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British Sign Language courses at Donaldsons
By Sally Millar on Monday 1st July, 2013 at 12:04pm
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Courses in British Sign Language (BSL) (Intro.; Level 1; Level 2) are available for the coming session, see the options provided at Donaldson's School (Linlithgow), starting September 2013. These are always popular, so book early if you're interested.
Obviously, BSL is primarily used by / with Deaf people, and it is also a fascinating language to study in its own right. It is said that there are more users of BSL in the UK than of Welsh or Gaelic.
BSL is the foundation of both Makaton and Signalong, sign systems used with people who may not be deaf but who have learning difficulties and/or complex communication support needs. So if you want to get ahead of the game and be an ace teacher / helper / communication partner for someone who is learning and using one of these sign systems, a firm foundation in BSL would stand you in very good stead.
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What do users think of 'Heather' the Scottish voice?
By Sally Millar on Monday 1st July, 2013 at 10:29am
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Take a few minutes to listen to this lovely BBC interview with Eilidh, a young lass who uses a communication aid. As well as hearing from Eilidh, the interview also showcases a very thoughtful Mum, and 'Heather' the great Scottish voice distributed by CALL Scotland.
The interview is thought-provoking in many ways. Eilidh did really well, to manage to get a word in edgeways across the conversation going on. And apparently there was little time to prepare, so Eilidh's responses were not pre-prepared but generated on the spot. The interview also underlined how the quality of synthetic voices is so much higher - and therefore so are our expectations of them - than just a few years ago.
Eilidh's Mum now tells me that since the interview, Eilidh has reflected that she does not think of Heather as her own voice (she's already got her own voice!) but as 'the computer's voice' (the one she likes best).
Lots of positive praise for the Heather voice, in the interview. But also some criticism of Heather's 'diction' - which, by the way, we'll be looking into, as CALL has undertaken to feed back to CereProc, the developers, any problems that arise. First step is to make sure any device has the latest version of the voice installed. Speak to Robert at CALL if you're not sure.
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Scottish Children's Book Awards
By Allan Wilson on Friday 21st June, 2013 at 10:40am
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The Scottish Book Trust have announced the Shortlisted titles for each of the categories for the 2013 Scottish Children's Book Awards:
Bookbug Readers (3 - 7 years)
- Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson
- What's the Time Mr Wolf? by Debi Gliori
- Jumblebum by Chae Strathie and Ben Cort
Younger Readers (8 - 11 years)
- Black Tide by Caroline Clough
- The Accidental Time Traveller by Janis Mackay
- Really Weird Removals.com by Daniela Sacerdoti
Older Readers (11 - 16 years)
- The Seeing by Diana Hendry
- The Book of Doom by Barry Hutchison
- Ferryman by Claire McFall
It looks like a great selection of titles in each category, demonstrating the strength in depth of writing for children in Scotland at the moment.
CALL will be creating accessible copies of the shortlisted books in each category in a variety of formats for children who have difficulties with reading standard text. We hope that these will be ready at, or shortly after, the start of next session.
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ICT and Inclusion - Informative and inspirational
By Allan Wilson on Thursday 20th June, 2013 at 3:53pm
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Just under 200 teachers, therapists, lecturers and others with an interest in the use of ICT to support learners with additional support needs attended this year's ICT and Inclusion days in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The days were organised by CALL Scotland in partnership with The BRITE Initiative and showcased the latest software and assistive technology from many of the UK's leading suppliers.
Practical Approaches
Local teachers and specialists gave presentations on practical approaches to the use of technology in the classroom, demonstrating apps for iPad and Android devices, as well as more traditional technology.
Here are just a few of the many positive comments we have received about the days:
"Valuable day. Lots of learning opportunities and considerations to take forward."
"The presentations have been informative and inspiring. Practical issues for schools have also been acknowledged. A very useful day. Thank you!"
"Would definitely recommend CALL / BRITE info day like this to colleagues - congrats to hard working, enthusiastic team who put the day (and all the hard work behind this) together."
"Excellent day. Exhibitors great. All presenters had something to say."
"An extremely informative series of presentations. The focus on iPads and iPad apps I found very relevant as an increasing number of staff / pupils are using iPads in school."
"Overall it was a very informative and enjoyable day with great opportunities to network and to get up to date information / ideas / products. Thank you!"
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the day. It was very interesting - we are focusing on ICT development next session as part of our school improvement plan. This will help me give some direction to staff."
"Excellent and always thought provoking. Make it a two day event!!"
"A great day. Informative and inspirational. Looking forward to next year to discover how technology has moved even further for education in ASN."
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ICT and Inclusion - What's Happening in Glasgow?
By Allan Wilson on Thursday 13th June, 2013 at 12:29pm
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In addition to our ICT and Inclusion Day in Edinburgh on Tuesday, we're also very much looking forward to the ICT and Inclusion Day at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow on Wednesday 19th June, run in partnership with our friends from the BRITE Initiative.
School Presentations to the Fore!
The ASL Technology Service in Glasgow have put together a short programme of presentations from schools in Glasgow, which looks really exciting!
Emma Cackette from Milton School will be describing how the use of the Wii and iPads has enhanced learning experiences for pupils, while William Brown from Hollybrook Academy will be looking at affordable innovative ICT tools. The bank of 2 to 3 minute micro video lessons he has been creating sound great!
The ASL Technology Service will be telling people about the work they do in a typical day (if such a thing exists) to show how ICT takes the T out of CAN'T! Mairi Adkins will be talking about the Ashcraig School iBand - this could definitely be a fun session!
We are very grateful for the time and effort that Deirdre Arnott and her colleagues in the ASL Technology Service have put into creating a fantastic programme of school presentations.
Excited about iPads and Tablets?
There's a definite iPad theme to this year's ICT and Inclusion, showing the level of excitement created by these devices. In addition to the sessions from Milton and Ashcraig mentioned above, Paul Nisbet and Craig Mill from CALL will be giving a presentation on using iPads to support learners with reading and writing difficulties. In another session, Craig will be talking about the use of iBook Author to create engaging interactive books. Niall Hardy from BRITE will talk about effective iPad use for students, not just in terms of individual apps, but also in the development of study skills and strategies.
Several exhibitors will be demonstrating apps in their presentations. Inclusive Technology have new apps to show, while Crick Software will be demonstrating their new Clicker apps, designed to complement Clicker 6. Therapy Box and Ability World will be demonstrating apps to support communication. Fiona Wilson, a teacher based in Ireland, will be demonstrating her image2talk app for individuals with communication difficulties arising from autism.
We're not ignoring the other tablets, of course. Fil McIntyre from BRITE will be comparing iPads, Android and Windows tablets, particularly with regard to accessibility, while Iansyst will be demonstrating their CapturaTalk reading and writing support app for Android devices.
Its Not Just About Tablets!
There's a lot more to see and hear about than just iPads and other tablets at ICT and Inclusion. Optelec and Dolphin will be demonstrating some of the latest equipment to support learners with a visual impairment, while iHear will be talking about equipment to support learners with hearing impairments and attention disorders. Fil McIntyre will be showing how to add captions to video material for the same group. TextHelp, Concept Northern, Claro Software and Iansyst will be focusing on the use of technology to support learners with dyslexia. A new version of TextHelp's Read and Write Gold has just been released and is definitely worth a look. Paul Nisbet will be presenting on how to make inclusive digital learning resources in PDF format - also very relevant for people with reading and writing difficulties.
Communication is also an important theme for this year's ICT and Inclusion. Sally Millar from CALL will be demonstrating resources designed to promote support for people who use augmentative and alternative communication. In addition to the app providers mentioned above, Smartbox AT, Logan Technologies and Mayer Johnson will all have resources and equipment to support learners with communication difficulties.
Make sure you also visit the Sherston stand to find out about their latest software to support a broad range of learners. Sometimes the 'smaller' stands can be among the most interesting ones at ICT and Inclusion. Don't miss Doorway Online to find out about the latest resources available on this fabulous web site, while Claire Murray will be demonstrating some great resources on her Emotion Works stand.
Prize Draw
Don't miss the Prize Draw at the end of the day, providing a chance to win lots of prizes provided by the exhibitors. You'll have to stay to the end of the day to take part.
It's Not too Late to Register!
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ICT and Inclusion - What's Happening in Edinburgh?
By Allan Wilson on Thursday 13th June, 2013 at 10:02am
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We're looking forward to the ICT and Inclusion Day at CALL Scotland in Edinburgh on Tuesday 18th June, run in partnership with our friends from the BRITE Initiative.
iPads Lead the Way!
There's a definite iPad theme to this year's ICT and Inclusion, showing the level of excitement created by these devices. Edinburgh's Digital Learning Team will be showing how iPads are being used in schools across Edinburgh and will be showing some of the fantastic resources they have created - and made available to anyone who wants them through their web site. Paul Nisbet and Craig Mill from CALL will be giving a presentation on using iPads to support learners with reading and writing difficulties. In another session, Craig will be talking about the use of iBook Author to create engaging interactive books. Niall Hardy from BRITE will talk about effective iPad use for students, not just in terms of individual apps, but also in the development of study skills and strategies.
Several exhibitors will be demonstrating apps in their presentations. Inclusive Technology have new apps to show, while Crick Software will be demonstrating their new Clicker apps, designed to complement Clicker 6. Therapy Box and Ability World will be demonstrating apps to support communication.
We're not ignoring the other tablets, of course. Fil McIntyre from BRITE will be comparing iPads, Android and Windows tablets, particularly with regard to accessibility, while Shirley Lawson and David Gilmour will be reporting on the use of ChromeBooks in East Lothian. Iansyst will be demonstrating their CapturaTalk reading and writing support app for Android devices.
Its Not Just About Tablets!
There's a lot more to see and hear about than just iPads and other tablets at ICT and Inclusion. Optelec and Dolphin will be demonstrating some of the latest equipment to support learners with a visual impairment, while Concept Northern, Claro Software and Iansyst will be focusing on the use of technology to support learners with dyslexia. Paul Nisbet will be presenting on how to make inclusive digital learning resources in PDF format - also very relevant for people with reading and writing difficulties.
Communication is also an important theme for this year's ICT and Inclusion - Dean Robertson, a pupil from Oaklands School will be using PowerPoint to describe his journey through school. Sally Millar from CALL will be demonstrating resources designed to promote support for people who use augmentative and alternative communication. Smartbox AT, Logan Technologies and Mayer Johnson will all have resources and equipment to support learners with communication difficulties.
Make sure you also visit the Sherston stand to find out about their latest software to support a broad range of learners. Sometimes the 'smaller' stands can be among the most interesting ones at ICT and Inclusion. Don't miss Doorway Online to find out about the latest resources available on this fabulous web site. Andrew Manches from Edinburgh University (aka Pling Toys) uses technology in revolutionary ways to create engaging toys for learning, while Claire Murray will have some great resources on her Emotion Works stand.
Prize Draw
Don't miss the Prize Draw at the end of the day, providing a chance to win lots of prizes provided by the exhibitors. You'll have to stay to the end of the day to take part.
It's Not too Late to Register!
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Free exhibition: ICT and Inclusion 2013
By Robert Stewart on Wednesday 12th June, 2013 at 2:54pm
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CALL Scotland has been organising the FREE annual ICT and Inclusion road-show since 2001. It provides people with an opportunity to see and compare the latest software and technology to support students with additional support needs from most of the leading UK companies.
Location and dates for the exhibitions are:
- CALL Scotland, Edinburgh - 18 June 2013
- Thistle Hotel, Glasgow - 19 June 2013
Suppliers will describe their key products in timetabled sessions and there will also be short presentations by staff from CALL Scotland.
The exhibitions will be open from 9.00 am until 4.00 pm.
Free Lunch! A free buffet lunch is provided at each of the three venues. It is therefore important that people register for the exhibition in advance so we have an idea of numbers before the day. Please indicate when you book a place if you wish to stay for lunch.
To find out more and to book online, go to the ICT and Inclusion web page or telephone CALL Scotland on 0131 651 6235 to book a place.
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Calling all Scottish AAC Users!
By Joanna Courtney on Thursday 6th June, 2013 at 2:27pm
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In case you didn't already know, the Summer 2013 edition of the ContAACt newsletter, produced by Augmentative Communication in Practise: Scotland, is available to download now!
On page 5 you will read about Lee Ridley 'Lost Voice Guy,' the first Stand Up Comedian to use AAC, who will be doing a one-off gig for Scottish AAC Users on 19th August 2013 from 10am-3pm at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh, at the 'Finding Our Voices' event.
This is a UNIQUE opportunity to have a laugh with Lee, meet up with other AAC Users and have a great day out in the height of the Summer in the Festival City!
It's also FREE and lunch is included. For more details and to book a place please email email@example.com or download a booking form here, so you can get the date in your diary! You can also call 0131 651 6068 for further information.
Competition Time!
Fancy YOURSELF as a bit of a comedian? ContAACt is running a competition (on page 5) to find the best joke from an AAC User and keep Lee on his toes!
Please email your your entries to email@example.com by 31st July. Lee will judge the competition himself and there are great 'Lost Voice Guy' prizes to be won.
The winner(s) will be announced at the 'Finding Our Voices' event on 19th August, so come on give us your best gags!
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Problems with Co:Writer, netbooks and Numlock keys?
By Paul Nisbet on Wednesday 5th June, 2013 at 3:09pm
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We've had reports of Co:Writer 6 not working properly on netbook and laptop computers, particularly those running Windows 7. This seems to be a particular problem with the thousands of Toshiba NB250/300/500 machines bought through the Procurement Scotland arrangement.
Here's how to solve it for a Toshiba NB300 with Windows 7:
- Start up the computer and run Co:Writer.
- If you see this message either immediately, or when you try and open your word processor:
- then hold down the FN key and press and release F10.
- Then do it again.
- Co:writer should now work properly.
In our tests, we found that you only need to do this the first time you run Co:Writer. Once you've got it working the first time it seems to work properly from then on even if you log off and log on, put it to sleep, restart or shut down and start up.
Visit the Don Johnston web site if you want to find out more about this problem.
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Return to Voice Comments
By Allan Wilson on Friday 31st May, 2013 at 4:00pm
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Back in the days of Windows XP and Word 2003 (possibly not long ago for many!), the Voice Comments / Voice Notes facility in Microsoft Word provided a valuable tool for allowing a pupil with writing difficulties to record answers to questions directly into a Word document and to save the document so that the teacher could listen back to their answer at a convenient time. This was NOT voice recognition, which could be too difficult for many pupils to master, but instead involved making a short voice recording and embedding it in the document. We thought it was a great tool to allow a pupil to quickly record an answer to a question, rather than struggling to type an answer, as a result of a physical disability or a writing difficulty such as dyslexia. It was particularly useful for younger pupils for whom speech recognition was not a realistic option at that stage. (For some pupils, regular use of voice comments could lead on to successful use of speech recognition at a later stage in their development.)
Unfortunately, although later versions of Windows and Word had a Voice Comment / Note facility, it became so complicated to use that it was impossible for pupils to make use of it. Various 'work arounds' were tried, but nothing matched the basic simplicity and effectiveness of the original Voice Comments facility in Word as a means for a pupil to record their answers - until now.
Yesterday TextHelp launched Read and Write Gold Version 11. The very first new feature that they highlight is a new VoiceNote facility. We haven't had an opportunity to try it yet, but from the video introduction it appears to do exactly what we would want, letting a pupil record an answer to a question in a Word document by voice and save the file for the teacher to review later. The pupil can play back the recording and if they want to change something it is easy to re-record their answer.
We were quite excited by this new development and welcomed it on Twitter. Within hours Alasdair King from Claro Software contacted us to say that he had some time ago developed a free Add-on for Word 2007 and Word 2010, which could be used to record directly into a Word document. We downloaded it from the Claro downloads site and gave it a try. It works very well.
Once Recorder for Word has been installed, open the document you want to use (e.g. an existing worksheet that you want to make more accessible) and add prompts for the pupil to use for adding comments, e.g. saying 'Record your answer to Question 1 here'. Save the document.
If you (or the pupil) open the document and click on the Add-Ins Tab, you'll see a new set of big buttons appear at the top of the screen, marked Record, Pause and Stop. The pupil should place the cursor at the prompt, click on the Record button, dictate their answer and click on Stop. An icon for the recording will appear at the start of the paragraph with the cursor. It would have been better if the icon appeared at the cursor, but this is a minor issue for most pupils as it is easy to move the recording to the end of the question, provided that the pupil can use a mouse or suitable alternative.
It is a good idea for the pupil to listen to the recording, to make sure that it was properly picked up by the microphone - this can be done by double clicking on the recording icon to play it. The pupil can re-record their answer if they want to change it, or if there was some problem with the recording. Unfortunately, they can't record over the top of the existing icon, they have to make a new recording and delete the old one. Once the pupil is happy with the answer they can move on to the next question and when they have completed the task the file can be saved. The recordings will be embedded in the file when it is saved so that the teacher can come along later, open the document and listen to the pupil's answers.
You wait ten years for a bus, then two come at once...
It has been a long wait for a suitable replacement for the Word 2003 Voice Comment feature. but now people have a choice of two very functional options. If a school is already considering investing in Read and Write Gold, then the addition of the Voice Note facility is a definite enhancement to the extensive collection of reading and writing support tools already present. On the other hand, if a school is just looking to add a facility for adding voice recordings to a Word document, then the Claro option would be an excellent choice, particularly if they are looking for a low cost option. We understand that the voice recording facility will be added to some future Claro products.
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The Future of AAC in Scotland - presentations available
By Sally Millar on Friday 31st May, 2013 at 2:57pm
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NHS Education for Scotland (NES) recently hosted a dissemination seminar in Edinburgh, to update and share information about the development of the Right to Speak project, whose aim is to improve AAC services in Scotland.
Two people who use AAC, Rachael Monk and Barry Smith, gave illuminating presentations about what AAC means to them. Video of those presentations should be available in due course.
Also at that seminar, Communication Matters launched the recently published Final Report of the AAC Evidence Base project. The results of this UK-wide research project were discussed with particular reference to Scotland.
The original Right to Speak report, and three key presentations from the recent dissemination seminar, including the one relating to the CM AAC Evidence Base Report (with a Scottish perspective) are available for viewing and printing, on the Communication Matters website.
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Using Proloquo2Go text for Story Writing
By Joanna Courtney on Thursday 30th May, 2013 at 3:02pm
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I was asked recently by a teacher in a primary school about whether a child using an iPad with Proloqu2Go for communication could use the text she created within the app for story writing and recording her written work.
At the time, the only way to do this was by creating a page for 'stories' and saving spoken phrases from the 'Recents' view onto buttons to retell a story later on.
That has now changed with the release of Proloquo2Go version 3.0, which you can update to FREE if you have already bought the app. As well as some new Australian voices, expressive voice capabilities (words like wow, yummy, oh no! said with feeling by the synthetic voices) and scanning for switch users, the new version enables you to copy text from the message window into other apps.
This means you can use your spoken text output in a text message, email, on Facebook or Twitter or within a story writing app (any app that accepts text basically) e.g. Clicker apps, Book Creator, notebook etc
Let me show you how it works.
First the child types in what they want to say in their story using Proloquo2Go e.g. It is a sunny day
Then the child (if possible) or a helper selects the copy button:
They then open the app into which they want to copy the text e.g. My Story (lovely little story app £1.49)
and hold down their finger in the area where the text is to go and then press paste:
et Voila, the text appears!
The child can then either use the app's simple drawing tools to do a picture to go with their text or use photos from the camera roll or take a new photo straight onto the story page:
You can't record the voice output from Proloquo2Go into the app, so if you want the story page spoken out too, someone will need to record it.
However, this is great for AAC users who want to do some creative story writing and record their written work as the story will be saved within the MyStory app and can also be emailed to the teacher to read, save, print out and mark.
Also nice to take home to show parents or carers.
Happy story writing!
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CALL's CPD Programme for 2013 - 2014
By Allan Wilson on Wednesday 22nd May, 2013 at 4:09pm
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The CALL Scotland CPD Programme for 2013 - 2014 has now been formally launched and is on its way to schools throughout Scotland. We generally send it to Learning Support in the case of secondary schools and to the Head Teacher for primaries and special schools. Let us know if you would like to receive your own paper copy. Details of the courses we are offering are available on the CALL web site. Booking is now open.
Communication and Technology
CALL Scotland courses cover a broad range of topics relating to ICT to support pupils with additional support needs. Courses are aimed mainly at teachers, therapists and other professionals working with these learners, but parents are also welcome to attend if a topic is of particular interest to them. Get in touch with us for information on our Parent-Rate.
As a result of high demand for our hands-on iPad courses, this year we are running more and have also added an Introduction to iPads course to our programme. If you are new to iPads, we encourage you to attend this course before one of the more advanced ones. Topics for these courses include Picture and Symbol/Text Apps to Support Communication, and the use of iPads to support learners with dyslexia or with a visual impairment. These courses have a limited number of places and fill up fast, so book early!
SQA Digital Exams
Over 1,300 candidates from 173 schools/centres used digital papers for SQA exams in 2012. SQA have announced that from August, using human readers and scribes will not be regarded as 'reasonable adjustments' for National Literacy Units. CALLs courses on Creating and Implementing Digital Exams will be especially relevant for the coming session as digital papers increasingly become the most appropriate format for many learners with reading and writing difficulties and physical disabilities.
Many of the courses have a significant hands-on component, giving an ample opportunity to explore programs and devices with lots of support readily available from CALL staff. We have our own sets of laptops and iPads for training courses.
For Parents
The programme includes two events specifically aimed at parents. The Information Day in November (Date to be confirmed) is a parent/carer-only event, giving a chance to ask questions and to find out more about technology without having to keep an eye on the children. We also have a more child-centred event, The Family Fun Day (Date also to be confirmed), which we organise in conjunction with Augmentative Communication in Practice: Scotland. Here, parents and children can try equipment and take part in various activities together. Further details will be announced in the near future. To be sure of getting information about these, sign up for our regular email newsletter.
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ICT for struggling readers and writers: lets get on with it!
By Paul Nisbet on Wednesday 22nd May, 2013 at 3:19pm
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I had a call yesterday from a parent who was concerned about her 10 year old son who is dyslexic and dyspraxic. He has been receiving good support from the school staff, particularly with regard to his reading - his mum said that his reading age had been 1.5 years behind but that followed intensive work with staff, using Toe-by-Toe and other techniques, he was now reading at the same level as his peers.
However, she was concerned about his handwriting, which because of his dyspraxia, is difficult to read. He doesnt like writing at all, finds it very hard to read his own writing, and is getting upset about it. The parent had raised the possibility of her son using ICT instead of handwriting with staff, and said that the school were not very enthusiastic.
Now, I dont know the details and without meeting the pupil I wouldnt be able to say whether he should or should not use ICT instead of or as well as handwriting. But it does make me worried and so I thought Id offer a few thoughts around this issue. Heres what I think.
If someone in Primary 5 is dyspraxic and consequently has slow and illegible handwriting then its time to stop causing them grief and time to start helping them to access the curriculum. Forcing a pupil to continue writing by hand when there are easier, faster and more effective methods is not good practice. It risks disengagement, prevents them from accessing educational opportunities and creates low self-esteem. Its not successful, not confident, not responsible, not effective and not what schools should be doing.
Heres an example of a (different) pupils handwriting he was in Primary 7 at the time:
Heres a sample of his writing using a simple word processor (an AlphaSmart). Much easier to read, although the spelling is a bit of an issue.
befor you go you haf to make a traye. First get a peace of fishing line about 1 metre long. Then get a reasnedul sised hook after you have got one big enuf and sharp enuf laiy it to your trais and then get a flote. put the end of the trais that does not have the hook thro the hole at the top of the flot then tiay a not.
And heres a sample of his writing with a word predictor (Co:Writer). Readable and much better spelling:
First get a piece of fishing line about 1 metre long. Then get a reasonable sized hook. After you have got one big enough and sharp enough tie it to your trace
No contest, really, is there?
Its personal
ICT, in the form of a personal netbook, laptop, tablet or iPad is vital for pupils who have difficulties with reading or writing. Its like an electronic jotter. You need to have a device on your desk, available at all time. Getting up from your desk to go to the back of the room to use the class computer is no good: you wouldnt expect someone to get up and go to the back of the class every time they needed to use a pencil and write in a jotter, so why accept this with ICT?
Its a skill that needs taught
We teach handwriting. We also need to teach keyboarding (ideally, touch typing, if possible) and ICT skills. We teach handwriting skills to develop speed, fluidity and automaticity so that ideally, your thoughts flow direct from brain to page without having to think about the formation of letters. So too with keyboarding the main reason for learning to touch typing, in my view, is not speed, but to develop the same automaticity.
Despite the notion of digital learners young people are not born with innate ability to use a word processor or a word predictor. They have to be taught. By their teachers. This needs staff who know the technology, and time set aside for teaching.
Use it most or all of the time
Its tempting to think that you only want to use the ICT for extended writing, but there can be a few problems with this. Its too easy to leave the device on the side and not have it ready and inevitably the battery goes flat and you get out of the habit and before you know where you are, the pupil is in S4 and about to use a scribe in his exams. Avoid this: make ICT the default tool, not the exceptional tool.
To do this we need to think digital: use ICT yourself to create resources and give the same resources to the pupil so they can access them on the device. Get digital versions of textbooks from the Books for All Database. Use digital reading books. Scan paper worksheets and other materials into the computer so that the pupil can complete them on the device. (Lots of programs can do this, from the free Foxit Reader, to for example Acrobat Pro, FineReader and more specialist software like ClaroRead, Read and Write Gold or Kurzweil.)
Lets stop making life hard for ourselves and our learners.
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New TeeJay and Nelson Thornes Digital Maths books on the Books for All Database
By Paul Nisbet on Friday 17th May, 2013 at 5:20pm
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We have some more new maths textbooks on the Books for All Database.
TeeJay Maths Curriculum for Excellence titles
We are very grateful to TeeJay Publishers who have kindly provided PDFs of their six new Curriculum for Excellence textbooks: Books 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b. These cover Curriculum for Excellence First, Second and Third levels. We have added bookmarks to aid navigation, matched the page numbers to the paper books, and 'reader-enabled' the files so that learners can use the drawing, audio recording and highlighting tools in Adobe Reader to access the books. We have not yet added answer boxes, but learners can type answers in using the Adobe Reader 'Typewriter' tool. You can read and access the books on your iPad using the free Adobe Reader app, or preferably PDFaloud or iAnnotate. Click here to see these new books in the database.
Thanks also to Caroline Jamieson in Moray for contributing a Large Print copy of the Curriculum for Excellence Book 1b. Caroline has created the first 10 chapters and is working on the rest. See it here.
Nelson Thornes New Maths in Action
Marie Lawson in Shetland has uploaded an 18 point Large Print version of New Maths in Action S1/1, to add to the 24 point Large Print copy of the S1/2 book that's already there.
We have also uploaded scanned PDF copies of New Maths in Action S1/3, S1/B and S2/3. These are really most suitable for learners with physical disabilities who need digital versions of books because they have difficulty handling the paper copies. The files are PDFs that have been created by scanning the paper copies, and while we have converted them to readable text, we don't have the resources to check every word and so there may be some text recognition errors. The books can be zoomed and magnified, and the text read out using text-to-speech, so they should be reasonably accessible to pupils with dyslexia or reading difficulties, or mild visual impairment. Again, the books are reader-enabled so that learners can type, draw, highlight and otherwise annotate the files.
Click here to see these new books.


text:
Sharpening a New Mulching Blade
Hi all,
I purchased a new mulching lawn mower. I noticed that the blade is only sharpened at the end of the blade instead of going a little farther towards the center of the blade.
My questions are:
1. Why don't they sharpen it more towards the center of the middle like where the knotch stops (about halfway between the end and the center?
2. Wouldn't this make the mower work less if more of the blade was cutting grass?
3. Would it hurt anything if I sharpened it more towards the center?
Thanks in advance
If you ever sharpen a blade that has an edge far inward, you notice that as you travel in from the outer tip -that the edge does less work. The inner edge just needs the grass basically cleaned off of it and it is as new. They say that the majority of the grass is centrifugally blown outward.
I am quite certain that i do it wrong and even more certain my way works.
I spend an entire 2-3 minutes before each mowing touching up the blade with a Dremel. Not with their mower sharpening attachment, i just use their orange stone or i have some diamond tipped sharpening stones for the dremel. I keep the entire edge knife sharp and notice a huge difference when I am in a hurry and don't bother.
How much will it help? who knows. Can it hurt anything? don't see how. if you sharpen it once and it stays razor sharp then it did not matter much, if you start sharp and it dulls then it made a difference but I love a razor sharp edge.... One of these days I will but a high end mower but my neighbor has a top of the line $800 mower and I have a piece of crap and I get a better cut - makes him nuts

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Editorial Introduction to Issue 70
The editor introduces readers to the content of Ariadne Issue 70.
News and Events
Ariadne presents a brief summary of news and events.
January 2008, issue54, news and events


text:
Sports Category
Sports news, commentary and scores with wit and added value. We compare and contrast the best and worst sports reporting in the mainstream press, blogs, TV and online. We love the English Premier League (Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Manchester United and Manchester City) and all things football but we cover cricket, rugby, the Olympics, tennis, golf, F1 and highlights of the sporting year.
Arsenal Transfer balls: 140,000 reasons for Theo Walcott to love Chelsea and Liverpool
Transfer Balls: the Times says Chelsea are ready to make a move for Arsenal's Theo Walcott.
Matt Hughes says Walcott, 26, wants to stay at Arsenal. But at the end of this season Walcott's current contract will have just one year to run.
There is no guantratee Arsenal and Walcott will agree on a new contract. So. He could be off.
But Arsene Wenger says there has been progress:
"The first contacts have been established with the embassy! We will see how that progresses politically. Walcott was difficult to convince (last time) and that's why it took us much time."
Posted: 1st, April 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Transfer balls: Hummels 'pledges' future Manchester United and then explains
Transfer balls: The Sun leads with news that Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels has made a "pledge" to join Manchester United. Hummels is reported to have said that Manchester United is the only non-German team he will play for.
He is quoted:
"If I was to transfer abroad at some stage, then it would only be to Manchester United."
Posted: 1st, April 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Transfer balls: Sterling to Arsenal, Walcott to Liverpool, Reus to everywhere
Transfer balls looks at the Daily Mirror's lead story: Raheem Sterling could be leaving Liverpool for life at Arsenal. Recalling how well things went when Arsenal last tried to buy a Liverpool player – a failed bid of £40m plus £1 for Luis Suarez – investigating the veracity of this story seems worthwhile.
John Cross reminds readers that former QPR starlet Sterling has yet to sign a new deal at Liverpool. He says a raft of big clubs are after the player, mentioning Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Cross then states that "City will make a big bid" for the England player.
That's pretty much the entire back-page news story. It continues two pages inside, with Cross saying that "Arsenal are serious contenders" and have made "discreet enquiries about Sterling's availability". Given that the Gunners' apparent discretions are back-page news, you wonder what form the club's enquiries took: a word in the ear of the Mirror's Arsenal reporter, perhaps?
Over in the Mail, news is that Sterling will not sign for Liverpool "even if Liverpool offer £180,000 a week". Says who? We're not told? It's just a fact that if Liverpool lose their minds and offer Sterling £180,000-a week to play for them he will not stay. Make it £180,001 and… yeah, maybe he will. Call his agent, Make the offer. See what occurs.
After that uter balls, over in the Express, their story is that Liverpool are interested in buying Arsenal's Theo Walcott, who will be replaced at The Emirates by Marco Reus. Really? Reus is the player the Express reported had agreed to join Real Madrid and the Mirror said had joined Barcelona.
Such are the facts in the trusty tabloids…
Posted: 30th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Transfer balls: Arsenal chase Victor Wanyama who wants to play for a Top 7 club, like Spurs
The Sun says Arsenal are looking to buy Southampton's Victor Wanyama for £30m contains a line to make Gunners fans smirk.
The Sun says Spurs also want Wanyama, 23:
A source close to the Kenya ace said: "Victor would only consider a top-four club — or Spurs as he admires Pochettino from their time at Saints."
…or Spurs. Ouch!
To recap: picky Victor would only consider leaving the Saints for a top seven club, then.
And as for the Sun's scoop, well, in 2013 the paper reported that he was off to Arsenal for…£10m::
ARSENAL are poised to slap in a £10 million-plus bid for Celtic star Victor Wanyama. SunSport understands Gunners boss and long term admirer Arsene Wenger is finally ready to spend big on the Kenyan midfielder — and meet the SPL champs' asking price.
The Gunners never did bid for the Wanyama…
Posted: 29th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Transfer balls: Manchester City knock £10m of Ross Barkley bid as Chelsea wait with £50m
The Daily Star is reporting in an "EXCLUSIVE" that Manchester City and Chelsea want on sign Everton's Ross Barkley. The Star adds that the two clubs can have Barkley for £50m.
That is, of course, a ludicrous sum for a promising player. But if Everton can get that much for a young player whose form has dipped, then good luck to them.
The Star's report contains not a single quote from either Manchester City or Chelsea. It just tells readers that – incredible as it sounds – both clubs would prefer to spend less to buy Barkely.
In the frenzied world of bullshit.com football reporting, The Metro reads the Star's story and tells its readers:
Chelsea transfer news: Chelsea line up £50million signing of Everton star Ross Barkley
No. They are not. Everton apparently want £50m for their rising star. We've read that Chelsea would like to buy him. But any talk of a bid is nonsense.
Over in the Sunday People news is that City will offer £35m Everton for Ross Barkley.
That's a £10m drop on the £45m the Telegraph said Manchester City were going to bid.
The People's story also contains not a single fact to support its scoop.
Such are the facts…
Posted: 29th, March 2015 | In: Chelsea, Manchester City, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Transfer Balls: Chelsea sell Petr Cech To Arsenal twice
Transfer Balls: Are Chelsea going to sell Petr Cech? Are Arsenal going to buy him? The Daily Telegraph says Chelsea might be. And Arsenal will pay £10m.
We cast our minds back to November, when the trusty Metro told readers that Cech had joined Arsenal for £7m:
Did he? No. Because The Argus says Chech won't make any decision on his future until the summer..
Such are the facts…
Posted: 28th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Grand National: Aintree bans photos of 'typical' Liverpool women
News is that Aintree racecourse wants to ban photographs of women in 'inappropriate' poses. Aintree racecourse supremo John Baker tells the Liverpool Echo:
"We want to overwhelm the negativity, to push the positivity to the front. Our event is full of character, it's fun, and that's generated by the personality of the Liverpool people."
He wants more photos of Liverpool women in their traditional demure poses, such as embroidering cushions, fox-trotting and eating cucumber sandwiches (or 'cucumber sarnies' as the locals call them).
Posted: 27th, March 2015 | In: Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Chelsea Tales of the Unexpected: John Terry was Dennis Wise's toilet 'fag'
Chelsea "legend" John Terry has been talking with the Chelsea website about his apprenticeship at Stamford Bridge.
After joining from West Ham United's academy in 1995 at the age of 14, Terry turned to Dennis Wise, then Chelsea's irritant-in-chief:
"I used to clean Dennis Wise's boots. He wanted his boots perfect. I used to take really good care of them." I used to Vaseline them and stuff like that. They were about size 2½! I learned a lot from Wisey. Every now and then he gave me a little bonus. Every time he scored I was on £25, which was half my wages at the time!"
Good old, Wisey.
"I'd do anything for them (the senior players). I'd make their teas and coffees." Even silly things like sit on the toilet to make the seat warm for them in the cold winter days at the training ground. It's bizarre when you think about it but that was part of growing up."
Posted: 27th, March 2015 | In: Chelsea, Sports | Comment (1) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Transfer balls: Gareth Bale joins Manchester United for £90m and Chelsea for £150m
Transfer Balls: So, how much is Gareth Bale worth to Manchester United, Manchester City and all the usual suspects lining up to buy the Real Madrid star?
The Daily Express says it's £90m.
That's the same Daily Express who said Manchester United would buy Bale for £90m last January. They didn't:
Manchester United had best strike fast because that price is rising. It was £80m in the Daily Express a few weeks ago:
And the Indy said it was £100m.
Mind you, lsate last year the Mail said the figure for Bale was £120m:
It was getting a bit pricey.
But then an oligarch stepped in to reinflate the fee. The Mirror reported that Cheslea will buy Bale for…£150m:
Does anyone know how much Gareth Bale is worth?
Posted: 26th, March 2015 | In: Chelsea, Manchester City, manchester united, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Transfer Balls: the West Ham United star who left for Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester United
Transfer Balls looks at the affairs of West Ham United's Winston Reid.
On January 5 2015, the Guardian said Reid was on his way to Arsenal or Liverpool.
That same day, the Daily Star made a statement:
CONFIRMED: Man United and Arsenal target Winston Reid WILL leave West Ham
On February 1 2015, the Daily Mirror said that Reid was leaving the club. He was going to play for Spurs:
West Ham defender Winston Reid set to move to London rivals Tottenham in the summer
Which brings us to today's story in the Sun in which Reid explains why he signed a £65,000-a-week deal to play for…West Ham United.
Sucha re the facts in the mainstream media…
Posted: 25th, March 2015 | In: Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Transfer Balls: Arsenal 'buy' Dybala for £31m, chase Cavani, want Marco Verratti and miss Benzema
Are Arsenal buying Palermo's Paulo Dybala? The Telegraph says they could be. The paper also says Chelsea might buy him.
The Standard says Dybala will cost £30m. It says Arsenal will not pay that. That's odd because the Daily Star says Arsenal have agreed to buy Dybala for £31m.
The Express says he will cost Manchester United £28.9m – and they want him, too.
The Daily Star says Arsenal are really keen on Karim Benzema – as they are every year. But they have been "rocked" by news that Paris St Germain also want him. But not to worry because that will mean Arsenal sign PSG's Edinson Cavani for [insert ridiculous amount of money here].
The Daily Express says Arsenal are in for Paris Saint-Germain's Marco Verratti and Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger. But, then, it says Real Madrid want both of those player, too. The Express says it knows this because Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has "specifically requested the duo". Yeah. He didn't say "get me whathisface and oojamiflip". He used their actual names. #flattered.
The Metro, says Arsenal will "snare" Chile international Charles Aranguiz by dangling Alexis Sanchez over a bear pit filled with cash.
Such are the facts…
Posted: 25th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, manchester united, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Liverpool balls: Mamadou Sakho gets English lessons from Joey Barton
Liverpool news now. The Sun says that Mamadou Sakho used only to speak French to his teammates. Is that good or bad? The Liverpool team that lined up against Manchester United featured five native English speakers. So. Speaking just in French is less than ideal.
But the best bit about the Sun's story is that Mamadou is quoted thus:
"Learning the language has been the hardest part of adapting to life in England. I get very frustrated when I can't express myself. Some people told me to speak in French, saying it would enable me to relax a little. But when I spoke French on the pitch, calling for substitutions and similar matters, nobody understood what I was saying. I thought, 'oh no, this is pointless!' and felt I really had to learn English. It took me some time, but I'm fine now."
His English is superb.
But we do wonder if when Mamadou was speaking only in French, he was doing so with the affectation of a broad Scouse accent – you know, in the same vein as Liverpool lad Joey Barton speaks French to the people of Marseilles:
Posted: 25th, March 2015 | In: Liverpool, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Manchester United balls: Falcao cries, Di Maria sulks and boots don't talk
Having been told by an insider that Radamel Falcao has been "reduced to tears" at Manchester United, the Sun leads with news that his teammate Angel Di Maria is sulking after Louis Van Gaal told him off for playing badly.
One page in and we get to see rheumy-eyed Falcao and read that the misfiring Colmbian will "walk out" on Manchster United unless he gets a "public show of faith" from Louis Van Gaal.
Posted: 25th, March 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Liverpool balls: Gerrard earns by the second and Skrtel is a master of cool
When Manchester United beat Liverpool 2-1, the point scoring had only just begun. The Daily Mirror's man with an abacus used various esoteric and expert techniques and algorithms to award his scores out of 10 to the game's players.
The scores for the Liverpool team are worthy of comment. Three Liverpool players – Adam Lallana, Moreno and…Steven Gerrard scored 4 points each. Gerrard scored one point for every 9.5 seconds he was on the pitch. He was, of course, red carded after 38 seconds of playing time. Lallana and Moreno lasted 45 minutes and 66 minutes, respectively.
And that's not all.
The Mirror praises "Liverpool's best defender" Martin Skrtel.
He "kept his head while others lost theirs".
Skrtel has been charged with violent conduct over an alleged stamp on Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea.
It's almost as if those points aren't worth the paper tgey're written on….
Posted: 23rd, March 2015 | In: Liverpool, manchester united, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Compare and contrast Liverpool's 'Sorry' Gerrard to Chelsea's filthy foreigner Diego Costa
So. How did the tabloids react to the sight of Liverpool player Steven Gerrard stamping on Manchester United's Ander Herrera? Did they lead with a photo of the 'horror' foul?
Because when Chelsea's foreigner Diego Costa stamped on a Liverpool player, it was the lead story for all the wrong reasons:
But this time it's different.
Posted: 23rd, March 2015 | In: Chelsea, Liverpool, Sports | Comments (3) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Transfer balls: Paul Pogba to join Manchester United after signing and not signing for PSG
Transfer Balls – a look at drivel presented as football fact by the mainstream media. Today the Press returns to France and Juventus star Paul Pogba. And news is that he's on his way to Chelsea and Manchester United.
The Times and Telegraph both say Manchester United will splash out £60m on Pogba. Jason Burt says Pogba is the "key" Manchester United target.
Burt adds that some other teams also like Pogba: Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Real Madrid are all "strongly linked with him".
Of course, we have already read in the Express that Pogba is off to Arsenal, and has signed a deal to join PSG. Burt catches up with the PSG angle:
Juventus director Pavel Nedved was quoted in La Parisien newspaper on Saturday as saying that PSG had submitted a bid – but, in this same report, this was denied by the French club's director of sport, Olivier Letang.
Clear as mud, then.
Sky Sports says Pogba could remain at Juventus. After all, they are in the quarter-final of the Champions' League, and Pogba was happy to run his Manchester United contract down and leave the club in 2012. Why go back?
Which leads to Jacon Steinbeg's news in the Guardian that Pogba will be playing for Manchester City next season. Well, maybe. He understands that such a link is "nonsense".
And if you want real nonsense, you need to look at the Metro and the Star, which reports:
Chelsea are getting closer to landing Paul Pogba, according to The Metro. They quote Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta who has hinted Juventus can do without Pogba.
Did he?
Marotta said: "We are here celebrating a victory achieved by a team, a team that played without Pogba. This means football is a team sport and not just about individuals."
So. He did not say anything about Pogba being surpluss to requirements. He said football is a team game.
And what Moratta went on to say – not something quoted by either paper but mentioned in the Standard – is:
"Pogba is a young player with lots of promise but he is realising his potential," he said after Sunday's 1-0 victory over Genoa. We want to win and we don't necessarily have to sell our best players. It is clear that players of this quality attract interest from other clubs but we don't seek buyers and there has been no contact."
Such are the facts…
Posted: 23rd, March 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Liverpool and Manchester United Balls: 43 Seconds of Steven Gerrard out-performed 45 minutes of Adam Lallana
Liverpool lost 1-2 at home to Manchester United in the Premier League. We at Anorak always like to see what the local newpapers of both sides thought of the game.
The monocular Liverpool Echo and Manchester Evening News only rate players from their own areas. The MEN says the game's best player was Juan Mata, with an 9 out of 10.
The Liverpool Post offers no rating for the bright Mata, but does say that the best Liverpool player was Sakho, who gets a 7. It gives Adam Lallana a 4. Lallana was not out-scored by Steven Gerrard, who replaced the former Southampton star and lasted just 43 seconds before he earned a red card. Instead of the '0' Gerrard should have scored, the Post offers no score. Ity then adds that Gerrard is The best player to have pulled on a Liverpool shirt – ever.
In the haste to excuse Gerrard, the Post's man-on-the scene notes:
"Ironically, after that [the sending off] they [Liverpool] played a lot better, they were a better team today with 10 than they were with 11."
Good old Stevie, G., who does right when he does wrong.
Elswhere the Post adds that Gerrard is "saving the fairytale for Wembley".
Posted: 22nd, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Liverpool, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Manchester United: Spitting Jonny Evans pleads the Winslow Boy denfence
Banned for spitting at Newcastle United's Papiss Cisse – who then returned fire with interest – Manchester United's Jonny Evans is talking to the Times. The headline – "If I'd genuinely spat, Mum and Dad would have been disgusted" – gives readers heads-up as to what the kind of nonsense they can expect.
This is no mea culpa. This is me a victim. Banned for six matches for his part in that exchange of bodily fluids, the caption beneath Evans' face tells readers the spitting is "alleged".
James Ducker says this is Evans telling his side of the story. But it looks a lot like the Times' is cocking an overly sympathetic ear, a feeling compounded by the accompanying photo of Cisse gobbing at Evans but no photo of Evans clearing his throat at Cisse.
Posted: 21st, March 2015 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment (1) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Basketball player with sexually suggestive name sees it used over and over
Posted: 20th, March 2015 | In: Sports, Strange But True | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Transfer balls: Arsenal's Walcott to Liverpool, Sterling to Real Madrid and Manchester United's Falcao to the Arndale Centre
Transfer balls: The big football news in the Daily Mirror is that Arsenal's Theo Walcott is off to Liverpool. Maybe he will "Never Walc Alone":
Theo Walcott is 26. He has just 15 months to run on his curent £90,000-a-week contract (although that rises to £100,000 a week in the Daily Express). And since returning from injury Walcott's not one enough to surplant Danny Wellbeck in the Arsenal pecking order.
The Telegraph says Walcott will remain at Arsenal if he can get a new deal worth more than £100,000-a-week.
But any move to Liverpool, the team he supported as a boy, depends on what the Reds' Raheem Sterling does. The Express says he's rejected an offer of £90,000-a-week to remain at Liverpool. We lean that big-spending Real Madrid are watching him closely.
All fans hang on to the idea that their team's players love their club above all others. They don't. They see the money flooding into the game, and they want more and more of it.
The Mail says Arsenal's top-earners Sanchez and Ozil earn around £140,000-per-week. That's around the same sum as Liverpool's Steven Gerrard earns a week.
So. Their team-mates demand parity with the top tier earners. But they're not as good.
Maybe the future is for pay-per-view players, each star linked to the amount the paying fans will cough up to watch them? The better they play, the more the punters click their keypads, and the more the winning players take from the wages pool.
This would more likely result in the likes of Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho earning far more than his curent deal of £70,000-a-week and his teammate Glen Johnson knocking up to four 'noughts' from his £90,000-a-week-deal.
Meanwhile, over at Manchester United, Radamel Falcao will not get his £265,000-a-week wages, and what with mortgages and other committments start looking to boost his income with a Saturday job in a hairdressers.
Walcott to Liverpool. Sterling to Real. Falcao to the Arndale Centre. You read it here first…
Posted: 20th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Liverpool, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Transfer balls: Chelsea make Bale, Varane, Reus and Messi their tops targets
Transfer balls spoits the Daily Express story that Chelsea will spend £150m this summer. Anthony Chapman calls this "incredible". And it would be.
He informs readers that Chelsea are all set to buy Real Madrid duo Gareth Bale and Raphael Varane. They are Jose Mourinho's "top targets".
Great news for Blues. But just five says ago, the Express told readers that Chelsea were spending £75m on three new players.
And in November, the Express said Jose Mourinho has made Marco Reus his TOP TARGET. And he would cost £20m.
And let's not forget the news in January: "Lionel Messi backed to complete STUNNING £200m Chelsea switch."
All utter balls in the Daily Express.
Posted: 18th, March 2015 | In: Chelsea, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Hillsborough: the Liverpool 96 get truth only when the uniform is off and God is waiting
Why did 96 Liverpool fans lose their lives on15 April 1989 at the FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium? We had thought it was to do with treating football fans as sub-human scum, a problem to be solved through new forms of control. How else was it that when the innocent were dying in cages the police called not for the ambulances but for the attack dogs? Why else was it that with the dead not yet buried and the dying in hospital, the Press felt able to continue the theme that all football fans deserved it?
Football was "a slum sport watched by slum people". Well, so said the Sunday Times newspaper. But the Times was only right about the stadiums, neglected and inadequate. In May 1985, the Bradford City stadium fire in May 1985 killed 56 people.
In 1985, 38 Italian fans died following a charge by Liverpool supporters at the Heysel stadium. The dead were killed when a faulty wall collapsed.
So. Why were Liverpool fans given the Leppings Lane end at Hillsborough while their less well-supported opponents Nottingham Forest stood in the bigger end of the ground? Because that was how the police wanted it.
You can read my views on that horrific day in "Hillsborough: 96 Liverpool Fans Killed By 'A Slum Sport Watched By Slum People In Slum Stadiums'". Everyone who went to a football match in the 1980s will understand that the Liverpool fans who died could have been them. Amid all the guff about the "football family", this is one truth that binds all fans.
And so to today's news in of all places The Sun, the newspaper that more than any other bought into the lies that depraved, grave-robbing Liverpool fans had instigated their own deaths. In 2012, the paper apologised for colluding with the police lies.
Appearing at the Hillsborough inquests in Warrington, Cheshire, David Duckenfield, the Hillsborough police match commander, says his failure to close a tunnel "was the direct cause of the deaths of 96 people".
He was wrong. He made a terrible error. But that error was triggered by the top-down monstering of all football fans. David Duckenfield did not act in isolation.
The dead were libelled. At the coroner's court, details of the deceased were read out together with their blood alcohol reading. That horror included the blood alcohol reading of a dead 10-year-old boy. The verdict was that the 96 had perished in an "Accidental Death". No charges would be brought against anyone. Only the dead were to blame.
Suck it up. Move on. Years later the elite joined the bereft and abused in a minute's silence. Your pain was now their pain, too. The conniving never stops.
The lies were maintained. Evidence presented without contest by the State propped up the narrative of drunkeness and violence.
Now David Duckenfield says he "froze" during the afternoon of the 1989 football disaster.
Mr Duckenfield is 70.
The wheels of justice turn slowly. We now see an old man in the dock. He is full of remourse. But he's no longer a serving copper. But he was when he made a witness statement on 5 May 1989. He said:
Now he says he is sorry for his lie about fans forcing an exit gate open to enter the ground. He said it was a "lie of omission" when he said gates to the ground had been forced. "He claimed he was referring to the first opening of gate C, at 2,48pm, when he wrongly believed it had been forced and about 150 fans gained access". He says:
"I am now very much older, very much wiser and very much more understanding of the events of the day and have decided to tell the whole truth."
So says the old man no longer in uniform.
You wait long enough and if you're lucky you get to hear the truth just before God makes his judgement…
Posted: 18th, March 2015 | In: Key Posts, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Sunderland police and the frenzied search for Adam Johnson
NEWS is that the police have raided the Sunderland dressing room. No, not looking for mogodon or any other drugs that lead to malcoordination and apathy. They were seeking anything that can aid the investigation into claims that Adam Johnson had sexual contact with an underage girl.
The Sun announces:
Adam Johnson cops raid Sunderland dressing rooms
Officers have now scoured for evidence the club's 49,000-capacity Stadium of Light and its 60-acre Academy of Light.
Posted: 17th, March 2015 | In: Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Embarrassing endorsements: Islamic State's Jake Bilardi cheers for Chelsea
When 17-year-old Australian Islamic State fighter, Jake Bilardi, died in a suicide bombing attack, we all saw the photo. There was Jake in his Chelsea kit.
Cheslea's marketing men must have been delighted by the repeated exposure Bilardi has given their brand.
Fans of other clubs can only smirk when they see a miscreant wearing a rival team's kit.
When Craig Meehan was arrested during the Shannon Matthews affair, he was photgpahed in his Manchester United kit. Meehan was subsequently convicted of possessing indecent images of children on a computer found in the home he shared with Karen Matthews.
If you see an embarrassing endorsement, please let us know at @theanorak on twittter.
Posted: 16th, March 2015 | In: Chelsea, News, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0
Transfer Balls: Pogba signs for Manchester United and PSG as Marco Verratti joins and leaves Arsenal
Transfer Balls looks at Paul Pogba news. The Daily Express says Pogba has dealt Cheslea huge "BLOW".
Charles Perrin has news on Pogba, the Frenchman who, according to the Express was sold to Chelsea for £40m, to Arsenal also for £40m and £80m, for £77m to Manchester United, to Arsenal if Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and PSG don't want him and has agreed to join PSG.
Says Perrin:
Chelsea and Manchester United have been handed a potential blow in their efforts to sign Paul Pogba.
Not if you 've been reading the Express they haven't.
The Juventus star has been valued at £77m, but Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Verratti has entertained the idea of a possible swap deal involving the Frenchman… "If PSG were to force me to leave in order to make room for Pogba, then that's different."
So. Verratti to Juventus it is. Unless you read the Daily Express, whih says he's off to Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United.
And Verratti is not going to Juventus:
No wait a minute, he is:
Such are the facts…
Posted: 16th, March 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Sports | Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed:RSS 2.0


text:
A long cruise - Naples, Italy - part 4
The town of Amalfi is a wonderful place. With fewer than 6,000 residents, it has the small town feel that many seek while on vacation. This town is a goal of many on vacation; many years ago it was THE place to be seen by the British.
Now, it is the center of the Amalfi Coast tours. On the Bay of Sorrento, it is closed in my steep mountains. I believe that the entire town has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Sight.
This is a view of part of the town from the waterfront. You can see that one road switching back as it leads up the hill.
The airport in Naples is the closest decent size airport and it is about a one-hour drive. Still, the people will come here. Views of the bay from many hotel rooms.
And, this shop were we (the missus) managed to spend lots of money. Limoncello is a draw, it is so good. And cappuccino is a favorite at many of the sidewalk/street cafes.
On a hill, many of the shops were on the steps. Living quarters above.