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Here in the heart of the Republic, our local kleptomanic plutocracy, otherwise known as the Belton Independent School District, had one of those little elections where a small minority of registered voters got to choose how much more could be robbed from all the taxpayers. Dr. Vivian Baker, school district superintendent and mother of the actor George Eads of CSI fame, was ecstatic over the results and recounted in a local newspaper article all the neat projects she will be able to fund with the extra money and she could also give all her teachers a retroactive pay raise. Absent was any report on how the extra money would be used to satisfy her customers, namely the parents of the students who attend BISD schools.I added the hyperlinks to the books, the rest is all Peter. I'm going to have to give him the spare set of keys to the blog.
Now I'm sure just about everyone has worked somewhere where there was an employee who was the boss' pet. This person was sometimes a relative of the boss. No matter how unproductive or how often he actually caused a loss for the company, he got to keep his job and get paid like everyone else on payday. Since this person always got his money, he had no reason to improve or otherwise do what was best to satisfy his customer, the boss. This is how most public schools operate.
Study after study keeps coming out about how the public schools are "failing the children" and some are graduating with "diplomas to nowhere" that the students can't even read. The usual response from administrators is that the study is faulty, that "our" schools are just fine, and you can continue to invest in "us." In other words, "Pay your taxes!" If they do in fact admit there is a problem, they will blame it on a lack of funding and always recommend that they receive more funding so they can fix the problem. In other words, "Pay your taxes!" My suggestion to permanently fix the problem is to take away the public schools' authority to tax and make them earn their money the old-fashioned way by satisfying the customer.
In order to raise funds they will have to collect fees from those who actually use their services. If a parent/customer chooses not to send her child to the school, that school receives no money. When a business fails to accommodate its customers' wants and needs, it loses it customers. When the customers leave, they take their money with them. Without any funds coming in, a business usually goes out of business. The threat of starvation is as good a motivator as the desire for profit and will drive people to improve their service to others. This is what the public schools need and need badly.
When a parent sends her child, and her money, to a school she expects her child to receive an education and not an indoctrination in obedience and obeisance of the state. If the parent/customer thinks her child is not receiving the education she wants then she takes her child, and her money, out of the school and sends her child to another that gives her what she wants. If the first school wants her child, and her money, back they will have to do more to satisfy her. On a side note, there are always some people who can never be satisfied but under this program the schools can still improve. The whiner can be given a refund and told to take their silly problem and their child down the road. In this fashion, disruptive students who cause damage and commit crimes against other students can be permanently removed and never be a threat to good order again.
Want your child to have an education with a particular religious or socio-political leaning? Do you want your child to learn to play the violin along with the other basics? Do you want your child to be protected on the school grounds by trained and armed teachers or would you prefer they go to the school with big signs out front that declare this school is a "Gun-Free Zone" and nobody here is armed so as to protect us? Somebody somewhere will offer that to you at the price you can afford or you can choose to keep your money and educate your children the time-honored way of doing it yourself.
Many studies have shown that public schools spend more to educate their students then some prestigious private schools charge for tuition. This is because so many of them are top heavy with administrative bureaucracy. So as to turn a profit or at least break even and stay in business, these schools will have to streamline and get rid of some the deadwood cluttering the place.
Some politicians have suggested that public schools should be run like a business but since they are government agencies and can always depend on money collected at gunpoint, then they behave more like organized criminal enterprises than a business. Under the system I suggest then they can really be run with a priority of keeping the customer happy.
Will taking away their power to tax and making them dependent on customer payment not turn the public schools all into private schools? Yes and we will all be the better off for it. The children will get the education their parents want them to have and the schools will give the education the parents want if they want the parents' money. There will be no more arguing over required subjects, testing, or Evolution vs. Creation Science because the parents will choose where to send their children and by their paying the tuition, they will voice their approval of the school's curriculum.
Will this program ever see the light of day? I doubt it because there are powerful people who are becoming rich off the system as it currently works and they will fight tooth and nail to keep it the way it is. But I have taken the first step by writing this article and you have taken the next by reading it and hopefully this snowball can gain mass and momentum as it starts to roll downhill.
Peter W. Wickham, Jr.
AKA The Ol' Grey Ghost
For further reading on this subject, I would like to recommend The The Underground History of American Education: A School Teacher's Intimate Investigation of the Problem of Modern Schooli Ng and Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto. For more information on giving your student a classical education at home I recommend The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home, Revised and Updated Edition by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
How to Really Improve the Public Schools
17 comments:
- Frances Clements said...
I love it. Have you ever visited http://www.schoolandstate.org/? I would be interested in hearing your opinion of it.
Well I have now and it is very similar to others that carry the same message. Our Constitution provides for a separation of Church and State and as the authors of the "Well-Trained Mind..." point out because religion is strongly linked to one's mindset, even when one claims not to have a religion, it gets carried over into the methods and subjects that one teaches, therefore I believe that we should also have a separation of State and Education and let the linking of Religion and Education be a decision left to the parents and the parents should be free from shouldering the burden of an educational system they neither want or use. I was very happy to see that Mr. Gatto and Congressman Ron Paul are a part of the great minds that support the message of that website. Keep up the great work...
- Frances Clements said...
I thought you would like it. I linked to your post over at my blog. Thanks for getting this message out there.
I'm disspointed, I posted a comment and (maybe it was too long) it dissapered before it was ever posted :(
While I am in support of school vouchers - because I do believe ALL education should be paid for via taxes that we ALL have to pay - I DO NOT think school vouchers are the solution to the major education problem our country is facing.
It is not the children of those parents that are involved in their childs educating and fighting for the best (those using the vouchers) that are failing, rather, the children from homes where nobody gives a damn. The first problem that needs to be addressed is the parents. We need programs to more aggresivly educate parents on their role in their childs education. We need to eradicate drug problems in the homes of children, we need more programs to give a leg up to teenage parents. The deed is done and throwing away teen parents reduces two generations!
I think rather than taking away money from failing schools we need to be taking away desicion making. we need top notch consultants to go in and take over these failing schools. Educate the failing teachers and administartion.
There are a lot of problems with the American education system, we need A LOT of solutions. I really hope the next pres., whomever it ends up being, will sit down and devote some time to this problem, or there's no hope for America 50 years form now!
Oh, and I ment to mention the Chicago voucher program, the first of it's kind. Several years later, after thousands of families had taken advantage and were able to move their students to "better" schools, there was NO improvemnet on test scores across the board.... It was a good idea, but not a solution. Time for more brainstorming!
I'll find a link form a paper I wrote a fwe months back, I think you'd be interested :)
Many parents want to remove their children from the public schools so that they are no longer "taught to the test." Everyone pushing for vouchers and especially those who oppose them because they put too much power back in the hands of parents and not in the hands of government bureaucrats, insist there should be some accountability for those private schools who receive the vouchers which basically means they need to "teach to the test," too. Many private schools will resist this by refusing to accept the vouchers since their priority is education and not warehousing.
"...I do believe ALL education should be paid for via taxes we ALL have to pay..."
A young man with a gun prowls the parking lot of a large department store holding up shoppers and taking all their money before they have a chance to do their holiday/grocery shopping. He then delivers all his booty in the bucket of some charitable organization which has an attendant ringing a bell. Has he done a good thing or has he committed a crime?
Are you suggesting that only the richest families should be able to educate their children? That our country as a whole is not obligated to provide the education of it's future leaders, doctors, soldiers, law makers?
These type of elitist ideals were shot down in 1882 by senator Henry Blair, with the Blair Bill securing tax monies for public education.... it would be unintelligent to regress so far back, don't you think??
Do you also think that minorities (those statistically with the lowest SES) or children of single parents should be denied an education? I'm confused?
If we look at the (many) countries that are producing more intellegant, better educated children, whom will go on to get the best paying jobs, they are from countries who have much HIGHER tax rates than here in America.
When was the last time you took some time out to check out your local public school system? It might do you some good to go sit in.
"Are you suggesting that only the richest families should be able to educate their children?"
I, of all people, would be the last to ever support a law or other prohibition that denies parents the right to raise and educate their children in any form or fashion that the parents choose, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
"(Are you suggesting) that our country as a whole is not obligated to provide the education of it's (sic) (young people)?"
The only people obligated to provide for a child's education is the child's family.
"These type of elitist ideas..."
I never considered common morality issues regarding the prohibition of thievery and robbery as "elitist ideas."
"...Blair Bill...it would be unintelligent to regress so far back..."
When a crime is being committed, it is the obligation of honest people to stop it so that they too do not become victims.
"...(D)on't you think??"
All the time ;)
"Do you also think that minorities...or children of single parents should be denied an education?"
Again, I am against any law, regulation, or ordinance that prohibits parents from giving or securing their children an education in a manner chosen by the parents.
"I'm confused?"
Yes, but I can explain. I am a property-respecting anarchist (a proponent of anarchism). I perceive by your responses that you might be a socialist and you think it is okay to rob others at gunpoint to pay for the education of your children and of the children of your friends and family. I consider theft in all it forms to be a crime and I do not consider myself liable or in any fashion responsible to provide for the education of other people's children as they are not liable to provide for the education of mine. I might give to charity to help defray the costs of education but money gathered from robbery is not charity and once I and others are robbed we have less to give.
"If we look at the many countries..."
Where ever theft is committed, it is always a crime.
"When was the last time you took some time out to check out your local public school system?"
About a week ago. Public schools always remind me of two institutions my past professions have brought me into close association with: military basic training camps and prisons.
"It might do you some good to go sit in."
It would do us all good if they would implement my program and the sooner the better.
"Theft: The act or an instance of stealing, larceny" (Websters)
ok... so that's a bit vauge, lets try "steal"
"Steal: to take anothers property dishonetly or unlawfully, esp. in a secret manner."
I'm only 23 years old, but I have had a fair share of jobs. Every time I have been hired at an establishment, I have been required to fill out certain tax forms and documents regarding the taxes that will be taken from my paycheck. When I go to the store, I make a conscious decision to purchase items knowing that I will be paying the sales tax (althoughI could easily purchase most items over the internet tax free).
The last time I went to vote, I had the option of voteing for or against a tax hike to build a new school in my town.
I do not see that taxes are (a) unlawful or (b) secretly taken from me.
In order for it to be unlawful there has to be a law, right?
I'll go out on a limb and suggest that you do not have children? I would be horrified to find out that you were sending your own kids to a tax supported public education system.
If we, as a nation, were to stop taxing the public in order to support our schools, we WOULD in fact be dening the RIGHT to an education for underprivledged people. Just a quick google search I was able to find the cost of public education in SC per child... Lucky for you I am studying to be a (public school) math teacher, so I can walk you through the financing :)
$11,480 per pupil per year.
times 13 years of education (and that is without the now suggested Pre-K)
$148,240 per child.
The typical American family is now nearing about 3 children. To send three kids to school (again with the math..) $444,723. Nearly a half a million dollars!!
Taking away these tax supported public educations would save you a few dollars a year, sure, but how many millionairs do you know that could actually afford to pay for their own childrens basic education?
Oh, and I believe the poverty level in America is having an anual income of $12,000 (just about one year of public school costs per child) and 12.5% of Americans are infact living on that or less a year! (That's 37.3 million people) Of course the rate of African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans living in poverty is higher. But who ares about those kids right??
Maybe you should stick to the second amendment :)
- John R said...
Laci, Laci, Laci;
You have just pretty much proven the failure of the public school system. You used your exceptional math skills (obviously a trait you get from your father) to show that we tax payers pay over $11k/year to send kids to schools that have an abismal success rate.
I looked up two local private schools that have 100% graduation rates and very high rates of students who get collage degrees. The average tuition was under $9k/year. So that $148k per kid that we are paying for a substandard success rate is quite excessive.
The federal .gov has absolutly no business tinkering with our schools. Federal dollars should not be used in our schools. Neither should our schools be entirly privitized.
Schools should be local. They should be funded locally, the curriculums determined locally, and the funding achieved locally.
If a state decides to fund schools with an income tax, good for that state. If a municipality wants to pad those funds with a property tax, good on them. If a family does not like the local schools, and they want different for thier children, then they can move to a city that will school their kids as they wish.
Local schools should be funded locally and controlled locally.
One last thought. Somewhere along the way we decided that we were going to educate all children by force of law. There are kids who should not be in school with our kids, you know that. There are kids who do not belong in school with those who want an education.
24k will not be personally leaving my pocket, via taxes, every year to send my two kids to school. Neither will I have the opportunity to foot the 18k a year bill for a private school with a 100% graduation rate.
I think it is a horrible thing to think that not all kids deserve a chance at an education. There are a lot of children that come off like they don't want to learn, like they don't want to be in school... but these children most likely have underlying issues, that once addressed, may unlock the door for their education. Some people have a really difficult time in a text book type educational setting.
I'm $40,000 in debt because I am dedicated to helping children, there are a lot of children in the US that don't have people beyond their school teachers, their parents don't care about their schools, or their lives.
And if this disscusion is solely about paying taxes, you have no other opinion regarding the schools outside of the fact that it is tax dollars paying for them I would like for you to try and stop using paved streets (payed for through taxes) don't take your grandkids to the park (supported by tax dollars) and foget about fire fighters and ambulance/emt people to come to your aid if you ever so need them.
Sometimes it's about the greater good.
I know when we were all children you were, undoubtedly appreciative of the public education available to us.
Goodness, where do I start?
Crime: To intentionally and knowingly cause direct and measurable harm or loss to another person without that person's consent. Not all crimes are unlawful and not all illegal acts are crimes.
Government is a protection racket and collects taxes at the point of a gun (try not paying your taxes and the government will send some of the best trained and armed men and women to help you write your check). If one does not use government services, then one is robbed to pay for them when others do.
Everyone has a right to the education of their choice just as they have the right to the large screen TV of their choice but they do not have the right to use other people's money to buy it. And educations just like TVs are available at all price levels and there is even charity. One only has to search for what they want, determine what they are willing to pay for, and then make priorities in personal finances to purchase the education.
There is also the moral hazard of giving something away to people for which they do not pay or work and that hazard is increased when what is given away "free" is obtained by stealing from others. They treat the "gift" cheaply and expect everything else in life to be handed to them in exchange for their vote in support for further stealing. There is also the lack of incentive for the schools to improve since they always get their money, which was the original point of my article.
I am the father of three and a grandfather of two with another on the way and all our children are homeschooled so that limb just broke.;) When you insist, at gunpoint, on my family paying for other people's children to get an education, you are stealing from my children.
As for taxes stolen from the people to pay for all those other government services you mention, I suggest you do a little research into what "Anarchism" is and you will have a better understanding of my argument...
I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. I am a compasionate person and appreciate that not only can I help my neighbor in need, they can turn around and help me as well.
I consider the greater good rather than my own selfish being. I hope I never loose that.
Public schools may be flawed, but that's no reason to scratch the whole idea, rather, fix it. If you spent 30,000 on a car and the fuel sensor stopped working, you wouldn't throw the car away and invest in a new one, you would pay the $300 to replace the part!
- John R said...
The "flaw" in public schools is pretty much due to the loss of local control of our schools.
The federal .gov takes money from some and redistributes it to the school systems. The federal .gov not gets to demand certain things from the school systems and schools pretty much have to teach to the lowest common denominator.
Educating our children is the responsibility of the community. The better educated the children, the better off the community. Businesses will relocate there, the arts will flourish and incomes will increase. Competition between communities for the best teachers will increase teacher pay. Competition for these higher paying jobs will improve teacher skills. We will have successful teachers, and failed teachers. Failed teachers will leave the system and make room for young teachers who have the potential for great success.
I propose that the federal .gov not collect the money in the first place, that money should be collected at the state and local level. It is the responsibility of the individual states, not the fed .gov, to determine how education in that particular state will be funded and what will be taught. Parents should be given the ability to choose the schools their children attend, and these schools need to be held accountable for the education they provide.
"I am a compassionate person..."
Obviously and I hope you stay that way though I believe you will be suffering the same burnout that most public school teachers do after about three years on the job when you discover the truth of your occupation. If you were to direct your endeavors more into private enterprise, I believe you will find your career more satisfying.
"Public schools may be flawed, but...fix it."
That's the reason for what I wrote. I did not call for the schools to be closed but only suggested another route for them to be funded which would give them the incentive to fix their problems by becoming dependent on the goodwill, and money, of their satisfied customers.
When a system is designed to provide results that appear to an outside observer as a failure to achieve the perceived mission of that system, then all attempts to fix the problems from within the system are skewed also towards failure. The system must be fixed by solutions coming from the outside or the system must be allowed to languish under its own bloated weight until it completely collapses and how many children will be harmed by that? I am trying to work from outside the system and if you keep reading other columns here that I write you will find I have more solutions for other failing government programs.
"But who (c?)ares (sic) about those kids, right?"
Hopefully their families but that is the other moral hazard of a socialist school system. Parents begin to neglect their responsibilities to their children when they know the government will always pick up the slack. Free schooling, free busing, free lunches...what next? Free clothes? Free computers? Free cable television?
"I guess we will just have to agree to disagree."
But keep your passion, Laci. Your arguments are based heavily upon emotion but I would expect no less from a person who wants to devote her life to helping others and especially children. Live long and prosper and do it with love...
"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for yourself with government off your back."
Okay, last post, I promise :)
Aired tonight on PBS, how appropriate. Much discusion on charters, accountability, lower SES school districts and actual federal funding (turns out education IS a state issue and only 10 cents per dollar in funding comes from federal funding!)
I enjoyed watching this! hope you boys do as well.
(and then bite your tongue, ha)
"Okay, last post, I promise :)"
Now for one of my "Andy Rooney" moments...
Have you noticed how this comment program suggests that the word "okay" is misspelled? Webster's recognizes this spelling variation of the colloquialism "O.K." so why shouldn't this program? Instead it underlines the word in bright red which suggest to anyone else looking at your computer screen that they are dealing with an illiterate imbecile. The program does accept the abbreviation, "O.K." without question, though it is in and of itself a play on the term, "oll korrect" which was a facetious misspelling of the term, "all correct" when first used in 1839. Computers are taking over the world and one day they will no longer need us, except maybe to plug in the cord...


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If you are looking for a place for your child in any other year group, please phone the school to ask what places are available.
You can download the following information and forms.
Admission Criteria 2019-2020
Supplementary Information Form (SIF)
Certificate of Catholic Practice (Priest Reference Form)
Attached to the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) must be photocopies of your child's Baptism, Birth Certificate and 2 proofs of Residency (bill must be dated within the last three months).
Click here to download a boundary map of the Parish of the English Martyrs
Please note that the closing date for forms to be handed in is the 15th January 2020. If you have any queries please phone the school office.
You can download the following forms:
Admissions Criteria 2020-2021
Supplementary Information Form (SIF) for Reception 2020
Certificate of Catholic Practice (Priest Reference Form)
Covering letter for Reception
Please note that you must ring your Parish to make an appointment to get your form signed. There will be allocated times when your Parish Priest will be able to sign the forms. Make sure that you are aware of these times, which will be announced in your Parish newsletter.
Attached to the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) must be photocopies of your child's Baptism, Birth Certificate and 2 Proofs of Residency (bill must be dated within the last three months).
You will be applying for a place for your child in the Reception class for September 2020. Please note that you will have to apply to the Borough of Brent at www.brent.gov.uk/admissions using the online Application Form. The form allows you to apply for six schools, and these are to be listed in order of your choice. The phone number for the office if you have any queries is 020 8937 3110.
If you are a parishioner of the English Martyrs Parish, the parish Priest will be signing forms.
Fr Albert will be signing forms on the following days:- TBC
Please ring the presbytery on 020 8904 2306 for an appointment.
If you are new to the Parish, please make sure you introduce yourself to the Parish Priest.
APPEALS INFORMATION - Academic Year 2020/2021
Deadline for applications is January 15th 2020 for children due to start Reception Class in September 2020.
Primary offer day for your child is 18th April 2020.
If you do not receive an offer of a place for your child from a school of your choice you have the right to appeal.
The deadline to return the appeal application is 16 May 2020.
Please click here for the appeals timetable.
The Diocese of Westminster requires that your parish priest completes a Certificate of Catholic Practice. (Priest Reference Form)
The parish Priest will fill in this form which has to be returned, along with the Supplementary Information Form to the school you are applying for.


text: /R New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) The Centre on Friday appointed 29 joint secretaries in different government departments as part of a major bureaucratic reshuffle effected by it. Of the total officers, thirteen are from Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the rest from other services like Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Indian Forest Service (IFoS) and Central Secretariat Service (CSS), among others. Those appointed include Alaknanda Dayal, Punjab-cadre IAS officer, as joint secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, an order issued by the personnel ministry said. Ashutosh Jindal, joint secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, has been transferred to the Cabinet Secretariat at the same post. IAS officer Puneet Aggarwal will be joint secretary in the Department of Defence. He is at present joint secretary, Ministry of Textiles. Satya S Lolla, an officer of Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise), has been appointed as joint secretary, NATGRID under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Satendra Singh and Upendra C Joshi have been named joint secretaries in the Ministry of Mines, the order said. Ashish Rawat, a 1988 batch IFoS officer of Jharkhand cadre, has been appointed as CEO, Development and Welfare Board for Denotified Nomadic and Semi-nomadic Communities, under the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. PTI AKV AQS


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This week I have been watching TRANSFORMERS PRIME, a computer animated television series taking elements from Michael Bay's TRANSFORMERS film franchise, and four episodes in, I find that I like it a lot. And as I usually do, I found a possible connection to another beloved animated series I have been watching: VOLTRON LEGENDARY DEFENDER.
The connection comes in the form of two artifacts called the Dark Spark and the Dark Energon who apparently shares certain similarities to another rare substance in another universe from days of long ago where a legend resides.
And that unique subtstance is known as Quintessence.
I will leave these three wikia links, and you can decide for yourself.
Take care.
Dark Spark:
Dark Energon:


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President of Malta Lauds Ahmadiyya Jamaat
Ten wheelchairs have been presented to the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta.
Malta Annual Book Festival 2018
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta actively participated in the Annual Book Festival held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, Malta, from 7 to 11 November 2018.
Malta Ramadan Iftar 2018
On Thursday 31 May at the Waterfront Hotel, Sliema, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Malta organised an Iftar event, which was attended by respectable guests from different walks of life.
Malta Peace Symposium
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Malta held their 10th Annual Peace Symposium, on Friday 16 March 2018. The theme of the Symposium was "The Challenges of the Twenty-First Century; Education and Peace".


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I'm really excited to be collaborating with my long-time friend, Sarah Gurr of Prairie Bath Products in Brooks, AB.
We met as horse crazed, 4Her's in a club made up of mainly teenage girls and our mothers, quite the dynamic. In older age, I can now see why our fathers eagerly waved us off from the front step…
My Mom and I had two rules during these years:
1) No fighting in public, but once we were alone in the truck, the gloves could come off
2) "Lip Grease" had to be available in all vehicles and pockets. Nothing revitalizes a person like lip balm, especially during a long, hot horse show.
Our Wild Rose Lip Grease is 100% natural, made from beeswax and coconut oil with a hint of rose essential oil (we've made sure it's NOT too fragrant, rose can be strong).


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In progress
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Received by Buckinghamshire Council moments later
Middle No Entry Sign light failed, the one on the traffic island on the entrance to Woodside Gardens
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State changed to: In progress
Updated by Buckinghamshire Council at 08:39, Tue 5 November 2019
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Proactive working couples with school aged kids work with me to create a wealth path for their kids' education and retirement.
These families typically earn $175,000 to $300,000 a year. Typically, both parents (aged 40 to 55) are college educated though only one parent may work. They value education and want to make sure their kids get a quality education from kindergarten through college. The parents maybe be helping their elderly parents. They engage outside help with tasks that distract them from their families such as house cleaning and lawn care. Such parents appreciate the beauty of simplicity and recognize complex solutions often add headaches to their lives. The bottom-line is that these families are busy and want help making the critical financial decisions.
Does this sound like you?
Are you overwhelmed with money choices and exhausted from work and school activities, contact us when they wonder…
- How can I save for retirement and my child's education?
- Is a 529 plan right for me?
- Where should I go when I get a letter from the IRS?
- How should I invest my 401K?
- Am I confident I am making the best decisions for my future?
- What am I going to do in retirement?
- How can I financially fulfill my dreams?
- Can I worry less about money and enjoy life?
Rorik Larson retired from the Army at age 44 with a newborn. He knows first hand the many questions and emotions that come up while planning for college and simultaneously on the journey to retirement. He can help you with your questions and concerns.Contact Rorik


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Amanda Jane (Driedger) Walsh
1977 - 2020
Amanda Jane Walsh passed away suddenly on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 at her home in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Survived by her husband, Breton. Daughter of Linda Driedger and the late Rudy 2010. Dear brother Cayle and wife Beatrice. Dear niece Kianna and nephew Cole, many Uncles, Aunts and Cousins.
Amanda grew up on the family farm near Leamington. She attended Mount Carmel Public school, Leamington District Secondary School and St. Clair College, Chatham.
Amanda enjoyed working as a Candy Striper at the Leamington Mennonite Home where her Grandpa Koop was a resident.
She also enjoyed spending time with her Oma's and Opa's, including many sleepovers.
Amanda was baptized on Confession of Faith at the North Leamington United Mennonite Church, May 25, 1997.
She moved to Salt Lake City in 1999 and began working in the Social Work Field.
In 2010 Amanda and Breton Walsh were married in Salt Lake Church.
Over the past many years while working for Psychiatric and Behavior Solutions she has made lifelong co-workers and many clients. Her soft touch was guided by a firm hand that was always steadfast for the betterment of her clients that needed this care.
A celebration of life will take place on Fri., Feb. 14, 2020 at the Federal Court House in Salt Lake City, Utah.
To keep Amanda's passion for caring for others alive a Scholarship has been set up for clients who excel in the program set up each of them.


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Deepwater Horizon
September 30, 2016 by Kiko Martinez
Filed under Kiko, Reviews
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Gina Rodriguez, John Malkovich
Directed by: Peter Berg ("Friday Night Lights")
Written by: Matthew Michael Carnahan ("World War Z") and Matthew Sand ("Ninja Assassin")
"Deepwater Horizon," a film that tells the heroic story of the individuals who survived a massive explosion on an offshore drilling rig in 2010, is an emotionally surface-level drama for a majority of its run time. That doesn't mean, however, the true story isn't compelling and executed with an effective approach by director Peter Berg ("Friday Night Lights"). Most people will know this event simply as the worst oil spill in U.S. history, but by adding a human aspect to it like Berg is able to do for the most part, the dynamic intensifies the entire narrative.
Mark Wahlberg leads the cast as Mike Williams, a veteran oil driller who helps his comrades escape the rig when catastrophe hits. Behind schedule by 43 days and budget by $50 million, the drillers are pressured by the big wigs from multimillion dollar oil company BP to get the job done as fast as possible. Mike's supervisor Jimmy Harrell (Kurt Russell) is concerned with what he sees as cutting corners and making their work more dangerous. Of course, Jimmy's fears are warranted when a blowout occurs forcing the drillers to find a way off the rig before it sinks.
Focused mostly on the hero of the story (but never coming off as ridiculous as Wahlberg's other true-life survival story "Lone Survivor") "Deepwater" stays engaging despite the lack of a real emotional hook until the very end. Kate Hudson does a fine job as Mike's worried wife Felicia at home, and Gina Rodriguez provides some strong acting chops as the lone female on the rig. Other secondary characters, however, feel hollow, especially Dylan O'Brien's character. His role as a young driller on the rig feels like it was edited down to nothing. Then there's John Malkovich, a "villainous" BP executive, whose Louisiana accent is distracting to say the least.
Although some of the characters are thinly written, the overall storytelling of "Deepwater Horizon" is done very well. This isn't just a generic action film where Wahlberg jumps through flames (although he does jump over a fire once) and carries three men on his back to safety. Sure, sometimes films like this can fall too deep into "hero worshipping" (see the aforementioned "Lone Survivor" or something like "American Sniper"), but Wahlberg keeps everyone grounded without sacrificing the impression of true bravery.
Penguins of Madagascar
November 28, 2014 by Kiko Martinez
Filed under Kiko, Reviews
Starring: Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, John Malkovich
Directed by: Eric Darnell ("Madagascar") and Simon J. Smith ("Bee Movie")
Written by: John Aboud (debut), Michael Colton (debut) and Brandon Sawyer (debut)
It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that animation studios are finding every possible angle to take to keep their most profitable franchises going for as long as they can. Over at DreamWorks Animation, the company is milking everything from their catalog with feature film sequels and animated TV shows and home videos and Christmas special of popular properties like "Shrek," "Kung Fu Panda," and "Monsters vs. Aliens." Their biggest success, however, is probably from the mileage they're getting out of their "Madagascar" stock, which first splintered into a Nickelodeon TV series featuring their penguin characters – Rico, Skipper, Kowalski and Private – in 2008.
With the animated film "Penguins of Madagascar" now at theaters, DreamWorks has proven there is no end in sight for the blossoming series and that secondary characters in major franchises have just as much to say as the characters (and just as much money to make) as those that take top billing. With the "Minions" movie coming out of Universal Pictures in July 2015, what can moviegoers expect to see as children clamor for more of their favorite sidekicks? How about a "Toy Story" spin-off featuring Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head? Or how about a "Frozen" movie where we get an origin story about those annoying stone trolls?
Whatever is next, parents will be happy to know that even though "Penguins of Madagascar" is unavoidable, it's not unwatchable. It is, in fact, a creative way to introduce audiences to the stealthy spy penguins and their adventures without having anyone above the age of 12 who is accompanying the little ones planning their escape route from the theater before the credits rolls.
In "Penguins of Madagascar," the fearsome foursome of flightless birds are on the trail to stop villain and geneticist Dr. Octavius Brine (voiced perfectly by John Malkovich) who is actually a purple octopus disguised as a lanky man of science. Dr. Brine (AKA Dave) has developed something he calls the Medusa serum and is set on using it to cause global havoc. We won't ruin what the serum actually does since that happens in the third act, but it's reminiscent of what happens to our friends the Minions in "Despicable Me 2." Helping out the penguins on their mission is another group of spies called the North Wind, made up of a team of international agents, who also happen to be animals.
While the spy roster gets a bit diluted with the number of members on the team, there are enough exciting moments and homages to the spy genre that, while familiar, are enjoyable, especially when it's the penguins who are giving most of the tactical support to save the day. "Penguins of Madagascar" isn't very inspired filmmaking, but with Malkovich's voice work and our arctic heroes leading the way, it's harmless fun.
Red 2
July 20, 2013 by Cody Villafana
Filed under Cody, Reviews
Starring: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker
Directed by: Dean Parisot ("Galaxy Quest")
Written by: Jon Hoeber ("Red") and Erich Hoeber ("Red")
It's pretty clear the current trend in Hollywood is making sequels. Franchises dominate and most new follow-up entries are surefire ways for studios to make some guaranteed cash. But the existence of "Red 2" is a strange one. The first installment had a decent reception from critics, but the box office numbers were far from impressive. The film only garnering $22.5 million and finishing second on opening weekend and grossed under $100 million domestically. Nonetheless, with sequels as popular as ever before (and whether audiences were clamoring for it or not), "Red 2" has arrived and deserves a little fanfare.
Now retired, Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) is told by old friend Marvin Boggs (John Malkovich) that killers are after then and they need to find a safe place to retreat. Thinking Marvin is just paranoid, Frank would rather just stay put with his girlfriend Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker) and get on with life. A quiet life for Frank, however, isn't in the cards. Soon, Interpol is on their tail thinking they are somehow tied to a nuclear device that has fallen into the wrong hands. Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren returns to the action as Victoria, a contract killer who has been paid to take out her former colleagues.
There's a palpable sense of fun between cast members. Willis and Parker have great chemistry throughout the film and Willis in particular embraces the loose tone while bringing an appropriate level of action most fans know him for. Perhaps nobody is having more fun than Malkovich, whose paranoid and overly prepared character is easily the best in the film. So much of what Malkovich does is at the very least amusing. At its best, you can see why directors like the Coen brothers and Spike Jonze have cast him in darkly comical roles in the past. Still, it doesn't all work. The novelty of seeing Mirren fire giant guns has worn off a bit, and the villain characters of the film are worthless.
The biggest struggle "Red 2" has is a fight for tone. At times, the film can strike a nice balance of humor and action, mostly when utilizing its veteran cast. In others, it is far too hokey. Characters like those performed by Brian Cox or Catherine Zeta-Jones are over the top and unfunny when put into context of the film. It's things like Mirren reaching two arms out of either side of a moving car to fire guns or Cox watching Mirren's feet as she shoots a gun and smelling her shoes that add a goofy albeit off-putting element.
It's an interesting concept to see people in their 50s and 60s be able to star and hold their own in an action film. Many of the action scenes work well and are entertaining. Still, its loose tone is both a blessing and a curse. It's highest moments provide some solid comedy and action (mostly courtesy of Malkovich) while it's lowest feel like a director trying way too hard. There's nothing here that is going to amaze viewers, but you could do a lot worse this summer than "Red 2."
John Malkovich – Warm Bodies
February 5, 2013 by Jerrod Kingery
Filed under Interviews
In "Warm Bodies," a self-aware zombie named R saves a human girl named Julie from certain death, falling in love with her in the process. The fate of the human race hangs in the balance based on whether or not the two of them can convince Julie's father, the gruff General Grigio, played by the eternally-quirky John Malkovich, of R's change of heart. I had a chance to speak with Malkovich last week, when he talked about the current popularity of zombie fiction, acting opposite CGI zombies, and the modern-day zombies smartphones may have created.
Zombie fiction is huge right now. Are you a fan or is it something you don't pay attention to?
I don't pay the slightest attention to it. (Laughs) One of many things I don't pay the slightest attention to.
Are you a fan of any supernatural fiction at all? Or is that a genre you completely avoid?
It's not so much avoidance, its just really not on my radar, generally. This book ["Warm Bodies" by Isaac Marion] was an interesting story since it kind of went out of the normal publishing circles and it was written by a young person. And I liked the tone and thought it would be interesting and challenging to try and capture. But no, I never—even as a kid—I didn't follow much supernatural…probably didn't go further than Ray Bradbury, maybe.
You mentioned the book. Did you read the novel beforehand?
I did. But not before I was involved with the film.
It has a huge youth following.
Mmm-hmm. And, in fact, I think my producing partners probably read it as something for us—our company is called Mr. Mudd—something for us to produce. Because they seemed to know it quite well.
Near the beginning, the film touches on the isolation caused by modern technology like smartphones, Twitter, and Facebook. Are you constantly connected in that way?
I really can't afford to stay away from it because, you know, when I'm here just doing [press for a film], I'm having to deal with something in the fashion business I work in. I'm having to deal with the production of a French play, getting the financing to bring it to London. I'm having to deal with setting this [interview] up. I'm having to deal with the cuts of two movies we have in post-production now. There's a lot you have to deal with. But I don't do Facebook or Twitter, but certainly for emails and text I kinda have to.
You aren't typically known for appearing in films with lots of special effects. Does acting opposite armies of computer-generated zombies take some getting used to or is it just like any other acting job?
I think it's just like any other acting job. It has its irritations, sure, but in acting you're always pretending. And you can either pretend or you can't. And pretending with someone else…yeah, it's probably easier in some ways, but still, in the end, you have to pretend by yourself. You have to be capable of suspension of your own disbelief anyway. And they generally explain quite clearly what it will be, what it will look like, what it will do. And I don't find it so difficult.
Warm Bodies
February 1, 2013 by Kiko Martinez
Filed under Reviews
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich
Directed by: Jonathan Levine ("50/50")
Written by: Jonathan Levine ("50/50")
Zombie movie purists beware. "Warm Bodies" will make your head explode.
Now, don't get me wrong. Unique twists to the sometime tired genre are always welcomed. There are only so many underlying political issues George A. Romero can cover before things start to feel repetitious. So, when original zombie ideas like "Warm Bodies" rear their ugly heads, you can't help but take a bite.
In the last decade, we've seen a masterpiece like "Shaun of the Dead" and solid comedies like "Zombieland" and "Fido." These kinds of movies can be done and done very well. Unfortunately, "Warm Bodies" doesn't rise past its quirky synopsis. It's a zombie romantic comedy (zom rom com) at a loss for believable plot devices and consistent laughs.
The film follows a zombie named R (Nicholas Hoult), a somewhat self-aware young zombie male who isn't really feeling his new lifestyle now that the world has ended by way of zombie apocalypse. His emo-esque internal monologue conveys his desire to connect with people again and express himself. A zombie, however, isn't much of a conversationalist.
Things begin to change for R when he meets Julie (Teresa Palmer), a survivor who is ambushed by the undead during a mission to find medicine for the other humans living in a safe concrete compound. During the attack, R saves Julie and somehow persuades her through his moaning and grunting that she would be better off escaping with him instead of doing what any sane person would do and run away.
These are the kind of lazy plot holes that plague "Warm Bodies." Although they allow the narrative to move forward, some of the script choices simply don't make any sense. Why doesn't Julie drive away in the car available to her at any point of the movie? Why can some zombies smell human flesh and others can't? Why do some zombies run like the dickens and others move in slow-mo? "Warm Bodies" is bold in making up its own rules, but it should be labeled a cheater when it changes those same rules so the story can proceed.
The most shameful disregard for the screenplay comes with the fact that during R and Julie's time together, R begins to change back into a human. Sure, that's probably plausible in zombie world, but why do the other zombies who are unaffected by Julie in any way also begin to transform? Unless director/writer Jonathan Levine ("50/50") is trying to make a point by saying that love, too, is infectious, it doesn't add up.
While there are a few chuckle-worthy scenes between R and his best zombie friend M (Rob Corddry), "Warm Bodies" is more smart-alecky than it is smart. The combination of horror, romance and comedy might be less of an acquired taste than it was a few years ago, but this kind of fleshy meal just isn't very appetizing without more substance. Brains, perhaps?
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
July 1, 2011 by Kiko Martinez
Filed under Reviews
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Patrick Dempsey
Directed by: Michael Bay ("Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen")
Written by: Ehren Kruger ("Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen")
Textbooks be damned. The use of alternative histories has been such a go-to fad in cinematic curriculum recently that no one should be surprised if impressionable movie-going kids really start believing vigilante superheroes helped earn America a victory in Vietnam ("Watchmen") or that young mutants saved the country from nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis ("X-Men: First Class").
Sure, there is an obvious difference between the allegorical political statements in Neill Blomkamp's apartheid-inspired sci-fi thriller "District 9" and the renegade Jewish soldiers who unload a slew of bullets into Adolf Hitler in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds," but it's all in good fun when films mix make-believe scenarios and momentous events of the past. Wouldn't more people know the history behind the Louisiana Purchase if Napoleon Bonaparte was really a French cyborg soldier?
If anyone in Hollywood needed to avoid rewriting the history books it should have been director Michael Bay, who had already mortified WWII history buffs by making 2001's "Pearl Harbor" into a foolish wartime soap opera. And yet, a decade later, Bay is back with a unique variation on the Apollo 11 spaceflight in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," the third — and hopefully final — installment of the action- adventure franchise based on the Hasbro toy line of the '80s. Yes, it's better than "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," but that doesn't say much, since the second movie had the aesthetics of what could only be described as rusty robot porn.
In "Dark of the Moon," Bay and returning screenwriter Ehren Kruger decide the July 1969 lunar landing by NASA was more than just a space mission to beat the Soviets to the moon, a goal we see President John F. Kennedy lay out to Congress six years prior via old news reels and mediocre digital re-imaging. Instead, the objective for Apollo 11's astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin is to investigate the mysterious crash landing of an object on the moon's surface, which turns out to be an Autobot spacecraft containing technological secrets.
Flash forward to present time and a carefully crafted close-up of the panty-covered backside of Megan Fox replacement Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (a Victoria's Secret lingerie model with Walmart-brand personality) strutting up the stairs to her hero boyfriend Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), who is quick to brag about the presidential medal he received for saving the world but can't land a job that makes him feel as relevant as he did when he was part of the Autobot forces.
A regular 9-to-5 job will have to wait when an exiled Megatron (Hugo Weaving) returns to Earth to once again lead the Decepticons against Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) and his Autobots, now working across the globe to protect the human race. When the Decepticons figure out a way to use the Autobots' technology for their benefit, a new battle begins between the robot races. Sam and his military cohorts find themselves in the middle of a Chicago warzone leaping from crumbling buildings and dodging twisted metal, all in glorious and exhausting 3-D.
Some of the startling computer-generated visuals are what actually make "Dark of the Moon" tolerable, even at an inhumane runtime of 154 minutes. As with most of his films, however, Bay doesn't take the less-is-more approach when it comes to spectacle. That he saves for his convoluted screenplay and flat human characterizations.
Quirky history aside, "Dark of the Moon" is exactly how you'd expect Bay to end the bankable trilogy. Let's just hope a promise from LaBeouf to not return for a fourth will be enough to put this series to rest. At least, that is, until we find out Thomas Edison patented Megatron's weaponry.
October 15, 2010 by Kiko Martinez
Filed under Reviews
Starring: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren
Directed by: Robert Schwentke ("The Time Traveler's Wife")
Written by: Jon Hoeber ("Whiteout") and Eric Hoeber ("Whiteout")
Never mind the swift hand-to-hand combat skills Zoe Saldaña shows off in "The Losers" or the way Angelina Jolie leaps off highways and onto the tops of big rigs in "Salt;" nothing says sexy CIA spy like Dame Helen Mirren playing shoot-'em-up behind a semi-automatic.
In "Red," an action-comedy adapted from a limited DC Comics series short for "retired, extremely dangerous," gray hair proves to have a correlation not only with experience and ingenuity, but also an itchy trigger finger when a team of former black-op CIA agents reunite for one last cross-country firearms romp before their Social Security kicks in.
Playing a tough old dude again (most recently in a forgettable "Expendables" cameo), Bruce Willis has a little fight left in him as Frank Moses, the youngest of the retirees who has been spending his free time watching his avocado plant sprout two measly leaves and making excuses to phone flirt with Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker), the woman who cuts his pension checks.
When Frank becomes the target of a group of hit men, he kidnaps Sarah to ensure her safety (worst way to get a date ever) and rallies his squad of former colleagues, including retirement home resident Joe (Morgan Freeman), paranoid spook Marvin (John Malkovich), and hobbyist/freelance contract killer Victoria (Mirren), to break into CIA headquarters and expose a major political cover-up.
The mission isn't all that challenging for director Robert Schwentke ("The Time Traveler's Wife") and screenwriters Jon and Erich Hoeber ("Whiteout"), who allow the geezers to come and go as they please with tons of firepower but precious little explanation. More importantly, the script maintains a playful tone and rarely takes any shortcuts by harping on the obvious, like in 2000's "Space Cowboys," meaning no jokes about MediCare, wrinkly asses, and drinking Ensure.
Instead, "Red" relies on its talented cast to deliver the shrewd sarcasm and a few far-fetched action sequences that make most of the film so enjoyable. While Freeman and Parker are underutilized for the most part, Malkovich is able to chew up scenery effortlessly (grenade baseball should be an Olympic sport), and Willis gives Die Hard fans reason to expect more yippee-ki-yaying before it's all said and done.
Sure, comic-book-inspired movies don't necessarily get better with age, but just because our heroes are on the wrong side of the half-century mark doesn't mean things have to go downhill fast. With "Red," it feels good to pump the brakes a bit and revel in the ridiculousness of it all.
This review originally ran in the San Antonio Current Oct. 13, 2010
October 30, 2008 by Kiko Martinez
Filed under Reviews
Starring: Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Jeffrey Donovan
Directed by: Clint Eastwood ("Million Dollar Baby")
Written by: J. Michael Straczynski (TV's "Babylon 5")
While truth may be stranger than fiction, it's not always a wise decision for a screenwriter to choose to include events of a true story that, although accurate, seem all too tactless and build up to oddly written scenes. As a period piece set in 1928, "Changeling" is beautifully shot frame by frame and well directed by Clint Eastwood. As a dramatic suspense thriller, however, the problems lie in J. Michael Straczynski's overambitious script.
"Changeling" begins when Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie), a single mother working at a phone company, comes home to find her young son Walter (Gattlin Griffith) is missing. Turning to a corrupt LAPD, who is trying to improve their tarnished image with its citizens, Christine is speechless when Capt. J.J. Jones (Jeffrey Donovan) tells her that her son has been found. The problem with that statement, however, is that the boy Capt. Jones presents to Christine is not her son, but another kid who insists his name is Walter Collins and that Christine is, in fact, his mother.
Feeling forced by Capt. Jones to take the boy "home on a trial basis," which is a funny enough idea until Christine actually does it, Jones tells the worried mother that she doesn't recognize her own son only because she is shocked to see him after a few months. While at home, however, Christine realizes the young stranger now living with her is three inches shorter than her son and is circumcised, unlike Walter. Her proof isn't good enough for the LAPD, however, as Capt. Jones has accepted all the praise from the local media, and closed the case.
When Christine continues to ask questions and wonder why the police force would try to hide their mistake, she is tossed into a mental hospital for evaluation, a move made only to silence her from embarrassing the police department's shoddy detective work.
By this time, Christine has already built her case against the LAPD with support from an number of people including Walter's teacher and doctor, who said they would testify on her behalf that the boy brought to her is not her son. Help is also offered by Rev. Gustav Briegleb (John Malkovich), who mission in life is to uncover the criminal actions of the LAPD, and broadcast them on his local radio show.
While it all makes for an interesting episode of "The Twilight Zone," screenwriter Straczynski drops the ball on behalf of Jolie's time onscreen. By the halfway point, his choice to do this becomes exhausting especially when a lot of loose ends aren't tied up. As this is happening, the story hits a fork in the road and causes more distractions before its 140-minute runtime is over.
Burn After Reading
September 2, 2008 by Kiko Martinez
Filed under Reviews
Starring: George Clooney, John Malkovich, Brad Pitt
Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen ("No Country for Old Men")
Written by: Joel and Ethan Coen ("Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?")
It would only be natural if you flinched a bit when you found out the recently Oscar'ed Coen Brothers would return to the comedy genre after their success with the suspenseful and fascinating "No Country for Old Men." Not since 1998's "The Big Lebowski" has the genre been good to them, although some may argue "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" was a minor triumph.
Still, "Intolerably Cruelty" and "The Ladykillers" were not up to form for directors who had helmed one of the best dark comedies of all time in "Fargo." It's good to see them slowly finding that niche again in their new film.
In "Burn After Reading," the nation's security is in jeopardy (well, sort of) when employees of a local fitness center, including Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt) and Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand), find a disc they think contains top secret CIA information.
With a bitter, recently separated ex-spook named Osborne Cox (John Malkovich) on their backs, Chad and Linda decide they are going to milk their discovery as much as possible and see how far blackmailing someone can take them.
Linda, who's tired of trolling on internet dates sites for the perfect man, has been longing for a few plastic surgery procedures her insurance refuses to cover so she can be more attractive, while peppy Chad is simply excited about being a part of the adventure. Academy Award winner George Clooney ("Syriana") plays Harry Pfarrer, a delusional governmental employee with food allergies who's been sleeping around with Osborne's cold wife Katie (Tilda Swinton). Relationships continue to cross paths in this comedy of errors as the Coens write up a breezy little spoof that pushes the plot in bizarre and sometimes unbelievable ways.
The main problem with "Burn" is that the Coens haven't developed characters as much as they have created caricatures of real people. It's different when we're talking about eccentricities like John Tuturro's Jesus Quintana in "Lebowski" or even Clooney's grease-loving Everett in "O Brother" because they seem to be in this completely different world devoid of any sanity. In "Burn," however, many of the characters feel too manufactured in Anytown, USA. Their exaggerated stupidity can be endearing, but most of the time you're thinking how no one can possibly be this dumb and needy.
Still, the Coens recipe for humor laden with violence is second to none and all the principal players give enjoyably jovial performances. It really is the Coen's funniest film since giving us The Dude 10 years ago.


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|About this Recording
8.572777 - CORP, R.: Ice Mountain (The) (New London Children's Choir and Orchestra members, Corp)
Ronald Corp (b. 1951)
The commission for the children's opera, The Ice Mountain was initiated by a generous donation from the Naef/Bertele Family, who were inspired by their Swiss origins to propose the adaptation of a Swiss folk-legend. The libretto for The Ice Mountain was adapted by Emma Hill from the folk-tale entitled 'Die alte Frau und die Toten' ('The Old Woman and the Dead'). The Ice Mountain is in four short acts, and incorporates elements of Swiss folk-music as well as liturgical chant. The libretto makes reference to various poets including John Clare and Friedrich Hölderlin. Ronald Corp says of the work: 'The tale is a haunting one and very poignant and I was drawn by the mystical element in the story; I think my music for the opera reflects this'.
The Ice Mountain is a story of the cycle of life, of loss and how to come to terms with death. It is divided into four acts, the four seasons, and this cyclical passage of time reflects the work's emotional journey.
Act I
Set in a village in Switzerland, the opera starts in winter. The village lies in the shadow of a mountain. The mountain is feared by the villagers who hear the ice cracking and worry there will be an avalanche. They gather together, huddled in terror, as they desperately try and protect themselves from the gathering snow storm. They scream as snow descends from the mountain but, safe in their houses, they are unharmed.
What they sense, but cannot actually see, is that the mountain is also home to spirits. These spirits are the restless souls of the dead who have not found peace. There is only one villager who can see the spirits and that is the Old Woman who lives, both physically and mentally, apart from the villagers. The Old Woman's husband and child ascended the mountain twenty years previously and were never seen again. She lives alone, mourning their loss, unable properly to grieve and find peace, unable to take part in village life. She lives consumed by her memories and separate from the rest of the villagers. They take care of her, bringing her flax and linen for her to weave into cloth and clothes which they then take back to the village.
The Old Woman in her half-life existence, lights a candle every night which attracts the spirits of the mountain. This enables these restless souls to find peace with her and they shelter with her, finding comfort and solace.
Act II
Spring comes and the village comes to life. Birds are seen and heard and the winter darkness is banished. New life gushes forth, green leaves appear. The villagers—the bakers, grocers, florists, dairy, dressmakers and tool-makers—all start to bring their wares to market. The mood is optimistic; the village square becomes a bustling hive of activity. Romance is also in the air and two young lovers declare their love for each other. A wedding ensues, with dancing which the spirits are condemned to watch but are unable to join in with.
Act III
Summertime and there is a riot of colour as flower petals enliven the village scene. Two villagers go to see the Old Woman to implore her to join the festivities. They ask her to abandon her solitary existence and join in the celebrations, to join in with life. She refuses and they leave. But, after they have gone, she is tempted to go and see the party. She descends into the village and watches. Seeing the young man reminds her of her little boy who would, if he had lived, be the same age as the groom now. She tries to return to her house but collapses before she gets there. Night falls and she has not returned to her house nor lit her candle. The spirits are distraught as they desperately search for the light which will give them respite; they howl in their loneliness.
Act IV
Autumn descends and feathers represent the falling leaves. A villager comes down from the mountain having found the bodies of the Old Woman's husband and child. They were in a crevice which opened up when the ice melted earlier. Their bodies are brought down on stretchers. The villager who has found them remarks that there is both sorrow and joy—sorrow that they are dead but joy that they are finally found and she will have peace. The sorrow and joy go round and around like the cycle of life. Finally, the villagers reach the Old Woman to tell her the news that the bodies of her husband and son have been found, only to find her dead. She is united with her loved ones in death. They light a candle both in her memory and in the knowledge that their lives too will pass, will be snuffed out.
The spirits see the candle burning and descend from the mountain. They will bear her body to the mountain and make sure her weary soul finds rest.
The priest sings the hymn, the villagers join in and the spirits, the Old Woman, her loved ones and the villagers are finally at peace.
Abigail Morris
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Campus Global Theme Design Contest
UC Davis is launching the inaugural Campus Global Theme in 2020 and we need your help creating a design! Submit a suite of materials with a cohesive design to capture the theme of Food for Thought: Feeding Ourselves, Feeding the Planet for your chance to win a $300 Amazon gift card!
About the Campus Global Theme
Call for Designs
Design Specifications
- Capture the theme Food for Thought: Feeding Ourselves, Feeding the Planet
- Create a suite of materials with a similar look and feel
- 8in x 10in event flyer with room for event title, date, location, description, and a photo
- 2000px x 460px web banner
- 24in x 36in poster with room for listing 20 events (International Education Week poster example)
- Design must be flexible enough to be used on a calendar, flyers, postcards, web banners, promotional items and other marketing material.
- Preference is for original vector artwork that can be reproduced in a single color print. The design can include multiple colors, but there should be an iteration that we can make into a single color for use on promotional materials. If your primary design includes photography, it must be a minimum of 300 dpi.
- Follows UC Davis standards, which includes the campus colors and campus fonts.
The event flyer and poster must include the following elements:
- Food for Thought: Feeding Ourselves, Feeding the Planet
- Campus Global Theme
- Exciting Event Title (you can make up your own title here, or just use the words "Exciting Event Title" as your placeholder)
- January 1, 2020 (the event date)
- 7:00 p.m. (the event time)
- UC Davis wordmark
- UC Davis Global Affairs wordmark
- globalaffairs.ucdavis.edu/campus-global-theme
How to Enter
Files for judging must be submitted as a jpeg, png, or pdf by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com by Sunday, February 17, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. If selected, the winning designer shall provide the original design files that will be distributed to event planners and communicators across campus.
Design Workshop
More Information
- By participating in this contest, you grant UC Davis permission to use your entire submitted photo/design files and content for design, marketing, advertising and communication purposes. Global Affairs reserves the right to make necessary modifications to the submitted artwork in order to fit into different formats. All submissions will become the property of UC Davis.
- If photography is included, you must have the rights to use the photos or a signed photo release. Photos used from the provided toolkit do not require a photo release.
- The selection committee will be comprised of Global Education for All Campus Steering Committee members, Student Advisory Council members, and UC Davis Millennium Fellows.


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In a bizarre accident that seems to come straight out of the Ripley's believe it or not, a man was electrocuted when he spit from his house on to high-tension electric wire on Sunday.
The incident happened at Sainath Nagar in Virar, a suburb city about 60 km from Mumbai.
Mohammad Shaikh alias Munna, 44, was standing in his second floor apartment chewing a mouthful of gutka when he spat out and connected with the high tension wire that was barely some 3 feet from the building.
The moment his spit touched the wire carrying 25,000 volt of power, Shaikh was electrocuted and was pulled out from the balcony of his house and hurled two floors down to his death.
"The high-tension wire belongs to Tata Power and carries power to the Virar railway station. We had on several occasions made a demand to the authorities to shift the wire or insulate it so that it does not pose a hazard to the people living in the building adjacent to the line," said Ayub Baluch, a local politician, a former member of legislative assembly.
Ayub added that Shaih's death was unfortunate as he only breadwinner of the family and ran an automobile painting business in Virar.
He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
The Virar police station has registered a case of accidental death.There is provision in the Electricity Act to award immediate compensation of Rs 10,000 to the next of kin in case of accidental death due to electrocution.


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About Master Peter
Master Peter Harris Barbados (62), has spent a life dedicated to mastering the arts of Karate and Judo. After having won numerous medals and accolades in various fighting tournaments all over the globe, he continues to impart the knowledge and skill of the art of fighting to his students all over the globe. What sets master apart is the discipline that he follows- ever since the start, he has maintained a routine of beginning his practice with the sunrise, and has stuck to it since.
Karate and Judo are not aggressive fighting techniques – but are techniques that we can use to channel our energy and use it for something constructive. With this as his belief, he has taught over hundreds of students over the years and helped them attain discipline, confidence and strength in their lives. Master Peter Harris Barbados believes that he is teaching a way of life – and just a way of defense or offense, and this helps his students learn better.
When it comes to Judo and Karate, dedication and practice are key – and with over 55 years of input, one can easily see what all he has to offer. For those who wish to not just learn Judo / Karate, but also imbibe it into their lives and use them to become better people – he is the one person who knows the way. As you enter into class and witness what years of experience and discipline in your life have helped you achieve, you will realize what sets him apart from the rest.


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The Hackett Group
Posted by Jaggaer in on July 30, 2019
Founded in 1997, The Hackett Group, Inc., a global strategic business advisory and operations improvement consulting firm, providing advisory, benchmarking, and transformation consulting services including strategy and operations, working capital management, and globalization advice. Through its REL group, Hackett offers working capital solutions focused on delivering significant cash flow improvements. Through its Archstone Consulting group, Hackett offers Strategy and Operations consulting services in the Consumer and Industrial Products, Pharmaceutical, Manufacturing and Financial Services industry sectors. The Hackett Group was formerly known as Answerthink. The company is headquarted in Miami, Florida.


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I hardly ever use my long slider anymore, so I thought I would try out the Edelkrone SliderONE to see if I would use a slider more since it fits in my camera bag.
5 comments
See if you can get your hands on a Hercules Slider from Rollocam.
I got one on their kickstarter. It's not perfect but it's pretty innovative for a motorized slider at a great price point.
I've always liked Digital Juice's Slyder Dolly. It is a bit of a pain because it's more cumbersome but it's built pretty solid and you can get some nice moves. It'd be great to have something in between so it'd be easier to load/carry around.
Hi Dave, what was that other slider you mentioned? Slide tech or glide tech? fyi if you get a chance to try a ifootsge shark slider that one gets killer smooth moves due to the flywheel. It's BIIIGGG though.
Use a rubber band.Wrap it around the connection where the camera and slider are.
Pulling the camera with the rubber band will give you more ease in and out for the movement of the slider.


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Happy Halloween! That is unless you leave in Hampton Roads …
I have just finished reading an article on regulations for tonight's festivities in my local area and was very surprised to find out that in my city (Virginia Beach) it is a Class 4 Misdemeanor to trick-or treat if you are older then 12! Not that I was prepping to pull out my costume and make a dash for free candies but isn't it a bit excessive?
Here is a quote from the article directly related to my city:
The hours & rules for trick-or-treating in Hampton Roads
Virginia Beach: Children 12 and younger may go trick-or-treating until 8 p.m. Anyone trick-or-treating after 8 p.m. is committing a Class 4 misdemeanor. Anyone older than 12 making the rounds on Halloween night also is committing a Class 4 misdemeanor.
I guess I should be happy they don't slap people with real jail time! And while I understand the necessity to protect the public I do have to ask the question …. What Are We Coming To?
What if in your family kids are different ages and 12 seems like a low age as many middle school students enjoy the traditional festivities as much as younger kids …
What Do You Think? Or Do you have your own story you want to share?
NOTE: This Post is from 2007 and may not be applicable to current.


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Summer Desserts
Collection by Crafty Cathy
Cake Mix Churros
At So Yummy, you'll find recipes, easy dinner and dessert ideas, as well as healthy snack inspiration. Our chefs will show you how to cook and and bake the smart way, with endless yummy hacks, tricks and tips
Southern Pecan Praline Cake | gritsandpinecones.com
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Italian Cream Stuffed Cannoncini (Puff Pastry Horns)
A blog about Italian food, quick and easy recipes, cooking experiences and tips. Visit my blog - get inspired and creative!
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Cherry Oreo Icebox Cake
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Meeting Famous Folk.
On 17th September we were reliably informed by Karon (play specialist) that we were to be visited by a famous Sailor… Not popeye!
So in true Mia form the nail polish came out..
Mia was in a fantastic mood and was really excited that Ben (not Benny from 2-3′s at nursery) was visiting HER!
He was a charming visitor who bought GOLD with him… What more can we say but thanks Ben Ainsley you really did brighten our day.


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Songs and arias with Christine Cairns and friends
11.30am-12.30pm with refreshments from 11am
2pm-3pm with refreshments from 1.30pm
All are welcome, particularly people living with dementia along with their family, friends and carers.
Please reserve your places and disabled parking in advance and pay on the door.
This concert is generously supported by The Patsy Wood Trust, Andrew and Jo Lea, and
The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe.


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Dr Patrick Andelic
Lecturer in American History
Patrick joined the faculty at Northumbria in 2017, having previously taught at Queen Mary University of London, the University of Oxford, and Ruskin College, Oxford. His research focuses on American party politics during the late twentieth century...>>>
Dr Victoria Bazin
Senior Lecturer in American Literature
Victoria did her first degree in American Studies which included a year at the University of Minnesota. She then went on to study for an MA in English literature at King's College, London followed by a brief period in publishing... >>>
Dr Tanja Bueltmann
Professor in History & Faculty Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor Strategic Planning and Engagement (Acting)
Tanja is an expert in diaspora and migration history, especially the history of ethnic associational culture. She studied at the universities of Bielefeld and Edinburgh for her MA in British Cultural Studies, History and Sociology ... >>>
Professor Brycchan Carey
Professor of English
Brycchan has research and teaching interests in the literature and culture of the Atlantic world in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries, in particular slavery and abolition, colonial America, and discourses of science and exploration... >>>
Dr Clare Elliott
Senior Lecturer in English Literature and Programme Leader for BA (Hons) English Language and Literature (sem 2)
Clare joined Northumbria's Department of Humanities as Lecturer in Nineteenth-Century Literature in 2011. Her publishing and research activity lie in the nineteenth century with particular interests in Transatlantic Literary Studies, American Romanticism... >>>
Dr Hilary Francis
Vice Chancellor's Research Fellow in Global Challenges
Hilary joined Northumbria in March 2018 as a Vice Chancellor's Research Fellow in Global Challenges. She is a historian of Nicaragua and US-Nicaraguan relations. Her doctoral research - on Nicaragua's 'Contra' War (1980-1990) - drew on ...>>>
Professor David T Gleeson
Professor of American History, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation
David came to Northumbria from the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, where he was Director of the Program in the Carolina Lowcountry and Atlantic World. He remains a research associate of it and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society... >>>
Dr Henry Knight-Lozano
Senior Lecturer in History and American Studies; Programme Leader BA History & Politics
Henry is a scholar of place promotion, expansion, and environment in the United States. His research on California, Florida, and Hawai'i brings together promotional, literary, and visual representations alongside ... >>>
Dr Joe Street
Associate Professor in American History
Joe has worked at Northumbria since September 2009. He specialises in twentieth-century American and African American History. He was educated at Sheffield University between 1996 and 2004. He joined Northumbria after stints at Sheffield University... >>>
Dr Julie Taylor
Senior Lecturer in American Studies/Literature; Programme Leader BA American Studies
Julie joined Northumbria in 2012 from a lectureship at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, where she held the Randall MacIver Junior Research Fellowship 2010-2012. She completed her PhD in the Department of English and Related Literature at the University of York... >>>
Professor Brian Ward
Professor in American Studies
Brian is Northumbria University's first Professor in American Studies. He is a historian of the modern US South, the civil rights movement, popular music, the 1960s, and Anglo-American cultural relations... >>>
Dr Melanie Waters
Senior Lecturer in Modern and Contemporary Literature; Programme Leader for the Foundation Year in Humanities
After obtaining my undergraduate and Master's degrees at Newcastle University, Melanie embarked on an AHRC-funded PhD. Her research and teaching interests focus on feminism and its relationship to literary and popular culture, particularly in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries ...>>>
Dr Rebecca Wright
Lecturer in U.S. History
Before to joining the faculty at Northumbria in 2018, Rebecca was a Research Fellow in Future Health at the University of York in the Centre for Global Health Histories. Prior to this she was a Research Fellow in Mass Observation Studies at the University of Sussex ...>>>
Get an insight into life at Northumbria with videos and 360 panoramas of the Department of Humanities.
A blog on all manner of research, publications, lectures, conferences, symposia, and more from Northumbria University's History and American Studies programmes.
Our students learn from the best – inspirational academic staff with a genuine passion for their subject. Our courses are at the forefront of current knowledge and practice and are shaped by world-leading and internationally excellent research.
The Department of Humanities offers a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. By studying at Northumbria you will become part of a passionate and creative community.
We are greatly saddened to have to announce the death of our friend and colleague Professor…
A Professor from Northumbria University has called for major changes to the publishing industry…
More than half of the world's students study Shakespeare, but the story of contemporary English…
Northumbria University's Professor Tanja Bueltmann will discuss her latest research findings…
Citizens' rights campaigners working to protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK have carried…
Kingsley Oluchi Ugwuani, PhD researcher at Northumbria University, was consulted on the inclusion…
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Samsung has been trying to breathe new life into its aging Galaxy S7 line by releasing new color options for the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge. The two devices are still among the very best smartphones money can buy right now, but are starting to lose some of the buzz they had earlier in the year. With the Galaxy S8 still months away from launch and the Galaxy Note 7 permanently discontinued because of reasons that have been well-documented in the media earlier this year, Samsung needs to keep the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge relevant even as newer devices from a slew of Android vendors are hitting the market every week.
With a view towards doing just that, Samsung has added a few vibrant new color options to the Galaxy S7 Edge in the recent past. Blue Coral, Pink Gold and Black Pearl are the three new options that are now up for grabs in many key markets around the world, although India has only got the Blue Coral version up until now. On Friday, though, the South Korean company officially launched the Pink Gold model in India, bringing the total number of colors officially available in the country to five. Just like the other four variants, the Black Pearl version has also been priced at Rs. 50,900 ($750), although final retail prices are expected to be a bit lower.
The Black Onyx, Gold Platinum and Silver Titanium versions have been available in India for quite some time now, while the Blue Coral model was added to the mix only recently. With the Black Pearl model expected to hit the Indian shores soon, Samsung customers in the country should have pretty much all the options to choose from (barring White Pearl), if media reports are to be believed. It's important to note here that the Pink Gold version will be identical in hardware terms to the regular Galaxy S7 Edge, with the outer finishing expected to be the only real differentiating factor. Which means it won't come in a 128GB avatar unlike the Black Pearl model that will reportedly have a much steeper Rs. 59,900 ($883) price-tag.


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Could it be a router with DHCP enabled? I know most routers come that way out of the box, and 192.168.2.1 is the default address on some of them (although I can't remember which ones offhand).
The router answer is the most likely. In the event that its not, check your VPN device. VPN devices frequently serve DHCP leases in order to get clients on the network. Some VPN devices will pass the DHCP request through to the network's DHCP server(s), but generally this has to be configured.
It is fixed now. I just found out one of the user installed a hub/router on the network to connect other PCs in his section somewhere in the warehouse. Thanks for the help.
I'd bet that there is a device on the network acting as another DHCP server. When you type 'ipconfig /all' at the command prompt what ip address do you get for 'DHCP Server'? There should be an address of the roque server listed. Try browsing to the IP in question. If it's a device, you'll get a web interface listing the manufacture.


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Offering fee reduction of one type or another is a way to give back to your community and at the same time maintain professionalism. Whichever option you choose, reducing your fee or extending credit comes with clinical challenges.
Careful consideration of the following issues can help you make a wise choice for your practice. Any of these concerns can become useful material during treatment. Left unprocessed, such issues can hijack the therapy.
Clinical Issues
Ø There are clients who will resent paying a lower fee because it makes them feel like they need to be grateful to you. They may feel that in order to be your equal, they need to do something for you. That something could be gifts or referrals or sharing stories they don't really want to share.
Ø There are those who feel dependent since they can't afford to see someone else. It may raise other issues about dependency or co-dependency,
Ø There are those who are suspicious. Having grown up with a parent who gave them money but with strings attached, they question your motives and worry about what you expect in return. The same may be true of someone who was (or is) in a relationship with a partner who controlled them by controlling the money.
Ø There are some who feel entitled and special because they get to see you for less than what other people have to pay. That entitlement may be played out in other ways. They may be late for appointments or test you to see if you will keep them in treatment if they don't show up on a regular basis.
Ø Some clients who have a personality disorder feel entitled in general. Knowing that doing so will result in a higher fee, these clients may not disclose that they got a better job, finished paying off a burdensome school loan or won the lottery.
Ø There are clients who make every attempt to pay the least they can in order to have more disposable income for items or experiences they see as essential. I'll never forget negotiating a lower fee for a client who persuaded me that she was paid a barely adequate wage at her job, only to learn many months later that she was going on an expensive cruise. What followed was a very difficult conversation about her evaluation of the worth of her treatment and how she set her priorities.
Ø If not clearly discussed at the outset, a client may abruptly terminate if you move him or her out of a low income slot because their financial situation has changed for the better.
Ø Therapy is not like buying a new pair of shoes. There is nothing new to look at and touch to remind a person that they made a purchase for which they need to pay. Some clients who put some or all of their sessions "on account" may forget about how they benefited. If they feel they didn't benefit or didn't benefit enough, they may feel justified in not paying their bill.
Other Issues
Ø If you consistently charge fees that are below the market rate in your area, there are clients (and other therapists) who will see your work as worth less than the higher priced therapists. It may not be reasonable but it happens.
Ø Extending credit or being too liberal about lowering fees or collecting payment may have negative consequences on your cash-flow. You cannot keep a practice if you don't have enough income to support it.
Ø You can only bill an insurance company for fees that accurately reflect the usual and customary fee you charge in your practice. Carefully read the contracts you have with insurance companies. Be aware of the consequences, if any, of setting fees for some clients that are lower than what you charge for those with insurance.
Ø Not so finally, you may find that you have some unresolved feelings about lowering your fee for some of your clients. A negotiated fee means you are voluntarily giving up a higher paid hour. You may find yourself resenting it. You may find that you are reluctant to do extra collateral work for a client who is paying a lower rate. Or you may be surprised and dismayed to find that you question your worth as a therapist when some clients pay less than others.
All that being said: It can be very gratifying to reserve some slots for low income members of your community. Self-worth is increased by doing things that are worthwhile. It is certainly worthwhile to provide treatment for people who could not otherwise afford it. If you deal honestly and responsibly with the issues listed above, you can make a major contribution in your community doing what you do best – good therapy.