text:
As I sat in the crowded bleachers overlooking the Olympic pool I couldn't help but be proud of my little Michael. There he was, 8 years old, sitting on the edge of the pool, his feet in the cool, clear water. It was his first night, but he acted so brave, trying to hide his fear.
Two boys from the neighborhood, the Parkinson boys, were down there next to Michael, and their dad, Phillip, sat beside me in the stands playing with his smart phone. His boys were senior students at the Dolphin Club.
Me: "Your sons don't seem to mind the water."
Him: "What's that?"
Me: "I was just saying that your two boys seem comfortable near the edge."
Him: "Oh, right. No they don't mind it. They've been down there so many times that it's nothing to them any more. We even went out deep sea fishing last year off the coast of Florida, and there they were sitting on the side of the boat like it was just another day at the pool."
Me: "Wow. Micheal seems a little scared, but he's doing a good job hiding it."
Him: "Sure, he'll get used to it."
Me: "So, when do they actually get in the water?"
At this point the conversations around me stopped, and Phillip actually put his phone in his pocket. He got up and moved next to me.
Him: "What do you mean 'get in the water'?"
Me: "I'm just wondering when they'll learn to swim, that's all."
Him: "You better talk to Coach Richards. He'll fill you in. But (and he lowered his voice), don't get the other parents upset."
I went to the Dolphin Club office and knocked on Coach Richard's door. He invited me in and shook my hand, and I introduced myself. I took a seat and looked around the office. Trophies, pennants, ribbons, medals, and certificates were prominently on display.
Coach Richard: "I apologize, but I've only got a few minutes. Planning for the big meet scheduled for next weekend you know. How can I help you?"
Me: "Phillip Parkinson suggested I talk to you. He was concerned that I might be upsetting some of the parents."
CR: "What exactly did you say?"
Me: "I just asked when the boys would actually learn to swim."
He got up and closed the office door. He sat down and thought for a minute before speaking.
CR: "How much do you know about swimming?"
Me: "Well, I'm from the country. We did a lot of swimming when I was kid...had a big place in the local creek...spent a lot of time down there in the hot summer."
CR: "I see. And did you ever know anyone who drowned?"
Me: "No! Thank God. Why do you ask?"
CR: "Surely you know the statistics. The water is dangerous. Swimming is risky. You can easily drown in a pool, or a lake, or a river."
Me: "Are you kidding?"
CR: "No sir...I can assure you I'm very serious."
Me: "But this is the Dolphin Club. You have a big pool. Are you telling me the kids don't swim?! And what about the big swim meet coming up?"
CR: "First off, I didn't say it was a 'swim meet.' Look, our students know more about water safety than most. They learn all of the basic strokes, learn first aid and watch videos about drown proofing and life guard duties..."
Me, interrupting: "Just no swimming, right?"
CR: "I'll have you know that I have a responsibility to the children and their parents, and I take that responsibility to heart. I can't let them get in the water where they could just drown!"
Me: "But I thought they knew all there was to know about water safety. Surely they've done a little swimming..."
CR: "Not at MY school they didn't! At Dolphin Club the kids learn to swim to avoid swimming. Getting in the water is not necessary. Everything you need to know you can learn on dry land!"
Me: "That's just ridiculous! Kids can't learn to swim on dry land! Besides, what's the fun in that?"
CR: "It's a different world than it was when we were kids. Things have changed. Kids are more technologically savvy than we were. They play video games and do most of their learning on the computer. Believe me, they most certainly can learn to swim without getting wet. Heck, just last weekend we had a sleepover at the club, gave parents the weekend off! And you know what we did? We watched UWS on pay per view!"
Me: "UWS?"
CR: "Yeah, UWS--ULTIMATE WATER SWIMMING--and the kids loved it. I'm surprised you haven't heard about it. It's a competition where 2 people at a time actually get in the water and swim with all the energy they can muster. And essentially there's no rules! There have actually been several near drownings in the UWS! Of course, that's for the professionals. Our kids mostly watch that for the entertainment value. They talk every now and then about entering the UWS when they grow up, but it's a pipe dream. The average Dolphin Club member, I'm sad to say, gives up the pool after only a few months. Some might stay for a year or two, but in the end we lose most of them to other sports."
Me: "To be perfectly candid with you, I'm not surprised. It sounds boring as hell at this club!"
CR: "I'm sorry you feel that way, but we have lots of activities. The kids learn choreographed swim routines. They can join the demo team. And they can earn special patches and certificates. Some can even enter competitions, like the big meet next weekend."
Me: "You mentioned that before. But if they don't swim, what is it they actually compete in?"
CR: "Several events: Sitting at the deep end. Breath holding competitions. Simulated first aid to a drowning victim. And those choreographed swim routines I mentioned are a big hit."
Me: "Well, I'm sorry. I thought my kids would learn to swim. I'm going to pull them out of this academy and find another swim club."
CR: "Be advised that you'll be in violation of the contract you signed. And besides, you'll be putting your son in danger!"
Me: "Screw you AND your contract. We're getting out, the sooner the better!"
I got up, left the office, and yelled for my son to get his feet out of the pool because we were going home. He looked confused but started jogging towards me. A lifeguard blew his whistle, and reminded my son that there was no running by the pool.
Following are my nominations for retirement. Some should have never been around in the first place. Others were fun for awhile, maybe even a little interesting. But that ship has sailed, that shark has been jumped. So adios, bonjour, auf wiedersehen, au revoir, ciao, and aloha.
The student grins, "Yes."
"Are you getting hurt?"
He looks a little confused,"No."
"Then there's no reason to be so tense. Relax. Breathe."
RC pointed out that in certain professions, sleep deprivation is just a natural state. Whether you're a pager slave or you do shift work; whether it's crossing time zones or adapting to the sounds and smells of a new place every night-- or injuries. People who do certain things don't sleep much or well, generally. And that can put you in what I call the Death March mode. You have a job to do, a condition to outlast and mentally, physically and spiritually you are running on reserve power. What do you do? Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. And breathe.
When the energetic, powerful kid wants to grapple, relax. Let him burn his energy as you fill the spaces that he creates in his thrashing. Just breathe. Even better if you can arrange that your dead weight is on his diaphragm, so you can breathe and he can't.
When the pain gets bad but you must remain absolutely still, breathe. When you know you've made a bad mistake and don't think there's anyway out and you feel the little rat in the back of your skull clawing away at you, telling you to panic, breathe. The air comes in, and fills your belly and holds it full and the air goes out until your lungs are empty and you feel that empty sensation before you inhale.
When you want to find a dark corner and just rock and hum, that's okay. Rocking and humming is breathing.
And every so often, for no reason at all, got out in the night, lie down, look at the stars, and breathe.
Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game
Let's imagine you're on Jeopardy, and the question is: The 7 Deadly Sins, and be sure to phrase your answer in the form of a question.
You might remember 3 or 4 if you regularly attended Sunday school, but all 7? That's a tough one. Okay, try this mnemonic: "All Private Colleges Leave Serious Educational Gaps"--Anger, Pride, Covetousness, Lust, Sloth, Envy, Greed.
Now, let's see if you know the 7 even deadlier sins of self defense training.
Here are the ones I propose:
1. COOPERATION Save the 3 verses of Kumbayah for bonfire night at summer camp. If your self defense training involves flashy, choreographed, over the top Hollywood movie techniques, you're fooling yourself. It's chaos not cooperation!
I've seen it a million times...guys who focus on form over function. Where getting it right is more important than making it work. Just remember, it's more hand grenades than horseshoes, more shotgun than a sniper's rifle. It's not a karate club demonstration at the mall on Saturday morning, it's real life.
Save your precision for the dart tournament.
The dojo with an open training area and mats to soften your fall is a great area for much of your training. But every now and then you need to train in realistic conditions...outdoors, in a parking lot, in limited space, on uneven terrain, or in a crowded room with things to trip on and objects that can be used as shields or expedient weapons. Fight standing up, in a clinch, kneeling and on the ground!
Lots of people practice self defense as if it was a duel. The opponent is in front of you, and there is time to see and plan for what's coming. But remember, the sneak attack or ambush might just come at you from the side or even from behind you.
In the movie Fight Club, Tyler Durden asks: "How much can you know yourself if you've never been in a fight?" I'm not suggesting that you've gotta punch each other out, but seriously, if you haven't been hit, if all your training is dainty and soft and safe, then you won't be prepared. Every now and then you need to gear up and go hard. You need to box, and kickbox, stick fight and grapple. My mantra: How you rehearse is how you react. How you practice is how you perform.
We've all seen the magician at work. After the trick there's this "TA DA" moment where the magician and his lovely assistant seek your applause for a job well done. I'm here to tell you to forget the TA DA. Don't think that your technique is like a magic trick. Don't imagine that you'll do one dramatic move and your attacker will drop like a sack of cement. It only works that way on TV or in the movies or on the stage in Vegas.While I'm at it, forget the chi training. Forget all the fancy stances and specialized hand strikes. That crap will get you hurt.Stick to practical, low maintenance, energy efficient, nuts and bolts skills.
There is a very good chance that your attacker will be armed. If weapons training and weapons defense is not part of your program, then you are missing an important dimension. Learning the capabilities and limitations of weapons--guns, knives and edged weapons such as box cutters and razor blades, and blunt force weapons such as pool cues, hammers and tire tools--should be a critical part of your self defense training. Incorporate weapons into your training, and be ready to react to neutralize the weapon before it can be brought into play. Forget the instructors who tell you that you can't disarm a weapon. Learn some simple, universal disarms and practice them until you can do them in your sleep.
Building Scenario Training: Part Two – Creating the Aggressor
In sparring a good training partner can be a revelation: someone who has the skill to push you to do better but also illustrate your weaknesses without destroying your confidence. The role of an aggressor in scenario training is very similar, but the attributes they require are often more mental than physical and they can even be technically far less skilled in fighting while providing extremely high quality training. Without good role-players scenario training can easily become no different from competitive sparring. Role-playing aggressors should have a number of different attributes and be carefully selected to ensure the safety and realism of the training.
An understanding of HAOV
Habitual Acts of Violence (HAOV) is an umbrella term that covers not only the most common physical methods used in the many different types of violent attacks, but also the body language, posturing, verbal assaults and other forms of aggression that may precede a violent event or characterise its de-escalation or aftermath. A good role-playing aggressor must be able to replicate the body language, talk and physical attacks found in the type of scenario being created in order to give the other trainees a good simulation.
Body language and posturing
The body language of an aggressor throughout a scenario determines both its realism and its outcome. If a role player cannot convey anger, aggression, frustration, arrogance or violent intent accurately through their body language then not only is the recipient trainee not going to get an accurate simulation that may put them under a degree of decision making pressure, but they are also not going to be able to learn when to make de-escalation or pre-emptive judgement calls in a safe training environment. In self protection training it is important to acknowledge that a large proportion of violent events occur unnecessarily because of poor interpretation of an aggressor's body language and inadequate de-escalation skills. As such in a significant proportion of the alcohol related scenarios that I run the aggressor is briefed to back down if they are met with appropriate body language and verbal responses that enable them to save face (as not all aggressors really want to fight). If a role-playing aggressor cannot act out their own mental de-escalation when presented with an exit by the trainee, but maintain fixed in overly hostile body language or even continue to escalate in aggression, then a trainee may not even attempt to employ de-escalation skills or inappropriately strike pre-emptively to escape.
The verbal element of recreating an aggressive or violent event for the purpose of training is extremely important. As I've discussed here in the past, there is a great difference between witnessing verbal abuse on television or in films, seeing someone else being verbally abused in person, using swearwords in a friendly exchange, and being on receiving end of a sustained aggressive verbal onslaught from someone in close proximity. This can place constraints on where and when scenario training can be run, especially if you don't have your own venue. It is important for those giving the abuse to be able to pick appropriate language and have the capacity to deliver it.
Physical attacks
This is an area of scenario training that is particularly prone to failure when trainees are taking on the role of aggressor for the first time. There are three crucial aspects that must be addressed: the temperament of the person taking on the role, the techniques that are used, and the tactics that are employed.
- Temperament - Even amongst the trainees who choose to engage in scenario training involving contact, there are many who do not have the temperament to take on the role of the aggressor, especially if it is their first time engaging in a contact form of training. Through no fault of their own many people do not naturally have the ability to shove or hit first. Furthermore in making an attack in a scenario an aggressor is also well aware that they can expect a physical response from the defending party or parties, and that in playing their role they cannot use their full range of skills to defend themselves. Some people will naturally have the right attitude to take on this difficult and vulnerable role, and in others it can be developed through experience in training, but selecting the right people is crucial for successful training.
- Techniques - Getting the 'attack' right means that the role-playing aggressor must not only understand HAOV but also be able to employ them in an appropriate way in a scenario. There is a slight irony that while the role playing aggressor (who is more likely to be under less pressure having generally orchestrated and instigated the attack) has to limit themselves predominantly to HAOV, the non role playing defenders in a scenario often resort to HAOV under pressure (especially if they are not used to accessing their skill set in the training environment presented – see my post here) and swing windmilling punches, collapse failed punches into headlocks, grab and push without intent, or simply barge forward against an attacker. Furthermore the role player not only has to know how to realistically use the repertoire, but also in many cases how to hit fast without power, particularly when initiating an attack with a punch to the head from the defender's blind side.
- Tactics - Even before scenarios with more than one attacker or defender or bystander are introduced as training elements, there is a significant difference in the fight dynamic between in the first instance an aggressor attacking an unsuspecting defender or a defender engaged in conversation while trying to prevent a fight (in both cases with a clear intent to harm or knock out the other person and not expecting resistance), and in the second instance an aggressor attacking a fully prepared and ready to fight defender, knowing that is the case, and being cautious and probing to guard against skilled defence or counter-attack. The former only resembles the latter if the attack fails and the defence to it also fails, and then only if the original attacker has both the intent to continue the fight and the sobriety or emotional wherewithal to proceed with caution. This is why although using many of the same techniques, a self defence scenario (or real violence for that matter) looks different to a competitive fight. It is also why some things that we do not currently see in competitive fighting (but are traditional martial arts techniques) can work well in scenario training, while some of the competitive fighter's repertoire (particularly the long range elements) may be inappropriate or ineffective. What can often happen is that the role player has not adopted the correct mind-set and as a result probes the defences of the other trainee (rather than simply going for them) resulting in a pattern of behaviour that more closely resembles sparring.
An understanding of different motives
Violent events occur for different reasons and while this is obvious it is a game-changing factor that can be overlooked in 'creating' an aggressor for scenario training. Some people behave aggressively because they are genuinely angry and have had any normal inhibition against violence reduced by the influence of recent events (for example relationship or work problems), perceived anonymity, and/or substances (such as alcohol). Those same factors can also affect behaviour where the recipient of any abuse is known to the aggressor, with memories of perceived or real slights or abuse displacing anonymity as an inhibition releasing factor. Often such people do not really want to fight but to save face, especially if people known to them are present. Some people may behave in aggressive manner or utilise weapons as a means to an end, with no real intent to commit bodily harm (though when weapons are employed even an unwilling person may, in the panic of meeting unexpected resistance, cause a life changing or fatal injury). Others in the same situation may be only too happy to commit bodily harm. There are people who behave aggressively and intend to hurt people because it gives them pleasure and perhaps ensures status within their peer group. There are others who may commit extremely violent acts due to mental health problems, or who use violence as a means of (or to) sexual gratification. The important point is to recognise that different scenarios require different behaviour patterns on the part of the role-playing aggressor. People tasked with an aggressor's role need to know why their character is doing what they are doing as it should affect not only the course of the simulated violent event but also whether or not a violence is the outcome of the scenario.
The ability to assess and vary contact
There are many different educational outcomes that can come from scenario training in addition to great fun (though for many it's the same fun as the rollercoaster that you dread throughout your entire time in the queue, are filled with blind panic throughout the ride, and afterwards say "That was great, let's do it again."). One thing that is not an aim of scenario training is injury, whether short term or long term. Accidents can happen in training and as I outlined here there are a number of steps that can be taken to reduce the risk, which can be higher than in normal training due to the number of people involved. A good aggressor has to be able to tailor their attack to the recipient: different ages and different amounts or types of training mean that the same level of contact is not always appropriate to create the same learning outcome, and the amount of force put into a protected part of the body (such as an armoured torso) is different to that which can be safely used on the head, particularly if the recipient can't see it coming. Depending on the type and length of training run the 'victim' may have to run multiple scenarios and even role play an aggressor themselves, something that can't be done if they get shaken or knocked out by an overly hard head shot.
Training and Picking Aggressors
There is a difference between being a good aggressor in scenario training and being a good martial artist. It takes a long time to be a good martial artist but often people require very little training to be excellent role players. Many very skilled martial artists, while having the control and ability to be able to judge how much force to use and to create safe realistic training, do not have the ability to act or to adopt the physical and verbal attributes of an aggressive person. That does not completely rule them out as 'bad guys' in a scenario: they don't have to know they are bad guys, they can be told to simply be themselves and back up their 'mate' in a scenario, or to limit themselves to HAOV but back up their friend – the friend being the crucial role-playing aggressor.
Role players need to understand what the training is trying to achieve. They do not need to be psychiatrists. Demonstrations combined with video clips of real violence, plus an explanation of the types of attacker that might be used, is often sufficient for most people. Obviously the more experienced people are at this form of training (or handling real aggression) the better prepared they will be to create a good simulation.
One method of selecting aggressors is to have trainees alternate delivering verbal abuse to each other while continuously rotating pairs to see who has the acting talent. This is useful for identifying those who can deliver verbal abuse, those who can't, and those who are intimidated or become aggressive – an important safety concern as to 'who gets what with whom' in training. Following this is the important element of contact acclimatisation, again with rotating partners, having trainees alternating hitting each other along a force continuum. This identifies who has the temperament to hit, but also educates each person in the training group as to the abilities and limitations of each participant, thus reducing the risk of excessive force being used. From these exercises a core group of potential attackers can be identified for the initial phases of training.
Teaching on the Fly
Teaching on the fly is a challenge, and I enjoy it.
Some tips.
Make a lesson plan. Don't expect anything to go according to the plan, but plan anyway. I don't remember who said it, but "plans are generally useless, planning is essential." It's a good exercise, it allows you to put thoughts in a logical way. Don't fall in love with the plan-- at one venue I had a tight 'essential elements of self-protection' plan but the students wanted restraint & control. Know your stuff well enough to switch and improvise.
Keep the end-user in mind. That's the students. You are teaching not just to the students but for the students. Not for your ego, not for your pocketbook. If they need something different than you planned, their needs trump your preferences, at least in my philosophy.
There are three elements (probably more) that determine what is possible to teach.
#1: The student base. You have to be able to size them up quickly. Watch and listen. I start with the one-step drill because you can see how well they follow instructions, get a good gauge of any training artifacts or bad training habits that are endemic, find the blindspots... and it engages them immediately.
If there is a wide range of students, your drills should be designed such that beginners and advanced practitioners, pros and hobbyists all will get good value. Their goal is to learn and improve. Once you understand the core of your own skills, you can set the game so that each person can learn what they need. That's one of the differences between teaching techniques and principles, or teaching subject matter and students.
#2: The equipment. Some things can't be taught without the proper equipment. You can't do scenarios properly without armor. Some of the academic stuff (like violence dynamics or force law) are damnably difficult without a white board. I wouldn't try teaching ConCom without a projector, too easy to go off on tangents. Power generation requires firm kicking shields and, ideally, telephone books.
That said, there are other things that don't require equipment-- learning to move a body; or leverage; or targeting. There's more than enough information to fill a day even if you don't have the right equipment. Just don't fool yourself into believing that anything is good enough or complete enough. Targeting is cool, but good targeting with poor power generation is likely to fail.
#3: The facility. My least favorite place to play is a nice, clean, flat place with good lighting and padded floors. It's excellent for some things, but difficult for others. It's hard to do environmental fighting in a dojo. You can usually break off small groups to the office and the restroom, so not impossible. But I like having stairs and access to a few parked cars that are already scuffed and dented as well. In general, you want to do your rolling on mats, but a couple of times a year (or at my seminars) I want people rolling on asphalt, concrete or hardwood floors. I want them to remember that in the real world, stuff is dirty and it hurts.
You can teach body mechanics almost anywhere, but the combination of exploiting momentum and "gifts"is hard to teach in a pristine, flat, uncluttered world.
You also have to evaluate things for safety. Boots are good. If you wear boots you should practice in boots. Mats are good, they make learning to take falls easier. Mats and boots together can result in some really horrific knee and leg injuries. That's bad.
Straight or Bent
I'm talking legs. In fact I'm looking at what you're doing with your rear leg in sparring, pad work, or indeed any paired drills.
Every martial arts system, whether it be predominantly grappling or striking based, or whether it hails from China, the Philippines, Okinawa, Japan, India, Malaysia, New Zealand or Europe, has a number of different foot and leg positions. These are often taught to beginners as 'stances' and in many systems we are conditioned at an early stage into thinking in particular ways about how to employ them.
I'm going to come out of a little karate closet, I believe that biomechanically (and therefore tactically) in almost every situation bent is better than straight.
Among the most important elements required to dominate a standing situation are the ability to move and effectively employ power or weight against another person. A bent rear leg achieves this quicker and with more power than a straight leg. The obvious 'counter-argument' to this is that a bent leg generally achieves the above by straightening, but there is a huge difference between straightening and becoming straight, and between thrusting and straightening.
Once the rear leg has thrust and initiated a process of power transference there is a moment of choice. The leg can continue to straighten: this effectively jams against any active return resistance (such as momentum of the target towards you) and checks forward momentum by placing the heel on the ground, but provides no further ability to drive forwards without give since a fully straightened leg has to bend in order to thrust again. Alternatively the leg can remain bent once sufficient thrust has been generated to drive forward or rotate the hips; if the foot stays where it is that gives less counter stability in the case of active resistance in the opposite direction, but a comparatively greater degree of hip rotation and arm extension which should transfer greater power. Another option is to carry the foot forward (not necessarily stepping through) post thrust with the momentum of the hip, then all the advantages of the bent leg are retained combined with the stability that easy heel placement with minimum give in a short deep stance can bring. The little elephant in the room being that when we push against a resisting object or a heavy object (think about pushing a car), in order to move we naturally take our heels off the ground anyway, so whether bent or straight the heel on the ground isn't part of optimum forward power transference.
In many Traditional Martial Arts we see straight rear leg postures. Don't think of these as wrong, instead try to view them in context. A straight leg can be an exaggerated example of thrust, codified into 'good form' for aesthetic purposes. It can also, due to the linked foot and heel placement, be a result of postures designed for employment in traditional inflexible flat or platform footwear.
The depth of a stance will affect the 'need' to bend or straighten the leg (or lift the heel) to gain power transference in strikes, but at close quarters against an actively resisting person the higher the stance (and therefore the straighter the leg) the more vulnerable you are to being taken off balance. That naturally leads to the question as to whether the spine should be upright or angled, ramrod straight or hunched.
Assuming The Contrived (#131)
The dangerous fallacy that an assumption can lead to, such as a sexually transmitted disease, knives and getting cut, balancing the humors, a little Roman history, nerve strikes, and what you should not expect when you run from a cop.
"When it is not in our power to determine what is true,
we ought to follow what is most probable."
René Descartes
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. 'Surely,' said I, 'surely that is something at my window lattice; Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore - Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'Edgar Allen Poe, The Raven
I remember when I was a kid how easy it was to enter into a make-believe world. Within seconds I could lift myself out of the boring, day-to-day reality and transport myself to the ancient past or to another planet or into the heat of battle. Those imaginary worlds felt so real that I could actually smell the gunpowder, hear the battle cries of attacking soldiers, and feel the weight of a musket or a bazooka in my hands.
As I got older it became more and more difficult to use my imagination. Now I have to close my eyes and concentrate in order to vaguely imagine what used to come so easily, so automatically to me.
But there are people out there, some of whom mean well, and others who are nothing but shysters and con men out for a quick buck, who hope that the rest of us haven't quite lost that special power of make believe. They want us to have a vivid imagination that allows us, just for a few minutes, to separate our minds from everyday reality and to walk into an imaginary world.
They want us to imagine that we have limitless energy right at our fingertips and to pretend that this energy can be used for the good of mankind. With this energy we can help people reduce their stress and lower their blood pressure. As if by magic we can help them to get rid of negative emotions, reduce pain, and prepare themselves to be healed from injury and disease. We can use it on others, on ourselves, and even perform it in proxy for the benefit of another far far away. We don't have to have a medical degree to help people with this healing energy.
These are the proponents of energy psychology. They use nebulous words like synergy, and psychoneuroimmunology, epi-genetics, neuroplasticity, and interpersonal neurobiology.
They want us to believe that we can transcend conscious effort and instead grow in touch with a spontaneous flow of chi/ki/qi/prana, a "life energy field." They sincerely hope that we can shut off our rational thought processes, the part of our brain that tries to think things through and understand them--what they would refer to as limiting beliefs--and free ourselves from obstacles which prevent us from living in harmony with the universe.
They want us to rid ourselves of emotional blockages, to reclaim confidence and self esteem, and to step away from anxiety and depression and compulsive and additive behaviors. If we have a chronic illness, or if we have a friend or family member who suffers from disease, they want us to believe that this pure power, this limitless energy, could flow from our fingertips if we would just accept it, and change could take place.
Here's another thing they would have us believe: The problems we experience, the sad feelings, the disappointments, the frustration, the anxiety, the fear, all of this creates an imbalance in the flow of energy through our bodies. Energy workers, those with "training" and special, intuitive powers, claim that they can manipulate the energy field. They can remove clogs, they can restore the flow of energy, and they might even be able to transfer some of their own energy to help our bodies heal.
There is no scientific basis for what they do. But that won't stop them from claiming that their methods are old, maybe even ancient. They will suggest that what they do is just common sense. And they will blatantly misappropriate ideas and terminology from cutting edge nuclear physicists, claiming that we are all nothing but energy and vibrational patterns.
They will use all kinds of labels to describe what they do: EFT, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch. They sincerely believe that they are ushering in a method to bridge the ancient and the modern paradigms. They claim that what they do works and works fast, and that those who accept the efforts of energy workers will achieve both emotional and physical well-being. One does not need to study human anatomy, toxicology, biochemistry or other rational, scientific fields in order to claim to be a healer. In fact, they will boldly assert that those areas may steer one away from the truth of the natural, instinctive, intuitive ways of energy work. They genuinely have faith in what they do, believing that they can augment Western medicine, contribute to the healing process, and that they can be beneficial to healthcare professionals.
And, as far as helping someone to relax, to bring care and consideration to those in pain and fear and depression, I'm all for these actions. Being present, holding a hand, offering calm and soothing words, mopping a hot brow with a cool cloth, these can go a long way in helping someone who is suffering to feel better. And if that helps accelerate the healing process, fine.
But don't claim otherwise. Don't pretend that there is some magical energy, some supernatural force, that there are pathways of 'energy' that can be blocked by negative emotion. Don't act like you have healed others of cancer, of diabetes, of some rare genetic malady.
To those who believe? I say let it go. To those who are charlatans, shame on you.
I've grown weary of the drip, drip, drip of their claims. The new age is nothing new. Prehistoric shamans and tribal healers did not have knowledge about parasites, or DNA, or hygiene. They believed that disease and pain were sent by the gods to punish or were a result of curses from one's enemies. They did the best they could with what they had. A potion, some herbal tea, a fowl smelling ointment or salve, incense, drumming, chanting and rituals. We cannot judge what they did.
But, as they say, that was then, and this is now. If they claim otherwise, if they claim that they have discovered secret, hidden, veiled, obscure, and ancient wisdom, or conversely if they claim that they have knowledge from beings outside of our own galaxy or from another dimension or even from the future, just remember this:
'Tis the wind and nothing more.
"It would actually constitute more than a miracle, he realised. It would take divine intervention plus luck, plus some unknown element of cosmic wizardry." David Baldacci, The Whole Truth
Alone Time
This is alone time. It might not seem like it to you. It's crowded. It's loud.The table across from me are a bunch of overweight guys with glasses talking about being great fighters and women. A very few couples, I don't think this is a date kind of place. I'm sitting in a corner, typing away, sipping something local and watching.It's alone time. No one knows me, no one has any reason to watch me. Typing on a laptop is unusual but non-threatening. To the few who notice at all, I'm a nondescript guy in a corner, typing. Probably some kind of struggling attorney, maybe a journalist. Those that peg the accent will take me as a tourist at first, but other things won't add up and, again, the very few that think of me at all will assume I'm here on business.I'm an extreme introvert. Which doesn't mean I don't like people. Not saying I do like people, just saying introvert means something else.It means I find them exhausting.But not this. Right here, right now, I am separate and watching, even in a crowd. I'm clocking potential threats and potential prey, noting patterns of movement and interaction. It's the most restful time I've had in two weeks.I love what I do, don't get me wrong. If I didn't love teaching, I would do something else. But three weeks, constantly on stage, constantly a center of attention... it drains me.And so I steal an hour, maybe ninety minutes to be gloriously alone in a crowd. It will refresh me, and I will hit the stage again tomorrow with renewed vigor, fresh.
Written a few days ago, in a pub. Very refreshing and the last of the class is winding down. It's been intense, good, powerful. Tomorrow night, a train to Scotland. Friends and fine whisky. Then a long plane ride and a few hours in the arms of my one true love.
Easy Teaching is not Easy Learning
Traveling seminars are usually weekends, and it makes sense to batch them, like three UK weekends over 16 days (plus travel time, and maybe a day to reset the internal clock). But that leaves the weekdays as big sinks of unused time. Garry and Dan decided to remedy that this trip. Dan scheduled things at St. Andrew's and it seems some college students can handle an all-day seminar during regular class times (imagine my old man voice saying, "Kids these days!") Not a problem.
Garry's were evening classes, so working people could make them. Three hour slots in London, Gate's Head, Wirral, Doncaster and four hours (later today) in Coventry.
Most of my lesson plans center around eight hours. It's the minimum to get a taste of the pieces, in my opinion. Almost everything in those eight hours is centered on understanding the question (What will I face? What are the elements of attack?) and gathering information-- how to see and evaluate not only what the threat is doing but your own trained mechanical inefficiencies. A second eight hours can go into the mechanics of efficient brawling. But at three hours something must be left out, and it must be made clear how incomplete the training is AND that can be hard when the attendees have never had that type of information in that volume before. Things can feel more complete than they can possibly actually be.
Anyway, how to train is often on my mind. But given a new problem, you learn new things.
One thought right away, and this feeds back to my secret intention with the Joint Locks video:
The best way for teaching is almost never the best way for learning.
It's an endemic belief in bureaucracies that training must be consistent and measurable. It is far more important to be able to objectively evaluate a student in a skillset than whether that skillset works. That's how bureaucracies measure 'fair' and bedamned to those who wind up bleeding.
It's not just soulless organizations, either. It's a staple of martial arts instruction as well. Any kind of force skill will be applied in a chaotic situation. It will be messy. Everything affects every other thing. Your ability to play in the margins, to use the chaos and mess is a big part of your survival skill. But it's hard to train, and for the ego-bound instructors, the prospective of losing to a student (and if you teach them to think sideways, you will lose sometimes) is a huge threat. It's hard to teach, so many instructors teach the easy stuff, not the good stuff.
And the way of teaching. The easy way of teaching is to break things down into manageable chunks. If I can pick out the eight steps to that wristlock, I can teach those eight steps. I can tell whether the student is doing each of those eight steps correctly. I can correct the student, which makes me feel like a teacher. And in the end, the student only has to remember those eight steps (and we're all good at remembering sequences, right?) and apply them and everything will be fine...
But it won't, because the student will need to access the memory part of the brain, which is slow and nearly useless in a force incident. The student will hesitate because that's what being constantly corrected makes people do. The ritual of the eight steps, consciously or not, sets an expectation for a very specific set-up that the bad guy may not be willing to provide. And it's not eight steps to success but eight chances for failure, since if any of the steps fail, they all do.
Some of the keys, and I'm a long way from finding them all:
- Getting the information in the right level of detail to actually use. Nothing to memorize, but not so vague as to be useless
- Match the skill to the correct part of the brain. Fighting has to be noncognitive, so there's no point in getting intellectual about it. Get intellectual about perfecting your training, though.
- Teaching in the right modality. And testing, too. Fighting is inherently kinesthetic, not visual. We knock people down, we don't impress people unconscious.
- Make it fun. Force is an inherently unfun subject, but all animals learn through play, everyone moves more efficiently when relaxed, and people learn better and to a deeper level of the brain when they enjoy the process.
- Play. Related to above, but there is no way to script a complex answer to an unknown problem. The only way to get good at any complex skill intended for a chaotic environment is to play. And there's a lot in this, because the game has to be very well designed to teach the right things, and the student must be carefully prepped not to read too much into it.
- Whatever you teach must agree with the student's world. The wording on this is tough. Generally, assume that your students are intelligent adults with their own experience of the world. So if you say or teach something that contradicts their knowledge of the world, they will either doubt the rest of what you say (which is bad) or they will reject their own experience (which is much worse.)
Volume One of the Pinan Flow System released!
Another book on the Heian / Pinan kata?
I wrote my first book on the Heian / Pinan kata in 2004. Between that and the publication of the book in 2007 lay transplant failure, dialysis, and the gift of a second transplant – all factors that slowed me down but increased my appreciation of how good karate can be for the weaker person.
So why have I written another book, and not just one book, a whole series on the Heian / Pinan kata?
Over the last ten years the research and training methods that I've adopted have changed my karate practice considerably.
Through the investment I made in developing scenario training I've had the privilege of learning from watching large numbers martial artists face HAOV outside the comfort of the normal training environment. The process has been helped by the diversity of participants: from fit young aspiring martial artists to normal hard training middle aged men and women, and even young teenage boys and girls, all of whom have enabled us to create a variety of realistic and emotionally distracting challenges.
In those simulations I've observed how people have accessed or failed to use their training in more realistic conditions. Confined spaces, close ranges, doorways, furniture, verbal and visual and physical distractions from other people, trying to deescalate a situation, trying to shield or rescue a child or perceived weaker individual, having limited peripheral vision or not being aware of a situation until after it has begun: these have all put participants' ability to access their physical training and knowledge to the test, whether their training base was Shotokan, Goju, Wado, DART, Ju Jitsu, Krav Maga, MT, TKD, Boxing, Kickboxing, BJJ, MMA, or some obscure CMA, and whether they were 6th Dan, 5th Dan, 3rd Dan, Coaches or kyu grade students, or experienced LEOs, security or military personnel. The successful tactics, when the participants were able to access their skill sets, were relatively diverse, but what brought them all together was the similarity of their responses when things didn't go to plan, and both how and when things didn't go to plan.
What is consistently visible in the footage of these events is that successful navigation and extraction of participants from the close quarter fighting comes not through accessing their well drilled kumite combinations, but through movements and stances that more closely resemble the strategies that are shown in karate kata, even amongst those participants who have no martial arts experience. In fact if I were to edit out the aggressors from the videos so that it appeared as if the trainees were fighting thin air, then the resulting movements would look more akin to a kata than anything else seen in the martial arts.
I wanted to share what I've learned with a broader audience than I can possibly reach through travelling round the world teaching seminars, and the logical next step was to try and condense my findings into more books. In doing so I wanted write something that appealed not only to the experienced black belt looking for greater depth and practicality from their practice, but was also suitable for the complete beginner in karate trying to make sense of the funny movements he was learning in class, and that an instructor could safely teach to beginners.
For me the Pinan / Heian kata represent a comprehensive catalogue of the interlinking strategies and approaches I've seen work under pressure. The majority of these are found in other forms, but the Pinan are the perfect vehicle for spreading the word on how effective basic karate can be because as a set they are simple, taught to beginners in many systems, and practised by karateka at all levels of their training. The practical defences against HAOV and the strategies from common less desirable positions that I've set out in these books are not complicated, in fact they are deceptively simple and easy. Almost everything that is combat effective is simple and brought down to the bare essentials of movement.
I hope you have as much fun reading the books and trying the drills as I've had writing and training for them. I'm really excited to be able to release the first in the series covering Pinan / Heian Shodan and Nidan in both paperback and ebook. I intend to have all four volumes in the series published this year and I'm up for travelling to teach in person at any club that's interested.
You can buy the new book here, or on amazon and any of the other major book retailers. If you have a local store that you like to use they'll be able to get a copy for you too.
John Titchen
Volume One of the Pinan Flow System released!
Another book on the Heian / Pinan kata?
I wrote my first book on the Heian / Pinan kata in 2004. Between that and the publication of the book in 2007 lay transplant failure, dialysis, and the gift of a second transplant – all factors that slowed me down but increased my appreciation of how good karate can be for the weaker person.
So why have I written another book, and not just one book, a whole series on the Heian / Pinan kata?
Over the last ten years the research and training methods that I've adopted have changed my karate practice considerably.
Through the investment I made in developing scenario training I've had the privilege of learning from watching large numbers martial artists face HAOV outside the comfort of the normal training environment. The process has been helped by the diversity of participants: from fit young aspiring martial artists to normal hard training middle aged men and women, and even young teenage boys and girls, all of whom have enabled us to create a variety of realistic and emotionally distracting challenges.
In those simulations I've observed how people have accessed or failed to use their training in more realistic conditions. Confined spaces, close ranges, doorways, furniture, verbal and visual and physical distractions from other people, trying to deescalate a situation, trying to shield or rescue a child or perceived weaker individual, having limited peripheral vision or not being aware of a situation until after it has begun: these have all put participants' ability to access their physical training and knowledge to the test, whether their training base was Shotokan, Goju, Wado, DART, Ju Jitsu, Krav Maga, MT, TKD, Boxing, Kickboxing, BJJ, MMA, or some obscure CMA, and whether they were 6th Dan, 5th Dan, 3rd Dan, Coaches or kyu grade students, or experienced LEOs, security or military personnel. The successful tactics, when the participants were able to access their skill sets, were relatively diverse, but what brought them all together was the similarity of their responses when things didn't go to plan, and both how and when things didn't go to plan.
What is consistently visible in the footage of these events is that successful navigation and extraction of participants from the close quarter fighting comes not through accessing their well drilled kumite combinations, but through movements and stances that more closely resemble the strategies that are shown in karate kata, even amongst those participants who have no martial arts experience. In fact if I were to edit out the aggressors from the videos so that it appeared as if the trainees were fighting thin air, then the resulting movements would look more akin to a kata than anything else seen in the martial arts.
I wanted to share what I've learned with a broader audience than I can possibly reach through travelling round the world teaching seminars, and the logical next step was to try and condense my findings into more books. In doing so I wanted write something that appealed not only to the experienced black belt looking for greater depth and practicality from their practice, but was also suitable for the complete beginner in karate trying to make sense of the funny movements he was learning in class, and that an instructor could safely teach to beginners.
For me the Pinan / Heian kata represent a comprehensive catalogue of the interlinking strategies and approaches I've seen work under pressure. The majority of these are found in other forms, but the Pinan are the perfect vehicle for spreading the word on how effective basic karate can be because as a set they are simple, taught to beginners in many systems, and practised by karateka at all levels of their training. The practical defences against HAOV and the strategies from common less desirable positions that I've set out in these books are not complicated, in fact they are deceptively simple and easy. Almost everything that is combat effective is simple and brought down to the bare essentials of movement.
I hope you have as much fun reading the books and trying the drills as I've had writing and training for them. I'm really excited to be able to release the first in the series covering Pinan / Heian Shodan and Nidan in both paperback and ebook. I intend to have all four volumes in the series published this year and I'm up for travelling to teach in person at any club that's interested.
You can buy the new book here, or on amazon and any of the other major book retailers. If you have a local store that you like to use they'll be able to get a copy for you too.
John Titchen


text:
It took a lot of negotiating from both sides, but Holly Holm is finally headed to UFC.
Who's getting a call to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the years to come? Who has been overlooked over time? Learn about all of that and more in this comprehensive breakdown.
Catch up on fights you missed the past weekend. Countries highlighted in this recap include the USA, UK, Argentina, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Germany, and Mexico.
Find out who rates among the best female fighters, fights, and rounds of 2012.
Bad Left Hook has the brutal video clips from Holly Holm's knockout loss to Anne Sophie Mathis.
Holly Holm was knocked out by Anne Sophie Mathis on Friday in Albuquerque. Bad Left Hook has a video clip.
Anne Sophie Mathis and Holly Holm meet in New Mexico. Bad Left Hook has photos from the weigh-in.
Archie Ray Marquez didn't survive ShoBox with his undefeated record. Bad Left Hook has results from around the world of boxing.
We'll email you a reset link.
If you signed up using a 3rd party account like Facebook or Twitter, please login with it instead.
You must be a member of Bad Left Hook to participate.
We have our own Community Guidelines at Bad Left Hook. You should read them.
You must be a member of Bad Left Hook to participate.
We have our own Community Guidelines at Bad Left Hook. You should read them.
Choose an available username to complete sign up.
In order to provide our users with a better overall experience, we ask for more information from Facebook when using it to login so that we can learn more about our audience and provide you with the best possible experience. We do not store specific user data and the sharing of it is not required to login with Facebook.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Capturing wind and solar energy to create electricity is a key element in the national goal of becoming less dependent on fossil fuels.
But what happens when clouds obscure the sun or the wind is not strong enough to blow out a candle? How can the peaks and valleys of variable output be controlled to create a steady stream of reliable energy?
EaglePicher Technologies, a Joplin-based manufacturer of batteries for space, military and medical applications, has come up with a solution to that problem. On Friday, the company unveiled the PowerPyramid — a hybrid battery that combines old and new technology to form a cell that fits inside a portable cargo container.
"We are here to acknowledge and participate in the start of a new chapter in the story of the energy industry in the United States and the world,'' said Randy Moore, president of EaglePicher Technologies.
"The ability to store electricity on a mass scale solves a number of problems for our energy future,'' he said. "For the problem of alternative energy stabilization, when the wind stops blowing or clouds pass across the sky, mass storage fills in the gaps caused by the intermittency or unreliability of alternative energy.''
The PowerPyramid involves three chemistries to optimize the life of the battery. One layer is lithium ion, a newer and more expensive technology. Three layers are of tubular lead acid and six layers are of lead acid, one of the least expensive and older battery chemistries on the market today.
To test the battery's operating platform and controls, EaglePicher is utilizing one 10 kilowatt wind turbine and 20 kilowatts of solar generating capacity at its manufacturing site in the Crossroads Industrial Park.


text:
AOL, PBS and SIMPLE Facial Skincare Host a Red-Carpet Premiere for "MAKERS: Women Who Make America"
Tonight at the Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, AOL, PBS and Simple facial skincare will host a red-carpet premiere for "MAKERS: Women Who Make America," the PBS documentary film which serves as the broadcast extension to MAKERS, a first-of-its-kind multiplatform video initiative that aims to become the largest collection of women's stories ever assembled. The event will bring together more than 56 notable MAKERS women, including Katie Couric, Gloria Steinem and Martha Stewart, as well as VIPs Allison Williams, Kelly Rutherford and Kyra Sedgwick, AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger, WETA President and CEO Sharon Percy Rockefeller and Unilever North America EVP of Personal Care, Gina Boswell who will gather to celebrate over a half century of women's achievements. The three-hour PBS documentary airs on Tuesday, February 26 at 8PM ET on PBS (check your local listings).
The MAKERS documentary, founded by filmmaker, Dyllan McGee, tells the story of how women have helped shape America over the last 50 years through the women's movement, one of the most sweeping social revolutions in our country's history. The film pulls from among 160 women's stories that make up the living library on MAKERS.com, which will continue to grow to include the next generation of women who affect society in new and profound ways.
"As creators of MAKERS.com, AOL is excited and humbled to launch this landmark documentary, which is the culmination of the living library of trailblazing women," said Maureen Sullivan, SVP & General Manager of Women's Content and Lifestyle Brands, AOL. "The majority of AOL's users are women, and we have an ongoing commitment to curating premium female-focused content. The MAKERS platform tells the story of exceptional women whose pioneering contributions continue to shape the world in which we live. It's an Honor to partner with PBS and Simple to celebrate some of America's most accomplished women by continuing to expand the collection of narratives on MAKERS.com."
The film is built from first-person, intimate accounts of women who experienced this time of change and confronted the dramatic social upheaval in their own lives including movement leaders such as author and feminist activist Gloria Steinem and actress, author and activist Marlo Thomas; media moguls like Oprah Winfrey and Katie Couric; and political influencers like former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
"By spotlighting some of the most inspirational women in our nation's history, MAKERS will tell the comprehensive story of how women have advanced in America during the last half-century," said Paula A. Kerger, President and CEO of PBS. "PBS and our member stations are proud to support this celebration and dialogue about the role of women in our society and to provide MAKERS with a nationally televised platform, broad community and grassroots network."
"Simple facial skincare is thankful to have found a like-minded partner in MAKERS-a project that reflects our celebration of pioneering women and dedication to doing things differently-from how we formulate products to, in this case, how we engage with women," said Gina Boswell, Executive Vice President, Personal Care for Unilever North America. "Our congratulations to the MAKERS team for bringing this important story to life-and congratulations to each of the amazing women profiled in the film, and the many changemakers who are not."
About Author
- The Backstreet Boys, Paul Anka Cancel Israeli Concerts Due to Growing Political Unrest
- MTV's Look Different Campaign Joins Forces with Jack Antonoff and More
- DWTS' Mark Ballas Headlines at CRUSTACEAN REDHOUR LIVE MUSIC SERIES ft Haley Reinhart & Dylan Chambers
- AUDIO: Alec Baldwin Remembers the Great Elaine Stritch on WNYC's THE BRIAN LEHRER SHOW
- Sony Music Masterworks Teams REVOLT TV's HELLO Harlem Initiative
- VIDEO: Jason Mraz Shares Inspiration for New Song 'You Can Rely on Me'
- Barnes & Noble Celebrates Pop Culture in Its Stores Nationwide Beginning Today
- ALADDIN's Tony Winner James Monroe Iglehart to Co-Host ABC's THE VIEW, 7/25
- ABC News' ?Good Morning America? Ranked NO. 1 Among Morning News Programs
- NOVA's VACCINES - CALLING THE SHOTS to Premiere This September


text:
Make a tax-deductible donation to the center here:
Statutes / Laws
The navigation select boxes below will direct you to the selected page when you hit enter.
It shall be unlawful to shoot, kill, or wound any wild animal held under a wild animal license or permit or any farmed deer for enjoyment, gain, amusement, or sport. This Code section does not prohibit:
(1) A licensed veterinarian from diagnosing, treating, or performing other duties within the standards of veterinary practice on a farmed deer;
(2) The slaughter of wild animals or farmed deer in compliance with the provisions of paragraph (16) of Code Section 27-5-6 and with the laws of this state relating to the slaughter of livestock; or
(3) The recapture or disposal of farmed deer which have escaped and which have become classified as wild animals pursuant to Code Section 4-4-174 or the disposal of wild animals according to Code Section 27-5-10.
CREDIT(S)Laws 1997, p. 1395, § 6.


text:
The Board of Adjustment hears all appeals of the zoning ordinance and requests for variance to the Land Development COde. The meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. Appointees are paid $75.00 per meeting. Terms are for three years. You must be a resident of the City of Arvada to apply.
Current Members of the Board of Adjustment are:
- T.O. Owens, Chairman
- Andrew Phillips, Vice Chairman
- Jenny Riley, Secretary
- Christine Duncan
- Dave Marquez
- Ted Tereranova
- Ed Lyons
Please call 720-898-7450 if you have any questions regarding the Board of Adjustment.
Thank you for your interest.
Page last updated


text:
Add yet another twist to the Herbalife Ltd. soap opera.
Add yet another twist to the Herbalife Ltd. soap opera.
Social media has increasingly grown to become a source of risks that can damage the reputation of an entire organization. Learn how the C-suite and boards can better manage new and evolving threats to their organizational strategy in this first article in a series with Vince Schiavone, CEO of ListenLogic, and Henry Ristuccia, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP and global leader, Governance, Risk and Compliance at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.
Please note: The Wall Street Journal News Department was not involved in the creation of the content above.
Risk & Compliance provides news and commentary to corporate executives and others who need to understand, monitor and control the many risks that can tarnish brands, distract management and harm investors. Its content spans governance, risk and compliance and includes analysis of the significance of laws and regulations, the risks inherent in global expansion and the protective moves taken by companies.
Contact our editors with news, comments and questions at: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
The fallout from former Circuit Judge Mike Cook's drug arrest continues to pelt the people of St. Clair County. Now convicted murderer William Cosby is getting a new trial "in the interest of justice," Circuit Judge Bob Haida has ruled.
But what exactly was the injustice to Cosby? Yes, it's terrible that a sitting judge was using drugs. But Cosby was found guilty not by Cook but by a jury of 12 people. They concluded from the evidence at trial that Cosby shot Antwan "Twix" Thomas outside an East St. Louis nightclub.
Chief Judge John Baricevic reviewed all of Cook's cases after Cook's arrest and concluded there was no wrongdoing. Indeed, Cosby's defense attorney Charles "C.J." Baricevic, the chief's judge's son, didn't contend that Cook had made any legal errors. Instead he argued that Cosby deserved a new trial because State's Attorney Brendan Kelly should have disclosed that federal authorities were investigating Cook.
But in the interest of justice, Kelly obviously couldn't do that. If he had disclosed it to C.J. Baricevic -- who, by the way, also represents the man who allegedly sold heroin to Cook -- he would have had to disclose it to every other attorney whose client had a case before Cook. That potentially could have blown the undercover drug investigation. And what of Cook's reputation? What if the investigation had gone nowhere?
Haida said he didn't make his ruling lightly; we hope not, because it has opened another can of worms. Probably every defense attorney who had a case before Cook in the months leading up to his arrest will be rushing to ask for a new trial now. In light of this ruling, they no doubt would get it.
The taxpayers would get to pay for all the redos, even if there's no indication that anything was done wrong the first time around. Victims and their families would suffer the agony and uncertainty of another trial.
Maybe this is justice, but it sure doesn't feel like it.


text:
|Women's Basketball » Schedule » Roster » News » Coaches » 2013-14 Season Statistics
Valpo Women Continue Road Trip Thursday at Detroit
Related Links
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Valparaiso (3-10, 0-1 Horizon)
Upcoming in Crusader Basketball: Valparaiso continues is longest road trip of the season on Thursday evening when the Crusaders visit Calihan Hall to take on the Titans of Detroit. The Crusaders are looking to rebound from their setback at Butler on Sunday in the Horizon League opener while trying to pick up their first win during the 2011 calendar year.
Women's Basketball Archives
2010-11 Women's Basketball


text:
To the Editor:
Cumberland Times-News
The Democrats in Annapolis are taking Maryland down a very dangerous road. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Maryland's real unemployment rate was 12.1 percent in 2012.
Gov. Martin O'Malley and the Democrats have increased spending by $8 billion and raised taxes nearly 40 times to pay for it.
So, where has all the spending got us? Is your commute time quicker? Are your potholes filled? Do your children have a job when they graduate?
For most Marylanders, the answer is a resounding, "No!" That's why over 6,500 small businesses have moved out of state and there are eight fewer Fortune 500 companies located within our borders.
Nearly 20 percent of Maryland's economy is connected to the federal government. When Washington reigns in the spending and President Obama's "sequester" roars its ugly head, where will our civil servants find a job? In Maryland, it certainly won't be the private sector.
In Gov. Martin O'Malley's State of the State Address, he said, "Progress is a choice. Job creation is a choice. Whether we give our children a future of more or a future of less — this, too, is a choice."
My question is, "Governor, where are the jobs?" There has not been a single pro-business piece of legislation passed in the 2013 legislative session. We only saw more wasteful spending and lighter wallets for hardworking Maryland taxpayers.
That was the choice Democrats chose to make and very soon voters will have a choice to make as well.
The 2014 elections are right around the corner. Do we roll over and let the bullies take more of our hard earned paychecks? Do we move our families and businesses to a friendlier climate for opportunity in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, or West Virginia? No! Maryland Republicans are choosing to stand and fight!
In 2013, the Maryland Republican Party has implemented the first stage of our "Growing Our Party 2020" plan to take back our county offices and the Legislature in the 2014 and 2018 elections.
This program will help train over 400 candidates and their volunteers for the local and legislative elections this year alone. There are 15 county governments controlled by Republicans, but we always need more Republican county councils, sheriffs, delegates, and senators.
If you are interested in standing up against the thugs in Annapolis, then we need your help! Those interested in running for office or helping our cause can call our office at 410-263-2125 or email me at firstname.lastname@example.com for more information.
Maryland matters to us and it is time for Maryland citizens to stand up, fight back, and vote Republican!
David Ferguson, executive director
Maryland Republican Party


text:
New? Click here to join
I still can't sign in.
Cookies may not be enabled in your browser. You will need to enable them in order to continue.
…and 1055 more
classicaleducator.com fosters collaboration among classical educators and administrators in the U.S. and abroad.
Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator.


text:
Get this picture in your mind: A beautiful young lady, sitting at the dining room table overlooking the meadow below her home, and a large buck steps into the glen.
Nicole Moyer had a feeling of great interest in deer hunting, her ancestral genes came alive within her, and she got up to pursue the buck, sneaking through the woods.
When the phone rang and Rick Stevens heard a pleasant, mild voice saying "Uncle Rick, I want to go deer hunting." He looked like a light bulb coming on.
Nicole set by herself in a deer stand and seen 7 does, so she said "Give me a gun!" Determination set in and she set, morning and evening for a week. A 20 gauge semi auto Browning shotgun was her weapon. "Wow," I just learned she has shot everything the military has to offer, including a 50-caliber, and she weighs about 90 pounds soaking wet.
She decided to try her luck setting on the ground overlooking a cornfield, setting in brush.
At 5:30 as it's getting dusk, 15 feet behind her, a noise.
"Oh, no. He's behind me, will he come around? Yes, he's testing the wind, he spotted me, can I get the gun up, Yes, he's looking away. OH, MY GOD! I hit him, he's running, yes, he's down at 200 yards."
"Rick, pick up your phone, I got one, OK great then take a doe if you see one, get your butt over here, stay put. I'm on my way!"
Nicole and Rick looked like grass hoppers jumping up and down patting each other on the back. Yes, she even skinned it herself.
She is truly a lady of the outdoors. You rednecks aren't going to get anything over on this young lady, great job Nicole.
n Ryan Chilton gets his first deer — Ryan Chilton is a freshman at South Vermillion High School, He is 16. Ryan lives in St. Bernice with his father, stepmom, and younger sister Lexi. On the first day of muzzleloader season this year, he got his first whitetail deer.
It was a very nice button buck and a major trophy for Ryan.
"We was hunting in Vermillion County and hunted hard all day, stalking for a while, then setting for a couple hours again and again not seeing anything besides squirrels, woodpeckers, and crows. Towards the end of the day we ended up on a little knob nestled into some willow saplings looking down a draw that opened up into a huge holler with the wind SSE right in our faces. At about 4:45, we heard leaves rustling and the sound of footsteps that sounded like soldiers marching through the woods. We looked up on the opposite ridge and saw a huge flock of turkeys, 20 or 30, strolling along single file.
"We watched them for a while and then I whispered 'hey, Dad, I think there's another turkey over there. I looked in that direction and caught movement; it was a deer eating some of the last remaining leafs on a small sapling. It was 30 yards away and had slipped up on us while we were watching the turkeys. Ryan took aim with his trusty old CVA muzzleloader and dropped him with a double lung shot."
You're an awesome young man Ryan!
Valley Hunter
REDNECK QUAKER: Young hunters experience thrill of their first deer
Get this picture in your mind: A beautiful young lady, sitting at the dining room table overlooking the meadow below her home, and a large buck steps into the glen.
- Valley Hunter
Redneck Quaker: Mascari gets thrills from turkey hunting
Annie Mascari is a beautiful, vibrant, 26-year-old lady that loves the outdoors.
She comes from a large family of four brothers and a sister and lives the teachings of good family values.
Olivia Rightly let me know that I "should talk to my teacher at St. Pats School, Ms. Mascari, because she's taken a turkey."
As I shook Annie's hand, I could feel the energy she has for life. As proof, the first time she went up in an airplane, she jumped out of it!
She's also quite the hunter. Mascari picked up a used PSE bow for $30, one for a left-hander because her left eye is dominate for shooting. The Page Arrows are her choice for broadheads.
REDNECK QUAKER: Valley hunters to be featured on Outdoor Channel show
Little did a buck in his prime at 41⁄2 years old realize he would become famous on not only trail cameras, but a television show as well.
REDNECK QUAKER: Veteran hunter bursting with pride as son gets first harvest
When Langdon Pounds said "Dad, I want to go deer hunting with you," Jonathan Pounds took him seriously.
REDNECK QUAKER: USA Shooting unveils 2012 Junior Olympic shotgun team
Tom Berg, executive director of Hoosier Outdoor Writers, says there's another impressive press release. Member of H.O.W., James Keldsen from Walkerton, Ind., has informed him of his son, Jakob, being named to the 2012 USA Junior Olympic shotgun team.
REDNECK QUAKER: Here's one big, but true, fish tail
Here it is a hot overcast summer's day on the banks of the Wabash River. With no rain in sight it is a lazy old river practically stalled on its way to the big waters on south.
Redneck quaker: Successful South African adventure
As two rednecks were telling hunting stories one evening, a little lady named Allison Winchell crawled up on her daddy's lap while pointing at the other gray-haired and bearded man asking if he was Santa Clause, with him replying "Yes, I am honey and you can have anything you want."
REDNECK QUAKER: Wabash Valley duo gets hooked on bow fishing
I would like to introduce you to a couple of fine, very polite young men, Eric Taylor and Craig O'Neal.
Redneck Quaker: Young couple makes outdoors part of recreation, careers
I had the honor of meeting an outstanding "Lady of the Outdoors", 24 year old Krysten McDaniels. She has been hunting for seven years and she has a resume of animals she has taken only most men dream about with either a bow and arrow or a muzzleloader.
REDNECK QUAKER: Hoosiers try their hunting skills down under
How would you practice with a bow and arrow to harvest a kangaroo? Jump up and down while shooting or mount a set of springs to your shoes?
REDNECK QUAKER: Excited turkey hunters report birds gobbling their heads off already
It's "Turkey Time". Didn't spring come fast this year? Yes, a month early.
REDNECK QUAKER: Release the coonhounds — it's time to compete
We are going on a UKC (United Kennel Club) coon hound night hunt or field trial.
REDNECK QUAKER: Moose hunt in Quebec is sucessful
Bob Lynch was looking for a reason to spend more time with his dad. So after convincing his wife it was a bonding thing, the hunt was on.
REDNECK QUAKER: Bobcats prowling woods of Parke County
If you find a big spotted cat with a short tail and pointy ears eating out of the dog food bowl on the back porch — leave it alone and don't try to pet it! Yes, it could be a bobcat!
REDNECK QUAKER: Young hunters experience thrill of their first deer
Get this picture in your mind: A beautiful young lady, sitting at the dining room table overlooking the meadow below her home, and a large buck steps into the glen.
REDNECK QUAKER: Valley hunter recounts tale of a special turkey season
Joe is at the top of my list for he is outstanding in all ways of life. A devoted sportsman true to his word. I hope my son grows up with his qualities!
REDNECK QUAKER: Stacy Kueber travels the country to bag a turkey grand slam in one year
Guys, if you like to turkey hunt listen up, for I am going to tell you about a man that accomplished the grand slam in one year.
Waterfowl hunting season opens across Indiana
Dust off the calls and decoys, Indiana's waterfowl hunting season began Oct. 15 in the North Zone; Oct. 22 in the South Zone; and will begin Saturday in the Ohio River Zone.
Waterfowl hunting season in Indiana is divided into three zones: North, South and Ohio River. Each zone has different a season for ducks and Canada geese. Light (snow/Ross) geese, brant and white-fronted geese are regulated statewide.
REDNECK QUAKER: Young lady has enthusiasm for the outdoors
I don't know who is glowing with the most pride, Lily or PaPaw Mike Burch. You be the judge from that picture.
REDNECK QUAKER: Lost Creek shoots great way to hone skills, take home prizes
The last spot shoot at the Lost Creek Township Conservation Club was about a month ago and was sponsored by the Sycamore Ridge Strutters Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
REDNECK QUAKER: African trip makes for lasting memories
South Africa, a land that will never be tamed or civilized by man. It is a hard place to live for it is very unforgiving.
REDNECK QUAKER: National Archery School Program a winning situation for all
Kenny Kays has nerves of steel for he has waited for me very patiently for over a month to get together and tell me about a wonderful program the Graysville school in Sullivan County is starting for the kids. From me working over time and weather laden with tornadoes, along with no electricity at home.
REDNECK QUAKER: The Breitweiser family loves the outdoors
Hannah just got woke up from a sound sleep at 5:30 this evening; no she didn't sleep in that late, the senior prom took place last night, need I say anymore.
REDNECK QUAKER: Newport prairie an area worth saving
I can stand on my soap box for a long time when it comes to debating habitat.
REDNECK QUAKER: Dedicated hunter harvests rare red-colored turkey
About the time you think you have seen it all, you better look again.
REDNECK QUAKER: It didn't get away: Father, son haul in 48-pound catfish
The men in the photo could have won about any tournament with this 48-pound flathead catfish.
REDNECK QUAKER: Shaw follows family outdoors tradition
I recently spoke to a young man — Brody Shaw — about all the year's and animals he has taken, along with fish.
REDNECK QUAKER: Parke County men have technique to coyote huntin'
You talk about rednecks, nobody can hold a candle to these boys. When I pulled into Roger Dale's house, there are stock cars everywhere, a pile of coyotes in the yard and the wood burner going in the house and garage.
REDNECK QUAKER: Hunting memories to remember
I have a girlfriend of the old age of four years old and she stole my heart with her big brown eyes while we were waiting at swim practice.
REDNECK QUAKER: Examining morel issues with passionate hunters
Here I sit with Alan Reed at Starbucks Coffee about to figure out how and where mushrooms grow.
REDNECK QUAKER: The Theory of Mushrooms: Spores, tree roots and wood
Here we sat at a Terre Haute Torpedo's swim meet and an avid mushroom hunter sat down next to me, so "here goes" on his theories on mushrooms. Jim Mattick lives for mushroom season.
- More Valley Hunter Headlines
- Redneck Quaker: Mascari gets thrills from turkey hunting


text:
A Pilot,Raltegravir Versus NRTIs as a Backbone Switched From a Stable Boosted PI Regimen
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of raltegravir 400 mg b.i.d. compared with the NRTI backbone group, each in combination with a boosted PI regimen.
Hypothesis: Raltegravir is generally safe and well tolerated compared with NRTIs in combination with a boosted PI regimen.
The purpose is to also evaluate the antiretroviral activity of raltegravir 400 mg b.i.d. versus the NRTI backbone, each in combination with a boosted-PI regimen, as measured by proportion of patients with viral load <75 copies/mL at Week 24.
Hypothesis: The proportion of patients with a viral load <75 copies/mL at Week 24 in the raltegravir 400 mg b.i.d. treatment group is non inferior to that of the NRTI treatment group, each in combination with a boosted PI regimen.
Virologic Response
Drug: Switch NRTIs as a Backbone to Raltegravir in HIV-Infected Patients from a Stable Boosted PI Regimen
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Open Label
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|A Pilot, Randomized, Controlled Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Raltegravir Versus NRTIs as a Backbone in HIV-Infected Patients Switched From a Stable Boosted PI Regimen
- The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of raltegravir 400 mg b.i.d. compared with the NRTI backbone group, each in combination with a boosted PI regimen, as assessed by a review of the accumulated safety data at Week 24. [ Time Frame: 48 weeks for each patient ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
|Study Start Date:
|November 2008
|Study Completion Date:
|July 2011
|Primary Completion Date:
|July 2011 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: 1
Group 1 Raltegravir 400 mg PO b.i.d. + their current boosted PI regimen Group 2 Continue the same regimen without change
Drug: Switch NRTIs as a Backbone to Raltegravir in HIV-Infected Patients from a Stable Boosted PI Regimen
This is a multicenter, pilot randomized, controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of raltegravir in patients switched from a stable boosted PI-based regimen with a NRTI backbone to begin receiving raltegravir instead of their current NRTIs. A stable boosted PI-based regimen is defined as having a documented HIV RNA <75 copies/mL for ≥ 3 months prior to study entry without a change in background antiretroviral therapy and receiving a boosted PI-based regimen, dosed as per standard of care. Additionally, patients must not have had HIV RNA ≥ 75 copies/mL during the three months prior to study entry. Approximately 25 patients will be enrolled in the raltegravir treatment arm (Group 1) and approximately 25 patients in the continuation of the current NRTI backbone regimen treatment arm (Group 2). Patients will be randomly assigned 1:1 to a treatment group.
No Intervention: 2
Group 2 Continue the same regimen without change
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 80 Years
|Genders Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patient is a male or female at least 18 years of age on the day of signing the informed consent.
- Patient is HIV positive as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or HIV PCR.
- Patient has documented HIV RNA <75 copies/mL for at least 3 months prior to study entry while on a stable boosted PI based regimen without a change in antiretroviral therapy and with no documentation of HIV RNA > or = 75 copies/mL during this time.
- Patient has no history of documented coronary artery disease that clinical investigator deems as clinically significant.
Patient has the following laboratory values within 35 days prior to the treatment phase of this study:
- Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 5.0 x upper limit of normal
- AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) ≤ 5.0 x upper limit of normal. Patients with Hepatitis C Coinfection may be enrolled provided the patients are stable and meet all eligibility criteria.
- Patient has no clinical evidence of active pulmonary disease; at the investigators, discretion a chest x-ray could be obtained if felt necessary.
- Patient who is of reproductive potential agrees to use an acceptable method of birth control throughout the study.
- Patient agrees to remain off prohibited concomitant medications as outlined in Section 3.2.1 of the protocol.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients who are currently failing a boosted PI based regimen.
- Patient is receiving a second line boosted PI regimen including boosted tripranavir or boosted darunavir.
- Patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.
- Patient has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, laboratory abnormality or other circumstance that might confound the results of the study, or interfere with the patient's participation for the full duration of the study, such that it is not in the best interest of the patient to participate.
- Patient has a history of alcohol or other substance abuse that in the opinion of the investigator would interfere with patient compliance or safety.
- Patient is currently participating or has participated in a study with an investigational compound or device within 30 days of signing informed consent.
- Patient has ever used any experimental HIV-integrase inhibitor.
- Patient has used systemic immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., 20 mg or more of prednisone or equivalent per day) within one month prior to treatment in this study. Short courses of corticosteroids (e.g., as for asthma exacerbation) will be allowed.
- Patient requires hemodialysis.
- Patient has significant hypersensitivity or other contraindication to any of the components of the study drugs.
- Patient has chronic hepatitis, including chronic hepatitis B and/or C and has decompensated liver disease.
- Patient is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive (within the duration of the study). Patient is expecting to donate eggs (within the duration of the study). Patient is expecting to donate sperm (within the duration of the study).
- Subjects who have received investigational medications within 30 days of baseline.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00749580
|United States, Florida
|Hillsborough Health Depaetment Specialty Care Center
|Tampa, Florida, United States, 33602
Additional Information:
No publications provided
|Responsible Party:
|Charurut Somboonwit, Associate Professor, University of South Florida
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00749580 History of Changes
|Obsolete Identifiers:
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|September 5, 2008
|Last Updated:
|November 1, 2011
|Health Authority:
|United States: Institutional Review Board
Keywords provided by University of South Florida:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on July 20, 2014


text:
Marc Fisher Bags & Shoes
1. Sabina Sandal ($89) in Island Coral
You might recognize these sandals from our recent Neons & Neutrals story (we featured them in aqua/tan); but if not, now is the time to take notice! The cork platform and high wedge heel make them ultra-comfortable, while the vibrant coral patent leather will add a little spice to any outfit!
2. Waiverish Sandal ($70) in Blue Patent
There's something inherently chic about a t-strap sandal, no? So naturally we were drawn to the stunning cobalt blue patent leather Waiverish. These shoes are perfect for summer--the stacked heel is sturdy and easy on the feet--and will work with all of your favorite tailored shorts and crocheted dresses.
3. Oralie Wedge ($79) in Orange Croco
If you've been looking for the ideal footwear option for your next barbecue, you can stop the search because we've found the perfect style! These orange croc wedges are destined to become your new summer staple. Totally darling, the Oralie will look cool with everything from worn-in cutoffs to tribal-print skirts!
4. Celebrity Camera Satchel ($78) in Blue
We've had a thing for camera bags for ages now, so we were delighted to find this stylish satchel. Even better: in addition to the bold blue shown above, it's also available in a fabulous orange hue, as well as black and white. Whatever color you pick, the silhouette is sure to look picture-perfect all season long!
5. Glee Wedge ($69) in Yellow
Every year, wedges prove to be the most loved and appreciated warm-weather shoes (comfort, height and style? No complaints here.) With this in mind, we suggest stocking your closet with several pairs, including this strappy style! These cheerful lemon yellow sandals will perfectly punctuate this season's must-have citrus prints...so get yours today!
6. Overachiever Tote ($78) in Red
Structured purses are definitely having a moment right now, which is why this boxy bag is such a stellar buy. While the silhouette is ladylike, the color is playful, striking a perfect modern balance! Since this exact bag won't be available until the first week of June, check out this style if you need sometime similar ASAP!
Next Up:
Celebrity Feature: Jennifer Lawrence


text:
Stay at the Country Inn & Suites by Carlson! We are a family-friendly hotel located just north of ASU on Scottsdale Road.
All guests booking the ASU Friends & Family discounted rate will receive the following complimentary amenities:
Not a Club Carlson member? Join today!
We at the Country Inn & Suites hope to see you soon!
5 Day Forecast


text:
Corsicana — Monday is the start of the new school year at public schools across North Texas.
Monday also marks the start of the fall semester at Navarro College.
Be sure to watch for and observe traffic zones in school areas, and watch for children in cross walks and school parking lots and lanes.
The use of cell phones by drivers in school zones is prohibited where it is posted.


text:
Lightsaber Unleashed 2.1: Custom Characters and Sabers for the iPhone
So, many of us felt a a great disturbance in the force when the selection of characters included with the original Lightsaber Unleashed (formerly known as PhoneSaber) were tied to the simultaneously released Force Unleashed video game rather than to the original Star Wars movies we all (should!) know and love.
No Luke. No Yoda. No Obi-wan.
Well, Lightsaber Unleashed has just hit 2.1 and with it comes the ability to rectify this disturbance, provided you're willing to do it yourself. Not only can you make your own Lightsabers, mixing handles and colors for the perfect shade, but you can take a photo or choose from a photo album picture to make your own entire character -- complete with fields for names and bios!
Major improvement to an already geek-favorite app!
Gallery after the jump!
There are 4 comments. Add yours.
is it just me, or does the full screen lightsaber mode look more blocky?
the colors seem different and i dont like it.
last version:http://s373.photobucket.com/albums/oo174/lightsaberphoto/?action=view&cu...
new version:http://s373.photobucket.com/albums/oo174/lightsaberphoto/?action=view&cu...
Yeah there's definitely something weird about the full-screen one. The center part is a solid block of white.
I'm glad they are opening it up to more options, though. Still, I wish they would just add more characters from the movies.
Still, my 10 year-old son woke up today to find out he was a Sith apprentice with an interesting back story, unique colored lightsabre and had his picture along side of the Star Wars characters. What more can you ask for?
I have to say that for the last few of hours i have been hooked by the amazing articles on this website. Keep up the good work.


text:
Requirements for an Associate's Degree
- Completion of at least 60 credit hours of course work (not including basic skills credits).
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (on a scale where A equals 4.00).
- At least 30 of the credits applying toward the degree must be earned from Johnson State College.
- Students in the Associate of Arts (A.A.) in General Studies program must complete the First-Year Seminar Course, the Creative Audience, and the Fundamental Skills and Disciplinary Exploration (taking one course from each of the seven sub-categories) components of the GECC. Students in all other associate's programs must complete the First-Year Seminar Course and the Creative Audience components of the GECC, and ENG-1051 and ENG-1052, one semester of mathematics, and four Disciplinary Exploration courses, one each from categories A (Arts and Humanities), B (Natural Sciences), C (Anthropology/Sociology/Psychology) and D (Political Science/Economics) of the GECC.
- Completion of Graduation Standards.


text:
The 2014 session, through a business lensMay 18,2014At the close of the 2014 legislative session, Gov. Peter Shumlin characterized the biennium as one of the most productive and successful in recent memory, citing that bills passed this session had created greater economic security, more opportunity, and a better quality of life for all Vermonters.
We agree some productive measures were taken to further business growth in the state. However, assessing the legislative output from a broader business perspective leaves little doubt that we missed several opportunities to support Vermonts economy.
Actions this session that were favorable to business growth and innovation include: creating initiatives that will allow greater access to capital for startup companies, encourage industrial park growth, create a Vermont Strong Scholars Program, build domestic export connections, focus on workforce development and education, secure $4.5 million for economic growth to be used to recruit and retain businesses and double VEDAs Vermont Entrepreneurial Lending Program to support investments in small businesses.
What the governor didnt mention in his statement about the biennium were the numerous tax increases and mandates that thwart innovative and entrepreneurial efforts. Most egregious, and ironic perhaps, is the reduction of the research and development tax credit. The governor boasts that Vermont is one of the top 10 most promising tech hubs in America and leads the nation in the creation of per-capita solar jobs. If we are serious about supporting Vermonts vital tech industry, why are we reducing incentives for Vermont companies to create innovative products and services?
Other legislative initiatives that took us in the wrong direction by increasing the cost of doing business in Vermont include last-minute changes to workers comp regulations that will increase costs up to $1 million per year.
Increasing business property taxes, the minimum wage and the employer assessment doesnt create more opportunity for employers or their workers, either. They diminish the possibilities for companies to grow their business, create jobs and provide economic security for their workforce.
In addition to the proposals passed that were detrimental to the business community, there were several missed opportunities at advancing the economic vitality of the state. The Legislature and the administration could have implemented a tourism promotion funding formula that would have encouraged more visitors to come to Vermont. They could have increased funding for the Vermont Training Program, investing in our workers. They could have passed legislation allowing growth to occur more efficiently in enterprise zones. They chose not to.
As with any sound business, we need to look at both sides of the ledger to judge the bottom line. Yes, some legislation will help businesses, but if we truly want economic growth in Vermont, then harmful actions must be avoided.
Betsy Bishop of East Montpelier is president of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.MORE IN PerspectiveIn the middle of fretting about my upcoming cataract surgery I am too young for this, I hope... Full StoryScott Milne launched his candidacy for governor last week, anticipating, or hoping, that the... Full StoryWhat if the Irish potato famine had happened today? Full Story
- Most Popular
- Most Emailed
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: Workers on this day in 1984 in a Cheshire, England, peat bog find well-preserved human remains at least 2,000 years dead, born this day in 1843, Robert Todd Lincoln, eldest son of the president, present at three assassinations.
- TODAY'S WEATHER MINUTE: Rutland Herald content editor Rich Alcott shares local weather information and easily digestible news tidbits: A fiery pit nicknamed the 'Gate of Hell' in the Karakum desert in Turkmenistan has been burning for 40 years.
- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: osh O'Gorman reports on the impact of state budget cuts on state colleges, Rutland Town welcomes Donna Zeller as town clerk, Bryanna Allen in Killington for chili cookoff and Haley talks up the big Shrine game with N.H. and Vt.
- TODAY'S WEATHER MINUTE: Rutland Herald content editor Rich Alcott shares local weather information and easily digestible news tidbits: Teddy Roosevelt makes Americans believe the poor, peace-loving, misunderstood piranha is a vicious, dangerous animal.
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa disappears on this day in 1975, on this day in 2003, the last Volkswagen Type I, the Beetle, rolls off the assembly line in Mexico, Ambrose Bierce on the classifications of homicide.
- TODAY'S WEATHER MINUTE: Seals have figured out fish they like to eat gather in schools around turbines in offshore wind farms. But the environment is not without hazards, maintenance vessels and noise pollution.