
And stupid wussies at that, instead of handling it like men, they bring all the attention of umpiring crew and the league offices and every sports outlet in the country- right to the next game.
After Jerry Manuel’s failure to bunt which resulted in a DP on national TV last week, I thought maybe it was just his stupidity, now I know it’s their collective lack of intelligence that makes them who they are -Ladies and gentlemen meet the Muts
Continuing from the last thread re: Werth. We have absolutely no idea what the Phillies real breaking point for payroll is. It could be much higher than we know (and it probably is). Jayson Werth is great for this club. I think the problem will ultimately come down to years, not money. I would not feel comfortable giving Jayson silly money for more than 3 years. But he’s gonna want 6 or 7 years, 5 at the least. You just can’t get sucked into a 6y100m contract for Jayson Werth. The length of that contract would take him well past the shelf life of this team. You can’t keep everybody…unless you can.
If I were on the other side as a Mets player or fan, how would I feel? Hmm, its hard to say, I meant unlike Mets fans, I have some level class and intelligence, so I suppose if I had no class, no itelligence, and no life, and was jealous of the Phillies, I might have a problem with it, but I think thats a bit of a stretch. Its jealousy. LOL. 🙂 One thing is certain, they will hit Utley, and the pitcher should be ejected right away because they said they would “take care of it”. Its one thing to hit a player after one of yours was hit, but to hit a player because of a clean play from the night before, is a bit much. Just me I guess.
Whatever is a slang term meaning “whatever you say” or “I don’t care what you say”. The term is used to dismiss a previous statement and express indifference. In the late 20th century and early 21st century, the word became a sentence in its own right; in effect an interjection, it is used as a powerful conversational blocking tool, leaving the responder without a convincing retort. Anything they do or say can simply be blocked by the retort of “whatever”.
Now certain members of the NY Mess want to act like they have heart? Now? Where were these jokers the last 2.5 months? This team was in the hunt and just rolled over. Pathetic. Maybe if it was a different team talking tough and posturing I could take it seriously. This pathetic bunch of she-males castrated themselves on July 8th. David Wright, kindly stfu & stfd. Thanks, sweetie.
This situation is the perfect is example of why the Phillies are the Phillies (winners of three straight and hopefully soon to be four straight NL East crowns) and the Mets are the Mets (absolute disgraceful players with no heart…outside of David Wright).
Yes, it was a hard slide. But umm was he outside the baseline…no. Did he come in spikes up….no. Was the game a blow out either way making the slide superflous….no. Was Utley just trying to win a game….yes. That is what baseball is about. You try to win the game. The Phillies have the best record in baseball because of plays like that. The Mets are in fourth place precisely because they don’t do things like that, they don’t lay it on the line night in and night out, and subsequently they will be playing golf when the Phillies are playing baseball in a week and a half.
The fact is…David Wright complained in essence that Utley played the game to hard. Sorry David, I did not know MLB was a 50 years and older softball league. This is the pros. Maybe his team should take note of Utley and realize this is a star player doing the little things Wright (get it!!).
The Mets at this point are just hilarious and I hope the Phils sweep them and we can clinch and celebrate in their faces on Sunday. | {
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High heat brings children and vegetables together
In this image taken on Sept. 10, 2012, Roasted Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes are served on a platter as shown in Concord, N.H. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)
AP
J.M. HIRSCHAP Food Editor
Published: Friday, September 21, 2012 at 1:48 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, September 21, 2012 at 1:48 p.m.
For two weeks this summer I made it my mission to improve my 8-year-old son's tolerance of vegetables.
I called it "veggie boot camp." He called it torture.
My approach was simple. Every lunch and dinner I prepared at least three vegetables. Of those, he needed to select and consume two of them.
His approach was simple, too. Every lunch and dinner he moaned and complained and ate everything else on his plate first, leaving the dreaded vegetables for last. He'd then painfully and slowly force himself to eat them, often while threatening to mutiny.
Which gives the impression that my son is a horrible eater. Actually, he's just the opposite. The kid devours sushi, chimichurri, mole... basically anything with gobs of flavor. He's an adventurous eater who generally will try nearly anything. He most definitely is not your plain pasta and chicken nugget sort of kid.
Except when it comes to vegetables. For the past year or so, he has tended to get most of his produce in the form of fruit. I lived with it for a while, but this summer decided the easy living was over.
While the vegetable boot camp was hardly a pleasant experience for anyone involved, it did result in real progress. After two weeks, my son now regularly eats vegetables at every lunch and dinner. He doesn't do it enthusiastically, but he does it. At this point in our lives, I'm good with that.
Early in the process, I found that roasting just about any vegetable dramatically improved my son's response to it. This makes sense. Roasting concentrates flavors and caramelizes the natural sugars in produce. So to help other parents with veg-averse children, here are two of my son's favorite (by which, of course, I mean most likely to be gagged down) roasted vegetables.
If you'd like to make both of these vegetables at once, you can roast the tomatoes at 500 F (the same temperature as the carrots) rather than use the broiler. They will take slightly longer than if you broiled them. Put them in the stove right after flipping the carrots.
ROASTED BALSAMIC CHERRY TOMATOES
Don't be put off by the amount of salt in this recipe; much of it drains off before the tomatoes are roasted. Salting the tomatoes helps draw out excess water, producing a better roasted tomato. These tomatoes can be served on their own as a side dish, or over pasta for a simple (but delicious) sauce.
Start to finish: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Slice the tomatoes in half, then set them in a strainer. Sprinkle the salt over the tomatoes, then gently mix. Place the strainer in the sink or over a bowl and let sit for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
Give the tomatoes a shake to discard any liquid that has accumulated in the strainer. Transfer the tomatoes to a medium bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and toss well. Transfer the tomatoes to the prepared baking sheet, arranging them in an even layer.
Broil on the center rack for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the tomatoes begin to brown and soften. Serve immediately.
BUTTER-CUMIN CARROTS
For reasons that befuddle me, my son consistently preferred when I used "baby" carrots in this recipe. It didn't matter how many times I explained that those carrots are just big carrots that have been cut down. But with kids it's all in the marketing, so I now use "baby" carrots for this recipe.
Start to finish: 35 minutes (10 minutes active)
Servings: 4
1 pound baby carrots
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Heat the oven to 500 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and toss well to coat evenly. Transfer the carrots, scraping the bowl for any liquid and seasonings, to the prepared baking sheet, arranging them in an even layer. Roast for 15 minutes, then use a spatula to flip them and roast for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned and tender.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Food Editor J.M. Hirsch is author of the cookbook "High Flavor, Low Labor: Reinventing Weeknight Cooking." Follow him to great eats on Twitter at http://twitter.com/JM_Hirsch or email him at jhirsch(at)ap.org.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged. | {
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I'm a Libertarian living in Humboldt County, CA. I've lived here in Eureka since 1973 and joined the Libertarian Party in 1992. This blog will mostly focus on local political issues, but I may stray into state and national issues as well, when I can't help myself. Please post your comments by clicking on the "comments" link at the bottom of each post. Although I do moderate comments, you need not be a registered user to post them.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Mendocino County D.A. Dies
Norman Vroman, District Attorney of Mendocino County, died yesterday. The Ukiah Daily Journal story on it is here.
Norman Vroman, the outspoken district attorney of Mendocino County who fought to decriminalize marijuana and once served nine months in a federal prison for refusing to file federal income taxes, died Thursday of cardiac arrest.
Mr. Vroman, whose unconventional personality and positions made him a controversial figure much of his career, was taken to Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa after his heart stopped Tuesday, but he never regained consciousness. He was 69.
He was, in many ways, the perfect top prosecutor for the rugged, mountainous region known as the Emerald Triangle, where marijuana is said to sprout like mushrooms from the forest floor.
He was a tough but compassionate outdoorsman and a staunch defender of the Constitution who left a promising legal career in Southern California for a land where overalls are standard garb.
Born in Los Angeles in 1936, he was given up for adoption three weeks after his birth. He grew up in San Dimas, in San Bernardino County. An industrious youth from the beginning, he drove an ambulance when he was still a teenager and was hired by the Pomona Police Department when he was only 18.
He earned a law degree from the University of Colorado in 1961 and began working for the Los Angeles County district attorney. He was appointed to a judgeship in San Bernardino County by Ronald Reagan in 1971, when he was only 35, said his daughter, Kathryn Vroman Benner.
Mr. Vroman also worked as a private practice criminal defense lawyer in Southern California before deciding he had had enough of the rat race. In 1975, he moved to Willits, where he worked as a cattle rancher, then in real estate.
In 1980, he decided to begin practicing law again, but was determined never to wear a suit.
"He didn't like wearing suits because it represented to him the rat race he had gotten away from," said his daughter. "I remember him actually going to court in overalls."
Mr. Vroman worked in private practice in Ukiah, as a public defender, judge pro tem and as a prosecutor for the Mendocino County district attorney.
In 1991 he served nine months in a federal prison after being convicted of a misdemeanor for failing to file federal income taxes.
"He felt there is nothing in the Constitution that requires you to pay taxes or to file," said his daughter.
Mr. Vroman expressed disgust later that he had to spend more time in prison than some rapists.
In 1997, he found his birth mother in Ohio and was overjoyed to find out he was part Irish. He often told the story about how, on a subsequent visit to Ireland, he wore Irish tweeds and faked an Irish brogue prompting an American tourist to request a picture of him as an example of an authentic Irishman.
He was elected district attorney in 1998, defeating 12-year incumbent Susan Massini, and took office in 1999.
He told The Chronicle at the time that he favored decriminalizing marijuana "because the war on drugs isn't working. If it is a war, we lost it a long time ago."
" He started the nation's first medical marijuana licensing program and stopped police from seizing legal pot gardens and hassling legitimate growers who registered under California law. He eventually started wearing ties again and, in the end, suits, but was forever known in legal circles as "that Mendocino Man" who protected pot growers.
Besides his daughter Kathryn of Santa Paula, Ventura County, he is survived by his wife, Raleigh Page-Russell of Hopland, daughter Melissa Vroman of Glendale in Los Angeles County, son Brandt Vroman of West Linn, Ore., a half sister, Denise Cook, of Lima, Ohio, and six grandchildren.
"...He grew up in San Dimas, in San Bernardino County."That's odd. San Dimas happens to be in Los Angeles County and there is a L.A. County Sheriff's station there. You have to travel east through Claremont to reach Upland in San Bernardino County. | {
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Issues Fixed in DC/OS 1.10.11
For information about other issues fixed or known issues for the most recent release of DC/OS 1.10 prior to this security fix, see the release notes 1.10.10.
Mesos
DCOS-48052 - An update to the containerizer launch binary prevents a malicious user from exploiting the init helper function used by container runtimes–including DockerD, containerD, and UCR. Without this change, a malicious user could gain access to a container’s root-level permissions and use those permissions to execute potentially malicious code on the host.
This issue has been reported by the RunC community (CVE-2019-5736) and affects the Docker Engine and Mesosphere Kubernetes Engine (MKE) container runtime components. The issue has also been reported by the Apache Mesos community for the Mesosphere Universal Container Runtime (UCR). All existing versions of DC/OS, Mesosphere Kuberentes Engine, and Docker Engine are affected by this vulnerability. However, this vulnerability does not affect DC/OS clusters or UCR containers if the cluster runs using the strict security mode and uses the default nobody user account to launch UCR containers.
You can use Edge-LB load balancer to balance Mesos tasks. The Edge-LB load balancer does not support strict security mode. View the documentation.Enterprise
Security Enterprise
Custom CA certificate support.
Installation time configuration options have been added that allow you to configure DC/OS Enterprise to use a custom CA certificate and corresponding private key, which DC/OS then uses for issuing all component certificates. The custom CA certificate can be an intermediate CA certificate so that that all certificates used within the DC/OS cluster derive from your organization’s X.509 certification hierarchy.
Enhanced secrets management with file-based secrets.
You can now make a secret available to your service in the sandbox of the task. View the documentation.
Vastly improved IAM scalability and performance characteristics.
The new system removes hard limits on the number of users, groups, and permissions that can be stored, and shows stable read and write performance as the dataset grows.
Docker pullConfig parameter.
Use this parameter in your service definition to authenticate to a private Docker registry. View the documentation.
Enterprise CLI permissions management commands.
It is now possible to manage permissions to protect resources using the DC/OS Enterprise CLI.
Kubernetes on DC/OS
Kubernetes on DC/OS is beta with DC/OS 1.10. You can install the package from the DC/OS Service Catalog or by using the DC/OS Kubernetes quickstart.
Updated DC/OS Data Services
Ability to deploy to CNI-Based Virtual Networks.
Rolling Configuration Update and Upgrades support via the CLI. Enterprise
Ability to deploy Data Services into Folders to enable multi team deployments. Enterprise
The following updated data services packages are compatible with DC/OS 1.10.
For more information, see the documentation or release notes for the specific data services package in which you are interested.
Platform
Node and cluster health checks.
Write your own custom health checks or use the predefined checks to access and use information about your cluster, including available ports, Mesos agent status, and IP detect script validation. View the documentation.
Universal Container Runtime (UCR).
Adds port mapping support for containers running on the CNI network. Port mapping support allows UCR to have a default bridge network, similar to Docker’s default bridge network. This gives UCR feature parity with Docker Engine enabling use of Mesos Runtime as the default container runtime.
Scale and performance limits.
CLI
DC/OS CLI 0.4.x has a single configuration file, stored by default in ~/.dcos/dcos.toml. DC/OS CLI 0.5.x has a configuration file for each connected cluster. Each cluster configuration file is stored by default in ~/.dcos/clusters/<cluster_id>/dcos.toml.
DC/OS CLI 0.5.x introduces the dcos cluster setup command to configure a connection to a cluster and log into the cluster.
Updating to the DC/OS CLI 0.5.x and running any CLI command triggers conversion from the old to the new configuration structure.
If you attempt to update the cluster configuration using a dcos config set command after using dcos cluster setup or converting to DC/OS CLI 0.5.x, the command prints a warning message saying the command is deprecated and that cluster configuration state might now be corrupted.
If you have the DCOS_CONFIG environment variable configured:
After conversion to the new configuration structure, DCOS_CONFIG is no longer honored.
Before you call dcos cluster setup, you can change the configuration pointed to by DCOS_CONFIG using dcos config set. This command prints a warning message saying the command is deprecated and recommends using dcos cluster setup.
CLI modules are cluster-specific and stored in ~/.dcos/clusters/<cluster_id>/subcommands. Therefore you must install a CLI module for each cluster. For example, if you connect to cluster 1, and install the Spark module, then connect to cluster 2 which is also running Spark, Spark CLI commands are not available until you install the module for that cluster.
GUI
The GUI sidebar tabs have been updated to offer a more intuitive experience.
The “Deployments” subpage under the “Services” tab has been moved to a toggle-able modal in the “Services” page.
The “Security” tab has been removed. The “Secrets” tab that used to be under “Security” is now a top-level tab. Enterprise
The “Universe” tab has been renamed to “Catalog” and the “Installed” subpage has been removed.
The “System Overview” tab has been renamed to “Overview”.
Breaking Changes
Marathon Networking API Changes in 1.5.
The networking section of the Marathon API has changed significantly in version 1.5. Marathon can still accept requests using the 1.4 version of the API, but it will always reply with the 1.5 version of the app definition. This will break tools that consume networking-related fields of the service definition. View the documentation.
TLS 1.0 is no longer enabled by default in Admin Router. Enterprise
TLS 1.0 no longer meets common minimum security requirements. To use TLS 1.0, set adminrouter_tls_1_0_enabled to true in your config.yaml at install time. The default is false.
Moved file location for the DC/OS CA bundle in the sandbox of Mesos tasks from $MESOS_SANDBOX/.ssl/ca.crt to $MESOS_SANDBOX/.ssl/ca-bundle.crt and declared the new file path to be stable.
DC/OS 1.10 upgrades REX-Ray from v0.3.3 to v0.9.0 and the REX-Ray configuration format has changed. If you have specified custom REX-Ray configuration in the rexray_config parameter of your config.yaml file, either update the configuration to the new format or remove rexray_config and set the parameter to rexray_config_preset: aws, which configures the rexray_config parameter to the default REX-Ray configuration bundled with DC/OS. This option has the benefit of automatically upgrading your cluster’s REX-Ray configuration when you upgrade to a newer version of DC/OS.
NOTE: The `rexray_config_preset: aws` option is only relevant to DC/OS clusters running on AWS.
New flow to change the dcos_url and log in.
The new command to set up your cluster URL is dcos cluster setup <dcos_url>. For details, see CLI.
Hard CFS CPU limits enabled by default.
DC/OS 1.10 enforces hard CPU limits with CFS isolation for both the Docker and Universal Container Runtimes. This will give more predictable performance across all tasks but might lead to a slowdown for tasks (and thereby also deployments) who have previously have consumed more CPU cycles than allocated. See MESOS-6134 for more details. | {
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The police claimed that the Cripple, Kamilu Mohammed, serves as the informant to the Kidnappers.
The group were said to be responsible for the murder of a youth leader; Haruna Maikudi Maikaji who was killed in his farm at Sabon Gayan Village in Kaduna State on Sunday.
Items recovered from them include; One AK47 rifle, one locally made revolver pistol, two single barrel locally made gun, seven rounds of AK47 ammunition, one round of live cartridges and two Toyota Corolla Vehicles.
A statement in Abuja Tuesday by the Force Spokesman CSP Jimoh Moshood reads: “In the course of investigation into the killing and the operation embarked by personnel of Operation Absolute Sanity in Sabon Gayan Village and environs to root out and arrest the killers of the Youth Leader, the Special Tactical Squad team attached to Operation Absolute Sanity on trail of the killers, were ambushed and attacked by the gang responsible for the killing of the Youth Leader.
“The information to the Gang was traced to a Cripple, Kamilu Mohammed who phoned the Kidnappers to inform them that the Police are on their way to their hideout in the forest.
“The Special Tactical Squad personnel attached to Operation Absolute Sanity repelled the attack and in the process, two of the suspected kidnappers died as a result of the superior fire power of the Police personnel.
“The Cripple Kamilu Mohammed was later arrested and currently under investigation”.
The police also noted that a Sergeant sustained injury and currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
Moshood added that the suspects would be arraigned on completion of investigation into the cases against them. | {
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Post navigation
C4 Wins Irish Rugby Rights
Channel 4, the British broadcaster has won the rights to broadcast Ireland’s Guinness Series of November rugby internationals in the UK for the next four years.
RTÉ signed a three-year deal to retain coverage in Ireland at the end of last year. Channel 4’s deal replaces that which Sky Sports had held in recent years.
The highlight of this year’s games will be the return of World Champions the All Blacks. Ireland will also face Argentina and the USA.
12 months ago Channel 4 had no presence in Rugby but they were the successful bidders to show UK free to air coverage of nine games in the Heineken Champions Cup from this season, rights which were won in Ireland by Virgin Media. They also won rights to broadcast Wales summer internationals where they had Eddie Butler, Lee McKenzie and Sam Warburton on the roster of presenters.
No announcement of a presentation team for the Ireland games has yet been made but with RTÉ, Virgin Media and eir Sport all active in the Rugby rights market there will be room for some new or maybe even some returning faces and voices.
“Rugby fans can look forward to a match-up between the number one and number two teams in the world, Ireland and New Zealand, on Saturday, November 17,” said Joe Blake-Turner, Channel 4’s Commissioning Editor for Sport.
“And looking beyond 2018, Ireland have some fantastic Test matches lined up against the might of the southern Hemisphere, including Australia and South Africa. We’re absolutely delighted to be able to follow the journey of Europe’s finest team as they take on the world’s best.”
“They join us at an exciting time and we have no doubt that our partnership with them will cover some outstanding rugby moments.”
The four-year deal with Channel 4 includes coverage of two of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup warm-up matches in 2019 against Italy and Wales, 2020 autumn internationals against Australia, South Africa and another team to be announced, and Ireland’s autumn internationals in 2021 against the All Blacks, Argentina and another country yet to be confirmed. | {
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Desátate Trailer (2009)
Robert Beltran (Jaime Pujol), psychiatrist and expert on strict recipe for happiness, he is forced to leave his dull life to try to get his wife, which will break their beliefs and prejudices and become a vulnerable and much normal. His wife, Rita (Marta Calvo), left him for another man, an unrepentant seducer, compulsive liar, jealous sick patient and also of Robert, called Antonio (Antonio Garrido). Meanwhile, it has been in charge of his daughter, Pat, a spoiled teenager.
A teacher opens a time capsule that has been dug up at his son's elementary school; in it are some chilling predictions -- some that have already occurred and others that are about to -- that lead him to believe his family plays a role in the events that are about to unfold.
Swedish thriller based on Stieg Larsson's novel about a male journalist and a young female hacker. In the opening of the movie, Mikael Blomkvist, a middle-aged publisher for the magazine Millennium, loses a libel case brought by corrupt Swedish industrialist Hans-Erik Wennerström.
This psychedelic tour of life after death is seen entirely from the point of view of Oscar (Nathaniel Brown), a young American drug dealer and addict living in Tokyo with his prostitute sister, Linda (Paz de la Huerta).
Armed men hijack a New York City subway train, holding the passengers hostage in return for a ransom, and turning an ordinary day's work for dispatcher Walter Garber into a face-off with the mastermind behind the crime.
Set in a futuristic world where humans live in isolation and interact through surrogate robots, a cop (Willis) is forced to leave his home for the first time in years in order to investigate the murders of others' surrogates.
In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds" are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. | {
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Serbia affirms EU accession ambitions to Creighton
SERBIA’S NEW government has reassured Ireland ahead of its European Union presidency next year that membership of the bloc is its top priority, amid fears that Belgrade’s new leaders will weaken ties with the West in favour of stronger links with Russia.
“Prime minister [Ivica] Dacic made very clear the government’s number one priority is EU membership and they are really committed to it,” Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton said yesterday.
Nearing the end of a tour of several Balkan states, Ms Creighton said she had “asked explicitly” whether Serbia’s new government – which is led by parties that are dogged by their nationalist recent histories – would alter Belgrade’s foreign policy stance in favour of Moscow.
“They very explicitly ruled out a new course and said they would continue to be fully focused on the EU path. It was very encouraging,” she said.
Ms Creighton was travelling as representative of the Irish chairmanship of the 56-nation Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, but also laying groundwork for an EU presidency in the first half of 2013 that will be expected to tackle numerous Balkan issues.
She said she hoped Serbia could be given a date for the start of EU accession talks during the Irish presidency, if not before.
“That would be a big achievement for the Irish presidency and we are working towards it. It would also encourage Serbia to continue with the EU process and to really engage with Kosovo.”
Serbia refuses to recognise the independence of Kosovo, but Ms Creighton said she hoped talks between the sides on practical matters would resume soon, and that the prime ministers of the two states would soon hold face-to-face negotiations.
In Slovenia, Ms Creighton received assurances that the country could handle its financial problems without an EU bailout, and was “moving down the road towards creating an agency similar to Nama, separating toxic debt from the rest and restructuring and recapitalising banks”.
She said she was “somewhat worried” by a dispute over some €160 million Croatians claim to have lost in Slovenian banks when Yugoslavia collapsed.
Slovenia has threatened to block Croatia’s EU accession next July unless the issue is resolved. “We will probably have to deal with it during the EU presidency,” Ms Creighton said. | {
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This bickering serves only to kill innovation rather than protect advantages for inventors. The patents in question don’t protect brilliant ideas. They cover trivial and obvious ingredients in every piece of software. Yahoo!’s suit against Facebook claims that it invented the concept of “dynamic web pages,” meaning pages that change for you depending on your preferences or user account.
If every company with dynamic pages had to pay a royalty to Yahoo!, no startups would have succeeded since 2000.
Suggestions for patent reform exist. Some ideas are quite good. Alex Tabarrok proposes many of the best, including varying the lifespan of a patent in relation to the development cost. But as with many government institutions, change will come slowly. And the bureaucracy will always struggle to keep pace with the technology.
But now there’s an attempt by Twitter to jumpstart patent reform, on its own, without waiting for the patent office to change the rules.
Twitter has announced an “Innovators Patent Agreement,” or IPA, a sort of contractual rider that will be attached to the patents it receives.
Under the agreement, the holder of the patent promises it will not use the patent to attack other companies, but only to protect itself against patent suits.
In other words, Twitter won’t sue someone for making a Twitter rip-off, but if anyone else claims Twitter was their idea, Twitter can prove it wasn’t.
When the inventor of new software works for a large company, it’s usually the company that gets to file the patent and be the owner of that intellectual property. But the IPA enlists the actual inventor as the sort of custodian of the agreement.
The Yahoo! executives that promised Baio the patents would only be used for defense have long since left the company, and it was their replacements that violated the earlier promise.
The IPA would prevent this, too. A legal addendum attached to the patent would stipulate that the original inventor would have the right to prevent aggressive patent trolling, no matter who it’s transferred to.
It’s a great idea, but the IPA faces a number of challenges before it revitalizes the technology industry.
First, the biggest trouble with the current patent situation is that the patents in question cover basic technologies. Those patents already exist without the IPA. Even if every software company adopted the policy today, it would take decades before today’s innovations were considered basic enough to solve this problem.
That’s the other trouble: Every company isn’t going adopt the IPA today.
Even if patent giants like Google or Microsoft agree with the spirit of the new agreement, you can be sure their legal teams will raise a stink before letting them participate. There’s just too many unknowns.
Twitter has such a small patent footprint that a cynic might suggest the company released this agreement as a way to lure talented engineers away from other competitors.
There’s no doubt that an agreement like the one Twitter has proposed would free up software startups to innovate at a much faster pace, with much less concern for the legal red tape that can slow them down.
As consumers of technology, let’s hope that the coders can win out over the executives just this once. | {
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ProductDescription
This Chalkboard is part of the GBC Quartet line of premium porcelain magnetic chalkboards designed specifically for use in classrooms around the world. This chalk board comes equipped with a black porcelain surface that will not scratch, dent, stain or ghost. It is also backed with steel to allow you to use magnets and magnetic learning aids with the board. Each Quartet Premium porcelain classroom chalkboard comes equipped with a contemporary anodized aluminum frame and a full length chalk rail. It even comes with a 50 year surface guarantee.
This item is oversized, ships by truck and is not returnable. If any freight damage occurs please note clearly on the bill of lading at the time of delivery.
Is it possible to hang it 4 ft. wide and 8 ft. tall (vertically)? And is the chalk tray removable? If it's on the 8' side, it wouldn't work for us. Thanks.
Asked by Mike H
A:
Thank you for your question. We verified with Quartet that the tray runs the full length of the long side ( "bottom") of the board ins in unfortunately is not able to be removed.
Answered by MyBinding7 months ago
Q:
How much does the 4' x 10' board weigh?
Asked by Willow G.
A:
According to our system the board will weigh 141lbs. This item will need to be shipped via truck and you will need to have someone on hand to unload it. It is also a bit tricky to install due to the length and weight. | {
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Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Hellwitch - Syzygial Miscreancy (1990)
Hellwitch was another Florida act with a relatively substantial history behind them, before they were snapped up through the fledgling Wild Rags records. Forming in 1984, they produced a string of demos and rehearsals of a thrashing nature, gradually swerving towards a more aggressive pasture that merged the spacey, science friction of DBC and Voivod with blitzing speed and searing brutal thrash akin to Dark Angel's Darkness Descends or Pestilence's Malleus Maleficarum. Really, the only other band among the Florida crowd that was comparable to this sound was Atheist, yet here the vocals were not so psychotic, the compositions not so sadistic or condensed. Amusingly, while it's a good enough debut, Syzygial Miscreancy suffers a few of the same setbacks as Piece of Mind.
For a Scott Burns mix, this album is fairly smooth and clear, lacking some of the processed mud that dampened the debuts of Deicide or Malevolent Creation, but also not a far cry in the guitar tone and muted battery of drums and rhythm guitars. The cover art is incredibly bad, as if the Green Goblin's skull were transformed into a flame trailing meteor, awkward title placement providing a cringe worthy aesthetic. Definitely not on par with a Leprosy, Altars of Madness, or even the iconic simplicity of Deicide or Piece of Time, but then, there was no Combat, Earache or Roadrunner backing this band up. Stylistically, the band performs blitzkrieg thrash metal often interlaced with passages of almost frivolous excess. The various riffs are conjoined only in their quickening intent, and thus the transitions often feel sloppy, too stop/start. Not as catchy or well written as a lot of the technical stuff coming out of Europe (Coroner, Destruction, Deathrow and Vendetta), but they certainly evoke an interstellar asylum effect that places them in a rare order with Sadus, Nasty Savage, Terrahsphere, Atheist and so forth.
It's not a surprise that most of the songs here were taken from a few of the previous demos, but despite their separate points of origin, they flow with a crass consistency. "The Ascent" is a fine, lonely clean guitar passage which lasts all of 30 seconds before the skies collapse with their rabid vampire ode "Nosferatu", claimed from their first demo in '84. The band throw a half dozen riffs at you in hopes that they'll stick, but unlike the spasmic contortions of Altars of Madness, they do not always succeed. The lead sequence is great, the vocals barking and bloody, and then it's off to the Voivod-like intro "Viral Exogence", whence suddenly Hellwitch have discovered their vocabulary skills. Wordy titles abound, like "Sentient Transmography", "Pyrophoric Seizure" and "Mordirivial Dissemination", and the slicing hyper guitars nearly live up to them, creating a nexus of paranoia and brutal subdual for the confounded audience. Personal faves here are "Moririvial Dissemination", which feels like a post-apocalyptic Dark Angel circa '86; "Sentient Transmography" with its towering rhythmic vernacular; and "Pyrophoric Seizure" and "Purveyor of Fear", both polished from the earlier Mordirivial Dissemination demo (1987).
Unfortunately, Hellwitch are often in such a rush that they seem to trend towards expletive force over memorable songwriting. From a technical standpoint, this is definitely something that will spin your head around a few times on the spine, but only for the actual velocity, not for the cleverness through which its constituent ligaments are joined together. Syzygial Miscreancy is definitely a solid exercise in extremity, one that feels fairly fresh even by today's standards, but unlike several of their Florida peers, they don't really come up with 'hits' that you want to listen to repeatedly for decades. That said, this is an experience I would recommend to anyone that favors a spell of pseudo-intellectual depth with their riffing alacrity. The lyrics are well written, the concepts interesting and the potential barks raving mad up a different tree than what most of the death metal or death/thrash bands were pushing in the early 90s. It might be a little hard to find the original, but you're in for a treat with either the 2008 reissue (including a pile of their demos) through Displeased or the Final Approach compilation, which consists of this album and the follow-up EP Terraasymmetry. There's not enough here to really survive the near 20 year gulf before the slightly superior sophomore album in 2009, but it's a curious and punishing excursion to the brink of sanity.
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Hail and Kill
This is a reviews blog initiated by the Penny Arcade Metal Thread community. We primarily cover metal and other forms of music, but occasionally a film, novel, comic, or game will get some attention. All reviews are honest and rated accordingly with a simple, self-explanatory scale.
Links to MP3s or other copyrighted media are not available on this site. Don't even ask. Comments are enabled for contributors only. We do not discriminate artists with regards to genre, religion or political belief.
Bands, labels, distros and PR reps are all welcome to quote or link reviews where appropriate, just please give credit to the original author. Most (99%) are written by me, but please check the 'posted by' at the bottom of the review to be sure.
Notice: For the first time in eight years of having the blog, I have been sent DMCA notices, for my reviews of Burzum, no less, so I have removed them entirely from the site, despite the fact there was no wrongdoing. They are still available to read over at the Metal-Archives.autothrall@metal-archivesRYM recommendation lists
Artwork: Witches' Sabbath, Francisco Goya (1821-3)
Best Lists
Here you can find a number of year's end lists from various contributors. | {
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Espace Killy: One ski area, two very different resorts
Espace Killy, the third biggest ski area in France, links the two famous ski resorts of Tignes and Val d'Isère.
The caricature is that Val d'Isère is for the après-ski and Tignes is for extreme sporty types; that Val d'Isère has retained its authentic mountain domestic architecture and that Tignes is Las Vegas in the snow. As in all good caricatures, there is an element of truth. It is true that the après-ski is outstanding in Val d'Isère and that Tignes boasts of being the sportiest winter sports resort of them all. It is afterall in Val d'Isère that one plays polo and in Tignes that you can climb a frozen waterfall or dive under the frozen lake.
Skiing above the treeline in Tignes, France
Copyright: Katallys / Livecam 360
In the beginning the two villages were pretty much the same: two ancient mountain settlements in Isère that began to attract winter sports fans before World War II. But in 1952, Tignes' old village disappeared beneath the waters held back by Europe's highest dam. Val d'Isère however remained untouched in its valley. The villagers from Tignes moved 6km further and higher up the valley to rebuild their lives and livelihoods at Val Claret 1860m. They did so at a time when the ideas of Le Corbusier and his modernistic tower blocks dominated French architectural thinking - ideas that the developers and promoters of the new ski resort adopted with enthusiasm. Since then the neo traditionalists have made a comeback and the latest developments have given in to the undoubted bias of winter sports enthusiasts for chalet-style buildings and old wood. On the whole, Val d'isere is considered more aesthetically pleasing, apart from its new development - La Daille - where modernity rules.
Taking the cable car up from Val d'Isere to the snowsure Espace Killy ski area
Copyright: NUTS.FR / OT.VAL D'ISÈRE
Experienced skiers
Val d'Isère is in a valley which lends itself to a great variety of pistes. You will want to ski the Bellevarde which boasts the OK piste - the site of the annual World Cup men's downhill, as well as the Face - the Olympic piste in 1992 and scene of the World Championships in 2009. You can get there easily from La Daille by the underground funicular and from the centre of the resort via express cable lift.
Tignes on the other hand has unusual black runs known as Naturides. Normally the snow grooming teams smooth the green, blue and red runs every night. However they leave the black runs to retain their natural characteristics - powder after a heavy snowfall gradually turns into moguls over time. Thus the experienced skier has the chance to try ski runs that are relatively under-used although secure and patrolled as usual. it is an ideal rehearsal for off-piste skiing: the Naturides runs on Tovière are: Paquerettes, Envers de Campanules, Grizzly and Aster; the Naturides runs on Le Palet are: Guerlain, Chicherit and Golf; and on the Aiguille Percée - Aiguille Percée, Oeillet and Epilobes.
The two resorts being interlinked means you can ski from the more difficult Val d'Isère to the easier Tignes and back. To cross from Val d'Isère to Tignes you have the choice of Fresse, Tufs, Aéroski and the téléski Combe Folle reserved for adults. To travel from Tignes to Val d'Isère you have the choice of Borsat or Tommeuses. If you succeed in missing the last ski lift you can still use the shuttle bus between the two resorts. There is also the Ski Guide facility available on iPhone to help you - gone are the days of clutching a damp map of the resort or it being blown away on the wind as you try and find your way.
Enjoy a full off-piste adventure in Val d'Isere
Copyright: Val d'Isere
Learning to ski
The Espace Killy ski area is set largely above the tree line, so neither resort has many narrow, tree-lined runs.
The bulk of the runs at Tignes are not too difficult with the exception of la Sache that runs down to Brévières below the dam (descent of 1198m) and Paquerettes on Tovières. Most runs here are long and wide - ideal for beginners and intermediates - and also give the impression of being less crowded. A favourite is the blue Prariond run, which goes right from the top of the Fresse to the bottom of the mountain.
The steep valley of Val d'Isère means that certain runs are difficult especially at the bottom. Intermediates that lack confidence may prefer to use the lifts to come down from Bellevarde or Solaise. The easiest way to ski down is to la Daille. At Tignes on the other hand, the lower slopes are less steep with the disadvantage that the snow tends to turn soft in the sun.
It is noteworthy that at Val d'Isère 19 percent of the slopes are green for beginners, whilst there is only one green run at Tignes. On the other hand Tignes makes up for it with far more blue intermediate runs - 55 percent - whereas there are only 35 percent at Val d 'Isère. A criticism of Val d'Isère is that the classification of the runs tends to be unrealistic and many of the green runs could easily be blue or even red. If you are an experienced skier of course none of this matters. If you are not, it can be bad for confidence.
The nature of the valley around Tignes means it is possible to ski the runs clockwise. From Val Claret start with Palet and come back by Tovière. From Tignes you go via Palafour and come back via Tovière. Doing it this way you are always in the sun.
Nursery ski area in Val d'Isere
Copyright: Val d'Isere
Year-round skiing
When considering the two resorts, it is hard to ignore Tignes' biggest asset - the glacier La Grande Motte. There is no equivalent in Val d'Isère. The glacier used to be open for skiers all year round but is now closed for a few weeks at the end of the season and in the autumn partly to avoid over use and partly to allow the necessary time for the maintenance of the high mountain ski lifts. To reach the Grande Motte from Val d'Isère you have to cross the whole of the resort of Tignes. So if it is the glacier that really interests you then choose a ski holiday in Tignes.
For skiers and non-skiers alike, if you want the best view of the glacier, take the lift from Val Claret to la Grande Motte. It travels from 2100m to 3032m in a record 6-8 minutes. In the spring if you are lucky you will see a marmot, just out of hibernation, standing on his earth and whistling a warning of your presence.
As far as après-ski is concerned there is little doubt that Val d'Isère comes out on top with its more fashionable clientele and more 'switched on' nightlife. Not that the après-ski in Tignes is mediocre, but it is further from the pistes and is less at the heart of what the resort is about. It is no coincidence that the more fashionable Val d'Isère tends to be more expensive than sporty Tignes.
Both resorts are pretty evenly matched: Val d'Isere comes out on top for experienced skiers and apres-ski while Val d'Isere offers more for learners and year-round skiing. So now all you have to decide is what is most important to you? | {
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Euro 2016: Portugal might not be a great football team, but they are a great football nation - Steve Wilson
BBC Match of the Day commentator Steve Wilson
Steve Wilson
Published:08:50Tuesday 12 July 2016
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Match of the Day commentator Steve Wilson, who lives in Sussex, covered Euro 2016. He wrote exclusively for us during the tournament. Here are his final thoughts
I doubt that even Cristiano Ronaldo would claim that Portugal are the best side in Europe, but the winners of Euro 2016 were surely the most resilient of the teams in France. It’s amazing to think that had Adam Szalai’s late shot for Hungary hit the back of the Portuguese net instead of the post in a game which finished 3–3 in Lyon, Portugal would have been eliminated from their group.
Fernando Santos’ side went on to win a war of attrition against Croatia, a penalty shoot-out against Poland and beat the keenly competitive Welsh, before stunning France in extra-time on Sunday night. They were never spectacular, but they were also never beaten.
Despite having tipped France to win the Euros, I’m pleased for Portugal. They have produced some of the continent’s finest players over the years - Eusebio, Luis Figo, Rui Costa. This might not be a great football team, but they are a great football nation.
The finals will grow
There’s been a lot of debate about whether the expanded 24 team format worked in France. German coach Joachim Löw was among those who felt it encouraged negative football in the early stages because, as Portugal showed, finishing third in a group still gave teams a good chance of progressing to the knock-out stage.
Löw is probably correct - but with a larger finals generating greater income, UEFA are unlikely to revert to a 16 team event. They’d also probably point out that, despite the expansion, former winners Denmark, Greece and the Netherlands still failed to qualify for these Euros.
If anything I expect the finals to grow even further. I’d be surprised if a 32 team format wasn’t being considered by 2024.
My team of the tournament
Picking a team of the tournament usually sparks an enjoyable argument or two. Here’s my Euro dream team:
After 15 games in nine cities in 28 days there are many highs and lows to look back on. Commentating on Wales’ victory over Belgium in Lille was my own highpoint, and describing Hal Robson-Kanu’s wonderful goal in that match was something I’ll never forget. I’m not surprised it was voted Goal of the Tournament by Match of the Day viewers, though the social media campaign #VoteHal might have helped!
Then there was the Icelandic handclap. Just like the Mexican wave - but far better – it will go down in history and be replicated for years around the sporting world.
Other favourite moments were seeing at first hand the delight that Northern Ireland’s historic win over Ukraine gave my co-commentator, Northern Irish legend Gerry Armstrong, and 38-year-old Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon swinging from the crossbar in sheer childish joy after they beat Belgium.
Obvious low points include the behaviour of some England fans in Marseille. The response from organised gangs of Russian hooligans was both terrifying and worrying, given that Russia hosts the World Cup in 2018.
England’s team was a befuddled mess from which nobody emerged with any credit. How the FA will attempt to sell 90,000 Wembley tickets for their next competitive home game – against Malta – is anybody’s guess.
I’m also unlikely to forget my commentary just as the national anthems were about to be played prior to the France v Germany semi-final. I’d carefully timed my words to coincide with the beginning of the first anthem, which I’d understood would be France’s. “Where better than in Marseille,” I said, “to hear La Marseillaise?” - only for the German anthem to begin booming across the stadium. As 23 teams discovered in the last month - you can’t win ‘em all.
Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.
Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on. | {
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Brexit weakens Britain’s position globally: Tony Blair
Dubai: Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU) weakens its position economically and politically in the world, former Prime Minister Tony Blair said here on Sunday.
Speaking at a panel discussion on day two of the 2018 Global Education and Skills Forum, Blair noted that Brexit “for sure diminishes Britain’s standing,” Xinhua reported.
Blair said the impact of Brexit must also be seen in the light of geopolitical shift to the east.
The impact of Brexit would also be a watershed from a global perspective as the EU is not the sole powerful bloc in the world, said Blair.
“In Asia you have ASEAN, then you’ve got the African Union, in South America you have Mercosur. This is the way the world is,” Blair added.
Under Blair’s government, the EU went through a deep political crisis at that time when in 2003, Britain joined the US in the Iraq war, while two major EU powers — Germany and France — opposed the invasion.
Britain will leave the EU on March 29, 2019 after being a member for 46-years.
The divorce is based on a referendum on June 23, 2016 in which 51.6 per cent of Britons voted in favour of withdrawing from the EU. | {
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Monday, April 14, 2008
Java 6.9
Someone just directed my attention to the Java 6 update 10 intro on Sun's site. What the living...?
First off, this isn't a minor update. This is taking a backhoe to the foundations of Java, hitting a water line, but digging a basement anyway. Why this wasn't released in 7 I don't know... I guess it's because the update is largely centered around deployment of Java as a platform and not adding any functionality to the underlying API. But damn, it's an overhaul.
First, Java is now chopped neatly into libraries, so you only download what you need. That means Java installations can be one-third of what they were in the previous release. Java can now be downloaded and installed more efficiently as well, thanks to some much easier-to-use JavaScript and HTML-fu.
Konqueror has already done this for a while now, but applets will now execute within a full JVM instead of a half-baked nsplugin. This allows for more robust applets and, from my experience with Konqueror, plugins that are more crash-resistant.
Finally the fairly... blech... look of Java has been completely overhauled with Nibus, long at last. Previously I've had to use javootoo's Look and Feel libraries to make things look remotely presentable. Now Nimbus should be able to fill that gap nicely by adding more modern window decorations and UI components.
These were all desperately needed improvements to have Java make inroads into the desktop space. Let's hope it isn't too late. | {
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SOS Children's Village Bali
The island of Bali is famous for its scenic beauty and for its interesting ancient culture. SOS Children's Village Bali is situated in Tabanan, which lies at a distance of about 30 kilometres from Denpasar, the Balinese capital, on the main road from Denpasar to Gilimanuk harbour, the island's westernmost port. The site measures approximately 18 acres.
The SOS Children's Village was inaugurated on 23 October 1991 in the presence of Mr Helmut Kutin, president of SOS-Kinderdorf International. It consists of twelve family houses, the Village Director's house, an aunts' house (aunts are family helpers who support the SOS mothers), a community centre, a multi-purpose hall, a library including a computer lab, a village temple and some administrative buildings.
A large orchard provides the SOS Children's Village with fresh fruit, and two small fish-ponds supply fresh fish. At SOS Children's Village Bali, the children are brought up according to the cultural traditions of the island, which have been preserved most of all in Balinese music and traditional dances. Sports are very popular at this SOS Children's Village; children attend special training and competitions in volleyball, soccer and athletics.
The smaller children are looked after at the SOS Kindergarten, which is also open to children from the neighbourhood. It includes a big playground both for children from the kindergarten and from the SOS Children's Village. Adolescents usually move to one of the SOS Youth Facilities in Denpasar when they start a vocational training course or go on to higher education. With the support of qualified youth workers, the young people develop realistic perspectives for their future, learn to shoulder responsibility and increasingly make their own decisions. They are encouraged to develop team spirit and build up contacts with relatives and friends, as well as with the relevant authorities and potential employers.
The SOS Social Centre offers family strengthening, health counselling, community support, counselling and psychological support. The programmes are designed to ensure that children have access to essential services, such as education, health services and psycho-social support. Families are assisted with income generation. They also receive help when dealing with the authorities. People's parental skills and awareness of children's rights are improved. | {
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I have a schema that conforms to WD version and it has references to
xml:lang.
what is the equivalent in CR?
here is the snippet:
<element name = "FreeFormText">
<complexType content = "textOnly">
<attribute name = "xml:lang" type = "string"/>
</complexType>
</element>
komal. | {
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The Nangong Spring Season Hotel Beijing (Beijing Nangong Wenquan Dujia Jiudian) is located 2 kilometers from Exit 12A of the Jingshi Expressway and is close to Qinglong Lake. Guests of this Beijing hotel can choose from various accommodations ranging from standard rooms to suites. The Nangong Spring Season Hotel hosts a good variety of recreational and fitness facilities. Those looking to unwind will find the spa sauna and massages on offer rewarding while those looking for more active diversions can enjoy chess or card games surf the net or sing along with the greats in private KTV rooms. Sports lovers will be impressed by the hotel's well-equipped facilities including three tennis courts two football fields extreme sports facilities three beach volleyball fields and a Continental-style golf club.
Search for Nangong Spring Season Hotel - Beijing discounts in Beijing with KAYAK. Search for the cheapest hotel deal for Nangong Spring Season Hotel - Beijing in Beijing. KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to help you find and book the hotel deal at Nangong Spring Season Hotel - Beijing that suits you best.
Would you like to save as your currency permanently or for this visit only?
Would you like to save as your currency permanently or for this visit only? | {
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Asking the experts about U.S. soccer
U.S. women's soccer is at the summit. When will men's arrive? We asked the experts.
Copyright 2013: Houston Chronicle |
April 30, 2013
Confident predictions of U.S. supremacy in soccer - football to the rest of the world - have been made with great regularity since at least the beginning of the 1970s.
In those early, pre-Title IX days, when women's sports were a national afterthought, soccer supremacy was assumed to mean world supremacy in the men's game. Was there any other game?
Well, yes, there was and is.
Ladies first. The global superpower that is U.S. women's soccer in 2013 was birthed by act of Congress on June 23, 1972, with the passage of Title IX, the groundbreaking civil rights legislation that eliminated discrimination on the basis of gender on playing fields, tennis and basketball courts, ice rinks, in gymnasiums and swimming pools throughout the U.S. public education system. A whole constellation of female stars in sports from swimming and diving to gymnastics and softball was born out of Title IX.
And they have thrived, not least on the nation's soccer pitches. Soccer celebrities like Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain have encouraged and inspired a generation of young women to "go for the gold" in the "beautiful game," and excel they have. The U.S. women's national team has won two World Cups, four Olympic Gold medals and today is ranked No. 1 internationally by FIFA, the world governing body of soccer.
And U.S. men? Theirs' has been a journey with some high points, but more than its share of disappointments. When, if ever, will those long-ago predictions come true?
We had the opportunity to ask two experts Monday in a lively editorial board conversation with Héctor González-Iñarritu, director of Mexico's national soccer teams at all levels, and Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre, coach of Mexico's national team. "Chepo" is a former player whose family has a rich history in Mexican soccer.
The two men were in Houston in advance of an exhibition game, called a "friendly," with African power Nigeria, to be held at Reliant Stadium on May 31. Houston is friendly territory for Mexico's national team, with 70-80 percent of crowds at Reliant waving Mexico's tricolor and rooting for the Mexican side.
Nigeria also has a large, soccer-mad expatriate population here.
How does U.S. men's soccer make its way to the elite level in venues such as the Olympic Games and the World Cup?
It is a given that this nation has the athletic talent, the facilities and a growing base of soccer interest. What is the missing ingredient?
González-Iñarritu offered this straightforward observation: "You are the best in the world at identifying athletes at a young age and [directing] them into basketball, football and baseball. But you don't do the same for soccer."
When will that happen? "When the money is there."
Until then, U.S. men will be competitive but unlikely to reach the summit. There's a second reason why this is so.
U.S. youth and high school programs are on a level with international programs, "Chepo" observes, but they would improve if the U.S. instituted a playoff system for juniors that pitted state champions in regional matches and, in turn, in national championship tournaments.
This, the famed coach asserts, would better identify the country's top players and help create a development system for the U.S. national team.
One wild card has had an impact on U.S. soccer that could not have been anticipated in 1970: immigration, especially, Hispanic immigration.
We in Houston see it firsthand on soccer pitches across the city and in the huge turnouts for appearances here by Mexico's national team.
If and when it does come, U.S. soccer supremacy likely will have a different face than early prognosticators could ever have imagined. | {
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Rasberry Pi Compute Module 3+
Rasberry Pi is a common tool many hardware enthusiasts and tinkerers. We have talked about Rasberry Pi models A+ and B+. Today we are going to look at the latest version of Raspberry Pi's commercial sibling Raspberry Pi Commute Module 3+.
Priced at $ 25, this small but powerful device is intended for commercial applications with a SODIMM hardware interface that require the out of the box features of Raspberry Pi. This new device include the Broadcom BCM2837B0 processor from the Raspberry Pi 3B+, Also it is available with a range of different size eMMC devices installed. Previously in only had 4 Gb capacity and now it is offered in 8, 16, 32 Gb variants as well as a "lite" variant which has no storage at all.
If you have any commercial hardware in mind that requires a linux platform and a reliable hardware this is a good fit. Let us know what sort of ideas you can come up with this device in the comments. | {
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The power of words
Part of the “black sheep” moniker I’ve come to refer to myself as stems from being in the religious minority in Utah. I am no longer a practicing member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, although I have been welcomed with open arms into the Grace Episcopal Church in St. George.
And it’s there that my spiritual cup has been filled and, indeed, runneth over.
But most of my friends and family were finding nourishment in the two-day LDS General Conference this weekend. It’s a time where faithful members listen to the words of their leaders, take their speeches and apply them to their daily lives.
Often these talks are of love and kindness. But sometimes there’s resentment and hatred spewed from the pulpit of the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. And it seems to be more and more directed toward the members of Utah’s LGBT community – especially those seeking the same civil rights as any other person in the state.
I had hoped this would be a year where church officials would take some time off from advising church members to not tolerate us. But, sadly, Elder Dallin H. Oaks was the one to speak the unkind words.
Oaks had this to say:
“Prominent among these (sinful behaviors) these days is the strong tide that is legalizing same-sex marriage in many states and provinces in the United States and Canada and in many countries around the world. … When our positions do not prevail, we should accept unfavorable results graciously and practice civility with our adversaries.”
Oaks was speaking of the current battle for LGBT members to have access to the same rights as others, like the ability to be the legal parent of a child or be at the bedside of the person you love when he or she is dying in the hospital.
Oaks’ words sounded as if the LGBT community – my community – gaining equal rights was a foregone conclusion at this point, although he’s loath to admit it.
I am not one to tell anyone what to believe, who to worship or how to worship. My argument is not with the LDS Church’s doctrine. You can believe what you want.
I take issue with the guidance being offered from the highest positions within the church. Instead of referring to us as brothers and sisters, perhaps ones he may disagree with, Oaks instead calls us “adversaries.”
Whether or not it’s intended, “adversary” means “evil” both within and without the Mormon religion. And telling the millions of people who hold steadfastly to the words spoken by the General Authorities to practice civility with “adversaries” will only make those faithful followers look upon us with disdain and hatred.
It will take an already ostracized, downtrodden and threatened minority and push them even further down the ladder of equality in the state.
The sad part is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was once in the same position: cast out because of their beliefs, threatened with physical violence, disowned from the very country they called home.
In a world where hatred runs rampant, I would hope the LDS leaders would use that pulpit to encourage love and unity, Christ-like behavior, togetherness. Instead, talks like Oaks’ only further the already vast divide between members of the LDS church and members of the LGBT community.
This war between ideals is not only pointless – driving families and friends apart because of who we fall in love with, but it’s also costing our state money that could be well spent elsewhere.
Hopefully, come springtime, the General Conference message will focus less on dividing us into saints and sinners, and will instead promote the inclusivity that the LDS Church speaks so much about in its various “I’m A Mormon” campaign videos. | {
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Paleoconservative opinion
The curious case of third wave feminists
Leftists sure do hate the straight white males of this world, who represent a system of oppression which they so vehemently oppose.
However, they more staunchly despise members of their designated oppression groups, who dare to defy the defined boundaries which Leftists have condescendingly set out for them.
Perhaps this is because the words ‘sexist’, ‘racist’ and ‘homophobic’ have become a little overused?
The third-wave feminist is a curious creature. Her comrades are a strange sub-strata of Millennial and Generation X women with a peculiar inferiority complex. They’re obsessed with picking at the scab of women’s lib, trying to draw fresh blood, and are often seen prowling (or lumbering) around, attempting to sniff out sexism in every nook and cranny. Theirs is an ideology based not on equality, but misplaced victimhood.
According to your standard third-waver, the most insidious issues facing women today are not genital mutilation, or underage marriages, or sexual slavery. They are ‘manspreading’, ‘mansplaining’, and ‘micro-aggressions’. Terms cooked up to keep feminists in business as they steadily ran out of things to complain about. In short, third-wavers are perpetually miserable, and seek to make other women as brutally unhappy as they are.
Third-wave feminists are a contradiction in terms. They insist women should enter the workforce yet won’t shut up about how horrible the workforce is because of the wholly inconvenient presence of men. They say it’s a woman’s choice to have children. However, they ruthlessly condescend stay-at-home mothers; insisting they are capitulating to ‘traditional gender roles’. They plead with women to come out about sexual assault, yet simultaneously discourage them by insisting they won’t be believed. They valiantly exclaim physical appearance doesn’t matter, and are usually proud advocates of the ‘fat positivity’ movement, yet, regardless of their insistence that ‘fat’ is not an insult, for some bemusing reason they become grossly offended if you dare comment on their weight.
It is evident, then, the third-waver revels in convenient double-standards. However, the very worst of these is, ironically, a strange form of misogyny, and is starkly revealed in their treatment of right-wing women. In other words, third-wave feminists insist they want more female voices in the mainstream… as long as they agree with them.
As a woman on the right, I have observed with amusement the rampant tanty-throwing when a feminist is confronted by a conservative compatriot. If you have the audacity to stray from the feminist tribe, the ‘sisterhood’ will hurl insults the likes of which, if uttered by a man to one of their own, they would howl down as the worst kind of sexism. They will denigrate the way you look, dress, and talk, and attempt to discredit you with gossip and fabrication. They will slut-shame you in a way they would vehemently condemn (with much wailing and gnashing of teeth) if they were on the receiving end. The third-waver will even find a way to attack your age. Especially if she is older than you.
Take Kellyanne Conway. As the first woman ever to run a successful election campaign, she should be a feminist icon. And she would be, if she were on the left. If the wayward third-waver applied their own standards to all women, Conway would be lauded for this quite extraordinary achievement, regardless of her politics. Instead, feminists have labelled her ‘anti-woman’, mocked her for her hair and clothes, and dismissed her as an attention-seeker. The very ‘gendered’ insults third-wavers are allegedly rallying against.
Sometimes-funny comedienne Chelsea Handler infamously tweeted, ‘I wish someone would put Kellyanne Conway in a microwave’, a comment that would have a man crucified if directed at a leftist woman. Speaking of men; where were the hordes of feminists defending Conway when Democratic representative Cedric Richmond joked she looked very ‘familiar’ kneeling on the Oval Office couch? Well, apart from one tokenistic tweet from Chelsea Clinton, they were nowhere to be seen; silently condoning the behaviour they allegedly loathe, at least when it comes to their own.
But the champion of collective bullying of right-wing women is the demonstrably-easy-to-trigger Clementine Ford. Who, post-election, attributed the decision of women who voted for Donald Trump not to a simple difference of opinion, but to their apparent racism, and their capitulation to white supremacy (along with the men it allegedly benefits). She accused them of voting against their own ‘gendered interests’; interests prescribed by the Gospel according to Clemmie, of course. As such, to this particular third-waver, conservative women are deficient. Their opinions are nothing more than a by-product of their submission to the must-be-misogynistic men in their lives. A woman can only be conservative if she is an opportunist, unduly influenced, or has something morally wrong with her. Such a loophole in Clementine’s feminist mantra (along with her apparent unwillingness to understand her opposition) is at best, hypocritical, and at worst, malicious.
Third-wave feminists attempt to justify such bad behaviour by blathering, ‘So, does the fact we’re feminists mean we have to support all women?’ Well, no. However, a key feminist whining-point is the push to give all women a voice. Therefore, one would have thought the instinctive reaction of the third-wave conformist to the right-wing renegade would be to encourage civil debate. But oddly enough, feminist engagements with conservative women never seem to move beyond personal attacks. Why? Because character assassination is the last bastion of the desperate when they’re out of intellectual ammunition. Asserting Western women are still an oppressed class is patently absurd. In the harsh light of reality, third-wavers actually have no argument.
The idea women in our society are still somehow under the thumb of men is a fallacy; every opportunity available to men is also available to us. We have laws designed to protect us from rape, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, wage disparity, domestic violence, and other atrocities our sisters in the third world face unfettered. While not perfect, the playing field has never been more level. As such, the petty attempts of miserable third-wavers to intimidate right-wing women into silence are simply evidence of their terror at being exposed for the frauds they are. So here’s the tricky truth. Any Western woman who screams of her own ‘oppression’, yet has the means to view the world solely through the prism of gender, needs to take off the pussy-hat, put on a bra, and check her proverbial privilege. Ordinary women are sick to the back teeth of being told how terrible they should think their lives are by a hand-flapping mob of middle-class attention-mongers. Perhaps, if third-wavers realise this, they can resurrect what was once a noble, necessary movement. However, given the Left’s extraordinary capacity to eschew self-reflection, I’d say this is the longest of shots.
12 thoughts on “The curious case of third wave feminists”
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Actions speaks louder than words.Hardly a day passes that President Trump’s true character does not raise its ugly head. It is indeed confounding to see how easily people are persuaded to ignore all of his character flaws. How has this come to be? To ignore President Trump’s character flaws is to ignore what motivates his actions. Somewhere, some way, this thing called Conservative has taken on a whole new meaning. The new thing is called Christian Conservatism. What does this mean? Who are the people who call themselves Christian Conservatives? You now have Christian Conservative Talk Radio. I must say, a lot of what I hear on Christian Talk Radio, flies in the face of what I think and was taught represents a Christ-like view of how an individual should live and what should be believed. Jefferson Davis said it best. “Truthfulness is a corner-stone in character, and if it be not laid firmly in youth, there will ever after be a weak spot in the foundation.” The question remains, how far are people willing to go, and what risks they are willing to take to continue to support a President with so many character flaws?
It’s certainly reasonable for you to criticize the president’s various character flaws. But perhaps more would do so, if we didn’t live in such an extremely polarised political environment in which one side are the goodies and one are the baddies. And while Trump has in part perpetuated this, I would mostly blame the Leftist media/ establishment for creating this division, and making sure that Trump supporters double down in their at- times blind support for Trump.
I am not privy to what my co-workers make but I see/hear of no evidence of pay grades based on gender. There are Libertarians that concur and propose any net pay differences for equal work are due to having to take time from work due to women taking more responsibility for family matters than men. Children, meals etc. I have not examined the evidence but assume someone like Walter Block can back up his claims. Not totally fair but it’s hard to overcome hundreds of thousands of years of mother nature’s influence. I am a guy so my perspective is not without taint. But a nice guy!
I think there’s definitely a conspiracy about the ‘patriarchy’ and this idea that old white men are just out there wanting to ruin the careers of women due to misogynistic thinking. Which in reality just doesn’t exist. But maybe this is why the pay gap myth exists?
I couldn’t find the place to make a general comment or direct one to you on your ABOUT page. I find it interesting that you are reading my blog-I must sound like the anti-Christ to you. As you are committed to writing in support of Trump (and many other conservative dare I say almost alt-right things) I am just as committed to writing about my feelings towards the occupant in the oval office and his wondrous misdeeds, missteps and misinformation. We will have fun in the battle of wits!
Well I’m always open to hearing different perspectives. No matter what we believe, we must remember that it is ok for different people to believe different things for different reasons. Just because someone is a progressive or a conservative should not be the measure of whether someone is a good person. | {
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View 19964392 | Durasi 2:43:14 Imagine having the privilege of owning the lehenga worn by the Dhak Dhak girl of Bollywood Madhuri Dixit in the song Hamari Atariya Pe from the film Dedh Ishqiya. Owning this sheer piece...Download Now | {
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Dunno if anyone else is aware of this, but Jody Siegel (imbrian arts man) has been doodling in his spare time and done made a game. I'd have preferred it if he'd been sculpting my pending kickstarter minis, but he's made a good case explaining that he can't be expected to work 24/7, and what he does in his evenings and weekends is his own business, which I completely agree with. In this case, that means he's been sculpting drunken dwarves n suchlike
I was thinking much the same. It's clearly just a wee side project from the imbrian arts guy, but the minis are nice, albeit a tad pricey. I wasn't suggesting we all stay playing it, just pointing it out as a curiosity, really
I've always wanted a drunk dwarf from GW, but they make it miserably difficult to order from them that this is perfect. Plus I love the character in models. I might have to buy one for a rank filler or slayer! | {
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Sessions wants a review of consent decrees, which have been used for decades to force reforms
The Justice Department has investigated police departments for the past two decades and, in some cases, helped bring about sweeping court-enforceable reform agreements to overhaul the local agencies.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a longtime critic of such actions, has ordered the department to review such agreements, throwing into question both the future of the pacts and how the federal government would approach oversight of local police departments.
“Local control and local accountability are necessary for effective local policing,” Sessions wrote in a memo, dated March 31 and made public Monday, ordering his top deputies to review the police reform agreements. “It is not the responsibility of the federal government to manage non-federal law enforcement agencies.”
But for nearly a quarter of a century, the federal government has been seeking the very orders Sessions wants reviewed. Under pacts known as “consent decrees,” the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division — after conducting investigations of local police departments — has agreed on reforms that a federal court has enforced and an independent monitoring team has overseen. There are other agreements reached between federal and local officials aimed at spurring reforms, but the consent decrees are the most stringent and high-profile.
Consent decrees were a key component of President Obama’s Justice Department, which placed an emphasis on aggressively probing police departments for potential constitutional violations, a focus that took particular prominence in recent years as a series of protests about how and when officers use deadly force emerged across the country.
The Justice Department said it opened 25 investigations into law enforcement agencies since 2009, and has been enforcing 14 consent decrees. In a detailed report the Civil Rights Division released before Obama left office, officials provided both a history and a defense of these agreements, which criminal justice reform advocates have praised and local law enforcement leaders have welcomed while pledging to reform their departments.
Sessions has been a longtime critic of the pacts. The attorney general — a former federal prosecutor and U.S. senator — once called consent decrees “one of the most dangerous, and rarely discussed exercises of raw power” and “an end run around the democratic process.”
Attorney General Jeff Sessions told a group of law enforcement officers in St. Louis that he fears crime rates in the United States could rise significantly on March 31. (Reuters)
Consent decrees have their roots in a different era of protests over how police use force. After Los Angeles police officers beat Rodney King in 1991, leading to unrest after the officers involved were acquitted, Congress acted in 1994 to give the Justice Department the ability to investigate local police departments and force reforms.
Before any consent decrees, Justice Department officials conduct what are known as “pattern or practice” investigations, which look for systemic police misconduct and can focus on things like racial discrimination and improper uses of force.
The first such probe was opened in January 1997 in Pittsburgh, yielding a report that outlined problems there and then an agreement to reform the department, according to the Civil Rights Division. The Justice Department’s pattern-or-practice probes do not always end with consent decrees. According to the Civil Rights Division, officials launched 69 total investigations and closed 26 of them without any finding of problems with a pattern or practice.
Officials acknowledged in the Civil Rights Division’s report that they could not investigate each of the 18,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide. Instead, the division “considers whether the allegations represent an issue common to many law enforcement agencies as well as whether the allegations represent an emerging or developing issue, such that reforms could have an impact beyond the primary objective of eliminating constitutional violations in the specific law enforcement agency.”
Investigations have prompted consent decrees with major cities including Seattle, Portland, Ore., and New Orleans, which remain in effect, along with others in cities such as Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, which have terminated.
Protests in April 2015, which preceded the federal probe of that city’s police force. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
More recently, investigations and proposed reforms have unfolded amid an acute focus on policing, such as probes that examined police in Chicago, Baltimore and Ferguson, Mo. In each case, there were intense demonstrations after a deadly encounter involving a black man or teenager and a police officer. In each case, the federal government launched a federal civil rights probe that produced a scathing report detailing unconstitutional, racially biased policing.
Officials then began negotiating toward reforms, which can often result in a consent decree. The negotiations do not always go off without a hitch. In Ferguson, the Missouri city where a white police officer shot 18-year-old Michael Brown, federal officials pilloried the local police before entering negotiations about potential reforms. When city officials hedged on a tentative agreement, the Justice Department sued the city. Ferguson city officials backed down and a judge approved the agreement last year.
The Baltimore agreement, meanwhile, was announced in January, just days before President Trump took office. A federal civil rights probe there was launched in 2015 after 25-year-old Freddie Gray died of a spinal cord injury he suffered while in police custody, an episode that prompted rioting in Baltimore. As part of a push to secure a reform deal before Obama left office, then-Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch took the unusual step of saying she would head to Baltimore during negotiations with the hope of locking down reforms before an agreement was reached.
Such agreements must be approved by a judge. And while the Baltimore pact was signed by both sides and entered into federal court, U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has not signed off on it, and the Justice Department on Monday sought to postpone a public hearing as part of that consent decree process.
Sessions’s memo announcing a review of “existing or contemplated consent decrees” would seem to extend beyond the Baltimore pact and to the last police investigation of the Obama era: A sprawling probe of the Chicago Police Department, the country’s second-biggest local law enforcement agency. A day after the Baltimore agreement was announced, Lynch was in Chicago to release the findings of the investigation into that city’s police department and to stand alongside local officials as they pledged to negotiate toward a consent decree.
While in Chicago, Lynch said she expected an agreement with local officials to outlive Obama’s term. “Yes, the top people at the Department of Justice move on, but this agreement is not dependent on one, or two, or three people,” she said at the time.
Sessions had been noncommittal about the future of a potential agreement with Chicago. Speaking to reporters in February, he also criticized the Chicago and Ferguson reports the Justice Department produced, saying that he had not read them but had seen summaries and viewed them as “pretty anecdotal and not so scientifically based.”
In a joint statement after Sessions’s memo was made public Monday, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) said they could “only speak for our intentions, we can’t speak for the federal government’s,” but vowed to continue working toward reforms.
“Reform is in our self-interest and that is why Chicago has been, is, and always will be committed to reform,” they said in the statement, which did not directly address what the Justice Department’s review could mean for a potential consent decree there.
Some of the agreements are so new that it can be hard to measure their long-term impact. In 2015, The Washington Post and “Frontline” teamed up to survey four departments where consent decrees have been utilized, finding that they helped in some cases but also lagged in other ways:
The reforms have led to modernized policies, new equipment and better training, police chiefs, city leaders, activists and Justice officials agree.
But measured by incidents of use of force, one of Justice’s primary metrics, the outcomes are mixed. In five of the 10 police departments for which sufficient data was provided, use of force by officers increased during and after the agreements. In five others, it stayed the same or declined.
None of the departments completed reforms by the targeted dates, the review found. In most, the interventions have dragged years beyond original projections, driving up costs. In 13 of the police departments for which budget data was available, costs are expected to surpass $600 million, expenses largely passed on to local taxpayers.
The reform agreements put in place can also stretch on for quite some time. The Civil Rights Division report on its police investigations noted that reform pacts, including consent decrees and other agreements for reforms, do not come with specified windows. Some have ended after a few years, while other reform deals have remained in place for more than a decade. The report also noted that it was not up to the Justice Department or local law enforcement agency when court-enforceable agreements wrap up, noting that “the decision about when a consent decree ends is up to the judge.” | {
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I have lightly used, never fallen on # 2,3 max cams. If you want I also have a number 1 that would need to be sent back to trango first before use because of the recall but this cam has never been placed. | {
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In The Press
Paul Wirhun. Under the Sea
18 Mar–5 May 2015 at Ivy Brown Gallery, New York
On March 18th, artist and artist Paul Wirhun’s “Under the Sea exhibition will make its premiere at Ivy Brown Gallery. This new body of work continues on a series of broken eggshells collages and paintings on found wood, exploring themes of finding oneself in deep water (the element that represents our emotions) since his last solo show here in 2014. Addressing how eggshells relate to water throughout the works in this exhibition, Wirhun notes: “Mythology teaches us that Eggs came out of the Chaos and broken eggshells are eggs returned to chaos and when epoxied on wood they can look like water, hence this show. “Under the Sea” is an exploration of where Broken, dyed and painted eggshells can take one down under into that deep emotional realm found only in the watery depths under the sea.”The exhibition will feature eggshell collages, paintings, assemblages, and new works on Ostrich and hen’s eggs. Mr. Wirhun will also teach a class in traditional egg talisman making, during which participants will be able to make their own batiked egg in time for the Spring Holidays of Easter and Passover.
Paul Wirhun
Raised in a Ukrainian-American family, Wirhun is known for his work on eggshells, employing ancient folk craft techniques (a form of batik), mixed with innovative uses of wax line drawing, brush painting, as well as scratching and etching. In 2000, Wirhun began creating collages from broken eggshells; destroying the intensely controlled process of carefully scripted design on the shell and turning studio detritus into stories. Through using broken shells and adhering them to a flat surface plane, he has reconfigured his preconceived worldview by playing in an unknown field of shattered illusions. The effect is a multi-layered composition that expresses deeply held feelings, while sparking the viewer’s imagination through the juxtaposition of color, design and textures.
Ivy Brown Gallery | {
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I was so close to ripping on this. So close. The suit is so eye catching that you kind of miss out on the whole package. Everything is working in perfect harmony. The suit. Bow tie. Belt matching with the bow tie. Shoes. Shoulder bag. Glass bottle of water. Clashing plaid. Just the right amount of scruff. There’s traveling in style, and then there’s this. Bar Setting City. | {
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(UNDATED) - Today is the first full day of the Barack Obama presidential administration, and all eyes are on Washington.
Yesterday, about all people, in general, were on the Washington National Mall watching the inauguration, but now we're on the first full business day, and political watchers are wondering what his first move today will be.
Just yesterday, he already suspended the military trials for the Guantanamo Bay detainees pending a 4 month review. Following the order, the chief judge of the tribunals adjourned the 5 trials in process until today.
Obama has already pledged to close the controversial detention facility in Cuba.
One IU history professor believes the timing between Obama's inauguration and Martin Luther King Jr. Day is something to wonder at.
The inauguration of America's first black president may become one of those "where were you when" events, especially falling a day after Martin Luther King Day, a coincidence of timing Indiana University history professor Khalil Muhammad calls "almost divine."
And, on the lighter side, John Mellencamp sideman Andy York has an inauguration story like no other.
The guitarist received a kiss on the cheek from Michelle Obama at Sunday's inaugural concert for the incoming president, and then got whacked in the head by one of wings of a bald eagle that had been brought on stage. | {
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Wall Street Could Win Big If SCOTUS Guts Fair Housing Act
05/22/2015 11:18 am ET
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Updated
May 22, 2015
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Lawrence Hurley
JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images
WASHINGTON, May 22(Reuters) - If the state of Texas prevails in a civil rights case about to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, landlords and developers will have an easier time defending themselves in housing discrimination lawsuits.
But the biggest beneficiary of a win for Texas could well be Wall Street.
The case alleges that the way Texas allocates low-income housing credits violates the 1968 Fair Housing Act, an issue with little direct connection to banking. But trade groups representing banks and other financial services companies hope that the high court will set a legal precedent in its ruling that could also be used to defend against lending discrimination lawsuits.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and at least a dozen other business groups have submitted friend-of-the-court briefs supporting Texas's position in the case.
At the heart of the dispute is a legal theory known as "disparate impact," which has long been criticized by business groups. The theory allows minorities and others, including the disabled and the elderly, to prove illegal discrimination simply by showing that a practice has the effect of discriminating against them, even if they cannot prove intentional discrimination.
In the pending case, Texas Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, civil rights groups are alleging that the state's allocation of low-income housing credits discriminates against minorities. Texas has countered that it awards credits without regard to race, and that the Fair Housing Act should apply only to cases of intentional discrimination.
Business groups see parallels between the housing law and the similarly worded Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974, which empowers the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to bring lending discrimination actions against financial services companies. The Fair Housing Act covers home mortgages but not other types of lending.
A sweeping ruling in the case, which could be decided as soon as next week, would provide a weapon for business groups to attack the consumer bureau.
Jess Sharp, who works on lending issues at the Chamber of Commerce, said that if the court throws out disparate impact theory under the Fair Housing Act, "it severely undercuts" the consumer bureau's argument that it can be used to enforce the fair lending law.
Disparate impact theory has been widely employed for decades under both the housing and lending laws to extract huge payouts from banks, developers and other businesses and require them to change their conduct. Proving disparate impact is much easier than showing intentional discrimination.
The U.S. Justice Department, citing both the housing and the lending laws, used the disparate impact theory in cases arising from the 2008 housing crash. In 2012, Wells Fargo agreed to a $175 million settlement over claims it discriminated against black and Hispanic customers by, among other things, steering them toward subprime mortgages.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, relying on the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, recently used disparate impact theory in its series of probes into auto lending pricing polices. The bureau said various lenders unfairly calculated interest rates on car loans, leading Hispanics and Asians to pay more than whites. In December 2013, Ally Financial Inc agreed to pay $98 million to settle one investigation.
The Supreme Court has not weighed in on the use of disparate impact theory under either law.
The Mortgage Bankers Association and other lenders said in a friend of the court brief backing Texas filed in November that they abhor discrimination but that disparate impact theory "allows challenges to legitimate business practices."
The banks say they use neutral criteria when assessing risk, and while that might result in certain groups being treated more favorably, it does not mean the practice is unfair.
Civil rights groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People say the business community is overstating the economic burden of disparate impact theory.
When the Texas case was argued on Jan. 21, the nine justices appeared closely divided along ideological lines, with liberals voicing support for the theory and conservatives opposed. Based on the questions asked from the bench, conservative Antonin Scalia could be the deciding vote. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Amy Stevens, Noeleen Walder and Sue Horton) | {
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Yesterday I had to sit through a mandatory training class for my job. It was 8 hours of sitting in a classroom. Huge Anxiety Trigger for me. One of the worst, in fact.
But I did good. I really did. I have learned to deal with classroom anxiety for the most part, but 8 hours is asking a lot. Happily, I was calm enough going in and didn’t have any anxious intrusive thoughts. My head was in the right place emotionally, speaking from an anxiety perspective.
We had a few short breaks, but it was a long, long day and a really intense class. And I have to say, to walk away from that knowing I did well and could handle it without any anxiety or panic attacks is such a wonderful, glorious feeling.
While sitting in the class I did notice my thoughts and where they were going. An anxious mind wanders a lot and mostly does this without us even knowing it.
But I am on to this dance, game, habit, or whatever you want to call it. And I am doing it – one day at a time I am putting myself out there and exposing myself to the things that I fear the most. Little by little. And I am healing.
Thank you Lord.
I remember a time when I could not sit in a classroom unless I was really heavily medicated with anti-anxiety medication. And even then it was really hard to sit still and not bolt from the class.
I look back on my high school and college days and man, I am so thankful to have come this far. I honestly don’t know how I made it through school sometimes.
Yesterday I sat in the furthest seat from the exit, on purpose. I sat with people on both side, which is what used to make me the most anxious- having my escape route blocked.
But blocked it was, and although I felt my mind wanting to go into the “What if you need to leave this instant??” territory, but I refused to indulge it.
It tried a few times to pop into my head.
By the time we were into the second hour of class, I was not having any potentially anxious thoughts anymore.
Driving in to work I psyched myself up really well. I reminded myself how much I wanted to get this job, how very hard last summer was because I needed to be working because my husband came thisclose to losing his job. It was paralyzing. The days were so slow. I did everything I could to keep myself busy, but not working and generating an income was scary as could be. (anxiety or no anxiety!)
Remembering that made going having to deal with classroom anxiety for 8 hours much easier.
Sitting here now, after the fact, typing these words there is no way I can adequately give voice to how very grateful I am:
To God
To Myself
and to You.
You who read this anxiety blog are with me during my ups and downs. Getting better and doing self treatment for social anxiety had been the biggest and most challenging journey of my life, and I feel so blessed to have you all along for the ride.
I often think about you when I am doing things that I consider gentle exposure therapy. Sitting through this training and having to deal with classroom anxiety is one of them.
For example I was at the Science parent teacher event a few nights ago. I was a bit nervous about going, but it turned out really well. While I was there I thought about Zoe, because she was also going through end of the year stuff with her kids. And doing great I might add! 🙂
Summer holiday vacation is almost here (meaning the kids are soon out from school) and is usually a tough time of year for me, anxiety- wise.
But I will face the scorching weather and the long days of bored kids and feeling whatever it is I go through here to the best of my ability. I will use my anxiety self help toolbox every day if need be.
I intend for this summer to be the calmest one I’ve had to date. That is a realistic goal for me.
And the next time I have to deal with classroom anxiety due to mandatory training for my job, I will be fine.
Thank you for sharing a bit of your day with me and I hope your anxiety recovery is going well lately.
Amazing! As I was reading this and got to the part about you sitting far away from the exit and surrounded by people – my stomach did a flip. That would have been the hardest part for me.
Classroom Anxiety: Conquered.
I’m so happy for you! | {
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The modules will be in place for the firm’s September 2020 trainee intake and will be mandatory for all graduate and school leavers studying for the ACA qualification in audit and tax.
Fiona Baldwin, head of audit at Grant Thornton UK LLP, said: ‘As the accounting profession continues to evolve and, in particular, elements of the audit process become automated, we know our people need skills that will help them to adapt.
‘We need to equip our people to understand and be able to work alongside new technology. As automation takes over some elements of current roles we will also need to invest further in ‘human skills’ such as communication and critical-thinking. | {
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This is about institutions, not just Trump, because of what, and who, is likely to follow in the footsteps of his victory. He and his team are incompetent, and yet still managed to win. What happens when a far more charismatic and capable candidate comes along using these nationalist, autocratic techniques? What if that candidate is on the left, not the right, and so has the ideological sympathy of most of the press? Would Trumpian, autocratic rhetoric be so harshly condemned if it were in favor of universal health care and directed against Fox News? I'm skeptical. | {
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Gina from HauntedFlower.com and HauntedFlowerReviews.com reviews “The Thing”, a remake of the 1982 version that takes place in…1982…in Antarctica…sound familiar? Mary Elizabeth Winstead of Scott Pilgrim fame leads this cast of burly bearded men in the story of an alien found trapped in the ice. | {
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Linkorama : Firms Seek Profit in Twitter's Chatter - WSJ.com - Fred Wilson, a Twitter investor and board member who is a partner at Union Square Ventures, says Twitter will make money by "following the money," or building on the ways that others are developing businesses based on the service.
Linkorama : EcontentMag.com: Socialtext Offers Networking Tools to Victims of Layoffs - I know what you’re thinking: not another depressing story about layoffs and the economy. This one is different, though, I promise. Ross Mayfield, chairman, president, and co-founder of Socialtext—a provider of Web 2.0 solutions for the enterprise and
Linkorama : The Curious and Somewhat Awkward Case of Social Networking Inside the Enterprise - Thanks to a great internal team at my company called SAP Research, we’ve been treated to a series of visits at SAP in Palo Alto from prominent Silicon Valley social media figures. Last week, we saw Ross Mayfield (Chairman, President & Co-founder of | {
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Books I loved from childhood
Autumn is a time for cosy evenings in curled up on the sofa. I sadly never seem to read as much as I would like to, I probably manage 1 book about every 4-6 weeks, except when I’m on holiday when I can read 2-3 in a week.
When I was a child though I spent a lot of time on my own – my only sibling a brother is 11 years older than me. I always had my head in a book, I could never read them fast enough.
This has prompted me to look back at some of my favourite childhood books.
Enid Blyton Mystery Series – I read every one of this set. I still love a good mystery book today. To be honest I loved any book by Enid Blyton
Little Women by Louisa M Alcott – I have lost count of the number of times I read this beautiful story. I was engrossed by all the girls in the March family and their romantic interests.
Agatha Christie And Then There Were None – this seems a strange book to add to a childhood collection, but I moved on to Agatha Christie around the age of 13. My brother had a large collection of her books. This was the first ‘grown-up’ book I read. Again I have remained a huge Agatha Christie fan to this day.
Enid Blyton, Little Women and the Katy books, as well as The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe were my favourite books when I was a child. I was a bookworm and still am. I joined the Goodreads reading challenge and now make sure I find time every day to read 🙂
Primary Sidebar
I’m Elaine a Neonatal Nurse who retired from the NHS at age 55. I’m loving this next phase of my life – Retirement is the best job I ever had. I want to share over 50’s lifestyle tips including age appropriate beauty reviews, coping with the trials and tribulations of the Menopause, weight gain around the middle, fashion, travel. Also using my Neonatal experience for gift guides and ways to support families of Preterm and sick newborns. | {
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Uniscaff Engineers
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One fine body…
Industry Manufacturing
Websitewww.scaffoldingsystem.net
About We, Uniscaff Engineers, have created a benchmark in the domain of scaffolding as manufacturers, wholesalers, traders and service providers. We started our business operation in the year 1989, and since then have been serving our clients with premium category of products known for long service life, sturdy construct, abrasion and corrosion resistance.
Our heavy investment on a cutting edge infrastructure has been worth its while as our manufacturing unit runs on maximum installed capacity to meet growing market demand. We are critically appreciated by clients as much for high quality of products as for the excellent services we offer. | {
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When the security-focused Blackphone started shipping in June the phone came with a lot of limitations. Nowhere was that more apparent than with third-party apps, which could end up crashing due to a user’s privacy preferences. Blackphone, the company, will look to improve that situation in January when the company rolls out a brand new app store to its users.
This new Blackphone app store isn’t a Google Play imitator, however. Instead, Blackphone will stay true to its mission and offer privacy-focused apps exclusively.
Why this matters: Even when privacy and security are your primary focus, a smartphone just isn’t a smartphone without a third-party ecosystem. Whether it’s someone who just wants a simple game to pass a few quiet moments on the train or robust apps for keeping lists or editing documents, stock apps just can’t meet all these needs.
Users can sideload apps onto their Blackphone devices, but sideloaded apps can stall or crash when PrivatOS denies them information they need to function such as location data or access to other personal information. A store with approved or recommended apps would help remove all the fuss users have to undertake to control an app’s access to user data.
App store
Blackphone says its app store will be curated to only allow “the most secure, privacy-optimized apps on the market.” The company isn’t discussing what apps we might see or if it is working with any top third-party app makers to adjust their apps to meet Blackphone’s privacy requirements.
The company wants the apps it offers to be focused on security and privacy, meaning that mainstream developers would have to seriously rethink their app designs if they wanted in.
There’s also a good chance some apps would charge money since free apps that rely on advertising would be out—ad companies rely on location and usage tracking to deliver ads.
Beyond the app store, Blackphone says it will also roll out a new feature in early 2015 called ‘Spaces’ as part of its PrivatOS 1.1 update. Spaces will allow users to create separate profiles on the same device allowing users to separate work and personal data or create a controlled space for children to use, similar to Samsung's Knox and Windows Phone's Kid Corner, respectively.
By default, Blackphone will ship with what it calls a “Silent Space” that includes the Silent Suite of apps for encrypted communications, the new app store, and several pre-loaded privacy apps.
This story, "Blackphone Plans App Store Filled With Super Secure Apps That Respect Your Privacy" was originally published by
PCWorld.
Ian is an independent writer based in Israel who has never met a tech subject he didn't like. He primarily covers Windows, PC and gaming hardware, video and music streaming services, social networks, and browsers. When he's not covering the news he's working on how-to tips for PC users, or tuning his eGPU setup. | {
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EA Reporting & Automation
Product Description
A clear definition of the EA reporting requirements. This will be mapped to the available reporting provided by the EA Toolset. Requirements not met will be identified and a development plan will be developed to address these gaps.
Product Approach
Develop the reporting requirements based on the EA Conceptual Framework. Present the reporting requirements in a workshop to confirm the completeness and validity. Determine available EA Toolset reports that can satisfy requirements. Develop a development plan based on the requirements not met. | {
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About The RetreatWe cannot contain ourselves as we launch this new unique personal development program, for a select group of men and women from all over the world, in the beautiful city of Marrakesh in Morocco. In this program, we will expose you to secrets of your inner rhythm of enjoyment, allowing you to find the happiest place on earth – inside you.In the consumer world of today we are…
If you have always wanted to see Morocco, and would love a holiday adventure that is both a culture and arts pilgrimage and a yoga retreat, this trip is for you!Travel through Morocco from seaside to desert, with mini yoga retreats in each elegant Riad we stay in.Fifteen nights, arriving in Rabat and departing from Marrakech. We visit these amazing locations and their surrounding sites: Rabat,…
We’ve planned a luxury yoga retreat in fascinating Morocco at a 5* hotel in Marrakesh. We’ll practice yoga twice a day, and there will be plenty of time for dips in the pool, massages and body scrubs. We’ll go shopping in the outdoor markets, take a day trip to the Atlas Mountains, and enjoy a wonderful dinner in the red dunes of the desert.Our teacher is Tania Brown, she has over 20 years…
THIS TRIP IS PERFECT FOR YOU From absolute beginners to advanced, our Surf & Yoga camp packages are specially made taking into account all levels of surf and yoga students for a surf trip of a lifetime.The Benefits of Yoga for SurfersYoga offers many benefits that will improve your surfing skills: Increased flexibility, Stronger core muscles, Better breathing…
What's included?Group Transfer from and to Agadir Bus Station or Agadir Airport (from 10am to 6pm)7 nigths accommodation in a surf camp Full board (from dinner of arrival to breakfast of departure)Water during mealsFree WIFI at the campShuttle to the surf spots during classes5 days surf lessons (4h per day)Surf equipment rental (surfboard, wetsuit, leash and wax)Certified ISA Surf…
What's included?Transfer from and to Agadir Bus Station or Agadir Airport 7 nights Accommodation in a camp Full Board (From dinner of arrival to breakfast of departure)Couscous Night (Friday Night)Water during mealsFree WIFI at the main campYoga equipment rental (mats, straps and blocks)10 Yoga classes
Welcome to your Surf & Yoga Retreat in Agadir, Morocco12-19 January 2019JOIN US IN A FUN & MINDFUL EXPERIENCE!No prior yogic practice or experience is required; if you want to quiet your mind, soften your heart, and relax your body, this is a journey worth coming on.Who is our Surf &Yoga Retreat in Morocco for?Real people: people that love yoga or want to try, but also love surfing or…
Born from personal experience and driven by a need to create a space for women to empower themselves and each other. As women we wear many hats, juggle the world and try to do it all with as much grace as possible. However, more often than not we are battling inner turmoil, which leave little room for vulnerability. We are conditioned to feel that we must always be strong and resilient. Many of us…
Berbere bike and hike offers an Exceptionnal package for the ones in love with “well being”, yoga and relaxation !!A complete scenery in an idyllic place surronunded by nature and tranquility . Many options and meditative activities
In the Heart of Morocco's World-Class surf lies a hidden gem; welcome to Offshore Surf Morocco! We are the first surf camp in the region who focuses on providing individual surf progression from beginners to pros. Our expert ISA qualified coaches are trained to take every surfer to the next level with the use of photo and video analysis to further aid development. Next to our first-class surf…
Raise your vibration and find your rhythm through yoga asana, pranayama, magical music circles and wild and free dancing on the beach.Explore the deeper layers of your body through dynamic as well as deeply releasing restorative yoga practice. Stay in a unique eco lodge built by a Scottish – Argentinian couple with a mission! Made from nothing but natural materials you will disconnect from…
***EARLY BIRD BOOKING DISCOUNT: RECEIVE £50PP OFF ALL NOTED RATES WHEN YOU BOOK BY 29 NOVEMBER 2018***Enjoy a well-deserved break in Morocco and join this luxury Yoga Holiday. You can choose to take part in twice-daily yoga sessions, stay in a luxurious traditional Moroccan Riad, eat delicious food, and immerse in the Moroccan culture. Your holiday will also be complimented by a 20-minute Reiki…
REIKI LEVEL 1 - SHODEN LEVEL 1 CERTIFICATION2 Days - 10 hours (10:00am to 4:00pm)This training will provide you with the tools to begin practicing Reiki for personal self-healing and the healing of friends and family. Training and attunements are in a Western lineage of Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki.This course is welcoming and suitable for newcomers to Reiki and energy healing practices.You are…
Jackie has developed a wonderful package of mindfulness, fun and exploration of the hidden treasure that is Essaouira in Morocco. She fell in love with this place four years ago and can't stop going back for more!Her passion and knowledge of mindfulness combined with her deep love of Morocco makes a perfect combination for a mindfulness retreat.There will be a chance to practice mindfulness in a…
Samdhana Yoga retreats are always heart felt and a deep journey of self care and gaining new and improved insights into the conditions of our lives. Indulge in a Journey of Self-LOVE and Self-CARE along the gorgeous coast of Morocco.If you are one who puts everyone else first and then peels yourself off the ground from complete exhaustion, then join us in the luxury surf/yoga boutique resort…
Samdhana Yoga's 100 Hour Yoga Teacher Training The combination of these two modalities is becoming more widespread and popular amongst yoga students, fitness enthusiasts, surfers and other sport-specific groups.From this course, you will gain extensive knowledge and embodiment of your own tissues and how to keep them healthy, strong and supple. You will leave the course ready and able to…
This one week detox retreat in Marrakesh is a great way to relax, heal and flavor the beauty of this Moroccan city.The group sizes are of 6 to 12 people to guarantee the most comfort of the participants.Authentic Moroccan food served and gorgeous villa accommodation in the old town is provided.We will use shamanic plants, great fresh food & juices, special mantras, mudras and…
4 nights of yoga practice and study for body, breath and mind to revitalise the spirit of refreshment and renewal, recovery and rest, while setting supportive intentions and establishing intelligent directions for the recovery of busy everyday life, on and off the mat.Each day will include a morning vinyasa practice with afternoon yin and restorative yoga. Throughout the week we will share,…
Fitness & Culture Retreat in Marvelous Morocco with SamiraRejoice and rejuvenate in this stunning Pilates and more retreat near Marrakech, MoroccoDates: Oct 6-12, 20197 days, 6 nights. Register NOW with Premiere Pricing through 12/2018!Located in a secluded olive grove on the outskirts of the colorful chaos that is Marrakech, Peacock Pavilions is an indulgent alternative to a traditional riad.…
This one week yoga retreat in Marrakesh is a great way to relax and flavour the beauty of this Morrocan city.The group sizes are of 6 to 12 people to guarantee the most comfort of the participants.Daily yoga classes are offered, authentic Moroccan food served and gorgeous villa accommodation in the old town is provided.Retreat costs:Full 7 day retreat€ 1990 per person - last minute prices…
REIKI LEVEL 1 - RETREAT IN THE MOROCCAN DESERT - SHODEN LEVEL 1 CERTIFICATION4 Days - 10 hours The Reiki Level 1 in M'hamid El Ghizlane course certification is a wonderful retreat which allows Reiki students to fully immerse in deepening their meditation and practice in the beautiful and idyllic Moroccan Desert. This is truly an exceptional experience to get away from it all and find that…
Why Retreat?
We asked people why they go on retreat, here's what they said:
After participating in more yoga classes and events this year than in my entire life, I am yearning for the opportunity to attend a professional retreat. The opportunity to grow my practice, learn from talented students and teachers, and immerse myself in this gorgeous Red Feather Lakes sanctuary is the dream of a lifetime!
Sara
Retreat Guru's Vision
We believe human beings are innately wise, strong and kind. This wisdom, although not always experienced, is always present. Going on retreat is a beautiful way to reconnect to our basic sanity and health. Our aspiration at Retreat Guru is to inspire people to experience authentic retreats and reconnect with their innate wisdom, strength and kindness. | {
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The best and worst fonts to use on your résumé
Using Times New Roman is the typeface equivalent of wearing sweatpants to an interview
A résumé, that piece of paper designed to reflect your best self, is one of the places where people still tend to use typeface to express themselves. It does not always go well, according to people who spend a lot of time looking at fonts. Bloomberg asked three typography wonks which typefaces make a curriculum vitae look classiest, which should never, ever been seen by an employer, and whether emojis are fair game.
We went digging for a complete set of professionally fly fonts and returned with just one consensus winner: Helvetica.
There are other options that, like Helvetica, are sans-serif, meaning their letters do not have the tiny "feet" that adorn the "T" in Times New Roman, for example. Do not choose a cheap imitator, the experts counsel. “If it's me, [I’m using] Helvetica. Helvetica is beautiful,” says Matt Luckhurst, the creative director at Collins, a brand consultancy, in San Francisco. “There is only one Helvetica.”
Unless you're applying for a design job, human resource professionals probably wouldn't notice a knockoff font. But you would be on the wrong side of good taste. Could you live with that?
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Say you're a high roller and want to actually purchase a font. Go with Proxima Nova, which Hoff calls a “cousin to Helvetica” with less of an edge.
“It has a softer feel. Helvetica can be more stiff, and Proxima Nova feels a little rounder,” Hoff says. Proxima Nova is apparently a hit among suits. “I never met a client that didn’t like that typeface,” he says. That kind of popularity does not come cheap: Just one style of the font costs $29.99 at myfonts.com, and the entire 144-member family costs $734.
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If you are very experienced, use Garamond to get your long rap sheet to fit into a single page. “Garamond is legible and easy for the eye to follow,” says Luckhurst. “Garamond has all these quirks in it, so what that does is allow the eye to see where it should go.”
There’s some controversy over the classic Times New Roman. “I don’t have any problem with Times New Roman,” says Martina Flor, a letterer and designer in Berlin, Germany. She acknowledges that it has the reputation of being staid, but says the font is not to blame. “It has been a system font for a long time. It’s been used and misused a lot.”
Using old faithful might send the wrong sign to your future boss, though. “It’s telegraphing that you didn’t put any thought into the typeface that you selected,” says Hoff. “It’s like putting on sweatpants.”
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If you want something intentionally upscale, try Didot. “It’s very tall, it’s a little fancy, [and] it’s a little feminine,” says Luckhurst. It’s a good option for a fashion job, but not much else, he adds. “It’s like wearing the black dress to the ball. Do you wear a tuxedo to your job interview?”
It may go without saying, but do not use the flowery Zapfino type on anything you will show an employer. “Its just really swoosh-y. If it’s your wedding invite and that typeface is for you, go for it,” says Luckhurst.
Do not even use anything that looks like Zapfino, says Flor. “All the fonts belonging to this family of connected scripts wouldn’t be right for your résumé,” she says. They are hard to read, she says, and not designed to express anything longer than a headline.
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“You don’t have a typewriter, so don’t try to pretend that you have a typewriter,” Luckhurst says. “You have been using a computer to do a handwritten thing. You haven’t used a computer properly, and you haven’t handwritten properly.” Damn. Don’t use Courier, I guess.
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We probably do not even need to discuss this, but you should never use Comic Sans unless you are designing the investment issue of a national business magazine. Do not even look at Comic Sans. It should not be on your résumé “unless you are applying to clown college,” says Hoff. “There are other whimsical fonts out there that you can buy that would give a similar impression and feel, but not necessarily be a Comic Sans.” Hoff is being gentle, but take it from me: Don’t look for a Comic Sans-like font. Just let it go.
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Should you put emoji in your résumé? Prayer hands, a cat with hearts for eyes, followed by a dress shirt with a gold tie? “I think it’s a great idea. Put a lot of emojis on the bottom. Some chicken wings. They will love it,” says Luckhurst. “Maybe an emoji is your logo. Maybe you just really key in on the 100 logo, that’s your thing, you put it everywhere.”
Wednesday, March 04, 2015
When I led my first interview for NeXT, I was blown away by the amount of detail and procedure involved. It was creatively surgical. They knew exactly what they were looking for, but had extremely imaginative ways of making a candidate's true skill level and ideology become crystal clear. It was a well-oiled machine for selecting the best of the best, for one of the top companies in the Valley.
As I started putting together my first company, Hipbone, it became apparent why Jobs poured so much time and energy into hiring. Of course you want skilled workers developing your product, but it’s much more complex than that. As the saying goes: a rising tide lifts all boats. When you have great talent, it inspires others to produce great work as well. On the flip side, poor talent can repel the top tier talent you want and need.
Take your time when hiring. Gauge candidates’ skills by giving them problems to solve. Get a feel for who they are, how they live their life and, most importantly, what they want out of life. Remember: a lot of people are rockstar interviewers, but sub-par employees.
2. Strive for simplicity.
The first demo I had to present to Steve taught me more about developing products in five minutes that most learn in five years. He didn’t ask questions, no pre-brief, no manual… nothing. He just went up to our work station and began using the product. If it wasn’t simple and intuitive enough for Steve to figure it out without asking any questions, it usually was rejected.
Think about any Apple product ever made: you open the box, turn it on and get right to work. Every detail of these products was pre-meditated, organized and designed to be as simple as possible.
This concept is two-fold: simple products are obviously easier to use, and increase the chances of having repeat users. But if you have a simple product, people gain the ability to easily become experts. Allow users to quickly discover the value of your product, and let them become experts with ease, because your products’ experts are usually your biggest fans. You have to work hard to get your ideas clean and simple. But once you get there, you can move mountains.
3. Be a solution that adds massive value.
Apple was one of the first companies to offer people a comprehensive solution, not just a product. You weren’t getting a motherboard from one company, a processor from another and a video card, monitor and hard drive from random manufacturers. At Apple, all these parts came from the same place. It was a solution, not just a product, and that’s something that has become one of the cornerstones of my company, Vendini. We’re able to add much more value by offering a complete solution, rather than a single product.
The piecemeal approach is tapering off. People are opting for products and services that offer a complete solution, with multiple products that work together to maximize the effectiveness as a whole.
4. Let your employees play in the sandbox.
Not everything I learned from Jobs was based on things I agreed with. A big part of my company now is based on something I did not agree with.
Jobs was a fiercely loyal person, and demanded that his employees share that loyalty. But it led to a culture where employees were afraid to express interests outside of NeXT if they had anything at all to do with competitors. But as engineers, we’re constantly trying to learn new things and challenge ourselves to create new things. A friend of mine was nearly fired for helping a fellow developer on a project who worked for a competitor (on his off time, just for fun). I once won a contest, the Java Cup, and I was terrified that Jobs would find out and fire me on the spot, as I’d seen happen to others before me.
That’s not how it should be. If you’re hiring the right people, they’re going to be curious. That’s a good thing. If one of our developers is interested in learning a new programming language, I’ll pay for classes. We wound up implementing some hardware ideas that an employee dreamed up at TechShop. Let your employees get out there and play in the sandbox; often times inspiration strikes from throwing variety into the mix.
Starting up is hard, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But sometimes you just have to slow things down, be selective and make it simple. After all, that’s what Jobs did.
Saturday, November 01, 2014
Rules For Washing Your Bras: What Your Lingerie Needs From You
9 Rules For Washing Your Bras: What Your Lingerie Needs From You
TIPS FOR WASHING YOUR BRA
Following these 9 tips for washing your bras will help to ensure the best possible care of your bra.
1. Wash Your Bras Often
Depending on a woman’s personal hygiene and lifestyle, a standard bra may be worn a couple of times before it needs to be washed. Some women who sweat more may wish to wash their bras more often, but for everyday wear, washing after every wear is not necessary.
Sports bras may be washed more often. However, if you’ve just gone out for a stroll and did not perspire much, you can rinse a sports bra out in cool water to rid the garment of perspiration, which can damage the material. Cool water helps a bra maintain its elasticity.
2. Hand Wash Bras, If Possible
Ideally you should hand wash your bras rather than toss them into the washing machine with other garments. Hand washing in cool water with a gentle soap is the ideal situation. Harsh detergents will cause fibers in the bra material to deteriorate. This is particularly important for higher-end bras with delicate fabrics like silk, as opposed to the average T-shirt bra...
Everyday bras do not get as dirty as one would think. To wash them, let the pieces soak for a few minutes in cool water, then gently squeeze the suds through the fabric. Next, rinse the bras and roll in a towel to absorb excess moisture before hanging them to dry.
When traveling, hand washing may be the only option. You may even wish to wash your bra while taking a shower, as long as the water you use isn’t too hot. Once washed, you can hang your bra on the shower curtain to dry overnight.
When cleaning a bra that has yellow perspiration stains, rub the stained area with mild soap and warm water, then let soak for 30 minutes before washing the bra.
3. Use the Gentle Cycle
If hand washing isn’t your plan, it is fine to machine wash your bras, as long as you select the right settings on your machine. It is very important to wash bras and other lingerie on the gentle cycle in cool water: never use hot water. Delicates do not always fare well with a lot of movement and agitation.
It’s best to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper care that is listed on the label in regard to the temperature of the water used in the washing machine.
4. Hook the Clasps Before Washing
Many women have unknowingly set themselves up to spend time detangling a bunch of bras or sewing holes in other articles of clothing because the clasps were not secured before the bra was washed.
Always fasten the clasps on a bra before washing. By doing so, you will save your other clothing, save yourself time from detangling bras, and preserve the form of the bra as well.
Also, it’s a good idea to consider tightening the shoulder straps so that there is less to tangle around another bra or piece of clothing in the same load.
5. Use a Lingerie Laundry Bag
To keep your bras separate from the other articles of clothing in the wash, place them in alaundry bag designed especially for lingerie. This should minimize the stress put on the bra and undergarments while in the wash. These bags are typically made of a soft mesh net material. When purchasing a mesh bag, look for the smallest mesh possible, to ensure the clips and clasps cannot poke through.
Instead of a laundry bag, you could also use a product like the BraBall, which is a plastic sphere that holds up to three bras and can be tossed in the washer.
6. Avoid Using Bleach
Using harsh ingredients will harm a bra’s elasticity and fabric, so it is best to avoid using bleach. If bleach is used the end result is that the bra won’t last as long as it could. This is important to note for both hand washing and machine washing. If you do hand wash and use a commercial detergent, be sure to look at the components, as some do contain bleach.
7. Keeps Whites and Colors Separate
This tried and true rule for all laundry is especially important for bras and lingerie. Due to the fact that bras and other lingerie often contain synthetic fibers, there is a greater propensity to pick up dyes from other garments in the wash. Keep it simple. Wash whites with whites. Wash colors with like colors.
8. Keep Loads Light
Again, another general laundry rule particularly pertains to the washing of undergarments. Be sure not to overstuff the washing machine. Heavy items, such as towels, sheets, and denim, could do damage to undergarments, especially underwire bras.
Not only should you keep loads light, but keep like loads together. Particularly with items that contain Lycra, wash these articles together as the Lycra will degrade if not cared for properly.
9. Hang to Dry
While there is some flexibility in the rules for washing either by hand or in a washing machine, bra care experts insist that hanging bras to dry is the best method for drying undergarments. The extreme heat of a mechanical dryer can do major damage to the fabric and elasticity of delicate undergarments. Bras made from cotton may even shrink a little, increasing the chance that an underwire could poke through the material.
Either hang the bra up by the strap or lay it to dry on a towel with the cups facing up. Also, leave the back clasped and ensure that the bras are properly reshaped before setting them out to dry.
Friday, October 03, 2014
Words can cut like knives into us mentally and emotionally. This is especially true of our spouses.
There are many number of things you shouldn’t say to your spouse, but here are some things you should never say:
“That'swhatyoualways do?”
Arguments are going to happen in marriage. It’s unavoidable, and it’s part of what makes marital bliss difficult at times. When our spouse confronts us about something we did that hurt or offended them, we tend to immediately put up our defenses.
What’s even worse is when we, as a part of our defense, bring up some past hurt our spouse caused us. This shows two things: our need to keep score of wrongs and our unwillingness to admit our own wrongs.
Be humble, and recognize that you hurt your spouse, even if it was unintentional.
“I cannever forgive you for that.”
Forgiving our spouse doesn’t remove the hurt. It shows them we don’t hold that hurt against them. This can be a sensitive issue depending on the wrong one spouse committed against the other. Adultery and abuse cause deep scars that can take years to heal. Forgiveness is never easy, but bitterness against our spouses can take root and keep a marriage from thriving for a long time until forgiveness finally takes place.
“That is a stupid thing to care about.”
Maybe you’d say to your spouse “Football is such a ridiculous thing to care about” or “Tinsel" is a stupid show,” showing your contempt for something they care about, even if it seems small.
When we marry someone, we enter a relationship with someone who is going to have a variety of different likes and dislikes. Those likes and dislikes aren’t all the same as what ours might be. Because we love our spouse, we in turn also learn to love, if not at least appreciate their interests.
Most of us men think that TV show is lame or consider that celebrity magazine she always buy as simply a waste of money. The truth is, if our spouse like it, then we learn to like it simply because they do. In turn, women may learn to like some sports or video games our hubby spends time on.
In marriage, spouses should come to appreciate things before marriage they cared less about. Caring about what our spouse cares about is critical to a marriage success. It shows great love for them, and also that we are willing to place their wants and desires above our own.
“Whatever.”
It seems like a harmless word. Like an “anything goes” statement.
THE FACT IS, WHEN PRESENTED WITH A QUESTION FROM OUR SPOUSE SEEKING OUR OPINION, SAYING “WHATEVER” MIGHT AS WELL BE SAYING “I DON’T CARE.”What do you think of this dressorthis suit? Where do you want to go for dinner? Do you want to see a movie tonight?
Our opinion matters because our spouse matters. When they ask for an opinion, shrugging it off with “whatever” is a tiny dart that tells our spouse we don’t value their question enough to give it thought and consideration. When we do that enough times, it adds up to our spouse feeling unworthy. Again, showing genuine interest in what our spouse is thinking about or concerning themselves will show great love for them. Stop with the “whatevers.”
“You look so funny!”
Men often say this referring to her size. Women physique change with time. Maternity fat and other body weight. it’s the last thing she wants to hear, and if she isn’t, complaining about it, then you’re in trouble. You can help her register for a gym or exercise with her to loose that baby fat.
There are probably many more things we shouldn’t say to our spouses. And there are probably some specific to your marriage that you can think of. And this doesn’t just apply to marriage—it’s important to be aware of the tender topics in any relationship, the things that we can use as weapons to wound or defend or stir up an argument. But coming from a spouse or a family member, they can cause the deepest cuts of all.
If you’re not married, begin now considering things you say to friends or family that can cause a negative impact on your relationships.
Marriage is a lifetime commitment. Ensuring we avoid saying things that can unnecessarily hurt our significant other makes that marriage commitment honoring to both our spouse and to God, even if it means sitting through a season of Tinsel (or a football game).
Friday, September 26, 2014
If you ask this question to 10 women, no doubt, you will get 10 different answers. But, if you ask any experts, they will say that wearing bra while sleeping is not a problem, if you are wise in selecting the most comfortable one.Some women feel more comfortable in wearing bra while sleeping, while some others are tensed about the adverse health effects of wearing bra. If you choose a lightweight, non-underwire bra or camisole-style pajama tops with inbuilt bra, you can get a comfortable sleep.The bra you choose should not be too tight and stiff. It is all about personal choice, when it comes to wearing bra while sleeping. But, a wrong choice in the size or type of bra may make things worse.
Size
Wearing a comfortable bra is found to be helpful in women who are pregnant and those who are breastfeeding. However, using a tight fit and uncomfortable bra is not recommended because of the adverse health effects of wearing bra while sleeping.If you are using a tight bra with underwire, here are some of the most common health effects that you may face by wearing bra while sleeping.
Reduce circulation:
Wearing bra while sleeping may cause a hindrance to the free blood circulation. This will happen if you are wearing a tight fitting bra with underwire or elastic. It is better to opt for a sports bra, which will be more comfortable.
Pigmentation:
Continuous use of bra will cause pigmentation in the portion where the elastic is tighter. Wearing bra while sleeping will increase this. In order to avoid any health effects of wearing bra while sleeping, use a soft and loose bra.
Disturbed sleep:
There is no doubt that a good and sound sleep has a direct relationship with your comfort level in bed. If you are wearing a tight bra, you will not be comfortable and this will certainly disturb your sleep.
Skin irritation:
Tight fitting bra will cause skin irritation. It is better to use bra without underwire. Sports bra is considered a good option to wear during the night. This will give the necessary support to your breast, without causing any health effects by wearing bra.
Restlessness:
Wearing a tight bra while sleeping can be irritating, making you restless in the night. It will cause discomfort during your sleep, which will adversely affect your overall health. An underwire bra could also dig into your breast.
Oedema:
If you are using tight bra routinely, it may cause lymphatic blockage. Due to this, many other signs associated with the blockage will be presented. This includes oedema or fluid accumulation in the breasts. This is one of the serious health effects of wearing bra while sleeping.
Sweating:
Wearing a tight bra while sleeping, especially in the summer will make you sweat more than often. Generally fancy bras are the culprit in this case. Prefer a cotton bra than bra made of synthetic materials like polyester or linen.
Cancer:
‘Will wearing bra while sleeping cause breast cancer' is still a topic of debate. There are different studies that propose and oppose the chance of developing breast cancer by the use of a tight fitting bra during the night.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Demand: Your
child just made a demand. You know you are incapable of providing it at the
moment. Instead of telling the child wait till your father (or mother) gets
home”, simply tell the child,” Ok, we will look into it”. This makes the child
appreciate the significance of both parents in the home.
Discipline: this
is discipline that will confuse children by separating
consequences from actions. It ultimately undermines your authority and
credibility as a parent. And making the other parent “bad”. It is never a good
idea. If a child does something wrong; discipline the child there. Note: don’t
let the other spouse discipline the child again after you had. This is worse.
2. “You are just like your
father (mother).”
Parent’s use this phrase often when a child does
something wrong. Your child may have traces of your spouse but every child is
unique. Don’t compare your child to your spouse. If it’s something worthy of
admiration let the child know he (she) practically earns the commendation.
3. "Don't talk to
strangers."
This is
tough for a young child to grasp. Even if a person is unfamiliar, she may not
think of him as a stranger if he(she) is nice to them. Kids take this rule to mean
anyone apart from those around them. Studies have shown that 80% of abused
children are victims of those closest to them. Since the vast
majority of child-abduction or abuse cases involve someone a kid already knows,
you might consider telling them: "If anyone makes you feel sad, scared, or
confused, you need to tell me right away. Then believe the child. Instead
of warning them about strangers, bring up scenarios ("What would you do if
a man (woman) you don't know offers you chocolate or a ride home?"), have them
explain what they'd do, then guide them to the proper course of action.
4. "Practice makes
perfect."
This is a statement of fact, however, this adage
can ramp up the pressure he (she) feels to win or excel. It sends the message
that, ‘if you fail, you didn't train hard enough’. Some kids beat themselves
up, wondering, 'What's wrong with me? I put all my effort, I practised all the
time”. This can kill the child’s will to try again. Instead, encourage your
child to work harder because he (she) will improve and feel proud of his (her) progress.
5."I Will Never Forgive You"
You think some parents don’t say this? Oh yes,
some do. We sometimes react too quickly when a child does something
unthinkable. Saying something like this could be truly damaging to a
child. When you say this to a child, you damage the child’s will to
forgive himself (herself). This can hunt the child for the rest of their life.
Instead: It's better for the parent to say:
'what you did was hurtful, but we will find a way to leave this behind us and
carry on,’ In the heat of the moment, it's easy to say something rash. Take a
deep breath and wait until you calm down before you speak.
6."I'm Ashamed of You"
Some parents use this phrase. This makes the
child feel like a disgrace in the family. Some of us still live in the guilt of
what our parents said to us years ago. Instead: Let the child know what he
(she) did is wrong. And reaffirm your love to them despite all odd.
7.“You should be like your brother (sister)”
If you keep using this phrase for your child,
you are building a wall of hatred and division among your children you will
never be able to break down. Children are born with different skills. A child
who does well in academics may do very poorly in sports or music. Instead,
discover your child potentials and encourage them to develop that skill. (I
will take about the 8 intelligences (skill) every child possess and how you can
discover it in my later article)
8.“Leave me alone”.
If you habitually tell your child, “leave me
alone”, “Don't bother me" or "I'm busy," children internalize
the message and feel they have no importance in your life. Instead, set
parameters such as, “When I finish this project, we will go outside …” or get
the child involved in what you are doing. Even if it’s just to sort papers’
Children like that too.
Negative labels tend to become self-fulfilling
prophecies, so be careful what you tell your children they are, or they may
develop into whatever you say.
10.“You will get pregnant if a man touch-es you” or “you can get her
pregnant if you touch her”.
You know this is not true. Children believe
their parents and teachers. One day your child gets to find out this is not
true. Then, you have completely lost your integrity. Instead educate your child
on sex. Children from 6 years old are getting familiar with their body parts.
Start from that age. (I will talk about ‘educating your child about
sex’ in my later article).
11."We can't afford that."
It's easy to use this response when your child
begs you for something new and expensive. Doing so sends the message that
you're not in control or your needs are more important than their wants. You
should know that most kids thinks household items (even cooker) are your wants
not theirs. Some kids can ride in their friends’ parent’s car and demand you
buy it too. Children don’t believe there’s anything their parents can’t afford. Instead
convey the same message, such as, "We're not going to buy that now because
we're saving our money for so and so”. Let the child be involved. Make them
know the importance of budget.
12."Let me help."
When your child is struggling with building
blocks or to finish a puzzle, it's natural to want to help the child. Don't! If
you step in too soon, that can undermine your child's independence because
they'll always be looking to others for answers. Instead, ask
guiding questions to help the child solve the problem: "Do you think the big
piece or the little one should go at the bottom? Why do you think that? Let's
give it a try."
13.‘Don’t worry, it will be
fine”
Instead of being reassuring, you can appear to
be dismissing the feelings of an anxious child. Instead, say, “I can see you’re
worried. Can you tell me what you’re most worried about, so we can talk about
it?” This makes children open up to you.
14.“You have started again”
When a child is doing something you warned them
about, don’t say, “‘you have started again”. Kids don’t keep wrongs in their
memory like we adults do. Instead find ways to communicate that same thing to
the child in a manner that makes the child know it’s their responsibility to do
it better.
15.”...because I said so”
This is very common phrase passed on from our
parents. Parents who often use this phrase don’t want their children to
feel they can have a say in anything they (parents) have to do or say. Instead get the child involved. They are not your
puppet.
16.“That’s not how to do it”
If you have asked your child to do a task or
they are trying something new, resist the urge to intervene. Otherwise your
child will be less likely to try things on their own or at your request for
fear of criticism. If you do have to step in, do it as collaboration, not in a
dismissive way
17.“Stop that or I will teach you
a lesson you will never forget”.
Threats, usually the result of parental frustration,
are rarely effective. If a threat is not made in short order, it loses all
effectiveness. And experts say in general, threats of hitting have been found
to lead to more spanking, which itself has been proven to be an ineffective way
to change behaviour, especially in young children.
18.“Be careful”
Saying this while your child is balancing on the
bicycle or trying something that requires balancing actually makes it more
likely the child will fall. "Your words distract them from what they are
doing, so they lose focus. If you're feeling anxious, move close to
spot them in case the child takes a tumble, being as still and quiet as you
can.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
We often have good reasons why things can't work. Today, I want you to find other good reasons why things can work.
Procrastination is a dream killer. All great people you admire today wouldn't have been where they are if they hadn't taken that step to live above average.
Today, I encourage you to take a step up get that idea, business, project and dream going.
Using a computer can be damaging to your health. The screen
brightness can cause eye strain and headaches. Give some distance while using
or set your screen brightness to less that 30%. Some computers also contain
toxins that cause neurological damage as well.
Using Air Conditioner
For many people an
air-conditioned home, car or workplace is a must. Although air conditioning
provides both health and comfort benefits, there is evidence pointing to some
potentially serious health risks including overexposure to cold air and
exposure to toxic pollutants such as mod. Sudden changes in temperature and
humidity affect the respiratory system. Keep room temperature between 21º and
25º C. Try fresh air sometimes.
Showering Everyday
Showering every day with hot water and a scrubbing apparatus
wears away your skin’s lipids which help keep your skin’s moisture. This also
causes you to age fast. Some people can’t do without hot bath. This is bad for
your skin. Use moisturising soap and avoid using hard sponge too often.
Drying Hair
I know this may be difficult for most women (some men too).
Blow drying your hair causes more harm than good. Heat from the dryer causes
the hydrogen bonds in your hair to deteriorate which
makes your hair
susceptible to falling out. It also affects the brain cells which can make you
act abnormal sometimes.
Popcorn Damage Teeth
For the movie freaks
and late night watch. Popcorn can get stuck in your teeth and cause infections.
Also, biting down on a kernel can crack your teeth if you susceptible to that
kind of damage. Try the salty popcorn
instead.
Jogging
Jogging is a form of exercise that is highly recommended
worldwide but excessive Jogging increases your risk of arthritis, especially in
your knees where most of the damage is felt. Walk sometimes and visit the
doctor for a proper check-up especially when you start feeling pains.
Sitting in Office
Your risk of heart
disease increases 64% if you sit at your desk for 6+ hours a day. This also
causes severe back ache if you don’t maintain good sitting posture. Take a
short walk after sitting for more than 2 hours.
Wearing Socks in Bed
Wearing socks in bed prevents the gaseous exchange of your
body’s cells which not only damages your skin cells, but your brain cells as
well.
Microwave Food
Microwave is the fastest way to get our food warm. Then it is important to realize that food
cooked in a microwave oven does become "radioactive". The microwave
energy remains in the cavity or the food after the microwave oven is switched
off. Give the food time to cool and always cover the food while microwaving.
Watching TV
Watching TV for more than 2 hours increases your risk of
heart diseases. Study shows that those who watch TV and smoke are at greater
risk. Sitting that long affects your circulation. Try stretching or taking a
walk for a minute every 1 hour.
Blog Archive
Success Stories
HARRISON FORD. After Harrison Ford's first small movie role, an executive took him into his office and told him he'd never succeed in the movie business. Ford's career went on to span six decades, and has included timeless starring roles in blockbuster films like the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" series.
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"This book develops the concept of and shows how to use 'blue ocean strategy.' It highlights, for example, how to make the competition irrelevant by creating a new market space or a blue ocean rather than focusing on out-performing the competition in the existing industry. The book has spun-off whole new industries and markets including that of strategy consultants." | {
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Randy Mario Poffo was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1952. Though his dad was professional wrestler, Angelo Poffo, Randy did not initially follow in his father’s footsteps, instead opting to start his professional sports career in minor league baseball in the early 1970s. When an injury to his throwing shoulder left him unable to achieve Major League status, it was then that he opted to ply his athletic gifts in the world of sports entertainment. He was a natural with a uniquely intense style. Ole Anderson, of the original Four Horsemen and booker of Georgia Championship Wrestling during Randy’s stint, took notice and suggested that the name “Poffo” was not suitable for someone who wrestled “like a savage.” Hence, “Randy Savage” was created.
After bouncing around several different territories, as was customary back in the 1970s and early 1980s, Savage landed in the World Wrestling Federation. He was immediately billed as a top tier star, with several Hall of Fame managers in Bobby Heenan, Freddie Blassie, and Jimmy Hart vying to make him their client. He surprisingly chose his real life spouse, Miss Elizabeth, allowing his own charisma to shine.
And the rest, as they say, is history…
The Macho Man was Mr. WrestleMania before such a title was ever dreamt, earned, or stated by Shawn Michaels. Using his magnetic personality to quickly achieve great heights, Savage won the Intercontinental Championship and went onto become one of the longest reigning champions in the title’s history. He basically built its stature. Though prestigious before his reign, his matches with the likes of Tito Santana and Ricky Steamboat elevated the belt to a place it had never been before. By mid-1986, only two championships meant more in the wrestling world than the IC title – the WWF Championship and the NWA World title. Of course, Savage’s match with The Dragon at WrestleMania III played a major part in that. While enhancing the way that people thought about the Intercontinental Championship, Savage vs. Steamboat simultaneously changed the perception of WrestleMania.
Critical acclaim – workrate, you might call it – was not what Mania was originally about. It was glitz and glam, it was pop culture, and it was reasonably fun. It was, as a later tagline would suggest, about showcasing the WWE’s immortals. Comparing it Hollywood, Mania in its infancy was like a blockbuster action movie. Its principle characters splashed onto the screen and WWE’s tip top production values turned them into larger than life personalities. On the contrary, it was not about winning the pro wrestling equivalents of an Oscar or a Golden Globe. Success was measured through dollars and cents and rightfully so, but at the expense of (rather than in addition to) critical achievement. Savage-Steamboat changed that dynamic for the WWE, giving WrestleMania its first true classic match equal to or better than some of the marvelous encounters seen at the first four NWA Starrcades.
Savage parlayed his masterful WrestleMania III performance into a babyface turn that gave him an incredible amount of momentum while chasing Honky Tonk Man in efforts to regain the IC title. By the time WrestleMania IV rolled around, his place in the mainstream – he was becoming an iconic 1980s TV character - warranted that he step up to the next level. On a tremendous night in Atlantic City, Savage won the WWE Championship in the famous 14-man title tournament. He wrestled four times and donned four different outfits. His was an underrated moment in launching the wrestling dreams of several future superstars. He became such a huge star in the year that followed that he and Hulk Hogan split their memorable tag team in one of the biggest drawing matches in pro wrestling history. The Mega Powers Exploded to the tune of 6% of the potential pay-per-view audience tuning in for WrestleMania V, a figure made even more impressive when considering that the top drawing Mania in history, in terms of the number of buys, earned just 3% of the potential audience.
Bear in mind that he was no Herculean figure. Very well sculpted he may have been, but Macho Man was not blessed with “the largest arms in the world” nor could he have been billed as its “8th Wonder.” Essentially, Savage was the first superstar in the WrestleMania Era to outperform his way to the top prize in the company. Nobody could match him on the microphone; his inflection guaranteed that. Nobody could touch him in the ring with the exception of Steamboat, but not even the Steamer brought the intangible in-ring qualities to the table that did Macho Man. He was a perfectionist. He was so meticulous about his matches that he wanted them practiced down to the nearest detail to ensure maximum success. How such a trait has ever drawn criticism is beyond me. That attention to detail and intensity translated well to his performances.
Match quality is in a category of importance to certain parts of the fan base that goes beyond what it likely means to WWE officials, but one aspect of a great match that cannot be denied by fans (of any type), management, or the wrestlers, themselves, is the impression that it is capable of leaving. Not every audience member may be cognitively aware of it, but there is a mark left by a fantastic, dramatic battle in the ring that matches of lesser quality do not. Savage vs. Steamboat left an indelible mark on WWE history. It wrote the book on “How to Steal the Show.” Such a concept had probably been talked about prior to, but Macho Man vs. The Dragon gave it a label and made it a tangible x-factor that added an all-important talking point amongst the people during the hype for every super card thereafter. Look at all the top tier superstars who followed Savage’s lead in using a great match as a springboard to main-event success. From Bret Hart to Shawn Michaels to Steve Austin, that list is long and distinguished.
Savage and Steamboat deserve equal credit for what is still regarded today as one of the finest matches in wrestling history, but it is Macho Man that deserves the accolade of having established the WWE style as we know it. To be fully appreciated, matches before WrestleMania III in all major promotions had adhered to a certain formula. The NWA Champion, for instance, was celebrated for his endurance – for his ability to wrestle for an hour if required. Epic tales, again as in the movies, simply required a longer length of time. Such is why WWE, with its “flash over substance” approach to the in-ring product, rarely produced many legitimate challengers for American publications’ “Match of the Year” awards. There is a reason why movies such “The Godfather” and “The Dark Knight” needed over two hours to play out on the big screen. No brilliant mind in film editing has the ability to take an incredible 152-175 minute movie, cram it into 75-90 minutes, and produce the same great result. Wrestling had, typically, been the same, making it all the more impressive that Savage found a way to do it. Macho Man created a modus operandi for WWE wrestling matches still used today, featuring a quicker pace, loads of intensity, and numerous high spots compacted into a shorter duration. He found a way to tell a story that it would take Ric Flair 30-minutes to execute in half the time. It was just as emotionally gripping (if not more so), displayed just as much athleticism, and actually had a more satisfying conclusion.
Later on, once Savage had reached consistent headlining status as the WWE expanded their PPV market, he created yet another popular design for WWE matches. At WrestleMania VII, Macho Man’s “Career Match” with Ultimate Warrior established the WWE main-event match format. Just as he had educated the wrestling world on how to steal the show, he taught it what to do with 5 or more extra minutes to work with. People often celebrate Bret Hart’s matches at back-to-back Summerslams with Mr. Perfect and British Bulldog, respectively, as bouts that took WWE wrestling to another level. That is not altogether accurate. Those matches, while excellent, were merely extensions of the recipe written by Savage vs. Steamboat. Macho King vs. Warrior provided the blueprint – again, still in use in modern times – for how WWE main-eventers tell epic stories. When Savage connected with five consecutive flying elbow drops, but Warrior managed to kick out, we saw something that had been seen before. Yet, when Warrior proceeded to hit his finishing combo of the gorilla press slam and the running splash, only for Macho Man to kick out, it was something new altogether. The Rock and Austin kicking out of the Stunner and the Rock Bottom, Angle and Lesnar kicking out of the F5 and the Olympic Slam, and Shawn Michaels and Undertaker kicking out of the Tombstone and Sweet Chin Music have become iconic WrestleMania moments. The trend was started by Randy Savage against The Ultimate Warrior.
Macho Man also wrote the book on how to properly execute a romance angle. When Savage lost to Warrior, his highly entertaining partnership with “Sensational” Sherri Martel came to an end, but the aftermath reunited him with the lovely Miss Elizabeth. Not a single moment feel good moment between a male and female character has ever been able to touch the pure emotion elicited by Savage and Elizabeth’s mid-ring embrace. Minutes earlier, Macho was a hated King. Yet, he had such command of the audience that he turned them on a dime. People were literally crying in the crowd. Just as he had pushed all the right psychological buttons in his brilliant match with Warrior, he knew just what expressions to show and when to show them when gauging the crowd’s investment in his relationship with Elizabeth. “What a woman…and what a man,” indeed. They captured the hearts of the fanbase and rode that Mania VII moment into a classic feud with Jake Roberts and incredible WrestleMania match with Ric Flair.
Take inventory, for just a moment, of the top WrestleMania matches of all-time. In the minds of many, Savage vs. Steamboat and Savage vs. Warrior have stayed put in the greatest ten ever wrestled at “The Show of Shows.” That is certainly the case for me. They were the first two truly amazing matches on the grandest stage and their respective legacies have made them critical immoveable objects withstanding the onslaught of irrestible forces in the forms of so many other classics that have taken place at WrestleMania since. Some consider Savage vs. Flair at WrestleMania VIII to be even better. While I do not share that opinion, I do believe that it was an awesome match and that it stamped Macho Man’s resume as untouchable when compared to the other superstars that performed from the original WrestleMania to WrestleMania X and on-par with Bret, Rock, Austin, HBK, and Taker.
What Macho Man did was prove that the wrestler who has the greatest match trumps the wrestler who sells the most tickets. A sold out arena or stadium is a fleeting accomplishment. It looks good in record books and is undoubtedly an important component in assessing a wrestler’s place in history, but a great match has staying power. There is a difference between important and unforgettable. Hulk Hogan may have been more important to WrestleMania’s bottom line, but nobody was as unforgettable as Macho Man in those early years of the WrestleMania Era. In the first ten WrestleManias, Macho Man owned his peers with his performances. It is why the moniker of “Mr. WrestleMania,” while belonging to Shawn Michaels, could also apply to Savage. Frankly, it is time that we gave Macho Man credit for his WrestleMania accomplishments by creating a nickname for him with a WrestleMania association. Henceforth, I shall refer to Randy Savage as “The Developer of WrestleMania.” Granted, it may not possess the “Pomp and Circumstance” of a nickname like “Macho Man,” but it is a title rooted in absolute truth. Hogan built WrestleMania. Savage developed it.
I think that, perhaps, WWE’s disassociation with Savage in the second half of the WrestleMania Era has given people the wrong impression about his impact on the history of the business. That was the primary reason why I did not ask anybody else – even bigger Macho Man fans than I – to induct him into the LOP Hall of Fame. I wanted the responsibility of putting his career into the proper perspective…and it has been my pleasure. The bottom line is that Randy Savage was everything that you could ever hope for a WWE star to be. He was the complete package, blessed with extraordinary charisma and the drive and passion to outperform his peers in the ring. His matches with Tito Santana, Ricky Steamboat, Honky Tonk Man, The Million Dollar Man, Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, Jake Roberts, Ric Flair, and Diamond Dallas Page are all must-see viewing material for diehard wrestling fans that want to see superlative work. The fact that the mainstream covered his death three years ago as if he were still a modern, top level WWE star proves how big an impression he left from the mid-80s to the late 90s.
On the night that Larry Bird retired, Magic Johnson was on hand to commemorate the occasion. He said that, while there will probably be another Magic Johnson, there will “never, ever be another Larry Bird.” As I sit here and look out across the LOP Hall of Fame landscape at the stars already inducted and those that someday will be, I can tell you that there will probably be another one of each of them, but that there will never, ever be another “Macho Man” Randy Savage. He was, hands down, the most unique wrestler of all-time. | {
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For the first time since November of 2011, the Bruins scored six goals in three consecutive contests. Four straight games was the streak back in 2011, a year that went pretty well for the Bruins. Pretty well may be an understatement in regards to how…
The Bruins wrapped up their quick two-game road trip with another big offensive performance as they managed to put up six goals for the second straight game, defeating the Islanders in Long Island 6-3. Behind 34 saves by Chad Johnson and goals from L…
The Bruins kicked off their quick two-game road trip with a Saturday afternoon tilt in Philadelphia as the Bruins and Flyers met for the first time this season. The Bruins went into the City of Brotherly Love and had their way with the Broad Street B…
Hockey is a funny game, there is no denying that. Sometimes all you need is a simple change in order to get back on track and get things going. For Brad Marchand, a calendar change from 2013 to 2014 was all the fourth year forward needed to start fin…
Thanks to a slump that saw the Boston Bruins drop three out of four, including two games against some of the league’s best in the Anaheim Ducks and L.A. Kings, people were questioning how good the Bruins really are. But thanks to a very entertainin…
By Cathy Limanowski In a much anticipated rematch of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, Chicago and Boston delivered. While the goalie matchup was exciting to watch, it was Brandon Bollig who was the unlikely hero that kept the Blackhawks alive when he ti… | {
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FSU secondary confident unit will be ‘fine’
Wed, 03/23/2016 - 6:16pmLakecity1
Seminoles return most of secondary, minus Ramsey.
By:
JOE REEDY, Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE — Things are quieter without Jalen Ramsey patrolling the Florida State secondary. That doesn’t mean the unit doesn’t still have plenty of confidence without last season’s boisterous leader.
Even with the loss of Ramsey, who is expected to be a top 10 pick in next month’s NFL draft, most of the secondary returns. Last season Florida State was 21st in the nation against the pass, allowing just 191.6 yards per game.
“He was one of those guys who let you know he was there every single play. We don’t have that now,” junior safety Nate Andrews said. “We’re fine. Jalen was a great player but we have new guys who can play just as good as him.”
Junior cornerback Marquez White went one step further saying, “I feel like we’re still the most talented secondary in the country,”
The first step in figuring out who will replace Ramsey at cornerback is going on during spring practices. Sophomores Tarvarus McFadden and Marcus Lewis have been getting most of the snaps and have established themselves as the early favorites.
McFadden played in seven games last year while Lewis played in only four. Coach Jimbo Fisher lauded both players for their work during conditioning drills and White noted that both have similar skill sets that Ramsey possessed.
“They are both big and long. They’ve just got to put it together and really believe in their craft,” White said. “What I want to do is kind of work with them. They’re really the new piece to the defense. They know they’re talented.”
Florida State is slated to return 17 starters but the secondary could be its deepest position group with White and Andrews leading the way.
White is the only returning defensive back with an interception last season. He started all 13 games and also had two passes defensed along with 25 tackles.
Andrews, who was limited most of last season after breaking his hand in the fourth game at Wake Forest, is the only remaining defensive player who recorded a tackle in the 2013 National Championship win over Auburn.
Also returning at safety are freshman Derwin James and sophomore Trey Marshall.
Marshall, who could be the most physical safety on the team, played in only six games last year after he suffered a biceps injury in an Oct. 17 win over Louisville.
The player who was the biggest surprise last year was James, who is the leading returning tackler. His 91 tackles were the third-most by a true freshman in school history.
“I learned a lot. I’m actually helping other guys in the secondary,” James said. “Like coach Kelly (defensive coordinator Charles Kelly) say, if you can teach, you know it and are learning it twice. That’s helping me a lot. The game is slowing down for me a lot.”
Another quality that the veterans shared with Ramsey is versatility. All can excel as an extra defensive back in nickel situations at the star position — which is a hybrid safety/cornerback spot. James played some defensive end last season and had 4½ sacks while Andrews and Marshall can also play closer to the line.
“Derwin’s going to be Derwin. Trey’s going to be Trey. I’m going to be me. Everybody’s going to be themselves and I feel like that’s why we’ve got a chance to be the best secondary in the nation,” White said.
Notes: Freshman wide receiver Da’Vante Phillips underwent groin surgery on Tuesday and could be ready by the start of preseason practices in August. ... Junior Ryan Green is back at running back after switching to cornerback last year. | {
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Teknik Gambar
Teknik untuk menjadi jurugambar yang baik.
Perspective : The key to capturing creative images in your photography is to shoot your subject from different perspectives. Layne Kennedy demonstrates two different ways in which he captured an afternoon in a busy metropolitan city. He’ll shoot a low perspective image of the hussle and bussle of noon hour foot traffic and then change perspectives by shooting pedestrians walking through the skyways above busy city streets by capturing their silhouettes. Both provide two different unique ways of capturing the busy downtown life from different perspectives.
Portrait: Close-up (CU)
Portrait: Medium Close-up (MCU) : Close-up of one or two (sometimes three) characters, generally framing the shoulders or chest and the head. The term can also be used when the camera frames the character(s) from the waist up (or down), provided the character is right to the forefront and fills the frame, (otherwise this type of shot is a medium shot). An MCU of two or three characters can indicate
a coming together
an intimacy
a certain solidarity.
Conversely, if there is a series of two and one shots, these MCUs would suggest a complicity between two people against a third who is visually separate in another shot.
Long Shot (LS): Subject or characters are at some distance from the camera; they are seen in full within their surrounding environment. | {
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So I know I'm late but I just saw the movie "Joy" staring Jennifer Lawrance and it was pretty good! The movie is about a self-made millionaire who created her own business empire. Mangano who Jennifer plays was a divorced mother with three children in the early 1990s when she invented the Miracle Mop and became an overnight success, after which she patented many other products, often selling on the Home Shopping Network and QVC. I love her story and it just goes to show don't give up on something you truly love and believe in. Even her own family tried to stop her and turn against her but she didn't stop. I recommend you great minds go see it! | {
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Monthly Archives: February 2014
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D.D. Kosambi, the Indian Marxist historian, once dismissed the Bhagavad Gita as “700 fratricidal verses.” And while this text has been extolled by champions of nonviolence such as Thoreau and Gandhi, Kosambi does have a point: Krishna – God himself who has taken on human form – urges Arjuna, the reluctant warrior, to fight in battle against his teachers, cousins, and friends. Why? Because his dharma requires him to do so. Arjuna must act in this battle in order to preserve the order of the universe, even if it means slaughtering his kin. Continue reading →
Recently, I was talking to a friend (and fellow blogger) who teaches Physics. In the course of our conversation after I observed her (inspiring) class, she said to me, “I never ask students a question they don’t have the tools to answer.” This statement gave me some pause. I thought to myself – only half in jest – I never ask my students a question they are able to answer.
My last post explored ways to teach about the Four Noble Truths, and I want to continue that here. One of the most challenging ideas to convey is the idea of dukkha – the dissatisfaction, dis-ease, stress, unhappiness, suffering that, according to the Buddha, pervades the unexamined and unawakened life. It can be easy to tell students about this idea, but the mere telling doesn’t guarantee that the students will understand or appreciate the idea in any kind of complexity. Continue reading →
The Four Noble Truths are at the heart of the Buddha’s teaching. In fact, all subsequent teachings – be they by him or by any other Buddhist teacher – fit somewhere into this fourfold structure. For years, I had presented them in a list, but more recently – especially as I’ve worked to make these ideas clearer to my 6th graders – I’ve been organizing them differently. And, as a result, the students seem to understand the underlying logic and structure of these ideas better than they might have.
There’s also the fact that I rename one of the truths. (I will have to hope the Buddha understands.) Continue reading → | {
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“I didn’t want to end up in a situation where me and Ms. Campbell were alone for an extended period of time throughout that 15- or 16-hour day, and so out of precaution, I wanted to have her bring someone with her — a male colleague. The other thing I think it’s important to point out is that this is my truck, and in my truck, we go by my rules and that’s my rule,” state Rep. Robert Foster told CNN’s John Berman on “New Day.”
Larrison Campbell, a reporter for Mississippi Today who was denied the hours-long interview by Foster, expressed frustration with the situation during the same CNN interview.
“Look, we got to call this what it is: when a woman isn’t given access to the same things that a man would be given access to, it’s sexism,” she said.
Campbell wrote in Mississippi Today on Tuesday that the paper had asked to shadow each gubernatorial candidate seeking the GOP nomination “in an attempt to better inform readers” and that the other two candidates agreed to the request while Foster declined.
On Wednesday, Foster said on a Mississippi talk radio show that having a female reporter with him could create “an awkward situation,” and said on Twitter that his Christian faith and marriage were among the reasons to deny her access.
Asked by Berman if the need to exercise “precaution” was because he didn’t trust Campbell or himself, Foster said he was worried that the situation may inadvertently create a false impression.
“I trust myself completely, but I don’t trust the perception that the world puts on people when they see things and they don’t ask the questions, they don’t look to find out the truth. Perception is reality in this world, and I don’t want to give anybody the opinion that I’m doing something that I should not be doing,” he said.
Campbell questioned why the “onus” is on her to bring someone with her for the interview in order to make Foster more comfortable.
“Why is it my responsibility to make you feel comfortable about something that — you know, that again as your campaign director said on the phone with me — is this weird request that you have?” she said.
“Let’s go back to the ‘appearance of impropriety’ thing. Why does it appear improper for a man to be with a woman? I mean, why wouldn’t a gay affair be construed if he were with a man? Unless, at the end of the day, what you’re saying here is a woman is a sexual object first and a reporter second,” Campbell later added.
Foster said his rule is “very professional” and noted that the late evangelist Billy Graham and Vice President Mike Pence also maintained the same position.
“I’m a married man and I made a vow to my wife, and part of the agreement that we’ve also made throughout our marriage is that we would not be alone with someone of the opposite sex throughout our marriage, and that is a vow that I have with my wife,” he said, adding that he puts it above “anyone else’s feelings, including yours.” | {
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Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and president David Samson have taken a beating this week – and rightfully so. Documents show that the Marlins are flush with cash – thanks to MLB’s silly revenue-sharing setup – and are pocketing it instead of spending it to build a contender. Worse yet, the Marlins just coaxed the taxpayers of Miami-Dade County into coughing up $2.4 billion for a new stadium.
Somehow a team that listed its operating income as a healthy $37.8 million in 2008 alone swung a deal in which it would pay only $155 million of the $634 million stadium complex. Meanwhile, Miami-Dade County agreed – without the consent of taxpayers – to take $409 million in loans loaded with balloon payments and long grace periods. By 2049, when the debt is due, the county will have paid billions.
That’s an epic con-job. Not disclosing your full financial situation while getting the locals to kick in millions? Disgustingly brilliant. Of course, you have to wonder – why would the county get into a deal like this without full financial disclosure from the Marlins? The fools running that county deserve plenty of blame. Good luck getting out of the deal. (Unless lawyers can hammer away at these lies.)
And then we have MLB. Running a baseball team is first and foremost a business. As we’ve said for the last four years on this site – what incentive is there for the owners to spend money? Strictly from a business point of view, if you can spend a little bit of money, then get a ton from revenue-sharing, and field a decent team every so often (17 seasons, six with a winning record, two World Series crowns), why would you pass that up? [Photo: Getty] | {
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The global economy could be heading for years of "sub-par growth", according to the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Christine Lagarde warned that without "brave action" the world could fall into a "low growth trap".
She said the global economy would grow by more than 3% this year and next, but that market volatility and tensions in Ukraine posed risks.
Ms Lagarde also urged more action to tackle low inflation in the eurozone.
'Unconventional measures'
Low inflation in the eurozone has been caused by the presence of a greater level of spare capacity in the economy, meaning it is not growing to its full potential due to underinvestment, compared to the US or UK.
The Bank of England believes the amount of spare capacity in the UK is equal to about 1% to 1.5% of overall GDP.
The strength of the euro relative to the pound and the dollar since 2012 has also lowered the cost of imports, forcing the price of goods to come down.
That has meant inflation in the eurozone is currently running at 0.5%, compared to 1.7% in the UK and 1.1% in the US.
The fear attached to lower inflation is it could harm the eurozone's nascent economic recovery, weakening consumer demand for goods and services as household's put off spending believing prices will continue to fall.
Low inflation also means that governments and businesses find it more difficult to repay their debts.
Ms Lagarde called on the European Central Bank (ECB) to pursue "more monetary easing, including through unconventional measures".
Eurozone warning
"There is the emerging risk of what I call 'low-flation', particularly in the euro area," she added.
"A potentially prolonged period of low inflation can suppress demand and output, and suppress growth and jobs." | {
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Creative and contemporary landscaping for both residential and commercial properties.
Stairs, steps, ramps, and all things entrance. Let us make something you will love coming home to...
Time to start that vege garden you have always talked about?
Welcome to
Jos Roozendaal Landscapes
Jos Roozendaal is a talented, honest professional landscaper with over 30 years industry experience. Jos holds a diploma in Horticulture and is skilled in landscape consultation design, construction and maintenance of any landscaping project, lawns and irrigation, paving and retaining walls, plant sourcing, project management and is a competent landscape craftsman.
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Throughout the Nelson, Motueka, Tasman & Golden Bay Regions, Jos Roozendaal Landscapes has been breathing new life into homes and properties with impressive results. Jos and his team are committed to affordable and efficient designs that enhance the beauty of any home and property while boosting its appeal for owners and neighbours alike.
One of Jos’s strengths is his ability to listen and communicate with all clients in regards to what they want to achieve from their outdoor area, Jos’s experience offers the enthusiasm and vision to help clients imagine the completed landscaped area. This combined with consistency and team work is what sets Jos Roozendaal Landscapes a step above the rest.
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When not busy landscaping Jos’s passions are yoga and the great outdoors which sees him going for walks and hikes and biking in the beautiful Nelson, Tasman regions. | {
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US Navy Poised to Take Ownership of Its Largest Destroyer
BATH, Maine -- The U.S. Navy is ready to take ownership of the Zumwalt, its largest and most technologically sophisticated destroyer.
Sailors' uniforms and personal effects, supplies and spare parts are being moved aboard the 610-foot warship in anticipation of crew members taking on their new charge, said Capt. James Kirk, the destroyer's skipper.
The Zumwalt is the first new class of warship built at Bath Iron Works since the Arleigh Burke slid into the Kennebec River in 1989. The shipyard is expected to turn the destroyer over to the Navy this week.
"We've overcome lots of obstacles to get to this point," said electrician John Upham, of Litchfield. "I think everybody in the shipyard is proud of the work we've done."
The ship features an angular shape that makes it 50 times more difficult to detect on radar; it's powered by electricity produced by turbines similar to those in a Boeing 777; new guns are designed to pummel targets from nearly 100 miles away. Advanced automation will allow the big ship to operate with a much smaller crew than on current generation of destroyers.
The final cost of the Zumwalt is expected to be at least $4.4 billion.
The original concept for the land-attack destroyer was floated more than 15 years ago then underwent several permutations. The final design called for a destroyer with a stealthy shape and advanced gun system that can fire rocket-propelled projectiles with pinpoint accuracy.
But the growing cost forced the Navy to reduce what was originally envisioned as a 32-ship program to just three ships. The loss of economies of scale drove up the cost of the individual ships.
The slow-going and rising costs were little surprise after the General Accounting Office warned that the Navy was trying to incorporate too many new technologies into the ship.
"Zumwalt was a challenge to assemble because of all the new technologies, but sea trials show it is a world-class warship with unique capabilities," said Loren Thompson, senior defense analyst with the Virginia-based Lexington Institute.
Some of the ship's 143 crew members have been in Bath for more than two years to prepare for the day they take control of it. The sailors will continue training to prepare the ship to be formally commissioned into service as USS Zumwalt at a ceremony in October in Baltimore, Kirk said. From there, the ship will travel to its homeport in San Diego for further tests and trials.
Shipbuilders in Bath are busy on the second ship in the class, the Michael Monsoor, which will be christened next month. Work also is underway on the third and final ship, the Lyndon B. Johnson.
Jay Wadleigh, president of the largest union at the shipyard, said Bath Iron Works was selected for the job because the Navy knew it would be done right.
"I think the way the Zumwalt performed on the three different sea trials was better than anybody expected -- us, the Navy and the company," he said. | {
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News & Updates
“One has had infinite previous lives in higher, lower and intermediate realms, but the Lord of Death, like a thief in a rich market place, has stolen them all indiscriminately. How fortunate that he has let one live this long! Generate a mind so filled with awareness of death that you sit like a man hunted by a desperate assassin.”
From Essence of Refined Gold by His Holiness the Third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso. Translated by Glen Mullin. Tushita Books (India), 1978. | {
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Coaching Model: The Hero’s Journey
2015/10/21
A Coaching Model Created by Anne Prieur(ADHD Coach, SWITZERLAND)
The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. ― Joseph Campbell
This model came to me as an evidence during my yoga teacher training in July 2014 when we started discussing the myth of the Hero’s Journey in a spirituality class. I immediately made a connection with coaching and thought it would be a wonderful base for my coaching model. Joseph Campbell identified this process of the “Hero’s Journey” and wrote a book called “The Hero With a Thousand Faces”. Many legends and stories, around the world, have been built on that pattern since the old ages. Nowadays most adventure movies follow the same pattern as companies like Disney have made it the “recipe” for the perfect movie. This process can be observed in Star Wars (where the coach/mentor is Master Yoda), Lord of the Rings, Finding Nemo, and as a matter of fact in most movies! I cannot watch a movie now without referring to that pattern.
I love the idea that came to my mind in that moment, the idea that we are all heroes. We all have calls for adventure, needs or obligations for change, ordeals to overcome, goals to set….
I recently realised that it was time for me to answer my call: the making of my coaching model. I gathered all the energy I could to face the obstacles and discouragement that could prevent me from sharing this model with you today.
Although based on the myth of the “hero’s journey”, my coaching model is a simplified version and obviously adapted to the needs of coaching. One of the main concepts I observed in this journey is that each step needs to be accomplished before moving to the next one, and this is what I have made clear in my model. It is important for me to express that once the decision is taken to move forward, the movement forward will begin, whether big or small.
I also find this model very universal, as I am not sure about my niche. One of my options would be to coach elder TCKs (Third Culture Kids) teenagers, and I believe it is a model that can resonate with them.
Above all, what really appeals to me based on how I see coaching is that this model is very solution focused. When you are facing a “bump in the road” you do not have much time to go back to your past to find a solution, but have to consider what is available to you at this very moment and how you can best use it.
The journey is divided into 4 main parts:
Hear the callEngage in your journeyReset yourselfOwn the new settings
I – Hear the call
This is what Joseph Campbell names the “Call to Adventure”. The Hero is in the ordinary world where he “knows”. He realises that his life is undergoing changes, or that he needs to address situations that he feels are no longer adequate or adapted. He knows that he has to take action. He needs the help of someone (the coach) to help him to consider the validity of the changes, plan the actions to get to his destination and support him along the way. Like in Pinocchio, we all need our “Jiminy Cricket” at some point in our life.
By specific questioning, the coach will support the hero in preparing his journey:
Can you describe what it is exactly that you want to reach?
What are the reasons for this need to change?
How will you know you have reached the destination?
What makes this goal/change meaningful?
How important is it to you?
Is anybody else involved?
Are you ready to learn about yourself?
Are you aware that you might face difficult times during this journey?
What will it look like when you reach your goal?
What are you putting up with today?
How can your coach best help you?
Only once the purpose is clearly defined then the coachee can move on to the second step.
II – Engage in your journey
Campbell labels this step “Crossing of the Threshold”. This is when the protagonist enters what Campbell calls the “special world”, a world where he does not “know”. The role of the coach is to support the client along his journey of discovery.
In this second step, time will be spent thoroughly analysing what specific areas need attention. What is not working, and what is working. This is the time to brainstorm on the possible solutions. It is the time to think out of the box in order to change perspectives and outline solutions. Now is the time to explore the unknown.
Exactly as we see in adventure movies, we might sometimes experiment the wrong solution. However, this is the beauty of the hero; he has to win, and although victory is not gained from the first battle, he must be alive at the end of the movie, and win! There is no going back once the decision is taken to move forward. I like this aspect of the coaching process that there must be results at the end of the intervention.
Questions to help define the potential solutions:
What can you do today?
What are the 3 things that would make an immediate difference?
How is that action related to your goal?
What will happen if you take/do not take this decision?
What is the value of your current attitude?
What would it be like without fear?
What have you already tried?
What is the next step?
What else can you do?
Is anybody else involved?
Can you change perspective on that issue?
What do you have to let go of?
Have you ever put yourself in “X”’s shoes?
What if…?
At the end of this step, the coachee has identified one or a number of solutions that will be tested outside the coaching sessions, and then reviewed with the coach during the next step. This step can be repeated as many times as is necessary to ensure thorough investigation of potential solutions.
III–Reset yourself
I see coaching as testing new solutions before implementing them, as this part is very important to ensure success. The hero is still in the lower part of the circle, in the “Special World”, fighting and testing to find the best way to the “new me”.
This will be the beginning of the transformation, a long journey, where nemesis like underlying beliefs, doubt, procrastination, weaknesses, temptations, challenges, and discouragement will get in the way. Fortunately, friends like commitment, action, perspectives, improvement, new skills and willpower will help the client defeat the “dark side of the force”.
The questioning will aim to investigate what solutions the client has tested and what were the consequences. This part is very important and should be reiterated as many times as necessary until the client tests “the” solution(s) that will work. Only then can the process move to part IV.
Questions:
What have you tried since we last met?
What is the reason for not taking action?
What happened when you did…?
What else did you do?
Any wins to share?
What is your greatest achievement since we last met?
Can you explain the reasons as to why “X” did not work as expected?
What have you observed when you did…?
IV Own the new settings
This is the return “home”. The Hero goes back to his normal life in the normal world.
After going through this journey of questioning, fighting, giving up, learning, growing sharing and testing, the hero has undergone changes and is ready to start fresh. So he goes back up the last quarter of the “wheel”, to his ordinary life. However, he will never be the same, and nor will his life.
Now is the time to implement the learning that will make the journey worthwhile. The necessary changes that have been identified and tested as adequate must now be made sustainable. In this last part the coach will gently challenge the client in order to make sure that the conditions ahead are beneficial to the implementation of the changes.
Questions:
What will you put in place to ensure that you keep up with your decision?
Who can support you?
What resources will be necessary?
Is it realistic?
When will you do “X”?
Are there any obstacles?
Is something missing?
Is there something in the way that might stop you?
What else could prevent you from doing “X” ?
Do not let anybody be the hero of your own life, take charge, experiment, fail, succeed, be alive, and get the help of a coach! Anne Prieur | {
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